{BYSHC} Sketch 55 - Cozy Winter Vibes

 Here we are already in March! {BYSHC} Sketch 55 is here and going through the whole month! Our prize sponsor this month is Pink & Main. 

I had an idea to create a snowy landscape looking background using the Pink & Main Making Waves Cover Die. After several background color choices, I settled on this charcoal grey with iridescent snowflakes. This came from Park Lane pad called Holiday Pine. I also utilized a product from another of our regular sponsors (Therm-o-web)...easy-cut adhesive sheets. 

I attached the adhesive sheet to a piece of cardstock. I then ran the cardstock and die through my Big Kick multiple times! Popping out all the little pieces took the longest! Next I peeled off the backing and stuck it right down onto the background! Easy Peasy!! I did the same for the snowflake too. The snowflake die is from Waffle Flower, called winter crystal die (this one isn't available, but there are two other snowflakes that are also beautiful).

I used some Nuvo Aqua Shimmer in glitter gloss on the snowflake! It's so sparkly!!

~ March 2025 Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Sketch Challenge!

 How is it already March?!?! January took forrreeeeevvvveeerr and February was a *blink* and over! Welcome friends to the Friends of Unity Blog Hop! So glad you are here! This month we are hosting a sketch challenge on the Unity Show & Tell facebook page. Unity is offering two $25 gift certificates for the winners!!

Here is the sketch!

Those that may know something about me may already know this.....but I LOVE A SKETCH! Sketches are a fantastic jumping off point! A great place to start. After looking at the sketch for a minute or two, I needed more of a visual. So I arranged my scalloped and stitched rectangles and circles to resemble the sketch and it was easier for my brain to "see" the vision! I followed the sketch pretty much true to form....I am a creature of habit! 

This cute card consists mainly of papers from Barnyard Blowout and an Itty Bitty called The Little High Road. This sweet fluffy bundle of cuteness is quickly becoming a favorite of mine! That sweet face gets me everytime!!

Took the dies from the "vision board" and cut the papers all in a row! I tied on some thick burlap twine (dollar tree), added some foam adhesive, added a paperclip and some red enamel dots and there ya go! Super cute and super easy! 

(psssst....what do you do when you have ink on your fingers and it smudges on part of your image?!?! after you are done pouting (I totally did) you get more ink on your fingers and smudge in other spots! 

I planned it....I really did!!

Couldn't stop there! I have graduation cards to get made! 

For this cutie I used Graduation Gnome. I fussy cut him out to place on top of the circle. The patterned papers are all from Unity but each from a different pack! I added some black organza ribbon to one panel and also to the paperclip!

Next up is a Birthday Card! I love this paper pack called Pastel Party Parade! I paired it with Planner Gal: Simply Perfect Birthday

Cut all my pieces with the nesting die sets! All of my images were colored with KingArt Alcohol Markers. I wanted to give alcohol markers a try, but the Copic price tag was too steep for something that I may not like or master! I luckily found this giant box at a discount store and knew they had to be mine! I'm slowly but surely getting the hang of it (at least I think so)!

I added some organza ribbon, foam adhesive and yellow enamel dots to bring it to life!

Last one I wanted to try something a little more subtle. Kraft and black never disappoint! 

It's been said before, sketches are meant to inspire, not require. I replaced the circles with the typewriter from June 2023 {from the countryside}. I stamped the background with Just a Number background. Die cut all my pieces, fussy cut the typewriter, added foam tape and black enamel dots!

Unity's nesting die sets made these cards super easy! 

Be sure to give this sketch a try! When you do, enter it into the album in Unity's Show & Tell Facebook group! Two chances to snag a $25 gift certificate!

To start the hop at the beginning, you'll want to start with Crystal. If you are ready to move on, you can visit Dawn.

Until next month! See you soon!!

{BYSHC} Sketch 54 - Merry Christmas

My last card for the {BYSHC} Sketch 54 Challenge is a sweet one!

All parts are from Unity Stamp Co.! The papers are from Snowflake Elegance and of course this sweet little snowman is called Snow Buddies. The sentiment is from Gotta Love Sentiments. This came together so quickly and easily!

I've done it again! Published for the 8th time!

 I feel so blessed that this is actually a reality for me! I've been published for the 8th time (7 editions in a row) and I couldn't feel more happy about it! :)

Right there on page 20 with a few other Easter cards is my sweet bunch of tulips!

Unity Stamp Co. KOM April 2024 {Petal Post}, Watercolor pencils, ink blend over a stencil for background, scallops and rectangle nesting dies.

Lucky!

 I do not typically make St. Patrick's Day cards....but with the Saturday at the Market event coming up this weekend, I thought I should have a couple on hand just in case! I did a quick Pinterest search and found this amazing background idea! 

I guessed on the supplies used and went with what I had and I absolutely love the two backgrounds I created!! This card was made with the lighter of the two.

Stencil from Tim Holtz (harlequin THS016), Distress oxide in cracked pistachio and lucky clover were used. I inked the stencil, spritzed with water, then pressed it down onto the 110# cardstock. Spritzed some leftover distress oxide on to that, then added some Distress Mica Spray in Antique Bronze, and Distress spray stain in Vintage Photo. I ink blended over the edges after distressing with a distressing tool.  The black border line is hand drawn. The stamp set is here.

I then went digging for a "match" of a background paper color. Cut it and distressed the edges on it as well. I found in the scrap pile some paper I tore to reveal the white edges. I created the bronze looking one myself by spraying the mica spray on a scrap piece of paper. Some brown twine (jillibeansoup) and transparent enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs to finish it off!

close up of the background!

{BYSHC} Sketch #54 - Believe

Happy Friday crafty friends! We are still working on {BYSHC} Sketch #54! This sponsor for this month's prize is Club Scrap! I know, right?!? It's been a hot minute since I've worked with Club Scrap!

I ended up going onto Club Scrap's website and purchasing some paper and embellies! The collection is called Starry Night. The dark blue paper with gold "stars" was cut to the measurements from the sketch. The yellow and navy solids are from my stash. The stamp I used is from Unity Stamp Co. called All is Calm. After I stamped with versafine clair in Nocturne, I die cut with one of the circles from the scallops and circles nesting die set. I added some yellow coloring to the halos and some blue shading around the edges. The ribbon and wax cording used along with the charm are also from the Starry Night Collection from Club Scrap.

You have until the end of the month (which is next week and also happens to be my birthday!) :)

{BYSHC} Sketch #54 - Holly Jolly

Hello and welcome to February! {BYSHC} Sketch #54 is ready to go!

Today's card features a yummy steaming cup of cocoa just waiting to be had! The patterned papers are from Unity Stamp Co. North Pole Collection. The focal image is from Angie Blom Digital Designs, Christmas Joy Mugs. I just love this set! It comes with 8 different "mugs" to choose from! I colored this with some King Art Alcohol Markers, then used a white uni-ball signo gel pen to add little accents here and there. After I fussy cut the mug out, I added some foam adhesive to pop it up. Some tan enamel dots for a little accent.

Be sure to join in the fun! The sponsor for this month's prize is Club Scrap! I remember Club Scrap from WAAAAAY back in the day!! 

Inspired by…Valentine Hot Chocolate #IB321

 Hello again! This sweet Valentine is for the current Inspired by… challenge! 

I was inspired by all the things! The colors (red, grey and white), the cocoa bar and the sketch. Started with a white card base. To that I added a strip of torn patterned paper from Unity Stamp Co. the mug is from Angie Blom Digital Designs, Christmas joy mugs collection. I colored using the colors of the inspiration photo….shades of red and gray! Sentiment strips and the cardstock punched heart are all from Unity as well. Added some staples and foam tape for accent!

Thanks for visiting!

~ February 2025 Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Monochromatic

 

monochromatic [mon-uk-kroh-mat-ik] (adjective): of or having one color. relating to, or having tones of one color in addition to the ground hue.

Hello friends and welcome to February! This month, the Friends of Unity are creating in monochromatic tones!  Similar shades and tones of the same color families. 

When I started this card I was thinking yellows, but as it turned out it's more of a tan/off white shading. I tore the background papers (the scripty one is from Antique Annotations May 2024 Whit Kit). Next I stamped "Cast All Your Cares" with black versafine clair nocturne onto a piece of white cardstock. Probably should have used thicker cardstock, with all the water coloring and ink smooshing it was pretty warped! I used Tim Holtz distress watercolor pencils (mustard seed) for the yellowing on the flower. It didn't seem enough so I grabbed some Nuvo Hybrid ink (rubber duck) and ink smooshed it around. I distressed edges on all the pieces with Vintage Photo Distress Oxide. I die cut the image with the make a tag die set.  Finished with some seam binding (ivory) from My Scrap Cabin Shop, some burlap twine from May Arts and some clear flat sequins. 

After all the watercolor and ink smooshing was dry I did splatter on some gold and white inks!! 

After several more attempts for "monochromatic" they just didn't seem enough monochromatic! Too many other colors. Then it clicked! :) Don't get me wrong....I made a bunch of really nice things, but just not the RIGHT things! LOL

I grabbed two gina k designs ink cubes that coordinate...innocent pink and dusty rose. Then I needed a floral...(now retired) insightful meadows. Stamped in the dusty rose, moved the paper over, then stamped with innocent pink and repeat! Using the MISTI it was easy to just move the paper over, rather than try to get the stamp in the exact same position as before! I then went back and did the second stamping of both for some shadowing. (Second stamping means that I stamped it once, then the second time with just the ink left on the stamp...no re-inking.) The pink stripe paper is dated 2016! Somehow it was "on top" of a stack of papers and matched perfectly! Die cut the floral panel with the scallops and rectangles nesting dies. What do you do if you can't find exactly the color you need?? You make it yourself! This tag was white (and bigger). I dragged the dusty rose ink cube over it until fully covered, die cut with the make a tag die set and tied on some baby pink crinkle seam binding.

I die cut the circle (scallops and circles nesting dies) after I printed the sentiment from the computer. I used the "inking-the-inside-of-the-die" technique on this one in the innocent pink. The rose chipboard embellishment has been hanging around for ages! When it works it works!

I felt like I was on a roll, so I tried another! My daughter is a senior this year.....I'm going to be needing A LOT of graduation cards!

This one started with the blue check paper, next I created a background using the graduation cap stamp from snarky graduation. I stamped it all over in stormy sky distress oxide. It was the second generation stamping so it was a little bit lighter. Then I die cut with the scallops and rectangle nesting dies. Graduation gnome is one of my favorite graduation sets! He's just so cute! I stamped onto white cardstock with versafine clair nocturne, then watercolored using the stormy sky distress oxide, gina k innocent pink and some water based Tombow ABT markers. 

I see more of these gnome cards getting made in my future! In all the colors! :)

Give the monochromatic theme a try! It's definitely not as easy as I expected it to be at first! But once I got the hang of it, I want to keep making more! 

If you'd like to start at the beginning of the blog hop, check out Crystal's blog. If you are ready to move on, then April is next up!

Thanks for visiting! Please leave me some love! :) <3

{BYSHC} Sketch #53 - Let Your Heart Be Light

 How is it the last day of January?!? {BYSHC} Sketch #53 ends today! Be sure to get any and all entries in before midnight! 

This started out as an experiment! LOL I stamped the tree (from Unity Stamp Co. Kit of the Month October 2024 Sweet Bliss of Christmas), in honestly not sure, but guessing it was Nuvo Hybrid Lime Burst. I then sprinkled some WOW! Embossing Powder (neutral ultra shimmer) over the wet ink.  Heated it up with my heat gun and BAMMM Super Sparkle! I added some tiny pearls as ornaments in red, gold and pearl. I stamped the sentiment from the same Kit of the Month, then die cut the panel with the scallops and rectangles nesting dies. The patterned papers are from Echo Park Gnome for Christmas. 

Be sure to get your entries in before midnight! 

{BYSHC} Sketch #53 - Warm Winter Wishes

Hello again friends! As I clean up all the Christmas decorations, I like to take a minute and check out the cards that have been sent. Some of the artwork is really nice! I try whenever possible to recycle some card fronts from time to time and give them a second life! This one that I created for {BYSHC} Sketch #53 is one!

I took the card front (the tree with the cardinals) and die cut it with the smallest rectangle from the scallops and rectangles nesting dies, then I took one of the freebie tags that come from Unity and cut it down with the tag builder die set. I cropped the corners of the rectangle to match. I added some red and white bakers twine to the tag. The banner started out as a scrap sentiment strip that turned into a hot mess because it didn't fit and the was cut weird....so I stamped it again! :)

 

Unity Membership Makes!

It's Wednesday! You know what that means!! It's Unity Membership Makes day! My card today features a couple membership kits!

I have been saving this example from a-round and a-round for some time. I grabbed that set, and the feather from the November 2018 Kit of the Month {Whole lot of Lovely}. The two smaller circles are stamped with saltwater taffy and salvaged patina, the large one is wild honey. Following the example on the Unity sale page (not sure which designer created it) I then stamped the background small details, on the very back panel. I die cut the other two panels with the scallops and rectangles nesting dies. I typed up the sentiment, printed it and die cut with a die from spellbinders. A mini paperclip (from Unity) to finish it off!

Hello Love!

 Hello friends! After I organized some scraps, I found a lot of reds! LOL What a perfect color to create some "LOVE" cards!

This first one was created using a sketch I found on Pinterest (MojoSketch #539). I think it was from 2020. Anyhow....I grabbed the January 2024 Whit Kit, Sending Love, stamps and the coordinating paper pack, Whimsy Hearts! This particular Whit Kit included an envelope die too! I started with a kraft background, stamped on part of the "words" stamp, then added a few of the smaller ones...postmark and the "hello love" circle. I then cut the envelope from a darker piece of kraft paper, and the insert was cut using the postage stamp nesting dies. Following the sketch, I cut the patterned papers accordingly. The banner at the top was created with a chipboard banner (UmWowStudio Layered Banners) and a piece of patterned paper glued to the back of it. I added a stamped "happy valentine's day" and "hello love" sentiment to the front of the envelope and added some ivory seam binding I just received in the mail from My Scrap Cabin Shop! I attached the envelope with foam adhesive and then added some flat sequins for sparkle!

Love how this turned out!

(sketch for reference)

I still had more red stuff left over, so let's make another! :)

Again more scraps from the Whimsy Hearts Paper pack (January 2024 Whit Kit) and another sketch from Pinterest (#mojosketch547). I chose Alfie - heart & soul mouse and a sentiment from January 2024 KOM. Cut the patterned papers to the sketch (except I mis-cut the big piece of polka dot paper :/). Sketches are a suggestion anyway! :) I stamped Alfie onto a white tag (courtesy of Unity Stamp Co. thank you baggie) with versafine clair in nocturne, embossed with clear embossing powder and colored with Tombow ABT art markers. Added some crinkled seam binding (myscrapcabinshop) in the color coral, some tiny pearls, a sweet little heart paperclip  and some foam tape!

(sketch for reference)

Maybe one more?!?! Lots of scraps y'all!

More scraps from the Whimsy Hearts paper pack from Unity. The sketch for this one is from BYSHC Sketch #24. The heart is from the December 2016 KOM and the sentiment is from a cut apart sentiment sheet, pretty sure it came from Unity as well. I stamped the image onto white cardstock and colored with Kingart Alcohol Markers. Added some iridescent ribbon, foam tape and clear flat sequins.

(sketch for reference)

Glad I had some time to craft this morning! Thanks for visiting! :)