Friends with Flair ~ Shake Your Bootie

Hello Friends! I've got a fun Halloween card to share today - enjoy! And if you've got some Unity goodness to share...or just want to see lots of inspiration...come join in on Friends with Flair!

I'm making up the Halloween cards to send out to friends and family, including a card exchange that I joined up with over at the ScrapZee Forum. As I was browsing the Silhouette store I came across a card file that I decided to try...its called a 'penny slider' card, have you seen one?

The rest of the stamped saying is on the inside...I thought that this one went with the interactive card quite well!

I'll spend this weekend making up the other 12 that I need to send out...fun!

Supplies:

• cardstock: American Crafts
• patterned paper: Cloud9Designs
• stamps: Unity Itty Bitty Shake Your Bootie
• card cut file: Silhouette America
• die cut: Spellbinders
• ink: Versafine

Thanks for stopping by!

Meredith

Here is a tiny video of the card in action. How fun is that? And just in case you are not able to view the video, the way the card is put together the ghost rolls across the front of the card when you tip it to the side!

Friends with Flair ~ Kraft Card Set

Ooh, another Friends with Flair Friday! And I have another card set made for auction to share...but first, a peek at a new visitor to my craft room...

She is a new addition to the household, much to the dismay of our older cat...and much to the delight of our Great Dane!

She has decided that her favorite roost is the tippy top of the tower on top of the workbench in my craft room...at least when I am in there!

Now, on to the cards! I made another set of cards for auction...this time for the professional group I belong to. I had my kraft cardstock out on my workbench and decided to use it all up! Seriously, I only have a partial page left!

I only have a picture of one card, because this time I made the set and had it out the door in one morning...without taking time to grab the camera! So I used my last piece to make one for myself, so that I could remember what I'd done!

I know that looks like a lot of fussy cutting around the sentiment, doesn't it...but not me!

I measured the square and used the Silhouette Studio software to draw a square slightly larger, welded with circles (subtract) to make the curved out corners. I cut lots of that shape out of kraft cardstock. I used the shadow function to make a larger shape to cut out of the colored cardstock. Then I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the frame and sentiment stamps with the kraft pieces that I cut out. I had a few off center stamps, but not many!

The sentiment portion is on foam tape to give some dimension, and the kraft mat is dry embossed for texture. I did make several sentiments for each card base, that seems to be popular at auctions, so the winner can choose whichever they need at the time.

I love the bright color with the kraft...I guess I'll have to go to the store to get another pack of kraft cardstock...what a trial...LOL.

Supplies:

• cardstock: stash
• stamps: Unity Everything Wonderful Sentiment Set
• ink: Versafine
• embossing folders: Cuttlebug

Just one more pic of the new cutie...such adorableness!

Thanks for stopping by, I know that I will enjoy looking at all of your projects today and over the weekend!

Meredith

Friends with Flair ~ Card Sets for Auction

Happy Friday!!! Its time for tons of inspiration from my Friends with Flair 'buddies'! I love seeing the creative ways that each of you use the Unity stamps...thank you so much for sharing!

The women's group at my church holds an annual Service Auction, where the ladies offer to share their personal talents with others, the services offered range from two hours of weeding or babysitting, to homemade cinnamon rolls (yum!) and various handmade crafts. Since I'm a cardmaker, I made up two sets of cards to donate to the auction. 

I had such fun putting together these two sets, and let me tell you, it was fairly difficult to narrow down my choices!

Here is an example from the first set...strait up a CASE of this card set. Well, ok...I changed it up a bit...but not much. I loved choosing the paper for this set, so fun to combine the patterns!

I used a sentiment that I thought could be used for many different situations and celebrations...congratulations, thinking of you, birthday, whatever the auction recipient wants, hopefully!

The base cardstock is not exactly premium weight, so I like to line the inside of the card to give it that special something extra.

I even decorated the bag that I put them in...because I had some extra butterflies floating around!

