Inky Paws Challenge #232 - Cozy Fall!

 I struggle with fall cards...."fall" in Florida is basically the same as summer! Also, I don't typically send fall-ish cards! Soooooo, BIRTHDAY CARDS it is!

I created the plaid background based on the inspiration photo. Evergreen bough, festive berries, scattered straw and tea dye are the colors I used. I blended over a plaid builder stencil by Unity Stamp Co. Then I splattered some watered down white acrylic paint and some distress stain in vintage photo.  I die cut the panels with a Tim Holtz nesting die set called Stacked Deckle. Then I ink blended around the edges with more vintage photo and arranged them as I thought would look best. On to this cuuuuute mouse!! This little guy is from Newton's Nook Designs set called Garden Mice. Colored with some kingart alcohol markers and then used the matching die set to cut him out. The sentiment is from an older NND set called Simply Sentimental (sorry, it's no longer available). Stamped onto kraft with versamark and white embossing powder then tore the ends. Added some enamel dots, a cute little paperclip and a couple little accent flags for extra detail! Hope you like this one! It took awhile for me to figure out what to do! LOLOL

~ September 2024 Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Color Challenge!

Here we are...September! Whew that was fast! The Friends of Unity are hopping again! This month is a color challenge! Just in time for all the fall/thanksgiving cards! 

 If you have arrived here from Jane's blog and wanted to start at the beginning.....you can click here to be taken to Crystal's blog!

Living in Florida, doesn't give much of this color pallette during the fall! I am originally from Southeastern Lower Michigan so I have experienced it in my lifetime but definitely missing the beautiful colors, crisp fall air, cider mills this time of year!

Unity Background of the Month August 2024 ...rustic foliage, stamped onto ink blended panel. 

I started with a piece of white cardstock, then blended scattered straw, wild honey, crackling campfire, walnut stain and black soot, around and around blending as I went. This is when I die cut it with the scalloped and stitched edge nesting die. The yellow got a little muddy when I went back in after I had stamped the background on. Sentiment from September 2023 harvest hues stamped in black onto kraft, die cut and mounted with foam adhesive, may arts ribbon burlap string and gina marie designs matte enamel dots.

Next is a completely different look, but similar fall colors.

Image and sentient from August 2024 KOM {thanks in all the things}. 

Started with a piece of white cardstock and stamped the image in black. Then started the coloring with Tim holtz watercolor pencils. I'm new to using these, so some of my colored parts don't really look like I had wanted, but all in all its a thumbs up!

 Spritzed some of the colors all over the panel. I then cut the colored panel with the largest rectangle from the scallops and rectangle nesting dies and then distressed it a bit with a distressing tool. I did ink blend around the edges a bit both before and after the distressing with walnut stain and some vintage photo. I added a white mat so that it popped a little more off the black background (also die cut with the largest scalloped rectangle), then added white bakers twine, clear dew drops.

Next is a card that I created using a background technique from Crystal from a few months back....double background stamping. 

The backgrounds I chose are September 2023 BOM ...off the grid and August 2024 BOM ...rustic foliage. Started with a white piece of cardstock. Stamped the grid using vintage photo. Next the fall foliage was stamped using several different oxides stamped all over to show all the colors! Crackling campfire, wild honey, vintage photo, scattered straw. After die cutting with the scalloped and stitched nesting die, I blended on some black soot along the edges. 

Typically I do not send a bunch of fall cards, so thought I would make this one a birthday card! These colors were perfect to create this monarch butterfly (from April 2020 Whit Kit grow. transform. evolve) which was stamped in black and then colored with Tombow Art Markers and some white uni-ball white gel pen and fussy cut. 

I popped up the top, but glued the bottom to the cardbase.

And last but not least, I created a card based on a card I saw on pinterest. It was an advertisement for Walmart so it did not have a name attached to it, so I cannot give credit.

When I viewed the original, it appeared to be ink smooshing in a few different colors, then a black silhouetted image on top of that. So that's what I went with! Colors are wild honey, scattered straw, walnut stain, tea dye, crackling campfire and black soot. Tree line is from December 2023 Whit Kit (radiant moonlit forest) and the sentiment is from April 2024 KOM {petal post}. 

This somber looking scene didn't feel like a "happy birthday" or a "happy fall," definitely feels like a sympathy card. I am very pleased with how this turned out!

This was midway through.

Thanks so much for visiting! If you've made it this far, congrats!! This was a long one! Next on the hop is Dawn!

Be sure to leave me some love, I am so thankful to hear your feedback! 

Christmas in July 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party - Non-Traditional Colors

 This card is a little unusual! I searched in Pinterest for "non-traditional Christmas colors" and this combo popped up! Love Love LOVE!! The Christmas in July 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party is close to setting a record for entries! Be sure yours is entered before midnight on Friday!

As with another post from earlier this week, I am entering this into another challenge blog as well as this one! The Hero Arts Blog has their current challenge going called "color my world!" To me that means lots of colors! Vibrant, crisp, distinct!

This one came about with a lot of indecision on my part! Let me start at the beginning. I started off with a white panel of cardstock. I taped down a Hero Arts stencil from the Flower Swirls stencil pack. I started in the center with scattered straw, next I went to the edges with old paper. The middle is two different pinks, worn lipstick and spun sugar. As I said above I searched for "non-traditional CHRISTMAS colors" so when I finished with this I struggled to create a Christmas card. But I was determined, so I cut the panel in half and will use the other half for likely a birthday card! After I ink blended, I took some white acrylic paint thinned down and splattered it on. Then I added some distress mica spray in tarnished brass to an acrylic block and splattered that on as well. It's super sparkly! Since it shimmers so much, I found a piece of gold cardstock that I used as the base. Distressed the edges a bit and glued it on. Here is where the indecision came in......white or black "merry?" I cut both, put them both on and still couldn't decide. So I took the negative of the white and stuck the black die cut inside and it solved that! I used the die as a template for the outside. I drew around it with a pencil and then fussy cut it out! :) I stamped the "& bright" onto the gold and then embossed with clear embossing powder. I added some gems from PinkFresh Studio and it's perfect! :)

see how pretty it is!?!?

Thanks for visiting!!

Newton's Nook Designs Inky Paws Challenge #224

 Wednesday's are my current favorite day because I have the day off of my part-time job and my family is out of the house, leaving me to craft, craft, craft!

The latest challenge at Newton's Nook Designs Inky Paws is #224, which is a color challenge!

I am trying to build my NND stamps and found these two sets on eBay! Peony Blooms (cir 2018) and Simply Sentimental (cir 2014)! Both of which are no longer available! :(

 I started with my background! One of my favorite techniques is ink smooshing! Yes, that's exactly what it is!! I took colors of distress inks that matched the color challenge (worn lipstick, scattered straw and shabby shutters) and added them, individually, to an acetate sheet and added some water. I then gently tapped the color around my white cardstock until I was satisfied with the coverage. I did this with all three colors. *TIP* be sure to completely dry each color before adding another! The colors tend to blend too much if still wet. Next I die cut with the largest scalloped and rectangle nesting die from Unity Stamp Co. This is where I should have thought this through first! LOL I then took a piece of white cardstock and die cut it with a background die plate from My Creative Time called zig zag background die (which also appears to be no longer available). I separated the little pieces that made up the pattern and then realized that the border was the exact same size as my scalloped panel....I tried to line up the die cut panel with the scalloped die to get the scallops to match, but alas it wasn't exactly correct! Oh well!!  I attached the die cut zig zag panel with a zig 2 way glue pen. 

Next I stamped the peonys onto white cardstock with VersaFine Clair in nocturne. Colored with watered down versions of these distress inks and watercolored to match! While most of Newton's Nook stamps have matching die sets....this one did not come from eBay with one! :/ So fussy cutting it is!! After I cut them up I arranged them where I thought they would look best. The sentiment panel was also stamped onto white cardstock with VersaFine Clair in nocturne and then die cut with a banner die from Unity Stamp Co.  I attached the flowers and sentiment using Tombow Mono Liquid Glue to be sure it was stuck in all the little spaces between the zig zags. The last flower I added with some foam tape. I then added some clear dew drops and onto the cardbase it went!

Inspiration for this card was found on Pinterest and an old blog post from 2018 from a former DT member Naki Rager.

Unity Membership Makes Wednesday - Faith

 Wednesday's are my favorite days 1) because it's my day off, 2) because it's #UnityMembershipMakes day! I get to dig out all my fantastic Unity kits and make something magical! Unity's Show & Tell Facebook Group is a great place for inspiration!

I started this lovely card with some inspiration from Unity Design Team member Echo Noble! Started with a piece of white cardstock, to it I added one of my favorite techniques...ink smooshing! It is as fun as it sounds! 

I took these three colors of distress inks (old paper, worn lipstick, shaded lilac) individually (not together) and "smooshed" them onto a sheet of acetate, added water and carefully tapped the wet ink panel all over the white cardstock until I was happy with the coverage. *TIP* Dry each layer before adding another! You could possibly "blend" too much and the colors would get muddy! After I was happy with the color saturation I stamped a Unity Background Stamp called A Faithful Letter on top using distress oxide in vintage photo. To that I added a tiny dot stamp from the May 2023 Kit of the Month called {bloom in color} using distress ink in walnut stain. Next the panel was die cut using the largest scalloped and rectangle nesting die from Unity, then ink blended around the edge. The bird is from the April 2024 Whit Kit called Bloom for New Beginnings. I stamped it onto white cardstock with VersaFine Clair in nocturne. Next I took the same three colors of ink from above and smooshed them again onto a acetate sheet, added some water and used that (along with a water brush) to water color the image!  All Unity stamps come with a white backing sheet as part of the manufacturing process. I used the white backing paper to create a mask to ink blend over the image for a nice crisp edge! Once ink blended I tore the panel as close to the image as I could, then ink blended over the torn edge to create a vintage-y look. The sentiment is also from a Kit of the Month April 2022 {true colors}. I glued this die cut panel to a piece of kraft cardstock (also from Unity) and added some pink burlap twine and pearls to finish it off!

If you are not a member of the Show & Tell page, I strongly suggest you join! Not only is there a ton of inspiration from the design team members, but everyone! Create and post away!! Never know you could inspire someone today!

Falling for the Holidays 2023 {BYSHC} Linky Party - Blessed Winter

 I didn't plan on there being many more entries for the Falling for the Holidays 2023 {BYSHC} Linky Party but yet here I am.....posting another card! ;)

Angela at Unity Stamp Co. has been posting a few card tutorial videos! They are currently posted on the Unity Stamp Co. home page! Since it was going to be quick and easy....I thought I'd give it a try! She makes it look so easy! It took me longer than it did her! LOL

I used a set called Winter Blessings b y Graciellie Designs & Unity. I also used some kraft cardstock I purchased from Unity along with gina k. designs white pigment ink and white embossing powder.  Next I took some Distress Ink in Walnut Stain and stamped a few more pine sprigs. I then stamped the sentiment from the same kit with Distress Oxide in Vintage Photo and die cut it using the scallops and squares nesting dies. My sentiment was too large for the smallest and my paper was to small for the next size up....so I made my own shape! I splattered some watered down white acrylic paint and some yasutomo shimmer watercolor.  I added some white bakers twine and white enamel dots from gina marie designs and popped the sentiment up with foam tape. 

While it took me a little longer than it did Angela, I do love how this looks!!! 

Falling for the Holidays 2023 {BYSHC} Linky Party - Peace & Joy

 We are on day 6 of the Falling for the Holidays 2023 {BYSHC} Linky Party! Getting closer to the end!

Today is Wednesday and at Unity Show & Tell (Facebook group) that means its Unity Membership Makes day!

What you can't tell from this picture is the entire thing SPARKLES! I started with a piece of watercolor paper. I then ink blended over it using Distress Inks in evergreen bough and peacock feathers, then finished with Distress Oxides in salvaged patina, hickory smoke. Once done I sprayed some water onto an acrylic sheet. I had plans to just splatter water over it, but then decided to just smoosh the water onto the ink and see what happened! I think it looks so cool!! I splattered some watered down white acrylic paint onto that to mimic snowfall. I then stamped the background stamp, which is from the Unity Stamp Co. December 2022 Kit of the Month called {a new chapter} on to the panel using Versafine Clair in Nocturne. This is where it went in a different direction than I had planned.....I had only wanted to emboss the stars with the glitter embossing powder, but 1) I failed to "anti-static" the panel and 2) the black ink was still wet! Once the glitter embossing powder was on more places than I had intended....I just sprinkled it all over! After the embossing powder was melted I die cut the panel with the largest scalloped rectangle from the scallops and rectangle nesting die set from Unity Stamp Co. The sentiment, which was also embossed with glitter is also from a Unity kit called ...cherished holly. While it's not a subscription kit it's still a specialized kit, November 2021 Unity Sentiment Kit. Mounted the die cut panel onto a black background and it's finished! While I was thinking that it was too simple, it pretty much speaks for itself! The video of the sparkle is amazing!! :)

Thanks for visiting! Be sure to leave me some love! :)

Hello October! Sketch 38 is up!!

 October 1st! WOW! As the holidays are quickly approaching it's a great time to get started on some cards! {BYSHC} has a sketch for that! LOL Either on Facebook or their blog, {BYSHC} is a great place for inspiration! Sketch 38 has begun and will last through the end of October! Even more fun in October is our Falling for the Holidays Linky Party happening mid-month! Prizes galore! (More info to come!)

This card sort of came to me in the middle of the night! I had the idea and put it together the next morning! I have always wanted to create a "winter sunset" with ink blending and thought I'd give it a shot! I absolutely LOVE how this turned out!

Pictured below is how this all started! I grabbed a piece of Canson XL watercolor paper and started blending! Antique linen, seedless preserves, faded jeans and black soot were my colors of choice (it's also what I have)! Blend, blend, blend until you get a blend you like! I then sprinkled some water on top to create the "snowfall."

After the blending process, I cut it according to the measurements on the sketch (pictured below). I then stamped the trees (from a Unity Stamp Co. set called winter wonderland walk) with Versafine Clair in Nocturne. White card base, black background, then a navy blue background. The inked panels were then placed onto a white background and the sentiment was stamped onto a piece of white and added. Embossed vellum circle, button and twine from my stash!

Absolutely love it!!

The Falling for the Holiday's Linky Party starts on the 20th! More details about sponsors to come!

Don't forget to link of Sketch 38 projects before the 31st to be eligible for the drawing!

Creative Scrapbooker Magazine - Fall 2023!

 This feeling really never gets old! Creative Scrapbooker Magazine has once again chosen one of my cards for publication in their Fall 2023 issue!

Right here on page 126! Thanks from all of us was created with Unity Stamps and dies!

Stay tuned! I may just do it again! ;)

{BYSHC} Christmas in July 2023 Linky Party Kickoff!

 Welcome to the first day of the {BYSHC} 2023 Christmas in July Linky Party! So much fun to be had this next week! Starting today, running through the 28th, enjoy lots of posts and inspiration to get some Christmas cards made and ready for December! 

Today's card features a new-to-me technique of multiple background stamps and colors! So much fun to create this (and a few others)! The background stamps are from Unity Stamp Co. (which happens to be one of our amazing sponsors)! Started with a white cardstock panel cut to 4.25" x 5.5". Stamped the Linen background stamp using weathered wood distress ink. On top of that I stamped the Santa Express background stamp using a trio of colors (vintage photo and crackling campfire distress oxide and forest moss distress ink). I ink blended around the edges with more vintage photo. Next I took a manilla tag and ink blended more vintage photo over it to darken it up. Stamped the sentiment using straight Vintage Photo. If you look closely the black stick tree is on a clear piece of plastic that I die cut with the scallops and circles nesting die set from Unity Stamp Co. from a piece of wrap that was around a stuffed toy we had purchased! It has a ton of trees all over it! I cut another piece from it and will use that later! ;) Next I added the twine (red/green and natural from Timeless Twine by Bella Creationz, the jute twine from May Arts and the gold thread kreinik metallics blending filament)! I loved the look of a tag tie technique that Sandhya used and tried to recreate it! I love how this turned out!

The sponsor list is so amazing! At the end of the week prizes will be awarded! Enter often for a better chance at a prize!!

Unity Stamp Company

Angie Blom Digital Designs

Tawny Owl Paperie

Gina Marie Designs

Jaded Blossom

Colorado Craft Company

Therm O Web

Not 2 Shabby

Gina K. Designs

Newton's Nook Designs

Fresh and Renewed with Teresa

Taylored Expressions

RAM Stamps {Rachelle Anne Miller Stamps}

Graciellie Design

Lawn Fawn

*NEW SPONSOR* Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

Twiddler's Nook

Pink & Main

A Colorful Life Designs

Good luck to all and I can't wait to see all the inspiration!!

I would love it if you would leave me a note to let me know you were here! :)

Masculine Cards!

 Cardmakers know that masculine cards are not the easiest to come up with. No flowers, or pink, or bling.....but they still need to be made! Friends of Unity's June theme is Masculine cards! The inspiration is amazing! I will add the first stop on the hop below and you can follow along if you'd like! :) My card was also created for the June Challenge at Unity Stamp Co for Wild and Wonderful! Fish are wild in my opinion! Hope they think so too!

I started with a piece of white cardstock and stamped the Linen background from Unity Stamp Co. onto it using hickory smoke distress oxide.  I distressed the edges a little with the same hickory smoke and also black soot. I felt it needed a little color so ink smooshed some faded jeans on top. Die cut with a deckle edge die from Tim Holtz. Next I created the tag. Again, stamped (somethin' is fishy) onto white with black soot. I cut it into a tag shape and distressed the whole thing with hickory smoke and faded jeans. I was inspired to add some fishing line behind the tag from one of the ladies on the Friends of Unity hop. I always love how it looks but forget to do that extra step! Added a black background and some blue fluffy fibers to the tag. Sentiment was printed from my computer! Thanks for visiting!

Crystal starts the Friends of Unity Blog Hop! She lists everyone participating! 

Take a look!

Creative Scrapbooker Magazine Published!

 Literally never thought it would happen once, but now it's happened again! I have cards published in the Summer 2023 issue of Creative Scrapbooker Magazine! I am beyond excited and honored! What an amazing feeling! 

There they are.....right at the top of page 50!! Such a fun technique! Ink blended over a stencil, then without cleaning, added the glitter paste. It blended the leftover ink on the stencil and created this beautiful smooth rainbow! The brighter one was a little more challenging.....I had to tape off each color as I ink blended...but then smoothed on the glitter paste and it all evened out!

WOWOWOW! I'm blown away!!

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas Linky Party - Peace and Love

 The party ends tomorrow (Friday) so let's get some cards ready and into our stash! {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas Linky Party is here to help!

My card today was sort of a correction of a not perfect stamped image! Yesterday I stamped the snowflake background stamp (Unity Stamp Co. Snowflake Frenzy) on this panel, but didn't like how the edge came out so I scrapped it! Come today and I'm thinking.....INK SMOOSHING! So that's what I did! Started with speckled egg, then added seedless preserves and lastly I thought it needed more blue...I added the broken china. Die cut it with the scallops & rectangle nesting dies from Unity. I followed {BYSHC} Sketch #19 (it's below) and sort of played with the shape. I stamped "peace, love, joy, noel" from the Unity Stamp Co set winter wonderland walk with the broken china ink, embossed it with some WOW! embossing powder shimmer glitter then cut them apart. Foam adhesive helped give it dimension and Gina Marie Designs enamel dots are always a nice finishing touch!

Thanks for the visit!