Paper Crafts Magazine Presents: Cool Tools Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the Cool Tools Blog Hop! It has been Cool Tools Week on Paper Crafts Connection and Moxie Fab World and today is the final day with a big blog hop for you! And there are HUGE prizes involved. But first, a look at the yummy new special issue:

Those projects on the cover look amazing, don't they? I just can't wait to get my copy of this issue! If you want to get a copy, it's available here.


So, today's mission is to inspire you with the creative use of punches. I have decided to use the technique of creating a sponged background using a border punch like I did on a card that is published in the Cool Tools magazine again. And because it is so much fun to play, I created a second card using a scalloped circle punch to make a pretty flower. Ha, two cards. AND a video. Yes, I thought it would be nice to show you how I created the background in a video. A lot to show, so I'll better get started! First, the card using a scalloped circle punch:

To create this flower, I punched about 9 scalloped circles from patterned paper, assembled them with a brad and started spritzing the center with water. Then I crumpled the center circle to the middle, spritzed again with water and crumpled the second layer to the middle and so on. Then I used a heat embossing tool to dry the flower and carefully un-crumpled it.


Here comes the second card:

Valentine's Day is coming closer :) Here I used this background sponging technique. Now, the video to show you how I did it:

Sorry, sometimes it is a bit wonky. And sometimes I don't find the right words. But I hope you'll like it nevertheless.


Now to the fun part of the blog hop! The prizes! First, leave a comment on my blog to be eligible to win a copy of this amazing new special issue. All comments must be posted by midnight (MDT) on Sunday, January 15th. Then, hop on to the other designers' blogs to see their wonderful creations:

• Cristina Kowalczyk
• Heidi Van Laar
• Vanessa Menhorn
• Kim Hughes
• Danielle Flanders
• Amber Daigre
• Kalyn Kepner
• Emily Branch
• Laura Williams
• Stephanie Halinski

And finally, be sure to stop by the Paper Crafts Connection blog and leave a comment there! The prize package is HUGE! Keeping my fingers crossed for you. Good luck!

Thanks so much for visiting and have a beautiful day!

Vanessa

Note: Comment moderation is on. This is a scheduled post and I will control the comments when returning from work, so don't worry that your comment is not showing up :)