Friends of Unity November Blog Hop

Wow… Halloween over, Thanksgiving around the corner, for me - a new grandbaby arriving 12/3, and then to top off all of that… Christmas and the holidays! So, I better get started on those cards so I used this month’s theme of 

to begin that effort! Before I start, a reminder that giveaways happen on this blog hop. To be eligible, leave a comment with your name on each post. I will be doing a giveaway this month! Plus, there’s going to be a Backgrounds challenge on Unity’s Show and Tell FB group where prizes are also going to be given away! So, hope you can use the ideas included in this hop for inspiration!

I started both these cards with an ink smooshing technique using an old acetate sheet as the delivery mechanism. I used a combo of distress inks and a blue Primary Elements pigment. I then proceeded to emboss both sheets a little differently for each card using a stamp from the Wander and Wonder membership kit. I also a sentiment from this kit for each card with different coordinating inks. I white embossed the ornament from Holiday Hugs on different paper coloring to match each background.

For the first card I just used clear embossing powder and then blended more ink on top so that just an impression of the snowflakes can be found. Because of this process, the original background shows through via the snowflakes. I was able to use a shiny metallic looking paper from my stash and a Sara Davies’ corner die to pair with this one. Must admit…love the colors on this one!

For my next card, this time, I silver embossed the snowflakes stamp leaving the original background I created. I decided (I’m ready to shoot myself 😂) to make a shaker card for this one. I found a glitter paper I could use. I’ve not tried using this one before as it’s not my color preference. I was able to combine the green and blue papers together to make it palatable to me. I used little sequins and beads I had from every ago to fill the shaker.

I had more vintage like backgrounds in mind beforehand (and may still do a few during the month), but I started down this rabbit hole and ran out of time! Hope you enjoyed these ideas! Now on to the rest of the hop! Remember to leave a comment before you go (with your name)!

You may have come here from:

Jenni’s blog

Or, you can start from the beginning with:

Crystal’s blog

A few ATC’s

 So, I actually created this Master Board with ATC’s in mind. I used small paper scraps so that a hodge podge design was obvious from a 2 1/2” x 3 1/2” ATC size. 

After paper piecing all the rectangles, I added Washi tape.  I then used Unity stamps and a couple of stencils with a color mixed acrylic paint. I then cut up the paper into 4 ATCs and a couple other sizes for the previous post’s tags.

I used this Tim Holtz set to complete the ATCs. I found a set of ephemera squares that I color coordinated with the paper I created and used the stamp set that I previously used the stencils on.

I stamped the butterfly and and some of the smaller stamps on the squares. I tore up a preprinted burlap paper page. Added a few tiny ephemera pieces on some and white thread after adhering the ATCs. I added some Tim Holtz sentiment strips and called it done!

I chuckled and almost used this strip as I was perusing sentiments…thought I’d share it!

For the second set of ATCs, I pulled out Stamperia’s Princess paper pack and just created them using cut up papers and lace. I used a Deep Red Victorian Ladies stamp to create the image and a sentiment from Unity that I stamped on vellum and backed with paper. I added Pearl dots and called them done!

Well… it’s always fun to create ATCs and a challenge to create these itty bitty cards. Hope you liked them and thanks for stopping by!

Friends of Unity September Blog Hop

Hey there… wow, summer is almost over… where did it go? I’m sure many of you have had the hottest summer…but ours has been the coolest! Just crazy! But… I’m not complaining… and it’s time for another blog hop! Our cue this month is:

And, I had a lot of fun with this one! But, before I start reviewing my first creation… it’s time to announce the winner from last month’s blog comments! As you know, we do giveaways from our own personal stash every month. So, I’ll be creating a crafty gift parcel to send out to my lucky winner:

Kristi

Please PM me with your full name and address, Kristi, and I’ll send it out shortly thereafter. And thanks, for commenting!

So, after watching an Instagram short from another vendor and remember seeing the same technique used last year, I decided to try to create a little fall decor. I used Unity’s Falling Leaves paper pack and an oval die to form a pumpkin shape. After picking out from darkest to lightest the papers I’d use, I die cut the pieces and inked the edges with Black Soot oxide ink. I then formed the pumpkin and glued the pieces together. I decided to fussy cut out my own topper after tracing an outline with a pencil. I then fussy cut out the stem “ridges” from the paper leftovers and glued them on. 

I then turned to stamping leaves from the Hope is Stronger August 2022 Kit of the Month and Thankful Oak. I stamped them on leftover papers again. I ended up using a die from Simon Says Stamp that matched the size of the background leaves and that also had a curlicue top die I could attach to the stem. After adding color to the top leaf branch using alcohol markers and Posca markers, I fussy cut it out. I then fussy cut out leaves from the leftovers papers to help fill in. I found a preprinted sentiment…not sure where I got it from that I used an oval die on. I inked up all the edges on everything and started to assemble it. I used a hole puncher on leftover papers and added Posca pen highlights. I glued them on and added a bottom border and called it done! This was a fun exercise that I could envision using again with less busy paper and maybe something for Halloween.

For my next effort I turned to tags! Now, I attended a crafting session earlier this summer where I learned about creating a master board. You can do a search on YouTube on how to create these. Essentially, you gather up coordinating paper scraps and start glueing them onto a large sheet. Once the sheet is filled up you can write on it, stamp on it, use stencils and paste, add Washi, etc! Anything goes! I ended up using Unity stamps on it. Looks a mess, doesn’t it?

I cut down the page and used some of it for the following 2 tags. Some of the paper scraps had come from a Simple Stories Simple Vintage Essentials paper pack. I pulled out a very large tag and cut down the background paper for the tag, Bingo Bingo, from the pack. I then formatted one of the master board papers to be slightly smaller than the tag and added a burlap edge to it. After viewing my stamp collection, I decided to try using an image and a sentiment from A Beautiful Mindset, 

2/21, Kit of the Month. I stamped both on papers from the pack. For the sentiment I also used a background stamp on the paper and backed it with a lighter paper. I used my Prismacolor pencils on the image and fussy cut it out. I used an oval die on paper from the pack to offset the image. I distressed the edges, pulled it together, added clear dots and ribbons to finish the tag.

I really love this tag for some reason… not sure if it’s the colors, the image or the sentiment! Oh well… on to the next one!

This time, I ended up using a tag die right on the leftover master board scrap. I decided to use a mushroom stamp on this one and a sentiment from Change the World Kit of the Month, June 2020. I heat embossed the image on a paper from the pack and again used Prismacolor pencils to color it in and add the ground. I used a piece of ephemera to carefully fit and stamp the sentiment on. After distressing all the edges, I added twine, a metal leaf embellishment, background paper, a brad and ribbons to finish the rest.

I really like this master board idea to create background papers and clearly you don’t need to make them as busy as mine was. A little secret… I originally created it with ATCs in mind, i.e. Artist Trading Cards, which I did use it for (will be next post). They are a much smaller size, so since the perspective had to be smaller, I used smaller cut up paper pieces. But, I think it was still usable for these tags.

Well, there’s a few ideas of what you can use your stamps for! Hope you’ll get a little inspiration from this post and others in the hop! Remember, add a comment on the blogs, with your name to be eligible to win some Unity goodies! Thanks for stopping by, now on to the rest of the hop!

You may have come here from:

 Toni’s blog

You can follow on with:

Kari’s blog

Or, you can start from the beginning with:

 Crystal’s blog

Friends of Unity August Blog Post

Here’s another fun blog hop theme from Friends of Unity…

Follow along with us to find some great techniques included in this month’s hop! A reminder to comment below (include your name please) and on the other blogs, if you’d like to win a small package of Unity goodies! I’ll be announcing my winner on next month’s hop!

First the first card, I used a small mountain of supplies and techniques. I started by pulling out Dina Wakely and Paper Artsy acrylics and a roller. I lightly rolled color on to Bristol paper. I then used a combo of red and tan inks and a TH stencil to add stripes.

I pulled out my May 2022 One Friend Kit of the Month kit. I stamped using a Misti and TomBow markers the 2 florals from the kit. After added watercolor and inks to the florals, I then stamped the foliage, after masking the flowers off… again adding some watercoloring to the leaves. I then pulled out gold Perfect Pearls and added highlights to the foliage and flowers and spattered that and some red ink onto the panel. I gold embossed a sentiment from Heart of Autumn, used a gold metallic background with metal flower, gold thread and gold dots on the front. Finally, I added sentiments inside from another birthday sentiments kit!

For the second card, I pulled out papers from Unity’s Magnolia Branch paper collection. I decided to fussy cut up one of the papers and use that to create the ends of a slimline card. I used mixed media paper for the center, and, this time, used the ink smooshing technique to create the colors I wanted in the panel. I then used a stencil to add soft floral background using an oxide red. I stamped the words from a kit called Feel with Your Soul and finally used a polka dot stencil to add Altenew paste dots (with colored acrylics added in to match colors). I used watercolor pencils to add shadows to the dots. I then stamped the floral from Pansies and Sympathies on the end (mostly covered by paper pieced flowers. I backed the paper with coordinating paper, layered on the fussy cut pieces with paste and foam tape. I used the Heart of Autumn sentiment kit on the front with acrylic dots. I added more paper from the pack inside and used a sentiment from Moments of Bliss.

So, ultimately used a few supplies and techniques here. This was a bit of a challenge as I’m unsure how popular these more unique and rare techniques and products are. But, at the end of the day…I had fun. 

Remember to add your comment, with your name, for a chance to win a goodie shipment from me! Till next time… happy crafting with these techniques and others used is this hop!

Now, for the hop… you may have come here from 

Dawn’s blog

Or you can start at the beginning with 

Crystal’s blog

Friends of Unity July Blog Hop

 Hey there, friends, it’s time for another blog hop with Unity stamps! This month our theme is:

So, before I begin, a reminder that they’ll be some giveaways offered up to lucky winners who’ve entered comments on the blogs. Make sure you leave your name and follow up next month to see if you are a winner! 

The first card I’m showcasing was created using an alcohol inked paper. I recently met up with a wonderful group of crafty friends. One of them taught using alcohol ink with a blower technique. I decided to make a card with this paper as the foundation!

It was an easy choice to pair it up with the Unity Hug kit! I heat embossed the flower on watercolor paper and proceeded to play! I fussy cut it out and then looked for a solution for the sentiment. I found a yellow tag that seemed a good match, inked that up and added black and gold Posca pen dots. I then used a couple metallic flowers, a brad and some gold thread to complete the card.

For the next card, I used another technique I learned in my crafty retreat, leaf impressions sprays. On a recent walk, I foraged for sprigs and twigs and pine needles. Next, I pulled out several mixed media sheets and my spray box. I laid out the foliage and used a couple of Ranger and Lindy sprays (2 greens and a gold) after placing the foliage on to of 2 of the sheets, making sure I covered the foliage with ink. Then I placed the top layer sheets on making a sandwich.

I then decided to heat emboss the butterfly from Remember to Breathe using green Distress embossing powders and inks onto paper from Vintage Blooms and Botany and added watercolor shading. I love how it turned out.

I cut up one of the sheets and use stamps, stencils and verbiage from the You Will Shine kit (retired now) and backed it with paper.

I pulled out a coffee/leaf impression paper I created 2 years ago to pair with butterfly and paper. I gold embossed a sentiment from the Difference Maker kit and added green mesh and sequins to complete this card.

For the last card, I took a Unity paper and gessoed some Tim Holtz tissue paper onto it (bottom layer). I then cut up another coffee stained envelope for the next layer! I took another Unity paper and used the mixed media stamps from the Blow your Mind kit. I heat embossed the flower onto watercolor paper and proceeded to have fun painting. To complete the card, I added a mesh chipboard, some ephemera, twine and the sentiment from the kit.

Needless to say a few techniques were used on these… hope you enjoyed these ideas and will follow up with the rest of the hop for more inspiration.

Now, on to the rest of the hop! You may have come here from:

Doreen’s blog

Or you can start from the beginning with:

Crystal’s blog

Friends of Unity June Blog Hop

 Hey…it’s time for our June Blog Hop… wow, year is almost halfway done! Welcome back, this month’s theme is

And just in time for Father’s Day! A reminder before I start, these hops always contain giveaways and all you need to do to qualify is leave a comment on the posts! As a matter of fact, I am doing a giveaway from last month’s post, so I’d like to congratulate

Angy Hughes

at this point! Please PM me your info, Angy, and I’ll get a package out to you as soon as I can!

Now on to the first card! For both of the cards shown here, I used a very old Kaisercraft Barber Shoppe paper pad. I used a coffee stained paper for the image! Love the vintagey feel of them both! I coupled them with several Unity kits: All Cylinders, and an old mixed media kit, called All About the Journey (for background stamping). After using pencils on the image, and stamping the background and sentiment, I added colored and stamped ephemera and enamel dots to complete the card.

For the second card, I used Sweet Memories and Best Tool in the Box. I watercolored and fussy cut out the image. Okay, must admit, I found the dog image in an old ephemera pack and had to use it… as this one is for my son! He has a 110 lb. Lab, called Finn. I also cut up some of the paper in the pack to create dominos in a homage to his 6 yr old son (with another son on the way later in the year 👶🤣). I added enamel dots to finish this one off.

Had fun creating these 2 cards with my guys in mind! Hope you enjoy my fellow crafter’s take on masculine cards in the rest of the hop! So, follow along with us!

You may have come here from:

Toni’s blog

You can continue on with:

Rachel’s blog

Or, start from the beginning with:

Crystal’s blog

Friends of Unity May Blog Hop

  Hello… welcome back to May’s Friends of Unity Blog Hop! This month our theme  is… 

As usual, the hop contains some giveaways! I’ll be doing a giveaway this month by randomly selecting from commenters posting below. Please be sure to include your name, so I’ll know who provided the feedback. I’ll be announcing the winner in next month’s blog post!

Now, for my first card, I used Barnyard Sass and Blooms, Unity’s April membership kit. I started by painting a dark to light watercolor wash on watercolor paper. I added some paint spatters to the wet wash. After drying the paper, I stamped the fence image onto scrap paper to create a mask. I then stamped the fence again onto the watercolored paper. I used the mask to stamp the flowers.and then watercolor all the images.I stamped the sentiment on a scrap pattern paper. I spattered watercolors and white wash over the image. I used a bit of pen just to deep in some spots. To complete the card, I added several coordinating paper layers, a ribbon and crystals.

For the second card, carrying on from the Use All Scraps theme from last month, I created a paper pieced card. I used the kits, Happy Daisies and Unusual Day Poppy. I found coordinating scraps and stamped the heck onto them… fussy cutting petals and leaves. I also fussy cut the background. Turned out pretty cool, I think. I added Stamperia’s Contour Gold drops for the stamens.

 

Thanks for stopping by… and check out the rest of the hop! Remember to leave a comment with your name attached for a chance at winning a giveaway from me!

Now, you may have come here from: 

Jenni’s Blog

You may continue on with: 

Doreen’s Blog

Or, you can start from the beginning with:

Crystal’s blog

Friends of Unity April Blog Hop

 Hello… back again for another fun blog hop! This month our theme… which seems to be my theme for all of 2025, is… 

Unfortunately, I had absolutely no problem coming up with scraps for this hop! Before I start in on describing my cards, wanted to remind y’all that we do giveaways every month from our personal stash! All you have to do to be eligible is leave a comment (with your name). I skipped last month’s hop, but I am doing a giveaway, as promised in my February blog! So I’d like to congratulate 

Silvia H.

for winning a package from me! Please PM me your full address and name and I’ll send out your goodies ASAP!

Now, for my first card, I used a coffee stained and sprayed leaf impression paper I created a few years ago. I added a random narrow corrugated cardboard piece and a small leftover Tattered Angels sprayed paper. I stamped the image from Unity’s March 3025 membership kit called Chapters and Crossings. I colored her clothes in with old cheap markers, and watercolored her face using flesh toned watercolor papers (from a craft kit). I just tried for a variation in colors to match the other papers. I fussy cut her out and used foam tape. For extra dimension I added Washi tape, gold thread and black dots and sparkly sequins. I mounted everything on black leftover scraps. I used a freebie peel off sentiment strip I received in a Unity kit.

I used a couple of stamps from the kit on a paper scrap for the inside of the card.

For the second card, this time, I used Unity paper scraps, a gray toned paper scrap and leftover vellum and white paper. I used a couple kits for the images and sentiment - One of those People and Strive to be. I ended up using a Legion’s paper used for pencils to color in the leaves and flowers to match the background. I combined the white paper and stamped vellum to create the background for the florals and added dots and pearls to complete this one. Must admit … least favorite card but I did use up scraps!

Finally, for the third card, I really went a little out there with several patterned paper scraps and a couple papers cut out from crafty Daphne’s Diary mags (the script paper and the one just underneath it). I started with the floral script paper and just looked for coordinating papers. So, for this one, I decided to try to match the flowers and butterfly on the script paper using stamps from It’s your Choice and The Secret of Change. After watercoloring a couple of flowers (2) and the butterfly, I fussy cut them out. I arranged all the papers and added the sentiment stamped on leftovers and the fussy cut images using foam tape. To finish off the card I just added yellow dots!

I added the sentiment from one of the kits on another leftover piece for the inside of the card!

So, it felt so good to use up leftovers! Wow… looking back these all turned out so different. Hopefully,  you got some ideas for using leftover scraps of paper! Thanks for stopping by… and check out the rest of the hop! Remember to leave a comment with your name attached!

Now, you may have come here from: 

Toni’s blog

You may continue on with: 

Rachel’s blog

Or, you can start from the beginning with:

Crystal’s blog

Friends of Unity February Blog Hop

 Hello, welcome back to another Friends of Unity Blog Hop! Our theme this month:

Had a bit of difficulty with their one as I continued to want to add a complementary color in the mix! Not sure why I was stuck, but I was! So, I ended up making 3 cards trying to address the theme. Hopefully, I’m not too far off! 

Before I continue on with the first card, I wanted to remind you all that giveaways are happening in this blog hop. To be eligible to win, all you need to do is comment below. Last month, I promised to do a giveaway using the comments I received on last month’s post. So now, I’d like to congratulate 

Meghan Kennihan

On winning a giveaway from me! Please PM me your address so I can send along a package from me in the next two weeks. Thanks for participating! BTW, I will be doing another giveaway this month so be sure to leave a comment below!

For this first card, I used a membership kit called Difference Maker from December 2023 coupled it with the Blossom Avenue paper pack. I first used watercolors on a watercolor paper trying to match the colors in the patterned paper. I heat embossed the flowers/leaves on the paper. I then created masks for the flowers/leaves and proceeded to add background stems behind/around the embossed images. I added color and shading to the plants. I then heat embossed the sentiment from the kit and added sequins. Finally, I backed that paper with brown paper and pulled the card together adding a green twine.

I went to town so to speak with this second card! Oh my, I used so many kits! Blame it on a paper from Nostalgic Amour. It’s messy and all over the place… but could be inspirational, if you are into this sort of thing! 🥴 So, the kits used are: retired New Year, New Chapter 2020 SMAK kit, retired Feel and Give Love 2017 SMAK kit, retired Key to Joy, retired Let it Go and Focus, Enjoy the Ride, retired Vintage Ledger, Tiled Letters, and retired Thoughts from the Past. Again, with this one, I watercolored the background to match the paper. Then, I started stamping and watercoloring some more! Finally, I stamped and then restamped the letters on another sheet. I cut them out and added foam behind. I added a metal key with a glue gun and a smaller one with sticky dots. I added twine and liquid dots… and even added watercolor shadows on those. It’s a hot mess, but I kinda like those sometimes. And wow, besides the SMAK kits, I had no idea of how many other retired kids I owned! Notice a lot of those are mixed media designs, which I kind of love.

Okay, so I had to make one more… which turned out to be my fav! I ended up using a watercolor background again that I had made and not used for the above card, because the paper I used had ridges in it… a little hard to stamp on. So instead I started searching through my stash for coordinating papers with the tones on the watercolored background. I ended up finding a Simple Stories heart paper and some 49 & Market butterfly ephemera and Washi tape to match.. I used the January 2025 membership kit called Kinda Made for Each Other and Magnolia Flowers kit on this one. After stamping the image on Arches paper using Tea Dye Oxide ink, I watercolored the flower. I added 3 strips of Washi tape and 2 ribbons to the bottom of the background paper after cutting it down. I then silver embossed the sentiment at the top and along the edges. I added the ephemera and crystals and called it done once assembled.

Thank you for stopping by… hope there’s a little inspiration here for you! Now on to the rest of the hop! Remember, before you go, to leave a comment with your name to be eligible to win another goodie bag from me!

You may have come here from 

Doreen’s blog

Or, you can start from the beginning with 

Crystal’s blog