Spirited Snowman

I love Christmas and I love Christmas stamps. I seriously have all I can do to hold myself back from buying every single one I see. There are certain ones I am especially partial too, and snowman stamps are on that short list. I have a customer that feels the same way I do, and upon spotting this set in the upcoming catalog it will likely be on her wish list.

I took the sketch/layout for this design from a card I recently received from a friend. I randomly stamped the holly in Stazon and colored with a blender pen to give it a watercolored appearance. Since I was covering the center, I only needed to stamp the perimeter. I then stamped the snow couple in Memento and colored with my Copic sketch markers. I did the same thing for the skater snowman,  stamping his flakes in purple and coloring him with Copics as well. 

Stamps:

Spirited Snowman (Stampin Up) ***Available until January 2, 2019

Paper:

Whisper White (SU)

Basic Black (SU)

Cherry Cobbler (SU)

Wisteria Wonder (SU Retired)

Ink:

Stazon (SU)

Memento (SU)
Wisteria Wonder (SU Retired)

Accessories:

Sizzix Big Shot (SU)

Stitched Rectangle Dies (PTI)

Copic Sketch Markers (Jerry’s Artarama)

Stars and Stripes Forever

This cute little creation is an ATC, or Artist Trading Card. I created this to participate in the current challenge at Unity Stamp Company. The challenge is to simply make an ATC. These cards have always interested me, but I have never taken the leap... now was a perfect time to give them a try.

To get started I cut a scrap piece of paper to the size the card should be. This would give me an idea of what size stamp I could use to be my focal point. I had the background already figured out, and when I realized that I could only fit three colors on this sized card, I immediately thought about red, white, and blue. I knew I had a couple of patriotic themed stamps, so I set out to find those. Just like the story of Goldilocks... out of the three I had, one was just right!

Stamps:
Stars & Stripes Forever (Unity Stamp Co)
Brushed Off (Papertrey Ink)

Paper:
True Black (PTI)
Stamper's Select White (PTI)
Vellum (Stampin Up)

Ink:
Real Red (SU)
Dapper Denim (SU Retired)
Versamark (SU)
VersaFine Clair Nocturne (Unity)

Accessories:
Marvy Heat Gun
Clear Embossing Powder (Unity)
White Embossing Powder (SU)
Copic Sketch Markers (Jerry's Artarama)

Peaceful Poinsettia

The Stampin Up Holiday catalog... my favorite catalog of the year! Christmas stamps are the one single category that I have the most of . This stamp set was the first to catch my eye... especially the card here, which I modified slightly from the catalog. This card is so beautiful, and in all honestly is one of the quickest and most elegant holiday cards I have ever made.

The card featured here is shown in a retired color, but my customers will be making this beauty at my first Christmas Card workshop next month and we will be sampling it in Blackberry Bliss, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, and Night of Navy. Swap out the silver for gold, and the color variations for this card are endless!

Stamps:
Peaceful Poinsettia (Stampin Up) ***Available until January 2, 2019

Paper:
Emerald Envy (SU Retired)

Ink:
Versamark (SU)

Accessories:
Sizzix Big Shot (SU)
Detailed Poinsettia Thinlits (SU) ***Available September 5th
Silver Embossing Powder (SU)
Marvy Heat Tool
Silver Glimmer Paper (SU)

Stand Tall

This was created for the current Unity Stamp Company's "Not a Card" Challenge. This was a challenge I wasn't sure I was going to participate in. Cards are my specialty, they are something that I enjoy making... a lot. So when it came around to brain storming ideas for this, I had zero ideas.

It wasn't until I was searching my craft space looking for something totally unrelated, did I stumble across this linen bag (which ironically is also from Unity) which was my inspiration for this project. I have plans on filling this with some candy and giving this to a friend who has been a blessing to me this past month. I am going to include a matching note card and encourage her to reuse the bag and pass it on and bless someone else.

Stamps:

Stand Tall July 2018 KOM (Unity Stamp Company)

Paper: 

None

Ink:

Stazon (Simon Says Stamp)

Accessories:

Linen Bag (Unity Freebie)

Copic Sketch Markers (Jerry's Artarama)

Tim Holtz Stamping Platform

You’re a Delight

I had the day off and was trying to decide what I was going to create. I had lots of other things to do around the house, but really wanted some inky fingers before I started on my to do list. I am in love with Concord and 9th turnabout stamps. This one sat on my shelf way too long uninked. When I went to add the finishing touches on this I could easily see how this could quickly transform into a Christmas wreath. That is totally My next project that I will be doing next with this.

The hardest part for me while making this card was deciding on the colors! This is going to be so much fun since I have a wide palate of  ink colors to choose from. I didn’t have a specific theme in mind for this card, so I left the wreath neutral with green leaves and stems.

Stamps:

Wreath Turnabout (Concord and 9th)

Paper:

Classic Kraft (Papertry Ink)

Garden Green (Stampin Up)

Stampers Select White (PTI)

Ink:

Garden Green (SU)

Pear Pizzazz (SU)

Rich Razzleberry (SU)

Pool Party (SU)

Accessories:

Sizzix Big Shot (SU)

Petal Burst TIEF (SU)

Rustic Jute Button Twine (PTI)

Tim Holtz Stamping Platform 

Keeping it Simple

This card was inspired by a design that I saw and simply knew I had the perfect stamp set to use. Once again I pulled out my favorite paper pack and began to work. Most people like to color than cut, but since I am still perfecting my coloring skills, I prefer to cut and then color.

This flower is from the smaller Unity Kit, not the one from the Kit of the Month, but I am sure either one would work. I use thick weight cardstock since I am coloring with alcohol markers. Fussy cutting on good weight paper sure made my hand tired quickly! I love the look of the stitched border and really thought it added just a touch to the card.

Stamps:

Keeping it Simple (Unity Stamp Company)

Paper:

Just Be You (Echo Park)

Mint Julep (Papertrey Ink)

Vintage Cream (PTI)

Ink:

Gina K Amalgam Ink Jet Black (Unity)

Blushing Bride (Stampin Up)

Accessories:

Circle Punch (SU Retired)

Simply Stitched A2 Vertical Dies (PTI)

Copic Sketch Markers (Jerry's Artarama) 

Friends of Unity August Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our Friends of Unity July Blog Hop. This month the theme is coffee or tea. Your guess is as good as mine as to what my Angie girl is drinking... it could be either! I am a fan of both, so your guess is as good as mine. This month I am the host of one of the giveaways. You will receive the beautiful stamp you see pictured in my card PLUS a repurposed library book, like the one used in this card. All you need to do to enter to win is hop to all the blogs (they are all linked below) leave a comment, and the winner will be announced next month on my blog. The book pages can also be colored on, as shown HERE. The typeset also makes excellent background paper as seen below.

Hop along with the other Friends of Unity and see their creations...Pssst! There is another giveaway too!

Eileen Mathys (you’re here)

Robyn Jordan 
Jeanie Hayes
Crystal O. Minkler
Joyce Verdon 

Dawn Fields
Wynne Grob 
 

Stamps:
Moving Forward (Unity Stamp Company)

Paper:
Autumn Rose (Papertrey Ink)
Vintage Cream (PTI)
Repurposed Library Book

Ink:
VersaFine Clair Nocturne (Unity Stamp Company)
 Memento Tuxedo Black (Stampin Up)
Autumn Rose (PTI)

Accessories:

Clear Embossing Powder (Unity)
Brother ScanNCut (Brother)
Triple Banner Punch (SU)
Die-Namics Blueprints 31 (My Favorite Things Retired)

Disclaimer:
We all on the Friends of Unity design team appreciate every single comment we get.
That's why we use our own stash every month for a giveaway.
We are NOT sponsored by Unity Stamp Co. But , they do approve of our hop, and that make us all very happy.
We started this hop because we love Unity. That's it. This hop is our way of showcasing our cards made with our favorite stamps!!