Friday, September 29, 2017

Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice ~ September Flavor of the Month Blog Hop



Who doesn’t love pumpkin spice? 

Oh, do I love that flavor and definitely look forward to this time of the year when I can pop in the grocery store and get that Pumpkin Spice flavored creamer to go in my coffee!!! Well grab some creamer, coffee, and savor this blog hop because this kit is full of Pumpkins, spice and a little bit of everything nice! 

Get your kit by clicking on our Flavor of the Month link and either subscribe or purchase a one time kit!


I cannot tell you just how ecstatic I was when I opened my September Flavor of the Month card kit! I love Fall! It's my absolute favorite and then you bring my most fave beverage into the mix... coffee!!! Oh my goodness! I could not wait to get inky with the collections for this month. I was given the Banana Split subscription to play with...



and let me tell you, there's so much crafty goodness!! Just look at it all!! I had a lot of fun!




My first card features the ingredients from Collection One. I also kept my cards in order of the sketches for this month, so this is also sketch #1. To start, I die cut a circle of white card stock. I then stamped the cute cup and spice shaker from Lawn Fawn's Pumpkin Spice stamp set using Memento Tuxedo black ink. I stamped the images again on a piece of the patterned paper and then fussy cut them out and adhered them to the main image. I colored the inside of the cup, the coffee with whip cream, and the top of the shaker using copic markers. I layered the circle piece onto a scallop circle and set it aside. I die cut a piece of brown card stock using a rectangle stitched die and adhered it to a white card base. I adhered two pieces of patterned paper and then popped up the main image. I stamped, die cut and popped up the sentiment. My last touch for this card was a few dots of the Ripened Pumpkin Nuvo Crystal Drops. 




For my second card, I used the second sketch. I inked up the sentiment from the Falling For You stamp set by Newton's Nook using Distress Oxide inks in Candied Apple, Spiced Marmalade, and Wild Honey. Since the distress oxides take a bit to dry, I decided to emboss the sentiment so I used some fine clear embossing powder. I die cut the sentiment with another circle die and then mat it on a scalloped circle. I set that aside and die cut the brownish orange card stock using a stitched rectangle die. I then adhered that to a white card base. I adhered a couple different pieces of the Flea Market papers from the second collection to the card base and then popped up the main image. I added some faux white stitching to the banner piece as an after thought. 
Then I got to thinking that the little mice in the papers needed a couple of friends so I die cut two little mice and colored them with copic markers. I adhered them to the card... it almost looks like they are trying to read the sentiment. I added a few sequins to the corner and then I got to thinking... what would happen if I added some Nuvo drops to the center of the sequins? Well, the drops just spread out in the bottom of the sequin... it almost looks like a Toffifay candy. 
Not quite what I was hoping for, but I'll take it! 




My third card came together pretty quickly. I stamped the coffee cup from the Got Pumpkin? set by Brutus Monroe with Memento Tuxedo black ink and then I colored it in with copic markers. I fussy cut it out and adhered it to a circle cut out from one of the patterned papers in the third collection. I then cut out the other cup from another piece of patterned paper and adhered that partially to the circle. I layered the different pieces of paper on the navy blue card stock. I popped up the main image and added a few drops of Nuvo drops. I cut off the little fasteners for the leaf brads and used foam tape to adhere them to the card. The light tan leaf has double foam tape so it gives it a bit more dimension from the others. I stamped the sentiment on a scrap piece of white card stock and then fussy cut a flag to add to the card.




My last card was the most fun to put together! I just love this little kitty with the pumpkins from the Newton's Perfect Pumpkin set by Newton's Nook. I had a lot of fun coloring these. I stamped them a few times and colored them in with copic markers. I added a few layers from the Not Too Spooky papers to a purple card base. I also used some distress inks to make a moon that I die cut out. I adhered that and the pumpkins to the black and white stars paper and then I popped up the little kitty with his pumpkin. I had set this aside and then I decided to add the spider and bat using VersaMark and fine black embossing powder. I stamped the sentiment in VersaMark as well, but used fine white embossing powder for that. I die cut the banner out and popped it up on the card. I think it turned out pretty cute.





Crystal O. Minkler <--- you're here

next up ---> Stacy Tiedemann





Don’t forget to head back to the Scrapping for Less blog to enter the Rafflecopter to win one of the collections from the kit! There will be 4 prizes! One collection to each winner.


Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.
~ Crystal



September Flavor of the Month Card Kit ~ Sneak Peek!!!

Happy Fall!! Today I'm sharing a fun sneak peek from the new 




I'm so excited to share this sneak peek with you... well, really... I'm super excited about the card kit! I can't wait for you all to see this month's kit!! It's amazing!! Be sure to check back here tomorrow for the big reveal and the blog hop with all of the design team.

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.
~ Crystal




Wednesday, September 20, 2017

More Neat & Tangled Fun!!

Hello! Today we're going to take another look at the fun Kindness Matters set from Neat & Tangled. I just love the fonts in this set... and I have to admit, I'm most fond of this one sentiment. It's so true! Kindness really is good for the soul!




I still had a few pieces of patterned paper leftover from the August Flavor of the Month card kit. For these cards I changed up my favorite sketch...




I made the sentiment my focal point on the card and I did away with the extra layer and just adhered everything to the card base. I did keep the three 'circles' by adding the drops. I think these cards are another great way to use up some more of those patterned papers that are sitting around. 
I love the way these turned out! I hope you do, too!

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.
~ Crystal




Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop ~ Our Talks



Hello! I can't believe that I'm here again with another card for the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop! I've just been having so much fun! I cased this lovely card idea from one of the Unity Design Team members. I gave it a bit of a fall flair using some papers from Echo Park. I just had to make at least one Tea related card for this blog hop. I'm not a big tea drinker, but my Mom was a huge fan of tea. So, I made this lovely card as one of my first to put in my grieving journal. I think the sentiment is perfect... I miss our talks! I don't want this to be a sad post so I'll leave it at that. :)




I stamped the image from Unity's Our Talks kit in Memento tuxedo black ink and colored it in with copic markers. I fussy cut the image and set it aside. I picked this fun paper from Echo Park called Fall is in the Air. I die cut it out using My Favorite Things Blueprints 1 dies. I also cut out a piece of Ocean Tides card stock from Papertrey Ink. I adhered a doily to the patterned paper and then adhered the layers of paper on my white card base. I stamped out the sentiment and trimmed it down by hand. I adhered the sentiment to a mat of Ocean Tides card stock. I popped up the sentiment and the image using dimensionals. I love the way this turned out and I think my Mom would have liked it too. <3 

Check out the other hoppers ---> here!

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.
~ Crystal

Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop ~ Pumpkin Spice



I had so much fun yesterday making my first card for the Fall Coffee Lovers blog hop that I couldn't help but make another card!! I had originally planned on using this cup from Unity's Pumpkin Spice kit on the first card, but I couldn't find it in my stash. *gasp* I decided to reorganize my stamps and happened to find it... YAY! Of course, I had to celebrate and make a card!




For this card I decided to pick out the patterned paper before I started. I chose these Fun Stampers Journey papers that were in my stash and paired them with some Papertrey Ink card stock. I stamped the image using Memento tuxedo black ink and colored it in using copic markers. I fussy cut it out and set it aside. I die cut the patterned paper and adhered it to the card base. I then die cut some Vintage Cream card stock and stamped the sentiment. I tied some twine and popped up the image using dimensionals. I really love the non-traditional fall colors in this card!!

Check out the other hoppers ---> here.

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.
~ Crystal

Monday, September 18, 2017

Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop ~ Thankful



I'm so excited to be able to hop along with the Fall Coffee Lovers blog hop!! I wasn't sure that I'd have time to make a card, but I did!! Yay!!




I just HAD to use these new stamps from Unity Stamp Company... Fall to Go!! Isn't it awesome! I love it!! I colored it in with copic markers and fussy cut the image. I added some patterned papers from my stash to a kraft card stock base. I then stamped the sentiment and popped up the fussy cut cup with dimensionals. Love how this turned out and how quickly it came together!

Check out the other hoppers ---> here.

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.
~ Crystal

Friday, September 15, 2017

Neat & Tangled joins SFL




Time to grab your coffee, sit back again, and hop along with us! We are thrilled to be bringing this lovely brand to our Scrapping for Less website. Danielle from Neat and Tangled and Teresa chatted on the phone as well as emailed back and forth. Teresa asked her to give us some insight on her brand and her company… if you missed it, check out the Brand Focus interview here.
So, on to the hop…the Design Team chose a wide variety of Neat and Tangled stamps to use for their projects this month. Let’s see what they have to offer for us today! I just know you are going to be wowed!
And also don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win this month’s prize!



I love a great set of sentiments! Especially when it has fun fonts... and that's 
what I have to share with you today. This is the Kindness Matters set from Neat & Tangled.




My card is pretty simple. I blended some distress oxide inks on a piece of white card stock. Using the Tim Holtz Platform, I stamped three of the words at a bit of an angle for a background. The Platform made it easy for me to position the stamps once and then move my card stock to get a nice pattern. I chose another sentiment for my focal point that I stamped with VersaMark ink and heat embossed with a fine black embossing powder. I used a die cut to cut out the focal piece and adhered it to an orange mat. I die cut the scalloped rectangle piece out of a piece of kraft card stock. I layered all of the pieces together and then adhered them to a white card base. I added just a few drops of gloss white Nuvo crystal drops. This card could easily be jazzed up with some ribbon or even more drops but I was wanting to keep this one simple.

Now keep on hopping to see even more wonderful ideas from the Design Team:



Crystal O. Minkler <--- you're here

next up ---> Sandy Hentzel


Don’t forget to head on back to the Scrapping for Less Blog after you hop along to enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win a complete kit!

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.
~ Crystal




Sunday, September 10, 2017

More Cards Featuring the August Flavor of the Month Card Kits from Scrapping for Less!!

Hello, again! I have another round of cards featuring the August Flavor of the Month card kits. I also revisited a couple of the sketches... and I have to say that Sketch #4 was my favorite!




This card was done with absolutely no stamping. I was able to put together different pieces from the third collection. I also added just a touch of twill. I think this would be a cute birthday card for a little boy... they are the definition of rough & tumble!!




For this card, I stuck with the same sketch and the same collection. I nearly put this one together without any stamping... but I found a little birthday stamp and couldn't help but add it! Jungle birthday... too cute! I'm thinking this would be another cute birthday card for a little boy (even with the sequins! Ha).




I think I mentioned last time that I love polka dot papers, I just had to use them for this card and my favorite little owl was a must, as well! He's just too cute! I traced the little cloud shaker shape onto a sturdy scrap of card stock and then used that as a sort of cloud stencil. I sponged around the edge (and a lot on my fingers!) to make a sky. In retrospect, I wish I hadn't added the gray paper behind the shaker. Attaching it to the 'sky' piece would have been really nice, but I changed my plans halfway through and couldn't go back. I'm sure you've been there too. :) I did a little masking magic to change up the sentiment for this one and used the My Favorite Things Speech Bubbles die to add the sentiment to the card. Too cute!




Now my last card is really a fun and quick way to use up all those scraps of paper that get left behind after making all these cute cards. This sentiment, that I hadn't used yet, was also perfect to finish this card off! 

Hope you enjoyed these cards and they give you inspiration for your own kits. If you haven't already signed up for the Flavor of the Month card kits, well... what are you waiting for?! 
Go have a look ---> here


Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.
~ Crystal




Saturday, September 9, 2017

My 100th Blog Post!!!

Just a quick post to celebrate my 100th blog post!! Yay!




I decided to ink up my very first Unity Stamp Company stamp for this post. My love for Unity (and a crazy addiction to their stamps!) started with this lovely called Dream of Being

I stamped her in VersaMark and heat embossed her using a fine detail black embossing powder. I used my ZIG Clean Color Real Brush watercolor pens to color in the image. I added a bit of blue around the image and then die cut it out using a circle die. I've had this 'wood' paper stack in my stash for a while and I thought it would be a nice touch, but I also wanted a bit of color so I used some Soft Sky card stock to layer and mat the sentiment. I adhered this all to a white card base.

Thanks for stopping by for my 100th Blog Post!

See ya next time.
~ Crystal

Friday, September 1, 2017

Simon Says Stamp STAMPtember

Hello!! I'm super excited to share some STAMPtember fun with you today! I was one of the many lucky people who received an exclusive product from Simon Says Stamp for their annual STAMPtember celebration!




This is the fantastic (wink wink) set that I received! Isn't it awesome (wink wink)?! I've had some fun playing with it for sure!!




Here is the first card that I made. I made my own rainbow-like paper using the little elements in the set. I had so much fun coloring in this image with a rainbow theme! Putting the card together was pretty quick and easy. I think it turned out Fantastic!!

Here are the products I used for this card:
Stamps: Amazing Messages (SSS)
Card Stock: White (PTI)


Go check out the STAMPtember celebration over at Simon Says Stamp!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal