I gotta make my mark, gotta run it hard, I want you to remember me...

Hey guys, Happy Friday!! I had a fun night last night at the Texas Rangers ball game, and even saw Jeremy, Twilley, and Brian from the Bachelorette! Woohoo! But boy was it hot out there! UGH!

I have been working on this project for my Unity Inspiration Challenge all week, and just finally got it all put together. The minute I saw these birdies from Birds of a Feather, I knew I wanted to pair them with my Sweet Branch collection from Crate Paper. So the collection is the inspiration piece for the week!

Here's 1/2 of the set. I used the Large Square Scalloped Nestabilites to make notecards, and added some piercing details. The images are colored with Copic Markers, with a little Diamond Stickles for sparkle.

Here are the other 3 cards...I think this set will be a cute little gift. The sentiment is also from Birds of a Feather, and I used my Stampamajig to make sure they were lined up correctly.

I used six different strips of the Sweet Branch papers so each card would be different, but still coordinate. I really like how they turned out!

If you have time to play, please remember to use your keywords (UIC08, Unity) and link up to the Challenge thread so we can all check out your creations!

I hope you have a wonderful Friday! Make sure you come back tomorrow for a Sketch for You to Try!

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air...

Happy 4th of July, guys! I am about to run over to my mom's to swim and do fireworks, but I wanted to share the Friday Unity Inspiration Challenge with you first.

Last week during the Unity Release Party, Maggie was sketching out some ideas for layouts for the new releases she was ordering. I poked and prodded her to share them, so she decided to!! After getting her permission, I thought it would be fun to use these for the challenge this week1 Fun, huh?

Here are her three sketches to choose from.













Now, Sketch #1 and #3 were supposed to be rectangle cards, but somehow they morphed into squares when I saved them. If you like them square, though, feel free to keep them that way!

And here's my sample using Mix Up of Cuteness. Love this set!








Ok, the fam is dragging me away, so off I go! Don't forget to use the keywords UIC07 and Unity!

Stamps: Mix Up of Cuteness (Unity)

Paper: Regal Rose, Basic Black, PTI White

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black

Accessories: Copic Markers, Diamond Glaze, May Arts Ribbon, SU Gingham Ribbon, Bella Dots, Pop Dots, Marvy Punches, White Glaze Pen

And I get this feelin' if I held you tight, you'd be seein' his and hers buckles, boots, and spurs...

Happy Friday, guys! I'm excited...we're cookin burgers for lunch at the office! Is it lunchtime yet? *grin*

Being Friday, that also means it's time for me to issue another Unity Inspiration Challenge. This week I surfed Z Gallerie's website and found this gorgeous piece of artwork titled Caffe Biscotti.

This week, I took the inspiration piece more literal than I have others...it just depends on how I'm feeling that night. I really loved the piece the way it was and didn't want to stray too far! Here's my card using Unity's Kit of the Month for June, Bliss and a Birdie.

For the main panel, I stamped Bliss in Chocolate Chip ink on Pearlized Cream paper (so it's nice and sparkly!!) and sponged the edges. Then I used the Cracked Glass Technique to give it that vintage look. I really like how it turned out, even though it's not my usual style.

I hope you have time to play along this week. I'd love for you to play even if you don't have Unity Stamps (yet!). Don't forget to use the keywords: UIC06, UNITY so I can see all of your gorgeous creations. Have a wonderful Friday, and stay tuned for a Sketch for You to Try tomorrow!!

Stamps: Bliss and a Birdie (Unity), Carte Postale (SU)

Paper: Pearlized Cream, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Versamark

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa

Accessories: Clear EP, Bella Pearl Flatbacks, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Sponges, Ribbon (Joann)

Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand, sometimes you turn your back to the wind...

When I sat down last night to make my project for the Unity Friday Inspiration Challenge, I had "Life is a Highway" stuck in my head, so I now pass it on to you! *grin*

Today's challenge is to be inspired by the Unity Stamps Banner on Splitcoast. Isnt' it the coolest?
I chose Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip, Vanilla, and Kraft paper to get the Unity colors and "feel" for my card. And because of the song I was humming, I knew I wanted to use my Leave a Trail stamp....I love that quote.

I stamped the circles from Circle of Thanks in Turquoise ink onto my Kraft panel, then distressed and stitched around the edges. Then I stamped Leave a Trail on my Vanilla cardstock, and trimmed closely. I added another circle on Chocolate Chip cardstock for the mat, and trimmed around the edges to imitate the Unity logo.

The finished card measures 5.25 square, but due to the hardware (love it!) I probably won't be mailing this puppy! I think this would be a perfect card for so many different situations...graduation, new job, encouragement...just off the top of my head.

Thanks for stopping by today! If you have time to play, please make sure to link it up HERE, and use the keywords UIC05, UNITY. Stay tuned later today for Celebrating MFT Day!! Happy Friday!

Stamps: Leave a Trail, Circle of Thanks (Unity Stamp Co.)

Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Very Vanilla, Kraft, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Distressor Tool, Sewing Machine & Thread, Pop Dots, SU Ribbon, We R Memory Keepers Hardware, Waterbrush

I was riding shotgun with my hair undone in the front seat of his car....

Hey yall! I hope you're having a wonderful Friday! I have another Unity Inspiration Challenge for you this week. As I was surfing Martha Stewart's website yesterday I stumbled on this gorgeous picture...looks like a summer project for hubby if I ever saw one!! *grin*

The one thing that stuck with me was those little tea lights hanging from the arbor. I tend to focus on one or two details from an inspiration piece and build my project from there, so I took the flowers from Flirty Flowers, inked them up with Stampin' Write Markers, and stamped them onto Vanilla cardstock like little hanging thingies. Then I stamped them a second time on scrap paper, cut out the larger images, and popped them up on pop dots for some dimension.

The circles on the card base are also from the Flirty Flowers kit. There are a ton of images to choose from, and they all work together so well! The sentiment made me smile, so I added that to the bottom.

I also want to take a second to do a SHOUT OUT to the eight (yes, I said EIGHT! WOW!) new Unity Design Team members that were announced yesterday:

Lauren Meader
Jennifer Buck
Amber Hight
Natalie Dever
Heather Brown
Patter Cross
Ana Wohlfahrt
Maren Benedict

Congrats, ladies! We are happy to have you!

Some new developments at Unity...Angela is now offering $5.00 shipping on ALL ORDERS! I was soooo excited to hear this news! I hate paying for shipping....now there's more money for stamps! Check out the other special she has going on HERE.

Have a wonderful rest of your day, and check back tomorrow for another Sketch for You to Try! (aka a Sketch for Shannan to Mess Up!)

Stamps: Flirty Flowers (Unity Stamp Co)

Paper: Berry Sorbet (PTI), Basic Black, Very Vanilla

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black

Accessories: Markers, Dimensionals, Bella's Dots, May Arts Ribbon, Corner Rounder

So tonight will be the night that I will fall for you, over again....

Sorry, that song came out of nowhere! But it's totally stuck in my head. I think maybe from So You Think You Can Dance? Who knows with me.

So it's Friday, people!!!! And time for another Unity Inspiration Challenge. The idea use a beach scene came from Jimmi (thanks, girl!), and I had to show you one of my favorite places.


It's a resort near Cancun called XCaret (pron. shhhhh-car-ET) and it is truly one of the coolest places on earth. We went there when it was in its first phases back when I was in like middle school and I will never forget it. We got to swim with dolphins and float in the Underground River...so fun!

And here's my card:
Instead of doing a whole "beachy" thing, I focused on the trees. This tree from Giggle Grove is probably one of my favorite Unity images. I cut out the leaves and popped them up on Pop Dots. I also sprayed Oyster Glimmer Mist on the watercolor paper, but it doesn't show in the photo.

If you decide to play with us this week, make sure you link it up in the Unity Stamp Company forum, and use the keywords UIC02 and Unity so we can all see your creations! Also, you might want to check out the Unity Blog...there's some really fun things (i.e. a SALE!) going on there. I hope you have a fabulous day!

Stamps: Giggle Grove (Unity Stamp Company), Sentiment from Print Works

Paper: Creamy Caramel, Basic Black, Watercolor

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black

Accessories: Waterbrush & Reinkers, Corner Rounder, Pop Dots, Glimmer Mist (Oyster), Distressor Tool, May Arts Twine

Because I wanna be a cowboy, baby, with the top let back and the sunshine shinin'...

Ok first let me say that you will be shocked by what you are about to see. Do not be alarmed, I have not lost my mind. Don't be scared, just enjoy. *wink*

Today I am hosting the very first Unity Stamps Inspiration Challenge. This is something that will be happening from now on, every Friday in the Unity Member Forum. The challenge I came up with was quite that....a challenge. Even for me. Ready?

I love the new singles that Unity released last week. Yall know I love quotes. So I took my first inspiration from the new Single: Be the Change you wish to see in the world. - Ghandi

Is there a crafting trend you'd like to change? A movement you want to start? Here's your chance to go for it! Take your imagination on a ride with a current trend and change it up or take it a step further to what only you can dream it to be.

And here's my sample (hold onto your seats, folks!)...


No you do not need to adjust your screen. That is IN FACT a scrapbook page. Seriously!
Ok, so I haven't scrapped for almost two years. Please be gentle with me!!

This is a cutie picture of my oldest, Caleb, at age three. He loves posing for pictures and always has. He has these killer blue eyes that will break hearts later, I just know it. I thought it was perfect to use for this project.

The trend I took on was sewing on your projects. I decided it would be awesome to see more of that, so to stretch it in a different way, I decided to embroider the word Cowboy from the Wanna Be a Cowboy kit. After having completed my brilliant and genius plan, I have to HOPE that embroidering on projects does NOT catch on. If it does, it will be a trend that will pass me right on by. I lost my religion and sanity doing this, people. All for you. So enjoy it. Here's a close-up:


First I stamped the image and colored the rope with a red marker. I then pierced where I would embroider, so the needle wouldn't have to work so hard. Yes, it looks kind of "hairy" because I used May Arts twine instead of Embroidery Floss. Gives it a rustic look, I think. Plus I have no embroidery floss. *grin*

Ok, so for those of you that want to take me up on the challenge, remember to link me up here or upload to SCS with the keyword UIC01 so I can see what greatness you came up with! To get you started, here are some trend ideas to spin off: Scallops, Bling, Dew Drops, Sewing, primas, & dry embossed backgrounds. There's not a deadline, but I will be posting a new challenge next week, so you might as well play soon!

And remember, this is an inspiration challenge! There are no rules, no right or wrong. So just feel free to play!