Inked by Eileen

Saturday, December 4, 2021

Friends of Unity December Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our Friends of Unity December Blog Hop. This month the theme is vintage. Totally unplanned, but my stamp choice matches the picture cue! I love this image and this layout has been used so many time to make quick note cards for my friends. No reason to send a card, just dropping a quick line to let them know that I am thinking about them. I have been told several times that my cards have come at the most opportune times.

I chose this stamp as a nod to one of my favorite hobbies… reading! I always imagined an author sitting for hours in front of an old typewriter, fingers moving as fast as they can, while their next best seller simply unfolds before them. As I would finish book after book in my teenage years I would secretly long to have the skill to write a novel the world would want to read. Since my ability to write a book is shadowed by desire to simply read them… I will let the daydream of being a famous author stay locked away in youth.

Looking through my paper scraps, I opted for this pretty paper I purchased from Hobby Lobby. Not a leaf in sight on any of our trees, but the calendar still says its fall! Living in Northern New York we see the beauty of the fall colors outside our windows.

Friends of Unity are celebrating four years of hopping! Thank you for stopping by visiting. Please visit the links below and comment for the opportunity to win a Unity prize from me! I will announce the winner in our January hop.

Hop along with the other Friends of Unity and see their beautiful creations...

Crystal O. Minkler

Eileen Mathys (you’re here)

Alaine Tanner

Stamps:

Type Write (Unity Stamp Company)

Paper:

Merry Merlot (Stampin Up)
Fine Linen (Papertrey Ink)

Vintage Cream (Papertrey)

Ink:
Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:
Sizzix Big Shot

Hero Arts Infinity Rectangle Dies

Copic Sketch Markers

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!!

Saturday, November 6, 2021

Friends of Unity November Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our Friends of Unity November Blog Hop. This month the theme is a non-card project. Not one to wait until the last minute... we barely moved into our new home and I was scrambling to get something finished for this hop. I had two ideas in mind for this month, and I chose the one that was easier for me to do. Lucky for me I had some spare Halloween candy hanging around ready to model these cute treat holders.

These items are quick and easy to make and a great way to use up some of your scrap paper. Substitute the holiday paper and they can be used for any occasion. I chose Christmas since that is what is coming right around the corner, but wouldn't these be cute as place holders for Thanksgiving dinner? Please note the instructions are included at the bottom of this blog.

Hop along with the other Friends of Unity and see their creations...

Crystal O. Minkler

Eileen Mathys (you’re here)

Stamps:

Glimmering Greetings (Unity Stamp Company)
Small Stuff Christmas (Unity)

Poinsettia Wishes (Unity)

Paper:

Cherry Cobbler (Stampin Up)
Garden Green (SU)

Be Merry DSP (SU)

Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink)

Ink:Cherry Cobbler (SU)
Garden Green (SU)

Accessories:

Banners Pick a Punch (SU)

Nesting Infinity Circle Dies (Hero Arts)

*Credit for this treat holder and design goes to Terri Gaines.

Saturday, October 2, 2021

Friends of Unity October Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our Friends of Unity October Blog Hop. This month the theme is technique. Instead of deciding as group what technique we would all try, we would focus on our personal favorite. I will say that I have a couple that are at the top of my list, but I have to say that galaxy backgrounds probably come out as number one.

I struggled with these for so long... trying one tutorial after another, each attempt ending up in the trash. I don't recall if this was a new video by Jennifer McGuire, or how I stumbled upon it. I was adamant I was going to learn how to do this, and hers was the hands down winner. I love the part in the video when she says "it may look like a hot mess, but keep going" because when I made my first one, I was certain that I had ruined this one too. When I am in the mood to make these, I will make them in multiples. They are messy, but oh so worth it. If you struggle making galaxy backgrounds, i suggest you give her video a try.

Hop along with the other Friends of Unity and see what techniques are their favorite...

Crystal O. Minkler

Eileen Mathys (you’re here)

Stamps:

Hello Winter Days 10/20 KOM (Unity Stamp Company)

Paper:

Watercolor Paper (Tim Holtz)
True Black (Papertrey)

Ink:
Versafine Clair Nocturne

Seedless Preserves (Distress Oxide)

Wild Honey (Distress Oxide)

Peacock Feathers (Distress Oxide)

Salty Ocean (Distress Oxide)

Black Soot (Distress Oxide)

Accessories:

None

Saturday, September 4, 2021

Friends of Unity September Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our Friends of Unity September Blog Hop. This month the theme is a color challenge. Sketch challenges and color challenges are exactly what I need sometimes when faced with the 'what will I make' conundrum. Sketch challenges are useful when you realize that those smaller stamps can make a big impact when used correctly. Color challenges can sometimes get us out of the routine of always reaching for our favorite color and trying a new palate.

