Winners, winners, and more winners!!!

{also mixed media Monday}

I don't even know how to start this post, you have all left me speechless with your sweet comments and kind words on my Growing in Unity projects last week! I love the crafting community and Unity's little corner of it is filled with some of the sweetest people ever! I love the sharing community that they create on both Facebook's Unity Show and Tell and with their on-going Friday Friends with Flair. It really is such a great and supportive community and it's where I go when I want to be inspired. So THANK YOU for inspiring me, because I am sure you have at some point!

Well, I have to share something today because my craft-related New Years Resolution was to blog more regularly and frequently so Mondays have become my attempt at showcasing more mixed media projects.  This little tag is one of two different ones I made for a Birds and Bees swap and then decided to send the other more "mainstream" if you will, as I didn't know the recipient or her art style. I ended up using some of these stamps on the envelope which you can see here (as well as the tag I decided to send).

The background of the tag was sprayed with Dylusion sprays (which I LOVE) and I got to meet their creator, Dyan Revealey, and take one of her classes over the weekend which was an awesome experience! I am sure you will soon be seeing many more colorful projects featuring her Dylusions sprays and paints because they are just FUN to play with!

I used stamps from Unity, Catslife Press, and Dylusions on here. The background has some of Unity's Tattered Chicken Wire in both white and black ink. The flowers in the bottom corner are from Unity's Take Note, stamped in black and doodled around with a white gel pen. The lower bee is from Unity's One Precious Life. I stamped the Queen Bee* from Catslife Press, masked it and stamped Unity's bee over top so the sentiment appears where the bee head would be. I stamped the sentiment along the side from Catslife Press, stamped the top bee from Catslife Press on separate paper and fussy cut it and adhered it to the tag. The leafs in the top corner are Dylysion stamps and colored with a paintbrush dipped in the Dylusion spray. 

There is lots of doodling with white gel pen, details with a glitter pen, gold stickles, and gold smooch ink to finish it off.

Oh, yes, you are probably interested in seeing the winners from last week! Well, I won't keep you waiting any longer...

I used Random.org and put in each day (1-5), then put in the number of comments from that day and here are what Random.org came up with!

First the winners of the grab bag of 25 stamps from Unity:

From Day 4, comment 15:
Donna K said...

I love what you said about the cards being a "hug sent across the miles"...so true. The result of your technique and the pastels on this card is amazing. Such a heart felt sentiment and of course you created an envelope as well. Cause you're awesome like that! Have a happy day Crystal!

February 26, 2015 at 12:55 PM

and from Day 1, comment 8:

Kris B said...

Beautiful card! Love how you made the border by using only part of a stamp! Wonderful idea, and it turned out fabulous! Congrats on being this week's GIU gal! Looking forward to a great week!

February 23, 2015 at 12:08 PM

 

Now for the winners of my personal giveaway:

 

From Day 3, comment 32:

Janis said...

LOVE the bright, happy colors and your wonderful expression of spring in your art!!! This is just fabulous!!!
<3 J

jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

February 26, 2015 at 6:25 PM

and from Day 2, comment 25:

Kristin Whaley Yeager 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!

February 25, 2015 at 10:50 AM

 

 

AND THEN, because you were all so super sweet and I wish I could pick you all I decided that since there was a random winner from each of the other days that I would pick an additional winner for a little something from me from Day 5 as well and Random.org picked...

Day 5, comment 27:

Carolyn Bounds said...

Each and every creation is FABULOUS! It is easy to see that you have a love for creating, as well as a love for Unity. :) Your poppy card is stunning! Poppies are one of my favorite flowers, especially since I come from a military family...so this beauty definitely touched a soft spot. The lunchbox notes are positively precious, and I know your daughter truly enjoys finding these works of heART each day. Awesome, awesome creations, and so happy I was introduced to you and your beautiful work through Unity. :)

February 28, 2015 at 4:03 PM

 

Winners, please message me at crystalamariscreations at outlook dot com with your mailing info and I will get that passed on to Unity ASAP for the winners of the Unity grab bags and for the winners of my personal giveaway I will try to get your goody packages out by the end of the week (or when I get your info).

 

Once again, my most sincere thanks to everyone who took time out of your day to leave me such sweet comments, it really made me so happy to read each and every one! I tried to respond to each one so if you were one of the ones who asked me a question about technique, please go back to check that post and comment as I didn't know how else to reply.

 

If you are interested in keeping up with me and my crafty journey I have recently started an Instagram where I post something crafty almost daily. You can always follow my blog here as well, but I know blogger is not the easiest for navigating at times. I also try to link up my blog posts to my Facebook page as well so you can keep up with me there as well if you'd like.

 

May you all have a happy March! It's the month when spring is supposed to be in the air although we'll probably have snow all month long.

 

Hugs,

 

Crystal

 

Growing In Unity Day 3

I can't believe it's already my 3rd GIU post for Unity Stamp Company, this week is flying by and you are all so sweet and kind with your comments! I have another art journal page to share today, I call it: She Blossomed in the Spring.

I love winter. Seriously, I really do, but it's been SO COLD this winter and getting outside with little ones in tow becomes practically impossible so I was feeling a little bit of cabin fever when I started this page and I went with bright, spring colors and it just took off from there.

I started with a scribbled gelato background with yellows and a touch of blue and moved it around with water and my fingers. I randomly stamped the Shescript background in india ink and the Plump Polka Dots in Mowed Lawn distress ink.

I used the Heidi Swapp confetti stencil with some gesso for the dots and when that dried I went over it again with some Picked Raspberry distress ink. The lovely SHEart lady is Christy Tomlinson's SHE was a daughter. I paper pieced the skirt and watercolored the top half. I added some perfect pearls for details on the dress and some lace around the collar and the bottom hem. The butterfly wings are from the January 2015 KOTM Magic of Beginnings. I stamped them on a scrap piece of glossy brayered background paper that I had made previously and used a Staz-on ink due to the glossy surface.

 

I adhered her to the page with some gel medium. The scalloped floral border stamp is from the April 2014 SMAK Wildflowers and Wings. I wrote the sentiment out on a piece of Dylusions soaked up scrap paper that I had laying around. I cut it apart and edged the pieces with gold glitter glue and then added a few gold sequins to give it an even sunnier look. She makes me happy and has me dreaming of walking barefoot in the grass and getting my hands dirty in a garden!

 

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 stopping by and remember to comment here for a chance to win!

Have a happy day,

Crystal

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

Mixed Media Monday & Creative Blog Hop

A couple of weeks ago my talented friend Cari, from Creative Paper Crafting had asked me if I'd like to take part in a creative blog hop, answer 4 questions, and post on a certain day. Well today is that certain day so I will share a project and a few other things with you today!

Here are my 4 questions and the answers.

What are you working on?  I am a paper crafter so I love working with paper! I started out as a scrapbooker and cardmaker over 10 years ago, started doing Project Life about 5 years ago when my first child was born and in the past year have started playing with some mixed media techniques. Currently I have become obsessed with mail art and although I have always loved sending out cards and happy mail I have really been loving taking it to the next level and decorating my envelopes too.

How does your work differ from others in your genre?  I love art because I think everyone brings something different to the table. Past experiences, personal likes, dislikes, everything that is you goes into your creative outlet, whatever form that may take. I wouldn't say any one thing makes my work different but for the fact that I create what makes me happy and others create what makes them happy.

Why do you create what you do?  Simple, I love it! Creating is like breathing to me, something I need to do on an almost daily basis. Even if it's just a simple little note for my daughter that I put in her lunchbox each day or something of a mixed media nature that I have to come back to over and over and keep adding to and waiting for things to dry, I am making something almost daily.

How does your creative process work?  I get ideas for things everywhere. Sometimes the most ideas come at night when I'm trying to fall asleep and something will pop into my head. I try to keep a pen and paper handy for times like that when I need to write something down to remember it. Other times I just head down to my craft space and play with whatever catches my eye first (my craft table isn't neat so there is often a lot of stuff to choose from!).

I think it's about time to show you all what I've been working on this past week!

I made a postcard this week! It's not traditional in any way but it was fun to make and my very first one ever!  I got my acrylic paints out and swiped them around on a piece of recycled cardboard with an old credit card to mix them up and spread the paint evenly. I stamped that glamorous gal from Unity Stamp Company's February 2015 KOTM and highlighted a few areas with a white gel pen. I sketched the sentiment out, filled in the lady with yellow paint and used a black pitt pen around the paint. I stamped the flowers from the same Unity kit in white and then again in black slightly off and highlighted with the white gel pen again. The flower was fussy cut from a piece of patterned paper, it's sparkly with glitter. The feathery, fancy ribbon at the bottom is from Webster's Pages.

I also made a tag on watercolor paper. I watercolored the background first and then stamped the flowers and sentiment from Unity's Have A Little Faith. I colored in the hearts with a white gel pen. I used gelatos to stamp the butterflies (from Unity's January 2014 KOTM Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful), fussy cut them and added some black gems to the yellow one. I added a little black tab that I cut out on the top of the tag, punched a hole through the layers (there's cardboard on the back to keep the watercolor paper from curling), and added some pretty ribbons and a bow.

I'm linking this up to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #9: Think Pink for all of the pink in the postcard.

Also be sure to go back to Cari's post to check out her great creation from last week!

Thanks for stopping by today and have a wonderful week!

Crystal

Mixed Media Monday!!!

I'm going to try something new and attempt to post a mixed media project every Monday. Hopefully that will help me to create more mixed media projects and play in my art journal more which I love! Here are two pages I made over the weekend.

The first page I made around a wine label I really liked. I glued it down in the middle of the page and then used some Twinkling H2Os to paint around it. I added a few Unity stamps (Age & Wine and Let's Uncork), used a Crafters Workshop stencil  and some distress ink for the blue arrows and then added another Unity stamp (from the Magic of Beginnings KOTM) for the vine-like border.

 The next page was kind of a weird experiment. I made the background using my Dylusions spray inks and added lots of water to blend it around. When that dried I added the sun rays in the top corner with some acrylic paint and a Tim Holtz stencil. Doodled around it when it dried and really didn't like it. I stamped the couple under an umbrella from Unity's January 2015 KOTM Magic of Beginnings, added some torn paper, stamped the hearts (Unity's Dec 2014 SMAK Moments Like These) in gesso, and finally added some stenciled arrows with Peacock Feathers distress ink and the sentiment from Unity's December 2012 KOTM. This one took a while because most of the steps needed drying time in between.

Hope you enjoyed my first Mixed Media Monday and I hope to bring you many more as I learn the ropes and play around with new techniques.

Happy crafting!

Crystal

Your wings exist...

I started making some tags this week to swap. This took me a few days of doing a little here and there and waiting for things to dry but all 5 of them are finally done so I'm linking them up to Friends with Flair since it's Friday and there is some Unity on here! I'm also linking up to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge: Something New for the New Year.

 I tried a few new things here. The tag was sprayed with some Heidi Swapp Color Shine in teal, citron, and gold. It was my first time using them and they have a gorgeous color and shimmer! When that dried I stamped Unity's Woodgrain Script.
I then cut some hearts out of a natural fabric, used a bird stencil and painted them with gelatos. I have never used gelatos on a fabric before either and they blended so nicely.  When those finally dried I doodled some stitches around it and added it to the tag with a brad. The sentiment is from Unity's Your Wings Exist set, one of my favorite sentiments and sets! I fussy cut the sentiments out and sponged with some Mustard Stain distress ink and finished with some ribbon from the awesome 3 Girl Jam!

I don't make a lot of tags and still feel pretty new to the mixed media scene, this is also my first tag swap, yikes! I really hope the recipients like them. I would love to hear your feedback!

