{BYSHC} Christmas in July 2026 Linky Party - tis the season

 

Another day another scrap card! {BYSHC} Christmas in July 2026 Linky Party runs until Friday at midnight! Be sure to have your entries posted before then! I've said it once, and I'll likely say it again, but the Linky Parties are my excuse to use up a bunch of scraps!

This card is no exception! The background papers are all scraps from the Unity Stamp Co. paper pack called North Pole Collection. The piece was die cut using the largest of the scallops and rectangle nesting die. The image is from the October 2024 Kit of the Month called {sweet bliss of christmas}. I stamped it with antique linen distress oxide and then die cut with the make a tag die set. Next I distressed the edges of the tag with some vintage photo, added a rose gold paperclip, pink burlap twine and the sentiment. Lastly I added some Cotton Candy Stickles (appears that Cotton Candy is no longer offered...this is the link to hibiscus) to some of the ornaments for a little sparkle!

Although I didn't plan on it, this card resembles {BYSHC} Sketch 55!

Unity Membership Makes!

It's Wednesday! You know what that means!! It's Unity Membership Makes day! My card today features a couple membership kits!

I have been saving this example from a-round and a-round for some time. I grabbed that set, and the feather from the November 2018 Kit of the Month {Whole lot of Lovely}. The two smaller circles are stamped with saltwater taffy and salvaged patina, the large one is wild honey. Following the example on the Unity sale page (not sure which designer created it) I then stamped the background small details, on the very back panel. I die cut the other two panels with the scallops and rectangles nesting dies. I typed up the sentiment, printed it and die cut with a die from spellbinders. A mini paperclip (from Unity) to finish it off!

Growing in Unity - Day #3

Half way through the week! Whew, that was fast! Since discovering Unity, I have learned so many techniques. I have also learned a bunch of things on Pinterest. It's a great place to find inspiration for all the things! 

I have done this technique before...white embossing, ink blending....but I found this set of cards on Pinterest and thought I had to give it a go! I have a bunch of Birthday's kicking off my new year, so Birthday cards are on my mind!

This card started as a full sheet of watercolor paper. I cut it up into 4 - 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" panels. Since it happens to be "UNITY MEMBERSHIP MAKES," I grabbed a large mandala that happens to be from the February 2017 Kit of the Month. I purchased it second hand. I stamped this large stamp using VersaMark embossing ink and my Misti so that I could be sure the image was stamped fully and ready to accept embossing powder! White embossing powder and a heat gun, then on to the ink blending with some Salvaged Patina distress oxide. I then wiped the excess ink off of the embossing, then sprinkled some water on to give it depth. 

I then found a strip of patterned paper and added it to the edge, then a strip of black cardstock to divide the edge. Happy Birthday (from gotta love sentiments) was stamped with versamark and embossed with white embossing powder.

I added some white enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs and it's done! I plan on making more of these in different colors!

Don't forget to comment to have a chance to win one of two $20 gift cards to Unity!

Falling for the Holidays 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party - Magic & Wonder

 Tried something new today! Falling for the Holidays 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party always gets me out of my comfort zone!

I watched a YouTube video this morning from Come Crafting with Natasha. Her videos just started popping up in my feed a few months ago and she is the cutest! She is from New Zealand and just listening to her talk is worth the time! The video is #1090, and it gives inspiration about using all the tiny/small stamps that come in a kit that you may not know what to do with!

I chose the 5 cute hats from the Unity Stamp Co. Kit of the Month from November 2023  called {festive flair}. Stamped with VersaFine Clair in Nocturne then embossed with clear embossing powder. Colored in various colors with King Art Alcohol Markers and then fussy cut. I die cut a plain white panel with the scallops and rectangle nesting dies from Unity. The smaller one I used some pink tape from Therm-o-web and ink blended over it with lucky clover and twisted citron. After removing the tape, I picked out a cute sentiment (from KOM from September 2024 {wander & wonder})! I used some foam tape to pop up the center rectangle. The hats were arranged (took forever to get it right) and glued down, then the center one popped up! I then added some green enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs and viola!

I absolutely *LOVE* this!!!! Thanks Natasha for this amazing technique! I will never take the tiny and small stamps for granted again!

Two Challenges in ONE!

I love when I am able to combine two "challenges" into one card! More bang for the buck! :) Today is Wednesday, which means it's Unity Membership Makes Day!

Today I followed the sketch challenge at Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration #22. As I was going through some scraps the other day I remembered all the cute sketches to use up some of these! Sketch is below, but I stamped the cupcake from the Unity Stamp Co. Kit of the Month from January 2023 {bloom and evolve} and colored in with Tombow ABT markers. I added some Uni-ball white gel pen to accent. Happy Birthday is also from a Unity set called gotta love sentiments. Some pink Gina Marie Designs enamel dots to finish!

Thanks for visiting! More to come!

Unity Membership Makes - Note of Thanks

 Well I managed to make another card for Unity Membership Makes!

I had stamped the typewriter a couple times last week...I made one last week with it for Father's Day. So I grabbed this image (which is from the June 2023 Kit of the Month {from the countryside}) that was basically ready to go and colored in a few sections for accent. The sentiment is typed from my computer in a typewriter type font. Because I had this already stamped and ready, I stamped the top of this onto the printed sentiment, then fussy cut just the piece of paper. I tried to channel my inner Tenia (Unity DT Member) with the washi and staples! LOL The striped panel was die cut using the scalloped and rectangle nesting die set from Unity. I added some washi tape to that. The lined notebook paper is just that...lined notebook paper ripped right from a spiral bound notebook! Die cut that with the make a tag die set. I added a mini paperclip and some black enamel dots and viola! Finished!

I tend to use a lot of pieces that are basically left of my desk for inspiration! LOL It's right there in front of me!

Unity Membership Makes Wednesday - True Love

 I love to get some quiet time in my crafty space to create! My mind just goes crazy with all the goodness that's here! Today is Wednesday which means it's Unity Membership Makes day! A day to pull out all the Unity Stamp Co. membership kits and make something amazing!

I was trying to think of what kind of cards I don't have a lot of.....wedding cards! I always seem to be making something last minute for a wedding! So today's card (hopefully there will be more) was planned as a wedding card, but could be so many other things!

I started with the stamping! I chose these sweet birds (from the February 2023 {happy soul} Kit of the Month) because they looked like they were in love! I stamped the using Versafine Clair in Nocturne onto a piece of patterned paper from Unity (Golden Marble Paper Pack). I die cut that piece using one of the scalloped and arches nesting die set. I used the same die to cut a piece of colored cardstock that matched the pinky purple in the background patterned paper. I used the largest scalloped and rectangle nesting die to cut the patterned paper from the Vintage Volumes paper pack (February 2024 Whit Kit). The sentiment came from another Kit of the Month....June 2023 {from the countryside} I stamped it onto black cardstock using versamark watermark ink and white embossing powder. I fussy cut it out to just have the words! I distressed the two arched panels with vintage photo and black soot, positioned them together to just have a corner of the colored cardstock showing. I then tied some natural bakers twine around the top...added some colored pearls and attached the sentiment with foam tape! 

This card went through many different versions before I landed on this one! Sometimes it takes a few minutes to move things around, position them in different ways, different colored background papers, etc to get it just right! Don't rush! 

Unity Membership Makes Wednesday - Father's Day Edition!

 I am on a Father's Day card making kick today! Perfect that it's Unity Membership Makes Day! Each Wednesday Unity Show & Tell FB page showcases all of the Unity Stamp Company's membership kits! Today's card uses two of the past kits!

I had a partially completed background panel that I added a Background of the Month stamp called ....linen using vintage photo, then added another background stamp called small details using first salvaged patina, then broken china...too light so I added faded jeans! You can see the many layers of words on this! Love it! The typewriter is from the June 2023 Kit of the Month called {from the countryside}. After it was dry I die cut it using a Tim Holtz nesting die set called stacked deckle. 

The "paper" is a blank space in the stamp so I typed the word dad on my computer in a "typewriter" type font. Lined it up in my MISTI and stamped the typewriter with VersaFine Clair in nocturne. I then fussy cut the typewriter. I added some tombow brush markers to give it some detail and shadow. The sentiment was also typed on the computer with the same font as the top. After cutting the strip, I tore the ends. I added some vintage photo distressing around the outside edges of the background and also all over the sentiment. May arts ribbon burlap twine and enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs finish it off!

Unity Membership Makes Wednesday - Faith

 Wednesday's are my favorite days 1) because it's my day off, 2) because it's #UnityMembershipMakes day! I get to dig out all my fantastic Unity kits and make something magical! Unity's Show & Tell Facebook Group is a great place for inspiration!

I started this lovely card with some inspiration from Unity Design Team member Echo Noble! Started with a piece of white cardstock, to it I added one of my favorite techniques...ink smooshing! It is as fun as it sounds! 

I took these three colors of distress inks (old paper, worn lipstick, shaded lilac) individually (not together) and "smooshed" them onto a sheet of acetate, added water and carefully tapped the wet ink panel all over the white cardstock until I was happy with the coverage. *TIP* Dry each layer before adding another! You could possibly "blend" too much and the colors would get muddy! After I was happy with the color saturation I stamped a Unity Background Stamp called A Faithful Letter on top using distress oxide in vintage photo. To that I added a tiny dot stamp from the May 2023 Kit of the Month called {bloom in color} using distress ink in walnut stain. Next the panel was die cut using the largest scalloped and rectangle nesting die from Unity, then ink blended around the edge. The bird is from the April 2024 Whit Kit called Bloom for New Beginnings. I stamped it onto white cardstock with VersaFine Clair in nocturne. Next I took the same three colors of ink from above and smooshed them again onto a acetate sheet, added some water and used that (along with a water brush) to water color the image!  All Unity stamps come with a white backing sheet as part of the manufacturing process. I used the white backing paper to create a mask to ink blend over the image for a nice crisp edge! Once ink blended I tore the panel as close to the image as I could, then ink blended over the torn edge to create a vintage-y look. The sentiment is also from a Kit of the Month April 2022 {true colors}. I glued this die cut panel to a piece of kraft cardstock (also from Unity) and added some pink burlap twine and pearls to finish it off!

If you are not a member of the Show & Tell page, I strongly suggest you join! Not only is there a ton of inspiration from the design team members, but everyone! Create and post away!! Never know you could inspire someone today!

Growing in Unity Day 4!

 The week of fun for me is quickly coming to a close! Day 4 of my {Growing in Unity} week is here! If you'd like to go back, links are here! Day 1, day 2 and day 3.

Birthday cards were on my mind today! I hope I'm not the only one that does this....but I stamp the image and think "nah, needs to be on white," "nope, let me watercolor that," "hmmmm maybe black on kraft is the answer." Then you end up stamping the image over and over and over! Well that happened to me with this image from the Kit of the Month 2/23 {happy soul}.

Started first with black on kraft. I wasn't super happy with that. Next was.....

Jolande's technique! I have watercolor pencils (from a Whit Kit a while back), that I did her technique (as best I could). But it still didn't really seem like "me," ya know?!?

Next I tried coloring with some alcohol markers that I found at Ross (not copics, or any other brand name I can think of)! 

After the alcohol markers I came back to the black on kraft and colored in the flowers with a white colored pencil (crayola if you can believe it)! Pretty sure it was a leftover from the kids school supplies! LOL

Closer look at the watercolor.

All the stamped images do not go to waste! I have one more image that needs to get used, but maybe not this time! :) All in all....see where your creativity takes you! In this case it took me in three completely different directions! Same floral stamp.....three different outcomes!

As I linked above, the floral is from the 2/23 KOM. The birthday sentiments are from gotta love sentiments, extended celebration and aging gorgeously.  I used the scallops and rectangle nesting dies, some foam adhesive along with some burlap and white twine and Gina Marie Designs enamel dots!

Be sure to come back tomorrow for day 5! It's been a great week!!

(products used....links above)

Growing in Unity - Day 3!

 Hello there and happy "hump-day!" My week as the Growing in Unity Girl is already half over....boy that was fast! Day 1 post here, and day 2 post here!

If you follow along with all things Unity....you know it's Unity Membership Makes Wednesday! 

Today my card(s) feature one of the larger stamps in the Kit of the Month. This happens to come from KOM May 2022 {one friend}. Sentiments are all from
Unity Sentiment Kit May 2022 ...extended celebration.

It's a set of 4 gender neutral birthday cards. There is something about white on kraft that just makes me happy!

Kraft cardstock is from Unity, along with all the stamps used. White pigment ink and white fine detail embossing powder are both from gina k. designs. Sentiments were stamped onto vellum in VersaFine Clair Nocturne and then embossed with clear embossing powder and die cut with a banner nesting die set that was in a Unity Whit Kit. Spiegelmom Scraps Frolic Along sequins, Pink Fresh Studio Jewels mix...espresso color.

Here's a closer look at each one.

Don't forget to keep following along and comment! 

A gift card could be coming your way! :)

Falling for the Holidays 2023 {BYSHC} Linky Party - Peace & Joy

 We are on day 6 of the Falling for the Holidays 2023 {BYSHC} Linky Party! Getting closer to the end!

Today is Wednesday and at Unity Show & Tell (Facebook group) that means its Unity Membership Makes day!

What you can't tell from this picture is the entire thing SPARKLES! I started with a piece of watercolor paper. I then ink blended over it using Distress Inks in evergreen bough and peacock feathers, then finished with Distress Oxides in salvaged patina, hickory smoke. Once done I sprayed some water onto an acrylic sheet. I had plans to just splatter water over it, but then decided to just smoosh the water onto the ink and see what happened! I think it looks so cool!! I splattered some watered down white acrylic paint onto that to mimic snowfall. I then stamped the background stamp, which is from the Unity Stamp Co. December 2022 Kit of the Month called {a new chapter} on to the panel using Versafine Clair in Nocturne. This is where it went in a different direction than I had planned.....I had only wanted to emboss the stars with the glitter embossing powder, but 1) I failed to "anti-static" the panel and 2) the black ink was still wet! Once the glitter embossing powder was on more places than I had intended....I just sprinkled it all over! After the embossing powder was melted I die cut the panel with the largest scalloped rectangle from the scallops and rectangle nesting die set from Unity Stamp Co. The sentiment, which was also embossed with glitter is also from a Unity kit called ...cherished holly. While it's not a subscription kit it's still a specialized kit, November 2021 Unity Sentiment Kit. Mounted the die cut panel onto a black background and it's finished! While I was thinking that it was too simple, it pretty much speaks for itself! The video of the sparkle is amazing!! :)

Thanks for visiting! Be sure to leave me some love! :)

#UnityMembershipMakes

 Wednesday's on the Unity Show & Tell Facebook page they share cards and projects created using one or more of the awesome membership kits that Unity offers. This card also happens to qualify for the monthly challenge (wild & wonderful) happening as well!

I started with a panel of watercolor paper and created the yellow blob with another technique that I've done before....cleaning my blending brushes with water and just blending out the ink until it's no more! Lots of backgrounds can be created with this technique! After that I stamped the Unity Stamp Co. May 2023 Background of the month honeycomb chaos over that using vintage photo distress oxide. I then took out a few stamps from the Kit of the Month from May Bloom in Color. The dots were randomly stamped on top with more vintage photo. Die cut the whole thing with Unity's scallops and rectangle nesting die. Onto the focal image....also from the Kit of the Month. I stamped it onto watercolor paper with versafine clair ink in nocturne, colored with my Tombow ABT markers, die cut with the scallops and circles nesting dies and used some foam tape to pop it up. The natural twine and the burlap twine were from my stash. The sentiments are also from the Kit of the month. Stamped the same as the beehive....I hand trimmed the "hey honey" and the "you are the sweetest" was cut using some banner nesting dies which were included in the March 2023 Whit Kit. The clear dew drops were also included in a Whit Kit a few months ago. 

Thanks for visiting! Leave me some love! :)

Masculine Cards!

 Cardmakers know that masculine cards are not the easiest to come up with. No flowers, or pink, or bling.....but they still need to be made! Friends of Unity's June theme is Masculine cards! The inspiration is amazing! I will add the first stop on the hop below and you can follow along if you'd like! :) My card was also created for the June Challenge at Unity Stamp Co for Wild and Wonderful! Fish are wild in my opinion! Hope they think so too!

I started with a piece of white cardstock and stamped the Linen background from Unity Stamp Co. onto it using hickory smoke distress oxide.  I distressed the edges a little with the same hickory smoke and also black soot. I felt it needed a little color so ink smooshed some faded jeans on top. Die cut with a deckle edge die from Tim Holtz. Next I created the tag. Again, stamped (somethin' is fishy) onto white with black soot. I cut it into a tag shape and distressed the whole thing with hickory smoke and faded jeans. I was inspired to add some fishing line behind the tag from one of the ladies on the Friends of Unity hop. I always love how it looks but forget to do that extra step! Added a black background and some blue fluffy fibers to the tag. Sentiment was printed from my computer! Thanks for visiting!

Crystal starts the Friends of Unity Blog Hop! She lists everyone participating! 

Take a look!