shaping die cut letters

Sometimes I have an idea in my head but I'm not sure how to actually execute it, like shaping my die cut letters into a circle. Heavens knows if I tried to eyeball it, it would be some other crazy, crooked shape!

After I sorted out an easy method to make the shape, this clean & simple card came together in a snap! The trick...I used a circle cut from masking paper as a guide!

Here's a quick video...

Thanks for stopping by!

Carly

supplies:

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

Essentials by Ellen A Breve Note Stamps
Essentials by Ellen Letterboard Dies
Copic Markers BG10, BG11, BG32, E35 & E37
Solar White Cardstock
Stick It Adhesive
Masking Paper

neat & tangled to the stars

It's time for Neat & Tangled sneak peeks! Are you excited? I'd say raise your hands but I can't see you so I'll just assume you are all as excited as I am!!!

Miriam has created a really cool background stamp (which I will show you later this week) and Elena has illustrated two dreamy stamp sets! Here's a little peek of one of them...

This is the To The Stars set and isn't is adorable?!

I loved coloring this little ginger fairy and creating a bright galaxy background for her!

Now make sure you head over to the Neat & Tangled blog to see what my talented teamies have created. And learn about prizes!

Have a great day!!!
Carly

catherine pooler club sursee

Nothing makes me happier than new crafty goodies arriving in my mailbox! Ok, well that's not exactly true because if candy was arriving in my mailbox, it would be hard to choose which made me happier...but I'm getting off topic!

There is a fun new way to get crafty treats in the mail and I think it's really cool so I wanted to share! Club Sursee is a new monthly subscription box from my sweet friends Catherine Pooler.

Check out the fun I've been having with the premier box...

The gorgeous wildflowers included in the first Club Sursee were so fun to use with Kuretake Art & Graphic Twin Markers! I colored the directly on the stamps with the markers and then misted them before stamping for a messy watercolored effect. 

So if you are needing a happy-crafty-mail-delivery, you can learn more about Club Sursee HERE!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!
Carly 

using small stamps with trinity stamps seasonal sweetheart

I'm over on the Trinity Stamps blog today with SUGAR!!! I mean LOLLIPOPS!!! I mean ways to use small stamps! Sorry, I got distracted by candy. I love candy even when it's paper! *haha*

Come on over and say hi!

Hugs!
Carly

faux watercolor technique with essentials by ellen

I love an easy stamping trick that produces great results like this faux watercolor technique! And another bonus...you only need a few supplies - watercolor cardstock, water-reactive ink like Distress Inks, a spray bottle and a solid stamp!

The technique is super easy...

1.  Ink solid stamp with water-reactive ink.
2.  Mist stamp with water before stamping on watercolor cardstock. Give yourself a few practice runs to figure out how many sprays it takes to achieve the results you want.
3.  Let dry or dry with heat gun and TA-DA!

Here's a quick video of the process...

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Carly

supplies:

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

Essentials by Ellen Everyday Punnies Stamps
Essentials by Ellen Everyday Doodles Stamps & Dies
Essentials by Ellen Classic Block Alpha
Distress Inks Picked Raspberry, Abandoned Coral, Carved Pumpkin & Mustard Seed
VersaFine Onyx Black Ink
Solar White Cardstock
Distress Watercolor Cardstock
Nuvo Light Mist Sprayer

diy enamel embellishments with the stamp market dies

One of my favorite ways to create with die cuts is to turn them into DIY enamel embellishments! 

I've had a blast creating some DIY enamel embellishments with brand new dies from The Stamp Market and we are having a little blog hop today so I get to show them off to you! (If you are hoping with us, you should be arriving from The Stamp Market blog.)

I've created a quick video to show you my process...

Here are my quick tips for creating DIY enamel embellishments...

• layer 3 die cuts to provide stability and prevent warping when glossy medium is applied
• temporarily secure layered die cut to an acrylic block with low-tack tape before applying glossy medium
• Tonic Nuvo Drops and Ranger Glossy Accents are both great glossy mediums but I find Glossy Accents works better for larger surfaces (less cracking)
• use craft pick to pull out any air bubbles
• add glitter (if desired) while glossy medium is wet

Thanks so much for stopping by and please head on over to Thurston Post to see what Rebecca has created! She always knocks my socks off!!!

Hugs! 
Carly

supplies:

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

The Stamp Market Rainbow Card Cover die
The Stamp Market Skinny Upper Alphabet dies
The Stamp Market Color Me Happy stamps & dies
The Stamp Market Jumbo Tag die (for happy birthday)
The Stamp Market Circles & Sentiments stamps (for fabulous sentiment)
The Stamps Market Dear Friend stamps (for good day sentiment)

Distress Oxide Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Candied Apple, Squeezed Lemonade & Tumbled Glass

Glossy Accents

Purple Tape

Zig Chisel Glue Pen
Nuvo Moonstone Glimmer Paste
Lawn Fawn Chunky Glitter

watercolor with nuvo shimmer powders + pinkfresh studio's 5th birthday

I love taking new crafty products for a test drive and my latest experiment with Nuvo Shimmer Powders turned out pretty fun! Especially because I paired them with two of my favorite Pinkfresh sets! It is their birthday after all!

If you hopping along with us for Pinkfresh Studio's 5th birthday, you should be arriving from Jung AhSung. And if you would like to hop with us, you can start over at the Pinkfresh blog.

Now I paired the powders with two of my favorite Pinkfresh sets, not only to celebrate Pinkfresh's 5th birthday but also to help guarantee I would like the results and make them into cards...and not just leave mystery watercolored panels on my desk. Please tell me I'm not the only one who does that? *haha*

Let me quit rambling and you can see the Nuvo Shimmer Powders in action...

Ok, now before you go on to the next hop stop! Let's talk about all the cool GIVEAWAYS! 

• Pinkfresh is giving away 3 grand prizes so make sure you stop by their blog! They are also running some great specials so you are probably going to want to shop!
• You also have a chance to win $25 to the Pinkfresh shop by leaving comments here and at each hop stop!
• Winners will be announced on the Pinkfresh Giveaway page on April 14th so please make sure to check there (winners have two weeks to claim there prize).

BLOG HOP LIST

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Carly

supplies:

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

Pinkfresh Studio Fancy Blooms stamps
Pinkfresh Studio Scripted Bold Sentiments 1
Nuvo Shimmer Powder Violet Brocade, Blue Blitz & Atlantis Burst 
Distress Watercolor Cardstock
Brutus Monroe Embossing Ink
WOW Pearl White Embossing Powder