{BYSHC} Sketch 72 - Merry Christmas (Vacation)

 Welcome back to the {BYSHC} Sketch 72! There are only a few days left to get a project completed and posted before the end of the month. Our sponsor this month is Lawn Fawn! They have some really cute sets! 

My card today features a set I got likely about 10 years ago! It's not technically a "Christmas" set, but when I saw the sketch I knew it was the perfect one! The set is called Happy Trails. When I saw the curvy break in the center, it reminded me of a road and Clark Griswold! I used a curved die from Newton's Nook (land borders) to create the stitched curve.

I stamped the car and tree onto white cardstock, fussy cut them both out. The snowflake paper is from Echo Park Snowed In which I sprinkled some Distress Spray Stain in Picket Fence all over to mimic snow! I used the street lines stamp in this kit to make the lines on the road. The sentiment is from Bella Creationz Co.

Unity Sketch Challenge - August 2026

Hello crafty friends! I have created a couple cards for the Unity Show & Tell Sketch Challenge! I got on a roll last night and made two! :)

First up is an Autumn/Fall/Thanksgiving card. Since this is the next "season" I thought it was a good time to get some fall vibes!

I started with the ink spot! I grabbed my blending brushes, added some water and smooshed it around! That's all! Leftover ink on the blending brush and some water! I had to be careful with the amount of water and rubbing that was used because it started to damage the cardstock.  The pumpkin is from September 2024 Kit of the Month {wander and wonder}. Stamped it onto the card base first to get all the swirlies and yumminess, then onto a scrap piece that I fussy cut and colored with KingArt Alcohol Markers.

The sentiment and enamel dots were added at the end according to the sketch!

I went in a completely different direction with this next one.....

I made the ink spot first and had a stamp set in mind, but couldn't find it! :/ so had to switch gears! I used the same blending brush and water technique for this ink spot. The butterfly I had received in a grab bag (it's from May 2017 Kit of the Month {free your dreams}). I loved the sentiment in this kit, but didn't have it in stamp form, so I printed it from my computer. Used basically the same technique as before, stamped the image onto the card front to get all the "extras," then onto a piece of scrap to fussy cut and color. Gina Marie Designs enamel dots again for the finishing touch!

Thanks for the visit! :)

 

{BYSHC} Sketch 71 - Merry Christmas

 Hello friends and welcome to {BYSHC} Sketch 71! Our sponsor this month is A Colorful Life Designs!

I tend to utilize a lot of different supplies that I have accumulated. The sentiment on this card is cut from a photo card from 2018! The truck is cut from a "frame" that was gifted to me as a prize!

I utilized the scallops and rectangles nesting dies from Unity and enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs.

Did you know that the {BYSHC} Christmas in July 2026 Linky Party is happening RIGHT NOW?!?! It runs through the 24th so there is still plenty of time to get entered to be eligible for some amazing prizes!  Details are on the {BYSHC} Blog!

{BYSHC} Sketch 70 - Santa's on His Way!

Hello again and welcome back! There are only a few days remaining to enter the {BYSHC} Sketch 70! Our amazing sponsor, Crafty Stamp Co., is generously providing the prize this month!

My card for today features paper and stamps from Crafty Stamp Co.! The paper called, Season of Giving along with the stamp set called Here Comes Santa coordinate so well together!

Another quick reminder to mark your calendars for the {BYSHC} Christmas in July 2026 Linky Party set to begin July 17th!

 

~ 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

~ April 2026 - Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Earth Day/Recycle

 Hello and welcome to April! The Friends of Unity are hopping today with some wonderful inspiration! April is a month of rebirth. Spring should be "springing" up all around you with flowers blooming, skies clearing....in Florida that typically means *pollen* but let's not talk about *sneeze* that yet! LOL

I have been saving all kinds of stuff for a few months in anticipation of this month's theme! Typically I am a scrap hoarder anyway, but let's just say my scrap pile is bursting at the seams!

First up is a shaker card that I created with a previously created background, a stamped image that has been hanging around for "just the right color" and some plastic wrapping that I will be using to make the actual shaker part! 

I started with an amazing and super colorful background that I created some time ago....I made an entire sheet and this is one of the quarters! Packaging from an online purchase was the perfect size for this A2-ish panel. I cut the plastic bag to remove the edges, then used some tear tape to attach the plastic to the card panel, being sure to leave the top edge open to load up the shaker bits. These bits are from several sources, Unity clear flat sequins (that got a bit out of hand while going into the bag), some tiny yellow star bits and cupcake confetti both from Twiddler's Nook, as well as a few dots of scrap paper that were paper punched! I attached the completed shaker panel to a piece of black on my card base. To that I added the Happy Birthday! It's from the Unity set called Many More Birthdays along with the coordinating die. I had made this quite some time ago, but it just never coordinated with anything until now! I attached it with more tear tape, right smack in the center! It was stamped with Versafine Clair Nocturne and heat embossed with some clear embossing powder (p.s. Unity also has clear embossing powder, I just don't have it yet!)

I just love a shaker card sound!

Next up is another birthday card, but a little less "loud!" 

I saved the box that held my kitchen trash bags. I loved the color combo on it! 

Dark pink, light pink, lime green and wood grain. I maneuvered the smallest of the scallops and banners dies, as well as another banner die set that was in a Whit Kit, to get as many cuts as I could! Next I grabbed a roll of natural color burlap ribbon that I saved from a gift basket that was sent to my family. I have two different sizes of this actually from two different gifts! The green ribbon has been in my ribbon box forever! There wasn't enough lime green on the box to get one more strip, so I utilized my Unity paper stash! Rainbow Alcohol Ink Papers from the April 2023 Whit Kit to the rescue! I see now from the picture that some are not exactly straight but I can fix it later! The sentiment is from ...aging gorgeously, enamel dots (my favorite) from Gina Marie Designs.

I have so many recycled things and ideas that I just need to keep going! This is just a good reminder that there are so many items in everyday life that can be recycled for other uses! Between the two elements above that I've rescued from the landfill, I also have at the ready.....bread bag clip, used dryer sheets, plastic packaging from a container of blueberries and another box that the entire inside is pink! :) 

Ok, I digress....onto the next one!

A used dryer sheet sprayed with Plain Jane ink spray by My Tattered Angels in Tiger Lilly, glued to a piece of cardstock with elmers glue! After spraying the dryer sheet with the ink, I found some old elmer's glue (from the slime making days IYKYK) and spread it all over the cardstock and sort of "smooshed" it around to give some texture. This took forever to dry! 

In the meantime, I die cut another piece of cardstock with the deckle & stitches nesting dies to make a frame. I had the white embossed moth (Nocturnal Nature) from a previous project. I stamped a birthday wish (...aging gorgeously) and attached it to the frame. Foam tape on both the frame and the moth which both were attached directly over the dryer sheet/glue/cardstock panel.

This is likely my last one.....but its a cute one!

The box from the "scrub mommy" I just brought home had this beautiful hot pink on the inside of the box! The other elements on this one are also "recycled" in a way! The white piece cut from the frame above was used on this one.....as well as the sentiment which is so old....I don't even remember when I stamped it! 

I used the pink box for the background on this one. The yellow polka dot paper was laying on the desktop so I tore it up and added some washi tape and a staple and it looks like a Tenia card! LOL Stamped the girl from Echo of Kindness with Versafine Clair Nocturne, colored her with KingArt Alcohol Markers. I then added some foam tape to both the colored image and the sentiment along with enamel dots to finish it off! 

I do love ALL of these recycled cards! I definitely had to think outside the box on a few, but Pinterest is one of my favorite sources for ideas!

With all the goodies I have saved, I am sure there will be more cards to come!

Thank you for visiting and don't forget that April 22 is Earth Day, but you can make a difference EVERY day! To start the hop at the beginning, visit Crystal's blog. If you are ready to move on...Toni is your next stop!

{BYSHC} Sketch 68 - Merry Christmas

Hello and HAPPY APRIL!!! Wow, how quickly this year is going! The {BYSHC} Design Team are working on this month's sketch....#68!  Our sponsor this month is Jaded Blossom!

If you know anything about me....it's that I am a collector of scraps! This sketch is perfect for me! I cut the strips into 1/2"-ish sizes. Then cut the strips into 1 1/2" pieces. I arranged them according to the sketch in a brick-like pattern. These brown/tan scraps are from multiple manufacturers and paper weight....just glue them on and watch the magic happen! The stamp set I've chosen is from Unity Stamp Co., the November 2022 Whit Kit Ornamental Greetings. This particular set came with a coordinating "ornament" shaker die that I utilized just the die parts...not the shaker parts!  I masked off the dots and snowflakes on the stamp in order to add them back onto the ornament with a white gel pen. I then added some foam tape and a couple colors of bakers twine from BellaCreationz.

Don't forget to join us in the coming weeks for the {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party! The sponsor list is amazing and the prizes are always very generous!

Crafty Stamp Co. March Sketch Challenge - Merry & Sweet

 Another day, another sketch challenge! I am the queen of procrastination! Again housework has taken a backseat to my need to be creative!

I have limited Crafty Stamp Co. supplies, so I used what I have available! The Christmas Cookie Gnomies and the Nutcracker & Cocoa paper pack! Crafty Stamp Co. is a frequent sponsor at {BYSHC} Challenges so that's what I have....Christmas! LOL 

I followed the sketch, stamped a few items. The sentiment is the same sentiment from the stamp set, however I unfortunately cannot locate it at the moment! :/ So I typed it on the computer and printed it on cardstock! Added some foam tape to a couple pieces and there you go! Super Cute!

Unity Sketch Challenge (Layered Layout) - Have Faith

I sure hope this happens to people other than me.....I am easily distracted by pretty paper! LOL I am supposed to be cleaning up this craft room and what do I do....sit down at the desk and make a card! LOL 

Unity Stamp Co. is sponsoring a sketch/layered layout challenge on their Show & Tell Facebook page.  Thought I would give it a shot!

I had taken out for another project the Bohemian Dream paper pack last week, so it was still sitting on the desk. I knew that there were some scraps in there, so I started going through it. I decided on these few papers and got started. The first thing I did was figure out which die to use, based on size, and then what stamp fits in that size square! 

Boho Blooms is a set of 3 florals set into a square frame. I stamped it (using my MISTI tool) with VersaFine Clair in Nocturne, die cut with one of the scallops and square nesting dies and colored with KingArt Alcohol Markers. I used a bit of green-ish distress oxides to soften the edges a bit. The sentiment "have faith" is from the Faith & Hope set. I added a few glitter enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs and some twine for a little extra umph!

Thanks for visiting!

{BYSHC} Sketch 66 - Dashing by with Holiday Wishes!

 Welcome back friends! Tomorrow is the last day to enter any projects for sketch 66 to be eligible for a $25 gift certificate to Creative Worship Stamps (and p.s. it's also my BIRTHDAY!)

My card today features a sweet reindeer stamp from Unity Stamp Co., called A Little Dash! Fun fact, this cutie also has a digital SVG file! I also used patterned paper from a coordinating paper pack called A Dash of Christmas. Cut the sweet fuzzy friend from cardstock, stamped with Versafine Clair and colored with King Art Alcohol Markers. I added some foam adhesive on the die cut image for some dimension. The background panel and the circle were die cut with scallops and rectangle nesting dies and scallops and circles nesting dies both from Unity Stamp Co. I also die cut the sentiment with the scallops and banners nesting dies, but adjusted the die to eliminate the "pointy" part!

Thanks for joining us this month and good luck with the drawing of the prize winner! Come back next month for another fantastic sketch!

Unity Stamp Co. Monochromatic Tear it and Tone it Challenge - Trust in the Lord

Here I am with yet another challenge! This time it's the Unity Stamp Co. Show and Tell FB Page Tear it and tone it challenge!

I loved the idea of the inspiration photo to create four cards with the same image but in different colors.....so that's what I did.....I made four!

The set I chose to highlight is called One of Those People. I then grabbed an itty bitty called Just have Trust for the sentiment. It fit into the "circle" sentiment space better. For each card I utilized some of the Unity dies....Scallops and Circles Nesting Die Set and Scallops and Rectangle Nesting Die Set.

For the above two cards I used the Tuscan Tile Background for the background. Top one is done with Antique Linen Distress Oxide and the bottom one I used Peeled Paint Distress Oxide. Both of these backgrounds, the purple background and all of the other patterned paper and solid cardstock came directly from my scraps. The backgrounds used were created previously and not used for their initial intended purpose!

This background was created with ink smooshing. I used several different purple ink pads on this one and created waaaaayyyyy too many panels to be used for the initial project! Hence the leftover background!

This one I used a scrap piece of patterned paper and found a coordinating scrap of solid in my stash. It was a bonus that this peach colored cardstock is embossed with a swirly pattern.

As well as the cardstock and ink, I also used some embellishments. Foam tape for the sentiments, chipboard hearts from Heidi Swapp, green and purple enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs, and pearls from my stash.