Monkeying Around

Yesterday I showed you several textured backgrounds I created using Gesso, Spray Ink, a brayer, and your Gelli Printing Plate.  Today I’m showcasing one of those backgrounds using a Ranger Leaf Stencil with Ranger Cut Grass Spray Ink.

 As soon as I pulled the prints off my Gelli plate, I thought of a jungle and remembered the cute Changito Monkey stamps (Stampendous) that I haven’t used in years! I created two cards using both the positive and negative prints I made. To begin with, I stamped my monkeys in black soot distress ink on watercolor paper, and added some vines using Mowed Lawn Distress Ink.  I used my Prismacolor Pencils to color the image and blended them with baby oil. I used Ground Espresso distress ink for the sentiment and to add some spatters to both panels.  The corner are adorned with frond leaves from my Martha Stewart punch and two shiny sequins complete the front of my cards.

 Inside I added a vine and the rest of the sentiment.  I’d love to see how you create textured backgrounds for your projects, so stop by the CURRENT LINK UP and show off your work that uses products from companies carried by Cropstop! I’ll be looking for you there…

Textured Backgrounds

Today I'm showcasing some fun textured backgrounds I made using Gesso, Spray Ink, and a Gelli Printing Plate. To see a mini tutorial for creating these unique backgrounds, stop by the Cropstop blog.

 Here are some of the different backgrounds I made:
#1 Leaf Background using: Ranger Leaf Stencil with Ranger Cut Grass Spray Ink
#2 Elegant Background using: Heidi Swapp Blush color Shine with Tim Holtz Flourish Stencil
#3 Measuring Tape Background using: A Muse Lemon Whip Spash with Tim Holtz Measure Stencil

 For my first card, I stamped some strawberries from the Nature’s Sketchbook stamp set (Stampin’ Up) in black soot distress ink on one of my new textured backgrounds. I colored it with Prismacolor pencils and distressed the edges with the Tonic Studios Paper Distresser. I layered it on distressed black cardstock and a Postage Stamp die cut (Spellbinders Nestabilities). In the corner I added some Petaloo blooms and decorated the inside with Washi tape and a sentiment cut with Momento dies.

 For this second card, I stamped a pretty scene from the Garden Collage stamp set (Stampin’ Up) in black soot distress ink and colored it with Prismacolor pencils. I used the Tonic Studios Paper Distresser on both the top two pieces and layered them on a scallopped square die cut (Spellbinders Nestabilities).  Three tiny pearls complete the front of this pretty pastel card.

 I decorated the inside with two coordinating pieces of Washi Tape.  I’d love to see how you add texture to your cards so stop by the CURRENT CHALLENGE and link up your projects that use products from companies Cropstop carries.

This post linked to:
Shopping Our Stash - You're So Sweet
Ooh-La-La Challenge - Food or Drink

Poppies of Remembrance

 Today is Memorial in the USA and I wanted to share a vintage style patriotic card I created featuring poppies (used sine 1921 to commemorate military personnel who have died in war).  After die cutting the petals, I added some walnut stain distress ink to the edges before assembling them.

(Inside View)

Supplies and Tools:
Exquisite Poppy Dies (Sue Wilson), Stars Embossing Folder (Darice), Walnut Stain/Blueprint Sketch Distress Ink (Tim Holtz), White Pigment Ink, Coffee Stained Paper Doily, Burlap String, Blue Button, Thankful Thoughts (Stampin' Up), All Year Cheer (Stampin' Up)

This post linked to:
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge - Vintage
Shopping Our Stash - Musical Notes (Song Lyrics and kids playing instruments inside)

Gerbera Daisies

I have another Power Poppy digital stamp card for you today. The Gerbera Daisies set is on 1/2 off this week-end (till Sunday), and since I had so much fun with the Geraniums I "splurged" and bought it!

