Tips and Tricks - Adding a Favicon

A fellow paper crafter and friend asked me today about favicons. I have to admit I did not know the technical term for them, though I've seen them for years.

A search lead me to several sites where you can make your own or find a previously created favicon. I used favicon.cc to make mine. It is not the most beautiful, but it is mine. I downloaded the favicon to my computer.

I found some clear, concise directions to add the favicon to my blog at FreeFavicon. I had to refresh my browser a few times before I saw the favicon change.

I hope this short post helps anyone that wants to try creating and uploading their own favicon.

Tips and Tricks - Blogger Templates

During the 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop we had a few participants that were new to maintaining a blog so I answered a few of their questions. I thought that if I ever organized or co-organized a blog hop again, I would need these notes again so I'm pulling them out of my email and posting here. This is not meant to be "professional" advice for maintaining a blog nor a replacement for Blogger documentation as I do this for fun. There might be faster or "Blogger recommended" ways to accomplish the same tasks. These are the steps that work for me and the blog hop participants. Also, I am not a designer, but I've seen some great websites and blogs and I've seen some I'll never visit again so I offer some opinions about website and blogs that I find attractive.

Templates

I have only used the free templates here on Blogger. I do know that if you change your template after you get your page looking the way you would like it to look might change the location of items (widgets) you have already placed on your page so always preview your blog before saving the change.

Here's how to change your template:

1. go to the home page of your blog, log on if you are not already
2. look in the upper right corner for Design and click on it
3. look at the choices on the left side of the page and click on Template if it is not already orange
4. review the Template choices, when you see one you like, click on it
5. you'll see a preview of your blog with the new template; if you like it "as is" click Apply to Blog; if you want to customize it, choose Customize and you'll be able to choose different templates, add backgrounds (stock photos, your own photo or color), change width of the blog blog and/or sidebar, change the body and footer layouts and under Advanced, change fonts, font color, link color and many more)

No matter what you do with your template, please be sure your blog is readable. Fancy fonts are pretty, but use them in moderation. For a lot of text stick with one of the suggested fonts in the window where you write your post. Same with blinkies - who wants to have several icons blinking at them when they are trying to read your post. One of the templates I looked at would make great scrapbook paper or fabric, but I'm not sure I'd want to read much text from it. I know some people have hard time reading light color text on some backgrounds, e.g., white text on a light blue background.

One final note regarding Templates. If you see a blog you like, you usually can find the name of the template they are using by scrolling to the very bottom of their blog and get that information. For example, I am using "Picture Window template. Powered by Blogger."

That's all I have time for today. I hope this helps someone.

blog candy winners - 2nd Unoffical Crop Chocolate Blog Hop: Bountiful Borders

Good morning everyone! Kathy (clayton528), guest blogger from Friday, and Haf2scrap/Lucy, guest blogger from Saturday asked me to share the following news with you:

Kathy's blog candy winners:
Hi, everyone! Great news . . . due to an unexpected "windfall" of scrappy goodies this past weekend, I thought I'd share with my fellow scrappers. So instead of drawing 3 names for blog candy, I'll be drawing 8 names (in "honor" of the Lucky 8 punch I used on my layout).

But before I draw names, I want to thank each and every one of you for your kind words you left for me during the "2nd Unofficial Blog Hop". I read every single one of them and was going to reply to each one, but I was unsure if my commenting would effect the total tally of comments . . . I had noticed when I answered a question, the number of comments went up.

Okay, enough of me rattlin' on and onto the really important stuff :) . . . . .

{{{{drum roll}}}}

The 1st name is . . . Juliet (aka Joyce).
2nd name is . . . paperdoll
3rd name is . . . Raebae
4th name is . . . by belle
5th name is . . . LBAB

Three (3) names left . . .. 6th name is . . . . Jeannie (and, yes, Jeannie, I think the girl in the photo makes the layout, too.)
7th name is . . . Jenny M
and, last but not least . . . 8th name is . . . lmaisch.

Congrats to everyone. Please send me your real name and address via a PM on CropChocolate or an email to clayton528 (at) aol (dot) com and I'll get your goodies sent out to you.

Again, thanks so much and hope everyone was as inspired as I was.

Happy Scrapping!!! Kathy (clayton528)

If you'd like to see Kathy's project again, it is here.

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Haf2scrap/Lucy's (her project is here) blog candy winners are:

love2scrap & Kiki Kuku; Haf2scrap/Lucy asks that you send her a PM via CC with your real names and addresses.

Her grandson drew the names. :)

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Thanks to my guest bloggers for sharing their projects with us and for generously giving away blog candy!
Congratulations to the winners (actually everyone won because the bloggers share some amazing projects)! Thanks for hopping this past weekend!

CC Challenge #8

Note: the comments for the 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop have closed (though check individual posts for details regarding blog candy that was offered - their schedules (and entry requirements) may be different). Winners will be announced tomorrow, Wednesday, March 28 at Crafty Love 4 My Twins and centralNYscrapper.


Challenge #8 - Packing a Punch

The details for CropChocolate Challenge #8 read "Use packaging from a CropChocolate.com order (e.g. brown void-fill paper, backing from stickers or brads, product packaging, plastic bags, etc) to create a component or element on a project." [Click here for information on the current challenge]

The rules read "Post a picture of your design. 50% of the product used must be from CropChocolate.com. Please include items used in the description of your entry. Contest ends on March 27th, 2012 at 11:59:59pm Mountain. Please submit your entry before then. $10 CropCredit in a random drawing."

The first idea I had for Challenge #7 helped me with this challenge.

Packing used: the clam-shell packaging that comes around a variety of items. In this case, clear stamps. I also used the "remainder" after punching out one of the labels from the embellishments.

Other items from Cropchocolate: 12x12 So Sophie Clever Cardstock by My Mind's Eye; So Sophie Clever Embellishments by My Mind's Eye; Distress Ink - Walnut Stain by Tim Holtz; 12x12 GardenPond/StonePath CS by Echo Park; Viper Permanent Adhesive by Snake Tape

Other items used: ribbon. Alcohol Ink - Bottle; QuicKutz Roxy Classic and Shadow dies; QuicKutz Revolution

Here's the card I submitted:

So the dots would not show through my letters, I used the shadow die and scraps from GardenPond/StonePath CS by Echo Park. I layered the clear shadow die cut that had been covered with the Alcohol Ink - Bottle on top of the cardstock die cuts. I then layered the clear letters on top. In the right light the letters have a bit of a shimmer to them. I cut a piece of cardstock from the So Sophie Clever line to layer under the opening where the label die cut used to be.

Here is a close-up of the packaging I used:

And here is a close-up of the bow:

I hope you like the project I submitted for Challenge #8. Comments are appreciated. Have a great day!

guest blogger Haf2scrap/Lucy - 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop

Welcome to this stop on the 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop. The hop started yesterday, Friday, March 23 at 8am MDT at the blog of mommyx2, Crafty Love 4 My Twins. If you are just learning of the hop and would like to hop along with us, please start there. You should have arrived here from Scrappy Canuck's blog. Today we have a guest blogger, Haf2scrap/Lucy. Here's what Lucy has to share with us:

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I hope that you are getting lots of inspiration from our Bountiful Borders Blog Hop!

Here is a better look at the rosette.

And my borders.

I decided to go with an Echo Park collection, since they were so generous to offer prizes for our blog hop. I chose the Times and Seasons collection (purchased from CropChocolate.com or CC), because it seemed to go with the colors in my pictures. I used the Cricut cartridge Elegant Edges to cut out the border behind the word "summer" and also for the water borders along the bottom of the page. I used the Ribbons and Rosettes cartridge to cut the pieces I used to make the rosette.

Other CC products used: Echo Park card stock-Dark blue/light blue and Green/Green, glazed brads by Basic Grey, Lush Green Ribbon by My Minds Eye, Ranger Distress ink-Iced spruce, Ribbon slide by Making Memories (from Hot chocolate) and "Summer" shimmer chipboard by Making Memories (also from hot chocolate).

Non CC products used: other card stock, wine glass stickers by EK Success, Epiphany Crafts Scalloped circle button maker.

Don't forget to leave a comment on each blog. Also, I will be giving away blog candy to one winner; they will be selected randomly from those that comment on this post. If you are a regular CC shopper, please include your CC name. If I cannot contact the winner via CC Private Message, the winner will be posted here on Wednesday, March 28.
Have fun!
Haf2scrap/Lucy
(Thanks to centralnyscrapper!)

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Another guest blogger for the 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop, Kathy (clayton528), shared a project on this blog yesterday. If you did not start the hop on Friday, please be sure to scroll down to comment on her post too.

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There is one more stop on the hop. From here please go to centralNYscrapper's blog. Thanks for hopping with us.

guest blogger Kathy (clayton528) - 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop

Welcome to this stop on the 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop. The hop started this morning at the blog of mommyx2, Crafty Love 4 My Twins. If you are just learning of the hop and would like to participate, please start there. You should have arrived here from Corrie's blog. Today we have a guest blogger, Kathy (clayton528). Here is Kathy's project:

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Thank you, Brenda! I'm so excited to be a part of of the 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop. And since this is my first time being part of a blog hop, I will be giving away some scrappy goodies to 3 lucky people . . . just leave a comment for me and I'll draw the names on Wednesday after the Blog Hop.

When I first heard about the Blog Hop, I was like "Nope . . . No way . . . No can do" because it would be way out of my comfort zone. :) But after some encouragement from others and thought on my part, I decided to give it a try.

I had a few ideas but lacked a lot of time for most of them. I knew I wanted to use one of my new Lucky 8 punches by We R Memory Keepers. And since it's been so Spring-like the past 2 weeks, I wanted to use "Walk in the Park" paper collection by Echo Park. So after playing around, this is what I came up with:

               

I used my Lucky 8 punch "Tatted Doily"; Friskars' scallops w/ dots edge punch for turquoise strip; and butterfly punch by Martha Stewart. For the butterflies, I punched 2 from 2 different colors, folded up the wings and layered them.

 















 Here's my final layout:

CC products used:
"Walk in the Park" by Echo Park
Walnut Stain distress ink
Snake adhesive

Non-CC products used:
Orange flower & green brad (from stash)
pop-up glue dot

Thanks so much for taking time to look at my project. Don't forget to leave a comment. And remember since this is my first time being part of a blog hop, I will be giving away some scrappy goodies to 3 lucky people . . . just leave a comment (if you are a regular CC shopper, please include your CC name) for me and I'll draw the names on Wednesday after the Blog Hop. If I cannot contact the winner via CC Private Message, the winner will be posted here on Wednesday, March 28.

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This is the last stop for today, but please be sure to hop with us tomorrow. The hop resumes at 8am MDT Saturday, March 24 at By Belle's blog. Thanks for hopping with us. We hope you enjoyed the projects everyone shared with you.

P.S. Be sure to comment on each blog for your chance to win. We have two confirmed giveaways for this blog hop. One is a 12×12 Hello Spring Mini Theme Kit by Echo Park and another is a 12×12 Fourth Of July Mini Theme Kit by Echo Park (generously donated by Echo Park Paper Co.). If you comment as anonymous please be sure to tell us who you are (first- or nickname is fine). Comments will be open until 8am MDT on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 and winners will be announced here and at Crafty Love 4 My Twins on Wednesday, March 28, 2012.

2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop starts tomorrow!

The waiting is almost over and the 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop will start at 8am MDT tomorrow (Friday, March 23, 2012). If you just “happened upon” this reminder, please start at the beginning of the hop, Crafty Love 4 My Twins.

We have two confirmed giveaways. One is a 12×12 Hello Spring Mini Theme Kit by Echo Park and another is a 12×12 Fourth Of July Mini Theme Kit by Echo Park (generously donated by Echo Park Paper Co.). To be eligible to win on the 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop, you need to comment on each blog along the hop and be able to receive packages (no post office boxes). It is open worldwide. The winners will be selected via random.org. Everyone will have until 8am MDT on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 to comment.

Some of the bloggers along the hop have mentioned that they plan to offer blog candy. Be sure to look for those announcements and follow the steps they would like you to do to be eligible for those prizes.

I hope you will be able to hop with us.

P.S. On an earlier post I said I would try to post sneak peeks. I've been doing that on my other blog, centralNYscrapper.

CC Challenge #7

Around Valentine's Day Crop Chocolate started having weekly challenges (click here for information on the current challenge).

Challenge #7 - What's up-cycle?

The details read "Create a project using up-cycled flowers... whatever those are."

The rules read "Post a picture of your design. 50% of the product used must be from CropChocolate.com.
Please include items used in the description of your entry. Contest ends on March 20th, 2012 at 11:59:59pm Mountain. Please submit your entry before then. $10 CropCredit in a random drawing."

I had a couple of ideas, but I did not think I had enough products from CC to meet the 50% requirement for my first idea. While drinking coffee one afternoon I looked down at the cup and was reminded of a wreath a friend pinned. Unfortunately I did not repin that project to show it to you (I did not think I would ever make one), but basically someone cut what looked like several leaves from the "cup wraps" and made a wreath. I don't remember if they only used the inside of the wrap or if they painted the exterior.

Here are some of the items I used to make my card:

 And here is my end result:

This is what I wrote when I submitted my entry: Source of up-cycle: Starbucks hot beverage wrap (I opened it, spritzed the interior with both glimmer mists and cut it with the petal die in the QuicKutz blossom set, covered the Bazzill brad with white embossing powder); Crop Chocolate products used: 12x12 Life Stories Red by My Mind's Eye; 12x12 Life Stories Green by My Mind's Eye; Distress Stain - Pumice Stone by Tim Holtz; Red Nosed Reindeer Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels; Glimmer Mist Vintage Pink by Tattered Angels; Slice Design Cutter, Hands Free Kit and Design Card - Salutations; Mat Stack 3.0 by Making Memories (5"x7" mat stack); 18mm Brads: Heidi by Bazzill; Opaque White Zing Embossing Powder by American Crafts; Making Memories Ribbon & Ribbon Charms - celery; Other products used: white cardstock blank greeting card; QuicKutz Squeeze tool; QuicKutz 9-die Blossom Set; QuicKutz Frankie Skinni-mini alphabet; Distress Ink - Vintage Photo

In hindsight I wish I'd done something more to make the letters stand out, but I am happy with the end result. I hope you enjoyed my card.

CC Challenge #6

Around Valentine's Day Crop Chocolate started having weekly challenges (click here for information on the current challenge).

Challenge #6 - A Yummy Recipe

The details read "Cook up a SWEET design using all of the following ingredients: 3 die cuts, 3 brads, and something that sparkles".

The rules read "Post a picture of your design. 50% of the product used must be from CropChocolate.com.
Please include items used in the description of your entry. Contest ends on March 13th, 2012 at 11:59:59pm Mountain. Please submit your entry before then. $10 CropCredit in a random drawing."

Here is how my card turned out:

When I wrote my entry, this is what I said: I hope my paper clip is sparkly enough. :-) CC products used: MME Stella & Rose Hazel Card Set, MME 6x6 Hazel Paper Pad, MME Gertie "Girly" Lace Paper (I don't remember which collection this came in), Bo Bunny All Stuck Up Brads (blue), Paper Reverie Brun Butterflies, Slice Design Cutter, Slice Hands Free Kit, Slice design cards Bon Appetit and Basic Elements and Seasons; only products not from CC: paper clip and rub-on.

I am really fond of the MME Stella & Rose collections. All four of them and I am very happy with how this card turned out. Thanks for stopping by.

CC Challenge #5

 Crop Chocolate posted Challenge #5 on February 29, 2012 (click here for information on the current challenge).

Challenge #5 - Leap Year!

The details read "According to folklore and tradition, Leap Day is thought of as the time when the woman can propose to the man. Of course, things have changed a lot since then. But sometimes, this still happens (luckily we don't have to wait for a 2/29 to occur). So create a project that depicts how you would have proposed (or would like to) to your significant other, or create an extra special birthday card for someone who has a 2/29 birthday.

Use twine and some sort of leaping or hopping (animal, action, etc). Must use 50% CC product!"

The rules read "Post a picture of your design. 50% of the product used must be from CropChocolate.com. Please include items used in the description of your entry. Contest ends on March 6th, 2012 at 11:59:59pm Mountain. Please submit your entry before then. $10 CropCredit in a random drawing."

I had a hard time with this challenge. Partly because I would have an idea and then I would see something very similar posted by someone else. I honestly think my entry was a bit of a stretch, but in the past I have seen layouts or cards based on a sketch and I really had a hard time seeing the similarity. In addition, because scrapbooking, cardmaking and papercrafting are creative outlets, I feel that we can stretch things a bit. After all, this is not life or death. :-)

Here is the front of the leaping fish birthday card I made:

 

And here is the inside:

 

I used several products from CC: Echo Park Splash collection and 12x12 Specialty Paper Multi Pack by Slice; other Slice products: design cutter, hands free kit, design cards: Green Thumb, Basic Elements & Seasons, Under the Sea and Bon Appetit!

It is a little hard to see, but I made a little pop-up from the Splash and vellum paper and attached a sub and two fish leaping above the sub.

I hope you found something you like about my card.

Don't forget the 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop starts at 8am MDT on Friday, March 23, 2012. The hop starts at Crafty Love 4 My Twins. I hope you will be able to hop with us.

CC Challenge #4

Around Valentine's Day Crop Chocolate started having weekly challenges (click here for information on the current challenge).

Challenge #4 - Primary Colors are 1, 2, 3...

The details read "Create a project using ONLY the primary colors of the color wheel - red, yellow and blue.".

The rules read "Post a picture of your design. 50% of the product used must be from CropChocolate.com.
Please include items used in the description of your entry. Contest ends on February 28, 2012 at 11:59:59pm Mountain. Please submit your entry before then. $10 CropCredit in a random drawing."

CC products used: 12x12 - 50 Random Paper Pack by Echo Park (Summer Days and Playground), Bo Bunny Dark Denim Dot, Making Memories Vintage Findings Mat Stack, Slice Design Cutter, Hands Free, Basic Elements & Seasons and Je t'adore design cards, Viper Permanent Adhesive by Snake Tape. I'm not sure if I got the Making Memories Crystal brads from CC or not. Other items used: white cardstock, Zots, QuicKutz Squeeze and Khaki SkinniMini alpha, 3 daisy flower punches from Hobby Lobby. Idea for red flowers from Tuesday Tutorial: Quick & Easy 3D Flowers at Doodlebug Design Inc.

Here is how my card turned out:

I hope you enjoyed my project.

CC Challenge #3

Around Valentine's Day Crop Chocolate started having weekly challenges (click here for information on the current challenge).

Challenge #3: Simple Shapes to Create a Shape

The details read "Create a project--any project!--by using simple shapes to create other shapes (IE 5 hearts to make a flower, 3 hearts to make a shamrock, flower petals out of circles, etc.)".

The rules read "Post a picture of your design. 50% of the product used must be from CropChocolate.com. Please include items used in the description of your entry. Contest ends on February 21, 2012 at 11:59:59pm Mountain. Please submit your entry before then. $10 CropCredit in a random drawing."

Unfortunately I did not make the time to take part in this challenge. Party because I saw some of the other entries and did not want to feel like I was copying anyone else. I still might challenge myself to make a project. If I do, I'll post it here.

CC Challenge #2

Crop Chocolate posted Challenge #2 on February 8, 2012 (click here for information on the current challenge). The details read "The challenge is to make a Valentine’s Day card, layout, whatever you like. The challenge is to make it with “Non-Traditional” colors."

Challenge #2 - Valentines Card

The rules read "Post a picture of your Valentines Day Card. 50% of the product used must be from CropChocolate.com. Please include items used in the description of your entry. Contest ends on February 14, 2012 at 11:59:59pm Mountain. Please submit your entry before then. $10 CropCredit in a random drawing."

Products from CC: 6x6 Be Mine Paper Pad by Echo Park, Slice Design Card - Je t'Adore, Hands Free Kit by Slice, Paper Reverie Noir Tape by Making Memories, Viper Permanent Adhesive by Snake Tape. Other products used: black cardstock, Glossy Accents, QuicKutz Love Shapes Cookie Cutter dies.

The lips were cut using QuicKutz Love Shapes Cookie Cutter dies and then I put Glossy Accents on top.

This is how my Valentines Card turned out:

I hope you like my card.

New Year's Resolutions and CC Challenges

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to create something crafty at least once per week and blog about it. Hmm, if you look at my previous posts I did not do too well with that resolution.

Around Valentine's Day Crop Chocolate started having weekly challenges (click here for information on the current challenge) that we could participate in for the chance to win $10 Crop Credit. That incentive has pushed me to be a bit better at creating something weekly, but hasn't really pushed me to blog.

Now one of my CC friends, mommyx2, and I are hosting the 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop and I feel like I need to catch up a bit so my blog looks a little used. So, without further babble, here's what I created for

Challenge #1 - Valentines Tag.

The details read "Simple: Make a 3x5 Tag with a Valentines Day theme".

The rules read "Post a picture of your Valentines Day Tag. 50% of the product used must be from CropChocolate.com. Please include items used in the description of your entry. Contest ends on February 7, 2012 at 11:59:59pm Mountain. Please submit your entry before then. $10 CropCredit in a random drawing."

I have to admit, I had never make a tag before. Honestly I tend to make "practical" items. While I love some of the items I see shared on other blogs, manufacturer websites and in magazines or books, I just do not see myself creating some of them. I can see using a tag to hide journaling, but not making a tag just to make a tag. Well for the chance to win $10 CropCredit I made an exception.

Valentines Tag made with the following products from Crop Chocolate: Life Stories Green by MME, Water Color Paper by MM, Slice Design Cutter, Slice Hands Free Kit, Slice Design Card Je t'adore, Pink With Love Flower Brads by Making Memories, Paper Reverie Noir Butterflies - Making Memories and Red Nosed Reindeer Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels. Other products used: Slice Design Card Applique Basics, ribbon, square eyelet by MM, black cardstock, bling, twine.

I hope you like the tag I made and it inspires you to create something outside your comfort zone.

update - 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop

We have almost 20 blogs along the 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop. I say "almost" because we have a couple of new bloggers that are a little nervous about getting their post ready. I have reassured them that blogging is relatively easy and have sent them a few hints for scheduling a post (in case their time zone makes it difficult to post just before the start of the hop), posting pictures and creating links (along with a few links to documentation). We also have a couple of people who are going to try to get projects ready to be guest bloggers. As we all know life can throw us some curve balls so we will do our best to quickly adjust if necessary. If people cannot create something "in time" we will all understand. Sometimes I wonder how I'm going to get everything done I need to.

Mark your calendars for the blog hop start. The hop will start at mommyx2's blog at 8am MDT on Friday, March 23. Everyone will have until 8am MDT on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 to comment. We have two confirmed giveaways. One is a 12×12 Hello Spring Mini Theme Kit by Echo Park and another is a 12×12 Fourth Of July Mini Theme Kit by Echo Park (generously donated by Echo Park Paper Co.). We will post updates if we are able to secure additional giveaways. To be eligible to win on the 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop, you need to comment on each blog along the hop and be able to receive packages (no post office boxes). It is open worldwide. The winners will be selected via random.org.

Some of the bloggers along the hop have mentioned that they plan to offer blog candy. Be sure to look for those announcements and follow the steps they would like you to do to be eligible for those prizes.

I am going to try to post sneak peaks everyday until the blog hop starts. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone creates.

update - 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop

As of this morning we have nine stops on the 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop (includes mommyx2 and centralnyscrapper). I hope that more of you will be able to join us on the hop. Please see my previous post for details and don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions.

2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop - Bountiful Borders

The theme is “Bountiful Borders”. This idea came about due to all of the discussion related to the World Launch of the Lucky 8 punches from WRMK. The discussion of the WRMK punch started discussion of the Elegant Edges cartridge from Cricut and many other border creating options on the market. MommyX2 and I thought we should put all of our excitement toward a blog hop. Any punch you would want to use in repeat would work. Even using the Instant Setter Tool by Making Memories (https://www.cropchocolate.com/past_scrapbook_deals?pid=82) tool would work if you would want to punch that many times (though I have seen some wonderful projects just using a screw punch).

There are (2) requirements:

1) Create any project, e.g., layout, card, home decor, etc. Use a tool, electronic or manual, to create a decorative edge on at least one side of the project.

2) Since we've met each other through Crop Chocolate 50% of the product used on your project should have been purchased from CC. In your blog post please list the products from CC.

For those that participated the last time, this blog hop will be very similar to the 1st Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop coordinated by Scrappy Canuck in July 2011. In fact, you might recognize some of this information as she graciously gave me permission to use what she wrote then.

Some of you have blogs that are not entirely scrapbook related, and that’s totally fine too! This is an unofficial hop so we have flexibility in what we post. It can also be chance for you to get some viewers to your site, and for the CC community to get to know each other a bit better! Have good clean fun with your post, and don’t forget to mention CC!

For those of you who have not participated in a blog hop before, there are a couple of things that you will need to include. The first is a title or message at the beginning of your post that indicates you are part of the blog hop, and a welcome message of some sort. This doesn’t need to be fancy – it just lets a hopper know that they are at the right spot. It also informs someone who might happen to pass by your blog that there is a hop going on that they might want to join! The second thing we would like you to include is a link to the first blog so anyone finding the hop “in the middle” knows where the start is. The third thing you need to include is a link to the next blog on the hop. Once we have all the information from each of you, we will send you a message with the links that you need to include.

For those of you who have never posted a link on your blog, send us a PM or post the question in Box of Chocolates and we can give you some generic information on how to post links when we send out that information. Other than that, the content of your blog post is totally up to you. It does need to be posted by the date and time you are assigned (a message will be mailed to all participants at least one week in advance with the details).

If you end up not being able to post, please let us know ASAP so we can get others to change their links…remember that because this is a chain, if you don’t post your link, the hop stops there!

If you would like to participate in the 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop, please send an email to centralnyscrapper (at) ymail (dot) com with Blog Hop in the subject line by 6pm MST on Wednesday, March 14. Please send us the link to your blog and we will go ahead and get the lists ready. Your spot on the hop will be randomly assigned (your name will be pulled from a hat). If you could also please let us know how you would like to refer to yourself that would be great (first name, blog name, CC username, etc.).

If you do not have your own blog yet, but would still like to participate, send us a note and we will match you up with someone who will post your project on their blog.

We are working on getting prizes (awarded randomly) for those that participate in the hop. Prize details are still being finalized and will be posted at a later date.

There is the possibility that the hop could run two or more days depending on interest. Since several people are unable to participate from their work locations due to job duties or firewall issues, the hop will start on Friday, March 23, 2012 at 8am MST. To be eligible to win prizes, you must comment on each blog post. Everyone will have until 8am MST on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 to comment. Winners will be selected by random.org.

We hope you'll want to be a stop on the blog hop.