Tea Time Toile Card

Made another easy card today using Unity’s Tea Time Toile stamp and a sentiment from the June 2017 KOTM. I also used Bitty Backgrounds and Time to Be Happy Again on the sentiment paper. This time I went vintage as the primary stamp is so vintage! The stamp reminds me of some painters, like Fragonard, Constable and the Pre-Rapaelites painters! I love it! I also used Prima’s Tales of You and Me paper for the background, the circle image and the sentiment paper.

I began by stamping the image and lightly adding color to it with watercolor and some pencil. I distressed the edges. I cut out the girl image from the paper pad and added a coordinating sheet behind it. I distressed the edges of the foundation sheet and under the tears added washi onto the card stock. I added some ephemera pieces in the corners, upper right and lower left, and fussy cut and added a white rose in the top left from the paper pad. 

I stamped the sentiment, added a border and some dots, and then fussy cut it out and added a brad. I pulled the card together and added flowers and string to the top left. I had colored a white flower by spraying it with Tattered Angel Glimmer Mist that I thought matched the paper. I also added some enamel dots to the card.

Not sure how it will be perceived but I really like the romantic vintage feel of the card with the children in it. And, you really can slow down and enjoy the simpler things in life with children! I have a grandbaby on the way, and I can’t wait for this special time to come! Well, happy crafting!

Girls Dresses Card

Used stamps today, that I picked up in a swap from Unity’s 5/14 Hey Girl KOTM and Shop. Lunch. Chat. Gal kits to make a fun girly card! This was easy to put together. I also used some Tim Holtz stencils that matched the theme and the paper I used is from Authentique’s Latest and Greatest collection.

To start, I stenciled onto white smooth watercolor paper using Distress and Oxide inks. I then stamped the dresses image using black archival ink. I decided I wanted to use one of the papers for one of the dresses, so I paper pieced that one and also shaded it. I then watercolored/pencil colored the rest. I used a Spectrum Noir glitter pen on the grey dress. I also used a marker to detail black lines overall.

I stamped the sentiment I wanted to use on paper from the stamp pad and backed that with a dotted sheet from the pad. I used the same dotted sheet paper to make a partial border for the dresses.

To pull the card together, I added 2 different fringe-like ribbons, sticky hearts and enamel dots. I hope you enjoy this card! I think one of my friends or my sister will get this one...we are shoppers, after all! Thanks for stopping by!

Lovely Lilacs Card

Responding to a new Sketch Card Challenge on the Unity Show and Tell Facebook group, I pulled this card together today. I used Unity’s Lovely Lilacs kit, Bitty Backgrounds and the sentiment came from the Every Beautiful Little Thing kit. I also pulled out 49 Market’s Cottage Life paper.

I played around on some watercolor paper until I finally started with a fresh sheet, decided to use a Momento Chalk Pretty Petunia color, and Picked Raspberries and Shaded Lilac Oxide inks. I stamped them and sprayed water onto a craft mat and smooshed lightly the watercolor paper into the blend. I dried it and then stamped the image using black archival ink using my Misti, ensuring a dark image, then set with clear embossing powder. I then added the same colors to the Lilacs, in addition to Forest Green Oxide and another green Momento.

I stamped a dotted background stamp onto a scrap watercolor paper and then embossed the sentiment on the same sheet. To pull all the papers and colors together, I lightly added pink to the sentiment paper and paper strips.

Basically, I followed the sketch design in creating this card and added crystal embellishments to complete the card. Pretty simple card to create! Hope you like it! Thanks for visiting!

Bird On the Clock

Inspired by my new Stamperia Atelier paper collection, I pulled the clock stamp from Unity’s April 2018 SMAK kit, the dots stamp from Dinged Dots kit, and the sentiment from {... and With Her Own Wings} Kit. I also pulled a Tim Holtz clock stencil.

To start, I selected a paper from the collection. Then, I pulled out my watercolors and watercolor paper and experimented a little on test paper. Then on a new sheet, I combined my blues and added a little black to coordinate with the paper and painted the edges up to an imaginary circle outlining approximately the size of the clock. I then added a tan color in the center and dried the paper. I stamped the Wings sentiment in the center of that circle with Colorbox Harbor ink. I then stamped the clock image using black archival ink. I took a Colorbox Copper ink and a sponge and sponged some numbers on the missing side of the clock. I then stamped some dots in the corners using Distress Walnut Stain.

To color the bird I used Derwent Inktense pencils and a wet brush and finished with black and white pens. To add dimension to the clock, I used pastel chalks and my finger and a small bit of water.

I stamped the sentiment, fussy cut it and inked the edges.  I used washi tape as a background for the sentiment. Wrapped the bird image with fancy string and twine. Mounted everything on the card and added sequins.

I am really happy with how this one turned out and hope you enjoyed learning a bit about it! Thanks for visiting and have a great day!

Beauty Inside Card

Reverted back to comfort zone and some fun mixed media stuff using the Unity April 2018 SMAK kit which I’ve just subscribed to. I have cancelled the regular kit as I’m interested in a lot of the older SMAK kits to use on more mixed media cards, tags, canvasses and you can get them for reduced prices as a member. 

I stamped the rose image using a brown archival ink. I then used a combo of Brea Reese Glitter ink, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Oxide inks and Distress inks to add color to the image. This left the rose and leaves very prettily glittering! I added spatters of color around the circle image, partial die cut it, and distressed the edges. I ended up using gesso and a stencil on this image to give contrast. I also decided to cut a circle in white netting to back the image.

I pulled another background stamp from the kit, stamped it in green oxide and die-cut it. I then cut out a Tim Holtz vellum that would match. I had already pulled a green background patterned paper that I was coordinating everything with. I distressed the edges and attached the vellum on upper right side. Then I found a journal card with roses that I cut down and slightly colored to match the theme for the bottom right side.  I found a distressed antique gold paper that I die cut with a Bo Bunny small doily die. I then pulled a cheap flower and leaves that I sprayed and colored to match. I decided to place the flower on the doily and use it on upper left side.

I then turned to washi to add potential color to the card and found a simple design and an antique one. I put the antique washi on bottom right.  I played around with all the elements and then started looking for a sentiment. Started with Hello Friend from the May 2017 KOTM, stamping onto an ephemera piece and backing it with matching scrap paper. I decided the card needed something more and stamped a sentiment from the SMAK kit onto a piece of green watercolor scrap paper that I colored for another card.

I then pulled all elements together and fussed until I was satisfied by adding buttons, another small flower, twine, sequins and Nuvo drops. I like how this one turned out and hope you do too! Thanks for visiting!

Camera Card

Played making a much simpler card today using Unity’s May 2017 KOTM. I had picked up an Echo Park collection pack at a recent Expo that had paper I thought would match the camera images. I stamped the cameras using archival ink onto water color paper and took some distress oxides and distress inks and stamped them on a craft mat. I then smooshed the paper into the colors lightly. I then moved onto my pencils and colored the cameras per the paper colors.

I used a die cut to back the stamped image and a strip of cameras from the paper pack. I stamped the sentiment, die cut it and backed it with more paper from the pack. I pulled a camera sticker from the collection, backed it with paper and fussy cut around the image. I mounted all the components using pack paper and added stars and silver glitter dots.

Had more trouble with this one as the image, while really cute, is not in my usual style. I think it’s an very busy, but, okay card, but again, not a favorite! At least I tried the stamp! I wasn’t going to post, but fails are just as much a learning experience as successes! Happy crafting!

Classy Girl Card

The beginning of this card was another, already stamped image, and stenciled paper, and now where do I go mess in my craft clutter. I used the March 2018 Unity KOTM. I decided to color the image and fussy cut it in half vertically. I decided to insert it into the trellis stenciled paper. I had already stenciled this scrap paper using a TCW stencil. I used the Mulberry Kisses paper pad for all the other papers; love the colors in this pad.

This card was very simple to put together. I stamped, colored and fussy cut the sentiment. Then, using Kraft paper to back the layers, I pulled the card together and added ribbons and crystals to add interest.

I think the card turned out okay, not great, and I can, now, move onto the April kit, which I just received! Thanks for visiting!

Poppy Girl Card

UPDATE: woo hoo...this card was just posted on the Unity Stamp Company Facebook Page! YEAH!

After playing with Oxide inks and mists and working on ATC’s, I reverted back to Prismacolor pencils this afternoon. I also decided to use the WRMK Anthologies paper pad (that I picked up at Tuesday AM FOR $2.99!) that had circles and colors I really love. I just bought The Unity’s Bitty Background kit and wanted to see if I could carry the circle themes to the image paper. I used 3 Distress inks to printed small portions of circles then used Bundles Sage to carry a little green throughout the paper.

I used Unity’s Poppy Girl as the main image. I stamped it on both the prepped paper and another piece of of the same paper. The paper I used is actually a very light peach colored linen stationary (a relic of the past). I colored the second image pulling pencils somewhat randomly...no discipline today, testing them and then coloring the image trying to match to the background paper. I did use a brown pen to help with edges!I then fussy cut it out. I added some of the muddy blue to the stamped page in the white areas (was a little too green) and then adhered the colored image onto it. I die cut the image with an oval die and cut another oval to back it using a red paper from the pad.

I stamped the image onto another piece of paper from the pad, cut it and backed it with some of the same red paper. To finish the card i adhered the background circle paper, mounted the image and the sentiment and added enamel dots.

