Friends of Unity October Blog Hop

Hello, again, Unity Stamp Co. friends! Friends of Unity are back with another blog hop for October with the inspiration, Leaves. I suggested this theme as this is my favorite season along with my favorite colors... and autumn leaves are truly the epitome of fall. This month several friends are offering giveaways. To WIN leave comments on EACH blog in the hop AND check back on next month’s hop for the WINNERS from this month’s giveaways. Last month, I offered up a giveaway-  so, using a random number generator, the winner is WILMA DEG!!! Please PM with your address within the next 2 weeks and I’ll send out your package! Thanks for playing along with us!

With this first card, I used a sentiment from the Quote Bundle Pack Kit and the tree from the 9/17 KOTM. I decided that this quote needed to be surrounded by a glade of autumn trees and leaves. To create the effect, I stamped the tree at all heights on both sides using Vintage Photo and Rusty Hinge Distress inks. I purposely wanted the images to be indistinguishable from each other and accomplished that by adding more color using a paintbrush. I used a dark brown watercolor to accentuate some branches. Once I was happy with the effect I then stamped the sentiment using brown Versafine Clair ink and clear embossed it. I then pulled out my copper Nuvo Glitter flakes and glue and began painting the leaves with glue. Once the glue set a bit I covered it with the flakes and pressed them down. After a bit, I brushed off the non-glued flakes and put them back in the jar. To tone down the white center, I painted it using Distress tea dye ink. I added more birds as well. I then found matching paper and backed both with a dark brown paper and added sequins.

Knowing border backgrounds are hot right now, I wanted to try creating my own. I used the leaf from the Beautiful Change Kit, stamping and embossing it first using copper tones. I then stamped the oak leaf from the 10/15 KOTM and the maple leaves from the 9/14 KOTM using Colorbox Red Pearl ink and clear embossing powder. Finally, I grabbed a plain dotted background stamp (can’t remember which kit) and used brown ink and brown embossing powder. I also stamped the sentiment with the same products. I then paired up complementary Distress inks with Perfect Pearls and painted with the combos (including green, not shown). I then darkened the edges and added splashes of color. I backed that with paper, added copper sticky strips and sequins.

For the last card, I used the Tree of Gratitude Kit and the girl from the 10/15 KOTM. Sometimes, I need to create these wild scenic collage kind of cards. So, I paper pieced the girl, including the dang buttons ;), using a Bo Bunny paper pad and I watercolored the rest of the girl. I did add some ink and pencil to her. I used Distress inks on the tree scene that coordinated with the girl. I added splashes of color, including using a red and yellow Brea Reese glitter ink. I also stamped, embossed and painted the leaves and sentiment using the same glitter ink. I pulled the card together using coordinating paper and added sequins again. 

Hope these cards and the others shared on this blog hop help to stimulate your creative ideas! Remember, if you wish to participate in the giveaways, be sure to comment on every blog entry in this Hop and check back next month. We, on the Friends of Unity design team, are always interested in your feedback! That’s why we use our own stash to offer giveaways.

We are NOT sponsored by Unity Stamp Co., but they approve our hop. We are huge fans of the company, their products, the owners and staff, and the Unity Show and Tell community, which is why this Hop was started. Just wanted to share our theme based designs and some of our favorite stamps.

Friends of Unity blog hop:

Kim Van Zant Klinkovsky
Robyn Jordan
Bobbie Sue McConathy
Crystal Minkler
Eileen Mathys

Jeanie Hayes
 Dawn Fields
You are here -> Joyce Verdon

Thanks for stopping by! Till next time, happy crafting!