Love, Paper, Etc.

Saturday, September 3, 2022

Friends of Unity Hop, September 2022, Coffee, Tea, and Cocoa

Welcome back to our monthly hop! So glad you are here! So who likes hot beverages? I love a good cup of hot cocoa. Before I delve into this post, I want to announce my winner from last month's hop. Drum roll please. KAREN LADD come on down. You are my winner. Email me at lovepaperetc@gmail.com with your address, so I can get this awesome stamp set to you. In case you forgot, the prize was an Angie Girl (Celeste Girl).

Did I mention that today is my birthday? I didn't. Well it most certainly is and I want to share my birthday joy. This month I am giving away a prize pack which includes a rainbow vibes paper pack, two Itty Bittys (holiday hugs and bright wishes) and the Thanks So Mush set. So be sure to comment on all our blogs to be eligible to win this prize pack or a prize from one of my Friends.

Let's get to my cards. First up:

Isn't she gorgeous? I just love Angie girls...don't you? This lovely is from, a Little Warmth; perfect for fall cards. The sentiment is from Anemone Greetings. This card came to together pretty easily with the addition of paper, stickers, and a die from Photo Play. She was colored with colored pencils. I also added a few enamel dots from Gina Marie and an acetate leaf die cut from 49 and Market.

Now for my second card. I almost scrapped this one. See if you can locate my blunder on this one. I decided to pull out my gelli plate. I've only played with it a couple times. I definitely need to practice more. I've seem so many beautiful backgrounds created with gelli plates.

Actually, I thought my gell print came out fine. I placed it in my Misti and stamped the image several times. Well, when I went to ink the stamp one time, I accidentally inked my image directly with my ink pad. Oh no! Crap! That's why the square is above the coffee cup. I decided that I liked my gell print too much to scrap it, so I worked with it. I cut the stamped, gell print with a stitched circle die. I think it turned out ok. I'm not happy with it, but it works. To create the gelli print, I used a couple different paints and spread them with my brayer. I then placed my Maker Forte Stencil Vansi Makes Swirl Art Marks on plate. I squeezed some white and pink paint over the stencil and spread with brayer. I let it dry overnight. The next day I stamped the image from a past Layers of Life, Revive December 2018. It is such a cool image. The sentiment is from the January 2022 Kit of the Month, found in the heart.

Well friends, I need to get some rest so I can enjoy my day. But, before I go. here are all our links.

Well, that's a wrap. See you next month.

Dawn

Saturday, August 6, 2022

Friends of Unity Hop, August 2022, Holidays

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: We have a new Friends of Unity member. Give it up for Gaylynn Martling! I love her art. It is always so inspiring. She is an amazing addition to our team. Welcome Gaylynn...so wonderful to have you join us!

Yikes! It's August already...how is this possible? Time for back to school and back to work for my fellow colleagues in education. It is also time to start thinking about the upcoming holidays. They will be here before we know it. Check out our fantastic graphic:

It's hard for me to think about the upcoming holidays right now. I'm stilll in a summer state of mind, but here we go:

Ok, I realize that the above card is not what you generally envision when the theme is holidays. But for me, taking a mental health day or self-care day is a holiday. Check it, on a couch day you don't have any commitments, deadlines, places to be, things to do or people to see. You are straight up...just chillin'. So technically, a couch day does fall under the category of holiday. It's a free day to do as you please. Plus, I have been dying to use these two stamps together ever since this kit came out in April 2022. The sentiment and couch scene are both from the April 2022 Kit of the Month, true colors. I can't wait to play with more stamps from this kit, i.e., paint brush and owl.

Next up:

This card is in honor of all those who have served or are serving to protect this country we love and call home. It's perfect for Veterans Day. Three Unity stamps were used on this card. First, the heart is from Ragged ol' Flag; sentiment is from Amber Girl; and unfortunately I do not remember which set the row of stars is from. I'm still looking and hoping to have the name of the kit, by the time I share on the Unity Show & Tell page. For this card, I also used a couple of freebies from Unity, gray tag and pattern paper the sentiment is stamped on.

I am giving away a prize this month. Up for grabs is Celeste Girl. If you do not have this Angie Girl and you want to add to your collection, comment on all our blogs for a chance to win this set or others from different team members.

That's going to do it for me today. Next up is the super talented COLLEEN. Here is the blog hop order so you can keep hopping:

See you next month! Take care! Thank you for your continued support! We appreciate it!

Dawn

Saturday, July 2, 2022

Friends of Unity Hop, July 2022, Stencils

Woohoo! We're changing it up a bit this month with STENCILS. But before I get to my cards, I want to announce my winner from last month's hop. MEG CRAWFORD you are my winner! Come on down! Please email me at lovepaperetc@gmail.com with your address so I can get September Girl to you. Congrats!

Check out our fun graphic this month:

I love stencils! They give such beautiful texture and color. The color can be subtle or it can be bold. For my first card, I combined subtle and bold on my stencil.

There's just something about square shaped cards that gives me all the feels. I think they are so dainty and darling. The gorgeous flower is from the July 2020 Whit Kit, friends are like flowers. I also used the coordinating die. The sentiment is from linen flowers. I thought what I used was a stencil but it's actually a mask. Can someone please tell me the difference between a mask and a stencil? I did Google it, but I need a better explantion. Lol. Anywho, this fun mask is from the Studio Light Just Lou Butterfly Collection. The mint paste is from Picket Fence and the gold paint is Prima. I recently purchased a few sets of Karin markers. I absolutely LOVE them. The square frame die is Gina Marie.

Next card:

I have always loved this girl from Remember Me. Looks like she's going places...faraway places. The sentiment, have a nice journey, is from the February 2012 Kit of the Month, lucky to have you. Tim Holtz distress ink was used on the Tim Holtz Traveler stencil for this card. The x stitched die is from Kat Scrappiness. Ephemera and chipboard plane are Simple Stories. I colored the girl with Prima water color pencils.

Here is the hop order again. I don't want you to miss anyone. Make sure to leave comments on all our blogs for a chance to win some Unity goodness. I am not doing a giveaway this month, but some of my friends are. Please know that we appreciate your support and comments each month. We hope the winners have been enjoying their prizes.

See you next month!

Saturday, June 4, 2022

Friends of Unity Blog Hop, June 2022, Masculine

I can't believe it's June already. Where does the time go? I hope summer does not fly by too fast. The big holiday this month is Father's Day. How fitting our cue is Masculine. I love making cards for the guys. Check out our graphic:

I love this in black and white. Before you check out my cards, I want to announce the winner of my prize from last month's hop. Drum roll, please...stampingsueinconnecticut you are my winner! Woot! Woot! You won the Monster Hugs Kit. Congratulations! Please message me on FB.

Here is my first card:

Isn't this lion gorgeous? The lion, sentiment, and arrow are from the July 2020 SMAK KIT, ptotect the ones you love. This lion is stunning! I can't believe I have not made a card with him sooner. I colored him with Zig markers and Faber Castell colored pencils. I know that SMAK KITS are no longer offered as a membership, but if there are enough requests, maybe Unity will do a breakout kit. You have to have him...just sayin'!

Card #2:

The Jeep, sentiment, and tire marks are from Scout Adventure, one of my favorite sets by Unity. The lined paper is from jot it down background. The background stamp inked in spiced marmalade is called around we go. This is an awesome background stamp I acquired in the swap. The sentiment at the bottom of the card was cut from pattern paper. I really love how this card came together. This card is perfect for his birthday, retirement, and more.

Card #3:

Yesss! I just had to stamp this gorgeous lion again! I had this idea to stamp on kraft and to use white colored pencil. I have also been wanting to combine this sentiment with the lion. I absolutely love how it turned out. The sentiment is from the December 2018 Kit of the Month, best friend till the end.

Oh! Did I mention I am giving away another stamp set this month. Up for grabs is September Girl. All you have to do is comment on all our blogs to be eligible to win.

Here is the hop order once again in case you lost your way:

Whew! This was a long post! Thanks for staying! See you next month! Again, thanks for supporting the Friends of Unity. We appreciate each and everyone of you.

Toodles,

Dawn

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Friends of Unity May 2022 Blog Hop, Things with Wings

Welcome to our monthly hop! This graphic is everything don't you think?

It's absolutely gorgeous! My winnter of several Itty Bitty's from last month's hop is Andrea K. Andrea, come on down! Congratulations! Please contact me via Facebook messenger with your address so I can get your goodies to you.

I am having a giveaway this month as well. Up for grabs is a Monster Hugs Kit. There are 10 stamps in this kit. To be eligible for a prize, all you have to do is comment on each of our blogs. Easy peasy!

As much as I wanted to create two or three cards for this hop, life said only one card is going to happen. Here it is:

I love creating cards with butterflies. Lately, I have been drawn to nature for my card making. My recent purchases have reflected this. I can't wait to create and share. I am happy with how this card turned out. It is so pretty in person. I'm in love with the water colored background. The colors are so comforting. Two stamp sets were used on this card. The flower is from, better with friends. This flower is absolutely gorgeous. The butterfly and sentiment are from, not my fault. Isn't this sentiment the absolute sweetest? This card can be sent to anyone to let them know how much they mean to you.

Here is the hop order:

Be sure to leave some LOVE on all our blogs for a chance to win some awesome prizes.

Also, Happy Mother's Day, to all the lovely moms. Enjoy your day!

See you next month,

Dawn

Saturday, April 2, 2022

Friends of Unity April 2022 Blog Hop, Pattern Paper

It is spring! Just getting back from a much needed break in sunny Florida. I was welcomed back home with cold temps and ice. Tonight, we are under a wind advisory. Gotta love northeast Ohio. I do have a winner from last month's hop. Shannon Hart, you are my winner. Yay! Come on down! Please message me via FB with your address. Now, let's get to the fun for this month.

Here is our cue:

So excited for this one and for you. Hoping you get some inspiration for using all those fabulous scraps and/or whole sheests of pattern paper. I LOVE pattern paper. It is my weakness.

I AM HAVING A GIVEAWAY THIS MONTH TOO! Several Itty Bitty's are up for grabs. To be eligible, all you have to do is leave a comment on all our blogs. Easy peasy.

I made two cards for this hop. Here's the first:

Love these cute little bunny butts!

The bunny butts are from the March 2022 Kit of the Month, never lose hope. The Happy Easter sentiment is from the March 2021 Kit of the Month, hope to be, and some bunny loves you is from the March 2020 Kit of the Month, spring and things. The paper is from an older collection. It was one of my favorites. If my memory serves me correct, the brand is the girls paperie. Their paper was amazing. Perfect for shabby chic creations. I wonder whatever happened to them. I remember buying these papers from Archiver's. So glad I keep my scraps. They were perfect for this card. I still have some more scraps from these papers.

Here is my second card:

This beautiful stamp is called she was a daughter. She's huge, perfect for slimline designs. I used favorite pattern paper scraps for this card, too. Unfortunately this stamp is no longer available on the Unity website. I bought her in the swap a little while back. The paper collection is called Dame from Authentique. It is also an older collection, so no longer available. To create this card, I brushed wicker white paint on kraft card stock. Once dry, I stamped her. I set her aside. I decided to use her for our hop. A slimline die was used to cut the kraft card stock. I paper pieced her dress. She had several changes. Lol. I finally decided on this arrangement of scraps. I cut images from another sheet of paper in this collection and adhered to the bottom and top of the kraft piece. Some Gina Marie enamel dots finished it off.

I'm the last stop in the hop. If you want to start from the beginning, please click on Crystal's link, here.

Crystal

Thanks for hopping! I hope you discovered some new ways to use pattern paper.

Until next time,

Dawn

Saturday, March 5, 2022

Friends of Unity Blog Hoppers, March 2022, Kraft, Black, and White

Hello there and welcome to the Friends of Unity March 2022 blog hop. I am so excited for this month's cue, kraft, black, and white. I think this is a classy color combo. I don't believe I have ever created with this palette until now. Here is our cool graphic for the month:

Before I share my first card, let me announce the winner of my blog hop prize from last month. Drum roll please. VANNESSA OSBOURN, you are my winner! Come on down! Please message me on Facebook with your address, so I can get your goodies to you. Thank you for your continued support of our hop.

Love how this card turned out:

I so enjoy making cards for men. I love this background stamp called house of cards. So many possibilities with this one. I think this card is perfect to wish him well in his retirement or his birthday. The large sentiment is from rhe August 2017 SMAK, just go. I finished this card off with some Tim Holtz ephemera and a mini wood frame.

Next is a slim line card. I don't know about you, but I have the hardest time taking pics of slim lines. If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Let me just say, this stamp is a must have in your stamping arsenal. It is so gorgeous! It is called slimline feather. I stamped it on pattern paper and embossed with black powder. I wish you could see the fabulous sheen. The lovely sentiment is from the May 2021 Sentiment Kit, in my thoughts, girl. So many sweet sentiments in this set.

I am giving away a prize this month, too. This time the stamp set, Determined to Rise, is up for grabs. All you have to do is leave a comment on each of our blogs to be eligible for our prizes.

We all know of the horrific crisis taking place in Ukraine. I love all of the cards for Ukraine on social media. The outpouring of support is glorious. I love how we, as card makers, have come together in support and solidarity. I am proud to be a part of this caring community. My heart goes out to all those innocent people who have been displaced from their homes. I can only imagine the fear and uncertainity. Let's stand with Ukraine. Prayers and love for Ukraine.

Here is my card for Ukraine:

These flowers are huge. They are from the August 2017 Kit of the Month, never be afraid. This is an amazing kit filled with beautiful images and sayings.

Thanks for joining us each month. In case you have lost your way, here is the hop order: