Guest Designer - Sherry Gibson

Time for another guest designer Friday! Today we're sharing another beautiful card created by Sherry Gibson of Loose Stitches and Unraveled Threads. Sherry created a gorgeous vintage themed card filled with lots of detail and lovely 3D elements! I love the inked background and those pretty rolled roses!

 Here's what Sherry says about putting this lovely card together:

"Hello Everyone,
First I want to say thank you to Esther for allowing me this opportunity to be a Guest Designer for CropStop again. For This Card - Step By Step...

• White cardstock for the card base.
• Cut a piece of ivory cardstock to fit the center of the card.
• Used Couture Creations 'Chiaro' Embossing Folder on the ivory cardstock.
• Cut out the Creative Expressions 'Petite Butterflies' Dies with ivory cardstock.
• Cut out the Darice Embossing Essentials Dies 'Ivy Border'.
• Using a piece of The Paper Studio 'Tattered and Worn' Paper...For my flowers.
• To make my flowers...Cut circles/cut them in a spiral shape/rolled them and glued to end.
• Used a Ranger Ink Applicator with Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad 'Tea Dye' - butterfly wings.
• With the ink applicator I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad 'Vintage Photo' - on these...
• On the card base/over the embossed background/on the flowers
• Next I taped the embossed cardstock to the card.
• With the ink applicator I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad 'Tattered Rose' - on the doily.
• Weaved coffee stained lace and a string of pearls around the doily.
• Used a strand of coffee stained gauge to tie the tail ends of the lace and pearls together.
• Attached Score-Tape to the back of the doily and added it to the card.
• Fussy cut the image out and taped it in the center of the doily.
• Wove the ivy border in and out of the bottom part of the doily and taped it in place.
• Glued a piece of coffee stained gauge to the bottom center of the doily.
• Glued the flowers onto the gauge.
• Glued a small piece of coffee stained gauge to the top center of the doily.
• Glued the flowers onto the gauge.
• Then glued the butterflies onto the card.

...Products Used...
Sizzix BIGkick Machine by Vintaj
Couture Creations 'Chiaro' Embossing Folder - Serenity Collection
Creative Expressions Craft Dies By Sue Wilson 'Finishing Touches/Petite Butterflies'
Darice Craft Dies 'Round Doily'
Darice Embossing Essentials Dies Ivy Border
Elizabeth Craft Designs Fine Pointed Scissors and Tweezers
Prima Marketing Comfort Craft Distressing Tool
The Paper Studio 'Tattered and Worn' Paper - for flowers
The Paper Studio 'Kirby Teesdale Studio' Paper - image
Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink Applicator
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad 'Tea Dye'/Vintage Photo/Tattered Rose'
Coffee Stained Gauge and Lace
Strand Of Pearls and Flowers
Scor-Tape (Double Sided)
Kokuyo Dotliner Tape Runner
Ad-tech Crafter's Precision Glue
Beacon Gem-Tac Glue
White/Pink/Ivory/Olive Cardstock 

I enjoy being a guest designer for CropStop. I hope that you enjoy my card."

Now it's your turn! 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.  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!

Guest Designer - Vicki Robertson

Time for another Guest Design post here on the Cropstop blog. Today I'm sharing the talents of Vicki Robertson of He"artful" Validation of Vicki. Vicki has not only created a beautiful spring themed card to share with us, but also includes step by step directions (with photos!) for our readers.

Vicki Says: "This card base is  6" x 6", which happens to be my "go to" size when creating cards.  There's something about four symmetrical sides that makes me feel like I'm working on mini canvas or layout.

The "How-to"..

1.  Cut your card base 6" x 12", fold in half and crease.

2.  Cut the next layer of cardstock 5 7/8" x 5 7/8" and adhere to base.

3.  Cut patterned paper 5 3/4" x 5 3/4" and adhere to previous layer.

4.  Die cut two Foliage Flourishes and adhered to top and bottom of card front.  

5.  Die cut Majestic Oval and adhere Nesting Oval die cut centering it in the opening.  Place white foam tape to back for dimension and adhere to card center.

6.  Make bow and hot glue at top of oval.

7.  Die cut, ink and assemble flowers using foamiran.

 8.  Use black micro beads mixed with glue to create flower centers and let dry.  Hot glue flowers over the bow.

9.  Add sentiment using Elizabeth Crafts Banner die.

10. Glue butterfly to center of oval. 

Thanks, CropStop, for having me as a Guest Designer once again! It's always a pleasure to be here."

 Supplies and Tools:

Aleene’s Tacky Glue

Bazzill Paper

  Core'dinations Cardstock

Elizabeth Crafts Banner Die

Foamiran for Flowers

Heartfelt Creations Vintage Floret

Love Nicole Patterned Paper

Martha Stewart Micro Beads  

Prima Butterfly

Ranger Distress Inks...

(Peeled Paint, Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves, Shaded Lilac, Victorian Velvet)

Really Reasonable Ribbon

Spellbinders Nestabilities Majestic Oval

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Foliage Flourish

Tutti Designs Dotted Nesting Ovals

 Thanks for sharing your talent with us, Vicki! 

Now it's your turn....stop by our CURRENT LINK PARTY and showoff any projects that include a few products from companies Cropstop carries in the store! 

I'll look forward to seeing your work appear in the gallery!

Challenge #43 Take it out of the jewelry

From time to time I do some beading. I like to make jewelry but there's a limit to how much a girl can use... So I have tons of these unfinished projects, and also a lot of beads to use. Pieces of broken jewelry can be found in my drawers - I intended to repair them, but... So why not use them as embellishments?

This week I challenge you to use parts of broken jewelry, that odd earring or something you made especially for your project using beads and/or jewelry parts. As long as it has beads or jewelry parts, it's OK!

Join Elisabeth and her samples at the Crop Stop's Message board and see the complete LO.