Welcome to the July 2012 Close to My Heart Spotlight Blog Hop!  This month we are spotlighting the different tools that can be used for distressing.

Distressing is a very popular scrapbooking technique.   Close to My Heart offers many tools to help you to create the effect you are looking for.

This blog hop is a circle so if you are just starting, continue until you make your way back here.  If you are coming from Lori Brown’s Blog, you are on the right track!

Supplies used are all Close to My Heart: Superhero Paper Packet, Happy Clusters stamp set, Moonstruck & Black ink, Edge Distresser, Sanding Kit, unknown black brad, and Black Hemp.

I am surprised to see this stamp set on the retired list already.  I’ve used many different distressing techniques on this card.  I used the edge distresser on the dark blue cardstock.  I embossed with my ScorePal on the light blue cardstock and used the Sanding Block to distress, bringing out the white core in the cardstock.  Then, using the stipple brush and black distressing ink, I added more to this piece, and finished it with the stamped image.  I used the Distressing Tool on the edges of the star too but did it lighter so they were not ‘roughed up’ as much.  I added stamped stars to the red paper by lightly tapping it on my ink pad so it wasn’t completely covered with ink for a more distressed look.

Thanks for stopping by!  Your next stop is Haley D.’s Blog!

Here is a list of participants:

Wendy K.
Haley D.
Lori Brown

Here are some wonderful tools for distressing by Close to My Heart:

Z1294 – Sanding Kit - Use to sand your overall paper or just the edges.  This works great with our cardstock which all has a white core.

Z1296 – Distressing Inks - Includes one Black and one Chocolate.  These are wetter than a regular ink pad.

Z1297 – Edge Distresser - Great tool for roughing up the edges of papers.

Z1298 – Texture Tools - Set includes one foam brush, one sea sponge tool, one black stubble tool, and one stipple tool.  I love the flat bottom design of these brushes so they stand up between uses.

Z1039 – Create-a-Shade Pearl Paint - Can be mixed with reinker for any color.  Also works in the Spray Pens.

Z1380 – Spray Pen - Mix water and reinker for a spritzer.  You can also add Create-a-Shade Pearl Paint for some shine.

Share/Save

This layout was created for the Use it or Lose it Challenge.  The challenge this time is Paper Piecing.  I used to do paper piecing all the time.  It’s a lot easier now that we have the Cricut but I still just haven’t used this technique much.  It is a bit time consuming but always worth it in the end.

For my layout I pieced together some stamped images as you can see in the closeup picture above.  My base was created using an image from the Life’s Creation stamp set (retired).  I stamped and cut out the image 3 times and placed them in a circle.  My next layer is a flower from the Sweet Home Workshop-On-The-Go stamp set (retired) and the top flower is from Life’s Creation.  Paper piecings look even more amazing if you add some type of embellishment to them like I did with the Opaque Pearls.

Supplies used are all CTMH unless otherwise noted: paper, Life’s Creation stamp set (retired), Sweet Home stamp set (retired), Colonial White Ribbon, Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems, Irresistibles Eclectic Chipboard Die-Cuts Alphabet, Chocolate/Juniper/Tulip/Sunset inks, and Zig marker.

The layout was one I received in a swap at convention a couple years ago, created by Anna Peterson.  I added the title, journaling, and stamped embellishments.

To join in on this challenge visit Use it or Lose it Challenge.

Share/Save

This is a layout from the retired Lucky Workshop Kit.  I’ve had it together and it just needed pictures.  With such a versatile layout I just couldn’t decide what pictures to use.  The ones I ended up choosing are from a family/game day.

Share/Save

Christine thought it was neat that Miranda fit on her American Girl scooter.  It was a fun ride.  This layout was from a Close to My Heart consultant swap but it doesn’t have a name so I don’t know who to give the credit to.

Share/Save

Elemental Level 2 Paper Packet ($9.95)
My Acrylix^® Elemental Workshop ($13.95) (stamp set is exclusive to this workshop kit)
Just Blooms^® Flutter Paper Shapes ($5.95)
Antiqued Copper Designer Brads ($3.95)
Colonial White Cardstock (2 sheets) ($.98)
Workshop Guide ($1.00)

Here are my pages:

Come back tomorrow to see the bonus project that can also be made with the Elemental Workshop on the Go Kit.

This kit is available thru January 31, 2012 and February 29, 2012 (while supplies last).

Share/Save

The Believe Workshop on the Go Kit includes:

Believe Level 2 Paper Packet ($9.95)
My Acrylix^® Believe Workshop ($13.95) (stamp set is exclusive to this workshop)
Mini-Medley Accents Olive Collection ($4.95)
Dimensional Elements Stars ($3.25)
White Daisy Cardstock (2 sheets) ($.98)
Workshop Guide ($1.00)

Scroll down to yesterday’s post to see the layouts that I made with this workshop kit.

Here is the Bonus Project – 4 Christmas Cards and a coordinating box to store them in:

Add these items to your order to create the workshop bonus project:
My Creations Card Box
Holiday Pockets
Sparkles Red, Pink, & Purple Assortment

Would you like to attend my Believe Workshop on November 4?  Order by October 14 to save on shipping.

Share/Save

Supplies are all Close to My Heart: More to Adore Paper Pack, Chocolate Ribbon, Chocolate Ink, Chocolate cardstock, Distressing Inks, Simple Stitches stamp set, and Friendship Word Puzzle stamp set.

Challenges:
Simon Says – Anything Goes
A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge 160 – Pink & Brown

Share/Save

These are the cards from the Olivia Workshop Kit.  You can see the layouts from this workshop HERE.

Share/Save

Share/Save

Products used are all CTMH: You Rock Workshop on the Go (which includes the You Rock Level 2 Paper Pack, Just Be You stamp set, and Mini-Medley Accents Outdoor Denim Collection, and Workshop Guide), Top Coats Rockin’, Bitty Sparkles, White Hemp, Rustic Alphabet stamp set, Goldrush ink, Outdoor Denim ink, Sunflower ink, and Edge Distresser.

These are sample layouts for next month’s You Rock Workshop.  Even though it wasn’t what I had planned for the pictures, I love how the Taylor Swift layout turned out!

2010 Layout Challenge: 27 & 28 of 210

Share/Save

Supplies (all CTMH unless otherwise noted): Topstitch Workshop on the Go Basic Kit, Field Trip alphabet stamp set, Dimensional Elements – Hearts, Sparkles, inks, and Cricut cartridge.

Layout Challenge: #19/20 of 210

These are the layouts for the Topstitch Workshop.  If you are local and would like to attend, please contact me by February 19, 2010 to place your order.  Pages will be completed on March 26.

Share/Save

Challenges:
Creative Scrappers Sketch #85
Tuesday Morning Sketches – Buttons & Bows

2010 Layout Challenge: #17 of 210

It looks like I missed the deadline for the buttons & bows challenge but it was part of my inspiration for this page and I don’t think it would have turned out as well if I had taken a different route.

Share/Save

Products used: KI Memories paper, CTMH Say It In Style stamp set, CTMH markers, CTMH Blending Pen, Darice rhinestones, stamped image from an online friend (Thanks Mary!), CTMH Distressing Tool, and fabric strip.

Challenges:
Sunday Sketch & Stamp – Challenge #18
C.R.A.F.T Challenge – Week 31
Creative Inspirations – Challenge 41
Crazy 4 Challenges – Polka Dot Fun

I came home tonight and needed some down time so for my relaxation I made this card.  I used the distressing tool to rough up the edges of the stamped image and I really like the look in combination with the frayed fabric strips.

Share/Save

Products used: CTMH Tickled Pink Kit, unknown brads, Miss Elizabeth 3D flower sticker, CTMH cardstock (White Daisy, Blush, & Crystal Blue).  I used my CTMH Distresser to rough up the edges on the blue paper.  I love this little tool!

Challenges:
CPS 127 – sketch
The Pink Elephant Challenge #26 – 3 brads, 1 flower, design paper

Share/Save

This time it’s a baby card made from my stash.  The only thing I can tell you is that the vellum “It’s a Girl” sticker is Bo Bunny.  I’m happier with this one but that could be because it’s pink.  I used my CTMH Distressing tool to rough up the edges of the white square in the center.

Challenges:
Charisma Cardz – Challenge #28
Caardvarks – baby card
Scrapping Out Loud – So Distressed Out
Creative Inspirations – Distressing
Simon Says Stamp Challenge – Let’s Get Distressing!

Share/Save

These layouts are from pictures taken in the flower garden at Como Park in St. Paul, MN.  They also have a zoo and a great amusement park (Como Town) for kids.  I highly recommend checking this out if you are visiting the area and would also suggest signing up for their newsletter prior to your visit to watch for specials.  My kids (ages 7 & 9 at the time) had a blast!

Supplies used: CTMH Whoops-A-Daisy paper, CTMH Watermelon, White Daisy, and Hydrangea cardstock, Pressed Petals Chip Chatter letters (sanded), fasteners, and gemstone brads from the Target Dollar Spot.  Layouts were inspired by sketches from the CTMH Cherish book.

Share/Save

Sanding chipboard is a fun, easy, and fool-proof technique.  These chipboard letters by Pressed Petals came pre-colored and included a sanding stick.  All I had to do was rub the stick back and forth around the edges of the letters to remove some of the pink color and reveal the white.  It’s a nice distressed look.

Supplies used: CTMH Whoops-A-Daisy paper, CTMH White Daisy, and cardstock, Pressed Petals Chip Chatter letters (sanded), garage sale flowers, EK Success fasteners, and gemstone brads from the Target Dollar Spot.  Layouts inspired by sketches from Cherish by CTMH.

Share/Save