GIU - Growing In Unity Gal Friday

I have featured stamps from Unity Stamp Company each day this week.  Be sure to visit all week and comment on each of the Growing In Unity posts, because there will be a drawing for some FREE UNITY STAMPS from all of the comments received during the week.  Unity Stamp Company is providing TWO generous prizes of 25 stamp grab-bags each. 

    

Since I get to award two prizes, I thought I'd bid farewell to my week as the GIU gal with two cards!  As you can see, they both follow the same general layout.

   
The patterned paper used on both cards is from Couture Creations.   The flags (which are pierced along the border if you look closely) were made by a die from My Favorite Things.   The green button is from My Mind's Eye. 

      

Thank you so much for joining me this week!  Remember to comment on each of this week's posts to maximize your chance to win.  (One comment per person per post, please.)   I'll let the comments continue through the weekend and draw the winners on Monday. Winners have been drawn.  Thank you!

   

Happy Stamping!

   

  

Cuttin' and Stampin' Challenge: Cute Critters

Everything is coming up Spring (well, it is in most areas of the country, anyway).  Spring is when all the cute little forest creatures and baby critters make their appearance, and we're ready to focus on that.
   

This week, our team made projects with the MFT Cute Critters stamp set and Amy Tangerine Stitched collection 6x6 paper pad.   These products and so much more are available at Cuttin and Stampin Scrappy Supplies.

My challenge project focuses on love.  Love can be any time of year, not just Valentine's Day.  Think a note in hubby's briefcase, little card in kid's lunchbox, etc.

All three of the patterned papers I chose were in the Amy Tangerine "Stitched" pad.  I used a Spellbinders label die to cut out the raccoon and sentiment, but the card is only showing about 40% of the whole die shape.  As you can see, the heart is also only showing a portion of the shape.   Your investment in dies is so much more valuable when you flex the creative muscle and realize you don't have to use the entire shape.

I felt the "Love" paper was very bold to the point where it could be overwhelming, so I only used a thin strip.  The card itself is a very dark grey and I used Memento dye ink in Grey Flannel for stamping.

As an aside, this card would be especially funny for me to share with my husband.  He had an epic war with a raccoon a few years back.

Happy Spring & Happy Stamping!

New Rubbah & Sales

Lots of fun releases and sales are going on, so without further ado:

• Verve Visual is releasing six new sets on Monday, Dec. 10th. Sneak peeks already available on their blog.
• My Favorite Things released three new sets this week, and is offering a 20% discount on stamps, inks, acrylic handles and Memory Box papers through the 8th of December to celebrate their first anniversary. Coupon code is SCS1207.
• Paula Best is offering her funky WM stamps as UMs until 12/31 for 40% off. This is a rare event. Be sure to put "UNMOUNTED HOLIDAY SPECIAL" in the message area of the order form so the order isn't processed as WMs.
• MissyB Designs is having a Christmas sale, and most of her stamp sets are 20% off. No coupon code to remember -- the prices have been adjusted on the site already.
• Cornish Heritage Farms released sixteen new background stamps... they run the gamut from lined notebook paper to Spanish script. Fun selections!

Happy to Enable & Happy Stamping!

Dress Form for Non-Sewers

We were on a bit of a drive together this summer, and Dad overheard a telephone conversation I was having with Lila. We were discussing sewing machines and the cheezy "craft" ones that don't work too well for sewing on cards. Lo and behold, a few days later, Dad got me a fabulous sewing machine with lots of bells and whistles. Kelly inspired me to sit down, read the manual, and try it out... but I admit that I haven't spent any time on it since that evening. I have been looking into taking sewing classes.

This month, The Stampers' Sampler's Tempting Template is a dressmaker's form. I stamped the top heart first onto vanilla cardstock. Then, I took the template printout and placed it over the heart so the neck was centered over the point of the heart and traced the template... careful to leave enough for the heart. Next, I cut out the dress and stamped the 'skirt' using the reversed heart image twice. The final touch was Swarovski flat-backed pearls to make the necklace.

Supply List:
Stamps: Boho Blossoms (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Very Vanilla CS (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: VersaMagic in Aegean Blue (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Flat-backed pearls (Swarovski)

This was definitely out of my comfort zone, and I enjoyed it quite a bit!

Happy Stamping!