Digi & Hybrid Scrapbooking With Crisdam Designs

Posted by Janell:


This week we are celebrating Crisdam Designs.


Isabel Mendez is the mastermind behind this week's digital reveal.  She makes scrapping easy!  Isabel is one talented designer and our digital creative team really enjoyed working with her designs.


We are so lucky to have her here at A Cherry On Top.  In fact she is so talented we had a very difficult time choosing which kits to use.  We thought we would start off with her newest release in the shop  "Project September: The Kit"

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Here are some lovely layouts using Project September.
"Wife & Hubby" by Jenn K

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and another layout using Project: September
"What an Artist!" by Janell

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Ronny made this beautiful hybrid card with the same kit!!!

"Happy 6th Birthday Card" by Smiley-Scrap8




I love all the amazing looks that came from this versatile kit, it's one everyone should have in their digital collection. 

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Here are some more exciting "monthly" kits from Crsidam Designs:
   

These layouts were put together using "Project August: The Kit" 

Isabel has an eye for color combinations. The purples and yellows and grays work so beautifully in this monthly kit.  

This scrapbook page is titled "Special August Visit" by Janell

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Another layout using Project August:
"Bonus Niece" by Jenn Kellams

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There is so much more than just the monthly kits Isabel creates.  Crisdam Designs also has a variety of wonderful themed kits and digital tools.

Here are some gorgeous layouts by Angie using "Sick Day: The Kit" 

"Ben Headache" by nun69

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Angie made such a sweet little get well soon hybrid card also using the "Sick Day" kit.
"Get Well Soon Hybrid Card" by nun69

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Be sure to check out the many other projects featuring Isabel's products by visiting our Resources Page.  Here are a few of Crisdam Designs' other kits used in this reveal:

     

Image Transfer Paper Crafting Tutorial

Posted by ChrissyTina (Christina):

Hi everyone!  


This tutorial is going to focus on a cool paper crafting technique I saw on a blog.  I can’t remember the site, but as soon as I find it, I’ll share it with you.  Now this technique uses simple household items and is a really cool trick to use, especially if you have trouble stamping.


Supply List:
Stamps
SOLVENT ink*
Clear packing tape
White cardstock (non-textured)
Luke warm water
Soft gel medium
Paint brush
 

 
Now, the reason why solvent ink is starred is because this is very important.  Any ink that is water soluble or water based will NOT work with this technique.
Since we have our supplies, let’s get started.  The first step is to stamp your image onto the white cardstock.  Try and get as bold of an image as you can.  If you are not a perfect stamper, that’s ok!  The key here is to get as much color onto the cardstock as possible.
 

 
Next step is to apply the packing tape.  When you apply the tape, make sure there aren’t any bubbles.  After you’ve applied the tape, go back over it and REALLY REALLY press the tape onto the paper.  You want to ensure maximum contact between the paper and the tape.  Once you’ve done that, trim off the excess tape.
 

 
Once the tape is applied, trim your image.  This is fussy cutting to an extent.  But don’t be scared!  Trim off as much of the paper as you want.  This is completely customizable!
 

 
Now the fun begins!  Once your image is all trimmed and pretty, submerge it in water.  If it curls, it’s ok.  See?  Mine curled a little bit.  Leave your image in the water for about 5 minutes.  If it goes a little over, no biggie.  While it’s soaking in its own little spa, go prep your project that you are going to adhere this little gem onto.
 

 
Here’s where the magic becomes visible.  Take your image out of the water and pat it dry.  Flip it over so that the tape is facing down onto the table.  Now gently rub your finger back and forth on the wet paper.  If it doesn’t start peeling off right away, then use your nail to gently peel off the top layer.  


Once you have an “edge” lifted, start rubbing the paper off with your finger.  This will take a few minutes.  It’s important to be gentle so that you don’t rub the image off of the tape.  Keep rubbing until there aren’t any more little pill balls.  I like to leave some thin paper in spots because I like the funky look it has.
 

 
Now you can understand why water soluble and water based inks will not work.  Once the ink makes contact with the moisture, the image runs and eventually rubs off.  Another little tidbit for you, this doesn’t work well with Copics either.  I tried coloring an image with them and when I rubbed the wet paper off, some of the ink from the Copics would rub off as well. 
Now let’s look at our completed images!
 

 
It’s time to put our images to use!  Break out the gel medium and the paint brush.  You can really funky it up like I did on the “Funky Tag”.  I used a more course paint brush so that you can see the brush strokes.  Or you can go softer like I did on the “Fall” card.  I used a soft brush so as to leave no visible brush strokes.  Apply the gel medium onto the surface of your project.
 

 
Brush the gel medium onto the back of the image.
 

 
Adhere the image onto your gel’d surface.  Make sure to press all the of the air bubbles out.
 

 
Finally, brush gel over the entire surface of the image and the project surface to ensure a nice adhesion. 
 

 
Once the gel dries and you finish your project, the last step is to ADMIRE!
 

 
This technique is very handy.  It works well for all levels of experience.  You can be a pro stamper or a novice.  If you make a mistake, no biggy!  It adds character!
 
You’ve seen the “Funky Tag” already. 
 

 
Here’s the same technique used on a layout and a card.  In these two projects, it’s a more subtle detail.  However, it’s subtly speaks volumes if you could see these in real life.

 

 
Now that you’ve got a really handy technique in your arsenal, whip something out let me see how YOU put it use!

Products Used:
       

Meet Our September 2011 Guest Paper Creative Team Member!

Posted by 4peasinourpod (Pam):

We at A Cherry on Top want to extend a warm welcome to writerlady, our lovely Guest Designer for the month of September.  She used the incredible Christmas line from Karen Foster Designs.  WOW!!!  So fabulous!  Please pull up a chair and learn a little more about her:

Name: Sandy Lewis  (aka writerlady)


Name 3 musical artists you enjoy. Bare Naked Ladies, John Mellancamp, Lady Gaga

Name 2 of your favorite colors. blue and pink

Favorite thing to do with your family? Movie night - for sure!


What would you like the ACOT members to know about you? Hi - I am thrilled to be the guest CT this month! I joined ACOT during a Scrapbooking Day crop - and I was totally overwhelmed, but kept coming back. I am married, with 2 grown sons and 2 grown stepsons. I have 2 dogs and 3 cats. 


I am disabled and I no longer work. I have loved paper scrapping since I saw my first Sandi Genovese show on TV when I was out on Disability, about 7 years ago now. Then I went to Michael's and I was totally hooked. I made my mom a scrapbook for her 50th birthday and tried to scrap a few pages, and then I had to have surgery. I was limited in what I could do for a while, and I somehow stumbled on digital scrapping. 


It was fun and I got lots of pages done, so I have stayed with it. Still, paper scrapping was tugging at me. I finally convinced dh that I was not "collecting" all of the scrapbook supplies just to clutter up the house. He bought me the Workbox earlier this year and I finally have a space to scrap. And I do... I love it! 

My first layout (above) is about all of the family birthdays we have in December. I had these photos of my birthday and my son's birthday. I wasn't crazy about the background of my son's photos, so I did an extraction and then printed it out. The white background is a little much, but honestly it's better than it was before. The bottom photo is from 2 years ago on my birthday. My mom baked me a carrot cake, and it was very heavy. These 2 nuts pretended it weighed about 5,000 pounds, and I laughed so hard that I was crying when I blew out the candles. Don't tell my mom, ok?

I still had paper and stickers and brads, oh my! So - I made a mini book (above) with a Santa's Hat chipboard book I picked up in a dollar bin. I covered it in 2 of the papers and Bazzill cardstock. I used Mod Podge to glue the paper on, and then I sanded the edges and used my craft knife to clean it up. I inked all of the edges. I wanted to record the changes in my family over the years. I got 5 years in this minibook. I will be buying a new Christmas minibook for this Christmas that I can do the next 5 years or more in. This will be out of my table during the holidays, so everyone can look through it.


View Sandy's complete article/reveal by visiting our Resources Page!

September Paper Crafting & Scrapbooking Challenges!

Posted by ScrapGoo (Jess):

September means back to school and back to scrapping! Hustle those kiddos out the door and head for your desk, too!


Why not learn something new yourself? 


Maybe you'd like to learn how to cluster, work with found objects, or try a digi template.  All of these are ideas you'll find in this month's set of inspirational new challenges from the ACOT Creative Team.  Have fun with them!


Remember:
- only one LO per challenge will enter you into the points drawing
- LOs cannot be entered into more than one challenge category
- *please* only enter LOs that meet the specific challenge instructions



Card Challenge - By bluejeans7 (Angela)
Paper or Digital Scrapbooking

Create a birthday card using this PageMaps sketch. Your card has to have at least one flower on it.








Journaling Challenge - By Jenn Kellams (Jenn)

Paper or Digital Scrapbooking

Journal about something you have always wanted to do or something you finally got to do after wanting to for a while.





Manufacturer Challenge - By 4peasinourpod (Pam)
Paper Scrapbooking

October Afternoon!

Use any line of October Afternoon on a layout or project -






Grab more scrapbooking inspiration by viewing this month's complete Challenge List for September!  After creating your project, be sure to submit it to the corresponding Challenge section of our Gallery.

Paper Crafting With Iron Orchid Designs ' Beach Cottage

Posted by JulesinParadise (Jules):

I am a collector of alterable items.  I have hat boxes, paper mache balls and cones and boxes galore.  It was not until I came across the Beach Cottage line of papers by IOD did I realize what I wanted to do with one of my many cigar boxes.  


I wanted to turn it into a treasure box to hold my special shells.  I keep the big ones I've picked up on our beach walks in a glass bowel but have a few I have just had in a drawer that were very special to me.  


One shell is the first my then to be hubby gave me about 17 years ago.  Another is one my mother and I found before she died.  Each of these has a special meaning to me and deserved more than to be stowed away in a drawer.  Thank you IOD!

 
I started by sanding the paper covering the cigar box lightly to insure a better adhesion of the paper to the box. 
 

 
I used the lid, sides and bottom of the box as templates to cut the paper to fit.  For the insides I cut the paper 1/8 less than I did for the outside pieces.  I finished the inside and the outsides of the box before I did the lid.  I adhered the paper to the box with Glue n Seal applied with a broad paint brush.  


I used a narrow roller and a bone folder to go over the papers to eliminate bubbles.  When this was done, I sealed the papers with a top coat of Glue N Seal.  I allowed the inside of the box to dry before I did the sides and the outside of the lid.

I used a gold Krylon ink pen to 'gilt' the edges of the box but any gold paint will work as well.  When the gold dried, I applied the paper to the sides of the box following the same steps as above for adhering the papers.  I added the two ornate corners when the sealer had set.
 

I used the Helmar's Scrap Dots to attach the corners.  While corners have grips that go into the material of the cigar box, Scrap Dots insured they would not come loose. I dyed the tulle by using a solution of 1 part water to 2 parts Glimmer mist.  I used a disposable tin to mix the 'dye' in and submerged the tulle into the mixture for about ten minutes, turning it from time to time.  


I air dried the tulle but it can be dried with a heat gun as well.  I fussy cut the flowers, the shells and the mermaid out of the papers.  I placed one end of the tulle under the background paper and adhered that side.  I glued the paper across leaving the right hand edge unglued until I could tuck the other end of the tulle.  


Next, using a paint brush, I brushed the Stickles across the tulle and allowed it to set.  I placed the remaining fussy cut pieces, one by one, onto the paper and tulle, sealing each with the sealer as I went.  I added more Stickles to the mermaid's tail and to the flowers and added gems to the center of several of the flowers.  I used the Scrap Dots to give the paper crafting pieces different heights on the cover.  The sealer protected them from being torn. 
 

 

I love my new treasure box for my special shells and am so glad they are no longer hidden away.  Thank you for looking. 
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Products Used: