Welcome to our Friends of Unity Blog Hop where several amazing designers and myself share our love (and obsession) of Unity Stamps with all of you + GIVEAWAYS!!! Get ready for lots of inspiration coming your way today. I just LOVE this time of year!!! 
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​But before I get started...check back to our October Blog Hop and see if you are one of the many Winners and claim your prizes! You don't want to miss out!  And in the USA don't forget to set your clocks back 1hr tonight!

Our theme for this months Blog Hop is...Strength! 
​Which can be interpreted many different ways. I was inspired by the many craft friendships I've made, such strong women supporting one another, and the beautiful uplifting sentiments I drew strength from, as shown in my card below...

​Kind of a mix media type of project for me today, but flat enough to mail. I LOVE ink smooshing and if you haven't tried it, you must, it's very addicting. I just take a piece of watercolor paper, some fall ink colors, randomly tap each color on an acrylic block, spritz with water, and place the block quickly on the watercolor paper. And watch the magic appear...

Tip: You can tip the paper, turn it, drip it, dab it, or add more color as you like.

For this project I lightly dabbed the edges, so the colors would stay in their place and stayed pretty vibrant. I allowed it to dry for about an hour.
Once dry, I used the MISTI tool to line up and stamp the Angiegirl and the sentiments about 3 times with black ink to get a good black impression. Coloring in the Angiegirls hat, hair, and mittens with alcohol markers. And cut a slit in her mitten to allow the globe to slide in, like she's holding it.

Same steps for stamping the globe with the bird with black ink on a separate piece of water color paper a couple times to get a good impression and colored in with alcohol markers. Punch out the globe and fussy cut the bird out. Slide globe into the slit of the mitten and adhere to card. And pop up the cardinal with 3D foam tape and adhere to panel.

I just love this Angiegirl, she looks just like me! And I colored the bird to resemble a cardinal, or I believe they are spirits of loved ones, and because I see them all over my yard this time of year. And punched the globe out smaller to resemble her holding a beautiful world in her hands. Lots of symbolism in this card. 

Add a black matte border and adhere to stamped panel. Then adhere to the orange leaf patterned paper. And add felt leaves for a touch of fall dimension. Here's another look...Happy Fall ya'll...

I hope I've inspired you to get your inks out, play with color and smoosh away and see what you can create. It's fun and addicting! And let me know what you think of my interpretation of our November theme. ​​

Pssst! There are a few GIVEAWAYS along the way too,
but you have to Blog Hop below to find them all. ​Here is one of them...​

To enter this GIVEAWAY use the Rafflecopter box below. 
The more boxes you check the greater your chances.
One winner will be selected randomly at each giveaway
and announced ​in our next Blog Hop on December 1st. ​
Good luck!!!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Kim

Now go Hopping with all the lovely
Friends of Unity Designers 
listed below for more Inspiration, Giveaways,
and leave us some love in comments too! 

Crystal O. Minkler
Kim Klinkovsky <= you are here
Bobbie Sue McConathy 
Eileen Mathys
Wynne Cochran Grob
Robyn Jordan
Dawn Fields
Joyce Verdon 
Jeanie Marie Hayes

Disclaimer: We designers on the Friends of Unity design team appreciate every single comment we get. That's why we use our own stash every month for a giveaway. We are NOT paid or sponsored by Unity Stamp Co., but they do approve of our hop, and that makes us all very happy. We started this hop because we love Unity Stamps. That's it. This hop is our way of showcasing our cards made with our favorite Unity Stamps and to inspire others along the way!

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Supplies {Affils}: Unity Stamps & Products: Dream of Being (so loved) stamp, Radiate the World stamp, Fabulous Flamingo stamp sentiment, Gina K Designs Amalgam Black Ink, and a MISTI Stamping Tool; Ranger Distress Watercolor Paper; Ranger Distress Inks: Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Peeled Paint, Festive Berries, Rusty Hinge  and Vintage Photo; Ranger Mini Mister; 3x4 acrylic block; BoBunny-Very Vintage Double Dot (black/white) patterned paper; Reverse Confetti-Fright Night (orange leaf) patterned paper; Spectrum Noir alcohol markers: CG4, CG2, TN4, TN5, OR1, Dr3, CT4, LV2, TN2; small circle punch; Creative Impressions-Bunches of Leaves #63100; Scotch 3M Foam Tape, Scor-Tape ½" 

​Challenges:
LTCCB #28 - November Anything Goes!
HLS November Watercolour Challenge
FUSION - Fall Porch
Simon Says Wed Challenge: Anything Goes
CFC #211 - Inspiration Photo
Simon Says Mon Challenge: Take Flight
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper November 2018 challenge

