~ November 2025 Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Creating a Background

 Hello again and welcome to November! It's crazy how fast this year has flown by! This month's theme is creating a background!

This is something that I feel most of us, especially myself, do quite often! I follow a lot of different techniques and love to try new things.

My first card today features a technique that I found on Pinterest a while back. I have made a bunch of these backgrounds for several projects and have had a lot of people ask how it's done. While I cannot find the original video, I am working on my own! :) 

I will share once it's finished!

It starts with a bunch of scraps! Cut strips of cardstock into 1/2" to 3/4" strips. 

Glue them in any order or randomly, horizontally, on a sheet of copy paper or some other thin medium. I like to leave a tiny gap between the strips to let the rows be seperate. If your scraps have "directional" print, be sure to keep them all going in the same direction. One of my scraps says "happy birthday" and another has balloons....I had to pay attention to which way the strips were laid out. 

Once all glued down, cut this sheet of paper in the opposite direction to create more strips!

Next grab another sheet of copy paper or other thin medium and glue the strips to that. I like to start corner to corner, but you can do whatever makes you happy! 

Like I mentioned above, if you have a directional print, be sure to arrange them with the words of print going in the right direction. Normally I can flip them and arrange whatever way (like the Christmas one below), but this one I had to be careful! 

I like to die cut the panel to clean up any ragged edges and also to mash it all together! I die cut this panel with the largest of the scallops and rectangle nesting dies. After I was finished with the actual card base panel, I had some extra pieces left over. Both what was cut off the edges and one entire strip that didn't get used....couldn't let it go to waste! I made a tag with the remnants! I used the scallops and banners nesting dies for that one! :)

I used the Pastel Party Parade for the Birthday card and North Pole Collections: Papers for the Christmas one. This "happy birthday" die was purchased from Unity, but I don't see it any longer. The "merry christmas" die is still available! 

The next technique I used, I sort of showed what the start of it looked like already, and Lisa Arana posted this how-to video on the Unity Blog, but this was so fun and turned out so pretty, I thought I would share the finished card! 

This is how it started! ^

This is how it ended up! ^ Once I cut up the sheets into A2 panels, this one stuck out because it looked like the ocean to me. After it was die cut with the largest of the scallops and rectangles nesting dies, I then grabbed an older Whit Kit set called Just Keep Swimming from 8/2021. Like Lisa's video I added some words and distressing to the background with a couple other set pieces. Stamped with versamark and embossed with white embossing powder. I did the same with the turtles. Stamped onto vellum with versamark and embossed with white embossing powder, then fussy cut them both out. I added some clear dew drops.....it looks like water right?! LOL

So what's better than a blog hop!?! A blog hop that announces a challenge! :) The Friends of Unity are sponsoring a challenge over on the Unity Show & Tell Facebook page! 3 Unity gift certificates for $25 each are up for grabs!!!

To start the hop from the beginning, you can start with Crystal's blog here. Otherwise, you can head over to Joyce's blog here.

Thanks for joining us all year! Be sure to come back in December for a MOOD BOARD!!!

{BYSHC} Sketch 63 - Merry Christmas Bear

 Hello and Welcome to November! :| How did we get here so fast!?! Well it's definitely crunch time so glad that {BYSHC} has helped me get my Christmas card supply full and ready to get cards out!

Today begins Sketch 63! This sketch lasts throughout the month of November and our awesome sponsor this month is Angie Blom Digital Designs! I love using digital images! You have so many options! Change sizes, move things around on the page, it's amazing!

My first card for the month features this sweet set called Beary Nice, the sentiment is from Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas. Printed the image and sentiment, colored the bear using King Art Alcohol Markers. Plaid background paper and green "tree" strip are from Echo Park Snowed In. I added some enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs and stapled the sentiment to the base.

{BYSHC} Sketch 62 - Ho Ho Ho

 Hello again! Welcome back! Sketch 62 is what we are working on this month! Christmas and Holiday card giving will be here soon! We are here to help you be ready for the busy season! Our sponsor this month is Gina K. Designs! I love her!

This card features a technique I learned from a Gina K video! It's not new, but it's new to me! Inked an embossing folder and ran the cardstock through it.  The embossing folder is Stampin Up Cable Knit, the ink I used is Gina K dye ink in Red Hot.  The image is from Angie Blom Digital Designs, called Christmas Joy Mugs.  Tag die cut with one of the make a tag die set from Unity Stamp Co. Enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs.

This card, while it may not be my favorite, is still a handmade card. Made by me, one of a kind and created with love! They don't all have to be masterpieces to be appreciated! :)

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party - Happy Holidays!

 This will have to be my last entry for the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party! I have a Halloween Party to get ready for tonight....and it's my last prepared card base! ;)

What an amazing week! I created so many cards and had a blast doing it! Pretty sure my messy desk is worse now that it was when I started! ;) 

I followed {BYSHC} Sketch 45 for this one! Cute reindeer and sentiment from Taylored Expressions Fluffy Friends - Holiday, tag cut with Unity Stamp Co. Make a Tag Nesting Dies, twine from May Arts Ribbons, enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs, papers are from Stampin Up, colored with King Art Alcohol Markers! Whew.....and that's a wrap! 

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party - Holiday Hugs

 Well maybe one more! Today is the final day for the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party and today is usually the day that I try to get in as many cards as possible! LOL

I had die cut and stamped these images and sentiments the other day from Taylored Expressions Fluffy Friends - Holiday so just colored what I had! Grabbed a background I had made using scraps and followed {BYSHC} Sketch 55 to get it done! 

Anyone else feel like this kitty cat looks?!?! I know I do! 

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party - Spirit of Christmas

 {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party ends at midnight! This is the time that I usually start freaking out and make a bunch of more stuff! We'll see what happens! Either way, be sure to have any and all entries posted to the blog before the clock strikes 12! ;)

This die cut tree has been in my stash for probably 15+ years! Always holding on to it to use on a scrapbook page, but when I saw it, it felt like a solemn sort of image. Sometimes the holidays are not always happy, for some it is a very difficult time of year. This card is for those who may be struggling with the season.  

This was created with a gold piece of cardstock that was once whole, but cut in half to use on something else.....that didn't happen! So I stuck it back together and added the plaid piece which was a piece of cardstock in a thank you bag from Unity Stamp Co! As I said the tree is so old, I may have gotten it at a vendor event, not really sure. The sentiment I printed on my computer and die cut with the Postage Stamp Nesting Dies from Unity.  Subtle pearls are from Gina Marie Designs.

There may or may not be more cards posted by me, time will tell!

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party - Sending Joy

 One more project! After seeing a couple posts on the Unity Show & Tell FB page, I was inspired to make some gift tags! The {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party isn't just about cards....it's all holiday projects!

I started with a piece of cardstock from Echo Park called Snowed in. I die cut some tags with the Make a Tag Nesting Dies from Unity Stamp Co. I then took a piece of white scrap cardstock and ink smooshed it a little bit with some distress oxides. Stamped one of the trees from the set Simply Holiday. I die cut these in the same way. Once cut, I tore the top and bottom off and attached them to the plaid tag. 

I used the hole cover die included with the tags to cut in a couple different coordinating colors. I then attached some thick twine. The sentiment was stamped from the same set and then cut into pieces to attach to the tags. More will likely be made, but these are finished for now! :)

 

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party - Christmas Joy

 TGIF! Today is the final day to get your creations posted to the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party!

Today's card features another of the Christmas Joy Mugs from Angie Blom Digital Designs! I colored this yummy cup to coordinate with the plaid paper from Echo Park Snowed In Collection. I die cut the rectangle with the scallops and rectangles nesting dies from Unity Stamp Co.

I used some Vintage Photo Distress Oxide on the background panel edges as well as the cup panel. I added some Glossy Accents to the lightbulbs and to the sprinkles. The sheer ribbon happened to be sitting on the desk and matched perfectly! Some foam tape and we're all set!

Be sure to have your entries posted before Midnight and then we patiently wait for the random drawings to take place! :)

I hope you enjoyed the week as much as I did! I may just post another or two before the day is over! Just never know! :)

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party - Sending Good Cheer

Tomorrow is the final day of the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party, so what is happening today is the final push to get projects finished!

A perfect example of the scraps that I try to use up, is on this background! Strips of paper glued to a piece of white cardstock. Easy peasy! The tag was one of the manila tags from the Unity Thank you baggies, that I cut down, used an edge die on the bottom and distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Oxide.  

Papers are from multiple manufacturers but they went together so here they are! Image is from the cutest set from Taylored Expressions called Fluffy Friends - Holiday and the coordinating die set. I colored everything with my KingArt Alcohol Markers, added a touch of white gel pen and used some foam adhesive to stick it on. Added some enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs too!

Let's make some more stuff!

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party - Joyful Greetings

 Hello again! I am still creating cards for {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party.  Are you?!?!

My card is brought to you by.....I stamped too many things and couldn't decide what to use for which card! LOL. Yes that's right, I stamped these things at the same time as the last Scandi card (yesterday) and just decided, as they lay on the desktop, that they had to go together!

Again from the now retired :( Scandi Christmas set from Newton's Nook Designs. This will go as part of their current Inky Paws Color Challenge!  I stamped the tree in gina k designs dye ink in dusty rose. I also used gina k designs dye ink grass green and red hot on the tag. Distress Archival ink in Speckled egg is there too. I tried to make a background with the designs, but it wasn't even and it wasn't the right size so I grabbed the fancy edges tag die set from Newton's Nook and just cut it out!

I splattered some of those inks on the card base, added a torn piece of green cardstock, added some washi tape and some ribbon, a staple and some foam tape to finish it off! Oh and I added some enamel dots too!

This is why I always keep everything! And also why I have too many scraps! :)

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party - Warm Wishes

 Hello and happy Thursday! The {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party ends tomorrow night at midnight! Be sure to link up your creations to the blog before the clock strikes 12!

Today's card features another sponsor Taylored Expressions! This sweet set of stamps also has a coordinating die set too! It's called Fluffy Friends - Holiday.

This sweet little bear on a sled is so cute! I chose {BYSHC} Sketch 41 to create this card. Again using scraps for this card, the Kraft background has a chunk taken out of it, the turquoise and patterned cardstock were partial sheets as well. I included a pic of the actual sheets to show I'm not making this up! LOL The patterned paper is from Basic Grey (I know, right?!?). The paper pack is sooooo old, but its called Nordic Holiday circa 2011! I colored the bear to coordinate with the paper (used KingArt Alcohol Markers)!

I added some die cut circles, scallops and circles nesting dies from Unity Stamp Co., some foam adhesive and some clear flat sequins! So sweet!!!

My scraps!

Sketch 41!

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party - Scandi Merry Christmas

 Hello there friends! Here we are on day 6 of the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party! I have a card today showcasing quite a few of our amazing sponsors!

This card showcases multiple sponsors, all in one place! It was created for two purposes...one for this linky party and secondly for the current Newton's Nook Inky Paws Challenge, #245 Color Challenge! Colors for the challenge are red, blue, green and pink.

While the stamp set I chose happens to be retired, it is so fun and festive I had to use it! The stamp set is from Newton's Nook, called Scandi Christmas. I stamped three of the trees onto white cardstock. One in Gina K. Designs dye ink in grass green, one in red hot and the third in Distress Archival Ink in speckled egg. After stamping the three, I fussy cut them out (used my cutter bee scissors) and decided to color in the red tree with all of the challenge colors. I stamped the border pattern, also part of the stamp set, along the top and bottom to frame the scene. I tore the edges and added it to a kraft background. Both were die cut with the largest die from the scallops and rectangles nesting dies from Unity Stamp Co. The sentiment was stamped with Versafine Clair in Nocturne directly on the kraft background. I added some enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs and some foam adhesive on the back of the red tree to showcase it! Four sponsors on one card! Not too bad!

{BYSCH} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party - Spirit of Christmas

 Welcome back! The {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party is quickly coming to the end! Be sure to have your entries posted to the blog before midnight Friday night!

Today's card features a few sponsors! The card base background is papers from Unity Stamp Co. The pack is called Season Starter.

Again more scraps left over from other things. The mug is part of the printed sheet from Angie Blom Digital Designs called Christmas Joy Mugs. Colored with KingArt Alcohol Markers in colors that match the paper. The ornament was covered with Glossy Accents to give it a nice shiny texture! The sentiment is from a set of sentiment strips from Unity Stamp Co. and the circle was also cut with one of the scallops and circles nesting dies also from Unity. Twine is from May Arts and the enamel dots are from Gina Marie Designs.

I followed Sketch 46 from {BYSHC}!