paper smooches paper candy!

I'm over in The Classroon at Ellen Hutson today creating paper candy with the most adorable Paper Smooches dies. Come on over!

xo,
Carly

today...

I'm over in The Classroom at Ellen Hutson LLC today talking about "special effects" markers like Wink of Stella. Come on over!

xo,
Carly

captured by copics + a crafty sale

Alright, I give up, I give in, I can't resist any longer! I tried but they are just so pretty and colorful...so I'm finally going to learn how to use Copics! 

I'm totally intimidated by the vast rainbow of colors and all of the amazing techniques I see in this talented community of makers so I'm starting super small, with 10 colors and just basic coloring. Here it is...

Here's what I have learned so far from my wonderful team at Ellen Hutson and other makers...

• paper is super important! Solar White is an EH fav so I started with that. To test paper compatibilty, draw a line with a Copic. If the line feathers, look for another paper.
• stamping ink must be Copic friendly! I used Memento Paris Dusk. To test ink compatibility, stamp onto Copic-friendly cardstock and color over line to check for smudging.
• for some super basic coloring, start with the lightest color first. I colored the flowers completely with V000 and then added the other colors a stripe at a time.
• you can use Copics to color silver foil paper (though some papers will yield more even results). I gave my die cut sentiment just the light tint of pink.
• you can also use Copics to color sequins. The result is like a pretty watercolor wash that coordinates perfectly with your project.

Is there anyone else out there like me, just starting out? Join me and we will figure it out together. And not to an enabler BUT markers are on sale this week at Ellen Hutson LLC which means Copics are an even better deal than normal! 10% off and no code needed! Here's a link to EH, marker sale.

xo,

Carly

supplies:

Concord & 9th Wildflower

Essentials by Ellen Brushstroke Wonderful

Memento Paris Dusk

Solar White

Copic Sketch Marker V000

Copic Sketch Marker V04

Copic Sketch Marker RV52

Copic Sketch Marker RV55

Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear Confetti Mix 

cardmaking for a good cause!

Welcome everyone! You should be arriving here from the amazing Caryn Davies blog (if you've gotten lost just head back to Sandy Allnock and make sure you scroll all the way down on this post to read about prizes...)

I was so honored when Sandy invited me to be a part of this amazing hop she was putting together! Encouraging us cardmakers to use our talents for good? What an amazing idea! 

My mother-in-law has the biggest heart of anyone I know so it was easy to decide that I wanted to do something in her honor. The hardest part of this project was choosing a charity to donate to. There are so many wonderful and deserving causes! With help from my husband, we settled on one that we knew my mother-in-law would love, PAWS, a wonderful organization that advocates for the rights of animals. Their motto is people helping animals and my mother-in-law has rescued two abandoned puppies! I know she would adopt more if she had room! 

We donated to PAWS in her honor and decided to create a little gift basket for her dogs, including treats, toys & a little card. And I decided to go purple because my mother-in-law LOVES purple. And p.s. PAWS did send us a sweet card to give to my mother-in-law but it didn't match my purple theme, LOL!

To create this card, I started by stamping the pup on Smooth Bristol cardstock and again on masking paper. 

With the pup masked, I stamped the flower repeatedly to create a background, using Distress ink.

Next I created another mask by die cutting a heart from masking paper sized to fit my card front.

After applying the mask, I applied a messy watercolor to the flowers withing the heart (with the puppy still masked too).

Then I removed all the masks and colored the pup with Clean Color markers.

The finishing touches were to die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle, stamp a sentiment next to the heart like a tag and mount to a purple card.

And remember I said there were prizes? Well there are some awesome companies helping inspire you to hop along and leave comments on all the blogs - Altenew ($30), Lawn Fawn ($50), My Favorite Things ($25), and Ellen Hutson ($25)! Be sure to go say thanks to them on their social media for helping get the word out about giving…and leave comments by Wednesday March 22. Winners will be announced on Sandy’s blog on Thursday March 23, along with a total amount we’ve raised together!

Thank you Sandy for this fun opportunity to create for good! And keep hopping with May Sukyong Park !

xo,
Carly

supplies:
Avery Elle Furry Friends
Concord & 9th Hello Lovely
Mama Elephant Organic Blooms
Distress Ink Shaded Lilac
Distress Ink Wilted Violet
Versafine Onyx
Clean Color Real Brush Oatmeal
Smooth Bristol
Inkadinkado Masking Paper

Today...

I'm over in The Classroom at Ellen Hutson LLC today! I've been inspired by my friend Kittie to create with Impression Obsession dies!

Come on over and see more!

xo,
Carly