Growing in Unity - Day Two

Welcome to October and welcome back to my second day as the Growing in Unity Girl.  For those here for the first time, hello :)  I hope you'll hang out with me all week while I showcase Unity Stamps.  It wasn't initially my plan, but I am showcasing various Stamp of the Week stamps all week long.  Today, I went completely out of my comfort zone and made a tag.  I didn't participate in the Unity Tag challenge last week, but was so inspired by everyone's creations I thought I would give it a try.  Also, the stamp I am using, Map of your Heart just seemed to be the perfect tag stamp.  I played with distress inks and rub-ons, and then decided that a game spinner would be the perfect finishing touch.

Okay, time for some fun!  I have an extra one of these stamps, so I am going to give it away to one lucky commenter on today's blog post!  Remember also, at the end of the week, one lucky commenter will win two free Itty Bitty stamps from Unity.  And as a grand prize of sorts, one lucky commenter this week will win a full sheet of wonderful Unity red rubber - the October 2011 KOM - faith, hope, love...live by it!!!

How is that for some amazing giveaways?!  Trust me, you'll want to keep coming back everyday, as there may be even more giveaways. 

Have a wonderful Tuesday.
Michele

Growing in Unity - Day One!

Good morning and welcome to my week as the Growing in Unity Girl.  First, I want to thank Jennifer (sorry I can't remember your last name) who switched GIU weeks with me, as I was scheduled to be on in early April but my grandmother passed away, and Jennifer was sweet enough to jump in to take my week in April and let me have her week this week so I wouldn't miss out on the fun.

It feels like forever since I  have updated this blog, but for good reason, a lot has happened since my last blog post.  We moved back to Winnipeg in mid-May after 15 years living in Ontario.  We decided we really wanted our two sons to be closer to their cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles.  We were fortunate enough that my husband was able to transfer through his work, and I was able to secure a job here in Winnipeg before we even left Ontario.  However, we did downsize our house substantially, so finding room for everything has been a challenge - we are still unpacking boxes.  On a positive note, I was able to claim the loft in our new house as my craft space - I just wasn't able to focus on organizing it or doing much crafting until late August.

But enough about that - let's get to the focus for this week - Growing in Unity!!! I participated in this last year for the first time and had so much fun, I couldn't wait to do it again.  Just as a refresher - I get to showcase creations using Unity Stamps all week, and I get to pick a winner from all the comments to win TWO FREE ITTY BITTY STAMPS! How is that for fun?!  But wait, that's not all....(do I sound like a game show host? LOL!)  I am going to make this week even sweeter for those that leave comments.  I have a few duplicate Unity Stamps.  Many are Stamp of the Week stamps - one of which is featured on my Wednesday project - but I also have a full sheet of brand new red rubber - the October 2011 KOM (faith, hope, love ... live by it) that I am going to give away to one lucky commenter.  So there will be lots of winning this week.

For my first project, I am showcasing a card I made for a friends wedding using the April 2013 Kit of the Month.  I remember seeing a beautiful card during one of the Friends with Flair Fridays that used the hanging towels with a black and white background.  To see the inspiration for my card, visit Mary Ann's blog, Lakeside Stamping.

I used the same black and white colour scheme, with some damask paper and this is what I came up with:

I really like how it turned out with just some embossing, pearls and ribbon. 

Remember to stop by everyday this week and leave comments for your chance to win Two Free Itty Bittys from Unity as well as some Stamp of the Weeks and this gorgeous sheet of red rubber:

 

Looking forward to a great week!



Michele

TGIF!!

Which of course means Friends with Flair over at Unity.  Today's project I created for one of my 'card nights' that we were doing a Valentine's day theme for.  (yes, this is from back in January / February, but I just didn't get to share it yet).  I figured we would have lots of Valentine's cards, so I decided to do a 'treat'.  I found the instructions for the pizza box on Splitcoast Stampers, which paired perfectly with this adorable SOTW image.  I provided chocolates for everyone to put in theirs.

Sorry it's sideways.  I'm off to check out all the other inspiration on the Unity Blog.  Also, Unity is celebrating their 5th Anniversary this weekend, and is having an awesome sale ~ 50% off!!! Who does that?  Unity does!  Go shopping and have a great weekend.

Michele

Another FWF! whooo hooo!!

Good morning everyone!  It Friday - yay! what else can I say.  I had my ladies 'card' night last night and we made some great creations, and it was so fun to get crafty - I am really going to miss those ladies when we move.  Today's card is actually one I created for a card swap with some of the ladies on Crop Chocolate.  We were challenged to make a monotone card, using different shades of the same colour.  I had just gotten the cloud embossing folder and thought this Unity stamp was perfect for it.

Sorry for the picture quality, I took it with my cell phone before sending them off in the mail.

Off to go check out all the inspiration on the Unity Blog hope you are all playing along too!

Have a great weekend.

Michele

I'm back! Just in time for Friends with Flair

Wow!  I can't believe how long it has been since I posted!  Luckily, I've still been getting crafty, just haven't taken pictures and/or loaded them up here.  But what better time to start up again then Friends with Flair, you can check out everyone else's creations here.  You'll also notice Unity is having another amazing sale this weekend - spend $40 and you get $15 off, using a coupon code - how great is that!  I know I already took advantage of this last night and have some great Donna Downey kits on their way to me already.

The card today I made for a bridal shower I am attending tomorrow using the January 2013 Kit of the Month - I just love the heart banner.  I had some fun with the hearts, using crystal effects on one, smooch on a few and dazzling diamonds on the other.  The sentiment is from another KOM from May 2010 - I also added a rhinestone heart over the heart image in the sentiment.  The patterned paper is Echo Park.

 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

 

Michele

FWF - Yippee!!

It almost seems like that was my post title from last week..LOL!! One of the great benefits of being off on the 31st and 1st, was that it took no time at all to be Friday again.
Today's card (sorry for the picture quality, I took it with my BB) I created for a birthday party my 5 yr old son is going to tomorrow.  I used both the sentiment and the party hat from the Have a Hoot Itty Bitty (Jillibean Soup co-brand)  stamp, but to save time, I used the owl punch from Stampin' Up.  Then, just for fun, I added googly eyes :)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend - I can't wait to check out everyone elses' creations.

Michele

Yippeee ~ Friday :) and FWF

Good morning all!
I've been slacking in my posts recently.  I have been really busy making cards, but haven't taken pictures.  I took this photo with my smartphone, so please forgive the quality.

This was my main Christmas card that I sent out.  I got about 25 of them made at a crop that I did at the Arts and Crafts House in Brantford.  I had an amazing time, Lesley Langdon is an amazing person and the food they provided us with was incredible!! I can't wait to go back.  I ran out of the red cardstock though, so ended up making about another 15 of a different design that day.  In the past week, I have done about another 30 cards!  I only have about 50 on my mailing list, but by the time you do all the teachers, etc at the kids school, plus co-workers, it really adds up.

I used a Unity Itty Bitty as my focal image on this card.  I misted the patterned paper (Echo Park Happy Holidays) with Studio Calico white mist to tone down the colours a bit and finished with a bakers twine bow and a little rhinestone.

Hope you are somewhat close to being ready for Christmas - I feel like I could use another week.

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!

Michele