Sparkle N Sprinkle April Reveal with Glitter-full Bugaboo!

Happy April Fool's Day to my crafting friends,
and
Welcome to the Sparkle N Sprinkle April Stamp Reveal!
(if you have arrived here by way of artsy Jess, you're in the right place!)

As Guest Designer, I'd like to reveal my glitter-ific project AND invite you to the SNS Blog Hop.
Check out my talented Teamies' beautiful creations,
AND
earn a chance to win the grand prize!

NEW STORE - NEW BLOG - NEW PRODUCT LINES!

IT IS ALL ABOUT FUN WITH DEMO DONNA!

It's Demo Donna on the SNS YouTube Channel!

Subscribe today to REVEL IN all the latest Demo Donna tips and techniques - AND - great entertainment! Each week a new technique is shared, and each month, a new video kit is revealed!

The new sets are 20% off until April 3, 2017, so after the blog hop, hop on over to the NEW STORE and have fun shopping! Be sure to check out the OTHER amazing new products as well! With names like TONIC and NUVO and STAMPENDOUS and HOUSE MOUSE, you're sure to fill that cart up quickly!

There are FOUR new rubber stamp sets being released this month with their digital counterparts (one has a mega bundle), plus a new Digi Papers set.   

The new SNS sets are:

• Girlfriend Support Set 2 #839
•     Digital Version DIGI839BG

• Christmas Holly Blessings #841  **LIMITED EDITION**
•     Digital Version DIGI841B - includes extra sentiment - **LIMITED EDITION**

• Corner Garden #842
•     Digi Version DIGI842FS - mega bundle includes extra images, decoupage sheets and digital papers.

• Proudly Patriotic #843
•     Digital Version DIGI843J

• Vibrant Watercolor Digital Papers DIGI4001FS

The blog hop order is:

Diane
Chris
Shona
Eret
Belinda
Corner Garden surprise
Jess
Donna (you're here!)
Anne

Thanks for joining us and remember to comment on each of the Designers' blogs to be eligible for the Grand Prize.   Wonder who the Mystery Host will be this month?

Today's share is a GLITTER LADEN project using the Girlfriend Support Set 2 .

It's a perfect little giggle, or even a pick-me-up.

Here's how to stamp on glitter:

How to Dry Emboss with Glitter:

The photos with the card standing up show the darker aspect of the glitter:

The photos of the card laying down show the lighter aspect of the glitter:

Flowers made with the scraps of Super Adhesive Sheets and glitters. The brads are heat embossed, and the flowers are distressed with the same color embossing powder:

Silly little sentiment - also slightly distressed with embossing powder:

I wish you could see this card in person! It sparkles all over:

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to become the grand prize winner!

Now it is time to hop on over to the very gifted Anne!

Sparkle N Sprinkle Products:

Images: Girlfriend Support Set 2
Super Adhesive Sheets (double sided sticky)
Full Line of beautiful Microfine "Velvety" Glitter Colors
Cloud Nine (white) Microfine Velvet Glitter
Orchid Rose (dark pink) Microfine Velvet Glitter
Hyacinth (medium purple) Microfine Velvet Glitter
Bubblegum Ultrafine (super sparkly) Semi-Transparent Glitter
Morning Glory Cosmic (sparkly) embossing powder
Beach Cruiser embossing powder (with a little glitter added manually)

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. Classic DT Open Challenge #13 (stamping and coloring on velvet glitter, dry embossing in velvet glitter, making flower embellishments with velvet glitter, ultrafine glitter, embossing powder.) 5/1
2. Colour Crazy Challenge #13 Anything Goes using Coloring Medium of Choice (Copics and Distress Inks on Microfine Glitter) 4/14
3. Creative Fingers Challenges #127 Anything goes 4/14
4. Tuesday Throwdown #336 SPARKLES (stamping and coloring on velvet glitter, dry embossing in velvet glitter, making flower embellishments with velvet glitter, ultrafine glitter, embossing powder.) 4/5
5. World Wide Open DT Challenge #20 (stamping and coloring on velvet glitter, dry embossing in velvet glitter, making flower embellishments with velvet glitter, ultrafine glitter, embossing powder.) 4/15

Stamping Hugs to you!

