Saturday, December 7, 2019

~ Friends of Unity December Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friends!
It's my favorite time of the month and this month it's extra special because...


we're celebrating 2 years of hopping with Friends of Unity!! Woohoo! I am so beyond excited about this month's hop! Eeeep! 

We have some fun stuff planned... our usual giveaways PLUS we have 2 HUGE prize packages that Angela Magnuson graciously put together from Unity just for this celebration AND we also have 3 FABULOUS guest designers hopping with us this month!! A HUGE thank you to our Guest Designers... Donna K Baes, Shannon Edwards, and Jessica Pickeral!! We are so excited to have you talented ladies join us this month!!

So when I say HUGE prize packages... I. AM. NOT. KIDDING!!

Prize pack #1!!


And prize pack #2!!

Amazing, right?! I'll have details below on how you can enter to win one of these fabulous prizes!!


Now, onto our hop... and the cue this month is All is Calm... 



a little bit ironic, am I right?! Our cue is about a time of peace and calm when we're having a huge celebration. It made me giggle but I love it! I mean, it 'tis the season!


My first card is using the gorgeous deer stamp and sentiment called All is Calm all is Bright... a sweet Itty Bitty kit just perfect for the Holidays! I combined it with the beautiful Prancing Holiday {paper pack} to make a super quick card! No joke, this took me maybe 10 minutes... and that was only because it took me a couple extra minutes to find just the right red ink for the deer.


I just love it! Beautifully simple and a card that will go through the mail easily without any extra postage! Bonus!


I loved the design of my first card so much, I decided to make another one with a new release... this adorable snowman with his little birdie friends from the All the Small Things kit... oh my goodness! I love it so much! I decided to use another fabulous paper pack from Unity called Brilliant Blizzard!


I tied in the colors of the Brilliant Blizzard papers by coloring the snowman's mixed matched clothes with similar colors. Too cute! I just love this sweet stamp!


My last card is another take on the cue... rather than another Christmas card, I thought I'd create a scene of a calm winter's night using a few of the gorgeous stamps from the October 2019 SMAK kit called All Bundled Up. The last few SMAK kits have been absolutely amazing and this one is definitely a favorite!! 

I started by taping off the bottom portion of my card stock with some purple tape. I then blended Tumbled Glass, Wilted Violet and Chipped Sapphire Distress Oxide inks. Once I had a nice blend, I did a little water splatter and white acrylic paint splatter. I let the panel dry overnight to be sure that it was completely dry. I also heat set it just a bit the next day with my heat gun. I knew I was going to heat emboss the cabin image and I wanted to be sure that the embossing powder wouldn't stick to the background. I also rubbed my Ranger Anti-Static pouch over the panel to be safe. 


I then stamped the cabin with VersaMark watermark ink and heat set a black embossing powder. At this point you could still see the background through the cabin so I pulled out my Hickory Smoke, Black Soot and Mustard Seed Distress Oxide inks to watercolor the background with along with my water pen. It took a few applications of the inks to get a nice layer over the background but I think it turned out well. You can see some of the white acrylic paint splatters on the cabin but it almost looks like a light snow... even though I was working towards a calm winter night. I also added a touch of gray to the ground to give the snow some dimension around the cabin. 


To finish off the panel, I stamped the sentiment with VersaMark watermark ink and heat set a fine white embossing powder. I trimmed the panel down to 4 x 5-1/4" and mat it with white card stock measuring 4-1/8 x 5-3/8". I then adhered the mat panel to a black card base. Using both black and white for my layers helps to make the black and white embossed images pop on the card.

That's it for my cards this month! AND because I love the October 2019 SMAK kit SO much... I may have just bought an extra to giveaway for this fabulous celebration of 2 years!!! Woohoo!! I will be announcing the winner for my giveaway on December 14th so hopefully the winner will receive their prize in time for Christmas!! Seriously... SO exciting!!

Thank you all so much for your continued support of our little hop for these 2 fantastic years!!! I really, truly do appreciate each and every one of your sweet comments! 

A few of my friends are having giveaways on their blogs too, so be sure to hop and comment on each of our blogs!! And if you'd like a chance to win one of the fabulous Unity Prize packages be sure to hop and comment on each of our blogs... two winners will be randomly chosen from the comments and they could be chosen from any of the blogs participating in the hop, not just mine!! So be sure to hop and comment!! 

Winners for the Unity Prize packages will be announced on December 14th here on my blog and in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group... are you a member of the group? You can join by clicking ---> here!! 



Let's get to the hopping...

Crystal <--- you are here

up next ---> Eileen














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

Inky Hugs,
Crystal





75 comments:

  1. Wow! That little cabin is so cozy! I love it!

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  2. I have the All is Calm Itty Bitty and like using it, but the way you combined it with the holiday paper is perfect! All 3 of your cards have such unique looks. I had not seen that cabin before and it's an awesome image. Happy Anniversary!

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  3. Congrats on two awesome
    years! Love checking in
    each month for all the
    inspiring and fun posts.
    Your snowman card is so
    charming and love all the
    cards.
    Carla from Utah

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  4. I love your cards, especially the snowman. Soooo cute!

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  5. Beautiful cards Crystal! They are all so different from each other! I love the sweater paper with the deer... the ten minutes was well spent matching ink😁. The snowman card is a adorable! The sky on your house card is pretty... it makes me want to go do some ink blending! Congratulations to you and the group on 2 years of wonderful creations! ❤️

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  6. I absolutely love unity’s dance! Your cards are great! And thank you so much for having the opportunity to win one of these packages.

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  7. Such pretty cards!!
    Love them all but I just adore the 2nd card!!
    Happy anniversary FOU!!

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  8. Your cards are so lovely, as always - love the reindeer one
    Thanks for the chance to win a wonderful prize

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  9. Your cards are amazing, I love the snowman with the sled....I cant wait to get that stamp. Thank you for asking me to join. I am honored to be here.

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  10. Great cards -- I especially like the last one with that awesome sky! I had to smile at your thoughts on "All is calm!"

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  11. Fabulous cards, I love the first one, so pretty in red!!! But love them all!!

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  12. I love all 3 of your cards, but my favorite is the last one of the house! So warm and inviting looking!

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  13. That snowman card is my favorite! But to be honest they are all wonderful

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  14. Congrats on celebrating 2 years! Your cards are a fab showcase for this month's theme, lovely papers and blending paired with these images.

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  15. Wow- three great cards! I so love the deer, love the sweet snowman with the birds, and so LOVE the cabin on the Distress inks with the watercoloring- love the white paint distress look. Congrats on 2 years of this group hopping! Awesome!!!

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  16. Awesome cards! love the deer image and the snowman! And your winter scene card with the cabin is lovely!

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  17. Your cards are always so creative. I love them.

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  18. Thank you for sharing your creative ideas. Your cards are awesome.

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  19. I love your cards, we all wish we could buy every unity stamp out there

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  20. I love all the cards, the simplicity of the Deer and Snowman cards makes me want to get to work... the time and effort that you put into the Cabin is amazing - I have only embossed small things like sentiments guess I have to thing bigger and emboss a cabin.. love the work you have done.

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  21. I love them all, the snowman card is absolutely my favorite! Congratulations on 2 years!

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  22. All your cards are great! I especially like the cabin card. So peaceful. Makes me want to curl up by the fire with my Hot Chocolate and Bailey’s! Thanks for sharing.

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  23. Crystal, these cards are so pretty. Love the ease of the first two

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  24. I loved this cards, so beautiful. I appreciate you sharing your talent with us.

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  25. Beautiful cards Crystal! Those prize packages are amazing.

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  26. These are beautiful, Crystal! I love the look of the easy peasy deer one. I’m often stumped with how to use him. Gorgeous work as always. 💕

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  27. What nice cards! I like the snowman best, probably because I love blue and white for Christmas, but all of them are so nice.

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  28. I love your cards! (I used the deer for most of my Christmas cards this year.)

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  29. I love all 3 of your cards but my favorite is your adorable snowman!! I'm using snowmen on my Christmas cards and I hope mine turn out half as cute.

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  30. Aww, the little snowman is sooooo adorable! LOVE that darling card! Love the deer, too - I have that beauty! And your ink blending of the sky is just fabulous and perfect for that nice, cozy cabin!

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  31. Your cards are beautiful! I love them all. Congrats on the two years.

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  32. Awesome cards Crystal! Thanks for heading up such a great hop!

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  33. All your cards are lovely but I especially love the Cabin card with the beautiful night sky! That SMAK kit is awesome!

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  34. I am always at awe when looking at your cards!

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  35. The snowman card is so sweet and adorable. I love the pale colors you used to color the image and the patterned paper for the background. It is soft and yet so crisp and beautiful!

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  36. I like all the cards, the cabin one is so peaceful.

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  37. Lovely cards, each so different, but, all is calm! Congrats for 2 years for this fun group effort!! Thank you Crystal, and wow that was so generous for you to share a chance for that yummy SMAK kit!!!

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  38. This is incredible! I LOVE them all! Especially that snowman! Just a darling scene and amazing coloring! Congrats on 2 years!

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  39. Oh, I love that die with the rounded corners that you used on your snowman and reindeer cards. The cozy cabin design is just beautiful, and colored so perfectly!

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  40. Great cards, you never disappoint!

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  41. Every thing you create is just stunning, Crystal. Thank you so much for inviting me to join the hop on such a special occasion.

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  42. Wow, that is some crazy good coloring. I am impressed with the style and coloring!

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  43. This is just what I need...a couple of quick cards since I am running out of time. Thanks!

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  44. Just amazing, friend! Love the "sweater" look of your first card. And I LOVE snowmen and your soft colors are just precious. And that cabin is calling my name. Love that stamp and the background. Just wonderful cards. Thank you for the inspiration! Congratulations on 2yrs! Happy Holidays!

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  45. I love the card with the house... it speaks *peaceful night* to me!

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  46. I love all of your sweet designs this month, my friend! Happy Anniversary! Here's to a few more years!

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  47. Love your cards! Such great inspiration and some stamps that I think I need to add to my cart as well!

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  48. Crystal, I just love the night sky you created on your cabin card! I still have to give this technique a try. The red ink matches perfectly with your paper choice on the deer card. And that snowman with the little birds is too cute. I hope I have thanked you before, but if not, thanks for creating this group. I am having the best time. I am so honored that you and Amber asked me to be a part of this amazing, creative group two years ago. Happy Anniversary to us and I look forward to many more! Hugs

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  49. Gosh that cabin card is my fav! Wishing I had that stamp and also had the cabin for real. Lol

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  50. Love the images and cards you created!

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  51. Love your colours on the cottage.

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  52. Great cards .. love the plaid paper and deer; snowmen are my favorite .. and that cabin is WOW!!

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  53. Love the snowman card! Thanks for sharing all the details on that last one. Very creative!

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  54. Lovely, the snowman on the sled is totally adorable!

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  55. Wow! That cabin in the dark... so cool!

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  56. They are all great cards and I especially love how well the paper goes with the deer on the first card.

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  57. Great cards, I especially like the night sky and the cabin. Thanks so much!

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  58. My favourite is the 3rd one!!! love the night sky!

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  59. I really love the ink blending on the last card!!!

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  60. Love your style, and all of your cards here. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  61. OMG gf this is soooo inspirational...that ink blending, totally to die for ! night skies are always hard for me to do but you made this look so easy !! happy hopping from New Zealand :) perfect xmas timing for my no spend to be so motivated to make xmas cards xx

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  62. These are all beautiful! Thanks for showing us how you create. This motivates me to try different techniques.

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  63. Your cards are all so beautiful that it's hard to choose a favorite, but that reindeer card, and the cozy cabin are calling out to me! With my two girls all excited about Christmas the festivities have already started!

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  64. Just WOW! Love your cards. Unity has hit it out of the park with their line of pattern paper. They are like potato chips- you can’t have one, you want them all!

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  65. You are such a wonderful artist! Love all the cards but I must say the cabin is awesome! Very nice job!

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  66. Love all of these cards! You are so creative. The night sky on the last card is just stunning!

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  67. Wow, finally getting around to hopping and looking at all these wonderful cards! Very pretty cabin... and the others are gorgeous too!

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  68. Very nicely done! & congratulations to Unity on their two years of blog hops!

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