CraftEMarie: SNTODBD42

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Sparkle N Sprinkle "Anything But A Card" Blog Hop

Easter has past but I hope you are still in a “hoppin” mood!! It is time for the Sparkle N Sprinkle “Anything But A Card” Blog Hop. If you hopped over from Julie Zippel’s blog, you are in the right place and almost finished hoppin’. If you are just stopping by, you might want to hop on back to the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog and start at the beginning to get all of the details.

The hop runs from April 4^th through April 5^th, and the winners will be announced on Saturday, April 6^th. For a chance at one of the prizes, all you have to do is hop to each designer’s blog to see what they have created and leave a comment. Three of the prizes are “hidden” on 3 different mystery designer blogs – it could be me!!

Here is the hoppin’ order:

Cindy Keogh

Marie Berquist (you’re here!!)

Brenda Smalle

I have two fun projects to share today and I have to admit, I cheated a little. I actually included cards in my first project but combined them with other items, so I didn’t think you would mind. It was a little tricky getting everything photographed since I am visiting my daughter in Memphis, TN and didn’t have my usual set up. Of course I could have had everything done ahead of time (ok, all my friends are now rolling on the floor with laughter) and taken pictures at home, but I had the joy of finding out that decorative paper towels make a great back drop!!

My first project is a pretty holder that makes a great gift. It is made from a single 12” x 12” piece of cardstock and has a pocket on each side to hold whatever you want to tuck in. I chose to make a set of cards and a coordinating note pad.

I decided to go with a strawberry theme since we will be picking strawberries in the next month and it one of my favorite things to do in spring. I used the strawberry images from the SNS set, Sweet Strawberries, and colored them with alcohol markers. I cut them out with Spellbinders’ Oval and Circle dies and layered them on dark green Lacey dies, also from Spellbinders. I centered these on a polka dot banner strip and an embossed background created with Paper Studio’s Quatrefoil Embossing Folder. This worked perfectly with the lattice designed green designer paper I used. I added just a touch of sparkle, using a little Cloud Nine Velvet Glitter on the strawberries and Sun Dazzle Sparkle N Soft in the center of the flowers.

You can tuck the cards with envelopes on one side and the notepad on the other side. Add a little ink pen and you have a great gift. You can find more details on this project in the SNS gallery here, but make sure you come back to visit the SNS Blog on Sunday, April 14^th, for a tutorial on how to make this easy holder.

My second project also uses the Sweet Strawberries set and I created a cute basket using the Treat Box tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers. I used the same lattice designed green paper for the outside and coordinating polka dot paper on the inside.

I had originally planned to fill my little basket with strawberry scented potpourri, but all I could find was apple, cherry, or raspberry. Instead I found some faux strawberries and some lovely rose shaped soaps to add to my basket. The strawberries were too plastic looking so I brushed them with SNS brushable glue and covered them with Cloud Nine Velvet Glitter. Still wanting a strawberry scent for my basket, I kept looking (yes, I get an idea in my head and just can’t let it go). I finally had to settle on one of those car deodorizers that hang from your mirror.

I also picked up a giant green paper clip and used the same design from the cards to created a decorative oval to glue on it.

I added some left over Easter grass to my basket, with my deodorizer tucked in. After arranging the luscious strawberries and delicate roses in each corner, I placed the paper clip on one of the sections close to the center. What a great gift!! I do have to admit that the aroma of those little rose soaps is quite strong and you really can’t smell my little car deodorizer. Oh well, I tried!! Find the detailed instructions for this card here.

You have one more hop before you are done – head on over to Brenda Smalle’s beautiful blog to see what she has waiting for you. I hope you have enjoyed all these different projects and ideas, and don’t forget to leave a comment before you leave so your name can go in the drawing for a prize!!

Thanks for hoppin’ by!