Saturday, December 5, 2020

~ Friends of Unity December 2020 Blog Hop ~

 Hello there crafty friend!

Welcome to the December 2020 Friends of Unity Blog Hop! Our cue this month is...




... My Favorite Things!!
So fun! I have A LOT of favorite things... owls, coffee, books, snowmen, wreaths, holly & berries, old trucks, daisies, sunflowers... really I could go on with about a dozen more of my favorite things but the TOP of that list is Unity Stamp Co.!! I'm a HUGE fan of the fabulous company which is why I started this awesome monthly blog hop, along with my awesome friend Amber! Today we are celebrating 3 fantastic years of us hopping with Unity inspiration!! Woohoo!! I can't believe that it's been 3 years already... I for one, can't wait to see what the next 3 years brings!

I hope that you'll hop along with us and enjoy the fabulous inspiration we're bringing this month. Speaking of... let's get to it! 



My first card features the fabulous new Uniquely Unity stamp called Take a Break. If you're new to Unity, Uniquely Unity is a fabulous membership that Unity offers monthly. Each month you receive a wonderful stamp set in all different styles. It's one of my favorite memberships!

Anywho... if you've followed my blog you may recognize this card design. I used it with a Santa stamp a couple of years ago and I really love the design so I thought I'd recreate it with this new beautiful stamp that just happens to feature one of my favorite things... Coffee!! I also paired it up with one of my new favorite Christmas papers, the Farmhouse Christmas papers! The colors in these papers are just gorgeous! I also used a piece of the Cozy Christmas papers... the sweater piece! Love it! 


I die cut the image with the Papertrey Ink Shape Shifters: Oval 2 die and colored it with the following Copic markers:

Skin ~ E000, E00, E11
Hair ~ E35, E74, E79
Hat/Sleeve ~ E41, YG67, YG93, R00, R21
Blanket ~ E0000, E41, E81, R14, R27
Mug ~ BG70, BG72, N0, N1, N4

The sentiment is actually from a piece of patterned paper from Tim Holtz Christmas Paper Stash paper pad. I cut the words right out of the paper and adhered it to white card stock and then popped it up on the card along with the popped up focal image. I adore this card!!



My second card features the beautiful Start Something New stamp set... and books!! Another one of my favorite things!!! Notice anything about the design of this card?! It's another take, like a mirror image, of the first card. I used one of my favorite techniques... layering stencils to create my background. First I used the Scalloped Circle Masquerade Stencil from Heffy Doodle and blended a bit of Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide ink over it. I then used the Twinkle Stencil from Whimsy Stamps and blended a bit of Mermaid Lagoon Distress Oxide ink. I stamped the sentiment and the girl with Memento Tuxedo black ink. I trimmed the card front down to 4 x 5" and adhered it to a Tempting Turquoise card front measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". I then adhered the card front to a white A2 top fold card base.


I then colored the girl using the following Copic markers:

Skin ~ E000, E00, E11
Hair ~ E21, E25, E27
Clothes ~ YR000, YR12, YR15, YR21, B95, B97, B99
Books ~ W3, G14, E57, E43, YR000, YR21, E74, B95, B97, G94, C00, C1

I fussy cut the image and popped her up on the card. To finish off this card I added a few dots with Nuvo Blue Lagoon Glitter drops. Love it! I really love that the designs are similar but so different!

I started a third card but didn't have enough time to finish it up. Boo!
I'm hoping to share it in a few days though. 

In celebration of our 3 years of hopping I am having a giveaway!! I will use random.org to chose a winner from the comments so be sure to comment on each of the blogs while you're hopping! I believe a few of my friends are also having giveaways this month!


Let's get to the hopping...

Crystal <--- you're here

up next ---> Eileen










Thanks so much for supporting our little hop!
We appreciate you so much!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,
Crystal















68 comments:

  1. OK... you made me click on the links to both of the paper sets you used on your first card. I will add those to my next Unity order for sure. Love your cards and the detailed description of how you created them. Happy Anniversary!!

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  2. I love both of your cards!!
    The first one is just amazing and your second card is my favorite!! I love your stenciling!!!! That look so pretty, I'm going to try it first thing Monday!!
    Happy anniversary!!!

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  3. I don't know how you only made two cards with so many favorite things! lol I love the image from 'Take a Break' - coffee is a favorite for me as well. I love that you made it a Christmas card and also love the way you did the sentiment. The 2nd card is just as lovely. The stencilled BG circle is really pretty.

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    1. Well, I did start a third card... lol! And had lots more ideas, but time got away from me. Thanks so much for hopping with us each month! I appreciate you!

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  4. Both cards are beautiful Crystal, and a really pretty design too

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  5. These are both so fabulous. I can easily see why these are some of your favorite things. Happy Anniversary!!!

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  6. These are both gorgeous! I can't wait for for my UU kit to arrive next week! Thanks so much for all you share all year. Congratulations on 3 years!!! :)

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    1. Thanks so much for your sweet comments and for supporting us each month! You'll love the UU!!

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  7. Beautiful as always!❤️❤️❤️

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  8. As always you never cease to amaze me! You are truly a very talented artist! I always enjoy seeing what new creations you are going to come up with next!

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  9. You k ow you’re enabling us, right? Hahahaha

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  10. Congrats on 3
    awesome years!
    Love the second
    card, so pretty.
    Carla from Utah

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    1. Thanks so much for supporting us and commenting each month, Carla!!

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  11. Love how you offset the card panel on each card. I never think to do that but it works so well with this design!

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  12. Beautiful cards! I love the layering being off center!

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  13. Wonderful cards sharing favorite things.

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  14. Lovely cards Crystal! I love how you used the same design sketch for both... similar but different 😁!❤️

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  15. I love both of these cards. The new image is amazing and I love the layout you chose. The subtle colors are so pretty and keep the image so light and beautiful. Thanks so much for the awesome ideas!

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    1. Thanks so much for supporting us and commenting each month, Rachel! We appreciate you!

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  16. Definitely unique cards. When looking thru a Blog Hop, it's the first persons card that draws me in to see the rest. You certainly piqued my interest. I loved both of your cards.

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  17. Love the stenciled background on your second card. So pretty!

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  18. I love to see how everyone stages the front of their cards. So many talented artists.

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  19. I love both of these Crystal! Thank you for sharing! I added Start Something New to my wishlist too! She is beautiful1

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    1. Thanks so much, Natasha!! Ohhh... you'll love the addition to your collection!

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  20. Happy Anniversary! Thanks again for asking me to be a part of this fabulous group. I am still truly humbled. Both cards are beautiful! I love the designs on each as well! Your cards are always so inspiring.

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    1. Ohhh... sweet friend! I should be thanking you again for saying Yes!! I'm blessed to have you on our team and even more blessed to have you as a friend! Happy Anniversary!!

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  21. Love the way you colored the images! Beautiful cards!

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  22. Congrats on 3 years of this hop! This design is just fab to feature both pretty papers and a fab focal image. I adore the stencil background on the second card. Thank you for sharing this lovely inspiration!

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  23. Happy 3rd Anniversary and many many more hops please; I really enjoy them! The team is so talented! Your coloring is beautiful. I love that the faces are usually hidden, a wonderful story in each image. Thanks for starting this treasure! These cards are beautiful, will be watching for that 3rd one.

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    1. Thanks so much for hopping with us, Carol. I still need to finish up that 3rd card... hopefully soon!

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  24. I love that girl with the books! Such a great card.
    Thank you also for my prize from the prior hop... my favorite part...a card from you! 🧡

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  25. Great cards! The Start Something New was one of my earliest Unity stamps - she so reminds me of my daughter! Love seeing all of your & your fellow hop artists creations!

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  26. Great cards, but I absolutely adore the second one! I love hou you used stencils to create your background. I'm definitely going to do more of that. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  27. I, too, have a looong list of favotrites. Haha! Love your cards, but my goodness your first card is just gorgeous. I thought I recognized the layout. I love it! I need to follow sketches more! Happy Anniversary and thank you (and Amber) for this amazing group. I am so honored to be a part of it! :)

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  28. Such beautiful cards. I love the second one with the girl on the stack of the books. The background stenciled is amazing. Your coloring is Flawless. Great start to the top.

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  29. Happy Anniversary! Beautiful cards, amazing coloring, and love your patterned paper. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  30. Oooh, both of your cards are so beautiful and they also happen to feature my two favorite things as well. Books and coffee are tops on my list! Love how you used the same card sketch in mirror image and this is one I'll have to CASE as well. Congrats on your 3 years of sharing your love of Unity. Stay well and enjoy the holidays.

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  31. I am just blown away by the beautiful designs and coloring in your cards. The sentiment in your second card is so perfect for the New Year.

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