Saturday, November 5, 2022

~ Friends of Unity November 2022 Blog Hop ~

 Hello there crafty friend!
It's one of my favorite times of the month... time for the Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! Our cue this month is a new one. I don't think we've done this one before. I have to admit I'm rusty and tossed aside a couple things I started but I still have a few cards to share that turned out ok. I'm excited to see the creations our friends have to share with us though so let's get to the cue...


... Watercolor! Not a medium that I've played with in quite awhile actually. I tend to copic color, ink smoosh or ink blend. Those are pretty much my go-to techniques. So this one was a challenge for me. I hope you like what I ended up keeping. LOL!


October was a very busy month and I didn't get to play with my October Whit Kit so I thought I'd make a couple cards using the kit. I've been itching to play with the beautiful pumpkin stamp from the kit. The pumpkins were stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink and watercolored using a few ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Markers. 

My card design was inspired by the latest sketch I've shared in my Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. A fun CAS sketch with a bit of watercolor wash or ink smooshing in the background and then a focal image over that. Pretty easy peasy.


I decided to play with my very neglected Ken Oliver Color Bursts... I used Yellow Ochre and Pthalo Green over a piece of Canson XL Watercolor Paper. Once I was happy with my background, I ran it through my big shot in the pretty Plaid Embossing folder that was included in the October Whit Kit. I love the subtle texture it gives to the card. 


I stamped the sentiment with white pigment ink and heat embossed some white embossing powder. I die cut just a portion of the focal image with a square die from the newly released Scallops & Squares {nesting dies}. I popped it up on the card with foam tape. This didn't quite turn out how I envisioned it but I still like it.


My second card using the October 2022 Whit Kit... for this one I stamped the image with Black Amalgam ink and heat embossed clear embossing powder. No specific reason why I chose this ink. It's just what I grabbed. I think I need to reink the ink pad though... it did not take the embossing powder very well. 


I watercolored this one with my ZIGs again. It was fun playing with these markers again. It's been way too long since I've used them. I die cut the image with an oval die. The pretty orange paper is from the Enrich the Soul {paper pack} that was included in the kit. The linen bows from the kit are just too cute so I had to add one to the card. They look really nice with the jute ribbon I have so I added a piece of that under the focal piece. I adhered it to the card with some tear tape.


I popped up the focal piece with lots of foam tape and adhered the card front to a white A2 top fold card base that I turned on the side. I like the pumpkins as my focus so I decided not to put a sentiment on the front of the card.


I stamped one of the sentiments from the Enrich the Soul stamps inside the card. I just love this one! The October Whit Kit is no longer available but you can get the paper pack and the stamps individually now.  


And my third card... I thought it would be fun to watercolor on Kraft. I used my ZIGs again and boy did they do great on this Kraft card stock from Papertrey Ink. So happy with the result! I stamped the beautiful Twig of Merry stamp with white pigment ink and heat embossed some white embossing powder. In person the white embossing isn't quite as bright. 


I die cut the watercolored panel with one of the Postage Stamp {nesting dies}. I trimmed a piece of red card stock just slightly larger than the die cut. I adhered the layers together and then popped them up on a Kraft A2 top fold card base.


I also heat embossed the sentiment which is from the Ornamental Season {Itty Bitty}. This is a long sentiment so I had to mask portions of it and stamp them separately to get the sentiment how I wanted. I love how this card turned out!

Now before we get to the hopping, I chose a lucky winner from the comments on last month's hop to win a fun prize package and that lucky winner is...



... Teri Kellum!! Congratulations, Teri!!
Please email me at crystalominkler@gmail.com to claim your prize. 
Prize must be claimed within two weeks. 

Well, that's it for me this time! I had so much fun! Please hop along and enjoy some more inspiration from the Friends of Unity... I can't wait to see all the different projects being shared! I'm sure that some of my friends are having a giveaway so be sure to comment as you hop along. And as you hop along and comment, I wanted to recommend using Google Chrome as your browser. We've been having issues for awhile now with hoppers only being able to comment as Anonymous and if you use Google Chrome you'll be able to log in and comment as you hop. I hope this helps some of you. I know that it's been very frustrating!


Let's get to the hopping...


Crystal <--- you're here

up next ---> Amber












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

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,
Crystal


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47 comments:

  1. Love your cards… they always look so professionally done!

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  2. Oops… that was me… Joyce

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  3. I love all your cards! The card with the turquoise pumpkin is amazing. I love the jute ribbon paired with the patterned paper and your coloring is awesome. I would never know you haven't don't watercolored lately! The first card background is incredible and the depth it lends the image is a standout. I love the ornament card, the color on kraft just glows!

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  4. These cards are so sweet. I like the schmooshy watercolor part a lot. I'm eager to see this challenge because I've been collecting watercolor stash from HL closeouts and have yet to put water to it. Thinking you may have got a spark started already. Happy Fall!

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    1. Thanks so much, Carol! I hope you had some fun with your watercolors!

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  5. Love your cards, Crystal! Good for you for pushing yourself, too. I hear you when it comes to watercoloring. Not my go-to, but I love the look. I especially like your kraft watercolored cards- mainly because I wouldn't have thought to try watercoloring on kraft. Love the white embossing around the ornaments!! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. These cards look lovely.
    Watercoloring is fun,
    I just need to use it more.
    Carla from Arizona

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  7. I personally liked the first card best! Bright burst in the background and the partial image! 😉
    Jenni S

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  8. Fabulous cards, as always Crystal

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  9. Fabulous cards, beautifully colored! Love the Color Burst background.

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  10. My K.O. colorbursts are also neglected as well as my alcohol inks!! You di such a beautiful job with the colorbursts AND the water coloring!! I'll bet whatever you threw away was, too! lol Gorgeous cards!! I really love aqua colored pumpkins paired with orange.

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    1. Yes!! My alcohol inks are neglected as well... not even sure where they are since our move! Thanks so much for the sweet comment, Becca!

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  11. I love all three cards and want to try a watercolor background like your first one - it's so unique!

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  12. Love the pumpkins and ornaments! Great designs for watercoloring!

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  13. You aren't rusty at all - gorgeous cards! Happy Thanksgiving to you!

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  14. These are beautiful! I LOVE the pumpkins and the ornament colors are amazing!

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  15. Great cards! Love the one on Kraft. Gotta try this!

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  16. I always love the card sketches you create. Loving the watercolor wash background on your first card so much!!

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  17. Beautiful cards, Crystal! I'm especially partial to the 2nd one.

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  18. Great cards!! I love your “smoosh” with the pumpkins!!

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  19. Beautiful cards! Your pumpkins are perfect!

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  20. These are all so beautiful! I especially love the second card. The paper is perfect with your stamped image and that bow is just darling.

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  21. Your cards are amazing. The backgrounds and images are stunning. Thanks for the wonderful Unity Stamps inspiration.

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  22. Amazing cards! I LOVE your pumpkin cards and the texture on your first card is beautiful. And love the watercolor effect on kraft, as we had similar ideas. Thanks for the inspiration! Happy Holidays, sweet friend.

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  23. I absolutely love each of your cards. I’m always amazed at how you whip them up and they’re always so stunning. The first one is my favorite! I love the background! Thanks for sharing the sketches as well. I use them often! They’re such a big help when I have zero inspiration!

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  24. Love the ornaments, very festive!

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  25. What a great theme to host this month!! Your cards are so beautifully done!

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