Let It Snow

Today I have a fun snow themed card for you in pinks and browns. When I was gluing my sentiment on,  I accidentally smudged some brown ink on the embossed background. Since I didn't feel like starting over, I diluted some distress oxides and created a spatter effect. Fun fix for my whoopsie!

Supplies and Tools:

Create a Flake Dies (Spellbinders)

Christmas Quilt Embossing Folder (Couture Creations)

These colors of Distress Oxide (Ranger) - Worn Lipstick/ Walnut Stain

Picked Raspberry Distress Ink (Ranger)

Pink Burlap String

Sponge Daubers
Pearls
Alphabet Punches

Cuttlebug

ATG Gun

I'd love to see what you've been creating, so stop by the final link party and showoff any creation that includes a product or two from one of the companies carried in the Cropstop store.

November Link Party - # 45

Hello crafty friends! It's time for another link party here on the Cropstop blog. Today I'm sharing an autumn window card I created with a floral embellishment. For a mini tutorial on creating the sunflower visit this post from several weeks ago. (This card uses one each of the two smallest sizes.)

To create the background I scored a piece of kraft cardstock every 3/4 of an inch and swiped my walnut stain distress oxide across it. I die cut and distressed the window using the same ink. I also sponged all of the leaves with coordinating colors to add more depth and interest to them.

Supplies and Tools:

• Scoring Board
• Sunflower Stamp Set (Heartfelt Creations)
• Meadowbird Branch Die Set (Memory Box)
• Window Two Die (Spellbinders)
• Fall Folliage (Tim Holtz)
• Frond Punch (Martha Stewart)
• Burlap String
• Sponge Daubers
• Instant Coffee
• Distress Ink in these colors
• Gathered Twigs 
• Mustard Seed
• Fossilized Amber
• Spiced Marmalade
• Mowed Lawn
• Distress Oxide (Ranger) in these colors
• Walnut Stain
• Peeled Paint
• Squeezed Lemonade
• Wild Honey
• Cuttlebug
• ATG gun

 Now it’s your turn to share the projects you’ve been working on! As always our link party is "Anything Goes" with these few simple rules

1. Create ANY new project using a product or two from one of the companies CropStop carries in the store. (It’s ok if you didn’t buy it from us, and also fine if it’s a product we don’t currently have it in stock as long as it’s from one of the companies we carry!)
2. Please, no back-linking old projects
3. Limit 5 entries per challenge
4. Link your project here, link back to this post, and mention the CropStop Challenge in your post.

We’ll choose one random Winner who will receive a prize from the CropStop Store! (100 or more links = two winners and two prizes!) Thanks so much for linking up with us, we look forward to seeing all your great entries this month. Grab our badge and help us spread the word that CropStop is a great place to play along!

Optional Twist for November:

Create a project that includes fall leaves and I'll enter your name twice in the random draw.

Guest Designer -- Lisa

Hello Friends -- we're back for another Guest Designer Friday! As promised we have another one of Lisa's (This Sweet Madness) beautiful creations to share with you. Don't you just love this bright and happy card she put together to inspire us today? I do! Here's her instructions for creating this beauty:

1) I cut the Neenah cardstock to 5x7 and ran it through my Big Shot with the Great Almanzo folder.  I always cut my cardstock bigger than I want it before embossing because the texture does take up some of the size of the paper and then it allows me to trim off any flat edges I might get from my old machine.

2) I colored the embossed cardstock with the Distress Inks and then spritzed it with water using the Sprayer.  I like to let it dry naturally rather than using a heat gun, you get more color variation that way.

3) While it was drying, I cut several sets of the Tattered Florals with the Canson Mixed Media cardstock.  Leaving the flowers in the paper strip, I inked them with the Distress Oxide inks and then sprayed them with water.  I did roll a paper towel over them to help sop up the water and create texture, then let them air dry,

4) I didn't think the Kraft card base showed up enough, so I took the gold Sharpie and colored the borders of the card where it would show outside my trimmed embossed panel.

5) I like my die-cut words to be sticky so I adhered 1" Scor Tape to the back of some black cardstock scraps, then cut the "Hello" and "friend' words from the die set three times each.  Stacked them together and then thought the black was too harsh so I colored over it with the Gold Sharpie.

6) I layered the floral die cuts together with the Zots, then added rhinestones to the centers.

