Friends of Unity February Hop

 Hello and welcome to our Friends of Unity February Blog Hop. This month the theme is a sketch challenge. In my mind, this sketch is fitting to showcase a background stamp or larger single image. For a quick card the background could be some pretty paper or even a photograph you are sending. 

Two things that can solve a craft rut is a good sketch or color combo for inspiration. Crystal Minkler has provided us some of the best sketches, but Pinterest is full of them as well. Turn the image left, right, or upside down… any which way to fit the elements inside. Use our sketch for your next creation… we would love to see what you make with it! 

 

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

Crystal O. Minkler

Eileen Mathys (you’re here)

Bobbie Sue McConathy

April Sarandrea  

Dawn Fields  

Colleen Balija  

 Rachel Duong   

Kim Klinkovsky  

Joyce Verdon 

Amber Trubiak 

Robyn Jordan

 

Stamps:

I Did. I Do. I Will.  (Unity Stamp Company)  

Kinda Sorta Love Ya KOM 11/21 (Unity)

Paper:

Yellow Patterned (Lawn Fawn)

Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink)

Ink:

Tuxedo Black (Memnto)

Accessories:

Sizzix Big Shot

I Did. I Do. I Will. Coordinating Die (Unity) 

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!!

Friends of Unity January Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our Friends of Unity January Blog Hop. This month the theme is CAS, clean and simple. This is easy for me because I feel all of my cards fit this theme, just deciding what stamp I would use would be the hard part, LOL. Since I needed to make a 'bunch' of thank you cards, I decided to pull out a favorite trick I learned many years ago. 

The second picture hopefully captures how you can make eight cards quickly too! Cut four coordinating cardstock strips to 3-1/2" by 8". Do an all over stamp on each, remembering to turn your stamp and try to fill in the area as best as possible. When finished, cut each strip to 1" and then assemble. You can make the strips a little larger if you wish to skip some of the base layers, but what you see here can be made quickly with little waste from a full sheet of cardstock.

 

 

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

Crystal O. Minkler

Eileen Mathys (you’re here)

Dawn Bryson

Dawn Fields  

April Sarandrea

 Rachel Duong  

Bobbie Sue McConathy

Kim Klinkovsky 

Alaine Tanner 

Amber Trubiak

Joyce Verdon

Robyn Jordan

 

Stamps:

Bunch of Bananas (Unity Stamp Company)

Paper:

Basic Gray (Stampin Up)

Smoky Slate (SU)

Melon Mambo (SU)
Night of Navy (SU)

Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink)

Ink:
Versamark

Basic Gray (SU)

Accessories:

Sizzix Big Shot

Tasteful Textile Embossing Folder (SU)

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 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)

Amber Trubiak 

April Sarandrea 

Dawn Fields

Colleen Balija 

 Rachel Duong  

Alaine Tanner  

Robyn Jordan

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!!

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)

April Sarandrea

 Rachel Duong  

Dawn Fields

Colleen Balija 

Kim Klinkovsky

Alaine Tanner 

Joyce Verdon 

Robyn Jordan

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.   

 

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 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)

April Sarandrea

Dawn Bryson

 Rachel Duong  

Colleen Balija

Dawn Fields 

Joyce Verdon

Alaine Tanner 

Robyn Jordan

 

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

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 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)

April Sarandrea

Dawn Fields 

Rachel Duong  

Bobbie Sue McConathy 

Joyce Verdon 

Dawn Bryson

Alaine Tanner 

Robyn Jordan

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 

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 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)

Bobbie Sue McConathy

 Rachel Duong  

Dawn Fields

Colleen Balija

Robyn Jordan

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

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!!