Growing In Unity: Day 2

 

Day 2: Manila Tag Gift Card Holder & Highland Cow Christmas Card

   

    Today, I created two projects for you all. I took a large manila tag and created a gift card or money holder tag. My oldest child is getting to that age where he has begun asking for gift cards for music, books, and gaming, so I figured that I would make a fun holder using all my Unity Stamp Company goodies. 

 

    I took a 3 1/8' x 6 1/4" manilla tag from Unity and scored it to fit a gift card. I stamped sheet music stamp from the Nov 2019 SMAK kit 'Beauty of Life" in Gina K obsidian amalgam ink. Then I added layers of the pine branches in three shades of distress oxide ink. I selectively inked the stamps while they were on my platform for variety. Then I stamped the Merry Christmas sentiment from "Warmth of Christmas" stamp set in Brutus Monroe embossing ink and embossed it in BM Christmas Eve embossing powder. Afterwards, I dabbed the edges with vintage photo distress oxide to give it an antique feel.

    Afterward, I used sookwang/scoretape to help affix it to create a pocket. Add your favorite string or ribbon and you're good to go! I used ribbon from Busy Box Blends by Pammy J for this tag.  

My second project was a Christmas card for a friend who LOVES highland cows. (Hopefully she isn't reading the blog...) I stamped the "Take No Bull" stamp in Gina K Obsidian Amalgam Ink on Strathmore Cold Press Watercolor Paper. The image was colored using Arteza real brush markers in shades of red, brown and orange. (Sorry my 4 year old spilled the bucket of markers so that I don't have the exact shades.) I blended out using a water filled brush to the desired look. I chose two shades of blue for the sky and blended those out for a layered cloud effect. I went back and dulled the black outline on the cloud using a White Gelly Roll pen. 

    Once dry, I affixed the watercolor panel to a background piece of paper from Unity's Krafty Season paper pack with paper tape. These layers were added to a kraft paper card base from Darice. I stamped the Season's Greetings sentiment from the "Warmth of Christmas" stamp set in embossing ink from Brutus Monroe and used their Alabaster embossing powder to make it pop on the tag. I affixed the tag to the card using Sheer White 3/4" organza ribbon that I also got from Unity. I attached the lights embellishment that I found in the sticker aisle at Hobby Lobby using micro glue dots.

I hope these projects inspired you to pull out your favorite Unity stamps and get inky. Both projects can be adapted easily for other holidays as well. Remember that you are only limited by your imagination! What's currently on your craft desk?

Crafty hugs to you all,

Holly