Love, Paper, Etc.

Saturday, February 4, 2023

Friends of Unity February 2023 Blog Hop, Say It! All About the Sentiment

I've been waiting for this cue...can't wait to see all the different interpretations from the team. I have one creation to share with you this month, but it has many sentiments. Firstly though, check out our graphic:

Pretty cool, right? So, as I have mentioned, I have been excited for this month's cue. I have been having this idea floating around in my head and I finally decided to do it. I am calling this a daily affirmation unbound journal in a decorative wood container.

I'm so excited about this creation Unity has so many encouraging sentiments. Their stamps were perfect for what I had in mind. I used so many sets, that they are too many to list here. If you see a sentiment or two that you really like,, just ask me, and I will happily let you know which set it is from. This lovely wood container is filled with so much inspiration. I used a lot of the tags Unity sends out as free gifts and cut them down to size. I also used these really large tags from Ranger. They were cut down to size as well. And of course, I used pattern paper, too, because you know I love my pattern paper. I was thinking that the recipient could jot down aspirations, hopes, fears, doubts, dreams, and or ideas.

The next group of pictures highlight some of my favorites. This section is picture heavy.

Are you still with me? Sorry for the picture overload. I am giving away a prize this month. To be eligible, all you have to do is comment on all our posts. We love to read your comments. Thanks so much for your continued support.

Here is the hop order once more. See you again next month. Don't forget to comment.

Thanks again for hopping! See you the first Saturday in March.

Happy crafting,

Dawn

Saturday, January 7, 2023

Friends of Unity Hop, January 2023, Birthdays

Happy New Year! I cannot believe it is a new year already. Where does the time go? I'm looking at my Unity Stamp Collection, thinking, wow, I have way too many stamps that have not seen ink. This year I plan on inking these babies up. This is not a New Year's resolution. I don't make New Year's resolutions. I don't believe in setting myself up for failure. Lol. But, honestly, I really need to do something about this situation. OK, let's get to our cue...birthdays. So fun. As I am typing this, I have so many ideas running through my head. I can't wait to see what comes to fruition.

I decided to use some sass on my cards. Card #1:

This sentiment cracks me up. It can be found in the June 2022 Sentiment Kit, could be better. This set is full of sass. The sassy girl is from Totally Have This. The flower, hey girl sentiment, and happy birthday sentiment are from the May 2021 Sentiment Kit, in my thoughts, girl. Her outfit was colored with Zig markers and a blending marker. Do you notice anything missing from this card? Pattern paper...I use pattern paper on my cards 99% of the time, but I challenged myself not to use any on this card. I did not do this challenge on my next card.

Card #2:

This lady is absolutely fabulous. She and the sentiment are from the June 2022 Sentiment Kit, could be better. I stamped her on a section of pattern paper and cut it down to size. I added a little color to her outfit with a colored pencil and blended with Gamsol. I finished card with coordinating pattern paper, ephemera, and die cut stems.

Well, that's going to do it for me. Please keep hopping.

See you next month,

Dawn

Saturday, December 3, 2022

Friends of Unity Hop, December 2022, Glitter and Glitz

I love me some sparkle! I'm super excited for this month's hop. Plus, Unity is celebrating our 5th anniversary of hopping by giving away (3) $25 gift cards. Isn't this awesome? Unity is always so incredibly generous. It's so easy, too, to be eligible to win one of these gift cards. All you have to do is comment on all our blogs. Make sure you comment by December 10th. Winners will be announced on December 11th.

Check out our gorgeous graphic. This color combo is absolutely stunning.

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

I made this card in honor of a very dear friend who recently earned her wings. I never met Pat in person. I wish we had. She just so happened to stumble upon my ETSY shop about 10 years ago. She was my biggest cheerleader. She was a sweet soul, with a big heart. She was always so supportive of my art. She especially loved my cards featuring Angie Girls. I know she would have loved this one.

This Angie Girl is so full of hope and dreams. She is from the November 2021 Kit of the Month, kinda sorta love ya. This kit is a must have; so many beautiful stamps. The images are of generous size, too. The large snowflake and sentiment are also from the same kit. The other snowflake is from the December 2014 Kit of the Month, Warmth of winter. This is another beautiful kit with another Angie girl, too! I stamped the images and sentiment on water color paper. I colored the snowflakes with Prima's Shimmering Lights water colors. Girl was colored with Prima's hair and skin tones water color pencils. Sentiment was stamped in a Tim Holtz Distress Oxide I paper pieced her dress with some sparkly paper. I received the green bow as part of a free gift with one of my Unity orders. I didn't have any snowflake stickers, but I had these jeweled star stickers. They definitely add even more shine.

