Friends of Unity December Blog Hop

 Finally, we’ve reached the end of the year and can turn our attention to creating holiday cards with this month’s theme:

This Friends of Unity monthly hop, focused on Unity Stamp Co products, began 7 years ago - as of this month! It was created by our fearless dedicated leader, Crystal, and her fun awesome counterpart, Amber! It’s been a pleasure to be part of this creative group… and has certainly challenged my creative capabilities! Congrats to both for making this hop such a great source of inspiration! 

So, before I begin, a reminder that we do giveaways every month from our personal stash! To be eligible to win, you just need to add your comments down below. As a matter of fact, I promised to do a giveaway last month choosing a winner from commenters on last month’s post! I’m pleased to announce that

 

Glennis F

is the winner from last month! Congrats and PM me your address info so I can send out some goodies to you!

So, I made a huge mess in my craft room creating both of these cards! I have embossing powders from 5 different collections littered all over…time for a hand vac, must say! And I made messes all over of all the craft supplies I used…papers, pastes, acrylics paints, sprinkles…you name it! They also challenged me as I took many wrong turns in creating these…however, I think I saved them from the dumpster fires they were moving to become ;-) !

 My first card shown here was created with a couple different Unity stamp sets - Woodland Visitors and Winter Shake Up, and a paper from the White Winter paper collection (last 2 - parts of the Dec 2020 Whit Kit). I clear embossed the snowman image using Black Soot Achival ink onto Bristol paper. I used watercolors to add some color and shading. It’s clear from both these cards I used cooler non traditional colors. Then, I stamped the snow stamp from the other kit all over the image twice, once using a holographic powder and the second time using a white powder. So the snow globe glass portion of this card is very glossy and sparkly. Finally, I stamped the globe outline from the other kit on top of the image and fussy cut the image out.

Next, I stamped the snowglobe image onto yellow scrap paper and fussy cut that out. I added pencil shading to the bottom. It’s clearly not a perfect blending job, but… sometimes perfect is not a good fit with more grungy old fashioned style images. I adhered the “globe” piece from above. I found a random script paper that I thought fit with the color scheme and embossed the sentiment on it. Finally, I paired it all with black paper and a polka dot one from the paper collection. With that, I called it done! Actually, I think I can use this one as a masculine card. Must admit, I kind of like these 2 kits together!

So again, I pulled out two Unity kits, no, take that back, actually three kits to create this next card! Kits used were: A Walk in the Woods, Blessed Adventures and Wonder and Wonder. I started by watercoloring a background, adding some free hand tree shapes. I then stamped the forest stamp over the top using navy ink and clear embossing powder. I used dark blue watercolor to darken the edges of the trees and white acrylic paint to add snow effects on the trees and on the ground. I added watercolor tree shadows at the bottom. I then used a Stamperia Stencil with white paste and sparkly glitter over the top to add snow effects. I also added some white paint spatters over the top. So the background is pretty sparkly and again is a combo of cool blue and muted yellow.

Next, I stamped the deer again on Bristol paper and proceeded to add watercolor and pencil with the same color tones used in the background. I did use a dark blue pen to deepen some of the shadows. I stamped the sentiment using a navy ink and holographic embossing powder into yellow coordinating scrap paper. I die cut a backing for the sentiment using navy paper, the same as used in the foundation of the card. I used gold strips to outline the sentiment. To complete the card, I added enamel dots, a gold mesh, and a little North Pole sentiment strip.

While, definitely not perfectly crafted cards, I do think they represent the theme pretty well. Thanks for stopping by! I do hope these two cards provide a little inspiration and some ideas for your own card making this season!

Now, on to the rest of the hop, you may have come here from 

Rachel’s blog

You can move on to

Dawn’s blog

Or you can start from the beginning with

Crystal’s blog

BYSHC Sketch 52 - Studio Light Lantern

 Well, this new Build Your Stash Holiday Card sketch was a challenge, but let me play with a pretty Studio Light Grunge stamp called Lantern! Here’s Sketch 52:

And here’s the Studio Light stamp set I used:

 

I fell in love with the picture on the sleeve of the stamp set so much, I almost recreated it… if only I was that good a watercolorist! I started by clear embossing the image on watercolor paper and preceded to watercolor that! I then cut it down and added Glossy Accents to the lantern’s glass windows. I have maybe used them once or twice before… but this time seemed a perfect use! Here’s the Glossy Accents embellishment:

I ended up recreating the sketch by creating a red window and pairing the image and window with old Authentique paper. I distressed all the paper edges to add the “grunge” effect. I added a red ribbon over the paper strips on the top and bottom. Finally to complete the card I added preprinted paper sentiment strips I picked up from Unity Stamp Co. and some sticky sparkly embellishments.

So, this all made for a colorful and different card! Let me know what you think!

OMG… last one - Holiday and Winter Decor Tree

 So, I started something last year when crafting with one of my close besties that visited me from my NY home town across the country! We made Fall/Halloween decor pieces using unfinished wooden pumpkins. Since they were freestanding you just turn them around for the side you want to decorate with. 

I sent my creation home with her to my other bestie. I did love how it turned out. Well, my other friend requested I make something similar with a Christmas/Winter theme for her neighbor. Welp… that started a whole other crafting frenzy pulling out ephemera, chipboards, papers, pastes, fussy cutting scissors, sprinkles, etc… I went to Michael’s and picked up free standing 7.25” by 1” wooden trees. It’s taken me over a week to pull them all together (I decided I was having so much fun, I ended up creating 4 of them)! Now, with sore fingers (from hot glue gun burns and a lot of cutting, stamping, embossing, stenciling, watercoloring… action), I present my latest crafting efforts!

So, this is Tree 4…. Finally! I’m exhausted just writing this up..let alone fussing for hours and hours on these dang trees 😳🤨🤣  (See last 3 blogs for other trees).

So… more Stamperia paper… love that brand! See the deer in the background paper… decided to make this on a whole deer scene! I used a Stampendous swirl stamp + silver embossing powder on the paper. I added white spatters all over and a silver pen to the edge. I used the same Poppystamp birch tree die and another birch tree die I picked up in a craft mag on Kraft and white papers. I added paper strips and ribbon at the bottom and silver sticky strips on the base. I used an Impression Obsession deer die on Kraft paper. I added shading to the deer with pencils and pens. I fussy cut out the birds and squirrels. To complete this side, I silver embossed the Unity sentiment and added more swirls on coordinating card stock. I used a random frame I had and added silver thread behind it. Finally, I added a small sentiment strip at the bottom and called this one done!

So, I used Stamperia’s Patchwork Christmas collection on this one! First after cutting out the tree background paper, I decoupaged the rice paper building scene into it. I ended up embellishing the scene a bit by brightening up sone of the colors with pencils. I used the Stamperia stencil again and Altenew white paste to add snow effects. I also used a Posca pen on it. I added chipboard elements from the collection and fussy cut out a second tree. At the bottom, above the Noel is a strip of Washi tape that helped define the base. This might be my fav Christmas tree!

Okay, now - I can rest a bit! Let me know what you think of these trees… which is your fav and what do u  think of the whole concept? Thanks for stopping by… hope you can put your crafty hat on for the holidays!

PS I do have 1 more tree to do in a different size… hmmm… we’ll see if I get to it this year!

Holiday and Winter Decor - Tree 3

 So, I started something last year when crafting with one of my close besties that visited me from my NY home town across the country! We made Fall/Halloween decor pieces using unfinished wooden pumpkins. Since they were freestanding you just turn them around for the side you want to decorate with. 

I sent my creation home with her to my other bestie. I did love how it turned out. Well, my other friend requested I make something similar with a Christmas/Winter theme for her neighbor. Welp… that started a whole other crafting frenzy pulling out ephemera, chipboards, papers, pastes, fussy cutting scissors, sprinkles, etc… I went to Michael’s and picked up free standing 7.25” by 1” wooden trees. It’s taken me over a week to pull them all together (I decided I was having so much fun, I ended up creating 4 of them)! Now, with sore fingers (from hot glue gun burns and a lot of cutting, stamping, embossing, stenciling, watercoloring… action), I present my latest crafting efforts!

So, this is Tree 3 (I’ll be posting 4 blogs, one for each tree).

The winter side was made with a pretty Simple Stories vintage winter collection (papers and ephemera). After cutting out the tree background, I used a glistening white/pink embossing powder on the edges. I then added a metallic pen to the letters and added a light metallic pink Prima watercolor over the letters and a pencil for shadowing to make the sentiment stand out. I used the same one on the ephemera at the top. I layered a bunch of the ephemera, and added them… some on foam tape. I also added die cut pine sprigs. To complete this one, I added color and clear heat embossed a chipboard snowflake and a coordinating ribbon and called it done.

The Christmas side of this tree was primarily made using a Ciao Bella collection with fussy cut elements out of it. I cut the cup and coffee pot image apart and layered them. I also used some Studio Light ephemera at the top. I did “borrow” a coordinating floral chipboard from another vendor. For further embellishments, I used a gingerbread chipboard that I gold embossed and a Dec 25 chipboard that I added gold metallic pen to. I used a Unity sentiment that I white embossed onto the chalkboard looking heart from the paper collection and backed that with a diecut gold heart. I found a berries looking chipboard that I used opaque Gansai Tambi watercolors on to embellish the berries on the heart. Finally, to complete this one, I added red and white striped twine and gold, sticky strips at the bottom of the tree.

That’s it for the third one, and now, finally on to the next and last tree post!

Holiday and Winter Decor - Tree 2

  So, I started something last year when crafting with one of my close besties that visited me from my NY home town across the country! We made Fall/Halloween decor pieces using unfinished wooden pumpkins. Since they were freestanding you just turn them around for the side you want to decorate with. 

I sent my creation home with her to my other bestie. I did love how it turned out. Well, my other friend requested I make something similar with a Christmas/Winter theme for her neighbor. Welp… that started a whole other crafting frenzy pulling out ephemera, chipboards, papers, pastes, fussy cutting scissors, sprinkles, etc… I went to Michael’s and picked up free standing 7.25” by 1” wooden trees. It’s taken me over a week to pull them all together (I decided I was having so much fun, I ended up creating 4 of them)! Now, with sore fingers (from hot glue gun burns and a lot of cutting, stamping, embossing, stenciling, watercoloring… action), I present my latest crafting efforts!

So, this is Tree 2 (I’ll be posting 4 blogs, one for each tree).

I used Stamperia paper again on this one. I ended up fussy cutting a bird out. I used a Stamperia stencil to add glistening snow effects plus spatter and distressed the paper edges. I actually used a couple stamps on this one for branches and the deer in the bottom left side that I added shadows to (in my compulsory fashion). To create the foliage, I used a hodge podge of 

- textured paper leaves that I gilded

- a watercolored Poppystamp leaf/branch image at the top

- die cut coffee stained paper leaves and sprigs

- and finally, fussy cut acorns and leaves.

I used a Poppystamps Birch Tree die and shaded the image. I added Mica snow effects using around using an acrylic gel. Finally, I added the Simon Says die cut Winter sentiment made with sparkly paper. I think this is my fav winter scene.

Now, the Christmas side was made with a combination of vendors…Tim Holtz window frame, PIA (pain in the a**) wreath die, and ephemera), and Simple Stories and AB studio holiday papers. I distressed the paper edges. The rest is pretty self explanatory! Busy busy busy! I did use an acetate behind the window.

So, here’s the final look on this one!

Okay, that’s a wrap on this one…on to the next one!

Holiday and Winter Decor - Tree 1

 So, I started something last year when crafting with one of my close besties that visited me from my NY home town across the country! We made Fall/Halloween decor pieces using unfinished wooden pumpkins. Since they were freestanding you just turn them around for the side you want to decorate with. 