7) I used 1/4" Scor Tape to attach the embossed panel to my card, then used Zots to attach the flowers.  The word die cuts completed the card.

 

Product List:

Couture Creations Great Almanzo 5x7 Embossing Folder

Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey, Fossilized Amber, Carved Pumpkin, Scattered Straw

Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks: Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Carved Pumpkin, Seedless Preserves, Dusty Concord, Shaded Lilac, Picked Raspberries, Wilted Violet

Tim Holtz Friendship Words Script Die set

Tim Holtz Tattered Florals strip die

Distress Spray Bottle

Large& Small Ink Blending Tools & Ink Blending Foam

80lb Neenah Solar White cardstock

Canson Mixed Media paper

Darice Kraft A7 cards & envelopes

Black card stock scraps

Gold Sharpie

ScorTape 1/4" & 1"

Large& Bling Zots

Darice Big Value rhinestone assortment

Now it's your turn! Stop by the current link party and showoff any project that includes a product or two from one of the companies Cropstop carries in the store! Hope to see you there!

September Link Party - #43

I realize that fall officially begins the end of this month, but I'm not quite ready to let go of my summer yet. So....today I'm sharing one last summer card before I start into sunflowers, pumpkins, falling leaves, and all things autumn!  Here's a fun little summer scene I created with dies and layered on an embossed (and sanded) doily.

Supplies used on this card:

• Lattice Embossing Folder (Creative Expressions)
• Texture Fades Doily Embossing Folder (Sizzix)
• Core'dinations Pastels (Core'dinations Cardstock) 
• Sandpaper (or Sand-it-gadget)
• Wreath Die Set (Spellbinders)
• Funky Florals #1 Thinlits (Tim Holtz Alterations)
• Meadowbird Branch Die Set (Memory Box)
• Sentiments Five Die Set (Spellbinders)
• Seedless Preserves Distress Oxide (Ranger)
• Sponge Daubers
• Tiny Pearls
• Purple Ribbon
• Mounting Tape
• Cuttlebug
• ATG gun

 Now it’s your turn to share the projects you’ve been working on! As always our link party is "Anything Goes" with these few simple rules

1. Create ANY new project using a product or two from one of the companies CropStop carries in the store. (It’s ok if you didn’t buy it from us, and also fine if it’s a product we don’t currently have it in stock as long as it’s from one of the companies we carry!)
2. Please, no back-linking old projects
3. Limit 5 entries per challenge
4. Link your project here, link back to this post, and mention the CropStop Challenge in your post.

We’ll choose one random Winner who will receive a prize from the CropStop Store! (100 or more links = two winners and two prizes!) Thanks so much for linking up with us, we look forward to seeing all your great entries this month. Grab our badge and help us spread the word that CropStop is a great place to play along!

Optional Twist for September:

Create a project that includes a doily of any kind (embossed, die cut, stamped, or bought) and I'll enter your name twice in the random draw.

Retiform Stamping

Hello friends! Today I'm sharing a card made with an old technique that I just recently learned about from my friend Shirley (Glittered Paws). The technique is called Retiform Stamping, and I'm showcasing it today as well as showing you how I made this card.

To create my background I:

• marked off a section of my card front with a piece of cardstock and inked along it's edge
• moved the cardstock and inked again
• kept moving/inking till I created the "boxes" you see above
• lightly inked the inside of the geometric lines

Next I:

• isolated each box with post it notes and stamped different designs in distress oxide ink
• added a piece of burlap ribbon across the bottom
• added a Heartfelt Creations sentiment to the bottom corner
• matted my piece on brown card stock and adhered it to my kraft card 

Here are the supplies I used on this card:

• Distress Oxide Ink (Ranger) 
• Frayed Burlap
• Walnut Stain
• Candied Apple
• Tim Holtz Stamp Sets
• Blossom
• Flights of Fancy
• French Market
• All Things Are Possible (Heartfelt Creations)
• Petaloo Burlap Ribbon
• White, Brown, Kraft Card Stock

I'd love to see any creations you might come up with using this old technique, so stop by the current link party and showoff any project that includes a product or two from companies carried in the Cropstop store. 

Guest Designer - Sara Emily

Time for Guest Designer Friday again! Today we have a gorgeous sea themed card created by Sara Emily of Sarascloset. Don't you just love that awesome background and those life like looking sea shells?  I sure do!

