Getting Cricky Back To School Blog Hop!!

TO ENTER MY 1,000 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY, CLICK HERE!!

Welcome to the "Back to School" Getting Cricky Blog Hop!!

We're so happy you could join us for this month's Getting Cricky Design Team Blog Hop!! We'd like to invite you to visit each of our DT Sisters' Blogs and our very special Guest Designer, An'Jenic of AJ Scrapbooking & Cards!!

Throughout the hop we'll be showing all kinds of back to school projects!! We hope you'll enjoy each and every project along the way!! Sooooo, let's get hopping...

If you've hopped along from our Guest Designer AJ, then you are in the right place!! If you are just joining me from your dashboard, or reading this via email, please be sure to CLICK HERE to start at the beginning with Kristal's blog (you'll want to catch up on all the FUN!!)

Each of Kristal's stamp sets benefit charity. At least $1 per stamp set goes to benefit the charity noted on the stamp set package. Kristal is donating to the following charities: Cancer Angels, Storefront Shelter for Homeless Children, Intrepid & Fallen Heroes, E. Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Doorways Shelter for Women & Children (Domestic Violence), Wayside House for Women, Camp Good Days & Special Times, Adopt a Classroom, and Autism Research Institute. Kristal will donate $1 for every stamp set sold, retail or wholesale to the charity noted; and over time believes this will add up to some wonderful miracles for these special people. So you can feel good that each time you purchase a K Andrew Designs art stamp set, someone around the country is receiving some good help!

K Andrew's stamps are all made and assembled here in the USA, which is very important to Kristal. This ensures all product materials are safe and that jobs are being provided and maintained here in America. You can learn even more about Kristal's stamps (and pick some up for yourself) by visiting her online store: K Andrew Designs:

Kristal's stamp sets are perfect for cards, layouts, and so much more...

For my project, I'm featuring the Pirate Tales & Fish Scales and Pirate Party stamp sets:

Pirate Tales & Fish Scales

Pirate Party

For this Back-to-School project, I started with a Paper Mache treasure chest from Michaels.

Brown cardstock from The Paper Studio was embossed with The Paper Studio's Woodgrain embossing folder and then Tim Holtz Walnut Distress Stain was rubbed over the paper and wiped off to bring out the ridges. The paper was cut into strips to look like wood planks. The wood strips were adhered around the middle and top with Mod Podge. Strips of the same paper were sanded and then rubbed with the Walnut Distress Stain and wiped off. These were adhered with Mod Podge as well.

All of the holes for the brads were drilled and then fitted with the brads. The corners are Tim Holtz Corners. The flag was cut from Paper Doll Dress Up and the skull from Life's A Party. Both were distressed and Mod Podged.

The lock is a Tim Holtz Keyholes. 1" Ball Knobs from the Wood Shoppe were painted with Burnt Umber paint and adhered to the base for feet. All of the stamps are from Kristal's Pirate Tales & Fish Scales and Pirate Party stamps. They were stamped on white paper and then distressed with Vintage Photo and Walnut Distress Ink and Mod Poged.

The inside was covered with ATD Specialty Paper and then distressed for an aged look. I used maps so any little pirate could plan their search for hidden treasures :) There is plenty of room for pencils, glue and all kinds of school supplies. But wait...

There's a false bottom so kids can hide all their pirate booty, like the iPod teachers won't let them listen to, or a map with the real treasure location (marked by the negative of the flag cut on the top).

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. Cooking With Cricut Challenge #99 - Back To School
2. Joyful Stamper's Inspire Me Friday #72 - Anything Goes 
3. DL.ART Happy Birthday Linky Party - Anything Goes

Now you can hop on over to your next stop: the awesome and talented Shawn of Crafty Chics!!

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