Supplies:

• cardstock: cream(wausau), brown(stash)
• patterned paper: Prima()
• ink: Ranger Distress Ink(Walnut Stain)
• stamp: Unity()
• punches: Martha Stewart(butterfly), ???(circle)
• die cut: Birds Cards(label)
• bag: Hobby Lobby
• ribbon: Hug Snug seam binding(cream)

The second set ended up a bit more colorful...I like this patterned paper! 

I started with this sketch, varied it just a bit...and went to town mixing the patterned papers.

I guess I didn't get a picture of the inside, but I lined the card again, with a layer of cream, and added an inked strip of the patterned paper near the top, as in the other set.

I went ahead and used specific sentiments for this set, just to differentiate from the first set. It doesn't show in the pictures, but I embossed the sentiments with a sparkly embossing powder, just to add a little something extra.

And of course, since the first bag was decorated, I couldn't leave this one plain!

Supplies:

• cardstock: kraft(unknown), cream(wausau)
• patterned paper: Basic Grey(Life of the Party)
• stamps: Unity(Circle Sentiments)
• ribbon: Celebrate it
• bag: Hobby Lobby
• punches: EK Success
• ink: Ranger Distress Ink(Walnut Stain)
• embossing powder: StampCraft(crystal sparkle)
• bowmaker: 3GirlJam

Thanks so much for stopping by! I love reading your comments!

Meredith

Friends with Flair ~ Achieving Dreams

I love Fridays...although last Friday was a bit frustrating, since I couldn't get blogger to work on my ipad! Time to get my post for Friends with Flair finished!

I know a lovely young lady, who is my 'daughter from another mother', as a family we have known her for years, and love her dearly! We have hung onto eachother through good times and bad times...and this card was made to celebrate one of her very good times! 

She was homeschooled, and struggled with some things, but just last month she passed her GED!!!! We're incredibly proud of course, and I wanted to make her a special card to celebrate.

I used a couple of Distress Ink pads to add color to the background...and used the same ink pads to dye the ribbon I used for the bow!

And I love the stamp I used on the inside...so inspiring!

I followed this tutorial to dye the ribbon...and made a few more while I was at it! Try it! You just need a bit of water and a Distress Ink pad...really, that's it!!!

Would you believe that the ribbons started out looking like this???

Supplies:

• cardstock: Neenah
• ink: Ranger Distress Ink, Memento
• ribbon: Hug Snug seam binding
• stamps: Unity 'Impossible Dream', 'empowered words'

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have fun hopping around for inspiration!

Meredith

Friends with Flair ~ Face the Sunshine Tag

I ordered the Phyllis Harris stamp, "Face the Sunshine" with my last Unity stamp order, and managed to color it up...I thought it would make a perfect bookmark for my niece to use now that she is in school again...to help remind her of summer! She actually started school three weeks ago...wow, that seems so early to me!

I dyed the ribbon myself...I'll share more about that next week, but here's a closer look!

I do love the style of Phyllis Harris' illustration...I need to save up to get some more of her sets...the hardest part is choosing which ones...since they are all so adorable!

Here's hoping that she will like it!

Supplies:

• markers: Spectrum Noir
• skin: TN4,TN5,TN6,TN7,TN8
• hair: BG3,BG4,BG5,BG6,BG7
• flowers & grass: GB3,GB5,OR1,CT4,CG2,CG4,DG3
• dress & sash: LV1,LV2,LV3,IG1,BGR1,blender
• stamp: Unity: Phyllis Harris Face the Sunshine
• cardstock: Neenah(white),Coredinations(green),scrap(purple)
• ink: Ranger Distress Ink(Dusty Concord)
• ribbon: Hug Snug seam binding
• embossing folder: Darice Basket Weave
• punch: EK Success(square), Martha Stewart(border),1/4" hole punch

I'm entering this tag into three challenges:

• Unity Friends with Flair
• 3GirlJam - Back to School w/ Ribbon
• Spectrum Noir - Anything but a Card

Thanks for stopping by!

Meredith

Friends with Flair ~ Itty Bitty a Day Facebook Contest Entries

For those of you who follow the Unity {Show and Tell} group on Facebook, I apologize for the repeat cards...for those of you who don't...it's a fun group full of inspiration like FWF, but daily! Either way, I figured that for Friends with Flair this week I'd post details of the cards I made for the challenge (however many that turns out to be!)

Monday's card is a CAS masculine one...I have a second image colored and I plan to line the inside of the card with white paper and put these in the pile for OWH. I figure that any hero would be comfortable sending this card home!

Supplies:
stamp: Unity SOTW Itty Bitty Anchored
ink: Memento
markers: Spectrum Noir
cardstock: white(Neenah), black and gray(stash)
ribbon: The Paper Studio
die cuts: Spellbinders

Tuesday's card....I'm two for two! I colored up the Phylis Harris stamp...this little girl is so adorable! 

I entered this one in a different linky party/contest, so the details are in a different post, here.

Day three...and I'm still making cards! My family had s'mores a few nights ago...which got me thinking about this SOTW and it rolled from there!

And will you take a look at that bow...I received a new toy in the mail this afternoon, the 3GirlJam bowmaker...wow, is it easy peasy to use!!! 

Supplies:

• stamp: Unity SOTW Chocolate and Friendship
• cardstock: white(Neenah), brown(stash)
• ribbon: The Ribbon Boutique
• pencils: Prismacolor
• ink: Memento(black), Ranger(brown)

Wow, I've managed to find time to make a card four days in a row...the thought of that just makes me happy!

Rainbows and happy thoughts for today!

Supplies:

• cardstock: white(Neenah), others(stash)
• stamp: Unity
• pencils: Prismacolor
• ink: Memento
• ribbon: Offray
• die cuts: Spellbinders

WooHoo! I completed five projects in five days! And judging by the number of projects posted on facebook...I'm not the only one by far! A little bit different project today...a special order for my son...he's going to a birthday party and wanted something to put the gift card in, (ok, in reality...mom told him that he *had* to put the gift card into something! lol) So a little spiffing up of the bag was in order...

I colored my own ribbon with markers again, this time using several different colors and flicking them on the ribbon randomly. I also wet the ribbon slightly with water and crumpled it into a ball then left it to dry ~ that's how it gets the crinkle. :-) Voila! I have ribbon that matches the stamp that I colored!

And check out that cute bow...made with the 3GirlJam bowmaker again...I'm loving how cute it makes the bows! 

Just a little bit of sparkle with some glitter glue, and I'm done! Do you ever gussy up the gift bags that you use?

Supplies:

• cardstock: white(Neenah), others(scraps)
• stamp: Unity SOTW Candles, Stars & Birthday Wishes
• markers: Spectrum Noir
• ribbon: Snug Hug Rayon Seam Binding
• die cuts: Spellbinders
• glitter glue: StudioG

Have a super day, and thanks so much for stopping by to visit! Have fun hopping around to see all the great Unity inspiration!

Meredith

Let Beauty Surround You

I'm finally eeking out some time in my craft room...even though it still looks like a tornado hit it from when I made space for a new sewing desk...am I the only one who resorts to stacking things higher in order to make space????

I've been getting the emails about the latest 3 Girl Jam Challenge ~ Kraft with Ribbon, and am loving the inspiration! So I decided to join in on the fun.

Supplies:

• cardstock: white(Neenah), kraft & yellow(stash)
• ribbon: Hug Snug Ribbon
• stamp: Unity SOTW (Let beauty surround you)
• pencils: Prismacolor
• marker: Spectrum Noir
• ink: Memento

Here's something that many of you probably know already, but maybe a few of you don't, so I thought that I'd share...If you want a custom color of ribbon, its not necessary to pull out the dye pots, you can just grab some white ribbon and an alcohol marker, then color that ribbon! I used white rayon seam binding ribbon, and the marker made the ribbon a bit stiffer than it is normally, but that was great, since it made my bow keep shape better!

And I just wanted to show a closer picture of the coloring...look...shading! And moreover, shading that doesn't look amateurish (shh, keep your opinions otherwise to yourself!) 

This is encouragement to any of you who look at your own coloring and think that you'll never get better...my advice to you...keep coloring anyway!!! The practice with your chosen medium will have you oohing and ahhing at your own work in no time at all!

Thanks for stopping by!

Meredith