Growing in Unity - Day 3

Wow, today is Day 3 of GIU.  My cards today will be focusing on colouring and making your own background.  Today's stamps are mainly from Unity's Store Kit Quiet Essence, love the beautiful flowers stamps and they are perfect for colouring.

My first card is colouring with alcohol ink markers.  I have only several alcohol ink markers (I know, I love copics and just found out I can get them from an art supplies store where I live.Yay!) but even with limited supplies one can achieve pretty good results.  Here's my card:

Stamp the top half of the cardbase with a background stamp (I used the background stamp from KOM April 2010) using Versamark.  Adhere the patterned papers as shown with a teal satin ribbon wrapped around it.  On a white cardstock, stamp the flower image using Memento Tuxedo Black, and colour the image with pink and red markers.  The red marker will give the flower some shading and then use the pink marker over the red to blend the colours.  I have only one green marker hence no shading on the leaves.  Cut the stamped image, and place it on the card as shown, with a little section tucked underneath the sentiment.  Cut the sentiment piece using Spellbinders Label 16.  Here, I used a sentiment stamp from KOM May 2010, where only the "hello" was inked (not the full sentiment) and stamped on the die cut piece.  Finally make a bow with another length of the teal satin ribbon and place a button tied with double bows using baker's twine.

The second card focuses on making your own background.  Here's the card:

Stamp the flower randomly on the card with Versafine Onyx Black.  Versafine is a great ink because it captures every detail of the stamp, dries quickly and because it's oil based it won't bleed with the waterbased markers.  After stamping the images, colour using water-based markers (I used Memento New Sprout for the leaves, Lady Bug, Rose Bud, Angel Pink and Lulu Lavender for the flowers).  Stamp the sentiment with Versamark and emboss with Black Detailed embossing powder.  Use Spellbinders Label 14 to trace around the sentiment with pencil.  Stitch around it with purple thread in running stitches.  Lastly, cut a frame to fit the card and make some faux stitches around it with a white gel pen.  And to finish off the card, add some Imaginisce glam rocks using the i-rock tool (I LOVE this tool!).

My last card today is another inking technique. 

Here's a list of things required for the technique :

1. Water-based markers (I used Memento Markers)
2. Ink blending solution (I used Tsukineko's Ink Potion No 9)
3. Craft mat (teflon mat)
4. Shimmer paint (I used Tsukineko's All Purpose Ink Champagne Mist)
5. Die cut a piece of watercolour paper

First, use a sponge and lightly ink the watercolour paper with the Shimmer paint.  On the craft mat, use several colours of markers and ink up enough to cover the watercolour paper.  Spritz the ink blending solution directly onto the mat with the colours.  Then place the watercolour paper with the shimmer paint side down to pick up the inks.  You can then leave this to dry or you can heat set it.

When the paper is dry, stamp the flourish stamp (Unity's Artist In You) with Stazon Timber Brown at the corners. Next, stamp the text with Stazon Pumpkin.  Then emboss the paper with a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  To finish off, tap another shade of Stazon (or you can use Pumpkin or Timber Brown) ink on the embossed areas.

Stamp the butterfly on a white cardstock with Memento Grape Jelly. Colour the image with watercolour pencils (light green and blue), first with the green and then the blue on the outer edges, going back blending the colours with the green. Use an orange pencil to colour the butterfly centre.  Then use the sponge with the shimmer paint (you won't need to reink it) and pick up a light blue ink (I used Memento Summer Sky) and sponge around the butterfly to give it some colour and shimmer.  Then add Glossy Accents on the spots on the butterfly.  Now, everything is ready for card to be assembled.

I hope you are inspired to do some colouring today, and if you have any questions please let me know. {{Thanks}} so much for visiting.

First card:
Stamps : Unity Store Kit Quiet Essence, KOM April 2010 (background), KOM May 2010 (sentiment)
Papers : Pink Paislee 365 Degrees, GKD cardstock Ocean Mist
Inks : Memento Tuxedo Black, Alcohol markers Alpha G126 Lawn Green, R149 Crimson & R123 Pale Peach
Others : Spellbinders Label 16, Teal satin ribbon, Baker's twine (PTI), AC button

Second card:
Stamps : Unity KOM September 2010, Unity Store Kit Quiet Essence
Cardstock : PTI Spring Moss, White grainy cardstock (forgot where I got this from)
Inks : Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Markers, Versamark
Others : Spellbinders Label 14, Sakura White Gel pen, Imaginise i-rock & glam rocks mirror

Third card:
Stamps : Unity Artist In You (Background flourish), Give It All Meaning (Text background), KOM September 2008 (Butterfly), KOM June 2010 (sentiments)
Papers : PTI white cardstock, October Afternoon Ducks in a Row, Watercolour paper (300gsm)
Inks : Memento markers (Potters Clay, Rose Bud, Rhubarb Stalk, Bahama Blue, Bamboo Leaves, Paris Dusk, Cantaloupe, Tangelo), Memento Ink pad Grape Jelly & Summer Sky & Tuxedo Black, Stazon Pumpkin, Timber Brown
Others : Spellbinders Labels 8, Glossy Accents, crystal brad, Cuttlebug embossing folder