Distress Paper Mosaic

Today's post is all about fall and showcasing the Distress Paper Mosaic kit from Ranger! What a fun kit with so many different options for creating! I'm going to walk you through the steps I took to create this leaf card and also have a free template for you at the end of this post.  Let's get started....

Step One: trace and cut out the front of your card using the free template at the end of this post

Step Two: Add a layer of Distress Grout (from the kit) using a pallette knife - allow to dry (approx. 10 minutes)

Step Three: Cut some pieces of paper in random shapes

Step Four: Glue your paper pieces to your grouted leaf using Distress glue

Step Five: Apply a layer of glue over top of the entire leaf and allow to dry (approx 10 -15 minutes)

Step Six: Using the Distress Glaze, outline and fill in each mosaic shape - allow to dry (approx 1 hour)

Step Seven: Apply distress ink over the entire surface 

Step Eight: Finish decorating your card

Products used on my card include:

• Distress Paper Mosaic Kit
• Dina Wakley Pallette Knife
• Distress Ink in these colors:
• Vintage Photo
• Gathered Twigs
• Spiced Marmalade
• Fossilized Amber
• Sponge Daubers
• Funky Florals #1 Dies (Sizzix)
• Burlap String
• 3D Lumber Embossing Folder (Tim Holtz) 
• Studio G sentiment

As promised, here's a free template for creating your own leaf card! I'd love to see what you create with this, so 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.

Guest Designer - Kim Klinkovsky

Time for another guest design spot here on the Cropstop blog. Today we're sharing the talents of Kim Klinkovsky of My Kraft Kloset. Kim not only created two awesome cards for us, but she also included a fun tutorial with pictures!! I absolutely LOVE the super fun background she created with her embossing folder from Cropstop, color burst, and some gold metallic embossing powder! What a creative gal! 

Here's what Kim says about putting these wonderful cards together: "Hi everybody! Kim here from My Kraft Kloset  and I'm honored to be your guest designer this month! Today I'm sharing a couple of unique and amazing backgrounds created with products from the Crop Stop Store.

I started with an 5.5x11" yellow cardstock, cut in half to create two A2 (5.5x4.25") card bases. This next part is very messy, so make sure you put an old cloth or newspaper under you to protect your table, use a craft mat, wear an apron to protect your clothes, and gloves, because it can stain.

Placed a pastel pink piece of cardstock on a craft mat, sprinkled a few drops of powder from 3-4 color burst colors onto the cardstock, mist with water and watch the magic begin. It's a powder, so it will blow a little, so protect whats around you. With a little water it's bright and vibrant and gets lighter as you add more water. Feel free to tip/move your paper and move the color around or dab with a sponge or paper towel. Or add more drops if you think you need too. I let it dry over night, but you could use a heat tool for faster drying.

Tip: Use water color paper to avoid any rippling of the paper, but I wanted some of the pink of the cardstock to show through. If your paper does ripple, you can iron it lightly or press with a big book.

Once dry place the background image in an embossing folder and run through a die cut machine. Which looks stunning just like that too.

But I took it another step further and ran a brayer over a clear embossing ink pad and made it good and inky, then lightly ran the brayer over the raised images from the embossing folder. You will get some ink in between the images and thats ok or you can brush some off with a thin paint brush. Sprinkle with gold metallic embossing powder, tap off the excess, and set with a heat tool. Trim to fit and adhere to card base.

Tip: If you don't have a brayer, you can run the pad dirctly over the raised image, but you may get more ink on your panel and cover up too much of the background colors.

Cut a strip of black cardstock, cut and tie a double ribbon around one end, cut a banner tail on the other end and adhere to card with foam tape. Add a few scattered metallic liquid pearls for dimention to complete.

And there you have another way to use your embossing folders and make several unique cards with beautiful backgrounds for many occasions. Now it's your turn....stop by our Current Link Party and link up any project that includes a product or two that Cropstop carries in the store. Hope to see you there!"

Crop Stop Supplies:

• CraftSheet - Inkssentials
• Brights -Color Burst by Ken Oliver - 6 pack
• Core'dinations- Pastels - (4.25 x 5.5 )-Pink
• Core'dinations- Neutrals - (4.25 x 5.5 )-Black
• 723156Chiaro, Serenity Collection (5x7) LIMITED EDITION!
• Cuttlebug Machine (FREE SHIPPING USA ONLY)
• Ranger embossing ink: Clear for Embossing - Distress PAD
• Ranger Liquid Pearls, Metallic
• Pink on Pink Organdy Swirls Ribbon
• Mustard on Mustard Organdy Swirls Ribbon
• Scotch Foam Mounting Tape
• WatercolorPaper - 8.5 x 11 inch - 10 sheet
• Other Supplies: brayer, water mister/spray bottle, heat tool, metallic stickers, yellow 8.5x11" cardstock for card base, Ranger Gold Metallic Embossing Powder, Scor-tape 1/4"

Distress Spray Stain

Today's card features Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain on nearly all the elements. You can see by the different shades on this card that I started with several different paper colors (white, cream, manila) and applied more or less to achieve different tones.The background (manila) has a heavier layer and looks vintage and stained while the the tag is lightly spritzed white paper and looks totally different! Click here to check out the Distress Stains Cropstop currently has in stock!

 To create the background I:

• spritzed a piece of manila card stock with Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain and heat set
• stamped the Music Notes Background Stamp (Heidi Swapp) in Ground Espresso Distress Ink (Ranger)
• inked the edges with Ground Espresso using Sponge Daubers

The front panel is another take on Coloring Gesso with Distress Crayons (picture tutorial here)

• I added White Gesso through the  Floral Stencil (Tim Holtz) using the Dina Wakley Pallet Knife
• Then I removed the stencil and washed it
• I heat set my panel and then laid the stencil back over it adding Distress Crayons (Spun Sugar/Festive Berries/Twisted Citron/Pine Needles)
• I removed the stencil and spritzed over the panel with Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain
• I cut it into 3/4 inch strips and distressed the edges before adhering them to a piece of cardstock and adding a lace border punched with the Eyelet Lace border punch (Martha Stewart)

To finish of the card I:

•  Die cut a paper doily from Brown Card Stock using the Hello Doily Die set from Sizzix
• Cut a tag from White Card Stock, Spritzed it with Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain and stamped a sentiment from the All Things Are Possible Stamp Set (Heartfelt)
• added a bit of natural burlap string to the tag 

• Die cut flowers using the Tattered Florals (Tim Holtz)
• Added Spun Sugar/Festive Berries Distress Crayon to the flowers, and rubbed it in with a slightly damp finger
•  lightly prayed the flowers with  Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain and crumpled them to give them a more distressed look
• created a 3D rose using the 3D flower die from Sizzix, spritzed it heavily with Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain and added a large pearl to the center before gluing it to the center of my large daisy

• die cut a swirl from the Romantic Vines die set (Spellbinders), and some foliage from Tim Holtz's Fall Foliage die set

 I would love to see the ways you use Distress Stains so stop by the current link party and showoff any creation that includes a product or two from one of the companies Cropstop carries in the store.

Guest Designer - Rebecca Yahrling

Today we have a mixed media canvas created by our talented guest designer, Rebecca Yahrling (see her Flickr gallery here). Not only did Rebecca create something unique and beautiful to share with us today, but she also included a mini tutorial (with pictures!!) of how she put this together.  So without further ado -- here's what Rebecca says:

"I am thrilled and honored to once again be a guest designer at Crop Stop.

This project was totally inspired by Shari Carroll at Simon Says Stamp. As soon as I saw her monogram project, I knew I wanted to do something similar for my new craft room. I have already bought several 'R's to decorate and this canvas will be center stage. For me, this was a very intimidating project as I haven't done very much mixed media. But I want to! I didn't have any of the supplies that Shari used and just used what I already have. It really was fun to make and I'm happy with how it turned out.  Here's what I did:

 

 

I started by brushing white gesso on my canvas and set aside to dry.  I cut a 2"x7" strip of white textured paper and decoupaged it onto the top portion of the canvas. I then stamped a design on white tissue paper, using several stamp sets with black dye ink, keeping in mind my canvas size of 5x7.  I decoupaged this below the white textured paper.  The black ink bled a bit and I freaked out at this point, but continued anyway. lol (There are no mistakes in crafting, right?!)  

 

 

I traced an "R" onto the back side of the corrugated cardboard, reversed; cut out with scissors. I cut out the hole with an Exacto knife. My darling hubby was kind enough to cut a piece of Tim Holtz idea-ology ruler to 4 1/8" for me. I glued (Aleene's) the ruler and the "R" onto the canvas where the two papers met. I then added Aleene's tacky glue in three places and added a handmade mix of purple seed beads and let dry. I added plum metallic paint and white gesso to the "R"; let dry. With HS teal metallic paste, I painted the two wood leaves (I didn't have any aqua paint); let dry. 

 

 

Using a paintbrush dipped into dylusions crushed grape ink spray, I dabbed lines down the canvas as shown, also adding water to make it run and dabbing off the excess with a paper towel. I heat set to dry, then did the same with the vibrant turquoise. Once dry, I outlined the "R" with a black sharpie. I didn't like it! To tone it down, I added white gesso over the whole canvas, in sections, wiping away (gently) as I went along, until it looked like I wanted.

I did some ink splatters on the canvas and wood leaves with Tattered Angels gold glimmer mist. Once dry, I added all my pieces in a design I was happy with using tacky glue. And it was done! 

(I think it needs to be sealed, so I will have to go buy some matte sealer. Not that I need an excuse to go to the craft store! lol). 

I hope my canvas inspires you to try mixed media.

Here's a list of supplies Rebecca used:

Stamp sets:

7Gypsies 'Trousseau'

Tim Holtz 'Flights of Fancy'

MFT 'Distressed Patterns'

Inks & Ink sprays:

Dylusions vibrant turquoise and crushed grape

Tattered Angels glitter mist: gold

Delta black dye ink

 

decorative paper by 'Black Ink'

5x7 Artist canvas board

Tim Holtz idea-ology ruler piece

Folk Art metallic paint: plum

Heidi Swapp metallic texture paste: teal

Plaid decoupage

White gesso (Darice)

Aleene's tacky glue

Darice faceted rondel

Other:

tissue paper, corrugated cardboard, Fiskars scissors, gems, beads, Exacto knife, Plaid palette knife, wood bird (Studio Calico), wood leaves, metal flower, paintbrush

 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. 

Coloring Gesso

Today I'm sharing a fun new technique I learned for coloring over top of white gesso! It's super easy, a little messy, and lots of fun!

Here are the steps I used to create the pretty panel on my card:

1. Lay a stencil over a piece of black card stock (I used the Watercolor stencil from Tim Holtz)
2. Apply White Gesso (Art Basics) over your entire panel
3. Remove stencil and wash the gesso off
4. Allow your gesso to dry (or help it along with a heat gun)
5. Once the gesso is dry, apply your choice of colors using Distress Crayons (Ranger) ~~ [I used Tumbled Glass - Mermaid Lagoon - Shaded Lilac]
6. Rub the colors in with your finger - apply more in areas you see need it
7. Remove your stencil and - wa-la - a colorful-textured background!

To create my card I:

• embossed a piece of lavender card stock with the Lattice embossing folder from Creative Expressions
• attached my gesso panel to the left side with my ATG gun
• Die cut a Circle (Spellbinders Nestabilities) in white and a scallop circle (Spellbinders Nestabilities) in black
• stamped a sentiment from Praying For You (Stampin' Up) in Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko)
• added some die cuts using the Romantic Vines Die set from Spellbinders
• added two tiny pearls with Ocean Blue Liquid Pearls  
• Added a baker's twine bow
• Die cut two flowers using the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Die
• inked up my flowers with Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink (Ranger)
• stamped the crackle background (Stampin' Up) over them in Blueprint Sketch Distress Ink
• die cut a rose using the 3D flowers Sizzix die and added it to the center of my tattered floral
• popped the circular element up with mounting tape

I would love to see your take on this fun technique, so after you've finished creating - stop by the CURRENT CHALLENGE and link up!! Hope to see you there!

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!

June Link Party - #40

It's time for another link party here on the Cropstop blog! Today I'm sharing a different kind of inspiration with you -- it's a page out of my new art journal! I've been admiring the work of several ladies on different design teams with me, and finally took the plunge and started an Art Journal myself.

Here's how I created my page:

• I started by painting my page with a layer of clear Gesso
• Using Sponge Daubers,  I added some distress oxide in the following colors:
• Broken China ~ Faded Jeans ~ Peeled Paint ~ Frayed Burlap ~ Walnut Stain
•  I wet my ink, moved it around with a paint brush, and reapplied ink till I reach a desired color pattern
• I spritzed the ink with water and heat set
• In the upper right corner I added a torn piece of an old sewing pattern using  clear Gesso as my adhesive
• To the right I applied white Gesso through the Measured stencil from Tim Holtz and heat set
• I stamped the Seamstress stamp from Prima in Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko)
• I stamped one of the Julie Nutting dolls (from Holiday Bliss) on an old dictionary page in Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko)
• I restamped her dress, hair, and shoes on various pieces of card stock, fussy cut them, and added them over the original doll
• I colored her flesh with a Touch Five marker
• Behind the doll I added some Prairie Thistle die cuts from Memory Box/Poppystamps

• I added some Washi Tape strips along the bottom center of my page
• To the left I stamped the plaid background stamp from Impression Obsession in Faded Jeans Distress Oxide
• Over top I added two Repeat Impressions flowers, stamped on watercolor paper in Versamark Watermark ink and embossed with black embossing powder
• They were colored with Sonnet Watercolors and fussy cut
•  I also added a piece of greenery cut with the Fall Folliage dies (Sizzix) and a tiny wire hanger from my stash
• The sentiment was computer generated, printed on white card stock, inked with  distress oxides, and stamped with the plaid background stamp from Impression Obsessionin Brilliance Moonlight White Ink from Tsukineko
• I die cut an embroidery hoop from Waffle Flower and added it around the largest word 

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 JUNE:

If you enter an ART JOURNAL PAGE this month,  I'll enter your name twice (for each project linked) in the random draw!

Gilding Flakes

Welcome back blog friends! Today I'm sharing another "new to me" product - Gilding Flakes.  I know they aren't a new product, but this is the first time I've ever used them, and what fun I had!!

Here's how I put this shimmery card together:

• I started with a piece of white card stock and laid down strips of wide carpet tape
• Next, I removed the tape backing, dumped a pile of Gemstone Gilding Flakes over top and lightly pressed them into the tape
• Using a small sponge I burnished them into the card stock

To create my card I:

• cut a piece of black card stock slightly larger than my gilding flake piece
• using the Mixed Media #2 thinlits from Tim Holtz I die cut a swirly pattern in the top left corner
• created a banner using a square punch and added a Studio G sentiment in Tuxdeo Black ink from Tsukineko
• created my flower using the Exquisite Poppy dies (Creative Expressions) and my Paper Blossoms Craft Molding Mat
• using sponge daubers I inked the edges of the petals with Fired Brick Distress Oxide
• after that was dry, I added a coat of Versamark Watermark ink and Gold Cosmic Shimmer Brilliant Sparkle Embossing Powder 

 To create shimmery greens I:

• inked my white card stock with Versamark Watermark, added Gold Cosmic Shimmer Brilliant Sparkle Embossing Powder  and heat set
• I used the Holiday Greens dies from Tim Holtz to cut three vines for behind my flower
• in the center I added a tiny white pearl

There's still one week left to enter your creativity in our CURRENT LINK PARTY. Stop by and showoff your work for a chance to win in the random monthly draw.

May Link Party - #39

It's time for another challenge here on the Cropstop blog! Today I'm sharing a different kind of "spring" card created with Inka Gold metallic rub.  I realize that Inka Gold isn't a new product, and I'm late to the party (as usual). However, since a lot of the mixed media supplies are "new" to me, I'm having a lot of fun discovering their uses and playing with them in my projects.

 Here's how I put this shimmery card together:

• To begin with, I painted a piece of white card stock with Clear Gesso (you'll read more about my new-found love of this next week!!)
• I thinned some Graphite Inka Gold with water and, using a small paintbrush, I added this over the gesso layer
• Once dry, I embossed it with the Victoria embossing folder from Cuttlebug
• I then rubbed Platinum Inka Gold over the embossed part of the card
• The butterfly is a die cut from the Anna Griffin (Cuttlebug) set Butterfly Trio
• I rubbed a just bit of  Platinum Inka Gold over it to give it some sparkle and shine
• I also added strip of white pearls down the center for extra dimension
• For my sentiment, I die cut a saying from the Phrases Set One (Spellbinders) set four times and glued them one on top of the other
• The top layer also features  Platinum Inka Gold and makes the sentiment softer than a the stark white it was

The photo below gives you a better idea of the shimmer Inka Gold adds to your creations! 

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 MAY:

If you use INKA GOLD on the project you link up this month, I'll enter your name twice (for each project linked) in the random draw!