~ November 2026 - Friends of Unity Blog Hop - Bookmarks & Tags

Hello and welcome to the November 2026 Friends of Unity Blog Hop! Our theme this month is bookmarks & tags. I have made both many many times! Given a bunch away to my book club and have kept a few for myself! 

My first project will be wine bottle gift tags. I love the look of these and have always wanted to give them a try! Here's my chance!

 I started with a piece of cardstock 8 1/2" x 11" and cut 3 pieces, 8 1/2" x 3". I created the flap by scoring at 6" and hole punching with a 1 3/4" circle punch, could have used the smallest circle from the scallops and circles nesting dies, but I cannot locate the smallest circle in my set! 😞 Next it was time to embellish! The best part!

Grabbed the Holiday Hide & Peek trio from the September 2026 Kit of the Month. I corner rounded the base on a couple and edge die cut the third. I stamped the image, colored with KingArt Alcohol Markers. I distress here and there with vintage photo distress oxide, I added some silver glitter gel pen, some Nuvo Aqua Shimmer in glitter gloss and also added some enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs, as well asl some organza ribbon, bakers twine and seam binding ribbon as well. Love LOVE how these turned out and can't wait to make more!

Last project from me this month is actual gift tags!  Who can't use more gift tags?!? 

picHonestly this felt a little like cheating! The With Love, From Me, set from the October 2025 KOM does it all for you!

This set, plus the Unity Make a Tag die set and the Scallops and Squares nesting dies, plus some scraps made this set of sweet gift tags! I added some bling and some ink here and there, but for the most part the stamps and the paper did the rest! I added some natural burlap twine from may arts ribbon to finish them off!

Thanks for hoping with us this month! To start the hop at the beginning, you can visit my friend Crystal here. To move onto my next friend Rachel, click here! 

{BYSHC} Sketch 75 - Merry Snowman

 

Hello and welcome November! We are down to crunch time for card creation! Sketch 75 is here and running through the end of the month.  Digi Doodle Designs is the sponsor this month. I unfortunately do not have any of their items just yet.

I did, however, choose another sponsor who frequents our linky parties....RAM Stamps! I printed digital papers from Snowy Christmas collection and the image from Christmas Merry. Colored with my KingArt Alcohol markers and accented with some white gel pen. The enamel dots are from Gina Marie Designs.

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party - Be Merry

 

Today is the final day to enter any projects for the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party! 

This will likely be the last card from me for this linky party! Unless I do some miraculous work with cleaning the house! LOL Started with a plain white sheet of cardstock. To that I stamped several components from the Winter Shake Up set from Unity. Next I die cut the panel using the scallops and arches nesting dies. The arch was a little larger than I had wanted so I just adjusted the bottom of the die to accommodate a shorter arch! Colored with Alcohol markers and added a tiny bit of distressing using what was left on the blending brush!

The background panel is a piece of kraft that has been sprinkled with some distress spray stain in picket fence and then to add some shimmer, distress mica spray in brushed pewter. I added some foam adhesive to the die cut panel and added it over top of of some red and white bakers twine that I tied around.

Thanks for visiting and thanks for participating in the last linky party of 2026! 

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party - Christmas poinsettia

 

Here we are.....Friday, the last day of the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party! I have a lot going on today, so not sure how many more cards I'll get posted, but here's at least one more! LOL

While this one didn't turn out as I had envisioned, it's still very lovely and shimmery! I started with a plain white piece of cardstock. To that I ink blended Antique Linen and Spun Sugar Distress Oxides. Started with splashing some water over it all for some distressing. I stamped the large poinsettia stamp (from Unity called Poinsettia Poetry) using versafine clair in Nocturne. To that I took more of the spun sugar and watercolored over all the petals. It wasn't giving the effect I was looking for so I then  grabbed some Yasutomo shimmer watercolors and added some to the petals and center. Still not quite right, I then sprinkled on some distress spray in Picket Fence over the entire panel. 

I decided to tear all the edges to create some distressing. Then I die cut the sentiment using greetings of the season {die set} from Unity. Die cut a piece of pink cardstock and added it to the front. The tiny pearls have been in my stash for years and not really sure where they are from.

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party - Let it Snow

 

We've made it to the end of the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party! Today is the day to finish up all those projects and get them posted! To be eligible for a chance to win an amazing prize, your entries needs to be posted before midnight!

While doom scrolling last week with the crud, I saw a video about embossing vellum! I loved how it looked in the video, so why not give it a try! First I die cut a piece of vellum using the scallops and arches nesting dies from Unity Stamp Co. Next I grabbed a snowflake embossing folder (I think from Unity as well) and ran it through the machine. Die cut first then emboss to avoid smashing all the yummy raised embossing! Unsure of where the background paper is from, but it's been in my stash forever! I keep grabbing it thinking that it is white! LOL 

I grabbed this amazing three piece snowflake die from Waffle Flower called Winter Crystal Die. Die cut the snowflake layer with silver sticker paper. The other two layers from coordinating cardstock. I raised the center die with some foam adhesive. The sentiment is from a Unity kit called Winter Shake Up. 

Don't forget, midnight is the deadline! Good luck to everyone participating and also CONGRATULATIONS! You have created some amazing cards to share with friends and family this holiday season!

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party - Happy Holidays

 

I'm still working on cards for the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party! We're getting down to the wire, so be sure your entries are in and posted before midnight on Friday!

Another card featuring stamps from another sponsor! Taylored Expressions! Although this particular set is retired, there are SOOOOO many others to choose from! This one is called Fluffy Friends - Holiday. Papers used are all scraps! and I followed an older {BYSHC} Sketch, number 51!

sketch 51

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party - Merry Christmas Santa

 

How is it already Wednesday?!?! The {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party continues for 2 more days! Be sure to have your projects entered before midnight on Friday to be eligible for any prizes!

Today's card is courtesy of another amazing sponsor, Angie Blom Digital Designs! The name of the set with Santa and the sentiment is called Hey Santa and the background script is called Christmas Joy Script Background. The Santa file has four different santa faces and a couple sentiments all on one sheet....so don't be surprised if you see him again! :) I printed, then die cut with the postage stamp nesting dies from Unity and colored with some alcohol markers. I distressed the edges as well as the edge of the script background.

I added some silver gel pen to his glasses and then some Nuvo Aqua Shimmer in Glitter Gloss to the letters! (p.s. anyone know where I can get this glitter gloss color? I can only find gold)

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party - Merry Gingerbread

 

I'm getting my mojo back! LET'S GOOO!! I may have gotten a late start to the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party, but I'm rolling now! LOL

This cutie came about when I was scrolling for some inspiration! I found a card done by Gaylynn from November 2022 and I had to re-create it! The background is called Christmas All Around from Unity Stamp Co. I stamped it onto a piece of turquoise blue cardstock using VersaMark Watermark ink and the heat embossed it using the Nuvo Gold Enchantment embossing powder. I then die cut with the largest scallops and rectangles nesting die set.

Next I created the tag. The gingerbread stamp is from this month's Kit of the Month called Frosted with Personality, the KOMpanion set is called baking spirits bright. Stamped with versafine clair in nocturne onto cardstock, die cut with the Make a Tag die set. Distressed the edges with a little vintage photo distress oxide. I sprinkled some picket fence distress spray stain over everything. Next I tied some natural burlap twine around the panel and then added the tag. 

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party - Peace on Earth

 

Hello again! The {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party continues on until Friday the 23rd! I'm still trying to catch myself back up from being sick last week, card number 3 finished! Today has had a little bit of excitement....a squirrel has gotten INTO my screen enclosure! My dog wants to go out and "play" with it! 🤯

Pictures were fast this morning! LOL

I saw a card on Pinterest that I wanted to try and recreate....it's similar but literally nothing like the original! The pink "wood" panel was cut for a birthday card that didn't happen, the die cut border came about while trying to sell the punch...had to show that it worked! Reindeer is from the 2023 Unity Stamp Co. advent calendar, the sentiment is from ...heart of Christmas. Stamped with VersaMark ink and embossed with gina k designs white embossing powder! Die cut panels with the deckle & stitches nesting die set. I punched the snowflakes and added some tiny pearls to finish it off.

Onto the next! :)

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party - Merry Christmas

 

Hello again and welcome back! The {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party is moving on! I'm finally feeling better and I need to catch up! At this point in the week, I've usually got about 10 cards done....not just 2! LOL

It wouldn't be a linky party without a mosaic background card! LOL I made two but this is the one I chose first! The papers are all different manufacturers and I just grabbed and started cutting! I do have a YouTube video on the process, I'll link it here! The stamp set is from Crafty Stamp Co. and it's called Nutcracker Guardians. The sentiment is from a different Crafty Stamp Co. set called Here Comes Santa.

Stamped with Versafine Clair Nocturne onto cardstock, cut into the shape of a tag, made the sentiment into a tag and attached it. I then used some ivory seam binding from My Scrap Cabin Shop to make a bow. I added some black enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs to finish!

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party - Holly Jolly Everything!

 

Hello friends and welcome to the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2026 Linky Party! Today is the beginning of a week long party to get us ready to share out ard creations for the holidays! Even better there are prizes to be had! The list of amazing sponsors is below, but lets get this party started!

My card to share today is brought to you by an amazing sponsor, Unity Stamp Co.  The paper, stamped image and circle dies are all from Unity.  A Little Ho Ho Ho, circles and scallops nesting dies and Season Starter paper pack. I added some enamel dots from another amazing sponsor Gina Marie Designs. I followed an older {BYSHC} Sketch which is posted below. 

Typically during the linky parties I try to utilize any and all scraps to get the most of my paper stash and this card is no exception. I have had the flu and these papers just happened to be out on the desk! Makes it easy when you can grab supplies you know you have at hand to create something even when you are feeling not so great! :) It felt good to get in my crafty space and make something.....here's to the rest of the week being the same! :)

As promised, the sponsor list!

A Colorful Life Designs

Angie Blom Digital Designs

Club Scrap

Creative Worship Stamps

Digi Doodle Studios

Fresh and Renewed with Teresa

Gina K Designs

Gina Marie Designs

In Love With Paper with Cindy Messer

Jaded Blossom

Kat Scrappiness

Kraftin Kimmie Stamps

Lawn Fawn

LazzieJ's Crafting Corner with Jacinda Chen {NEW!}

Markers, Ink and Paper with Cathy Pressing

Newton's Nook Designs

Not 2 Shabby

Pajama Crafter Stamps

Pink & Main

QT Cards with Mom

RAM Stamps

Stamping Bella

Tawny Owl Paperie

Taylored Expressions

The Crafting Duo

The Greeting Farm

Therm O Web

Unity Stamp Co.

Von Marie Designs

Waffle Flower

Whimsy Stamps {NEW!}

29 sponsors! That is an amazing list!! Please have your cards posted onto the {BYSHC} Blog post (listed above) before midnight on the 23rd and good luck! Also congratulations for filling your card stash and avoiding the last minute rush!

~ October 2026 - Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Pink October/Breast Cancer Awareness

 

Hello and welcome to October! The Friends of Unity are going PINK for this month's blog hop! While I have created some other pink cards, I want to take this opportunity to say God Bless and Believe to those who are battling, have survived or are going through treatment with someone battling breast cancer! My one word of advice, get the boobies checked! Early detection is key! Ok, off the soap box and onto better things!

First card is meant to be for someone who needs some reassurance! Life is tough, but sometimes a little extra positivity hits just right!

I used the Seraphim Wings, both stamp and die (which I see is no longer offered, but there is a SVG). This actual card went through several versions, this is the one I ended up being the most satisfied with! 😀  The sentiment is from December 2023 KOM {difference maker}.  I took the picked raspberry watercolor pencil, scribbled it onto an acrylic block and added water! I started with smooshing, then took to using a water brush and just flicking it on. I found some coordinating cardstock, tore the edge. Added some foam adhesive and enamel dots.

Come to realize that I do not have any baby girl cards in my baby card stash! What a perfect opportunity to make some cute pink cards! I used the May 2026 KOMpanion set, oh baby.

Stamped onto white cardstock, die cut the stamped image and another coordinating piece of cardstock using the make a tag die set. I added some ribbon and a little embellishment from my stash as well as some foam tape to the sentiment! I loosely followed the Tawny Owl Papiere Inky Inspiration Sketch 44 pictured below. For those that may not recognize, Tawny Owl Papiere  is our very own Crystal Minkler!

Well that's it for me this month. I have been getting ready for the busy crafty fair season! Thanks for following along! If you'd like to start from the beginning, my friend Crystal is the beginning. If you are ready to move on, another friend of mine, Dawn, is next!

{BYSHC} Sketch 74 - Sending holiday hugs

Hello and welcome to October! Our sponsor for Sketch 74 this month is Taylored Expressions. My stamp set of choice today is an expired Taylored Expressions set called Fluffy Friends - Holiday.

Papers I have chosen are from a Fancy Pants Designs pad called Cottage Christmas.

I added some Nuvo Aqua Shimmer in glitter gloss to the present bow, the sled and the scarf.

Let me also take this opportunity to invite you to the upcoming {BYSHC} 2026 Falling for the Holidays Linky Party which begins October 16!

{BYSHC} Sketch 73 - 'tis the season

 Hello and happy FRIDAY!! The month has gotten away from me, sorry for the late posting with details! :) As a reminder....the sponsor this month is Unity Stamp Co.

My card today features a Unity Stamp set, nesting dies as well as their papers!

Stamp set is called Frost Kiss Gratitude, sentiment is from October 2024 KOM, papers are from Quiet Christmas Morning, nesting dies used are scallops and banners and scallops and circles.

~ September 2026 - Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Anything But a Card!

 

Hello crafty friends and welcome to my stop on the Friends of Unity September 2026 Blog Hop! Our theme this month is "Anything But a Card."

This is always a fun prompt to get the creative juices flowing! At first you think "how hard could this be?" The next thing you know you are thinking...."what in the world am I going to make?!?!" Pinterest is my best friend....so is my daughter! She wanted to create an art piece for her dorm room with a jean pocket to hold sunglasses and other stuff. Since I had to cut up a pair of jeans for that project, I decided to finally create a junk journal! No idea what I'm doing! 😆

I found an old journal that I had to tear out a few pages that were one of my kids school notes but then all was good! I tore the insides out and then covered the outside with some denim! I added a few bits and baubles, likely will add more! Covered the inside cover with a scrap piece of pink gingham fabric. Lots of glue and "gravity" to get all the glue to dry it's finally ready for page production!

Again, no real direction, just remembering some of the videos I had seen come across my feeds....I ink smooshed, then added a printed dictionary page that has words like: journal and journey. I then stamped the typewriter from the June 2023 Kit of the Month {from the countryside}. The butterfly was in a Unity thank you gift. The tags, brads and button are from stash. The journaling stickers at the bottom are from a Tim Holtz metallic sticker book.

Next page is a couple pages back in the book. I started with another dictionary page with words like: love, love-bird, lovable. Torn edges, inked with salvaged patina. I then cut the word "love" out with a heart die from Unity (now appears to be discontinued). Inked that heart with spun sugar. Stamped and die cut the beautiful  Seraphim Wings. Lots of colors on this giant butterfly! Stamped the "love" stamp from that set, with seedless preserves and then second and third and fourth generation to fade it out. "Hello" and "Beautiful" are both from the September 2023 KOM {harvest hues}. I added a button and then flicked onto the page, picket fence distress stain, black soot distress stain, antiqued bronze distress mica spray. 

Well, that may be about as much as my brain can handle without a plan 🤣 onto the next project!

I went looking for an idea of what could come next, then I found the cutest little album (link is here) posted to Pinterest in 2012!

As you can see I started with the postage stamp nesting dies and just went from there.   I cut 6 "pages" out of some cardboard mailers. This made 10 pages for photos. 

Lots of dies used on these....in addition to the postage stamp dies, I used the make a tag die set, the scallops and squares, scallops and arches, scallops and rectangles,  scallops and banners, and scallops andcircles.

Stamps sets used are May 2026 Kit of the Month oh baby KOMpanion set, twinkle twinkle itty bitty (retired), fairy from 2024 Advent Calendar, sentiment from Twinkleheart, wild about you (giraffe) itty bitty (retired).  Papers from several kits too...cozy textiles (WK 10/2020), hydrangea harmony (WK 6/2024), enveloped in love (WK 3/2022), cloud hopper chronicles (WK 6/2023), pastel gingham perfection (WK 3/2024).

I managed to get two albums finished! WHEW! The boy album is not quite as elaborate, but that's how boys are anyway! LOL

I started the same way with the die cut cardboard using the postage stamp nesting dies. Next I made each page! Using similar stamps and Unity papers. Some additional sets used were "hello sweet baby" sentiment is from a retired itty bitty called sweet elle. Additional paper packs used are Fields of Summer (WK 9/2021).

I am absolutely in love with these two albums! I feel that there will be more in my future! 🤣

Thanks for visiting! Hope you are inspired by the many talented ladies sharing their blogs! To start at the beginning, you can visit my friend Crystal. Ready to move on... Rachel is next, enjoy!