Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog Hop

Hi Everyone,
Welcome to the May Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog Hop. This month's theme is "At the Beach".If you have arrived here from Cindy's blog then you are in the right spot. If not, you may want to start at the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog for all the details. Leaving a comment on all the blogs from the beginning makes you eligible for great prizes. Prizes to be awarded are: a grand prize (stamp set of your choice) and 3 hidden prizes on 3 different designers blogs. And we don't even know where the hidden prizes are. Here are the designers in this months blog hop, in case you get lost.

** Donna Ellis **  Marie Berquist  **  Cindy Keogh  **
** Barbara Bruder (that's me)  **  Keri Brown ** Cammy Vietzke **
**  Karin Martin  **  Brigita Skopas  **  Jackie Smith  **
** Dawn Bennett  ** Karalee Ingram  **  Anne Temple ** 

**  April Williams **  ** Shona Erlenborn **  Brenda Smalle **

  WOW,  pretty soon we will be planning for vacation at the beach. Doesn't that sound wonderful. Maybe you have a little one and her birthday is coming up in the summer months, maybe she loves mermaids. How about a beach party at the local pool. Our projects  will give you inspiration for anything in the beach theme.

Let me share with you the card I made.This card is a side step card and I used images from the darling stampette set 477S Serene Mermaid.

 I also used some Cypress greenery for the background. I glittered it up to make it look like sparkly seaweed.  I glued those small seashells on the front border and added the stamped conch shells to the first step and used a sentiment on the back step. 

Here is a close up of the mermaid

Directions to my card can be found here.

Products used on the card:

Directions for the side step card template here

Serene Mermaid Stampette set 477S

Brushable Glue

Listen to the Beauty (verse) in set 404 Ocean Treasures

Orange Surprise Glitter 

Black Memento Ink

Seashells

Alcohol markers

Corner Punch

Well its time to hop on over to Keri's blog to see what she has designed for you.

Don't forget to leave a comment, to be eligible for the prizes. 

Anything But a Card Blog Hop

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for stopping in today.

 I am participating in two blog hops simultaneously, so if you are looking for the Craft-Dee BowZ Blog Hop please make sure to click here to be taken directly to the Craft-Dee Bowz blog hop. If you are looking for the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog Hop, then you are in the right spot.

Are you having fun and getting inspired !!

If you came here from Cindy's blog then you are in the right place. If not and you want to be eligible for prizes please make sure to start at the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog for all the details.Leaving a comment on each DT members blogs will make you eligible for a prize. Prizes to be awarded are: a grand prize (stamp set of your choice) and 3 hidden prizes on 3 different designers blogs. And we don't even know where the hidden prizes are.

Here is a list of the designers so you will not get lost.

** Shona Erlenborn ** Jackie Smith  ** Karalee Ingram  ** Dawn Bennett ** 

**Shanna** Anne Temple  ** Brigita Skopas ** Karin Martin **

**Cammy Vietzke ** April Williams** Cindy Keogh ** Barbara Bruder (that's me) **

**Julie Zippel ** Marie Berquist ** Brenda Smalle **  

Let me share with you my projects.
Since we are spotlighting Anything But a Card in our blog hop this month, I decided to focus on gifts. Adorning gift containers and using stamps to make everything coordinate is so easy and really a great accent to the gift itself. We all give gifts throughout the year, so these ideas can be used for whatever the reason for the gift.

First, we all use bags with handles from time to time. It seems that more often we use tissue paper to add a little pop and pizazz to the bag. Well how about using a bag topper instead. They are sometimes called a Bag Bib. Let me show you my decorated bag. I used a plain white handled gift bag, and covered the front and back with card stock and some designer paper to glam the bag up a bit. Next I decided on the theme and then decorated my bag topper. And I then decorated a box for another gift.

Here are my two coordinating projects:

Here is a close up of the bag topper

I used the mermaid from Stampette Set 477S to adorn the bag topper. Isn't she cute. 

other products used:

Mermaid - Stampette set 477s Serene Mermaid

Sea Grass - Set 404 Ocean Treasures

Embossing Powders: Pear EP 420 and Moss Star EP 430

Brushable Glue

Colored with colored pencils

Flat Backed pearls and Rhinestones

Small seashells

I also decorated a pillow box that can be used for a small gift. For everyone who likes to have things match or at least have the same theme, I continued with the sea theme.Since the pillow box was white I cut a shape to cover the top and bottom with purple cs, Next I used an embossing folder on the top cover and then I attached the purple covers.I added a ribbon and a fluffy bow. I decided that the gift was in need of a gift tag so I used an oval from Spellbinders, stamped the outside and added the verse to the inside. Added color inside and out, punched a hole and added twine I attached the gift tag to the bow.

Here is the gift tag opened with the sentiment.

Well it is so easy to coordinate gift packaging with stamped images. And this will give your gifts that coordinated look.

products used on the pillow box:

All stamped images on box - Stamp set 404 Ocean Treasures

Embossing folder

Colored pencils

Ribbon

Twine

Directions to both of my projects can be found below:
Gift Tag on Pillow Box
Gift Bag - Bag Topper

Now it's time for you to hop on over to Julie's blog for more inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by

My projects are being entered in the following challenges:

Bag Topper & Pillow Box

• Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge - anything goes
• Loves Rubber Stamps - anything goes
• Through The Craft Room Door - anything goes
• Vickie's Challenges anything goes