I'm linking this up to the Simon Says Stamp Have a Heart Challenge.

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,
Crystal

Free Spirited Gypsy

I have been dying to ink this beauty up and I got my chance tonight.  Oh, is she ever gorgeous and I had SO MUCH FUN coloring her!  She is Suzi Blu's Gypsy Warrior by Unity Stamp Co and I believe she is ON SALE this weekend if you don't already have her!

When I see this gypsy beauty I always get a song in my head from The Zac Brown Band called Colder Weather so I wanted to incorporate music onto my journal page.  I stamped Worn Sheet Music by Unity Stamp Co all over the background and then covered it with a layer of gesso to mute it a bit.  I stamped her and then used a Moroccan tile stencil from My Favorite Things and sponged Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry and Peacock Feathers distress inks around her.  Then the coloring fun started.  I used the same color distress markers as well as Mustard Seed and Vintage photo and colored and used a wet paintbrush to move the color around.  The Free Spirit is an old rub-on from Scenic Route Paper Co and the quote is from the Unity set Whitney Girl.

I added a few touches of gold smooch ink to the flowers in her hair and then left her alone. 

I am linking up with Friends with Flair on Unity Stamp blog cause it's FRI-DAY and they have a linky party every Friday with prizes and all!  Lots of lovely inspiration every week guaranteed! And you can leave a comment for a chance to win some Unity, they announce winners every Monday!

I also just discovered Art Journal Everyday so this will be my first time linking there.

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,
Crystal

Day Dreaming

This might just be my favorite art journal page that I've made so far, this color combo just makes me happy!  I am excited too because I discovered several new mixed media challenge blogs that just started up yesterday.  There is just beautiful inspiration everywhere and SO much talent!!!

I started this page a couple of days ago by first stamping the script background (Hero Arts) over the entire page and then stamping the flowers (Insightful Meadows by Unity Stamp Co) in versamark and clear embossing.  I then used several Dylusions sprays over the background and blended with a spritz of water.  I stamped the Day Dreaming (Unity Stamp Co SMAK) and outlined with a white gel pen. 
Then the weekend came and it was gorgeous and we played outside all day and I was too exhausted at the end of the day to do anything but zone out so it remained unfinished until today.

When I originally sprayed the page with the Dylusions spray inks I took a scrap piece of fabric I had laying nearby and soaked up some of the colors from my craft mat to use for something else later.  Today when I went to finish the page I saw it and thought why not use it on the same page.  I stamped the heart (Unity Stamp Co Let Your Heart Take Flight) onto the fabric and adhered it with a gel medium.  I stamped the sentiment from the same kit onto watercolor paper and inked the edges with a paintbrush I dipped into my Dylusions bottle.

I used a piece of vellum with a quote on it (DCWV Vellum Quote Stack) and adhered it down with a gel medium.  It was an experiment and came out a little weird but that's okay.  I finished the page with some gesso applied over a Heidi Swapp confetti stencil for the random hearts on the top of the page. 

I am entering this into the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #1: Spray Inks and Mists.
I am also linking to the Mixed Media Mojo Challenge 1, which was to use stamps and two mediums.

These challenges just started yesterday and run the whole month of June so there is still LOTS of time to make something and link up!

Be your own kind of beautiful.

Be your own kind of beautiful.  I just LOVE this message and it's so true.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  You must be true to yourself, always.  I could ramble on but I'll show you my art journal page instead!

I had fun working on this Suzi Blu girl on and off today.  I am still super new to mixed media and I tried some collage today.  Some of it worked and some of it had to be creatively covered up.  :)

Supplies used:
Unity Stamp Company Spring Flower Chic, Bella Doilies, January 2014 Kit of the Month (sentiment), November 2013 Kit of the Month (flower).
Scroll border stamp by Magenta
Mediums: Dylusions sprays, watercolors, smooch ink, distress inks, gesso, collage pauge, Pitt, pen, white gel pen
My Favorite Things morrocan tile stencil
washi tapes