Love, Paper, Etc.

Saturday, January 2, 2021

Friends of Unity Blog Hop, January 2021, Black and White

Wow! Another year....DONE! So glad 2020 is over. Despite the pandemic, some wonderful things did happen for myself and my family. Our youngest son graduated from high school, our oldest son got a job, my husband was promoted, we both turned 50, and we celebrated 25 years of marriage. So considering, 2020 was not too bad on a personal level. But on a global level, 2020 was TRASH. So many lives lost; and for what. NOTHING! OK, let's get to the happy.

First I want to announce my winner from last month's hop. Cindy Holmes you are my winner! Woot! Woot! Come on down! Please email me your address and I will send your goodies as soon as possible. Congratulations! My email is lovepaperetc@gmail.com.

Happy New Year everyone! We're starting off 2021 with a Black and White cue. This cue is always challenging for me. Probably because I just love color. I still managed to add a little color. Tee!Hee!

For this hop I created three cards using one stamp, funky flowers. It is one of Unity's new slim line stamps. I love this stamp...so many possibilities. I might have to get the set where the flowers are separate too. Here is the first card:

The sentiment on the above card is from the July 2019 Kit of the Month, be a lot.

Here is my second card:

The sentiment on the second card is from the June 2018 Kit of the Month, we can rise.

And last but not least:

The border was created using a doodle stamp from the November 2019 Kit of the Month, Wonder. If you look closely, there is a stamp peeking out under funky flowers. I do not remember which set this stamp is from unfortunately.

Don't forget to keep hopping.

See you next month for another amazing hop.

Dawn

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Friends of Unity Blog Hop, My Favorite Things, December 2020

Hello crafty friends! As I write this, I'm thinking about the winter storm that blew through here yesterday; more than a foot of snow. How did this happen? It is too early to have all this snow. Snow is definitely not one of my favorite things, unless it's enough for a snow day; because who doesn't love a snow day? I know I do. Last year we did not get one snow day. I think we're in for a bad winter. Well, on a lighter note, our cue for December 2020 is My Favorite things. I have countless favorites...dogs, especially mine, books, cozy sweaters, scarves, the beach, naps, Angie girls and more. I incorporated several of my favorites in these two cards. But first, check out our cue:

This month we are also celebrating the third anniversary of Friends of Unity. Thank you everyone for all the love and support over these past three years. Your support has not gone unnoticed. We appreciate each and everyone of you. Sending hugs to all.

Oh and did I mention prizes? There are so many prizes up for grabs. This is what I'm giving away:

Remember, all you have to do is leave a comment on each of our blogs to be eligible to win a fabulous prize. I will announce my winner during our January 2021 hop.

I am so excited to share these cards with you. I kept them really simple. Sometimes less is more. Up first is this cutie. I colored her up to look like my pup, who is now 10 years old. She has this cute brown patch of fur on her butt.

I used Hailey's Puppy for this creation. This is such a sweet set, a must have. This card features two of my favorite things, my pup and naps. Oh my gosh, I am THE Nap Queen. I love naps. They always help me to refresh and recharge.

Here is card #2. I love this Angie girl:

This gorgeous girl is from the August 2019 Kit of the Month, warm and cozy. This is one of my favorite Kit of the Month's from Unity. There are so many amazing images. The sentiment is also from this kit. I think she pairs beautifully with this background stamp called Fraser Fir created by our very own Jeanie Hays. I will be using this background a lot; another must have friends.

You are almost at the very end of the hop. Robyn Jordan is right after me, sharing her beautiful cards.

In case you lost your way, here is the hop order:

Thanks for hopping and don't forget to leave comments for a chance to win some amazing prizes.

When we meet again, it will be a brand new year. I can't wait to see what 2021 has in store.

Stay crafty my friends,

Dawn

Saturday, November 7, 2020

Friends of Unity Blog Hop, November 2020, Backgrounds

Welcome back! I am ashamed to say that I have numerous background stamps that have not even seen ink. Maybe we, the Friends of Unity, should have this cue every month next year so I can ink them up. Ha, Ha. I'm not serious. Or am I? Seriously though, the Unity Stamp Co. has been coming out with some amazing background stamps as of late. Here is our November graphic:

my first card:

Yeah yeah I know this is not one of the new backgrounds, but I just had to use this sunflower stamp. To create this background, the sunflower was stamped randomly on a page ripped out of a vintage book. I colored the flowers with Prismacolor colored pencils and Faber Castell colored pencils. Different paints were used for the paint splatters. There's just something about paint splatters that makes me happy. I then stamped the sentiment on pattern paper and layered it with the top of a burlap tag. The sunflower is from the March 2014 Layers of Life called spring inspired. Sentiment is from Autumn Dream.

Second card:

I am not totally happy with how this card turned out, but at least I used one of the newer background stamps! Yay me! This beauty was created by our very own Jeanie Hays. Jeanie, thanks for creating amazing stamps for Unity. I have more of your designs waiting to see ink. When I first saw this stamp, I just had to have it. I colored this stamp with Prismacolor colored pencils and Faber Castell colored pencils too. This stamp is from the set, Autumn Stoop. This one is a must have.

Don't leave yet! Go check out the rest of the hop. I promise you will be inspired.

Well that's a wrap. Thank you for your continued support. Until next time my friends, keep crafting in love and peace.

Saturday, October 3, 2020

Friends of Unity Blog Hop, Birthdays, October 2020

Welcome back friends! We have an exciting cue this month...birthdays. You can never have too many birthday cards on hand. I celebrated a huge birthday a month ago. I am happy to say that I am now part of the 50 club. I made two cards for our hop. Since I just celebrated my fiftieth, I decided to make a card featuring a beautiful middle aged woman. I made a manly card for the second one. But before I share my two cards, check out our awesome graphic:

Here is the first card:

This card came together rather quickly, probably because I was planning on using the woman and sentiment stamps for our last hop. I was just commissioned to make a very special card for a very special woman. For that card, I used Obsessed with Floral for the very first stamp. This is a gorgeous stamp. Since I still had this stamp out, I thought it would amazing for this card. I stamped Obsessed with Floral on kraft card stock with a brown ink. I used a circle die to cut a piece out. I layered it over two strips of washi tape. I stamped the woman from Today I am Happy on white card stock. I used a stitched circle die to cut her out. I colored her dress and hat with a Prismacolor colored pencil. Prima watercolor pencils were used on her hair and skin. I layered her over the kraft circle. I stamped the sentiment from Hiya Gorgeous on white card stock and cut it out with a stitched rectangular die. I added this piece near the top left hand corner of the card.

Here is my second card:

I forgot I even had this stamp set. It finally got some inky love this evening. I stamped the image and sentiment from the Funny Farm set on a mixed media tag. I used brown ink for the image and black ink for the sentiment. I distressed the tag by rubbing brown ink on it. This card actually came together rather quickly too, once I decided on the paper I was using. I layered different sizes and patterns of paper on kraft card stock. The number strip was also inked and placed at an angle. I added a blue denim tag underneath the bottom of the animal tag. I pulled the twine upward and secured it in place with a dairy cap. I added a strip of man card paper at the top of the animal tag. Lastly I added filmstrip. I really love how this card turned out.

Just in case you got turned around in the hop, here is the hop order:

Well, we hope you enjoyed our hop. We hop the first Saturday of each month, so come back again to see what we're up to.

Keep crafting in love & peace,

Dawn

Saturday, September 5, 2020

Friends of Unity Blog Hoppers, September 2020, Friendship

Friends, I can't believe it's September and we are still knee deep in this pandemic. I'm so over it. I will continue to practice the safety protocols while hoping more people will embrace them sooner than later, so we can get back to 'normal.' I miss hugging my friends and family. I'm sure you do too. Why not send them a paper hug? Which leads to this month's cue! Check it out here:

Image may contain: one or more people, text that says 'SEPTEMBER 2020 BLOG HOP Friendship FRIENDS OF UNITY Canva'

Image may contain: one or more people, text that says 'SEPTEMBER 2020 BLOG HOP Friendship FRIENDS OF UNITY Canva'

Here is my card:

This stamp is so beautiful. It's huge too! It works perfectly on a slimline card. This set of friends is called Cherished Friends. The sentiment is from the June 2015 Kit of the Month, She Found Joy. It's the perfect sentiment for a friendship card, don't you think? I stamped a flower over the sentiment to add dimension. The flower is from another Kit of the Month. It is from September 2017 and it's called Flowers, Foliage & Fall.

Well, make sure you check out all of my friends beautiful cards. And please leave them some love.

Crystal

Eileen

Bobbie Sue

Kim

Amber

me

Robyn

Joyce

Thanks for hopping! See you again next month!

Keep crafting in peace & love,
Dawn

Saturday, August 1, 2020

Friends of Unity Blog Hoppers, August 2020, Sympathy

Welcome back! As always, I am so happy you're here! Sympathy cards...we all struggle in creating these. I hope our hop gives you some ideas you may want to try. And of course, we love to see what you come up with.

Isn't this a beautiful graphic?

I made two cards for our hop. The first is shabby and chic. The second is more clean and simple. Here is the first card:

I really love how this card turned out. I hope it brings comfort to the recipient. The heart stamp is from the November 2014 SMAK, Trust your soul. I love this stamp. I use it quite a bit. The paw prints and sentiment are from Fur Baby Love. There are some really cute images in this set. I really love the look of stamped images on pattern paper. It gives your stamped images more depth.

Second card:

I really love how this card turned out too! I hope it brings comfort and peace to the recipient. The beautiful sentiment comes from the February 2019 Sentiment Kit, My Sympathies. Image is from No Time for Guilt. I used my new Zig markers on her.

Remember to comment on all our blogs for a chance to win a prize. Here is the hop list:

Crystal

Eileen

Amber

me

Dawn B

Kim

Bobbie Sue

Robyn

Alaine

Jeanie

Thanks for hopping with us! See you next time!
Dawn

Sunday, July 26, 2020

Growing in Unity Blog Hop July 26, 2020

Hello Unies! I am so excited to be a part of this Growing in Unity Blog Hop. And I can't believe I'm first, which is a first for me. Lol. There are 6 more stops, so please make sure to visit all of our blogs.

As this graphic says, there are two prize packs up for grabs, so make sure you leave a comment on all of our blogs. Today I am sharing two cards with several stamps I have never used before.

For my first card, I used Jaz. I guess I have had her for six years because I purchased her when she first arrived at Unity. This is my first time inking her up. She is absolutely gorgeous. I used my brand new Zigs for her headwrap and water color pencils for her skin, and other water colors for her make up. I love these Zigs! They are amazing! I think I'm going try using my Zigs for coloring skin next time. Why did I take so long to purchase? Probably the price, lol. I just so happened to find a great deal on Amazon for the 60 pack. I cannot tell you which set the sentiment comes from because it was in the grab bag I received a few days ago. Sorry. I channeled my inner Tenia Nelson for the first card. I just love her style.

For my second card I used Nia Girl. I've only had her for about six weeks. The image and sentiment are from the same set. The flower is from, from this day forward. I really wanted to paper piece her pants, too, but I was struggling with the fussy cutting. I think I need stronger readers, or I may need prescribed glasses at this point. It was really hard for me to see the lines on the paper I wanted to use for her pants. So I decided to forgo paper piecing and coloring her pants. It's always nice to change things up. I really like that I did not touch her pants.