Sparkle N Sprinkle "Anything But A Card" Blog Hop

Easter has past but I hope you are still in a “hoppin” mood!!  It is time for the Sparkle N Sprinkle “Anything But A Card” Blog Hop.  If you hopped over from Julie Zippel’s blog, you are in the right place and almost finished hoppin’.  If you are just stopping by, you might want to hop on back to the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog and start at the beginning to get all of the details.

The hop runs from April 4^th through April 5^th, and the winners will be announced on Saturday, April 6^th.  For a chance at one of the prizes, all you have to do is hop to each designer’s blog to see what they have created and leave a comment.  Three of the prizes are “hidden” on 3 different mystery designer blogs – it could be me!!

Here is the hoppin’ order:

Shona Erlenborn

Jackie Smith

Karalee Ingram

Dawn Bennett

Shanna Shands

AnneTemple

Brigita Skopas

Karin Martin

Cammy Vietzke

April Williams

Cindy Keogh  

Barbara Bruder

Julie Zippel

Marie Berquist (you’re here!!)

Brenda Smalle

I have two fun projects to share today and I have to admit, I cheated a little.  I actually included cards in my first project but combined them with other items, so I didn’t think you would mind.  It was a little tricky getting everything photographed since I am visiting my daughter in Memphis, TN and didn’t have my usual set up.  Of course I could have had everything done ahead of time (ok, all my friends are now rolling on the floor with laughter) and taken pictures at home, but I had the joy of finding out that decorative paper towels make a great back drop!!

My first project is a pretty holder that makes a great gift.  It is made from a single 12” x 12” piece of cardstock and has a pocket on each side to hold whatever you want to tuck in.  I chose to make a set of cards and a coordinating note pad.  

I decided to go with a strawberry theme since we will be picking strawberries in the next month and it one of my favorite things to do in spring.  I used the strawberry images from the SNS set, Sweet Strawberries, and colored them with alcohol markers.  I cut them out with Spellbinders’ Oval and Circle dies and layered them on dark green Lacey dies, also from Spellbinders.  I centered these on a polka dot banner strip and an embossed background created with Paper Studio’s Quatrefoil Embossing Folder.  This worked perfectly with the lattice designed green designer paper I used.  I added just a touch of sparkle, using a little Cloud Nine Velvet Glitter on the strawberries and Sun Dazzle Sparkle N Soft in the center of the flowers.

   

You can tuck the cards with envelopes on one side and the notepad on the other side.  Add a little ink pen and you have a great gift.  You can find more details on this project in the SNS gallery here, but make sure you come back to visit the SNS Blog on Sunday, April 14^th, for a tutorial on how to make this easy holder.

My second project also uses the Sweet Strawberries set and I created a cute basket using the Treat Box tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers.  I used the same lattice designed green paper for the outside and coordinating polka dot paper on the inside. 

I had originally planned to fill my little basket with strawberry scented potpourri, but all I could find was apple, cherry, or raspberry.  Instead I found some faux strawberries and some lovely rose shaped soaps to add to my basket.  The strawberries were too plastic looking so I brushed them with SNS brushable glue and covered them with Cloud Nine Velvet Glitter.  Still wanting a strawberry scent for my basket, I kept looking (yes, I get an idea in my head and just can’t let it go).  I finally had to settle on one of those car deodorizers that hang from your mirror.

I also picked up a giant green paper clip and used the same design from the cards to created a decorative oval to glue on it.

I added some left over Easter grass to my basket, with my deodorizer tucked in.  After arranging the luscious strawberries and delicate roses in each corner, I placed the paper clip on one of the sections close to the center.  What a great gift!!  I do have to admit that the aroma of those little rose soaps is quite strong and you really can’t smell my little car deodorizer.  Oh well, I tried!!  Find the detailed instructions for this card here.

You have one more hop before you are done – head on over to Brenda Smalle’s beautiful blog to see what she has waiting for you.  I hope you have enjoyed all these different projects and ideas, and don’t forget to leave a comment before you leave so your name can go in the drawing for a prize!!

Thanks for hoppin’ by!

 

These projects are entered in the following challenges:

Card and Notepad Holder

Spectrum Noir March/April 2013 Challenge – Spring

Corrosive Challenge #171 – Spring Fling

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #165 - Use 2 Different Pattern Papers

Lexis Creations Challenge #87 - Use your Punches and/or Dies

Stamp and Create April Challenge: Use at least 1 die cut challenge

Strawberries and Cream Gift Basket

Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge: Anything Goes

Stampin For The Weekend Challenge 31 – Anything But a Card

Catch The Bug Recipe Challenge - Anything you choose with Cardstock and Bling!

CI Paint Inspired By - Anything Goes

Ladybugs Crafts Ink Challenge – Anything Goes

Moxie Fab World - Spring Home Decor Challenge in the Moxie Fab World

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #209 – Spring Fever

Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenges Blog April Challenge

Wow! It is April 1^st already (and today finally really feels like Spring).  This means it is time for a new challenge at the Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenges Blog.  The challenge for April is to use a digital image.  Sparkle N Sprinkle carries some lovely digital images designed by Michelle Perkett that can see seen here.  You have until April 30 at 8:00 p.m. EST to add your creation to the linky on the Challenge Blog for a chance to win the grand prize – a stamp set of your choice. 

I decided to create a center step card using the Bloom, Grow, Live digital stamp.  Since you can print your digital image in any size, I was able to size mine perfectly for the center section of this card.  I colored this sweet image with alcohol markers and printed an extra butterfly to pop it up.

I ran some green cording on dry embossed panels for the two sides and added some little handmade flowers.  Along the bottom I added grass, using a border punch, and a die cut white picket fence popped up on top of it.  I added some Sunny Daze and Blue Jewel glitter to add some sparkle to the flowers and butterfly.  You can find the full instructions for this card in the SNS gallery here.

We had a great response to last month’s glitter challenge.  I can’t wait to see this month’s entries.  Head on over to the Challenge Blog to see the details and for more inspiration from my fellow designers.

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Monthly Challenge #34 – Girly

Spectrum Noir March/April 2013 Challenge – Spring

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Anything Goes

CI Paint Inspired By - Anything Goes

Fussy and Fancy Challenge 85 - Spring Days
Little Claire Monthly Challenge #31 - Cards With Folds
Sentimental Sundays Challenge #148 - Shaped Cards (plus a sentiment)
Stamp and Create April Challenge - Use at least 1 Die Cut

Lunch Bag Cards

It has been very busy around here and I am ready for Spring Break!!  I recently posted some fun projects on the Sparkle N Sprinkle blog but just didn’t get a chance to share them on my own blog.  I will make up for that today…pull up a chair while I share!!

Right after Valentine’s Day I had a very special weekend at my favorite scrapbook store, Scrapbook Creations.  If you follow my blog you have heard me talk about this great store which also has a Cottage and a Bungalow that you can rent and stay at so you can just play all weekend.  Well, I won a free weekend at the Bungalow and so my best buds and I spent the weekend there. 

Since there was no school that Monday, they threw in an extra day and we had such a great time.

 I didn’t have time to make anything ahead of time but found these cute little glasses and filled them with yummy chocolates for everyone.  We created, shopped, ate, shopped some more, ate some more, played games, shopped a little more (broke), and even slept a little.  We even had a mini snowstorm for a few hours.

 

Now for the projects I mentioned.  I wanted to make the store owner a special thank you and remembered a fun card I made a long time ago from a paper lunch bag.  

             

You can create great little places to tuck things in and I had the girls each make a tag to tuck in.

 

Since I gave that card away, I decided to create a second version for Sparkle N Sprinkle this last week.  I made a few changes and created my own little tag.  My base is a white bag, folded and cut, and I used one of the floral images from Framed Florals set, colored with alcohol markers, for my card/bag “front”.  I added the Leafy Floral Background to the tucked side panel.

