The Sparkle Team took on the challenge to repurpose stamps in their stash and make birthday cards inspired by the Fall’s handiwork. Now they are extending an invitation to you. Is your Autumn-inspired birthday card ready for the Card Contest? There is a stamp set of your choice waiting to be won! Check here for details.

Designer Barb Benson loves working with unexpected combinations of elements in her artwork.

In this case, Barb “color blocks” an acrylic tag with assorted embossing powders. Because the specially formulated EPs contain their own sparkle, the tag appears to glow from behind. Attaching tape on the front for the glitter frame provides a deeper sparkle in the front. The result is an amazing mixture of sparkles and colors!

This makes a great gift as a “sun catcher” or Christmas Ornament because the holes are already drilled into the acrylic piece, and the back is seamlessly finished with embossing powders, never to rub off. To learn more how Barb achieved this effect, please see her art gallery.

Your Daily Challenge has to do with Acrylic Pieces. Leave a comment: If you have used acrylic pieces in your crafting, how did you best enjoy using them? Were they a gift? If you have never used them before, what has prevented you from trying them as embellishments on your cards?

GAME REMINDER:

Answer the daily challenge questions by leaving a comment on the blog. If you absolutely cannot leave a comment on the blog for technical reasons, you may e-mail your answer to SNS_Artist@tampabay.rr.com with your name in the Subject Field. Please leave a comment according to the day’s challenge. It doesn’t matter if your answer is similar to someone else’s, just leave the comment. Throughout the 9 days, for each comment you leave, your name will be deposited in our birthday basket. On Sunday, October 10, we will draw a name from the birthday basket and award a prize! So answer carefully! It is the month for “trick or treat”, and we know that questions might be tricky! LOL

Is your name in the birthday basket yet? Check here.

That’s it for today! Thanks for all the sharing comments and responses! I’m looking forward to seeing your contest cards and comments!

hugs,

Donna

To play this month’s games, simply visit the GAMES PAGE on the website.

Woo Hoo and Happy Penuche Fudge Day! (mmm! recipes here!) Glad you are having fun with Bingo. (Did you miss the bingo-card submission deadline? Feel free to play in the daily challenges and become eligible to win a weekly prize. Please click here for game rules). Are you eligible to become a winner? Look here!

Let’s see, todays words are:

words removed 7-25 per game rules.

Have you ever tried playing with acrylic pieces? Affectionately known as “acrylics”, Today’s Challenge revolves around those elusive items which result in spectacular projects, and are often forgotten when creating cards, layouts and other crafting goodies. Granted, they take a little time, but then, don’t a lot of other techniques? Try exploring the world of Acrylics. They lend a sometimes elegant, whimsical, darling, outrageous, wonderful finished product — and always provide an eye-captivating moment when people open their card and see the impact. Acrylics are flat, making them ideal for mailing.

There are a number of ways to create spectacular acrylics for cards, layouts, or jewelry. Pigment inks and regular acrylic paints work best in coloring images to achieve an opaque look. Solvent based markers similar to Sharpie may also be used, but give a slightly translucent feel to the colored image. Acrylics dry very quickly, but an impatient artist can simply utilize her heat tool for faster drying times. Sparkle N Sprinkle Super Adhesive Sheets, SNS Tear-ific tape, and Embossing Tape will adhere acrylics seamlessly to projects. However, our Brushable and Dimensional Glues also do the trick (takes longer to dry, though).

Designer Patti White used Staz-on Ink for the image on this acrylic piece, and Brushable Glue with 2 colors of glitter (Sparkling Snow G1003, Majestic Purple G1005). The image is colored with Violet Galaxy Marker 99800-125 (an opaque pigment marker which dries on both porous & non porous surfaces). The background on the purple cardstock was created with sparkly and creamy Morning Glory Embossing Powder EP390.

To recreate this card, or one similar to it, with our new Stamp Sets, please click here for directions.

SNS Acrylic pieces come in a variety of packages – several shapes and sizes. Your Challenge today (are you saying “FINALLY!” LOL) is in regards to packages of acrylic pieces only. How many different packages/sets of Acrylic Pieces does Sparkle N Sprinkle sell?

