Hi everyone, it’s October and the theme for our blog hop is Pink October Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Come along and see our creations using lots of pink and highlighting what this month means to all of us!

Card #1 ~ My Heart Trusts by Angie Blom for Unity

My first card is a beautiful image of a woman. I stamped her on watercolor paper using Versafine black ink and die cut it with a Gina Marie stitched border. I painted the image with MozArt Komorebi watercolors.

Next I roughed up the edges of a powder pink A2 paper and adhered it onto an A2 white cardbase. I die cut a scalloped edge on a polkadot patterned paper and adhered it and the image to the pink card.

Then I stamped a beautiful verse on patterned paper and mounted it on creme cardstock. I adhered it to the upper portion of the image. I die cut a dramatic Poppystamps Satin Rainbow in two shades of pink and arranged the pieces how I thought they looked best and glued them down. A few Nuvo drops were added to fill in the lower left corner.

Card #3 ~ Whole Love Story by Angie Blom for Unity

Going after a no-line watercolor style.I stamped this image in Tim Holtz Victorian Pink Distress Oxide Ink on watercolor paper. I painted it with MozArt watercolors in shades of reds, pinks and purples.

After it dried, I added Diamond Stickles glitter glue to the floral centers. I never get tired of anything that sparkles!

Next, using the Misti stamp positioner, I stamped the sentiment with the same oxide ink as the image. Before removing the stamp, I tapped the middle portion of the stamp in black ink and restamped it so the small font could be much easier to read. A few paint splotches and glitter accents frame the sentiment.

I diecut a Gina Marie lace border die in grey cardstock, adhered to a muted green cardstock and adhered this to an A2 white cardbase. Finally, I wrapped the image with a sheer organza pink ribbon and glued it at an angle to the cardbase, then popped up the sentiment, also at an angle, and glued it over the image. So many layers!

Card #3 ~ Darkest Night Brightest Day by Jeanne Hays for Unity

To create this card, much less involved with physical layers, I used a lightweight watercolor paper and stamped the image in Versafine black ink. I painted it with the same MozArt watercolors. Did you notice the purple hair?! Next I stamped the sentiment directly on the cardfront.

Using a heart cutout as a stencil, I blended flamingo pink Distress Oxide Ink around the edges and beyond! I made sure there was a nice contrasting edge of the heart. Next I splattered paint on the wet card. On top of all the wet, I misted the whole thing to soften the edges and splatters.

I adhered the cardfront to a powder pink heavy cardbase. To keep things sort of light, I tied a fuzzy metallic bow on the card fold. Pink jewels for texture and adorable paper flower embellishments adorn the card!

I have always loved this sentiment so much. It screams bravery, courage, strength….

Please continue on the hop with all my friends who have beautiful creations to share.

Crystal

Von Marie

Jenni

Dawn

Toni

Joyce

Rachel (me)

Doreen

Thanks so much for hopping, and I will see you all next month!

Until then, lots of love to you!

Rachel

Please follow me on Instagram @cardartbyrachel

Hi Friends! It’s September and Anything But a Card is the theme this month, yay! Som. etimes I forget that I can make more papercrafts that are not only cards. This month is a great reminder that a stamp can be on so many more things. On to the projects…

MemoryDex Fall Mouse

It’s almost a card but it is a die cut for the MemoryDex by Heidi Swapp. I used heavy white cardstock and then stamped the adorable mouse from the Unity August Kit of the Month. Included in the kit are three mice images. I love this one! I colored the images using the Prismacolor watercolor pencils first and then followed it up with water on a brush.

Next I stamped the sentiment on the top tab in black Versafine ink. Then I reinked the mouse in Rustic Wilderness distress ink and stamped it many times around the perimeter of the card. I swooshed and blended more ink over the words etc.

Finally I added a few die cut sequins in red and chartreuse.

Snail Envelope

This project is a decorated envelope. The fun part is that it is an excuse for why the card was late! Oh how many times I am so very late on sending my cards.

I stamped the image and in Versafine black ink. The snail image is from Unity’s August Kit of the Month. I colored the snail with Prismacolor watercolor pencils. I blended most of the image with two colors for a different look. I applied a tiny bit of water after to allow the colors to slightly blend.

Finally I stamped the sentiment in black Versafine ink!

Santa Gift Tag

I die cut a Poppystamps gift tag die in dark green cardstock for the base. Next I die cut the top portion of the tag in heavy white cardstock. I stamped the Santa image in black Versafine Ink. The Santa stamp is from Unity’s August Kit of the Month. I watercolored the image with Komorebi MozArt watercolors. I used metallic paint on the snowflakes and surrounding areas.

I stamped the sentiment in black Versafine black ink. I added Stickles glitter glue to the beard, mustache, eyebrows and pom pom on Santa’s hat. Nuvo drops around the sentiment to fill in a few blank spaces.

Finally, a scalloped die to reinforce the hole of the tag and a burlap twine to tie at the top.

I love this and tags always come in so useful during the holidays!

Hope you enjoyed my projects. Please continue on the hop as you will find so many awesome and inspiring ideas for everything that is not a card!

Crystal

Von Marie

Jenni

Rachel (me)

Jane

Joyce

Doreen

Toni

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful September and enjoy the changes in weather as we begin to see a new season unfold.

Rachel

Please follow me on instagram @cardartbyrachel

It’s August and Grunge is the theme! Welcome to The Friends of Unity Blog Hop, I hope summer finds you well. There is something so satisfying about a grungy creation– nothing is off the table and more is more?!

Card #1 ~ It’s Your Day! Unity Stamp Company – Kit of the Month

I have to admit I get so excited to “grunge” up my cards and then I look at it and wonder if I should have added more layers. Tons of paint layers went into it but as for physical dimension, I could have piled on more. I began with a sheet of textured watercolor paper and covered most of it with water. I added one color in various places, let it run and continued with another color and so on. I blotted with a paper towel and dried the paint in areas I did not want the colors to run. This will keep them from getting muddy.

Next I stamped the image on nontextured watercolor paper. I love this version of the Pissy Kitty, what a pampered feline! I painted her in with MozArt Komorebi watercolors and metallic highlights for the head wrap and the robe. I added laquer to the spectacles–yes the laquer, in its new consistency should be smooth but mine is not and I actually like the bumpy texture! I glued the cardfront to a turquoise cardbase and adhered the image. I blended Hero Arts layering balloons (stencils) around the image. To achieve a rough appearance, a paintbrush and water worked great! Then metallic paint on a patterned stencil for the balloons. I love the effect when light hits it!

I stamped the sentiment in Versafine black ink. To complete the card, I added a Nuvo crystal drop in antique rose!

Card #2 ~ Meet Frank! Unity Stamp Company – Kit of the Month

It’s not too early to make a few Halloween cards. The monster is just the cutest of cute and I could not resist! Unlike my previous card (mostly paint layers) this card I used multiple dimensional elements. I really got into adding lots and lots of stuff. Sometimes I feel like too much going on creates chaos and the focal point gets lost–I tried to keep that in mind and I think Frank still comes out the main event!

First I created a background using Halloween colors, green, orange, purple. I stamped Frank and painted him in with only green and black. I wanted the background to show through. Do you see the frog?!

From here it is hard to remember which step comes next but I will do my best! I tore a strip of orange cardstock and stamped the sentiment. I adhered it above Frank. I used a Poppystamps Scalloped Pinpoint Frames diecut in lime and glued it on top. I added a bit of greyish paint to add grunge to the frame. Strips of orange under the frame look great as well as a purple embossed scrap.

I wrapped thin twine around the left side and tied a bow. Just underneath, a strip of the background is folded and stapled . a square of washi tape set on top just kind of looked good there! Then I glued the monstrosity, I mean masterpiece, to a grey cardbase!

Unity adds fun ephemera freebies in the Kit of the Month stamps, so I cut out this moon and glued it onto the top right. Poppystamps Trimmed Trees add a nice breath of nature and for a final bit of interest, I splattered tiny specks of black paint. Nuvo drops as in the previous card and a gold jewel for a little bit of pizazz complete the card!

Below is the list of friends on the hop. Click on the names and it will take you to their fantastically creative grungy cards!

Crystal

Jane

Von Marie

Toni

Jenni

Joyce

Rachel (me)

Dawn

Until September, have a grungy, great time crafting and creating!

Rachel

Please follow me on Instagram @cardartbyrachel

Hi to all and happy 4th of July! How fitting that our blog hop is a red, white and blue color challenge! I chose my images and had a blast using the three colors and no others. With colors already decided, it makes it one less decision to ponder.

Card #1 ~ Beary Bunch, Whit Kit by Unity Stamp Co.

This set comes with three adorable bears. I could not resist getting these and did I ever mention how much I love teddy bears and dogs? I do and I have collected Beanie Babies and other stuffies in the past. You could say I collect bear and dog stamps as well!

I stamped the bear image in distress oxide red ink. I blended in the ink and allowed it to move around a bit. I watercolored the overalls with blue Prang watercolor paint. I love the effect of the thin red lines and the splotchy look of the overalls. Next I stamped the sentiment on the side of the bear. I liked the shaped of the sentiment and it fit nicely with the curves of the bear. I roughed up the edges of the image with a scissor.

Then I blended Prize Ribbon and Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide Ink onto a blue A2 cardfront and spritzed it with water. After it dried, I ran it through a fireworks embossing folder. I adhered it to a white cardbase. A thin red burlap string ties at the top of the crease finishes the card.

Card #2 ~ Little Weirdo by Unity Stamp Co

I love this silly bird so much! He is so funny and makes me laugh. I stamped the image on watercolor paper with Versafine black ink. I used Prang watercolor paints in deep blue and orange red and red for the beak.

I covered the bird and splattered the same blue paint over the cardfront. I was thinking I would frame it in black but I decided against it and went with a simple square shape, no border. I adhered the cardfront to a white cardbase.

Finally I die cut a hello sentiment by Hero Arts and the card is complete!

Card #3 ~ Books and Quiet Moments, Whit Kit by Unity Stamp Co

The girl and book store images are beautiful. I love images that tell a story and can be turned into cards that reflect a person’s interests. So many love to read and books are the best way to escape into another world.

I stamped the images on watercolor paper–the girl in Versafine black ink, and I masked her off and stamped the bookstore in Ink Off stamp cleaner. The stamp cleaner makes a great grey image as my pad is well used and full of pigment. I painted them with Prang watercolors giving the figure more pigment as she is in the forefront.

I die cut the mid-upper left area with a Sizzix pattern die. I thought it nicely followed the top border of the bookstore!

Then I stamped the sentiment ( I love this sentiment!) and adhered it onto a color coordinated watercolored strip. I glued it above the die cut pattern. I adhered it onto a red cardfront and then to a white cardbase. Finally I added red jewels and a red bow to embellish the card.

Please continue along on the hop. Below is the list of our friends sharing their color challenge red, white and blue cards.

Crystal

Von Marie

Jenni

Rachel (me)

Toni

Joyce

Doreen

Hope you enjoyed our July Color Challenge Hop and have tons of fun ideas for card creations.

Have a safe and happy 4th!

Rachel

Please follow me on Instagram @cardartbyrachel