 

 I stamped the inside with another floral image from the Floral - Daisy Rectangle set and Nature's Butterfly.  I used the Kindness Appreciated sentiment on the right, cut out with a Spellbinders’ Label Ten die. 

I used a slightly larger Label Ten die and the Being My Friend sentiment for my tag.  I added a touch of Sunny Daze Glitter and a few cut out dimensional flowers as a finishing touch.

 

With the release of the new Happy Spring set and the Bunnies & Bows set, I was inspired to create an Easter themed bag card.  This time I used the bottom of the bag on the inside of the card.

I added a sparkly strip across the decorative cardstock on the front, using the Glitter Masking technique in SNS’ Tips and Techniques section and Cloud Nine, Luau Green, and Orchid Rose Velvet Glitters.  The sweet bunny is stamped on Sparkling Sands Sparkle N Soft, shaded and colored with alcohol markers, and cut out.

On the inside I used the Bees Buzzing sentiment and flowers from the Spring - Benjamin Bunny stamp set for the left side and created another decorative panel to cover the bag bottom folded and adhered with dimensionals on the right side.

I heat embossed the three little bunnies on velvet glitter, cut them out, and colored them with alcohol markers.  I added them, along with some wrapped chocolate nuggets, to oval tags from Spellbinders‘ Back to Basics Tags.

I used Spellbinders’ 2010 Heirloom Ornaments and orange polka dot cardstock from a Basic Grey "Fiction" 6 x 6 paper pad to create my “carrot” tag.  The greenery at the top of the “carrot” is die cut from sticker paper, using the leafy stems from Cheery Lynn Designs Japanese Garden Lace Oval and Luau Green Velvet Glitter.

You can find more details on these cards on the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog.  I hope you try these as they are really fun to make. 

Hugs,

E. Marie

These cards are entered in the following challenges:

Kindness and Friendship Bag Card

A Blog Named Hero Challenge #22 – Free Style

Clearly Inspired Challenge #71 (CIC71) – Anything Goes

CraftyCardmakers Challenge 87- Friendship

CI Paint Inspired By~ Anything Goes

Totally Gorjuss Challenge 176 - something borrowed

Happy Easter Bag Card

Basic Grey Challenge #90 – Happy Easter (Fiction)

Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 73 – Celebrate (Leaves from Garden Lace Oval Die)

Spectrum Noir March/April 2013 Challenge – Spring

Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge Week 152 -Bunnies or Easter

Crafts4 Eternity Challenge R#116 - Egg-cellent Easter

Fussy and Fancy Challenge 85 - Spring Days

Stamp and Create March Challenge: Fur or Feathers

Oldie But a Goodie Challenge – Easter (Spellbinder Dies over 6 mo. old)

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #208 -Fuzzy Friends!

Crafty Calendar March Challenge - Easter Egg-stravaganza!

Sweet Stampin’ Challenge – lots of Layers

And The Winner Is.....

Thank you to everyone that participated in the Sparkle N Sprinkle My Favorite Technique Blog Hop!  I hope you all enjoyed yourselves and are inspired to try some new techniques.  Remember that all the techniques can be found in the SNS Tips and Techniques section.  I also want to thank everyone for leaving so many kind comments.

Now for what your waiting for……..THE WINNERS!!

GRAND PRIZE #1 - A Stamp Set of your choice on cling cushion

Rosalinda Cruz

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GRAND PRIZE #2 - A Stampette Set of your choice on cling cushion

Pat Garvin

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1st PLACE - 2 Velvet Glitters of your choice

macmomma

2nd PLACE - 3 small embossing powders of your choice

Anita Braddock

3rd PLACE - 3 small glitters of your choice (non-velvet)

S Hartl

BONUS PRIZE - 3 digital images of your choice

Sandra Kersting

Congratulations to each one of you!!  Please make sure you go to the SNS Blog to get find out how to claim your prize.

We will be hoppin’ again on April 4th and 5th….Mark those calendars!!

Have a great week,

E. Marie