Thursday, July 18, 2019

Growing in Unity ~ Day 4 of My 5 Favorite Things

Hi again crafty friends!
I'm back with Day 4 of My 5 Favorite Things for my Growing in Unity week and today is all about backgrounds!! I love background stamps and in particular the {border backgrounds} stamps by Unity Stamp Company!! These fabulous stamps are so much fun to color and create with!! I just adore this line of stamps and I've made several cards with them, but for today I'm going to share two that I created for todays post and a couple that I made last month but never posted on my blog. 
So, let's get to it!!


For my first card, I actually found inspiration from a card I made earlier in the month using the Yuletide {border backgrounds} stamp for our Friends of Unity blog hop that was all about Vintage cards. You can check out that card here ---> Vintage Christmas card.
I started this card by stamping the beautiful Adornment {border backgrounds} stamp on white card stock with Gina K's Black Amalgam ink and then got to coloring! I used the following Copic markers ~ R14, R27, R46, G24, G29, B0000, B29, B39, Y000, Y06, Y15, Y17. I also used Gold Wink of Stella to finish up coloring the ornaments. I cut out the center of the card stock just fussy cutting around the images. I then lightly blended Vintage Photo Distress Oxide ink around the outer edges and ran the card stock through my big shot with a large stitched rectangle die. The center of the card stock was too bright so I ended up blending the same Vintage Photo ink but without adding more ink to my blending tool... I didn't want it to be too dark. And there was plenty of ink still on the sponge. To finish off this top layer of my card, I cut a piece of Real Red card stock to 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" and die cut the center with a stitched rectangle die... why did I do that? Well, I wanted a 'window' of sorts to the bottom layer and I figured I might be able to use the red stitched rectangle piece for another project. I adhered those layers together and set it aside.


I blended some Vintage Photo and Antique Linen Distress Oxide ink on a piece of Vintage Cream card stock being sure to leave the center portion lighter so I could stamp my sentiment and the tiny ornaments. The sentiment and tiny ornaments are from the adorable Merry Little Season kit that is actually a background stamp but I bought a second kit to cut apart the images to use separately. I used my Anti Static Pouch liberally over the cream card stock (the embossing powder really likes to stick to the distress oxide inks) and then stamped the sentiment and tiny ornaments with VersaMark watermark ink and heat embossed a fine antique gold embossing powder. I colored in the tiny ornaments with Festive Berries and Mustard Seed distress markers. I then popped up my top layer using foam tape and to finish off this card I added some Xmas Red stickles on the dots.


For my second card, I used the brand new She Sells Sea Shells {border backgrounds} along with the adorable Cuddlebug Sea Horse... Eeep! So cute together!! I used the following Copic markers for this card ~ V0000, V05, V12, BV23, BV25, B60, RV0000, RV00, RV10, RV63, RV95, R00, R01, R12, R30, E00, E33, G12, G24. I die cut the background with a large stitched rectangle die and mat it with Creamy Caramel card stock and then adhered the panel to a Lavender Moon card base. I stamped the sentiment from Sammy Girl using VersaMark watermark ink and then heat embossed a fine white embossing powder. I die cut it with a skinny banner die and then layered it offset with another banner die cut from Lavender Moon card stock. I popped those up on the card and got to work on Mr. Cuddlebug Sea Horse.


I fussy cut the seaweed and the sea horse. I adhered the sea weed to the card using liquid glue and then popped up the sea horse with foam squares. I just adore how this card turned out.


I just wanted to share a couple more cards that I created using these lines of stamps... this one is the Citrus Medley {border backgrounds}... such a dream to color! Unfortunately, I don't have the list of Copics I used to color this one. I did want to share how I changed this one up... I die cut the entire piece using a large scalloped die and then I die cut the center with a stitched rectangle die (both dies are from the Blueprints 20 die set by My Favorite Things). I adhered the center to a True Black mat and then adhered it to the card. I love the dimension it gives the card! The sentiment for this one is from Bird's the Word. I stamped that and trimmed it down and then mat it on True Black card stock, as well, and then popped it up on the card with foam squares. I just love this card layout for these {border backgrounds} stamps!


My last card to share with you today is probably one of my absolute favorites!! Not just because it's coffee themed... I do love my coffee!! But because it was such a quick card!! I colored a few of the cups and mugs from the Hot Mess {border backgrounds} stamp just randomly with coral and turquoise shades (I didn't write the Copic markers down but I'm thinking it was BG11, BG34, R01, and R22) and then smooshed it in Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Oxide inks. Once the panel was dry, I die cut it with the Blueprints 22 dies by My Favorite Things. I then stamped the sentiment from Kimmie Girl, die cut it with a circle die and mat it on a slightly larger circle die cut from Early Espresso card stock. I adhered my panel to an Early Espresso card base and then popped up the sentiment with foam squares. Easy peasy and delicious!! 

Be sure to leave a comment on each of my GIU blog posts for a chance to win one of two fabulous grab bags of 25 stamps from Unity Stamp Company!!! 
You can check out my other GIU days:


Thanks so much for checking out my blog!
See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,
Crystal




72 comments:

  1. You are so creative and your coloring is stunning.

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  2. OMGee is right! I love Unity’s background stamps also. Making a simple card is so quick and easy with them. Just add a sentiment and/or embellishments. Color them or not they are still beautiful. Love your cards. Thank you for sharing your inspirational talents.

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  3. These are so stunning ,just love your coloring,just WOW

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  4. Oooh, I can almost smell that delicious yumminess from the coffee card over here! lol All of your cards are delightful and colored beautifully. I love the seahorse card - stunning and gorgeous color combo.

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  5. Oh my goodness!! All of these cards are simply gorgeous!! I think the seahorse is my favorite... the colors are fantastic! I love the Unity background stamps, too... and after this, there are a couple more on my wishlist!

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  6. I love all of the cards, but love the first and last ones best!! They both speak to my love of Christmas and coffee!!

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    1. Yes!! I love Christmas and coffee too!! Thank you, Linda!

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  7. I like your cards lady😊 you do some awesome coloring

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  8. These cards are great Crystal. Like you I love your little seahorse card. Never would have thought to use that gorgeous color for it. Love it!! 😍😍😍

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  9. Fabulous cards. I picked up my first of those border backgrounds recently myself! So fun! Especially love your coffee card and the citrus card!

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    1. Thank you, Amy! Ohhh... they are addicting!! Your first of many!!

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  10. Oh, I just love your seahorses card!!!! The coloring is great

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  11. I love all your creations! I've wanted to jump on the border bandwagon but now I HAVE to! Love the ocean themed one so much! Beatiful!

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    1. Thank you so much, Kim! Yes... you need these in your life!! lol

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  12. Love border stamps too! These are all just beautiful!!!

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  13. I love the border stamps also. The seahorse card is especially beautiful! Really awesome cards and you explain what you did very well. Thank you again for sharing!

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  14. The colors on all of these are gorgeous. Citrus Medley is so pretty and summery. I just got Hot Mess. Love the background stamps❤️

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  15. These lovely backgrounds truly shine on your cards, each is a beauty.

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  16. Fabulous cards you created with these background border stamps.

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  17. I love your card designs, especially the sea horse one. A great technique!

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  18. Well you just hit it out of the park with these borders!!!! I can't think about Christmas yet but that card is awesome-ly shiny!!!!!

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  19. I love your border background cards! They are so beautiful and full of life. I especially love the ocean theme one!

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  20. These are lovely cards but that seahorse card is WOW!

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  21. Love these border designs! Really pretty cards! The one with the shells is my favorite!

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  22. I love all your border stamp cards; they are each and everyone, amazing!!! ❤️❤️❤️I need you to teach me to color!😁

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    1. Thank you so much, Dorothy! I would love to color with you!! That would be so much fun!

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  23. So many wonderful cards! I think the seahorse is my favorite! I may have to pick up some of these border stamps.

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  24. Wow, Crystal, these are all just perfectly done cards. Your patience in coloring the backgrounds is inspiring!

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  25. Beautiful colors, love
    the purple card!
    Carla from Utah

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  26. Fun designs, Crystal! I really like the sea horse card.

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  27. I am super stoked you used the backgrounds for your post! I am anxiously awaiting the shells and absolutely adore how you colored it and used the Sea horse! I also just ordered the ornament one bc it’s been on my wishlist since it came out and it’s time to get those cards started! Your coloring is fabulous! Really enjoying your highlight week!

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  28. Well you did it. I promised myself I wasn’t gonna order again. After looking at these, what did I do? I ordered again! Hehehehe

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    1. Haha... ooops… sorry about that! *wink wink* Thanks for checking out my blog!

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  29. Great uses of the border background stamps. Definitely inspiring on how to change them up! Thanks, Crystal!😁

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  30. Thanks for using the border and background stamps in different ways. I especially love the seahorse! My fav! I have so many background stamps but just used them as backgrounds...some of your cards have inspired me to look at them differently. Thank you!

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    1. Yay! I'm so glad I've inspired you! Thanks for checking out my blog!

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  31. Thank you for sharing your beautiful ideas with us. Absolutely love the seahorse! But also inspired me with the citrus melody, I haven't used mine yet but it's out and ready to stamp today. Thanks again!

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    1. Woohoo! I hope you share what you create! Thanks for checking out my blog!

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  32. I like the way you used the border Christmas stamp. My favorite of all, the seahorse! I have the seahorse, so I had to buy the border stamp after seeing your card!

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  33. Holy cardmaking! You are a card making ninja!!! These are fantastic....each dang one!!! Wow!!!!!!!!!!

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  34. Love the boarder stamps!! You have shown awesome designs that can be applied to many of the different choices. Can’t wait to try some of you styles

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  35. So creative! Love the border stamps and all of your creations!!

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  36. I really love them all. The rich jewel colors of the ornaments stuck me, but the seahorse card was also a great one.

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  37. These are amazing...particularly the seahorse one! The colors are gorgeous!

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