I've been making a lot of cards for the upcoming craft fair season, so I was happy to switch gears from Christmas. I wanted to make a card that not only utilized the colors, but would also feature a lot of the sage green color in the image. I found the cactus stamp in the KOM from 2018 that had never seen an ink pad and went right to work. What could be more perfect than that? Pair it with a punny sentiment and I was in heaven.

Hop along with the other Friends of Unity and see their creations...

Crystal O. Minkler

Eileen Mathys (you’re here)

Stamps:

We Can Rise KOM 6/2018 (Unity Stamp Company)

Paper:

Pear Pizazz (Stampin Up)
Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink)

Ink:
Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:
Sizzix Big Shot

Oval stack dies (Hero Arts)

Copic Sketch Markers

Saturday, August 7, 2021

Friends of Unity August Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our Friends of Unity August Blog Hop. The theme for this month is 'lets go for a ride'. I had a few ideas for this cue, and for the first time in many months, I finished two cards for the hop. It feels nice to have the free time and energy to get back into my crafty space.

The motorcycle card uses core'dination cardstock that I have had in my stash for several years. I ran it through an embossing folder and then lightly sanded the raised edges. I stamped the motorcycle and tore the edges to continue with the textured took. I lightly rubbed my brown ink pad over the top of the stamped image to give it a more grunge appearance. All the men in my life are motorcycle riders, so this card will come in handy for whatever occasion comes up next.

The truck card was my original plan. I wanted to try this color combination using my distress oxides. When I blended it out, I was very pleased with the outcome and can see how this will make an excellent color combination for several other stamps. I chose to make this one a birthday card for a friend who has a birthday coming up in September.

Hop along with the other Friends of Unity and see their creations...

Crystal O. Minkler

April Sarandrea

Eileen Mathys (you’re here)

Stamps:

Ride it Out (Unity Stamp Company)

Truckload of Blooms (Unity)

Demand a Re-Count (Unity)

Paper:

Early Espresso (Stampin Up)
Early Espresso Core'dinations (SU)

Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink)

True Black (Papertrey)

Just Jade (SU)

Ink:
Versafine Clair Nocturne

Early Espresso (SU)

Speckled Egg (Distress Oxide)

Evergreen Bough (Distress Oxide)

Black Soot (Distress Oxide)

Accessories:
Sizzix Big Shot

Woodgrain Embossing Folder

Sanding Tool

Blending Brushes

Friday, July 23, 2021

Christmas in July 2021

Welcome to Build Your Stash Holiday Hop! Let this holiday hop inspire your creativity and get you in the mood for some holiday cards. This is the time of year where Christmas is the furthest from our mind. Tank tops and flip flops litter our wardrobe, with our boots and jackets safely stored away. Yet, if you start to look around, you will find hints of fall and Christmas in the stores. Hallmark has their ornaments on display and school supplies are on the shelves

I have always said Christmas is my favorite season (minus the weather that goes along with it) and this is the holiday that I own the most stamps for. I especially love Christmas music. I didn’t marry a Grinch, so once November is here, it’s Christmas music all the time. We usually have to stream it online because some of our favorites don’t get played as often, while others get played a tad too much. That can be said for music on any station during anytime of the year.

We hope that you are inspired by our creations and will play along with us, so make sure to check out our BYSHC blog. We have awesome sponsors that have generously offered up wonderful prizes, so don't miss out! Dates for this hop are July 23-30, 2021.

Stamps:

Full of Joy (Concord and 9th)

Paper:

Cherry Cobbler (Stampin Up)
Emerald Envy (Stampin Up)

Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink)

Presents & Pinecones DSP (SU)

Ink:
Cherry Cobbler (SU)

Accessories:

Sizzix Big Shot

Full of Joy trifold dies (C&9)

Saturday, July 3, 2021

Friends of Unity July Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our Friends of Unity July Blog Hop. This month the theme is summer vacation. I have never been one to take a summer vacation... I am more likely to take a winter vacation to a warm location and dream about the summer days to come and forget the wintery days I left behind. Winter days are when I stay home and stay warm. I am not much of an outdoors person, so whatever I can do to stay inside and keep warm I will do it. That could be reading, crafting, or baking.

Creating this card was so much fun. I like the cute gnomes that Jeanie has created for Unity, and it is hard to not want them all. The embossing folder was a perfect fit and an excellent choice for this card. I lightly ink blended over the raised image to give it the color of water.