Friends of Unity Nov. Blog Hop - Creating a Background

 

Hi, crafty friends! 

It is the first Saturday of November (and - the day after Halloween!) Leftover candy is on the menu for breakfast and it is time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop again! 

This month Crystal kicked things off with some fun makes - if you want to start at the beginning and check out her Blog, you can head that way HERE. 

This month, I have two cards that I created to showcase that even if you don't have a background stamp, making a scene is easy and fun (on a card - not real life! ) lol 

I have a special winner of a gift card to announce after I show you what I created this month, so let's not waste any time - here is my 1st card with a fun background! 

I played with a simple (but dazzling, I think ) technique to create this Aurora effect - faux alcohol ink. 

It really is SO simple to create your own Northern Lights with just alcohol markers and a little rubbing alcohol (note: using 91% is the best - the higher the percentage, the better!)

I simply scribbled randomly on the vellum paper with various shades of green first and dropped alcohol on it, letting the color run and swirl. I took a heat gun to it to set the color before going in with the purples and deep blues. I love playing with the variations - using that heat gun makes things easy too. 

I don't like to waste vellum, but I always use a full sheet as there are spots that will be perfect and some that you won't want to use (but keep them for another project) ;) Once I had a perfect blend of color, I cut a panel to fit on the front of my card. 

I wanted to create a night-time forest scene for this background, so I used the Long Rooted Truths stamp set and randomly added the trees with Staz-on ink (note: when stamping on vellum you cannot use other inks, or they will just smudge and rub off.) I gave them the appearance of looking up at that night sky. I added the sentiment and heat-set everything again. I let the vellum rest overnight as well just to make sure everything was super dry before attaching it to a black card base. (Can you see my adhesive? It is cleverly hidden at the bottom and top corners of the vellum.)

 Hard to believe, but we have Northern Lights some nights that get this vibrant. They are so fun to watch as they dance across the sky. 

Next up, a different background! 

I created a wintery watercolor background on this card, using various inks on watercolor paper. 

I wet the panel a bit before brushing on TH Distress ink in Stormy Sky and heat set it. I added another layer and splattered a bit more here and there - I had fun just playing with it! I also added some TH Distress Spritz in Salvaged Patina. I heat-set it and sprayed a bit on the dried panel too and the shine and sparkle is amazing. 

I then inked up Unity's Winter Awaits stamp in TH Twisted Citron and then "kissed" some Rustic Wilderness on it in various spots. (what is "kissing"? That is taking another stamp or darker ink and touching it lightly in small spots so the stamp picks up the color or design - try it!) 

Before stamping it, I gave the image just a spritz of water - so easy! I let everything dry really well and then added my sentiment stamped on a simple circle die cut. I heat embossed the sentiment and added it to the card.

I added just a small splatter of Barn Red ink - I would have liked to add more red for some contrast, but I only thought about it after that sentiment was added and I didn't want to mess this up after all the effort (if you know, you know! ) Next time - more red! 

This background cue from our Blog Hop is going to inspire you all month long in the Unity Show & Tell page - we have an album for you to share your cards  - create a fun background and use your Unity stamps and you could win a gift certificate to add some Unity to your stash! 

Last month, our inspiration cue was a color combination and we had SO many beautiful cards that were added to the album! I have a little giveaway of my own for one special card designer:

WINNER:!!

Denise Bryant

Densise's fall card used a beautiful autumn stamp called Bountiful Fall - Love your card, Denise! 

I have a special Gift certificate from me to you <3 I will reach out to you ! 

My friends have so much inspiration this month for you! You definitely don't want t miss a single stop on this Hop! 

Up next is Jane - hop over HERE!

Want a full list of all of the stops this month? 

Crystal

Doreen

Amber (that's me!)

Jane

Dawn

Toni

Rachel

Jenni

Joyce

Thanks for stopping by!

Peace, Love n Ink

Amber