Growing in Unity - Day 4!

 Day 4 here goes!!  After receiving my order yesterday (and yes I received another [my October Whit Kit] today) I had lots of choices of non-inked up stamps!!  I chose Lawd have mercy!  This set is one of those sets that if I hadn't seen it used, both in live events and posted by other amazingly talented ladies, would have never thought to purchase!  That is an absolute fact!  She's really not my "style" or so I thought!  I absolutely loved using her!  I can see her going on birthday cards and other somewhat snarky cards to friends!

I started with some watercolor paper that I spritzed with water.  I took some distress ink (walnut stain, tea dye and frayed burlap) and stamped an acrylic block.  Then I smooshed (yes the technical term is smoosh) the wet watercolor paper onto the block and soaked up all that distress ink goodness!  Stamped my girl and sentiment, distressed the edge with a distressing tool and some more frayed burlap ink.  My Whit Kit arrived just in time for the burlap cardstock background!  Flowers, a button and some Nuvo crystal drops in ebony black finished it off!  The polka dot paper is from the Apple Pickin paper set from the September Whit Kit.  Love her!!!

Step out of your comfort zone once in a while!  You will surprise yourself over and over again!

p.s.  one other teensy bit of advice......let everything dry before you try to move it or do anything with it!  I've had to redo my nuvo drops three times! :\ hoping that it adds to the vintage "shabby" vibe! LOL

Growing in Unity - Day 3!!

Welcome back!!  Days one and two are here if you missed them! 

I have quite a few stamps that haven't been inked up yet, so while I'm the GIU Gal....I am going to try to pull out as many new un-inked stamps that I can!!  While this set isn't "new" it's new to me!  It's the September 2015 KOM - Our Hearts to Yours.

You may be asking yourself.....Christmas cards in October?!?  And why are they pink?!?!

I started following Jingle Belles a few years ago to "take back December!"  Have you ever stayed up till 1am multiple nights working on Christmas cards to get them finished so they get in the mail with time to be received?!?  I have!  I found Jingle Belles and work on Christmas cards throughout the year.  October is typically Breast Cancer Awareness Month...all things pink including Jingle Belles!  For each card made and posted, the two ladies who started all this will donate $2 to Breast Cancer research.  So this is where my card comes in!

I stamped the background on pink cardstock using the postmark/25 stamp, distressed all over with picked raspberry distress ink.  Colored the tree with pink ornaments (of course)!  The stars were colored yellow and I added some stardust stickles...then distressed that panel as well!  Popped it up, added some twine in pink and natural and finally added some silver star sequins (July 2020 Whit Kit).  

Here is a pink card I made a couple years ago....using Unity's Holiday Joy Christmas Tree itty bitty.  This is one of my favorite go-to Christmas card stamps!  

That's it for Day 3! Be sure to leave a comment on this post or any of my other GIU posts for a chance to win one of two prizes of Unity Stamp goodness!

Two winners will be randomly selected from the list of commenters!  Winners names will be posted here on my blog and also on the Unity Stamp Company Growing in Unity Facebook page!

Thanks for checking these out!  See ya'll again tomorrow!!

Growing in Unity - Day 2

 Here we are on day 2 of my time as the Unity Stamp Co. GIU Girl!  Another beautiful stamp set that hasn't yet seen any ink is ...aging gorgeously (july 2020 sentiment kit).  Soooo many birthday goodies in this one!  I've chosen the large flower image this time.  Since it hadn't had the paper removed yet, I used it to mask my image to apply a little ink around!!

To create this one I started with a white A2 (4.25" x 5.5") base, added a sheet of watercolor succulents paper from the August 2020 Whit Kit.  A couple die cut accent pieces from scrap cardstock were also added.  The image was stamped onto watercolor paper, colored with several Tombow Art Markers then waterbrushed to smooth it all out.  What birthday card isn't complete without some glitter so I took some star dust stickles and water and brushed it on the flowers for that extra sparkle!  I also used some Nuvo jewel drops in rosewater and some may arts twine.

Simple but pretty!

I love the multiple uses for this set!  I've previously used the "CELEBRATING YOU" for my teenaged son's birthday card (along with numbers etc and a border from KOM 11/19)....very grown up looking and less kid like!

Day 2 is in the books!  Be sure to leave a comment on this post and any of the others from my time as GIU for a chance to win one of two prizes filled with Unity Stamp Co. goodies!

Two winners will be randomly chosen from the list of commenters!  Winners will be notified here on my blog and also on the Unity Stamp Company Growing in Unity Facebook page! 

Growing In Unity - Day 1!

 I'm so excited to be the Growing In Unity Girl for the next few days!  I have been using Unity Stamps for what seems like 100 years!  The red rubber stamps they produce are second to none!  As is their customer service!

For my first day I'm sharing a card I made using a couple techniques that I learned while watching the videos shared by Whitney and all the watercolor tip videos that have been created ever!!  I have learned so much from watching these amazing ladies create away!

First, I stamped A Faithful Letter on a piece of kraft cardstock with frayed burlap distress ink.  I stamped the vase of flowers from Difficult Roads off to the side of a panel of watercolor paper (strathmore watercolor).  Using Tombow Art Markers and a water brush, I colored and blended the flowers.  The water in the jar was created with stormy sky distress ink and the same water brush to smooth it out to look like water.  Next, I used a distressing tool on the edges of the watercolor panel and the blue cardstock panel.  I then used tea dye distress ink to age or antique the watercolor paper panel.  I added some blue twine (american crafts) and some postbox red nuvo vintage drops to finish it off! 

Join me tomorrow for another fun card!  I plan on using some stamps that *gasp* still have the paper on them and have never been used!  *psst.....both of the sets used on this card were brand new too! :)

Thanks for joining me on my first day of GIU!!  Don't forget to leave a comment on this post and the others to follow (should be 4 more) for a chance to win one of two amazing prize packages filled with Unity Stamp Co. Red Rubber goodness!!

Two lucky winners will be chosen from the list of commenters.  Winners will be notified here (so be sure to check back) as well as on the Unity Stamp Company Growing in Unity Facebook page!

Let it snow!!

 White and fluffy!  The challenge at Jingle Belles is all about the white stuff!  Let's see the snow!

For this lovely wintery scene I used a torn piece of cardstock and some distress ink (stormy sky) to blend in some snow drifts.  Unity Stamp Co. for the reindeer and snow (cheerful prancing) and the sentiment (warm & cozy).  I must like this set a lot.....I use it often!  LOL

Baby it's GOLD outside!

 With a little ambition I finished the current challenge way earlier than usual!  Jingle Belles want to see GOLD (or silver, copper, metallic) on your entry!

I only found 3 gold sequins, so the next three cards will be a little different!  LOL

Kraft cardstock base, used a Heidi Swapp stencil, distress embossing ink *gently* pressed into it, then gold embossing powder.  I then took some distress ink (peacock feathers) and a blending brush to create the background.  The "spray" background stamp, the reindeer and Merry Christmas are all from Unity Stamp Co., twine from MayArts.

Because I am a perfectionist I see flaws, so I will work to perfect it, but it is definitely a favorite! 

CASE a Belle

 The current challenge at Jingle Belles is the CASE (copy and selectively edit) a Belle!  Each challenge Lauren and Stephanie create amazing samples!  Pick one and do your best to make it yours!  

Mine was somewhat easy, in June I literally screen shot one of Stephanie's cards to re-create at some point!  Little did I know at the time that it would become a challenge!!

This one is mine!  I have had this "candy" ribbon forever!  I need to absolutely look for the trucks that Stephanie had used!!  Papers used are from MyMindsEye.  What drew me to this card is the use of the decorative ribbon!

And Stephanie's version that was copied! :). Thanks Stephanie for the great idea!

Pieces cut for 3 more cards!  4 at a time is really filling up my card stash!!