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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Growing In Unity Day 2

Hi and welcome back to day 2 of my GIU week where I am showcasing the wonderful Unity Stamp Company stamps!  I'm really excited to share todays projects with you.  My passion is leaning more and more towards mixed media and I just love playing with colors in my art journal and dabbling in new areas. Today I have an art journal page, a postcard (yes, I've started making and mailing my own mixed media postcards!), and a decorated envelope to share with you all. I still have a lot to learn but it's making me happy to try new techniques and ways to express myself artistically!

First up, the art journal page:
I lightly sprayed my art journal (which has heavyweight watercolor paper) and then scribbled on some gelatos in yellow, orange, and pink. I smeared them around with my fingers and when that dried I stamped the gorgeous flower from Donna Downey's You Are Important kit in Picked Raspberry distress ink a few times in the page. I then stamped the grid from Track This, Graph That SMAK Oct 2012 in Spiced Marmalade distress ink around the page randomly. I stamped the chevron from Dec 2012 SMAK Love Story Clips in India Black ink. The sentiment is from Nov 2014 SMAK Trust Your Soul.  I stamped the Donna Hollyhocks in white gesso and when that dried I outlined them with teal Liquid Pearls. The butterfly is from Feb 2015 KOTM Happiness Looks Gorgeous and was stamped on watercolor paper and spritzed with some teal Heidi Swapp Color Shine.

 Here are some close ups for more detail.

I always have so much fun when I get time to play in my art journal. It's so rejuvenating!
 
Now for the postcard:
I had a 12x12 sheet of thin cardboard that I dropped some pink and yellow acrylic paints onto randomly and I used an old credit card to swipe the paint around and when it dried I cut it into 4x6 sizes for some artsy postcards. I used the Serenity Fashionista and some sentiments from that kit as well and the large mandala is from the July 2012 SMAK kit Cre-ate (I think Unity now sells just that stamp separately from the kit too). I used a white gel pen to add some details and then I paper-pieced the yoga mat onto a scrap that I had used to soak up some Dylusions ink previously. I edged the yoga mat in gold glitter glue and added some sequins in two shades of blue/turquoise. Maybe she's juggling, maybe she's just found her zen.
 
And finally the envelope:
I have been having a blast with mail art and decorating envelopes lately and here is my most recent creation that will be mailed out by the end of the week. I just think it's so FUN to get happy mail and bright and colorful packages and envelopes are sure to bring smiles all the way through their snail mail journey!
I painted this bubble mailer by smearing around some pink and blue acrylic paints and when it dried I flipped it and painted the backside in the same way. I stamped the Carnivale Alpha alphabet and the elephant from Original You in India Black ink. I stamped the border from Carnivale Alpha in purple paint. This is for an alphabet swap so I went with an alphabet theme for the envelope!

 
 
GIVEAWAY:
I will be posting a new project each day this week (Monday-Friday) on my blog using Unity stamps and when the week is over I get to pick 2 winners from all of the comments during the week who will each get a grab bag of 25 Unity Stamps! I will also be having a small giveaway of my own with 2 winners so there will be 4 winners total!!! I will post the winners on Monday, March 2nd.

Thanks for sticking with me through this long post. I hope I've inspired you in some way to try something new to you, it can be SO fun!

See you back here tomorrow crafty friends,

Crystal

39 comments:

vlrbreingan@yahoo.com said...

Simply beautiful ,you do gorgeous work😊

Samantha said...

Lovely work...looks fun and messy :) cant wait to see whats next.

Anonymous said...

This art journal, your post card and the envie just speak to me! Gorgeous, bright and so cheerful! I love it all. What a happy person the recipient will be! The envelope is sure to bring joy to each person that has a chance to see it along its' journey!

Gaylynn said...

Awesome art! Love the bold rich colors on both.

Alyson Esposito said...

Great colors and design ❤️

Kris B said...

Great mixed media pieces! Love the bright backgrounds!

Denise Bryant said...

Love all the bright and cheery colors! Pretty butterfly and flowers on the journal page... love those stamps!

Anonymous said...

Wow - so pretty with a punch of color!! :)

Cynthia said...

Really fun projects, Crystal. The colors are so cheerful!

Unknown said...

Love the vibrant colors! I cant wait to try a mixed media project!

Unknown said...

Very Zen :). Beautiful.

Brandi R said...

LOVE your bright and beautiful colors! Great projects ♥

Ruby said...

The art journal and post card are amazing projects. Love the bright colours. thanks for the inspiration.

Becca Yahrling said...

Your projects are amazing and the colors are so happy!

Sweet April said...

Wow,and double wow! First, I saw your art journal and I loved it. Then,I saw the postcard and I double loved it. Finally, I saw the envelope and I went wild. Bless your creativity and inspiration.

ionabunny said...

Love the colours and the yoga chick. Hugz

Sue D said...

Very creative and colorful projects!
slrdowney at hotmail dot com

Dawn Fields said...

All of these projects are amazing! I love your work! I never thought to decorate a bubble mailer...so clever; I may have to try this!

Karenladd said...

Love your rainbow colored backgrounds and that mail art envelope is so fun!What a great set of projects for you GIU week!

Teresa Godines #6857 said...

Very pretty. Love the colors. TFS

Jean said...

This is wonderful! Love the bright colors!

jengd said...

Fun pieces! I love the idea of mail art- someone will be thrilled to get these!

Unknown said...

AMAZING! I don't know any other way to describe your projects.

Kate B said...

Super projects. I will definitely try these techniques.

Unknown said...

The colors are, so, vibrant! And, love the postcard idea. (I, actually, came to your page, for the GU-Day 3, and was blown away. So, I decided to backtrack & see GU-Day 2 & Day 1.) I'm very glad I did. You are, so, thorough in your project walk throughs. I, almost, feel like I could attempt something like these w/your descriptions. Thanks!

Iris said...

So pretty - love the colors.
isoscia at aol dot com

D.Ann C said...

They're all pretty, but I love, love, LOVE your art journal page!! FAB!!

Donna K said...

Crystal...fantastic projects! I have never started an Art Journal. I'm so intimidated by this process and fear it might end up being another thing on my "to do" craft list that is sitting here staring at me. Your details and vibrant colors are amazing, you have a great eye and I love the post card as much as the journal page...good grief you have the knack! I can speak from personal experience about how wonderful your decorated envelopes are. I was so delighted when i received your card and lovely envelope.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!!

SHartl said...

Your journal page is so unique and creative and you have a definite style that POPS!

Anonymous said...

Mail Art? That's new to me... how intriguing

Beth F. said...

Oh my gosh! Your projects are so much fun! I am sure whoever receives that envelope in the mail will be thrilled just to be holding it in their hands!

Lucinde | Lucilight said...

Great work, love the first page! The colors are beautiful.

Debra Davison said...

Gorgeous projects and you have inspired me to try some of your techniques !!

Janis said...

You are totally my inspiration with the envelope art!!! Always love every one of your projects, but I am enchanted with your envelopes. Thanks for sharing them with us!!!!
<3 J

jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

Katherine said...

Love the bright colors! You really made some cool art with those stamps!

Lagene said...

WOWZERS! What a fun postcard and FUN envelope! Your journal page is super uber bright and wonderful!

Katie said...

I am so glad I got to see your journal pages, I wish I could do something like this! Love the liquid pearls idea, very cool! And I love the idea of painting a bubble mailer too! How fun for you the mailman and the recipient! Thanks for sharing.

Katie B.

Unknown said...

Gorgeous project. Love all the colors and textures.

Kim
Craftisan Studios
Design Team Showcase