Unity 7/20 SMAK Kit Feather Card

Created this sparkly card using a variety of products: Primary Elements pigment, WOW Bahama embossing powder, Memento inks, Gansai Tambi and Daniel Smith metallic watercolors, 2 ribbons and crystals. The stamps used are part of the July 2020 Unity SMAK kit, Protect the Ones You Love!

I created both papers and softened them by distressing the sides and inking them up in contrasting colors. The top layer was created by sprinkling the paper with pigment and spritzing it. I then embossed the feather and sentiment using sparkly powder and added details with other products. The bottom layer was created by sponging on ink and then dipping it onto a craft mat loaded with watered down inks and pigment. I added paint spatters to the top with blue and white paints.

The card turned out very shiny and sparkly with light colored effects, pretty in person. The sentiment supports my constant urge to try new combinations of style, products and techniques! I find I need constant change to stimulate my creativity!

Well, on to the next one... happy crafting everyone!

Unity 7/20 SMAK Hold On Card

Just received this beautiful Unity Kit, Protect the Ones You Love! I had to try my hand at this gorgeous lion! I began by stamping the lion in multiple inks, brown, dark brown, and black, with the darkest in the center of the face on Kraft paper. I then pulled a variety of Prismacolor pencils, googled a lion picture and began adding light and darker patches in white, tans, brown, rust and black. I then added a little white gel pen. Not going for a perfect rendition, just an impression.

I then pulled a light cream patterned paper and embossed the animal print in a few places using a Stampendous variegated powder from the Vintage Kit. I then used rust colored Seth Apter powder to emboss the corners using another stamp from the kit. I then mixed some of the Gansai Tambi watercolors, making them drippy, and pressed a loaded paint brush across the top to make drips, turned the paper over and did the same. I spattered paint over the paper as well.

Finally, I embossed the sentiment using another powder from the kit onto a scrap Kraft paper. To make the words standout, I darkened the paper using the paints again. I fussy cut the words and added   a background using the same patterned paper. I die cut the papers, inked the edges, added twine, and sequins and called it done.

Sorry, I’ve been missing. Like everyone else, I’m struggling with current events and I tend to bunker down and disconnect when stressed. Unfortunately, I’m in a very COVID active community and someone I’m close to and her husband just tested positive. Luckily, I stayed my distance when I saw her in my home, :-o, almost 2 weeks ago. Yikes... too close for comfort! So, I’m holding on too!

Well, I’m going to try to snap out of it and engage again. Must admit, I love this different kind of card as it’s sparked my creativity again! Hope you like it... till next time, happy crafting and stay safe!

Discount Store Paintings Redone

My new neighbor bought identical paintings for around $15 each, a little under 3’ square, but was unhappy with how bland and identical the paintings looked in her taupe room with a deep navy wall and navy and turquoise rug. Seeing my art work, she wondered if I could add the colors (turquoise, navy and light gold) needed to the paintings to make them “pop”. I loved the original artwork but totally agreed with her assessment. Took me awhile to agree to do it, having never done this before. I finally decided to try my luck. Here’s the original:

So, having given me one of the paintings, a pillow and another piece of art work to go off of, I started pulling together a bunch of acrylic paints and some large paint brushes. I laid the piece down on my kitchen counter top and began tentatively adding color to the shadows. I took my time, adding a little paint, leaving it a day and comparing it to both the original (via a photo) and the supplemental pieces she gave me. Finally, I took the first one over to her house looked at it carefully, decided I needed to make some changes and add color to the background. We decided to change up the paintings by: 1) turning one on its side and changing the shadows corresponding to the new direction (both paintings would have light coming from right side) and 2) I would add color to the background starting darkest at the bottom to lighter at the top.

Both pieces shown with pillow and other art piece used for colors:

Left flower will be rewired in back to be on its’ side:

Right flower:

Background shading dark to light from bottom to top:

I finally pulled the purple tape off the frames and delivered them today. Pretty pleased with how they turned out. The only remaining question I have is should I spray a fixative on them for preservation. Anyways, hope you enjoyed this different blog post as inspiration for your own DIY efforts. I will only be posting this on Instagram. Comment with questions or advice! Till next time, happy crafting!

Friends of Unity July Blog Hop

It’s here, my crafty friends - July’s Friends of Unity Blog Hop with another fun theme, Paper Piecing! I took a different direction from my normal Angie girl piecing passion, and had fun pulling this new style together.

But, before I continue, wanted to remind everyone to comment on each blog for a chance at a Unity themed giveaway! I’ll be doing one myself! I also want to congratulate

Karen Hoskins

for being my winner from last month’s hop! Please PM me with your address and I’ll get out your prize this week! 

So, I based my paper pieced card on the flowers from Unity’s 9/17 KOTM, Flowers, Foliage and Fall kit. I used Stamperia’s Wonderland paper collection. (Yes, I’m showing my beautiful Stamperia paper some love... what am I saving it for?). I began by stamping the flowers onto 3 sheets I cut froM the pad, using both a blue ink at the base of the flowers and a brown at the top. I them fussy cut them out using the most solid colored sheet as the flower base. I then had fun arranging all the pieces and gluing them down.

Next, I decided on the paper for the first layer that happened to have these flowing butterflies from the paper collection and die cut that. I backed it with a plain soft red paper for added color. I then stamped the sentiment from the kit using a combo of red inks to match the paper and added some watercolor around the words using Vicki Boutin crayons. I fussy cut out the sentiment and added 2 backings using leftover patterned paper and red paper scraps.

To pull the card together, I added red crystals and red crystal brads (for the flower centers) and a ribbon. 

Must say these flowers worked out great for paper piecing and layering! Thanks for stopping by and completing the hop! If you started midway, here’s the total line up to go back and hit what you missed!

Crystal

Kim

Eileen

Robyn

Dawn

Jeanie

Alaine