The Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ July 2022

Uncategorized 4 Minutes

Hi Unity friends! Are you enjoying your summer? Are you crafting away with blue sky days?! We finally got a blast of heat and now it seems summer has arrived. July is all about stencils. I am excited to share my “stenciled” cards and a few new products I am using for the first time.

Card #1 ~ Word stencil and distress texture paste

I love this image and there is no coloring involved. I imagine this vase being a pretty colored glass. I am using two new products to create this! They are Ranger distress opaque texture paste and embossing glaze. I can’t believe I have never tried these awesome products! Following are the steps to create this card.
1. First I applied paste to three of the words on the word stencil with a flat tool. I used enough paste to create texture, but made sure I could still see the outline of the stencil. It takes about 15 minutes to dry. 2. Next I stamped the vase with Versamark ink and heat embossed it with distressed Salty Ocean glaze. The glaze is translucent and the see-through effect is cool. 3. Then I stamped the leaves in Versamark ink and embossed in another glaze, overlapping the leaves one image at a time. 4. I stamped the “Hello” in black and added specks with a stamp and Versamark ink. 5. I punched small holes on both sides of the neck of the bottle. I threaded sage twine through the holes and tied a bow. 6. Finally I added a bit of shading under the bottle with an embossing pen.
A closeup. “Hello” is stamped in black ink. It does not have dimension but has a strong presence.
“Everything in Between” Whit Kit November 2020
Supplies I used.
One more look. Embossing glaze is translucent, which means you can stamp and then emboss over it without losing the image! The “H” in hello is visible under the leaves.

Card #2 ~ Tulip stencil, distress texture paste and glitter embossing powder

A favorite image of mine, I think this is the only image I have repeated in all the hops!
1. First I die cut the card front with a stitched slimline die by Gina Marie Designs. 2. Using Mowed Lawn distress ink, I blended the ink onto the leaf stencil. I was careful to create dimension by applying more pressure at the bottom of each stem (dark) and less pressure (light) as I continued up. 3. Next I blended distress oxide ink over the tulip bloom stencil. 4. Then I spread paste over the last layer of the tulip stencil. 5. I sprinkled embossing glitter over the top and let it dry before applying heat. 6. Then I embossed the sentiment on a strip of black with Brutus Monroe Alabaster embossing powder. 7. I adhered iridescent sequins to finish the card.

Supplies I used. The tulip stencil is by Unity Stamp Company.
The paste adds so much texture and character!
Embossing glitter is heated over the dried paste. If the paste is not dry, it will bubble to create another effect.
This is truly a fun and easy card to make with no coloring!

Card #3 ~ Overlapping distress inks

I love this girl image so much. As for the card, it has quite a lot of white space but I feel it draws the viewer in. Following are the steps to create this card.
1. I taped the stencil over the card front and began by blending Peacock Feathers distress ink on the top left corner. I added more color to create a rounded background. 2. Next I stamped the girl on white cardstock. I colored her with distress inks and fussy-cut her out. 3. Then I stamped the sentiment on teal cardstock, heat embossed it in Brutus Monroe alabaster powder, and mounted it on a thin white border. 4. Finally I chose a coordinating washi tape and a bubble embellishment.
A close-up. I chose this image to fussy-cut because of it’s nice, easy defined lines.
“…there is you“ by Phyllis Harris for Unity Stamp Co.
Supplies I used
She is contemplating and deep in thought. I am drawn to images that look up to the sky.

Card #4 ~ Stenciled background

This card was a pleasant surprise. I was playing around with the idea of creating a stenciled background and I love how it turned out! Steps to create this card are as follows.
1. I began with a beautiful lavender cardstock. I blended Peacock Feathers distress ink over the most open image of the peony stencil. 2. Continuing on with the same stencil, I blended oxide inks over the entire card to create a background. 2. Next I lightly sprayed the background with a mist of water until I had the amount of I desired! I used a heat tool from a distance to speed up the drying process. 3. I splattered watered-down white acrylic paint in various size splatters. I felt the red peony lost detail and needed something to break up the undefined lines. 4. I die cut the same shape in two sizes. the larger one in vellum and smaller one in a blush tone cardstock. 5. I stamped the sentiment in Versafine ink and glued it to the vellum. 6. Finally, I blended ground espresso distress oxide ink around the edges.
Supplies I used. The peony stencil is from Unity Stamp Co.
A close-up.
One more look. A fluid, flowy feel.

I hope you try some of these techniques. This was an awesome theme and there is no the limit for creative ideas with stencils! Please keep hopping with our Unity friends! Don’t forget to comment for a chance to win a “thank you” prize! The winner will be announced at the next month’s hop.

Crystal

Amber

Eileen

Kim

Rachel (me)

Dawn F.

Joyce

Alaine

Dawn B.

Robyn

And now to announce the winner from the June hop is………..Dawn Braddock!!! Congratulations Dawn, please message me your mailing address and I will send out your prize! Thank you for your comments, we really appreciate the support and kindness.

Stencils are versatile, easy and fun to use! These the cards for this month’s hop.

If you get a chance, please let me know which card you liked the most. I love your feedback!

Until next month, enjoy summer, the warm nights and sunny days. My favorite thing this time of year is to see the surprises popping up in my garden, it is ever-changing.

Stay safe and healthy!

Rachel

For short videos on how I made these cards, check out my instagram and tiktok @cardartbyrachel. I post videos throughout the month!

Forty Heroes rose from my garden, named in memory of the crew and passengers of flight 93 on September 11, 2001.

What if art was not measured by quantity but ricochets?

What if art was not measured?

Ocean Vuong

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15 thoughts on “The Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ July 2022”

  1. Awesome cards, Rachel!! Wow! That tulip card is GORGEOUS!!! Love the beautiful colors of your last card too! Fab inspiration again!

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  2. Great cards and love all of the extra…glitters, stencils, etc. I mostly live the jar (vase) and how it looks so dimensional!

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  4. Amazing cards Rachel~ your tulips are SO pretty in purple!
    The little girl stamps and card is just precious, too
    Those flowers are perfect, any occasion card ❤
    and WOW on your first card!! So rustic feeling
    Love them all

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  7. Beautiful cards! I have to say that I have never used a word stencil (I’m sure I have a few, too!) and of course, I love white on kraft, so love that card a lot!

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  9. Absolutely love the one layer of texture past you used on the tulip stencil. Brings an awesome card up another level! Super cards as always! You always inspire me!

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  11. I wasn’t going to pick a favorite because all 4 cards are amazing. Ok, I have to choose the tulips. The texture and layers are incredible. Wow!

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  12. Beautiful cards Rachel! I almost used everything in between for this hop, too. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your design on this card.

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  13. Fabulous cards!!! I love how each one is a different use of stencils. I have not used glaze, but you have inspired me to try it. I LOVE the tulips, just gorgeous. And love your use of colors and patterns in your last 2 cards. Just wonderful. Thanks for the inspiration!

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