Hooray! Help Us Welcome our February 2017 Guest Designer!

The busy months of December and January are finally behind us and it's time to get back to our Guest Designer Spotlight!

Her name is Chris (screenname EMMAPAIGE). She's freshly retired which leaves her a bit more time to create and scrapbook every day!

Here are a few things about Chris:

"Must Have" Craft Supply: Patterned Paper(s)

What inspires her: "The ACOT Gallery and challenges; process videos and CHALLENGES (of course)


A little bit about Chris: "My favorite subjects are my five grandchildren, my children and my husband (and occasionally me). We do not have any pets (we had three dogs at one point) but all four of our children have one or multiple dogs."

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She selected the new Sweet Nothings collection from Fancy Pants Designs to create several scrapbook layouts. Be sure to check them all out by visiting the A Cherry On Top Crafts Guest Designer announcement in the gallery. 

"My Favorite Place":

Retirement definitely has its perks and getting to stay in bed a little longer is one of them! Chris journals, "Now I can stay in our new Tempur-Pedic bed a little longer, watch som eTV and catch up with the world on my iPad..."

"Happy Mail"

Who doesn't love getting new craft supplies in the mail? Chris captured the joy of happy mail in this layout. We <3 it!

To see more of her layouts, click HERE and don't forget to join in on all of her inspiring challenges during the month of February! Visit our Contests & Challenges Message Board forum for more information.

Welcome Chris!

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September 2015 Guest Designer Craft Challenges

Can you believe September is almost over?  We wanted to send you a reminder just in case you haven't uploaded your projects to one or ALL of this month's Guest Designer Challenges!

Screenname: Cnmommy

First name: Crystal

Favorite Color: Red for décor but blue for everything else

I mostly create: I currently seem to be making a great deal of single layouts with multiple 3X4 pictures. I love combining 2-6 4X6 photos on one 4X6 to get as many photos on a single layout as I can.

I still have a soft spot for double layouts! Creating home décor items also allows me to express myself and make pretty things!

I started scrap booking in the loosest sense of the word way back in high school (circa 96-99). I still have those books -decorative cut pictures and all! I didn't do too much more throughout college and my Army career, but I was always creative. I kept planners, calendars, created cards, and home décor items. When we found out I was pregnant in 2007 I was bitten by the scrappy bug HARD.

Check Out Crystal's Challenges Below

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Challenge #1 - FIRSTS

Create something related to being a 'first' for you

Layout: '1st Flight'

Click to view Challenge #1 Gallery

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Challenge #2 - Using Non-Standard Photos

Create something using photos that are NOT 4"x6", 5'x7" or 8"x10"

Layout: And There She Goes'

Click to view Challenge #2 Gallery

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Challenge #3 - Sketch Time

Create something using this 'Don't Be Crabby' layout as inspiration:

Click to view Challenge #3 Gallery

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Challenge #4 - My Favorites

Check out Crystal's list of product favorites - select 6 to use

Click to view Challenge #4 Gallery

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Challenge #5 - What Does September Mean To You?

Create something that symbolizes September for you

'Love' Layout

Click to view Challenge #5 Gallery

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Remember, most challenges close on September 30, 2015 and the projects must be uploaded to the corresponding galleries and/or on the Message Board Topic!  one A Cherry On Top Crafts Gift Certificate will be awarded per challenge.

We can't wait to see what you create!

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August Guest Designer Challenges

Can you believe the month is more than half over?  Soon here in the mid-west, the leaves will be changing color and school buses will be taking the kids back to school!  

BUT

Summer is not over yet!  You still have some time before the days get filled with school gear shopping and book bag buying.  Take some time to get in on some of Chris' Guest Designer paper crafting challenges for August!

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August 2015 Guest Designer Challenge #1 (Water)

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August 2015 Guest Designer Challenge #2 (Scrap an outdoor activity)

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August 2015 Guest Designer Challenge #3 (Guilty Pleasure)

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August 2015 Guest Designer Challenge #4 (Loved One)

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August 2015 Guest Designer Challenge #5 (Sketch Challenge)

We want to thank Chris (emmapaige) for coming up with all of these fantastic challenges!  One winner will be selected per challenge to win an A Cherry On Top gift certificate!  Most challenges end on 8/31/15, so be sure to check them out, soon!

Happy creating!

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Click here to find out how to submit

Help Us Welcome This Month's Guest Designer!

First name:  Joannie

Favorite color:  I like all shades of red


I mostly create:  I create paper 12x12 layouts and I enjoy stamping and making cards too.

Guilty pleasure:  Now that I found a few good friends/Cherries to scrap with locally, I enjoy going to crops again!! It’s so FUN!! I love shopping for scrapbook supplies here at ACOT too!!! Right now when all the new CHA  goodies are coming into the store is most exciting!!! Outside of scrapbooking, I love going to the movies, Starbucks coffee, and taking photographs!! 

BIO:  My mother in-law and sister in-law introduced scrapbooking to me in 1995! Thank you!! Thank you!! I have seen many changes over the years in the scrapbook industry from supplies to styles!  I cringe when I think of the photographs I cropped when I first started! EEK! I hope scrapbooking is a hobby that I will  enjoy for many more years!!

A BIG thanks to ACOT for inviting me to be this month’s Guest Designer!!! I’m so looking forward to a FUN month!!! I have some interesting challenges for you all!! Hope you enjoy them!

View Joannie's Gallery

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Layout:  Love Fall

Featuring 'Harvest Lane' - Simple Stories

Look for Joannie's inspirational projects in her Gallery and check out her
Challenges during March on the Message Board!

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Click here to find out how to submit

Welcome Lisa - A Cherry On Top's January Guest Designer!

Screen name: ScrappyDistractions
First Name:  Lisa

Favorite Color:  Blue

Bio Bits:  I started scrapping in 2003 when I was between jobs and decided to create a memories album for my grandfather’s 85th birthday.  Back then, scrapping was only an occasional activity but then my interest really took off about two years ago and has grown exponentially since (with no shortage of help from ACOT).  I’m always amazed to look back at some of my first pages to see how vastly different my style is (not to mention the quantity and variety of tools, techniques, and elements I now use).  

View Lisa's Gallery

Look for Lisa's inspirational work in her gallery and be sure to visit our Message Board this month for special Challenges!

Welcome Lisa!

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Click here to find out how to submit

Sketch Challenge #22 Winner: ACherryOnTop.com Crafts

    Week 22 - Sketch Challenge Winner:

Congrats to txbelle26! You were randomly selected as our winner!

She was awarded 500 ACOT Bonus Points!

75 BONUS POINTS to all other entrants just for playing!

txbelle26 used this sketch from Becky Fleck as inspiration:

Sketch Challenge - Week 22:

View more of the great submissions HERE!  Be sure to check out our other Contests & Challenges!

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Click here to find out how to submit

This Week's Sketch Challenge Winner: ACherryOnTop.com

    Week 21 - Sketch Challenge Winner:

Congrats to Kari_H! You were randomly selected as our winner!

She was awarded 500 ACOT Bonus Points!

75 BONUS POINTS to all other entrants just for playing!

Kari_H used this sketch from Becky Fleck as inspiration:

Sketch Challenge - Week 21:

View more of the great submissions HERE!  

Be sure to check out our other Contests & Challenges!

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Click here to find out how to submit

Sketch Challenge #20 Winner Announced!

    Week 20 - Sketch Challenge Winner:

Congrats to Ayla! You were randomly selected as our winner!

She was awarded 500 ACOT Bonus Points!

75 BONUS POINTS to all other entrants just for playing!

Ayla used this sketch from Becky Fleck as inspiration:

Sketch Challenge - Week 20:

View more of the great submissions HERE!  Be sure to check out our other Contests & Challenges!

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Click here to find out how to submit

This Week's Sketch Challenge Winner At A Cherry On Top

   Week 9 - Sketch Challenge Winner:

Congrats to annette905! You were randomly selected as our winner!

She was awarded 500 ACOT Bonus Points!

75 BONUS POINTS to all other entrants just for playing!

Annette905 used this sketch from Becky Fleck as inspiration:

View all of the great submissions HERE! Be sure to check out our other Contests & Challenges!

Thanks everyone!

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Click here to find out how to submit

How To Tutorial: Flower Pomander Ball

You've seen them at bridal showers, streaming from banquet hall ceilings and decorating table centers everywhere.


But how do you make one?


It's even easier than it looks and is the perfect project to share with your girlfriends and/or kids!  


Make it a group effort and you'll have tons of these flower balls done in no time flat!


Here's what you'll need:

• Flat bottom coffee filters (tinted filters work great for 'vintagey' affect)
• Hot glue gun
• Small decorative brads
• 2"-3" Circle or Scallop Punch
• Ribbon
• Spray Mist
• Styrofoam ball(s)

Step #1:  Fold your coffee filter in half twice - making a triangle shape

Step #2:  Feed the triangle shaped filter through the punch.  Take your time.

Step #3:  Punch out the shape.  If you've folder the filter correctly, you should have 8 individual punch-outs.  Pile them on top of one another and punch a hole in the center using a hole punch.  Repeat this 3 times for 1 flower.

Step #4:  Stack the three piles of eight punch-outs making sure to align the center hole. You're going to hold them together using a brad:

Step #5:  Begin 'pinching' each layer up over the center brad:

You'll end up with something that looks like this:

Whew!  You're almost there!  Stay with me - 

Step #6:  Here's where the artist in you gets to shine.  Starting from the bottom of the flower - just start flattening and adjusting until it begins to resemble something 'floweresque':

Cute, right? :)  You could stop right here and add it to a frame, layout or finish it off by hot gluing a safety pin to the back to make a quick broach or attach it to a headband - but we're on a flower pomander ball mission!  So let's keep going - 

Step #7:  For a 4" ball - you'll need approximately 20 completed flowers.  Spritz them randomly with your favorite dye mist to coordinate with your event theme.

Step #8:  Go hot glue crazy!  Begin adhering the handmade flowers to the styrofoam ball.  You can opt to attach a ribbon to hang the finished ball or make various sizes and place them in bowls to use as center pieces.

Hint: The 'Pomander' part means it should smell good - you can add your favorite scent to the finished project (I LOVE jasmine and lilac), but do it sparingly. :)

You can do this same concept using other types of papers.  Click HERE for more ideas.  As always, we love hearing your comments.  Let us know if you plan on trying this project!  Thanks for reading!

ACherryOnTop.com