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Haunted Home Decor

Hi Everyone! Welcome to another Make it Monday! Today I’m sharing with you how to create your own Halloween Home Decor sign with Unity Stamp Co. The Coop is Haunted set which is part of the July ’26 Kit of the Month.

This post may include affiliate links. That means that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links provided at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Supplies:

  1. Unity Stamp Co. The Coop is Haunted
  2. Unity Stamp Co. Deckle & Stitches {nesting dies}
  3. Unity Stamp Co. Scallops & Banners {nesting dies}
  4. Unity Stamp Co. Distressed Dots
  5. Small wooden arrow sign (sourced from Dollar Tree or similar store)
  6. Acrylic paint in black and green
  7. Distress Oxide inks in Twisted Citron and Ripe Persimon
  8. White cardstock
  9. Black ink (alcohol marker compatible)
  10. Alcohol markers
  11. Embellishments such as Halloween themed die cuts and googly eyes

Tutorial:

Step 1: Stamp the costumed chickens with alcohol marker compatible black ink onto a piece of white cardstock. Color with alcohol markers.

Step 2: Die cut the chickens with the third largest Deckle & Stitches die. Partial die cut one edge to make it more square shape.

Step 3: Stamp a sentiment onto white cardstock. Die cut with a Scallops & Banners die.

Step 4: Ink blend Distress Oxide Twisted Citron onto the banner die cut. Then, ink blend Distress Oxide Ripe Persimmon along the edges.

Step 5: Paint the wooden sign with black acrylic paint. Let it dry.

Step 6: Using the Distressed Dots background stamp, stamp onto the painted sign with Distress Oxide Twisted Citron and Ripe Persimmon.

Step 7: Paint the edges of the sign with green acrylic paint.

Step 8: Adhere the ink blended sentiment onto the right side of the sign. Next, adhere the costumed chickens towards the left of the sign, overlapping the sentiment banner.

Step 9: Add embellishments. I used die cut zig zags and candy popped up on foam. For added fun, I adhered googly eyes to two of the costumed chickens.

What an amusing sign you can use for Halloween home decor! Hang it on your door, on a mantel, or by the candy bowl. You could also use glow-in-the-dark paint for an added spooky element. I hope you give this project a try! If you do, tag me on social media @apapermoment so that I can see your creation. Also, be sure to join us on the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group to share your creations and to be inspired by other creators.

Have a great day!

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Encouragement Card Tutorial | A Light to Weather By Stamp Set

Creating a handmade encouragement card is a meaningful way to remind someone they have the strength to face life’s challenges. Rick is back with another Membership Thursday post to share a clean and approachable card design featuring the A Light to Weather By {bom 6/26} Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company. In today’s project, you’ll see how simple stamping, soft ink blending, and alcohol marker coloring come together to create a thoughtful card that’s both striking and easy to recreate.

 

Project Overview

This encouragement card features a beautifully illustrated lighthouse as the focal point, paired with an uplifting sentiment that naturally draws the eye. The clean layout allows the detailed image to shine while leaving plenty of open space for a light, airy feel.

A layered mat of bold red, blue, and kraft cardstocks frames the design and echoes the colors within the lighthouse, creating a cohesive composition without overwhelming the focal image. Soft blue ink blending behind the stamped scene adds depth and atmosphere, while a few sparkling embellishments provide just enough finishing detail. The result is a balanced design that’s visually interesting yet approachable for beginner and intermediate cardmakers alike.

Technique Highlights

Combining a few foundational techniques can elevate even the simplest card design.

Stamping provides crisp details that make the lighthouse and accompanying sentiment stand out. A well-defined image creates an excellent foundation for adding color while keeping the project clean and polished.

Ink blending adds subtle dimension without requiring advanced skills. A light application of blue ink around portions of the scene helps create the feeling of open sky while maintaining plenty of white space. Building color gradually with a gentle hand produces the softest results and gives beginners greater control.

Alcohol marker coloring brings the lighthouse, shoreline, and water to life with vibrant color and smooth blends. Rather than trying to blend large areas at once, working in smaller sections can help create more even coverage and make coloring feel more manageable.

Together, these techniques complement one another beautifully. The soft background keeps the focus on the detailed stamped image, while the bold coloring adds energy and contrast.

Product Education

The A Light to Weather By {bom 6/26} Stamp Set makes it easy to create inspiring encouragement cards with a timeless coastal theme.

The detailed lighthouse image offers plenty of opportunities to explore coloring techniques while still producing beautiful results with simple color choices. Because the illustration contains natural textures and architectural details, it looks wonderful whether you prefer minimal coloring or more detailed shading.

The encouraging sentiments included in the set pair naturally with the scenic imagery, making it easy to create heartfelt cards for a variety of occasions. Whether you’re sending comfort, encouragement, or simply letting someone know you’re thinking of them, this stamp set provides a versatile starting point for meaningful handmade cards.

Closing

Encouragement cards never go out of style, and this design is easy to customize to fit your own creative style. Try changing the color palette to create a softer coastal look, experiment with different ink blending colors for the sky, or add additional layers for extra dimension.

Sometimes the simplest techniques create the most meaningful handmade cards. We hope this project inspires you to pull out the A Light to Weather By {bom 6/26} Stamp Set and create an encouragement card that reminds someone they are stronger than the storms they may be facing. Happy crafting!

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Creating a Relaxation Themed Card with Soft Color and Simple Layers

There is something special about creating cards that encourage someone to slow down and take a moment for themselves. Today, Rick is back sharing a new project featuring the Time For a Pause Stamp Set and the North Pole Collection {Paper Pack}. This card combines soft coloring, subtle ink blending, and easy layering techniques to create a peaceful design that feels both inviting and encouraging.

In this project, you’ll see how patterned paper, simple color choices, and a thoughtfully placed focal image can work together to create a card with plenty of visual interest while remaining approachable for beginner and intermediate cardmakers alike.

Project Overview

The design centers around the adorable hammock image from the Time For a Pause Stamp Set. By allowing the stamped image to take center stage, the card immediately communicates a sense of relaxation and calm.

Layered patterned paper creates structure and balance without overwhelming the focal image. The soft peach and pink tones found in the North Pole Collection {Paper Pack} help frame the design while keeping the overall look light and inviting. Small patterned paper accents at the top and bottom of the focal panel help guide the eye through the card, creating a cohesive layout that feels polished yet easy to recreate.

The addition of blended ink around the edges of the layers helps define each section of the card while adding warmth and depth. This simple detail can make even the most straightforward layouts feel more finished.

Technique Highlights

One of the key techniques used on this card is edge ink blending. Applying ink around the edges of patterned paper and cardstock layers creates subtle contrast and helps separate individual elements from one another. This is especially helpful when working with lighter colors or designs that feature multiple layers.

Another important technique is alcohol marker coloring. The stamped hammock image contains plenty of texture and detail, making it a great image for practicing shading and adding dimension. Even simple color combinations can bring stamped images to life when you focus on adding a few darker areas for depth.

For cardmakers who are newer to coloring, remember that you do not need extensive blending to achieve pleasing results. Start with light layers of color and gradually build intensity in shadowed areas. The textured nature of the image naturally helps create a realistic look.

Combining these techniques creates a finished project that feels detailed and polished without requiring complicated steps or advanced skills.

Product Education

The Time For a Pause Stamp Set provides both charming imagery and thoughtful sentiments that work beautifully for encouragement, friendship, and everyday cards. The focal image offers plenty of opportunities for coloring while still being approachable for a wide range of skill levels.

The North Pole Collection {Paper Pack} adds visual interest through pattern and color, making it easy to build layered card designs without needing additional techniques. Coordinating patterned papers can help create cohesive projects while simplifying design decisions.

Rusty Hinge Distress Oxide Ink was used around the edges of the patterned paper and layered elements to create warmth and definition. Edge blending is an easy way to add depth while helping individual layers stand out.

Alcohol markers were used to color the focal image, allowing for smooth color application and subtle shading throughout the scene.

Closing

Relaxation-themed cards are wonderful to keep on hand for friends, family members, or anyone who could use a little encouragement. This design can easily be adapted by changing the patterned paper, adjusting your color palette, or selecting a different sentiment from the set to fit a variety of occasions.

Whether you’re practicing alcohol marker coloring, experimenting with edge ink blending, or simply looking for a clean and approachable layout, this project offers plenty of inspiration for future cardmaking sessions. Give these techniques a try and enjoy creating a card that reminds someone they deserve a pause.

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Oh Baby!

There’s something so incredibly special about welcoming a new baby into the world. Tiny fingers, sleepy cuddles, and the excitement of watching a family grow—it truly is one of life’s greatest blessings. This year, that joy feels even more personal because I’ll be becoming an abuelita for the very first time! ????

My heart is overflowing with excitement as my son and daughter-in-law prepare to welcome their little one, and naturally, cardmaking has become one of the ways I’m pouring all of that love and anticipation onto paper. When I saw the brand-new “Oh Baby” stamp set, I instantly knew I had to create with it.

These adorable baby images are sweet, whimsical, and perfect for celebrating both baby girls and boys. I created two coordinating cards featuring soft ombré ink blending, textured embossing, and layered baby-themed embellishments to create clean yet heartfelt designs.

Soft Ombre Backgrounds & Texture Details

For both cards, I wanted the backgrounds to feel soft, dreamy, and baby-inspired, so I used gentle ombré ink blending to create subtle color transitions.

Baby Girl Card ????

For the girl version, I blended soft pink inks from light to deeper rosy tones to create a warm and delicate backdrop. To add texture without overwhelming the focal image, I embossed the background using the Falling Hearts Embossing Folder {out of stock}. The tiny raised hearts add the sweetest touch and perfectly complement the theme of welcoming a precious little blessing.

The finished card feels playful, sweet, and full of love.

Baby Boy Card ????

For the boy version, I used bright aqua and blue inks blended into a smooth ombré background. Instead of hearts, this card features the Polka Dots Embossing Folder, which gives the design a fun and cheerful nursery-inspired feel.

The texture from the embossing combined with the vibrant blues gives this card a fresh and happy look while still keeping the focus on that adorable baby image.

The images in this set are absolutely irresistible. The oversized eyes and tiny details make them perfect for coloring with alcohol markers, and the sentiments are heartfelt without being overly complicated. Whether you’re making baby shower cards, welcome baby cards, scrapbook layouts, or even nursery décor, this set works beautifully for so many occasions.

As someone stepping into the role of abuelita this year, creating these cards felt especially emotional and joyful. Handmade cards have a way of capturing moments and memories, and these little baby cards will always remind me of this exciting season of life.

Products Used

Thank you so much for stopping by today and sharing in this joyful season with me. Creating baby cards while preparing to become an abuelita has made this release feel even more meaningful. I hope these cards inspire you to pull out your inks, embossing folders, and favorite baby stamps to create something special for the little loves in your life.

Until next time… Happy Crafting

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Adorable friendship inky scene building

Welcome to the Unity blog.  I’m Gaylynn.  Sometimes, a stamp comes to life with scene building or background effects.  Today, I am sharing one way to add inky touches to complement your stamps. I combined a few techniques to make a lovely friendship card. This card features the cutest little skunk with a flower. I share steps to build this card scene.

The featured Unity Stamp Company stamp and sentiment are from May 2026 Kit Of The Month stamps, Odds, Ends & Adorable. The individual KOMpanion kits are also sold individually as one-time purchases. The skunk stamp is from the KOMpanion kit Sorry Stuff Stinks, and the sentiment is from Lilac Poise. To create this card, I used rubber stamping, stenciling, ink blending, Copic marker coloring, dry embossing and die-cutting. I included the project steps and supplies below.

 

To begin, here is a look at the finished card.
Sentiment:  Your friendship is the kind that always stays in bloom.

 

 

Additionally, here is a summary of the steps.

Helpful Tips:

  1. Prepare a vertical scored white card base 4 ¼” x 5 ½”.

  2. Stamp the Kit Of The Month skunk & flower from the main kit or from Sorry Stuff Stinks onto a sheet of white cardstock using marker-friendly ink. Also, stamp and die-cut the sentiment on white from Lilac Poise and Sentiment Dies.

  3. Color the skunk and flower in shades of gray, black and red. I used Copic markers, but use what you have for coloring.

  4. Ink blend the scene using a Cloud Stencil and blending brushes.

  5. Die-cut the skunk panel using a medium rectangle die from Zig Zag Rectangles.

  6. Trim a white cardstock panel 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″, then dry emboss it using an embossing folder.

  7. Adhere the embossed panel over the card base.

  8. Adhere the skunk panel and the sentiment label over the card.

 

Here is a peek at the first part of the card setup.

Next, take a look at the last part of the process.

 

Finally, here is a closer look at this card.

 

 

Lastly, be sure to visit my other features here on the Unity Stamp Co. blog:
Technique Time and Watercolor Wednesday.

 

I hope you try this project and share your makes in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook Group.  Feel free to tag me so that I can see what you make.

Thanks for visiting.

Best,
Gaylynn

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A Thought Flew By ????

There’s something so magical about when color leads the creative process… and this card is a perfect example of that.

For today’s project, I’m featuring the April 2026 KOM-panion stamp set – A Thought Flew By, and let me tell you… this sweet, wide-eyed butterfly absolutely stole my heart. But what truly set the tone for this card was the color palette.

???? Color Inspiration

I took a little creative detour over to Pinterest and searched for Distress Ink color combinations, where I stumbled upon a beautiful blend by @amyrysavy of Prairie Paper & Ink. The soft mix of pinks, purples, and muted greens instantly spoke to me—and I knew it would be perfect for creating a dreamy, whimsical background.

Those same hues didn’t just stay in the background… they inspired the coloring of the butterfly as well, tying the whole card together in a soft, cohesive way. I love when everything feels intentional yet effortless.

???? Building the Scene

The star of the show is that adorable butterfly perched on a delicate leafy branch. By placing it against the softly blended background, it feels like a tiny moment captured in nature—gentle, quiet, and full of charm.

To add a little extra interest:

  • I incorporated subtle splatter for texture using the same color Oxide inks
  • Added a few sequins for sparkle
  • Framed the design with a patterned card base to keep things soft and balanced

???? Sentiments That Do It All

One of my favorite things about the A Thought Flew By stamp set is how versatile the sentiments are.

The phrase “just a surprise note” works beautifully on the front of the card, setting a light and thoughtful tone. But what makes this set extra special is that the sentiments can easily carry through to the inside of the card—making it simple to create a cohesive, heartfelt message without overthinking it.

It’s the kind of set you’ll reach for again and again when you want to send a little love “just because.”

????️ Products Used

???? A Little Final Thought

Sometimes all it takes is a soft color blend, a sweet little image, and a simple sentiment to create something meaningful. Cards like this remind me that even the smallest gestures—like a “just because” note—can brighten someone’s entire day.

So send the card. Share the kindness. Let a thought fly by… and land exactly where it’s needed most.

Until next time… Happy Crafting!

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Create a Clean and Simple Sympathy Card with Unity Stamp Company’s Gentle Goodbye Stamp Set

Today’s Membership Thursday blog post is all about creating a clean and simple sympathy card using a soft, comforting design approach that feels thoughtful without being complicated. This project features Unity Stamp Company’s The Gentle Goodbye Stamp Set along with the 8-in-1 Essential Masking Stencil, and focuses on combining stamping, alcohol marker coloring, ink blending, and subtle finishing details like gel pen highlights to build a calm, balanced design. The goal is to help you feel confident creating meaningful cards using approachable techniques that still look polished and intentional.

 

This card design centers around simplicity and quiet elegance. The focal image is softly colored and gently framed, allowing the sentiment and imagery from The Gentle Goodbye Stamp Set to remain the emotional focus of the design. The ink blended background adds just enough atmosphere without overwhelming the composition, while the masked layers help keep everything clean and controlled. The overall layout is intentionally open, giving the eye space to rest—an especially important design consideration for sympathy-themed cards.

What makes this style work so well is the balance between technique and restraint. Alcohol marker coloring brings life and softness to the stamped image, while ink blending adds depth and mood in a subtle, non-distracting way. The stencil helps guide clean edges and soft transitions, making it easier to build dimension without needing complex layering. Finishing touches like black gel pen outline scribbles add gentle definition, while white gel pen highlights bring in light and a sense of lift to the focal point. For beginners, the key takeaway is that small, controlled details often have the biggest impact when working with clean and simple designs.

From a product perspective, both featured tools play an important supporting role in making this design approachable. The Gentle Goodbye Stamp Set provides imagery and sentiments that naturally lend themselves to heartfelt, understated cards. The design is versatile enough to be used on it’s own or combined with soft backgrounds and simple embellishments. Meanwhile, the 8-in-1 Essential Masking Stencil helps simplify layering by allowing crafters to build depth without worrying about complicated masking or uneven blending. Together, these products support a smooth creative process that keeps the focus on design rather than difficulty.

This design is a wonderful reminder that sympathy cards don’t need to be complex to be meaningful. By focusing on soft color, intentional spacing, and a few well-placed details, you can create something heartfelt and elegant with ease. Try experimenting with different color palettes, softer or bolder ink blending, or even changing the placement of the focal image to create your own variation while keeping the same clean and simple foundation.

 

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