Good morning crafty friends! September is underway and it’s time for another hop with a color challenge. This bold, rich, warm palette was so inviting that immediately coffee came to mind…which leads me to the “Coffee is Not Enough” stamp set that Unity Stamp Company recently released and I fell instantly head over heels for this image.

Caffeinate Not Procrastinate!

As you can probable see, I created this card using the darker colors as my background and worked in the lighter hues for highlights. It was so much fun working with a set amount of colors and not spending any time deciding what colors to use!

I began this card by stamping the image using Versafine ink in black on watercolor paper. I kept a picture of the challenge color palette beside my set of paint to restrict myself from getting off track and dipping in teals and greens! I used MozArt Komorebi watercolor paints pictured later in this post. Burnt Umber combined with black is the first color to outline the image to suggest an early morning just before sunrise, kind of like right now writing this entry. Lots of water and dabbing with a paper towel is continuous to achieve the background style.

As I worked my way out, I added brown, burnt sienna and red ochre. i left the area above the coffee cup for yellow ochre, gambage(orange) and brilliant yellow. This created a hint of light suggesting the many superpowers that coffee can posess!

I painted the girl and kept the color bright to contrast the moody background. The kitty has touches of gambage and and yellow. The kitty’s expression is priceless and keeping it in light colors helps it little size stand out.

After the paper dried, I die cut the cardfront using the Gina Marie stitched border. I adhered it to a black frame and roughed up the edges with a scissors edge. Hard to see, but the black border has specks of metallic copper on it. Then I adhered the cardfront to an A2 kraft cardbase.

These are the supplies I used. The black fine point Copic marker was used to go carefully over the eyes to make them more intense. tip–leave the tiny white speck in the eye if possible. It is the lightsource and gives the eye a realistic focal point.

Finally, I heat embossed the sentiment in Ranger’s gold embossing powder on black, adhered to copper metallic cardstock. I added Stickles copper glitter on the sentiment strip and around the image. By the way, I love “unleash the joy”, it is a perfect way to say we all have joy, we must give ourselves the power to allow it in our lives, we have to unleash it!

I hope this card makes you smile and unleashes the joy as I only have one card to share. With so many fun things going on before the hop I let procrastination get the best of me. I need a stamp that reads “Caffeinate not procrastinate” or Caffeination not procrastination”!

As I finish this post, I am drinking my coffee and then going back to sleep as the light of day is still upon me. I hope this card finds you well and your day is full of many wonderful outcomes. Until next month, as the leaves begin to turn and fall, stay warm, cozy, crafty and caffinated!

Rachel

Please follow me on instagram @cardartbyrachel

Please continue the hop with the amazing and talented Unity friends!

Crystal

Kari B.

Tammy

Joyce

Jane

Jenni

Dawn F.

Rachel(me)

P.S. Don’t forget to try this out!

Hi Crafty Friends! It’s August and we are sharing cards with the theme of “Friendship”. Choosing which stamps to use was challenging as Unity has limitless stamps fitting into this category. I can’t wait to show you my cards, so here we go …

Card #1~Cherished Friends by Angie Blom for Unity Stamp Company

This image is so beautiful. I didn’t realize until just now how much it reminds me of the artist Gustav Klimt. He used gold flakes with oilpaint directlly on the canvas. I think that must have been why I felt it wasn’t complete until I added metallic paint! If you get the chance, look up “The Kiss”. Have you seen his paintings?

I began by stamping the image with black Versafine ink on watercolor paper. As most often, I didn’t have a plan for color or card design. I decided to try a set of Prang watercolors my daughter brought out the other day still laying on the table. I love the vibrant color.

I painted the background and then colors started to pop into my head. I decided to use fun colors for the hair giving it a mystical feel. One of the things I love about watercoloring is that even after paint is applied, highlights can be added by simply applying water to the area and then dabbing it with a paper towel. Much of the paint is substantially erased. I used this technique alot on this image.

As I already said previously, I felt it needed something more. I added metallic copper paint to the flowers and the top edge of the blanket. When the light hits the paint, it is gorgeous.

I also painted copper along the entire border. Then I splattered more paint metallic white and copper over the entire area excluding the faces. I framed the panel with a thin purple border and mounted it on a black cardbase. The speckles on the cardbase happened when I left it laying close to my carefree splattering. It looked great just like that!

Finally I sprinkled a mix of Ranger silver and gold embossing powder on the stamped Versafine sentiment, heated it, and wow, I love this effect!

Card #2~Brandy & Emma Constant Companions by Phyllis Harris for Unity Stamp Company

Switching gears (not literally!) I had to include this little girl and her best friend. Our furry pets are so loved and I can’t imagine life without them. They bring so much joy to me. I love Phyllis Harris images and the stories her timeless images tell.

I stamped the image with Versafine ink on watercolor paper. I used the Prang watercolor paints as in the previous card. I chose a subtle palette but emphasized the light areas by the contrasting dark ones.

I was going to leave the background untouched but then decided on a faint wash of color making sure to keep the friends the focal point and not competing with a busy background. Next I die cut the image using a Gina Marie stitched border die and adhered it onto a pale gray cardbase.

Then I die cut a heart and border by Poppystamps. I painted the border in a wash of blue and stacked up three layers for dimension. I stamped the sentiment on the inside heart. I added one layer before glueing it down. You can see the dimension in this picture.

Here it is again at another angle. It gives the card more interest but does not take away from the friends!

Finally, I know the composition of the card might seem completely uncentered. I thought about putting the sentiment in the upper left corner and sizing down to a square shape. I often go against the rules and have fun changing things up. I am not sure how this looks to you but I really love the finished card. Let me know what you think!

Card #3~…whimsy warmth by Phyllis Harris for Unity Stamp Company

This Phyllis Harris image is a newer stamp by Unity. I love this sweet embrace of two young friends. I can feel the warmth…

I stamped the image on watercolor paper using Versafine black ink and watercolored it using Prang paints. (I think I said this before on my other two cards!) Instead of paper piecing the printed shirt, I painted my own pattern!

Next I stamped the sentiment in Versafine gray ink. I thought about using teal for the sentiment but went ahead with this.

I wanted something different so I grabbed a Sizzix floral die and placed it on the top area to fill empty space. I mounted the cardfront onto a pink cardbase. Then I used watercolor paper I had made last week to die cut a frame by Poppystamps. I used it to frame the floral pattern and was pleasantly pleased with the visual. I’m not sure what it is but I imagine it to be a window or piece of artwork on the wall.

Finally, I die cut Unity Washi Tape metal dies out of the same paper I used for the frame. I dug out floral brads and placed them on a few of the strips. I adhered the strips to complete the card. So sweet!

Thanks for hopping, below is the list of friends sharing cards full of “friendship” inspired cards. I appreciate all of your comments!

Crystal

Amber

Jenni

April

Kari

Tami

Joyce

Rachel (me)

Colleen

Friends are gold and you can never have too many. I love this theme. There are so many reasons to send a friend a card. I hope you are inspired to create a friend card.

Please let me know if you have any questions, I love exchanging ideas about cardmaking! Have a rich and bountiful August.

Your Friend Always,

Rachel

Please follow me on Instagram @cardartbyrachel

Hi sweeties! Today I am sharing a card with a baby too adorable for words. Unity released this stamp a few months ago and my heart melted.

Without a card design in mind, I knew I wanted to watercolor the baby image so I stamped her in Tsukineko Versafine black ink on watercolor paper. The detail is just incredible! I used Komorebi MozArt watercolor paints choosing a vibrant cerise hue.

Tossing around card ideas in my mind, I landed on a Poppystamps heart die. I wasn’t sure if my largest die would fit the image. Lucky for me, it did! I used the background as well as the scalloped border for a second heart in iridescent glitter card stock.

Continuing on with hearts I stamped a sentiment inside one heart…and wrapped metallic silver thread around a smaller one.

…and wrapped metallic silver thread around a smaller one. Also I decided to blend in the skin for a softer look. Water on the brush and gently painting over the areas works great! (next picture)

Stickles glitter glue on the bow, on the blanket’s edge and the center of the silver thread add a special touch. Last but not least are the glitter earrings. What a darling!

Along with the adorable image, this set is complete with four wonderful sentiments, each with its own flair. A flower is included.

I love this sentiment!

Tips– 1. I used a black Sharpie fine point marker to darken and accentuate the eyes. 2. I double layered some of the hearts to keep level. 3. A dab of glitter glue on the knot of the metallic thread bow helps secure the thread.

I love this card as it is a mix of sparkle and charm. Large bold dies paired in contrast with a semi clean and simple feel. I hope you love this cardtoo!

Take care and see you tomorrow, don’t forget to comment to win!

Rachel

Please follow me on Instagram @cardartbyrachel

Welcome Friends! It’s July and our hop is all about techniques used in cardmaking. What is your favorite “go to” technique? I love to watercolor images but I must say there are so many new techniques emerging in the world of papercrafting, it is hard to choose. On to the cards…

Card #1 ~ Pissy Kitty

This kitty is hilarious and too adorable! Looking at this cat just makes me laugh and I never get tired of it and yes, I love coffee!

Paper Piecing I stamped this image on patterned paper and cut out the mug. Next I stamped the entire image on watercolor paper and watercolored in the hilarious cat. I stamped the sentiment in black and a fun coffee stain image in espresso. Then I found a piece of bright orange cardstock and scribbled red and orange watercolor crayons across areas to border the image, I applied water to create a fluid effect. I ruffed up the edges of the image and adhered it to the orange cardstock and adhered it to a kraft cardbase. Finally, I added die cut floral embellishments by Poppystamps.

Who can resist a face like this?!

Card #2 ~ More than Ice Cream by Tracy Malnofski for Unity

The sweetest truck and a joy to color! I can even hear the music playing. In my neighborhood the ice cream truck can be heard from a few streets away and our kis would scramble to collect their money to buy a treat.

Watercoloring is my favorite coloring technique at present. It is not exact and for me, it’s relaxing, forgiving and carefree. Also watercoloring is fast to color in an image for a quick card.

To create this card, I stamped the truck on watercolor paper. The paints I used are the MozArt Komorebi watercolor paints. I love the metallic white paint on the truck. Also I love to paint using two colors on one image, for example the ice cream, the stars and lights, the window covering.

I glued the image to a patterned paper card front. I previously die cut the paper with a Gina Marie Designs stitched border. I stamped the sentiment and mounted it on a scrap of painted paper and again on watercolor paper. I glued it to the base of the image. Finally, baker’s twine finish the card.

Card #3 ~ Addison Girl by Angie Blom for Unity Stamp Co

A beautiful girl ready to go out and celebrate. Her dress is gorgeous, she is living her best life.

No Line Coloring is a technique of coloring an image so that the lines disappear and the effect gives the image a more realistic look. A light ink is used to minimize the outlined figure. My coloring is a loosely based version of this technique.

I stamped the image with Tim Holtz distress ink. I used Victorian velvet, a nice light mauve, that would blend nicely with the skin tones and hair. I am a novice at this technique but I love how the image is somewhat transformed in a unique way. Next I stamped the sentiment in Versafine grey ink, overlapping the image. I die cut the cardfront using a Gina Marie Designs border die and adhered it to a dark charcoal cardbase. Iridescent, glitter and metallic sequins embellish the card.

Thank you so much for visiting. Please continue on the hop. I hope you find lots of inspiring ideas!

Crystal

Amber

Kari

Gaylynn

Jane

Tammy

Jenni

Dawn F.

Rachel(me)

Until next month, keep creating and enjoying the summer sun!

Rachel

Please follow me on instagram @cardartbyrachel

Hi Friends! It’s June and “Celebrations” is our theme for this month’s hop. Off the top of my head, I have celebrations of graduation, birthdays, dad’s day, wedding anniversaries, and a life remembered for the month of June. I am sharing a compilation of a few styles, techniques and designs that I found relaxing and fun to create. Sentiments, mediums and embellishments can always be swapped out for others depending on the recipient and type of celebration. All the images stamped are from Unity Stamp Company!

Card #1 ~ Queen Girl by Angie Blom for Unity Stamp Company

What screams “it’s time to celebrate!”? Neon watercolor paint! Always in search of something new and refreshing, I decided to create this card using all neon color (except for the skin and hair). I love the shocking, loud, energetic vibe, lighting up the paper. The paint is Komorebi Paints by MozArt.

I kept this card design simple as I wanted the color to be the focus. I stamped the girl in Versafine black ink on watercolor paper. I love how the neon green and yellow shirt turned out. I created patterned balloons for interest and washed neon pink all throughout the background. Lots of water allowed the paint to naturally move around the paper. The sentiment adhered to the card and black Sharpie pen for the dotted “i”! Finally I mounted the cardfront on a black cardbase.

Card #2~ Butterfly Breeze Meadow

The moment I saw this meadow scene, I could not wait to ink it up! Without doing anything but stamping it on paper, it is a knockout stand alone image. Nothing more is needed. Then I thought about why I loved it so much–its realistic dimensional quality, the butterflies are in motion just about to land on the beautiful blooms.

I decided to stamp the image on kraft cardstock and color with Prismacolor pencils. I have always loved pencil on kraft, the colors seem to pop and come alive. (especially white and yellow) I loosely filled the images in a rainbow of color careful to avoid going over the black lines as the pencil will dull them. Tip–keep the image in the stamp positioner and restamp after coloring to freshen up the lines. I will do this next time. I used a colorless pencil to lightly blend the unwanted defined strokes. A Poppystamps hot foil and die sentiments overlapping one another finish the card. A celebration for anything in life, birthday, graduation, new adventure, I just love it!

Card #3 ~ Too Much Cake – Uniquely Unity/Ang Mag/April 2024

I have to admit I have a thing for cute little birds! Too sweet to pass up I couldn’t wait to get this little one. The innocent little face was enough and then the sentiment put me over the edge! (probably because I love cake!)

I stamped the birdie on watercolor paper with black Versafine ink. I painted the adorable round body with two yellows, orange for the beak, light brown for the claws, and blue and metallic purple for the hat. (I used Komorebi Paints by MozArt.) A wash of yellow, green and brown grounds the image. I went over the circular shape of the eye with a fine black Sharpie pen. This really brings out the eye and makes a big difference. A dot of white paint on the eye can also have a similar effect. Next my favorite sentiment in black, sequins, Stickles glitter glue on the party hat, a square fancy die by Sizzix, a yellow border on a white cardbase and that’s it! How tweet!

Card #4 ~ Too Much Cake 2 – Uniquely Unity/Ang Mag/April 2024

I think I did this a few months ago. I stamped the image twice to try out a few different ways to create. I ended up liking this round fluffy version just enough to make the print! Less detail happened because this paper had a bumpy surface. The feet disappeared and yet, I still find it irresistable!

I found this leftover paper that I had previously dripped blue distress ink on. I saved it because I thought it was interesting with the pink radiating out from the dots. I stamped the cutie in brown distress ink and black Versafine ink on only the eyes and nose area. This is easy to do with a stamp positioner. I blended more brown in various intensities on the bird. Orange for the beak and aqua, browns and grey for the grounding. Most important is the black fine tip Sharpie pen to accentuate the eyes. It made all the difference! The hat is a blend of teal and stickles glittter glue for the dots and top of hat. A layer of teal for a border before the lighter cardbase, a gold glitter heart, a stamped sentiment that also comes with the image adhered to a gold glitter strip, and a burlap twine bow at the center top.

Here are my celebration cards compiled in one picture! Which birdie birthday card do you like best?!

Below is a list of all the friends to visit on this hop! You will find tons of Unity Stamp Co. images and ideas for your next card celebrating something special!

Crystal

Tammy

Eileen

Gaylynn

April

Amber

Colleen

Dawn F.

Rachel (me)

Kim

Jane

Thanks for stopping by. I always love to make celebration cards because, well, celebrating is just that– a time for sharing, joy, friendship, gratitude all wrapped in one.

Happy crafting! See you next month. Have a wonderful June with the sunshine and blue skies above us!

Rachel

I am on instagram @cardartbyrachel

Hi Crafty Friends! Welcome to our May hop, “Masculine” is the theme. I created my cards to share with the intention of adding “Happy Father’s Day” sentiments inside the card. They can also be used for birthday and encouragement. Some of you may get to spend the special day with your dad. For others like me, remembering our dads during this time is beautiful and heartfelt….memories that last a lifetime.

Card #1 ~ A Bear and a Leaf, “Woodland Cuteness” by Angie Blom for Unity

This card is clean and simple. I love the adorable bear, something about him is so sweet! I stamped the image on watercolor paper and painted him with Prismacolor watercolor pencils in browns and gold. A light blue wash of Salty Ocean distress ink for the sky and splatters add subtle character. I stamped the sentiment at an angle and die cut the cardfront with a Gina Marie double stitched border die. I mounted it on kraft and roughed up the edges. Finally I adhered it to a creme cardbase.

This card might be simple but I love how it turned out. Inside the card, a happy father’s day stamp would be great.

Card #2 ~ “from the countryside”, Unity Stamp Co June 2023 Kit of the Month

A collage of images for a father on his special day. I knew I wanted to use this awesome Kit of the Month and instead of choosing one stamp I decided to create a background! I stamped the images at angles in Versafine black ink. I stamped on watercolor paper because I wasn’t sure how much I would paint them. It turns out, I could have used regular card stock! I stamped the “i love you” sentiment and accented it with a swoosh of turquoise. I shaded under the typewriter to give it dimension. I added bits of color to the tie and tractor. Then I lightly painted the gears and parts of the ties with grey. I die cut the card base using a Gina Marie border die and adhered the cardfront onto a turquoise cardbase.

Finally I die cut “dad” in teal and black and glued it onto the front. I love this card and it is also a quick make! Next time I am going to recreate this card and paint all the images!

Card #3 ~ You’re Cool, “Keepin It Classy” by Jessica Pickeral for Unity

The front view of this old car is just super cool! Another unique, must-have image! I stamped the car on watercolor paper. Yellow for the hood, and pale orange lights and grey for shadows of the chrome. Not planned, I ended up making a cloudy backdrop and a hint of a road underneath. Then I stamped the sentiment in Versafine black and the second sentiment in teal. I wanted the second sentiment to be kind of a humorous afterthought, so I tilted it and used a color to express this.

I trimmed the cardfront to a square and adhered it to a light grey base. 3D Crystal Laquer gives the headlights and foglights dimension and shine. It’s hard to see in the picture but the laquer adds so much to the overall card. Finally, a yellow Nuvo drop is placed at the lower left corner.

These three cards were so much fun to make. I hope they might have sparked some creative energy in you. Please continue on the hop with all the friends in the line-up below. Thank you for hopping and I can’t wait to see you next month!

Crystal

Kim

Dawn F.

Jane

Gaylynn

Rachel(me)

Joyce

Bye for now, enjoy these gorgeous spring days doing what you love best!

Take care and keep on crafting!

Rachel
Please follow me on Instagram @cardartbyrachel