GIU Day 5 - The Final Day

Hard to believe it's Friday already and the final day of my stint as the featured GIU stamper. - I have had a lot of fun this week creating cards and sharing them with you.

Once again here is the KOM that I chose to use for my cards:

 

For my final 2 cards I used the mouse with the leaf image.

Card #1:

This was another fun but messy card to make. - I used the "Bubble" technique for this card.  So I took 3 shades of ink refills (More Mustard*, Only Orange* retired colors and Old Olive) dropped a few drops in some plastic cups and mixed in a little water.  Next I took a straw and blew bubbles up to the top of the cup.  Then I brushed them off with the straw and placed them in various places onto watercolor paper letting the bubbles pop and dry. It makes for some very interesting patterns. Again I tapped the Mica spray onto the dried piece to add some shimmer.  Then it was cut out with a rectangle die and the mouse image was stamped with Early Espresso Ink.

I stamped the sentiment with the Espresso ink and punched it out with a circle punch. The Tangerine Tango panel was stamped with the Woodgrain Whisper background stamp using Versa Mark clear ink.  All panels were mounted onto Mossy Meadow card stock. I added some small punched hearts and tiny gems.  I also used a tab die to create the More Mustard tab on the right side of the card.

Card #2:

For the final card in this series:

This one was fun but time consuming (mostly because I messed part of it up and had to start over).

I wanted to use this piece of patterned paper from Paper Studio and purchased at Hobby Lobby for the wonderful fall colors it has.

I didn't realize until I was finished with the card that I'd used the same card base color (Mossy Meadow) as the first card. - Oh well...

I used another die plate from Concord & 9th with little circles on it. I die cut a piece of Early Espresso card stock, cut down the designer paper to fit inside the die and glued it down. Then I ran it through the die cut machine to add the circles on the patterned paper.  A strip of Cajun craze was also embossed with the die plate.  The mouse was color with pencils and fussy cut.  I mounted it with foam tape along with the sentiment and added some cream colored brads, another tab punch and a heart.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my card creations this week.

Don't forget to comment for a chance at a $20 Unity store credit.  If commenting (Anonymously) please leave your name in the comment so you can be identified if you want a change to win.

Day 3 - GIU Week (June 29-July 3 2026)

Hello and Welcome.  We are midway through my week as the GIU featured stamper. - By now you realize I'm featuring 2 cards each day using the same stamped image.  I'm using the July 2025 KOM - Took me an entire year to get this set out and actually use it!  It has some great images/sentiments so I don't know why it took me so long to use it.

Card #1:

I fell in love with the adorable mushroom image in this set.  Then I realized I had forgotten to purchase the Designer Paper that coordinates with that image so beautifully.  Guess what?  I just had to buy it.  

Details on this card:  Card Base: Cajun Craze. Also used: More Mustard cs* retired.  I so miss a lot of the old SU colors but thankfully still have some of them in my card stock stash.  The patterned paper is from Unity (Spore the Love). My image was stamped with Versa Fine Clair Nocturne ink and colored with various Copic markers.  I did not write down which ones I used.  I've had Copics for several years but struggle to use them.  I'm trying to improve my skills so hopefully this isn't too bad. The mustard piece of card stock was embossed with a Swiss Dot embossing folder.  I rounded the corners with a corner punch. (KW-triO 3-Way) which was gifted to me by a good friend. The sentiment and focal image were mounted with foam tape and some sequins were added to complete the card.  Showing some of the details below:

Card #2:  The first card has a more (Fall) feel to it. - This one I tried to give a more summer like feel by changing up the colors.

Card Base: Real Red cs (SU) Then I cut out a rectangle of the patterned paper (Spore the Love) that had some brighter tones to it.

The image was stamped with Memento Tuxedo black ink and colored with pencils (Prisma Color) and blended with Gamsol/Blending Stumps.  I added some shimmer to the mushroom dots with a Wink of Stella pen. Hearts were left over from the first day's "Bear" card. I Stapled them onto another piece of the patterned paper.  Added some enamel dots and mounted the image with foam tape.  A couple of little gold gems add some extra sparkle.

Again you can see that I did one card in Landscape and one card in Portrait.  - Click to enlarge photos for better detail.

Don't forget to leave a comment to be eligible for a $20 store credit with Unity at the end of my week.  If commenting anonymously please leave your name in your comment so you can be identified if your comment is chosen. 

See you again tomorrow for image #4 from this Kit. 

Welcome to my GIU Week

 Hello & Welcome.  Today is the first day of my week as the featured Growing In Unity stamper. - I have something special planned for this week which I hope you enjoy. - Click on images to enlarge.

Let's get started.  For my week I chose to feature a KOM (Kit of the Month) that I got a year ago. - It's called, Feelin' Fall The Things.

This set features 5 main images and sentiments to match them.  I will be using an image a day from this kit. Here's the "surprise part"...I'll use the same stamp 2 different ways!

Up first:  The adorable Bear image.

Yes I realize this was a (Fall) themed set but I wanted to show that you could turn it into a (Winter) themed card as well.  For this card I used:  Crumb cake card Stock for the card. The background paper (Sugar Plum Frost) is also from Unity. That is what I based my color scheme off of for the card. I cut it out with a Unity Scalloped Rectangle die. The image was stamped with Memento Tuxedo black ink and colored with pencils. - The sentiment is from another older Unity KOM - (Oh Christmas Tree - Oct. 2013)! The snowflakes are from a Die set from Momenta and an old punch I've had for forever. I added Wink of Stella to them for shimmer. - The image was mounted on Pretty in Pink (SU) card stock and the edges were distressed.  The ribbon is from a retired SU ribbon pack.  I added tiny pink pearls to the snowflakes (Queen and Company).

Okay now for the 2nd card... This one is totally different in so many ways. 

First the first card was done in (Landscape) and this one is done in (Portrait) style. Also there was no actual coloring of the focal image.

This one was so much fun and a little messy to make but worth it.

Card Base is: Early Espresso (SU). Same die was used but on watercolor paper.  So for this I started with some ink pads (Tim Holtz Distress ink in Dried Marigold, Brushed Corduroy, and a Distress Oxide, Rusty Hinge) that I pressed down on a piece of Acetate and spritzed with water then dabbed them down in various places on the paper. After it dried I used some Distress Mica Spray (Bronze) and did the same thing.  This added some awesome shimmer to the card.

The bear image was Stamped with Early Espresso Ink and done the same way as the background.  I then fussy cut the image out. The sentiment was stamped with the Espresso ink and fussy cut. I punched 2 hearts (retired SU punch) left over from the paper I used to create the background. I cut a circle from Crushed Curry card stock and mounted the bear, sentiment and hearts with foam tape.  Some sequins were added to finish the card off.

That's it for my first day as the GIU featured stamper.  Please leave a comment if you want to be eligible for a, $20 Store Credit at Unity Stamps. - If you comment (anonymously) please leave your name so I can know who you are if you get picked.

Join me again tomorrow for another set of cards from this kit.

GIU Day 3 - Aw Nuts

 Hi and Welcome to Day 3 of my GIU week.  

I love the variety of stamps that Unity has, there is something for everyone's stamping fancy.

Today I'll be sharing a card that makes me smile and I hope itmakes you smile as well.

I have a love for squirrels and enjoy leaving peanuts out for them to eat.  They are always so comical to watch.  So when I saw the stamp set:  Stay Squirrelly I just knew it had to pop into my shopping cart.

Here is the card that I created using it:

 This was a easy card to put together.  I started with a base of Early Espresso (SU) cs.  Then a piece of designer paper and pieces of Old Olive and Balmy Blue.  

I used a leaf embossing folder (Paper Studio) and embossed the leaves on just a portion of it. Then I layered the designer paper and the strip of old olive down the center.

