Goodbye

Here we are at the end of January already, and it's time to say good-bye. This is my last post for Cropstop. I've enjoyed working for Haylie-Jo for these past two years, and have been inspired by the projects you-all have linked up each month! I wanted to say a big THANK YOU for all the sweet comments you left on the challenge post this month saying how you've enjoyed the projects I've posted each week and will miss the challenges. So kind of you to take the time to say that!

Supplies and Tools:

Doily Embossing Folder (Sizzix - Tim Hotlz)

Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain (Ranger) 

Distress Ink in these colors: Gathered Twigs/ Vintage Photo

Sponge Daubers

Distress Embossing Ink (Ranger)

Brilliant Sparkle Gold Embossing Powder (Cosmic Shimmer)

Script Stamp (Stampin' Up)

Fiskars Paper Crimper

Love This Die Set (Echo Park)
Sheer Ombre Gold/Ivory Ribbon 
Plaid Background Stamp (Impression Obsession)
Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide (Ranger)
Tuxedo Black Ink (Tsukinedo)
Little Birdies (Dina Wakley - Ranger)

ATG Gun

Cuttlebug

Here's wishing you all a wonderful 2019 -- full of happiness and creativity!  Come back on Thursday to see who won the Final Cropstop Challenge.

Guest Designer - Amy Brown

It's time for our final Guest Designer post, and Amy Brown (of Brite Designs Studio) made sure we went out with a "bang!" I just love this adorable owl card with it's bright, happy polk-a-dot background!! Here's what Amy says about putting this cute card together:

"I started this card by stamping the Thank You sentiment from MFT's Spotlight Sentiment onto some white Neenah cardstock and heat embossing it with this beautiful Oasis embossing powder by WOW!

I trimmed the sentiment strip to fit the front of a card and added some stitched detail to the edges using MFT Home spun Stitch Lines. Afterwards I placed foam tape on the back and adhered it to the card front. 

I embellished this card with this adorable dimensional owl sticker that a friend sent me from Dollar Tree and a few "Date Night" enamel hearts by ChickANiddy."

 

 

Supplies used:

My Favorite Things Spotlight Sentiments

My Favorite Things Homespun Stitch Lines

WOW! Oasis embossing powder

ChickANiddy "Date Night" enamel hearts

Dollar Tree dimensional stickers

 

 

 

There's still a few days left to enter your project in our FINAL LINK PARTY! Stop by and show off any project that includes a product or two from companies carried in the Cropstop store.  

Guest Designer - Amy Brown

 

We're back for week number three with our sweet and talented Guest Designer for January - Amy Brown of Brite Designs Studio! Amy created another bright and cheery with a fun peek-through element. Here's what she says about putting this pretty card together:

 

"I decided to try something new this card so I hope you all enjoy it! 

I use a My Favorites Things 'Friend" die to die cut through both a card base and card front to create this fun peek-through card. I used MFT's Homespun Stitch Lines to add this lovely stitched detailing just above and below the die cut window. 

I heat embossed the sentiment from Avery Elle's Handwritten Notes stamp set in Midnight Black Stamp-N Stuff embossing powder. I absolutely LOVE this stamp set and use it all the time because the font is so versatile and works with almost any type of card you could make.

I popped the sentiment strip up on foam tape and adhered the gold detailed floral embellishment just slightly behind it. I topped off the card with some enamel dots in a deep teal that almost matched the floral element exactly. Thank you CropStop for allowing me to guest design again today!"

 

Products used:

My Favorite Things Friend die

My Favorite Things Homespun Stitch Lines die

Avery Elle Handwritten Notes stamp set

Stamp-N Stuff Midnight Black embossing powder

Enamel Dots

 

 

 

 Why not show us what you've been working on of late....stop by our FINAL LINK PARTY and show off any project that includes a product or two from companies carried in the Cropstop store.

He Heals the Broken

Hello Friends, today's card features one of my favorite stamps to use on sympathy cards. I did it up in neutral tones, adding just a touch of light blue and lavender to match the ombre ribbon from Cropstop.

Supplies and tools:

Chiro Embossing Folder (Couture Creations)

All Things are Possible Stamp Set (Heartfelt Creations)

Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Blossom Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Distress Embossing Ink (Ranger)

Distress Ink in these colors: Salty Ocean/ Shaded Lilac/Hickory Smoke

Sponge Daubers

Black Embossing Powder

Petaloo Flowers

Scotch Foam Mounting Tape

Sheer Ombre Ribbon - Lavender/Blue

Cuttlebug

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

Changes -- Link Party #47

Hello Cropstop friends! Here we are at the beginning of a new year and with it comes some BIG changes. This will be the FINAL CHALLENGE for the Cropstop blog as I have decided to step down and Haylie-Jo has decided to give the blog a break for a while. We've enjoyed working together for these past two years, and have been inspired by all of your beautiful work.

Supplies and Tools:

Knitted Embossing Folder (Couture Creations)

Create a Flake Dies (Spellbinders)

Red Sampler Pack (Canvas Corp)

Distress Embossing Ink (Ranger)

Burlap String

Primary Bark Embossing Powder (Wow!)

Winter Wonders Stamp Set (All Night Media)

Scotch Foam Mounting Tape

Cuttlebug

Challenge 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.

Optional Twist for this final challenge is:
Create a project in NEUTRAL TONES and I'll enter your name twice in the random draw!

(Note: This last challenge will run through January 30th - the winner will be announced January 31st!)

Happy New Year!

It's hard to believe we've come to the last day of 2018 already, but here we are! I enjoy the feeling of clean slate whether it be -- the start of a new day, the beginning of a new month, or the dawn of a  new year! I thought this TCW stencil looked a bit like a clock face it's center, so I decided to make a New Year's card with it. This card is a bit of a departure for me -- it's a bit more mixed media than I usually do, but I really wanted to do something with my Gelli Plate. I mixed two colors of distress paint (blue and gray) on my gelli plate and used a stencil to create the center of my card.

 Here's wishing each of you a Happy and Blessed 2019!

Supplies and tools:
Gelli Printing Plate
Mini Rosetta Stencil (TCW)
Distress Paint --- Hickory Smoke & Blueprint Sketch
Dina Wakley Pallete Knife
Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)
Clock Hands Die (Sizzix)
Tuxedo Black Ink (Tsukineko)
Distress Embossing Ink (Ranger)
Distress Ink (Ranger) - Hickory Smoke & Chipped Sapphire
Sponge Daubers
Silver Embossing Powder
French Market Stamps Set (Tim Holtz)
Different Strokes Stamp Set (Basic Grey)
Pearl
Silver Gel Pen

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

December Link Party #46

Happy December! It's time for a new link party here on the blog and today I'm sharing a fun festive card to kick things off.

Supplies and Tools used on this card:

Knitted Embossing Folder (Couture Creations)

St. Nicholas 2 Stamp Set (Graphic 45)

Pine Needles/Fired Brick Distress Ink (Ranger)

Dotted Ovals Dies (Spellbinders)

Distress Embossing Ink Pad (Ranger)

Brilliant Sparkle Gold Embossing Powder (Cosmic Shimmer)

Gold Ribbon

Scotch Foam Mounting Tape

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 December:

Create a Christmas card in traditional colors (red/green) and I'll enter your name twice in the random drawing for a prize (for each project linked). 

Celebrate Christmas

Hello friends! Today I have a bright and cheery Christmas card to share with you in traditional Christmas colors! Since my time in the craft room has been limited (holiday's are busy!), I thought I'd showcase a quick and simple to create card today.

Supplies used on this card:

• Christmas Mosaic Embossing Folder - Ultimate Crafts
• Tree With Bows Die (Spellbinders)
• Distress Embossing Ink (Ranger)
• Brilliant Sparkle Gold Embossing Powder (Cosmic Shimmer)
• Sentiment Words Die (Sizzix- Tim Holtz)

 Now it's your turn....stop by the current link party and showoff any creation that includes a product or two from one of the companies carried in the Cropstop store.

Gilded Leaf

Today I'm sharing one last fall card before starting into Christmas creations next week!  This card features a beautiful gilded zentangle leaf. I kept it simple for two reason -- 1. holidays are busy and there isn't always a lot of time to craft and 2. to showcase the beautiful designs in that leaf stamp!

Supplies and Tools:

• Zentangle Leaf (Magenta Cling Stamps)
• Distress Embossing Ink (Ranger)
• Sticky Embossing Powder (Ranger)
• Gemstones Gilding Flakes
• Holly Flourish Embossing Folder (Ultimate Crafts)
• Antique Gold Twine
• Sentiments #5 Die (Spellbinders)
• Brilliant Sparkle Gold Embossing Powder (Cosmic Shimmer)
• Scotch Foam Mounting Tape 

 Now it's your turn....stop by the current link party and showoff any creation that includes a product or two from one of the companies carried in the Cropstop store.

Pumpkin Plaid

Have you been following our "October Plaid" posts all month? Each Monday I've shared a different version of plaid created with markers, a ruler, and some graph paper. Today I have a one-color plaid background to share with you.

To create this fun pumpkin plaid background I laid down a wide orange stripe followed by a thin orange stripe all the way across my card stock. I then turned the piece of paper 90 degrees and repeated the design.

Supplies used on this card include:

• Markers
• Kitchen Weave Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug)
• These colors of Distress Ink
• Walnut Stain
• Gathered Twigs
• Ground Espresso
• Teastained Red Flowers (Petaloo)
• Wide Lace (Petaloo)
• Burlap String
•  Fall Foliage Thinlits (Sizzix -- Tim Holtz)
• Sentiment (PSX)
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Primary Bark Embossing Powder (Wow!)
• Crackle Embossing Folder (Darice)
• Ranger Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel  (UTEE)

Here's a free pumpkin template for you to use on your autumn themed projects

Now it's your turn....stop by the current link party and showoff any creation that includes a product or two from one of the companies carried in the Cropstop store.

Tone on Tone

Hello craft friends. Today I'm sharing a clean-and-simple card featuring one of my favorite leaf stamps. I wanted to show you a fun little trick for creating tone-on-tone color....You simple color in your image with a Versamarker Pen and wa-la you have a lovely monochromatic effect!

Supplies and Tools:

• Zentangle Leaf (Magenta Stamps)
• Versamark Watermark Stamp Pad  (Tsukineko)
• Primary Bark Embossing Powder (Wow!)
• Versamarker Pen
• Blessings Stamp (Echo Park)
• Ground Espresso Distress Ink (Ranger)
• Antique Gold Burlap String
• Sponge Daubers
• ATG gun
• Glue

Now it's your turn....stop by our CURRENT LINK PARTY and showoff any project that includes a product or two from one of the companies Cropstop carries in the store!

August Link Party - #42

Time for another link party here on the Cropstop blog. Last month I shared an easy way to create a striped background, and this month I'm back for Take #2.

To create the background for my first card I:

•  stamped my Abandoned Coral Distress Ink (Ranger) on my acrylic block and spritzed it with water
• using a wide paintbrush I painted messy lines across my watercolor paper and added splatters

I decorated this card by:

• stamping two flowers/stems from the Blossom Stamp Set (Tim Hotlz) in Versamark Watermark ink, adding black embossing powder, and heat setting
• I painted the flowers with Abandoned Coral/Picked Raspberry Distress Ink and the stems with Mowed Lawn/Pine Needles Distress Ink
• The sentiment is from the Bird Crazy set (Tim Holtz) and is embossed on the card front

For my second card I painted smaller stripes in the center of my watercolor paper panel using blues and greens. The colors of distress ink from top to bottom are:
Twisted Citron, Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean, Mermaid Lagoon

I decorated this card by:

• stamping the butterfly and hearts from the Watercolor stamp/stencil set (Tim Holtz) on water color paper and fussy cutting
• stamping the sentiment (Bird Crazy stamp/stencil set - Tim Holtz) in two colors of distress ink, slightly offset from each other
• adding some clear glitter to the hearts and center of my butterfly

 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 August:

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

Wonderful Day

Today's card is a clean-and-simple card. This isn't a style that comes naturally to me, and I find it hard to resist adding more layers and embellishments. I learned a long time ago that "not every card has to be a masterpiece" -- and "sometimes less really is more!"

To create this card I:

• Stamped the Zentangle Butterfly in Versamark Watermark ink on white card stock
• Added Brilliant Sparkle Gold Embossing Powder (Creative Expressions) and heat set and fussy cut
• Painted Lime Green and Ultramarine Blue Color Burst (Ken Oliver) on my background panel and added some white paint spatters
• I added three little Candi Dots (Gold Wedding) to the card front and a strip of tiny pearls down the center of my butterfly
• I also distressed the edges of my front panel for just a bit more texture and interest

I'd love to see your take on CAS cards so.....stop by our 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! 

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!

Simply Striped

Hello blog friends! Today I'm sharing three really simple and easy projects centered around the idea of creating a striped background with distress inks and water.

Here's how I did it:

• Swiped the colors I wanted across a piece of watercolor paper
• used a wet paintbrush to paint the colors and blend them into each other 

For my first card  I:

• Swiped Spun Sugar, Cracked Pistachio, and Scattered Straw on Watercolor Paper
• Using a small paintbrush and cup of water I painted over the colors, blending where they met
• Stamped the Zentangle Butterfly (Woodware) in Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko)
• Die cut the bottom of my panel with the Scallop Basic Edges 2 Set from My Favorite Things
• Added three sequins
• Mounted my watercolor piece on white card stock with my ATG gun
• Stamped the sentiment (Zentangle Butterfly) in the same distress inks

For my second card I created a rainbow background by:

•  swiping Seedless Preserves, Blueprint Sketch, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, and Fired Brick Distress Ink (Ranger) across my Watercolor Paper
• blending with water and a small paintbrush
• Next I, die cut a circle from the center with the Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders) and layered it on black die cut -- Scallop Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders) 
• I popped this up off my card with mounting tape
• Die cut Birds on a Wire (Spellbinders) and glues it across the center
• matted my watercolor piece on black card stock with my ATG gun
• spritzed the completed card with water (to create spots) and heat set

For the last project today, I created a bookmark by:

• Swiping Salty Ocean, Broken China, and Blueprint Sketch Distress Ink (Ranger) across my Watercolor Paper
•  blending with water and paintbrush
• Using sponge daubers, I applied Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink (Ranger) through the Feathers Stencil from TCW
• The sentiment is from Zentangle Butterfly (Woodware) and is stamped in Versamark Watermark ink and embossed with white embossing powder
• I finished off the bookmark by flicking a few spatters of white acrylic paint over the panel and mounting it on coordinating blue card stock
• I created matching crinkle ribbon using Hug Snug Seam Binding and Mermaid Lagoon/Blueprint Sketch distress ink

Now it's YOUR turn to share the projects you've been working on! Stop by our CURRENT LINK PARTY and show off anything that includes a product or two from one of the companies Cropstop carries the store!

Guest Designer - Christi Conley

Time for Guest Designer Friday! Today we're sharing an elegant card created by our talented guest designer: Christi Conley of Art Without Anxiety. Christi created a beautiful wedding/anniversary card in almost all white using some very pretty die cuts. 

Here's what Christi says about creating her card:
"I started the card by cutting the large background die and the top portion out of white shimmer card.  I glued the frame onto the square card.  Then I embossed the sentiment in the center of the top piece.  Next, I cut a square of white glitter card to go under the top of the card, attached the two pieces together, and used dimensional dots to attach that to the card.  That was really all there was to it.  I think it looks almost as good as a store bought card!"

What I Used to Make my Card:

Square White Card, 5 1/4" x 5 1/4"

White Glitter Card

White Pearlescent Card

Sue Wilson Background Butterfly Frame, #CED-7105 {find all the Sue Wilson dies here}

My Sentiments Exactly! Best Wishes, from Wedding, #M106 {this stamp set will work just fine}

VersaMark Ink Pad {for the embossing}

Kaleidoscope Embossing Powder

Colorbox Petal Point - Alchemy {any silver ink will work}

Dimensional Dots

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