 I printed the image out twice on coffee stained paper and colored it with my Prismacolor Pencils. After I finished coloring and blending, I went over some of the flower lines with a sharpie marker. I also added a "fuzzy look" to the flower centers by dotting my white gel pen all around the yellow center. The second set, I fussy cut and glued over my main image to make the bouquet 3D.

To give my frame a little more dimension I glued two layers of  white cardstock under the designer paper part and added the floral image to the bottom layer making my frame four layers thick!

(Inside View)

Supplies and Tools:
Gerbera Daisy Digital Stamp (Power Poppy), Circular Grid Embossing Folder (Anna Griffin), Pastel Core'dinations Cardstock, Prismacolor Pencils, Baby Oil (for blending), White Gel Pen, Pink Sharpie Marker, Beaded Ovals Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Burlap String, Mixed Media Thinlits Die (Tim Holtz), Pearls, Monarch Butterfly Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Embroidered Lace Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Labels 10 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide (Tim Holtz), Butterfly Fancy Stamp Set 

This post linked to:
Power Poppy - Frame It Up
The Card Concept - Freshly Elegant (Inspired by the colors -- Shabby Vintage card)
Allsorts Challenge - Vintage
Paper Sweeties - Inspiration Photo
Craft-Dee Bowz - Handmade Bow
Creative With Stamps - Flowers

Simple Elegance

Today's card was inspired by the inspiration photo over on the Card Concept blog. The pretty background paper made this a fairly quick and simple to whip up.

I created my glitter panel using the old packaging tape trick! (Place a piece of clear, wide packaging tape over your die cut piece, turn over and add glitter! It's one of the easiest ways to add extra sparkle, and I love the finished look!)

(Inside View)

Supplies and Tools:
Petal Heart Punch All Over The Page (Martha Stewart), Gold Glitter, Love This Die (Echo Park), Gold Ribbon, Inside Sentiment (PSX), Embroidered lace deep edge punch (Martha Stewart)


This post linked to:
The Card Concept - Freshly Elegant

Repeat Impressions - Anything Goes

Woodsy

Today's card features the FREE Scripture Art from Word Art Wednesday this week.  I had a lot of fun creating this woody themed card. After punching my background piece with a Martha Stewart punch, I stamped over it with a crackle background from Stampin' Up.....I love how it turned out. Those leafy vines are dried baby wipes (that I used to clean up ink messes on my desk) -- die cut with a Spellbinders die.
Here's how I decorated the inside:

Supplies and Tools:
Petal Heart Punch All Over The Page (Martha Stewart), Crackle Background (Stampin' Up), Walnut Stain/Gathered Twigs/Pine Needles Distress Inks (Tim Holtz), Free printable from WAW, Beaded Ovals Die (Spellbindes Nestabilities), Ink Applicator, Seam Binding, Used Baby Wipe, Wreath Dies (Spellbinders Shapeabilities), Tree Punch (Martha Stewart), Leaf Stencil (Ranger), Stencil Brushes, Home Tweet Home Sentiment (Hampton Art), Paper Crimper (Fiskars)

This post linked to:
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks - Father's Day

Earth Laughs in Flowers

I recently discovered Power Poppy on Instagram and saw they were running a special this past weekend on the above stamp set. I bought the digital version to create this garden themed card.

I printed both the image and the sentiment from the Geranium set onto coffee stained paper and colored the flowers with my Prismacolor Pencils. After blending them (with Q-tips and baby oil), I added a few highlights with markers. I finished the image off by adding some white to the flower centers with my gel pen.

