Growing in Unity - Day 1 - My Unity Stamp Company Beginning

I am thrilled to be the Growing in Unity Gal for this week.  I fell in love with Unity Stamp Company back in 2008 when they came out with an innovative cassette and handle system for stamping.  I remember admiring the rows of stamps at the local stamp store hanging in their unique brown paper packages.   

Donna Downey's Designs were the first Unity Stamps were the first I fell in love with ... so those are the ones I'm going to use for my first card. 

 

 

The oldest set in my collection is Unity Stamp Company's Advent!, which Donna featured on her blog in 2010.

 

I combined one of the wonderful sentiments with a combination of designer papers from the Prima Engraver Collection, some of my favorite soft ivory fiber, and some black gems to frame the sentiment.  I collect (and sometimes hoard) beautiful designer papers ... and a single sentiment like this one is often the perfect way to let those papers shine.

 

In April 2008, I had the privilege to attend Donna Downey's first Inspired! Event.  It was a pivotal moment for me as an artist (basically acknowledging to myself that I was an artist, and that I wanted to commit time in my life to creativity) ... and that experience led me down the path I have enjoyed the last 12 years (with opportunities like sharing with you today). 

 

The next card features a stamp from Donna Downey's Empowered Words Unity Stamp set... so many sentiments in this set speak to me.  This card will be going into my stash for Chemo Angels, an organization I have volunteered with for the last 12 years, sending cards to individuals who are going through chemotherapy.

The paper in this one was too busy to stamp directly on, so I found another piece of paper from the DCWV Preserved Paper Collection and framed it with another green designer paper that was on the reverse.  In keeping with the vintage feel of those big blooms, I layered on a piece of vintage receipt pad and some vintage trading stamps (I'm always on the hunt for these at resale shops) before finishing with a scattering of pearls and that same nubby fiber.

Among those artistic opportunities I've had the pleasure of experiencing the last 12 years was meeting Angela, Whitney and Nick at Junkiefest and getting to take creative classes with them ... truly one of the highlights of the event for me.  They are some of the kindest most genuine people in this industry.

And in keeping with their kindness, one of the stamp sets they released in 2019 was #lettersforhenry.  This stamp set honors the life and work of Postal Worker Henry Groenveld who loved his job ... but was the victim of workplace bullying ... and proceeds from the sale of the set go to benefit and organization chosen by his daughters to honor his memory (www.intheforefront.org).

 

The Monday post on my blog is usually a Makeover Monday ... where I take inspiration from one of my earlier card designs and re-make it today.   I chose this card from July 2012 to inspire my design (my husband is also a mail carrier, so I tend to collect postal related images).

 

 

I loved the fun color combination and layout, so I kept those for my new design.  I stamped Henry's Mailbox on the same Coral Cardstock and then paper pieced it with both of the background designer papers.

 

 

I used the post-mark image in the set and a 1" paper punch to create my balloons and finished with the hashtag sentiment from the set - #lettersforhenry.

Thanks again for joining me for Day 1 of my Growing in Unity Week.  Remember, leave a comment on this post (and the four other posts coming this week) for a chance to win one of two special prize packages filled with Unity Stamp Company Rubber Stamps. 

TWO lucky winners will be randomly chosen from the list of commenters.  Winners will be posted on this blog, as well as on the Unity Stamp Company Growing in Unity Facebook page after xx.

Comments

[Karren Grayson]

As soon as I read your blog I knew I also had a pad of Preserved Paper, and another paper that looks similar to the black & tan one, so I am excited to try my hand at seeing what I can do with the papers. I love your cards and look forward to seeing what you do the rest of the week.

[Kathy Hering]

Congrats on being this week's GIU gal! Looking forward to seeing what you share this week!

[Miwa]

What a lovely post!!! Your cards are beautiful and I just love your style! We have many of the same older stamps, but I have never seen the Letters for Henry set - thank you for sharing the story behind it. I look forward to seeing your creations this week!

[Debbie]

Your cards are amazing!

[Sue Wisniewski]

Terrific cards. thanks for sharing your talents.
stamping sue
http://stampingsueinconnecticut.blogspot.com/

[Kelly Brillhart]

I like all your cards but am partial to the first one. I love vintage collage and this one is so pretty! Thanks for sharing!

[Lauren]

These are absolutely AMAZING ❤️❤️❤️

[Joyce Casaldi]

I love both sets, and #letterstohenry is awesome. Great card and congrats on GIU week.

[Allison Bell]

The papers...swoon! As a paper hoarder, um collector, I love how you let the papers shine in your cards. Sometimes I’m hesitant to use a paper I love because it’s going to be overshadowed by my stamp. (To be honest, I also hate to give it up because it’s so pretty!) I am going to try the simple sentiments and see if that makes it easier! Love all of your cards!

[BECCA YAHRLING]

I love all the mixed media look style! You do it so very well as all of your cards are just gorgeous. Looking forward to your inspirational week.

[Dorothy Green]

What beautiful cards! What a great focus on sentiments!

[rachel duong]

I love your cards and your style. I love the vintage feel of the first card and the letters for Henry cards are really cool. I am looking forward to this week of creative fun!

[Debra Dekock]

Congrats on being GIU this week. What a wonderful start! Love all your cards and explanations for each. A true love of art.

[Linda Vigil]

What a fun blog post. Love your first 2 cards featuring fab designer paper, and I love what you did with the Letters makeover card. This looks like the makings of an amazing GIU week. :)

[Wilma DeGraffenreid]

Awesome cards... I love all of them! I'm looking forward to your GIU week.

[Elizabeth Roberts]

Love both of your cards. I am partial to the first one since that is more my style. I am looking forward to seeing more posts from you this week.

[Jhays]

Fabulous cards! I love them all. Cant really even pick a fav. Just great cards!

[Sue Moore]

Your art is wonderful and inspiring. I like how you explain how you thought out each piece. Thank you for sharing your process as well as your art.

[Linda Abel]

The cards are beautiful. I forget to use beautiful paper and add a sentiment and a few embellishments. Thanks for sharing! I have some busy paper and now know how to use it!

[Karen Adams]

Awesome cards!

[Toni Tee]

I love your style, and look forward to what you share this week!

[Beth Gaines]

You are so talented! I love #lettersforhenry... can't wait to get out my stamp set. Looking forward to your week!

[Kathleen Dippner]

Beautiful cards! Thank you for sharing your creativity and I look forward to the rest of the week.

[Linda Schaefer]

Lovely cards and a style I like, but not one I am good with doing!

[Glennis F]

Your cards are so inspirational - I just love them