Blanket Plaid

Hello Friends. Today I'm sharing one last "Ocotober Plaid" post. I call today's pattern, "blanket plaid" because it reminds me of a warm and cozy throw you might snuggle up under on a cold winter evening.

Here's how I created this design:

• Traced a double wide line of brown down a piece of kraft card stock
• Traced three thin lines of teal and then repeated step one
• Turned my cardstock 90 degrees 
• Traced a double wide line of teal
• Traced three thin lines of brown

I couldn't decide which style to use with this plaid -- rustic, classy, vintage???? I finally decided to do a "dressed up" plaid  with some pretty Petaloo flowers and scalloped edging.

Supplies used on this card:

• Markers
• Scallop Basic Edges 2 (My Favorite Things)
• All things are possible stamp set (Heartfelt Creations)
• Meadowbird Branch die set (Memory Box)
• Teastained Teal Flowers (Petaloo)
• Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink (Ranger)
• Burlap String 

There's still one week left to enter the October Challenge so be sure to stop by our Current Challenge and link up any project that includes a product or two from one of the companies Cropstop carries in the store. Remember if you link up something that includes a plaid element your name will be entered twice in the random drawing for a prize!

Guest Designer - Kitty

It's time for another guest design spot here on the Cropstop blog! Today we're featuring the work of Kitty of Fit Kitty. She created an elegant butterfly card to inspire us. I just love the embossing and the pretty polka dot paper behind her butterflies!

Here's what Kitty says about putting this gorgeous card together:

"Hello, everyone!  It's Fit Kitty here!  Today I'm excited to be a Guest Designer at Cropstop!  Thank you to Esther for inviting me!  For my project, I decided to make a quick and easy anniversary card featuring butterflies. 

This quick and easy card worked out well for me considering my husband's health, which has left me with little time for crafting at the moment.  I started by die-cutting the Oriel Butterfly from patterned paper, the Lunette Butterfly from white cardstock, and then the Butterfly Buttons from teal cardstock.  I adhered the butterflies together, Lunette onto Oriel and Button onto Lunette.  I embossed a white cardstock panel and stamped the sentiment (I recommend stamping the sentiment before embossing, but I had no problem stamping on the embossed cardstock).  I layered the embossed panel onto teal cardstock and then onto patterned paper.  I finished off the cardfront by adhering the layered butterflies and embellishing with a number of sequins.  Lastly, the cardfront was adhered to a top-folding white A2 card base."

Products used:

Dies:  Memory Box Oriel Butterfly, Memory Box Lunette Butterfly, Poppystamps Butterfly Buttons

Embossing folder:  Cuttlebug Floral Screen

Clear stamp:  Sentiment (Hero Arts Everyday Sayings)

Ink:  Lawn Fawn Peacock

Patterned paper:  Echo Park Dots and Stripes

Cardstock:  Recollections

Equipment:  Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Spacer A, Cutting Pad B, Replacement Adapter C, Fiskars Personal Trimmer and Replacement Blades, EK Success Craft Tweezers

Adhesive:  Scotch Advanced Tape Glider and Refills, Ranger Multi-Medium Matte

Other:  Sequins from my stash

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.

Guest Designer - Gail Scott

Time for another guest design spot here on the Cropstop blog. Today's guest is none other than Gail Scott of I Like Paper. Gail is one of our most faithful followers and participants, I can always count on the her to get things started each month! I think Gail was trying to give us a break from the summer heat when she created her lovely Christmas card with it's beautiful Petaloo flower!

Here's what Gail says about putting this lovely piece together:

"Recipe

I started my project with a cut of Kraft Cardstock for my base. I ran the Kraft through my Cuttlebug Die Cutting & Embossing Machine using Tattered Edge Darcie Embossing Folder. Next,  Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs Distress ink was sponge around the embossing using a Dauber.  I won a set of  Couture Creations Ornamental Lace Die so I selected the largest one and white cardstock. I  ran them through the Cuttlebug Die Cutting Machine to create a base for the Petaloo Poinsettia [there are other flowers available at Crop Stop - I am thinking this one is out right now]. Scotch Quick Dry White glue was used to glue the Poinsettia to the Lace Die Cut.

 

I used my ATG to place the burlap on the card base and then used Scotch Quick Dry Glue to adhere the Petaloo Flower and Couture die assembly. 

 

I found some cool Kraft Striped cardstock in my stash and used that to run the Poppy Stamps Joy Tag through my Cuttlebug.  Next I used my Dauber to add Tim Holtz  Fire Brick Distress Ink around the edge of tag and on the Word Joy.

