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

 Hello again! 4 days left to join us in the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party! Friday the 24th is the last day to submit entries!

My card is pretty simple in design. I followed an older sketch from {BYSHC}, sketch 28 (pictured below). The plaid paper was in a "thank you" gift from Unity Stamp Co., the stamp is from the Unity Stamp Co. 2020 Advent Calendar and the sentiment is from Simply Holiday! Gold glitter enamel dots are from Gina Marie Designs!

They don't all have to be super duper fancy to be appreciated! The reason for the card is to let someone know that you were thinking of them and wanted to let them know! 

p.s. sometimes you can find older and/or retired Unity stamps over on the Unity Stamp Swap Facebook group page ;)

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party - Merry and Sweet

 Back again with another scrappy card for the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party! As I have done in the past and as I said on Friday....I try to use up scraps that I have created throughout the year during the linky parties! It's a great resource and keeps my mind spinning!!

My card today features a tag made from strips of scraps glued together in a way that creates a sort of mosaic I guess! I have used this technique several times in the past and you will likely see more throughout this week as well! The tag was created with a smaller piece after cutting an A2 card front size!

The green polka dot paper was just the right size to cut with a scallop and rectangle nesting die from Unity Stamp Co. The kraft piece in the back has a giant rectangle cut from the middle (shhhhhh) that I strategically covered with the green piece, the tag and the tiny little gingerbread house at the top left! ;)  The Gnome, sentiment and single gingerbread house are from a cute set from the Crafty Stamp Co., called Christmas Cookie Gnomes. I colored everything with my KingArt Alcohol Markers. The tag and vellum overlay were both cut with the Make a Tag nesting dies from Unity Stamp Co. The ribbon and twine are from my stash! Brown enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs!

A few sponsors used on this one! Unity Stamp Co., Gina Marie Designs and Crafty Stamp Co.

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

 Another one for Day 4 of the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party!

This card is brought to you by Taylored Expressions! The little tree is the freebie Pretty Postage Stamp that comes in an order based on what month you order! I also searched Pinterest for some ideas and found a sample card using a different stamp but I liked the design!

I started with the kraft piece that was just a teensy bit too small for the base, so I added a piece of red behind. The smaller piece is cut from another scrap piece of kraft. I have never tried the scoring effect to create a raised border, but I love it! I just used my score-buddy to create the grooves. Next I splattered some black soot and picket fence distress spray stain over both, then took some lumberjack plaid distress oxide ink pad, added some water and splattered that on too.  I stamped the trees three times, cut them down to size, then mounted them on some red backing and cut that to size. Added them to the center of the scored piece. Added some foam adhesive and stuck it down over some red and white polka dot ribbon. The sentiment is from Unity Stamp Co., Simply Holiday and some metallic enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs.

Love how this turned out! 

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party - Holly Jolly

 Lots of scraps on my desk ready to be made into something amazing! {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party is my favorite way to use up some scraps!

My card is created with a digital image and sentiment from Angie Blom Digital Designs called Christmas Joy Mugs. (p.s. you can get 40% off....no code needed!)

The background paper is an older piece from Stampin Up. It was the perfect size for A2 card front! I cut it according to the {BYSHC} Sketch 51 dimensions. I added a strip of coordinating paper to the center. The Santa mug image was backed with some black cardstock as was the sentient.  I added some red enamel dots!

Don't forget....there is still time to submit your creations to be eligible for some amazing prizes!!

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party - Blessings

Hello again crafty friends! I hope you have had a chance to see some amazing creations and have maybe submitted one (or more) of your own! The {BYSHC} Falling for the Holiday 2025 Linky Party goes until this Friday, so there is still time!

My card is brought to you by one of our amazing sponsors....Angie Blom Digital Designs. The digital set is called Blessings Poinsettia. This floral is fussy cut from one of the mason jar images. The background is a piece of kraft cardstock, run through an embossing folder that has been inked with Vintage Photo Distress Oxide to give the wood effect. 

I did die cut it with one of the scallops and rectangle nesting dies from Unity Stamp Co. (another amazing sponsor!) to create the fancy edge. Foam adhesive, enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs and some ribbon from my stash finish it off!

In addition to these two amazing sponsors, I also used Sketch 50 from {BYSHC}....pictured below.

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

 Day 3 of the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party and I have yet another card featuring some of our amazing sponsors!

Today's card uses three sponsors products and ideas!  

Started with this sweet frothy mug from Christmas Joy Mugs by Angie Blom Digital Designs, you have seen a few of these images so far in this linky party....you will likely see more! :) I colored it in pink and blue, using KingArt Alcohol Markers. The background papers are from Unity Stamp Co. Cozy Textiles (WK10/2020). I loved Crystal's card that she posted here, so I secretly.....shhhhh.....CASEd her design :) The postage stamp nesting dies and sentiment strip from simply holiday are both from Unity Stamp Co. as well! I loosely followed {BYSHC} Sketch 10 too!

I am also entering this into the Jingle Belles Rock Pink Christmas Challenge. Each October, the ladies at Jingle Belles Rock (Stephanie and Lauren) post the pink challenge in honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month! They have offered to donate $2 each for each card posted to the challenge! What an amazing outpouring of support!

sketch 10

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

 Welcome back! I've made another card for the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party! 

My card features, you guessed it, a bunch of scraps! LOL The blue snowflake paper is from Snowy Winter Greetings from Unity Stamp Co., the kraft piece also came from Unity. I followed {BYSHC} Sketch 12, which I will pop in below!

The cute snowman is part of the Snow, Snow Cute set from Unity. I colored this cutie with my KingArt Alcohol Markers, then die cut with one of the scallops and circles nesting dies. The sentiment came from a newer Unity set called Simply Holiday. Stamped with Ink on 3 embossing ink and gina k designs white embossing powder. I added some coordinating Gina Marie Designs enamel dots for a little something extra!

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party - Jingle all the Way!

 Hello there! I am still creating and building my stash of Christmas and Holiday cards to be ready fo the busiest season of them all! {BYSHC} Falling into the Holidays 2025 Linky Party is a great way to get some cards finished so you are not struggling in December!

Today's card features a past sketch from {BYSHC}, sketch 54. I will attach the sketch at the bottom. As I have mentioned a couple times, I try to use up as many scraps as I can during the linky parties. It's a good opportunity to clear out all the bits and make something and not waste any pretty papers!

During the Summer Linky Party, I was the winner of a prize from Fresh and Renewed with Teresa and some of those elements were used here! The Santa, sentiment and sequins! The remaining papers are all scraps!

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party - O Holy Night

 Hello again! I am still creating cards using scraps from my stash for the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party!

As I said from the beginning, I tend to use up the most scraps during these linky parties! Throughout the year, it's my personal challenge to myself! This again is created from scraps. I created the background with scraps of shades of blue. The kraft piece in the back has a giant square cut out of its center. The image used is from Unity Stamp Co., called Brightly Shining (it appears to be retired).

I stamped it on scrap of white cardstock and die cut it with the make a tag die set from Unity. I backed it with a piece of navy cardstock, added some navy ribbon and some ivory seam binding (from My Scrap Cabin), and finished it with some foam adhesive. Enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs!

I used a past sketch from {BYSHC} for inspiration....a photo of sketch 36 is below!

p.s. if interested, there is a facebook group called Unity Stamp Swap where you could possibly find retired Unity Stamps! :)

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

 Hello friends! I'm creating cards for the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party! To build up my stash of Christmas cards to keep December stress free! At least in the Christmas Card department! LOL

In keeping with the scrap theme, this background was created with strips of scraps. I was trying to get papers together that matched and just kept giving up. I literally sat down, grabbed a sheet of copy paper and my glue gun and just grabbed whatever was close. And in the end, it's perfect! don't have to be fancy or "matchy" just use up those scraps!!! I keep thinking I need to make a video for this, I saw a video that inspired me to try this technique, but now I can't find it. *note to self....self, make a video!*

Scraps from all different manufacturers, paper packs, thicknesses, style, etc.....but look at that, they all went together perfectly! After all the strips were glued down, I die cut it with the largest scallop and rectangle nesting die from Unity Stamp Co. The image is also from Unity. This one happens to be retired, but there is a new version called Simple Little Wishes. I stamped the image and then die cut it with one of the scallops and circles nesting dies. Colored with KingArt Alcohol Markers.

