The Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~February 2023

Hi everyone and welcome to February’s hop. This month the focus is on the sentiment, not the image. I took the challenge literally and you will see I have next to no images on my cards! The difficult part was weeding out stamps I would use for this theme. I have always loved quotes and sentiments. When my kids were teenagers, I posted sentiments on our refridgerator that I thought were either inspiring, humorous or thoughtful. I’m not sure if it was useful to them, but sometimes there is more meaning in a wonderful sentiment than a full conversation. Also, being that this month is home to Valentine’s Day, I included a “heart” on each creation! I am curious to get your feedback. Without images, I feel they are a little unfinished, yet I find them insightful and the sentiment gets the attention it deserves!

Card #1 ~ Love

This card was meant to have a rainbow of concentric hearts in the background. (The picture of the supplies I used portray this) While cards do not turn out the way it is envisioned in my mind, I love the unexpected outcomes!

Steps to create this card.
1. Die cut card stock with a fancy stitched square die.
2. Stamp sentiment on the square using Versamark ink and heat emboss with clear powder.
3. Watercolor a heart loosley over the center of the square.
4. Continue painting hearts within the first heart and so on.
5. Lightly mist with water.
6. Blend Festive Berries Distress Oxide ink over the heart.
7. Blend Victorian Velvet Distress Oxide ink around the border.
8. Lightly wipe away the ink off the sentiment and mist with water.
9. Mount card front on a white square card base.

A close-up and the supplies. “Loved with a Love” Itty bitty by Joslyn Nielson for Unity Stamp Company

This is such a beautiful quote by Edgar Allan Poe. The repetition of the word “Love” is powerful. Iridescent sparkles might complement this design handsomely.

Card #2 ~ You Got This, Love!

A little bit sassy, a little bit fun and yet a whole lot of encouragement! I imagine a close friend giving her friend a pep-talk in an effort to make a trying situation less serious and gloomy. Leave it to Elizabeth Taylor to say it in style! This is a very simple card. I added a diamond embellishment at the bottom right for a fancy accent.

Steps to create this card.
1. Stamp the sentiment in black Versafine Ink on white card stock.
2. Paint the images.
3. Border the image in black.
4. Emboss a red card front with a polka dot embossing folder.
5. Trim the card front just enough to allow a fine border to show on the grey card base.
6. Adhere a diamond embellishment on the lower right corner.

A close-up and supplies. “Put on your Lipstick” by Lisa Arana for Unity Stamp Company.

The sentiment is sharp in black and white. I used red to add energy and match the red lipstick. A great addition would be to add 3D Crystal Laquer to the wine glass and sparkles to the lipstick. In the past, I have washed a streak of grey over the sentiment.

Card #3 ~ Heartsong

A few years ago, I made this card using different colors. Immediately I thought of recreating it for this month’s theme. I was inspired by an old world feel.

Steps to create this card.
1. Lightly blend distress inks on a card front.
2. Stamp the sentiment in the center using Versafine ink.
3. Tape a fancy-shaped die over the card front and blend ink around the edges.
4. Mist with water if desired.
5. Dry emboss the card front using a Darice border folder.
6. Splatter pink and brown distress ink over the card.
7. Splatter brown and black ink over the corners for framing effects.
8. Trim the card front on the sides to create a quarter inch border.
9. Wrap embroidery thread around the card front and tie in a bow.
10. Mount on a black card base.

A close-up. Supplies I used, I received this stamp in a grab bag and I just love it!

I have a musical notes stencil that would have been a wonderful addition to this card. Also copper embellishments would enhance the old world feel.

Card #4 ~ Just Sayin!

How does one choose a single sentiment for a card?! I couldn’t. So I envisioned a few ways I might be able to pull this off. This card reminds me of graffiti or modern art resembling a poster-like quality. Let me know what you think about this design!

Steps to create this card.
1. Stamp the sentiments in black Versafine ink on a cream card base. Tip — For the most part I kept the sentiments spaced evenly.
2. Die cut or punch squares and rectangles out of card stock to create a stencil for applying ink.
3. Lay the stencil on the sentiment, blend ink over it and repeat. Tip — I placed colors next to one another that were contrasting to keep it balanced. Also I tried to keep the color blocks as straight as possible except for the one sentiment that is angled. Tip — On the upper right, I kept the blue color shorter than it’s sentiment to have more “white” space for asthetics.
4. Mount the card front to a black card base leaving a fine border on all sides.

Stamped sentiments before I added blocks of color. A fun picture of my craft table and the mess I created while making this card. All sentiments are from grab bags I have acquired over the years! On the top right, you can see the stencils I used. A close-up view.

I am excited to try this again using texture with embossing glazes and torn paper pieces. A more grungy take would be with borders, splatters, circle stencils and uneven lines!

I hope a few of these cards spark an idea for a card creation. Thank you so much for hopping and below you will find the next friend to visit on the hop. Please comment to enter to win a “thank you” prize. The winner will be randomly chosen and announced on the March hop. And now for the winner from the January hop is…..betsgreene! Congratulations, please message me your mailing address and thanks again for your comment, I appreciate it!

Crystal

Amber

Bobbie Sue

April

Rachel (me)

Kim

Dawn F.

Colleen

Gaylynn

Joyce

Happy hearts to you this month. May your have a lovely day today and always. Until March, stay safe and wishing you lots of crafting time ’til your heart’s content!

Rachel