Friends of Unity May 2026 Blog Hop, Farmhouse

Welcome back to our monthly hop! I'm really excited for this cue. I wanted to make a couple of cards, but I only had time for one. I'm getting ready to go to the Simon Says Stamp Create 2026 event. Hopefully, I'll see some of you there. I'm just going for the shopping. I really want to do the whole thing, but I have to work. Hopefully, one day I will be able to attend the entire event, but I'm so excited just for the shopping. And there's going to be an extra special Tim Holtz make and take. They say this make and take is not your usual make and take, so let's see. I can't wait to find out. Here is our cue:

So whatcha think? Did I nail our cue? I think I did. I really wanted to use lemons, because I know they are definitely part of the farmhouse aesthetic. I don't own any lemon stamps by Unity, so I reached for this lovely pear stamp from the April 2020 SMAK Kit, head up, my friend. I probably never would've used this stamp, if it weren't for our cue. I am pleasantly surprised by how much I like it. I never reach for fruit images when I create. I guess I need to expand my vision when it comes to creating. Barn wall is one of my favorite Unity stamps. It is underneath the door frame ephemera. Tim Holtz water color pencils were used on the pear stamp. The sentiment is from the June 2023 Kit of the Month, from the countryside. This is another stamp I probably never would have used. That's why these kits are so amazing. You just never know when you will need THAT stamp. I looked at the unfinished card and decided it needed more. I rummaged through my stash and found this flower with burlap, lace and a metal flower center. I also found the 5 cents flat back and a mini metal frying pan. With these additions, I am happy. These embellies definitely enhance the farmhouse vibe.

Well that's all I have! Make sure you visit all of our blogs. We always love to read all of your sweet comments. Next up in the hop is my wonderful friend, Doreen. Our hop starts with the lovely Crystal.

Thank you for stopping by! We always appreciate your support!

Until next time my friends,

Dawn

Friends of Unity April 2026 Earth Day/Recycle Hop

Hey everyone! What have you been up to? I was enjoying the weather yesterday, until the rain started. I am on spring break, a much needed rest. For those who don't know, I am an instructional assistant for second and third graders. They are pure joy to work with. They do require a lot of energy, so that's why I'm enjoying this time off. I can't wait to hear what they did over their break.

This month, the Friends of Unity, have a wonderful cue to celebrate our beautiful Earth. Here is the awesome graphic:

Let me just say that I really enjoyed making these cards. Lately, I've been feeling that I kind of lost my crafting mojo. I feel as though I got it back with these two cards in celebration of Earth Day.

First up:

I've always loved this sentiment! It is from an older Kit of the Month, June 2015, She Found Joy. The paper is from Untamed Meadow. This is my favorite from this collection.

Last up:

The gardening image is also from the same Kit of the Month. Happy Mother's Day sentiment is from You are my person. I also used Unity's postage stamp dies.

Well, I hope you enjoyed these as much as I did creating them. I am the last one in the hop. To start at the beginning, just click here, Crystal.

Until next time my friends,

Dawn

Friends of Unity March 2026 Hop, Sketch

Welcome Friends! The deep freeze has finally left northeast Ohio. Thank goodness! Finally!!! It was a whopping 71* today. 

We have a wonderful sketch for the month of March.

I was able to get in two cards for our hop. Here is the first:

The beautiful floral cross is from Blooms of Solace. The verse is from Alleluia.

Here is my second card:

Both the floral and sentiment are from Uniquely Unity May 2021, Strive to be. I used the scallops & arches die, also from Unity.

We always appreciate your support. Thanks for hopping with us. You should have arrived from my amazing, talented friend, Joyce. Up next is another amazing, talented friend, Rachel.

See you next month,

Dawn

Friends of Unity February 2026 Blog Hop, Sassy

Well, it is still freezing in northeast Ohio. We have not had a winter this bad in awhile. We've had heavy snowfall and wind chills of 20 below. I am snow over it. Haha! Come on warmer weather; I miss you so much. Our cue for this month is sassy:

I used, You Are Fine, Girl, for our hop. This is my first time using this set. I also used a sheet of paper from the Bohemian Dream paper pack. I love this paper pack in addition to Grit and Grace. This beautiful lady was colored with Zigs. I have not used them in some time. I used a Prima water color pencil for her complexion. I lined her eye with a gold metallic pen. I also went over her hoop earring with the same pen. I used a silver metallic pen on her wine glass to jazz it up.

I don't believe I've ever used this color combination before. I like it!

I am the last stop in the hop. To start from the beginning, please check out our super talented, Crystal. 

Well, that's a wrap! See you again in March. Thanks for hopping and showing your support. We 

truly appreciate all of you! 

Friends of Unity January 2026 Hop, Case'D

Happy New Year my friends! What are some highlights for you from 2025? For me, my husband and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary, I went on my first cruise, I tried paddleboarding, and I surpassed my reading challenge. I am looking forward to 2026. Maybe I'll try some new things and hopefully reading more books than I did in 2025. And of course, making cards. 

I am so excited for our first hop of 2026:

I love all of Bobbie Sue's (McConathy) creations! Everything she creates is absolutely gorgeous! For this hop, I am casing her mini calendars. I am not casing the style, just the fact that she creates them. She always does a phenomenal job. She uses bold flowers on hers, but I went for simple. I could never duplicate her coloring. 

The mini calendar and all the stamps are by Unity. These calendars came in a pack of 3. They are made from heavy stock.

Here are a few pics:

I love how it turned out. Here are all the stamp sets I used: 

1. March 2016 SMAK Kit, breathe it all in love it all out

2. November 2019 Uniquely Unity, know you're strong

3. June 2021 Kit of the Month, magical summer days

4. April 2017 Kit of the Month, be my bird

5. Be the Girl

6. Kindness Unfolded

7. May 2021 Sentiment Kit, in my thoughts girl

8. April 2022 Uniquely Unity, you can dream it

9. You are my person

10. February 2020 Sentiment Kit, hope is a beautiful thing

11. October 2023 Kit of the Month, Golden Glow

12. October 2020 SMAK Kit, the best memories

To see all the months, please visit lovepaperetc.etsy.com.

Next up in our hop is the lovely Rachel. Thanks for hopping with us! 

See you next time,

Dawn

Friends of Unity December 2025 Blog Hop, Mood Board

Hey there! I am so giddy for this hop. I love the concept of a mood board, but I have never created from one before. I also have never created one. So many things here to inspire. I love cinnamon scented pine cones, so I had to include them on my cards. My pine cones are not cinnamon scented, though. Lol. I have a winner from last month's hop. Carla Hundley, whoop, whoop, congratulations sweet lady. Shoot me an email with your address at lovepaperetc@gmail.com. I will get your goodies to you immediately.

Card #1:

This sweet card is going to one of the administrative assistants I work with at my elementary school. Long story short. She brought in these delicious lemon raspberry muffins from Costco and I fell hard for them. I do not have a Costco membership, so I unashamedly asked her to pick me up a pack and that I'd pay her. Well, this past Monday, she brought them in. Not only did she bring them in, but they were on her. I did not have to pay because she expressed how grateful she is for me being me. Wow! Her remark really made my day. My heart exploded. We gave each other the biggest hug. I love my school family! 

The beautiful floral is from the October 2024 Kit of the Month, small bliss of Christmas. It was colored with Prismacolor pencils. The colors were blended with Gamsol. I also used a nesting  die from scallops and arches. Sentiment is from the October 2018 Kit of the Month, all winter long.

Card #2:

I don't know if you can see it, but there is so much sparkle. Call me crazy, but do you ever go to bed obsessing about your next card creation? I do and this is one I obsessed over. I was so excited to make it the next day, but my body was tired and she told me tomorrow is a new day. Well, tomorrow has arrived. I took a piece of white card stock and sparingly blended ink over it. Then, I stamped the branches from Winter blessings at the top and bottom. Next, I die cut it. The pine cone and joy sentiment are from A Christmas Hello. I stamped a second pine cone, cut it out, and placed it over the stamped one for dimension. Finally, I layered branch die cuts I made at the top. Stickles were used on them. Let me just say, I loved making this card. Stickles were added to the pine cone as well.

Well, we can't wait to see how you are inspired. To go back to the beginning of the hop, here is the link to the amazingly talented and beautiful, Crystal.

Thanks for hopping! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Dawn

Friends of Unity November 2025 Blog Hop, Creating a Background

Hello everyone! So glad you are here! My winner from last month's hop is Celeste Goff! Congratulations Celeste! Please email me your address at lovepaperetc@gmail.com, so I can send some Unity happy your way. I have a nice, little grab bag for you. 

We are creating backgrounds for this month's hop. We hope you are inspired. There will be another challenge this month on the FB Unity Show & Tell page. Make sure you submit your creations to be eligible for a $25 gift card from Unity. We can't wait to see the backgrounds you create.

I only have one card this month. Here it is:

The background was created using two sheets of pattern paper I received as a gift with an order. I just love the great finds in those paper bags. Don't you? I added two rub ons to the text paper. I then cut out several pieces of ephemera from Proof of Grace. I decided on two mixed media tags. A mini clip I received as a gift in an order, was placed on the one tag. I layered the two tags using foam adhesive. The sentiment is from You don't have to be ok. I love the sentiments in this kit. They are so empowering. Enamel dots were added last to pull it all together.

I am giving away some more Unity. All you have to do is, comment on each of our blogs to be eligible. 

That's it for me. Next up is our super talented, Toni.

Thank you for hopping and playing in our challenge!

See you soon,

Dawn