Friends of Unity June Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our Friends of Unity June Blog Hop. The theme for this month is wedding. I don’t have anybody getting married anytime soon... but luckily a stamp set I recently bought for some anniversary cards had a sentiment that fit right in for this months project!

When I started to design this card, I was hoping for some patterned paper to fit this theme, but when I found nothing suitable I decided to grab a stencil and blend some ink and make my own background paper. I tend to always gravitate toward the same colors... so this time I opted for a different color scheme. I don’t find the pink hues too feminine, as I could have simply matched the colors found from the wedding invitation. The joy of handmade cards... you can make your card customized for the occasion.

Hop along with the other Friends of Unity and see their creations...Pssst! There is a giveaway too!

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

Jeanie Hayes
Robyn Jordan

Kim Klinkovsky

Stamps:
Love is a Magical Thing (Unity Stamp Company)

Paper:
Autumn Rose (Papertrey Ink)
Stampers Select White (PTI)
True Black (PTI)

Ink:
Autumn Rose (PTI)
Sweet Blush (PTI)
Gina K Amalgam Ink Jet Black (Unity)
Versamark

Accessories:
Sizzix Big Shot
Subtle Embossing Folder (Stampin Up)
Window Frames Framelits (SU)
Gina K Water Droplets Stencil (SSS)
Sterling Embossing Powder (Brutus Monroe)

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!!

Layered Butterflies ~ Lawn Fawn

I made this quick and easy butterfly card while teaching a card class to a group of ladies earlier this month. With work and life... I am just getting around to post about it! It was the favorite of the night. 

This is another one of my favorite styles when I am trying to make a quick card and use up some of my endless supply of fancy paper. Sometimes it seems that patterned paper multiplies when I am not looking.  The great thing about this card is that it requires little stamping and the assembly is quick! I usually leave the occasion blank and fill it in right before I send the card. 

Stamps:
Banner Style (Papertrey Ink)

Paper:
Mint Julep (PTI)
Stampers Select White (PTI)

Ink:
Mint Julep (PTI)

Accessories:
Sizzix Big Shot
Banner Style Die (PTI)
Layered Butterflies (Lawn Fawn)
Stitched Windy Backdrop (LF)

Warm Wishes ~ Neat and Tangled

I promised myself at the conclusion of last year, I would get a head start on Christmas cards this year. My intentions were to start in March, but I guess May is better than starting in the fall. Christmas stamps are totally my addiction. So I knew when I was going to start making Christmas cards, I should start with my uninked stamps. I would’ve have liked to have used this stamp last year, but it was sold out. This card was quick and easy, so I am glad to now have it in my collection. 

I love the large sentiment on this stamp, and wanted it to remain the focus of the card. I used a blended oxide combo on the die cut that used a coffee colored hue, with some wintery blue shades mixed in.  I watered down the oxide colors used to make a splatter background to tie it all together. 

Stamps:
Warm Wishes (Neat &Tangled)

Paper:
Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink)
Blueberry Sky (PTI)
Dark Chocolate (PTI)

Ink:
Versamark 
Ground Espresso Distress Oxide
Faded Jeans Distress Oxide
Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide

Accessories:
Alabaster Embossing Powder (Brutus Monroe)
Sizzix Big Shot
Nesting Basics: Circle Dies (PTI)

Friends of Unity May Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our Friends of Unity May Blog Hop. This month the theme is Fruitful. This can mean producing good or helpful results; productive. It can also mean fertile, producing many offspring. With that in mind, I decided to make this a “baby” themed card.

When I sat down to decide what set I would use, I quickly came upon the April KOM. The eggs in the nest reminded me of the storytime we recently had in my library for the Pre-K group. We read stories about birds, their nests, and made a cute craft that resembled a robins nest. I simply couldn’t pass this one by.

cghundley (Carla from Utah) you have been selected as the winner of my giveaway from the April Blog Hop. Please reach out to me at emathys93@gmail.com to claim your prize.

Thanks for stopping by, don’t forget to hop along to the other
Friends of Unity blogs and see their creations also. Psst... there are giveaways. Comment to win.  

Crystal O. Minkler

Robyn Jordan

Kim Klinkovsky
Bobbie Sue McConathy
 Dawn Fields
Jeanie Hays

Eileen Mathys (you’re here)

Stamps:
Have & Hold KOM 4/19 (Unity Stamp Company)

Paper:
Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink)
Aqua Mist (PTI)
Polka in the Meadow (Lawn Fawn)

Ink:
Memento Tuxedo Black (SU) 

Accessories:
Sizzix Big Shot
Copic Sketch Markers
Nesting Basics: Circle Dies (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!!

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!!