Click ​the pink button below and never miss an announcement, 
Blog Hops, upcoming Giveaways, Craft Tutorials, & so much more. 
*
​​find more inspiration on these social media networks: 
Pinterest | Twitter | Instagram | Blogger | Bloglovin

Our theme for this months Blog Hop is...Leaves! 
​I​t's my favorite time of year when all the leaves change color, pumpkin everything is everywhere, lots of family birthdays to celebrate, including my own, and cooler weather comes back. Somewhere...not here yet...it's 92* in the south still.
But soon our big tall southern trees will be full of colorful leaves, which was my inspiration for this months theme, as shown in my card below...

To begin my project I started with an A2 sized kraft cardstock as my sturdy card base and stamped over it in white ink with the *NEW* Barn Wall background stamp. Allow to dry or heat set. OMG! You will LOVE this new stamp for so many unique backgrounds!!!
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Then cut an orange plaid pattern paper strip 2.25 x 5.5" and adhere to the top portion of card base. And cut a 5.5" inch piece of polka dot ribbon and adhere across the middle. The knot is separate and we'll attach it later. 

I stamped several distress ink colors and layers with the tree stamp onto white cardstock. First, I inked the leaves, hearts and some of the ground in several greens and added aged mahogany ink pad directly to the tree trunk, limbs, and some of the ground for the first layer. You want to do this layer first, as it's the only chance to get the trunk/limbs stamped nicely and you don't always have to use brown for tree trunks.

Next I turned the tree stamp and inked just the top portion to build some height and where most of the leaves were. I stamped several times to get a good blend of reds, oranges, and some yellow leaves until I was satisfied.

I colored in the hearts with a coordinating distress marker color and added some sparkle too!
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Then in a matching ink color I stamped this sweet sentiment. I kept the edges simple, as to not distract from the leaves with a stitched die cut frame and adhered to the card with 3D foam tape for some dimension. 

Now go Hopping with all the lovely
Friends of Unity Designers 
listed below for more inspiration, Giveaways,
and leave us some love in comments too! 

​                           Kim Klinkovsky <= you are here
Robyn Jordan 
Bobbie Sue McConathy​
Crystal O. Minkler
Eileen Mathys 
Jeanie Marie Hayes
Dawn Fields
Joyce Verdon 

Disclaimer: We designers on the Friends of Unity design team appreciate every single comment we get. That's why we use our own stash every month for a giveaway. We are NOT paid or sponsored by Unity Stamp Co., but they do approve of our hop, and that makes us all very happy. We started this hop because we love Unity Stamps. That's it. This hop is our way of showcasing our cards made with our favorite Unity Stamps!

​
Supplies {Affil}: Unity Stamps & Products: Angie's Tree stamp, Brutus Monroe Barn Wall background stamp, Falling Leaves (sentiment) stamp, Gina K Designs White Ink and a MISTI Stamping Tool; Papertrey Ink Cardstock in Kraft and White; Lawn Fawn 6x6 Perfectly Plaid Fall patterned paper; Ranger Distress Inks: Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Ripe Persimmon, Festive Berries, and Aged Mahogany; Ranger Distress Marker: Abandoned Coral (hearts); Wink of Stella-Clear, glitter pen; ​Sizzix Big Shot Machine; Gina Marie Designs Stitched Rectangles Die Cut @Wholesale Crafting Supplies; Sequins; American Crafts Primio Ribbon; Adhesives: Scotch 3M Foam Tape, Scor-Tape ½," Zig 2 Way Glue Pen

​Challenges:
WORLD CARDMAKING DAY CHALLENGE 2018-thru Oct 29 (links below)
Happy World Card Making Day from Simon Says Stamp!
Crop Stop October Link Party - # 44
4 CRAFTY CHICKS #423 SOMETHING OLD IS SOMETHING NEW: (plaid paper, Distress Markers, and ribbon are kind of old, but look new here)
SO SUZY STAMPS HOLIDAY SEASON CHALLENGE (ALL SEASONS)
OCTOBER CHALLENGE WITH JOY CLAIR STAMPS
Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #312 - Make Your Mark
LTCCB #27 - October Anything Goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper October 2018 challenge

Happy September! Welcome to my first Friends of Unity Blog Hop along with several amazingly talented designers, sharing our love and obsession of Unity Stamps. Which is really your gain, of tons of inspiration coming your way every month. This month our theme is...Wings!

