Happy Friday!!! I hope you’re comfortable because this is going to be a looong post! Are you ready? 😀
Well, I told you we’d end Take Two Week with a bang and a couple of surprises. The first one is that we’re featuring the February 2011 Kit of the Month – The Best is Yet To Be which means we’re giving away one of these kits to one lucky winner! The other surprise is that Lisa and I have made three cards each to showcase this amazing set. I love this set!! As you all know, I’ve mentioned many times that the July 2010 Kit – Happily Ever After has been my most coveted set and then the January 2011 Kit – To the Moon & Back came along. However, after I played with The Best is Yet To Be, I think it deserves a spot in my stamping arsenal as the ultimate Unity set. Still, I love all my Unity for many different reasons! 😉
For this card, I applied the same technique shown in this video tutorial on the card base, most of the sentiment and the punched bird. I stamped the floral text border from To the Moon & Back before applying the ink pads directly to the cardstock. Then I stamped the bird image twice, die cut the left edge using a notebook edge and trimmed the edges. I also thought it was fitting to use my bird punch, which I’ve had for months, for the very first time here. The bird is ‘becoming’ and therefore ‘growing’ as a literal translation for the sentiment. I masked the text in the ‘sky’ part of the image using Giving It All Meaning and stamped Ippity’s A Bit of Burlap on the wing.
Sometimes I just have to make a one-layer card! This bike stamp is just so amazing, I couldn’t help but show it off on this beautiful lavender cardstock that I just got in the mail this week.
I centred both the sentiment and image on the card base, then created two masks for the balloons. I cut four balloons out of the first one and three out of the second. I stamped the corner of the blanket frame from The Best is Yet To Be on two of the ballons and used the tiny text from the floral text border from To the Moon & Back on two other balloons. The final three balloons were stamped with Ippity’s A Bit of Burlap. Then I added some glitter to the edges of the balloons. Simple but intricate. 😉
My final Take Two card features the bee with text! Bees and ‘you’ seem to be a popular couple these days but I decided to put my own spin on it by combining ‘Be you’ with part of a sentiment from One of a Kind with an alphabet I received when I joined the Kit Club. I’m not sure why I never inked up these alphabets before but I absolutely love them! You’ll probably be seeing them a lot more of them from here on in. Unfortunately, I don’t know what set they came from but I’d appreciate you letting me know if you do.
I seriously cannot believe this fun week has come to an end already! I really hope that Lisa and I have inspired all of you to use your Unity stamps in many different ways. Here’s a recap of the stamp sets we showcased this week and the eight prizes everyone is eligible to win:
Take Two, Day 1: Cuppy Cakes
Take Two, Day 2: My Dear*
Take Two, Day 3: Birdie Duet
Take Two, Day 4: Bella Fiori*
Take Two, Day 5: The Best is Yet To Be
Growing in Unity: Choose from Along for the Ride, Berry Good Life, Grow Yourself Extraordinary or Margarita Moments
Dahlhouse Designs Watermark
Dahlhouse Designs Watermark
*If you don’t want to hedge your bets on winning these sets, grab them now while they’re on sale! 😉
Thank you, Lisa, for organizing Take Two with me and for all your creative efforts! Lisa, you are such a pleasure to work with and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Okay, maybe not for several months because this was a lot of work but you know I would love to work with you again! LOL We owe a huge thanks to the amazing Angela Magnuson for this incredible giveaway, as well as Lisa for offering her fabulous watermarks!! Remember, the cut-off times for prize-eligible comments this week will be tonight 11:59 p.m. PST (Saturday 2:59 a.m. EST). Lisa and I will be choosing all the winners from both our blogs on Saturday and the winners will be announced together on both our blogs on Sunday. Best of luck to everyone and thank you all so much for making Take Two Week such a huge success!!
Lisa’s blog awaits with her takes on these same three pairings from The Best is Yet To Be!!!
For the FWF Blog Hop, head on over to Cindy’s blog!
Sources for The Best is Yet To Be: Gina K Designs pure luxury kraft & 120lb pure luxury white cardstock; Unity February 2011 Kit of the Month – The Best is Yet To Be; Unity January 2011 Kit of the Month – To the Moon & Back; Unity Giving It All Meaning; Ippity A Bit of Burlap; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; SU Summer Sun, Tangerine Tango, Pink Passion, Tempting Turquoise & Lavender Lace inks; SU Two-Step Bird punch; SU 3/4″ circle punch; MFT Notebook Edge die; QuicKutz Epic Six; The Twinery Lilac baker’s twine; Stampin’ Dimensionals
Sources for Bicycle Balloons: Gina K Designs pure luxury Lovely Lavender cardstock; Unity February 2011 Kit of the Month – The Best is Yet To Be; Unity January 2011 Kit of the Month – To the Moon & Back; Ippity A Bit of Burlap; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; SU Lavender Lace ink; Ranger Diamond Stickles; We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper
Sources for You are ‘Be You’-tiful: Gina K Designs pure luxury kraft, Black Onyx & 120lb pure luxury white cardstock; Unity February 2011 Kit of the Month – The Best is Yet To Be; Unity Tea Time Toile; Unity Giving It All Meaning; Unity+Melody Ross One of a Kind; Unity Alphabet; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; SU Old Olive ink; SU 3/4″ circle punch; Stampin’ Dimensionals; SU Basic Rhinestone; Copic marker
I love your getting so artsy since this new year started, the first card is so funky, LOVE it. I am also totally fond of you one layer card, but today I am more in a funky mood si card 1 wins 🙂 Oh and the third ones is uber cool as well, love the way you created the word beyoutiful, made me smile. Thanks so much to you and Lisa for this awesome week! Was def. fun! Have a great weekend!! Janna
Oh gee, it is early morning … sorry for all the mispelling lol, well artistic freedom, no?! 😉
WOW that was a longy, LOL :0)
Hi there Emily! What amazing talent you have! I love all these cards, the first is gorgeous I love it's background and you know I just love balloons and with lilac, stunning! Text and bees, gorgeous and a clever play on words, well just perfect!
I think you may need a bit of a lie down:0) Thank you so much, it's been lots of fun this week:0) xxx
what shines through on all 3 cards, emily, is your awesome talent for making the stamps the star of your cards–hope that makes sense:) but, you don't need stuff–just the stamps!
thanks to you and lisa for this fun week:)
WOW!! You have been busy lol. Love your cards , im really growing on the bike stamps too :0)
Kate x
What fun, fun, fun cards, Em! Love the mash-up of colors on #1, the amazing masking on #2 (yep, nice color, too), and the fab frame and wordplay on #3. Awesome job all week long — you deserve a break!!
(PS: I already have this fab-o set, so no winning for me today, ok?)
My A.MaZ.iNG Emily!!! Fabulous job my friend. There is no way I could ever do your style justice, you just have a way with stamps that is all your own!!! Thank you for one amazing week, a new found friendship and a lifetime of inspiration.
HUGS!
lisa a.
another day of fabbie goodness emily…such a fun feature!
So glad you all did this as it was a pleasure to see both your takes. Your cards today are amazing as usual.
Thanks so much for an AWESOME and inspiring Unity Week! I really enjoyed all the Take2 MOJO! Your cards are just so fun and inspiring. Thanks for all the inspiration this week and all the fun goodies too!
Hi Emily!
Love the way you have used the stamps from this set!!! I have it as well, but only used the ballon-bike so far, hi hi. But your wonderful ideas inspire me as always!!! The sun is shining here, hope with you as well & wishing you a lovely day! I'll head on over to Lisa now!
Hugs, Wendy
All so fabulous! My favorite is the way you created your own amazing background on the first card! So great!
Sad to see Take Two end but I'm sure you girls need a break! Today's cards are gorgeous! I love the colours of the first card, the subtle sparkle of the second and the layers of the third. It's so inspiring to see how many completely different creations can come from one set of stamps. Thanks for all the fun this week and have a great weekend!
The cards are beYOUtiful, should be awarded more balloons because the best is yet to be!!! hee hee, love these Emily!!!!
These are all amazing! Being a gal with a fondness for clean and simple, your one layer bicycle card really strikes a chord with me. It's especially sweet since you took the extra time to doll up the balloons the way you did!
so great! the bike one is definitely my fav!!! love the touch of sparkle on the balloons.
You really are inspiring- I so wish I had your eye for design!
wow! I'm loving the simplicity and details of the bike card. I was happy to hear you would do this again. I appreciate all the work you and Lisa did and your willingess to share your great ideas! I found all the posts to be inspiring! thanks!
love your creativity
Emily, amazing work!! I think the third is my fav but it is hard to choose one! They are each so great in their own way. Loved this week….I see an ongoing challenge looming based on an individual stamp/s. Wouldn't that be a blast!?
How fun to see three different cards in three different styles made from the Feb KOTM! There are some truly awesome images in that kit. Great details on all of these, Emily! I've really enjoyed seeing all of your creations (and Lisa's, too) this week. What a fun Take Two!! Thanks a bunch. 🙂
Oh Emily your cards have such an artistic flair WOW!
Love what you have done with your cards! I've enjoyed reading your blog and Lisa's also. I'll be back often to see what you have in store!
I love all the details on your cards! The bird card has great colors and lots of interest. The pieced balloons are so sweet, and the last card with the frame is very artsy!
DeniseB
I can't say enough about how FUN this week was to follow!!! Your cards today are wonderful the "be you tiful" card is your best yet! The details and colors work so well together. Emily I admire your work SO much and I am so happy I found you…
MUCH LOVE!
all your projects are amazing!
Oh, Emily, Emily, Emily….. sigh….. how can I choose which of these 3 cards are my favorite? You make it sooo hard! *smile* The sweet bird with the note paper, the simple yet stunning balloons and bike and the great background on that bee card….wow.
I think the alpha set was from "a little happy" the May '10 KOTM.
🙂
All very pretty!! I will have to try out that direct to paper technique it has a very nice look.
I have really enjoyed this week. Wonderful cards. Love them all!
Your cards are amazing! I love what you did with the bike & balloons stamp… so simple, yet the effect is stunning!
Absolutely fabulous! I love the one with the bee the most. It is just such an amazing image and looks great with all that kraft! Great week of GUI!
My goodness me, way to knock that out of the park!!! Love them all.
such fabulous cards!!! i'm super loving the layers of birdie goodness 😀 hehe
What a great week it's been! These cards are a testament to your creativity and artistic eye. They're all so different! Great work!
Bonita
Gorgeous cards … its been lovely to see your fab creations all week!
Awesome cards, Emily! LOVE the CAS look of your bicycle card and your awesome frame bee card.
Hugs and smiles
I love all of your cards! My favourite is how you used the different sets to get be-you-tiful!
I love all the cards and really really like the background on the first one – off to view that video in a sex. thanks for including that. It was a fun fun week – thanks you….
Lovely cards, Miss Emily! 🙂
How cute the cards are!!! Nice job.
I always LOVE stopping by to see your creative cards!!! LOVE them!! I still need to break out last months Unity KOM!!! (=
Congratulations on your stellar week of creativity! These three cards are amazing, as always. I'm still recovering from seeing you make a lavender OLC! 😀
OMG LOVE!!!!!! And I haven't been able to come by this week, but I am coming back to take a looksie!!! hugs, Katrina
wow.. fantastic cards. I just love what you have done this week with Lisa.. xx
Gorgeous cards! I'm speechless! I love your techniques and your amazing cards.
Very creative designs! Thanks for a fun GIU week.
Carol B
ciaoitalia2007(at)gmail(dot)com
I love all three cards – and have enjoyed following along with both blogs this week. Wonderful inspiration – thank you!
I've just popped over to catch up with your beautiful blog – your cards are always amazing. I would love to get a feed from your blog or to be able to subscribe via email – is this something you're considering? Have a lovely weekend Emily! Vx
I am late as always, but your cards are beautiful! From colorful to CAS and organic – all are soooo good :>)
Wow, that's a lot of great projects!!
OH MY–Emily! You rocked this week–and esp. today with three cards! I love that first one–with so many bright colors! LOOOOOVE the white space on the second one–and the glitter balloons! And that third one–OH OH OH!! LOVE the kraft with white and green! FAB!!!! Great job!
Wow! You're so creative! Lovely, lovely work!!
Sweet greetings, Saskia 🙂
Love your three takes each different from each other and each shining!
I just love how you used those stamps in your first and third card, you have ispired me to go and see what I can do! Superb! And I so love that technique of yours on the first card, such a fun and easy one! Adore the bicycle too!
Wow, Em, you did such an amazing job this week!! I've love all of the sets and cards that you've showcased!
look at all the beautiful cards you made! glitter on balloons look so good!
you are amazing, girl! love your week of take 2 with Lisa! what eye candies! fabulous work!