"It's A Cultural Thing" Blog Hop with Prizes!

Welcome to the Sparkle N Sprinkle "It's A Cultural Thing" Blog Hop! If you hopped here by way of artsy Dawn Thomas, then you're in the right place! If you're just beginning here, you might enjoy starting at the SNS Home Blog, to become eligible for a grand prize and three "mystery" prizes! This is my last blog hop as a Sparkle Staff Member - so thanks for stopping by. SNS has such a diverse selection of images, we decided to combine many of the stamps featuring themes which create American culture. 

I was very fortunate to have been raised on the West Coast, then in New England, and finally to the Gulf Coast of Florida. My parents were very open to interesting ideas. Growing up my siblings and I always enjoyed the influences of Asian, European and Latin customs - in our meals, celebrations and home decor. My fondest memories include those earliest childhood years which were in southern California. Horticulturally and architecturally, we thrived with Asian influence. So my projects today are reminiscent of Asian filigree and an Asian garden.

Today I'm showing a "card gift box" which will hold an assortment of coordinating and beautiful cards. These will become a Christmas Gift for a dear person (no names - don't want to give anything away LOL). This idea came from a wonderful mother and daughter team on The Craftiblog.

8.5" x 11" card stock was used.

The gift box is actually a repurposed cake mix box, top cut off, carefully opened flat, spray paint on the printed side, and reassembled with the kraft side out. Just click on the photos below to see how to create the gift box or visit my Gallery at the SNS site (one last time) here.

A Martha Stewart border punch cut gold glossy card stock to provide additional stability and to show off  the lace, which has been attached with 1/2 Tear-ific Tape, and then burnished with one of my favorite glitter colors -  Fantasy Gold, also on special this month!

The card stock was randomly stamped with the Lotus Flower Plant image from the Oriental set 181, embossed with rich Gold Coast Cosmic embossing powder, and highlighted with more Fantasy Gold glitter.

The medallion flower was created with Flowers in the Square image, fussy cut, and combined with purple, navy, and gold glossy layers created from Spellbinders Rose and Carnation Creations sets, cut on their Grand Calibur.

The gold glossy leaves are cut from a Sizzix Sizzlet die.

The box is the perfect size for 5x7 (A7) size cards.

The coordinating A7 card below uses the same background creation, Spellbinders "In Spades" borderabilities die, Butterflies Two shapeabilities die, and the Flowers in the Square image cut from navy and olive, embossed with Gold Coast and Dark Night Cosmic embossing powders. (Cosmics are my favorite EPs - so rich and creamy). The butterfly is embossed with Gold Tinsel EP. The recipe for my card is available on the SNS Art Gallery.

Thanks for stopping by!

Your final destination is the SNS Blog! To become eligible for the Grand Prize and three mystery prizes, please leave a comment on my blog below and return to the SNS blog and answer one or both of the following questions. There are no right or wrong answers LOL

What is your favorite tradition which was “brought over” by another culture? Does your family celebrate this? If that’s too ambiguous, how about what special thing do you especially enjoy about American Culture? Answering these questions back on the SNS Home Blog makes you eligible for the Grand Prize and 3 other secondary prizes! Good Luck!


Stamping Hugs,

Magical Winter Moments Blog Hop & Blog Candy

You're here! The final blog in the Sparkle N Sprinkle Magical Winter Moments Hop! WELCOME! (((( hugs )))) How's that for an enthusiastic reception?

Did you hop here by way of Kim Jaime, our newest Shoppe Instructor? If so, you're right on track. Otherwise, you may wish to start from the beginning to become eligible for a fabulous grand prize and three "mystery" prizes!

Do you love glitter? Me, too. It's especially good if you are as"boo-boo" prone as I am in creating cards. Glitter covers a multitude of mistakes. :-)

How not to start a blog post: **apologizing**. I promise in real life this is a pretty card with all the sparkly glitter, shimmery embossing powder, and reflective mirror cardstock (CS). No matter what I did in photographing it, or what magic was used in my software, this card remained aloof and uncooperative. It just would not glisten, sparkle or reflect! (no squealing allowed) :-D

Mirror Cardstock creates phenomenal effects! Standing at an angle so the camera and my face didn't reflect in it was a bit difficult. In person, the ornament is very shiny and pretty. Sparkle N Sprinkle carries several colors of mirror card stock - available in individual sheets, or in packets.



To further torture you, here is another tragic photo which shows a little of the glistening Gold Tinsel EP used in the layer around what is supposed to be TRUE GREEN cardstock LOL. It's fun converting plain, inexpensive cardstock into amazing designer cardstock! Honest! it really is pretty in person LOL - just take a piece of cardstock decide how much will show as a mat or layer, apply VersaMark Ink in that area, pour on your EP and heat. The rest of the CS remains as it was. It also makes adhering the layers a little easier because the center is not "coated" with a resistant covering.

The panel background was created by randomly stamping and embossing with Gold Detail EP, the holly bunch from our brand new Christmas Basket Stampette set. With a Sakura Glue Pen, glitters Elegant Emerald, Cerise, and Fantasy Gold became my coloring medium of choice. 

OK, your torture is now complete LOL. Seriously, I cannot apologize enough for how poorly this card photographed. Hopefully you know me well enough to know that if I say it is absolutely, glisteningly pretty, you know it's true.

Thanks for withstanding the icky photos. Now that your maltreatment on my blog is complete, here comes the part you've been waiting for. To qualify for the Blog Candy drawing for a free Christmas Basket Stampette set, just leave a comment below and become a follower of my blog. To become eligible for the Hop's grand prize and 3 mystery prizes, leave the same comment below (LOL) and return to the SNS Home blog. When there, please leave your answer to the following question:

With Autumn festivities upon us, and Chanukah and Christmas soon here, what is your favorite holiday activity? 

A Thank You Booklet

Some gifts deserve a unique "Thank You" card.

Made for a dear friend who always knows just what to say and do, this booklet is bound to bring a smile to her heart.

The cover is dry embossed with a Cuttlebug folder. The dies are Wizard's Spellbinders Butterflies Two and Floral Accent Shapeabilities.

The raised embossed areas are glittered with Sparkle N Sprinkle Glitter, adhered by a Sakura Quickie Glue Pen.

Made of chipboard, the booklet appears plain when untied, but then accordions to accommodate photos, messages, stamped images or die cuts.

My Thank You is filled with sweet sayings from Sparkle N Sprinkle - all but one from the Solid Butterfly Set #391. On alternating panels, Sizzix and Cuttlebug embossing folders have been utilized and glittered. Antiquing was done with VersaColor cubes, and glitter adhered with a Sakura Quickie Glue Pen. All words were heat embossed with Plum Wine Embossing Powder (one of the "cosmics"). 

One of the great things about cling rubber is the ability to cut the stamps apart and use them however you wish! This panel is actually a combination of stamps. "You" is cut from one stamp, and placed on the acrylic mount above "Fill Life With Happiness". The simple curved loops framing the Nesties die cut are the antenna from the butterfly in the same set. 

Many thanks to my Angel friend for inspiring me yet again!

Thanks for visiting. Hope your day is beautiful!

Directions for booklet:

Stamp Credits: all Sparkle N Sprinkle

Friendship 3091-391B

Friend 3090-391B

Happiness 3096-391B

Kindness 3094-391A

Friendships-Blooming 0848-265E

Floral Butterfly 3088-391B

Other Supplies:

Bubblegum Glitter G1088

Interference Green Glitter G1099

Mystical Mauve Glitter G1072

Lemonade Glitter G1091

Bridal Glitter G1029

Plum Vine Embossing Powder EP376

Orchid VersaColor Cube 99703-034

Lilac VersaColor Cube 99703-035

Narcissus VersaColor Cube 99703-131

VersaMark Watermark Pad 99702

1/4” Tear-ific tape SAT01

Sakura Glue Pen 99202

Brushable Glue 540

Heat Tool

Ruler

Old Paper dye ink

Paper trimmer

Printed paper to coordinate cardstock

Die Cuts, punches or decorative scissors

12-15” of Ribbon

Embossing folders

Chip Board or Cardboard

Choice of embellishments

These instructions will build an accordion booklet 3.25” x 3.25” x .5” when it is closed. Opened up, it will be about 27” long, depending on the length of the accordion.

Note: after experimenting with fabric, mulberry paper, cardstock and printed craft paper, I recommend not using card stock for the cover. Because it had more strength and “give”, the best option was the fabric.

1. Cut chipboard into two 3.25” squares. Cut a spine 3/8” x 3.25”. Set aside.

2. Using fabric or printed paper, cut two pieces: one, 3” x 6.5”, the other 8.5” x 4.5”.

3. Score the larger piece 5/8” down both the long sides and .75” across the top and bottom.

4. Brush the glue onto one side of the 3 chipboard pieces, and carefully center them inside the score lines of the longer piece of printed card stock, leaving about 1/8” between the three pieces. (This is so the booklet will fold easily. If creating a thicker accordion, the spine piece needs to be cut wider than 3/8” and the measurements for the printed paper should be adjusted slightly.) The 3 pieces should be in a straight line. Cut corners only on the diagonal, leaving just a little more than needed to cover the chip board.

5. With the chipboard side showing, apply Tear-ific tape on the outermost edges of all four sides of paper. (If using fabric, use Brushable Glue). Carefully “close” the two spaces on either side of the spine, creating a “fold” or semi-score. Reopen the booklet so it lays flat, chipboard side up.  Peel off the protective layer of one strip of the tape, gently folding onto the chipboard. Then do the opposite side. Next adhere the top. Now fold the booklet up again, so it looks closed. Turn up the bottom piece, remove the strip, and adhere firmly. This assures that the book will close without tearing at the binding.

6. Place ribbon down the middle of the chipboard, making sure that it is centered, with equal amounts at the top and bottom. Adhere with Tear-ific tape. Finally, apply the smaller rectangle of paper to cover the chipboard and ribbon. Before adhering the very bottom, be sure to “test it” by closing the booklet, then firmly press the bottom, verifying that there is enough room for the booklet to open and close.

7. Cut coordinating card stock into 3” strips. If using 8.5” x 11” cardstock, cut the strips 3” x 9”. If using 12” cardstock, cut the strips 3” x 12”. Score strips at 3” intervals. Adhere the strips together to make an accordion the desired length, making sure there is enough room inside the booklet when it is closed.

8. With your choice of dies, punches, embossing folders or scissors, cut and decorate shapes as desired for layering.

9. Because SNS stamps are cling mounted, it’s fun to cut the stamps apart, using them in assorted ways. The sentiment “You Fill Life With Happiness” is actually two stamps, with the “You” cut off stamp 3090-391B and placed on the acrylic block with stamp 3096-391B. The design element creating the frames is actually the butterfly antenna 3088-391B. Images are stamped with VersaMark and embossed with Plum Vine EP. Antiquing is accomplished with a dauber and Versacolor cubes. Glitters are adhered via Sakura Glue Pen.

10. When glitter is completely dry, and the accordion panel is finished, anchor the end of the accordion piece to the inside over of the booklet using either Brushable Glue or several pieces of Tear-ific Tape. Finish by closing booklet and tying ribbon in a bow.

11. Adorn front of booklet as desired.