I sent my creation home with her to my other bestie. I did love how it turned out. Well, my other friend requested I make something similar with a Christmas/Winter theme for her neighbor. Welp… that started a whole other crafting frenzy pulling out ephemera, chipboards, papers, pastes, fussy cutting scissors, sprinkles, etc… I went to Michael’s and picked up free standing 7.25” by 1” wooden trees. It’s taken me over a week to pull them all together (I decided I was having so much fun, I ended up creating 4 of them)! Now, with sore fingers (from hot glue gun burns and a lot of cutting, stamping, embossing, stenciling, watercoloring… action), I present my latest crafting efforts!

So, this is Tree 1 (I’ll be posting 4 blogs, one for each tree).

This side is supposed to be the “winter” side. The papers and patterned ephemera are a combo of Stamperia chipboard pieces and Ciao Bella papers. What can I say..they went together well! I created 2 layers of the papers and distressed the edges. With all of the trees, to cut down the papers, I just traced around the wooden trees. I added a few plain chipboards… the darker ones have glitter embossing powder on them. I stenciled on some paste for snow and added glistening glitter to the paste. I also used an embossing pen and added glistening embossing powder over the snowy edges of the scenes. To finish off, I added pearls, lace and an icy sentiment! 

For the Christmas side, I pulled out an old Graphic 45 paper pad. I used the darker papers for the tree base and behind embellished chipboard frame. I ended up embellishing both of those with sparkly gold sticky strips. paired the papers. After cutting the base paper, I used a Sizzix poinsettia die on the bottom corner. I decided I wanted to add a bird on the center as the paper has a bird in it. I took a plain chipboard bird and used my Gansai Tambi opaque watercolors to color the chipboard. I added a sparkly pen to create the look of feathers. I die cut out gold glitter leaves and sprigs that I later used gold paste on. I added color and gilding to the bird frame. To complete the top, I added enamel dots, gold string and a Memory Box Joy die cut sentiment. For the bottom, I used the Paper Rose poinsettia die set. To complete this side, I added a ton of crystals and a black embossed sentiment strip.

To complete all the trees, I glue gunned the sides with ribbons or burlap! So, the final look of this one is here!

Now, onto the next tree post!

Yeah… I bought it!

 Okay, I gave in and bought the adorable Waffle Flower Postal Collage Bundle! I just couldn’t resist it, as I had bought (twice, by mistake ;-) I loved it so much ), this Scandi Christmas Stamp set from a Cardmaking and PaperCraft magazine! I had been planning to do my own version of a postal collage with it, but thus bundle is just amazing! Does all the work for you!

So, this was an experiment and I’m hoping to make more colorful and unique versions of this type card! Must admit this die could also be used with the tiny stamps/dies you can pick up from different vendors at Christmas time when they release their advent calendars! (Simon Says, Unity, Studio Light, Soellbinders…) And I have some of them I woul like to try as well!

So, with my first attempt I created a very subdued version of this type of card. I die cut a Simple Stories patterned paper from one of the Simple Vintage Christmas collections. I then used Aged Mahogany and Iced Spruce inks on the outline stencil. I then stamped using a dark brown archival ink. I used a platinum colored jelly roll to add details. I also (just cause I’m compulsive like this), embossed an Altenew heart stamp on the house image using Liquid Platinum powder. I then added coordinating colored pearl dots. For the background papers I used a foiled paper and a patterned paper from a Bo Bunny paper pad. Adds some detail and shine with the rose gold foil.

So, I’m thinking this is a more masculine holiday card! Can’t wait to create more of this type card using my varied tiny stamps! Thanks for stopping by! Till next time, happy crafting,

Stash Shopping - 6 Mixed Media Tags

 So, I did a thing… before I sent some crafty stuff to creative friends (in an effort to declutter).  I decided to create and include a little thank you card which devolved into a mixed media tag frenzy for me. I’ve been coming across a lot of very old stuff in my cleaning efforts, like…

 Old Tuesday Morning finds (from my Tuesday morning Shopping binges… you know…”wow, can’t believe these prices!”, “I’m sure I could find a use for that!”, cheap acrylic and mixed media mediums, or oh, my, retired Tim Holtz stuff!)

