4 cards with 1 stamp set + new power poppy

Power Poppy has some gorgeous new stamp sets today and I love one of them so much that I couldn't resist creating four cards with just the one set (and not much else)!

We are hopping today to introduce these amazing new Power Poppy sets and you should be arriving from Broni's wonderful blog. (If you get turned around, head over to the EH blog for the full list.)

I was immediately all heart eyes for the Strong & Beautiful set, not just for the amazing bouquet but also the sentiment "how strong and beautiful you are". I have been feeling extra grateful lately for the strong & beautiful women in my life so it felt extra perfect.

BUT...I was feeling a little intimidated by coloring that bouquet! I still feel like a beginner in all kinds of mediums so I decided to start with just black & white.

Marcella's illustrations are such perfection that they are showstopping in just black & white.

I loved the black & white so much that I decided to keep the design the same and try a monochromatic look.

I paired Hero Arts Mist cardstock with Distress Oxide Peacock Feathers.

Next I decided to try a little faux watercolor. This technique always feels pretty foolproof and I love it. 

For this technique, I ink up the stamp with a couple of colors of Distress Ink, mist the stamp with water and stamp.

Now with 3 cards I really loved already completely, I felt ready to try coloring this gorgeous bouquet. And guess what? It was really easy!!! 

Now I'm no expert in shading and realism but the stamp has such wonderful, intricate detail that coloring is a breeze! 

Your next stop on the hop is Kathy's terrific blog, but one quick thing before you go...prizes!!! We are giving away $25 to the EH shop and $25 to the Power Poppy shop! To enter for a chance to win, make sure to leave comments at each stop along the hop! Two random & lucky commenters will win! Comment before Sunday, July 7th at 11:59pm PST. Winners will be notified by email.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Carly

supplies:

affiliate links may be used at no additional cost to you. thank you!

Power Poppy Strong & Beautiful

VersaFine Onyx Black ink

Distress Oxide Peacock Feather ink 

Distress Picked Raspberry & Peacock Feathers inks

Distress Peacock Feathers marker 

Light Mist Spray Bottle

Copic Markers YG41, BG10, BG11, BG32, BG13, V01, V12, V15, RV04, RV06, RV09 & C5

Solar White cardstock

Hero Hues Mist cardstock

stitching on cards with the stamp market's sew dies

I love adding stitched details to cards and I love finding easy ways to do that since I am not super skilled with a needle and thread, LOL! So it's no surprise that I am crushing on The Stamp Market's Sew Series dies!

The dies are so easy to use and so darn cute!!!

Here are my stitching tips...

• use heavyweight cardstock as it stands up better to being handled while you stitch
• use a craft pick to push out any little dots after die cutting from your panel or die cut 

• if you are going to do any stamping, do it before you start stitching
• create custom colored embroidery floss by coloring with alcohol markers like Copics. Just be sure to let dry before stitching. This is a great way to create rainbow floss for rainbow words!

 

• add sequins just for fun!

• and definitely try out these dies!!!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Carly

supplies:

affiliate links may be used at no additional cost to you. thank you!

The Stamp Market Dotted Hello die

The Stamp Market Dotted Rainbow die

The Stamp Market Color Me Happy stamps

VersaFine Onyx Black ink

Copic Markers RV23, R35, YR14, Y15, YG41, BG01 & BV00

Solar White 110lb cardstock

Icy Mint cardstock

Butterfly Sequins Mix

my favorite cardmaking techniques in one card

I had some pretty cardmaking extras (seems like a nicer word than scraps, LOL) on my desk so I thought I would just put a quick card together. What I ended up with was pretty much all my favorite cardmaking techniques in one card.

It's got a big 'ol word, that word is a shaker, there is some masking, glimmer paste & ink blending and faux watercolor. This card makes me pretty darn happy!

And I was recording just in case so here's a quick video of how it came together...

By the way, you can pick up this sentiment on sale today at EH! And a bunch of really other adorable Essentials By Ellen...

Essentials By Ellen Summer Sale

Thanks for stopping by!
Carly

supplies:

affiliate links may be used at no additional cost to you. thank you!

Essentials by Ellen Good Times stamps (for sentiment)

Essentials by Ellen Everyday Doodles stamps & dies

Essentials by Ellen Classic Block Alpha dies

Distress Inks Picked Raspberry, Abandoned Coral, Carved Pumpkin & Mustard Seed

VersaFine Onyx Black

Moonstone Glimmer Paste

Palette Knife

Solar White Cardstock

Acetate

Glue Pen

less can be more when you stretch your stamps

I'm over on the Neat & Tangled blog today with a super easy way to stretch your stamps and get more from less!

Come on over and say hi!
Carly

diy easy shaker card + the trinity stamps 1st anniversary hop

Creating shaker cards is one of my favorite cardmaking techniques so I'm not sure why I waited so long to make an "infinity" or full panel shaker.

I saw the fantastic new Oracle Octopus stamp from Trinity Stamps and I knew she needed extra sparkle! Plus it is Trinity Stamps first anniversary and I wanted to celebrate BIG!!! 

If you are joining us for the Trinity blog hop, you should be arriving from Caly Person's amazing blog! (Or head over to the Trinity blog if you get turned around.)

And I know you have lots of hopping to do but humor me for just a minute...I just want to say I love Trinity! Taniesa is one of the kindest humans I have ever met and I'm so grateful to be the teeniest, tiniest part of her wonderful company's first anniversary. Thank you to Taniesa and Trinity Stamps!

Ok, now let's talk cards...

This card was a breeze to put together and I've got a little video for you to see the process...

Now before you hop to Christine's fabulous blog, there are giveaways!!! One reader will be randomly selected to receive a $20 Trinity Gift Card and Birthday Surprise Gift. Leave a comment on all the blog stops for a chance to win! 

Thank you so much for stopping by!
Carly

supplies:

affiliate links may be used at no additional cost to you. thank you!

Trinity Stamps Oracle Octopus stamps & dies

Trinity Stamps Summer School stencil set

Trinity Soapy Bubbles sequins

Trinity Brave Heart sequins

HAI Clear Stars

Moonstone Glimmer Paste

Purple Tape

Distress Inks Tumbled Glass, Cracked Pistachio & Shaded Lilac

Copic Markers B0000, B000, B00, BV00, BV02, BV04, BG32, BG11, BG10, R05, R21 and R22

Gold UniBall

a crafty blog hop with ellen hutson & hero arts

Welcome to the Hero Arts & Ellen Hutson hop! We have teamed up today to share some fun cardmaking inspiration and a few prizes too!

If you are hopping with us, you should be arriving from the super gorgeous blog of Janette Kausen! (And you can see the whole hop list over on the EH blog.)

Hero Arts is celebrating their 45th anniversary, isn't that awesome?! As part of their anniversary, they have some new "from the vault" sets that include classic designs from the past that have never before been available in clear stamps. 

I fell in love with the little pup from the From The Vault Birthday and I've been having a blast playing with the set! 

The images have so much fantastic detail, I feel like they don't really need much from me so I've just been adding a tiny touch of color. 

And for this card I used one of my most favorite Hero Arts sets, the Infinity Nesting Circle Dies to create a DIY coverplate. (Seriously I'm afraid I'm going to wear these dies out, LOL!)

I stamped the images to show inside the circle and used Copic BG32 to color all around them.

Did you know that you can also use your Copics to color white pom poms to match? I used Copic RV13 to make that little pom pink.

Now before you head off to do the rest of the hop, let's talk prizes! You can win one of three $25 gift certificates to the Ellen Hutson shop! Winners will be drawn from commenters along the blog hop so make sure to comment at each stop before Friday, June 28th at 11:59pm PST. Winners will be notified by email.

Your next stop is the amazing Ilina Crouse's blog! 

Have fun and thanks for stopping by!
Carly


And P.S. there is a sale on Hero Arts this weekend at EH, just in case you feel like shopping!

supplies:

affiliate links may be used at no additional cost to you. thank you!

From The Vault: Birthday, Hero Arts Clear Stamps

Hero Arts Dies, Infinity Nesting Circles

Memento Ink Pad, Tuxedo Black

BG32 Aqua Mint, COPIC Sketch Marker

BG11 - Moon White, COPIC Sketch Marker

Y15 - Cadmium Yellow, COPIC Sketch Marker

R35 - Coral, COPIC Sketch Marker

RV13 - Tender Pink, COPIC Sketch Marker

Neenah Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 25 pk

Darice Pom-Poms, 5mm White

easy distress ink watercolor with trinity spring fling florals

Watercoloring with Distress Inks is one of my very favorite cardmaking techniques and I'm sharing just a little bit more about it on the Trinity blog today!

Come on by and say hi! Hugs!
Carly