Supplies and Tools:
Power Poppy Geraniums, Prismacolor pencils, Baby Oil (for blending), Walnut Stain/Vintage Photo/Picked Raspberry/Ground Espresso Distress Inks (Tim Holtz), Ink Applicator, Mixed Media Thinlits (Tim Holtz), Dictionary Page, Classic Scalloped Squares Large Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Honeycomb Embossing Folder (Darice), Fancy Corner Die (Provo Craft), Stencil Brushes, Watercolor Stamp Set (Tim Holtz), White Gelly Roll Pen

This post linked to:
Power Poppy - Frame It Up
Tuesday Throwdown - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Repeat Impressions - Anything Goes

Faux Epoxy Sticker with UTEE

 Today I’m sharing a mini tutorial for creating faux epoxy stickers as well as showcasing more backgrounds I made using the NEW Distress Oxides from Tim Holtz!

 To create the background for this first card, I pulled out my Watercolor Stencil (Tim Holtz), and laid it over a piece of kraft cardstock. Using a stencil brush, I applied Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide on the left side of my cardfront. When I had a good cover on the card, I misted it with water and heat set it. (NOTE: I prefer to spray my water in the air and wave my cardstock through it till it’s wet enough rather than spraying the card front directly. It helps me control the amount of water better and not get puddles and runs!) Next I realigned my stencil and switched to Broken China Distress Oxide ink applying it in selective areas for added accent and color. Once again I misted it with water and heat set it.  You can repeat the layers or add different colors of ink to your hearts content!

To finish off my card, I used the Tonic Studios Paper Distresser along the edges of the top panel and layered it on colored cardstock. Next I cut 3 Billow Flowers (Memory Box) and leaves (EK Success) and inked them up with Distress Oxides. I added some pretty pearls to the centers of the flowers after gluing them to the right corner.

 To create the epoxy sticker look: I die cut a sentiment from the Hello Doily Die set (Sizzix) and applied Versamark Watermark Ink and a layer of  Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel to the front. I heat set it and then repeated the process once more. I glued this and two pretty sequins to the top corner to finish off this grungy floral card!

 I’d love to see what you’ve been creating with your Distress Oxides, so stop by the MAY CHALLENGE and link up any projects that use products from companies that Cropstop carries in the store.

Spread Your Wings

I had so much fun with yesterday's card (using fabric) that I decided to do something else using canvas inked with distress inks! This time I inked my canvas with Mermaid Lagoon and Peacock Feathers and die cut it with a Cuttlebug Butterfly die. When it was dry I stamped both a honeycomb and text stamp over it in walnut stain and inked the edges with the same dark ink.

I turned my seam binding into crinkle ribbon using Broken China, Mermaid Lagoon, and Brushed Corduroy distress inks.  The inside is dressed up with the Tim Holtz Watercolor stamp and stencil set.

Supplies and Tools:

Floral dp, Dictionary Page, Mixed Media Thinlits (Tim Holtz), Canvas, Butterflies cut and emboss (Provo Craft), Honeycomb Stamp (Art C), Text Stamp (Art C), Doily Tag (Art C), Crinkle Ribbon, Burlap String, Pearls, Ink Applicator, Sentiment (Butterfly Fancy), Watercolor Stamp & Stencil Set (Tim Holtz), Stencil Brushes, Mermaid Lagoon/Broken China/Evergreen Bough/Peacock Feathers/Walnut Stain/Brushed Corduroy/Ground Espresso Distress Inks (Tim Holtz), Coffee Stained Paper

This post linked to:

Shopping Our Stash - Fabric

Tuesday Throwdown - Texture

The Card Concept - Vintage Notes (I did mixed media)

Craft-Dee Bowz - Handmade Bow

Canvas Birdie

Today I'm sharing a card that features fabric! The background is an upcycled piece of denim from an old pair of my husbands jeans, and the birdie and sentiment are made of canvas.

The denim is cut with pinking sheers and features a wide piece of lace down the left side. To color my canvas I swiped distress inks down it, wet it with a spray bottle, and then dried it with my heat gun.

I had stamped my sentiment on plain canvas, but then decided I didn't like it! So....I blotted some water mixed with distress ink on it. Once it was dry, I traced over the stamp outline with a black sharpie marker.

I die cut my flowers and leaves from watercolor paper inked with distress inks in coordinating colors.

