Goodbye

Here we are at the end of January already, and it's time to say good-bye. This is my last post for Cropstop. I've enjoyed working for Haylie-Jo for these past two years, and have been inspired by the projects you-all have linked up each month! I wanted to say a big THANK YOU for all the sweet comments you left on the challenge post this month saying how you've enjoyed the projects I've posted each week and will miss the challenges. So kind of you to take the time to say that!

Supplies and Tools:

Doily Embossing Folder (Sizzix - Tim Hotlz)

Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain (Ranger) 

Distress Ink in these colors: Gathered Twigs/ Vintage Photo

Sponge Daubers

Distress Embossing Ink (Ranger)

Brilliant Sparkle Gold Embossing Powder (Cosmic Shimmer)

Script Stamp (Stampin' Up)

Fiskars Paper Crimper

Love This Die Set (Echo Park)
Sheer Ombre Gold/Ivory Ribbon 
Plaid Background Stamp (Impression Obsession)
Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide (Ranger)
Tuxedo Black Ink (Tsukinedo)
Little Birdies (Dina Wakley - Ranger)

ATG Gun

Cuttlebug

Here's wishing you all a wonderful 2019 -- full of happiness and creativity!  Come back on Thursday to see who won the Final Cropstop Challenge.

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.

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)!

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!