Or stuff picked up in mystery boxes from craft stores,

Or from mixed media craft subscription boxes!

 All resulting in a huge compelling urge to throw away, give away or use ASAP, this old stuff!

(And hey… got to make room for some new stuff!)

So, I started by getting out 6 tags, of which I have a ton of, and then proceeded to pull out red and dark green acrylic paints, white gesso, Vicki Boutin printed tissue paper, clear acetate images, clear sticky lace strips, white music paper, preprinted tags, and these 4x6 preprinted black and white cards which looked like seed packets with sentiments on them. Here’s a remnant of the 4x6 cards…

 So, I started by loosely painting and drying parts of the tag. I added white gesso covering over parts of the paint. I then took gel medium and added the Vick Boutin crosshatch and leaf stems tissue, and strips of music paper in the corner spots. I then added clear acetate Kaisercraft lace strips.

Next, I decided to watercolor the flower parts of the preprinted seed papers, thinking I could fussy cut them out and have them be the focal point of the tags. I used watercolor Graphite and Prismacolor watercolor pens to lightly add green and red colors to the flowers. After fussy cutting the flowers and some of the sentiments out, I then started arranging the flowers, picking out the right background for each flower. Then I played some more with each tag, adding randomly more clear acetate images, random Kraft sentiments I had on hand, chipboards, diecuts or stamping and adding more sentiments in spots. I added white and black spatters as needed. Then I added white acrylic paint and pen to little preprinted garden focused tags I thought could be added at the top… his copacetic was that? Here’s the results… each having a different feel and look! 

 

Here’s a more detailed look at these messy, busy, but hopefully fun to look at tags!

So, it felt great to be creative and artsy again… must admit my skills have eroded from lack of use. It also felt good using up bits and pieces of stuff from my stash. I ended up throwing out old dried up mixed media mediums, telling me I have to do another purge of paints, pastes and acylic mediums! 

What do you think… how’d they turn out, do you like these, have a fav? Interested in your thoughts! Thanks for stopping by!

BYSHC Sketch 51 - 2 different takes!

 Tried a couple different styles this month with Sketch 51!

For both cards, I used ephemera and papers from Simple Stories Tis the Season collection. For the first card, I pulled out Unity’s Christmas/Over Again, Magical {Bliss and Wonder} and a retired stamp set, World of Christmas. I started by gold embossing the snowflakes and words on the background paper. I also added swirls using a Studio Light stencil. I then stamped and clear embossed the tag image in coordinating colors by blending the colors with multiple inks. I added watercolor to make the image stand out.  I then spattered it with metallic gold paint. I inked the edges of everything! After gold embossing the sentiment, I added the Unity freebie Yuletide paper, ribbons, ephemera, Crystal dots, and die cut foliage to complete the card! I know…it’s over the top, but I had fun creating it!

For the second card, I used papers and ephemera from the collection, ribbons, dots and a Unity sentiment from …Cherished Holly. Pretty easy to pull this one together! Love how this one turned out! Isn’t it amazing how 2 totally different cards, can be made from the same collection and sketch?

Thanks for stopping by… till next time, happy crafting!

Friends of Unity November Blog Hop

 Wow… it’s November already! This year has just flown by for me! And… it’s time for another blog hop with a most time appropriate theme of… 

I had some fun with this one… some watercoloring, pretty papers and wonderful stamps! Before I start, wanted to remind you that my friends and I offer up every month some giveaways from our own personal stash. This month, I’ll be doing a giveaway and will announce the winner in next month’s blog. A winner will be randomly chosen from the all people who offer up a comment below… btw, constructive criticism is always welcome! So, be sure to offer up your feedback and stop back next month!

So, the first card I created was inspired by an old paper collection from Prima called Amber Moon. I stamped the image onto watercolor paper from a retired Unity Kit called Don’t Be Like the Rest of Them.

I then watercolored it matching up colors to the paper. Before fussy cutting it out, I stamped the super image from Grateful for All over the flower image. I then used oval dies to create a frame and used papers from the collection to pair with the Kraft paper. I stamped a sentiment from the Change and Direction membership kit from October 2022 added coordinating enamel dots and called it done. I like how different this one turned out.

