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Friday, April 12, 2013

GIU- Day 5

Happy Friday all!  Thanks for joining me for my last Growing in Unity day!  As you know, I've been doing two cards a day from Unity stamps I hadn't inked and today is no exception.  Well, it wasn't supposed to be.  However, things can only go right so many days in a row before something's likely to go wrong.  Day 5 is apparently the day where it goes wrong.  Figures, right?  Murphy couldn't keep his fingers out of it and the law of averages determined that four days was enough.  SO.  Welcome to something a bit different.

I wanted to use "A Little Bit of Washi" for today's cards.  The first one, not so bad.  The second, not so good.  A technique I've really wanted to try is embossing on black- I've seen some stunning projects done that way.  It went splendidly until I got to the last 2 "tape" lines.  Yeah.  Murphy.  Turns out that my red EP is too dark to use on black.  Purple wasn't spectacular either so I played with it.  While I didn't finish a card from the piece, I did grab a picture of it so you can see where I was going with it.




Great idea.  Not so great execution.  So.  The first card.  I was going to do this as a one-layer card but it turned out that I must have had red ink on my fingers because once I was finished with the original, I saw a smudge.  And then a fingerprint.  And then a smudgy fingerprint.  MMURRPPHHHYYYYYY!  So.  I did another fussy cut project.  Of course, it was somewhat blah on a plain background so I added some yellow stitching.  Didn't stand out.  Red stitching with the yellow.  Too bold- overwhelmed the yellow.  Let's add green.  While we're at it, what the heck, do 'em all. 

Next!  There were actually a few sets I wanted to try so this gave me the chance to pull in another.  "Ornamental Season" is one I got but hadn't used because I really wanted to spend a bit of time making it pop and when mass producing my Christmas cards, that's not real time-effective.  I stamped the image with Staz-On onto a scrap of plastic from a report cover.  I colored the back of the sheet with Sharpies and a silver paint pen.  


Well, I'll say it for the last time.  Please make sure you leave comments for me on all of this week's GIU posts.  I'll be drawing a winner from all comments on Sunday and the winner will get two Itty Bittys of their choice from Unity.  Good luck! 



Ingredients:
Stamps: (A Little Bit of Washi, Ornamental Season): Unity

Ink: (Silver, Black Staz-On): Tsukineko, (Real Red, Only Orange, Summer Sun, Green Galore, Brilliant Blue, Concord Crush, Lovely Lilac): Stampin' Up
Paper: Stampin' Up
Misc: (Embossing folder): Sizzix, Sharpies, (Embossing powders): JoAnn's, Washi (the black strips of washi are real): Unknown

Challenges:
The Paper Players: #140: Something recycled/repurposed (plastic sheet from report cover)

Jingle Belles: Earth Day Special (there's that report cover again!)

23 comments:

  1. I hate it when I transfer ink from my fingers to a project. I think this was a happy mistake thought. The card turned out great!!!

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  2. Great way to use that Little Bit Washi set but I see what you mean about the dark EP !

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  3. A wonderful mistake it turned out being! Love the result. The last Christmas card is so pretty, too. You had a great week. Thanks for sharing your creations with us.

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  4. What a great reuse of a report cover! You really did make those ornaments pop. I love the little ribbons and the colored swirls behind the focal point. Great job with the challenge. So glad you joined the Paper Players this week
    jaydee

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  5. Thanks for sharing your "mistake"! I am fairly new to card making and paper crafting and there are so many times the idea in my head is NOT what ends up on my project! Your cards have been great all week! Love your Christmas card! Thanks for a great GIU week!! God bless!!

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  6. You were busy! Thanks for sharing your cards with us!
    I love the washi tape cards.... I thought the fussy cut one was intentional. Gives a great bit of dimension. And the embossed one looks very cool. Great idea. I might skip the red powder next time, but the other colors look terrific on black! And your ornaments card is adorable... love that stamp!

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  7. Great cards and fun designs, Jen. Sometimes we have to "experiment" with techniques. I like the effect of the embossing on black.

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    1. Love the ideas!!! Throw first card is favorite!!!

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  8. Great cards Jen! Love how you tried new techniques.

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  9. Gotta love Murphy! Great experimenting and pretty Christmas card.

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  10. Great cards loving the washi one!!
    xoxo

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  11. Oh my, the report card plastic is gorgeous colored with Sharpies! Love the silver you added to the background too...thank you for joining my recycle challenge this week at the Paper Players!

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  12. Oh, I love the stitching on your washi card...and I think the washi images came out wonderfully!

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  13. What a clever way to recycle ... it really does make those colors pop ... so very glad you joined us at jingle belles.

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  14. That looks so great. I love washi tape so I'm a fan already.

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  15. I really like the embossed one. What a good idea.

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  16. Wow these are all so cute. I love the rainbow of colors. TFS AJ-

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    1. P.S. Not sure how I miss the Christmas one but it is my favorite. =)

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  17. My fingerprints get in the way alot too. Washi is fun and the ornaments with the pretty embossing is so festive. :)

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  18. Well, I haven't commented on your unity posts because this is the first time I've visited your blog; was looking at Jingle Belles for inspiration. I think your washi card (the first one) is awesome, great ensemble! I also love your ornamental season stamp, can't figure out what you meant about coloring on the back of the plastic sheet. Was that because the colors would smudge? Very fun blog, btw.

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  19. LOL! I hear year pain on that third card, Jen - that is my life - fumble fingers all the way! At least we keep ourselves entertained LOL Your cards look amazing - so pretty, and such diverse styles and techniques! Just wonderful.

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  20. all of these are ♥FAB♥ but of course i'm bound to say the "ornamental" one you've made for the earth day special at JINGLE BELLES is my favorite! :) and truly, not only is it lovely to look at, it's a BRILLIANT use of that transparent report cover!!! ♥

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