Supplies and tools:
Broken China/Mermaid Lagoon/Cracked Pistachio/Mowed Lawn/Black Soot Distress Ink (Tim Holtz), Denim, Canvas, Lace, Pinking Shears, Twig, Little Birdies (Dina Wakley), Vertical Hello (Kolette Hall), Tiny Tattered Florals Dies (Tim Holtz), Watercolor Paper, You Are My Sunshine (Stampin' Up)

This post linked to:
Shopping Our Stash - Use Fabric
Tuesday Throwdown - Texture
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Ooh-La-La Creations - Something that beings with "B" (bird, bloom, branch)
Stamps and Stencils - Fabric and Fibers

For love of the Sea

Today’s card features a fun way to create your own backgrounds using Distress Oxide Re-inkers from the Cropstop store.  Here’s a little tutorial to show you how I made the pretty blue-green backgrounds on these sea cards.

 Step One: Drop a few dots of re-inker on your work surface ( I used Cracked Pistachio and Broken China)
Step Two: Spritz with water from mini mister
Step Three: After the ink has sufficiently reacted to the water, lay a piece of cardstock over the top to pick up the ink
Step Four: You may wish to squish it around a bit or even twist and turn it (depending on the look you’re wanting)
Step Five: Continue picking up ink – Add more water as necessary and dry with heat gun in between layers

 After my background was dry, I added some dots of color using the mermaid lagoon distress ink and two stamps from the Sunny Flowers (Stampendous) set. I also added some text to the right side with vintage photo distress ink.  I stamped a large seashell (PSX) in Broken China Distress Oxide ink and fussy cut around it. The tiny star fish and sand dollar are die cut and embossed with the Cuttlebug die and embossing set: Under The Sea. I added a large “Love” sentiment from the Love This die set (Echo Park), and die cut the bottom of my front panel using the MFT Dienamics set: Scallop Basic Edges.

I'd love to see how you use Distress Oxide re-inkers so stop by the Cropstop blog and link up your projects! Hope to see you there...

Simple Sympathy

I wanted to experiment with using my Ken Oliver Color Bursts powders as watercolor paints. So, I made a few simple sympathy cards this week to use for the card ministry I belong to.
To create my card:
~ I tapped out a bit of the color burst powder onto my paint pallet.
~ Next, I added a few drops of water and stirred it around.
~ With a small paintbrush, I added the colors to my watercolor paper and heat set.
~ After stamping my image, I splattered a few drops of each color (and some diluted black soot distress ink) on the card front and heat set again.
~ After everything had dried, I added some shadows to the flowers using a watercolor Crayola marker.

For the inside sentiment, I very lightly painted some of the blue and green colorburst on my stamp instead of using regular ink pads.

Supplies and Tools:
Lime Green/ Merlot / Ultramarine Blue color burst (Ken Oliver), Thoughts and Prayers (Stampin' Up), Meadow Stamp Set (Inkadinkado), Sequins, Black Soot Distress Ink (Tim Holtz), Silver Crayola Marker

This post linked to:
Creative With Stamps - Flowers

By the beautiful sea

Today's card celebrates summer by the seaside! There's nothing quite like a walk along the beach with the breeze blowing through your hair, waves lapping at your feet, and sandpipers scuttling along the sand in front of you!  Aww...many happy memories!

Supplies and Tools:
Chipped Sapphire/Walnut Stain/Black Soot Distress Ink, Ink Applicator, Distressing Tool, Twine, Shell Stamp (Stamp It), Burlap Stencil (Tim Holtz), Stencil Brushes, Pearls, By the Sea Sentiment (MSE), Cheesecloth Background Stamp (Stampin' Up)

This post linked to:
Fusion Card Challenge - Navy Patterns
City Crafter - Arrivals (I chose the arrival of summer)
Craft-Dee BowZ - Handmade Bow
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes