A Technique To LOVE!!

Do you ever save something because you just know there is something you will be able to do with it one day, and then when you finally toss it you find the most awesome use for it?  Well, you all know I have been cleaning up my craft room and that is just what happened.  Sunday I made a trip up to the mountains to visit my friend, Bonnie.  She is one of the most creative people I know and always has something new for us to learn.  This time she shared a technique that she had learned from Tim Holtz and I love, love love it!!  We started out using some small acrylic pieces that she had and then she pulled out some thin plastic pieces.  They were actually cut out from the packaging from Spellbinder dies.  As we played with this technique, I kept picturing the box full of plastic packaging from embossing folders and Spellbinder dies that I just threw out.

Now that I have left you in suspense, here is my card and the technique.  You simply sponge alcohol inks on the plastic.  When it dries, stamp your image with black archival ink and immediately wipe it off.  This removes the alcohol ink where you stamped leaving that image clear.  I used a red alcohol ink and then stamped my image from Sparkle N Sprinkle’s new Happy Hearts Stampette set.  When I wiped off the ink it left this great reversed image.  I layered this on white glossy cardstock and trimmed it. 

 I added it to a white strip with both edges punched with a lacy heart border punch and sponged with pink ink.  I added this to another piece of white cardstock with the right side punched with another border punch.  All of this was add to the card base with Double Sided "Tear-ific" Tape covered with Bubble Gum glitter.  I decided to limit the embellishments and simply added a strip of ribbon.

Make sure you visit Sparkle N Sprinkle’s blog where April Williams, my friend and fellow designer, will share more details and samples in her Technique Tuesday post.  You can also visit her blog here.  Then make a stop at Bonnie’s blog where you can see even more inspiration using this technique.  Sparkle N Sprinkle carries lots of different sizes and shapes of acrylic pieces and I can’t wait to use this technique on these.  I will be sure to share the results.

Hope you get a chance to try this soon.  Let me know what you think!!

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Paper Play Challenge Week 3 – Ribbon

Penny Black And More at Allsorts January Challenge - Love and Hearts

The Corrosive Challenge #141 - I {Heart} You

Crafty Creations Challenge #153 – Valentine Theme

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge PWC189  – Glitter

Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge #123 - Make a {HEART} stand out in your card/project

The Pink Elephant TPE132 – Photo Inspiration

A Child's Birthday

This has been a really nice weekend.  Do you remember months ago when I said I was working on my craft room?  Well, I have been struggling to get it back in order.  Over the holidays I had to just stuff everything back in and then pulled it all back out and most of it has been piled up in my living room.  What a mess plus it is really hard to create when you can’t find anything.  This weekend I spent most of my time working on putting it back.  It is still a bit of a mess but I am feeling much better about it.  One more good weekend and I might be back on track.

I did get a chance to go up to the mountains and play with my friend, Bonnie, and finished this card.  I used Sparkle N Sprinkle’s Dani’s Umbrella.  It is stamped with Stazon ink and cut it out with a Spellbinders’ die.  The dress, butterfly, and all the flowers are paper piecing.  I shaded them a little with marker and added Lacy Lilac glitter.  I added Sun Dazzle Sparkle N Soft to the centers of each flower.  The small flower is Tiny Daisy and both of these were popped up with foam tape.

I made the pink medallion using a die and sponged the edges with purple ink and a green jewel flower.  I used a purple marker directly on the sentiment, Flutter Birthday, so I could stamp the each word separately.  I punched them out with a tag punch and tucked them under the jewel flower with some curling ribbon.

Bonnie taught us a really neat technique today so check back on Tuesday to see what we created.

E. Marie

This card has been entered in the following challenges:

Sentimental Sundays Challenge #86 – Die Cuts

The Pink Elephant Challenge TPE131 – Favorite Colors

Paper Sundaes Challenge #104 - Paper Piecing      10

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge PWC189  – Glitter

Flutter By Wednesday #186 – Open

Crazy 4 Challenges C4C120 –  A Child’s Birthday Card

Art Impressions Stamps Challenge #48 – A Card for a Child

Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge 90-- Birthday Card

DYSU #55 – Patterned Paper

Everybody Art Challenge #176 - Sketch

Blog Hop Winners and a New Opportunity

Thank you for joining us for the Sparkle N Sprinkle Deco Divas-Love Is in the Air Blog Hop.  I hope you enjoyed what each designer had to share and headed straight to your craft table, inspired to create!!  Now for the information you have been waiting for – The WINNERS!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

Grand Prize #1  -  Full-sized stamp set of your choice on cling  -    Cheryl B

Grand Prize #2  -  Stampette set of your choice on cling  -  Kaiahobid

1st Place  -  (from Lana Clarke’s Blog)   2 Glitter Tinsels   -  Aurora Selvaggio

2nd Place – (from Gerlinde Townsley’s Blog) 3 sm embossing powders  –   Karen Land

3rd Place – (from April Williams Blog) 3 sm glitters  –   Robyn Rinehart 

Please e-mail Brenda at brenda@sparklensprinkle.com with your full name – address – phone contact & your choice of item(s) for the prize you won.

If you didn’t win a prize this time, don’t leave sad.  You will have another opportunity to win, soon.  That’s right!!  We have another blog hop just around the corner.  Please come back and join us on Feb. 9-10  for our Spring Fling Blog Hop.  We will be sharing inspiration for all your Spring holidays, plus more. 

See you again soon!!

E. Marie

Fluttering Enjoyment

If you are looking for the Sparkle N Sprinkle Love Is In The Air Blog Hop scroll down or click here.

Today’s card uses one of Sparkle N Sprinkle’s newest stamps, Bahama Woodstar.  It is such a lovely image of a hummingbird enjoying the flowers.  I stamped the image with VersaMark ink and heat embossed using Teddy Brown embossing powder.  It was cut out with a Spellbinders’ Standard Circles Nestabilities using the Out of the Box Nesties technique found here.  I layered this on a lovely new Doily Round Die.

The small layered rectangles in the background have been distress and the edges sponged with brown ink.  I added coordinating jewels and beautiful pearls from Basic Grey.  Detailed instructions for this card can be found in my gallery at SNS here.  If you love this image, it can be purchased individually or as part of SNS’s new set, Hummingbirds & Flowers.

Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for the announcement of the winners of the Love Is In The Air Blog Hop.

E. Marie

This card has been entered in the following challenges:

Basic Grey Challenge #60 – Something New (stamp)

Delightful Sketches Weekly Challenge – Distressed/Vintage

DYSU Challenge #55 – Patterned Paper

Marianne’s Design Divas Challenge #7 – New Stash (New Doily Round Die and Stamp)

Anything Challenge #58 – Anything Goes At Anything Goes

Clearly Inspired Challenge #44 (CIC44) – Pastels

The Crafty Pad Challenge #153 – New Year Sparkle/Glitter and Gems

Moving Along With The Times Challenge #132 – Things With Wings

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge PWC189 – Glitter

The Pink Elephant TPE131 – Favorite Colors

The Pixie Cottage Challenge #104 – Embossing

Sew Many Challenge #77 – Anything Goes

Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge #122 – Something New (New Die and New Stamp)

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #147 – Texture

Sparkle N Sprinkle's Deco Divas-Love Is In The Air Blog Hop

Welcome to the Sparkle N Sprinkle’s Deco Diva-Love Is In The Air Blog Hop!!  This is a celebration of romance and Valentine’s as well as embracing our inner divas.  As you visit the various Sparkle Team Designers’, each will be sharing their thoughts on how their cards fit into the romance/diva theme.

If you came here from Angie Blasingame’s brilliant blog, you are in the right place.  If you just came here for a visit, you might want to go to the Sparkle N Sprinkle Home Blog to start at the beginning of the hop and get all the details.  Here is a list of the designer’s to visit:

Barbara Bruder

Julie Zippel

Lana Clarke

Karalee Ingram

Charlene Driggs

Amanda Reed

Shanna Shands

Shona Erlenborn

Gerlinde Townsley

Angie Blasingame

Marie Berquist (You are Here)

Karin Martin

Jessica Griffin

Dawn Thomas

April Williams

Jill Jacobsen

Brenda Smalle

SNS Home Blog 

Be sure to leave a comment at each designer’s blog and answer the final question at the SNS Home Blog to be eligible for the Grand Prize - a Stamp Set of the winner's choice mounted on cling cushion.   Also, there is the possibility of winning one of THREE more prizes from three of the designers!  It's a secret though - no one knows which three designers.  Winners will be announced Saturday, Jan 21st between noon and 3PM

I have two cards to share with you today.  I decided to concentrate on the Valentine’s theme and since I work with kindergarten children all day, I naturally had them in mind with my projects.  The children love to pass out their Valentine’s to each other and my girls loved to make their own cards for their friends.  First I want to share a fun card that boys of any age would enjoy.

I used this adorable car image called Happy and layered it on a bright red embossed background.  The sentiment is Motor Purr, cut out with a Spellbinder Heart Die and I added three little brads that look like screws.  Both stamps can also be purchased in a set (Stamp Set 251-Cars–Henry).  Find the details for this card here.

 

My second card is the perfect way to include a treat.  I cut out the inside of my embossed Large Jar image and layered it on acetate.  I used paper piecing for the Large Jar Lid and and stamped one of the Label Phrases onto the Large Jar Label.  A piece of foam core board is sandwiched between the top and bottom of the card with a section cut out to make room for the candy.  I perforated the back with a perforating blade so the candy can be accessed from the back, leaving the card front intact.  The little SweetHeart candies fit in this perfectly, but so do M&M’s if you need chocolate!!  These images can be purchased individually or all together in Stamp Set 423 - Fill The Jar.  They can also be cut out using the Fill the Jar Cut File.  Also, you can find complete instructions to make this card here.

Though I thought these cards would be fun for children, they could also be used to share your love for that special one in your life.  Now it is time to head over to Karin Martin’s marvelous blog and see her creative take on our theme.  I know she will have something very special waiting for you.  Don’t forget to leave a comment before you leave to be eligible for that grand prize!!

Just a reminder that through the end of the month, the Sparkle Team presents St. Patrick's Day, Easter and Spring along with all Becca Barton images on special - 15% off!!!  To view all our specials for the month, including some fabulous glitters, embossing powders and other SNS products, just click here.

Thank you so much for stopping by and enjoy the hop!!

E. Marie

This cards are entered in the following challenges:

You Make My Motor Purr

Crafty Creations Challenge #153 – Valentine Theme

Creative Card Crew Challenge #2 – Seeing Red

DDCC #147 - For The Boys 

Incy Wincy Challenge #129 – Bold and Bright

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge PWC189  – to use Glitter on your card

The Pixie Cottage Challenge #104 – Embossing

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #147 – Texture (Embossing, Glitter, Screw Brads)

Filled With Love

Anything Challenge #58 – Anything Goes

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #59 – No Floral Embellishments 
Lexis Creations Challenge #56 – Anything Goes

Sew Many Challenge #77 – Anything Goes

Stamp and Create January Monthly Challenge – Anything Goes

Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge #122 – Something New (New Stamp Set, New Technique)

You Did It!!

Now that we have started a new year, there are a lot of challenge  with a “new” theme.  Not too hard since we have (hopefully) many new things to play with.  I decided I wanted to make a card that not only used new items, but also celebrated something new in life.  I wanted to do something different and decided to celebrate the joy of a new job.

I love this little lady from House Mouse called Fancy Pants.  She is so cute and all dressed up for her first day at her new job.  I have had this stamp for a while but never used it – what was I thinking!!  Does that make it new?  I colored the image with Tombows markers and cut it out with a Spellbinders' Labels Eighteen die.  I sponged the edges with a little light pink and popped it up on a blue Labels Seventeen.  The background paper is lovely and though it is an older design, it is new to me.  The yellow strip in the center is created using my new border die, Anastasia Border, from Cheery Lynn.  I cut it out twice, laid them side by side and ran seam binding ribbon (dyed with Distress Ink) down the center.

I wanted to add some tiny pink pearls but I didn’t have any.  Since I wasn’t at home when I worked on this I didn’t have a permanent ink to color them with, either.  I ended up using some red Stazon but buffed the ink on with my finger.  It worked great.  I added them to her necklace and added two larger ones to the upper right corner, along with a shoe button.  I also added a gold pearl to the purse to look like a clasp.

Thanks to all my “new” and “old” followers and friends for stopping by.

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 10 - Beautiful Borders

House Mouse and Friends Challenge #110 – New

Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge 90-- Use a border punch

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Spots and/or Stripes

Top Tip Challenge #67 - Anything Goes! (Tip:  Need different colored pearls for your card – rub on permanent ink.  If you want it darker, rub the ink pad directly on the pearls.)

Bling It On January Challenge #11 – New Beginnings

Corrosive Challenge #140 – Ring In The New Year (something new on your creation)

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge #115 – Use Something New

Crafty Creations Challenge #152 – Something New

Do You Stack Up Challenge #54 - Pink!

Moving Along With The Times Challenge #130 – Spots and Stripes

One Stop Craft Challenge #165 – On the Spot & Ribbon

Ooh La La Challenge #96 - New Beginnings

Phindy's Place Challenge #88 - Tic Tac Toe (Buttons, Ribbon, Distressing)

Sentimental Sundays Challenge #85 – Ribbon

Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge #122 – Something New
Totally Papercrafts Challenge #99 - Spots and Stripes

Sketch Saturday Challenge Week #190 – Sketch

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday #151 – Photo Inspiration

Baby, It's Cold Outside

I had a lovely day today with my friends.  We all went to our favorite scrapbook store, Scrapbook Creations, and played all day.  We learned about some new products and, of course, spent money.  I actually was pretty well behaved since we made a stop at one of our local craft stores on the way and I was not very well behaved there.  I just can’t resist a great bargain.

It is very cold here and finally really feels like winter.  I saw several challenges with a winter or snow theme and with this change in the weather I finally felt inspired to make a card for these.  I had this cute penguin paper laying around that needed to be used so I created the background with this.  I tore straps from some blue scraps to create my snow drifts on the bottom.  I sponged the edges with VersaMark ink and then “painted” the top edges with SNS Brushable Glue and added Waterscape glitter.  I also added this glitter to my icicle border at the top, punched with a border punch.

I used only part of the Noele's Pengie image from Sparkle N Sprinkle by coloring it with black marker and stamping it.  I cut it out with a Spellbinders’ Standard Circle Nestability and layered it on a black “snowflake” created with two squares, cut out with Spellbinders’ Fleur de Lis Squares, and overlapping them.  I added a few more punched snowflakes, also covered with Waterscape glitter.  I added a sentiment stamped in black and punched out.

I did a second card using a cute sentiment from Sparkle N Sprinkle’s Just For You Stampette set.  Seemed fitting after some of my friends’ sledding and skiing experiences.

Try to keep warm!!

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Creative Card Crew Challenge – Snow Day!

Paper Pretties Monday Challenge #21 - "Get Well"

The Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Winter Time

Stampin For The Weekend Challenge #24 – Out With The Old (old papers and cardstock)

Fussy and Fancy Challenge 54 - Let It Snow!

Lexi’s Creations Challenge #56 – Anything Goes

Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge 90-- Use a border punch

Anything Challenge #58 – Anything Goes at Anything Goes

Crazy 4 Challenges C4C119 –  Monochromatic Card in the Blues

Crafts 4 Eternity Challenge R#54 – Color Recipe

Happy Heart Day

Here is another Valentine card, this time using another new stamp set from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I used layers of white, pink, and red, including a velvetine pre-diecut piece that was layered on 2 1/2" Double Sided "Tear-ific Tape" and Fire Engine Red Glitter added.  I heat embossed the image from Happy Hearts Stampette Set and the sentiment from Hope Love Faith Stampette Set, using Versamark ink and Christmas Fire Embossing Powder.

Embellishments are two heart buttons and  a heart brad dipped in SNS Dimensional Glue and glitter added.  For full details on this card, please visit the SNS gallery here.

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Anything Challenge #58 – Anything Goes at Anything Goes

CES Challenge #67 – Anything Goes

Corrosive Challenge #140 - Ring in the New Year (New Image, New Paper, New Glitter)

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #59 - No Floral Embellishments

Crafty Creations Challenge #152 – Something New (New Image, New Paper, New Glitter)

Crazy 4 Challenges C4C118 –  New Year….New ‘Toys’ (New Image, New Paper, New Glitter)

Lexis Creations Challenge #56 – Anything Goes

One Stop Craft Challenge #164 – Bingo (Embossing, Diecuts, Flowers)

The Pink Elephant Challenge TPE130  – Hearts

Stamp and Create January Monthly Challenge - Anything Goes

Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge 89--use brads or eyelets

Delightful Sketches Weekly Challenge – Have a HEART

Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #1: 

■Make a card and/or tag using some kind of hearts

■Use any kind of embellishments

■Use, pink or red with white

■Do some kind of embossing

Totally Gorjuss Challenge #13 – Sketch

The Fragrance Always Remains

Valentine’s Day is around the corner and I am ready to move on from Santa to Hearts.  Impression Obsession’s challenge this week is hearts and flowers and I knew I had just the right stamps for this theme.

I am sorry to say that the rose image must be discontinued as I could not find the name and a link to refer you to.  I used my Tombow markers to color directly on the stamp and stamped it twice.  It cut it out with Spellbinders’ Classic Heart Nestability die and layered it on pink, cut out with their Classic Scalloped Heart Nestability die.  I tucked a Renaissance Hearts Pendant, also from Spellbinders, behind it.  The background paper is My Mind’s Eye and I used the back side for the sentiment, C1380 Fragrance.  Used more Nesties to cut it out.

When putting my card together I left a wider maroon border on the right side and added a lovely pink border using Cheery Lynn’s border die, Dancing Doily Lace.  I just purchased this die and love the fun, delicate design.  I think it really finishes the card.

Thanks so much for visiting,

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges

Impression Obsession Challenge – Hearts and Flowers/Valentine Theme

Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 10 - Beautiful Borders

Penny Black And More at Allsorts January Challenge - Love and Hearts

Stamping Scrapping Challenge – Punched Out/Dies and Punches

Top Tip Challenge #67 - Anything Goes!

CES Challenge #67 – Anything Goes

Clearly Inspired Challenge #43 (CIC43) - Valentine's Day

The Corrosive Challenge #140 - Ring in the New Year / something brand new on your creation (Cheery Lynn’s Dancing Doily Lace Border Die)

Crazy 4 Challenges C4C118 –  New year….new ‘toys’…..new techniques  (Cheery Lynn’s Dancing Doily Lace Border Die)

Delightful Sketches Weekly Challenge - Have a HEART

Lexis Creations Challenge #56 – Anything Goes

The Pink Elephant TPE130  – Hearts

Stamp and Create January Monthly Challenge: Anything Goes

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #67 - Anything Goes!

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge #20 – Picture Inspiration

New Stamps at Sparkle N Sprinkle!!

Today Sparkle N Sprinkle is introducing two new stamp sets today.

Stamp Set 451 - Hummingbirds & Flowers

Stampette Stamp Set 452 - Hummingbird Party

I absolutely love these new images as I am partial to hummingbirds. I love to sit by my bay window during the summer and watch these adorable tiny creatures as they visit my hummingbird feeder.  They are so fascinating.  This is the inspiration for my card.

For this new image I decided to use a new technique I have been playing with.  I stamped and heat embossed it in white on watercolor paper and colored it with reinkers.  It has such a soft look but the colors are still so vibrant.  For more details on how to make this card, visit the gallery on the SNS website here.

Now head to the SNS blog to see more lovely cards inspired by these new sets.

E. Marie

This card has been entered in the following challenges:

Paper Sundaes Challenge #102 - Saturated Colours        

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – NEW Something (New Image, New Technique)

Top Tip Challenge #67 - Anything Goes!

Art Impressions Stamps Challenge #46 – Anything Goes

CES Challenge #67 – Anything Goes

CRAFTYCATZ Challenge #114 – A New Beginning (New Image, New Technique)

Cute Card Thursday Challenge 198 - What's New

Stamp and Create January Monthly Challenge – Anything Goes

Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge #121 – "Thinking of You" card 

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge #20 – Picture Inspiration

Sparkle N Sprinkle January Sketch Challenge

It is time for another sketch challenge at the Sparkle N Sprinkle blog.  You have until January 31 to enter and here are the guidelines:

■Create a NEW project for the challenge.  No back links please.

■Please use Sparkle N Sprinkle images only

■Please link to your blog or to your post at the SplitCoast Stampers gallery (SCS)

■If posting to the SCS gallery, please be sure to include the code that appears on the sketch to tag your card to the challenge.   Please enter that code using the keyword SNSSC03 .  If posting on your blog please include the code on your blog also.  Each monthly sketch will have its own unique code that will appear on the sketch.

■Please link the card or project to the inlinkz icon at the bottom of the current challenge page here.  Please make sure to link to your challenge card not to your blog address.

Here is my card to give you a little inspiration.

I used Winter Berry embossing powder for the My Tweetheart sentiment and the Swirl Bird House.  Visit the SNS Gallery and get all the details of how to make this card.

Don’t forget to go to the Sparkle N Sprinkle blog for more information and inspiration from my fellow sketch challenge designers.

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Simon Says  Stamps Challenge – Anything Goes

Stampin For The Weekend Challenge #23 – Anything Goes

Charisma Cardz Challenge Week #50 – Anything Goes

Crafts and Me Christmas Bumper Challenge #66 – Anything Goes

Top Tip Challenge #66 - Anything Goes

DDCC #145 - My Favorite Things (Pearls)