{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! :)

Inspired by.....Gnomes #IB318

 Hello again friends! I'm jumping in on the next Inspired by challenge which is gnomes! 

I was inspired by the name of the challenge "gnomes," also by the shades of grey in the picture and the sketch. I started with the stamp from a kit by Unity Stamp Co. called Peppermint Kisses Mouse Gnome. Stamped onto cardstock, colored with KingArt Alcohol Markers and then fussy cut. I colored around the edges with a black pen to make an even edge. Following the sketch, I then grabbed a paper pack from Unity called Snowflake Elegance (part of the Whit Kit from 12/23). The circle of vellum was cut with the scallops and circles nesting dies (Unity). The sentiment from the same stamp set was just added on a strip of coordinating patterned paper. I added some flat clear sequins for a little sparkle.

Love these challenges! They definitely get my mind working! :)

Coming back to add.......I'M A WINNER!! This cutie won the challenge! Thanks Inspired by!!!

Happy New Year!! {BYSHC} Sketch #53

 Happy New Year! My first card for 2025! Let the stash begin! :) {BYSHC} Sketch Challenges and Linky Parties allowed me to have not only enough cards, but some extra as well! No mad rush to create at the last minute to have enough! I am so thankful!! 

My card today features a leftover plaid background creation (I used the plaid builder stencils from Unity Stamp Co.) in blue, green and yellow with a white background. I backed it with some gold foil paper. I die cut the plaid panel with the Unity Stamp Co. scallops and rectangles nesting dies. The white triangle at the bottom was freehand cut. I added the gold paper along the edge, added it to the panel and then cut after the fact. No exact measurements on that one! The tag image is from Unity as well, ...snow buddies. I stamped onto a "freebie" tag, masked the right hand side of the stamp image as it wasn't going to fit, but I wanted to keep the tiny snowman! Colored with Tombow ABT markers. Added some ribbon and twine from my stash. The wood snowflake was also a "freebie" from Unity! The sentiment was left over from some cardmaking. I save everything! LOL

Thanks for stopping by, I would love to see your comments! Be sure to follow {BYSHC} on Facebook to see more sketches and inspiration!

Inspired By...tea time #IB317

 Every once in a while I remember some challenges that I've done and go back and re-visit the blog! This is one of those! Inspired by.... 

I started with the inspiration picture below. What I see is the warmth, blues, winter, tea pot. I was also inspired by the sketch! I had this background made already, shades of blue ink smooshing that I embossed with a quilted embossing folder. The focal image is from Angie Blom Digital Designs, called Joy Mugs. This particular digital set comes with so many mugs and sentiments! I picked this cute snowman cup and colored him in shades of blue. I die cut with one of the scallops and rectangle nesting dies from Unity Stamp Co. The die is actually not this long, but I positioned it to make it longer! Colored with KingArt Alcohol Markers, I then added the blue tabs to go with the sketch, foam adhesive and some clear flat sequins for some sparkle.

I love a good challenge and sketch! :)

~ January 2025 Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Use Old Stuff!

Happy New Year Friends! First Friends of Unity Blog Hop of the new year and it happens to be to use old stuff from your stash! For anyone who has crafted for any length of time, I'm sure you have some stuff in your stash that's been hanging around for a while! I have paper packs from 2005! Not Unity, but still!! 

I chose to use a sketch that I saved way back in 2014, My Favorite Things Sketch #180 (MFTWSC180 Sketch). MFT doesn't do sketch challenges any longer, but being a big fan of sketches, I was saving these left and right! I grabbed an "old" Unity Set called ...wonderful & simple things, Sentiment Kit from September 2020. I got this set because of Lisa Arana's November 2020 blog post showcasing this set by making 5 different cards. I just loved how they looked so elegant.

Since we're using old stuff, I grabbed a paper pack from the August 2022 Whit Kit called Grow Untamed. It appears that this pack is not currently available, but I have hardly used mine! I used the scallops & rectangles, scallops & squares and scallops & banners nesting die sets. What else says "old stuff" but brads! Grabbed a couple brads from my endless stash to add to the corner of the piece! A little distressing with Vintage Photo, some ivory ribbon and some foam adhesive to finish it off!

