**July 2024 Friends of Unity Blog Hop - Technique**

 Welcome to my very first post as a Friends of Unity Team Member! I am so excited to be here! This month of July is all about technique! I have learned so many cool and clever techniques over the years, it was hard to pick my absolute favorite! 

I hope to share some fun techniques and have some amazing cards when I'm finished!

One of my favorite techniques is ink smooshing. If you look back at some of my previous projects, you will see lots and lots of ink smooshing! It's a great way to create a unique background!  

I start with a piece of 65# white cardstock (can be 65# could be 110# could be watercolor paper) and an acetate sheet! Smoosh your ink onto the acetate then spritz with some water. Carefully flip it over your cardstock and gently pounce the watered down ink colors! I suggest some drying time in between colors! A heat tool will speed up the process! 

After I created the amazing panels shown above, I stamped the ...inked florals Background Stamp using versamark and white embossing powder on the first one...versafine clair and clear embossing powder on the other. I die cut both panels with the largest scallop and rectangle die and chose some ribbon. The word "hello" die cut was cut from a dark purple cardstock (and also in black on the second card), then I stamped the remaining sentiment (from ...hello fresh start). I added some staples and some clear sequin circles to add some sparkle.

I think the white embossed image is my favorite! I tried both colors to see the contrast between the two! Which is your favorite of the two?!?

This next card is also ink smooshed with a background stamp, just a different color pallet! 

The colors I chose for this one are distress inks in wild honey, mustard seed and dried marigold. Same technique as above, smoosh, spritz, dab!! I added the May 2023 background of the month stamp called ...honeycomb chaos. Then die cut the panel with the largest scalloped and rectangle die. I tore the bottom of the panel off and distressed the edges with first vintage photo, then some black soot. 

The stamps are from the April 2020 Whit Kit Grow. Transform. Evolve. My inspiration came from Echo's example that came with the background stamp! I masked and stamped the sentiment in two different places. The banner at the top was cut with the Unity scallops and banners nesting die set. The white part at the bottom was stamped with versamark and embossed with gina k white embossing powder. There was a little bit of embossing powder over-sprinkle (LOL) so I added some embossing pen and more powder to make it a little less obvious! The bees were stamped, colored and then fussy cut and attached with foam adhesive. I wanted to try something new-ish to me and added some Hero Paste, colored with some ink, through a honeycomb die. Not too much, but just a little something on the edge.  Translucent enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs and some bakers and burlap twine finish it off! I absolutely LOVE this one! It's one of those cards you want to keep for yourself! :)

Here are my finished cards all together! Give this technique a try! You will not be disappointed! You'll get inky and messy and it will be a blast!

Thank you so much for visiting with me today! To start the blog hop from the beginning, Crystal is your girl! If you are ready for the next project, Dawn is your girl! Enjoy the hop and I'll see you next time! :)

Inky Paws Challenge #225

 Hear me out here.....have you only had a few minutes so you thought I'll just make a quick card or two, destress for a sec! But then you start working on the first card and all heck breaks loose?!? That was this card for me! LOL

Should have been simple and easy! I picked the paper, I picked the stamps and sentiment....BAMM! Let me start at the beginning! LOL Following the sketch (shown below), I decided to use the retired Peony Blooms from Newton's Nook Designs for the current Inky Paws Challenge. Thought the peonies would be cute as the circles on the sketch! Stamped them onto white cardstock with versafine clair in nocturne, colored with my Tombow ABT markers and then fussy cut them out. The white panel in the middle was embossed with a quilted die. I added it to the center of the panel, die cut the entire thing with the largest die from the scallops and rectangles nesting die set from Unity Stamp Co. Tied on some white bakers twine and added the vellum circles and the flowers (popped up with foam tape). This is where it went all downhill! The sentiment was going to be stamped onto the plaid panel, but alas the universe was against me! LOL The "happy" was salvageable but when I went to stamp the "birthday" not only was it not stamped completely, there was ink on the block that ran right across the smaller flower! :/ 

So after taking several deep breaths, I tore it apart. Saving what I could and pitching what I could not. I did try to stamp the sentiment onto the plaid panel again, and again it wasn't coming out clear enough! So fussy cutting it is! Never give up! It will be ok and turn out fine in the end! Just keep swimming! LOL 

Sketch for reference!

I did stamp out a few more stamps to make a second card, but after this one was such a problem I had to walk away! LOL Maybe later tonight (and a glass of wine) I can try the second card! Thanks for visiting and don't let the universe get you down! :)