Sparkle N Sprinkle's Corner Garden Digital Tutorial BLOG HOP

It may be April 1, but no fooling around here!
WELCOME to a bonus edition of the Sparkle N Sprinkle April 1 Stamp Reveal!

If you have arrived here by way of my gifted teamie Belinda you are in the right place!

For details about the blog hop, please click here.

For a chance to win the Blog Hop's GRAND PRIZE,

AND

for a second opportunity to win this versatile Corner Garden mega digital bundle,

please leave a comment below stating what you like in particular about this digital set, and what you would like to do with it.  Don't forget to comment on everyone else's blog for a chance to owin this digital bundle. Random winner from eligible comments will be announced on April 3.

NOTE: TO MY EMAIL FOLLOWERS:
This is a picture laden post. Feedback from my followers is that you appreciate step-by-step photos, rather than a written tutorial.
I fear that the post may possibly be too long for the Feedburner email posts. If you do not see the entire tutorial and are interested, I hope you will click on the title at the top of your email and come to my blog. If that does not work, please email me. I will try to send you a PDF version.

NO NEED TO HAVE SPECIAL SOFTWARE:

USE YOUR WORD PROCESSOR

This post is meant to help newbies to the world of digital crafting.

The ideas are stuffed into a few cards, so I hope you will view the simplicity in the cards merely for ideas. Hopefully some of the buzz words will help new digital crafters find the tools needed in your existing software.

Let's begin the journey using this beautiful Corner Garden mega digital bundle by artist Tracey Miller. The set includes papers, sentiments, black-and-white images, and vibrant, precolored images.

Many of the things we do with conventional rubber stamping can be done with digitals.
It's often faster, and less expensive because it's all done on the computer.

The perks include:

• No storage room needed, 
• No big mess if done completely digitally,
• Ease of assembling, 
• Takes very little crafting space,
• Finding papers on line is relatively easy and usually inexpensive,
• Playing around to see which papers you like with which images,
• Little clean up involved unless messy techniques were employed,
• Resizing the papers and images to suit your needs without having to purchase multiples of the same image.
• You will never run out!
• Cards can be extremely simple or very complex. 
• Projects can be compiled a little at a time and saved on the computer until you have time to print and complete.
• You may leave your scrapbook pages and paper projects as a single "real" layer, even thought it might look like several layers were used. This is great for easy storage and mailing. 
• Create elaborate layers just as you would with conventional methods and techniques.

First:

Using more than one layer of digital paper, and multiple layers of digital stamps:

Apologies for the stray glitter - here is the finished card:
The decorative border punch on top - white - is actually from the same white cardstock as all the printed digital "layers".

Here is the added dimension - but still flat for mailing - notice the flowers along the bottom, in the left and right corners:

Second:

Make a "plain" multi-layered card with only a few layers of paper:

Finished Card

flat for mailing:

A Close Up of the beautiful paper, with water color blending, and bokeh throughout:

Of course I would have liked to gussy-up the card with glitz and other embellishments, but it has been left "naked" so you can see the digital portions.

Third:

A few more ideas for layering, with easy finishing embellishments:

The finished card is ONE PIECE OF WHITE CARD STOCK, folded in half.

The butterflies have been added for dimension.

A single stamp will suffice for mailing purposes:

Sparkle N Sprinkle Products Used

Corner Garden Mega Digital Bundle (stamps, sentiments, papers, cut file)

WaterFall Semitransparent Glitter 

Bubblegum Semitransparent Glitter

Nuvo glue pens (large and small) also comes in medium point.

Thanks for stopping by - please hop on over to talented teamie Jess for artsy creativity!

hugs,
Donna

A Little Fairy in Us All {Cardz 4 Galz}

I'm so glad you're here, dear blogging friends!

It is FAIRY NICE to see you!

It's time for the 44th Cardz 4 Galz challenge!

Badges are awarded for the Spotlight Winner and Top Picks.

Challenge #44 is chosen by teamie Jan -and the theme is:  Fairy Nice.

Show us your cards using any and all manner of FAIRIES! 
Challenge ends on April 12.

I am using this incredible Fairy Tangles Umbrella Fairy digital image that I just HAD to purchase some time ago, but has never been used. Sound familiar? 

It's always a pleasure mixing and matching die cuts and making wonky frames.

For a little extra texture, I added sparkly Pine Star Embossing Powder to the Tonic Swirling Frame Layering Die Set, which has a slightly marbled appearance. It affords great coverage AND interesting cast of hues as it glitters and sparkles:

  

For a little extra interest, Meadow Sparkle Ultrafine Glitter (a slightly different color green) was adhered on the Tropical Flourish die cut.

The card is topped off with an old Hero Arts Poetic Prints Danselfly and REALLY old embellishment at the top left, and pretty flowers with feathers in the bottom left. Another oldie is the Martha Stewart Geometric Shapes border punch. I'm sad she is not making more punches - I really liked her line.

It is always a pleasure seeing your artful treasures,

so please come play with us at
Cardz 4 Galz.

Products:

• Fairy Tangles Umbrella Fairy
• Pine Star Embossing Powder (marbled)
• Meadow Sparkle Ultrafine Glitter
• Tonic Swirling Frame Layering Die Set (1462E)  (4 decorative frames, 1 (small) tag option, 6 outline dies 10 dies in the set)
• Full Tonic Line of Products
• Hero Arts damselfly, Tropical Flourish die, flowers, ribbon, feathers, SB Wonky Rectangles, MS punch, embelly from stash

Challenges I'd like to support please:

• C.R.A.F.T. #409 Create Your Own Embellishments 4/6  (Floral Arrangement, Damselfly-sentiment)
• Crafty Creations #338 Anything Goes 4/12
• Crafty Gals Corner #116 Anything Goes 4/12
• Creative Moments #114 Anything Goes 4/5
• Tuesday Throwdown #336 Sparkles  4/5 (Tonic frame has glittery EP and die cut has glitter)
• World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #20 Anything Goes DT 4/15

Stamping hugs to you!

Tweetingly Pretty in Pink {Cardz4Galz}

I'm so glad you're here!

Wishing you a happy day, and hoping you are doing well!

It's time for the 43rd Cardz 4 Galz challenge!

Badges are awarded for the Spotlight Winner and Top Picks.

Challenge #43 is chosen by teamie Helen -and the theme is:  Pretty in Pink.

Show us your cards using lots of pink in any way! 
Challenge ends on March 29.

My "flat" 6"x6" card is flat, suitable for less expensive mailing. 

I wanted to pile on the flowers, layers and pearls, but restrained myself! (giggle)

This adorable bird image has lain virginal for years.
3 years?
5 years?
more?

It's been a long time coming to use this pretty.

HOW LONG?
Much, MUCH MORE than (one year) to play in the Retro Rubber Challenge.

It's even extinct at Overstock.com.  (hanging head in shame)

Can you believe how neglectful a mom I am? I just had to have this darling image,
only to bring it home, display it, and leave it unused.
So many of my stamps remain uninked, crying out for attention.

The IO bird cage is cut from sage card stock,
heat embossed with Silver Pearl embossing powder,
to give it a lustrous,
metallic,
pearly
appearance.

The Powder is semi-transparent
to allow the green tones of the cardstock
to show through the luster.

Silver Pearl embossing powder
can be used much like clear embossing powders
because it is nearly transparent,
but has a
pearly,
metallic
finish.

A little stitching for the pearly vellum semi-circle on the left side of the card can be seen through the bird cage.

Some pretty pearl daisies for the top and bottom of the tags on the card, gift from sweet friend Paula:

Finally, everyone deserves a little wine, right?

In this case, how about
Sangria Star embossing powder?

I personally like the entire SNS Tuscany line because they are detail powders that provide great coverage.

The glitteriness of these EPs is fantastic, and you would think it is straight glitter without any EP.

I wanted a little variance in the hues of the SW leaves, and the EP provides a little sparkle and darkness, keeping the color the same.