Card #2:

I had another design in mind for this card, but I am so glad I decided to create an ornament with this evergreen branch from Unity and Graciellie Designs Winter Blessings kit. The branch was stamped on water color paper. I used an old QuicKutz ornament die. I poured some green Prima spray into a shallow bowl. I dipped a water color brush into the ink and spread it around over the evergreen branches. I then added silver glitter. Red bow was part of same free gift as the green bow on the girl's dress. Sentiment is from the October 2019 Kit of the Month, keeping spirits bright.

Don't leave the hop just yet. The lovely April is next.

Here is the hop order:

Did you get some ideas? I hope so. Did you see any stamps you want to add to your collection? Then, don't forget to leave comments on all our blogs for a chance to win one of three Unity gift cards.

Thank you so much for supporting us each and every month. We appreciate each and every one of you!

Have the happiest of holidays,

Dawn

Saturday, November 5, 2022

Friends of Unity Hop, November 2022, Watercolor

Welcome back for another fabulous hop with the Friends of Unity! We are always so happy when the first Saturday of the month arrives. We get to share our love of Unity products and read all your lovely comments. Here is our beautiful graphic for the month:

I had plans to create a few cards, but time got away from me. I was only able to crank out this one card. I was not a fan of this card initially, but when I came back to it, added some wax cord and a die cut I fell in love. I'm hoping to still create some cards with watercolor this month, so be on the look out.

The hummingbird is from the May 2021 Whit Kit, Beauty of Becoming. This is a gorgeous kit. I can't wait to use the florals from this kit. The sentiment is from the October 2020 SMAK Kit, the best memories. The postage stamp die and jewels are also Unity. Watercolors used are from the Prima Woodlands palette. The yellow wax cord is also Prima. Flower was cut from pattern paper using a Tim Holtz die. I had cut this flower some time ago for another card, but never used it. I think it's perfect on this card.

This card came together rather quickly. I first used the postage stamp die on watercolor paper. I then stamped the hummingbird. I colored the bird with several colors from the Woodlands palette. I then created a watercolor wash background using several colors from the same palette. The sentiment was stamped and jewels added. I wasn't pleased and decided to walk away. I came back the next day and added the wax cord along with the die cut flower. Now it has my approval. Ha!

Thanks for hopping with us! In case you lost your way, here is the hop order:

See you next month for another amazing hop!

Dawn

Saturday, October 1, 2022

Friends of Unity Hop, October 2022, Anything But a Card

Welcome back and Happy Fall! I just LOVE fall...so many beautiful colors. So many cozy sweaters. And don't forget crunchy leaves, pumpkins, football, and hot cocoa. Fall came here fast in northeast Ohio. We went from 80's to 50's in a day...literally. We were not given a period of adjustment. I had to pull out my winter coat. It has been so cold in the mornings this first week of fall.

Well, enough talk about the weather. Let's switch gears. I am so happy to announce the winner of my prize pack from last month. Wilma DeG, come on down! You are the lucky winner! Thank you so much for always leaving comments on our blogs. You are always so supportive. We appreciate you so very much. Please email me your address at lovepaperetc@gmail.com so I can get some Unity goodness to you.

Here is our lovely graphic for this month:

I have two projects for this cue. Here is the first:

So I have had this Donna Downey stencil for several years. I bought it to use in my art journal. Then this past week I saw this wonderful card by Julissa Sargo. She used a Unity stamp within a stencil and let me tell you; it is gorgeous. So the wheels start turning in my head and bam, an altered journal. Thank you Julissa for the inspiration. Sentiment, row of circles, and vine stamps are from the March 2021 Kit of the Month, hope to be. Flower stamp is from the February 2022 Kit of the Month, kind souls. Vellum plant ephemera was layered over flower stamp and stencil. I received this ephemera as a freebie in a Unity order. I placed an acetate butterfly over a wood butterfly and layered it over the ephemera.

Here is my second project:

Long story short on how this tag came to fruition. I wanted to make a yellow file folder pretty. I took out my gelli plate and used the above paints and this gorgeous stamp, sakura. Folder did not turn out pretty. Instead of totally scrapping it, I cut out the flower and placed on a tag I received as a freebie from Unity. The tag was stamped with a grungy image from the April 2020 SMAK Kit, head up, my firiend. I blended several distress inks over it. Foam adhesive was added to the sakura stamp. I then layered some Prima ephemera and finished tag off with some Prima bling. Initially, I wasn't sure if I liked this tag, but something keeps drawing me to it. I just keep going into my craft space and looking at this tag. It has definitely grown on me. I have decided that not only do I like this tag, I actually love it.

Next time we meet, northeast Ohio probably will have had its first snow. There is this chill in the air, that we normally don't feel until November or December.

Make sure you keep hopping for more inspiration. Next up is the talented Colleen.

Keep creating in love & peace,

Dawn

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