'For Those Who Are Left Behind’ Blog Hop

Crop Chocolate is hosting their Spring Thing this weekend.  It is a big crop weekend retreat in UT where Crop Chocolate is located.  A bunch of ladies are getting together to meet for the first time, scrap, shop, learn and have some big fun.  I wasn’t able to go this year…so a bunch of us ladies who didn't go are having out own crop weekend here at home.  Below is a list of all the blogs hosting challenges.   Those who host a challenge and those who enter challenges will be eligible for these prizes:  $10 CropCredit, "Homemade" EP mini theme paper, "Blue jeans" paper by Doodlebug and some distress inks.  Some of the individuals, like me, are also going to be offering blog candy.

Blogs hosting challenges:

clayton528  Up in the Night with Kat
Scrappy Canuck Scrappy Canuck Studios
Karey2005 Karey 2005 Craftily Yours
by belle (you are here) Stuff by Belle
bethd488  Engineering Memories
scrapaddict-laura  Scrap Addict {4} Life 
mom2tayandbay  Simple Southern Blessings
raebae  Kitchen Table Scraps
NinaN  Nins'a Time Out
Christina  Thrifty Sisters
Haf2scrap (guest of centralnyscrapper)
NanCDru:-Char Creations by Char

I am going to be out of town so I won't be able to do any challenges but I am really excited to see what everyone comes up with and will be checking in often since I can't leave home without my netbook, tablet, and smartphone...gotta have my technology!!

And now my challenge to you...
...create a project of your choice; card, layout, home decor or altered item that has a handmade NON paper embellishment.  This embellishment can be metal, fabric, ribbon, twine, wood, plastic, etc…just not paper. 
Here are a couple of examples, these were all projects I entered in previous Crop Chocolate challenges:

Metal                                                                 Plastic

Fabric                                                                        Felt

A couple of rules:  At least 50% of the product used shoud be from CropChocolate,  you can combine up to three (3) challenges on one (1) project but still have to post it on each individual blog, please leave a comment after you link up your project and if you aren't already I hope you will become a follower of my blog.

Here is a sneak peek of the blog candy I am offering...

To be eligiable for my blog candy either link your photo or blogpost with the linky below or leave a comment. You have until 9:00am MST Thursday July 5th.  Winners for my blog candy will be selected by a random draw and announced Friday July 6th here on this blog.  Winners of the Crop Chocolate prizes will be announced  Monday July 9th at 9:00 am MSTover at Crop Chocolate.  Good luck!!  I cannot wait to see all of the creative projects!!

Print it up…

Challenge 20 is up early at Crop Chocolate this week so all the LUCKY ladies going to the Spring Thing can back supplies to complete a project.  This weeks challenge:  Create a project using black or dark background with 3 different patterns & a ribbon.

I had a masculine birthday card that I needed to make before I left Friday for Los Angeles.  I benefited too from this posting early!  I was worried I might break my streak…I have completed all the challenges so far.  Whew…
Crop Chocolate product used:  Echo Park Little Boy-Denim, MME Indie Girl, Fancy Pants My Family, Echo Park Dots and Stripes, Jillibean Soup Beanstalk ribbon, Twinery twine, MM magnetic alpha stamp, Dear Santa rhinestone, Doodlebug button, Distress Ink-Spiced Marmalade and Broken China.
Non-Crop Chocolate products:  star punch and Tim Holtz rosette die.

Not bad for a ‘boy’ card… ;)  Thanks for stopping by!!

Crop Chocolate’s Weekly Challenge 19

I can’t believe we are already on challenge 19!  This week the challenge was:  Create a project containing paint or a glossy (liquid) product (ie:  glossy accents, clear rock candy).  Stickles and Liquid Pearls can be used as paint.  Pop over and take a look at the great entries by clicking here.

I used Glossy accents and liquid glass.
Crop Chocolate products:  MME Away We Go, Echo Park Springtime, MM Paper Reverie, Distress Ink-Shabby Shutters and Brushed Corduroy, Viper Snake Tape, Copics-4 colors, BG Micro Mono alphas.
Non-CC:  pop dots, card base, Unity Stamp, Distress Ink-Stormy Sky.

I love Glossy Accents, Crackle Paint-clear rock candy, Liquid Glass and Crackle Accents!!!  These all add such a nice touch to any project.  I hope you will try any one of them!!

Saturday afternoon…

This afternoon I got a package in the mail.  It was my Summer Lovin' embellishment kit from UmWow Studio.   You have got to check out DeeDee’s embellishment kits!  When I opened mine today I had to get to my craft room and get busy…
I have had these little configuration boxes for a while and was scared to try using them…well today was finally the day.

The flowers, butterflies, nest, doily clouds and eggs are from the Summer Lovin kit.  Fancy Pants and MME paper, stickles, Distress Ink, MM Paper Reverie Gem from Crop Chocolate.  Everything else is from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by to see my first summer project!  Come back soon!!

Focus Group #4 Call

It was time to submit a project for the selection of the third focus group over at Crop Chocolate.
The challenge was to pick three items to use  by picking three in a row from the tic-tac-toe board you see here.  You also had to use a NEW technique.
I picked using a straight horizontal line right down the middle; a stamp, embossing powder and solid cardstock.

My new technique was watercolor pencils.  I colored a piece of solid white cardstock, cut to size, with two different colors of blue.  Then I sprayed with water and painted with a paint brush to blend.

The colored pencils were fun!  I am looking forward to more of this technique on future project!!
Crop Chocolate product:  Fancy Pants-Its Your Boy, Echo Park Springtime, Holly Jolly, Playground, MME Happier, WRMK Orange ink, Doodlebug striped button, Distress Ink-Mustard Seed, Brushed Corduroy.
Non CC product:  Unity stamps, Distress Ink-Stormy Sky, Tumbled Glass, White cardstock, Water Color Pencils, Twinery twine.
Come back soon!!

Fussy Cutting

Our June focus group challenge over at Crop Chocolate was to create a project using fussy cutting.  For those of you who don’t know, fussy cutting is when you do detailed cutting around an image to be used on your project.  I did my fussy cutting around some stamped and embossing images for this cute little card.

Crop Chocolate products:  MME Happier, Fancy Pants Its Your Boy, Teresa Collins Noel, Doodlebug card base and envelope, Distress Ink-Aged Mahogany, Spiced Marmalade and Brushed Corduroy, Prima Flowers, WRMK glitter brads, BG alphas
Non CC product:  Unity Stamps
 
Thanks for stopping by!!

Challenge 17, haven’t missed one yet…

3D:   Create a project containing a 3D element. Use a mix of masculine and feminine product (paper, embellies, etc).  You can check out all the other entries over at Crop Chocolate.

If you haven’t been over to Crop Chocolate yet you don’t know what you are missing.  I get such much GREAT scrappy goodness from them.  I use it on all my projects!
Crop Chocolate product: MME Stella and Rose Gertie, Life Story, Lime Twist Happy Go Lucky, Lush Pink Floral, Stickle Eucalyptus, Distress Ink- Brushed Corduroy and Walnut Stain, MM Paper Reverie gems
Oh My Crafts product: burlap twine
From my stash: Sissix birdhouse die, craft cardstock, Ranger embossing powder, Unity Stamp

What do you think??  Leave me a comment and let me know…  Thanks for stopping by!

My first digi

I love trying new things!  So with this card I used a digital stamp, the guitar, that I printed a couple weeks ago.  This birthday card for a friend of mine was the perfect opportunity.  I also tried my hand at coloring with markers.  You might be wondering what is so special about coloring with markers…even a 5 year old can do it, ha!  It takes practice or skill to get it right.

I also used Echo Park Note to Self and MME Kraft Funday cardstock that I got over at Crop Chocolate.  Also from CC:  Distress Ink-Black Soot and Brushed Corduroy, Slice cordless cutter and Music and Dance card.  The rest of the supplies were from my stash.

Looks like digis will be making appearances in future projects, it was fun!

Let’s Get Inky

Challenge 16 is up over at Crop Chocolate. This weeks challenge:  Do some spraying, misting or flicking of paint, ink, stain! Let's get messy!! It can be with commercial or homemade products as long as it is applied in a spray or mist, or by flicking it on with something like a watercolor brush.  You have until Wednesday morning to enter…

I did an altered box.  These boxes are so versatile, you can use them for so many occasions.

Crop Chocolate product: EP Apothecary Emporium, Sassafras Indie Girl, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist-Red nosed Reindeer, Distress Stain-Broken China, Distress Ink-Broken China and Aged Mahogany, Dear Santa rhinestones, Twinery twine, MME Stella and Rose Gertie button Non-CC Product- Unity stamps, Homemade light blue glimmer mist, box.

If you have a minute, PLEASE check out the other entries…they are all GREAT!!

As always, thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate it!