Membership Wednesday ~ July 2024 BOM Fiesta Flutters ~ Unity Stamp Co.

  Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a lovely card featuring the gorgeous stamp from the July 2024 Background of the Month membership called Fiesta Flutters from Unity. I am seriously loving this gorgeous background stamp! Butterflies are my jam! Haha...

I once again ink smooshed a few Distress Inks on Kraft card stock from Papertrey Ink. I love how the colors look on Kraft card stock! I ink smooshed Carved Pumpkin, Cracked Pistachio, and Festive Berries Distress Inks. This was such a different combo for me... what do you think?! I am loving it! 

I dried the ink smooshed panel completely with a Wagner Precision Heat Tool. I then prepped the card stock using a TE Anti-Static Powder Tool from Taylored Expressions. I stamped the gorgeous butterfly background using Sugar Cube White Pigment Ink, also from Taylored Expressions, and added Alabaster White Embossing Powder from Brutus Monroe to the wet ink. I then melted the powder using my heat tool. 

I die cut the butterfly background using the largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set. I then adhered the butterfly panel to a white A2 top fold card base. I stamped the sentiment from the Bitty Birthday Bash stamps on a long scrap of white card stock using the Festive Berries Distress Ink. I trimmed up the sentiment and adhered it to the card. To finish off the card, I added a few glittery white enamel dots from my stash. 

 

Here's a quick look at this month's Background of the Month membership! I love it so much!!

Well, that's it for me today! I hope you've been inspired to play with your membership stamps! 

Hope you have an ink-redible day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{Please note that comment moderation is on. Your lovely comment will appear once approved.}

Membership Wednesday ~ July 2024 UU Winged Impressions ~ Unity Stamp Co.

  Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a card featuring a gorgeous stamp from the July 2024 Uniquely Unity membership called Winged Impressions from Unity. I absolutely love butterfly stamps! And this awesome mix of butterfly and distressed text is amazing!!

I wanted to see what it would look like heat embossed on ink smooshed Kraft card stock. I love it! The distress inks smooshed on the Kraft card stock look so cool! I ink smooshed Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers, and Tea Dye Distress Inks on Kraft card stock from Papertrey Ink.

I dried the ink smooshed panel completely with a Wagner Precision Heat Tool. I then prepped the card stock using a TE Anti-Static Powder Tool from Taylored Expressions. I stamped the gorgeous butterfly using Sugar Cube White Pigment Ink, also from Taylored Expressions, and added Alabaster White Embossing Powder from Brutus Monroe to the wet ink. I then melted the powder using my heat tool. 

I tore the edges of the panel and added foam tape to the back. To figure out placement for the sentiment, I laid the butterfly panel on top of a Kraft A2 card base. I heat embossed the sentiment from the Bitty Birthday Bash stamps using the same steps as the butterfly. I wrapped some white baker's twine around the front of the card base securing it with tape on the front. I removed the backing from the foam tape and popped up the butterfly panel. To finish off the card, I added three white enamel dots.

 

Here's a quick look at this month's Uniquely Unity membership! So freaking gorgeous!! I love it!

Well, that's it for me today! I hope you've been inspired to play with your membership stamps! 

Have an ink-redible day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{Please note that comment moderation is on. Your lovely comment will appear once approved.}

Membership Wednesday ~ June 2024 KOM Whisper of Summer ~ Unity Stamp Co.

  Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a super CAS card featuring a gorgeous stamp from the June 2024 Kit of the Month membership called Whisper of Summer from Unity. I can't get enough of this month's KOM!! So many fantastic stamps and not enough time to ink them all up!

As I mentioned above, this is a CAS card. What does CAS mean? It an acronym for Clean and Simple. Clean basically means a lot of white space and simple, well simple means a simple design.  

I stamped the beautiful lemon circle using Squeezed Lemonade Distress Ink onto a card front of Stampers Select White Card Stock from Papertrey Ink measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". I die cut it using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. I stamped the lemon circle again partially on a scrap of white card stock and die cut it using a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}.

I stamped the sentiment directly on the panel using the Squeezed Lemonade Distress Ink but it was too light. I actually meant to just stamp the lower portion of the sentiment with Mustard Seed Distress Ink so it would kind of be ombre. BUT somehow my card stock had shifted so when I stamped it gave the appearance of a shadow. I decided to go with it and stamped the entire stamp using the Mustard Seed Distress Ink. I added foam tape to the back of the stitched circle and popped it up on the card. To finish off the card, I added a few yellow enamel dots from my stash. 

 

Here's a quick look at this month's Kit of the Month membership! LOVE it!! So many wonderful stamps!

Well, that's it for me today! I hope you've been inspired to play with your membership stamps! 

Have an ink-redible day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{Please note that comment moderation is on. Your lovely comment will appear once approved.}

Membership Wednesday ~ June 2024 KOM and BOM ~ Unity Stamp Co.

  Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a pretty card featuring a gorgeous stamp from the June 2024 Kit of the Month membership called Whisper of Summer from Unity. And I paired it up with the awesome June 2024 Background of the Month membership called Starry Splendor. These awesome stamps were meant for each other!

I stamped the butterfly {or is it a moth?} on a piece of Stampers Select White Card Stock from Papertrey Ink using Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks. I softened the lines of the ink using a blending brush.

I die cut the butterfly {or moth} using a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies} and set it aside. I stamped the background using the same three inks only this time I worked diagonally. I stamped directly on the front of a white A2 top fold card base. 

I stamped the sentiment using the Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink and trimmed it up fussy cutting a tail on the one end. I adhered it to the circle and then added foam tape on the back of both pieces. I removed the backing and popped them up on the card. I finished off the card with a few rhinestones from the Spring Bling rhinestones from Gina Marie Designs.

 

Here's a quick look at this month's Kit of the Month membership! LOVE it!! So many wonderful stamps!

And here's a look at the awesome Background of the Month membership! I love it! 

Well, that's it for me today! I hope you've been inspired to play with your membership stamps! 

Have an ink-redible day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{Please note that comment moderation is on. Your lovely comment will appear once approved.}

Membership Wednesday ~ June 2024 Whit Kit Hydrangea Love ~ Unity Stamp Co.

  Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a pretty card featuring the gorgeous hydrangea stamp from the June 2024 Whit Kit membership called Hydrangea Love from Unity. This gorgeous stamp was an absolute dream to color! So beautiful!

I stamped the Hydrangea Love flowers and sentiment on a piece of Stampers Select White Card Stock from Papertrey Ink using Black Amalgam Ink from Gina K. Designs. I loosely fussy cut the flower separating it from the sentiment. Before I started coloring the flowers with my Copic markers, I ink smooshed the flowers and leaves with a bit of Antique Linen Distress Ink. I wanted to see how the 'underpainting' of Antique Linen ink would change the look of the Copic coloring and I love the effect. I dried the flowers with a Wagner Precision Heat Tool and then I colored them up using my Copic markers.

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used:

Hydrangeas: RV91, RV93, RV95, BV23

Flower Centers: YG00, Y06, Y15, Y28

Leaves / Stem: YG91, YG95, YG97

I fussy cut the flowers along the line. I even cut through the bottom left flower and the leaf so that I could cut off that enclosed piece and open it up. The trick to doing that while fussy cutting is to cut in the center of the line so both images get some of the black line. And then very carefully color the edges of the whole image with the edge of a black marker from behind. Always from behind just in case the marker slips. I used a Memento Tuxedo Black marker. Coloring the edge cleans up the cutting and when it's adhered back together no one knows how you did it - unless you tell them, of course! LOL!

The background panel of Stampers Select Card Stock from Papertrey Ink was ink smooshed with Ground Espresso and Antique Linen Distress Inks. I left just a bit of white on the panel around the edges. I dried it with the Wagner Precision Heat Tool and then die cut the panel using the largest big scallops die from the recently released BIG Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. I trimmed the sentiment and just adhered it directly across the card. I also adhered the flowers directly to the card. No foam tape for this one. I added a few enamel dots from my stash to finish off the card. I just love how this turned out!

 

And here's a look at the awesome Whit Kit membership! I am seriously loving the stamps in this month's kit. Well, that's it for me today! I hope you've been inspired to play with your membership stamps! Have an ink-redible day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{Please note that comment moderation is on. Your lovely comment will appear once approved.}

Light Up the World ~ Echo of Kindness ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

The birthday celebration continues over at Unity with Whit's Birthday Sale!! And another amazing release, of course! Woohoo! I don't know about you but I was super excited to see a new Angie Girl!! Isn't she just darling!? And my daughter is always making hearts with her fingers like this. This girl could totally be her. I love it!

I stamped the girl and sentiment from the beautiful new Echo of Kindness stamps using Black Amalgam ink from Gina K Designs onto Stampers Select White Card Stock from Papertrey Ink. I colored up the girl with my Copic markers. I die cut the girl with a die from the Stacked Baroque die set from Tim Holtz and Sizzix. I added these cool dies to my stash awhile ago and just found them in the wrong place... lol! So I thought I'd use them for this card. Aren't they perfect with this sketch? I also die cut a piece of True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink using the slightly larger die from the same die set.

I trimmed the four pattern papers from the gorgeous Enveloped in Love {paper pack} from Unity to 4 x 5-1/4" and then I used a ruler and pencil to cut my angles. I basically did the same measurements and cuts that I used in this video... Cutting & Assembling Papers for {BYSHC} Sketch 29. I then adhered the papers to a True Black card front measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". And as I often do, I adhered the panel to a Stampers Select White Card Stock A2 top fold card base.

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used:

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Hair: E70, E71, E74, E77

Dress / Hair Tie: R000, R11, R32, R43

Inspiration for my card came from the {BYSHC} Sketch 29. It's not just a fabulous sketch for Christmas cards! LOL! This is an absolute favorite of mine! It always makes for a lovely card.

I die cut the sentiment using a die from the Scalloped & Stitched Sentiment Nesting Dies from Unity. I softened the brightness of the white card stock by blending with my brown blending brush. I didn't add any ink to it so it would stay light. I adhered the sentiment to the girl and added foam tape to the back of both. Popped it up on the card for a bit of dimension. I added a few black enamel dots from my stash to finish off the card. I love how this turned out! Hope you have an ink-tastic day! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

{Please note that comment moderation is on. Your lovely comment will appear shortly.}

Membership Wednesday ~ January 2024 BOM Butterfly Breeze Meadow ~ Unity Stamp Co.

  Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a quick sympathy card featuring the January 2024 Background of the Month membership from Unity called Butterfly Breeze Meadow. Yesterday was a rare day where I just didn't feel like coloring and a monochromatic card sounded perfect.

I stamped the beautiful A2 background stamp on Stampers Select White Card Stock from Papertrey Ink using Lost Shadow Distress Ink. I trimmed the panel down to 3-3/4 x 5".

I die cut a piece of Smokey Shadow Card Stock from Papertrey Ink using the largest die from the Postage Stamp {nesting dies}, also from Unity. I adhered the stamped background to the postage panel and then adhered the panel to a Stampers Select White Card Stock A2 card base.

I could of sworn that Unity has or had a 'with sympathy' die but I looked through my stash and didn't find one and then I checked the website and didn't find one. Maybe I imagined it. I don't know, but I still wanted to go with a sentiment that conveyed the feeling of a sympathy card so I went with the On My Mind {die}. I die cut the sentiment from Weathervane Card Stock from Papertrey Ink two times. And then I die cut it from Smokey Shadow Card Stock. I adhered the layers of the sentiment together using the awesome Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue. I love the fine tip on this glue!! And it hasn't clogged up on me one time! Love, love, love it!!

Here's a quick look at the Background of the Month membership this month! So gorgeous!

 Well, that's it for me today! I'll be back next week with a card probably using a stamp from the January 2024 Kit of the Month. Not totally sure, but that's what I'm leaning towards. Until then, have an ink-tastic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{Please note that comment moderation is on. Your lovely comment will appear once approved.}

Ink Cube Thumping ~ Technique Tuesday ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with another Technique Tuesday! On the 2nd Tuesday of each month I'll be sharing a bit of inspiration and a video featuring a fun technique. I hope that you'll be inspired to get inky and play along with some of the techniques that I share.

I do love to get inky so this time I thought I'd play with the Ink Cube Thumping Technique. Have you tried this simple technique?! It works great with so many different stamps and ink colors!

I paired up the Colossal Snowflake stamp with a couple of distress inks for some fun CAS cards.

Salvaged Patina with Peacock Feathers distress inks for my first card. Both panels were die cut using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies} and adhered to card fronts in coordinating colors. I used Bermuda Bay card stock from Stampin' Up for the card front on this first card.

Shaded Lilac with Dusty Concord distress inks for my second card. And I used Blackberry Bliss card stock from Stampin' Up for the card front on this second card. I also used the beautiful sentiment from the newly released Winter Cheer and Deer. Love the pretty font on this sentiment!

You can check out my process video here for my card... Ink Cube Thumping Technique | Technique Tuesday | Unity Stamp Co.

I played with a couple more card ideas using this fun technique. Both cards feature the beautiful Simple Blessings stamps. Loving the texture on these beautiful pumpkins! They were perfect for this technique.

Lots of fun layers for these cards and pretty Fall themed papers. 

Another fun technique! I sure hope you're inspired to pull out your stamps and give Ink Cube Thumping a try. If you give this fun technique a try, I'd love to see what you create so please share your cards in the Unity Show & Tell group and tag me. Have an ink-tastic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{Please note that comment moderation is on. Your lovely comment will appear once approved.}

Membership Wednesday ~ May 2023 KOM Bloom in Color ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back for another Membership Wednesday and today I'm sharing a card using the gorgeous mountain and tree stamps in the May 2023 Kit of the Month called Bloom in Color. Love the fantastic mix of stamp in this month's kit! I thought the mountain and trees stamp would make a wonderful masculine card.

I really like the monochromatic vibe for this card. However, I really wish I hadn't added that ribbon on the right side. It throws off the balance of the card. I think I may redo this one and omit that ribbon. The background card front layer is a piece of pattern paper from the Let Your Soul Wander {paper pack}. It's trimmed down to 5-1/2 x 4-1/4" and adhered to a white A2 top fold card base that I've turned on the side. 

I stamped the lovely trees and mountain stamp using Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I then stamped it again adding a bit of Ground Espresso Distress Ink near the bottom of the stamp. I used a blending brush to soften the line of the ink on my stamp before stamping it. A great trick for avoiding those harsh lines when stamping with multiple inks.

I trimmed the stamped panel to 3" and adhered the ribbon around the edges securing it with tear tape. I then adhered the panel to a slightly larger piece of Early Espresso card stock from Stampin' Up. I roughed up the edges of the dark brown card stock using a Tim Holtz Paper Distresser. I stamped the sentiment using the Ground Espresso Distress Ink. Trimmed it up and adhered it over the a portion of the trees. This was such an easy and quick card. I think it's a great masculine card... and it could be for any occasion just by switching the sentiment. And minus the ribbon, of course. 

Here's a look at the whole Kit of the Month for May!! I wish I had had more time to play with this one! Can you believe that you get this full sheet of rubber for only $44.99. That includes shipping! You also get a $6.95 discount on every order from Unity over $45. And you can purchase any past kits for only $34 plus shipping. Such a great value!

I hope to see you next week for another Membership Wednesday blog post. I'll be sharing inspiration for the amazing new June 2023 Uniquely Unity membership... at least that's what I'm leaning towards.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{Please note that comment moderation is on. Your lovely comment will appear once approved.}

Snail Mail Vintage Style Card ~ Making Spirits Bright with Christmas Express ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I don't know about you but as a cardmaker there's just something about postage style stamps and envelopes and mailboxes! I just adore them and love to use them in my cards! I especially love when they are Christmas themed and Unity just released two stamps... Making Spirits Bright and Christmas Express!! Both are a Must Have!!! Oh my gosh! 

The Christmas Express stamps just scream to be part of a background... I used a bunch of the stamps to create my background. This could easily be a full sheet that you could cut into four card fronts and make multiple cards from!

I went with a vintage style card which was easy to achieve with just a bit of distressing with some Vintage Photo Distress ink and the Paper Distressing tool from Tim Holtz to rough up the edges. I also added a bit of splatter with the Vintage Photo Distress ink. I mat that background layer with a slightly larger piece of True Black card stock. Under that is a layer of pretty pattern paper from the Old World Winter paper pack from The Paper Studio... it adds a bit more color and interest to the card. I die cut a piece of True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink with the Postage Stamp {nesting die} from Unity and adhered my layers on top of that. For my last layer I kept going back and forth between red and kraft... but with the mailbox being red I think the Pure Poppy card stock {Papertrey Ink} really helped to make the mailbox pop on the card.  

I wrapped the layers five times with {Natural} May Arts Burlap string and tied a little knot to the left. I fussy cut the Copic colored image leaving a skinny white border. I tend to fussy cut a white border when the image has small details that are harder to cut around like the leaves and berries. And I've also found that it helps the image to pop a bit more on the card. To add to the dimension of the image I did use foam tape to pop the mailbox on the card. I stamped the cute sentiment and distressed it with a bit of Vintage Photo Distress ink and mat it with black card stock. I also popped it up on the card with foam tape.

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used to color up the mailbox:

Mailbox ~ R20, R14, R27; N2, N5 {slot}

Snow ~ C00, C3

Letters ~ W00, W1, W3

Leaves ~ YG11, G24, G46

Berries ~ R20, R14, R27

Gifts ~ YG11, G24, G46 {green}; BG70, BG72, BG75 {blue}; Y15, Y35, Y28 {yellow}

Under Mailbox {to coordinate with the distressed edges} ~ E30, E31, E33

I'm sharing a new sketch based on my card today in my Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. It's similar to a sketch I shared a couple months ago but this one has layers and I've added string/twine. If you're liking this sketch, I hope you'll give it a try and share your card or project in the group.

To finish off the card I added a few red rhinestones from the Rainbow Bling rhinestones from Gina Marie Designs. I really like how this turned out! Head over to Unity and check out all the fab new releases... if you love Christmas stamps this release is one that you don't want to miss!! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

{Please note that comment moderation is on. Your lovely comment will appear shortly.}