video – Try It – Like It

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

An Amazing Glitter Technique

Turn a simple card into something special with this gorgeous glitter technique.

While visiting the ArtGlitter booth at Creativation, I discovered a beautiful glitter technique that immediately caught my attention. Since I didn’t have the exact products used in the demonstration, I decided to experiment with supplies already in my craft room. With a little creativity and improvisation, I was able to recreate the look and achieve a stunning sparkling finish. The finished panel became the perfect focal point for this elegant handmade card.

I love the band of glitter and the way it instantly elevates the design. To complement the sparkle, I paired it with gold foiled paper and a gold-embossed sentiment. The metallic accents tie everything together beautifully, creating a card that feels both elegant and eye-catching while still being simple to assemble.

Video Tutorial:

Suggested Materials:

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

Art Glitter Glue Shop at: AZ	Ceya Glitter Shop at: AZ	Cut Cardstock Shop at: O	Double Sided Tape Shop at: AZ
EK Tools Paper Trimmer Bundle In Mint Craft Tote Shop at: O	Emerald Creek Shop at: O	Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O	Tape Runner Shop at: AZ \| SSS \| SB

Adding Watercolor to Collage for Beautiful Tonal Colors

Make simple collage stunning with a watercolor technique.

For this week’s tag tutorial, I’m combining collage elements with a simple watercolor technique to create a beautiful tonal background. The layered colors blend together to form a soft and artistic backdrop that sets the stage for the rest of the design. While I added a few additional elements to complete the tag, the background is truly the star of the project. Its rich color variations and subtle texture make it a versatile technique that can be adapted to many different paper crafting projects.

After applying the watercolor over the collage, the resulting color was absolutely stunning. Rather than letting any of the excess watercolor go to waste, I pressed another piece of cardstock into the remaining pigment to lift the color. The unexpected print was so beautiful that I decided to use it as part of the tag as well. It’s a great reminder that some of the best creative moments happen by accident, and a simple technique can often yield more than one usable background.

The sticker I used came for the following post: https://tryit-likeit.com/sticker-paper-and-sticker-printable/

Video Tutorial:

Suggested Materials:

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

American Crafts Shop at: O	Corner Rounder Shop at: AZ	Distress Ink Bundle Shop at: AZ \| SB	Finger Daubers Shop at: AZ
Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O	Glue Bottles Shop at: AZ	Glue Stick Shop at: AZ	liquid watercolor Shop at: O
Non-Stick Scissors Shop at: AZ	Ranger Heat Tool Shop at: AZ	Reptile Glue Shop at: AZ

It’s the Small Things

This embossed and watercolor leaf card captures the peaceful beauty of nature with shimmering details.

with Emerald Creek

There is something special about creating with images inspired by nature—they bring a sense of calm and serenity to any project. For this card, I stamped and heat embossed a delicate leaf image before adding soft watercolor washes. The embossing acts as a resist, allowing the colors to flow beautifully while highlighting the intricate details of the leaf. The result is a simple yet elegant card that captures the peaceful beauty of the natural world.

Emerald Creek Materials:

Use my code “TRYIT” for 10% off your Emerald Creek order.

Maple Leaf Cling Mount Stamp
Iridescent Shimmer Embossing Powder
Ripple Clear Embossing Ink

The close-up image really showcases the beauty of the shimmering embossing. The raised details catch the light beautifully, adding depth, texture, and an elegant sparkle that enhances the watercolor background. It’s a reminder that sometimes the smallest details can make the biggest impact in a handmade card.

Video Tutorial:

Suggested Materials:

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

Cricut Portable Trimmer Shop at: AZ \| C	Distress Ink Bundle Shop at: AZ \| SB	Emerald Creek Shop at: O	Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O
HP Paper Shop at: AZ	Kuretake Gansai Tambi Granulating Color Shop at: AZ	Ranger Heat Tool Shop at: AZ	Tape Runner Shop at: AZ \| SSS \| SB

Disclosure: This post was created as part of the Emerald Creek Design Team. Products and materials were provided to me by Emerald Creek for design and educational purposes. All project ideas, opinions, and creative content are my own.

Tag with Oval Eyelet Setter

Add texture, dimension, and durability to your projects! Today’s tag features the We R Makers Oval Eyelet Setter.

Today’s tag features the We R Makers Oval Eyelet Setter, a handy tool for combining layers of cardstock and fabric. Not only does the oval eyelet add a decorative finishing touch, but it also serves a practical purpose by securely holding the layers together. It’s a simple way to add both durability and visual interest to mixed media, tag-making, and paper crafting projects.

The Oval Eyelet Crop-a-Dile comes with gold eyelets, but two other colors of eyelets are currently available and sold separately.

I used a few elements from this free New England themed printable available here: [New England]

Video Tutorial:

Suggested Materials:

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

Distress Ink Bundle Shop at: AZ \| SB	Double Sided Photo Paper matte Shop at: AZ \| O	EK Tools Paper Trimmer Bundle In Mint Craft Tote Shop at: O	Finger Daubers Shop at: AZ	Foam Tape Shop at: AZ
Glue Bottles Shop at: AZ	HP Envy Inspire Shop at: AZ	Oval Crop a dile Shop at: O	Raffia Shop at: AZ
Reptile Glue Shop at: AZ	Sewing Clips Shop at: AZ \| O	We R Makers Tear Guide Rulers Shop at: AZ \| O

Mixing Media Tag

Layered textures, coordinated colors, and a mix of mediums come together to create this dimensional mixed media tag.

This week’s tag tutorial features a mix of different mediums layered together to create both visual and tactile texture. While the color palette is coordinated and inspired by the printed cardstock, the added elements vary in scale to create balance and interest across the overall composition.

A variety of materials were used to bring this tag together, including a printed cardstock base, stamping ink, texture paste, ink pen details, and layered cardstock. Each medium adds its own unique dimension, working together to enhance both the visual appeal and physical texture of the design.

While cleaning up the stencil, I wiped the excess with a baby wipe through the stencil onto another leftover piece of printed cardstock, creating a slightly different take on the design. This version appears softer and more subtle, with less dimension than the original application. I have to admit, I may even prefer this look over the first—it has a gentle, understated charm.

Video Tutorial:

In the close-up image, you can see the added dimension created by the foam tape and the texture paste. It also offers a great view of the inked edges of the cardstock, which help define each layer and add depth to the overall design.

Suggested Materials:

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

Cricut Portable Trimmer Shop at: AZ \| C	Cut Cardstock Shop at: O	Distress Ink Bundle Shop at: AZ \| SB	Expanding Mousse Shop at: AZ
Foam Tape Shop at: AZ	Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O	Non-Stick Scissors Shop at: AZ	Palette Knife Shop at: AZ
Pit Pen Shop at: AZ	Ranger Heat Tool Shop at: AZ	Simon Says Black Ink Shop at: C	Vintage Word Stamps Shop at: AZ

It’s Tag it Tuesday – Stamp – Emboss – Embellish

This week’s tag is packed with texture and shimmer!

This week’s Tag Tutorial is all about layering texture and combining materials to create a richly detailed design. I pulled together a variety of supplies and techniques to build dimension, depth, and visual interest—proving that a simple tag can become a mini mixed-media canvas. From subtle background effects to tactile embellishments, every layer adds character and makes the finished piece feel truly special.

The first layer begins with stamping and heat embossing using Hollywood Glamour embossing powder from Emerald Creek. This beautiful powder adds instant shine and a touch of sparkle, creating a bold foundation for the rest of the design. The raised embossed areas not only catch the light but also introduce that first bit of texture that sets the tone for the layered look that follows.

After ink blending over the surface to soften and deepen the background, the next layer of texture comes from adding flat back Jewelz and touches of shimmer with a Wink of Stella pen. The Jewelz bring subtle dimension and a bit of sparkle, while the Wink of Stella enhances select areas with a delicate glimmer. Together, they add interest, giving the tag even more depth and personality.

Here is a close-up look at the beautiful interference ink, which shifts from blue to purple depending on how the light hits the surface. You can also see the water droplet effects that subtly lift and move the ink, creating organic variation and added texture in the background. These small details bring the tag to life, adding movement, depth, and that extra bit of visual magic.

Youtube Tutorial:

Suggested Materials:

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

American Crafts Shop at: O	Buttons Galore and More use Janet10 for a discount Shop at: AZ	Cricut Portable Trimmer Shop at: AZ \| C	Emerald Creek Shop at: O
Finger Daubers Shop at: AZ	Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O	HP Paper Shop at: AZ	Interference Ink Shop at: AZ
Misti Shop at: AZ	Ranger Heat Tool Shop at: AZ	Sizzix Intricate Craft Tool Shop at: AZ	Spray Bottles Shop at: AZ
wink of Stella Shop at: AZ

Floral Pocket and Cards

Download the printable from Etsy and bring these bold floral designs to life with just a few extra materials.

Use this printable PDF to make beautiful bold floral cards and a matching pocket—great for paper crafting, junk journaling, card making, and more.

You can find the printable on Etsy, and with just a few extra materials, you’ll be able to create your own in no time.

Etsy link: [floral pocket and cards]

Video Tutorial:

Suggested Materials:

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

1″ Circle Punch Shop at: AZ	Crop a dile Shop at: AZ	Distress Ink Bundle Shop at: AZ \| SB	Dress My Craft Shop at: AZ
Finger Daubers Shop at: AZ	Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O	Glue Bottles Shop at: AZ	HP Paper Shop at: AZ
Non-Stick Scissors Shop at: AZ	Pearl Cotton Shop at: AZ	Reptile Glue Shop at: AZ

closed pocket

How to Stencil and Stencil

A layered stencil background and soft tissue paper make this butterfly tag really stand out.

This week’s tag highlights a fun technique that uses two different stencils layered together to create a truly unique background. By blending the patterns, you add depth and visual interest without overwhelming the design. To tie everything together, similar colors are repeated in the dimensional butterfly, creating a cohesive look that brings the entire tag to life. This is a great technique to experiment with when you want texture, movement, and a custom feel in your paper crafting projects.

After the background was created, a layer of tissue paper was added to soften and tone down the area where the butterfly would be placed. This subtle step helps calm the busy pattern underneath while still allowing the texture and color to show through. It creates the perfect base for the butterfly to stand out without overpowering the rest of the design.

The 3D butterfly is a tutorial with a free printable available here: [butterfly]

Video Tutorial:

The image above shows the iridescence of the Pebeo paint used with the stencil.

Suggested Materials:

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

Dynasty Brushes Shop at: AZ	Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O	Glue Bottles Shop at: AZ	Mod Podge – matte Shop at: AZ \| SB \| O	Pebeo paint Shop at: AZ
Ranger Heat Tool Shop at: AZ	Reptile Glue Shop at: AZ	Spray Bottles Shop at: AZ	Tissue Paper Shop at: O

Stencil Transfer

This week’s tag took an unexpected turn when my first technique didn’t transfer—so I tried a new stencil method instead, and it turned out beautifully!

Tag it Tuesday
This week’s tag features a unique stencil transfer technique that creates a gentle background. With a few added details and finishing touches, the final tag came together perfectly!

I began this week’s tutorial using a rubbing technique, but the cardstock was too thick for the image to transfer properly. That challenge pushed me to try an alternative method—one that worked beautifully to get the stencil design onto the tag!

Video Tutorial:

In the close-up image above, you can se the sparkle of the stencil transfer as well as the cream colored sequins.

Suggested Materials:

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

Cricut Portable Trimmer Shop at: AZ \| C	Cut Cardstock Shop at: O	DecoArt Paint Shop at: AZ	Glassboard Shop at: AZ \| O	Glue Bottles Shop at: AZ
Kwik Stiks Shop at: AZ	Non-Stick Scissors Shop at: AZ	Ranger Heat Tool Shop at: AZ	Reptile Glue Shop at: AZ
Spray Bottles Shop at: AZ	Tweezers Shop at: AZ