Which is open to interpretation and could be butterflies, fairies, dragonflies, angels, planes, you name it.
Unity has tons of ideas to choose from that are also ON SALE this weekend too!

​The dragonflies of summer spoke to me as shown in my card below...

Summer is winding down, but the temperatures are heating back up here in the South and we're seeing an influx of dragonflies and really BIG ones!
Bigger than I've ever seen in my whole life. 
I captured a picture of one from my garden and it's as big as
​my hand.  No joke.  It looks like one from my card.​ Don't you think?​

Ok...back to my project...I started with a 6.5x10" cut piece of black cardstock, folded in half. Cut another piece of black cardstock 6.5x5." Placed in an embossing folder for texture and adhered to the front of the card base. I did this so the inside of my card would be smooth.

Next in a die cut machine, I die cut a scallop rectangle border panel from white cardstock and adhered to the card. And die cut a stitched rectangle from black cardstock and adhered to the white panel. 

Tip: Unity has a new rectangle scallop border stamp set with stitching that would of worked perfect here too and would avoid the use of die cuts.

This next part Ken Oliver calls a “sprinkle and spritz” technique and is very messy, so make sure you put an old cloth or newspaper under you to protect your table, use a craft mat, wear an apron to protect your clothes, and gloves, because it can stain.

Place a piece of 8.5x11" watercolor cardstock on a craft mat, sprinkle a few drops of powder from 3-4 color burst colors onto the cardstock, mist or spritz with water and watch the magic begin on your unique background. I let it dry over night, but you could use a heat tool for faster drying.

Tip: I used a big sheet of watercolor cardstock so I could make several cards with this unique background from one sheet. 

Once dry, stamped a few dragonfly images with black ink onto the colorful background, die cut a stitched rectangle section and adhered to the card. Stamped the sentiment "Hi" in the corner with a bright white ink. Added adhesive gems in the corners and to the dragonfly bodies. Tied purple twine to the top to complete.  Here's another peek at the completed card...

I hope I've inspired you to get your supplies out and play too!
And let me know what you think of my interpretation of our "wings" theme. 
​
Pssst! There are a few GIVEAWAYS along the way too,
but you have to Blog Hop below to find them all. ​Here is one of them...

 To enter this GIVEAWAY use the Rafflecopter box below. 
The more boxes you check the greater your chances.
One winner will be selected randomly at each giveaway
and announced ​in our next Blog Hop on October 1st. ​
Good luck!!!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Kim

Now Hop along with me and see what the other talented
Friends of Unity Designers have created today and
leave them some lovely comments too! 
​
Crystal O. Minkler
Joyce Verdon 
Eileen Mathys 
Robyn Jordan 
Kim Klinkovsky <= you are here
Dawn Fields
Jeanie Hayes
Bobbie Sue McConathy​

Disclaimer:
We all on the Friends of Unity design team appreciate every single comment we get. That's why we use our own stash every month for a giveaway. We are NOT paid or sponsored by Unity Stamp Co., but they do approve of our hop, and that makes us all very happy. We started this hop because we love Unity Stamps. That's it. This hop is our way of showcasing our cards made with our favorite Unity Stamps!

Challenges:
Repeat Impressions Anything Goes Challenge ~ A2218
Addicted To Stamps Challenge #307 - Make Your Mark (watercolors)
Lil Red Wagon Challenge # 461 - Old or New Trends (Color Bursts watercolor backgrounds and embossing folders)
4 CRAFTY CHICKS #418 ~ CRAZY EGG/ATG
Simon Says Wed Challenge: Anything Goes
​
Supplies {Affil}: Unity Stamps: Be the Best and a grab bag "hi" sentiment; Gina K. Amalgam black Ink @ Unity; Color Burst Watercolor Powders-Brights, Craft Mat, and Watercolor Paper all @ CropStop; water/spray bottle; Papertrey Ink Cardstock in Black and White; Sizzix Big Shot Machine; Gina Marie Designs@Wholesale Crafting Supplies and Kat Scrappiness: Scalloped Stitched Nested Rectangles Dies and Stitched Rectangles Dies;  Sizzix Stars & Swirls embossing folder set (#656458); Colorbox Frost White Ink; Recollections Adhesive Rhinestones@Michaels; AC purple twine; Adhesives: Scor-Tape ½” and Bazzill Marathon Runner

Click ​the pink button below and never miss an announcement, 
Blog Hops, upcoming Giveaways, Tutorials, & so much more. 
*
​​find more inspiration on these social media networks: 
Pinterest | Twitter | Instagram | Blogger | Bloglovin