Colored Pencil on Colored Cardstock and Adding a Shadow

This is my last and final blog/ video combo for my Growing In Unity Week.  If you are stopping by the week of 10/21/2019-10/25/2019 please leave a comment below for a chance at some Unity Stamp Company Goodies. And while you are at it, make sure to leave a comment on all the other blog posts from this week to multiply your chances at some super happy mail!

I wanted to finish this week off with a little colored pencil coloring. You see, I don't do it very often, colored pencils are not my go-to coloring medium of choice. I love the look I get with them and I know if I practice with them more I will probably pick them up more often. But, the reason I chose colored pencils today was because this week was a challenging week for me. If you've followed my blog posts this week you will have seen an extra blog post and video talking about my beautiful baby girl Delaney who was born in 2013 and gifted us 10 beautiful days before passing away. Every year those 10 days, 10 hours & 20 minutes are the longest and hardest for me. To say they are a challenge is an understatement but if I were to relate how this is for me back to crafting, I'd say it is something I'd do over again and with practice I am holding up ok and am learning how to live in our new normal. So... the reason I chose colored pencils, I need the practice to learn how to be ok with the outcome.


For this project:
I used Rebuild Herself
designed by Angie Blom
You can find it here: Rebuild Herself

 I also used Pretty Darn Amazing



March 2017 Kit of the Month
You can find it here: Pretty Darn Amazing

So now that I've shared why this is my final GIU project of the week, here is how I did it.

After stamping the frame from the KOM in Ink on 3 blackout ink, I colored it with my Prisma colored pencils. I used several shades of brown and a cream color along with my blender pencil to hopefully get a wood carved feel.

After I spent over an hour second guessing myself for starting such an endeavor, I placed a reverse mask over the image with just the center oval cut out and stamped this beautiful image from the Rebuild Herself set so she appeared in the mirror. I'm not going to lie, I was terrified at this point that I was going to screw this up so bad.

But I didn't. And in all reality it is just some paper. I colored the rest of the image inside the mirror using more Prisma colored pencils and I really love how that purple just jumps off the page. I'm glad I chose that color combo. Purple and Chocolate brown for the WIN!

I really didn't want to cover any of this image with a sentiment label, panel or even the original circle I had planned so I heat embossed directly onto my colored panel with white embossing powder. Yep, I held my breath while I did it. Again... I just knew I was going to screw all this up. But I didn't.

As I was looking at my finished panel I realized it still didn't have the dimension I had hoped for and I decided to get my N Copic markers out and add a shadow. In the coordinating video you can see how slowly I built up the color because I had real fear folks, this was a test of my courage this card. ;)

In the end, the card I ended up with is so beautiful and perfect and worth every nail biting, heart stopping, no turning back now, moment.  Be that crafter, step outside your box, go for it. It feels so good to practice at something and be ok with the results.


Unity Stamp Co does this very cool thing each week where they give some of their awesome stamps away just for some comments... seriously! So, to participate, if you are here during the week of 10/21/2019 - 10/25/2019, just leave a comment, it is that simple.

To watch me make these cards, you can watch them be made on my YouTube channel by clicking here: Delaney Jane Cards

All items were purchased with my own funds. 

Confused about why I named it all Delaney Jane Cards if my name is Renee’?

This entire thing, shop, YouTube channel, blog, etc, it is all named after our angel daughter who passed away in 2013. I made her some promises when she passed away. I would spread joy, I would make her proud and I would speak her name daily. This is one way we choose to honor her memory, and help me keep my promises.

Check out our online store at: www.delaneyjanecards.com

Want to visit us on Instagram? Check us out at @delaneyjanecards

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/delaneyjanecards/

Email: delaneyjanecards@gmail.com

Ink Blending, Dry Embossing and NOT STARTING OVER

This is my fourth post for my GIU week. If you are visiting the week of 10/21/2019- 10/25/2019 make sure to leave a comment on this post for a chance to win some goodies from Unity.

For a while I could only afford maybe one or two small stamps a month, sometimes even every two or three months. I found I needed to have retail therapy for my crafty soul as much as I needed to make time to craft. Having something new is always a Mojo builder for me. At that time I really had a tight budget and I found Unity's Itty Bitty line, which by the way are never that tiny. I love the diversity of this line in particular. I could order two stamp sets (most of the time an image and coordinating sentiment in each) and they could be two totally different things. Like one Itty Bitty could be a snarky sentiment like I used today and the other could be an adorable baby set or sympathy set. The Itty Bitty line really helped me build my stamp collection into what it is today. 

For this project:

I used Whiskey than Tea

designed by Angie Blom

You can find it here: Whiskey than Tea

I created a beautiful blended background to highlight this snarky sentiment. Using Distress Inks I blended the colors onto some Bristol Smooth Cardstock. Any white cardstock would work it might take a little more ink and a little more effort. Use what you have.

I wanted to use a technique from "back in the day" what I would call selective dry embossing. I know there is probably a real name for it but that is what it actually does so we will call it that. 

It didn't work but here is why. The last time I tried this technique was before the newer deeper etched embossing folders. Or that is the excuse I'm using anyway. 

So how was it supposed to work? Well, I cut an oval from a piece of chipboard and it was the same size as my card panel. After securing this blended card panel into my embossing folder I taped the chipboard template over top making sure the sentiment was in the cut out oval. Theoretically it would leave that area sans embossing... or without the dry embossing. 

Well, not so much. This embossing folder, which is stunning btw, is one of those deeper etched embossing folders so it is thicker that the old ones. And there was enough pressure through my machine to emboss everything. I almost tossed it but it didn't change how the card really looked so I kept going and I'm glad I did because I think this card is stunning.

I think because the color is lighter at the center of this panel it worked out okay. If I had maybe ink blended a gradient from top to bottom without that center highlight maybe it would have worked out as nicely. I'm just guessing here. ;) 

Unity Stamp Co does this very cool thing each week where they give some of their awesome stamps away just for some comments... seriously! So, to participate, if you are here during the week of 10/21/2019 - 10/25/2019, just leave a comment, it is that simple.

To watch me make these cards, you can watch them be made on my YouTube channel by clicking here: Delaney Jane Cards

All items were purchased with my own funds. 

Confused about why I named it all Delaney Jane Cards if my name is Renee’?

This entire thing, shop, YouTube channel, blog, etc, it is all named after our angel daughter who passed away in 2013. I made her some promises when she passed away. I would spread joy, I would make her proud and I would speak her name daily. This is one way we choose to honor her memory, and help me keep my promises.

Check out our online store at: www.delaneyjanecards.com

Want to visit us on Instagram? Check us out at @delaneyjanecards

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/delaneyjanecards/

Email: delaneyjanecards@gmail.com

Marigold Whimsy In Beautiful Fall Colors

This is my second post for my GIU week. If you are visiting the week of 10/21/2019- 10/25/2019 make sure to leave a comment on this post for a chance to win some goodies from Unity. 

I've had a long standing love affair as I say, with Unity Stamps. I had purchased a few stamps at a rubber stamp convention several years ago and liked them but I fell in love with them in 2013, October of 2013. How can I pick an exact month and year? Well, Unity has always been a generous company and has always had these crazy ideas that giving away stamps is a good idea. (I don't disagree) But in 2013 while I was going through the worst time of my life, I won a stamp. I commented on a post and won. I am pretty sure it was before the GIU brilliance but it was a simple moment in time that created a customer for life.

For this project:
I used this stamp set, Marigold Whimsy
Designed by Angie Blom
You can find it here:
Marigold Whimsy






I created a very autumnal card using this set. I pulled my color pallet from some new papers I just purchased from Scrapping for Less, another small company worth a peek.

I used an older technique to create my focal image. Partial die cutting or selective die cutting. This young lady would not fit in my largest oval die but I wanted to use it, so I cut around the hat leaving a white border before die cutting. I also *gasp* hand cut the brown border because the white oval is my largest oval die. You don't need the latest and greatest to create something really special.

I also used the sentiment from the kit which is in a straight line. Instead of cutting my stamp I used simple masking to stack my sentiment on this adorable tag.

I also altered these adorable floral embellishments from Trinity Stamps so they were the same tone as my coloring and patterned papers.

I also added this adorable sweater printed banner in the top corner to fill the space visually.

Unity Stamp Co does this very cool thing each week where they give some of their awesome stamps away just for some comments... seriously! So, to participate, if you are here during the week of 10/21/2019 - 10/25/2019, just leave a comment, it is that simple.

To watch me make these cards, you can watch them be made on my YouTube channel by clicking here: Delaney Jane Cards

All items were purchased with my own funds. 

Confused about why I named it all Delaney Jane Cards if my name is Renee’?

This entire thing, shop, YouTube channel, blog, etc, it is all named after our angel daughter who passed away in 2013. I made her some promises when she passed away. I would spread joy, I would make her proud and I would speak her name daily. This is one way we choose to honor her memory, and help me keep my promises.

Check out our online store at: www.delaneyjanecards.com

Want to visit us on Instagram? Check us out at @delaneyjanecards

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/delaneyjanecards/

Email: delaneyjanecards@gmail.com

I Am Unicorn 4 Ways

This is my first blog for this week where I am the Growing In Unity Guest. I've had a long standing love affair with their red rubber stamps and I would 100% say my stamp collections largest category is Unity.

The last time I was able to participate in the GIU fun was in 2017. I was assigned a week in June and it happened to be the week my husband and I brought home our now 2 1/2 year old from the hospital. It was fun and busy. This time I don't have a newborn so I'm hoping it will be easier to carve out more time to interact with everyone. ;) 

For this project,
I used the stamp set titled I Am Unicorn designed by Angie Blom.
You can find the set here: I Am Unicorn









I created 4 cards using this set. They all have the exact same layout, images, die cuts and embellishment mix but in the end I create 4 cards that feel very different.

An all aqua mane with these golden eyes on a sweet and dainty star background. 

A gold and aqua mane with beautiful aqua eyes to coordinate with these more earth tone papers.

Gorgeous jewel toned mane in aqua, purple and yellow to coordinate with this super cute unicorn themed paper. This card has some super pretty holographic paper too!

And an aqua and purple mane to coordinate with the pure rainbow tones in the background papers. 

You will notice not a single rainbow colored unicorn in the bunch ( I know, I couldn't believe it either!)

I finished each of the cards with the other part of the sentiment

Unity Stamp Co does this very cool thing each week where they give some of their awesome stamps away just for some comments... seriously! So, to participate, if you are here during the week of 10/21/2019 - 10/25/2019, just leave a comment, it is that simple.

To watch me make these cards, you can watch them be made on my YouTube channel by clicking here: Delaney Jane Cards


If you've made it this far, I'd love to know which one is your favorite?

All items were purchased with my own funds. 

Confused about why I named it all Delaney Jane Cards if my name is Renee’?

This entire thing, shop, YouTube channel, blog, etc, it is all named after our angel daughter who passed away in 2013. I made her some promises when she passed away. I would spread joy, I would make her proud and I would speak her name daily. This is one way we choose to honor her memory, and help me keep my promises.

Check out our online store at: www.delaneyjanecards.com

Want to visit us on Instagram? Check us out at @delaneyjanecards

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/delaneyjanecards/

Email: delaneyjanecards@gmail.com

Diana Girl: Growing in Unity Day 5

Today is the last and final day for me to be the returning Growing in Unity Girl this week. So far this week we have played with Ink Smooshing, Heat Embossing, Texture Paste, Black and white images, and now, COLOR, GLORIOUS COLOR!!!

I bring you day 5.

Two cards made using bright colors and patterns. One with pattern using dies and the other with pattern using patterned paper.

Diana Girl

This is the Diana Girl Stamp from Angie Blom and it is one of my favorite from the Angie Girl line. She exhibits the strength each woman has inside her and I love how empowered I can make someone feel when I send them a card using this image. 

For this beautiful, colorful, powerful card, I used the new Birch Press Dazzle Layering dies for the background. These are really neat and you layer the three die cuts to create this intricate pattern. Eye catching and bold, am I right? 

I went with the tried and true Copic Coloring for the Diana girl  and just fussy cut her out and popped her up on foam tape. Simple, more simple than it looks, for sure! 

The second card I wanted to show was this one.

You Make Cute Babies

As you can see, this is a very colorful and bold card as well. Almost all the colors are a result of the adorable paper, excluding the one bit of coloring on the heart. This card also uses simple layering of die cuts to create a cohesive looking card. 

Don't forget to leave a comment below for your chance to win some Unity Stamps!

(be sure to go back and leave comments on all this week's blog posts for more chances)

Products used to create these cards:

Diana Girl

Diana Girl stamp set can be purchased here: 

Diana Girl

Birch Press Dazzle Layering Dies

Copic Markers

3M foam tape

Michael's card stock

SSS stitched banner dies

You Make Cute Babies

You make cute babies stamp set can be purchased here;

You Make Cute Babies

Doodle bug patterned paper

SSS Intense black ink

3M foam tape

Copic R27 & R29