Coming Soon - SNS Winter Hop this Thursday

Just a real quick reminder that the Sparkle N Sprinkle Sparkling Winter Sensations Blog Hop is coming up in two days on Thursday Sept. 22nd.  We have such an interesting mix of styles on the SNS design team - it's always fun to see what everyone has come up with.  And while the leaves are still on the trees & fall hasn't even completely set in for most of us yet; it's already time to start planning those holiday cards that always seems to sneak up on us.  Plus, to get you ready, Sparkle N Sprinkle has most of their holiday stamps on sale this month!  So don't forget to check out the winter hop on Thursday & pick up some of your favorite holiday stamps while they're on sale!

In the meantime, I have a holiday tag to share with you to start getting you in the mood!

Click any photo for a larger view

This stamp on this tag comes from the Merry Crows - Set 385 and features one of my favorite fun products to play with - Sparkle N Soft.  Sparkle N Soft is so much fun to add to your cards - soft, fluffy, touchable flocking with just the right touch of sparkle to really make it "pop".  If you've never used it before; you really need to add this to your "to do" list!  Sparkle N Soft makes such a big impression on your projects.  On this card, I added it to the scarf & hat (after coloring them for extra color intensity) using brushable glue to make them warm & wooly.  I also added it to the edge of the card using Sparkle N Sprinkle's awesome Tear-ific Tape to make a beautiful coordinating fuzzy accent on the side of the card.  Doesn't it look so warm & sparkly?!  The holly strip was painstakingly handmade using a border punch and gluing tiny little strips of red & dark green paper behind each cut out.  Forgive me for dwelling on the "painstakingly" part; but it was quite time consuming to make.  And yes, I do realize I could have only put the red behind the berries and just let the green show through from the tag base.  But wanted a darker green, plus & more importantly, the strip would have been all "lumpy bumpy" if I only backed the red berries.  So....a few more pieces and a little bit more time & wel-lah!  A bit time consuming, but I was really happy with the result though!  Don't forget to click on the picture for a better view of the card & all it's sparkling softness!  I hope you enjoyed my holiday tag today & that it puts you in the mood for the Sparkling Winter Sensations hop coming up on Thursday!  Be sure to come back to see what I & the other designers have come up with for this Wintery hop!  Hope you'll join us then!!

And remember -

"Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans"  John Lennon

Until next time,

Julie

Supplies used:

Stamp - Sparkle N Sprinkle

Sparkle N Soft - Sparkle N Sprinkle

Tag Die Cut - Sizzix

Border Punch - EK Success Holiday series

Pencils/Mineral Spirits

Here's a look at the whole Merry Crows set - lots of great snowman, holiday & wintery images to use and enjoy!