1 stamp and 3 mediums + meet trinity stamps

I am so very proud to introduce you to Trinity Stamps, a new company by my friend Taniesa! I met Taniesa a few years back at the Ellen Hutson warehouse and was instantly struck by what a sweet & genuine person she is. I am so excited to see her realize this dream and I'm also so excited to start collecting all her adorable stamps!!! 

To celebrate the Trinity Stamps grand opening, we are having a hop & there are prizes! Head over to the Trinity blog if you get lost along the hop and to learn more about prizes!

Today I'd like to share an exercise I do to spark my creativity...I create multiple backgrounds with the same layout & same stamps but different mediums. The Trinity Let Love Grow stamp set was the perfect set to play with because it has so many possibilities! I created 3 backgrounds...

Copics

I still consider myself a Copic newbie so any practice is a good thing!


Distress Oxides

I love a good ink blended background! To create this card, I stamped the succulents in black and then covered with a mask before blending the Distress Oxides on top.

Distress Markers

Any watercolor markers would work well for this technique but I do love my Distress colors! To create this dreamy, watercolor look just use markers to color directly on stamps, mist with water & stamp!

After creating all my backgrounds, I added sentiments, black splatter and sequins to create cards. And here is a video of a quick trick I use for adding sentiments to backgrounds without messing them up!

Make sure to check out the rest of the Trinity Stamps first release because it's gorgeous! And keep hopping with us onto Jo Ann's blog!

Hugs!

Carly

P.S. Please forgive my mess as my blog is under a bit of construction. If you are having trouble leaving a comment, just click the post title and scroll down.  

watercoloring over nuvo mousse + Ardyth's 1K YT video hop

I am so excited to be joining a REALLY talented group of makers today to celebrate our friend Ardyth! Ardyth has an awesome YouTube channel that just reached 1000 subscribers and its her birthday! Two very fun reasons to celebrate!

I have a quick video for you on using Nuvo Mousse with watercolor and after you’ve finished watching, please leave a comment for your chance to win, and then click on the link in the video description below for the next person in the hop. 

There are more than 20 participants on this video hop and there are prizes to be won! 

• One comment from each video on the hop will be chosen to win 2 Catherine Pooler inks of your choice. 
• One comment from the whole hop will be chosen to win a $25 Gift Certificate to Ellen Hutson LLC. 
• One comment from the whole hop will be chosen to win a prize pack valued at over $100 from A Jillian Vance Design. 
• And because today is also Ardyth’s birthday, she’s contributing three $25 Gift Certificates (one to Ellen Hutson LLC, one to Catherine Pooler Designs and one to A Jillian Vance Design) to three randomly-chosen comment on her video on YouTube. 

If you get lost along the way, go to Ardyth’s blog for the full list of participants.

All prizes will be announced on Monday, June,11 so you have until then to comment. Now onto to the video...  

Thank you so much for stopping by and have fun hopping along!

Hugs!
Carly

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

Essentials by Ellen Clear Stamps, Mondo Hydrangea by Julie Ebersole

Tonic Nuvo Embellishment Mousse, Mother of Pearl

Creative Expressions, Smoothies Minis

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 082, Purple

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 081, Light Violet

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 036, Light Blue

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 045, Pale Green

Catherine Pooler Ink Pad, Midnight

Essentials by Ellen Designer Dies, Sunshine Word by Julie Ebersole

2 simple tips for masking stamps

Two tips for successful masking with stamps from a stamper who loves masking techniques, me! I love masking, it is one of those stamping techniques that makes me feel really artistic!

While I was creating this cute little bear with a floral tummy, I realized that there are two things that have made masking easier for me...

1. The Paper: There are lots of masking papers out there, including specialty stamping products and even post-its. I have found that Inkadinkado Stamping Paper is my fav. It's low-tack enough that it never tears my project upon removal and never leaves residue.
2. The Ink: Stamping on the masking paper in a permanent, waterproof and fast-drying ink makes a huge difference. I always use Archival ink to prevent smudging ink onto my project.

Here's a quick video of my process:

And I little bit more about my card...

• I stamped & embossed the Reverse Confetti Pattern Block on my card front with glitter embossing powder.
• I blended two shades over purple ink over the embossed image, Pixie Dust & Sweet Sixteen.
• I stamped the Reverse Confetti Honey Bear and then masked his tummy.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hugs!

Carly

more diy birthday card inspiration + a challege

You can never have enough birthday cards and I have been a little obsessed with "stocking my stash" with bday cards lately. May is a busy month for birthdays in my life and since May is also Reverse Confetti's birthday, that's the theme for their new challenge!

For this challenge, Reverse Confetti had me with the words "Hey Sugar". I love sweets & I love this set! I also had to include my new beau, the polka panel. *chuckle*

I love using the polka panel as a stencil...

For this card, I stenciled dots over a watercolored background.

I added a mint & glitter lolly on top with a sweet sentiment. And a few Nuvo Drops because its always a good idea, right?

Learn more about the Reverse Confetti Stock Your Stash Challenge here. And come play with us because you can never have too many birthday cards and there are prizes!!!

Hugs!
Carly

sweet birthday wishes card + crafty sale!

Happy Sunday and Happy Mother's Day! Today I have a quick birthday card to share with the Essentials by Ellen Classic Block Alpha dies and Nuvo Drops. I've created pink cake letter with pink frosting & sprinkles!

Here's quick video of the process...

I love this block alpha and I think I'm going to use it bunches! I see ice cream letters on a future card!

And in case you need these block alphas too, don't forget that there is a sale at Ellen Hutson LLC today!

Hope you have a happy Sunday! Hugs! 
Carly

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

Essentials By Ellen Clear Stamps, Totally Random Sayings Vol. 2 by Julie Ebersole

Essentials By Ellen Designer Dies, Classic Block Alpha by Julie Ebersole

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Mermaid Lagoon

Ranger Distress Marker, Worn Lipstick

Ranger Watercolor Paper, 10 pk

Tonic Nuvo Crystal Drops, Carnation Pink Gloss

Tonic Nuvo Crystal Drops, Red Berry Gloss

Tonic Nuvo Crystal Drops, Dandelion Yellow Gloss

Tonic Nuvo Crystal Drops, Caribbean Ocean Gloss

the easiest distress oxide background + reverse confetti's 5th birthday release hop

Happy 5th birthday to Reverse Confetti! We are having a birthday hop today to celebrate and the brand new release is available in the Reverse Confetti shop!!! 

I've had so much fun playing with this release, as you can see...

While I was playing with the gorgeous new Pattern Blocks stamp set, I rediscovered a technique I love - stamping in Distress Oxide ink and blending! I love the dreamy, chalky quality that the Distress Ink gives the background.

The technique produces the quickest, easiest and dreamiest backgrounds...

1. stamp in Distress Oxide ink (regular Distress Ink works too but doesn't product the dreamy, chalky quality because it is transparent where the Oxide is opaque).
2. Add water to blend and maybe a little bit more ink for a deeper color.
3. Ta-da! (Does ta-da count as a third step? LOL!)

I made a super quick video in case you want to see it in action...

Don't forget to hop along with us today! The projects I have already seen are absolutely fabulous so I know you will not be disappointed!!!

• Reverse Confetti Blog
• Amy Kolling
• Melissa Phillips 
• Amy Sheffer
• Tricia Barber
• Kelly Lunceford
• Lisa Henke
• Amy Rohl
• Carly Tee Minner --> you are here
• Laurie Schmidlin
• Heather Hoffman
• Amy Tsuruta
• Kathy Schweinfurth
• Audrey Tokach
• Deanne Kuntz
• Tatiana Trafimovich
• Jeanne Jachna
• Susan Liles

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

Hugs!

Carly

an easy galaxy background + reverse confetti countdown day 3

Monday can be harsh but it means only one more day until the new Reverse Confetti is available, YAY! Today let's take a little peek at the new Moon Men set...

Isn't it adorable? I'm really crushing on galaxy, stars, constellations and space themes right now so I practically squealed when I saw this set! And of course I had to pair with a galaxy background.

The galaxy came together easily by placing a heart mask over my cardstock, inking with Distress Oxide Picked Raspberry, Cracked Pistachio & Black Soot. A little water and a little white paint and ta-da! 

Make sure to head over the Reverse Confetti blog to see what everyone else is up to! And leave a little comment love for all of the designers for a chance to win!

Have a happy Monday!
Carly

P.S. Please forgive my mess as my blog is under a bit of construction. If you are having trouble leaving a comment, just click the post title and scroll down.  

P.P.S. Happy birthday sister!

stamping a tee + new essentials by ellen

Hi Again Crafty Friends! There is so much good stuff going on today, including a new and eye-poppingly-gorgeous Essentials by Ellen release!

You have probably been seeing the Mondo Sakura around the internets because its a stunner! I liked it so much, I wanted to wear it so I made a tee shirt, haha! 

It was actually super easy and I love the result. Here's a little video about the process...

Have a great day!

Hugs,
Carly

supplies:
affiliate links may be used at no additional cost to you. thank you!
Essentials by Ellen Stamps, Mondo Sakura
Distress Ink, Hickory Smoke

easy shaker cards + reverse confetti countdown day 2

Hi Friends! Welcome to day 2 of the Reverse Confetti countdown! Their May release and 5th birthday is coming up next week so we are sharing some first looks of yummy new products! Today I have a peek for you of the new Pattern Blocks & My Tribe stamp sets...

Aren't they awesome? I had a lot of fun creating these shakers...

The new Stitched Square dies make great frames for shaker cards!

And the Pattern Blocks look awesome as a background inside the shaker. I stamped it in Distress Oxide and added just a little water to blend.

Make sure to head over the Reverse Confetti blog to see what everyone else is up to! And leave a little comment love for all of the designers for a chance to win!

Have a great day!
Carly

P.S. Please forgive my mess as my blog is under a bit of construction. If you are having trouble leaving a comment, just click the post title and scroll down.