Please e-mail responses to SNS_Artist@tampabay.rr.com with your name in the Subject Field. Responses which are complete and correct will be placed in a basket for our weekly drawing on Sunday.

Good Luck!

Donna

(to view game rules, please click here)

so many buttons, but what to do with them!?  Here I used Sparkle ‘n’ Sprinkles ACRYLIC TAGS to make a card and gift tags using some of the fun buttons I found in my stash.  Follow the instructions for STAMPING ON ACRYLIC,  instead of using embossing powder, use BRUSABLE GLUE  & GLITTER on the back of the acrylic tags.  Two sizes of acrylic are used to give a dimentional effect on the card, then attach the buttons, layering all on cardstock & STICKY PAPER.  So, dig through those buttons and get creative with acrylic.  ~~ Items used: GLITTER: BLUE LIGHTENING, ELEGANT EMERALD, AZTEC GOLD, FIRE ENGINE RED, LACY LILAC, SASSY SILVER, PARISIAN MIST.  ACRYLIC TAGS, 1 1/2″, 2 1/2″, 2 1/2 x 3 1/2. BRUSHABLE GLUE, MISC.  BUTTONS & RIBBONS, STAZ-ON, GALAXY MARKERS. STAMPS: BABY BOY, BABY GIRL, FLORAL BOXED TULIP SET, BABY GIRAFFE ~~ Glitter adds SPARKLE to your life ~ Patti

        FLORAL SWAMP ROSE stamp makes a beautiful ornament or ACRYLIC GIFT TAG . It’s layered with BLACK & GOLD METALIC CARDSTOCK and a large binder clip is attached at the top for hanging on a tree.  Others items used: FIRE ENGINE RED GLITTER, GALAXY MARKERS, GOLD TINSEL EMBOSSING POWDER, STAZ ON .  ACRYLIC INSTRUCTIONS ~ Glitter adds ”SPARKLE” to your life ~ Patti

 This SNOWMAN is ready for winter with his NIGHTFALL FLOCKING hat and scarf. Adhered with BRUSHABLE GLUE, it’s all soft & fuzzy. GLISTEN EMBOSSING POWDER on GOLD MIRROR CARDSTOCK is perfect for a sparkly background. FIRE ENGINE RED GLITTER frames the snowman. The black ribbon makes a perfect gift tag for that special someone ~ Glitter adds “SPARKLE” to your life ~ Patti

  Have you ever embossed on the wrong side of an ACRYLIC TAG (ACRYLIC INSTRUCTIONS)?  That’s what I did here, so I just added GLISTEN EMBOSSING POWDER on the top side and it gives an icy, snowy look. Crystal Lacquer was added to give a more glassy appearance.  Sometimes mistakes turn out good after all. Other items used: SPIRITED GREEN GLITTER, ROYAL BLUE EMBOSSING POWDER, GALAXY MARKERS,  BIRD STAMP SET, STAZ-ON, & Miscellaneous rhinestones ~~ Glitter adds “SPARKLE” to your life,  Patti

These fun ACRYLIC TAGS can be used on gifts, book bags, pocketbooks, lockers, cards, the list is unending. STAZ-ON INK PAD is perfect for adhering to the ACRYLIC TAGS.  SAKURA GLUE PEN was used to coat the images with glue, then add GLITTER.  When dry, coat the entire ACRYLIC TAG with BRUSHABLE GLUE, and add SPARKLING SNOW GLITTER. Rhinestones were added to the front of the tags for more bling  (to get the look of “smeared glitter” I used BRUSHABLE GLUE before the purple glitter was completely dried). DIMENTIONAL GLUE was used to personalize the name tag. GLITTERS USED: Sparkling Snow, Misty Blue, Misty Isles, Majestic Purple, Orange Crush, Charcoal, Raspberry Soda. Check out the TIPS & TECHNIQUES SECTION for complete directions on stamping on acrylic. STAMPS:  BROOKE CRAWLING,  WELCOME LITTLE ONE, BASCOMB, CORNER FLOURISH, ALIENS ~~ Glitter adds Sparkle to your Life ~~ pjw