Just Because

Just because...sometimes you need a card for no particular reason.

I love this floral image from the Comfort & Hugs stamp set - it is large enough to carry a card with just a simple sentiment. I added a bit of watercolor and topped it off with a little bit of shimmer. It was easy to create (great for assembly-line style...I've got a few variations to share) and gives a beautiful result.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies: 
Watercolor Paper: Canson (Watercolor XL 140# Cold Press);
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Ocean Tides, Royal Velvet);
Cardstock for Card Base: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Stamps: Ink Blot Shop, LLC (Kindness & Thanks, Comfort & Hugs);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Other: Watercolor Paints (Master's Touch Watercolor Paint Set - 24 Colors); Spectrum Noir (Sparkle Glimmer Brush - Shimmer Pen);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Embossed Bird Shaker Card {Ink Blot Shop, LLC}

I don't know if you have tried shaker cards yet or not, but if you haven't - just be aware that they are a little bit addicting to create!

For today's card, I embossed this cute bird image from the new Flopsy Birds stamp set on the shaker window. (Perfect for the current SSS embossing challenge.) I kept it clean and simple, and I love how it turned out!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Stamps: Ink Blot Shop, LLC (Flopsy Birds);
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Smokey Shadow); Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye (Cut & Paste - Adorbs 6x6);
Ink: Tsukineko (VersaMark Watermark Ink);
Embossing Powder: Hero Arts (White);
Clear Film: Grafix (Dura-Lar Clear Film); 
Sequins: Pretty Pink Posh (Silver Heart Confetti, 4mm Charcoal); Martha Stewart (Glitter - Sugar Cube Hearts);
Dies: Spellbinders (Wonky Squares);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board); Wagner (Precision Heat Gun);

Floral Monogram Card

I'm so excited about my new stamp venture, and while I originally intended these stamps to be used for Bible art & journaling, I just couldn't help but use them to make a card. 

For this card I used my new This & That stamp set, and masked the stamped images into the letter D (which was hand drawn with the help of a stencil). I used some Prismacolor pencils to do some quick coloring, and then layered my stamped & colored piece onto a piece of colored cardstock. It all came together fairly quickly and I love the colorful result!

Thanks for dropping by today!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 80#; Brilliant White 130#); My Favorite Things (Orange Zest - Prestige Cardstock);
Stamps: Ink Blot Shop, LLC (This & That); 
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black); 
Colored Pencils: Prismacolor (Premier Colored Pencils);
Pen: Faber-Castell (PITT Artist Pen - F);
Stencil: Dana Tanamachi (DIY Type);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Christmas in September {Unity Stamp Company}

I am thrilled to be able to sneak into this week's Unity blog hop!
Although I am not technically a part of the Unity Design Team, I am one of Unity's Artists...so I was able to squeeze my way in. :o)

I am excited to share my projects with you today! To create them, I used two new stamp kits (Reason for the Season and Little North Pole) that I created for Unity Stamp Company:

{Reason for the Season}

{Little North Pole}

The first few projects are created using the Little North Pole kit:

And these cards are created using the Reason for the Season kit:

I hope you love these little cuties! I had fun creating them!

Unity is giving away two great prize packages!
There are two ways to enter to win:

• Link up your Unity project by Wednesday night. (The linky closes at midnight CST.)
• Leave a comment on each blog in the hop. 

(The winners will be announced on the Unity blog.)

Continue hopping on through to the Unity blog, and then go shopping!

Thanks for stopping by today!
Supplies:
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Reason for the Season, Little North Pole); 
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 110#);
Patterned Paper: Studio Calico (Brighton Pier 6x6 - green and white triangle); Studio Calico (Wanderlust 6x6 - red and white scribble); Echo Park (Sweet Girl - Border Strips);
Twine: The Twinery (Solid Maraschino, Solid Honeydew, Solid Peapod, Solid Lilac);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Growing In Unity :: Day 4 - Dream Card

Welcome to the 4th day of my week as the Growing In Unity gal!

I am so thankful for each of you that have stopped by so far to check out and comment on each of my projects using Unity Stamp Company stamps. Be sure to comment on all five of my Growing In Unity posts this week if you want a chance to win some free stamps!

If you are new here or aren't already a follower: I'd love to have you follow my blog!
If you are one of my regular readers: Thanks for coming back! I love having you!
If you are on Facebook, please "like" Ink Blots by TRD.

For today's card, I used Unity's Solar Elem stamp:

I wanted to create a simple card with the focus on this cute stamp image. I kept a very calm color palette, which worked well with the "dream" wood veneer piece I used for the sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by today - and don't forget to leave a comment so you can enter to win!

From the comments that are left on each of my posts this week I will be randomly choosing TWO winners who will each receive 25 random stamps from Unity Stamp Company - to be sent to a domestic address only, please.

Supplies: 
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Solar Elem); 
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Patterned Paper: Studio Calico (Wanderlust - 6x6);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Colored Pencils: Prang (20 - Tan, 17 - Gray, 8 - Light Green);
Wood Veneer: Studio Calico (#331100); Chic Tags (Sequins);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Growing In Unity :: Day 2 - Congratulations Card

Welcome to the 2nd day of my week as the Growing In Unity gal!

I am so thankful for each of you that have stopped by so far to check out and comment on my first project using Unity Stamp Company stamps. Be sure to comment on all five of my Growing In Unity posts this week if you want a chance to win some free stamps!

If you are new here or aren't already a follower: I'd love to have you follow my blog!
If you are one of my regular readers: Thanks for coming back! I love having you!
If you are on Facebook, please "like" Ink Blots by TRD.

Today I have a very simple card to share with you. It is nothing more than white cardstock, black ink, and ribbon (and Unity stamps, of course!)...but I love how it turned out:

I used the beautiful floral image from Gladness Touch Your Life (by Joslyn Nielson) and the "congratulations" from the Blossoming Thoughts & Wishes sentiment kit (by Lisa Arana). I ended up stamping the floral image 5 times (on a variety of angles). I had considered coloring in the flowers, but I love the look of this in black and white (with a little pop of color).

Thanks for stopping by today - and don't forget to leave a comment so you can enter to win!

From the comments that are left on each of my posts this week I will be randomly choosing TWO winners who will each receive 25 random stamps from Unity Stamp Company - to be sent to a domestic address only, please.

Supplies: 
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Blossoming Thoughts & Wishes, Gladness Touch Your Life); 
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 80#, Brilliant White 130#);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Ribbon: May Arts;
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Growing In Unity :: Day 1 - Your Light Shines Card

Welcome to the 1st day of my week as the Growing In Unity gal!

Stay tuned each day this week as I show you something I've created using stamps from Unity Stamp Company...and be sure to comment on each of my Growing In Unity posts this week because Unity Stamp Company is allowing me to give away some free stamps!

If you are new here or aren't already a follower: I'd love to have you follow my blog!
If you are one of my regular readers: Thanks for coming back! I love having you!
If you are on Facebook, please "like" Ink Blots by TRD.

It's no secret that I love all things to do with mason jars (except canning...I haven't done that before...ha!). As soon as I saw this cute stamp (Your Light Shines by Joslyn Nielson) I knew I wanted to stamp with it.
(And...bonus...the sentiment stamp happens to have the words to a song I love - Hillsong's "From The Inside Out".)

I created this simple card sketch to go along with the stamp and sentiment and just added a hint of coloring on the stars. I love how it turned out, and with this design it is easy to create 3 cards at the same time...so I have extras!

Thanks for stopping by today - and don't forget to leave a comment so you can enter to win!

From the comments that are left on each of my posts this week I will be randomly choosing TWO winners who will each receive 25 random stamps from Unity Stamp Company - to be sent to a domestic address only, please.

Supplies: 
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Your Light Shines); 
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Patterned Paper: Studio Calico (Brighton Pier - 6x6);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Colored Pencils: Prang (20 - Tan);
Dies: Spellbinders (Standard Circles Large);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

I'm Here For You {MFT Sketch Challenge 217}

Well...there has been a lot of buzz lately about the challenges over at MFT (My Favorite Things), and the most recent sketch challenge immediately gave me an idea for a card when I saw it. 

Here's the sketch:

Here's my card:

I love the MFT Abstract Art stamp set and thought it worked perfectly for the challenge. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: 
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Midnight Black 130#, Brilliant White 80#);
Stamps: My Favorite Things (Abstract Art, Get Well Wishes);
Ink: My Favorite Things (Dye - Black Licorice); Memento (Dye  - Lilac Posies, Pear Tart, Tangela, Bahama Blue, Dandelion);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Little Love Animals

Today I wanted to join up with Unity's Friends With Flair (FWF) and share these cards that I created with the new Meow. Purr. Baa. kit:

I am so excited about this new kit (and the Roar. Grr. Eek. kit, too!) and can't wait to see what others create with them!

