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!!

Winter Wear

This stamp couldn’t be more fitting for our current weather trend. I absolutely adore her and all her versatility with the different mix or match pieces. It’s almost like playing dress up with rubber stamps. This was so much fun and easy to put together. If I had a matching hat and scarf I would totally be sporting these colors. I love this shade of blue (or is it green?) and tan together. 

Some winter stamps can have a heavy Christmas feel to them. Winter doesn’t end in December... in some years it is just getting started! The great thing about this stamp set and card is that paired with the right sentiment, it can be used through winter without having a recycled Christmas feel to it. Hoping the friend that receives this enjoys it, as we both share winter birthdays. 

Stamps:
Winter Wear (Concord &9th)
Snow is Glistening (Stampin Up Retired)

Paper:
Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink)
Classic Kraft (PTI)
Ocean Tides (PTI)

Ink:
Memento Tuxedo Black (SU)
Ocean Tides (PTI)

Accessories:
Sizzix Big Shot (SU)
Stitched Rectangle Dies (PTI)
Copic Sketch Markers

Home to Roost

This fun stamp set is one of the freebies from the 2019 Stampin Up Sale-A-Bration catalog. When I first saw this one not only did I want it for the rooster image, but the sentiments will be a great addition to my collection. 

I stamped the rooster out first on a scrap paper so I could use it as a mask. I cut very closely to the image so there would not be too much white space on the card when I stamped the background. I stamped the rooster on my white panel, then lightly tacked the rooster mask on top of that image. I stamped the wheat background then removed my mask and began to color him in. I googled several roooster images and found this one most often. I chose Pacific Point as my card base color since it was the most predominant color in my bird. A quick twine bow and this card was finished. 

Stamps:
Home to Roost (Stampin Up)

Paper:
Pacific Point (SU)
Whisper White (SU)

Ink:
Memento Tuxedo Black (SU)

Accessories:
Sizzix Big Shot (SU)
Tin Tile Dynamic TIEF (SU)
Jute Twine
Copic Sketch Markers

Piece of Cake

I love to buy new birthday stamp sets. Birthday cards are probably the card I make the most often. This set is wonderful because it also includes cake varieties to include wedding and anniversaries. Versatile stamps are truly the best kind to have!

When I first selected some new stamps to ink around with, I opted for some fun ones I could color with. I chose to make an anniversary card and use one of my favorite layouts. I found some Copic markers that closely matched the cardstock and quickly finished this card. 

Stamps:
Piece of Cake (Stampin Up)

Paper:
All My Love DSP (SU)
Flirty Flamingo (SU)
Lovely Lipstick (SU)
Whisper White (SU)

Ink:
Memento Tuxedo Black (SU)
Flirty Flamingo (SU)

Accessories:
Sizzix Big Shot (SU)
Cake Builder Punch (SU)
Classic Label Punch (SU) Petite Oval Dies (Spellbinders)
Petite Scallop Oval Dies (Spellbinders)
Copic Sketch Markers

Friends of Unity January Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our Friends of Unity January Blog Hop. This month the theme is New beginnings. This cue initially was a struggle for me. I was determined to find something in my extensive Unity collection and not buy anything new. The more I thought about this theme, I turned toward New Years resolution, with many people starting a “new beginning” of sorts on January first.

I am not a big fan of the New Years resolutions. In our family we call them New Years goals. With the word “goal” you don’t feel so defeated if you fall short of your plan. A goal is really an attempt to try your best. In my opinion trying to turn perfect overnight is a recipe for disaster.

In this card, I opted for a single layer design. I started with my favorite galaxy background using Tim Holtz Distress Oxides. I added white acrylic paint splatters to add the appearance of stars. Since I thinned the acrylic down with water, you can see where it oxidized my background. The stamped image is done with Brutus Monroe Metallic Embossing Powder in Sterling.

Thank you to everyone who posted on my blog last month. The winner of my giveaway is DaleSue! Please private message me your address and I will get your prize package out to you ASAP!

Hop along to all the Friends of Unity blogs and see their amazing creations.
Psst... there are other giveaways too!

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

Jeanie Hayes

Robyn Jordan

 Dawn Fields

Stamps:

Looking Up (Unity Stamp Company)

Paper:

True Black (Papertrey Ink)
Distress Watercolor Cardstock (Tim Holtz)

Ink:
Seedless Preserves Distress Oxide (Tim Holtz)
Wild Honey Distress Oxide (Tim Holtz)
Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide (Tim Holtz)
Salty Ocean Distress Oxide (Tim Holtz)
Black Soot Distress Oxide (Tim Holtz)
Versamark

Accessories:
Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat
Marvy Heat Tool
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!!