2020 Turner Syndrome Awareness Blog Hop

Hello Blogging Friends! It's good to see you. I invite you to follow me if you are not already too busy on the computer. (smile)

Welcome to my projects for the "It's A Girl Thing" Turner Syndrome Awareness 2nd Annual Blog Hop!  

Turner Syndrome is a genetic disorder leaving a girl baby with only one X chromosome, instead of two. These children (and adults) contend with life-long medical issues and learning disabilities. Occurring once in every 2,500 female births worldwide, it is more common for pregnancies to not survive full term. That is why TS live births are considered MIRACLES.

Thirty-six caring Sponsors and nine DT Members are offering prizes to commenters to bring Turner Syndrome Awareness to the Public. For details on how you might win any of these fabulous prizes, please see Lori's TS home page. Thanks for learning About Turner Syndrome. 

Prize Winners will be announced February 15, 2020, on the TSA blog. The winner of my personal prize will be announced on my blog after February 8.

My Personal Prize:

My TS related projects are inspired by the TSA official color board:



To achieve that rich black, glossy cardstock was used.
Wink of Stella was applied to the butterfly and birthday word.



A flower on the butterfly's body adds a feminine touch:





Living with Turner Syndrome: Linda Hunt

I am an appreciative fan of movie star
Linda Hunt
whose roles are always character-rich.
My favorite programs Linda has starred in:

NCIS Los Angeles
Kindergarten Cop

Linda was born with Turner Syndrome.


One thing I have learned regarding Turner Syndrome is that there are many chromosomal deviations that cause humans to be born with "interesting outcomes".

Here is the genetic graph for girls and boys born with KNOWN abnormal chromosomes.
 Next time we see a person who doesn't seem to fit a "normal" male or female pattern, we need to keep in mind that genetics plays a huge part in ALL OF OUR biological "development", which has nothing to do with a person's lifestyle choices:



After reading the above sentiments regarding acceptance and kindness, you will understand why the word KINDNESS was superimposed on the butterfly:





Remember to visit the "It's A Girl Thing" Turner Syndrome Awareness Blog Hop 2020  page to become eligible for prizes.
Thanks for joining us in the blog hop!

Products Used:

• Dies: MB Delia Butterfly 98353, MB Finn Butterfly #98351, SW Butterfly Frame CED7105, SW Seville CED1203, SW Cordoba CED1206, MB Kindness Cursive Script #94391, Poppy Stamps #1113 Jumbled Birthday
• Paper: Black Glossy, White, Pale Pink, Orchid, White on White Vellum, Checkered Pink DP, 
• Misc: Clear Wink of Stella, Old Paper DI, Bright Purple dye ink, Craftwell Honeycomb EF, 

Challenges I would like to support please:

1. World Wide Open DT Challenge #1 AG DT 2/15
2. Creative Knockouts #335 Birthday Wishes 2/5
3. Seize the Birthday #182 All Creatures Great and Small (C5) (sep post) 2/11
4. Scrapyland Challenge #130 AG with dies SL sells 2/4
5. Crafty Calendar (Feb) Use Die Cuts or Punches 3/1

Butterfly hugs and kisses,

Step Card - Christmas at Sweet Stampin'

Hello, dear friends!
Hoping your Advent Journey is enjoyable as you prepare for Christmas Celebrations!

With great pleasure, I've joined the talented designers at

Christmas at Sweet Stampin'!

I'm thrilled to team up with these marvelously brilliant crafters, and hope to see your imaginative artwork each month in our "Anything Goes Christmas" Challenges. The challenge is for ANY Christmas theme craft project. December's Challenge is open until January 8.

Christmas at Sweet Stampin' also has a DT Call out! Hope you can join us!

Recently I drooled over a Crafters Companion Gemini Christmas Tree on Sue Drees' blog. She generously gifted me with several versions of die cuts from the pretty set. My card uses the pink pearl background and the ornate, white glittered detail image on a center step card!



Using IO snowflake dies on brown cardstock, I then coated them with sparkling SNS Embers ultrafine glitter.

Cute little glittered hearts peek from behind the first step:



Wishing you a fantastic week, and hope you and yours enjoy a lovely season.

