CropChocolate.com Design Team Blog Hop!

Welcome to the First {official} Crop Chocolate Blog Hop.

Good morning ladies!! It's nice to have you here today!!!  I am happy to announce that I have been chosen as part of the CC Design Team.  I'm still amazed by this fact!

If you stumbled upon my post by accident and would like to start at the beginning (you've only missed one stop, but it's an important one), please go to http://blog.cropchocolate.com/.

Crop Chocolate is a one-deal-at-a-time website that sells AWESOME(!!!) scrapbooking/paper crafting supplies at reduced rates.  The selection is amazing, and the people there are great.  It's like a little family.

The project I made for the hop was six thank you cards for my breast cancer walk.  It's really three different designs, but I make two of each sometimes varying the paper or embellishments I use.  I've been trying to make the cards I send to my donors, and have been using as many challenges as I can do get them all done.  I hope you like these. 

All the patterned paper for these is from BG's eva (this keeps growing on me every time I use it).  The pink paper is from MM watercolor set.  The flowers on the top set are Making Memories glitter clears, and I used MM mini silver circle brads to attach the larger ones (they are also layered with smaller ones).  The pink ribbon flowers are from OT (Oriental Trading), as is the pink ribbon stamp.

Please browse my other projects and posts, leave comments and click to follow me on my DT and scrapping journey.

From here, you will visit with corriew - Corrie at: http://www.corriescrafts.blogspot.com/.  And then she will send you on from there.

Don't forget to stop back at Crop Chocolate when you're done to win some AMAZING blog candy (A Slice machine, 2 Design Cards, and other scrappy goodness).

Thanks for visiting and Happy Hopping! :)

CC Focus Group

The other new thing at Crop Chocolate is they were inviting shoppers to submit a project to join a Focus Group they are setting up to gain input on products they should sell.  As a member of the design team, I got an automatic spot in the Focus Group, but I still made a project to submit.  The only rules were that we had to use 4 products we had bought at CC.

I made another set of thank you card for my donors.  This time I used BG eva paper, MM glitter clear flowers, MM mini silver circle brads, MM watercolor paper, and American Crafts Slick Writer pens (to create a faux stitching).

Hope you enjoy it.

Crop Chocolate Design Team and Blog Hop Preview

Drum roll please.......

I can finally announce that based on my May and June challenge projects, I was chosen for the Crop Chocolate Design Team.  I can't believe it!!!

CC made the official announcement on Monday (but I'm a little slow).  I feel very honored to be part of this very talented group of ladies, and am still a little shocked that I'm part of it.  It's the first DT I've been involved in, and while it offers a lot of inspiration and motivation to create, it's also a little daunting knowing that you HAVE to come up with a project AND video EVERY MONTH!!!  I'm sure that after a couple months it will become easier, but until after the walk I will be biting my nails wondering how I'm going to get everything done.

The first official challenge we had was "something you've never done before", so stay tuned for that within the month of August.  But before that, please stop back starting tomorrow (August 5) for the official blog hop to introduce the design team members.  The first stop will be Crop Chocolate's blog at: http://blog.cropchocolate.com/.  Hope to "see" you there.

The project I've made for it is.... well you'll have to wait and see won't you!!!  LOL!!!  Here is a sneak peak of it:

May and June CC projects

So a couple months ago, Crop Chocolate announced that they were going to audition all the ladies who were part of the very large design team and select 10 to be an official Design Team.  The rules were that we had to submit a project each month, and CC would choose the top 10 to be highlighted on their blog with the project and a video.  May was the first month, and the theme was "All About Me".  I did a one page layout of why I walk for Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure.  Here are the pictures. 

I used ink to flick the edges of the picture mats to add some dimension and definition.  I felt it just needed that extra color to separate the two papers.

Then I also cut out a couple of the leaves and used 3-d dots to pop them up to add some extra dimension to the page.  All the patterned paper is from Making Memories Dilly Dally.   The pink background paper is from Making Memories watercolor set.  The chipboard letters were some from my stash.

I was happy with how it turned out, but it wasn't quite enough to make the top 10 for the month.

But since the 10 chosen for May were ineligible to be highlighted for June, I figured my chances were better and submitted a project for that challenge, which was the Monochromatic Challenge.

I decided upon a graduation card, since June is known for that.  And my inspiration was the fact that my DD's daycare teacher asked me to make a graduation card for her to give to her daughter (this was the project I listed for the blog hop below).  Since orange is not a color I normally play with, I decided to use it for the challenge.  I found a sketch in Scrapbooks.etc and went from there.

All the paper is from CC - the patterned papers are from Echo Park Summer Days, Basic Grey offbeat, Making Memories mat stack, and the cardstock is from a Hot Chocolate.  The tag is from Making Memories Chloe's Closet collection.  The ribbon is from American Crafts.

This is a close-up of the flocked butterfly I did.  I really love it, and it's really similar to rub-ons which are so versatile.  The flocking set is from Making Memories as well.

I added some brads and flowers as accents.  The brads are Making Memories mini silver circles.  The flowers are from Making Memories mini blossoms collection.

And I used my cuttlebug and an embossing folder to add some dimension to the back.

I felt this project turned out really well also, and I'm happy to say that I was chosen as one of the top 10 for the month.  The video I did was about the flocked butterfly and can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWYJsiwP4UA

Enjoy.

Welcome to Day 2 of the First {Unofficial} CC Blog Hop

Welcome to the second day of the First {unofficial} Crop Chocolate Blog Hop.

Crop Chocolate is a one-deal-at-a-time website that sells AWESOME(!!!) scrapbooking/paper crafting supplies at reduced rates.  The selection is amazing, and the people there are great.  It's like a little family.

I was lucky enough to find them over a year ago, and think I have supported at least one of their employees by myself.  You should check them out also if you haven't already.  You can use the link to the right.

The project I made for this blog hop is a graduation card for my DD's daycare teacher to give to her daughter, who graduate from high school last week.

Here is a picture of it:

Her favorite colors are orange and purple, and orange is a color I don't use often, so I thought I would make it the main color and work the other around it.  I also added a little green to lighten it up a little.  I used a Cuttlebug embossing border folder, paper from Making Memories and Stampin' Up, chipboard from Stampin' Up (I believe), and a graduation stamp set (I can't remember from whom).  The inks are all Stampin' Up - elegant eggplant and dusty durango.

If you like this or want to make comments about this project (or my blog in general), feel free.  If you comment, you can win some blog candy (picture is shown on Scrappy Canuck's blog).

If you happened across here, but haven't seen the blogs previous to mine, you can start at the beginning - at rosaliejb's blog - http://www.rosaliejb.blogspot.com/

To continue with the blog hop, please visit Alissa at http://willrunforstamps.blogspot.com/

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.  HAPPY 4TH everyone!!!!

General Thank You cards

Here are some general thank you cards I've made in the last year.  My favorite is the middle one (and I literally threw that one together in about 20 minutes - figures doesn't it).

Sorry this one is rotated, that's the way it uploaded and I couldn't get it to change.

This one is my favorite - flowers are similar to the ones for the wedding cards and are from Stampin' Up.

These are a similar design to the congrats cards I made.  I like the simple layout so much I had to scraplift myself.  

Father's Day cards

Here are some Father's Day cards I made.  The paper is from Making Memories Cosmopolitan collection.  And the stamp is Basic Grey Alpha stamp collection.  I have a hard time making masculine cards, but I think this one does the trick - not to fancy, very simple.  I hope you agree.

Wedding/Anniversary Cards

Given that June is the start of the "typical" wedding season, I decided to make some wedding/anniversary cards to sell also.  At first I was struggling with paper I had in my stash to find something appropriate, so I went to JoAnn's for something else and decided it couldn't hurt to look around at paper.  Maybe I would be inspired.  Well, I was.  I found this kind of vintage DCWV stack of paper that I thought would be perfect for the cards.  Then I used some flowers from Stampin' Up, and my Slice to make the "love".  And I punched the edge with a floral punch.

Congratulations cards

Here are some congratulations and graduation cards I made to sell.  I tried to use the colors of the most local high schools to me.  But I also tried to anticipate that some people might want to give a more general congratulations card.  Most of the paper and cardstock is from Stampin' Up.

Baby cards

This is a baby shower card I threw together for someone at work.  She knew they were having a boy.

I decided to combine two of my favorite crafts - quilting and cards.  I've actually been meaning to do this for awhile, but couldn't figure out what blocks to use or which project to use them on. So I started with baby cards.  I also used my Slice to cut out most of the popped-up images and words.  I had a lot of fun doing these and will be expanding the selection into other occasions!!

Here are some baby boy ones:  Red Cross II, Homeward Bound, Around the Block.

Here are some baby girl ones: Around the Block, Pinwheel, A Plain Block.

Here are a couple gender neutral ones:  A Plain Block, The Double V, Nine Patch.

Bravissimo! Challenge

Through Crop Chocolate, Making Memories asked for those who visit the CC site and order from them to make projects using their newest line - Bravissimo.  This line is one designed to applaud and honor the achievements of kids and adults alike.  There are rosettes you can put on ribbons, and sayings you can add, as well as embellishments like pearls and beads.  So I made a 12x12 layout that commemorates a birthday.  My intention is to put it in a shadow box and hang it on the wall.  I used photo corners so that I can change the picture every year.

First ATC's - spring theme

So here are pictures of my first ever ATC's (artist trading cards).  The theme was spring.  Compared to some I've seen, they are pretty simple.  All paper is DCWV, but the clips are from MM Chloe's Closet collection.

And this is my personal favorite of the bunch:

Mother's Day cards

Here are the Mother's Day cards I made this year for my mom and my sister.  They look pretty simple, but I think they are really cool.

This is a close-up of the punch detail.

For this card, I decided to fold it a little differently to see how it would look.  I also added an embossed image on the inside flap.

Thank you Cards for 2010 Breast Cancer Walk

So last year I decided to make the majority of my thank you cards to the donors for my breast cancer walk.  Here is a picture of them.  I also took close up pictures of each design, but that would be too many to upload here.  So here is just the overall collection of them.  All of them have some sort of pink in them (and some have purple just to mix things up a little).

These were a lot of fun to make and I am planning on making more for this year's donors.  So if you want to be the recipient of one, I would suggest you donate (see link to the right).

March Crop Chocolate project - Vacation challenge

At first this was a tough one for me because we don't take that many actual vacations yet.  We're waiting for the kids to get a little older so they can appreciate the places we go.  However, every year we go to Knoebel's Grove and Amusement Park for our family reunion.  So I decided to do 2-page 12x12 layouts for both kids.  While I'm doing one, I may as well do the other.  Saves times later in trying to remember what I did.

I like the way they both turned out, and might have to use this layout again and again for other events.  Great ways to fit in lots of pictures (which I have a lot of as I can't seem to pick and choose).

Here is the one I did for Sam:

It uses cardstock from Stampin' Up, Echo Park's Sweet Summertime, banner from Sassafras.  I had a lot of fun trying to fit in so many pictures.

And here is the one I did for Mary:

It uses cardstock from Stampin' Up, Echo Park's Life is Good, banner from Sassafras.  I had a lot of fun trying to fit in so many pictures.

Other Valentine's Day Cards

Here are some other Valentine's Day cards I made for family members - my parents, my sister, and the hubby,  They used the Slice for all of them, and as you can see, used the same color palette for all of them.  I had a lot of fun making these.

February Crop Chocolate project - Valentine's Day card

For the February Chocolatiers Challenge, the theme was love.  So I did the sort of obvious and made a Valentine's Day card.  I used my new Slice for the first time on this one - cut out the hearts and the words.  I still need practice with the adhesive because my word stuck a little too well.  I will just have to make more things so that I can get the hang of it.  I also used my tag maker for the middle heart.  That was pretty easy.

BIrthday Cards

Here are some other birthday cards I've made over the last year.  The first two are use all Stampin' Up products.  I think it was actually a kit I got from them that included the stamps, ribbon, and cardstock.  Unfortunately, the second one didn't upload correctly and is rotated.

Here is a birthday card I made for a friend.  I used my newest large purchase - MM Slice.  I love this machine!!!  The papers are from DCWV.

All About Me Project

So the May challenge for the Crop Chocolate design team was to do a project about YOU (or ME depending on how you look at it).  At first I was going to do a 2page layout of the first day of my 2010 Susan G. Komen walk, as this is pretty much the only pictures I have of ME lately.  But as I was working on it, I realized that it wasn't about just ME, since I was including my teammates as well.  So I changed the topic slightly, and made it into the reasons why I was walking.  Not something I originally thought of adding to the album, but I think it makes a great addition.

So here is a picture of the overall LO:

Most of the materials are from the Making Memories Dilly Dally line.  The letters are some I had lying around (I don't remember whose they are), and the shimmery letters are MM as well.

Here is a close-up of the inking I did on the circles to add some dimension and distinction to them:

And here is a close-up of the pop-up I did with the leaves/flowers to add some depth.

I had a lot of fun making this LO and it went together pretty quickly (a lot quicker than the 2-page was going).  I almost finished the 2-page one, so I will have to add that one too soon.