Below is my little story about

THIS

PINK

BIRD.

On A Personal Note:

and for the March Path of Positivity Challenge

The Story Goes...

 Once upon a time, there was an extremely talented song bird! Her music lulled all the forest creatures to sleep at night, and awakened them with happy, melodious, cheering tunes in the morning, so everyone could rise in good spirits, and go about their daily duties in gratitude.

Alas,

our little bird was not completely fulfilled at heart. 

Instead of being grateful for the love she gave and received, 

she suffered from a long-held disappointment. 

She has always wanted to be pink!

Imagine wanting to be pink, molting your feathers time and again, only to be found some OTHER seemingly drab color, without fully embracing and accepting her life as it was.

Nevertheless, our heroine persisted, and visited her local hair salon. She had the color works, including a body wave for her wings! Gotta love the stamina of this little lady.

She submitted to many unpleasant procedures trying to realize her dream. In the end, she was delighted with her appearance, which caused her to sing all the more beautifully, much to her friends' delight.

Our moral to the story is slightly different than usual. 

In this case, her friends helped her "keep her PINK ON!" They had always wanted to give a gift to her in return for what she had lavished upon her community, but she had never been completely honest and forthcoming about her true self.

In this case, everyone lived happily ever after, and learned to share openly their needs, desires and happinesses - all in the spirit of love, friendship and gratitude. The newly-pink bird and her friends learned that when we appreciate ourselves and one another, and become aware of who we truly are, that we can be fulfilled and follow our dreams more completely.

Speaking completely from a self-centered point of view:

Without going into any personal details, that is TRULY the way I feel about my internet friends. 

You are my strongest encouragers, sincerest cheerleaders, dearest heart-to-heart buddies and understanding comrades.

Without knowing it, you help me over many a hurdle, and appreciate me for who I am, despite my "disabilities" and flaws. Since I am a home-bound individual, your unexpected kindnesses have been a source of great awakening, and much of my personal growth! 

Thank you for helping me keep my pink on!

(I hope I do the same in return, singing a pretty song!)

Fellow Blogger Lis had more surgery on her injured leg. This has been an ongoing battle for her, and I admire her stamina and persistence in seeking healing and remaining active.

So here is a photo of my little Pink Bird of Cheer to Lis:

The sentiments are stamped in two colors of ink (gray and black).

But they are from the pansies same Pansies Set:

It is always a pleasure seeing your artful treasures,

so please come play with us at
Cardz 4 Galz

Products Used:

• Sparkle N Sprinkle: Sangria Star Embossing Powder (leaves), Silver Pearl embossing powder (bird cage)
• tag: Sparkle N Sprinkle: sentiments from Pansies Set 1 (you can also get these sentiments on a fabulous digital bundle, or on a mini digital set
• card: Inkadinkadoo bird on branch stamp, SU sentiment
• Dies:
• Impression Obsession DIE020 bird cage
• Sue Wilson - Pierced Circles (on left), Faux Quilled Leaves
• Wild Rose Studios - Gilded Tag
• Poppy Stamps - Main Street Tags
• Poppy Stamps - Festival Tags

Challenges I'd like to support:

1. 613 Avenue Create - March "Anything Goes with Option: Use Rubber Stamp (used 4 rubber stamps) 4/8
2. A Bit More Time to Craft - #40 Anything Goes 4/1
3. A Perfect Time to Craft Open Challenge #3 Anything Goes 4/1
4. Come and Get It Challenge - (March 12) Things With Wings 3/19
5. Get Creative Challenges #56 Use Favorite Color Combo (pink and green) 4/3
6. Love to Scrap #95 Anything Goes 4/1
7. Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenge #1711 Anything Goes 3/20
8. Path of Positivity March - Inspirational Post / Optional theme: Birth of New Beginnings (my little bird story explains how "new beginnings" can be an awareness of who we already are, and following our dreams to become everything we want to be) 4/2
9. Retro Rubber Challenges - "Anything Goes with Old Rubber" (blurb written above) 3/26
10. Stamping Sensations (March) "Close To Nature" 4/2

Thanks for stopping by today!

hugs,