Growing in Unity 2025 Day 2

Hi Everyone! It's Day 2 of my Growing in Unity week. Remember, comment here, Facebook or Instagram for a chance to win a $20 gift credit to Unity Stamp Co.

Today is a mixed media card.  I wanted to convey the message to be the change you wish to see in the world. I first stamped the image from Pure Magic {uu 2/21} in white pigment ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder onto black watercolor paper. Question: do you think it's a moth or butterfly? Initially I thought it was a moth because of the larger abdomen.

I mixed IndigoBlu Luscious Pigment Powders in Grungy Gold and Sparkling Waterfall with water. I dipped a piece of stamp packaging into the wet powders and smooshed it onto the heat embossed image. I also dipped the image in areas I wanted more concentrated color. To get more movement, I sprayed the watercolor paper with water. 

After the image dried, I tore the edges along the vertical sides to create rough edges. I swiped some Altenew Antique Gold pigment ink onto the rough edges. For a mat layer, I tore a piece of green metallic paper slightly larger than the image piece. I chose a piece of pattern paper from the Brass & Bliss Floral Monochrome paper pad for the background panel. I thought the lace motif matched well with the aesthetic of the stamped image. I did distress the edges a bit with my scissors.

To assemble, I glued the metallic piece onto the center of the patter paper. I found some leftover gold cord and wrapped that around the center of the card. I used foam dots to prop up the mixed media piece over the gold cord and in the center of the green metallic piece. 

I cut up a Unity Cut Apart Sentiment Strip into thirds and lined the edges with black marker. I cut some foam strips to adhere under the sentiments. I angled each sentiment cascading down the card.

I thought I was finished, but something didn't seem right. I left the card for a couple days, then realized the image got a bit lost in the pigment powders. The abdomen especially was more faded. I decided to stamp the image again in white pigment ink onto vellum. I heat embossed with clear embossing powder; then I fussy cut the image out. I pulled off the sentiment strips and adhered the vellum onto the stamped image on the black watercolor paper. I only adhered some bits as I wanted some of the vellum to lift up. I placed the sentiments back in the same spots, and this completed the card! Like a moth, over time you can transform the world and be the change you wish to see.

Do you think the image looked lost before the vellum? Should I have left it alone? Maybe I should have just fussy cut the moth out of vellum and left the leaves and flowers. Let me know!

I hope you have a great day!

Supplies:

• Unity Stamp Co. Pure Magic {uu 2/21}
• Unity Stamp Co. Cut Apart Sentiment Strips
• Black watercolor paper
• Lawn Fawn Yeti Pigment ink
• Green metallic paper
• Brass & Bliss Floral Monochrome paper pad
• IndigoBlu Luscious Pigment Powders in Grungy Gold and Sparkling Waterfall
• Altenew Antique Gold Pigment ink
• Scrapbook.com vellum
• Gold cord
• Foam dots and strips
• Gina K Designs Clear Detail embossing powder