Products:

• Dies: Crafters Companion Gemini Christmas tree gifted by Sue Drees, Snowflakes from IO, Step Template from Tattered Lace, Poinsettias from Poppy Stamps, 
• Glitter: SNS Embers G1034
• Paper: Bazzill Pale Pink, assorted pinks, white, brown
• Inks: Raspberry DO, Old Paper D
• Computer generated sentiments

Challenges I am Supporting:

1. Allsorts Challenges #497 Christmas Flowers (3 layered poinsettias) sep post 12/14
2. Scrapyland Challenge #103 AG with dies SL sells (Crafters Companion Gemini Christmas tree gifted by Sue Drees, Snowflakes from IO, Step Template from Tattered Lace, Poinsettias from Poppy Stamps) sep post 12/19
3. Holly and Ivy #42 Christmas (sep post) 1/8
4. Sparkles Christmas Challenge #95 Fancy Fold Christmas 01/01

Stamping Hugs,

Sparkle N Sprinkle October Release

Hello, Blogging Friends!

Welcome to the 

Sparkle N Sprinkle October Stamps Blog Hop

This month SNS is featuring five new specialty stamp sets suitable for:

* the men in your life, 
* the country-lovers and farmers you know, 
* those who enjoy fishing (great sentiments!) 
* and workers who wear scrubs or work in the Navy Nurse Corps.
* There is also a beautiful Autumn Nature set.

Enjoy!

Lovely as a Leaf -  Rubber Stamp Set and Digital Set
Fish Whisperer - Rubber Stamp Set and Digital Set (extra sentiment)
Farm Fresh #1 - Tractors - Rubber Stamp Set and Digital Set
Farm Fresh #2 - Cows - Rubber Stamp Set and Digital Set
Navy Nurse Corps - Digital Stamp Set
(sentiments may be suitable for any of your scrub-wearing friends!)

SNS digital stamps include JPG and PNG images, and often have additional sentiments and papers.

All the new digital and rubber stamp sets are 20% during their debut from October 15 - 20.

BUT THIS MONTH WE ARE CELEBRATING:

20% OFF ALL SNS RUBBER STAMP SETS IN THE STORE

PLUS20% OFF TONIC STAMP PLATFORM.

Just use the code STAMPING20 at checkout to receive your discount.

On October 18th, ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be selected from the comments left on the Designers' blogs listed above. Please leave a comment with each Designer in order to be eligible for the Grand Prize.  It's a Mystery as to which Designer will have the winning comment on her blog.

The Grand Prize Winner, who will be announced on the SNS Facebook page and the SNS Blog, will receive ALL of the new rubber stamp sets revealed this month.

Gus the Fish Whisperer inspired my easel card:

I colored Gus with Copic Markers. This rendition of Gus is available as a colored image with the Digital Set. The digital set also comes with a black-and-white image, and two colored versions - one with the blue background and one without, plus an extra sentiment.

First I crimped some tan and blue cardstock, and die cut the grass. I also added additional weeds and grass around Gus's feet with Copic G07 and Copic Multi Marker in Olive.

To coordinate the card, I also cropped the cat tails and the fish hanging from Gus's line. After copying and pasting the fish several times, two panels were cut and distressed as "matching" designer paper. Placing the cropped images on my word processor allowed me to flip the cat tails horizontally and frame the PNG sentiment. The tiny fish was copy and pasted repeatedly to make the "printed papers" for the top and bottom of the easel card:





Even the sentiment alone makes for a great card:



Ivory colored cardstock was used to frame the layered panels and as the base of the easel:

OCTOBER'S VIDEO KIT CLUB

https://sparklensprinkle.net/products/lovely-leaf-october-video-kit-v10-17?rfsn=487273.8c3a2

Receive the Lovely as a Leaf stamp set, and create a gorgeous glitter bow with cording.

These products are included in your kit:

Please join us in our monthly Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenge group on Facebook. The challenges run from the 1st of the month through the 25th. Please use one or more SNS images (rubber or digital) - and if you don't already have SNS stamps in your stash, SNS offers a few freebies here. No blog is necessary. A Winner and Top Three are posted on the last day of each month. The winner receives a $15 Gift Certificate to the on-line store. Come join the fun! We love seeing what you do with SNS products.

Blog Hop Order this month is:

Jess
Belinda
Diane
Eret
Shona
Donna
Chris

Products Used:

• Tonic Tim Holtz Stamp Platform
• Fish Whisperer Rubber Stamp Set
• Fish Whisperer Digital Stamp Set (has an extra sentiment in it)
• Poppy Red NUVO Hybrid Ink (for sentiment)
• Copic Markers, Copic Multi Markers, Distress Inks, White-Green-Blue-Tan cardstock
• Sue Wilson Double Pierced Ovals, Double Pierced Squares
• PoppyStamps Grassland Border

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. 613 Avenue Create #202 Anything Goes with Masculine Card 11/5
2. Aud Sentiments #190 "Use A Die Cut and A Sentiment 10/15 (sep post)
3. DREAM VALLEY CHALLENGES #165 ONE FOR THE BOYS 10/21 (sep post)
4. Sunny Day Crafting #56 "O is for Oval" 10/16
5. Always Fun Challenges #27 Lots of Layers (each ivory frame is also a layer) 10/16
6. Artistic Inspiration Challenges #187 Anything Goes Plus Use Cool Colors (I have used a lot of cool blue tones in this card) 10/16
7. Classic Design Team Open Challenge Anything for a DT Card Goes 11/1

Stamping Hugs,

Cracked Glass Pet Puns by MHK Designs for 2 Crafty Critter Crazies!

Hello, Critter Loving Friends!
Hoping you are doing well and enjoying Life.

A new 2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge begins today!

MKH Designs is sponsoring October's challenge, which ends October 31.

A random winner is selected, and a guest designer for the upcoming month is chosen.

My three cards feature this fun "Pet Puns" Digital Set which contains 3 images and 6 sentiments!

All three cards use the fish bowl and fishy sentiments. The prize will be the "Pet Puns" Digital Set.

There are some interesting ideas for using the set on the MHKDesigns blog here.

MHKDesigns "Pet Puns"

ENJOYING MY STASH

My first card utilizes the digital image printed in blue, colored with Copic Markers, and distressed with Tumbled Glass ink. The dry embossed tag also features two washi tape designs, hand-made papers, hand-stamped background, dry embossing, cheesecloth and glittery die cuts. Products listed below.

Years ago, I enjoyed making paper on a small scale, and still have many of my pieces. (HINT: "years ago" means 15 years ago (giggle).

Then I met Lis Robson of Paper Creator. Now here is a real talent! She makes handmade papers IN BULK in all kinds of colors, textures and a variety of "additives" like seeds, confetti, flower petals and more. 

My tag card uses a fibrous white piece from Lis, and a pale tangerine piece from my own stash. Lis had pressed her paper prior to it drying, whereas I used an embossing folder. I should have photographed them prior to adhering, right? Sheesh!

CRACKED GLASS (aka CRACKED ICE) TECHNIQUE

This video shows how to use digital stamps with the cracked glass technique, and reveals how to use it in one specific portion of your digital stamp image, or over the entire digi stamp image, as I have done.

Here is the YouTube link for my email followers:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDgJaWn6XaU

For the Cracked Glass (aka Cracked Ice) technique, I printed the sentiment and colored image, die cut them, used distress inks around the stencils, and then smooshed with VersaMark ink and dredged with SNS Clear Detail Embossing Powder, heating repeatedly for a glossy smooth coat. After plunging them in the freezer for 25 minutes, the pieces were "cracked", then smeared with Walnut Distress ink. That did not achieve the vintage flavor I hoped for, so I applied some Tonic Acorn Brown Hybrid ink with a Q-tip and lightly heated the pieces to meld the brown ink into the melted embossing powder.



The stamped panels resemble vintage glass when the light shines on them:



I loved using some of this sequined trim from my Mom's stash. This was purchased back in the early 1970's for some of her Krewe of Venus designs for the Swashbuckling Gasparilla parade and events in the Tampa Bay Area each year. Too bad the black sequins don't show up in the photography.




Lastly, I have a simple and sweet card using the same sketch as the Cracked Glass creation above:



Colored with Copic Markers and Blue Print and Tumbled Glass Distress Inks, the frame has 3/4" Double Stick Tear-ific Tape on the back to adhere the pretty Blue Lightning Ultrafine Glitter.

On A Personal Note:

Just had to share this amazing video of a giant manta asking for help from a diver.

Linda's Peaceful Place always has several uplifting goodies on her blog:

Don't forget! Any project featuring a creature is eligible at the 

2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge!

___________________________________________________________

Products Used:

MHK Designs - "Pet Puns" set colored with Copic Markers.

White-Blue Card: Blue Lightning Ultrafine Glitter (around frame), Spellbinders Decorative Labels 46, Labels 46, Labels 4, Lace, Satin Ribbon, Blueprint and Tumbled Glass Distress Inks.

White-Teal-Aqua Cracked-Glass Card: Spellbinders Labels 4, Vintage Trim from my Mom's stash, Peacock and Walnut Distress Ink, Tonic Acorn Brown Hybrid ink, SNS Clear Detail Embossing Powder, SNS VersaMark.

Tag Card:

• Dies: Spellbinders Diamondessence Circles, Dee's Distinctively Flourish, PoppyStamps Mainstreet Tags
• Embellishment Mousse: Orange Blush, Pacific Teal, Aquamarine
• Embossing Folders: We R Memory Keepers Dotted #1, Embossialiscious Regency Swirls
• Embossing Powders: Cerulean Star, Mediterranean Blue Star
• Glitter: Ocean
• Cardstock: Aqua, Neenah White, 2 handmade papers
• Inks: Distress, VersaMark
• Turquoise Punchinella, assorted brads

___________________________________________________________

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. Crafty Friends Challenge #67 Ribbon and Lace (my last white-blue card has both) 10/8
2. Love to Craft Challenges #15 Anything Goes 11/1
3. MHKDesigns by Mynn October 1 Anything Goes with MHK Design 11/1
4. A Bit More Time to Craft #53 Anything Goes 11/1
5. Crafts Galore Encore Oct Anything Goes 11/1 (tab)
6. Crafty Animals (Oct #7) Anything Goes with Animals 10/30 (sep post)
7. Crafty Girls Creations #40 Anything Goes 11/1 (sep post)
8. Creatalicious Challenges #124 "Anything Goes with Make your Own Background" (my TAG CARD has my hand made paper, hand stamped and heat embossed paper, dry embossing and punchinella) (sep post) 10/14
9. Create and Inspire #66 Anything Goes 11/10
10. Creative Ladybirds Creations #30 Anything Goes 11/1

Stamping Hugs,

House Mouse Christmas Cookie Decorating

Wafting Gingerbread Baking Scents to all my blogging friends world-wide!

(Yikes! My arms are getting sore)

How's that for a Christmasy hello?

I am smitten by the House Mouse characters, and thoroughly enjoy coloring them in their fun antics. They make great story telling, all in a single stamp!

These little guys are enjoying a homespun, homemade Christmas tradition.

Wish my Gingerbread cookies came out looking so pretty!

I've used Anna Griffin papers with a Sue Wilson frame die. 

TIP:

The Cloud Nine Microfine Velvet Glitter has been "taped in place" behind the frame, with the sticky portion facing front. The Glitter is actually "white", but has a lot of transparency to it. 

Behind the image, I've die cut a green foam frame to match the size of the ornate frame, to "pop up" the stamped panel. Because the dimensional foam behind the frame is green, a muted version of the green is showing through the glitter, matching the leaves on my card.

(for a quick tutorial on applying double sided tape to a frame, please visit my blog post)

Colored with Copic Markers, the images has been distressed with Forest Moss Distress Ink and Indian Gold Embellishment Mousse (around the edges, in the flowers, and in the colored panel).

Tim Holtz Tattered Poinsettias are die cut in red, and embossed, with more Indian Gold Embellishment Mousse. The burlap flower is also a Tim Holtz die. The leaves are from PoppyStamp's Blooming Poinsettia set. Cut in green, the leaves have been lightly smooshed with SeaSpray Green Embellishment Mousse.

Finished card - so sweet!

Thanks for joining me today, my friends!

Submitted to the following fine challenges:

1. House Mouse and Friends #246 Christmas in July 8/7 (sep post)
2. ABC Christmas (Aug 2) "R is for Red" 9/1
3. Addicted to Stamps - Addicted to Holidays #253 8/8
4. The Merry Christmas Challenge #28 "Animals" 8/8
5. Kerst-Christmas (#8) Anything Christmas (2nd entry) 9/1
6. The 12 Months of Christmas Challenge #32 Traditional Christmas Colors (FT) 9/1
7. Shopping Our Stash #314 Countdown to Christmas (C13) 8/8
8. The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge (3rd entry) C15 - #11 Anything Christmas Goes 8/7 (sep post)
9. Aud Sentiments Challenge #185 No Sentiment on Front of Card 8/7 (sep post)
10. Give a Crafter A Cookie #74 Inspiration Photo 8/10

Stamping Hugs,