Friday, February 28, 2014

Born to Shop


It's time for the Sparkle N Sprinkle New Reveal.  This month there are 5 new rubber stamp sets that are being debuted: Born to Shop, Iris Frame, Crystal Medallion, A Winter Cardinal, and Spring Time Spunky.  Two of the sets are perfect for Christmas, so you can get an early start on all those Holiday cards (like you always promise yourself you're going to do).  These five sets will also be 20% off through 3/3/14.  If you are a subscriber to the monthly Technique Kit Club, the stamp set featured this month is A Winter Cardinal.  The Cardinal and the Crystal Medallion are also available in digi format (see the SNS Exclusive digis here.)

The first of the month also means it's time for our Designer Mystery Party!  Five Winners (one for each new stamp set) will be selected by Random.org during the Designers Mystery Party.  Winners will also get to choose one Glitter and one Embossing Powder to go with their new stamp set.

How the Mystery Party works:

On Five of the participating blogs below, a Commenter will be selected to receive the prize.   No one knows who the five Mystery Designers are, so you'll want to visit each blog to leave a comment.


For my project reveal, I've chosen the Born to Shop rubber stamp set and think it's very versatile.  You could use the entire stamp (like I did) or even cut up the individual shops to use separately.


I started off by stamping the image twice so I could fussy cut several areas to pop dot onto the main image for added dimension.  It was a lot of fun to color everything with Copic markers.  I also added a little Flower Soft and Cyclamen glitter to the flower boxes on building one.

Diamond Dust glitter was applied to the awning with Dimensional Glue and Spirited Green glitter makes the topiary in front of building four sparkle.









To create the sentiment, I die cut a piece of Super Adhesive Sheet with a Spellbinders die and took an Xacto knife to remove the center portion.  This was then covered with Cloud Nine velvet glitter.  Next I removed the outer portion of the super adhesive sheet and covered it with Daisy velvet glitter.  The sentiment, which is part of the set was stamped with Staz-On.

For more detailed instructions, please visit my SNS Art Gallery page.

Your next stop is Anita and she has a gorgeous project to share with you.  Don't forget to leave each of us a comment to be eligible to win one of these stamps.


Monday, February 24, 2014

Vintage Irish


Today I'm sharing fairly large card (5"x7") using the Vintage Irish stamp set from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  This sweet little boy was fussy cut out and colored with Copic markers.  Then various portions of his outfit were covered with Spirited Green glitter (the suspenders, the hat band, and the centers of the shamrocks).


The Shamrock Flourish is from Die Versions and is also covered with Spirited Green glitter.  Portions of the shamrocks were also colored with Copic markers for added depth.  You can check out the SNS tutorial on Coloring on Glitter here.

The sentiment is heat embossed with Irish Spring embossing powder and cut out using a MFT die (Sentiment Strips).


The tag was then layered onto solid cardstock that was dry embossed with the Dainty Dots M-Bossabilities folder from Spellbinders.  I adhered 1/4" Tear-ific Tape all around the edges and heat embossed with more Irish Spring embossing power.  This layer was adhered to the yellow card base and a touch of lace was added to the bottom.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Party Dress




Time for a new challenge from Pattie's Creations.  The theme is: Spots or Dots - must have dots somewhere on your creation.

I've chosen the Pattiboop Party Dress from Pattie's Etsy store and colored it with Copic markers.  I added dots to the dress with Copic Opaque White pigment and Bubble Gum glitter from Sparkle N Sprinkle to the neckline and to the ruffle.  Plus, there are dots in my background and card base.  The floral oval was die cut from the Spellbinders Lacey Ovals die and I added a small bow at the top.

Now it's your turn.  We want to see all your spots or dots.  You have two weeks to enter this challenge.  Be sure to visit the rest of the team to see what they've created for you this week too.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Altered Composition Book


For today's project, I've altered a composition notebook using some of the new release dies by Die-Versions.  If you haven't checked out the music themed release, you're definitely going to want to.


I had so much fun playing with embossing paste and embossing powder (you can see that Die-Versions card and info how I did it here) that I wanted to do it again.  This time, I used a plastic stencil from The Crafters Workshop (Aboriginal) and Martha Stewart embossing powders (which has lots of glitter in them).  After it was completely dry, I spritzed the entire thing with Dylusions Ink Spray (Squeezed Orange).  The embossing paste/embossing powder acted like a resist and I was able to remove all the ink from the raised areas.

The frame around the Elegant Piano is heat embossed with Ranger embossing powder (turquoise) and I added one of the notes from the Harmony Wee Petites to the frame.  The large Flourish Note was the perfect compliment to the piano.

I adhered this to music paper and added washi tape to the edges, some of which are colored with Distress Stains (Broken China).  The font used for the title is from last month's release and is the Gatsby font by Die-Versions.


Monday, February 17, 2014

Mermaid Kisses, Starfish Wishes


Here is another card using the new Mermaid Kisses (#529) rubber stamps set from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  This is one of the new reveals this month and was included in the SNS Technique Club kit.

