Monogram Cards

I enjoy making up fun little gifts to leave on the bed when we have overnight guests. This is a set of monogram cards I made for my nephew's girlfriend staying with us Easter week-end.

I had a lot of fun using three sets of Guidelines stamps from Papertrey Ink to create the pretty designs on the bottom half of each card.

Each card features a strip of monarch butterfly trim on the inside and envelopes stamped to match the cards.

Supplies and Tools:
Dies/Punches: Stitched circle, Mini Flower punch, Embroidered lace border punch (Martha Stewart), Monarch Butterfly Trim (Martha Stewart)
Embellishments: Pearls
Embossing: Christmas Quilt Embossing Folder (Couture Creations)
Ink: Worn Lipstick, Broken China, Peeled Paint, Seedless Preserves, Wild Honey Distress Oxide (Tim Holtz)
Stamps: Guidelines (Papertrey Ink), Guidelines Two (Papertrey Ink), Giga Guidelines (Papertrey Ink), Victorian Butterflies (Rubber Stampede), Coffee House Alphabet (Inkadinkado), Nature's Beauty

This post linked to:
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Double D Challenge - Just Wing It
Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge - Butterfly, Teal
4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes
Tic Tac Toe - Circle, Flower, Die Cut
heARTful Stamping - Anything goes + a stamp

Have a Ball

 
It's time for our Wednesday challenge over at The House That Stamps Built. Since it's the fourth Wednesday of the month, it's your favorite -- Anything Goes!
I decided to create some fun birthday cards using several stamps from the Contain Yourself series.

Details: 

• For my blog readers: Enjoy the 10% discount code to the Repeat Impressions Store posted on the sidebar
• There's a new challenge every week over at  The House That Stamps Built 
• you don't have to use Repeat Impressions stamps to link or win
• One lucky person will win a $25 Repeat Impressions Gift Certificate on the first Wednesday of every month

Check out what the other design team members created: 

Cheri  ~ Shirley ~ Heather ~ Laurie ~ Donna ~ Joy

Supplies and tools:
Embossing: Brick Embossing Folder (The Paper Studio) 
Inks: Prismacolor Pencils, Colorless Blender Pen, Tuxedo Black Ink, Distress Oxides (Broken China, Wild Honey, Seedless Preserves, Peeled Paint, Worn Lipstick)
Punches: Diamonds (Fiskars)
Stamps from Repeat Impressions
9702-O, Gumball Machine
9710-I, Gumballs
9703-F, Have A Ball
9717-C, Happy Hello

This post linked to:
Simon Says - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks - For the love of kids
Time Out Challenge - Quote (below)
Cardz TV - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Crayon Resist

We're finally up and running with the Cropstop blog again. After experiencing quite a few problems on our other blog platform (culminating in being locked out completely!) we've decided to move back to Blogspot and resume were we left off. Next Monday (April 2) we will resume our monthly link challenges so be sure to come by and link up any projects that include products from companies Cropstop carries in the store.  

You can find the new blog here:

http://cropstop.blogspot.com

For step by step instruction on putting this card together as well as a mini tutorial on Crayon Resist: Visit today's post on the Cropstop Blog.

Supplies and Tools:
Dies/Punches: Gilded Birds (Memory Box), Butterfly Trio (Anna Griffin)
Embellishments: Pearls, Burlap String
Embossing: Christmas Quilt Embossing Folder (Darice)
Ink: Seedless Preserves Distress Oxide, Wilted Violet Distress Stain, Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Prismacolor Pencils, Pink Crayon, Touch Five Markers, White Gel Pen
Stamps: All Things Are Possible (Heartfelt Creations), Floral Heart and Banners (Graciellie Designs) 

This post linked to:
Double D Challenge - Just Wing It
Cardz TV - Anything Goes
Stamplorations - Spring and Faith
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Simon Says - Floral Frenzy

Butterfly Notebook

Today I'm sharing a little birthday gift set I created to send Wendy Wyman owner of Repeat Impressions and host to The House That Stamps Built challenges. I'm so happy she ask me to be a part of her "Rock Stars" design team last year....it's been sooo much fun! Since she's very generous with all of her design team members and is wonderful person to work for, we all pooled our money and gave her a gift card to one of her favorite restaurants. I wanted to send a little something extra, so I created a custom notebook cover to match a tag I created earlier in the year. I included a few of my favorite chocolates and a decorated clothespin with a magnet on the back. I packaged it all up in a little glassine bag and sent it to Wendy in a handmade envelope.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WENDY - HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

Visit my January 3rd post for all the details on how I created the tag. For an easy and simple way to create custom envelopes, visit ChouxChoux Paper Art.

 Supplies and Tools:
Dies/Punches: Holiday Greens Thinlits (Tim Holtz), Border Punch (Martha Stewart)
Embellishments: Pearls, Black Polka-dot ribbon (Amuse) 
Inks: Ken Oliver Colorburst (Ultramarine Blue, Merlot, Lime Green), Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Broken China, Seedless Preserves, Evergreen Bough), Versamark Watermark, Midnight Black Embossing Powder
Misc: Sponge Daubers, Small Paintbrush, Watercolor Stencil (Tim Holtz)
Stamps: 9001-L, Butterfly (lg) (Repeat Impressions)

To create my custom notebook:

• I carefully unwound the wire from my notebook and removed the front cover
• Using the cover as a template, I trimmed a piece of kraft card stock to size
• Next, I laid the cover over the kraft card stock and punched tiny holes across the top with my crop-a-dile
• I rounded the bottom corners of my cover with a corner punch, and re-attached it to the note pad
• All ready to decorate!

To view the cards my team mates have created to celebrate Wendy visit here:

Cheri  ~ Shirley ~ Heather ~ Laurie ~ Donna ~ Joy

This post linked to:

Use Your Stuff - On the border (border punches)

Double D Challenge - Just Wing It

Mod Squad Challenge - Ready For Spring

Time Out Challenge - Birthday Quote inspiration

Cardz TV - Anything Goes

Stamplorations -Spring or Faith

Wishing You Happiness

Today I'm sharing another card made with beautiful Graciellie Designs Digital Stamps. This card features her newly released "Happy Moments" set.

I printed my jar of flowers on coffee stained paper (tutorial below, and colored it with watercolor markers added a few highlights with prismacolor pencils and a white gel pen. 

Next I stamped a crackle background stamp (Stampin' Up) in walnut stain distress oxide and added a burlap string bow and tiny flower cut with the tattered floral die (Tim Holtz).

Here’s how I make coffee stained paper —
Supplies: Typing Paper, Instant Coffee, Water, Paint Brush
Step One: Dissolve 3 tsp. instant coffee in 1 cup hot water
Step Two: Paint side one of your typing paper with coffee and allow to dry in the hot sun
Step Three: Paint the second side and allow to dry
Step Four: Return to side one and add some coffee stains in the center of your paper and allow to dry
Step Five: Iron paper (without steam) on both sides to flatten

Inside I added a sentiment from the same stamp set, cut with a tag die and embellished with a burlap string bow and a smaller version of the jar of flowers like the front.

If you haven't already, you'll want to stop by Gracie's Etsy shop - Graciellie Designs - and check out all the lovely stamps, papers, and cut files she has for sale there!  

This post linked to:
Mod Squad Challenge - Ready For Spring
Stamplorations - Spring and Faith
Craft-Dee Bowz - Handmade Bow
Cardz TV - Anything Goes
Power Poppy - Inspired by Fabric (how's this for inspiration?!)

Miracle of Spring

It's time for our Wednesday challenge over at The House That Stamps Built. This week we have an inspiration board for you. This challenge is a fun cross between a photo challenge and a color challenge. You can choose to be inspired by the colors, the photograph, or both!

I chose to be inspired by the beautiful spring color pallete. To create my card I stamped the 10201-W, Flower Power Background in Versamark ink and embossed it with midnight black embossing powder. I then did some messy watercoloring with distress oxides and added a few diluted ink splatters and pearls for embellishment.

I usually make two of every card since I send a lot of happy mail through the card ministry I'm a part of. BUT.....I messed the second one up trying to paint a background color (it looked rather pukey!). In order to salvage at least part of it, I fussy cut the flowers from it. I added some to the sentiment banner and a few more to the inside of my card! The rest are in my little scrap jar waiting for another project!

Details: 

• For my blog readers: Enjoy the 10% discount code to the Repeat Impressions Store posted on the sidebar
• There's a new challenge every week over at  The House That Stamps Built 
• you don't have to use Repeat Impressions stamps to link or win
• One lucky person will win a $25 Repeat Impressions Gift Certificate on the first Wednesday of every month

Check out what the other design team members created: 

Cheri  ~ Shirley ~ Heather ~ Laurie ~ Donna ~ Joy

Supplies and Tools: 
Embellishments: Pearls
Inks: Walnut Stain, Worn Lipstick, Broken China, Peeled Paint, Wild Honey Distress Oxide (Ranger), Tuxedo Black (Memento), Versamark Watermark
Stamps from Repeat Impressions:
10201-W, Flower Power Background
3910-G, Miracle of Spring

This post linked to:
Mod Squad Challenge - Ready For Spring
Paper Craft Crew - Color  Challenge (below)
Cardz TV - Anything Goes
HeARTful Stamping - Anything Goes + a stamp
Stamplorations - Spring and Faith

Amuse Studio - Feminine

I made these cards last year to showcase Amuse Studio products when Cropstop was thinking of carrying that line of products. It never worked out, so I'm sharing them here today.

Yesterday I shared the masculine themed cards, today I'm sharing the feminine ones.

All of these cards are made with Studio Sampler Set #4

Supplies card #1 - Studio Sampler Set #4,  mowed lawn/walnut stain/mustard seed distress ink (Tim Holtz), butterfly stamp, sequins, honeycomb embossing folder (Darice)

Supplies card #2 - Studio Sampler Set #4, abandoned coral/hickory smoke distress ink (Tim Holtz), embroidery deep edge punch (Martha Stewart), circular grid embossing folder (Anna Griffin), polka-dot ribbon, pearls

Supplies card #3 - Studio Sampler Set #4, Currant Pigment ink (Amuse Studio), mowed lawn distress ink (Tim Holtz), sequins, baker's twine  

This post linked to:

Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge - Butterfly, Lemon, Layers, Letters

Allsorts - Bring on the Bling (Sequins)

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Amuse Studio - Masculine

I made these cards last year to showcase Amuse Studio products when Cropstop was thinking of carrying that line of products. It never worked out, so I'm sharing them here today.

All of these cards are made with Studio Sampler Set #4

Supplies card #1 - Studio Sampler Set #4, organdy sheer polka dot ribbon, diamonds embossing folder (Sizzix), small black button, Sharpie marker

Supplies card #2 -   Studio Sampler Set #4, organdy sheer polka dot ribbon, black soot/mowed lawn distress ink (Tim Holtz)

Supplies card #3 - Studio Sampler Set #4, organdy sheer polka dot ribbon, black soot distress ink (Tim Holtz), blue baker's twine, gears embossing folder (The Paper Studio), swiss dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug), brads

Supplies card #4 -  Studio Sampler Set #4, organdy sheer polka dot ribbon, black soot/fired brick/blueprint sketch distress ink (Tim Holtz), sequins, Distressing stamp set (Glitz Design)

I'm no expert at using small stamps, but these were a lot of fun to make!
Tomorrow I'll share the feminine cards I made this with this same set.

This post linked to:

Tuesday Throwdown - Use Buttons

Little Red Wagon - Focus on the Family (dad/grandpa cards) 

4 Crafty Chicks - Brads

God's Grace

Today I'm sharing a clean and simple card made with beautiful Graciellie Designs Digital Stamps. This card features her newly released "God's Grace" set.

To create this card I enlarged the flower and placed it in the corner of my design adding one of the sentiments below. I printed my finished design on designer paper and added a bit of dimension with chalks and a marker. Some simple matting and a few tiny butterflies complete this clean-and simple card.

If you haven't already, you'll want to stop by Gracie's Etsy shop - Graciellie Designs - and check out all the lovely stamps, papers, and cut files she has for sale there!

Supplies and tools:
Inks: Chalk, Touch Five Markers
Dies/Punches: Butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), Butterfly Trio Dies (Anna Griffin)
Embellishments: Pearls
Stamps: God's Grace digital stamps (Graciellie Designs)

 This post linked to:
Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge - Butterfly, Light Blue, Letters, Layers
Cardz TV - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

He Will Be Our Peace

Today I'm sharing a bright and cheery card I created using distress oxide ink. I had fun experimenting with the colors and trying a crinkled background technique.

Side Note: I wanted to put a plug in for my favorite Etsy store.
If you're a crafter that enjoys finding good deals and awesome products
for less $$ - you'll want to check out  PerriAnnsArtsNThings.
I've been ordering from them for quite a while now,
and they always go above and beyond!
I purchased both of the stamps used on this card there.

To create the background for this card I:

• dabbed some Worn Lipstick and Wild Honey Distress Oxide on my desk
• spritzed the ink with water
• swiped a piece of white card stock through the ink
• heat set and repeated till I got the colors how I liked them
• on the last swipe (BEFORE I heat set) I balled the paper up in a tight ball to create wrinkles and texture 
• unfold and heat set
• use a brayer to flatten the paper out a bit before adhering it to your cardfront  

Supplies and Tools:
Dies/Punches: Oval Dies, Monarch Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Tiny Butterfly Punch (Marvy)
Inks: Worn Lipstick/Wild Honey Distress Oxide, Versamark Watermark, Midnight Black Embossing Powder
Stamps: Bible Journaling Stamps (American Crafts), Chrysanthemum Flower (Cottage Cutz)

This post linked to:
Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge - Butterflies, Letters
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
HeARTful Stamping - Anything Goes + a stamp

Great Blue Heron

 
It's Wednesday, and that means it's time for a new challenge over at The House That Stamps Built. Today it's another fun Tic Tac Toe board.....Choose three items (across, down, or diagonally) to include on your creation, then come by the blog and link it up!

I chose to go with: Birds -- Use Dimension -- Texture, and I'm featuring the beautiful Repeat Impressions stamp 1704-P, Great Blue Heron.

After stamping my image on watercolor paper, I colored it with Prismacolor pencils and inked the edges with walnut stain distress oxide. I then  popped it up off my background using foam mounting tape. The corrugated cardboard is wrapped with natural colored burlap string and layered on a polka dot background with a diamond border peeking out the top. 

Details: 

• For my blog readers: Enjoy the 10% discount code to the Repeat Impressions Store posted on the sidebar
• There's a new challenge every week over at  The House That Stamps Built 
• you don't have to use Repeat Impressions stamps to link or win
• One lucky person will win a $25 Repeat Impressions Gift Certificate on the first Wednesday of every month

Check out what the other design team members created: 

Cheri  ~ Shirley ~ Heather ~ Laurie ~ Donna ~ Joy

Supplies and Tools:
Embellishments: Corrugated Cardboard, Burlap String
Inks: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Prismacolor Pencils, Walnut Stain Distress Oxide
Punches: Diamonds (Fiskars)
Repeat Impressions Stamps:
1704-P, Great Blue Heron

This post linked to:
Shopping Our Stash - Put a Bird on it
Cardz TV - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
heARTful Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes + a stamp