MY DESERT INSPIRATION

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Unity Stamp Company + My Sweet Petunia Super Blog Hop

Hello my stamping friends. We have a huge blog hop made even bigger by the fact that we're hopping with My Sweet Petunia, makers of the fabulous MISTI stamping platform. It's also time for Unity's world-famous Brown Thursday Sale to kick off. That means awesome new releases and the lowest prices on all Unity stamps (not including subscriptions, of course).

Things have been chaotic at my house with a huge remodel going on. With all the dust and noise, I just haven't been able to find my mojo. The only thing that got done was filling the trash can in my craft room! Well that, and just one little card to share with you.

Of course, I used my MISTI to stamp this sweet image from Lisa Glanz Designs. I use my MISTI for all of my stamping. You just can't beat the perfect placement and the ability to re-stamp if you're not quite happy with the image/sentiment. I colored this one with distress markers and ink and used a cloud stencil for the sky. I added a little cardstock flag, some washi tape, and a sticker from Michael's to finish it off.

We have TWO amazing Unity prize packages to give away PLUS a $60 gift certificate to My Sweet Petunia. Leave a comment on each blog in the hop for your chance to win. You have until Monday, November 12th. Winners will be selected and posted on the Unity Stamp Company and My Sweet Petunia blogs on Tuesday evening, November 13th.

We've changed things up a bit for this hop. The links for every person participating are on the Unity Stamp Company and My Sweet Petunia blogs. The links back to these blogs are:

Unity Stamp Company

My Sweet Petunia

I wish you all a fabulous November as we head into the holiday season.

Remember, hop then shop!

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Unity and Beth Duff Designs Co-Hop

Hello my stamping friends. This week we're hopping to show you some fabulous new stamps from Beth Duff Designs for Unity Stamp Company. You're going to love her unique style.

I've chosen designs from a couple of the new kits and turned to one of my favorite coloring mediums, Prismacolor pencils on kraft card stock.

First up, the Warmth of Home kit. Here I colored the sofa and rug, then fussy-cut them and made a little scene.

Next is the Peppermint Mocha kit where I used a couple of the elements, a Taylored Expressions embossing folder, and a cute little Echo Park brad for the simple card.

We have TWO amazing Unity filled prize packages to give away. Leave a comment on EACH design team member’s blog in the hop for your chance to win. {We will announce the winners on the Unity blog TUESDAY night.}

Here is a list of bloggers. You should have arrived from Kary's blog and now on to Mandi.

Angeline
Camille
Crystal
Donna
Echo
Gaylynn
Karen
Kary
Kris
Mandi
Maria
Noelle
Robyn
Sharon
Shemaine
Beth Duff Designs
Niccole
Lynnea
Annie
Rachel
Unity Stamp Co

Here's hoping you have a beautiful week.

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Unity Christmas-in-July Hop

Hello everyone and welcome to our "Christmas in July" blog hop. There are lots of cute new releases and tons of Christmas-themed items on sale at Unity.

First I have Special Winter Friends from Angie Blom. This is colored with distress ink/markers. I just grabbed some paper from my stash and added that cute little American Crafts 3D sticker.

The second one is Christmas Magic from Tierra Jackson. It too is colored with distress markers/ink. I added some Christmas Red Stickles to the lights on the wreath, a gold star sequin to the tree top, and another of those 3D stickers. The paper is from the new Plaid Tidings stack available now at Hobby Lobby.

I hope I've provided a bit of Christmas inspiration and just wait until you see all of the design team creations for this release. You (and me) might not be ready for the actual holiday, but this hop just might put you in the mood to create.

Here's the list of today's "hoppers". You should have come from Kary's blog and Mandi is next.

Don't forget to hop, then shop!

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Unity Blog Hop - NEW Graciellie Designs

Hello everyone. Not only is summer heating up, but there is a HOT new release at Unity Stamp Company featuring the fabulous artwork of Gracie Chavez.

I have created a couple of samples for you and it was really hard to choose just two.

First up, we have "Hey Friend". I colored this with Sakura watercolors. I diecut the top of the panel with a pretty little scalloped edge die and added some of the fabulous Aurora sequins available at Unity.

My other sample is "Tea Cup Floret". Again it is colored with Sakura watercolors and fussy-cut. I diecut a frame to put my image on and added some clear sequins.

This hop is extra special because some of Gracie's design team is joining us and their creations are nothing short of amazing.