{See more cards I created with these new kits on my blog post from yesterday.}

PS - They are both available for only $6 each with this weekend's fantastic sale - be sure to add them to your cart!

Baa. Card Supplies: 
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye (Miss Caroline - Fiddlesticks);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Meow. Purr. Baa.); 
Colored Pencils: Prang (17, 18);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Meow. Card Supplies: 
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye (Follow Your Heart - Be Happy);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Meow. Purr. Baa.);
Twine: The Twinery (Solid Natural);
Colored Pencils: Prang (14);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors, Circle Punches); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

All Kinds of Happy {Unity Stamp Company}

Today is a busy blogging day for me! 

Looking for my SEI Guest Designer post? 

Click here.

I'm squeezing in again today to Unity's hop to share a couple cards I created with a new kit I designed, "All Kinds of Happy".

During this weekend's sale, you can get the new "All Kinds of Happy" stamp kit FREE with a $60 purchase...not to mention the free sentiment stamps you will get with every $10 you spend.

("All Kinds of Happy" will be available for purchase after the sale is over.)

For both of these cards, I did a bit of paper piecing. I designed this kit (and last week's new kit, "Hello Birdie") specifically with big, open areas and clean lines that are easy to paper piece and/or to color.

I hope you will have as much fun with these new kits as I am having!

Here is a look at the Hello Birdie Kit that was released last week:

And here are two new kits that I created (only $6 each this weekend!):

This one is called Roar. Grr. Eek.:

And this one is called Meow. Purr. Baa.:

And if you like the new kits, you may also enjoy "Flowers for a Friend" - a former Stamp of the Week that is now available to purchase for non-SOTW members:

Don't forget: for today's blog hop, Unity is giving away two great prize packages! Be sure to leave a comment on each blog in the hop (including the Unity blog) to be entered to win. (The winners will be announced Monday night on the Unity blog.)

Continue hopping on through to the Unity blog, and then go shopping!

Thanks for stopping by today!
Oh Happy Day & Happy For You Cards Supplies: 
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#); Papertrey Ink (Rustic Cream);
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye (Lime Twist - Life of the Party 6x6);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (All Kinds of Happy);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Go Wild. Card Supplies: 
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye (Stella & Rose - Mabel 6x6);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Roar. Grr. Eek.);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors, Circle Punch); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Squeak. From All Of Us. Card Supplies: 
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#); Papertrey Ink (Rustic Cream);
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye (Cut & Paste - Adorbs 6x6);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Meow. Purr. Baa.); 
Twine: The Twinery (Solid Blossom);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors, Circle Punch); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Two Cards and a Tag {SEI Guest Designer - Day 2}

Hi again! I am excited to be back again today to share a few more SEI projects with you!
(I hope you stopped in yesterday to check out my mini album.)

Today I've got two cards and a tag to share - again using products from the Club SEI March 2015 Paper Crafting Kit. For each of today's projects I used a 3x3 journaling card (or two) from the perforated sheet along with some solid and patterned papers from the kit.

For my first card, I started by layering a solid and a patterned paper that I had previously cut to 4x6 (I thought I might use them in the mini album that I shared yesterday). I simply added a few leaves from the Kraft Chips package and two 3x3 cards from the perforated sheet (included with the kit) to finish off my card.
(Note: White cardstock base not included with the kit.)

For my next card, I went with a simple approach - just a solid paper, a piece of patterned paper, and the "lovely day" 3x3 card from the perforated sheet (all included in the kit). Sometimes you just need a quick card...and this card was certainly quick to assemble.
(Note: White cardstock base not included with the kit.)

I had some small scraps left over from the mini album and cards I had created, so I decided to give them new life on a tag. I layered a couple patterned papers to create the background and trimmed a 3x3 card to fit the top of the tag. Then, I used another 3x3 card (which I trimmed to accentuate the flag look) for a sentiment. I threaded the hole with brown grosgrain ribbon (from the sundries package) and then tied a little twine bow through the button to hold it all in place.
(Note: Tag base and twine not included with the kit.)

The Club SEI March 2015 Paper Crafting Kit has been so fun to work with and I still have a lot left to create with!

Thank you for joining me again today! Have a wonderful day!

Supplies: 
Patterned Papers and Embellishments: SEI (Club SEI March 2015 Paper Crafting Kit);
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Twine: The Twinery (Buttercream);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);