Monday, October 30, 2017

Color Burst Wreath

Autumn is one of my favorite seasons of the year. I enjoy everything about it, the crisp mornings, the colorful leaves falling everywhere, all things apple and pumpkin, long cozy nights, homemade soup simmering on the stove, wood fires, etc. etc. – You get the idea – I love fall! 
  Today (on the Cropstop blog) I’m sharing two card I made featuring beautiful colorburst leaf wreaths.
For a step by step guide in creating the wreath and putting together this card, visit the Cropstop blog today!
Supplies and Tools:
Ken Oliver Color Burst (Orange, Tangerine, Alizarian Crimson, Burnt Umber, Lime Green), Scoring Board, Picket Fence Distress Stain, Distress Ink (Antique Linen, Rusty Hinge, Walnut Stain, Ground Espresso), Petaloo Flowers, Burlap String, EK Success Sentiment, All Things Are Possible (Heartfelt Creations), Frond Punch (Martha Stewart), Burlap, Dimensional Tape, Sponge Daubers

This post linked to:
Addicted to Stamps - Autumn
The Paper Players - Tic Tac Toe (Fall, Punch, Gold - my gold burlap string)
Inspired by all the Little Things - Inspiration Photo (below)
{PIN}spirational Challenge - Photo (below)




Saturday, October 28, 2017

Winter Blessings - Updated

So... I stopped by some of my favorite Etsy stores yesterday and discovered a Winter Blessings digital stamp set (from Graciellie Design) that I "couldn't live without!" (smile)
The fun thing about using digital stamps is you can resize them to fit your needs and position them perfectly the first time!
I went over the pine needles with three shades of green and added some DIY snow to the front of my card to give the illusion that it's snowing!
I created a matching insert for my card using a different sentiment from the same (Winter Blessings) digital stamp set!

While it looked ok with just the greens/browns --- I love the extra "pop" the red baker's twine adds - to me it was the finishing touch!

Supplies and Tools:
Winter Blessings (Graciellie Design), Touch Five Markers, Homemade Snow, Baker's Twine

OK - So after I made the first card, I was hooked! I really, really like these pine branches, and since I had a little extra time today I made a second card.
So here's Winter Wishes - Take # 2
This time I printed my image on kraft cardstock and sponged the edges with distress oxide ink.
I added a bit of color to the branches with a green Touch Five marker. To create the a bit of snowy effect, I spattered some watered down acrylic paint over the background and added some white lines to the branches with a gel pen.
The inside pine branches are sponged with Pine Needles Distress Ink.
 Supplies and Tools for Take#2:
Winter Blessings (Graciellie Design), Touch Five Markers, Distress Oxide (Peeled Paint/Walnut Stain), Distress Ink(Pine Needles/Gathered Twigs), Seam Binding, White Acrylic Paint, White Gel Pen, Circle & Scallop Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Sponge Daubers

This post linked to:
Power Poppy - Hues to Use
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Anything Goes with Lace/Ribbon/Trim
Mod Squad Challenge - Add Snow
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Lost Mojo

Sometimes my brain is so full of ideas for new cards to make I can hardly choose which direction to head first. Other times (like this week!) I draw a blank and nothing I try seems to turn out at all. In times like this I like to turn to sketches/color palettes/theme challenges to get things kick-started. Today's card is a combo of a couple different challenge themes all rolled into one!
I chose the sketch from The Paper Players and the hues from the Color Throwdown. Since I like to "think outside the box," I made my burlap string do double duty as both the side banner and the small element in the sketch.
These photos almost make it look like I used a dark blue, but I can assure you - that really is deep plum card-stock accenting my green and rust!

Supplies and Tools:
Crackle Embossing Folder (Darice), Woodland Wonderland (Inkadinkado), Peeled Paint Distress Oxide, Rusty Hinge Distress Ink, Phrase Set 2 Dies (Spellbinders), Burlap String, Dictionary Page

This post linked to:
The Paper Players - Sketch (below)
Color Throwdown - Plum, Olive, Rust
Shopping Our Stash - That's Sketchy
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes


Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Masculine Ship

Today I'm sharing a masculine card I made using an oversized ship stamp from Blue Ridge Impressions.  After stamping the main image, I mask it off and added a fish-net look with my Stampin' Up cheesecloth background stamp.
To create a little bit more interests on my white background, I scored some diagonal lines with my MS scoring board.
Supplies and Tools:
Ship (Blue Ridge Impressions), Compass (Hampton Art), Sentiment (unknown), Cheesecloth (Stampin' Up), Distress Ink (Chipped Sapphire/Hickory Smoke), Twine, Scorepal (Martha Stewart), Ribbon, Prismacolor Pencils

This post linked to:
Word Art Wednesday -- Anything Goes
Repeat Impressions - Anything Goes


Monday, October 23, 2017

Jack o Lantern

Fall is here and with it comes all things pumpkin! Today I'm sharing a fun Jack o Lantern card with you as well as a free template for creating the face.
For step by step instruction on how I created this card, visit today's post on the Cropstop blog.

I'd love to see the fall cards you've been creating so stop by the CURRENT CHALLENGE and link up any project that uses products from companies Cropstop carries in the store!
REMEMBER: If we reach 100 links this month there will be TWO winners and TWO prizes!!
Supplies and Tools:
Kraft Cardstock, Spiced Marmalade Distress Stain, Chevron Background Stamp (Heidi Swapp), Rusty Hinge Distress Ink, Burlap String, Mini Clothespin, White Gel Pen, Dimensional Tape, Buttons, Martha Stewart punch, Holiday Bliss (Julie Nutting), Peeled Paint Distress Oxide, Washi Tape, Fall Foliage Thinlits (Tim Holtz), Spiced Marmalade Distress Crayon

This post linked to:
Inspired by all the Little Things - Photo (inspired by pumpkins)
Paper Sweeties - Inspiration Board
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
City Crafter - Pumpkins
 


Thursday, October 19, 2017

Mini Easel Card

My sweet husband gave me a set of Touch Five markers for my birthday and today's card features my first attempt at using them! Lots to learn about coloring with markers and blending inks, but so far I'm having fun!
I made this mini easel card using one of my Power Poppy digis. I altered it a bit by cutting off the rose buds and adhering them to the bottom of the cup where another large rose used to be! For just a bit more "pop" - I added a tiny baker's twine bow and some glitter to the image.
Supplies and Tools:
Everything's Even Rosier (Power Poppy), Touchfive Markers, Circle Nestabilities - Scallop Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Hello Doily Dies (Sizzix), Textile Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Baker's Twine, Glitter, Chalkboard Sentiments (Anna Griffin), Washi Tape

This post linked to:
Power Poppy - Mini & Mighty
Mod Squad Challenge - Sympathy/Thinking of You
Little Red Wagon - Shape Up (any shape but square and rectangle)
Addicted to Stamps - Anything Goes with flowers


Wednesday, October 18, 2017

So Sorry

It seems like I've need a lot of sympathy cards of late so I decided to make up several in a simple but elegant design.
To create the background: I inked up my embossing folder with Distress Oxide before inserting my white card stock and embossing. Love, love, love the way it turned out!!
It always seems more appropriate (I'm not sure why) to keep sympathy cards a little more clean and simple. With such a beautiful background it didn't need a whole lot added to it anyway.
I added a pretty seam binding bow, stamped flower with a button center, and a die cut sentiment of "sorry." To give the sentiment a little more dimension, I die cut it three times and stacked them together.
Supplies and Tools:
Victoria Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Broken China/Peeled Paint Distress Oxide, Brayer, White Seam Binding, Hampton Art Layered Flowers - Amaze, Button, Everyday Compliments (Die-Versions), Inside sentiment from Blue Ridge Impressions

This post linked to:
Mod Squad Challenge - Sympathy/Thinking of You
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Anything Goes with ribbon/lace/trim
Inspired by all the Little Things - Inspiration Photo (below)
(greens/blues - vines in bouquet)
Addicted To Stamps - Anything Goes with Flowers

Monday, October 16, 2017

Mini Burlap Canvas

Today I'm sharing a mini stretched burlap canvas I created with interchangeable tags for different seasons. 
For step by step instructions on how I decorated my canvas and  put these little tags together visit today's post on the Cropstop blog.
 I used gesso to decorate the corners of my canvas and added a burlap string bow across the bottom.
 Supplies and Tools:
Mini Burlap Canvas, Mini Clothespin, North Star Stencil (TCW), Gesso, Burlap String, Sponge Daubers, Ground Espresso Distress Ink, Happy Everything Blueprints (Tim Holtz), Distress Crayons (Pine Needles, Festive Berries, Fossilized Amber, Ripe Persimmon, Vintage Photo, Picked Raspberry, Cracked Pistachio, Shaded Lilac, Spun Sugar, Mermaid Lagoon, Twisted Citron, Wilted Violet, Faded Jeans)

This post linked to:
Mod Squad Challenge - Fall Fest
Pinspirational Challenge - Inspiration Photo (below)


Friday, October 13, 2017

Mini Tri Fold

 Today I have a mini tri-fold card to share with you! I wanted to use a Power Poppy digital stamp, but also wanted to create a black and white card. To turn my digital image into a "chalkboard" digi - I opened it in my photo editing program and clicked the invert/negative button.

I've used the above technique on sentiments before, but this is my first time to use it on the actual image. Kind of cool....huh?


Inside I added flower (stamped and embossed on black cardstock) and one of my favorite (PSX) sentiments.


Supplies and Tools:
Wreaths: Succulents and Baubles (Power Poppy), Everything's Rosy (Power Poppy), Polka-dot ribbon (Amuse), Watercolor Cardstock, PSX sentiment, Layer Flower Happy Stamp Set (Hampton Art), Graphite Black Brilliance Ink (Tsukineko), Lace Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Versamark, White Embossing Powder

This post linked to:
Power Poppy - Mini and Mighty
Fusion - Striped Wreath (inspired by the wreath/black and white color scheme)
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps - Lace and/or Ribbon

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Patchwork Pumpkin

Do you ever use your papercrafting skills to decorate your home? Today I'm sharing a fun patchwork pumpkin that can be used to do just that OR you can create some bright and cheerful cards with it - the choice is yours!
You can add your finished pumpkin to a Stretched Canvas (embellished with a strip of wide Petaloo lace) ,a mini chalkboard, or make a greeting card to send to friends.
 For step by step instructions on creating the pumpkin along with a free template: Visit today's post on the Cropstop blog!
 Supplies and Tools:
Mosaic Memories (Recollections), Rusty Hinge/Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Sponge Daubers, Ribbon, Fall Foliage Dies (Tim Holtz), Oval Die (Hero Arts), Sentiment (Making Memories), Blossom Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Burlap String, Basketweave Embossing Folder (Darice) Stretched Burlap Canvas, Mini Chalkboard, Seam Binding, Petaloo Ribbon, Knitted Embossing Folder (Couture Creations), Petite Striplet - Jubilee (Sue Wilson Die)

This post linked to:
Little Red Wagon - Leftovers (The papers I made the pumpkin out of were scraps from previous projects -- the cardboard button was leftover as well)
Mod Squad Challenge - Fall Fest
Double D Challenge - Inspiration Board (Pumpkins and fall colors)



Monday, October 9, 2017

Zentangles

I'm pretty proud of myself today! I actually created a CAS card that I like! (smile) Usually I can't seem to pull it off - at least not to my satisfaction, but this one makes me happy!
I recently got this gorgeous Zentangle leaf from Cropstop and once I'd water-colored it with distress inks I didn't want to distract from the image with too many layers or designer papers. Lots of white space just seemed to be the perfect fit.
(There’s still two days left to enter our CURRENT CHALLENGE, so be sure to stop by and link up any project that uses products from the companies CROPSTOP carries in the store. There's always a nice prize for the random winner, so you'll want to check it out!)
 Supplies and Tools:
Zentangle Leaf, Versamark Ink, Black Embossing Powder, Distress Inks (Fired Brick, Rusty Hinge, Fossilized Amber, Mowed Lawn, Pine Needles, Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso), Scotch Mounting Tape, Stampendous Sentiment, Burlap String, Christmas Quilt Embossing Folder (Coutture Creations), Washi Tape, All Occasions Sentiments (Heartfelt Creations)

This post linked to:
Allsorts - Trees and Leaves
Stamping Sensations - Autumn Glory
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes