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Friends of Unity Inspiration Blog Hop + Giveaways

5/6/2023

Welcome to our May 2023
~ Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~
where several amazing designer friends & myself
share our love (and obsessions) of Unity Stamp Company
to inspire you with creative projects every month!
Grab a cuppa your favorite liquid, cozy up
to follow along and hop with us.

***
Before I get started...
check our ==> April Blog Hops to see if you are one of our
many Winners and claim your prize!!!
Our Winner here at My Kraft Kloset, for April 2023 is...

"Janice M."

Congratulations!!!
Check your Email or Email me at: [email protected]
to claim your prize.
***

Our theme for May is... Inspired By
Which could be anything! So what inspires me? SO many thing, but I narrowed it down to these:
Artists
Color
Nature
Techniques

It's a new month and I'm continuing with my
"New Years Resolution" to use only "new to me" Unity stamps every month this year, along with some of my favorite things.
So what inspires me?
I am inspired every month by all the fabulous ladies
in this hop, so be sure to follow them too!
I love the whole rainbow of colors, techniques, and
things found in nature.
Here's what I came up with...

Card #1: Beautiful Butterflies
I had this beautiful butterfly set on my desk from last months theme, but I didn't get around to using it. So I thought it would be fun to show you three different techniques using the same set.
The first technique I used is a very simple Copic 101 coloring technique I learned a few years ago from Jen Shurkus on how to color with just 2-3 alcohol markers and how to blend and shade with just a couple markers. As it's easy to get overwhelmed with all the many markers out there, color families, and blending techniques. She really keeps it simple and I like simple too.
Then I die cut a border around the image and ink blended around the edges to soften around the image, added a touch of clear sparkle to a few butterflies, and some embellishments to complete. Such a versatile set that's wonderful for so many occasions.

SUPPLIES: Unity- Endlessly Beautiful Stamp Set and Unity-Rectangles & Scallops Nesting Dies; Big Shot die cutting machine; MISTI stamping tool; Versafine Clair-Nocturne black ink; Ranger Distress Oxide Inks: Faded Jeans; Picket Fence Blender Brush or Scrapbook.com brushes; Copic and Spectrum alcohol markers and SN Clear Sparkle Brush; Spectrum Noir Cardstock; American Crafts bakers twine; Adhesive Glitter Enamel Dots; Papertrey Ink white 110lb cardstock base; Scor-Pal - Scor-Tape (double sided tear tape) at Scrapbookpal.

Card #2: Pink Butterfly
The second technique I used is mostly ink blending around the edges and over some of the butterflies. And I highlighted just one of the butterflies with a couple pink pencils using Prismacolor Pencils and blending it with a clear sparkle brush for some extra bling.
Then added a couple stitched edges, a sentiment, and an adhesive glitter enamel embellishment to complete.

SUPPLIES: Unity-Endlessly Beautiful Stamp Set, Unity-Whit's Words Stamp Set (Hello.), Unity-Simple Mothers Day Stamp (inside sentiment) and Unity-Rectangles & Scallops Nesting Dies; Big Shot die cutting machine; MISTI stamping tool; Versafine Clair-Nocturne black ink; Ranger Distress Oxide Inks: Fossilized Amber and Picked Raspberry; Picket Fence Blender Brush or Scrapbook.com brushes; Prismacolor Pencils; Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Brush; Spectrum Noir Cardstock; Adhesive Glitter Enamel Dots; Papertrey Ink white 110lb cardstock base; Floral scrap border from AC-Mayberry pad; Scor-Pal - Scor-Tape (double sided tear tape) at Scrapbookpal.

Card #3: Hello Pretty Butterflies
And the third card I used an ink smooshing technique. It's one of my favorite ways to play with ink, as every smoosh is different, and every card is unique with no extra coloring. Then I heat set it to dry or you can leave it over night. And then I fussy cut this bunch of butterflies out.
I dug in my bin of scraps and found this hot pink piece of cardstock that was screaming out for some texture. And I remembered I had a cloud embossing folder. Added the sentiment with distress oxide ink (because it's thick), clear embossing powder, and heat set. Which heat embossing is another technique I love to use. I found a couple more scrap strips and adhered those to the pink panel.
Adhered the bunch of butterflies to the panel, added an adhesive glitter enamel embellishment and added some clear glitter sparkle to a few butterflies for some bling to complete.

SUPPLIES: Unity-Endlessly Beautiful Stamp Set and Unity-Heart of Autumn Stamp Set (Hello); MISTI stamping tool; Versafine Clair-Nocturne black ink; Darice Cloud Embossing Folder; Ranger Distress Oxide Inks: Mermaid Lagoon, Cracked Pistachio, and Picked Raspberry; Ranger Clear Embossing Powder; Marvy Uchida Heat Tool; Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Brush; Ranger Tim Holtz Watercolor Cardstock; Adhesive Glitter Enamel Dots; Papertrey Ink hot pink background CS, light pink CS strip and white 110lb Card Stock base; Pink and white polka dot scrap strip from Doodlebug; Fiskars border punch (pink strip); Cutter Bee Scissors (best for fussy cutting); Scor-Pal - Scor-Tape (double sided tear tape) at Scrapbookpal.

Here are all the cards and techniques again.
Which is your favorite?

***
I hope we've inspired you to play with your stamps & supplies & see what inspires you.
The possibilities are endless!
***
Supplies I used are available below, with some affiliate links.
Thank you for shopping!

Pssst! Are you still with me???
Enter this GIVEAWAY using the Rafflecopter box below.
The more boxes you check the greater your chances to win!
Please leave your email, so we can contact the winner and announced on our next Blog Hop June 3, 2023.
Good Luck!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

==> The HOP starts here <==
Be sure to Hop with ALL of these talented
Friends of Unity Designers
click their names below & leave a comment at each to enter giveaways

Crystal O. Minkler <== Start Here
Bobbie Sue McConathy
Gaylynn Martling
Jane Bosi
Alaine Tanner
Tammy Hawes
Colleen Balija
Rachel Duong
Kim Klinkovsky <== {me} you are here
Joyce Verdon
Amber Trubiak

Disclaimer: We designers on the Friends of Unity design team appreciate every comment. We use products from our own stash for our giveaways. We are NOT paid or sponsored by Unity Stamp Co., but they do approve of our hop, and that makes us happy! We started this hop because we love Unity Stamps. That's it. And this is our way of showcasing our Unity projects to inspire others along the way!

***
Thank you for stopping by!
Have a happy crafty May and a
Happy Mothers Day (May 14th)!
xoxo ~ Kim

***
Follow our social media channels for more inspiration:

Craft Challenges:
Card #1:
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: No Patterned Paper
Word Art Wednesday: Anything Goes - Weeks #593-594
LTCCB #74 Anything Goes

Card #2:
KRAFTY CHICKS CHALLENGE #662 WEEK 1 (STAMP ACT)
Seize the Birthday #260-Balloons

Card #3:
MIUCB #65 Anything Goes + optional Embossing-(clouds embossing folder background and heat embossed sentiment)
AAA Birthday Game #49 - Balloons
HLS May Birthday Challenge

25 Comments

Growing in Unity Day 2 + Floral A2 Screen Card

4/21/2020

43 Comments

Check out Day 1 "here"
Check out Day 3 "here"
Check out Day 4 "here"
Check out Day 5 "here"

Hi everybody! Welcome back to Day 2 of my Growing in Unity Week, that will be filled with Unity projects, and some of my favorite things, or look what I found in my craft room, because I had time to clean it! (lol)
Today is another oldie, but also a goodie...Do you remember Screen Cards? AKA Screen Dividers, Dividing Screen cards, or Tri-folds, you get the idea. They used to be big too, from a 12x12 piece of cardstock.

For today's project I'm making a Screen card, but as an A2 size (4 1/4" x 5 1/2"), so smaller than years past and uses less cardstock. Yay! And I found a large label punch in my stash of tools, which we all probably have, but haven't used in years. And I bet you have one too! Along with a few of my favorites, like tulips, distress oxides, water coloring, tools, and some bling! So, lets make some something ya'll!

Tutorial: I started with an 8.5" x 11" piece of purple 110lb cardstock and cut it in half on the shortest side. Click the pictures below for a step by step on how to make this card...

Now we're ready to decorate our Screen!

I really tried NOT to color today...but this image just screamed for some color! Using a MISTI stamping tool, I had already stamped the imagine and sentiment on regular white cardstock with Versafine Onyx Black ink (water color friendly ink), but forgot to use watercolor cardstock for todays project. So we're just going for it. You can make it work, if you don't use much water. I used Distress Oxide inks in the colors shown (plus Squeezed Lemonade Reg. Distress Ink and their listed below), with a quick and light watercoloring technique, kind of like flicking, so I wouldn't warp my cardstock. I patted dry with a paper towel and dried between coloring with a heat tool, so I could layer on more color for depth and dimension. The cardstock buckled up a little bit and I just put a big heavy book on it for a couple hours to flatten it out. An iron on a low setting would work too.

Here is a close up of the front of the Screen Card. What do you think?

Then did a bit more ink smooshing and used the ink splat stamp again, and ink splatters in picked raspberry and wilted violet around the edges of the image, which seems to be a favorite. I like the effect. Once dry, used a corner rounder punch to cut the corners. And went around the edges of the image with picked raspberry ink. Added a bit of red sparkle glitter pen to all the hearts and clear glitter pen to the circles for a bit of bling! Adhered the image to the front of our Screen card. And added a few light pink glitter enamel adhesive dots for more sparkle. Click the pictures below for more step by step directions for the inside of the Screen card.

For the "Angiegirl" in the center of our Screen card, using a MISTI stamping tool, I stamped her on white cardstock, in Versafine Onyx black ink (a watercolor friendly ink). And water colored her the same way I colored the flowers on the front of the card. But I used a few more colors on our lovely girl. She reminds me of my daughter, so I colored her that way. Using Distress Oxide Inks-Hair: Scattered Straw, Rusty Hinge and Walnut Stain; Hoodie: Wilted Violet; Skin: Dried Marigold watered down, and a touch of Picked Raspberry for her lips; and the Butterfly: Regular Distress ink in Squeezed Lemonade and Dried Marigold in Oxide. And colored around the entire Angiegirl with a Spectrum Noir Marker in a light gray #GG1 to highlight her and give her some depth. Click the pictures below for more step by step directions to finish the inside of the Screen card.

Here's another peak...What do you think? Are you going to give Screen Cards a try?

Thank You SO much for your kinds words and support yesterday. It was very heartwarming to read all your comments. And just like the front sentiment says,
"Friends really do become our chosen family"
and you all are like family.

Thanks again for joining me today for Day 2 of my
Growing in Unity Week. I hope I've inspired you to cut up
your cardstock, get those punches out, play with watercoloring, and try making "screen" cards.
And if you do, share them! I'd love to see them!

Be sure to leave a comment on this post, and come back every day this week, for a chance to win one of (2) Big
Unity Stamp Grab Bag prizes!!!
Winners will be posted next week on this blog, as well as on the Unity Stamp Company Facebook pages.

Have a happy & crafty week! ~Kim
#spreadjoynotgerms

*
Click the pink button below and be sure to follow us, so you never miss an Announcement, Blog Hops, Challenges, Giveaways, Craft Tutorials, & so much more!
*
See more inspiration on these social media networks:
Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Bloglovin

Click to Follow Blog

Click pic for more Unity inspiration from the "Friends of Unity" Monthly Blog Hop Team!

Supplies (affil): Unity Stamp Company Products: Have A Little Faith, Never Far-Angiegirl, Better With Friends (splat stamp and inside sentiment), Say It With Love (hugs sentiment); Misti Stamping Tool; Distress Oxide Inks: Mermaid Lagoon, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet, Peeled Paint, Pine Needles, Mowed Lawn, Scattered Straw, Rusty Hinge, Walnut Stain, Dried Marigold; Regular Distress Ink: Squeezed Lemonade; Versafine Onyx Black ink; Fiskars large squeeze corner rounder punch; SU large label punch; Papertrey Ink white and purple cardstock; Bobunny 6x6 Soft Shades Double Dot patterned paper; Spectrum Noir Marker #GG1, Atyou Spica red and clear glitter pens; Clear-Wink of Stella; Big Shot Machine: Spellbinders-Nestabilities-Label One; light pink glitter enamel adhesive dots; 1/2" Scor-Tape adhesive.

Challenges:
Repeat Impressions Anything Goes Challenge ~ A2220
Simon Says Wed Challenge: Flower Power
The Paper Girls CHALLENGE #198 - GIRL TIME!-Feminine girly card
WWC268 - Dawn's Challenge: All About Occasions-Thinking of you
TTTC061- Featured Designer Laurie- I used Blooms (front), Designer Paper (inside), and Layers.
HLS April Watercolour Challenge
The Card Concept #133 {Hello Spring}- I was inspired by the Spring flowers and colors on my clean and simple card.
LTCCB #45 - April Anything Goes
LTSCB #132 - For The Girls

43 Comments

Growing in Unity Day 1 + Floral Inchie Card

4/20/2020

53 Comments

Check out Day 2 "here"
Check out Day 3 "here"
Check out Day 4 "here"
Check out Day 5 "here"

Hi everybody! I'm Kim Klinkovsky, welcome to Day 1 of my Growing in Unity (GIU) week at my Blog...My Kraft Kloset for a fun filled week of inspiration. It's my happy place, where I share all my crafty adventures, usually fueled by coffee, sweet tea, and probably some chocolate or wine too! I’m a Published Card Maker, Blogger, Social Media Administrator for a couple craft companies, occasional Scrapbooker, Jewelry Maker, Wife to an US Army Veteran for 24yrs, and Mom to 4 kids, one daughter and three sons, including a set of twins. I love all kinds of stamps, pretty paper, tools, getting inky, heat embossing, and sparkle, to name a few things! I’m honored to be a (GIU) Growing in Unity gal this week and I can’t wait to share some of my favorite things with you! Follow along and let’s get crafty!

Tutorial: I started with an 8.5” x 11” light blue 110lb cardstock, folded in half, and trimmed down to 7” x 5.” Then I cut two strips of yellow check patterned papers 3” x 5.” Using a ribbon border punch, cut across both strips, threaded a blue satin ribbon, trimmed, and adhered it on the back. And adhered to the top and bottom of the card base. Using a MISTI stamping tool, I stamped one of my favorite Unity flower stamps, in Distress Oxide Ink-Faded Jeans on white cardstock, sprinkled with clear embossing powder, and heat set. Then stamping with an acrylic block and a splatter stamp, added ink splatters in Distress Oxide inks-Fossilized Amber and Broken China. And added a few more splatters with a paint brush. Heat set to dry or set aside for an hour. Click smaller pics for step by step tutorial…

For today's project I'm bringing back an oldie, but a goodie. Do you remember "inchie" cards? If not, it's where you punch out inch squares of your image and then lay them back down in a grid pattern, as shown above and below. You can use any square, and I used an 1.5" square punch, so my last column was only half a square. But I don't care. It wouldn't have been a complete picture without it. Which made it kind of unique and different. What do you think?

Click on pic's below for a step by step tutorial:

Recently I read a post on the Unity Show and Tell Facebook page that made me sad. One of our members said she wasn’t doing so well at coloring, and she wanted to give up, but that we really inspire her. She sounded a little down, maybe due to what's going on in the world, I’m not sure. I hope she’s okay and doing better. If she’s reading this or if this sounds like any of you: Please know, this isolation and sheltering can be daunting, but you are not alone, and you can talk to me or any of us, anytime! Or Call the National Crisis and Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
1-800-273-8255 if you need to talk to somebody or you can text the Crisis Text Line (741741)

But you Unies stepped up and encouraged her not to give up, and to keep on coloring, and creating. It just warmed my heart! And I hope it cheered her up too! You Unies are so inspiring, encouraging, kind, and supportive of one another. I just love it! It's such a happy place!

And this post inspired me to make a card with NO coloring, just for her! And I encourage you all to "not color" too and see what you can make! I'd love to see it! I love to color, but I’m no expert, and I’m still learning too! And believe me, I’ve had my share of ugly projects that I will NOT be sharing this week. HA! Sorry. Not sorry! (lol). But I do suggest you practice to improve your skills or move onto other mediums and try something new. When this sheltering in place is all over and we can be out and about again, take some classes. Or watch craft videos to learn and practice from too!

Okay...back to today's project...inchie card with ink and tools

Added a touch of sparkle to the center of the flowers with a clear glitter pen. And added blue glitter enamel adhesive dots to complete this “no coloring” project! What do you think? Pretty right? Love Love Love this flower stamp for so many occasions! Now let's see what you can make!

Thank You for joining me today for Day 1 of my Growing in Unity Week. I hope I've inspired you to "not color" or try making "inchie" cards.
And if you do, share them!

Be sure to leave a comment on this post, and come back every day this week,
for a chance to win one of (2)
Unity Stamp Grab Bag prizes!!!
Winners will be posted next week on this blog, as well as on the Unity Stamp Company Facebook pages.

Have a happy & crafty week! ~Kim
#spreadjoynotgerms

*
Click the pink button below and be sure to follow us, so you never miss an Announcement, Blog Hops, Challenges, Giveaways, Craft Tutorials, & so much more!
*
See more inspiration on these social media networks:
Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Bloglovin

Click to Follow Blog

Click pic for more Unity inspiration from the "Friends of Unity" Monthly Blog Hop Team!

Supplies: Unity Stamp Company Products: You Are Forever Beautiful stamp set, Better With Friends (splat stamp), and sentiment from Say It Big (May 2019 sentiment kit); Distress Oxide Inks: Faded Jeans, Fossilized Amber, Broken China; Ranger Clear and Seafoam White embossing powder; Versamark clear ink; Fiskars ribbon border punch; Marvy Uchida 1.5" square punch; Papertrey Ink white, navy, light blue cardstock; AC ribbon and Mayberry-6x6 yellow check patterned paper

Challenges:
Repeat Impressions Anything Goes Challenge ~ A2220
Simon Says Wed Challenge: Flower Power
The Paper Girls CHALLENGE #198 - GIRL TIME!-Feminine girly card
WWC268 - Dawn's Challenge: All About Occasions-Mothers Day or Birthday
KCC #504 {ALL OCCASIONS}-Mother's Day or Birthday
TTTC061- Featured Designer Laurie- I used Stitching, Designer Paper, and Ribbon.
HLS April Watercolour Challenge
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper April 2020 challenge
The Card Concept #133 {Hello Spring}- I was inspired by the Spring flowers and colors on my clean and layered card.
LTCCB #45 - April Anything Goes
LTSCB #132 - For The Girls
Allsorts Challenge Week 569 - Add a Bow

53 Comments

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps + International Womens Day Blog Hop + Giveaways

3/8/2020

7 Comments

<<<UPDATED 3/20: Linky Party EXTENDED until 31st March 12pm Indian standard time (12.5hrs ahead of EDT USA). So join us, create and submit your cards or crafts with keeping with our theme. Details below. Happy Crafting!!!>>>

Hi everybody! Kim here, for CAS-ual Fridays Stamps to celebrate and Sponsor 'International Women's Day' which is kicking off today with a Blog Hop, a Linky Party, and an Instagram Hop from March 8-31, 2020 IST. And the fun part is...you can join us too! Details below...

March 8th is a day aimed to help nations worldwide eliminate discrimination against women, but as not to leave our guys out...International Men's Day is also celebrated on November 19 each year. But today is ALL about our wonderful women!

The idea behind this hop started last year with 10 amazing women card makers who wanted to encourage other women through their crafts. Just a small word of encouragement from fellow women goes a long way and can do wonders. So let us come together again and empower our sisters all around the world. Wow! Pretty awesome, right? We look forward to building a positive environment with your support.

For today's project: I was inspired by the beauty and strength of our fabulous CFS 'Be A Unicorn' stamp set, with coordinating 'Unicorn Fri-Die' to create this amazing project with distress inks, heat embossing, and some metallic sparkle.

Tutorial: I started with an A2 white card base and a gray/white star patterned paper ½” smaller and adhered to the card. To make the unicorn I used an “ink smooshing” technique on watercolor cardstock using distress inks, details in my ‘categories’ in the right side bar. Once dry, stamp the unicorn with Versamark clear ink, sprinkled with silver embossing powder, and heat set. Using a die cutting machine, cut out the unicorn with coordinating die cut. And adhere to the card. I love how detailed it is. Isn’t she beautiful? Then I stamped this meaningful sentiment with distress oxide ink, because it’s thick, sprinkled with clear embossing powder, and heat set. And it shows the color beautifully. Using a die cut from my stash and blue metallic cardstock, I cut out the flourish piece and all the stars, and adhered to the card with liquid glue to complete this sparkly beauty.

Here is a close up of all that beauty and sparkle...I hope I've inspired you to support women everywhere through our crafts and our kindness.

To Celebrate all women and our sisterhood, CAS-ual Fridays Stamps is giving away a $25 prize package.

This Link Party is open to all crafty women globally for 2 weeks.

Click the links below, Hop & Comment, and join us by linking up your amazing projects based on our
'women empowerment theme'
to be entered for the many awesome prizes donated by several generous craft company's.

*Blog Hop & Linky Party
*Instagram: @women.beyoutifully.you
*Facebook

Also, be sure to Shop ==> CAS-ual Fridays Stamps & Fri-Dies,
where you can use my special savings code below
to save 15% off your total purchase too!
This applies to the Retired Sets too! Yay!
Happy Shopping!

SAVE more with this discount code on all your CAS-ual Fridays purchases every time!

For more inspiration check out CAS-ual Fridays Stamps on Pinterest and Instagram!

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a happy & crafty day! ~Kim

See more inspiration on these social media networks:
Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Bloglovin

Click to Follow this Blog

Challenges:
International Women's day bloghop
Simon Says Wed Challenge: Something Feminine
KRAFTY CHICKS CHALLENGE #497, WEEK 1 STAMP ACT
HLS March Anything Goes with Dies Challenge (unicorn stamp & die cut)
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper March 2020 challenge
LTCCB #44 - March Anything Goes
LTSCB #131 - Anything Goes
Creative Embellishments March Challenge-(I was inspired by the colors and the silver sparkle)

7 Comments

Friends of Unity Inspiration Blog Hop + Giveaways

Growing in Unity Day 2 + Floral A2 Screen Card

Growing in Unity Day 1 + Floral Inchie Card

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps + International Womens Day Blog Hop + Giveaways

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