SparkleCON Project #2: Punch Art!

Today, let's create some punch art. Fun animals, flowers, foods and much more--if you've got punches, you can make 'em.

There's a nip in the air, so I'm starting to think Halloween. My tombstone series uses a number of Stampin' UP! punches: Tag, Key Tag, 1 3/8" Square, 3/16" Corner Rounder, Ticket Corner, Tag Corner and Scallop Edge.

Lettered with SU!'s Simple Serif Alphabet & Numbers, the tombstones are made of Going Gray and Basic Gray cardstock. Ready to use as card candy, they are temporarily mounted (with a 2-way Glue Pen) on '08-'09 In Color Tangerine Tango cardstock. Inks featured include Basic Gray (classic) and Whisper White (craft), stamped and/or applied with a Stampin' Sponge.

For other ideas and inspiration, check out the gallery for the JANVSN08G Virtual Stamping Night challenge on SplitCoast Stampers.

A simple series or one clever piece, show us your punch art!

Did I mention that SparkleCON will have prizes?

Well did I? Huh? Huh?

SparkleCON Project #1: Paper-Pieced Quilt Blocks

We kick off SparkleCON 08 with a paper-pieced quilt block project.

This quilt block pattern is known as Shoo-Fly, a 'nine patch' (like a tic-tac-toe grid--see it?) block. My blocks use Stampin' UP!'s lovely Bella Rose double-sided designer paper with Riding Hood Red cardstock. The blocks are matted on Pink Pirouette and Kiwi Kiss cardstock. All three colors are from SU's '08-'09 In Colors Collection.

In the block on the left, the designer paper forms the focal point and the solid cardstock serves as the background. I reversed them in the block on the right for a different look.

So, let's get started on your block!

1. Gather the needed supplies (posted last night).

2. Punch your focal paper (3 squares) and your background paper (6 squares) with a 3/4" (or larger) square punch.

3. From neutral cardstock, cut a backing that is thrice the width/height of your squares. (So, when using a 3/4" square punch, your backing should be 2.25" x 2.25"; with a 1" punch, a 3" x 3" backing; a 1.25" punch, a 3.75" x 3.75" backing; etc.)

4. Cut 2 background squares on the diagonal and adhere each right triangle on a corner of your backing.

5. Cut 2 focal paper squares on the diagonal. Adhere each right triangle so it completes a 'patch' (remember the nine-patch/tic-tac-toe grid?) on each corner of your backing.

6. Adhere your 4 remaining background squares between the corner patches. Then adhere your remaining focal paper square in the middle to complete your block.

7. Double mat your block. I used mats that were .25" and .50" larger than my block.

8. Stand back and admire your beautiful block!

Now, what are you going to do with your lovely creation?

Are you ready for some SPARKLE?!?!?!?!?!?!

Yes, it's true: the long-awaited first annual Sparkle Girl Cyber Convention, SparkleCON 08, is here!

Tell DH and the kids they're on their own, grab your supplies and get ready for thrills, chills and just plain old-fashioned fun!

The party starts tomorrow!

FAQs - What do the Sparkle Girls do?

At first it was all fun and stamping, with some slurping and sweating along the way. Lots of cyber-chatting too.

Then one day, something bad happened to someone. She shared it, and the Sparkle Girls rallied around their cyber-friend, covering her with prayers, cards, advice, comfort, moral support and the occasional bit of off-beat humor.

Since May 2006, it seems that each Sparkle Girl has struggled with a challenge. And, every Sparkle Girl has reached out to support her sister as best she could.

Together we've laughed. And cried. And bonded.

Heck, sometimes we've even stamped and exercised. . . .

FAQs - Who are the Sparkle Girls?

The Sparkle Girls came to be in May 2006, when Sparkle Girl Monica posted a thread in the SU! Demo forum of Split Coast Stampers.

The Golden Thread (as historians will no doubt come to call it) invited SU! demos wanting to lose weight to join a new private team at SparkPeople.

Those who heeded the call dubbed themselves the Sparkle Girls, and set out to make their own cyber-history.

FAQs - What is SparkleCON?

SparkleCON grew from the seeds of despair felt in the summer of 2008 by a group calling themselves the Sparkle Girls, when it became clear that not a one of them would be able to attend Stampin' UP!'s 20th anniversary convention.

At length, one spunky Sparkle Girl rose up with stamp in hand, shouting the immortal words 'Convention? Convention? We don't need no stinkin' convention--we'll have our own CYBER convention!'

And then she went on vacation.

FAQs - Can I cyber-come to SparkleCON even though I'm not a Sparkle Girl?

If you can read this blog, you can be in on the SparkleCON fun too!

Hmmmmm, you'll need a designation. . . Cyber-Friend-O'-A-Sparkle-Girl is too long--let's go with Sparkle-ette.

Yeah, Sparkle-ette. You wear the designation well.

SparkleCON 08 FAQs

You probably have questions. Like:

* What is SparkleCON?

* Who are the Sparkle Girls?

* What do the Sparkle Girls do?

*Can I cyber-come to SparkleCON even if I'm not a Sparkle Girl?

Keep reading--you ask, we'll tell.