~ April 2025 Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Use All Scraps!

 Scraps you say?!? I am currently surrounded by bags and bags of scraps! I could do this prompt forever! The Friends of Unity April Blog Hop is all about those lovely pieces of paper that are "leftover" from other things! Grab all your leftover pieces and let's get started!!

To say that I'm literally surrounded by scraps is not an exaggeration! These three bins have bags of somewhat sorted scraps....this doesn't include what's on my desk and what's around me....it's not pretty! LOL My favorite way to use up scraps is to find a sketch that has lots of layers! Our fearless leader Crystal has a facebook page that is a monthly sketch challenge! Also the {BYSHC} is also a sketch challenge group....Christmas and Holidays! Anyway....back to my cards!

My first card uses some scraps I saved from a wedding invitation we received. I planned on using the elements from the invitation to create their wedding card! The embossed vellum sleeve, the blue ribbon tied around and the heart paper clip that was also attached!

I used A Day To Treasure for the image and sentiment. I kept the paper backing sheet from the stamp and used that to mask the ink blending. The blue paper I used behind the vellum was found in the scrap bags!

Next up was a handful of scraps from Jubilant Tapestry. 

I had some scraps that had giant rectangles and circles cut from the centers. FYI -- The mid-sized square (scallops and squares nesting dies) fits over the mid-sized circle (scallops and circles nesting dies)! I stamped A Mother's Nest onto cardstock, then die cut with one of the squares. I then had to *carefully* position the square over the hole in the cardstock so I could use what was left! I tore the bottom off of the floral, then added a piece of the polka dotted paper. The brown piece was literally just sitting right in front of me! The background is an embossed piece of cardstock that I ink blended over with whatever was left on the blending brush. 

Colored the image with some KingArt Alcohol Markers and used the backing paper from the stamp again to use as a mask. The twine was just this little piece so I tied it into a bow and attached with liquid glue. 

And last but not least is a sweet card for a friends daughter who just recently had surgery. Everything was a scrap....even the image! I had colored it and cut it smaller than I needed so it's been sitting waiting for the right project!

I chose a sketch from {BYSHC} past sketches....sketch 24. I positioned and cut the paper (from Jubilent Tapestry) according to the sketch. The twine was again a piece that was already cut. I love this little highland cow! He just makes me happy! I stamped the sentiment with ink on 3 embossing ink and sprinkled some gina k white embossing powder on to make it pop. 

sketch 24 for reference!

To start the hop from the beginning, you can visit Crystal's blog here. If you are ready to move on to the next.....Toni's blog is here!

{BYSHC} Sketch 56 - Merry Happy Cheery & Bright

 Hello there and welcome to April! {BYSHC} Sketch 56 runs through the end of April. The sponsor for this month's prizes is Jaded Blossom! 

The thing I think I like most about the {BYSHC} monthly sketches is their versatility! I can grab any handful of scraps, find some that coordinate together and just get to cutting and positioning! 

This card features scraps from several different pads and manufacturers. The tag image is a digital image from PolkaDot Orchard.

The sketch for reference!

{BYSHC} Sketch 55 - Peace & Joy

 {BYSHC} Sketch 55 entries remain open until the end of the month! There is a Pink & Main gift certificate that will be awarded to one lucky crafter!

When the sketch "inspiration" photo came out, I immediately said to myself (because she is soooo smart)....I need to try to recreate that! It's amazing! Well here is my version! I used ...woodgrain whisper (Background of the Month October 2023) for the background. Stamped onto kraft cardstock with vintage photo distress oxide. I then inkblended around the edges with the same ink. Once the edges were done, I splattered onto that some picket fence distress spray stain. The image is from Poinsettia poetry, which I stamped with black versafine clair ink and then fussy cut. I colored with KINGART Alcohol Markers. The sentiment is from a kit called ...cherished holly (November 2021 Sentiment Kit). I glued the poinsettia to the white panel and then used foam tape on the whole thing! I then added some white enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs to finish it off!

{BYSHC} Sketch 55 - Christmas Joy

 {BYSHC} Sketch 55 is in full swing! You have until the end of the month to enter a card (or two) for a chance to be the winner of a gift card from Pink & Main!

I used some digital images from Angie Blom Digital Designs on this cute card! The background is Christmas Joy Script Background and the cup image and sentiment are both from Christmas Joy Mugs. The beauty of digital images (in my opinion) is the resizing! I had this cup image already printed and colored, but it was just too big for this card. So I reprinted it....a tiny bit smaller. The background was resized also! I colored the cup with KINGART Alcohol Markers and mounted it with some foam tape. The sentiment was also mounted with foam adhesive and a bit of red and white twine from BellaCreationz Timeless Twine! The background was ink blended using some cracked pistachio distress oxide. I added some translucent enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs to finish it off.

Be sure to join in the fun!!

{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!