Easy technique – use markers over ink to create a watercolor look that is irresistible! Most of us who are paper crafters are either artists or artist-wannabes and love creating projects that show off the artistic talents we do have. Many people adore the look of hand painted elements but weren’t gifted with that skill. The answer? Use markers over ink to create a watercolor look that is absolutely stunning! Julie created this card and you can see that all […]
Continue ReadingMake a Beautiful Oxide Ink Watercolor Background!
Make a dreamy oxide ink watercolor background to set off your stamps with a vintage vibe. Today Melinda is sharing a new passion for her – creating a beautiful oxide ink watercolor background that perfectly sets off any stamp that can offer a vintage feel. This beautifully detailed image from our Sketch Rose set is the perfect thing to show this off. Let’s dive in and see how Melinda made this! Melinda got started by cutting a piece of watercolor […]
Continue ReadingA Handmade Rose Card To Take Your Breath Away!
Get step by step instructions on how to create this gorgeous handmade rose card! This handmade rose card from Natasha is just so stunning and we have to admit, the sentiment gave us eye prickles thinking about how deeply touched someone would be to receive this in the mail. Natasha used the stamp set alone from our Someone Like You pair and we are thrilled that she showed how drop dead gorgeous these images are on their own. Natasha said […]
Continue ReadingHow To Add Texture To Cardstock – Two Ways
Check out two fun ways on how to add texture to cardstock for extra impact. Today Jean is showing us how to add texture to cardstock in two ways that are easy and fun and endlessly versatile. Combined with her layering her die cut pots and plants, you really feel like you are walking past a colorful wall in, say, an upscale coffee shop. Let’s get into the details so we can try these techniques out! Start by stamping the […]
Continue ReadingHeat Embossing With Layered Stencils
Combine heat embossing with layered stencils for truly eye popping effects! We’ve talked a little about our new layered flower stencils giving you lots of new and fun ways to add color to your projects. Today Allie is sharing her gorgeous card that she made by combining heat embossing with layered stencils to add a fresh artistic look to her stamped flowers. She’s spelling it all out for us to give it a try so let’s go! Start by stamping […]
Continue ReadingHow To Shade Using White Colored Pencils
Learn how to shade using white colored pencils on a tone on tone design. Today Annie is showing us an absolutely beautiful way on how to shade using white colored pencils on a monochromatic design and we are practically swooning! Who knew that just a touch of white on a tone on tone design could be so impactful! Annie said “There are times when a stamp is so beautiful, that I just want to let the image speak for itself. […]
Continue ReadingSilhouette Stamping With Reverse Masking
Use silhouette stamping with reverse masking to create gorgeous, easy focal elements on your handmade cards! Silhouette stamping with reverse masking isn’t a new thing but we don’t see it done often and it’s a shame. Because just LOOK at this beautiful card! Our Color Fuse Ink is perfect for this technique – we specifically formulated it to blend easily and beautifully and with reverse masking, those qualities are absolutely essential for results like these. Colleen created this for us […]
Continue ReadingOur New Layered Flower Stencils – VIDEO!
See how easy it is to create using our new layered flower stencils! Today’s card, from Lisa, features two fabulous fun techniques in one. First, Lisa used our brand new layered flower stencils to create those dimensional blooms. Second, she created two gorgeous background frame elements using one of our great background dies. How fun is that? We love it when you can make two cards in one – what a fun time saver! Let’s talk about those layered flower […]
Continue ReadingUse No Line Watercoloring to “Hand Paint”
Come see another beautiful card made with the no line watercoloring technique that starts with a stamp! Today, Melinda is back with another absolute stunner of a card. She’s shared her no line watercoloring talents with us before here and here and today’s card is another beautiful example of how this easy technique can make you look like a true watercolor artist. Melinda shared with us “When I saw this release I was ecstatic because the florals are just amazing […]
Continue ReadingFor Quick Backgrounds Use Watercolor Ink!
Today’s backgrounds use watercolor ink and a spritzer for a gorgeous effect! If you love making custom colored backgrounds use watercolor ink with this super easy technique to create something totally unique and beautiful. You pretty much can’t go wrong with this method and you can use any colors you like to create something dimensional, with lots of beautiful visual movement and such rich variations in shades. One thing that is particularly beautiful about these card backgrounds made with watercolor […]
Continue ReadingMake This Die Cut Flip Top Window Card!
Wait until you see all the details in this handmade die cut flip top window card! Our eyeballs popped out like those cartoon characters when we saw this die cut flip top window card that Lisa made for us today! It is LOADED with adorable details and she even added a fun belly band to keep her magnificent window closed. And of course, being a member of our amazingly generous Design Team, Lisa has shared her how-tos with us so […]
Continue ReadingA Cute Handmade Faux Polaroid Card
Give someone a case of the smilies with this adorable handmade faux Polaroid card! Did you know that Polaroid cameras are back? They do say everything old is new again and the photos from the new cameras look almost identical to the ones from days gone by. It’s no wonder then that two of our fabulous designers chose to use our new Group of Friends stamp to design their versions of a handmade faux Polaroid card. Let’s get Carol’s instructions […]
Continue ReadingSimple Masking Techniques – VIDEO!
Watch this FREE video tutorial for using simple masking techniques to create gorgeous layered scenes on your handmade cards! Did we mention that our Design Team LOVES our new Butterfly Flowers set? We’ve seen some stunning cards using that set and today’s is right up there! Preeti has used the set in her fabulous video tutorial for us showing the first of several simple masking techniques. Masking is a very easy way to add your images in stamped “layers”. Basically […]
Continue ReadingFun and Creative Handmade Cards for Friends
These creative handmade cards for friends have a cute retro twist that they will love! Who here remembers the old style Polaroid photos? And shaking them to make them “develop faster”? Today’s example of creative handmade cards for friends features that iconic element with an adorable twist. Lisa has used one of our new stamp sets and some clever die cutting to make a card that sets our selfie squad in the Southwest scene, spilling out of a classic Polaroid […]
Continue ReadingThe No Line Watercolor Technique – So Gorgeous!
Use a simple no line watercolor technique to create absolutely gorgeous “hand painted” cards! Our Design Team – and now our customers – are LOVING this new Butterfly Flowers set and we are so glad! Today, Melinda has combined the main image from it with the no line watercolor technique to create a card that looks hand painted and just stunning. We’ve used this easier-than-it looks technique here on the blog before and we love that every project has its […]
Continue ReadingUsing Stencils With Embossing Paste
Check out why using stencils with embossing paste is the perfect way to play up imperfections! We’ve had so much positive feedback on our stencils and we are SO happy you all love them so much! One of the things we keep hearing is that you love using stencils with embossing paste to create beautifully textured backgrounds and elements. Today, Natasha has created this beautiful card for us and she is sharing why NOT making a stenciled embossing paste background […]
Continue ReadingHow To Make Die Cut Card Belly Bands – VIDEO
Check out this cute way to create die cut card belly bands to add some WOW to your handmade cards! Belly bands can be a fun way to add some extra detail to a card project. There’s just something about the anticipation of what is inside when someone slides these interactive details off the card. Today, Colleen is sharing her twist on this with how to make die cut card belly bands using another sneak peek item from our release […]
Continue ReadingHow To Make a 3D Butterfly Card
Use this easy technique for how to make a 3d butterfly card with any butterfly stamp! Allison has been on a roll and today she is going to show you how to make a 3D butterfly card using a new stamp and die set that is part of the new release coming in April, currently scheduled for April 5th. Mark your calendars because this release is LOADED with so many beautiful, fun and whimsical elements! You can, of course use […]
Continue ReadingHow To Alter a Die Cut To Match A Layer
Learn the easiest way for how to alter a die cut to match a layer for seamless edges! Thanks to our talented Design Team, we learn lots of cool tips and tricks and “professional grade” ways to make our handmade cards level up to little works of art. One of the things that we see them to a lot is make sure that when they use overlapping die cut elements, the edges line up just so. Today, Allison is sharing […]
Continue ReadingEasy Die Cut Paper Piecing For Cards!
See how easy it is to use die cut paper piecing for cards to bring your ideas to life! Something you will see often from our fabulous Design Team is their use of die cut paper piecing for cards of all kinds. We have LOADS of dies where we’ve added amazing details for you to paper piece into your die cut elements which adds so much detail. Today’s card from Jean shows off how to use paper piecing to add […]
Continue ReadingLayer Die Cuts To Build a Scene
Learn easy tips to layer die cuts to build a scene on your handmade cards. Creating a scene on a card is super easy when you layer die cuts to build it up. For instance on this card, Carol created depth in the sky with layered die cut clouds and then added a ton of perspective to her grassy knoll with some die cut strips of grass. You clearly get a sense of there being a whole scene you can […]
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