~ August 2026 - Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Grunge

Hello crafty friends and welcome to my little corner of the Friends of Unity August 2026 Blog Hop! This month our feature is GRUNGE! I always have a hard time with this one.....I am more of a "less-is-more" sort of crafter so adding more and more is not the easiest for me! LOL

This first card ended up nothing like I had thought when I started! I ink smooshed two panels with spun sugar and old paper. I had plans for a large rose spray that I fussy cut and colored and was all ready to use it......but it didn't look right or grungy! 😝 So I started with some stamped words (Unity Stamp Co. Small Details) and dots (Unity Stamp Co. dinged dots) and linen (Unity Stamp Co. linen) all over the panel, some in spun sugar, some using vintage photo. Next I splattered on some Distress Mica Spray in Antiqued Bronze and more watered down vintage photo to boot. Next I grabbed an embossing folder which is rather textured and rubbed the vintage photo and walnut stain distress ink over the raised sections with a blending brush to bring it out a little bit more. I tore the edge and added a piece of kraft which I also tore the edge. Distress oxides and inks over the edges! 

Next on to embellishing! I made a tag from the second sheet of my ink smooshing pair and distressed the edges of this. I grabbed a butterfly that's been in my stash for way too long, found a button that worked and a tiny tag (from the Unity Advent Calendar) which I stamped with the Small Details background stamp. Added a heart paperclip, some natural twine and some baby pink seam binding from My Scrap Cabin. The sentiment comes from a Tim Holtz sticker book. I like how it turned out, even if it was unexpected!

Next I wanted to create a masculine card using a 3-D texture embossing folder and some masculine coloring!

I started with the Tim Holtz 3-D Typewriter Textured embossing folder and a piece of black cardstock. With embossing folders such as these, it's advised to spray a find mist of water over the paper before embossing to keep the paper from "cracking" when using the folder. I found this technique on YouTube (Natasha Foote) to apply ink with my finger to the raised parts of the design....that's what I did. Started with Antique Linen, then switched to Salvaged Patina. Then I "grunged" it up a little bit more! Sprinkled onto it...Distress Mica Spray Tarnished Brass, Distress Spray Stain Picket Fence, and some watered down Salvaged Patina. Roughed up the edges with a Tim Holtz Distressing Tool. 

The typewriter is from the Unity Stamp Co. June 2023 Kit of the Month {from the countryside}. I stamped with black ink onto white cardstock. After I fussy cut it out, I then antiqued it up with some vintage photo and walnut stain. I watered down some Salvaged Patina and sprinkled it here and there. The "paper" was printed and cut to fit in the space where the paper was on the stamped image. I wanted a background sheet to match so I ran the salvaged patina ink pad along with sides of my card base then added some vintage photo distressing. From the Unity website in the KOM samples, I found a great card by Karen Maldonado. I loved the script piece she put behind the typewriter, so I made my own! Manilla tag (Unity thank you gift), vintage ledger background stamp (appears to possibly be retired) and a faithful letter background stamp. I then finished it off with some jute twine!

I hope you are able to get through all of the blogs....there are some amazingly talented ladies here! 

To start from the beginning, visit Crystal's blog. If you are ready to move on, my friends Joyce is the next stop! 

~July 2026 - Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Color Challenge

Hello and welcome to the Friends of Unity July 2026 Blog Hop! 

We have a color theme this month! Where I live, Florida USA, we are marking the 250th birthday of the USA! HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

I did NOT want to make only "4th of July" cards, so I created a mix!

My first card features a ink smooshed background (colors are Distress Oxides in stormy sky, faded jeans and speckled egg. Next I die cut that panel using the scallops and rectangle nesting dies. The boots are from the April 2022 Kit of the Month - True Colors which I colored with KingArt Alcohol Markers and then fussy cut out (cutter bee scissors are the best)! The sentiment is from Joy & Brighter Days. 

I then popped the image and sentiment up with foam adhesive and adorned with clear dew drops, thought they looked like rain.

Next up is a celebration card featuring lovely red flowers against a blue wood-look background.

The floral image and sentiment are from the July 2020 Front & Center Sentiment kit called ...aging gorgeously. I die cut it and the blue wood-look background paper (which is from rustic wood paper pack) using the scallops and rectangles nesting dies. I created a tag with the sentiment and attached it using some natural twine from Timeless Twine.

I added some Nuvo Aqua Shimmer in Glitter Gloss to the petals of the flowers. It was a little difficult to photograph, but it's there! :) I also added some enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs too!

Next up is a card that utilizes one of the amazing backgrounds of the month! 

I grabbed ...assorted blooms (BOM 2/2023), stamped it onto white cardstock with VersaFine Clair, colored with KingArt Alcohol Markers and then die cut with the scallops and rectangles nesting dies. Coordinating red polkadot paper was in with my scraps. The sentiment is from a grab bag I received, but the kit is Well Hello There, which I die cut by manipulating the scallops and banners nesting dies to accommodate the size I needed. I added some natural burlap twine from May arts designs and multiple colors of enamel dots and pearls from Gina Marie Designs.

And last but not least, what is red, white and blue without a cow!?!? I just felt the need to add a cow! LOL

I took some inspiration from the examples on the Unity website, created by Tammy Hawes and Shilo Miles. The postage stamp nesting dies are what makes this card! I grabbed the Barnyard Blowout paper pack, which has OOOOODLES of Red, White and Blue! Die cut the red gingham, then took the bandana page and cut it to fit. The cutest cow set..thinking of moo, was the set of choice! Such a sweet face!

The Friends of Unity are sponsoring a challenge on the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group! This same color palette! Let's see what YOU can create! Link to the album is here!

If you came here from Von Marie, but want to start at the beginning, Crystal's blog is here. To continue to the next, please visit my friend Rachel's blog here.

Thanks for the visit! Please leave me some love in the comments! 🩷🩷

~ June 2026 - Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Food & Drink

Hello friends! Welcome to June! The Friends of Unity are hoping this month with a super fun prompt....Food & Drink! I had a giant list of stamps at my disposal! Could only choose a few!

First card has to be a birthday cupcake....right?!?!? I started with the January 2023 Kit of the Month {bloom and evolve}, the sentiment is from Gotta Love Sentiments. I have always been inspired by Tenia's designs so this one pays homage to her style! :)

Patterned paper is from Oh Hey! It's Your Day! After I stamped the image (with Versafine Clair) using my Misti....I die cut it with one of the tags from the Make a Tag Nesting Die set. I used my KingArt Alcohol Markers to color the yummy cupcake to coordinate with the polka dots on the paper. I added a scrap from the same paper pack, some red twine, some foam tape and a heart paperclip! 

Next up a big squeeze!

I created this background a few months ago and it's been sitting here waiting for the perfect chance to shine! Today is the day! I used the Slices of Summer layering stencil but used yellow ink to create lemons! I used cookie dough lunar paste to make the seeds! Die cut with the scallops and rectangle nesting dies!

I decided to add a refreshing lemonade to this for a summer "chill" card! The itty-bitty is called chillin'.  Stamped with VersaFine Clair, fussy cut with cutter bee scissors and added using foam tape! 

I was scrolling through my photos the other day....looking for something and I came across a screen-shot I took 12 years ago! :| 12 years ago?!? Are you kidding me?!?! Realized that it was a card posted by Heather Hoffman that inspired me to find this sweet citrus set! Obviously I had to make something with the need a squeeze itty bitty, sadly now retired. Just as the newest Tawny Owl Paperie sketch was released....seemed like the perfect timing!

I started with a sunburst stencil which was in the August 2023 Whit Kit. I used twisted citron, dried marigold and scattered straw for the burst. I die cut the circle with the scallops and circles nesting dies. I used the leftover ink on the blending brushes to shade in the citrus. Next colored with KingArt Art Markers. Printed the sentiment from the computer. Added some coordinating buttons from my stash for a little extra dimension!

So many choices....I had to do at least one more! :)

This sweet itty bitty has been in my collection for sooooo long! It's called berry sweet moments, since been retired but I still love it!

Stamped with VersaFine Clair Nocturne, colored with King Art Alcohol Markers. Die cut with the make a tag nesting dies. The background paper is from Rustic Farmhouse, the red plaid is from Barnyard Blowout. The polkadot is actually Christmas paper! LOL

I added some burlap and red twine from May Arts Ribbon and some clear flat sequins. As well as some foam adhesive. 

I felt that it needed "something" but wasn't sure what to do. Since I colored with Alcohol markers, I thought I'd try to move it around some. I grabbed some isopropyl alcohol....without a plan! :/  I added a few drops to see what would happen and this is the result! :/ I sprinkled some lumberjack plaid on as well......not sure if I've ruined it or not, but this is the result. I may need to adjust it again. 

I left this on the blog post to show that you could always try something new and see what happens. I almost took this whole part off, but sometimes things work and sometimes they don't exactly, but in the end its still art and you created it! :)

Thanks for visiting and following along! I'd love to hear your feedback!!

If you'd like to start over at the beginning, Crystal's blog is the place to be! If you are ready to move on, Toni is your girl! :)

p.s.  apologies….I just now realized that the majority of my cards feature stamps that have been retired! :/

 

~ March 2026 - Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Sketch

 Hello and welcome to March! The Friends of Unity are hopping right into this new sketch! Be sure to follow along for ooodles of inspiration!

It's no secret that I am a HUGE fan of sketches! I am a visual person....I can see the sketch, how it's laid out, how layers are placed, all that's left is the creativity!

I have had this idea for a "welcome to your new home" card but wasn't sure how to execute it. I think this is perfect! I used a Unity Background that's no longer available (beautiful day in the neighborhood) but there is another that it really similar...it's called Village Patchwork. As you can see I used a couple of the nesting die sets too! Scallops and rectangles as well as scallops and arches. I stamped the background with Versafine Clair in Nocturne, then colored just one house with KingArt Alcohol Markers. The sentiment was printed on my computer and cut to fit. Instead of a circle, I found a heart shaped button that I felt worked well! Popped up with some foam tape and then tied with some burlap twine and a bow!

When I say you can find inspiration in the strangest places....this is what I'm talking about. As I sat down to my computer to type up this post, a facebook post caught my eye. It's from a group called "Dorm Room Mama's." My daughter started college last fall and this was my go-to site for all things dorm room inspiration! Well the post today was all about care packages! This is the picture that I saw....do you see it.....the rainbow card?!? BAAMMM! Genius!!!

Here's my take on it!

I love it when a plan comes together! :) I grabbed the April 2022 Whit Kit, Rainbow Wishes along with the coordinating stencil. Stamped everything in multiple colors and then die cut the piece with the scallops and arches nesting dies. I added some foam adhesive, stash flowers, dew drops....its sweet!

Thanks for visiting! Please visit Joyce, her blog post is here, to proceed along with the hop. If you'd like to start at the beginning....Crystal's blog link is here.

~ February 2026 Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Sassy :)

 

Hello and welcome to FEBRUARY! My Birthday month! :) The prompt this month is "Sassy!" I normally don't make sassy cards so this was a little difficult to find sassy, but not toooo sassy! :)

First up is a birthday card which hits close to my heart! I will be 58 this month so the grey hair and "teeth" joke are hitting hard! Paper from Unity Stamp Co. Oh Hey! It's Your Day! Image from KOM January 2024 {all the love}, yes I did cut off the gentleman.....I wanted a sassy birthday card for a woman! The sentiment is from a grab bag. If you know where it's from, go ahead and let me know! Die cut the circles with the scallops and circles nesting dies, sentiment is die cut with spellbinders (circa 2014) A2 curved matting basics B. I followed a sketch from {BYSHC}. I love to follow sketches and {BYSHC} has tonnnnns! I will place sketch 11 below! *Did you see the sparkly streaks in her grey hair?!?!*

Next up is another birthday card which also hits home! LOL Hot Flashes!! Am I right?!?! Ugh, the worst!

When I found the sentiment going through all my stamps to get this months cards started, I knew this was the one! And if I'm going to have hot flashes....I will definitely be having wine! :) I went then to the Unity website and searched for the planner girl: winderful set to see how others have used it! I love to go and look for inspiration on the Unity website! it's an amazing wealth of talent! Julissa's card jumped out at me! I know last month was the "CASEd" prompt, but I totally CASEd this card! :) and sentiment from grab bag.

And last but not least.....grad season will be here before you know it! My daughter graduated last year, but a bunch of friends are getting ready to graduate this year too! I figured I should start early! :)

 Again, I'm not the best for sassy or snarky sentiments, but I did get the snarky graduation set strictly for the grad hat and die! So the sentiments were a bonus! LOL  I paired the graduation gnome with a couple of the snarky sentiments. I also loved Shilo's card layout so I tried to go off of her example! Grad paper is from Echo Park, the kraft sheet was embossed with a grad hat embossing folder. I die cut the rectangles with scallops and rectangles nesting dies. I didn't have black photo corners, but I did have kraft! I colored mine black and viola! 

Thanks for stopping by on your way through the hop! I truly appreciate it!! To start at the beginning again, you can visit Crystal's blog. If you are ready to move on to the next.....Rachel!

~ January 2026 Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Case'd

 Hello and welcome to the new year! Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my blog which is part of the Friends of Unity Blog Hop! Each month is a new prompt and each month we feature the amazing products from Unity Stamp Co.!

The prompt this month is called "CASE'd." What this means is Copy and Share Everything! It refers to the practice of creating a card or project based on inspiration from others. Including elements from the original design while making personal changes. You will be giving credit or "props" to the original artist while expressing love for their work by creating something of your own inspired by their original! The Unity Stamp Co. Design Team is a wealth of inspiration! I am inspired every day by them! My camera roll is full of screenshots of their amazing talent!

This first one is inspired by the sweet Angela Magnuson! She posted this beauty a few months ago and I absolutely love the simplicity and elegance of this one!

I didn't have a heart stencil, so I made one! I used the Stitched Up Hearts nesting dies and a sheet of acetate. The die set appears to be no longer available, but I believe Angela used the Heart of the Matter - Stencil. I used Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress Oxides to ink blend around the heart. Next I inked up A Faithful Letter with Tea Dye Distress Ink and stamped over the stencil. The beautiful floral is from the July 2025 KOMpanion stamp set called Meadow of Memory which I inked up with VersaFine Clair in Nocturne. I die cut this panel and another solid (came from a Tim Holtz pack) using the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die set. I splattered on a watered down tea dye using a water brush over the entire panel. The birthday sentiment is from July 2021 {Front and Center Stamps}...tree of love. Lastly I added some clear dew/water drops and some natural colored twine!

Angela's card for reference.....hard to photograph but you can find the tutorial here on YouTube!

Next up is the amazing talent of Crystal Minkler and April Sarandrea! Always inspired by these amazingly talented ladies! I'm going to change up the occasion of the card and make another birthday card but followed closely the coloring of the image. I make Christmas cards all year, but the birthday cards sometimes sneak up on me! LOL ;)

Started with the Chirps & Cheer (UU 4/25) set which I stamped onto white cardstock with VersaFine Clair and colored with KingArt Alcohol Markers. In looking at April's coloring on the listing samples, I added what looked to me to be white gel pen on the edges of the flower petals too. I then die cut the tag with the Make a Tag nesting die set and the square the image is on with Scallops and square nesting die set. The little tab was die cut with a tag punch from Stampin Up. The papers I chose are from Oh Hey! It's Your Day!  The ribbon on the tag didn't originally pan out as expected so I had to "fix" the top of the tag and try again! :)

I assembled all the pieces on the cardbase and then added the Birthday sentiment from July 2020 {Front and Center Stamps} ...aging gorgeously and some red enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs!

Crystal's original that inspired me! 

I have sooooooo many screenshots saved that I just had to make one more! Now this one didn't start out as a "Unity" CASE'd card, but I made it that way! LOL

I saved this shot mid-December from a Stampin Up post. I am always on the lookout for ways to use up scraps. I liked this layered weaved look, and I know I have plenty of scraps because I save EVERYTHING! LOL

Scraps are from Country Loving, I used Meadow of Memory again, but the other floral image. I also utilized the digital cut file! Colored the image with my KingArt Alcohol Markers. I then stamped the sentiment onto another piece from the Country Living pack and embossed with clear embossing powder.

original card that inspired my card!

