Thursday, May 30, 2019

Unity Stamp Co June Challenge


Hello again, friends!
 
I'm so happy to see that you all had a great time with May's challenge!  Thank you to each and everyone of you for participating and creating such wonderful and unique creations. Congratulations to the winners!
 
Are you ready for another month long challenge! Our June challenge is to use your favorite animal stamp. Any animal stamp. It DOES NOT have to be a Cuddlebug. I just used them because I can't resist them! ;)
 
Be sure your creation is new for each challenge! :) And remember, this challenge runs the entire month of June!
 
I've been so eager to use the recently released Cuddlebug Zebra. Even though he doesn't require a lot of coloring, he is so fun to create with! These sentiments added such a fun touch to this card. They are both from sometimes I wonder.
 
The entire line of Cuddlebug stamps are going to be on sale the entire month of June! Just for you. ;) So grateful to Whitney and Angela for offering this!

 

 I love the tag gifts I created for this challenge. I am sending these to 2 of my nieces. The first image is colored, and I included 6 stamped tags (with a sentiment)  for them to color.
 
The images are stamped on Bristol Smooth and colored with Prisma Pencils blended with gamsol, and a bit of watercolor.
 
Here is a link to the entire line of Cuddlebug, including their cut files.
 
 
 
I'm eager to see all of your projects using your favorite animal stamp! It is exciting to see the uniqueness of each of your creations.

Have fun creating!
 
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I hope you are excited to participate! The challenge runs through May 31st. This gives you plenty of time to narrow down your favorite animal stamps and create! I truly look forward to seeing your creations in the Unity Show and Tell group.  Be sure to tag me in your post in the Show & Tell group or on IG! If you have any questions regarding my steps in creating these cards, feel free to contact me here or here.  I am always happy to help. June winners will be announced in a Show & Tell post shortly after the challenge ends.
 
Unity is making your participation even more rewarding by offering a prize for each challenge! Each week you have a chance to win some fantastic Unity stamps!

As a thank you for visiting my blog, if you participate in this favorite animal stamp challenge using Unity Stamps, you will have the chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Unity Stamp Co from me!  To win the $25 gift certificate by participating in my challenge I ask that you comment below, AND tag me in your posted creation whether in Unity S&T or on IG.

Speaking of winners! The winner of the $25 gift certificate to Unity Stamp Co from May is Jacque Bauer. Thank you for your participation and for always commenting such sweet comments on my blog! I am so happy you joined the challenge! If you will, please private message me on FB or IG. Congratulations!
 
 
Be sure to join me again next Thursday for a new mini challenge as we use our favorite stamps to creating something that comes from the heart!
 
Until then, friends~
 
Be blessed,
 
Bobbie Sue


Thursday, May 23, 2019

Unity Stamp Co Mini Challenge


Hello again, friends!
 
I am over on the Unity blog today to share with you a new mini challenge that is "worth repeating"!!
 
This week we are using an image or images to repeat stamp! I've made some examples for you and absolutely love the way these cards turned out! I rarely repeat stamp, but this challenge reminded me how much I love it.
 
This first card uses the most amazing camera image I have ever stamped from the set Possibilities Await Tierra Jackson is an extraordinary artist. Did you know you can search in the Unity website by artist and see all their designs grouped?!
 
In all honesty, this stamp is just as gorgeous left in b/w.
 
 
Look closely at the flash bar and you'll see the clear Nuvo drops I used to mimic a faux reflection.
 
 
On this next card I used one of the beautiful sprigs from a Lisa Glanz set called Patience. How gorgeous is this image when repeatedly stamped?! Such a quick card an incredible result.
 
 
Look at this beautiful gold spatter! #hearteyes
 
 
Here are the steps I took to create this card:
  1. I repeat stamped the sprigs onto a piece of Canson XL watercolor paper. Then, I loosely colored in the leaves with my favorite green from Atenew watercolors.
  2. Next, I clear stamped the sentiment from the same set onto a piece of vellum. It is heat embossed in gilded gold from Brutus Monroe.
  3. Once my panel dried I spattered it with gold from my Kuretake Gansai Tambi Starry watercolor set.
  4. The vellum sentiment piece is wrapped around the front and back panel and secured to the back with scotch tape. This eliminates the need for an adhesive underneath the front.
  5. Lastly, I attached the finished panel to a 4.25 x5.5 (A2) card base.
I think I will make several versions of this card with various stamps to keep in my stash. It is truly beautiful.
 
I can not wait to see your creativity with this repeat stamping technique!
 
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 Remember the mini challenges run from Thursday to Thursday. There is still time to continue working on your favorite girl stamp for the May challenge!
 
Unity is making your participation even more rewarding by offering a prize for each challenge! Each week you have a chance to win some fantastic Unity stamps! Here on my blog you have an extra chance of winning a $25 Unity gift certificate at the end of the month. Simply, comment here on my blog and tag me in your post in S&T. If you are visiting me from Instagram and would like to participate in the challenge; be sure to comment here and tag me in your post in IG for a chance at a prize package!
 
Have fun creating!
 
Be sure to join me again next Thursday for a new mini challenge as we use our favorite stamps to creating something that you'll need in your stash!!
 
Until then, friends~
 
Be blessed,
 
Bobbie Sue
 


Thursday, May 16, 2019

Mini Challenge with Unity Stamp Co!

Hi, friends!
 
Bobbie Sue here, I am over on the Unity Stamp Co blog with a super fun mini challenge!
 
Incorporating acetate into our projects is a great way to show creativity! A few months ago, I found a fabulous 6x6 pack of printed acetate at Tuesday Morning. Many of you have used acetate in the past and I was always in awe of your ability to create with it! Yours certainly doesn't have to have a printed design. You're free to use ANY acetate however you wish!
This first card uses Graciellies Colorful Day stamp set. How beautiful is VersaFine Clair ink color in Chianti? Matches the acetate color so well! Did you know you can buy Clair inks from Unity? They have such a great selection at a great price.
 
 
This next card uses Angie Bloms beautiful flower set called Just because. It has become an absolute favorite that I use often. I used a Zig in cobalt blue to color in the flowers. Again, they match the acetate perfectly.
 
 
On the card below I incorporated last weeks mini challenge of off the edge in to the design. I've noticed that the butterflies in this set by Graciellie called Moments of Bliss, have become a favorite of many!
 
 
 
Here is how I made this card:
  1. I stamped the butterflies off the edge using VersaFine in Nocturne. Once dried, I colored them with Zigs in the colors blue and pink. You can see how I blended the pink into the blue to get the purple. These brush markers blend so beautifully on Bristol Smooth paper.
  2. After the color dried, I went over the butterflies with Wink of Stella to add shimmer. Then I splattered bits of black liquid ink onto the panel.
  3. Next, I ran the panel through my Gemini with a border die from an MFT set called Scallop Basic Edges.
  4. The sentiments are both from Angie Bloms fun coffee cup set called Flutters to go. It is part of the Uniquely Unity membership. I stamped the sentiments onto black paper using Brutus Monroe's embossing ink and gilded gold embossing powder. In my opinion, BM embossing inks and powders are the best in the industry!
  5. After having used gold for the sentiments, I felt the card needed more gold. I decided to use my quicky glue pen by marking in random places, sprinkled with the gilded gold and heat set.
  6. Lastly, glued down the acetate pieces, popped the sentiments up on the panel, and popped the panel up on the 4.25 x 5.5  card base.
I can't decide which of the 3 cards I like the most! How about you?
 
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Remember the mini challenges run from Thursday to Thursday. There is still plenty of time to continue working on your favorite girl stamp for the May challenge!
 
Unity is making your participation even more rewarding by offering a prize for each challenge! Each week you have a chance to win some fantastic Unity stamps! Here on my blog you have an extra chance of winning a $25 Unity gift certificate at the end of the month. Simply, comment here on my blog and tag me in your post in S&T. If you are visiting me from Instagram and would like to participate in the challenge; be sure to comment here and tag me in your post in IG for a chance at a prize package!
 
 
Have fun creating!
 
Be sure to join me again next Thursday for a new mini challenge as we use our favorite stamps to creating something that bares repeating!
 
Until then, friends~
 
Be blessed,
 
Bobbie Sue

Thursday, May 9, 2019

Unity Stamp Co Mini Challenge


Hello again, friends!
 
I'm so happy to see that you've all been having a great time with May's challenge over at Unity Show & Tell! If you are unfamiliar with this challenge visit here for the details. Remember, it runs the entire month of May!
 
  Don't you just love off the edge stamping?! This weeks mini challenge in S&T is to stamp off the edge with any of your Unity Stamps. That's the only rule! I can't wait to see your creativity with this one! Challenge runs through next Thursday.
 
 I love the clean and simple look of the cards I created for this challenge.
 
This first card uses Angie Blom's beautiful feather from Beautiful is never perfect.
What I love most about this card is the sentiment from a wonderful Donna Downey set called Anastasia(believes). I encourage you to check out this set and add it to your wish list.
The image is stamped on Bristol Smooth and colored with Zigs.
 
 
 

This next card is my favorite of the two. How gorgeous are these fronds from the August 16' KOM Open your soul.?! They are simple, yet quite beautiful. I stamped them onto Bristol Smooth in VersaFine Clair Rain Forest .
 

 
The sentiment is from the same KOM and I heat embossed it in Brutus Monroe's gilded Gold embossing powder. I rarely prepare my paper for embossing when using gold. As a result, it creates random faux gold splatters that are my favorite!
 
I'm eager to see all of your projects using this technique! It is exciting to see the uniqueness of each of your creations.
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Unity is making your participation even more rewarding by offering a prize for each challenge! Each week you have a chance to win some fantastic Unity stamps! Here on my blog you have an extra chance of winning a $25 Unity gift certificate at the end of the month. Simply, comment here on my blog and tag me in your post in S&T. If you are visiting me from Instagram and would like to participate in the challenge; be sure to comment here and tag me in your post in IG for a chance at a prize package!
 
Have fun creating!
 
Be sure to join me again next Thursday for a new mini challenge as we use our favorite stamps to creating something that is clearly fun!
 
Until then, friends~
 
Be blessed,
 
Bobbie Sue


Saturday, May 4, 2019

Friends of Unity May Blog Hop ~ Fruitful

Hello, friends!
 
Welcome to our Friends of Unity May Blog Hop! This months theme of "Fruitful" immediately struck a chord in me that goes outside the thinking of fruit.
 
I wanted to share the definition of being fruitful. It is the synonyms of fruitful that came to my heart.

fruit·ful

[ˈfro͞otfəl] (of a tree, plant, or land) producing much fruit; fertile.

synonyms:
I adore the apples from the "apple stamping" set. I loooove green apples! ;)
 
To me, the fruit in this card is representative of what you will yield in your perserverance to keep going. Sometimes it is hard to keep going when the situation is hard to bare. I've been there friends. There are times I even gave up. It is the times I kept going that has brought me to where I am today. Happy, blessed and content. Even when I am in the midst of hardships. :)
 
This sentiment from Graciellie's "Moments of Bliss" set was perfect for the message I wanted this card to relay.
 
The apples are stamped onto watercolor paper with VersaFine Clair ink in Verdant. It is truly a lovely color! I added bits of brown with my paint brush for the stem and seeds.
 

 
Do you love this next card as much as I do? Oh, I just adore it! I was so excited when I discovered this stamp last year. The last time I used this stamp from "Planted" I used them as leaves. This time they represent trees to me! The sentiment is from the same stamp set. How powerful this statement is, friends.
 
There are times I feel so buried that I can't possibly break my way through the heaviness. But God always reminds me that He planted the seed in me and it is strong enough to break through the toughest of barriers. I've discovered it is through my toughest times that I yield the most fruitful harvest.
 
I swiped the stamp with alternating Distress ink in Vintage Photo and Mowed Lawn. Spraying slightly with water each time. Remember, when you want to spray your stamp or image with water; Distress inks react the best.
 
 
I didn't do any coloring on these cards. We (I) so often want to showcase my talents in creating that sometimes I forget the simplicity of the stamped image is often enough. And in this case, they worked beautifully.
 
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If I may, I'd love to invite you to follow my blog.
There is a "follow" button up a bit and to the right. --->
Not the follow by email, it's up just a bit from it. Thank you so much!
It brings me so much joy sharing my thoughts and creations with all of you!

(Unfortunately, I don't think you have access to the follow button from your phone. Please, correct me if I am mistaken.)

As always~

Thanks for spending time with me today!

Until next time~

Be blessed, friends!

Bobbie Sue

I hope you have a chance to visit each blog. I know they are all equally as wonderful and unique!  If you've not, please see the blog hop list at the bottom of this post and prepare to be inspired!

There are some pretty awesome giveaways with this hop! Including one from myself! Be sure you comment on EACH blog post to be entered in the drawing. 
 
Speaking of winners! Congratulations to Niki Wray for winning from Aprils Hop! Please, contact me here to collect your winnings!

This months winners will be announced during next months blog hop!
(I have a feeling you will comment anyway as a way of support and admiration to the artists.)

Friends, please know that our hops are not sponsored. (Although, I know Unity Stamp Co. lovingly approves) Because your support is so valuable and so appreciated, prizes are given from the creators own private stash of Unity stamps.

 The hop started with

 
Robyn

You arrived here from
Kim

You are here! 
ME
 
Dawn

Jeannie
 

 
Forgive any grammar mistakes you may find. However, I am always open to friendly and constructive criticism or correction. Please know, I write my blog out of absolute enjoyment and do not stress over possible minor errors within. I appreciate you, friends! 
 
 




Thursday, May 2, 2019

Unity Stamp Co May Challenge


Happy Thursday, friends!
 
I am so excited to bring you the month of May challenge with Unity Stamp Co. !
We are all huge fans of the Angie Girls and Planner Girls. However, I want you to create something with your favorite girl stamp! Any female image by Unity. :)
The headshot on this card is my all time favorite woman image and is from the August 2016 Kit of the Month called "Open your Soul".
 
You may recall last year I did a card series called "She Believed". This is a continuation of that series. If you do not recall, I encourage you to follow this link to see the original cards in the series and to read the emotions experienced while creating them. The meaning behind creating them is still very dear to my heart and I know it will touch yours, as well. :)
 
The card measures 3 3/4 x 9 1/8 and fits in a #10  (4 1/8 x 9 1/2) envelope.


The card below is ONE of my all time favorite Angie Girls. It is not easy picking a favorite! She is so fun to color and her outfit reminds me of myself when we are at the farm. ;) I adore the look of the faded out stenciling behind her. I bought these blending brushes on Amazon for less than $15. In my opinion they work just as well as the ones that are quite more expensive.
 
 
 
The tags below are made with the line of Planner Gals. I also did a series with these on my blog in January called Beautifully Made. Follow this link to see the original ones I created. I encourage you to follow the planner gals link if you are unfamiliar with the them. You will fall in love with this line!
I love the classy simplicity of these tags.
 

 

 
(The back of the tags)
 

 
Here are the tag details:
1. I stamped the images on Canson XL watercolor paper using VersaFine ink in Fallen Leaves.
2. Next, I  colored the images using Altenews Watercolors. This is my favorite watercolor set. The pigments are beautifully vibrant and move easily on watercolor paper.
3. The papers were all cut to 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 as my intent in using these images was to create ATC's. As you can see I changed my mind, but the size worked perfectly for the tags.

4. I heat embossed the sentiment onto vellum. The sentiment is from a Tierra Jackson set called Unique. To flatten them, I put them under a heavy object and moved on to the next step.
5. Using my paper trimmer, I cut tags from a heavy white cardstock and coordinating DSP.

6. Because I'll be gifting these; on the back of each heavy white tag I stamped the Verse from the set God's Sight. (see photo for example)

7. I picked out coordinating ribbons for both the DSP and colored image. Wrapping one ribbon around the DSP and tying a small matching peace to one side. (see photo)

8. Once my vellum flattened I wrapped it around the top and bottom of the DSP. Adhering it to the back with scotch tape. (This avoids putting glue under the vellum that may show or buckle.)

9. Next, I glued the DSP tag to the white tag and punched the tag hole through all pieces.

10. Lastly, I attached the ATC with foam tape and tied my top ribbons through the tag hole.
If you've never used VersaFine's Clair inks; I encourage you to at least try out the black (Nocturne) Here is the link to the inks on Unity's website. The cost through Unity is comparable to what you will find anywhere else. They are amazingly juicy inks and you can watercolor with them!
I can not wait to see what you all create!

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Challenge Details
I hope you are excited to participate! The challenge runs through May 31st. This gives you plenty of time to narrow down your favorite girl stamps and create! I truly look forward to seeing your creations in the Unity Show and Tell group.  Be sure to tag me in your post in the Show & Tell group or on IG! If you have any questions regarding my steps in creating these cards, feel free to contact me here or here.  I am always happy to help. May winners will be announced in the June challenge blog!
 
Unity is making your participation even more rewarding by offering a prize for each challenge! Each week you have a chance to win some fantastic Unity stamps! If you visit the USC blog there are details how you can win stamps from Unity!
As a thank you for visiting my blog, if you participate in this favorite girl stamp challenge using Unity Stamps, you will have the chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Unity Stamp Co from me!  To win the $25 gift certificate by participating in my challenge I ask that you comment below, AND tag me in your posted creation whether in Unity S&T or on IG.

Speaking of winners! The winner of the $25 gift certificate to Unity Stamp Co from April is Sandra Van Blaricum. Thank you for your participation and such nice comment on my blog! I am so happy you joined the challenge! The winner of a small prize pack for visiting me from Instagram is Natasha Vacca! Thank you for the love Natasha! If you will both, please private message me on FB or IG. Congratulations!
Have fun creating!
I invite you to join me again next Thursday for a mini challenge as we use our favorite stamps to creating something that is sure to compliment someone! Curious? Come back next Thursday! ;)
Until then, friends~
Be blessed,
Bobbie Sue