{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!

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2025 Linky Party - Holly Jolly Christmas

 Hello again! I am still creating Christmas cards for the {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2025 Linky Party! 

The amount of scraps I have is overwhelming at times! I try to use the Linky Parties to grab up all those scraps and make something amazing! 

This card was created with a few scraps from an OLD paper pack (2015) from My Minds Eye called Cozy Christmas. I used {BYSHC} Sketch 56 for this one! I cut all the pieces and added them to a white card base using some Tombow Liquid Glue. The sentiment was stamped using VersaFine Clair ink in Nocturne onto a coordinating sticker that came with the paper pack. The sentiment is from Jolly Ol' Santa from Unity. The enamel dots are from Echo Park.

Off to find more scraps that I can create something new with! :)

{BYSHC} Sketch 49 - Merry Christmas

 We are to the last Friday of the month, so be sure to get your entries in for the {BYSHC} Sketch 49 before midnight on the 30th!

As I have mentioned before, the sponsor this month is Therm-O-Web! Be sure to give them a look! 

Today's card went together somewhat easier than the others this month! Maybe because it was the fourth one I had done! LOL The papers are from a My Minds Eye pad called Christmas! Lots of rich colors! Glued the two papers together, then die cut with the largest scallop and rectangle nesting die from Unity. To that I took a piece of ribbon from my stash and, because it was wider than I would have liked, folded it in half and glued the center together with Therm-O-Web tear tape! I tied the bow and stuck it to the ribbon with some Zots (also from Therm-O-Web). The Merry Christmas is by Hero Arts. I had the brilliant idea to use the Therm-O-Web adhesive sheets. I stuck it to the back of the red cardstock I wanted to die-cut the "merry" from and ran it through the big shot. When I pulled the word off....it was sticky! :) Christmas was stamped onto black cardstock with versaMark and then embossed with gina k. designs white embossing powder! I did add a rectangle of vellum under the sentiment because it was just getting lost on that background!

Don't forget to get your cards in before the 30th to be eligible for the Therm-O-Web prize!

Christmas in July 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party - Christmas Season

 Hello and welcome back to the Christmas in July 2024 BYSHC Linky Party! I have another scrap card to share!

We are still hopping along on the 2024 Christmas in July Linky Party and my goal is to use up a bunch of scraps! It's my weakness...scraps! I just have a hard time throwing away pretty paper! :) This technique is so fun! I wish I could find the video to share with you, but I've looked everywhere and can't seem to find it! It's a quilting technique that makes the most amazing backgrounds!

Most of the scraps for this card came from a paper pack by My Minds Eye called Christmas Wish with a couple solid cardstock colors thrown in. The main gist of this technique is to cut your scraps into 1/2" strips. The video showed using acetate sheets, but I used copy paper to keep the bulk down. Glue them onto the copy paper in straight stripes across with a slight space between them. Once everything is stuck down, take that background panel and cut it into 1/2" strips going up and down to create strips of tiny squares!  Arrange them as you like onto a cardbase panel, spacing them so a little white space shows between the rows. I chose to have mine go diagonal, but they can be placed any way you choose! After it was all stuck down, I trimmed the edges and used the largest scalloped and rectangle nesting die from Unity Stamp Co. to die cut it out (this also helps to mash it all together and make sure everything is stuck)! I had to add a little more glue to the tiny edge pieces that didn't get enough glue the first time! The cute little reindeer is from a Taylored Expressions set called Fluffy Friends - Holiday. This set also has a matching die set as well! The sentiment is from a cut apart sentiment sheet from Unity Stamp Co. that don't appear to be available on their website. I added some white enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs as well!  

Be sure to get your entries posted to the {BYSHC} Blog to be eligible for our fantastic sponsored prizes! You can find the list there as well!

I am also entering this cutie into a new-to-me challenge blog.....The Color Hues Challenge. The current challenge is #91 - Red and Green! Right up my alley!

{BYSHC} Sketch #41

 We're well into the new year and I can say that I have started building up my stash of holiday cards for the end of the year so that I am not stressed and hurriedly creating at the last minute! If you do a little each month, the task in December isn't so daunting! :) {BYSHC} has a new sketch each month! This year the monthly prize will be a sponsored prize! Angie Blom Digital Designs is the sponsor for January! I absolutely love her digital images!

Today's card features the design called Gifting Girl. This set actually comes with 4 different images. I chose one and used the "Happy Holidays" from another! I started with a white A2 card base, to that I added a background panel (measured and cut per the measurements on the sketch). The rectangle panels were also cut per the measurements. These papers all came from a My Mind's Eye pad called Christmas Wish. I printed the image on regular cardstock and colored with various alcohol markers (purchased at Ross...two different brands). I cut her and the black mat using the scallops and circles nesting die set from Unity Stamp Co. The sequins are from SpiegelMom scraps from a set called Cranberry Bliss. The white bakers twine is literally that.....white bakers twine I purchased from my grocery store! LOL I saw it hanging on the end of an aisle and snatched it right up! :) I added some foam tape to the back of the circles and to the back of the sentiment to give a little dimension!

Be sure to follow along all year for amazing sketches and some amazing sponsored prizes! By the end of the year, you will have a lovely set of cards to choose from!

Links are above, but I've added photos of some products I've used.

cranberry bliss sequins from SpiegelMom Scraps

foam tape

Gifting Girl digital stamp kit - Angie Blom Digital Designs

Scallops and circles nesting die set - Unity Stamp Co.

Favorite scissors!

Kingart Alcohol Markers

Advanced Tape Glider (ATG)

tape for my ATG tape runner!

Falling for the Holidays 2023 {BYSHC} Linky Party!

 Welcome back! It's day 4 and I'm (shockingly) still going strong! The {BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays 2023 Linky Party has reached the halfway point! 

I've started reaching for the larger scraps! Everything from the background to the patterned paper to the tag is all from the scrap bin!

I've chosen a sketch from earlier this year for my direction, I'll add it below! The brown background was stamped with the Linen background stamp (background of the month 4/23) from Unity Stamp Co. which I happened to cut the center out of! :) Next is the patterned paper which was all from the same paper pack! After they were adhered together I die cut the piece with the scallops and rectangle nesting dies from Unity Stamp Co. Next the reindeer piece had been stamped a while ago (I think it's an older Stampin Up stamp) so all I had to do was make it into a tag! Decorative corner rounder and a punch for the top! A little ink blending around the edges, some ribbon and twine and popped up with foam tape! The sentiment is from Unity....set is called heart of Christmas. I stamped it with black ink and embossed it with some WOW! Ultra Shimmer Embossing Glitter. The glitter enamel dots were also from Unity!

I am on a roll for sure! Not sure if I'll be able to keep it up all week, but I'm sure going to try! :)

{BYSHC} 2023 Falling for the Holidays Linky Party! (Scraps Edition - pt 1)

 Hello and welcome back to the Falling for the Holidays 2023 {BYSHC} Linky Party! 

This is a shout out to all the paper scraps that have been stored in a box or bin and have been waiting around to shine! GET THOSE SCRAPS OUT AND CREATE! This is your reminder! :)

I know you have some sitting around! I just organized my crafty space and my scraps and discovered I have WAAAAY too many!! I created a bunch of backgrounds....a couple were Christmas. I have a ton more scraps so be on the lookout for more scrap backgrounds!

These scraps are mostly from an older (2010) My Minds Eye kit called I Believe. This is a well loved kit so there are lots of scraps! I started with a scrap piece of white cardstock to which I added some adhesive. I cut the strips of paper according to the pattern on the paper. For example I didn't want to cut the trees in half or cut off the stars, same with the brown strips...wanted to keep the scallops of the design. Arranged them onto the adhesive and then die cut the whole thing with a rectangle die from the scallops and rectangles nesting dies from Unity Stamp Co. (*sponsor alert*). The green stitched scallop background was also cut with this die set and was also in the scrap bin! I had cut out a smaller piece from the inside of the panel so this beautiful scalloped piece was not only the perfect green but also waiting for it's second life! The cute little tree and sentiment are also from Unity (small stuff christmas). I die cut the circle and banners as well with some Unity scallops and circles die sets (the banners were part of another kit and are unfortunately not sold in their store). I added some red enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs (*another sponsor) and some foam tape to add dimension! So much fun to find papers that go together and then to find a stamp or image that goes too!

My day one post has a list of the AMAZINGLY generous sponsors!

Please join in the fun and get your cards linked up by midnight on the 27th!

Happy July!

 Hello Friends! I've been a little awol due to my daughter's dance recital and nationals competition schedule, but now I'm back! At least for now!  LOL

Beginning of a new month, you know what that means.....a new sketch challenge at {BYSHC}! Sketch #35 is now active until the end of the month! Don't forget to get your entries posted to the {BYSHC} Facebook group before then!!

Here in Florida, July is one of the hottest months of the year. Getting into the "Christmas Spirit" is sometimes difficult when it's 95 degrees! This card features a cool winter palette of blues and mint green. Papers are from My Minds Eye - Christmas Wish. I started with a white card base, measured the patterned paper according to the sketch (below). I stamped the image (Unity Stamp Co. - Ornamental Season) onto white cardstock with VersaFine Clair in Nocturne. Colored with Tombow ABT markers and then added a bit of white gel pen and Nuvo AquaShimmer in Midas Touch to add some shine. The gems are from PinkFresh Studio.

Thanks for visiting and be sure to enter your cards!!

{BYSHC} Sketch 32

 Happy April!! Wow what a blur! I'm late posting my first card for this month's sketch for a couple reasons.....most importantly my daughter's 16th birthday! I want to brag on her for a second. She's been dancing since age 3, had a dance competition this weekend. Started Friday afternoon (had to miss a 1/2 day of school) with solo. She was asked Friday night to understudy a dance that she's NOT the understudy for. Learned the dance overnight, had to go to the studio to get the costume then get to the comp in time to run it with the rest of the group and perform! She killed it! Had another dance that night that took 1st overall! Sunday was her birthday. She danced ALLLLLL day! Friends made her feel special all day long with hugs and gifts. 4 dances.....3 first overall, 1 second overall. It was an amazing and exhausting weekend!

 So here we are on Tuesday! Back to reality! :)

My card for the sketch features some paper from My Minds Eye called Christmas Wish. The stamp set I used is from Unity Stamp Co. called Joy & Blessings. Colored with Tombow ABT markers. The circle is die cut twice from vellum. The center circle is popped up with foam tape. The circles are from Unity Stamp Co. too.....scallops & circles nesting dies. Sequins are added for sparkle! They are from Spiegelmom Scraps in a set called country winter.

Thanks for visiting! See ya next time!

Newton's Nook Inky Paws Challenge #194

 Hey there! I'm back with another card for the Newton's Nook Inky Paws Color Challenge #194! As I said in my previous post.....I currently only have one stamp set! LOL So here is another cute entry using the retiring set Llama Delivery and the matching die set! This time it's a birthday card!

As I have said before, I save a lot of sketches! This one is from Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch #9 (it's attached). The paper (My Mind's Eye Good Vibes) is some I just purchased second hand and I thought it went perfectly with the birthday theme AND the colors in the challenge! I stamped and die cut the llama and colored with Tombow ABT markers. I added some eyelash twine that's been in my stash forever! Glitter enamel dots and the sentiment are both from Unity Stamp Co.