Day 3 Growing in Unity ~ Explore

Welcome back for day 3 of Growing in Unity! 

For anyone new to Growing in Unity or this blog ~ for a chance to win one of 2 $25 goody bags from Unity Stamp Company, leave a comment on each day of our GIU week here on the "Hi!" Notes blog.

Today I am excited to share with you another nautical creation!  This one is inside a frame for a table top, shelf or wall hanging. 

I live in the mountains, but these stamps of the surf and sand just tug at my heart!  You'll find a complete listing of the stamps used for this project at the end of the post. 

I started this project water coloring the heat embossed surfer image because I knew I wanted to use the "wander" sentiment with it.  This sentiment stamp has 2 parts, the words and a pretty semi-circle accent.  I separated them into 2 stamps that I can now easily use together or apart!

After a little experimenting I layered on different stamped images of travel or nautical related Unity stamps.  I even had a piece of a pocket map that I distressed and added to the upper right corner. 

Also, I used 2 embossing powders to create the effect on the compass & airplanes. I shared this technique in another post, "Using Multiple Embossing Powders.

If you have any questions of how I stamped, colored or embossed any of the images please put that in your comments and I'll get right back to you!!  I think it's all pretty straight forward. 

I also wanted to take a moment to say "THANK YOU!" to Unity Stamp Company.  They are a small, home town family owned business with a lot of heart!  Unity Stamp Company Stamps are not only of great quality, they are empowering.  Their designers are just "girl friends" that were encouraged to submit art, & their themes range from fantastically funny or heart warming to, how shall I say it, sister-hood encouragement!! 

Unity Stamp Co gives EVERYONE a chance to be heard and seen in their stamping world! With contests and sharing opportunities that make us all feel like family <3

AND as you've likely already noticed, they are GENEROUS!! Giving away over $400 in stamps each and every month in prizes alone!  If you've not done so already I strongly encourage you to enjoy looking around their FaceBook page or store. Even if you don't craft you may find that elusive gift for the crafter in your life, and since you're here, I know you'll enjoy surfing through all of the amazing cards & projects posted there daily!

 

Here are direct links to each of the stamps I've used for quick & easy reference:

 . .the Unknown Path - Surfer Girl  https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/the-unknown-path/

Other Side of Fear - Wale / Sailboat  https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/other-side-of-fear/

Love brings You Home - world map on craft  https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/love-brings-you-home/

All About the Journey - compass  https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/all-about-the-journey/
Delightful Little Things - Sentiment  https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/delightful-little-things/
Adventure {smak 1/14} - line of jets  https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/adventure-smak-114/

Day 2 Growing in Unity ~ Encouragment

~ DAY 2 OF GROWING IN UNITY ~

 Welcome Friends! Whether you're ready to craft or just here to  explore, I hope today finds you feeling great and full of invincible spirit! 

Wouldn't you agree though, that sometimes we all need encouragement, especially when we find ourselves in the eye of the storm.  If that is you then even just making this next project may remind you to persevere,  and this too shall pass. . .  If you know someone going through a difficult time don't underestimate how much difference a note card of encouragement can make.

If any of you have teen agers at home you know how full of storms their lives can be. This little reminder is for my teen to display on an easel in her book shelf. (She loves ocean motifs)  I loved this design so much I decided to make a card to go along with the shelf sitter.  Both are made with the same techniques but different sentiments of hope and encouragement.

My idea was to use the cascading stars as the night sky mirrored by the deep, deep, dark ocean.  Unity has SO MANY great sentiments I would love to use with this design.  Like "A Certain Darkness is needed to see the stars" or John 14:27, or "the only time you should ever look back is to see how far you've come" ~ oh, and so many more!!

For Georgia I decided on "What Lies Within Us"  Great for a teen I think!  The card quotes Aslan from the Narnia Chronicles  "Courage Dear Heart."

I started with white cardstock proportionately deeper than the ship stamp.  I embossed the stars with white ink, a sprinkle of prismatic glitter and clear embossing powder.  I then rubbed them with the various inks pictured.  I wanted the depths to be very dark! 

PLEASE REMEMBER TO CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO SEE THEM SUPER-SIZE & READ THE NOTES

The sky is star embossed navy cardstock & the addition of a tiny bit of gold glitter for added twinkle!  The horizon is shaded with  black ink.  I then decided that the giant swirl stamp from Unity's kit "Art & Soul" would make a great looking storm.  Samped in Stampin' Up!'s Illuminate Craft Ink (a glimmer watermark), It adds a clear silvery iridescence.  I stamped it pretty heavily.

Another note about coloring: I began by brightly coloring the ship's sails. Then I realized this was a night scene, so I added shadows to them with Zig watercolor oatmeal pen.  The difference is shown at right

Don't forget to leave your comment. 2 winners will be chosen from those who've  left comments on all 5 GIU posts on this blog!!!

A favorite song of hope ~ In The Eye of the Storm by Ryan Stevenson.  You can hear it here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sx8wTnnfSc  along with a  beautiful pictorial of all the words. 

 

HERE ARE THE DIRECT LINKS TO THE RUBBER STAMPS USED IN THESE PROJECTS:

Small ship - Other Side of Fear  https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/other-side-of-fear/

What Lies Within Us {kom 11/14}  https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/what-lies-within-us-kom-1114/
Courage, Dear Heart https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/courage-dear-heart/
Midnight Kisses {kom 11/16}   https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/midnight-kisses-kom-1116/
Storm Swirl - Art & Soul  https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/art-soul/