I like how this card turned out...love the colors! Till next time, happy crafting!

Authentique Bicycle Card

Today, I challenged myself with a combo inspiration idea. I had a new Authentique paper pad that I hadn’t used yet and I grabbed a Montval watercolor paper that was blank. I used 2 yellow oxides to smoosh color onto it and then dried the paper. I then grabbed a blue Brea Reese Glitter ink and placed 3 dots on my craft mat, spritzed it with Tattered Angel Glimmer Mist in White and a bit of water. I then lightly smooshed the paper in that blend in a few spots. I then cut that paper in half. The challenge is to make 2 very different cards using the pad and paper I created.

Taking one of the watercolor papers, I pulled out Unity’s I’d Go Anywhere stamp. Unity’s Show and tell FB group has a challenge going on that this stamp will help fulfill. I also pulled out a scrap paper. I had the idea I could make a sidewalk for the bike by using a Tim Holtz stencil. I tried that and stamped the bike on it and liked how it looked. So taking the paper I pulled out Vintage Photo Oxide ink and developed some lines fanned out from an imaginary edge. I then painted horizontally thin lines across those and pulled a little color down those lines. I then took a Darice brick embossing folder and used a Colorbox brown ink on it and “stamped” bricks in a few places. Again, I took some vintage photo and black soot oxides to fill in a few bricks.

I then stamped the bicycle using the same Colorbox brown ink. I made sure everything was dry before I got out my new Kuretake watercolors (that I’m still learning how to use). I watercolored the bike and used some black and brown ink to emphasize some lines. I also used a white gel pen. I used some orange and brown paint to help define the bricks some more. I went back to my mat and decided I wanted a darker sidewalk edge, so I used a bit of the Charvin pastel chalks for that purpose. I then spattered the white Posco pen over the image and some oxide paints. I used the Peacock ink to darken the edges which matched the paper I was going to use for the base. I took another yellow sheet from the pad and stamped a Unity sentiment I got in a grab bag, darkened the edges and applied spatter the same way.

To create the card I wrapped jute twine around the bike image applied foam tape to the back. I took a white card base and used blue paper and a strip of striped paper to make the card foundation. I added the blue paper to the back of the sentiment and mounted that on the watercolor paper and mounted everything on the card base. I took jute twine and added beads (picked up at Tuesday Morning) and wrapped it around the existing twine. To finish the card, I added sequins.

Hopefully, I remembered all the steps I used! Hope you like the card..it certainly looks rustic. Happy crafting!

Bronze Clock Card

This card was pulled together finally early this morning off another card miss that I left alone for a week and some scraps. Another Unie Face-booker challenged the rest of us to put together a card from leftovers in our craft area. I used Unity’s March 2018 KOTM kit for the main image and sentiment and a small image off the December 2012 KOTM.

I had already stamped the image onto a vintage scrapbook paper and colored the clock using Prismacolor pencils. I fussy cut the clock out. I had stamped the sentiment onto a recipe ephemera piece, liking the idea of coupling “recipe” with the encouraging sentiment. This is where I originally went off kilter on a larger card base trying to use ephemera that was either too big or too distracting from the words and clock.

Starting again late last night I found the perfect papers to complement the image. First I switched to a smaller Kraft card base. I already had a distressed blue paper that I would use as a base. I found this morning a distressed 7 Gypsies striped paper that had the right color tones to complement the blue base and the clock. Since I had pulled the sentiment off the original card it had some tears, but I still wanted to use it and capture the word Recipe. In looking through my ephemera and paper pads, I found the perfect background for the clock in the Prima Epiphany pad. This pad has whites, greens, blues and oranges with very small images that wouldn’t distract, but actually complement the vintage feel. Once I mounted the clock on the paper I attached it to the sentiment. I also used my pencils to simulate the background paper in the white area between the bells. I had already added blue to the heart below the sentiment.

To fill the space on the bottom left I knew I wanted a butterfly or heart and found both in the vintage image I used. I colored the image using pens on the butterfly and distressed oxides on the rest. I decided to add texture by using a relic piece of burlap behind the image. I pulled the card together and finished it off with copper colored accents and glossy accents on the butterfly and clock bells.

I must admit I’m thrilled I was able to reuse the images I had already stamped and colored as I love both the sentiment and the vintage clock. I love how the card turned out as well. Hope you do too! Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Don’t be like the Rest of Them Card

I “reckon” I’ve lived my life this way, from my career, where I was often the first woman to do something to my card making style. Granted I wasn’t always successful, but it was always a challenge and learning experience.

Well, so here I am again, on another journey, playing a little with mixed media on a card, using several Unity kits, Don’t be like the rest of them..., Giving it all Meaning, and, a love Beyond Measure. I used 3 stencils, one from Hero Arts, one from Art Anthology and a Donna Downey stencil. For coloring, I used Kuretake watercolors, Derwent Inktense pencils, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Posca paint pen and Charvin Pastel Watercolor sticks. I also used texture paste, and for paper, the Prima Wild and Free paper pad, the Wild Rose Studio Antique Library pack, scrap paper and Aqua watercolor paper.

I stamped the image in archival ink twice and made a mask out of the second image. I then used a Hero Arts stencil to create a grey flow outward from the image of tiny leaves using Hickory Smoke Oxide. I then took the printed words stamp and stamped that around the rose in Aged Mahogany Oxide. Finally I took Vintage Photo and placed some hollyhocks stencil patterns around the rose image. I then took the Art Anthology stencil and applied some texture paste around the image.

I colored the image first with the watercolors and then deepened the color using pencils. I then sprayed around the image, holding the mask over the rose, with the Glimmer Mist. I then distressed the edges. I also used the pastels to outline and emphasize the image. I then backed the image with paper, die cut with a Kat Scrappiness die, and distressed those edges as well. I spattered the white paint pen over the image and let that dry. Finally, I added a fancy ribbon on one side.

I stamped “Unique” onto some of the Vintage Library paper and stamped the notepad paper stamp onto another paper from that pack. I then stamped the sentiment onto the new notepad paper and backed that with a piece of red ephemera.

To finish the card I added several layers of paper, enamel dots, flowers and a butterfly. One of the papers I used a hand leaf border on. I think the card turned out a success...(in other words, okay)! If I were to do this over again, I would like to figure out how to make my own spray as the Glimmer mist was a little too opaque. But I’m interested in your thoughts. Take care, and until next time, happy crafting!

Update...took pic of some of the supplies!

Antique Chair Card

I decided to go back to vintage today using the chair and a sentiment from Unity’s March 2018 KOTM. I stamped the image on a tan card base and colored it using my new Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors for the first time and added a green background and distressed the edge. I had already picked out a red patterned paper that had dull green leaves in it that I ended up replicating here and on the card in various locations.

To try something new, I had recently picked up embossing folders on sale at Tuesday Morning. It has a quilt pattern. I wiped wet ink over the embossing folder and placed some of the same tan paper on it and ran my hands over the paper, using it like a stamp. After it was dry, I ran it through my Big Shot to get the impression on the stamped paper. Love how it turned out...you can see bits of it on the right side.

I stamped the sentiment on a piece of ephemera and backed it with the patterned paper.

I placed more of the same red patterned paper underneath the stamped image. To create the card, I used bits of ephemera in various colors to match the flowers on the chair and added faux flowers, twine, Tim Holtz flowers, buttons, enamel dots, fabric, and a metal embellishment.

Felt good to return to return to vintage before I turn back to my ATCs. I really like this stamp, and I’ll need to try another card as I think I can achieve a better look with it. But for now, hope you enjoy this card, and, till next time, happy crafting!

Echo Noble’s Tile Case Study

Today I was inspired by a card posted on Unity’s Show and Tell FB group created by the very talented Echo Noble.  She created 3 cards using a bone folder and scoring board to create the impression of tiles and then stamped on it. Very creative and a very cool look! 

So, I decided I needed to try this technique and record what I’d done for future use. I happen to have a copper back plate above my stove with a diamond pattern. So, to begin with, I cut a 5x5” paper and turned it diagonally on the score board. I proceeded to score every inch and turned it again and score it again every inch. I then took a black Derwent Inktense pencil and ran it down all the scores as my grout is dark. I then sponged Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo and Black Soot with a touch of Forest  Moss into each diamond alternating dark and light tiles (as mine is). I did this rather quickly and to help I cut 3 sides of a 1 inch square into paper to produce a mask. After this was done I re-scored the paper to make sure I hadn’t lost the impressions. I then took the flower from the March 2018 KOTM and stamped it delicately on the paper. I didn’t get all the lines but for the sake of using this as a case study...it was good enough. I then took some more Derwent pencils and filled in the flower keeping away from the tile edges. I think it turned out pretty neat and created a frame for it and used pencils on that. 

For the sentiment, from the November 2015 KOTM, I took a corner stamp that I bought in a swap, I think from the 9/11 KOTM, and stamped it on the paper to create a frame using the same paper I used to frame the tiles with Forest Moss ink. I then stamped the sentiment in black archival ink and used some watercolors to try to darken the frame to match the tile colors.

To finish the card I mounted all components, added a border at the top, some enamel dots, and ribbon and yarn with a button. Not one of my greatest cards, but I think it demonstrates the look of a tile background, so I’m happy! Let me know your thoughts or if you have questions!