Colleen Balija

Hi friends!

Merry Christmas to those that celebrate, and welcome to Membership Thursday!

Today I’m going to share an easy way to build color and depth to a scene card! We’ll be using December’s Background of the Month and reactive inks in a few shades of brown! We’ll also need a mini and small blending brush! I like to use reactive inks because water splatters add interest and depth!

I stamped this LOVELY background image onto white cardstock using permanent black ink. I stamped the image a few times using my stamp platform to get a crisp image. Next, I trimmed the image using my deckled edge paper grimmer to 5.25×4. Then I started ink blending to build color.

The first layer was a simple coat of light brown ink. Yellow ink was applied using a mini blending brush over the fire in the fireplace.

Next, I started to build depth and color by applying a few shades of brown and dark grey with a mini blending brush over the bricks, mantle and around the fire. You can see in the photo below how the colors begin to come to life in comparison to the photo above! Then I added water to the inks to create those fun water spots!

Once I was happy with the ink blending, I went back in with my yellow markers and added more depth to the fire. I also added a gold gel pen just to give it more interest. Then I applied white splatters over the entire panel because I felt it needed something bright. I finished with the sentiment that was inked around the edges in black.

This was an easy way to add depth and life to this card! Another option would be to color it with your alcohol markers or watercolor!

Thanks for coming by today, and I wish you a happy and safe new year!

Hi friends!

Welcome to Membership Thursday!

Today I’m going back to clean and simple with alcohol marker coloring and flowers! It’s one of my favorite techniques! I’ll be using December’s Kit of the Month, called Winter’s Gentle Heart, and my Copic markers!

I stamped the floral design onto white cardstock using permanent black ink. I use a high-quality white cardstock when I color so that the colors don’t bleed. This is my favorite one to use. After I stamped the image, I colored it in autumn shades with Copic markers.

TIP: Keep the coloring as simple or as intense as you like! The florals are so detailed that you don’t need to add much color to get a beautiful end result!

Next, I trimmed the finished piece to 5×3.75 and placed it over a piece of black cardstock sized 5.25×4. Both layers were then adhered to a 5.5×4.25 white card base. I finished with splatters in red and gold along with that loving sentiment.

TIP 2: When I do a clean and simple card, I like to use black cardstock as a way to frame the piece and help it pop off the page a bit more!

I’m so glad you joined me today! To learn more about how you can join Unity’s membership kits or purchase the items individually such as this one, click here!

Hi friends!

Welcome to Membership Thursday!

Today I want to share a fun and unique way to create wings behind your focal point! I’ve seen this technique done before with butterflies and people! I’ll be using December’s Kit of the Month fairy girl, called Twinkle Heart, and Steampunk Fairy paper!

One of the papers from Steampunk Fairy has a large butterfly on it, so I trimmed the piece of paper to 5×3.75, making sure the butterfly was the central focal point. I adhered the paper to a slightly larger piece of black cardstock and then adhered both to an A2 sized white card base.

Next, I focused on the fairy girl from the Kit of the Month.

I colored the fairy girl in similar shades as the butterfly and then fussy cut her. I added foam tape to the back and adhered her over the center part of the butterfly from the patterned paper so that it looks like the wings of the butterfly extend from the fairy! Then I added gold splatters all over the panel and silver gel pen on her hair and dress! I finished with the sentiment beneath her.

This is such an easy technique that’s very impactful! And with Unity’s patterned paper, it’s that much easier because they do all the work for you! I hope you give this technique a try!

To learn more about Unity’s membership kits and how you can save money each month and get a new product delivered to your door, click here!

Hi friends!

Welcome to Membership Thursday!

Today I’m creating a masculine card using December’s Whit kit and Steampunk Fairy patterned paper! I never have enough masculine cards, so I’m happy to create one with you!

I stamped the 3 images of men (and am I the only one that thinks he looks like Dean Martin???) in black ink and colored them with my alcohol markers. Then I die cut each using a circle die and adhered them over a black circle that was slightly larger. The black circle frames the image nicely. Next, I focused on the background.

I chose 3 sheets of paper from Steampunk Fairy because the paper looked masculine. Then I created a collage by tearing the papers in random ways and layering one on top of the other. Each torn edge was inked with black. Then I adhered the 3 gents over the background along with 2 of the sentiments from the Whit Kit. I wanted to be sure the one guy was pointing to the other guy carrying the glass! I added gold gel pen to the lapel pins and also to the drink glass and white gel pen to their teeth!

This card was easy to create and is PERFECT for the guys in your life! Thanks for stopping by today!

To learn more about Unity’s Membership kits, click here!

Hi friends!

It’s time for the holiday cards! Today’s card is a classic one! I’ll be using November’s Uniquely Unity kit, Rustic Christmas, and Nature’s Noel patterned paper.

First, I created a paper collage background (that seems to be my theme this month!) using several sheets from the 2 sets of patterned paper. I trimmed them all to 5.5×4.25, tore some edges, and adhered the layers to a white card base. As you can see in the photo below, all the lovely patterns of paper coordinate beautifully into a fast and amazing background! You could easily do this for several of your holiday cards and have people saying “wow, how did they do this?”

Next, I stamped Santa and Rudolph with black ink onto white cardstock and colored them. then I fussy cut around them and “tucked” them behind one of the layers of paper so that it appears they are peeking out from behind! I added a gold gel pen to their noses for shine and interest. Then I finished with 2 of the sentiments that go with the Uniquely Unity kit!

I hope you enjoyed this month with my paper collage experiments with Unity’s AMAZING line of paper! To learn more about Unity’s memberships (and they have several to choose from), click here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hi friends!

Welcome to Membership Thursday! Today I want to share a CUTE critter card for the Christmas holiday! I’ll be using November Kit of the Month and Noel’s Charm paper pad!

I wanted to use traditional Christmas colors for this cute little bird, so I grabbed 3 sheets from Noel’s Charm and created a paper collage on a 5.5×4.25 kraft card base. I achieved this by trimming all 3 sheets to 5.5×4.25 (set those scraps aside for future collage playtime!), adhered one piece to the kraft card base, tore the other two at an angle down the center and adhered them over the 1st sheet. The end result is a fun mixed media way to display those lovely patterns of paper!

Next, I stamped the birdie with black ink onto a piece of white cardstock and colored it in shades of green and red to coordinate with the patterned paper. Then I added a bit of black splatter around it. I tore each side around the bird and adhered a piece of black striped scrap paper to the bottom of it (just for fun). Then I adhered it over the paper collage I had created earlier and added glossy accents over his eyes and tassel! I finished with the sentiment that was also torn! Jagged edges add interest and fun to a card!

This card was so easy to put together! You could easily crank out several for your holiday cards and keep it simple by adding only 1 or 2 sheets of patterned paper behind it! To learn more about Unity’s Memberships and how you can get a new stamp delivered to your door, click here.

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Hi friends!

Welcome to Membership Thursday! This week I’m focusing on a snarky, funny birthday card that has a fall vintage theme to it! I’ll be using November’s Kit of the Month, Antiquarian Notes, Nostalgic Amour, and Fragments & Foundations paper pads. I’ll also be using Aged Recipe tags! This card’s got it all going on, so let’s get started!

Unity has an AMAZING line of patterned paper, and I love to showcase them in my cards! First, I chose 1 sheet from Antiquarian Notes and Nostalgic Amour, and 2 sheets from Fragments & Foundations. I trimmed all of them to 5.5×4.25 and set the leftover scraps aside for future collage experiments! I adhered the sheet from Antiquarian Notes to a 5.5×4.25 kraft card base. I tore the 2 sheets from Fragments & Foundations at an angle down the center to get a jagged edge look and adhered 1 corner sheet from each to the card base (yes, the other two were set aside with my scraps!). Then I tore a corner piece off from Nostalgic Amour (sigh, this one is heavenly) and put that in the upper left corner of the card panel. I made sure that all 4 sheets could be seen on the card panel!

Next, I stamped the grumpy lady and her dog with black ink onto a white card panel and colored her in similar shades of the patterned paper. I added a pop of red to her dress, shoes and purse to bring out the red from the Nostalgic Amour Roses! I die cut grumpy lady with a rectangle die and inked around the edge to frame her and the pup! I also die cut a piece of black cardstock in a slightly larger size rectangle die and adhered the grumpy lady to it. I took my scissors and created rough edges along the black. I love how the black trim looks like a frame and helps the focal point pop!

Next, I trimmed one of the tags from Aged Recipe because it seemed fitting with the vintage grumpy lady and sentiment, and I tucked it behind grumpy lady over the paper collage I had created earlier. I stamped that hilarious sentiment (and I know exactly who I will be sending this birthday card to!) and then tore the edges to create a jagged look similar to the patterned and black paper. I finished with gel pens to her earrings, necklace, purse and pup’s collar and glossy accents over her eyeglasses! I also added a pop of black splatter just for interest! Every little detail can bring your card from average to WOW, so don’t forget those little details!!!

I’m so glad you joined me today with grumpy lady! To learn more about Unity’s patterned paper and ephemera, click here. If you are interested in their memberships, click here!