This Life Is Pretty Amazing

Growing in Unity week (GIU) day 5! My last day! And the sentiment on today's cards is perfect for today - As this has been an amazing week. It also reminds me of how lucky I am to have the life that I do - Sure, It has its ups and down, like any, but overall, I've had a good life and am thankful for it every day.

Today's card uses.... yes, you guessed it, Another stamp from the 5/18 Kit Of the Month, (KoTM), Open Sky, Deep Ocean, from Unity Stamp Company. I decided to use the kit every day this week, (Except the first one) because I love it so much! The possibilities with this kit are endless!  The stamped image is colored With promarkers. I used green pearls to embellish. All papers are from my stash.

Have you commented on all 5 of my GIU posts this week?! I hope so, because I'm going to be giving away a Unity Stamp Company grab bag to some lucky ducks who've commented every day this week! You still have a couple days, left, to comment, if you haven't already, so get to commenting!

Thank you so much, to all of you who've stopped by this week and commented on my posts! I appreciate it so much! It's such a good feeling when people comment om our expressions of creativity. Thank you, also, to Unity Stamp Company, for the Opportunity to do another Growing in Unity (GIU) week!

Magical Mermaid

Another day in my Growing in Unity (GIU) week for Unity Stamp Company! Day 4! Can you believe it's almost over?! *Sniff* *sniff* It sure has flown by! I'm already hoping for a chacne to do it, again, next year!

I guess you can tell that I'm loving the 5/18 Kit of The Month, (KOTM), Open Sky, Deep Ocean, from Unity Stamp Company. I couldn't resist using another stamp from this awesome kit! This beautiful mermaid stamp is so gorgeous and finely detailed, and she is huge! Perfect for longer cards for those business size envelopes! I knew, ahead of time, I wanted to use this stamp, so I went out and scoured hobby lobby for the perfect paper - I found the pretty blue paper with the gold spalashes, that I used for the main background, The smaller piece of paper is a scrap from my scrap stash  And it seemed the perfect pairing, because the print reminded me of mermaid scales. I used foam tape to mount the sentiment, and raindrop shaped skittles, to embellish.

My week is almost over! *Sad face* Tomorrow is day 5! Be sure to leave a comment today, and come back, tomorrow to comment, as well, to be in the draw for your chance at a Unity Stamp Company grab bag!

Flower Power

Wooty Woot and Hooty Hoo! I'm here with another card for you! Today is Day 3 of my Growing in Unity GIU week for Unity Stamp Company and, I admit, I am loving today's card!

Again, I've used another stamp from the 5/18 Kit of the Month (KoTM), Open Sky, Deep Ocean, by Unity Stamp Company. This kit is just full of wonderful stamps! I've used the flower, this time, colored with Promarkers. I've paired it with two floral papers, a scrap of banner print paper and some polka dots.  I think it makes for a fun card! All papers are from my stash.  I've chosen not to use alot of embellishments on my cards, this week, because I really want to bring attention and focus to the fabulous stamps from Unity Stamp Company - They're gorgeous enough to stand on their own! And, the quality is amazing!

It's hard to believe how fast my GIU week is going by! I hope you've been stopping by, each day, this week, and leaving me some commenting love! There's a Unity Stamp Company grab bage up for grabs at the end of my week! Don't miss out on your chance to win! Leave me some love!

Be sure to stop back by, tomorrow, to see my next creation!

Seahorse Dreams

Day 2 of y Growing in Unity GIU week for Unity Stamp Company! I am having a blast, this week!

Have you checked out the Kits of The Month, from Unity Stamp Company? They're such an amazing value! You Get a full sheet of high quality red rubber stamps, for one awesome price - And. they're available as a monthly subscription.  If you're not able to subscribe to the monthly subscription, they're also available to be purchased, kit by kit. They're a fabulous value! Check them out, if you haven't, already!

Today's card uses this gorgeous seahorse, from the 5/18 Kit of The Month, Open Sky, Deep Ocean., from Unity Stamp Company. All papers used, are from my stash and colored with Promarkers.  I used tiny blue pearls as bubbles, to add texture.  The image was mounted with foam mounting tape, for dimension.

Just a friendly reminder, leave me a comment every day this week, for your chance to win a Unity Grab bag!

Moonbeams and Gamasol

Hello bloggers! I'm back as a Growing In Unity girl, for Unity Stamp Company, this week,, and today is Day 1! To say that I'm ecstatic, is an understatement, to say the least!  It's such a fabulous experience, and such an honor, to have this opportunity! Unity Stamp Company is such an amazing, family owned business, with the best customer service and high quality rubber stamps! Do yourself a favor and check them out! You won't be disappointed!

My first card for this week is/was a total experiment.  I fell in love with this stamp, from the 1/18 Kit of The Month, titled Twinkle. As I mentioned earlier, this card was a complete experiment.  I've had these Prismacolor colored pencils forever and have never been brave enough to try them,  But, I kept seeing all these beautiful cards done with colored pencils and Gamasol, so i finally decided to take the leap, buy some Gamasol and give it a try. I used the pencils and Gamasol to color the image, and to creat my own background.  It was an attempt to make a stormy sky. It didn't turn out perfect by any means, but I'm posting ti to encourage others to give it a try. My plan is to keep at it and post future attempts, in hopes to show how I've improved along the way.  After all, practice makes perfect, right?

I hope today's card encourages you to jump out of your comfort zone and try something new.  And, if you've done some Gamasol attempts of your own, I'd love to see them.  Leave me a link to yours so I can check it out! I can always use the encouragement to keep trying!

 While you're here, leave me some love in the comments and you you may even win some goodies for commenting! As a Growing In Unity GIU girl, I'm lucky enough to be able to give away a grab bag of goodies at the end of my week. Awesome, right?! To be in it to win it, be sure to stop by every day this week and leave a comment on my project.

Keep The Wild In You

I'm so saddened to say this is my last day as a Growing In Unity girl, for Unity Stamp Company.  I've had such a blast and I wish it didn't have to end! (I wonder if I wrote a letter to Santa, wishing for a spot on the Unity DT, if he'd be kind enough to help me out?! Doesn't hurt to try, right?!)

I cannot say enough about Unity Stamp Company.  Their stamp quality and customer service is fabulous!  Each order you place, is made just for you. You don't find many companies that cook your order just for you. Whitney's husband, Nick, also makes custom name stamps, for use on the backs of your cards - With the Same great Unity quality!  If you haven't given Unity a chance yet, please check them out and support this family owned business that prides itself on quality!

Today's card, is my favorite, by far. I went out of my comfort zone and made my own background, to bring out my "wild side!" I created the background by using alcohol inks on glossy cardstock. Then, I stamped on the background panel, in black with stamps from the Keep Wild set by Unity Stamp Company. I used the Amalgam ink, from Gina K, for my stamping. (LOVE this ink, by the way!)  The sentiment, from the same set, has been mounted on black and fussy cut. I wanted to do something different with the sentiment and make it stand out - Cuz, like, I'm trying to get wild, right?! I tore up some gauze I had in my First aid Kit, inked it up with the Gina K ink and placed it between the pink panel and the alcohol ink panel. I was trying to add a "wild" element, to go with the card theme.  I have to say, it was my first time using gauze on a card, But, I think I rather like it!

This is your last chance to comment on all of my Unity posts for this week, for your chance to win a grab bag! Two winners will be chosen, so, what are you waiting for, leave me some love, baby!

I want to say thank you, again, to Unity Stamp Company, for giving me the opportunity to be a Growing In Unity girl, this week. I've had so much fun and have loved every minute of it! Thank you, also, Unity, for giving me two stamp grab bags to giveaway to two lucky commenters on this week's post!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Challenge #378 Anything Goes at Crafty Creations
Challenge #81 Anything Goes at lemon Shortbread Challenge
Challenge #47 Anything Goes at Digi Choosday
Anything Goes for November at Crafting By Designs
Challenge #1846 Anything Goes at Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenge
Challenge #372 Anything Goes at I Love Promarkers
Challenge #179 Fall Colors (Changing Leaves) at Crafty Gals Corner
Anything Goes Nov 20 at Through The Craft Room Door
Challenge #157 World Hello Day at Creative Moments
Challenge 4 CC #430 Anything Goes at 4 Crafty Chicks
Challenge #209 Anything Goes at Artistic Inspirations
Challenge #154 Anything Goes at Scrapbook Stamp Society
Challenge #471 Use Three of Something (Colors of Alcohol Ink) at Passion For Promarkers
Something Sweet (Butterflies) at Crafting By Designs
Mood Board at The Sisterhood of Crafters
Challenge #407 Anything Goes at Penny's Paper Crafty
Anything Goes 362-363 at Word Art Wednesday
Challenge #202 Anything Goes at Little Miss Muffet Stamps
Challenge #38 Use A Sentiment at Unicorn Challenge
Challenge #11 Anything Goes at A Perfect Time To Craft
Fall Colors at The paper nest Dolls Challenge
Anything Goes at Whoopsi Daisy
Challenge #45 Anything Goes at Crafting With An Attitude
Challenge #11 Anything Goes at Corrosive Challenge
Crafty Hazelnut's November Patterned Paper Challenge
Challenge #54 Anything Goes at The Crafty Addicts Challenge


Challenge #47 Anything Goes at Colour Crazy Challenge
Challenge #439 Anything Goes at Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge
Challenge #76 Anything Goes at Crafting With Friends
FFC #261 Anything Goes at Jo's Scrap Shack
Challene #323 Anything Goes at QKR Stampede
Challenge #47 Anything Goes at Polkadoodles
Challenge #151 Anything Goes at Creatalicious Challenges
Challenge #115 Things of Fall (Fall Colors) at Sparkles Forum Challenge

Sympathy With A Feathered Friend

Yippee, here I am, again! I hope you aren't getting tired of me, yet! I'm here with another project for you - Day 3 of My Growing in Unity Week, with Unity Stamp Company! Today, I have a sympathy card to show you.  If you're like me, you always struggle with making sympathy cards.  Usually, my go to stamped images are flowers, for sympathy cards... But, I got to thinking - How about using a stamped image that is more cheerful, so I cam up with this, and, I think it turned out nicely - Hopefully it will help comfort the recipient.

Today's card uses the bird from the Sometimes I Wonder (March 2016) sentiment kit, from Unity Stamp Company The sentiment is also from Unity Stamp Company, but it came in a grab bag, so I'm not sure which set it is from. By the way, did you know that Unity releases a new sentiment kit each month?! How cool is that?! Most sentiment kits also have an image or two in them, as well.  Be sure you check out the sentiment kits at Unity, they're awesome!

Anyway, back to the card details. I've colored the bird with Promarkers.  All papers are from my stash.  I went with a clean simple look today, too, being its a sympathy card - Therefore, I feel it shouldnt' be all sparkly and busy.

Don't forget to leave some love, today! Comment every day this week for a chance to win a Unity Grab bag. Be sure to come back tomorrow, too - You're going to really enjoy tomorrow's project!

I am entering this card in the following Challenges:

Something Sweet (Bird) at Crafting By Designs
Challenge #209 Anything Goes at Artistic Inspirations
Challenge #154 Anything Goes at Scrapbook Stamp Society
Challenge #38 Use A Sentiment at Unicorn Challenge
Challenge #81 Anything Goes at lemon Shortbread Challenge
Challenge #157 World Hello Day at Creative Moments
Anything Goes 362-363 at Word Art Wednesday
Inspiration Palette N2118 at The House That Stamps Built

Challenge #407 Anything Goes at Penny's Paper Crafty

Challenge #471 Use 3 of Something (Papers) at Passion For Promarkers

Challenge #372 Anything Goes at I Love Promarkers
Include A Sentiment at Di's Digi Designs
Crafty Hazelnut's November Patterned Paper Challenge
Challenge #20 Anything Goes at Crafty Animals Challenge
Challenge #2 Anything Goes at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies
Challenge #151 Anything Goes at Creatalicious Challenges

Challenge #54 Anything Goes at The Crafty Addicts Challenge

Ahhhhhh Crap! I'm Sorry!

Good morning, all! Welcome back to my blog for Day 2 of my Growing In Unity Week! Today, I decided to use the Ahhh Crap set from Unity Stamp Company's "after Dark" line.  I admit, these are some of my favorites and right up my alley! I love humorous images/sentiments so the "after Dark" line is perfect for me! Anywho, this set is very versatile and has so many fun sentiments for making your humorous cards!  Do yourself a favor, if you like this kind of humor, and check out the Ahhh Crap set - You'll love the possibilities!

I decided to go with an apology card this time, because that toilet was just begging to be used on a card.  of course, I couldn't forget the plumber's friend, Mr plunger! I had to put him to work, too! I used markers to color in the stamped images.  Mr plunger was fussy cut by hand, All papers were scraps from my stash. No embellishments this round, because I wanted to keep it clean and simple, so this card could be used as a guy card, if needed.

Hopefully, you're enjoying my Growing in Unity week - I know I sure am!  Remember, you could win a grab bag of stamps from Unity Stamp Company. just for commenting on all of my Unity posts this week.  So, what are you waiting for, leave me some love! Oh, and be sure to come back tomorrow for another Unity project!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Challenge #209 Anything Goes at Artistic Inspirations
Challenge #81 Anything Goes at lemon Shortbread Challenge
Include A Sentiment at Di's Digi Designs
Challenge #11 Anything Goes at Corrosive Challenge
Challenge #38 Use A Sentiment at Unicorn Challenge

Challenge #151 Anything Goes at Creatalicious Challenges

Crafty Hazelnut's November Patterned Paper Challenge

Paint The World With Your Beauty - Growing In Unity Day 5

Wow, the time has sure flown by! I can't believe This the last day of my GIU week for Unity Stamps! It's been an awesome week and I've had so much fun! So many wonderful comments and so much support from everyone! Thank you, Unity Stamp Company, for the opportunity to be a GIU girl this week! It has truly been a thrill and an honor! One day I'd love to be able to create with and for you all the time!

I saved my most unusual and fun "first time" project, for last!  I've decided I wanted to try altering a paint brush.  I've seen them on Pinterest and it's an idea that has intrigued me for a long time.  Being that I've devoted my GIU week for Unity Stamps to trying new things. I thought this would be the first time! Not to mention that I was motivated and inspired by this gorgeous Faceless Beauty stamp set from Unity Stamps. I fell in love with this awesome stamp when I first seen it and when I decided to alter my first paint brush, I knew this set would be perfect!

I started with a basic paint brush from Michaels and added color to the wooden handle, as well as the metal tab holding the brush (Cant really see it in the pic) with alcohol inks, then left it to dry. For this project, my hot glue gun was my friend - and also my enemy, because the hot little sucker kept oozing and burning my fingers! (Yes, yes, I know what you are thinking - Then why did you touch the oozing hotness you fool - You knew you'd get burned?! So true, that thought, but, somehow, I couldn't help myself - Guess it's my own fault I have no fingerprints left! LOL!) Once the alcohol inks were dry, I used the evil glue gun of hotness to adhere a layer of white lace over the metal part of the paint brush. Once that was in place, I added a layer of pink ruffled tulle trim, then, over that, a layer of beaded trim.  I especially love this trim, because of the tear drop shaped pearls. It just seems to fit perfectly with the white lace and pink ruffled tulle. doesn't it?  After  adding my trims, I added my stamped image, Faceless Beauty, from Unity Stamp Company, colored with markers and fussy cut.  Next, I added some leaves I cut off a swag bought at Hobby Lobby (Aka "The Lob!). Once my leaves were placed, I added in my flowers, from Petaloo.  I finished off my cluster of flowers by adding two sprigs of crystal pearls that jumped in my cart during a past shopping trip, again, to Hobby Lobby (The Lob - OMG I so LOVE that place!). I finished off the paint brush by added the sentiment, from Faceless Beauty, which i fussy cut.

