Saturday, February 1, 2020

~ Friends of Unity February 2020 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friends!
It's my favorite time of the month... time for the Friends of Unity Blog hop!!


This month we have a Monochromatic cue... fun right?!! And Chall.En.Ging!! This cue was a big challenge for me. I really struggled with it! But once I got started, I couldn't stop... so I have a few cards to share with you today!


My first card is using the new gorgeous February 2020 Uniquely Unity by Ang kit called Here For You!! Isn't she gorgeous!? She was a dream to color too... so amazing! I love thinking outside of the box and coloring images with unexpected colors. This one actually reminds me of a black and white photo... so maybe it's not way outside the box, but still fun!


I used the following Copic markers ~ N0, N1, N2, N3, Colorless Blender.
A pretty simple list of markers... I wanted her hair to 'shine' so I only gave it the slightest bit of shading. I also made sure to do the darkest shading around the girl so she would pop.


Once she was all done and I had die cut her out with a stitched rectangle die... I tried to find the perfect patterned paper to pair with her. I couldn't find one! I'm still in shock... LOL! But... it gave me an excuse to create my own background which I haven't been doing much of lately. I pulled out a piece of Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor paper and smooshed some Hickory Smoke Distress Oxide... well, the watered down and smooshed Hickory Smoke ink changed into a warm gray. It's a little off from the neutral grays that I used in the copic colored girl so I decided to do some stamping near the edges so the colors would peek out from behind the main image.


I used the Never kit and the I Am Who I Am kit... these mixed media kits had the perfect stamps to compliment the design around the girl image. I stamped them with the Hickory Smoke Distress Oxide ink and Black Soot Distress Oxide ink. I dried my background with my heat tool, trimmed it, and adhered it to a black card front. I adhered a strip of black card stock across the card and then popped up the main image that I had also mat with black card stock. To finish it off, I added a bit of metallic black thread and a few black roses from the Tim Holtz Heirloom Roses - Halloween package. I wish the roses showed up better in this photo... overall though, I love how this card turned out and it gave me an idea for my next card!


A purple scene card!! I'm going to be honest here... this card gave me SO MUCH trouble!!! OMG... it took me three tries to get it how I wanted it and I'm still not totally sure it's right. LOL... and then to top it off two of my copic markers suddenly dried up!! UGH! Maybe that's why I'm not sure it's right because I didn't get to finish blending out the colors how I had wanted.


Anywho... this lovely scene was created using the wonderful new stamp set in the February 2020 Whit Kit Let Your Soul Wander... another fabulous card kit!! Since I was doing the monochromatic technique, I just used the stamps in the card kit. By the way, the card kit is amazing!! Whit seriously knocked the ball out of the park with this one!!  


I used the following Copic markers on this card ~ V0000, V000, V04, V12, V17. I do love the purples in this scene that I created even though I didn't quite get to finish blending it all out. 


I didn't want to mess with the scene so I just trimmed the panel down a bit and mat it with a purple card stock. I then adhered the panel to a white card base and called this card done!


So... if you're a member of the Unity Show & Tell group, you may have seen the sneak peek of the February 2020 KOM called Timeless that Angela shared this week. I instantly fell in love with this kitty!! How adorable!! I knew I wanted to make one more card using teals and as soon as I saw the kitty, this idea popped in my head! Like my first card, I did a combination of copic coloring, ink smooshing, and stamping. First I blended out some teal copics around the sweet kitty.


I used the following Copic markers ~ BG000, BG01, BG10, BG45, BG49. I die cut the kitty image with a Large Cross-Stitched Circle Stackables die from Lawn Fawn. I set it aside and got to work on the background. I grabbed another Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor paper and ink smooshed Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide inks. I dried the panel and then ink smooshed some more adding some layers and dimension to the color. I then dried the panel completely with my Ranger Heat Tool. I pulled out the March 2017 Layers of Life kit called Love Who You Are and stamped the large rectangle background stamp a couple times with Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide ink. I then stamped the three circles with lines from the March 2014 Layers of Life kit called Spring Inspired with Gina K Amalgam Jet black ink. And also stamped the small sprig of greenery from the Hello Lovely kit by Gina K. Designs with the black ink.


I then trimmed down the panel, mat it with black card stock, and adhered it to a teal card base. I stamped the sentiment and mat it on black card stock. I popped up the kitty image and sentiment with foam tape. And there is my third monochromatic card for this hop! Phew! A lot of work for this one, but I truly enjoyed the challenge!!


I want to say a HUGE Thank You!!! Time got away from me and I didn't come back and thank each of you for the lovely comments for last months hop, but I really, truly appreciate each of you taking the time to share your thoughts so... THANK YOU!!

Now, I do need to share the winner of my giveaway from last month and that is...




Scrappy!! 
Congratulations!! You are the winner of a brand new Say It Big May 2019 Sentiment Kit!!! Please email me at crystalominkler@gmail.com to claim your prize. Prize must be claimed within two weeks.


 A few of my friends are having giveaways so be sure to check out all the fabulous creations along the hop and comment on each blog for a chance to win!! 

Thank you all so much for your continued support of our little hop... and for all of your lovely comments! I really, truly do appreciate each and every one of your sweet comments. 


Let's get to the hopping...

Crystal <--- you're here

up next ---> Eileen










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

Inky Hugs,
Crystal






33 comments:

  1. OMG!!! I can't pick a favorite among the 3 cards you posted. They are all amazing and capture your eye. You have me thinking very differently about monochromatic colors.

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  2. I think they all look great! Even the majestic purple mountains!

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  3. I always love what you create using Unity stamps. Sooo beautiful.

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  4. Fantastic cards Crystal! I am so in love withe the teal one

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  6. Fabulous monochromatic cards Crystal! I really liked the black and white photo look of the first card...stunning! The Whit kit card is so cool... your purple hues look beautifully blended to me... hope you can get refills for your copics, though . The cat!! Love the teal with the black!!

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  7. Loved the cards, have to admit the first one is my favorite. You put so much time and care in describing what you have done that I almost think I could make a card like yours. Of course I know it's not so, but I am willing to give it a try.

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  8. Crystal thanks for this great post. Brand new kit madness!!! Love the monochrome theme for the hop! Love these hops.

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  9. Those purple mountains are so awesome!

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  10. Great cards, Crystal! That little cat with the glasses is just too much. Can't get enough of that kitty! Your coloring of the woman "loved me at my darkest" is tremendous! Very beautiful work for both cards! <3

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  11. Oh I love them all. I especially love the black and white one. She is a beautiful image and love the artistic quality and dramatic sentiment. It is a beautiful card.

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  12. Great job with the monochromatic cards. Love the purple one.

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  13. That black and gray tho!!! Fabulous!!!

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  14. That kitty!!!! I'm seriously stealing that. It's absolutely incredible.

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  15. I love all of the cards. That dramatic black and white woman. Those purple shadows behind the island of trees! And I adore your cat card - love the teal, but most of all the glasses and the little heart-shaped nose on that cute kitty!

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  16. Well my dear you knock these out the park😍

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  17. your cards are great. I love the black and grey one.

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  18. Amazing tonality from the color purple. Gorgeous card!

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  19. Crystal, you ALWAYS amaze me. Every single card is incredible in it’s own way. That cat card design wow wow. And the lady. My word it’s so perfect. ♥️

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  20. What great monochromatic cards! Thanks for sharing.

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  21. Monochromatic cards
    look so eye catching.
    Very pretty.
    Carla from Utah

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  22. Great cards love them all! Thanks for inspiring me!

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  23. Blue kitty cat is by far my favorite, and I can't wait to get my own kit now! Great cards!

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  24. Awesome images on your cards! I am really loving that mountain scene!

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  25. Love these cards. Really love the cat too.

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  26. All of these are amazing. You totally nailed it. My Fab is the cat!

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  27. Perfect monochromatic cards. Love each of them. Your coloring is awesome. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  28. Great creations! I love the purples you used. I never would have thought to use those images on a monochrome purple card. Very cool!

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  29. These cards are gorgeous! Perfect choice of colors on each one!

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