SNS Creative Challenge & Are You Ready for the 4th?

Hi Everyone! It's time for another Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenge!  And the July challenge is a fun one!  For the month of July; you're challenged to create something, anything other than a card.  So many fun possibilities!  (And don't forget, if you use a Sparkle N Sprinkle regular or digital stamp that you purchased - you'll receive an adorable free floral digital image from Beccy Muir!)

So, here's what I came up with.....


I've been on a bit of a medallion streak recently - once you start making those fun things; it's really kind of hard to stop!  (You'll be seeing some of my other medallion projects soon).

And I also happened to be working with some of SNS's Patriotic Stamp Sets for another project.  So....the idea just popped into my head - why not combine the two and make a Patriotic/Summer Table decoration?!  What a perfect addition it would be to anyone's picnic or home decor!



Wouldn't this just be great for your 4th of July festivities?!



Personally, I just love patriotic decor and I think it would look awesome sitting out around the house all year round too.

The stamps all came from the Patriotic Icons - Set 433.  And of course, every patriotic design needs lots and lots of sparkle and POP.  So for my sparkle & pop, I've used embossing powders and sparkling embossing powders for the sayings and lots and lots of glitter all around!  I wish you could see it glistening in person! So colorful, sparkly and FUN!



Here's some close ups of the individual medallions and the sparkly stars I included.








(Click any photo for a better view)




I had so much fun with this piece.  And I love how it turned out so much that I'm already working on a birthday version of it!  So many decorative possibilities with this - how about for a wedding or baby shower, a graduation party, 25th or 50th anniversary - so many possibilities!  And Sparkle N Sprinkle has all the stamps and "glitz" to make yours just perfect!





Hope you liked this fun "anything but a card" project.  I always love to know you stopped by and I also love to hear what you think; so don't forget to leave a comment before you leave.  (If I've inspired you to create one of your own; be sure to leave me a link so I can see what you created!)




And don't forget to make an "Anything but a Card" creation for your entry into the SNS Creative Challenge this month too!  Hope you have a wonderful, Happy and Safe Holiday!!

Until next time,

***Julie***

Sparkle N Sprinkle Anything But a Card Blog Hop

Welcome! Today us ladies from SNS are hosting an "Anything But a Card" Blog Hop.  Hopefully you've just arrived here from Barbara's Blog and have been enjoying all the interesting projects the girls have come up with.    (If you just happened upon this post, why not go to the SNS Home Blog to check out the details for joining us on this hop.  There's some great prizes to be won too!)

I knew exactly what I wanted to do when this hop was planned.  I've been wanting to do one of these for a long time and this was the perfect time to make it happen!  And I happened to have one of the great new sets that was recently released that would work perfectly for this too; so I was really excited to try this out!

My non-card project features the new Sweet Strawberries Set 484.  And I decided to make this adorable basket to hold a delicious treat!  I had the strawberries on hand the whole time I worked on this; even when I was doing the coloring to get it just right.  And boy did they smell yummy!!  Are you hungry for a little sweet taste of summer yet?!

My neck of the woods just last week.... I'm so ready for summer!

We're still quite cold here in my part of the US (even had snow flurries the last couple days!); so I'm definitely ready for any warm thoughts!!  So this summery project is just what I needed!










The basket is made using a Spellbinder Grand Label die cut that is cut in half and has a strip inserted between the two halves to form the sides and bottom of the basket.  Add a decorative strip for the handle and Viola - adorable little basket to fill with any treat!  Full instructions for how to make the basket can be found in the SNS Art Gallery here. 

 
The image was stamped with Memento ink and colored with Copic markers.  The sentiment is embossed with Teddy Brown embossing powder (one of my favorites) to match the brown basket.  


There's so many different things you could make one of these baskets for - change the paper color, the Spellbinder die, and/or the image and you could create lots of different types of treats.  Whether it's a just little treat for a special person or perhaps something more formal like a shower favor; the ideas are endless!



We're getting close to the end of the hop, but there's a couple more stops and some great projects left for you to check out! So leave a comment (I love to hear what you think!) and then hop on over to Marie's Blog to see what fun idea she has for you!

Hope you enjoy the rest of the hop!  And do stop back again!  

Until next time,

***Julie***

Sparkle N Sprinkle January Blog Hop

Welcome to my page on the SNS Fancy Folds Blog Hop!

Hopefully you've arrived here from April's blog.  If not, you may want to start back at the beginning at the SNS Home Blog so you don't miss any great projects and all the details on how to participate and get a chance win some great prizes too!

For my first project for today I thought I'd do something most of us can use a lot of - a fun birthday card!  This colorful Swing Card (or Flip flop Card depending on what you call it) uses two of Michelle Perkett's fun birthday digital stamps - Sprout the Birthday Princess and Happy Birthday Kitten!



These two fun party animals look so great together that I thought they'd be perfect for the two sides of a Swing / Flip Flop card.  (Click on the name to go to instructions for how to make one).

Both images were colored with Copic markers and cut out with Spellbinders Nestabilities.  Sparkling Snow glitter was added to their party hats and the outside edge of the die cuts to make them extra sparkly & ready to party! Aren't they so cute in their party hats?!

 

Here's a look at the Birthday Kitten on the "backside" of the card when you flip or swing it open! 

My second design is a Side Spring Card and is perfect for a little Valentine's Day fun! This is a really interesting & different fold because the end result is so unique looking.  While it may look like a smaller card; this style actually fits perfectly into a standard A2 size envelope.  I've been wanting to try one of these for quite awhile & I have to say I'm so glad I did; they are really fun to make & decorate!  Here's what I came up with for mine:



My side spring card was made on SNS Color Coordinates MacIntosh cardstock and uses two of SNS's fun Valentine's stampette sets  Set 453S Happy Hearts and Set 454S Heart Wings.  These two sets complement each other so well; I decided to use a little from each!  And then I also added the adorable Bee border from Set 393 - Dani's Garden Swing.

All the bee's wings were accented with Sparkling Snow glitter for just the right amount of sparkle!

click photo for closer view

It's hard to show how the card opens up in a photograph, but this photo shows it partially opening.  Both the diamond shape and the panel under it lift up together to reveal a space where you can write or stamp your personal message.

It's colorful, it's unique, it's sparkly, it's fun!  Try one today!! 


Hope you've enjoyed my projects today.  Don't forget to leave a little love (comment) before you hop on by.  I love & appreciate hearing from everyone that stops by.  Then hop on over to Dawn's Blog to see what folded fun she has for you!  Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the hop!! Do stop back again soon!!

Until next time,

***Julie***

Here's the Hop Order if you get Lost anywhere along the way:

Brigita Skopas http://gitascreations.blogspot.com

Karalee Ingram  http://kareescardsandcraftsofcourse.blogspot.com

Shona Erlenborn  http://shonasstampingstage.blogspot.com

Anne Temple  www.annemade-anne.blogspot.com

Karin Martin http://karin-withaniforpaper.blogspot.com

April Williams  www.stampwillydesigns.blogspot.com

Julie Zippel (you're here!) http://backtobasicsandbeyond.blogspot.com

Dawn Bennett http://dipndotscreations.blogspot.com

Jackie Smith www.stamping4you.blogspot.com

Marie Berquist http://craftemarie.blogspot.com

Barbara Bruder www.artandsoulcreations.blogspot.com

Shanna Shands http://scsdesigns.blogspot.com

Cammy Vietzke www.stampingtime.blogspot.com

Donna Ellis http://creativesmiles2.blogspot.com
Keri Brown http://gotstamps.blogspot.com

Coming This Week!

Don't forget!  

This week, all us gals at Sparkle N Sprinkle will be holding our first Blog Hop of 2013 - the Fancy Folds Blog Hop!  As always, we'll be sharing lots of great ideas & there will be lots of great prizes to be won too.  We sure hope you'll join us this Thurs. (and the hop will run for four days so you have lots of time to check out  all the great ideas too!)

To get you in the mood; I thought I'd share a fancy fold I did quite a while back.  This card was showcased on one of the SNS blogs way back before I had my own blog.  It's always been one of my favorites; so I thought this would be a good time to add it to my personal blog.  I liked this card so much I did it in three different versions.  Each one used a different variety of SNS's beautiful embossing powders and a different treatment for the center of the flowers.


 This lovely version focused on vibrant shimmering pastels with pearl centers.

If you'd like the full instructions for how to make a Flower Pot Card card; they can be found in the Sparkle N Sprinkle Tips & Techniques section (click any bold name to go there!).  

Or you can find the instructions for this version in the SNS Art Gallery Here.

My second version was done in a "bridal style" in pinks and white.  

This one has handmade floral centers that were created with shrink plastic, scallop punches, and a coating of the "oh so versatile" Sparkle embossing powder.

(Don't forget you can  click on any photo for a better view!)

Full instructions and products used for this version can be found Here.

My last version is just bright and bold and featured buttons for the floral centers. I love the look of the golden yellow with the brown buttons - reminds me of black eyed susans.  And the orange posies complemented them so well.   On this card, I also added my message to a a sweet little tag on the front for something different.

Full instructions and product list for this version can be found Here.

All the images and sayings for all three cards are from the wonderful Set 391 - Solid Butterfly. Love, love the sayings and style of this set! Definitely one of my all time "go to" sets!!



Well, I hope you enjoyed these cards & it puts you in the mood for some more "Fancy Folds" coming up in the blog hop Thursday!  Don't forget to let me know what you think of these before you hop on by and I'll See you on Thurs. for the Hop!

Until next time,

***Julie***