Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Strawberry Shutter Fold

There's a first time for everything, and today is the first time I've ever created a shutter fold card! Lots and lots of fun!!
I chose the Juicy Strawberries digi from Power Poppy as my focal point and coordinated my paper with the colors of my image.
I printed three images and colored them with Prismacolor pencils. I then used baby oil to blend the colors, and after it dried I added some details with a Sharpie marker and white gel pen. I cut out four strawberries and using dimensional tape popped up on the main image and added the fourth to the inside panel. The three on the front also have clear glitter on them to add extra sparkle and shine!
A strip of Washi tape and one tiny strawberry decorate the inside panel where I'll write my message.
 Supplies and Tools:
Juicy Strawberries digi (Power Poppy), Prismacolor Pencils, Baby Oil, Sharpie Marker, White Gel Pen, Clear Glitter, Tiny Pearls, Hello Doily Dies (Sizzix), Washi Tape

This post linked to:
Mod Squad - Special Folds
Power Poppy Hues to Use - Black, White, & Read all over
Little Red Wagon - Three of a Kind (3 folds and 3 glittered strawberries)
Paper Sweeties - Inspiration Board (inspired by berries and red gingham)
Creative With Stamps - Fruit


Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Weathered Barnwood

As promised, I’m back again today to share two more cards I created using my faux weathered barn-wood! These cards feature the Hickory Smoke backround.For this first card, I cut a large circle of faux barnwood using my Spellbinders circle nestabilities and glued it to the front of a scallop circle (Spellbinders nestabilities) shape card. Next, I used my Spellbinders wreath die set to cut both wreaths and some greenery. I created a large flower using the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die set, the EK Success large flower and leaves slim punch, and a large pearl.  The two big  flowers are embossed with Cuttlebug embossing folders: Textile and Kassies Brocade. I added a few branches (Martha Stewart punch) and a big burlap string bow to the flower arrangement and tucked two tiny banners underneath.  The sentiment is from the Sunny Flowers (Stampendous) set and is stamped in Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide. The inside flower has a Candi Dot center.
 I saved my favorite card for last.  For this card I cut the leftover Hickory Smoke barnwood piece (from above) into strips and tore one end of them to create a worn and weathered fence!
 To create my background I cut a piece of watercolor paper to size and began inking it up (using my ink applicator) with distress inks. The sand is torn paper strips inked with: Brushed Corduroy & Vintage Photo.  The sea is: Peacock Feathers & Salty Ocean. The sky is: Salty Ocean & Broken China. Over the sand I stamped my shifting sands (Posh Impressions) stamp in walnut stain and added some sea grass in pine needles.  I used a thin paintbrush to watercolor just the ocean part of my background and added some whitecaps with my Gelly Roll white gel pen.  To create my fence I glued my barnwood strips to the sand and added some natural burlap string across the front.  I colored (with Prismacolor pencils) a few tiny shells (Shells in Seafoam – Hero Arts) and tucked them in the sand before stamping my sentiment (By The Sea Sentiments – MSE) in black soot across the top.
 Inside I added some ink spatters and more images from the By The Sea Sentiments (MSE) set. 
 I’d love to see your take on this fun weathered barnwood technique, so stop by and link your lovely projects up to the CURRENT CHALLENGE. Remember to use a few products from companies Cropstop carries in the store! Happy Crafting!!

This post linked to:
Addicted To Stamps - Summer/Beaches
Tuesday Throwdown - Creative Borders
City Crafter Challenge Blog - Let's Go Outside and Play
Allsorts Challenge  Blog - Flower Power
Shopping Our Stash - Lazy Summer Days

Monday, June 26, 2017

DIY Weathered Wood

Today (on the Cropstop blog) I shared a tutorial for my favorite way to make faux weathered barn-wood.  I hope you'll stop by the blog and check it out. 
For this sea themed card, I chose the weathered wood background painted with Blueprint Sketch Distress Paint. Next, I cut a large round circle of watercolor paper with my Spellbinders Nestabilities and inked it up using the ink blending tool and these Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Vintage Photo, Brushed Corduroy, Blueprint Sketch, & Broken China. I then stamped two images (in black soot distress ink) from the Inkadinkado stamp set Sea Breeze and framed the image with natural colored burlap string. To the left I glued a piece of cheesecloth and added two sea creatures from the My Sentiment Exactly: By The Sea Sentiments set.  A burlap string bow completes the front of this card.  Inside I added two more sea creatures and a sentiment from the same MSE set.
 For the fired brick weathered wood background I chose a patriotic theme. I stamped some stars over my faux wood piece in fired brick distress ink. I used my Tonic Studios Paper Distresser along the edges to further the worn look. I layered the wood piece on blue cardstock and added two denim brads to the top left corner.  The sentiment (from Celebrate – Unity Stamp Co.) was stamped in Chipped Sapphire Distress ink. I hand drew a messy border with a sharpie marker and tied some burlap string around the mini panel.
 Inside I stamped a boat (from the same Unity Stamp Co. set) and added a sentiment from the Heartfelt Creations set, All Occasion Sentiments.
 Come back tomorrow to see how I used the gray piece of weathered wood to create not one, but two cards! I’d love to see your take on this fun technique so stop by the CURRENT CHALLENGE and link up your projects that use items from companies Cropstop carries in the store! Hope to see you there…..

This post linked to:
Ooh - La -La - Summer Themed
Fusion Card Challenge - 4th of July Jars
Addicted To Stamps - Summer/Beaches

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Patriotic Button Card

Today I'm sharing a patriotic card I made using Papertrey Ink's Button Boutique stamp set and the Sizzix 3D Flowers die!
I love the extra sparkle my glitter Washi Tape adds -- I even punched some tiny stars out of it to decorate both the outside and the inside!

Supplies and Tools:
Button Boutique (Papertrey Ink), Black Soot/Blueprint Sketch Distress Ink (Tim Holtz), 3D Flowers Die (Sizzix), Felt, Pearls, Deep Edge Punch (Martha Stewart), Blue/Red Glitter Washi Tape, Mini Star Punch (EK Success), America Collection Stamp Set (Amy Design)

This post linked to:
Allsorts Challenge - Flower Power
Dies R Us Challenge - Celebrations
Fusion Card Challenge - 4th of July Jars
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes


Friday, June 23, 2017

Garden Pots

Today I'm sharing two cards I created with tiny flower pot gardens on them! For both cards, I started with watercolor paper and lightly painted a blue background across the top with salty ocean distress ink. The flower pots came from this coloring page and were printed on dark orange cardstock. I sponge around the edges with rusty hinge/vintage photo distress ink to make them look a bit more realistic.
To create my geraniums, I punched a pile of tiny blooms with my scalloped daisy border punch (Fiskars) and glued them to a punched circle. I added a tiny dot to the centers with my white gel pen. For this first card, I also tore some brown paper and added it as dirt across the top of my pots, and added a little garden spider to the corner.
For my second card, I broke out my stash of Flower Soft and created some pretty stems to tuck into my pots. (Here's a great tutorial for creating these stems.)
I'm not sure how well the picture shows it, but I used my bone folder to bend my pots for added dimension.
Supplies and Tools:
Salty Ocean/Black Soot/Rusty Hinge/Vintage Photo/Fired Brick/Abandoned Coral/Mowed Lawn Distress Ink (Tim Holtz), Burlap Twine, Watercolor paper, Frond Punch (Martha Stewart), Decorative Doilies Stamps (Inkadinkado), Summer/Fuchsia/Sweet Pea Flower Soft, Mums the Word stamp set, Scalloped Daisy Border Punch (Fiskars), White Gel Pen, Patterned Bugs (Inkadinkado), Flights of Fancy (Tim Holtz), Inside sentiment (Studio G)

This post linked to:
Power Poppy - Go Ahead -- Bug Me!
Mod Squad - Colorful Creations
Word Art Wednesday  - Anything Goes

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Nature Sings

I had a lot of fun creating this nature themed card with a free printable from the Graphics Fairy.
The Tiny Tattered Florals Dies from Tim Holtz are some of my absolute favorites! They are so pretty and I love their size because they fit perfectly in little spaces!
I created my tiny nest out of burlap string and added three tiny pearls for eggs! Isn't it darling?

Supplies and Tools:
Vintage Bird from Graphics Fairy, Hyper Magical Embossing Folder (Couture Creations), Tiny Tattered Florals Die (Tim Holtz), Vintage Photo/Salty Ocean/Fossilized Amber/Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink (Tim Holtz), Strip of Burlap, Old Sheet Music, Burlap String, Pearls, Nouveau Alphabet Dies (Sizzix), Paper Distresser, Ink Applicator, Scripture Stamp (Blue Ridge Impressions)

This post linked to:
Craft-Dee Bowz - Handmade Bow
Ooh- La-La Challenge - Summertime
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Try Stampin' On Tuesday - Sketch (below)
Mod Squad Challenge - Colorful Creations


Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Patriotic Nugget Box

As soon as I saw Lori's Nugget Box Tutorial I knew I wanted to make one, and I also knew that I wanted to use her free Patriotic Kids Printable on the front!
These fun little boxes are pretty simple to create and they make adorable little gifts! (Who doesn't like chocolate?!)
I wrapped some clear heart washi tape around my inside box and embellished the outside wrapper with a fun Dollar Tree Duck Tape print!
Go check out Lori's blog (Choux Choux Paper Art) for more free printables and lots of beautiful inspiration!

Supplies and Tools:
Free  Patriotic Kids Printable, Washi Tape, Duck Tape, Blue Ribbon, Tiny Tattered Florals Die (Tim Holtz), Mini Star Punch, Happy Die Cut (Momento), Burlap

This post linked to:
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Summer with Ribbon
Ooh-La- La Challenge - Summer
Tuesday Throwdown - Party Time (wouldn't these make great party favors?!)
Craft-Dee Bowz - Handmade Bow
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Showering You With Love

I was honored to be chosen as the winner of last months Paper Sweeties Challenge, and I had so much fun spending my prize!! I chose two stamp sets, Pretty Posies and Showering You With Love.
I used the Pretty Posies set to create a background for my card and also to decorate the inside.
Supplies and Tools:
Pretty Posies (Paper Sweeties), Showering You With Love (Paper Sweeties), Plaid Background (Impression Obsession), Mowed Lawn/ Black Soot Distress Ink (Tim Holtz), Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide (Tim Holtz), Ink Applicator, Embroidered Lace Punch (Martha Stewart), Watercolor Paper, Sharpie Markers, White Gel Pen, Leaf Punch (Martha Stewart), Seam Binding, Paper Distresser

This post linked to:
Curtain Call - Sorbet (inspired by the pink)
Shopping Our Stash - Think Pink
4 Crafty Chicks - Summer Fun
(This card reminds me of the fun I had as a kid playing in the summer rains and stomping in puddles)
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Summer with ribbon
Word Art Wednesday  - Anything Goes

Monday, June 19, 2017

Farmhouse Chalkboard

Today’s project showcases one of the Mix The Media Chalkboards available in the Cropstop store! There are three sizes available and they’re great for: photo frames, message boards or as a decorative mixed media piece. I chose to decorate mine in a farmhouse style. (To view a mini tutorial I created for making your own coffee stained paper, visit the Cropstop blog.)
 To begin with, I used a white paint marker and drew a frame all the way around my chalkboard. Across the bottom I added a some Petaloo lace from the Teastained Red set and the Cream Burlap Trims set. A decorative wooden button adorns the center of the twine bow.  Next, I printed a sheep (from Graphics Fairy) on coffee stained paper and added a mini clothespin. I cut a tag (using the Sizzix Tags die) and distressed the edges with ground espresso distress ink and the ink applicator.  I decorated the tag with a beautiful burlap flower (Petaloo) and vellum “14” from the Tim Holtz Thrift Shop Ephemera pack.

 I’d love to see how you use your paper-crafting supplies and skills to decorate your home so stop by the CURRENT CHALLENGE and link up your creativity that uses products from companies carried by Cropstop! Happy Crafting!

Friday, June 16, 2017

Summer Daisies

Today I have a summer card to share with you! I printed my daisies on watercolor paper and colored them with Prismacolor pencils. After blending them (with baby oil) I added some accents with a Sharpie marker, white gel pen, clear glitter, and tiny white pearls.
I dyed my seam binding with salty ocean distress ink so everything would coordinate and match! Inside I printed the FREE Scripture printable from Word Art Wednesday and stamped over it with a small daisy stamp from Stampabilities.

Supplies and Tools:
Power Poppy Gerbera Daisies, Watercolor paper, Prismacolor Pencils, Baby Oil (for blending), White Gel Pen, Sharpie Marker, Tiny Pearls, Clear Glitter, Tag Die (Sizzix), Mixed Media #3 Dies (Tim Holtz), Crackle Background (Stampin' Up), Salty Ocean, Mowed Lawn, Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Tim Holtz), Sunny Flower - Friend Sentiment (Stampendous), Patterned Bugs (Inkadinkado), Seam Binding, Labels 8 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Washi Tape, Word Art Wednesday Freebie, Small Gerbera Daisy (Stamabilities)

This post linked to:
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Power Poppy - Go Ahead - Bug Me
Color Throwdown - Inspiration Board
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Summer with ribbon
4 Crafty Chicks - Summer Fun Activities (Gardening!)






Thursday, June 15, 2017

Vintage Tim Holtz


Here's a monochromatic masculine card I created using some vintage themed stamps and embellishments.
I decorated the inside with some Washi Tape, Ribbon, and a tiny tag. This will be one of my Father's Day cards this year.

Supplies and Tools:
Watercolor Paper, Postcard Stamp (Recollections), Mixed Media Die (Tim Holtz), Vintage Photo/Ground Espresso Distress Ink (Tim Holtz), Ink Applicator, Tiny Gears, Vintage Stamp, Washi Tape, Ribbon, Tags Die (Sizzix), Baker's Twine

This post linked to:
Mod Squad Challenge - Make It Square
Tuesday Throwdown - For The Men
Shopping Our Stash - Happy Mail (I used a postcard stamp)
Allsorts Challenge - Use Two Dies (I used the Mixed Media Dies & Sizzix Tags Die)
Stamping Sensations - Use Your Favorite Stamp (The Postcard stamp and a Tim Holtz stamp)