New Year -- New Design Team Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the CropChocolate.com DT Blog Hop!  If you have happened to stop by and wanted to start at the beginning, go to Amber's blog here http://ambaju.blogspot.com.  This blog hop will introduce each DT member!  So sit back and enjoy the ride!!

My name is Jenni Shamblin.  This is my second term on the DT.  My first 6 months was so much fun that I couldn't wait to try out again.

During the blog hop, you will find out 5 fun facts about each of the DT members.....things you may not have know (and things you may not WANT to know)!!  My 5 fun facts are:

1.  I am a closet boy band freak!  It started way back in my early days....watching the Monkees on tv.  OOO that Davey Jones!  Then I moved onto Duran Duran and New Edition (anyone remember them?).  Then as I matured (LOL) I moved onto obsess about N*Sync and eventually succumbed to the Back Street Boys.  I am embarrassed to say that One Direction is now on my ipod! 

2.   Our High School band flew from Michigan to Florida to march in the Orange Bowl Parade. It was my first time on a plane! We were on tv for about 30 seconds.   In the band were 12 sets if siblings.....of which my brother and I were one!  We marched at Disney's Epcot and also at The Magic Kingdom before taking a bus to Miami for the Orange Bowl parade.

3.  My first car was a '76 AMC Gremlin.  It was green with gold pinstriping.  Everyone called it the "green machine".  It was so rusted out the fenders were almost completely gone!  The heater didn't work and if you have ever lived in a cold climate, in the middle of January the heater is VERY important!  I used to drive to school and work with a blanket on my lap!

4.  I like un-sweet iced tea.  Try living in the south and NOT drink sweet tea!  A lot of places do now offer both sweet and un-sweet!  My Florida friends call it "Northern Tea!"

5.  I LOVE SUSHI!  I could literally eat it every day if given the opportunity!  Not the weird stuff like squid or eel, but regular stuff like tuna and salmon, shrimp tempura......yum!

We were asked to submit two different projects to be considered for the DT.  
First something that is out of the box.....something out of our normal comfort zone.  I'm not a huge mini-album maker, but I did create this one for an October Photo-a-day group I am in.  I do really love how it turned out!

Second project was to be something that reflected me as a crafter.  Well this was really and entry for both.....out of the box and reflects me as a crafter!  It shows a different type of craft I do for each letter.  I sew, cross-stitch, paper craft and crochet.  I have been a crafter since as far back as I remember.  My mother took me to a needlepoint class when I was little.  We made a couple small plastic squares.  My grandmother still had hers in her jewelry box when they went to find jewelry for her when she passed away this past February.  

Hope you enjoyed my little part in the Blog Hop, now you move on to the next super talented lady here Kathy - http://upinthenightwithkat.blogspot.com/

Please leave me some love and follow me if you don't already!!  Enjoy the rest of the hop!

January DT - ICE!

Happy New Year!!  Happy New DT!!  First month of the new DT and our theme....ICE.  Ok, I live in Florida, the only ICE I see on a regular basis is in a glass keeping my "adult beverage" cold!  But the family was luckily enough to venture to the not-so-frozen north for Thanksgiving this past year.  We took a day trip into the city.  Along with seeing Central Park, FAO Schwartz, The Plaza and later that evening the 9-11 memorial, we were able to ice skate at Rockefeller Center!  How exciting!  Checking it off the bucket list!

To start my project I had to gather my supplies and tools!  These will all play a very important role though the process.....you'll see!

First thing I did was cut the embellishments (snowflakes) and embellish them with some stickles and buttons which I stuck on with glossy accents.  This was the first time using the glossy accents to stick on the buttons, but I really like how it squirted up through the button holes and fill them in.  I'm always thinking I need to put string in there or it looks naked.....but the glossy accents filling up the holes did the trick.  Once the glossy accents and stickles were dry I could ink the edges with the TH Walnut Stain.  But with all those little nooks and crannies it made it difficult to get in there so I grabbed some mini-pom poms that I've had forever and used with the chalk that we all have had at one time or another!  I did splurge for the stick with the hemostats on the end for the pom poms and glad I did!  Ink em up and just run it along the edges.  I had to squish it in the tight corners.

Next I needed to add some depth, I cut three snowflakes.  2 at 3" and 1 at 5".  The 5" one is the bottom/base.  Next I used pop dots (little foam squares) to give them some dimension.  I used two layers of foam.  Since the snowflakes were so narrow, I had to cut the squares in 1/2 and sometimes in 1/4 to get them to not be seen.

On to the swirl.  This is from a stamp set.  I used SU White ink, let it dry then added stickles and a little bit of bling in just the right spots.  I love to follow lines either in patterns on paper or with a stamped image!

Next came my favorite part.....the eyelash fiber and the charm!  This is my first time doing this on a layout!  I just made a tag with a couple charms tied to the fiber and I liked how that turned out, so why not give it a whirl!  There are no mistakes in scrapbooking.....only new discoveries!  I've had this fiber in my possession probably since I started scrapbooking!  Goes to prove....NEVER THROW AWAY ANYTHING!!  Wrapped it around the cardstock a few times.  Opened up two jump rings (purchased in the jewelry aisle at local craft store).....one for the charm and another to wrap around all the fibers.  Remembering I had this tool kit (also from the very beginning of time when we used to pound eyelets with a hammer) and that it contained needle nose pliers!  Just the tool I needed!  Opened the jump ring for the charm, slid it on, closed the ring.  Moved on to the ring for the fibers, opened it up, wrapped it around the fibers, slid the charm on there and closed it back up.  Piece of cake!

I love how it turned out!  I used supplies and tools that I honestly forgot about and tried a new thing with the jump ring and charm!  Don't worry about trying new things, it's fun and educational!!  Have fun and keep scrapping those memories!

Reflections of {ME}!

December’s DT assignment was to make a project inspired by me.  I don’t honestly think I’ve ever done a page just about me.  I’m usually the one taking the pictures, not the subject!  My 40th birthday, my husband had a party.  Although it wasn't a big party with balloons and streamers, it did have people I love and who love me.  My gift from him was a “day at the spa.”  This layout highlights that day, that WAS all about ME!  After my day of pampering, we went to a fancy dinner at Shula's!

I started out with the Carta Bella Beautiful Moments paper, I fussy cut the roses from one of the corners. 

Next I used a technique I learned at a crop in February, to use the Bazzill Basics jewel templates and their jewels (in clear) to create a beautiful accent to the page.  The template can be stuck to the page, I used repositionable hermafix so that I could easily remove the template AND the adhesive when I was finished.  The holes are different sizes for the two different sizes of gems which are also adhesive.  Place the appropriate size stone in the appropriate sized hole and remove the template.

I used two of the MM Butterflies to create a 3D embellishment also.  Several pop dots later and more gems, it’s perfect!

Adding things as I go along, the journaling block needed something extra.  I used some wired ribbon, folded it up and since it was wired, it easily stayed in place so I could glue it down.

The finished product is beautiful!  I love the way it turned out!  Very girly, very feminine, and ALL ABOUT ME!  

Turning 40 was supposed to be a traumatic and frightening thing, but to me it was just another day in paradise with my loving family and friends! 

CREATE Wall Art

When I sat down to think about this month’s project, something that I am thankful for, of course the obvious comes to mind. Family, health, friends, happiness, but we were asked to create a project for something else we are thankful for. While thinking about all the different things I could create or how I would create something, it hit me.......I am thankful for my creativity! Without the creativity, there would be no DT, there would be no scrapbooking, there would be no crafting at all! When I have given a gift of a hand crafted item, all the way from the age of 7, a common response is “oh I wish I knew how to do that!”

My project is a wall art piece that is going into the craft room above my window so that everytime I go in there, I will be inspired to “CREATE” something meaningful and special!

I started out with some chipboard, which just happened to be the backing boards to some used up note paper pads that I found at work. Cut the letters on my Cricut using the San Serif font at 4 1/2 inches. I then cut the paper, same font and size. Glued the paper to the chipboard using the Tombo Liquid Glue and then let it sit for at least 24 hours, under something heavy (to keep it from bowing), to dry. Once dry, I inked the edges using TH Distress Ink and then started the elements for each letter.

Since the R was going to be covered in a sewing pattern and not patterned paper, I worked on that one first.....to give it time to dry. I found an old sewing pattern in my sewing box, found a piece that had some distinctive markings and glued it on! I also used the Tombo Liquid Glue for this as I didn’t have any modge podge on hand. Worked well, a little more shiny than I would have liked, but did the job just the same. After that I took a piece of the patterned paper and cut a strip about an inch wide. Folded it in half, and “fringed” it. I then rolled the strip of paper into a flower shape and used a glue dot to adhere it to the letter. Fanned it out a bit, inked the edges a bit and viola a flower! I found that idea in CK magazine. Used a puffy brad like a pin cushion and stuck in two sewing needles as pins.

Next moved onto the counted cross-stitch. I have cross-stitched since I was a kid. Started out with needlepoint, advanced onto crewel and counted cross-stitch. As you can see, I have accumulated A LOT of floss over the years! I found a pattern that would fit online, printed it off, gathered my colors and needle and sat down. This was a unique part of the project because as I sat down to get started, my son wanted to see what I was doing. He insisted that I show him how to do it. So here he is helping with my cross-stitch. The next time we went to the craft store, he asked if we could get him his own cross-stitch kit so he could make his own! We did and he’s gotten started on it! Another part of being thankful for this gift is being able to teach it to others!

So I moved from one letter to the next. The buttons on the C, I arranged by size and color until I was happy with the variation and started adding the string (which happens to be cross-stitch floss) and glue dots! The R was done, the E just needed me to cut the cross-stitch to size, I peeled some of the strings off to fringe it a bit, inked the edges and stuck it on. I added some flowers and some pearls to give it some extra umph! The A I knew what I wanted to to do, the scissors, but after I put them on, it needed something extra. Sat and looked at it for at least an hour, then it just hit me......a banner!! I took some scraps of the patterned paper, found some brads and just stuck it on! It was the perfect addition! For the T, it was either going to be a tiny scarf or the flowers, and the flowers won! I also added one of DeeDee’s butterflies because I love them so much and a BG bloomer I had on hand. The last E was also part of my Pinterest challenge. I found the tutorial for the folded/oragami dress and wanted to make it, make a TON of them! So after trial and error with sizes, this was the winning one. I added liquid pearls along the bottom and bodice to dress it up a bit.

The frame I got from Joann’s. Here’s a great story......couldn’t find a frame to fit, asked the frame guy about getting a custom made frame and it would have been too much. Then he said, “ let me check in the back, we have frames that people get made, then they decide they don’t want them.....then we either try to sell them or get rid of them.” This frame, dark brown wood grain, was in the back, waiting to get pitched! Perfect size, perfect color! CHEAP! He added the foam board which I covered in brown felt and there you have it!

As soon as my hubby can get the hangers on the back and nails in the wall, it’s going up!

October DT Challenge - Candy Inspired Treat Bucket

When I was a kid, my brother and I would empty our trick-or-treat sacks after returning home on Halloween, we'd divide up our candy into a "keep" pile, into a "give to mom" pile and a "trade" pile.  The stuff that went to mom and dad were things we just didn't like....those black and orange wax paper wrapped peanut butter things.....and the candy corn (no offense to those who love those)!  We'd trade each other for things we each liked.  I'd trade him my grape and orange tootsie roll pops for the chocolate and raspberry ones.  

When I found out the next DT project was based on my favorite candy, I had a hard time trying to decide which was actually my FAVORITE.  There are so MANY favorites!!  Snickers, Sour Patch kids, dark chocolate ANYTHING!  Then there is the Christmas candy...you know the ones that seem to surface ONLY during the holidays.....chocolate covered cherries, Ferrero Rocher, but I've gone off track.

What is better than FAVORITE candy?  ALL THE CANDY!!  A treat bucket to hold ALL of my favorites is what I chose to make!

Started with a plain, silver metal beverage bucket that I purchased at a local craft store. 

I spray painted it black, which in the Florida heat and humidity took quite a while to dry enough to move on the the next step.

I cut the letters from Cricut Plantain Schoolbook cart at 2 1/4"  I used the black and white sticky vinyl stuff we all got in HC quite a while back.  I had no idea what it was or who the manufacturer is, but Jon we need more of this stuff!  It worked great!

Cut multiple different types, colors, textures of ribbon.  They ranged from 6-7" in length and were just tied onto the handles.

Then Anna and I made the pumpkin patch!  I had just recently seen a picture of something similar in CK magazine and knew it would be perfect.  The buttons are from the FP Oct 31 collection and the green ribbon I think is Giggle Kids Boy Trims, but I'm not certain. (pix 4)

Glue dot on the top of the button, fold over the ribbon to look like a stem and viola!  Instant pumpkin patch. 

Glue everything on and your done!  Painting the bucket and waiting for it to dry was the longest part of the process!

Don't forget to fill it with your favorites!!

CC product:  FP Oct 31 buttons and trims, MM cheeky trims, BG ribbon, Giggle Kids Boy Trims, MM Toil and Trouble trims

Non CC product:  tin bucket, black spray paint, random other ribbons.

Blog Winner!!

Ok, the moment you've all been waiting for!!  Well, ok, maybe not, but here is the super secret way we picked the winner!  My lovely assistant and I took all the names who posted an entry on Mr. Linky, placed them into a bowl and drew a name!

RUTH!! YOU ARE THE WINNER!!!

Thanks everyone for linking up your beautiful cards!  I know the troops will truly enjoy and be so happy with the results!!

Ruth, send me a message either on CC.com or by email j_valensky@hotmail.com and we'll get your prize going!!

OWH - 4th Challenge (Julie)

The sketch for this challenge was great! very versatile, could be turned several ways!  Wish I had more time to make more.  Will keep this sketch for more at another time!

Off to the next blog!