Two Unity Cards

 Hey Everybody,

Our challenge is to make a card regarding our legacy. I'd like people to remember me for encouraging others with cards with God's Word or a card just to encourage or make someone smile. I stamped this image and colored it with Copic Markers and a zig pen. I used direct to paper to drag ink onto the card base to mimic the woodgrain of the bird house. Then I added the sentiment which is one of my favorites. One of my favorite pastors used to say this each time he preached before we left. He was so genuine when he said this. It always brings a warm feeling and a smile when I see or hear it.

Keywords: MIX682

Stamps: Unity Stamps-Soul Restoration

Paper: crumb cake, soft suede

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento rich cocoa, crumb cake, pecan pie, early espresso

Accessories: Copic Markers, Zig clean color real brush, dimensionals

Techniques: direct to paper, stamping, coloring

Our challenge was the site, Essential Stencil, found here.  
The inspiration for my card is this card.

I stamped with memento tuxedo black ink then colored with a the blender marker and a water brush. It was a nice way to soften the colors that I used. I brushed color on my glass mat and used the blender marker and the water brush to apply the colors. I cut the image panel and designer paper panel with the arched dies. Then I added them to the peach pie card base. This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.

Keywords: IC1055

Stamps: Unity Stamps-Where Butterflies Wait

Paper: white, peach pie, lawn fawn plaid

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedod black

Accessories: water pen, clear wink of stella, Karin brushmarker pro markers, Jillian Vance-Stitch Dot Arched backdrop dies

Techniques: coloring and watercoloring

These two stamp sets are from Unity Stamps. I really am impressed with their line of images and sentiments. These stamps are just perfect to encourage those in the hospital. The sentiments are so thoughtful.

I really love the one on my second card. It says, One Gentle Step at a Time is Enough.

This company produces stamps and sentiments that are so real and honest. Sometimes I choose the stamps for the sentiments and other times it's the images and sentiments.

How do you choose your stamps and sentiments?

Thanks for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Sue

Dry Embossed Backgrounds

 Hey Everybody,

I'm back again with another way to add a background to your cards.  This time we're going to look at embossing for your background.

Here is the first card.

I used a piece of watercolor paper that my granddaughter made and dry embossed it. I added the glimmer washi tape to the watercolor panel. I put washi tape on white cardstock then punched it out with the two heart punches. I stamped the sentiment and fussy cut it. I added the hearts to the card with adhesive and the sentiment with dimensionals.

I think the dry embossing adds so much texture to this background. This card was for a sketch challenge. It was an easy sketch to do.  I covered pieces of white paper with the glimmer washi tape then punched out the hearts for my card.

Sabrina's challenge was to use black.

                                       

I added ink to the debossed side of the white paper. Then I used direct to paper and dragged my black ink pad across the design until I was satisfied with the color. Lastly, I added my sentiment. This will be used for a BRAK birthday for next month!  The dry embossing on this background is the star of the show. That's why I added just a sentiment and no other image.

 I chose to do a card using the Blackout Embossing technique. The tutorial can be found here. 

On this card I've done dry embossing and stenciling. Notice that the stenciling isn't on the whole card, and it's not the same intensity. It fades in and out. That provides more interest. Behind the stenciled image panel I've dry embossing with jungle leaves to add to the parrots on the card.

On this next card, I've used designer series paper and dry embossed with tiny leaves that almost match the flowers in the paper.

This last card shows how I stenciled a part of the stencil onto the background with versamark ink, then used gold embossing powder to heat emboss my background.  The stencil is similar to fish scales and really shows up well heat embossing in gold embossing powder.

Once again you can see how using stenciling or dry embossing on a background shows off your card. It also allows you to just add a sentiment if you want to. You don't always have to have an image on your card front.

Think about the embossing folders you have. How can they add to a card front ?  Pick one from your stash. What can you pair it with? Will you add an image, just a sentiment or designer paper?

It's a simple way to make a background to go with your cards. I hope you give it a try.

Blessings,

Sue

Stenciled Backgrounds

 Hey Everybody,

I'm back with three more cards. We looked at watercolor backgrounds yesterday. Today we're going to look at using stencils for a background.

Here is a cute House Mouse image colored with Copic Markers and spotlighted in the negative portion of a heart. I used the cut out heart for another card and didn't want to waste this pretty glimmer paper. The House Mouse Stamp is called Easter Egg Nap.

Our challenge was pink flowers. I used the Hero Arts Tulip Pattern 4 part tulip stencil to make the background. Then I stamped and colored my little mouse with Copic Markers. I punched a heart out of my black glimmer paper and put the image behind it so it would stand out against the background. I stamped the sentiment from Stampin' Up called, Blessed Easter, then punched it out with the key tag punch. I did the same with the black glimmer paper and cut it horizontally and put it behind the sentiment. This will go to a local nursing home.   This was a 4 part stencil. There were two different colors for the flowers and two different colors for the leaves. I really like using two different colors for the flowers and leaves. It takes a bit longer, but I love the look.

Keywords: F4A835 Easter House Mouse

Stamps: House Mouse-Easter Egg Nap, SU-Blessed Easter

Paper: white, black glimmer

Ink: memento tuxedo black, strawberry slush, granny apple green, garden green, pretty in pink

Accessories: heart punch, SU-key tag punch, Hero Arts-Tulip Pattern Stencils, Copic Markers, dimensionals

Techniques: stenciling, coloring, using negative

  The second background that I stenciled was inspired by this card from the featured stamper of the week.  

What stopped me at this card was the background she made with this cute bunny.

 I made an Easter Card with a different character. I kept my card vertical and added two sentiments instead of one. I did multiple layers but didn't add a button or ribbon.
This little guy was masked then I stenciled the eggs around him. I colored him with Copic Markers and blending brushes. I outlined each egg with a fine line sharpie marker. I stamped and added the two sentiments. This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.

This stencil is from Lawn Fawn called Easter Egg background stencil. If you notice I only used one color for the eggs. There are two stencils, one with egg shapes and one with designs in the egg shapes.  Typically in the plain egg shapes you'd color these with light colors then place the detailed stencil on top and color those eggs a bit darker.

I chose to just trace the plain egg shapes behind the little guy so there wouldn't be an overwhelming number of colors to distract from my image.

Keywords: FS994

Stamps: Unity Stamps-Little Weirdo, Jillian Vance-Spring Hootie

Paper: white, peach pie, black glimmer

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black, pecan pie, strawberry slush, highland heather, pretty in pink, crushed curry, balmy blue, lemon lime twist

Accessories: Copic Markers, Lawn Fawn Easter Egg background stencil, fine line sharpie black pen, dimensionals, blending brushes, computer paper for a mask

Techniques: Masking, stenciling, coloring

Here is an Easter Card with colors used on both stencils. I varied the colors of the backgrounds and tried to make them lighter than the detailed parts of the eggs.

This works well for this card because the images are small and off to the side of the card. The black sentiment really stands out against the eggs and doesn't interfere with the background at all.

 I used a die for the sentiment and added these two cute bunnies from Colorado Craft Company that I colored last year and had in my stash. It was fun to pull out colored images and add them to cards.

You may not be able to tell, but the bunny tails have paper glaze with glitter on them to make them raised and sparkly.

So there you have it, three cards with stenciled backgrounds. I have lots of other stencils for backgrounds so I might do this again with general stencils. 

Do you have stencils you could use for a background? What would you add for an image to go with your stenciled background?

Before  you begin working with colors look at your stencil and image. Are there typical colors you'll use on your image?  What colors will go well with that for your background? Just a bit for thinking ahead will make your project easier.

Well, thanks for visiting.

Blessings,

Sue

Mia and Me

 Hey Everybody,

Today I have three cards that were made by my granddaughter, Mia and me.  When Mia was with me one day, I took out a roll of white paper and some Prang watercolor paints. Mia painted all over the paper. I let it dry then cut it up into pieces big enough for backgrounds for my cards. Check them out here.

This is for the sketch challenge. The background was made by my 4 year old granddaughter with her watercolor paints. Once it was dry I cut it up to use as a background for my card.
I stamped and colored the little guy with colors to match the background paint. I added black glimmer paper behind the image. Then I added the cardstock for the sketch. The banners were made with the same watercolor paper so they are a bit more difficult to see. I love the idea of making cards with the paper my sweet girl painted.

Keywords: SC1102

Stamps: Unity-Wee Little Love Courier

Paper: white, calypso coral, black glimmer paper, kids watercolor paper

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black

Accessories: Prang watercolor paints, brush, Copic Markers, wide oval punch

Techniques: water coloring, coloring

This is for the letter D for the Alphabet challenge where we were to use dark colors.
I stamped the bird and colored it with darker colors to match the background paper.
The background paper was painted by my 4 year old granddaughter. After it dried, I cut it up to use as backgrounds for my cards. I love the idea of making cards from paper my sweet girl has painted.
I added the image and background panels to black glimmer paper. I used a heart punch to get the black heart and added the sentiment on top of that.

Keywords: ABC24D4

Stamps: Unity-Wee Little Love Courier

Paper: white, black glimmer paper, white watercolor paper

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black

Accessories: Prang Watercolor paints, paint brush, dimensionals, heart punch

Techniques: water coloring, coloring

Our challenge was to make a card with music. This is an older, retired Stampin' Up set. I stamped on paper watercolored by my 4 year old granddaughter. I colored the hearts in with Copic Marker. I stamped the piano and colored the heart with a Copic marker. I stamped the sentiment and added it to black glimmer paper. I added black glimmer paper behind the image and behind the background paper.

Keywords: WT1093 piano music

Stamps: Music From the Heart

Paper: white, black glimmer, watercolor paper

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black

Accessories: Prang watercolors, paint brush, Copic Marker, dimensional

Techniques: stamping, coloring, water coloring

Well, what do you think of those backgrounds? They are all very different aren't they? Just having the colors in each of them gave me ideas of what type of image I wanted for each card. So you don't have to be a real artist to make backgrounds.

Maybe I'll give it a try myself. I don't know if I can be a carefree as my 4 year old, but it's worth a try!

How about you? Could you just randomly add color and brushstrokes to a piece of cardstock or watercolor paper?  Let it dry or use a heat tool, then make a card using that as your background.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Sue

March 3rd New Products

 Hey Everybody,

There are lots of things that are new at Stampin' Up.

• Product of the Month
• Kits
• Online Exclusives

Notes Of Spring NEW Product of the Month Available March 3, 2026 – Create an adorable card with this NOTES OF SPRING  stamp set and send it to some-bunny you love! Or use it to craft a scrapbook  spread of a moment you hold deer. Whatever you choose to create, this stamp  set with woodland friends and useful sentiments is sure to add some  springtime joy! THE PRODUCT OF THE MONTH – Is an exclusive product released each month! – Can be unlocked for just $5 with orders over $75 (after discounts and rewards). – Is only available while supplies last—they can sell out quickly! – Is limited to one per customer. Shop with me here – SUE’S ONLINE STORE New Online Exclusives are available today, March 3rd. Check them out here. Check out the new kits here. 167820 RADIANT REMINDERS KIT $14.00 167992 EVERY LITTLE THING KIT (ENGLISH) $21.00 Paper Pumpkin subscriptions will see an upcoming price increase.  Here are the new prices for Paper Pumpkin Kits beginning with the April 2026 Kit: Here is the new pricing for refills and past kits released after March 11, 2026. Prices for refills and past kits released before March 11, 2026 will remain unchanged. As always if you have questions, please let me know. I'll be showing some of the new Online Exclusives next week in classes. I will have some samples of cards made and other new products to check out. If you haven't signed up for a class, let me know when you'd like to attend. Classes are  Monday at 10 Tuesday at 1 Thursday at 10 Friday at 7 I can't wait to see you in class.  Blessings, Sue