Sentiment from this same set, stamped with Versafine Clair in Nocturne (as was the image) die cut and mounted to another scrap! Glued everything down with Tombow Liquid Glue.

I followed {BYSHC} Sketch 48 for this card!

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party - Merry & Bright Poinsettias

Hello again friends! {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party has begun! You have until Friday the 24th to get those entries posted to the {BYSHC} Blog to be eligible for some amazing prizes!

This card is brought to you by my many bins/piles/bags of scraps and leftover images!  The poinsettia's are part of the set from Angie Blom Digital Designs called Blessings Poinsettia.  These happen to a part of the jar. I just cut them off of the jar, I only wanted the flowers! :) The papers are from a pack from Miss Kate Designs called Holly Jolly

I die cut the panels using the scallops and rectangles nesting dies from Unity Stamp Co., and added some sheer ribbon and foam adhesive as well.

I will be adding this lovely card to the Jingle Belles Rock October Challenge! Each October the ladies of Jingle Belles Rock (Stephanie and Lauren) deem the prompt pink Christmas in honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month! For each card that is submitted they EACH donate $2 per card to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation! I do have one additional pink card in the works, so be on the lookout!

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

 

Hello friends and welcome to the {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2025 Linky Party! It's a week long flurry of creation! I hope you are able to enter many many times as the sponsor list and prizes are amazing!

Be sure to enter all of your creations on the {BYSHC} Blog post to be eligible! 

My challenge to myself is to use up as many scrap pieces of paper, spare images, leftover embellishments, an extra sentiment as possible! It's my own little personal challenge! My first card is just that!

The image and sentiment are from one of our amazing sponsors, Angie Blom Digital Designs (and right now you can get 40% off - no code needed)!! Both are from the digital set called Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas. Santa was printed some time ago, but used a different image on the same printed sheet. I colored the image with my King Art Alcohol Markers and then fussy cut out Santa, with my cutter bee scissors, to fit into the frame! The red and white paper was left from another project and happened to be the perfect size! I die cut the frame from a piece of kraft, then embossed it with a wood-grain folder and ink blended some vintage photo distress oxide over the embossing. Popped it up with some foam adhesive and then added the twine and button which were in my stash of goodies! 

Now onto the fun part!! The sponsors list is below and WOW are they awesome!

Tawny Owl Paperie

QT Cards with Mom

Unity Stamp Co.

Angie Blom Digital Designs

Crafty Stamp Co.

RAM Stamps

Creative Worship Stamps

Kraftin Kimmie Stamps

Gina K. Designs

Lawn Fawn

Digi Doodle Studios

Not 2 Shabby

Taylored Expressions

Jaded Blossom

Twiddler's Nook

A Colorful Life Designs

Club Scrap

Von Marie Design

Kat Scrappiness

Pink & Main

Newton's Nook Designs

Pajama Crafter Stamps

In Love with Paper - Cindy Messer

Markers, Ink & Paper - Cathy Preissing

Therm-O-Web

Marie Bingaman - Cardmaker

Like I said WOWOWOWOW! 26 sponsors!!! Be sure to join us on the Facebook group to get a front row seat to all the fun!! Your creations need to be uploaded to the blog before midnight on the 24th to be eligible for a prize!

Let's get this party started!!!!

{BYSHC} Sketch 62 - Get Your Jingle On!

 Hello and welcome back! Sketch 62 is up and ready for your creativity! Gina K Designs is this month's sketch sponsor! I love her!!

I regularly see her videos or reels and try to save the techniques for future inspiration! This background was from one of those videos. Simple and easy technique.....I smeared some red hot, kraft and then grass green premium dye ink cubes to an acrylic block. Next sprayed some water on it and then placed it onto a piece of white cardstock. It moves and blends as it wants to! After it was dry, I cut it into the measurements of the sketch (or as close as I could)!  

The red polka dot paper is from Miss Kate Designs Holly Jolly pack and the stamp set is from Unity Stamp Co. called Planner Girl: get your jingle on! I stamped her first on the inked panel....to get all the extra dots and "hair", then stamped her again on white cardstock in order to color her! I fussy cut her out and glued her right on top of the first stamped image. I added some red enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs.

Be sure to follow along because starting next week.....October 17th is the Falling for the Holiday's Linky Party! It's the last one before the holidays! Lots of sponsors and prizes! Stay tuned!

~ October 2025 Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Color Challenge

 

Hello friends! Welcome to October! Another "BER" month is upon us and that means we are getting into the cozy fall season! Although in Florida that only means we patiently (not so much) wait on the first "cold front" to make it this far south and to keep our fingers crossed that no Hurricanes decide to visit! 

The Friends of Unity are sponsoring a Color Challenge on Unity Show & Tell! The colors are listed above in the graphic....red, gold, orange and brown. Cannot wait to see what is created!!

Rather than create a bunch of "fall" cards with this traditionally fall color pallet, I decided on Birthday Cards! I am always in need of more Birthday Cards!!

First up is a floral card created with the challenge colors using the acrylic block and water stamping technique! LOL I'm sure it has a much more technical title, but that's what I did! 

I used Distress Oxides in Lumberjack Plaid, Crackling Campfire and Vintage Photo and the Distress Ink in Scattered Straw. Smeared the ink on an acrylic block, spritzed with water and just sort of pounced it all over! Drying with my heat tool between colors to keep it from getting too muddy. I didn't have enough yellow in the mix so I took an ink blending brush and blended on some yellow in the blank spots.

I grabbed a favorite background stamp, Obsessed with Floral, and stamped it in Versa Fine Clair Nocturne. I die cut the rectangle using a set of diagonal stitch dies from the December 2023 Whit Kit. I backed the die cut piece with some white cardstock. I added the die cut piece with some foam tape over the opening that I just cut out. Next I stamped the large "happy birthday" from the Many More Birthdays and die cut with coordinating die. Stamped "hugs and wishes" as well. I added some natural twine from Timeless Twine to the back and added more foam tape, added on the remainder of the sentiment and then added some clear flat sequins. 

I found inspiration for this one on Pinterest. I used the 3-in-one stencil. I placed tape in between the openings to be sure I didn't over blend. The ink choices for this one were Nuvo Hybrid Rubber Duck, Gina K. Designs Sweet Mango, Red Hot and Kraft. I cut it down to a rectangle and then stamped one of the images from Insightful Meadows (unfortunately looks like it's retired) on top of it with Versa Fine Clair in Nocturne. 

What happened next I can only describe as a flurry of paper, stamps, die cuts, punches, paperclips, washi tape.....anything and everything! I couldn't decide how to finish! Happy Birthday is from ...there is no reason (may also be retired), "make a wish" from ....extended celebration. Ribbon and brad were literally laying in front of me! Added some foam tape to the sentiment and some enamel dots from Carta Bella and she's finished! 

Ever have those cards that end up nothing like you imagined in your head? Maybe you have had to take it apart a couple times and try again?!? Both of these cards were that for me! Whew! As chaotic and uncertain as these both were, I love the end results!

Thanks for stopping by and following along with our Color Challenge Blog Hop! If you want to start from the beginning, you'll need to go to Crystal's blog. If you are ready to move on to the next, Doreen's blog is where you'll head next!

P.S. ~ We have a special giveway - play along with our color challenge and add your card to the album over on the Unity Show & Tell FB page. Amber has a special giveaway happening for entries and all of the details are over on her blog...it's the last stop on the hop....GOOD LUCK!!

p.p.s. sometimes you can find the retired stamp sets at the Unity Stamp Swap FB page :)