Hallelujah by Graciellie Design

The cross in this stamp set was part of a stamp that when I first looked at it simply took my breath away. I was drawn to the elegance in the simplicity of the design that I knew I NEEDED in my collection. Not only did I want it to replace my well worn and over used “Easter Greetings” stamp, but this stamp would fit multiple religious occasions when paired with the proper sentiment. 

I did my best to duplicate the color scheme used for this sample as pictured on the Unity website. I wanted to keep the wood look realistic as shown in the sample. Once I started blending and shading, I was very satisfied with the finished product. 

Stamps:
Hallelujah (Unity Stamp Company)

Paper:
Gorgeous Grape (Stampin Up)
New Leaf (Papertrey Ink)
Stampers Select White (PTI)

Ink:
Memento Tuxedo Black (SU)

Accessories:
Sizzix Big Shot (SU)
Subtle Embossing Folder (SU)
Petite Oval Dies (Spellbinders)
Petite Scallop Oval Dies (Spellbinders)
Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strips (My Favorite Things)
Copic Sketch Markers

Hello Cupcake

Birthday cards are something I always need, and always enjoy making. May is coming up and I need to get a jump on getting these cards made. I have three friends who even share the same birthday! Inspired by the love it, chop it concept... I looked at my pretty paper hoard and decided that this polka dot paper would make quick work for some fast cards. I think I have had this designer series paper since I became a demonstrator over seven years ago. 

I was excited for the framelits that were released to match this stamp set. I quickly grabbed them, and was surprised to see them sell out as quickly as they did. I have a scan n cut, but bringing items like these to my “stamp 101” classes or all day crafting events is so much easier. I tried a couple different color combinations when making this card, but really prefer the monochromatic look of the matching cupcake liner and frosting. 

Stamps:
Hello Cupcake (Stampin Up Retired)

Paper:
Melon Mambo (SU)
Whisper White (SU)

Ink:
Melon Mambo (SU)
So Saffro (SU)

Accessories:
Sizzix Big Shot (SU)
Rectangle Stitched Framelits (SU)
Call Me Cupcake (SU Retired)

Friends of Unity April Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our Friends of Unity April Blog Hop. This month the theme is Rainy Days. I took a detour of sorts with this theme, and opted for a rainy day color palate and simple stamp. The April 2019 sentiment kit has some wonderful sentiments that fit this theme beautifully! If you haven’t seen this kit yet, check it out here.

My background was inspired by an ink blending sample that Crystal Minkler created and shared earlier this year. I used three of my favorite oxide colors combinations and decided to add the larger stamp on top, knowing the edges would fade into the white spaces. I used the sentiment from Harmony Girl to tie in the theme.

Comment on my blog to be entered into my giveaway, then hop along to the other
Friends of Unity blogs and see their creations also. Psst... there are other giveaways too!

Crystal O. Minkler
Eileen Mathys (you’re here)

Jeanie Hayes

Bobbie Sue McConathy
 Dawn Fields

Joyce Verdon
Kim Klinkovsky
 Robyn Jordan

Stamps:
Take Care of You (Unity Stamp Company)
Harmony Girl (Unity)

Paper:
Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink)
Dapper Denim (Stampin Up Retired)
Hawaiian Shores (PTI)

Ink:
Faded Jean Distress Oxide (Tim Holtz)
Iced Spruce Distress Oxide (Tim Holtz)
Cracked Pistachio Distress Oxide (Tim Holtz)
Gina K Amalgam Ink Jet Black (Unity)

Accessories:
None

Disclaimer:
We all on the Friends of Unity design team appreciate every single comment we get.
That's why we use our own stash every month for a giveaway.
We are NOT sponsored by Unity Stamp Co. but, they do approve of our hop, and that make us all very happy.
We started this hop because we love Unity. That's it. This hop is our way of showcasing our cards made with our favorite stamps!!

Friends of Unity March Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our Friends of Unity March Blog Hop. This month the theme is “Creative”. My interpretation of this theme was to prompt ME to be creative. I searched techniques and fancy folds that I have not tried before. There were lots out there, but I wanted to find something that really inspired me. What I finally settled on was the technique called Northern Lights. For details on this technique, click here.

I live in a geographical area that MAYBE once a year if the conditions are JUST RIGHT, we might be able to see the northern lights. It is something I have truly only seen in pictures. One day when the time is right, My husband and I would like to travel to Alaska in hopes of viewing their gorgeous landscape and seeing this colorful nighttime show on display.

Comment on my blog to be entered into my giveaway, then hop along to the other
Friends of Unity blogs and see their creations also. Psst... there are other giveaways too!

Crystal O. Minkler
Joyce Verdon
Eileen Mathys (you’re here)

Jeanie Hayes
Bobbie Sue McConathy
 Kim Klinkovsky
 Robyn Jordan
Dawn Fields

Stamps:
Give it Up- Let it Go (Unity Stamp Company) LOL 1/18

Wild Florals (Unity)

Paper:
True Black (Papertrey Ink)
Rich Razzleberry (Stampin Up)

Ink:
Gina K Amalgam Ink Jet Black (Unity)
Daffodil Delight (SU)
Old Olive (SU)
Pacific Point (SU)
Rich Razzleberry (SU)
Night of Navy (SU)

Accessories:
Sizzix Big Shot
Subtle Dynamic EF (SU)
Elegant Rectangle STAX Die-Namics (My Favorite Things)

Disclaimer:
We all on the Friends of Unity design team appreciate every single comment we get.
That's why we use our own stash every month for a giveaway.
We are NOT sponsored by Unity Stamp Co. but, they do approve of our hop, and that make us all very happy.
We started this hop because we love Unity. That's it. This hop is our way of showcasing our cards made with our favorite stamps!!

Cuddly Cacti

Sometimes in life, you simply just don't have the right words to say. I have a friend going through a difficult time and I wanted to send her a card to let her know I was thinking about her. We met and had lunch a few weeks ago so we could have some girl time together, just to see how she was doing. It's one of those times in life where you know the best advice is no advice... but to just be an ear for the other person when they need someone to talk to. 

This stamp set I used was an exclusive set from Simon Says Stamp during Stamptember from Sugar Pea Designs. I am not sure why I needed it so much... but I am a big fan of 'punny' sentiments as that is my humor. I made my husband's valentine card with a different cactus from this set and lucky for me, he has a punny sense of humor as well. 

Stamps:

Cuddly Cacti (Sugar Pea Designs)

Paper:

Just be You (Echo Park)

Mint Macron (Stampin Up)

Night of Navy (SU)

Flirty Flamingo (SU)
Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: 

Memento Tuxedo Black (SU)

Mint Macron (SU)

Accessories:

Copic Sketch Markers

Uncorked

My youngest turned 21 today. Nope... that doesn’t make me feel old at all. Age has always been a number to me. You’re only as old as you feel, right? One of my most favorite people in my life is an 80+ year old lady that visits me at work. She has more life and energy in her than people half her age. I can only hope to be as energetic as she is when I get older. 

I have fun, cutesy, even playful birthday stamps that I have used for several people. I bought this set to use as a different birthday and sentiment option for my mature adult friends. This wine stamp set in my opinion is very classy for birthdays but also can be used for a variety celebrations as well.

Stamps:
Uncorked (My Favorite Things)
Hit the Brick (Brutus Monroe for Unity Stamp Company)
En Francis (Stampin Up Retired)

Paper:
Scarlett Jewl (Papertrey Ink)
Vintage Cream (PTI)
Ripe Avocado (PTI)
Silver Glimmer paper (SU)
True Black (PTI)
 
Ink:
Scarlett Jewel (PTI)
Fine Linen (PTI)

Accessories:
Sizzix Big Shot (SU)
Wine Service (MFT)
Elegant Rectangle Stax Die-Namics (MFT)
Subtle Dynamic TIEF (SU)

Friends of Unity February Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our Friends of Unity February Blog Hop. This month the theme is Friendship. This was really a fun creation for me. This past month I was really able to see true friendship in action. At the end of December I was scheduled to have major surgery just two short weeks later. I only told a handful of friends about my surgery. I could definitely feel their prayers covering me the day of my surgery. These wonderful ladies checked in on me daily just to see how I was doing, offering to come and help anyway they could.

This is the first card I have created since my surgery. I was able to browse through my previous orders on the Unity website to help me determine which stamp sets I was going to use. This was easier for me since I could do that from my recliner instead of lugging out all my stamps and trying to decide.

On this card I used some blender pens and ink pads to give the flowers a water colored wash type look. The “hey friend” sentiment is embossed so that it stands out over the flowers. I embossed the smaller sentiment in white on a die cut panel from Papertrey Ink. This set is perfect for small thin sentiments!

Hop along to all the Friends of Unity blogs and see their amazing creations.
Dale Sue... you still have yet to claim my January prize package. Message me ASAP!
Psst... there are other giveaways too!

Crystal O. Minkler
 Dawn Fields
 Joyce Verdon 
Kim Klinkovsky
Bobbie Sue McConathy
 Eileen Mathys (you’re here)

Stamps:

Flowers Aplenty (Unity Stamp Company)
Hey Friend (Unity)

Paper:

True Black (Papertrey Ink)
Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink)

Ink:
Amalgam Jet Black (Gina K Designs)
Flirty Flamingo (Stampin Up)
Mint Macaron (SU)
Crushed Curry (SU)
Marina Mist (SU)
Versamark
VersaFine Clair Nocturne (Unity)

Accessories:
Sizzix Big Shot (SU)
Marvy Heat Tool
Blender Pens (SU)
Alabaster Embossing Powder (Brutus Monroe)
Clear Embossing Powder (WOW)
Skinny Mini Banners Die (PTI)

Disclaimer:
We all on the Friends of Unity design team appreciate every single comment we get.
That's why we use our own stash every month for a giveaway.
We are NOT sponsored by Unity Stamp Co. but, they do approve of our hop, and that make us all very happy.
We started this hop because we love Unity. That's it. This hop is our way of showcasing our cards made with our favorite stamps!!