This project was so much fun and I'm sure I'll definitely be doing more in the future!

This brings my GIU week for Unity Stamps, to a close. I've loved each and every minute of my GIU week and hope you've enjoyed my posts as much as I've enjoyed doing them. I hope I was able to bring you some inspiration and motivation to try new things.

A quick reminder, be sure to each of my GIU posts this week, for your chance to win a grab bag of stamps from Unity Stamp Company. (Thier grab bags rock, too!) I'll be drawing two commentors, who've commented on every one of my GIU post this week, as my lucky winners! But, hurry, you are running out of time to get your comments in! I'll be drawing my winners by Monday night at the latest! So, if you haven't, already, get busy commenting!

Also stop by Teresa's blog this week, Purple Bunny Paper Crafts, and comment each day, there, on her GIU post, for two more chances to win! That's right, she has two Unity Stamp grab bags to giveaway, as well!

Thank you, again, everyone for your support this week and for your lovely comments.  Thank you, also, Unity Stamp Company, for this awesome opportunity!

I am entering this altered paintbrush in the following challenges:

Challenge #276-277 Anything Goes at Word Art Wednesday
Challenge # 187 Photo Inspiration at PINspirational Challenge
Shabby Chic at Eclectic Ellapu April Challenge
Challenge #38 Anything Goes at Lemon Shortbread Challenge
Show Us Your Lace at The Sisterhood of Crafters
Challenge #338 Anything Goes at Crafty Creations Challenge
Challenge #125 Anything Goes at Inspiration Destination

Dirty Martini - Growing In Unity - Day 3

Happy Wednesday and welcome to Day 3 of my Growing in Unity week for Unity Stamp Company. I've been a fan of Unity Stamps for a  couple years now, so I am super thrilled to be a Growing In Unity Girl for a week!  I'm half way through, now, and am enjoying it, immensely!

For today's project, I decided to try experimenting with Colorbursts (by Ken Oliver).  I admit, I was reluctant to try, as I had no clue what I was doing.  I also did my first canvas piece! Two firsts in a day! Woot!  I wanted to start simple, at first, since it was my first time for both.  I went with subtle for the background, so the stamp and sentiment would stand out.

I started out with sprinkling a tiny amount of my chosen Colorburst powders.  I wasn't sure how bold the colors would be, so I used them very sparingly.  Once I had my powders sprinkled, I misted them with water to blend the and create my background, then set the canvas to the side to dry. Once dry, I stamped the martini and sentiment from the set,  I Like It Dirty, from Unity Stamp Company. I then added some hand doodled hearts and swirls to the corners of the canvas - Just because I felt it still needed something.  The hearts, olives and toothpick were colored with Promarkers.

All in all, I ended up being satisfied with how my canvas came out.  But, most importantly, I had fun and learned something new!  These Colorbursts were so much fun and I can't wait to get some more colors! I'd love to hear any ideas or experiences the rest of you have had! I'm always looking for trips and strategies for making things better, or new ways to use a product.

Don't forget -  Be sure to leave a comment on my Unity posts every day this week, for your chance to win  a grab bag of Unity Stamps!  There will be two lucky winners, chose from all those who comment on every Unity post this week!

Oh and please, also stop by Teresa's blog this week, at Purple Bunny Paper Crafts and leave her some love. She'll also be giving away two grab bags from Unity Stamp Company.

Challenges:

Challenge #125 Anything Goes at Inspiration Destination