Here's what Sara says about putting this beautiful card together: "I made by background with stamping and Distress Oxides in blues and greens followed by stenciling. I fussy cut the turtles from designer paper and made my shells using the Bigz Seashells die and Texture Fade by Tim Holtz. The seaweed is made using Funkie Florals #3 die. I hope you like my card and if you would like more details, please visit me at  sarascloset."

Products used:

• Graphic 45 designer paper
• Distress Oxide Faded Jeans, Iced Spruce, Bundled Sage, Cracked Pistachio, Pumice Stone, Worn Lipstick, Tattered Rose
• Ranger Transparent Gloss Texture Paste
• Distress paint Picket Fence
• Stickles mercury Glass
• Ranger  Liquid Platinum embossing powder
• Ranger  Distress Powder Peeled Paint
• Tim Holtz Mini Stencils set 10
• Mixed Media Thinlits
• Funkie Floral #3 Thinlits by Sizzix Alterations
• Bigz Seashells Die/Texture Fade by Sizzix

 Thanks for guest designing today, Sara, you did a wonderful job! Now it's YOUR turn -- stop by our current link party and showoff the projects you've been working on that include a product or two from one of the companies Cropstop carries the store! Hope to see you there!

Guest Designer - Darlene Pavlick

Hello blog friends - it's time for another Guest Designer Friday! Today we're sharing the work of one of my talented friends, Darlene Pavlick of Dar's Crafty Creations. Darlene is one of those sweet people who has offered to guest design here on Cropstop whenever I have an empty space to fill! More than once she's been a "lifesaver" when I needed someone, and always a creates the most beautiful cards to share with you! For this post she also included a picture tutorial for you...So without further ado here's what Darlene says:

"Happy Friday Everyone!

I'm  so excited today!  

I've once again been asked to guest design for the CropStop Blog.  YEAH!!

Here's what I've created using products they carry in their store.

It all began by creating my focus flower which is 'Daisy Delight' by Memory Box.

I've die cut it twice from white card stock then colored the popped out pieces of the one panel using Spectrum Noir alcohol Marker CT4 and then colored second panel which will be my outline piece using Spectrum Noir alcohol Marker JG1.

 After coloring, I die cut my framing panels using the 'Wrapped Stitched Frames' also by Memory Box.  I've used the largest frame for my actual frame but used the next size down 'inset' to adhere my flower to.  Once I had the outline adhered I then pieced in the yellow flower petals.

 Next came my background panel.  I wanted to use coordinating colors with my focus flower so I used Tim Holtz distress oxide inks and watercolor paper.  I actually used Lucky Clover & Amber but as you can see where the green & yellow combined, I ended up with blue!  It happens!  Duh!  LOL

I used Scotch ATG adhesive to adhere my background panel to my white card base.  

Then, started building my layers.  Next came the large frame  ...

Then my focus flower panel which was popped up using mounting tape for added dimension.

Lastly, I added this adorable little 'Bee' by Elizabeth Craft.

It too was popped up using mounting tape."

Thanks Darlene for filling in today -- You did a fabulous job!

Now it's YOUR turn!! Stop by our CURRENT LINK PARTY and showoff the projects you've been working on that include a product or two from one of the companies carried in the Cropstop store. I hope to see you there!

July Link Party - #41

Hello friends! Today I'm sharing my updated tutorial for creating a weathered wood background. I originally posted this on the Wordpress blog, but since we are no longer using that site I thought I'd post it over here as well.

Step One: Gather your supplies - White Glue, Paint, Stiff Cardboard, Sandpaper
Step Two: Cut your cardboard to size and using a Scoring Board, create boards every 1/4 inch
Step Three: Cover your entire piece of cardboard with white school glue and let dry till tacky

Step Four: Paint over your tacky glue with your choice of paint (I used Blueprint Sketch Distress Paint ---- NOTE: do not apply using applicator, remove lid and use a paintbrush!)
Step Five: Dry using a heat gun (if you did it correctly, cracks will appear)
Step Six: Add a coordinating color of paint  and heat set (I added Hickory Smoke Distress Paint)

Step Seven: Apply a little bit of Picket Fence Distress Stain and rub in with your finger (heat set)
Step Eight: Re-score your lines
Step Nine: Sand edges and center to create a rough, worn look

Here's how I finished creating my card:

• I added a piece of blue Petaloo lace across the bottom of my wood background
• I die cut a bird cage using the Gilded Birds die (Memory Box - Poppystamps) from dictionary page
• In the bottom corner I added greenery and branches cut from the Fall Foliage Thinlits (Tim Hotlz)
• I created crinkle ribbon using seam binding and Wild Honey - Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide (Ranger)
• I created three flowers by layering punched dictionary pages and adding a tiny pearl to the center
• I tucked a pretty little bird from Mitrushova Art into my ribbon
• The top of the cage features one of the dictionary page flowers glued over a Burlap String bow
• Underneath is a tiny die cut tag (Cuttlebug) stamped with a sentiment from Dina Wakley's Little Birdies and inked withe Walnut Stain Distress Oxide

 Now it’s your turn to share the projects you’ve been working on! As always our link party is "Anything Goes" with these few simple rules:

1. Create ANY new project using a product or two from one of the companies CropStop carries in the store. (It’s ok if you didn’t buy it from us, and also fine if it’s a product we don’t currently have it in stock as long as it’s from one of the companies we carry!)
2. Please, no back-linking old projects
3. Limit 5 entries per challenge
4. Link your project here, link back to this post, and mention the CropStop Challenge in your post.

We’ll choose one random Winner who will receive a prize from the CropStop Store! (100 or more links = two winners and two prizes!) Thanks so much for linking up with us, we look forward to seeing all your great entries this month. Grab our badge and help us spread the word that CropStop is a great place to play along!

Optional Twist for July:

Create a project that features a handmade wood background of any kind and I'll enter your name twice in the random draw (for each project linked)!

Embossing Fun

Hello friends! I'm back today to share some embossing fun with you. Today I have a "peachy-pink" card that features both dry and wet embossing.  Let's get to it....

To create this card I:

• Inked up one side of my Tim Holtz Alterations Roses embossing folder (Sizzix) with Versamark Watermark Ink
• Placed a piece of light pink card stock in the folder and ran it through my Cuttlebug
• Sprinkled Brilliant Sparkle Gold Embossing Powder (Cosmic Shimmer) over the card stock and heat set
• I matted the pink piece on kraft card stock and set it aside
• Next I, cut three Small Billow Flowers (Memory Box) from white card stock
• I inked these with Versamark Watermark Ink, dipped them in Brilliant Sparkle Gold Embossing Powder (Cosmic Shimmer), and heat set them
• I added a piece of pink card stock behind two of them and left one see through

• Using the Hello Doily die set (Sizzix) I cut a paper doily from white card stock
• I also cut a kraft sentiment using a Stamplorations die
• To create my crinkle ribbon, I inked up some Hug Snug seam binding with Tattered Rose Distress Oxide (Ranger), spritzed it with water, balled it up, and dried it with my heat gun
• Inside I added a strip of punched lace (Martha Stewart border punch) and one more billow flower 

Now it's your turn to share the projects you've been working on. Please stop by our CURRENT CHALLENGE and link up any project that includes a product or two from companies Cropstop carries in the store. I hope to see you there!

Far Out

Hello friends! Today I'm sharing a super fun card I created that includes a galaxy background and an action wobble spring!  Instead of starting off with white watercolor paper, I decided to use a piece of dark blue card stock as the base......

Here's how I created my background:

• I cut a piece of dark blue card stock to size (4.25 x 5.5 inches)
• Using sponge daubers I added Faded Jeans, Broken China, and Seedless Preserves Distress Oxide to my paper
• I spritzed the paper with water and heat set
• I repeated the process till I had a coating of color I liked

Next I:

• added some Black Soot Distress Ink around the edges
• added some white paint spatters to resemble stars
• stamped several images from the Changito in Space (Stampendous) stamp set on watercolor paper
• colored the images with Prismacolor pencils and used q-tips and baby oil to blend the color

• I fussy cut and popped up the rocket with mounting tape 
• Using a circle punch, I cut out the monkey astronaut and added dimension to my card front by popped him up with an Action Wobble Spring
• I added some accents and the sentiment by stamping in Versamark watermark ink and adding white embossing powder
• I stamped a few more images inside the card and colored them as above

Now it's your turn to share your creativity with us! Stop by our CURRENT CHALLENGE and link up any project that includes a product or two from companies in the Cropstop store! Hope to see you there!

June Link Party - #40

It's time for another link party here on the Cropstop blog! Today I'm sharing a different kind of inspiration with you -- it's a page out of my new art journal! I've been admiring the work of several ladies on different design teams with me, and finally took the plunge and started an Art Journal myself.

Here's how I created my page:

• I started by painting my page with a layer of clear Gesso
• Using Sponge Daubers,  I added some distress oxide in the following colors:
• Broken China ~ Faded Jeans ~ Peeled Paint ~ Frayed Burlap ~ Walnut Stain
•  I wet my ink, moved it around with a paint brush, and reapplied ink till I reach a desired color pattern
• I spritzed the ink with water and heat set
• In the upper right corner I added a torn piece of an old sewing pattern using  clear Gesso as my adhesive
• To the right I applied white Gesso through the Measured stencil from Tim Holtz and heat set
• I stamped the Seamstress stamp from Prima in Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko)
• I stamped one of the Julie Nutting dolls (from Holiday Bliss) on an old dictionary page in Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko)
• I restamped her dress, hair, and shoes on various pieces of card stock, fussy cut them, and added them over the original doll
• I colored her flesh with a Touch Five marker
• Behind the doll I added some Prairie Thistle die cuts from Memory Box/Poppystamps

• I added some Washi Tape strips along the bottom center of my page
• To the left I stamped the plaid background stamp from Impression Obsession in Faded Jeans Distress Oxide
• Over top I added two Repeat Impressions flowers, stamped on watercolor paper in Versamark Watermark ink and embossed with black embossing powder
• They were colored with Sonnet Watercolors and fussy cut
•  I also added a piece of greenery cut with the Fall Folliage dies (Sizzix) and a tiny wire hanger from my stash
• The sentiment was computer generated, printed on white card stock, inked with  distress oxides, and stamped with the plaid background stamp from Impression Obsessionin Brilliance Moonlight White Ink from Tsukineko
• I die cut an embroidery hoop from Waffle Flower and added it around the largest word 

Now it’s your turn to share the projects you’ve been working on! As always our link party is "Anything Goes" with these few simple rules:

1. Create ANY new project using a product or two from one of the companies CropStop carries in the store. (It’s ok if you didn’t buy it from us, and also fine if it’s a product we don’t currently have it in stock as long as it’s from one of the companies we carry!)
2. Please, no back-linking old projects
3. Limit 5 entries per challenge
4. Link your project here, link back to this post, and mention the CropStop Challenge in your post.

We’ll choose one random Winner who will receive a prize from the CropStop Store! (100 or more links = two winners and two prizes!) Thanks so much for linking up with us, we look forward to seeing all your great entries this month. Grab our badge and help us spread the word that CropStop is a great place to play along!

OPTIONAL TWIST FOR JUNE:

If you enter an ART JOURNAL PAGE this month,  I'll enter your name twice (for each project linked) in the random draw!

Gilding Flakes

Welcome back blog friends! Today I'm sharing another "new to me" product - Gilding Flakes.  I know they aren't a new product, but this is the first time I've ever used them, and what fun I had!!

Here's how I put this shimmery card together:

• I started with a piece of white card stock and laid down strips of wide carpet tape
• Next, I removed the tape backing, dumped a pile of Gemstone Gilding Flakes over top and lightly pressed them into the tape
• Using a small sponge I burnished them into the card stock

To create my card I:

• cut a piece of black card stock slightly larger than my gilding flake piece
• using the Mixed Media #2 thinlits from Tim Holtz I die cut a swirly pattern in the top left corner
• created a banner using a square punch and added a Studio G sentiment in Tuxdeo Black ink from Tsukineko
• created my flower using the Exquisite Poppy dies (Creative Expressions) and my Paper Blossoms Craft Molding Mat
• using sponge daubers I inked the edges of the petals with Fired Brick Distress Oxide
• after that was dry, I added a coat of Versamark Watermark ink and Gold Cosmic Shimmer Brilliant Sparkle Embossing Powder 

 To create shimmery greens I:

• inked my white card stock with Versamark Watermark, added Gold Cosmic Shimmer Brilliant Sparkle Embossing Powder  and heat set
• I used the Holiday Greens dies from Tim Holtz to cut three vines for behind my flower
• in the center I added a tiny white pearl

There's still one week left to enter your creativity in our CURRENT LINK PARTY. Stop by and showoff your work for a chance to win in the random monthly draw.