Guest Designer for WAW

I was thrilled with Karen ask me to guest design for the month of April over at Word Art Wednesday. I've been linking up to this fun "Anything Goes" challenge for a long time, and I use their free word art files quite often in my card-making.

To create the chalkboard type text I:

• layered my free wordart verse onto a white background in Photoscape X
• inverted the colors so the text was white and the background black - saved as a new file
• inserted my new wordart into Open Office and adjusted the size
• clicked the picture so that the color properties could be adjusted
• added red and green till I got the shade of brown I wanted

I find that using designer paper from all one paper stack makes cards like this fun and easy to create!  I hope my card will inspire you to check out Karen's blog and link up your own lovely creations!

Supplies and Tools:

Dies/Punches - Hello Doily Dies (Sizzix), Lg. Square Punch, Sm. Circle Punch, Scallop 3-Dot Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Cherry Blossom Double Edge Punch (Martha Stewart)

Embellishments: Buttons, Burlap String, Rhinestones

This post linked to:
Cardz TV - Anything Goes
Stamplorations - Focus on the Sentiment

Dragonfly

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 one of our readers favorites --- ANYTHING GOES!
I chose to showcase the big beautiful dragonfly stamp in a spring themed color scheme! I used this fun Diagonal Stripe stencil along with some distress oxides to create a fun background for my main image. 

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: Washi Tape, Paper Doily, Sequins, Burlap String
Ink: Broken China/Peeled Paint Distress Oxide, Versamark Watermark, Midnight Black Embossing Powder
Stamps from Repeat Impressions:
4401-O, Dragonfly (lg)
9717-C, Happy Hello 
Stencils: Diagonal Stripes (Echo Park Paper)

This post linked to:
Paper Craft Crew - April Showers bring May flowers (springtime)
HeARTful Stamping - Anything goes + a stamp
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Weathered Window

Hello blog friends! Today I'm sharing a weathered window card I created with Graciellie Designs "True Beauty" digital stamp set.  This set is also available in Spanish (click here).

I'm also sharing a mini tutorial for creating that fun weathered wood background out of an up-cycled piece of cardboard.

To create my background I:

• Cut a piece of cardboard box to size
• Applied White school glue in a fairly heavy manner
• While the glue was still a tacky wet, I applied frayed burlap distress paint 
• Any acrylic paint works
• DO NOT apply distress paint using the dauber - open the top and use a paintbrush

• Next I, dried the paint with my heat gun
• Scored lines every 1/2 inch
• Applied some fired brick distress paint
• Sanded the finished piece with a piece of rough sandpaper to give it a weathered look

To create my window I:

• Printed the True Beauty digital stamp on kraft card stock
• Cropped and printed two sizes of the flower on kraft card stock
• Brushed the window with Picket Fence Distress Stain
• Cut the window pains out with my xacto knife
• Roughed up the edges with sand paper
• Added a lace valance to the inside of the window
• Colored my flowers with prismacolor pencils,
•  used baby oil to blend
•  added highlights with a watercolor marker
•  added stamens with a black sharpie marker\
• Using the Fall Folliage & Holiday Greens Thinlits (Tim Holtz) I die cut branches and greens to accent my floral arrangement
• Added a burlap string bow
• Added a branch and two punched birds (Martha Stewart punch) to the to of my window
• Popped the whole ensemble up off my card with mounting tape

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:
Tuesday Throwdown - Anything goes (limit one entry)
Tic Tac Toe - Stripes/Punch/Pattern Paper
Dies R Us - Springtime (Sizzix - Tim Holtz Thinlits)
Craft-Dee BowZ - Handmade Bow
As You Like - Favorite Coloring Medium
(Prismacolor pencils - they work beautifully on everything - even printed digital stamps!)
Poppy Stamps - Framed

Stamping Collage Post #1

Today I'm sharing the first two cards I created around the ticket embellishments I shared last week. These cards all feature a lot of stamp layering that I call "collage style." It's something I'm fairly new at, in fact these may be my first cards to do in that style....at least my first that include LOTS of stamp layers. For step by step instruction in putting these cards together: Visit today's post on the Cropstop blog.

Supplies and Tools:
Embellishments: Pearls
Inks: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick, Frayed Burlap, Wild Honey, Seedless Preserves Distress Oxide (Ranger)
Misc. Watercolor Paper, Mounting Tape, Brayer
Punches: Embroidered Lace Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Monarch Butterfly Trim (Martha Stewart)
Stamps: Blossom, The Journey, Flights of Fancy (Tim Hotlz), Music Background Stamp (Heidi Swapp)
Stencils: Flourish Stencil (Tim Hotlz)
 

Supplies and Tools:
Dies/Punches: Tattered Florals (Tim Holtz), Hello Doily (Sizzix), Frond Punch (Martha Stewart)
Inks: Broken China, Faded Jeans, Peeled Paint, Frayed Burlap Distress Oxide (Ranger), Tuxedo Black Ink (Memento)
Misc. Burlap String, stamens, sponge daubers
Stamps: French Market, Air Travel (Tim Holtz)
Stencils: Burlap (Tim Holtz)

I hope you'll come back next Monday when I'll share the last two cards created in this style with those ticket embellishments. Meanwhile, we want to see what you've been creating of late! Stop by the CURRENT LINK PARTY and showoff your projects that include a few products from the companies Cropstop carries in the store!

This post linked to:
Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge - Butterfly, Dirt, Dimension
Allsorts - Use Pearls
Cardz TV - Anything Goes
HeARTful Stamping - Anything Goes + a stamp
Stamping Sensations - One for the Girls
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes