~ May 2026 - Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Farmhouse

Hello and welcome to the May 2026 Friends of Unity Blog Hop! Our theme this month is Farmhouse. Hope you enjoy the hop!

To be honest, I had a few ideas about this theme a few weeks before I got started, but when I sat down to create something, I was stumped! LOL I hope that I have sufficiently captured the theme of Farmhouse! :)

For those that "know" me....know that I am an avid (or should I say RABID) crocheter! I crochet A LOT!  I created the scalloped piece from some very fine yarn and attached it with some tear tape. Seemed like the most secure way to attach it! I used some Kraft cardstock and a piece of the Pastel Gingham Collection (Whit Kit 3/2024). The stamps used are from the December 2022 KOM {a new chapter}. I stamped the flower and sentiment with VersaFine Clair Nocturne, the distressed words with Antique Linen Distress Oxide. Colored the flower with Kingart Art Markers. Die cut with the smallest scallops and rectangle nesting dies and then tore the left side off....as well as tearing off the left side of the gingham panel too! Some foam tape, twine from May Arts and some enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs and she's finished! :)

I know this may be a shocker, but this next card features some scraps that were left from the Country Lovin' paper pack and a few from Barnyard Blowout. They went together perfectly! With the scraps I had in front of me, I went on the hunt for a good sketch! Tawny Owl Paperie to the rescue! I found the perfect sketch from May 2025, Sketch 33 is pictured below.

What is more "Farm"house than a sweet cow! This cutie is from ...thinking of moo (12/2024 Uniquely Unity and the sentiment is from (one of my favorites) Gotta Love Sentiments. Stamped with versafine clair nocturne, die cut with the postage stamp nesting dies and colored with KingArt Art Markers. I added a teeny bit of distressing around the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I also used the scallops and banners nesting dies. I then added some twine from May Arts and some red enamel dots from Gina Marie designs and a cute little heart paperclip.

I have one last card to share. When I heard "farmhouse" thoughts of the super strong women who ran the whole thing popped into my head! 

I pulled out the Wallpaper & Warmth paper pack from the January 2025 Whit Kit and it just reminded me of the calico dresses and aprons that you see in old photos. I also grabbed another favorite set of mine, Difficult Roads. I absolutely love the detail in the mason jar vase with the cotton flowers. I found a picture on Pinterest that is not on the website, created by Karen Maldonado, and used it as inspiration! I stamped the image and the sentiment onto kraft cardstock. I then used my Tombow ABT Brush Markers to color. It created a softer color gradient that I was looking for. After coloring I trimmed the panel down a bit. For the backer, I used a piece of cardboard packing and ran it through the embossing machine with a woodgrain folder! I distressed both pieces with the Tim Holtz distressing tool and added some walnut stain distress ink to the edges. Even though you cannot see it, I did add some thicker burlap twine under the image. To that I tied a piece of seam binding from My Scrap Cabin in the color sea mist. 

The sentiment was a whole other project! LOL I cut it down two or three times and ended with the round top and bottom and squared sides. I felt it needed a little something more. I die cut a tag topper and attached it to the very tippy top edge. Tied on some natural twine and added it to the front! A few flat sequins and some Nuvo Aqua Shimmer in Glitter Gloss to finish!

I thought I was finished, until I saw the newest sketch from Tawny Owl Papiere! :)

I started with the paper choices, then moved onto the stamp set. I have to say that I switched multiple times in the search process! It's not always cut and dry! Sometimes it takes some tweaking and switching things around to get the result you are looking for! Ended up with the I'd Go Anywhere set along with the sentiment from Sing the Lord's Praise. Stamped both with VersaFine Clair Nocturne. Die cut the main image with the scallops and squares nesting dies. My paper choices were Rustic Farmhouse (11/2020 Whit Kit) and Simply Spring (5/2021 Whit Kit). I liked how Crystal tore the paper to make the diagonal....so that's what I did as well.

Lastly I colored with my Tombow ABT markers for better control of the color again. Added some natural bakers twine and enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs! While it was unexpected, I'm glad I took the time to create it! :)

If you would like to start over at the beginning, Crystal's blog is the place to start! If you are ready to move on....Rachel is your next stop! Enjoy the rest of the hop!

I would love to hear your thoughts! Please leave me some love! :) <3

{BYSHC} Sketch 69 - Bring on the Merry!

 Hello friends and welcome to MAY! How are we here already?!? Well let's get right to it! :) Sketch 69 goes all month long and our amazing sponsor for this month is Newton's Nook Designs! 

I chose to use some scraps on my desk that fit the sketch perfectly! The paper is from The Crafty Stamp Co., Season of Giving. The stamp set is called Christmas Trimmings, but is unfortunately retired :( Following the sketch, I cut a circle from vellum to place behind the girl. The circle with the sentiment seemed a little plain so I added some gifts and a wayward ornament, as well as some sequins. 

{BYSHC} Sketch 68 - Cozy Days Ahead

Whew! What a crazy month so far! I hope you enjoyed the Linky Party, it's always a great time! Back to our Sketch 68 challenge!

As with the last one for this challenge, I grabbed all the blue scraps I could find....multiple makers, multiple thickness....doesn't matter! Cut strips of 1/2", then cut the strips into 1 1/2" pieces and mixed them up! The vellum circle is die cut with the scallops and circles nesting dies from Unity Stamp Co., the stamp set is also from Unity called Snow, Snow Cute. The sentiment from Unity Stamp Co. Kit of the Month 10/23 Golden Glow, die cut with the scallops and banners nesting dies!

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party - Merry Christmas

 Hello again and thank you so much for joining us in the {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party! Today's the last day to get entries in for a chance at some amazing prizes! 

Today's card features a scrap creation! The background is all different green scraps that I combined to create an amazing backdrop for this super cute scandinavian inspired card.

As I said, I started with this green scrap background...all different manufacturers and weights and themes....but they all work together to create one amazing piece! Next I paired it with a cute set (unfortunately now retired) from Newton's Nook Designs, called Scandi Christmas. I stamped the tree and sentiment with the holly leaves onto white cardstock with Gina K Premium Dye Ink in Grass Green. Next I fussy cut the tree, and die cut the sentiment with a die set from Unity Stamp Co. called scallops and banners nesting dies. Speaking of nesting dies, both background pieces were also die cut using another nesting die set from Unity called scallops and rectangles. I then added a cute tag, some red ribbon and burlap twine, some red enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs and some foam adhesive! 

Don't forget to use up those scraps! They can create something spectacular! Also don't forget to get your entries into the blog post before midnight to be eligible for a prize pack from one of the amazing sponsors...some of which I used on this card!

Good luck and we'll see you soon!

Other helpful products that I used during creation:

MISTI

CutterBee scissors

Scotch ATG

Fiskars Titanium Non-stick scissors

My Amazon Favorite Craft Essentials!

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party - Santa's on his way!

 Welcome back! The {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party is in the home stretch!

Utilizing another amazing sponsor, Crafty Stamp Co.! This stamp set is called Here Comes Santa paired along with the cute paper called Season of Giving!

I thought this stamp of Santa's rump was sooooo cute! I stamped the image onto white cardstock, die cut it along with another piece of patterned paper with the Unity Stamp Co. scallops and banner nesting dies, along with a little topper piece too! I colored the image with KingArt Alcohol Markers. Popped on some foam tape, added in some red ribbon, some red enamel dots and some Nuvo Aqua Shimmer to the snow for sparkle!

I found a sketch that I liked from the BYSHC Facebook group page and went with it! Sketch 63!

Other helpful products that I used during creation:

MISTI

CutterBee scissors

Scotch ATG

Fiskars Titanium Non-stick scissors

My Amazon Favorite Craft Essentials!

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party - Sending Joy

 Hello friends! Welcome back to the {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party! I am working my way through my scrap pile and I'm so happy!! 

My card shown here is directly from the scrap pile! The two triangular pieces were together and already cut into the triangles! {BYSHC} has an amazing library of past sketches on the facebook group page....I found a sketch that works perfectly with these pieces!

Striped paper is from an older paper pack from Authentique, called Retro Christmas. The red polka dot is from Stampin Up. Sentiment, the tag and paper clip are all from Unity. Twine from May Arts, enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs and the Santa ephemera was part of a prize pack!

Sketch 58 was used, I've shared it below! Don't discount all the pretty paper scraps you have....and I know you do! They can easily become something beautiful!

Other helpful products that I used during creation:

MISTI

CutterBee scissors

Scotch ATG

Fiskars Titanium Non-stick scissors

My Amazon Favorite Craft Essentials!

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party - Happy Holidays

 Hi crafty friends! Another creation for the {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party!

My card is what you could call a 3-for-1! Three sponsors...one card! :) A PSA to note on this one.... I stamped the image before I die cut. During the positioning on the die cutter the die shifted so it was off center :/ after I stomped my feet for a second....I took a deep breath and fixed the problem! :) Adding more embellishments! 

To begin, the blue patterned paper is a digital download from RAM (Rachel Ann Miller) Stamps. The entire printable pack is soooo cute! It's called Snowy Christmas. That's sponsor #1, the next sponsor shown is Taylored Expressions! Unfortunately, the stamp set is no longer available, but there are soooo many other cute sets available! This one is called Fluffy Friends - Holiday. And last but not least...the die cut circle is brought to you by Unity Stamp Co., the scallops and circle nesting dies.

I colored the image in with KingArt Alcohol Markers, popped the circle up with foam adhesive and gave it a teensy bit of distressing around the edges and a few flat sequins.  

I followed one of the {BYSHC} Sketches from a couple years ago.....Sketch 41!

Other helpful products that I used during creation:

MISTI

CutterBee scissors

Scotch ATG

Fiskars Titanium Non-stick scissors

My Amazon Favorite Craft Essentials!

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party - Special Delivery

 I love when a plan comes together! One of our amazing sponsors, Unity Stamp Co., has a sketch and patterned paper challenge on their Facebook page. Why not make a Christmas card! The {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party is the perfect place for it!

I just love this Santa set! It's called A Little Ho Ho Ho! I paired him with the paper pack called North Pole Collection. This paper pack is well loved....so I had a lot of scrap pieces to choose from!

I stamped the image onto cardstock with VersaFine Clair Nocturne, colored with KingArt Alcohol Markers, die cut with the scallops and circles nesting dies from Unity. The sentiment is from the same set. I tied on some natural color bakers twine from Timeless Twine, then popped up Santa with some foam tape and added some enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs.

Also entering this card into the Unity Show & Tell Sketch/Pattern Pizazz Challenge (which runs until the 21st!)

Other helpful products that I used during creation:

MISTI

CutterBee scissors

Scotch ATG

Fiskars Titanium Non-stick scissors

My Amazon Favorite Craft Essentials!

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party - Merry Christmas Streamers

 Hello again! I am still creating for the {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party!! How about you?!?

Have you ever found a card online that you just had to find the stamp set and have it for your own?!? That's what happened here!

This gorgeous stamp is from one of our amazing sponsors, Pink & Main, it's called Christmas Streamers. I loved the sample photo card so much, I had to have this stamp set just so I could recreate it! I stamped the image (one GIANT stamp!) onto off white cardstock with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Oxide, then I sprinkled some clear embossing powder on it and watched the magic happen with a heat gun! It's so satisfying! LOL I die cut the panel with a Unity Stamp Co., nesting die set called scallops and rectangles. Trimmed a piece of red cardstock to size and masked the included sentiment to only use the Merry Christmas part. I stamped with Ink on 3 embossing ink and sprinkled it with Unity embossing powder in Alabaster White. Since my cardstock was cream, I tried to "cream" up the white sentiment with an alcohol marker. Not sure if it actually did anything, but maybe a little.

Next, as in the sample photo, I added some tiny adhesive pearls from Gina Marie Designs. Love it so much!!

Other helpful products that I used during creation:

MISTI

Scotch ATG

My Amazon Favorite Craft Essentials!

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party - Season's Greetings

Hello again! Today's entry has a background of ........ *SCRAPS*! Welcome to the {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party! Each linky party, I try to utilize as many scraps as I can....it's sort of a challenge to myself!

Another created background panel using strips of scraps pieced together! 

The stamp, sentiment and nesting dies are all from Unity Stamp Co. The reindeer stamp is from the 2024 Advent Calendar, the sentiment is from a sweet little set called Simply Holiday. I colored the tiny deer with KingArt alcohol markers. I then die cut the main panel with the largest die in the scallops and rectangles nesting die set, then the circles were die cut with the scallops and circles nesting die set. Everything was mounted with Tombow Mono Liquid Glue and then I added a few white enamel dots from Gina Marie designs.

additional supplies used:

MISTI

Versafine Clair Nocturne

My Amazon Favorite Craft Essentials!

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party - Season's Greetings

I am spending the weekend with my daughter at her collegiate dance nationals in Orlando! Hope you get some time to craft today! The {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party continues through the end of the week!

Today's card features another scrap background. This is created with multiple different manufacturers of paper. All throughout my years crafting, all the scraps I have saved....threw them all together!

The stamp set is from Unity Stamp Co., called Simply Holiday. It is a sweet little set that has a ton of sentiments along with two sizes of tree. I stamped it with Salvaged Patina Distress Oxide onto white cardstock. Die cut it using the smallest tag in the make a tag die set from Unity. The brown is also die cut using the coordinating tag die. The sentiment is from the same stamp set and die cut along with a coordinating piece of cardstock using the scallops and banners nesting die set from Unity. I then added some natural burlap twine, foam adhesive and clear flat sequins.

I was inspired by the example tag (by Lisa Arana) in the listing for the stamp set.

additional supplies used for this card:

Fiskars paper trimmer

MISTI Stamp Tool

Fiskars titanium non-stick scissors

ATG Advanced Tape Glider

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party - Merry Little Christmas

 Hello again and welcome to day 2 of the {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party! Party started yesterday and continues on until midnight on the 17th!

I am a huge fan of sketches! Did you know that the {BYSHC} Facebook page has all of the past sketches saved in the photo album section of the page? I tend to go here and browse past sketches to find inspiration for new projects! It's a great resource!

My card today features scraps of cardstock stacked in a diagonal pattern to create an entire background....similar to sketch 48 (pictured below)! The cardstock all came from the same pack by My Mind's Eye, called Christmas Wish. The sentiment is from Unity Stamp Co., set is called Ornamental Greetings. I die cut the vellum circle as well as the smaller sentiment circle with the scallops & circles nesting dies. I added some green-ish glitter enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs and easy peasy!

Thanks for the visit and hope to see you again soon!!

For a list of the sponsors and prizes, please visit the {BYSHC} Blog post which is linked above or my first post of the Linky Party!

Other helpful products that I used during creation:

MISTI

Fiskars Paper Trimmer

CutterBee scissors

Scotch ATG

Fiskars Titanium Non-stick scissors

My Amazon Favorite Craft Essentials!