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Finding Meaning in Every Petal

Sometimes creativity asks us to slow down.

When I first started playing with the Slow Bloom Society stamp set from the March 2026 Kit of the Month by Unity, I immediately fell in love with the elegant peony image. Instead of making traditional cards, I decided to take a little creative detour and create two artistic pieces using the same stamped image. It was the perfect reminder that one stamp can inspire endless possibilities.

For this project, I explored the symbolism of white peonies and red peonies, letting their meanings guide the mood and color choices of each piece.

The Meaning of White Peonies

White peonies are often associated with purity, sincerity, and new beginnings. They symbolize gentle beauty and quiet inspiration.

For the first piece, I kept the flowers soft and light against a rich blue background. The white petals almost glow against the darker tones, creating a feeling of calm and reflection. I wanted the artwork to feel like a peaceful moment in a busy day — the kind that reminds you to create inspiration every day.

This piece feels dreamy and artistic, with splatters, layers, and soft details that highlight the delicate nature of the flower.

The Meaning of Red Peonies

Red peonies symbolize love, honor, passion, and prosperity. In many cultures, they are considered one of the most powerful expressions of romance and celebration, often representing deep affection and heartfelt emotion.

For the second piece, I colored the same floral image in rich red tones to reflect this vibrant symbolism. The bold color instantly brings warmth and energy to the artwork while still highlighting the graceful elegance of the peony blooms.

Creating this version as a tag felt especially fitting — almost like a small keepsake or gift tag that celebrates beauty, love, and the idea that beautiful things take time.

One Stamp, Two Creative Directions

One of my favorite things about stamping is how a single image can tell completely different stories depending on color, layout, and background.

For this project, I intentionally stepped away from my usual card-making routine to create small art pieces instead of cards. Sometimes changing formats helps spark new creativity and reminds us that our supplies can be used in so many ways.

Whether you’re creating a card, tag, journal page, or mini art panel, the Slow Bloom Society stamp set is perfect for slowing down and enjoying the creative process.

Products Used

(Affiliate links – thank you for supporting my crafting!)

Creative supplies are meant to be explored, layered, and reimagined. Sometimes the most inspiring projects come from simply stamping the same image twice and seeing where creativity takes you.

I hope these pieces inspire you to slow down, experiment, and let your creativity bloom.

Thanks for visiting, and happy crafting!

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Ephemera is BEAR-y Fun!

Happy Friday! It’s Jules of Paper Gems by Jules on the blog with a Bear-y fun card featuring the KOM-panion stamp set “Wilder Still.”  This month the KOM was offered in a special way and you have a chance to get some or all the parts of this amazing 8.5″ x 11″ sheet of beautiful red rubber stamps. I wanted to highlight just one and share how I used it with some other stamps in my stash and some fun ephemera also made by Unity!

I started picking the paper. I had already fallen in love with Flutter & Bloom Paper Pack for the base/background. It was a perfect scene for this beautiful bear. {PS – There’s a beautiful ephemera that pairs with this paper that I totally wish I had right now.} I trimmed this paper to 4.125″ x 5.375″ and distressed the edges. I added Iced Spruce Distressed Ink to the edges.

Next I stamped the beautiful bear and the floral from Be the Girl stamp set. I color both using Copics and fussy cut them out. Next, I pulled out the Creative Inspiration Sentiments Ephemera and die cut the Explore Your Imagination sentiment using the Scallop & Stitched Sentiments Dies.

Now to put it all together… I start by adding thin foam tape under the flower and adhered it to the patterned paper. Next, I added a strip of thin foam tape where the bear would be on the flower and doubled the thin foam tape where the bear would be on the patterned paper. Last, I used thin foam tape behind the sentiment and doubled it where it hangs off the bear. For a final touch, I added some ink splatters before adhering it all to a dark green card base.

Products used:

Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you found some inspiration. Make sure to take advantage of this amazing offer with the KOM-panions Kits and July Card Kit One Time Offer while supplies last!

Until next time… Happy Crafting!

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Floral Mixed Media Fun

Hello Unity Friends, I am excited to be back on the blog today!  Today I am sharing a watercolor floral for Mixed Media Thursday!  Did you know Mixed Media can be as simple as combining 2 mediums?  Today’s project is about using a couple mediums to create a Mixed Media card.  I am using watercolor, colored pencils, embossing glaze, and distress inks.  So let’s get started!

I started by stamping the Floral and Buds stamp set onto Canson XL watercolor cardstock.  I prepped the surface with my anti-static powder tool, then stamped the image using Versafine Clair Ink, then heat set the image using clear embossing powder. Next I taped the panel onto a clipboard and started to watercolor the floral.  I work in layers and continue to build color as each layer drys.

Once the panel was complete, I added colored pencils to the floral image, as well as gold watercolor for added texture.  Once the panel was completely dry, I added A Faithful Letter background in various sections on the card panel using a light brown dye ink.  Next I trimmed the panel using my deckle trimmer, then distressed the edges with a distress tool and distress ink.

I added more texture to my card panel by adding embossing glaze to 3 sections of the card panel.  I apply embossing ink using a blending tool, then apply glaze, and heat set with my heat tool.  I added splatters to the card panel using white splatters, as well as splatters using Lindy’s Gang sprays.  I completed the card with a sentiment strip from Unity and adhered the panel to a top folding card base.

Thank you for stopping by today, I will be back next week!

Natasha

Unity Stamp Company Supplies Used:

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Gelli Printing Card Set | Mixed Media Thursday

Hello Unity Friends, it is Natasha here back with some mixed media fun!  Today I am sharing a card set using gelli printing with Distress Oxide Inks!  Today’s card is using the beautiful Wild Poppy Silhouette set as my focal image!  I am sharing 2 examples here,  one with a green/blue tone and the other with pink/purple tones. So let’s get started!

I started by creating the backgrounds for my cards using Distress Oxide Inks on my gelli plate.  I start by placing the ink directly to the gelli plate surface.  I then use my brayer to move the color, as well as to remove some of the harsh lines from the ink pad.  I add several colors at a time, being careful not to touch the new pad directly to another color to avoid the 2 colors touching.  I then place my paper directly onto the gelli plate surface.  I use my brayer to lightly go over the back of the print.  You can also use your hand here.  I remove the print, then continue to build layers of ink by adding more color and texture.  I added texture to the gelli print with a piece of bubble wrap, a baby wipe, as well as the stamp set Plump Polka Dots.  I lightly spritzed water on the polka dot background, then placed it on the gelli plate surface.  The water picked up some of the color on the prints. Once I was happy with the print I set them aside.

**Between the inking and printing, I always remove the excess ink on a scrap piece of paper. I have this off to the side of my work surface.  You can also use a piece of deli paper.  I do keep these as well, as these create awesome layers and texture pieces for future projects.

Once the backgrounds were complete, I prepped each of my gelli print backgrounds with my embossing buddy.  I then stamped the Wild Poppy Silhouette set using Versafine Clair Nocturne ink onto each panel.  I then heat set the images using clear embossing powder.  Next I distressed each of the panels by tearing the edges of each card panel.  I wanted to try something different here to build more movement.  Next I added splatters to each panel and set them aside to dry.

Next I dry embossed a white card stock panel using an embossing folder in my stash.  I trimmed each panel to an A2 size card, then adhered them to a top folding card base.  I added the gelli print onto each card.  I completed the card sets with a sentiment from Silent Spring stamp set.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I had a great time!  I will be back soon with more crafty inspiration!

Natasha

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Unity Supply List

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Framed Floral

Happy Friday!  It’s Julissa of Paper Gems by Jules on the blog and this weekend is going to bloom with the new Bougainvillea floral stamp kit.  This stunning floral was designed by Graciellie Design and brought to you in red rubber by Unity Stamp Company.  This floral was something I had never seen, but when I googled the images, it’s truly a beautiful and colorful plant. So it’s no surprise that there is an equally colorful paper pack to match called Bougainvillea Trellis.  Now, let’s get into some stamping fun!

To start, I stamped this beautiful new floral and colored it with Copic markers. I wanted to go for that vibrant pink and soft greens.

Copic Colors: R39 RV19, RV17, RV55, RV52, G24, G21, YG61, E44

Once done coloring, I fussy cut the image leaving a white border.  Next, I stamped a separate piece of white card stock with the Love & Wisdom Background stamp.  I love the look of this script background.  I die cut it using the Scallops & Stitched Rectangles Nesting Dies. Using Picked Raspberry Distress ink, I splattered a similar pink to the background to add a little grunge look to the background.

I wanted to highlight the floral, but not cover the background, so I used a frame die to create a focal point without coverage. Tucking in the root, this made the floral look like it’s blooming from the frame. I then stamped the sentiment with white pigment ink on black card stock and tucked it behind the floral but above the frame.  I added another layer of black card stock and matted it onto the card base to create a positive card for a friend.

Supplies Used:

Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you’ve found some inspiration.  The birthday sale extravaganza is coming to an end, so make sure to order all of your new favorites!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

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Ink Swipe Technique with Oxides ~ December Challenge

 Hello there crafty friend!
Crystal here from Tawny Owl Paperie sharing more inspiration for the December challenge over in the Unity Show & Tell group. It’s All About Backgrounds this month!! I got inky with the beautiful Kindness Is Like Snow stamps. Adore this fox!

Ink Swipe Technique Card

The background was created by swiping oxide inks directly onto a piece of distress watercolor paper measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2″. I inked it up with Villainous Potion, Seedless Preserves, Wilted Violet, Tumbled Glass and Uncharted Mariner Distress Oxide inks. I then blended the inks with some water and a paint brush.

 

A bit of water splatters and white acrylic paint splatters to add more snow in the background. I then dried the background completely with a heat tool. Applied some anti static powder and stamped the snowflakes from the Kindness Is Like Snow stamps with white pigment ink. And then I added some white embossing powder over the snowflakes and heat embossed them with my heat tool.

 

Next I stamped the beautiful fox from the Kindness Is Like Snow stamps. I colored him up with the following Copic markers:
 
Fox ~ E95, E97, E09, W00, W2
Scarf ~ B000, B91, B95, B97, B99

Video Link

You can check out my process video here… Ink Swipe Technique with Oxides | December Challenge | Kindness Is Like Snow | Unity Stamp Co.

 

I continued the sentiment inside the card by masking the top portion with a post-it note.

 

What do you think of the ink swiping technique with the oxide inks?! I am in love!! I have a feeling I’ll be playing with this technique often! The All About Backgrounds challenge is coming to an end. I can’t believe how fast December has flown by. I hope you can find some time to play along and be sure to enter your card into the album before the challenge ends on December 31st. I’d love to see what you create so please share your cards in the Unity Show & Tell group and tag me too!! I have had a blast sharing inspiration for the last three months. I hope you all have also enjoyed the inspiration. Echo will be starting up a new challenge next Thursday… how exciting! I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us all!

 

Inky Hugs,
Crystal

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Blending with Butterflies

Happy Friday!  I hope you are all having a great week and plan on having an even better weekend!  This is Julissa of Paper Gems by Jules on the blog today sharing some fun ideas for your next card.  Today I’m talking about oxide blending, heat embossing on vellum, stenciling, splattering, subtle stamping and simple die cutting.  Yeah, sounds like a lot, but it’s a lot of fun!  So let’s get started!

Let’s start with blending.  Distress oxide inks are so easy to blend.  If you’re struggling with color choices, Pinterest has soooooo many ideas to inspire you.  For this card, I used Tattered Rose, Saltwater Taffy and Abandoned Coral.  I like to start with the lightest color and blend into the darkest color.  Don’t stress the perfect blend because you can fake it… here’s how:

  1. Splatters – Oxide inks are reactive to water so you can splatter water over the inked background to make a more distressed look.  You can also splatter other inks, paints or perfect pearls as well.
  2. Stencilling – I used an old Tim Holtz stencil, but you can use any stencil to break up the background and create some interest.
  3. Subtle Stamping – I love stamping on a background using subtle colors.  I tried first stamping the Love & Wisdom Background with Tattered Rose, but it kind of got lost so I then used Vintage Photo Distress ink.

For the beautiful Forest Butterfly, I chose to stamp it on velum using Versamark and embossing it with white embossing powder.  When placed over the blended background, it kind of got lost, so I colored the back of the butterfly using Copics.  This creates a kind of stained glass look.

With all the beautiful floral stamps, I just wanted something else to be plain and simple to keep the focus on the detailed butterfly.  I die cut three floral images and layered them on the left side.  Fully adhering the largest and letting the other two pop out giving this card some dimension.  Placement of the sentiment was based on where these florals landed.  Once everything was adhered, I added a few little gems to bring in the brown from the background and sentiment.

Thank you so much for stopping by today and I truly hope that you have some crafty time in your future.

Until next time… Happy Crafting!