The squirrel was stamped with Memento Tuxedo black on White card stock and cut with a Grunge Tag. I colored the image with Pencils blended with Gamsol and blending stumps. I distressed the edges with Balmy Blue ink.

I added brown embroidery thread after punch a hole in the tag and mounted it on the card with foam tape.

  The small acorn is from the current September KOM . I added some Wink of Stella for a little shimmer on the acorn.  The sentiment was cut with a fishtail die.  Green enamel dots were added.

I think this will make a fun card to give to someone when you forget their birthday. 

Be sure to leave your name in the comment section for a chance at the $20 Gift Voucher for some Unity goodies.

See you again tomorrow for another fun card creation.  Thanks for stopping by.

GUI Week - Day 1- Fall Blessings & Four Seasons Fall Challenge.

 Hello and Welcome!

Today is my first day as this weeks (Growing In Unity) featured stamper.  This is my 2nd year of doing this and I am excited to share my card creations with you this week.

Be sure to leave a comment (no anonymous comments) with a name as 2 lucky people will be chosen at the end of my week to receive a $20 Gift Voucher at Unity Stamps!  

Without further ado here is my first card for this week: (Click to enlarge) I'll also be sharing this for the Four seasons Fall Season challenge:   I think it meets the Mood Board theme (bottom right) with the wonderful pumpkin and colors.

 This card came together quickly thanks in part to the amazing pumpkin stamp found in the September KOM (Harvest to Holiday).

I started out by using a piece of designer paper from Unity's, Haunted Hues paper pack.  I cut out a piece using one of the dies from Unity's,  Scallop and Rectangles. Then using my Stamparatus*retired SU I stamped the pumpin in the corner using Memento Tuxedo black ink. - After I had the pumpkin stamped I distressed the edges of the piece using Ripe Persimmon and Rusty Hinge inks adding some depth of color.  Next I colored the stem with a Pale Olive (YG95) Copic Marker and highlighted the pumpkin curves with Honey (Y38) Copic Marker.  Next I spritzed the piece with Antique Bronze Distress Spray (Tim Holtz - Ranger) which added a really cool shimmer to the piece.

On the (Old Olive) piece I stamped a Unity Background, (Woodgrain Whisper) with a Versa mark ink pad.  You don't see much of the background but it does add some subtle detail to the olive portion of the card.

The sentiment is from the same KOM and was stamped on Very Vanilla card stock with Memento Tuxedo black ink and distressed the same way as the pumpkin background.  I also curled the edges with my fingernail.

I wrapped some twine around 2 corners, mounted the focal piece with foam tape as well as the sentiment.  These main card background is Basic Black cs.  To complete the card I added a few sequins.

Here is a close up of the shimmer created from the Distress Mica Spray:

You can also see the background that was stamped on the olive piece as well.

Lots of steps but a super fun card to make. - Be sure to leave a comment (with name or a way to contact you) for your chance to win that $20 gift voucher from Unity Stamp Company.

Come back tomorrow to see my next creation & Happy Stamping.

Double D and Inspired By and NBUS# Challenges

 Hello and Welcome!

Today I'm sharing a card that I'll be listing for the following challenges:

Double D (Fall Leaves)

Inspired by....Fall #IB302

Here is the card that I created for these challenges:

So for this card I started with a card base of Basic Black (SU) card stock.  Then I added a piece of new designer paper (Carta Bella-Fall Fun).  I had a left over piece of embossed paper from a previous card so I added that strip. The cover plate is from (Concord and 9th)

Next up I used a stamp from Unity's (Love Never Leaves) stamp set which is the first time I've used this set. - The sentiment also new is from Unity's (August KOM-thanks in all things)

I stamped the leaf onto white card stock and used blending brushes and Distress Inks (Dried Marigold, Fired Brick, Brushed Corduroy) and a Distress Oxide Ink ( Rusty Hinge) Tim Holtz Ranger Inks.  Once I had them blended the way I wanted I spritz the image with water and sprinkled on some table salt.  The salt absorbs the water and leaves the little speckles you see after you brush it off.  I cut the image out with Scallop and Circle nesting die (Unity) - also new to me.  The sentiment was stamped with Memento Tuxedo black ink and cut with another of the nesting dies.  I also brushed on the distress inks around the edge of the circle.

I added some clear glitter (Art Institute-Crystal glitter) and a small clothes pin (I received these as a gift so I don't know where they are from.) to complete the look of the card I added a black circle offset (that die is from MFT) The focal image was mounted with foam tape.

I love fall so these challenge were especially fun to participate in.  Please check them out.

Thank you for stopping by.

Color Throwdown#811 & NBUS#66

 Wow it's been awhile since I've posted here.  The summer has been busy.  Anyway I'm back today with a card for this weeks, Color Throwdown #811

Here is the card that I created for this challenge.

This card uses a bunch of new stuff so I'm also going to include it on NBUS#66

I started with a Card Base of, Mossy Meadow.  Then I used my new cover plate (Concord and 9th) Stitched Polka Dot Die on a piece of Cajun Craze card stock.  I layered that on a piece of Basic Black cs and distressed the edges.  The bicycle image is from Unity - September KOM (Wander and Wonder).

I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo black ink and colored it with Prisma colored pencils and blended with gamsol.  I cut the image out with a Rectangle die also from Unity.  Then I splattered black speckles with a Black Lustre Brush from Scrapbook.com

I added some enamel dots, (Paper Studio) and another new die,

Unity (Happy Hello) die collection.

The main image and the word die were popped up with foam tape.

To complete the card I stamped a portion of the image inside the card with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and a sentiment from the kit.

This card was fun to color and put together I hope you enjoy it and thanks for stopping by.  Don't forget to check out the other entries on the Color Throwdown blog.

"Two fer" card challenge: FMS & CTD

 

Hello and Welcome!

 

Today I'm featuring 2 different cards.  One is for the Color Throwdown and the other is for Freshly Made sketches.

 

Here's where the "Two-fer" part comes in.  I used the same sketch for both cards.

 Freshly Made Sketches #602

Below is the card that I made for FMS#602

 

 

For this card I used a stamp set that I got last year, Hocus Pocus from Photo play.  You can see a couple of the cards I made here and here and here.  (You can check out the links for extra inspiration using that set if you want.)

Card Base: Basic Black, next layer, Only Orange (retired SU) that I stamped the little star image from the set with Only Orange ink.

I added a piece of plaid designer paper (DCWV - Spooky Time) and a piece of purple card stock to the left side.  Image was colored with pencils.  Added some punched bats from the set and some purple sequins to complete the card.

COLOR THROWDOWN#759

This weeks color choices were:

Here is the card I made for this challenge.  - It uses the same sketch as the card above.

This one was "tough" for me. - Card base: Cherry Cobble (for the maroon in the color scheme). Next layer, Only Orange (retired SU) that I embossed with a leaf embossing folder and then brushed metallic Gold ink on.

I stamped some of the leaves (retired SU set, Autumn Leaf Prints) and then water colored them using retired SU watercolor pencils and  water brush.  After it dried I used a different leaf stamp from the same set and Versamark ink and then embossed with Detail Gold embossing powder.  I also used the SU Itty Bitty Background set (retired SU) and some Real Red and Only Orange ink to add some splatters.  The sentiment is from, Stamp Rose.  To finish the card I added some orange baker's twine.

That's it for these two challenges.  I hope you have enjoyed your visit.

 
 

Paper Players Theme Challenge #607 & Global Design Project

Wow cutting this under the wire for sure. - Our computer has been acting up and I had this card ready to post yesterday but just could not get the darn thing to work right.

 

Anyway the Paper Players theme challenge PP607 this week was,

Fall Fun.

 

I've also decided to enter this in the Global Design Project

 

 

Here is the card I created for the challenge:

 

 Card Stock used: Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Mint Macaron and Basic White.

Desinger Paper, Carta Bella (Welcome Autumn)

Stamp Sets: Nuts About Squirrels (SU) and Hey Foxy (Amuse Studio) Woodgrain Background (SU)

Ink:  Cajun Craze, So Saffron, Soft Suede, Early Espresso (SU)

Dies:  Stylish Dies (SU) and Circle Nestabilitie Dies. 

Other: Gold Gems and Foam Tape.

The squirrel was fussy cut.

I really liked how this turned out so I wanted to make sure I got it posted for the challenge.  - Our computer sucks right now!

 

 

Festive Fall and 2 challenges.

 

 Hi! - Today's card is being featured for the Color Throwdown challenge and the Freshly Made Sketch challenge.

Color Throwdown #615

and Freshly Made Sketch #457 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the card that I created for these challenges.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For this card I used a Kraft card base paired with designer paper from the Pumpkin Patch Stack (DCWV).

The Scarecrow image is from Unity Stamps and the Sentiment stamp is from Stampa Rosa.

 

I stamped the Scarecrow image with Memento Tuxedo black ink on Whisper White Card stock and colored it with various Prisma Colored Pencils and blended with Gamsol. Then I mounted it to a piece of Basic Black card stock and layered it onto the designer paper.  

The sentiment was stamped on the reverse side of the dp with black ink and mounted to black card stock.  I mounted the sentiment with foam mounting tape and added some sequins to finish the card off.

 

 
 

Freshly Made Sketches & Mod Squad Challenge

 Hello & Welcome!

Today I'm sharing a card that I created for the current Freshly Made Sketch Challenge (FMS #456) 

I'm also entering my card for the current Mod Squad Challenge Blog,

(Hello Pumpkin). 

Card Details:  Card Stock: Soft Suede, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green and Whisper White (SU).

Stamps: Pumpkin Scarecrow (Stampendous) - This is a very old stamp. The sentiment is from the Hello Foxy Stamp set (Amuse Studio).

Designer Paper: Pumpkin Patch Stack (DCWV)

Ink: Versamark & Memento Tuxedo Black.

Detail Black Embossing Powder (SU)

Various colors of SU Pads were used to watercolor the image.  I used a water brush and lifted the color from the pads. - I'm a little rusty at this technique but I like how it turned out.

Other: Washi Tape - row of pumpkins, sequins, foam mounting tape & circle punches.

Paper Players Fall Critters

 It's time for the newest Paper Players challenge.  But before I get to that I am excited to say that my card for the sketch challenge #510 was chosen as (A Cut Above) winner. 

Now on to the newest challenge:

 

Fall is one of my 2 favorite seasons and I just had to make a card for this challenge.

 

Here is what I came up with for PP511

 

I colored the raccoon with colored pencils and fussy cut it and mounted it on the circle die which I had sponged with the pear pizzazz ink. The leaves on the sentiment are actually rub-ons that were part of this collection.

 

I pulled out an old stamp last seen here on the blog back in 2014 with (this card).  

I just think that little raccoon is so adorable.  

 

Details: Stamps:  Raccoon is from
Snag 'em stamps Apple Cider Collection by Imaginisce.

Have a Festive Fall Stamp: Stamp Rosa - Another old stamp in my collection.

Card Stock: Chocolate Chip (retired SU), Cajun Craze & Whisper White (SU)

Patterned Paper - Imaginisce - Apple Cider-Autumn Splendor collection.

Ink: Early Espresson, Memento Tuxedo Black, Pear Pizzazz.

Other: Prisma Color Pencils, Circle Nestabilitie Dies, Fishtail Dies(MFT) 

Such a fun challenge.  Be sure to stop by the Paper Players blog and check out all the entries and hey why not make a card yourself and enter it. 

Freshly Made Sketches #455 - Two times the fun

 Hello and Welcome!

It's time for another Freshly Made Sketch

Here is the sketch for this challenge:

 I had so many ideas for this sketch.  Some of them worked and some of them didn't.  - I started out trying to use a Star die to go along with the star element in the sketch.  Sadly I had to ditch that idea because I didn't have the paper I wanted to work with my idea.

So then I came up with a card but wasn't totally happy with how it turned out. - I gave it a rest and started over this morning.  I'm going to show both of my cards but am just entering one of them in the challenge.  - Click to Enlarge photos.

 

Card #1 - This is the card that turned out the way I wanted it to and I was happy with it.

 Card Stock: Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Smoky Slate and Crushed  

 Curry.

 Designer Paper: DCWV - Pumpkin Patch

Ink: Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Memento London Fog and Encore Copper Metallic

Stamps: Large Leaf - PSX (Personal Stamp Exchange) which I've had forever.  The Acorns and Sentiment are fromTCP Studio Fabulous Fall set.

Here is another view of the card that shows the sentiment up better.

Again I love this Designer paper because it has pieces that look embossed (the leaves on the side) Plus you can see that I brushed the copper metallic ink onto the large leaf, the acorns & the old olive circle.

The large leaf and acorns were both fussy cut and mounted with foam tape. - I also added sequins.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Card #2 - This is the card that I wasn't totally thrilled with.  

In this case I flipped the sketch.

Details: Card Stock: Concord Crush (I'm not totally certain but I think that is the color), Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black & Whisper White. - Pattern paper, Eerie Paper Pad - Basic Grey.

Stamps: Witch and Sentiment (Source Unknown) but most likely either Inkadinkado or Studio G as I bought a lot of small Halloween stamps from JoAnn's and those were the brands they carried.  I did use an SU set for the larger bat which was fussy cut and layered on the white circle.

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black.

Other: Spider Border Punch - Martha Stewart, Green/White twine, Sequins & Circle Nestabilitie Dies.

So there you have it two cards using the same sketch. There is still time for you to play so why don't you give this sketch a try.

Blogger Challenge - Celebrating Fall

Hi! - Sorry that I have not been around to comment on your blogs lately. I hope to do better this week. If you leave me a comment I will return the favor.


I'm playing "Catch Up" today with my card as well as participating in the current Bloggers Challenge #280 and 281 themes. Last week was a sketch challenge and I planned to have a card ready but life got in the way and I missed out on the challenge. I liked the sketch though so I decided to use it for this week challenge, Fall cards. So you get both weeks challenges in one.

Here is the sketch from last week:

Here is the card that I did using the catch and this weeks current theme of, Fall creations.

Card Details:
Card Stock:  Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, Only Orange, Summer Sun, Whisper White.
Designer Paper, Basic Gray
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black., Prisma Color Pencils/Gamsol.
Stamps:  Inkadinka Do - Doodle Fall.  Sentiment computer generated.
Leaf Punch - Source Unknown.
Brads
Embossing Folder - SU

You can join in on the fun here:

BC235 - Fall Blooms

Hello! - Yes, I am "late" for the Blogger Challenge this week but it was the least thing on my mind this past Friday. My mom ended up in the ER on Friday morning. We thought she might be having a Heart Attack. When she got to the ER her Blood Pressure was 201/97 which was not good at all. They gave her a Nytroglycerin tablet and some BP meds right away. Took an EKG, Blood Tests and a Chest X-Ray. A couple hours later her BP was down considerable and the tests all showed normal readings. They felt she should be admitted though and be monitored for her BP which started to rise again. She spent Friday and most of Saturday at the hospital. They sent her home late yesterday afternoon with a bunch of medication now for her BP and so far she is doing okay. It was pretty scary and I spent as much time as I could at the hospital both days while still trying to look after Coleen.

So here is the card I managed to finish on Thursday before all this happened. It's a card that uses a Sticker that I've had for a very long time. I like the Pumpkins/Flowers in the sticker and built my card around it.

I did stamp and emboss the sentiment with Copper EP, added a punched/distressed flower and a punched border as well.

Here is a close-up of the flower.

You can join in on the fun by linking below:

Have a great week.