Monday, July 31, 2017

Tim Holtz Distress Stains

Hard to believe it’s the last day of July already! My summer flower beds are full of beautiful blooms — everything from black-eyed-Susans to daisies to knock-out roses. I enjoy all the different varieties of flowers, and try to add a new perennial to my gardens each year. Today’s card celebrates my love of flowers with a big 3D flower of it’s own unique variety — lots of ink layers and plenty of dimension!

(For a mini tutorial on creating these big beautiful blooms using distress stains, visit the Cropstop blog today.) 
To create my cards for today I used Worn Lipstick and Dusty Concord Distress Stain for the base layers on my flowers. Next I stamped them with the cheesecloth background stamp (Stampin’ Up) in Seedless Preserves Distress Ink. Last of all, I added some diluted Vintage Photo distress ink over the top (with a small paintbrush) before finishing it off with a large pearl.
 After completing my flowers, I cut a piece of Pastel Core’dinations Cardstock to size and lightly stamped it with the Script Background stamp from Stampin’ Up. I then embossed it with the Doily Embossing Folder (Sizzix) and lightly sanded over the top to make the doily embossing stand out.  I also added some burlap string to the front – a bow on one card and a big loopy flower on the other.
 I dressed the inside up using the Tim Holtz lace stencil, my stencil brushes, and some Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide. Over the top I splattered some (water) dilutedVintage Photo Distress Ink and stamped a sentiment from All Year Cheer (Heartfelt Creations) in Seedless Preserves.
I’d love to see how you create 3D flowers for your projects, so stop by the CURRENT CHALLENGE  and link up your creativity that uses products from companies Cropstop carries in the store!

This post linked to:
Ooh-la-la Challenge - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks - Girlfriends
Repeat Impressions Challenge - Anything Goes

Friday, July 28, 2017

Hope Anchors The Soul

 Using a specifically themed paper stack certainly helps when coordinating layers for a card. This one features the Cape Cod collection from The Paper Studio.
 The star fish isn't really as red as it's pictured here - it's more of a rusty red that matches the paper. Why do camera's do that? No matter how many photos I took it still came out bright red!

Supplies and Tools:
Cape Cod Paper Stack (The Paper Studio), Set Sail (Stampin' Up), Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink (Tim Holtz), Watercolor Paper, Cheesecloth, Kraft Cardstock, Burlap String, Under The Sea Die Cut/Emboss Set (Cuttlebug), Bible Journaling Stamp Set (American Crafts)

This post linked to:
City Crafter Challenge - Something that begins with "S" (sailboat)
Paper Sweeties - Inspiration Board (colors)
Repeat Impressions Blog - Anything Goes
Sugar Pea Designs - Inspiration Board (colors)


Thursday, July 27, 2017

Updating My Craft Room


When I was home for the July 4th holiday, my brother gave me two old windows that he had saved from the trash. (He's a contractor and knows I love old stuff so he rescues things for me that his customers ask him to throw away!)


I decided I wanted a new cabinet for my craft room, so my husband and I worked together to design and build the one you see above using the old windows for doors. Neither of us are builders (this is the 1st piece of furniture we've ever built), so I'm not sure how "properly" it's put together.....but I LOVE it!!!

 I painted all the boards (and the windows) with a homemade chalk paint and then sanded them to give them a distressed/old look. (As a side note: I left the smears of paint from the original owner on the glass because I thought it added more charm and a bit of nostalgia to the piece.)
 Instead of using the light finishing wax that I usually use on my chalk painted furniture, this time I used the dark. It added just the right touch and made my new cabinet look like something out of an old farmhouse! (The photos don't really do it justice -- but they give you a good idea of what it looks like.)
In the past few years my tastes and styles of decorating have changed. I'm becoming sentimental and learning to love antiques and old farmhouse style stuff. I've updated several pieces of furniture to that style, and have started collecting antique decor whenever I can find it for a good deal.  That being said, I wanted to update a few things in my craft room to match my new cabinet.
 I updated the above frame by adding a chicken wire back and dry brushing over the black frame with a "warm buff" paint. I changed up the photo with a vintage style collage using portions of the old and adding in some new! I kept the burlap square, coffee stained doily, and vintage lace piece and added: 1. coffee stained paper doily 2. old dictionary page, vintage photo card (Tim Holtz), and a small cameo.
I also up-cycled a tin can by covering it with a piece of muslin fabric and adding a strip of burlap ribbon.
The can is now sitting on my desk with my most used tools - scissors, small paintbrushes, stylus, paper piercer, craft knife, bone folder, stencil brushes, etc.
Hope you've enjoyed this mini decor update -- I'm enjoying the fresh look and feel it gives my craft room.

