Aloha, all!
You all know that I am a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, and I truly love all things Stampin' Up! when it comes to papercrafting. You can probably also tell that I don't scrimp when it comes to stocking up on Stampin' Up! products because I certainly do show a lot of what I do with all of them right here on my blog. But every once in a while, I see something somewhere that's not Stampin' Up!, and it turns out to be the perfect thing for a project that I need to make right now. Today's project is made up of non-Stampin' Up! – or retired Stampin' Up! – products, with a sprinkling of current product. I can tell you that I had a lot of fun with this project, but I'm not about to make a habit out of it!
The "right now" project that I need is a birthday card for my favorite niece. Actually, she's my only niece, but she'd still be my favorite if I had more than one, I'm sure. She is a full-fledged adult, with multiple Master's degrees and a high-powered job. But she still loves her unicorns. Yes, Stampin' Up! had a lovely unicorn in their catalog several years back. But, like most retired products, I didn't keep it. I now know better.
I'd decided on the card I was going to make for Margie, but then I just happened to walk into my local scrapbook store yesterday, and there was a sample card made not only with this stamp set, but also with the great die-cut card front. Yep, I bought them both!
As long as I was going non-Stampin' Up! with this project, I pulled out some Copic markers to rainbow color the unicorn's mane and tail. Ever since I tried out Stampin' Up!'s former Blendabilities product, I've really enjoyed using alcohol markers, and I felt I had a better chance of getting these colors to blend together with alcohol markers.The paper in the background is retired Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper (DSP), and I picked three of the colors from that to use for the rainbow of colors for the unicorn.
Once I had cut out the image, stamped the greeting on the front and adhered the DSP, I needed to finish with some embellishments – and those had to be Stampin' Up! because I don't have any others! First I used some Melon Mambo and Bermuda Bay Thick Baker's Twine to wrap these layers and tie a bow. Then I added heart shapes from the Brights Collection Enamel Shapes – the same two colors with the addition of Pumpkin Pie.
The final touch for this card was a light brushing of the unicorn with some Wink of Stella. I used Gold on the unicorn's horn and Clear on the rest of her. She really does shine nicely in real life.
And this year's card for my niece is done! Not only that, but I have two other images in this stamp set that will make fun unicorns for at least two more years of Margie's Birthday. Now if I can just remember this time next year where I put the stamp set.
Good morning Robin, I just started following you a week ago ,when I found you. Your card is so bery sweet. I also love Unicorn's and I'm 62 yrs. old but I have never found a unicorn stamp set. I LOVE your card. Have a great day.