tutorial – Try It – Like It

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

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

Jingle Bell Card and Decor DIY

See how one simple jingle bell design became both a festive handmade card and a wooden décor piece.

Christmas in July is in full swing, and I’m excited to be participating in a festive craft hop! Inspired by the classic image of a jingle bell, I created two different projects that capture the spirit of the season—a handmade greeting card and a wooden holiday décor. The simple bell design works beautifully across multiple crafting mediums, making it a versatile motif for Christmas creations.

For the greeting card, I paired the jingle bell with layered papers to create a cheerful design that’s perfect for holiday giving. I also transformed the same image into a wooden décor piece, using it as the focal point for a project that can be displayed throughout the Christmas season. It’s always fun to see how a single design can inspire completely different finished projects while maintaining a cohesive holiday theme.

The files I used to cut out the pieces are available on Etsy at: [Jingle Bell]

Both of these projects relied heavily on my favorite crafting tools. The card elements were cut with my Cricut Maker, while the wooden décor was created using my “new-to-me” WeCreat laser. It’s always exciting to see how different cutting tools can bring the same design to life in unique ways, whether working with cardstock or wood.

I used a similar color palette for both projects. For the card I cut shapes from paper from CutCardStock, and the wood pieces were painted with DecoArt paints.

Video Tutorial:

Suggested Materials:

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

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

Art Glitter Glue Shop at: AZ	Beacon 527 Shop at: AZ	Cut Cardstock Shop at: O	DecoEarth Shop at: AZ
Fabri-tac Shop at: AZ	Foam Tape Shop at: AZ	Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O	Gwen Studios at Walmart Shop at: O
Non-Stick Scissors Shop at: AZ	Paper Trimmer Shop at: AZ	tape runner – small Shop at: AZ	We Creat Laser Shop at: AZ

Finished Projects:

Do you have a favorite? Let me know in the comments which project was your favorite or which one you are going to try.

Learn How Easy it is to Stencil Swipe

Discover this fun stencil swipe technique that turns your stencils into stamps.

This week’s tag tutorial features a fun stencil swipe technique that creates a one-of-a-kind background. Instead of applying color through the stencil, the color is swiped directly onto the stencil itself and then transferred to the tag. The result is a beautifully layered design with soft, organic patterns that are different every time you create it.

After creating the inked background, I layered stamped tissue paper over the surface to add even more depth and visual interest. The delicate blue butterflies coordinate beautifully with the inked background, while the translucent tissue allows the colorful layers underneath to remain visible, creating a soft, dimensional effect.

Video Tutorial:

The close-up image above highlights the beautiful visual texture created with this technique. The transferred ink produces subtle variations in color and pattern, while the layered tissue paper adds another level of depth, resulting in a rich, artistic background that is full of character.

Suggested Materials:

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

Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O	Interference Ink Shop at: AZ	Nori Paste Shop at: AZ	Paper Trimmer Shop at: AZ
Ranger Heat Tool Shop at: AZ	Scrapbook Scissors Shop at: SB	Spray Bottles Shop at: AZ	Sticker Paper Shop at: AZ

If you are interested in the DIY tutorials for the tissue stamping and ribbon making they are listed below:

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

DIY stamped tissue: https://youtu.be/kVGrjQMEM40

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

Quick Crochet Earrings

Create colorful handmade accessories in no time with these quick and easy crochet earrings! One skein of embroidery floss makes several fun pairs.

Today I am participating in the 2026 Christmas in July Make Along with the Underground Crafter. Every day during the Make Along, a new pattern or tutorial will be released.

These quick crochet earrings are just that — quick and easy. With just one skein of embroidery floss, you can create several colorful pairs in very little time. They are a fun project for using up small amounts of thread while making lightweight accessories perfect for everyday wear or gift giving.

The materials needed for the earrings are simple: cord or embroidery floss, scissors, a beading needle, decorative beads, ear wires, and a crochet hook.

Video Tutorial:

PDF Pattern:

If you would like the free PDF pattern, you can download it here: [Crochet Earrings]

Drawing a Background with Pens

A few new Pentel pens, a little doodling, and a colorful tag came to life!

After testing a few new Pentel pens, I enjoyed working with them so much that I decided to use them to create the background for this week’s tutorial. The smooth ink flow and vibrant colors made it easy to build sections of doodles, patterns, and details, resulting in a fun and unique backdrop for the tag.

Video Tutorial:

To complete the tag, I added an embossed word and a paper flower embellishment. Those simple additions were all it needed to complement the bright, colorful background and bring the design together.

Suggested Materials:

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

Alumicolor Pocket Ruler Shop at: AZ	Art Glitter Glue Shop at: AZ	Emerald Creek Shop at: O	Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O
Pentel Pens Shop at: AZ

Paint That Blooms

Stop by to see how blending foam, stencils, and Bloom Paint created this eye-catching design.

For this week’s tag tutorial, I am working with products from DecoArt to create a tag full of color, texture, and visual interest. I used DecoArt DecoEarth Paint to create the background, building up a rich foundation with its beautiful matte finish and earthy tones.

To add texture and pattern, I incorporated DecoArt Bloom Texture Paint through a stencil. The raised design adds dimension and contrast to the surface that complements the painted background. Together, these products make it easy to create layered mixed media effects that bring a simple tag to life.

The tag background comes together through layers of blended and stenciled paint, creating a rich mix of color, texture, and pattern. Applying the paint with a blending foam produces a softer, more diffused effect than a paintbrush, allowing the colors to blend seamlessly.

After applying the Bloom Paint through a stencil, I used a heat tool to activate the blooming effect and create rich texture. As the paint blooms, the color naturally lightens, enhancing the dimensional effect.

Video Tutorial:

To complete the tag, I added an ephemera sentiment that ties the design together and helps unify the color palette.

Suggested Materials:

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

Art Glitter Glue Shop at: AZ	DecoEarth Shop at: AZ	Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O	Paper Trimmer Shop at: AZ
Ranger Heat Tool Shop at: AZ	Sizzix Blending Tool Shop at: AZ	Uhu Shop at: AZ	Vinyl Scraper Tool Shop at: AZ