Here is the full list of the talented girls.

I hope I've inspired you just a bit to take the time to look at all of the past and new Graciellie Designs stamps at Unity.

Now remember...HOP, then SHOP!

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Unity Birthday Blog Hop

This is one very special occasion today! It's Unity's 10th birthday celebration. I've seen most of what the design team has created for you and I think you're going to be blown away by all of the samples - each and every one a masterpiece from Angie Blom.

This first one is the Feel the Freedom kit. I took just the word free and scattered a few of them around after stamped the feather. I smooshed on some distress inks then die-cut the image with a stitched rectangle die. I added a piece of washi tape and mounted the sentiment with foam tape on top of that. Lastly I added some Nuvo crystal drops to the heart at the top of the feather.

My second one is the Obsessed With Floral background stamp. I stamped it and die-cut it with a stitched scalloped rectangle die. I then smooshed some distress ink on the panel. I added a die-cut sentiment, that cute little bee, and some black Nuvo drops for the flower centers. I could make so many of these quickly...vary the color, change the die-cut sentiment (or stamp one on another diecut), and use a different embellishment.

I've switched gears a bit for the next two, This is the Focus on the Things kit. The image and sentiment are on kraft cardstock and colored with Prismacolor pencils. I added some Nuvo Crystal drops to the camera lens for shine and dimension and a few star sequins ('cause you gotta have an embellishment or two!).

Last is my favorite image from the birthday release. This is the You Are Forever Beautiful kit. Again, the image and sentiment are on kraft cardstock. I VERY CAREFULLY "painted" the image with distress oxide ink using a teeny little paint brush. Then I added some accents with a white Prismacolor pencil and some tiny coordinating sequins.

I hope you've enjoyed my little bit of inspiration and now it's time to journey on and leave all the design team members participating today a little bit of love and encouragement.

Here's the list of the design team members hopping tonight. You should have come from Kary's blog and now you're on to Lisa.

Don't forget our motto...hop then shop!

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Unity Blog Hop April 12-2018

WOW! April already! I've been gone for about 3 weeks and haven't made a thing for over a month. I was so excited to get home last week and see the new releases coordinating with this hop.

I've had a bit of time to play and have some inspiration for YOU.

I've made up two of the new Cuddlebugs from artist Tierra Jackson.

This first one is the Platypus. I colored this image with distress markers and added a little cardstock paper clip from Michael's. I mounted the image with foam tape on my patterned paper background.

My second one is the Sea Horse. I punched the right edge of the bottom piece with a Fiskar's border punch and smooshed a bunch of green and blue distress ink on it. The image is colored with Gelatos using water and a paint brush. I assembled the card and added 3 copper sequins.

I hope you've enjoyed my little bit of inspiration and now it's time to journey on and leave all the design team members participating today a little bit of love and encouragement.

Here's the list:

You should have arrived here from Kary's blog and now it's time to move on to Lisa.

Just don't forget what we always say...HOP, then SHOP!

Have a fabulous week.

Thursday, February 8, 2018

February Blog Hop

WOO! HOO! It's February and time for the monthly Unity blog hop. The artists have been busy creating fabulous new images and sentiments and FIVE of them are releasing today!

I've had a bit of time to play and have some inspiration for YOU.

First up is a punny new set from Angie Blom called Wish You Were Beer. Isn't that clever? I colored this image with distress markers and used a lot of 3 different colors of Ranger Stickles for the foam. Added a couple of pieces of washi tape and that's it! You know me...it's all about easy!

Secondly I have an sadly adorable owl from Tierra Jackson - Owl So Sad which is just perfect for those sympathy cards (that sadly, we're owl-ways needing!). I used my new Tim Holtz Distress Resist Spray and a MFT starry night stencil to get the stars in the background, over which I used distress oxide ink and viola! the starts appeared. Cool effect, huh? I sat the sad little owl on a die-cut branch and highlighted the sentiment beneath him.

Lastly, but honestly my favorite image of this release (come on, we all have favorites, right?) - Promise Always {again} from Tierra Jackson. I HAD to make this a very senior couple as they reminded me of my dearly-departed Mom and Dad. This one is done with Prismacolor pencils on kraft cardstock. I only used 5 colors on this as I'd rather build up layers of one color to create depth, shadows, and highlights.

I hope you've enjoyed my little bit of inspiration and now it's time to journey on and leave all the design team members participating today a little bit of love and encouragement.

Here's the list: