Cards, cards, and more cards

This post is an all card post today. WOW, not sure that has ever happened before except for World Card Making Day of course.

Were starting off with one of the Brand New TADA Creative Studios Collection. Its Poolside and has great bold summer colors, with a pool theme. I used the Mini Ooh La La Layers Brain Freeze and backed that with the B side from the Snippets & Clippets. Added Ball of Fun and Snack Shack papers, and created the Flag from the SPF 50 paper (its the yellow from around the pool.) Add some vinyl Stickies for the sentiment and you have a quick and easy card which will hopefully chase the winter blues away.

To create the Flag I used LifeStyle Crafts Party Flags Inserts and on the white part of the ice cream cones I added White Sparkly Fluff, which if you aren't familiar is like flocking mixed with glitter. Its a great product that you use with a liquid glue.

What is a good liquid glue you ask, well I use Aleene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue. I found it at Joann's and it works AWESOME. I love this glue and use it all the time, especially when creating fan fold flowers. In case you aren't familiar with it here is a photo of the bottle.

CropStop Challenge #58 It's a Baby
This weeks challenge at CropStop is all about babies. We challenge you to make a project with a BABY theme. Challenge yourself to create something different than your usual, maybe try a layout or a card or maybe a Baby shower present.

So I made this lil duckie card. I used Quickutz Classic Embossing Folder, a Spellbinders die to create the base for the chipboard duck to sit on. The sentiment sticker is one of the brand new border stickers from SRM Stickers. The fussy cut banners are October Afternoon as is the duck.
Items available at the CropStop Store: Quickutz Classic Embossing Folder, Cutter Bee Scissors, Spellbinders Tan Embossing Mat.

Don't forget about the Coupon Code available to the CropStop Store to receive 10% off with no minimum order.
Use Code LWCT-02

Remember you have til Wednesday Feb 22 at Midnight to post your baby creation over at the CropStop Blog.

True XOXO Bonus Challenge

Our regular monthly challenge -Get Messy is still going on til the end of the month, but we thought we'd let you be inspired by one word this month: LEAP!

When I heard about this Leap challenge the only thing that kept leaping into my mind was a frog so I decided to make a card that featured a frog but still kept with the love theme of February.

The papers & frog sticker are from We R Memory Keepers - 72 and sunny collection. Alphas - Jenni Bowlin. Stickles on Heart.

So you have until leap day (of course!) to complete a project inspired by the messy challenge or LEAP to be eligible to be on our design team for a month. So what are you waiting for? 1.. 2.. 3.. LEAP!

Hope you liked the cards I created.

Scrapfit Workout Challenge #62

Workout #62- XOXO


February is the month of love and every love note should be signed with XOXO so on this Workout we want to see some love by putting some 'X's and 'O's on it! They can be big, small, glittery or grungy, any way you want to show us some love!


Our Sponsor for this Workout (as well as Workout #61) is KStudio. They offer up a variety of scrapbook and craft supplies through an Etsy Shop.

Look at this awesome prize up for grabs!!

You have til Feb 29th to link up your project to the ScrapFit Blog to be entered to win the prize.

On this layout I used Echo Park's Be Mine collection and photos of hubby and I from our 10th Anniversary. Next week on the 20th we will be celebrating 13 years together. The heart punch is from Martha Stewart, love that beautiful heart.

Scrapfit challenges

Scrapfit has a great Step Class on the Scrapfit blog with lots of pictures on How to cover and/or emboss chipboard with Fabric. I love the adorable little tree and the awesome embossed heart!! Its not to be missed. So go check it out!!

Scrapfit also has the Weekend Warmup #24 you need to use CLUSTERS somewhere on your project. You can cluster your photos, you can cluster flowers...embellishments...anything goes as long as it's in some sort of cluster. I know I love creating clusters on my layouts too. You have to Feb 19 to link up your cluster layout on the Scrapfit blog

Remember you have to Feb 29th to link up the Blank Canvas challenge too and this one has a prize sponsored by ShopKStudios - an Etsy store.

Look at this great prize up for grabs!!!

I'm not entering this layout into the Weekend Warmup but here is a layout that I created with a Cluster. I clustered a sticker, fabric sticker (flowers), paper strips, and a frame that I fussy cut.

Products used on this are American Crafts Amy Tangerine Collection. I love this collection, its one of the first times I actually used some chevron paper, which is everywhere in scrapbooking right now.

I actually completed this layout last month for the Memorable Seasons Sketch-a-thon, but never got to posting it to the blog. The sketch was from Sketch Savvy

I actually used a mix of supplies on this layout. I started off with 3 colors of mist to mimic all the water and hair products that the stylists (his big sister) was putting on his hair. Papers - Bella Blvd, We R Memory Keepers. Banner -Sassafras. Robot - Bella Blvd. Alphas - American Crafts and Echo Park.

Again I used a cluster on this layout too. This photo shows how I clustered the adorable lil robot, the cute tag and brads by the ribbon.

Closeup of the misting around the title.

Yee Haw!!! The New TaDa Creative Studios Collections are in!

The Brand New Collections from TaDa Creative Studios are here!!! Its sooo exciting! There are two New Collections the first is Poolside and the second is Yee Haw!! I chose to design with the Yee Haw Collection with its super cute Barnyard Animals, Farm Setting, Tractors and Cow Prints.

When looking at the Hittin’ the Hay paper, the pony in the barn was just the perfect option to use with these pictures of my boys enjoying a pony ride. The Mini Oohh La La Layer Horseshoe became the center piece of this pony filled layout. No layout from me is complete with using the Snippets & Clippets paper. The I “heart” piece at the top of the layout is from the Snippets & Clippets, I just chose to snip off the rest of the piece since it didn’t work for my page. The scalloped orange paper peeking out from above the pony was created with a border die from Cheery Lynn Designs its the Carnivale Border. I created a banner from the Farmhand paper and topped it off with some of the Stickies.

Closeup – I fussy cut the horse/pony from the Fresh Country Air paper and fussy cut the hay from the Hittin the Hay paper and popped them up with some 3d foam tape.

Closeup - When you think of ponies what better accent is there but Twine so I wrapped a little around one of the title letter.

More Good News to Share
I'm excited to announce that I made the DT at ScrapGal!!! Its a great site with some great challenges and I hope you all come over and check it out. You could win a Gift Certificate to the store.

CropStop Challenge #57 was posted yesterday.
Wedding season is just around the corner. To celebrate the weddings and anniversaries of friends and family we are asking you to create a project with that theme in mind. You can choose to pick either wedding or anniversary for your project. Your project can be any type of paper craft, we love to see how talented and inventive you all are. So show us your Wedding and/or Anniversary projects to play for the chance to win a $15 Gift Certificate to the Cropstop Store.

You have til Midnight on Wednesday to play along and link up your creation to the CropStop blog.

Valentine card & a summer layout

This weeks challenge at the Create: blog is create a Valentine card. So I pulled out last years valentine line from Echo Park Be Mine.

I used Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Hearts and then embossed the smaller heart with a Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, popped up the smaller heart with 3d tape and inked the edges of the music note paper with a touch of pink.

Canadian Scrapbooker
Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine has a new monthly sketch challenge and I completed the Jan sketch on the 31st. I did use a Canadian manufacturer on it as well, the chipboard butterfly is from Riff Raff Design.

Used Just Imagine/Kreaxions Circle Cutter to create all the circles, Doily- Martha Stewart, Cardboard Butterfly- Jillibean Soup, Orange Butterfly- Jenni Bowlin, Border -Little Yellow Bicycle, Papers: My Mind's Eye, Echo Park, Bella Blve, Lily Bee, Scenic Route. Tag- Authentique, Sticker- My Mind's Eye, Brad- Girls Paperie, Journaling- Echo Park, Alphas - American Crafts

On this summer day we were going to see the boat races and everyone was in the bedrooms getting dressed and when all the males came out they all had the same color shirts and plaid shorts on, it did make it very easy to find them though.

Closeup - Riff Raff Design Butterfly.

Crop Stop DT Challenge & True XOXO DT Challenge

Crop Stop Challenge #56 Numbers, plus a Becky Fleck sketch!!
CropStop has the distinction of being one of the on-line web stores selected to premier the new Becky Fleck Pagemap Dies from Spellbinder! This original series of dies co-ordinate perfectly with Becky's monthly release of page and card sketches found at Pagemaps. Use these exclusive dies to recreate many of the design elements you love, including journaling spots, embellishments, and trims. Spend less time planning and more time crafting eye-catching creations!


We have a very exciting challenge this week that will continue through July! Today, and the first week of the next 5 months, we will be posting a challenge plus for you!


Follow the challenge for an opportunity to win a $15 Gift Certificate to the Cropstop Store, and/or create your project following the challenge plus use one of the Becky Fleck Pagemaps posted for an opportunity to win her Spellbinder-Becky Fleck Featured Die! All prizes are randomly drawn.


Now, the challenge...NUMBERS! We want to see numbers somewhere on your creative project. And, THE PLUS...use one of Becky Fleck's Pagemaps as inspiration on your project too!

Spellbinder's Becky Fleck - Office Supplies Die Cut

You can choose the layout or card sketch to create with.

I choose to use the card sketch and created this card, featuring lots of numbers. I started by using the Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Number Collage, added the ruler ribbon from 7Gypsies and the rubon.

Items used from the Crop Stop store is WRMK Sew Easy Stitch Attachment-Scallop, WRMK Sew Easy Stitch Piercer Tool, WRMK Sew Easy Floss, WRMK Sweetheart Inker-White, Cuttlebug Number Collage Embossing Folder.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to win a $15 Gift Certificate to the CropStop Store and/or the featured Spellbinder's Becky Fleck Die! Link your creative entry now at the Crop Stop Blog you only have a week to enter, entries are due by Wednesday Feb 8.

True XOXO challenge #26 -Let's Get Messy!
To have a chance at joining our design team for a month, be inspired by our messy challenge or scraplift any of our layouts. It's totally up to you, just roll up your sleeves, spread the dropcloth down and get messy!

Well I started off with a messy subject, my DD getting a painting lesson. First I lightly painted the Chipboard letters with Cream Acrylic paint then topped the paint with Moonlight Smooch. The chipboard frame started off metallic pink in color, I sanded that and inked it with Tea Dye Distress Ink, the outside edges with Memento Dye ink in Rich Cocoa, the inside edge of the frame with Colorbox ink in Merlot & topped it all off with Quick Quotes ink color Bloody Mary (Which is really a reddish brown). The instruction card was inked an aqua blue color from Colorbox. I couldn't forget the papers I made droplets from Alcohol Inks in Butterscotch & Stream, then inked the papers with the Tea Dye Distress Ink & the Memento Dye Ink in Rich Cocoa.

Closeup- I didn't want to completely cover the letters in paint so with a very dry brush added Cream Acrylic paint then topped the paint with Moonlight Smooch.

Closeup- Some of the droplets of Alcohol Inks.

Closeup- The chipboard frame started off metallic pink in color, I sanded that and inked it with Tea Dye Distress Ink, the outside edges with Memento Dye ink in Rich Cocoa, the inside edge of the frame with Colorbox ink in Merlot & topped it all off with Quick Quotes ink color Bloody Mary (Which is really a reddish brown).

Layouts are due by the end of the month to enter at http://truexoxogirls.blogspot.com/

ScrapFit Workout #61 & a Published Toot

I have had much good news so far in 2012 and in addition to showcasing my first DT project for Scrapfit I have a Toot to share. I have made it in the Feb issue of Scrap n'Art Magazine,

which is very exciting. I created a love themed card featuring TaDa Creative Studios and its the second project showcased in the article. It was my first time submitting to them, I guess I will need to submit more.


ScrapFit Workout #61
I'm excited to share my first DT project for ScrapFit. Its Workout #61- Blank Canvas Every good layout starts out as a blank canvas! For this workout we want you to start out with a WHITE background paper and build your layout from there! This leaves your opportunity for creativity wide open! Will you leave the white for us to see or will you cover it up!?!? We cant wait to see!


Our Sponsor Is **ShopKStudios - an Etsy store**

ShopKStudios has a wonderful assortment of Scrapbook goodies!

They are offing up this great kit for to the winner of Workout #61

So I really took to the blank canvas theme, and decided to create an all white layout. I have seen others do this and this was the push for me to actually do it. I used a number of border punches, mixed with ribbons, a banner and clear embellishments to create texture and depth on the monochromatic layout.

Closeup- showcasing the smallest touch of color above the photo.

Closeup- The chipboard banner pieces are Jenni Bowlin which I covered with Moonlight Smooch. Its really hard to see in the photo but under the white resin flower is a white rubon that says "Boy".

Closeup- This closeup shows the white rubon above the pearls which says "The sweetest thing".

Be sure to link up your entry for this Workout to the ScrapFit Blog by February 29th for a chance to win the prize!


On another note CropStop has a FABULOUS prize up for grabs.

Starting today, February 1st, 2012, any CropStop Facebook "fan" can play along for a chance to win this personally autographed Vagabond Machine! Yes, it has been autographed by Tim Holtz himself. We will also have 5 runner-ups that will receive an autographed Tim Holtz item too. Stay tuned to our CropStop Facebook page for more details! Become a fan today!!