Unity Blog Hop 06.18.15!!

It’s Thursday and we’re hopping with the Unity Stamp Company Design Team AND I have a couple of projects with videos to share with you.

Today I’m going to share a DIY project I did recently using this month’s Kit of the Month, “She Found Joy”.  One of the images really stood out to me--the French label with the bee as the focal image. I just really wanted to use it to adorn something I use, so I did--my old, beat up coffee table. Unfortunately, I got started on my project so fast that I didn’t get a “before” picture.

I hope the “after” picture will do.

Summer usually inspires me to do projects that require a little more time or effort, and I just couldn’t wait to get started with a NEW summer project. In fact, I jumped in with all I got.

Here’s the link to my SUPER quick video showing the process of how I accomplished this DIY project:

https://youtu.be/3xskXSsBtBA

Here’s a look at this month’s Kit of the Month, “She Found Joy”. LOVE that French label!

Onto another project . . . this time a canvas I put together in no time at all using a NEW kit from Unity, “Pretty as a Peacock”.

Here’s the link to my SUPER quick video showing the process of how I accomplished this canvas project:

https://youtu.be/OUzBQ8MZmMc

We have TWO amazing Unity filled prize packages to giveaway. Leave a comment on EACH blog in the hop (including the Unity blog) for your chance to win. The winners will be announced Monday night on the Unity blog.

blog: http://theunitystampco.blogspot.com/

Be sure you take advantage of Unity’s latest promotion: http://www.unitystampco.com/

SALE STARTS AT NOON CENTRAL TIME

PLEASE share your lovely creations on Facebook with the Unity {show & tell) Facebook group. Lots of us check-in there daily (I check in several times daily--I’m addicted to inspiration).

Thank you all so much for hopping along with us and leaving positive comments. They are MUCH appreciated. If you ever have questions regarding my creative process or crafty items or tools that I use along the journey, PLEASE leave me your questions in the comments.

Click on the next picture below to be taken to the next blog in the hop for some Unity inspiration!

Vintage Tray Goodness

Finding treasures in thrift stores is a vital part of my creative process.  Sometimes these treasures are purchased long before their hybrid rebirth.  Mostly I wait for inspiration to come my way before altering.  That’s the case with THIS tray. Jodie Lee’s Vintage Collage Papers are P-E-R-F-E-C-T for this type of project.  They will make you look like a decoupage collage genius.  I printed three 8-1/2-x-11-inch collage papers on Epson Presentation Paper, one for the top right of the tray, one for the top left of the tray, and then I cut the last paper into strips that would fit the middle and bottom row of the tray that was not covered.  It was an excellent fit and I know I wouldn’t be able to make a collage as pretty as these on my own—what a great combination!

Distress’ed Out!

But in a good way!  For the past couple of weeks I’ve been taking THE online class by Tim Holtz, Creative Chemistry 101, at onlinecardclasses.com.  If you haven’t taken an online class there before, you should, especially this one.  I’ve learned SO much and inspiration has come easy taking Professor Tim’s class.  Here’s some pics of what I’ve been up to.

Pictures of how I binded all the tags and will store them:

I was so lucky to have made some cupcakes during the class.  That’s when I came across the cocoa box and decided to use the empty one as a container for my tags.  Very easy to upcycle by using ModPodge and scrapbook paper, ribbon, etc. 

Day 2 of CC101:

Day 3 of CC101:

Day 4 of CC101:

On Day 4, I wasn’t able to complete the third tag as I didn’t have any cut-n-dry felt.  At this point, I don’t think I’m going to purchase any, so no tag that day—LOL!  I might change my mind in the future If I can find another reason to use cut-n-dry felt. 

Day 5 of CC101:

Day 6 of CC101:

Day 6 tags are a favorite of mine as I had been waiting for my full set of distress markers to arrive as I had pre-ordered them shortly after CHA.  They arrived on the last day of class, so I was able to participate in that portion after all.  When they arrived from Absolutely Everything, they were gift wrapped with free goodies, some Perfect Pearl powders, which was a surprise in and of itself as I had only had one color previously, and this was a technique Tim was using in the class!

Day 7 of CC101:

On Day 7, I wasn’t able to complete the third tag as I didn’t have any Distress Embossing Powder, but I plan to make one when I get some as class videos, handouts, etc., will be available to me forEVER!

Day 8 of CC101:

Day 9 of CC101:

Day 10 of CC101:

I’m feeling such a sense of satisfaction upon completion of this class.  It was tremendously detail-oriented, complete with techniques and tips I’ve already put in motion with my Ranger supplies and my creative process.  The class materials are available to me forever and I think I will be referring to them quite a bit.  I highly recommend taking this class—you still can—it just won’t be live.  BTW:  Tim is one cool dude.

What?! It’s October already?! YIKES!

September flew by!  Here’s some projects I’ve been working on during the month.  Also, I’ve discovered the joy of ATCs and will be posting some soon. I can’t wait to share.  They’re so fun and addicting.

Happy Halloween Hybrid Card

Creativity by Crystal:  Crystal's Too Cute To Spook Papers and Crystal's Too Cute to Spook Elements available at jessicasprague.com.

Other Supplies:  CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, Tim Holtz Rosette die by Sizzix, buttons, brads, and embroidery thread.

My Beautiful Girls Hybrid Bracket Album

Jodie Lee:  Gorgeous Hybrid Bracket Album available at jessicasprague.com.

Other Supplies:  CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, Tim Holtz Rosette Die by Sizzix, Martha Stewart Embossed Button Punch and flower punch, and Zutter Bind-it-All and 1/2-inch O-wires.

Comic-Book-Sized Panel Home Decor Frame

Splendid Fiins: Splendid Tutorial 6 Super Comic Photos, Super Elements v1, and Super Comic Book Size Panel Layouts available at jessicasprague.com.

Other Supplies:  Frame stand made using Fancy Frames Cricut Cartridge, chipboard, and pop dots.

Halloween Rosette Ribbons

Just thought I’d make something fun to wear this Halloween Season!
Creativity by Crystal: Crystal's Too Cute To Spook Papers available at jessicasprague.com.

Other Supplies:  Tim Holtz Rosette Die by Sizzix, Stampin’ Up label punch, EK Success Circle Punch and Scalloped Punch, Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Ribbon Die by Sizzix, felt, ribbons, chipboard, and recycled pins and crochet coasters from the thrift store.

Splendid Finds!

I’m in love with these Feedsack papers by Splendid Fiin’s (available at jessicasprague.com), my Cricut, and the spontaneity of finding something that can be useful and made for me personally.  This shelf was found at my local thrift store but needed some drawers to make it more useful.  I printed some Feedsack papers onto thick cardstock,  die cut them using the box from Cricut Sweet Tooth Boxes cartridge (fit to page), added a “handle” using a label from CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge (cut at 1-inch), which was embossed using my Cuttlebug, and attached to the box using brads.  A circle punch was used to cut a half circle at the top of each box so that I can peek at the contents of the boxes.  Voila! In less than half an hour I had something I was proud to display.  I love craft technology!

Sweet Summertime & Mother’s Day

Lots of fun crafting done over the weekend, and with Mother’s Day just around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to break out this Perfect Packaging/Dress Me Up template by Kari Holt—so cute and versatile.  I added a cut—the apron—using my Cricut and From My Kitchen Cricut Cartridge.  I printed the template on 12-x-12-inch cardstock.  The template will fit quite a large item.  In this picture, it’s holding a Clinique Happy perfume box.  Gwen wants me to make some for her upcoming birthday party.

Being so inspired by the new Sweet Summertime Elements/Paper/Labels by Crystal Wilkerson, I wanted to spruce some things up I got at the local thrift store.  Below, in it’s previous life, this tray was a brown calendar frame.  I spray painted it white, decoupage some papers, elements, and label on it, and added the knobs.  It’s a hit at my house.

And, again, another thrift store find . . . plate racks and blocks were brought home.  The blocks had some not-so-pleasing images on them.  They look much better now and have brightened up the living room.  I think these would be really cute in a nursery. 

Some scrapbooking, too—I must have been inspired.  These are photos of Brandi, Gwen, and Raiden (minus Jake—always minus—he’s just not always into picture taking but he’s coming around).  They were enjoying fireworks, shade, the pool, and the gigantic sunflower we grew in our front yard last year.  It’s getting that time again—I LOVE gigantic sunflowers. 

We’ve been enjoying the weather at our house, but I know what’s to come—H E A T !  I’m not too pleased with that, but it’s only four months out of the year.   I hope you all have a good Mother’s Day!

Credits from JessicaSprague.com:

Perfect Packaging: Dress Me Up

August '09 A-Z Alphabet Stickers & Rub-ons

The Funky Fresh "Oh Happy Day" Elements

Crystal's {Sweet Summertime} Paper Pack#1

Crystal's {Sweet Summertime} Elements

Crystal's {Sweet Summertime} Labels

Crystal's {Doodley-Doo} 12x12 Borders

Storyboard Album Template Pack

Sitting Pretty Accent Pack

Sweet & Recycled

Today I played--thanks to Alisa Burke's Cloth Paper Scissors article entitled Paper & Plastic. Here are the pictures to prove it. Basically, I fused these plastic bags together by turning them inside out, placing them between two pieces of paper, ensuring the pieces of paper were larger than the bags to avoid a melting mess on my iron, and fusing them with my iron on a medium-heat setting.
Once they were fused together, I cut the fused plastic down to a 12-x-12-inch piece. Then I was like a kid again--I got to play with my acrylic paints, foam stamps, rubber stamps, Cuttlebug/Cuttlebug dies, Sizzix dies, black staz-on ink, glimmer mists, heat tool, embroidery thread/needle, and sewing machine. I even got to use my favorite buttons! It was a blast and a project I was jazzed about--I just couldn't stop until it was completed. Then I got out some black/white polkadot material for the lining, cut it to about the size of the piece of fused plastic, and sewed the wrong sides of the fabric and fused plastic together. Then I just had to fold the fabric into three panels, like a letter, and stitch up the sides of the lower panel. It was actually pretty easy. I think I got ALL of my tools dirty on that one, and my hands, and my desk . . .
















Here's a card I made last Sunday just before the Super Bowl. My daughter's BFF, Katie, was turning 19 on Tuesday, and I was inspired by a card I had recently seen in Paper Crafts' Card Creations, Quick & Easy, Volume 2, designed by Courtney Kelley. Here's my take using the Cricut with Indie Art Solutions Cartridge, some chipboard, the Cuttlebug with Houndstooth Embossing Folder, and October Afternoon pattered papers I had recently got in a Scrapbookloversdream.com kit.



















If you're interested in the cut file, here's the mediafire link--enjoy: http://www.mediafire.com/?wn0mqmzjmnm