I attached the Tag with a tiny red safety pin. A metal charm was attached to the tag using Hemp Cord. I fussy cut a piece of white cardstock for the snow then added two Brads - A snowman and a Tree to the tag.

My ATG was used to attach the finished base to White Cardstock."

 

 

Have you been working on Christmas cards yet? No matter - we'd love to see whatever you've been creating! Stop by our current link party and showoff any project that includes a product or two from companies carried in the Cropstop store. 

Guest Designer - Karen Hasheck

Hello Crafty Friends! We're back for another "Guest Designer Friday!" Today we're sharing the work of Karen Hasheck of Karen's Kreative Kards. Karen created a video that features several Cropstop items and includes the two cards featured here. She's sharing a fun tutorial for a technique called "Tarnished Foil" so be sure to click the link (below) and check out her YouTube video.

Here's what Karen says about creating these cards:
​"The first card shows embossing on specialty papers such as the Elizabeth Crafts Velvet Sampler Pack I got from Crop Stop and copper paper. I used the CraftConcepts Yves Embossing Folder in the background and continuing through the bird which was raised with back foam (dies from Poppy Stamps Serene Bird and ​friends from Tutti Designs.) The background paper on the card front is from the Authentique Curiousity 6 x 6 Patterned Cardstock from CropStop.

The second card is the one using the Tarnished Foil technique shown in the video and the Sizzix Tim Holtz Mesh Texture Fades Embossing Folder. The technique is described in the video. I cut the Spellbinders swirl out of black velvet from the sampler pack. The stamp is from Stampendous.  The background of this card front is also a piece of the patterned card stock from Crop Stop (Authentique Curiousity 6 x 6 Patterned Cardstock). I used green, brown and black StazOn inks and Nuvo Clear Mark (embossing ink similar to VersaMark) and Nuvo black and brown embossing powders as well as Ranger Verdigrass (green) embossing powder."

The second card is made with a technique I show in the video called "Tarnished Foil," so rather than go into great detail in the blog post, here's a link to her video on You Tube."

https://youtu.be/_ldtbMgc_Jc

Thanks for sharing your talent with us this week, Karen!
Now it's your turn....stop by our CURRENT LINK PARTY and showoff any projects that include a few products from companies Cropstop carries in the store! I'll look forward to seeing your work appear in the gallery!

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!

Guest Designer -- Donna Phelan

On today's "Guest Designer Friday" I get to share yet another beautiful card created by our talented guest designer, Donna Phelan of Crafting By The Beach. Donna is sharing another great tutorial with our blog readers that includes lots of photos! Here's what Donna says about putting her pretty floral card together:

"Good Morning!

I am happy to be back as a Guest Designing on the CropStop Blog.

No sentiment, just a pretty all occasion card! 

Here's how I created it!

I layered 2 of the My Favorite Things Cross Stitched Rectangles together, die cutting in White card stock.  This creates an easy and decorative frame.

I die cut the Memory Box Distress Windham Collage from White card stock and topped it with my pretty Cross Stitched Rectangle frame.  I then layered a piece of pretty Violet card stock behind that.  Adhering a piece of Fun Foam using Scor Tape to the back of all of those layers.  The Fun Foam gives this panel a nice sturdy feel.  

Next I cut the pretty Dogwood Blossom Corner die by Poppy Stamps

from Violet and Green card stock.  I cropped the flowers from the Violet piece and layered them on to the Green vine.  Topped with Adhesive Pearls.

My butterfly is from the Memory Box Butterfly Exhibit die.  I just snipped the largest butterfly from the die cut and again backed it with the pretty Violet card stock.  
It just POPS! 

Added one more Adhesive Pearl.

As always, a little bit of dimension.  I flipped up the butterfly wings a bit.

I stamped a wee little butterfly on the inside as well as a little vine.

Sending Love Stamps by Gina K Designs.

Inks in Rich Razzleberry and Wild Wasabi."

Thanks for sharing your talent with us again this week, Donna!
Now it's your turn....stop by our CURRENT LINK PARTY and showoff any projects that include a few products from companies Cropstop carries in the store! I'll look forward to seeing your work appear in the gallery!

Guest Designer - Kathy Krug

It's Guest Designer Friday and today we're sharing another one of Kathy Krug's ( Stamp With Ink) lovely projects with you. This week, Kathy has created a beautiful notebook and also included a mini tutorial for our readers to create their own!

Here's what Kathy says:

"I love making these little notebooks for family and friends. They are great next to the computer, the phone or in a purse. There a several online tutorials like this ONE on how to make a version of this with post it notes.. If you want to use the larger paper packs from the Dollar Store like this one, the measurments are a piece of card stock 5 ½ by 9 ½ scored at 4,4 ½ and 5.

Since I buy the paper notebook inside and pen from the dollar store, they are also inexpensive to make. I usually make the note book from heavy weight card stock first and then make a separate panel to glue top of the notebook which gives it some extra stability. Because I need a strong, adhesive I use Scor-Tape to make the notebook and to tape the paper in place.  

  

The top panel was created using these steps.

1. Cut a 51/2 by 4-inch piece of white card stock.
2. Emboss it with the Cuttlebug Swiss dot embossing folder.
3. Frame that with largest Frantic Stamper Fancy Frames 1.
4. The center oval was made by using several Sue Wilson dies: Ornate Oval Just for You, Montreal, and Toronto. The great thing about Sue’s designs is that many of them are interchangeable.
5. To finish the bottom, I used Elizabeth Craft’s Dogwood 2 and Ostrich Fern. Prills finished the centers of the flowers.
6. The little hummingbirds are from Poppy Stamps."

 

Thanks for sharing your talent with us, Kathy!

Now it's your turn....stop by our CURRENT LINK PARTY and showoff any projects that include a few products from companies Cropstop carries in the store!

Prairie Thistle

Hello Everyone! Welcome back to the Cropstop blog! Today I'm sharing a card that features a layered die cut image (Prairie Thistle) and a fun way to use your embossing spacers. I've had a lot of fun experimenting with different mixed media products this month, and this card features a few of those as well.

To create my card I:

• brushed some Clear Gesso (Art Basics) over a piece of white card stock
• applied some Seedless Preserved Distress Oxide (Ranger) to the center, spritzed with water, and spread the ink around with a small paintbrush
• using Sponge Daubers, I applied Seedless Preserved Distress Oxide (Ranger) through the Mini North Star Stencil from TCW
• taped my piece of cardstock to the Oval Embossing Spacer and painted through the opening with Platinum Inka Gold  diluted with water

Next I:

• removed the panel and used a Sharpie marker and created faux stitching lines around the inside of the oval 
• die cut the flowers using the Prairie Thistle Die from Memory Box - Poppy Stamps  
• I  cut three from white card stock and one from purple
• I layered the three white one on top of the other and added the purple underneath leaving the petals intact
• the petals were painted with diluted Seedless Preserved Distress Oxide (Ranger)
• die cut two sentiments from phrase one Spellbinders dies - layering one on the other for extra thickness
• last of all I added some pearl centers to my stars using White Opal Liquid Pearls

 The photo below shows the shimmer that the Inka Gold adds to the card.

 Now it's your turn....stop by our CURRENT LINK PARTY and showoff any projects that include a few products from companies Cropstop carries in the store! I'll look forward to seeing your work appear in the gallery!

Guest Designer - Greta Hess

Time for our first Guest Design spot on the newly revised blog! I'm happy to be sharing the work of Greta Hess from GG Creations. Greta created a lovely white clean and simple card with one bright pop of color!

Here's what Greta says about putting this pretty card together :

• Blend Distress Oxide inks onto a scrap of glossy photo paper.
• Die cut the Stitched Bloom Trio & attach the blooms by applying rolled glue dots only near the centers.
• Use a stitched rectangle die to cut a piece of soft gray card stock. 
• Die cut the leaf frame from heavy weight vellum & attach to the gray panel using small amounts of adhesive on the larger areas near the opening & on some of the leaves.
• Attach the bloom to the open area of the leaf frame, again using glue dots only near the center.
• Embellish with a few clear Nuvo Drops.

Supplies:

Poppystamps Stitched Bloom Trio & Massa Leaf Frame

Lil' Inker Stitched Rectangles

Simon Says Stamp Fog Cardstock

PTI heavy weight vellum

Scrap of glossy photo paper

Distress Oxides picked raspberry & abandoned coral

Ranger Blending sponges & tool

Spellbinders Platinum 6 Die cutting machine

Tombow Mono Dots Adhesive runner

Tombow Mono Vellum Adhesive runner

Zots Clear Adhesive Drops

Nuvo Crystal Drops Morning Dew

Thanks for sharing your talent with us Greta! Everyone, be sure to come back Monday for our April Link Party! We want to see any project that use products from the companies Cropstop carries in the store.  Hope to see you there!!