Thank you for following along with us this month! Please visit my friend Jane, she is next on the hop! If you would like to start back at the beginning to be sure you didn't miss anything amazing, visit my friend Crystal!

~ December 2025 Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Mood Board

 Welcome to the last Friends of Unity blog hop for 2025! That's crazy to say!! I first want to thank everyone that has visited or commented on my posts this year. I am always blown away by the wonderful things that people share! I am truly humbled!

Secondly, I want to acknowledge the fact that the Friends of Unity Blog Hop celebrates 8 years this month of December! WOW! Thank you for keeping this amazing hop going!

The prompt for December is this fantastic "Mood Board!" So just as the name implies, it's whatever your mood feels while looking at this inspiration photo. To be 100% honest, I had a hard time getting into this month! As with every one of you, it's a busy time of year! My brain has 700 tabs open at once!  But I finally nailed down what I would share based on this amazing image!

I have been wanting to get some gift tags completed for this year, but hadn't had a chance as of yet, so what better time than the present (no pun intended)! All the different images, colors and textures led me to create a smaller project!

I have a template that I created to print "to: from:" spaced just so to be cut up and used for tags. I took some sheets of kraft and white and printed some. To those I added, to the other side, some stamping!

I started with the kraft pages first. This tag above was created using the three snowflakes from the November 2023 KOM called {festive flair}. I stamped them all over the panel with ink on 3 embossing ink, then sprinkled gina k. white embossing powder over and heated! I used one of the make a tag die set to cut them out. I wanted to utilize the sketch from the mood board (I see now that my stripes are going in the opposite direction! LOL). I cut strips of red cardstock at 1/8" and added them to the front of the tag. The "christmas delivery" stamp is from the 2023 Unity Advent Calendar! It appears that I am missing the smallest circle from the scallops and circles nesting die set so had to use a different set. Lastly I added some natural burlap twine from may arts ribbons!

I used the Merry Christmas and branches from the October 2024 KOM called {sweet bliss of christmas}. 

Merry Christmas from October 2024 KOM {sweet bliss of christmas} and on the edges is the pinecone and pine bough bunch from the November 2023 KOM {festive flair}.

Wanted a subtle background to stamp over, so I used the pinecone and pine bough bundle from the November 2023 KOM and stamped it with ink on 3 embossing ink and let it dry. Creates a tone on tone effect. Next I stamped over that the Merry Christmas and branches from the October 2024 KOM {sweet bliss of christmas}.

Next onto the white pages! While I was stamping the white snowflakes above, I grabbed some speckled egg and hickory smoke distress oxides and did the same thing to the white pages, trying to utilize the grey/cream color on the mood board. Die cut them as well with the make a tag die set. 

The "joy" stamp is from the 2020 Unity Advent Calendar and the snowflake is from the 2024 Unity Advent Calendar! I used lumberjack plaid distress oxide for joy and white pigment ink and shimmer glitter embossing powder for the snowflake.

I also wanted to showcase the warm fuzzy sweater knit in the upper right corner as well as the cozy mug of goodness in the bottom left corner! These two things go hand in hand in my book!

I stamped the ...woven warmth November 2023 BOM with antique linen distress oxide then die cut with the make a tag die set and distress inked the edges with vintage photo. The cute mug overflowing with marshmallows is from the 2021 Unity Advent Calendar and the sentiment, which I cut into smaller pieces, is from Cherished Holly {Front & Center November 2021}. Stamped, then fussy cut and attached. 

When I had the original thought about making tags, I thought I would need to make more things.....certainly "tags" wouldn't be enough to fill an entire blog post! :| WOWOW was I wrong! Seven sets of gift tags ready to be attached to gifts going every which way!

I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season! Come back and hop with us in January!

To start from the beginning, please visit Crystal's blog. If you are ready to move on.....hop on over to my friend Rachel's blog!