"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,