Thankful & Grateful

Today, we are doing a Growing in Unity Blog Hop and I am excited to share this technique with you! This past week I attended a conference and one of the activities was to write down something you're grateful for during the event. It was clear by all the notes posted on the wall, that there was a lot to be thankful for. This little activity was a calling to make cards to express that same feeling of gratitude. I can tell you that every morning, before I put my feet on the floor, I give thanks for something. I am thankful for the health of my family. I am thankful for the mistakes that I have made that have led me to where I am today. And I am thankful for the opportunity to share my creativity with so many through this act of making cards (or paper hugs).

Today, I am sharing two cards made using Unity Stamp Company's "...Thankful and Grateful Fall" stamp set. The leaves in this stamp set are somewhat distressed looking so I thought, how great would be to use Distress Inks with water to give them a faded look. Here's how it worked.

Step 1: Using ivory water color paper, I stamped the first leaf using Rusty Hinge and Aged Mahogany.

Step 2: I stamped the other two leaves using Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint, Fossilized Amber and Aged Mahogany.

Step 3: Without letting the ink sit too long, I sprayed the inked section with water a few times until the ink started to run. Letting it swirl and mix a little, I proceed to stamp a few more leaves, sprayed them again and then heat set the whole card.

Step 4: Once dried, I stamped the larger sentiment using Vintage Sepia VersaFine and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.

Step 5: I then used Lawn Fawn's Stitched Rectangle Die to trim the paper. Next, using Peeled Paint Distress Ink, I blended the edges where the leaves were to fill in any gaps. Then, I layered it onto a bright olive green paper and adhered it to a brown card base.

Step 6: I stamped the sentiment on the same bright olive paper and ripped the bottom edge. I also used the Peeled Paint Distress ink on the sentiment edges and adhered it under the large word stamped.

(Scroll through to see additional pictures.)

The second card was made the same way using the same inks. I love that you see the leaves, but the lines and colors are all blended, giving these cards a very organic look.

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial and find some inspiration. And I truly hope that you take a moment to give thanks for one of many beautiful things in your life!

Thank you for following along and make sure to continue on the Growing in Unity Blog Hop for a chance to win some amazing Unity Prizes! Here's the list of blogs to check out...

Crystal: http://crystalominkler.blogspot.com/ MariLynn: https://mississippi-mcgyver.blogspot.com/ Shanta: https://www.creatingfrommyheart.com Julissa: https://www.papergemsbyjules.com/blog <---- YOU ARE HERE Anya : www.maiaink.blogspot.com Michelle: https://michellygolzcreates.wordpress.com/

Ania: https://acraftspot.com/ Helen: https://helengullett.com/ Tina: http://www.tinascropshop.com/

Happy Crafting!

Jules