This time around, instead of coloring the image first (like I normally do), I started off by creating my "waves" first.   Using the Swirls cutting plate (by Taylored Expressions) I die cut it from a Super Adhesive Sheet and covered it with Seaspray glitter.  Next I colored the image with Copic markers and fussy cut her out.  I added "scales" to her body with a Sakura glue pen and then covered the glue with Cloud Nine velvet glitter.


For the embellishments, I fussy cut out various parts of the other stamps included in the set.  I liberally applied Dimensional glue and added Shell Pink and Bubble Gum glitter to the single Sea Shell, Tiger Orange and Burgundy Glitz to the individual Starfish, and Aqua Marine, Lemonade, Bubble Gum, and Tiger Orange to the combo  one.  Let these dry overnight. (Tip: it's easier to fussy cut them before adding the glue and glitter because the glue is so thick.)

The sentiment was stamped with VersaMark and heat set with Seafoam embossing powder.  Then I die cut it using a Spellbinders Labels Thirteen die.

To finish off the edges of the card base, I used the distress embossed technique.  I think this is one of my favorites because it's so easy and really adds an extra bit of pizzazz.  Basically, you distress the edges with either inks or VersaMark and then cover with embossing powder.  For this card, I distressed the edges with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink, added Clear embossing powder, and heat set it.




Saturday, February 15, 2014

Carnival


Carnival is the theme for this bi-weekly challenge from Time4Scrap.  We have two sponsors, Sassy Studio Design and Aurora Wings.  My digi is by Sassy Studio and is Classic Marie Antoinette.  She just looked like she was going to a masquerade ball to me.  

Normally, I color my images with Copic markers and then find paper to coordinate.  I happened to be going through my scraps and discovered this masquerade masks paper and decided this would be perfect.  And her ball gown colors were instantly decided upon.  I didn't really add many embellishments because I though her dress spoke volumes :-).  




The bow at the top was created with a WR Memory Keepers envelope punch board (thanks Brenda for the idea).  You can find the You Tube tutorial here.

Now it's your turn.  You've got two weeks to upload your projects to Time4Scrap.  Don't forget to check out what the rest of the team has created (they've used some really cute images).

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Musical Kids


Die-Versions new release this month is all about music and I've incorporated four of the new dies into this card, plus a few handmade flowers that remind me of carnations.  The new releases are the Music Stand, Musical Boy, Musical Girl, and Harmony Wee Petites (music notes).

I started out by creating my background using a technique which combines embossing powder and embossing paste.  (You can see a video of it here by Jennifer McGuire.)  I placed the Dreamweaver metal stencil down onto white cardstock and applied the embossing paste.  After carefully removing the stencil, I covered it with Lagoon Blue embossing powder from Sparkle N Sprinkle and let it completely dry.

Once it was dry (I waited a couple hours), I heat set the embossing powder.  This gave it a really nice, but subtle, shimmer.  I didn't like the white background, so I spritzed the entire thing with Dylusions Ink Spray (Dirty Martini).  The raised embossing paste/embossing powder design acted like a resist and I was able to take a paper towel and remove all the ink from that portion, leaving a nice variegated background.

I wanted the boy and girl in silhouette and decided they were playing a duet together.  The little girl is pop dotted beside the boy to give the illusion she's standing right beside him, reading the sheet music from the music stand.

After adhering everything together, I felt it needed a little something more.  I remembered seeing these flowers several years ago and decided to make a few.  It's so easy too.... just die cut or punch a bunch of scalloped circles, all the same size.  Then lightly spritz them with water or a spritz (I added Smooch Spritz Vanilla Shimmer) to soften the fibers of the paper.  This allows you to crumple them up in a ball easier.  Once they are dry, punch a hole in the center and begin threading the layers through a brad.  Unfurl the layers as you go.  You can add as many or as few layers as you want to determine the size of the flower.  As I mentioned, these remind me of the carnations I taught people how to make out of gum paste or fondant for cakes.

You're definitely going to want to check out this new release as well as what the rest of the DV Dynamos have come up with.  I think you're going to be pretty impressed.

I'm entering this in the Dreamweaver's challenge: February Flutters.


Monday, February 10, 2014

Spunky and Bug

closed

Sparkle N Sprinkle has come out with another rubber stamp set for the Spunky line.  This one is called Spunky and Bug (# 523) and I thought the sentiment was perfect for a swing card.

opened
I started out by die cutting my swing card form the Sizzix die and then altering the edges with the Memory Box Piestra Tile die.  Once all the cutting of the card base was completed, I applied VersaMark to the front panels, covered it with Tinsel embossing powder, and heat set it.  This added lots of sparkle!

Next, I cut a square slightly smaller than the center square from patterned paper and I used the distress embossing technique and Clear embossing powder to dress up the edges.  I heat embossed the sentiment onto my circle with Black Detail embossing powder.

On a piece of scrap cardstock, I stamped the ladybugs six times, colored them with Copics and fussy cut each one of them out.  I also added a bit of Black Suede velvet glitter to each of the spots.  Then I randomly placed the ladybugs around the front square.




