Friends of Unity Blog Hop: Kraft Black & White

 Hello everyone! 

It's time for another Blog Hop with my friends :) 



This month we have a few special projects for you - in keeping with our theme and also a few tributes.

If you arrived here via Dawn's Blog, welcome! She designs amazing cards, doesn't she? I am always wowed by her creativity month after month! (if you want to go back to Dawn's card, check it out HERE).

Let me show you my first card this month using our theme of Kraft, Black and White.



I am going to give you 100% disclosure here: I don't know if there is any card that is faster than this one! (laughing hysterically here!) I pulled out my KOTM from almost a year ago (April 2021, called Love Dwells Here).  The branches with the birds reminded me so much of spring (whenever it decides to show up!) and it was paired with a sentiment from the same kit. Simple. Fast. Easy to pop in the mail to brighten up someone's day. 



Next, I went with tons of white space and used a fun technique with my alcohol markers on vellum - by just simply laying down varying shades of taupes and browns with my stampin' blends, I was able to drop alcohol on the vellum, creating the swirls of neutral color. (Fake alcohol ink? SO COOL!) I used a beautiful floral image from Another Name For Love and the sentiment was from another KOTM I had close by (May 2017).  I added just a couple embellishments to this one to still keep it CAS. I LOVE that alcohol marker technique and can't wait to create some more designs using it! 


My final design for our Friends of Unity hop is a nod to both our cue this month... and the world with it's eyes all on Ukraine.

The sunflower has come to be known as the flower of this country in crisis, and its quite coincidental I created this card almost a month ago - before we knew that everything would be so chaotic. It feels surreal. Who knew this card would take on much as much meaning as it does now, 

I designed this card using a sunflower from an older collection (Sept 2019 KOTM called All Kinds of Holiday Love) and I simply added some neutral shading to it, and fussy cut to pop up from the white layers  I added a few die cut grasses and sprigs from an SU die set called Honeybee  Blooms. That is a Tim Holtz stencil that created the  kraft colored pattern on my white layer.  I also masked off a portion of a sentiment from May 2017 KOTM and used Yana Smakula's Spellbinder Die (Scripted Sentiments). 

The world is heavy right now and alot of my last few days have been spent processing the crisis going on in the world around us. As a Ukrainian my heart is in pieces at the turmoil of the country - we are all lifting prayers up and crafting and cardmaking (for me personally) has been a go-to for trying to de-stress and distract myself from that heaviness. 

If you are a fellow cardmaker, you understand what a good thing it is to have a hobby in times like this. Especially a hobby that has the capacity to make OTHERS smile by making something. That's what I love about Unity - even the name inspires togetherness and unison. 

So go and shower people with cards (and some love!) It sounds cheesy but really - the world needs more of it. 

All of my amazing friends have designs some pretty darn special stuff this month - please do visit them all - the next stop on the hop is Kim's Blog.

Peace, Love n Ink

Amber 


Comments

  1. All beautiful cards and great techniques. Thanks for the inspiration, especially with the sunflower, and the focus on what's happening in our world today. <3

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love your creative style, Amber… these cards are so beautiful! Hugs, friend!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your cards are so beautiful. I love the first one and have not seen this image before. The card is so awesome, I didn't realize it was a "fast" make as it just works so well. The second card is so creative and gorgeous at the same time. I can't wait to try this. I need to find a thick vellum. Everything about this card is amazing. And your last card is just spectacular. I love the meaningful image, the neutral accents, the fonts and the dimension.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What beautiful cards you've created! The second one is absolutely breathtaking! ❤

    ReplyDelete
  5. My heart breaks, and continue sending many many prayers. Tearfully I count my blessings and pray for them and now specifically you too dear. I didnt know about the sunflower and will always remember that. I grew them 2 years ago for the 1st time and was contemplating, but certainly will again this year. Lovely lovely and very darn special cards. Peace...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww thank you Carol! Yes, sunflowers will definitely have special meaning now for alot of us ...hugs!

      Delete
  6. Amber these are all so very beautiful! I love the one layer card but your fake alcohol ink card is so lovely also. Your sunflower card in the neutrals is just stunning! Thanks for sharing your process.

    ReplyDelete
  7. fantastic, you are just so darn talented.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your cards are just stunning! I love birdies (hubby calls me a bird nerd! lol). Love the techniques you used on the 2nd & 3rd cards; so pretty! And elegant. I was recently able to give away all my excess Christmas and birthday cards to the assisted living facility my aunt is now living at and they just loved them and were so appreciative. So you're right - it's a wonderful hobby to have to make someone else smile.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sure is!! I love that you give away your creations - I am sure it brightens the day of anyone who is lucky enough to get one :)

      Delete
  9. Fabulous cards Amber, I love all of your designs

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautiful cards! I love the "fake alcohol ink" technique.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful cards, love
    your Sunflower one!
    Carla from Arizona

    ReplyDelete
  12. Amber your cards are abandoned AMAZING! I fell in love with the 2nd one, with the torn vellum and touch of brown behind the flower. Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your cards are all great but I love the sunflower card!

    Linda Abel

    ReplyDelete
  14. Fabulous CAS cards, Amber! I love the simplicity of your first card... it's perfect! Your second card is WOW!! Gorgeous! And your sunflower card is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  15. before i started hopping with you all, i saw the sunflower card on the show & tell page...immediately saved it for inspiration! i love everything about it! gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww- that is wonderful! Do post pics once you create something - I would love to see it!

      Delete
  16. Marisela Delgado said: So beautiful! Marisela mariandmonsterd@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. All three cards are just wonderful. The torn vellum adds perfect dimension and I've always loved that Mother flower. Your card for Ukraine is truly perfect. I just adore your style.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love the way you went with a darker card combo on your first card and then light with the last two. Just gorgeous in every way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you Karen :) I love kraft paper but never use it enough!

      Delete
  19. Amber, these are all so insanely gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww, thank you! We all really designed some great cards this month :)

      Delete
  20. All of your cards are beautiful but the one with vellum and the alcohol ink is my favorite. I love the delicate look of your design.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love all your cards. Your style is lovely. That first card is amazing. I admire the simplicity!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Love what you created with this color combo.

    ReplyDelete
  23. These are so beautiful. I can't wait to try out the fake alcohol technique on the 2nd one!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Gorgeous cards, Amber! Love the clean simple bird card. The alcohol with markers technique on vellum is so awesome! I have to try that. And your last card is just stunning. I love the sunflower, sentiment, and all the details. Just beautiful. You, your family, and Ukraine are in our prayers. Thanks for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Your simple designs make such impactful impressions on the people who see them. I love them all!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts