He Heals the Broken

Hello Friends, today's card features one of my favorite stamps to use on sympathy cards. I did it up in neutral tones, adding just a touch of light blue and lavender to match the ombre ribbon from Cropstop.

Supplies and tools:

Chiro Embossing Folder (Couture Creations)

All Things are Possible Stamp Set (Heartfelt Creations)

Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Blossom Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Distress Embossing Ink (Ranger)

Distress Ink in these colors: Salty Ocean/ Shaded Lilac/Hickory Smoke

Sponge Daubers

Black Embossing Powder

Petaloo Flowers

Scotch Foam Mounting Tape

Sheer Ombre Ribbon - Lavender/Blue

Cuttlebug

I'd love to see what you've been creating, so stop by the  last link party and showoff any creation that includes a product or two from one of the companies carried in the Cropstop store. 

Blanket Plaid

Hello Friends. Today I'm sharing one last "Ocotober Plaid" post. I call today's pattern, "blanket plaid" because it reminds me of a warm and cozy throw you might snuggle up under on a cold winter evening.

Here's how I created this design:

• Traced a double wide line of brown down a piece of kraft card stock
• Traced three thin lines of teal and then repeated step one
• Turned my cardstock 90 degrees 
• Traced a double wide line of teal
• Traced three thin lines of brown

I couldn't decide which style to use with this plaid -- rustic, classy, vintage???? I finally decided to do a "dressed up" plaid  with some pretty Petaloo flowers and scalloped edging.

Supplies used on this card:

• Markers
• Scallop Basic Edges 2 (My Favorite Things)
• All things are possible stamp set (Heartfelt Creations)
• Meadowbird Branch die set (Memory Box)
• Teastained Teal Flowers (Petaloo)
• Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink (Ranger)
• Burlap String 

There's still one week left to enter the October Challenge so be sure to stop by our Current Challenge and link up any project that includes a product or two from one of the companies Cropstop carries in the store. Remember if you link up something that includes a plaid element your name will be entered twice in the random drawing for a prize!

Pumpkin Plaid

Have you been following our "October Plaid" posts all month? Each Monday I've shared a different version of plaid created with markers, a ruler, and some graph paper. Today I have a one-color plaid background to share with you.

To create this fun pumpkin plaid background I laid down a wide orange stripe followed by a thin orange stripe all the way across my card stock. I then turned the piece of paper 90 degrees and repeated the design.

Supplies used on this card include:

• Markers
• Kitchen Weave Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug)
• These colors of Distress Ink
• Walnut Stain
• Gathered Twigs
• Ground Espresso
• Teastained Red Flowers (Petaloo)
• Wide Lace (Petaloo)
• Burlap String
•  Fall Foliage Thinlits (Sizzix -- Tim Holtz)
• Sentiment (PSX)
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Primary Bark Embossing Powder (Wow!)
• Crackle Embossing Folder (Darice)
• Ranger Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel  (UTEE)

Here's a free pumpkin template for you to use on your autumn themed projects

Now it's your turn....stop by the current link party and showoff any creation that includes a product or two from one of the companies carried in the Cropstop store.

Retiform Stamping

Hello friends! Today I'm sharing a card made with an old technique that I just recently learned about from my friend Shirley (Glittered Paws). The technique is called Retiform Stamping, and I'm showcasing it today as well as showing you how I made this card.

To create my background I:

• marked off a section of my card front with a piece of cardstock and inked along it's edge
• moved the cardstock and inked again
• kept moving/inking till I created the "boxes" you see above
• lightly inked the inside of the geometric lines

Next I:

• isolated each box with post it notes and stamped different designs in distress oxide ink
• added a piece of burlap ribbon across the bottom
• added a Heartfelt Creations sentiment to the bottom corner
• matted my piece on brown card stock and adhered it to my kraft card 

Here are the supplies I used on this card:

• Distress Oxide Ink (Ranger) 
• Frayed Burlap
• Walnut Stain
• Candied Apple
• Tim Holtz Stamp Sets
• Blossom
• Flights of Fancy
• French Market
• All Things Are Possible (Heartfelt Creations)
• Petaloo Burlap Ribbon
• White, Brown, Kraft Card Stock

I'd love to see any creations you might come up with using this old technique, so stop by the current link party and showoff any project that includes a product or two from companies carried in the Cropstop store. 

Guest Designer - Gail Scott

Time for another guest design spot here on the Cropstop blog. Today's guest is none other than Gail Scott of I Like Paper. Gail is one of our most faithful followers and participants, I can always count on the her to get things started each month! I think Gail was trying to give us a break from the summer heat when she created her lovely Christmas card with it's beautiful Petaloo flower!

Here's what Gail says about putting this lovely piece together:

"Recipe

I started my project with a cut of Kraft Cardstock for my base. I ran the Kraft through my Cuttlebug Die Cutting & Embossing Machine using Tattered Edge Darcie Embossing Folder. Next,  Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs Distress ink was sponge around the embossing using a Dauber.  I won a set of  Couture Creations Ornamental Lace Die so I selected the largest one and white cardstock. I  ran them through the Cuttlebug Die Cutting Machine to create a base for the Petaloo Poinsettia [there are other flowers available at Crop Stop - I am thinking this one is out right now]. Scotch Quick Dry White glue was used to glue the Poinsettia to the Lace Die Cut.

 

I used my ATG to place the burlap on the card base and then used Scotch Quick Dry Glue to adhere the Petaloo Flower and Couture die assembly. 

 

I found some cool Kraft Striped cardstock in my stash and used that to run the Poppy Stamps Joy Tag through my Cuttlebug.  Next I used my Dauber to add Tim Holtz  Fire Brick Distress Ink around the edge of tag and on the Word Joy.

I attached the Tag with a tiny red safety pin. A metal charm was attached to the tag using Hemp Cord. I fussy cut a piece of white cardstock for the snow then added two Brads - A snowman and a Tree to the tag.

My ATG was used to attach the finished base to White Cardstock."

 

 

Have you been working on Christmas cards yet? No matter - we'd love to see whatever you've been creating! Stop by our current link party and showoff any project that includes a product or two from companies carried in the Cropstop store. 

July Link Party - #41

Hello friends! Today I'm sharing my updated tutorial for creating a weathered wood background. I originally posted this on the Wordpress blog, but since we are no longer using that site I thought I'd post it over here as well.

Step One: Gather your supplies - White Glue, Paint, Stiff Cardboard, Sandpaper
Step Two: Cut your cardboard to size and using a Scoring Board, create boards every 1/4 inch
Step Three: Cover your entire piece of cardboard with white school glue and let dry till tacky

Step Four: Paint over your tacky glue with your choice of paint (I used Blueprint Sketch Distress Paint ---- NOTE: do not apply using applicator, remove lid and use a paintbrush!)
Step Five: Dry using a heat gun (if you did it correctly, cracks will appear)
Step Six: Add a coordinating color of paint  and heat set (I added Hickory Smoke Distress Paint)

Step Seven: Apply a little bit of Picket Fence Distress Stain and rub in with your finger (heat set)
Step Eight: Re-score your lines
Step Nine: Sand edges and center to create a rough, worn look

Here's how I finished creating my card:

• I added a piece of blue Petaloo lace across the bottom of my wood background
• I die cut a bird cage using the Gilded Birds die (Memory Box - Poppystamps) from dictionary page
• In the bottom corner I added greenery and branches cut from the Fall Foliage Thinlits (Tim Hotlz)
• I created crinkle ribbon using seam binding and Wild Honey - Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide (Ranger)
• I created three flowers by layering punched dictionary pages and adding a tiny pearl to the center
• I tucked a pretty little bird from Mitrushova Art into my ribbon
• The top of the cage features one of the dictionary page flowers glued over a Burlap String bow
• Underneath is a tiny die cut tag (Cuttlebug) stamped with a sentiment from Dina Wakley's Little Birdies and inked withe Walnut Stain Distress Oxide

 Now it’s your turn to share the projects you’ve been working on! As always our link party is "Anything Goes" with these few simple rules:

1. Create ANY new project using a product or two from one of the companies CropStop carries in the store. (It’s ok if you didn’t buy it from us, and also fine if it’s a product we don’t currently have it in stock as long as it’s from one of the companies we carry!)
2. Please, no back-linking old projects
3. Limit 5 entries per challenge
4. Link your project here, link back to this post, and mention the CropStop Challenge in your post.

We’ll choose one random Winner who will receive a prize from the CropStop Store! (100 or more links = two winners and two prizes!) Thanks so much for linking up with us, we look forward to seeing all your great entries this month. Grab our badge and help us spread the word that CropStop is a great place to play along!

Optional Twist for July:

Create a project that features a handmade wood background of any kind and I'll enter your name twice in the random draw (for each project linked)!

Guest Desinger - Karen Letchworth

Hello blog friends, welcome back for another Guest Designer Friday! Today we're excited to be sharing a beautiful card created by Karen Letchworth of My Cup Runneth Over. Karen is no stranger to Cropstop regulars, and we're happy she agreed to share this lovely card in her distinctive style! Not only did she create a gorgeous card to share with us today, but she also walks us through the creative process step by step - with photos!!

Here's what Karen says about putting this sweet card together:

"This card started with a piece of Ivory Bazzill card stock that I used to create a textured background.  I used a plastic Tool (similar to this, but you can use a plastic knife) to place Prima Gesso on the card stock by laying a circle patterned Stencil on the paper and spreading the Prima Gesso.  Using a Sponge Dauber is another great way to add color to just about anything, and CropStop carries just about every shade of the fabulous Tim Holtz inks/paints to make all your projects pop.  Using some more Stencils, I took the Sponge Dauber and applied some color to the background including Tim Holtz Spun Sugar Distress Ink, Tim Holtz Marmalade Distress Ink and Tim Holtz Dusty Concord.  I also used Tim Holtz Twisted Citron Distress Ink to stamp some swirls.

Next, I die-cut a "chicken wire" piece for the back drop using a Darice Embossing Die.  I used only a portion of this die-cut in the lower right corner of my card.  This completed the background I wanted, and now it was time to add a sentiment and some embellishments.  I started by cutting some greenery (branches) using a Creative Expressions by Sue Wilson branch die-cut, and I placed them strategically in the lower right corner.  To that, I added a length of bundled Ivory Burlap String and topped that with some gorgeous Petaloo Flowers and leaves.

All that was left was my sentiment, so I grabbed my Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress Ink to stamp my sentiment on a Spellbinders die.  I inked it with some Tim Holtz Forest Moss Distress Ink, and added some Ivory Burlap String, Olive Burlap String, a flower and some sequins.

I encourage you to try something new.  I'm trying to step out of my comfort zone as well.  Perhaps picking up some Gesso and giving the textured background a try, or getting some new die-cuts.  CropStop has so many FABULOUS products as well as a fun monthly challenge on the CropStop Blog.  Be sure to stop by and check out everything CropStop has to offer."

 

Thanks for sharing your talent with us today, Karen! It's always a pleasure to showcase your work! 

Now it's YOUR turn! Stop by our CURRENT LINK PARTY and showoff any project that includes a product or two from one of the companies Cropstop carries in the store! I'll be looking for YOUR name in the link gallery!

April Link Party - #38

It's time for a new challenge here on the new Cropstop blog. After missing the month of March (due to technical issues with the other blog), we're so happy to be back on schedule!  

Today I'm sharing a bright and cheery bird themed card I created to inspire you! Here's how I put this happy spring card together:

•  I started by running a piece of pink polka dot designer paper through my Fiskars Paper Crimper
• I layered my pink piece on a piece of green dp and cut a blue strip for across the bottom
•  Using a piece of White Sheer Ruffle Edge Ribbon I tied a pretty bow around the bottom of my card front
• Next I cut the large birdcage from black card stock using the Gilded Birds die from Memory Box and popped it up using mounting tape
• Using the same set I die cut two little white birdies to perch inside the cage
• I decorated my cage with some flowers from the Tea stained Teals set (Petaloo)
• In the top corner I stamped a sentiment from  Little Birdies (Dina Wakley) in Tuxedo Black Ink (Tsukineko)
• Inside I added a decorative panel punched with the Petal Heart punch-all-over-the-page (Martha Stewart)

Now it’s your turn to share the projects you’ve been working on!
Here’s how our challenges work:

• Create ANY new project using products from companies  CropStop carries in the store. It’s ok if you didn’t buy it from us, and also fine if it’s a product we don’t currently have it in stock as long as it’s from one of the companies we carry!
• Please, no back-linking old projects.
• Limit five (5) entries per challenge.
• Link your project here, link back to this post, and mention the CropStop Challenge in your post.
• We’ll choose one random Winner who will receive a prize from the CropStop Store! (100 or more links = two winners and two prizes!)

Thanks so much for linking up with us, we look forward to seeing all your great entries this month. Grab our badge and help us spread the word that CropStop is a great place to play along!