Using the same patterned paper, I cut a square the same size as the center swing portion and heat set my inside sentiment with Black Detail embossing powder as well.  Spunky was also stamped and heat set with Black Detail embossing powder, colored with Copic markers, and fussy cut out.  I used the Distress Embossing technique on this square as well by applying Distress Ink (Mustard Seed), covering with Clear embossing powder, and heat setting.



The inside portion of the swing card was also embellished using two of the ladybugs.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Altered Sewing Box


I had been given a large Altoids box (about 6" x 4") and I decided to alter it into a sewing kit.  I started off by painting gesso all over it and letting that dry.  As I knew I was going to add a crackle finish to it, I didn't worry about making it perfectly smooth.


Once the gesso was dry, I painted it with Distress Paints (weathered wood, stormy sky, vintage photo), again not worrying about streaks.  After going over different areas a few times, I stamped some of the images from the Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz Haberdashery set.  I wasn't worried about the entire image being stamped onto the lid either - it made it look more worn out to me.

The final step for the lid itself was to add Ranger's Crackle Paint and let it dry overnight.  I did add some Distress Inks after it was dry to enhance some of the cracks and a bit of Tim Holtz Ruler Ribbon was adhered along the edge of the entire box.


Next came out some dies and grungeboard hinges.  I used the rusted enamel technique for the hinges.  Although I learned it from Tim's Creative Chemistry 101 online class (highly recommend), it can also be seen in several You-Tube videos.  The sewing machine is a die from Die-Versions and I applied the tarnished silver technique to it (from Tim's Creative Chemistry 102 class).  Love how pitted it looks.  The spools and needle and thread are Memory Box dies.  I wrapped embroidery floss around the spools of thread and also threaded each of the vintage buttons with embroidery floss.

For the inside, I adhered a magnetic strip to the inside top of the lid to hold loose items and then added your basic sewing kit supplies into the inside.


Now all the basics for sewing on a button (about the extent of my sewing ability) is all in one place.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Published: Rubber Stamp Madness



I'm so excited to have a card published in the Spring 2014 edition of Rubber Stamp Madness, the original stamping magazine.   It's located on pages 23 and 24 and is titled "Old School and Cool".


Here's how I made it.  The background is Tim Holtz's Marbled Stain technique and was created using Distress Stains (Picket Fence, Barn Door, Rusty Hinge, Mustard Seed) and Perfect Pearl Mist (Perfect Pearl).

I stamped the Hero Arts image twice, once directly onto the newly created background and once onto a vintage book page so I could fussy cut out the "typewriter paper".  I heat embossed the sentiment with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.  Then I cut a slit in the typewriter image where the paper would come through and slid the vintage book paper through.  The idea of using buttons and twine as spools of ribbon came to me during a creative burst :-).


I also embellished the inside a bit.  A page from a vintage book was used to frame the space for a message.  The message area was created using the Cherish punch from Martha Stewart.  A bit more twine carries the old fashioned theme from the front to the inside.

I have to add that I was just as excited seeing the label on the magazine.  It said "Artist-Anne Temple".  How cool is that!

Monday, February 3, 2014

SNS February Mystery Party Winners

Hi!  Thank you for participating in Sparkle N Sprinkle's February Mystery Designer Party. 
We enjoyed making the new projects, and hope you enjoyed browsing. 

Our mystery designers and winners are:

Donna with “Mermaid Kisses”
46 comments
#25 Shirley of "Paper Creations"

Cristina with “Spunky and LadyBug”
26 comments
#10 Carmen M.

Shona with "Spunky and Rocco"
24 comments
#13 Roey




Congratulations, Winners!

Thank you for checking out the products and sample cards. 
Will you please e-mail SNS_Artist@tampabay.rr.com with your mailing address, choice of one glitter and one embossing powder which can be used with your new stamp sets, and we will get your prize in the mail!

A big thank you to all for joining us in this kick off.

(and for visiting all our blogs)


Saturday, February 1, 2014

Daffodils in a Teapot

For my Sparkle N Sprinkle New Reveal post, please scroll down, or click here.


It's time for a new challenge from Time4Scrap and the theme is "Be Mine".  The sponsors are Beccy's Place and Dilly Beans.

 I've gone more of an un-traditional route and chosen the Daffodils in a Teapot digi image from Beccy's Place.  Copic markers were used to color this image and a Spica glitten pen was used for some highlights.

I decided to create my background using the wax paper resist technique.  But instead of crumpling up the wax paper, I die cut a piece of wax paper with the Quatrefoil cutting plate by Taylored Expressions.  Before ironing, I brayered Distress Ink (Antique Linen) onto one of the pieces of glossy card and left the other white.  Next I ironed the die cut wax paper and then added more Distress Ink (Dusty Concord) with a brayer to the cardstock covered with Antique Linen.


For the sentiment, I stamped the heart using a Unity Stamp rubber stamp with Squeezed Lemonade and stamped directly on top of the heart my sentiment from CC Designs with Dusty Concord and heat embossed with Clear embossing powder.  After fussy cutting it out, I pop dotted it onto my background.

Be sure to visit the blog and check out what the rest of the team has created.  You have two weeks to upload your project.