crafting – Try It – Like It

How to Use Hand Sanitizer for Crafting

Create colorful, one-of-a-kind backgrounds using the surprising combination of hand sanitizer and alcohol ink!

Can you believe you can use hand sanitizer to create beautiful crafting backgrounds? You can! When combined with alcohol ink, hand sanitizer produces colorful, organic patterns that are different every time.

Because the sanitizer is thick, it slows the movement of the ink and creates fascinating swirls, textures, and blended areas. Experiment with several colors, but avoid overmixing them—you’ll want to preserve those beautiful variations.

Set the finished background aside until it is completely dry. Drying time may vary depending on how much sanitizer you use. Once dry, your background can be transformed into cards, tags, die-cut shapes, journal pages, or other paper-crafting projects.

In the close-up image, you can see how the rainbow alcohol ink adds a beautiful shimmer to the stripes without altering the background color.

Video Tutorial:

Suggested Materials:

Links are Affiliates AZ – Amazon, SSS – Simon Says Stamps, SB – Scrapbook, O – Other

Art Glitter Glue Shop at: AZ	Cut Cardstock Shop at: O	Dollar Tree Shop at: O	EK Tools Paper Trimmer Bundle In Mint Craft Tote Shop at: O
Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O	Marabu Alcohol Inks Shop at: AZ	Paper Trimmer Shop at: AZ	Ranger Heat Tool Shop at: AZ

Test out DIY Distress Glaze and DIY Resist

This week I’m putting DIY craft products to the test and using my favorite results to create a finished mixed-media tag.

I recently heard about Distress Glaze and was curious to see if I could make my own version. I asked ChatGPT for a DIY recipe and decided to give it a try. I started to get some interesting results, but then I wondered how it would compare to my DIY Resist recipe, which has given me great results in the past. So, of course, I had to put the two techniques to the test!

For the backgrounds, I used the same technique for each trial with Distress Oxide Ink. Since Distress Oxide is water-reactive, it was the perfect choice for this comparison. It would clearly show whether the glaze or resist actually protected the surface from additional applications of water or other wet mediums.

The recipe for the DIY Distress Glaze was surprisingly simple—just petroleum jelly combined with rubbing alcohol. With only two easy-to-find ingredients, I was curious to see how well this homemade version would work as a resist and how it would compare to my tried-and-true DIY Resist recipe.

Video Tutorial:

I ended up choosing the DIY Resist version for this week’s tag tutorial because I really liked the results it created. To finish off the tag, I layered on some ephemera and added a few rhinestones for a little extra sparkle and dimension.

While I did start to see some results with the DIY Glaze, I don’t think it worked as well as a resist. Instead, I think this mixture would be better suited as a protective finishing layer or a final buffing layer. For techniques where I really want to protect the surface while continuing to add wet mediums, my DIY Resist was definitely the better choice.

The DIY Resist recipe can be found here: https://youtu.be/zbdNmMM7doY?si=EeVqdaYSBtDzlIOT

Suggested Materials:

Links are Affiliates AZ – Amazon, SSS – Simon Says Stamps, SB – Scrapbook, O – Other

Art Glitter Glue Shop at: AZ	Craft Brushes Shop at: AZ	Distress Ink Bundle Shop at: AZ \| SB	Foam Tape Shop at: AZ
Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O	Non-Stick Scissors Shop at: AZ	Ranger Heat Tool Shop at: AZ	rhinestones Shop at: AZ
Sizzix Intricate Craft Tool Shop at: AZ

Create Amazing Texture with Expanding Mousse

Add amazing texture and dimension to your paper crafts with expanding mousse—see how I used it to create this week’s Tag it Tuesday background!

This week’s tag shares how to create a fun, textured background using expanding mousse.

Once the background was complete, I added stickers, Diamond Dotz, a sentiment, and coordinating ribbons to finish off the tag and add even more color and dimension.

Free Sticker page:
https://tryit-likeit.com/free-moon-themed-ephemera/

DIY Ribbons:
https://youtu.be/2T-Vv9t–sc

DIY Glitter Spray:
https://youtu.be/IGvhzpBffN4

The close-up image shows the amazing depth and texture created by the expanding mousse, adding a dimensional effect that really makes the background stand out.

Youtube Tutorial:

Suggested Materials:

Links are Affiliates AZ – Amazon, SSS – Simon Says Stamps, SB – Scrapbook, O – Other

Art Glitter Glue Shop at: AZ	Cut Cardstock Shop at: O	Diamond Dotz Shop at: AZ	Expanding Mousse Shop at: AZ
Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O	Printable Sticker Paper Shop at: AZ	Ranger Heat Tool Shop at: AZ	Scrapbook Scissors Shop at: SB
Sizzix Intricate Craft Tool Shop at: AZ	Solar Spray Shop at: AZ	Spectrum Noir Markers Shop at: AZ \| SSS \| SB

Free Paris Cafe Printable

Bring a touch of Paris to your next project with this free printable Paris Cafe printable.

Create your own charming Parisian scene with this free printable Paris Café ephemera page. Filled with vintage-inspired café elements, it’s perfect for junk journals, handmade cards, scrapbook layouts, mixed media projects, tags, and other paper crafts. Simply print, cut, and start adding a touch of French café style to your next creative project.

Grab the free printable at the bottom of the page.

My go-to printer brand for years has been HP. I also use their ink supply service where I pay a monthly fee and they send me ink cartridges as needed. It comes out to be a lot less money this way and I don’t have to keep track because they do all the tracking for me. The HP Envy Inspire is a great-priced machine that will produce beautiful prints.

If you are looking for a great crafting-weight paper for printables, I have a new favorite. It is double sided matte photo paper by Koala. It is heavier than copier paper but not quite as heavy as cardstock. It is a great medium weight for layering, folding, and more! They have different weights, I have been using the 48lb double sided photo paper for printables. It is available on Amazon.

And I found a new sticker paper I really like. It is A-Sub. It comes in Glossy Sticker and Matte Photo Sticker, 25 or 55 sheets. You can find it at Amazon.

You can easily turn clip art images into magnets using Printable Magnets Sheets from Cricut.

Free summer Paris Cafe printable: [pariscafe.pdf]

DIY Vampire Earrings with Shrink Plastic Tutorial

DIY Vampire Earrings for Summerween and Halloween.

I am joining a group of my crafty friends to share tutorials for Summerween. Have you not heard of Summerween? No worries. Summerween is a fun, unofficial celebration that blends summer vibes with Halloween. It has become especially popular on social media, Etsy, YouTube, and among crafters who enjoy spooky themes year-round.

Ritzy Parties will start us off on August 4th
Me on August 5
Sassy Eyed Susan on August 6
Juanita’s Casita on August 7
You can find them all on Instagram.

I created these cute vampires to transfer to Shrink Film in order to make a pair of festive earrings. If you would like the image you can grab the free PDF file below.

Download the PDF [vampires]

The image above shows the difference between the original design on the right and the finished piece after shrinking on the left. As the Shrink Film is heated, it typically shrinks to about half its original size while becoming thicker and more durable.

After the pieces had fully shrunk and cooled, I adhered coordinating paper to the backs for a finished look. I then sealed both sides with a coat of Mod Podge to protect the design and add durability. Finally, I attached the jewelry findings and black glass beads, creating a pair of lightweight earrings that are ready to wear.

Video Tutorial:

Suggested Materials:

Links are Affiliates AZ – Amazon, SSS – Simon Says Stamps, SB – Scrapbook, O – Other #REF! #REF!

Findings Kit Shop at: O	Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O	Jewelry Tool Kit Shop at: AZ
Mod Podge – matte Shop at: AZ \| SB \| O	Ranger Heat Tool Shop at: AZ	Scrapbook Scissors Shop at: SB	Sharpie Markers Shop at: AZ
Spectrum Noir Markers Shop at: AZ \| SSS \| SB

Moon Stickers for Tag Making

Turn your favorite printables into beautiful handmade stickers and craft with them!

I was inspired by a free printable I shared a while back and decided to give it a new purpose by turning the images into stickers for this week’s tag tutorial. It’s a fun way to get even more use from your digital printables while adding unique, handmade embellishments to your projects.

Video Tutorial:

Free Sticker page:
https://tryit-likeit.com/free-moon-themed-ephemera/

DIY Plastic Paint:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3z8g6xF_Q4

DIY Ribbons:
https://youtu.be/2T-Vv9t–sc

To finish the tag, I added a coordinating moonlight sentiment, inked the edges for extra definition, and tied on hand-dyed fabric strips in shades of blue and lavender. The result is a whimsical tag that would be perfect for a gift, journal, bookmark, or mixed media project.

Suggested Materials:

Links are Affiliates AZ – Amazon, SSS – Simon Says Stamps, SB – Scrapbook, O – Other

Corner Rounder Shop at: AZ	Distress Ink Bundle Shop at: AZ \| SB	Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O	Printable Sticker Paper Shop at: AZ
Ranger Heat Tool Shop at: AZ

Vintage Materials Tag

Craft with authentic vintage materials for paper crafting.

For this week’s tag, I’m working with materials from Betty’s Bits and Bobs, specifically pieces from a Mid-Century Modern package. What makes these collections especially fun to work with is that the contents are made up of authentic pieces from the past. While each package follows the same general theme, no two will be exactly alike, giving every project its own unique bit of history and vintage character.

Please visit Betty’s Bits and Bobs to see where to purchase.

I added a few additional elements from my own stash to complement the Mid-Century ephemera, incorporating coordinating papers and mediums to build layers of color, texture, and interest. Mixing these newer materials with the authentic vintage pieces helped bring everything together while still allowing the original ephemera to remain the focus of the tag.

Video Tutorial:

Suggested Materials:

Links are Affiliates AZ – Amazon, SSS – Simon Says Stamps, SB – Scrapbook, O – Other

Art Glitter Glue Shop at: AZ	Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O	Heidi Swapp Color Swap Shop at: AZ	Nori Paste Shop at: AZ
Scrapbook Scissors Shop at: SB

Faux Enamel Die Cut Words

See how I transformed simple die-cut words into glossy, dimensional sentiments with layers of Emerald Creek embossing powder.

I had an idea and wanted to see if I could emboss die-cut words using Emerald Creek embossing powders. Sometimes the best projects begin as a simple experiment, and I was curious to see whether the embossing powder would adhere well to the intricate shapes of the die cuts.

The results were a complete success! After a few layers of embossing powder and heat embossing, the words developed a smooth, glossy finish that closely resembles enamel. The rich color and shine add a beautiful dimensional element to the project, making the sentiments stand out while providing a professional-looking finish. This is definitely a technique I will be using again on future cards and mixed media projects.

After die cutting the word from white cardstock, I applied ink directly to the die-cut piece and then coated it with embossing powder. Once heated, I repeated the process several times, building up multiple layers of embossing powder to create a thicker, smoother finish. Each layer added more depth and shine until the final result had a beautiful glossy appearance that closely resembled enamel.

Video Tutorial:

Once I had the technique figured out, it was easy to repeat the process using different embossing powder colors. Each color produced its own unique enamel-like finish, allowing me to create coordinating sentiments for a variety of projects. The glossy, dimensional effect remained consistent across the different shades, making this a versatile technique that can be customized to suit almost any color palette or design style.

Suggested Materials:

Links are Affiliates AZ – Amazon, SSS – Simon Says Stamps, SB – Scrapbook, O – Other

Looking Sharp SVG and Back to School Pun SVG Hop

Head back to school in style! Download the “Looking Sharp!” pencil SVG.

Whether you’re a teacher decorating the classroom or a student getting ready for a new school year, this fun Looking Sharp! free SVG is a perfect addition to your back-to-school projects. Featuring a cheerful pencil design, it’s ideal for creating t-shirts, tote bags, classroom signs, mugs, notebooks, and more. Download this free SVG and add a little extra creativity to your back-to-school crafting!

Not sure what Cricut tools you need or should use? Check out this post – What tools to Buy.

Need to know about the different vinyl products available? You can learn all about it at About Cricut Vinyl.

Need a printable heat setting chart? You can download this one free: [heatguide]

Are you confused about the different colors of mats? This article will clear it all up for you. Which Mat Do I Use?

Grab the free SVG and PNG file here: [Sharp]

SVG Hop Images:

My fellow SVG creators are joining me in a fun hop featuring Back to School Pun SVG files! Each design is free to download and perfect for adding a special touch to your projects. Explore the variety below and get inspired!

American Crafts Shop at: O	Emerald Creek Shop at: O	Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O	Ranger Heat Tool Shop at: AZ
Tweezers Shop at: AZ	Word Dies Shop at: AZ

Artsy-Fartsy Mama	Punctuation Matters	https://www.artsyfartsymama.com/2026/07/punctuation-matters-svg.html
Flowingcreek	Sharp Minds Start Here	https://www.flowingcreek.com/sharp-minds-start-here-free-back-to-school-svg/
Gina C. Creates	All Booked Up Layered Banner	https://ginaccreates.com/free-back-to-school-svg-roundup/
Harper N Co	Punctuation Saves Lives	https://harpernco.com/free-back-to-school-svg-files/
Kiy’s Craftroom	Sloth’more	https://kiyscraftroom.com/?p=4202
Main Road Digital Creations	Get to the Point	https://mainroaddigitalcreations.com/free-back-to-school-svg/
Sunshine and Munchkins	Weapons of Math Destruction	https://sunshineandmunchkins.com/weapons-of-math-destruction-free-back-to-school-svg/
Try It – Like It – Create It	Looking Sharp!	https://tryit-likeit.com/looking-sharp-svg-and-back-to-school-pun-svg-hop/

Wrinkle Backgrounds

Can you create a wrinkled background with markers? I put alcohol ink and water-based markers to the test and discovered the surface makes all the difference. See the results and learn the technique in this week’s tutorial!

I experimented with several techniques to create a wrinkled background effect using both alcohol ink markers and water-based markers. After testing a variety of surfaces and methods, I found that coated cardstock produced the best results. The smooth finish allowed the colors to move and settle into the textured wrinkles, creating a unique background full of depth and visual interest.

I began by using Sharpie markers because I’ve successfully used this technique on other non-porous surfaces, such as ceramic mugs and plastic light switch plates. During my testing, however, I discovered that the type of marker wasn’t nearly as important as the surface itself. Coated or other non-porous cardstock consistently produced the best wrinkled effect, allowing the colors to blend and settle beautifully into the textured pattern.

Video Tutorial:

I chose to finish one of the tag backgrounds using a few ephemera pieces that coordinated in color and I finished it off with a DIY ribbon.

Suggested Materials:

Links are Affiliates AZ – Amazon, SSS – Simon Says Stamps, SB – Scrapbook, O – Other

Alcohol Ink Blending Solution Shop at: AZ	Art Glitter Glue Shop at: AZ	Foam Tape Shop at: AZ	Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O
Non-Stick Scissors Shop at: AZ	Ranger Heat Tool Shop at: AZ	Sharpie Markers Shop at: AZ	Spray Bottles Shop at: AZ
Vicki Boutin Set 1 Cool Tones Shop at: AZ	Yisan Markers Shop at: AZ