(sketch for reference)

Next, because I have sooooooo many old things, I thought why not do another (or three) for a little extra fun!

Tawny Owl Papiere (Crystal Minkler's inspiration page) started sketches in 2022, I chose to use Sketch #1 posted May 2022 for my next card.

I used an older background stamp, topography (2021) over some ink smooshing. I used weathered wood, broken china, faded jeans and salvaged patina. I stamped the background in Versafine Clair in Nocturne. Then I ink blended around the edges to soften. Next I picked one of the first stamps I purchased, somethin is fishy. My husband is a fisherman and works in the fishing industry...this stamp was practically a necessity! LOL Not sure the date on this one, but there is a review from 2020. I stamped it with the same versafine clair, and embossed with clear embossing powder. Ink blended around to soften the edges again and finished it off with some natural burlap twine and blue enamel dots.

Thanks to a comment from Amber, I dug through my stash of patterned papers that I have had (and honestly not even looked at) for quite a while! In the first drawer I found this piece of patterned paper from 2003!! The "denim" paper came from a pack of Authentique from 2012! Whew....that's some OLD paper! 

Red bandana and denim together is a great combo!

Holy moley he's cute! Stamped this sweet guy (...thinking of moo UU 12/24) onto white cardstock. Die cut with the make a tag nesting die set. Colored with some kingart alcohol markers. Found a sketch from probably 2012-2013-ish (MFTWSC161).

Added some foam tape and some brads!

Felt the need to make one more! I had stamped the little high road when I stamped the above one so couldn't just leave this sweet baby to wait! Same red bandana/paisley paper, just made a little "lighter."

I layered a torn piece of the red bandana paper and a piece of black cardstock. I added some washi tape and some staples. I colored the image with some colored pencils. The first attempt was with alcohol markers but because of the "kraft" color, the markers didn't show as well. I added some flower eyelets that I've had forever and some ribbon and twine to the tag. Popped up with foam adhesive! 

This was soooooo fun!! I need to get back into the paper drawers and see what other treasures await! I could have made so many more with the old papers I have! Give those old crafty things some love! You have them in your stash for a reason! Create something today!

Thank you for visiting me and I'd love to hear your thoughts, so please leave me some love! If you'd like to start the hop at the beginning, you'll need to visit Crystal. If you are ready to move on to the next in line, please visit my friend Joyce!    

Refuge

 I was needing some creative time….it eases my mind and helps relieve my stresses. What a perfect stamp to do that!! 

This stamp is from Unity Stamp Co., part of their {itty bitty} collection. It’s called Refuge. Creating is a stress reliever for me. The New Year should bring calm but sometimes it’s just the beginning of a year of change. My youngest will be graduating from high school in May and then possibly off to college. My oldest is getting ready to move out on his own. While it should be a time of excitement and joy I’m feeling anxious. 

I had created this ink smooshed manilla tag some time ago but it was a large tag, I wanted to make it smaller. I found a card in the Unity site made by Lisa Arana and created something similar! My background paper is from a pad I picked up at Joann's made by Craft Smith. The ink smooshed piece and the brown panel behind are cut using the smallest scalloped rectangle from the nesting die set and then I cut the corners off to make a tag. I die cut the focal piece with the postage stamp nesting dies. Then stamped the image with versafine clair in nocturne. I ink blended around all the panels with vintage photo. Then I watercolored the feather with some watered down distress oxides in crackling campfire, lumberjack plaid and shaded with stormy sky. Next I took the leftover ink from coloring and splattered it on the piece. To the tag I splattered some distress mica spray in antique bronze. The ribbon was wrapped around a gift box we received (I keep everything!) Enamel dots from GinaMarie Designs and twine from MayArtsRibbon.

Lisa's card for reference.

This may just sit on my desk for a while to remind me that God is in control! <3 Thanks for looking and letting me ramble on! :) Until next time!