Friends of Unity July Blog Hop

 Hey there, friends, it’s time for another blog hop with Unity stamps! This month our theme is:

So, before I begin, a reminder that they’ll be some giveaways offered up to lucky winners who’ve entered comments on the blogs. Make sure you leave your name and follow up next month to see if you are a winner! 

The first card I’m showcasing was created using an alcohol inked paper. I recently met up with a wonderful group of crafty friends. One of them taught using alcohol ink with a blower technique. I decided to make a card with this paper as the foundation!

It was an easy choice to pair it up with the Unity Hug kit! I heat embossed the flower on watercolor paper and proceeded to play! I fussy cut it out and then looked for a solution for the sentiment. I found a yellow tag that seemed a good match, inked that up and added black and gold Posca pen dots. I then used a couple metallic flowers, a brad and some gold thread to complete the card.

For the next card, I used another technique I learned in my crafty retreat, leaf impressions sprays. On a recent walk, I foraged for sprigs and twigs and pine needles. Next, I pulled out several mixed media sheets and my spray box. I laid out the foliage and used a couple of Ranger and Lindy sprays (2 greens and a gold) after placing the foliage on to of 2 of the sheets, making sure I covered the foliage with ink. Then I placed the top layer sheets on making a sandwich.

I then decided to heat emboss the butterfly from Remember to Breathe using green Distress embossing powders and inks onto paper from Vintage Blooms and Botany and added watercolor shading. I love how it turned out.

I cut up one of the sheets and use stamps, stencils and verbiage from the You Will Shine kit (retired now) and backed it with paper.

I pulled out a coffee/leaf impression paper I created 2 years ago to pair with butterfly and paper. I gold embossed a sentiment from the Difference Maker kit and added green mesh and sequins to complete this card.

For the last card, I took a Unity paper and gessoed some Tim Holtz tissue paper onto it (bottom layer). I then cut up another coffee stained envelope for the next layer! I took another Unity paper and used the mixed media stamps from the Blow your Mind kit. I heat embossed the flower onto watercolor paper and proceeded to have fun painting. To complete the card, I added a mesh chipboard, some ephemera, twine and the sentiment from the kit.

Needless to say a few techniques were used on these… hope you enjoyed these ideas and will follow up with the rest of the hop for more inspiration.

Now, on to the rest of the hop! You may have come here from:

Doreen’s blog

Or you can start from the beginning with:

Crystal’s blog

Friends of Unity June Blog Hop

 Hey…it’s time for our June Blog Hop… wow, year is almost halfway done! Welcome back, this month’s theme is

And just in time for Father’s Day! A reminder before I start, these hops always contain giveaways and all you need to do to qualify is leave a comment on the posts! As a matter of fact, I am doing a giveaway from last month’s post, so I’d like to congratulate

Angy Hughes

at this point! Please PM me your info, Angy, and I’ll get a package out to you as soon as I can!

Now on to the first card! For both of the cards shown here, I used a very old Kaisercraft Barber Shoppe paper pad. I used a coffee stained paper for the image! Love the vintagey feel of them both! I coupled them with several Unity kits: All Cylinders, and an old mixed media kit, called All About the Journey (for background stamping). After using pencils on the image, and stamping the background and sentiment, I added colored and stamped ephemera and enamel dots to complete the card.

For the second card, I used Sweet Memories and Best Tool in the Box. I watercolored and fussy cut out the image. Okay, must admit, I found the dog image in an old ephemera pack and had to use it… as this one is for my son! He has a 110 lb. Lab, called Finn. I also cut up some of the paper in the pack to create dominos in a homage to his 6 yr old son (with another son on the way later in the year 👶🤣). I added enamel dots to finish this one off.

Had fun creating these 2 cards with my guys in mind! Hope you enjoy my fellow crafter’s take on masculine cards in the rest of the hop! So, follow along with us!

You may have come here from:

Toni’s blog

You can continue on with:

Rachel’s blog

Or, start from the beginning with:

Crystal’s blog

Friends of Unity May Blog Hop

  Hello… welcome back to May’s Friends of Unity Blog Hop! This month our theme  is… 

As usual, the hop contains some giveaways! I’ll be doing a giveaway this month by randomly selecting from commenters posting below. Please be sure to include your name, so I’ll know who provided the feedback. I’ll be announcing the winner in next month’s blog post!

Now, for my first card, I used Barnyard Sass and Blooms, Unity’s April membership kit. I started by painting a dark to light watercolor wash on watercolor paper. I added some paint spatters to the wet wash. After drying the paper, I stamped the fence image onto scrap paper to create a mask. I then stamped the fence again onto the watercolored paper. I used the mask to stamp the flowers.and then watercolor all the images.I stamped the sentiment on a scrap pattern paper. I spattered watercolors and white wash over the image. I used a bit of pen just to deep in some spots. To complete the card, I added several coordinating paper layers, a ribbon and crystals.

For the second card, carrying on from the Use All Scraps theme from last month, I created a paper pieced card. I used the kits, Happy Daisies and Unusual Day Poppy. I found coordinating scraps and stamped the heck onto them… fussy cutting petals and leaves. I also fussy cut the background. Turned out pretty cool, I think. I added Stamperia’s Contour Gold drops for the stamens.

 

Thanks for stopping by… and check out the rest of the hop! Remember to leave a comment with your name attached for a chance at winning a giveaway from me!

Now, you may have come here from: 

Jenni’s Blog

You may continue on with: 

Doreen’s Blog

Or, you can start from the beginning with:

Crystal’s blog

Friends of Unity April Blog Hop

 Hello… back again for another fun blog hop! This month our theme… which seems to be my theme for all of 2025, is… 

Unfortunately, I had absolutely no problem coming up with scraps for this hop! Before I start in on describing my cards, wanted to remind y’all that we do giveaways every month from our personal stash! All you have to do to be eligible is leave a comment (with your name). I skipped last month’s hop, but I am doing a giveaway, as promised in my February blog! So I’d like to congratulate 

Silvia H.

for winning a package from me! Please PM me your full address and name and I’ll send out your goodies ASAP!

Now, for my first card, I used a coffee stained and sprayed leaf impression paper I created a few years ago. I added a random narrow corrugated cardboard piece and a small leftover Tattered Angels sprayed paper. I stamped the image from Unity’s March 3025 membership kit called Chapters and Crossings. I colored her clothes in with old cheap markers, and watercolored her face using flesh toned watercolor papers (from a craft kit). I just tried for a variation in colors to match the other papers. I fussy cut her out and used foam tape. For extra dimension I added Washi tape, gold thread and black dots and sparkly sequins. I mounted everything on black leftover scraps. I used a freebie peel off sentiment strip I received in a Unity kit.

I used a couple of stamps from the kit on a paper scrap for the inside of the card.

For the second card, this time, I used Unity paper scraps, a gray toned paper scrap and leftover vellum and white paper. I used a couple kits for the images and sentiment - One of those People and Strive to be. I ended up using a Legion’s paper used for pencils to color in the leaves and flowers to match the background. I combined the white paper and stamped vellum to create the background for the florals and added dots and pearls to complete this one. Must admit … least favorite card but I did use up scraps!

Finally, for the third card, I really went a little out there with several patterned paper scraps and a couple papers cut out from crafty Daphne’s Diary mags (the script paper and the one just underneath it). I started with the floral script paper and just looked for coordinating papers. So, for this one, I decided to try to match the flowers and butterfly on the script paper using stamps from It’s your Choice and The Secret of Change. After watercoloring a couple of flowers (2) and the butterfly, I fussy cut them out. I arranged all the papers and added the sentiment stamped on leftovers and the fussy cut images using foam tape. To finish off the card I just added yellow dots!

I added the sentiment from one of the kits on another leftover piece for the inside of the card!

So, it felt so good to use up leftovers! Wow… looking back these all turned out so different. Hopefully,  you got some ideas for using leftover scraps of paper! Thanks for stopping by… and check out the rest of the hop! Remember to leave a comment with your name attached!

Now, you may have come here from: 

Toni’s blog

You may continue on with: 

Rachel’s blog

Or, you can start from the beginning with:

Crystal’s blog

Friends of Unity February Blog Hop

 Hello, welcome back to another Friends of Unity Blog Hop! Our theme this month:

Had a bit of difficulty with their one as I continued to want to add a complementary color in the mix! Not sure why I was stuck, but I was! So, I ended up making 3 cards trying to address the theme. Hopefully, I’m not too far off! 

Before I continue on with the first card, I wanted to remind you all that giveaways are happening in this blog hop. To be eligible to win, all you need to do is comment below. Last month, I promised to do a giveaway using the comments I received on last month’s post. So now, I’d like to congratulate 

Meghan Kennihan

On winning a giveaway from me! Please PM me your address so I can send along a package from me in the next two weeks. Thanks for participating! BTW, I will be doing another giveaway this month so be sure to leave a comment below!

For this first card, I used a membership kit called Difference Maker from December 2023 coupled it with the Blossom Avenue paper pack. I first used watercolors on a watercolor paper trying to match the colors in the patterned paper. I heat embossed the flowers/leaves on the paper. I then created masks for the flowers/leaves and proceeded to add background stems behind/around the embossed images. I added color and shading to the plants. I then heat embossed the sentiment from the kit and added sequins. Finally, I backed that paper with brown paper and pulled the card together adding a green twine.

I went to town so to speak with this second card! Oh my, I used so many kits! Blame it on a paper from Nostalgic Amour. It’s messy and all over the place… but could be inspirational, if you are into this sort of thing! 🥴 So, the kits used are: retired New Year, New Chapter 2020 SMAK kit, retired Feel and Give Love 2017 SMAK kit, retired Key to Joy, retired Let it Go and Focus, Enjoy the Ride, retired Vintage Ledger, Tiled Letters, and retired Thoughts from the Past. Again, with this one, I watercolored the background to match the paper. Then, I started stamping and watercoloring some more! Finally, I stamped and then restamped the letters on another sheet. I cut them out and added foam behind. I added a metal key with a glue gun and a smaller one with sticky dots. I added twine and liquid dots… and even added watercolor shadows on those. It’s a hot mess, but I kinda like those sometimes. And wow, besides the SMAK kits, I had no idea of how many other retired kids I owned! Notice a lot of those are mixed media designs, which I kind of love.

Okay, so I had to make one more… which turned out to be my fav! I ended up using a watercolor background again that I had made and not used for the above card, because the paper I used had ridges in it… a little hard to stamp on. So instead I started searching through my stash for coordinating papers with the tones on the watercolored background. I ended up finding a Simple Stories heart paper and some 49 & Market butterfly ephemera and Washi tape to match.. I used the January 2025 membership kit called Kinda Made for Each Other and Magnolia Flowers kit on this one. After stamping the image on Arches paper using Tea Dye Oxide ink, I watercolored the flower. I added 3 strips of Washi tape and 2 ribbons to the bottom of the background paper after cutting it down. I then silver embossed the sentiment at the top and along the edges. I added the ephemera and crystals and called it done once assembled.

Thank you for stopping by… hope there’s a little inspiration here for you! Now on to the rest of the hop! Remember, before you go, to leave a comment with your name to be eligible to win another goodie bag from me!

You may have come here from 

Doreen’s blog

Or, you can start from the beginning with 

Crystal’s blog

Friends of Unity January Blog Hop

Welcome to the start of 2025 and a new Friends of Unity Blog Hop! The theme this month is now a fav of mine! 

Perfect way to start the new year and, wouldn’t you know, I have found some very old stuff! Before I continue on, wanted to let you know I’ll be giving away some old (new) Unity stuff of mine next month! To be eligible for mine and any other, in this hop, giveaways, be sure to leave a comment below! 

First card was started by collecting all my Valentine paper scraps from the various pads I’ve collected over the year. I started cutting them down into strips and adhering the strips to a red solid paper. I found a set of heart doilies I could use that I picked up several years ago. I decided to look through my stash for heart stamps when a lightbulb went off and I realized I could create my own with a Unity heart die and a floral stamp. I found the perfect stamp in the very old Membership kit called Love the Little Things from 2013! After clear embossing the image onto watercolor paper, I watercolored the image using coordinating colors. I then die cut the image out and adhered it to the heart doily. I used the Heart of Autumn stamp set and die to create the “happy” in the sentiment! I added shading to the word with both watercolor and pen and backed the image with red paper. Finally, I used another random kit to white emboss the Valentine’s Day sentiment, backed it all with blue paper and called the card done.

Pretty happy with how that one turned out!

For the second card, I used another very old membership kit called Everyday Fairytale from 2012! I coupled this one with an older Prima paper collection called Love Clippings. I started by clear embossing the ink stamped image on a ribbed watercolor paper. I then added a bit of watercolor for contrast. After cutting down the background papers, I distressed the edges of one of them and added ephemera pieces I cut out of the paper pad. I stamped the banner from the kit on leftover paper and added ink to the banner florals and dots on the corners. I also ink blended the edges and down the center to give dimension to the banner. I stamped a sentiment that I received in a Unity mystery bag in the center. I used dies on the floral image and a random tan scrap paper. I then used a pen to add dots around the scrap paper. Finally, to complete the card, I added a tan clear vellum strip, pink pearls and a red embossed arrow chipboard piece.

Pretty happy with this one as well and think I’ve knocked it out of the park with using old stuff! 🤣

So that is it… remember to comment and check back next month to see if you’ve won some goodies from me!

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

Jenni’s blog

You can move on to 

Rachel’s blog

Or, you can start from the beginning with 

Crystal’s blog

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,