Growing in Unity - Day 1

Hi everyone,

*Edited to add a new photo.

This is an exciting week for me as I am one of the "Growing in Unity" girls and I will be showing you projects using Unity Stamps each day this week!

It will be an exciting week for YOU as well, because every time you comment at the bottom of my blog posts, your name will go in a random draw at the end of the week.  Two lucky winners will each receive a  grab bag of 25 random stamps!

It can be hard sometimes to find the comment box, so I've created an image showing you to click where it says "No comments".  Once you do, a box will pop up with a place to write your comment. You will find the "No comments" at the very bottom of my post.
For my first card, I chose to use a stamp from an old Kit of the Month, called "Midnight Kisses".  You can find this stamp set here.

A sad confession... I was creating my card at midnight last night and had a malfunction with my heat gun.  I had a bit of a panic because there was no time to create another card.  After debating what to do, I decided to go ahead and show my card as is without the embossing powder melted, and promise to do better tomorrow.  If you've ever had this happen to you and were able to set the powder without the heat gun PLEASE let me know in the comments how you did it!!  

I was able to finish embossing this card today and thought I'd leave the unembossed one in for comparison (my lighting was a little different and the shot is closer).

I love this girl blowing her happy wishes and love toward the recipient of the card!  You can tell she's celebrating and having fun!  She's quite a large stamp, as this card is 6" x 6".

The paper I chose to use for the card are from a collection done by Wild Whisper Designs, called "Just Because".  The embellishments are from my stash.

That's it for today!  See you tomorrow with my next Unity project!!

Linda

GIU Girl - Day 5 - Winner Update

Hi there!

* WINNER update:  The two lucky winners of the Unity stamp packages are:  Anne Muggaberg, and Tricia Moore.  CONGRATULATIONS!  Thanks to everyone who participated and left such lovely comments!

Day 5!  Can you believe it!  How quickly a week goes!

So when I was trying to pick which of the many ideas were whirling in my head for a last project, I got thinking about what first drew me to Unity.

It was the videos, they were short, they were cool, and they were ideas that I thought I might actually be able to do.

Gradually as I watched them, I began to realize how awesome the stamps were and I started digging around the internet... looking for these "Unity" people... and when I found them, I was hooked!

So for this project, I went back to the beginning and started with a video.  Heather Hoffman shares in it a quick easy technique on how to watercolour using Distress Inks.

Like everyone else, I've got the new Distress Oxide inks in my hot, little hands, so I used them in exactly the same way that Heather shows with the regular Distress Inks.  The technique was so quick, easy and fun!!!

To start with, it looks like a hot mess!

Add some water with a misting bottle and it becomes magical.  I wanted more purple on the one above, so I just took the purple ink pad while the paper was still wet, dabbed it on and misted some more.

This was the end result.  I was trying out several different flowers, which I then fussy cut and used some of them on my page.  

I did my stamping on Strathmore Cold Press Watercolor paper with Potting Soil Archival Ink.  The paper gave the flowers texture and it was strong enough to stand up to some distressing.  The flowers that I ended up using on my project came from the following kits:  April 2014 Botanical Bliss KOM, and November 2016 Midnight Kisses KOM.  The beautiful dragonfly and sentiment are from a set called "Be the Best".

The picture above shows how I gave some dimension to the flowers by layering them and distressing the edges a small amount.  I also tucked one of them under the stamped image.  You can see how I created the space to do that in the photo below.  That's a piece of foam, just like I used in yesterday's project, only cut smaller.  Doing this also allowed me to tuck the ribbon underneath, here and there.  

The cute paper I used for this project, is Wild Whisper Designs "World's Best".  Wild Whisper Designs is a new Canadian paper crafting company based out of Calgary that I just love.  I've gotten to know Heather and Suzy, the designers and I really respect their work and creativity!  Their imagination knows no limits.

Back to Unity Stamps... the other thing that drew me to them is that they are so up-lifting, positive and full of gratitude and other affirmations.  I realized their stamps would make me happy looking at them on a daily basis... so this project is a little flip binder that can sit on the counter and be enjoyed every day.  I added large binder rings to it, because I intend on adding more pages to it!

And so my week comes to a close!

On Monday, I said I would draw the names for the prize packages on Saturday, but I decided that maybe there were those who like to do their browsing on the weekend, so instead I will draw the names Monday morning (early).

To be eligible for the two draws, you just need to comment on each of my blog posts during my GIU week.  If you missed Day 1 etc, you can still go back and see it and comment to win.  Two grab bags of 25 Unity Stamps will be going home with a couple of lucky winners!! 

Thank you for making this such an enjoyable week for me!  It was fun reading everyones' comments and for those that I can find an email for, I will reply back to you over the weekend.

Remember to always make time for crafting!

Linda

GIU Girl - Day 4

Hello!  Hello!

Today's card is focusing on one beautiful flower from the October, 2015 Kit of the Month - Beauty Comes From Being Yourself.

I chose to colour the flower with my Copic markers.  Once I chose my background paper, then I took a piece of scrap paper and tried out different colours to see what looked nice with the patterned paper, and used my favorites.

I love to colour with my Copic markers, but I am far from being an expert at it.  I take monthly online colouring classes from one of the nicest and most talented colourists out there ...Alyce Keegan at Kit and Clowder.  Every month I learn something new and get a little bit better.  I can't recommend Alyce enough if you are wanting to learn more about colouring... and we all know Unity has MANY stamps that are perfect for sitting down for a quiet afternoon and enjoying this peaceful style of art.

Alyce even has a free class called "Mindful Me" where she explains the importance of Art Therapy and gives helpful suggestions on how to incorporate time for crafting in our busy lives.  You can see more information about it here.

On this card, I used a couple of dies from Tutti Designs.  The background lacy piece that I used on the front is called "Rose Frame", and inside I used one called "Rose Duo Frame".  You can get them at Frantic Stamper or at DiesRUs where they quite often go on sale.

The inside sentiment "Hello Friend" came from the May 2017 Kit of the Month - Free Your Dreams.

When I was making this card, I made the base from Core'dinations 110lb Smooth Cardstock which gives you a nice sturdy card that stands up without sagging.  This was a tip I got from my cardmaking whiz friend, Allison Cope (Your Memories with Ally) and it has made such a difference in my cards. Click the link to see some of the cards Ally makes... they are really incredible!

The other thing I did, to give it a little oomph... is I die-cut the rose, as well as a piece of foam, with the same round scalloped die (Spellbinders) and glued them together.  This gives some nice, sturdy dimension to the rose and makes it a real focal point on the card.

Thank you once again for stopping by!  I appreciate so much, all the lovely comments that have been left this week!

Now don't forget.... to leave another comment below... because there is a prize of 25 Unity stamps that will be going home with two of  you at the end of the week!  All you have to do, to be entered to win, is comment on EACH of my GIU blog posts this week!

And for even MORE chances to win, comment on Monica's GIU posts as well!

Good luck!

Linda

GIU Girl - Day 3

Hi!  Welcome back!

Today I'm sharing a mixed media tag that I made for my daughter.  When you subscribe to the KOM (kit of the month) at Unity, they always tuck a little "something extra" in your parcel, and a big blank tag was one of the things that came to me not long ago.  So I made a tag to decorate a bottle of wine!

Here's a condensed version of how I made the tag.

Inked it up with Cracked Pistachio and Spiced Marmalade Distress Oxides.  Laid a stencil from Hero Arts over it and sprayed water over top of the stencil.

After removing the stencil, I had a beautiful soft, swirly finish.  Then I added washi tape (inspired by Angela and Whitney's use of cute washi's), inked the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Oxides, and stamped this beautiful sentiment from the "Sentiments for Graduates" stamp set.

Next up, I made some focal pieces for the tag and laid them out to get a feel for how I wanted to put the tag together.  These two stamps are from the February, 2017 KOM called "Unexpected Places".  

Now comes the fun part, adding all the little bits and pieces to decorate your tag.  I go into my craft room with a box and come back with everything that I think might look good on the tag.  Of course not EVERYTHING that is in this box goes on the tag... LOL.  (You can tell by the look of my table that I'm a wee bit of a messy scrapper!)  ;)

No tag is complete without a beautiful bow.  Here's a series of photos showing how I made mine.

When the tag is all done, you have the choice of leaving it as is, or going a little further with the mixed media look and adding splatters.  I'm curious... tell me which look you prefer.

Finally, one last close up of this beautiful girl stamp.  I picked it because she reminded me of my daughter.  She has long curly hair too.

The week is going by quickly!

Once again, thank you for stopping by.

Don't forget that there is a prize of 25 Unity stamps for TWO lucky winners on my blog this week.  All you have to do, to be entered to win, is comment on EACH of my GIU blog posts this week!

And for even MORE chances to win, comment on Monica's GIU posts as well!

Enjoy your day!

Linda

GIU Girl - Day 2

Hi!  Welcome back to Day 2 of my time as a "Growing in Unity" Girl!

For today, I made a couple of cards using the "Drapery Fold" technique... it is also sometimes known as the "Pleated Skirt" technique.  I will share the instructions and some links to videos at the end of the post, for those who would like them.

This beautiful heart stamp is from December 2016 KOM "Always Been You".  I stamped it and fussy cut it out, in order to be able to put foam tape behind it and lift it up over top of the pleats.

For the interior I used a sentiment from "You Make You".

For the first card, I used a half pleat, but on this second one, I did a full pleat across the front.

With this card, I'm still using the heart stamp from the December KOM, but I had to fussy cut the flower from it, and use a smaller heart from April 2017's KOM "Be My Bird" because the December one was too large for my card!  I stamped this "newsprint" heart with a beautiful metallic gold ink and it is really pretty.

Inside, I used the December heart image stamped in gold on a die cut that had it's edges inked with the same gold.  It is SO pretty in real life... I almost like the inside more than the outside!!

I created a PDF document for those who are like me, and need a visual set of instructions, for the pleated cards.  You can access it here.

The video that I used for the Full Pleated card can be found here.

Thank you for stopping by again today.  

Don't forget that there is a prize of 25 Unity stamps for TWO lucky winners on my blog this week.  All you have to do, to be entered to win, is comment on EACH of my GIU blog posts this week!

And for even MORE chances to win, comment on Monica's GIU posts as well!

Sharing a little bit more about myself, before I go....  besides hanging out with my dogs, I get to hang out with my grandchildren on a regular basis as well.  They bring me such joy!  I love their perspectives on life and the energy they bring into my quiet house!!  I feel very blessed.

This photo of them is a favorite of mine.  It was taken in the park beside where I live and it shows their different personalities perfectly!

Share some of your family tales with me!

See you tomorrow.

Linda

GIU Girl - Day 1

Hi everyone!

It's all about Unity Stamp Co this week on my blog.  I'm one of their "Growing in Unity" Girls and this is my week to share my love of Unity.  *doing the happy dance*

Unity, being the awesome company that they are, donates 2 grab bag prizes of 25 Unity stamps, to be drawn for during each GIU week.  All you have to do to be entered to win is to comment on each of my daily blog posts throughout the week!  So be sure to come back every day and leave a comment!!  I will draw the names Saturday morning.

In addition, there is a 2nd "veteran" GIU Girl this week, who also receives 2 prize packages to give away, so check out Monica's blog here.  So many chances to win and so many projects to enjoy!!

To start the week off, I thought I would show what you can do with a fantastic image and some pretty patterned paper. 

First up is one of my most favorite Unity bunnies... I think you'll agree with me that he is ADORABLE.  

This little guy comes in the Unity Sentiment Kit "Bunny - Keep You Forever".  (Click on these 

hi-lighted links and you will be taken to Unity's shop to see the entire set of stamps in the kit.)

Oh yes it would!

I used Bo Bunny's pretty Petal Lane paper to make this card and did a bit of shading on the bunny with my Copics.  Easy peasy... and so cute you really DO want to hug him!

The second card I made with some paper from Close to my Heart.  This was a special edition paper collection made only for the month of May called "Live Beautifully".  I thought the serene colours were perfect for these stamps.

These stamps come from the April Kit of the Month (KOM) called Be My Bird.

To make this card, I first stamped the butterfly on the front.  I then made a mask, which is a duplicate butterfly stamped on scrap paper and fussy cut out.  Here's what mine looked like.

I laid this over my first butterfly on the card, and stamped the background flower stamp over top.  I then stamped the butterfly a third time, on white cardstock, shaded him lightly with Copic markers and fussy cut him once again.  A black sharpie used on his antenae made them "pop".  After colouring, I brushed him with clear Wink of Stella to give him a beautiful shimmer, curled his wings slightly, and glued the center part of his body over top of the butterfly on the card.  Dressed him up with some "bling" and called him "beautiful"!  

The sentiment was heat embossed with Ranger Superfine White embossing powder and die cut with a Spellbinders label die.

To finish the card off, I added a strip of glitter paper along the striped piece.  I didn't have any black glitter paper, so my sharpie came to the rescue again and I coloured white glitter paper with it.   In the picture below you can see the glittery, glimmering details a littlel bit better.  You can also get a sense of the depth you achieve when you glue a second butterfly over top of the first one.

With more stamps from that same kit, I finished off the interior of the card.

In my opinion, you can't beat the Kits of the Month for value and creativity.  For details on becoming a member and getting them, click on this link and scroll down a bit.

So that's it... Day 1... and 4 more fun days to go!  I hope you have been inspired to pull out some pretty paper and get stamping!

  Be sure to comment below so you can be entered in for the draw prize at the end of the week!

In my introduction on Unity's GIU Facebook page (a fun place to hang out, by the way), I mentioned I like to spend time with my dogs.  Here's a photo of them.  One is big, one is small, and they are very good friends.  

Oakley the big fellow (my gentle giant is what I call him) is 40% Golden Retriever with some Alaskan Malamute and Siberian Husky thrown in, and Dixon the little one, is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the cuddliest companion you could ever want. 

So that's a little bit about me... share with me some details about yourselves in the comments.  I would like to get to know my Unity friends a little better! 

Thanks SO much for stopping by today!

Linda