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

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Inky Paws Challenge #209 ~ Color Challenge Reminder

 Hello there crafty friend!

 There's still time to play along with the Inky Paws Challenge #209 - Color Challenge! You have until this coming Friday, October 27th to get your entries in for the #209 Color Challenge and a chance to win a $20 store credit to Newton's Nook Designs!

Inky Paws Challenge #209 - Color Challenge

Here's another look at the fun colors... Rusty Orange, Honey Yellow, Cornflower Blue, and Caramel Brown.

I couldn't help but use the Autumn 6x6 Paper Pad again since the colors worked so well for this color challenge. I cut the yellow pattern paper to 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" and the leaf paper was a scrap leftover from last weeks card. I die cut the leaf paper with the hill die from the Land Borders Die Set. I had a fun idea to make a peek-a-boo card so I die cut a circle in the front of my white A2 card base and in the yellow pattern paper using a circle die from the Circle Frames Die Set.

I also die cut two pieces of kraft card stock using the next largest die in the Circle Frames Die Set. And then I die cut the scalloped circles using the slightly smaller stitched circle die to get that opening. I framed the opening with the kraft circle on the front of the card and on the inside so the hole looked nice on the inside {didn't capture that in the photos though}. Next, I stamped the cut hot cocoa from the Cup of Cocoa Stamp Set using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used to color up the hot cocoa:

Mug ~ B000, B41, B23, B66, Y11, Y15, Y38

Whipped Cream ~ C00, C1, C3

Cinnamon Sticks ~ E51, E34, E35

Chocolate ~ E51, E34, E35, E37

Heart ~ YR15, YR24, YR27

I die cut the hot cocoa cup using the stitched circle die from the Circle Frames Die Set. I was then able to place it inside the opening and adhere it in place. The sentiment and heart were also stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I trimmed the sentiment and adhered it to the card. I fussy cut the heart and cleaned up the edges real nice by coloring them with a Memento Tuxedo Black marker. And then I adhered the heart to the card, too. 

A look inside the card... I think I will probably add a sentiment inside. In the moment I just couldn't pick one.

Now it's your turn to get your paws inky with your Newton's Nook Designs products and create a project with the color combo of Rusty Orange, Honey Yellow, Cornflower Blue, and Caramel Brown. Be sure to link up to the Inky Paws Challenge! Can't wait to see your projects!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Membership Wednesday ~ October 2023 Whit Kit ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a bit of inspiration for the October 2023 Whit Kit from Unity Stamp Co. I made four quick cards featuring this fabulous kit. A set of three cards featuring the gorgeous papers in the Fallen Elegance paper pack with some of the ephemera pieces from the kit and a fourth card using the awesome Burlap Stencil along with the Harvest of Gratitude stamps. All goodies from this month's card kit!

First up... the cards featuring a few pattern papers from the Fallen Elegance paper pack from the kit. I just fell in love with these papers. So delicate and pretty! I couldn't pick just one piece so I thought it would be fun to cut them up and combine them on each card.

I cut each pattern paper down to 3-3/4 x 5". And then I cut them to 1-1/4" strips. I adhered the pattern papers to a scrap of card stock measuring 3-3/4 x 5" and then adhered them to a kraft A2 card base measuring 4-1/4 x 11"; scored at 5-1/2".

I combined three ephemera pieces for the focal image of each card. There are so many beautiful pieces. It was hard to narrow it down, but I love how they turned out.

I then heat embossed the sentiment from the Harvest of Gratitude stamps using white pigment ink, white embossing powder and I melted it with a heat tool. Three very quick and easy Thanksgiving cards ready to send!

The card kit has a pretty Champagne pigment ink included that I thought would make a lovely background. I tried it on kraft first but it wasn't very visible so I decided to give it a try on white and I love it! So delicate and beautiful!

I blended the Champagne ink over the Burlap Stencil using a blending brush. Blended heavier in the center of the card front and lighter on the edges leaving some white for a border.

I then stamped the pretty pumpkins using Spiced Marmalade Distress Oxide ink first. I cleaned the stamp and added some Carved Pumpkin Distress Oxide on the bottom portion of the stamp. I cleaned the stamp again and then I inked just a touch of Vintage Photo Distress Oxide ink on the bottom portion of the stamp. I fussy cut the pumpkins leaving a skinny border. I stamped the sentiment directly on the card using Vintage Photo Distress Oxide ink. And then adhered the pumpkins to the card.

Easy peasy and I love the dimension the different colors of oxide inks gives to the stamped image. 

Here's a look at all four cards together. All so quick and easy!! 

Another wonderful card kit!

Here's a look at the wonderful Whit Kit for October!! Gorgeous!! This wonderful card kit is available for only $42.99. That includes shipping! Members get a $6.95 discount on every order from Unity over $45. Members are also able to purchase past Whit Kit stamp sets for just $14 and past Whit Kit paper packs for $2 off!! So awesome!!! 

That's it for me today! Have an ink-tastic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Inky Paws Challenge #209 ~ Color Challenge

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for a new Inky Paws Challenge... a fun Color Challenge! 

I sure hope that you'll join in the fun and play along with us with your Newton's Nook Designs products! You have until Friday, October 27th to get your entries in for the #209 Color Challenge and a chance to win a $20 store credit to Newton's Nook Designs!

Inky Paws Challenge #209 - Color Challenge

Absolutely gorgeous colors... Rusty Orange, Honey Yellow, Cornflower Blue, and Caramel Brown.

I was so happy that I finally found my Autumn 6x6 Paper Pad {I knew I had it somewhere!} because I thought the colors in the paper pad would work great with this color challenge and I was right! I love it! I used the fabulous Framework Die Set to die cut my background paper that I adhered to a kraft A2 card base. I adhered my paper layers together using the stitched and scalloped frame die to frame out my little Fall scene. I also cut a stitched hillside using a die from the Land Borders Die Set.

Inspiration for my card came from one of the sketches over at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook Group. This one is a favorite of mine and it was perfect for this card!

I stamped the coffee girl, pumpkin and sentiment from the Pumpkin Latte Stamp Set using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Colored up the coffee girl and pumpkin with Copic markers listed below. I die cut them using the coordinating dies from the Pumpkin Latte Die Set. And adhered them to the little scene inside the frame.

Here's a quick list of the Copic Markers I used to color up the coffee girl, pumpkin and coffee cup:

Skin: E000, E00, E11, E04

Hair: E70, E74, E77

Scarf: YR15, YR24, YR27, Y11, Y15, Y38 

Jacket: B000, B41, B23, B66, Y11, Y15, Y38

Pants: E51, E34, E35

Boots: E51, E34, E35, E37

Pumpkins ~ YR15, YR24, YR27, E34, E35, E37

Coffee Cup ~ E51, B000, B41, B23, B66, YR15, YR24, YR27

I trimmed the sentiment and added foam tape to either side of the sentiment so that it would lay flat on the card over the frame.

Now it's your turn to get your paws inky with your Newton's Nook Designs products and create a project using the color combo of Rusty Orange, Honey Yellow, Cornflower Blue, and Caramel Brown. Be sure to link up to the Inky Paws Challenge! Can't wait to see your projects!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Fall Collab with Teresa ~ Fall & Halloween Cards and Winner Announced ~ Not 2 Shabby

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back for the finale of the fun collab with my sweet friend, Teresa, from Fresh and Renewed with Teresa. I have had a blast playing with my Fall themed card making goodies in my stash. I hope that you've enjoyed the cards I shared and the cards Teresa shared on her YouTube.

Today I'm sharing a fun set of cards that I made pretty quick using one of my favorite sketches. It's the perfect sketch to use with fun papers and coordinating ephemera so I went looking through my stash to find some fun ones to play with.

First up is a fun Halloween card using the Sweet & Spooky 6x6 paper pad and Sweet & Spooky ephemera from Not 2 Shabby. I cut my papers to the measurements on the sketch {shared below} and adhered them to a card front of Pumpkin Pie card stock from Stampin' Up. I also die cut a piece of Pumpkin Pie card stock using a stitched circle die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies} from Unity. The cute pumpkin ephemera is adhered to the circle and then I added foam tape to the back of the circle and popped it up on the card. The sentiment is heat embossed on True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink. I trimmed it up, cut a fishtail end, and then popped it up on the card. 

Inspiration for my cards today is the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 3. One of my absolute favorite sketches! This one is so perfect with pretty pattern papers.

My second card is another Halloween card using papers and ephemera from Scrapping for Less {Teresa's old business that closed a few years ago now}. This fun set of papers and ephemera is a favorite of mine and I just HAD to play with it again. I die cut another circle using the same die but this time it's cut from True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink. The sentiment on both cards is from the adorable Spooky Sweet stamp set from Not 2 Shabby {looks like it's no longer available}. The sentiments are also popped up on the cards with foam tape.

My first Fall themed card using the beautiful Autumn Vibes 6x6 paper pad and coordinating Autumn Vibes ephemera. I used pattern papers for all my layers on this one except for the sentiment. I heat embossed the cute sentiment on Really Rust card stock from Stampin' Up. The sentiment is from the retired Fall Sentiment stamp set from Not 2 Shabby. The ephemera is adhered together and then popped up on the card with foam tape.

And... my last card! Another pretty Fall themed card. This one features the beautiful Give Thanks 6x6 paper pad and coordinating Give Thanks ephemera. For this one I adhered the pretty pattern papers to a card front of Chocolate Chip card stock from Stampin' Up. The sentiment is heat embossed on Melon Mambo card stock from Stampin' Up. The ephemera on this one are also adhered together and popped up on the card with foam tape.

I share all four cards in my video and include my process in making my fourth card. I also added some fun touches inside each of the cards which you can see in the video. AND I share my giveaway and announce the winner! You can check out my video here... Fall & Halloween Cards and Winner Announced | Fall Collab with Teresa | Not 2 Shabby.

I sure hope you've enjoyed all the cards I shared for the Fall Collab with Teresa. I had so much fun using goodies from my stash. I just can't get enough of Fall {& Halloween} cards. I love them! I hope you'll give my YouTube channel a visit and then stop by Teresa's YouTube channel, too! Hope you have an ink-tastic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Membership Wednesday ~ October 2023 BOM & KOM ~ Unity Stamp Co.

  Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a pretty Fall card using the awesome October 2023 Background of the Month membership from Unity called Woodgrain Whisper along with the October 2023 Kit of the Month membership from Unity called Golden Glow. 

A fun ink smooshed background of Fossilized Amber, Carved Pumpkin, Peeled Paint and Vintage Photo Distress Oxide inks. I stamped the Woodgrain Whisper background stamp over the ink smooshed background using Ground Espresso Distress Oxide ink. 

I stamped the pretty flower from the Golden Glow Kit of the Month membership using Squeezed Lemonade and Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide inks and a bit of Vintage Photo Distress ink in the center. I also painted the center of the flower using the Vintage Photo Distress ink. The leaves were stamped with Peeled Paint Distress Oxide ink.

The lines in the center of the flower were lost when I painted it so I used a white gel pen to add some highlights. I may have gone a little overboard with them. I also did some dots. I fussy cut the flower and the leaves and adhered them together. The sentiment from the October 2023 KOM was heat embossed with white pigment ink, white embossing powder and a heat tool.

Here's a look at the whole Kit of the Month for October!! Another great kit fill with Fall images! 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!

Here's a quick look at the Background of the Month membership this month! So fun! This membership is available for only $18.99. That includes shipping! Included with both of these memberships is a wonderful inspiration sheet with pictures and step-by-step instructions for two cards so you can easily recreate the cards yourself. And now when you sign up you have the ability to pause, skip or cancel your subscription within your Unity account.

 Well, that's it for me today! I'll be back next week with inspiration using the gorgeous October 2023 Whit Kit. Have an ink-tastic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Fall Collab with Teresa ~ Mini-Remix Fall ~ The Greeting Farm

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with a second card for my fun collab with my sweet friend, Teresa, from Fresh and Renewed with Teresa. It sure has been fun playing with Fall themed card making goodies that I haven't used before. Shopping your stash is so much fun! I've found some amazing things... oh boy!

I've been having fun the last couple of weeks inking up some cute stamps from The Greeting Farm so I thought I'd look through my collection and find a Fall themed stamp set that I've never inked up before. Surprisingly I only found the one Fall themed stamp set. I did find a few Halloween themed stamps that I should really ink up. They are just too cute!

I had a blast filling up a slimline card last week with all the fun Fall images so I thought I'd do another slimline card. I inked up the Mini-Remix Fall cuties using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. And I had some fun coloring them up with my Copic markers. To save time again, I only share my coloring of one of these cuties in my video {link below}.

I was looking through my slimline dies and noticed that there were a few more slimline dies hiding behind the Gina Marie Designs collection of dies... I was pleasantly surprised to find the Slimline Striped Frame Stand Alone Die Set from Trinity Stamps. No idea when I added this fun die to my collection and I am certain that I've never used it before.

I had so much fun coloring up all these cute images. Here's the list of Copic markers that I used for them all:

Skin: E000, E00, E11, E04

Anya #1: R20, R14, R46, Y11, Y06, Y15, Y38, E21, E23, E51, E55, E57, YR23, YR27, R59

Ian: Y11, Y06, Y15, Y38, YG11, YG03, YG63, E51, E55, E57, E97, E15, E09

Anya #2: YG11, YG03, YG63, E21, E23, R20, R14, R46, B41, C5, C7, C9

Anya #3: Y11, Y06, Y15, Y38, R20, R14, R46, E21, E23, E51, E55, E57, E59, YG11, YG03, YG63, YR31, E43, E44 

I chose stamps and a die that I'd never used before so I had to also choose papers that I hadn't used before. The beautiful Fall Sunflower 8.5 x 11" paper pad from The Paper Studio is absolutely gorgeous. Now this paper pad hasn't been in my collection for very long. I bought it back in June during our vacation to the Lake of the Ozarks. But I've been itching to play with it!!

The beautiful sunflower also hasn't been in my collection for very long. I got it in June at The Craft Lab in Deepwater, MO. I love shopping Amy's store when we have our fun Unity Lover get togethers. She has so many wonderful products. I always find must haves while I'm there! The sunflowers are from 49 and Market and I adhered it using Ranger Multi Medium Matte.

As I mentioned above, to save some time so the video wasn't super duper long, I did most of my coloring off camera. I did record my coloring of Anya #3 though. You can check out the rest of my process in my video... Fall Sunflower Slimline Card | Fall Collab with Teresa | The Greeting Farm.

I sure hope you've enjoyed the card I shared today. I hope you'll give my YouTube channel a visit and then stop by Teresa's YouTube channel, too! As I mentioned above, I'm having a giveaway!! I still haven't put the prize together but I'll be sharing it on my YouTube channel next week when I also announce the winner from the comments on my channel and Teresa's channel!! To be eligible you must comment on each video Teresa and I both share during our whole Fall Collab... this weeks videos and last weeks videos. Hope you have an ink-tastic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Happy Fall Slimline Card ~ Fall Collab with Teresa ~ Waffle Flower

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm so excited! Today I'm starting a fun Collab with my sweet friend, Teresa, from Fresh and Renewed with Teresa. We will be sharing a Fall card {or cards} each Thursday for the next couple of weeks. And we're both having a giveaway!! Details for my giveaway are further down in my blog post.

I thought this would be a great time to use products that I haven't used before. I'm a bit of a collector... LOL! Aren't we all! But this year I've been working hard to make my crafty purchases more intentional... buying things that I will use. However, I still have lots and lots of stuff that I added to my collection over the years. I mean I've been making cards now for over 20 years! The collection sure can build over that time. I'm super excited to play with a few of those must have Fall goodies that haven't been touched yet.

Today I'm sharing a sweet Fall inspired slimline card featuring the adorable Happy Fall Stamp Set and Dies from Waffle Flower. I don't even remember when I got this cute combo. I was looking through my stamps and spotted it... thought it would be perfect for a fun card. 

And right behind my Waffle Flower collection of stamps and dies is my Whimsy Stamps collection. I saw the awesome Slimline Postage Die that I've also never used before. I remember wanting this die so bad and then I never used it. Such a shame. But now I've used it and it was so fun to create a little scene using the different sections of the die.

I don't know why but coloring images for Fall is one of my most favorite things to do! I just love the color combos, I guess. I had so much fun coloring up all these cute images. Here's the list of Copic markers that I used for them all:

Flower Pot: YR31, YR21, Y06, YG03, YG63, N0, N1, N3

Pumpkins: YR21, YR15, YR16, YR27, E21, E23

Mouse: N0, N1, N3, N5, R00, R20, B000, B02

Mug: YR31, YR21, R00, R20, R43

Girl: E000, E00, E11, E04, E21, E23, YR31, YR21, B000, B02

Hay Bale: YR21, YR15, YR16, YR27

Pie: N0, N1, N3, E21, E23

Bear: W00, W1, W3, W5, B000, B02

I chose stamps and a die that I'd never used before so I had to also choose papers that I hadn't used before. I have quite a collection of Fall papers. Again, I love the colors so I'm just drawn to them and I have to have them all. I looked through my stash and found a pretty set of papers that were actually created by Teresa for her little crafty company called Scrapping for Less. She closed down her shop awhile ago now so these aren't available anymore, sadly. But she does still design papers for Not 2 Shabby. If you love pretty papers, head on over there and check them out.

The adorable Happy Fall Stamp Set didn't have a sentiment so I heat embossed a pretty sentiment from the Bountiful Fall stamps from Unity. I stamped it with Sugar Cube pigment ink from Taylored Expressions on a scrap of Kraft card stock and then melted the Alabaster White embossing powder that I had applied to the white ink using my Wagner Precision Heat Tool. Trimmed it up, cut a fishtail on the right side, and popped it up on the card along with the Slimline Postage Die and all the cute critters. 

To save some time so the video wasn't super duper long, I did most of my coloring off camera. I did record my coloring of the sweet girl though. You can check out the rest of my process in my video... Happy Fall Slimline Card | Fall Collab with Teresa | Waffle Flower.

I sure hope you've enjoyed the card I shared today. I hope you'll give my YouTube channel a visit and then stop by Teresa's YouTube channel, too! As I mentioned above, I'm having a giveaway!! I haven't had a chance to put the prize together just yet so I don't have a photo to share but it will be awesome!! I promise!! To be eligible you must comment on each video Teresa and I both share during our whole Fall Collab over the next couple of weeks!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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