For the second card, I pulled out another Prima pack called Pumpkin and Spice. I stamped the image from Anemone Greetings onto watercolor paper, again. I put a lot more time into watercoloring this one, again matching colors from the paper. I added white pen marks on the flowers and spattered all over with paint and watered down copper Perfect Pearls. I used some Unity frames to cut down all the papers. I ended up embossing an image from September’s 2023 membership kit called, Harvest Hues. Again, I added coordinating enamel dots to this one as well!

Must admit, it’s always good to have some gratitude cards on hand! Let me know what you think about these by commenting below …be sure to add your name so you can be included in the giveaway next month! Thanks for stopping by!

Now, on to the rest of the hop, you may have come here from 

Rachel’s blog

Or you can start from the beginning with

Crystal’s blog

BYSHC Card 4 + Sketch 50

 Created another card for the BYSHC Falling for the Holidays 2024 Linky Party! Things got pretty messy with this one🤣! Details below! 

But first, a reminder, you, too, can join in the fun and enter your cards for a chance at winning a prize from one of our sponsors! Plus, many of the sponsors are offering discounts and percentages off their products during this Linky party season… check out the website for more details!

So , I first started out with an embossed image created with Sizzix’s Jeweled Snowflakes embossing folder on white paper. I ended up painting (as sprayer was clogged😡😝) Altenew’s Cosmuc Shimmer spray, but the continued to use a variety of other sprays and powders (Primary Elements and Magicals) to get a dark varied blue and gray background. I then used my finger to add a light pearlized Cosmic Shimmer paste over the top.live all the variations.

A good crafting friend recently gave me a box of snowflake chipboard pieces in a swap. I used Brutus Monroe sparkling silver and clear embossing paste to cover 4 of them… to give them a metallic look. I cut down the paper and added a purple strip with the clear pretty Happy Holiday paper over the top. I mounted the paper on a navy cardbase and added aquamarine snowflake embellishments that matched perfectly…go figure!

Thanks for stopping by…till next time, happy crafting!

BYSHC CARD 3 - Unity + BoBunny

 Created another quick but different card for the Linky Party using an old BoBunny Yuletide Carol collection and Unity’s Winter Regards stamp kit. Join in the fun creating and linking up your holiday cards in the BYSHC Falling for the Holidays 2024 Linky Party!

I had an ephemera pack from this collection I’ve never used, so pairing it with the paper, I decided to try my hand at creating a card. I used this month’s Sketch 50, too!

I used Unity’s stamp set with gold embossing powder to embellish the tree ephemera piece, in essence adding the sentiment. I added gold crystals, a gold base for the tree and red ribbon to complete the card! Pretty easy to pull this one together!

I’ve always loved this paper pack for some reason, so it was fun to try to use it in conjunction with the sketch! And, I kind of like how it turned out! Well…thanks for stopping by and join in the fun!

BYSHC Card 2 x Sugar Cookie Christmas

 Had fun creating this second card for the BYSHC Falling for the Holidays 2024 Linky Party! Join in the fun and link up your cards! BTW the website now has a video showing how to link up your card in case you needed this info! Pretty easy peasy to do!

For this card I pulled out an old 8x8 Prima paper pad, Sugar Cookie Christmas. I decided after picking out the bottom and top paper layer, I went looking for a die set I could use as embellishment. I found an old Momenta holiday cookies Mason Jar set. I distressed all the layers of paper and found matching pink and blue papers I could pair with the patterned papers. I die cut out the Christmas cookies, stars and gingerbread men pieces out of matching solid colored paper scraps. I added white and tan pen details and inked the edges. I embossed a sentiment from a Powerpoppy stamp kit, and used pink twine and Prima crystals to complete the card! This was a fun card to pull together…always a treat when I can pull together a hodgepodge of products to make a completely cohesive card!

Hope you like this one! Remember to link up your cards for a chance at winning a prize from one of our many sponsors!