This post linked to:
Stamps and Stencils - Color, Texture, Shape
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Anything Goes with lace/trim/ribbon
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Beary Sweet Couple

 Today's card is a shameless CASE of Lori Hairston's adorable little bear card. From the sweet bear couple (one of her freebies), to the fold over card, to the twine around it, I pretty much copied her lovely card because how could you improve on what she created?!
 Here's Lori's Card
I printed my bear couple on watercolor cardstock and colored them in with prismacolor pencils. After blending I added some details with my sharpie markers. A tiny bow and some glittered flowers also add a pop of interest to the image(s).

I laid down some Distress Crayon on my work surface, picked it up with a baby wipe, and smudged some around each image for a little more color before distressing the edges.

Supplies and Tools:
Bear Couple Freebie, Distress Crayons (Spun Sugar & Salty Ocean), Distress Oxide (Worn Lipstick & Broken China), Black Soot Distress Ink, Plaid Background Stamp (Impression Obsession), Scholar Prismacolor Pencils, Baby Oil (for blending), Martha Stewart Border Punch, Love This Die (Echo Park), Glitter, Sharpie Markers, Sequins, Choose Happiness (Stampin' Up), Doily Tag, Heart Punch

This post linked to:
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Anything Goes with Ribbon/Lace/Trim
Repeat Impressions Blog - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
City Crafty Challenge - Something beginning with "S" (sequins, string)

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Pretty in Pink

Today's card features the Stampin' Up set, Choose Happiness in light pink and green. I love how soft and feminine it turned out.
I stamped the flower twice (on watercolor paper) and lightly painted over the petals with watered down distress oxide (worn lipstick). I then fussy cut both flowers (one smaller than the other) and layered them together for more dimension. The leaves were stamped (and watercolored) in peeled paint distress oxide. Spatters of both inks adorn the white watercolor paper base.
Supplies and Tools:
Choose Happiness (Stampin' Up), Sunny Flowers (Stampendous), Bible Journaling Stamps Set (American Crafts), Distress Oxides (Worn Lipstick and Peeled Paint), Gathered Twigs Distress Ink, Watercolor Paper, Burlap String, Martha Stewart Deep Edge Punch (Embroidery), Pearls, Nuvo Jewl Drops (Grey Mist), Sharpie Marker, Small Paintbrush, kraft cardstock

This post linked to:
Mod Squad Challenge - Layered Florals
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Anything Goes with ribbon/lace trim
Stamping Sensations - Anything With Flowers
City Crafter Challenge - Something beginning with "S" (how about splatters and stems)

Monday, July 24, 2017

Sandpaper Castle

Recently my niece reminded me of a sandcastle card I created five years ago! She suggested I re-create it and share it with the Cropstop readers, so here it is! (My style has changed quite a bit in five years - Sometimes I'm rather embarrassed when I look back at the "old stuff" I made! Guess that's part of creativity though - you're ever learning/changing/growing in your field of interest!) 

To create the background for my card, I used the technique Verna shared with us in Friday’s guest designer post. I started with watercolor paper  (scored every 3/4 of an inch) and used Hickory Smoke Distress Ink to create my faux woodgrain. After I swiped my ink, I lightly misted it with water and heat set it before distressing the edges of my panel.
Next, I traced the sandcastle (template below) onto rough sandpaper and cut it out. I used my craft knife to cut out the windows and doors and adhered some teal colored cardstock behind each one. To add a bit of detail, I traced around the insides with a white gel pen before layering the completed castle on dark brown cardstock.
In the top left corner I added two strips of Washi Tape and a die cut sentiment from Sizzix.
 To dress up my card, I added a pretty paper doily behind the sandcastle using the Hello Doily Set (Sizzix). The bottom corner has a collage of cheesecloth, burlap string, a pretty Petaloo bloom, and two die cuts from the Cuttlebug cut/emboss set “Under the Sea.”
 To decorate the inside, I used a small paintbrush and some water-diluted Distress Oxide ink (Broken China) to paint a small swatch on one side. Over the top I stamped a seahorse (By The Sea Sentiments -MSE) in Ground Espresso Distress Ink (Tim Holtz).
I’d love to see your summertime cards so stop by the CURRENT CHALLENGE and link up any projects that use products from companies Cropstop carries in the store.

This post linked to:
Curtain Call Challenge  -- Surfs Up
Repeat Impressions - Inspiration Pallete
Craft-Dee Bowz - Handmade Bow

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Pop of Color


Today I'm sharing another card using the Tim Holtz Distress Crayons. This time I used them to create a background for my big flower on watercolor paper. First I colored the paper with several shades of blue, and painted over it with water. After it was dry I added a bit of crayon to the flower tips and used my finger to blend it into the petals. The last step (for creating these flowers) was to stamp a crackle background over the top. 


I created my background for this card by cutting 3/4 inch wide strips of white and black cardstock and alternating them down the front. I die cut my sentiment 3 times and glued them all together for more dimension.


Supplies and Tools:
Tim Holtz Distress Crayons (Chipped Sapphire, Mermaid Lagoon, Peacock Feathers, Tumbled Glass), Watercolor Paper, Crackle Background Stamp (Stampin' Up), Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink, Baker's Twine, Hello Doily Die Set (Sizzix), Sequins, Pearl, Washi Tape, Blue Gem, Martha Stewart border punch

This post is linked to:
Double D Challenge - Black and White with a Pop of color
ModSquad Challenge - Layered Florals
Power Poppy -Copy a Bloomie
(I chose this card by Allison Cope I flipped her layout around and enlarged those black and white stripes!)

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

In Its Time

I recently found a "new to me" digital store on Etsy via an Instagram post. Graciellie Design has so many beautiful digis to pick from and is also running a summer sale of 40% off the entire store using the coupon code SUMMER2017. This card features the "In Its Time" digital stamp set. After I printed it off (twice) on watercolor paper, I used my Prismacolor Pencils to color the image. I fussy cut around one image and pop it up over the first using dimensional tape.
The background for this card was created by rubbing shades of pink (listed below) Distress Crayons over watercolor paper and blending them with a wide paintbrush dipped in water. For the edges, I used some green and brown crayons. I smoothed them into the pink with my finger and then distressed the edge with my scissors. I added some white gesso over the panel using the Blossom stencil from Tim Holtz.

Supplies and Tools:
In Its Time Digital Stamp (Graciellie Design), Watercolor Paper, Prismacolor Pencils, Baby Oil (for blending), White Gel Pen, Tim Holtz Distress Crayons (Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Dried Marigold, Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo, Cracked Pistachio), Gesso, Blossom Stencil (Tim Holtz), Burlap Ribbon, Dimensional Tape, Pink Gems, The Journey Stamp Set (Tim Holtz), Black Soot Distress Ink (Tim Holtz), Washi Tape, Doily Tag, Baker's Twine, Kraft Cardstock

This post linked to:
City Crafter Challenge Blog - KRAFT crafting
Mod Squad Challenge - Layered Florals
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Anything Goes with ribbon/lace/trim
Power Poppy - Hues To Use inspiration board

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Heritage Themed Receipt Holder

As promised, the vintage receipt holder is making another appearance! There are limitless ideas for decorating these awesome “Mix the Media” displays, and I’ve chosen a “Heritage Theme” this time. I’m including a free printable at the end of this post, so be sure to check that out. (For a mini tutorial on turning your Candi Dots into adorable flower embellishments visit yesterday's post on the Cropstop blog by clicking here!)
For this display, I kept it fairly simple to showcase the old photos. I printed off a sheet of the freebies (below) and tied a bow with natural colored burlap string around the bottom. I added some die cut doilies (Hello Doily Sizzix), my vintage photos, and Candi Dots Flowers.  Across the bottom of the receipt holder I placed a strip of Tim Holtz Idea-ology  Washi Tape.
 I’d love to see your take on vintage receipt holders or Candi dot flowers, so stop by our CURRENT CHALLENGE and link up your projects that use products from companies Cropstop carries.  I’ll be looking for YOU in the gallery….

For a FREE PRINTABLE of the Heritage Themed Journal cards, CLICK HERE or visit my FREEBIES page.

This post linked to:
Stamps and Stencils: Color, Texture, Shape (inspired by the second photo)


Monday, July 17, 2017

Floral Timepiece

Today’s card features a lot of Tim Holtz products. Not only is the clock ones of his dies, but there’s quite a few layers of distress ink in one form or another.
To create the background for my card, I swiped my Picket Fence Distress Stain bertically and then horizontally over a piece of light blue cardstock. Next I stamped the cheesecloth background stamp (Stampin’ Up) in Peeled Paint (Distress Oxide), spritzed it with water, and heat set. I then distressed the edges and inked them (using the Ink Applicator) with Vintage Photo Distress ink.
 I used the Bigz – Tick Tock die (Tim Holtz) to cut a clock out of old music paper. I ran my Peeled Paint (Distress Stain) over the top and then added a layer of Picket Fence Distress Stain.  I love how easy the stains are to apply over large areas and how transparent they are. Picket Fence adds such a fun element with it’s semi opaque finish! To further distress my clock and make it “pop” against the background, I applied some Vintage Photo Distress ink around the edges.  To decorate the lower corner, I made some Candi Dot flowers from the Nightingale Square pack and added a few pieces of greenery punched with the branch punch from Martha Stewart.
(For a tutorial on how to create those pretty little posies out of Candi Dots - visit the Cropstop blog today.)
 
The face of my clock is die cuts from the Hello Doily Sizzix Dies.  The center is a cream Candi Dot and tiny pearl.  Using a small  paintbrush, I diluted some Vintage Photo Distress ink with water and splashed it on the front so it wouldn’t be quite so “bright.”  After layering my clock on 3 pieces of white cardstock for strength and dimension, I tied a little green bow on the handle using some Green Lace from Petaloo.
 I added a stenciled design from Tim Holtz Watercolor stencil in Peeled Paint (Distress Oxide) inside using stencil brushes and some water. The sentiment is from Tim Holtz‘s “The Journey” stamp set.
I’d love to see what you’ve been working on lately, so stop by the CURRENT CHALLENGE and link up anything that uses products from companies Cropstop carries in the store!
(Come back tomorrow to see how I used these fun flowers on a Heritage-themed home decor display!)

This post linked to:
City Crafter Challenge - Two colors only (I chose blue and green)
4 Crafty Chicks - Summer Celebrations (Summer Birthday
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Anything Goes with ribbon/lace/trim/
Stamping Sensations - Anything With Flowers

Friday, July 14, 2017

Awash in Blue

Today's card was inspired by the Power Poppy Hues to Use "Awash in Blue" inspiration board. I used their Everything's Rosy Digital Stamp set and fussy cut all the images out.
After coloring my images with Prismacolor Pencils (and blending with baby oil), I created a collage around a mini die cut doily from the Hello Doily Die set (Sizzix). I added a small baker's twine bow and popped up a small rose (using dimensional tape) over the largest one in the tea cup.
Supplies and tools:
Everything's Rosy Digital Stamp (Power Poppy), Hello Doily Die Set (Sizzix), Large Polka Dot Embossing Folder (The Paper Studio), Prismacolor Pencils, Baby Oil, Sharpie Marker, Gel Pen, Baker's Twine, Inside Sentiment (PSX), Washi Tape, Broken China Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)

This post linked to:
Power Poppy Hues to Use - Awash in Blue
City Crafter Challenge - Two Colors Only
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes