Simple Shadows

Welcome to July's Technique Blog Hop!  This month we are featuring a Simple Shadow technique as shown on page 102 of the Annual Inspiration Ideabook.  This hop is a great big circle so be sure to visit all the designer's blogs to get some really great ideas!  If you are coming from Tonya's blog you are on the right path!  If you get lost along the way or would like to refer back to a certain blog you will find a list of all our designers this month at the end of my post.
This technique is all about quick easy ways to highlight an item on your card or layout so it stands out from the rest of the piece.  I decided to do a quick layout in Studio J for this one.

As you can see, by adding a second journaling box and duplicating the black YMCA I was able to create a shadow by changing the color to slate and moving the box over just a smidgen.  I also added a journaling box to each photo, colored it slate and moved it just a bit to the left and above my photos to create a bit more shadowing than was originally there from the program.  All of the shadowing elements I "sent to the back" by right clicking on the box and selecting that option.  If you would like to play with Studio J go here to my website and have some fun!  One great thing about Studio J is that you can change up the papers and placement as many times as you want and you don't waste a thing!
Thanks for stopping by today.  Now hop over to Melissa's blog and see what inspiration she has created for you!

debi

This months designers:

1. debi barber -http://debiistheothersister.blogspot.com/2015/07/simple-shadows.htm
2. Melissa Robinson - http://mlisrobinson.blogspot.com/2015/07/july-technique-blog-hop-simple-shadows.html
3. Wendy Kessler - http://www.myscrapbookingblog.com/2015/07/15/ctmh-technique-blog-hop-simple-shadows
4. Catherine Nowak ~ http://catscrapbooking.com/2015/07/15/technique-blog-hop-simple-shadows/
5. Darlys Recker ~ http://craftyhappy.blogspot.com/2015/07/ctmh-technique-blog-hop-simple-shadows.html
6. Melissa David - http://melissadavidscraps.blogspot.com/2015/07/technique-blog-hop-simple-shadows.html
7. Michelle Loncar - http://michelleloncar.blogspot.com/2015/07/ctmh-technique-blog-hop-simple-shadows.html
8. Haley Dyer -http://inkyscrapper.blogspot.com/2015/07/technique-blog-hop-simple-shadows.html
9. Shirley Ross - http://momnmescrap.blogspot.com/2015/07/it-is-all-in-shadow-technique-blog-hop.html
10. Tonya Whitehurst --- http://heartandsoulscrappers.blogspot.com/2015/07/ctmh-technique-blog-hop-simple-shadows.html

Call for Backup

Welcome to this months Technique Blog Hop.  This month we are featuring a fun technique that you can use on borders as shown in the Ideabook, or a number of other places on your project to highlight a cut out space.  Our hop is a gigantic circle so be sure to visit all our designers blogs for some really fabulous ideas!  If you get lost along the way, or would like to refer back to a specific blog, a full list of our designers can be found at the bottom of my post.  If you are coming from Belinda's blog then you are right on track!

For my card I started with this cute butterfly cutout on the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.  Using the Cricut Craft Room I scattered my butterflies randomly up the side of the card, re-sizing each one to fit the design.  Really, easy!  To make the spacing of my butterflies easier and to make certain I wasn't running over my desired card size, I first placed a rectangle the size of my card on the craft room cutting mat,placed the butterflies how I wanted them on the rectangle, then deleted the rectangle piece before I cut.  The rectangle is one of the basic images that come with the craft room.
My next step was to cut a second piece of white cardstock the same size as my butterfly base, grab my Shinhan markers and start coloring up the side that the butterflies are on.  The markers bleed through the paper and I didn't want that to show on the inside of my card so that is why I used a another piece for the background.  I did practice a bit on a scrap to get the right color combo.  Here's another hint - overlap each color as you go up the side for a great gradual fading effect! To finish my card I added some silver shimmer tape around the edges of the card base, stamped the sentiment from the Fabulous You set and taped it all down.
Thanks for stopping by today, now hop on over to Melissa's blog for a look at her great design.

debi

This months designers:

1. debi barber - http://debiistheothersister.blogspot.com/2015/06/call-for-backup.html
2. Melissa Robinson - http://mlisrobinson.blogspot.com/2015/06/ctmh-technique-blog-hop-call-for-backup.html
3. Sheila Bennett - http://sheila-bennett.blogspot.com/2015/06/call-for-back-up-technique-blog-hop.html
4. Wendy Kessler - http://www.myscrapbookingblog.com/2015/06/15/ctmh-technique-blog-hop-call-for-back-up
5. Catherine Nowak ~ http://catscrapbooking.com/2015/06/15/technique-blog-hop-call-for-backup/
6. Darlys Recker -  http://craftyhappy.blogspot.com/2015/06/ctmh-technique-blog-hop-call-for-backup.html
7. Michelle Loncar - http://michelleloncar.blogspot.com/2015/06/ctmh-technique-blog-hop-call-for-back-up.html
8. Haley Dyer - http://inkyscrapper.blogspot.com/2015/06/ctmh-technique-blog-hop-call-for-back-up.html
9. Tonya Whitehurst -- http://heartandsoulscrappers.blogspot.com/2015/06/ctmh-technique-blog-hop-call-for-back-up.html
10. Belinda McLane -http://bbmclane.blogspot.com/2015/06/ctmh-technique-blog-hop-call-for-back-up.html

A Bit of Blot

Welcome to May!  This month we are featuring the "Bit of Blot" technique as shown on page 55 of the Annual Inspirations Ideabook.  Be sure to visit all our designers blogs to see their great interpretation of this technique.  The hop is a great big circle, so keep going!  If you get lost along the way or want to refer back to a particular designer you will find a complete list at the end of my post.  If you are coming from Tonya's blog then you are on the right track!!  I've been away from this blog hop for some time and it's great to be back - but I sure picked a doozie of a technique to start back on!

This technique might take a bit of practice to get it exactly like you want it.  Too much water and you'll get a gigantic blob, but not enough water will not get you much ink off the block!  I had the best results when I used a piece of foam from a stamp set under the paper where I was going to blot.  Use a very light touch to begin with.  When it looked like I had too much water I blotted the block on a scrap paper first then applied it to my layout.  I also found that you can continue to blot your block without adding more ink and you will get different blots until the ink is gone or dry!  I did use several different colors on my block at once to achieve some of the variations on the layout but in some places I used just one color on the block. I finished off the background of my layout with some splats of juniper reinker for a different effect.  I hope you are inspired to give this technique a try!
Now before you go on to Melissa's blog, I need your help.  This is a senior picture of my mom and my layout needs a title.  Please leave your suggestions in the comment section!
Thanks for stopping by today!
debi

Today's layout is brought to you by Close To My Heart products:
Jackson Paper Packet
Barn Red Ink
Bamboo Ink
Juniper Ink
Mini Medley Accents - Antique Gold (Retired)
Mini Medley Accents - Rosewood
Glacier Extra Thick Twine
Sparkles
Cricut Artiste Cartridge
Order yours here.

This month's designers:

1. debi barber -http://debiistheothersister.blogspot.com/2015/05/a-bit-of-blot.html
2. Melissa Robinson - http://mlisrobinson.blogspot.com/2015/05/may-technique-bit-of-blot.html
3. Sheila Bennett - http://sheila-bennett.blogspot.com/2015/05/a-bit-of-blot-technique-blog-hop.html
4. Catherine Nowak ~ http://catscrapbooking.com/2015/05/15/technique-blog-hop-a-bit-of-blot/
5. Darlys Recker - http://craftyhappy.blogspot.com/2015/05/ctmh-technique-blog-hop-bit-of-blot.html
6. Melissa David - http://melissadavidscraps.blogspot.com/2015/05/ctmh-techinique-blog-hop-bit-of-blot.html
7. Michelle Loncar - http://michelleloncar.blogspot.com/2015/05/ctmh-technique-blog-hop-bit-of-blot.html
8. Lisa Plummer - http://flauntyourcreativity.blogspot.com/2015/05/a-bit-of-blot-technique-hop.html
9. Belinda McLane -http://bbmclane.blogspot.com/2015/05/ctmh-technique-blog-hop-bit-of-blot.html
10. Aggie Peters-http://busyaggie.blogspot.com/2015/05/ctmh-technique-blog-hop-bit-of-blot.html
11. Tonya Whitehurst - http://heartandsoulscrappers.blogspot.com/2015/05/may-technique-bit-of-blot-blog-hop.html