Friends of Unity July 2025 Blog Hop: Mixed Media/Grunge

Welcome to the July 2025 Blog Hop, brought to you by the Friends of Unity Blog hoppers!  This month's theme is Mixed Media/Grunge.  

I got a little messy this month, trying out a new-to-me product:  Wax Luster.  I embossed a piece of Early Espresso cardstock with this Leaves folder that I got at a craft show.  I thought it was from Spellbinders, but it doesn't have any markings on it and I can't find it online.  :(    After I embossed it, I swiped my finger in the tiny jar of luster wax and rubbed all over the embossing.  I also ripped a piece of Rustic Wood paper and rubbed the gold along the torn edge.  It was easy to wipe any stray smears of gold wax off the paper.  Most of Unity's papers have a glossy finish to them.  I'm not sure if this wax luster ever dries, or if I'm supposed to seal it with something else.  If you know - please leave me a comment! 

I added more layers and textures to give this card a lot of interest.  A tag that I embossed with a plaid folder, and added a tiny tab punch to the side.  Hand-cut a piece of ephemera from an Autumn/Halloween pack...which I swore I got from Unity, but now I can't find it.

Stamped and die-cut the "happy" and glued that down flat.  Stamp and hand-cut "happy birthday" and also glued that down flat.

My favorite part of this is the acorn.  I stamped it on regular Vanilla cardstock, and then watercolored with an aqua painter and clear ink blocks.  Smash the clear block into the ink pad to make a palette of ink.  Then pick up the ink with the aqua painter.  Let that dry (or blast it with your heat tool like I did), then hand-cut it.  Add some thick baker's twine behind then pop it on the card with black foam squares.

I finished it off with a bunch of Sparkle Gems.

You probably got here from Jenni's post, and the next stop is Rachel's post.  If you want to start at the beginning, go to Crystal's post!  I think there are only seven of us hopping this month, so please hop on through and check out everyone's projects.  This is an amazing group of stampers!

Thanks for hopping with us!  If you comment as Anonymous, please leave your name so we know who leaves some love.  

Here's a list of everything I used:

Stamps: Ever So Thankful, Heart of Autumn (all Unity Stamp Co)

Ink:  Early Espresso, Pecan Pie, Timid Tiger

Paper:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Rustic Wood (Unity Stamp Co)

Other:  Heart of Autumn dies, Tag die (Unity, retired), Leaves embossing folder (unknown), Wax Luster - Gold, Baked Brown Sugar Thick Baker's Twine, Linen thread, Sparkle Gems

Thanks for visiting, and Happy stamping!

Toni 

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