{BYSHC} Christmas in July 2025 Linky Party - Joy to the World

 

Hello again friends! The Christmas in July 2025 {BYSHC} Linky Party continues to inspire! 

My card was created using the Painted Poinsettias stamp set from Unity Stamp Co. Started with a scrap piece of white cardstock, I stamped the two layers of the poinsettia once in festive berries distress ink and the second on top with lumberjack plaid distress oxide. I added the center with versa fine clair nocturne. I then cut the panel with the make a tag die set from Unity Stamp Co. Added some red eyelash trim to the top. 

I grabbed a piece of double sided paper from Holly Jolly Paper Collection by Miss Kate Cuttables. Cut the papers according to {BYSHC} Sketch 51, die cut with the scallops and rectangles nesting dies and added some mint colored ribbon to cover the transition. 

Be sure to have your creations  uploaded to the {BYSHC} Blog before Friday the 25th to be eligible for some amazing prizes!

{BYSHC} Christmas in July 2025 Linky Party - Oh, Christmas Tree

Welcome back! The party continues!

My card features some more scraps, this time from Fancy Pants Designs, Saint Nick collection (circa 2011). I chose the snowglobe stamp from the Unity Stamp Co. 2021 Advent Calendar and Sketch 17.

To find the list of sponsors, visit the BYSHC Blog!

{BYSHC} Christmas in July 2025 Linky Party - Merry Little Christmas

 

Hello again! Still creating cards to build my stash! The linky party runs through Midnight on the 25th! Be sure to get your entries posted to the {BYSHC} Blog before then! You can also find the entire list of sponsors there too!

My card today used some scraps from the Unity Stamp Co. paper pack Old Fashioned Holiday (November 2023 Whit Kit). These papers were literally already die cut (Unity Stamp Co. Scallops and Rectangles Nesting Dies) and ready to assemble! I grabbed the matching stamp set called Merry Everything Poinsettia and stamped the large silhouette in Lumberjack Plaid, the abstract line drawing using versafine clair nocturne and the largest leaf in Gina K. Designs Grass Green. I fussy cut the flower and used the matching die set (doesn't appear to be still available) to cut the leaves and the word Christmas. I used {BYSHC} Sketch 28 for this one!

{BYSHC} Christmas in July 2025 Linky Party - Merry Christmas

Hello there! Friday the 25th is the deadline for entries to be eligible for some FANTASTIC prizes!!

If you have been around for a little while, you have seen me create these backgrounds with scraps. It is so satisfying to see it come to life! This particular combination made four backgrounds. This one that's diagonal, two that are horizontal and one that was a combo of some of the pieces! Stay tuned for those to make an appearance! 

Patterned paper, red cardstock, green cardstock and cream/yellow cardstock cut into 1/2" strips. Normally I use a piece of copy paper to reduce bulk, but this time I used cardstock, then glued the strips down in rows. I left a tiny bit of white between the strips, but have done them without a space. Once all are stuck down, cut 1/2" strips across the grain. Once the strips are cut I then stick them to another piece of cardstock/copy paper to create the background. This one in particular I arranged them diagonally, then die cut the entire piece with the largest scallops and rectangle nesting dies from Unity Stamp Co.

I then took a sentiment (previously stamped and not used) and cut slits into the ends for the ribbon to thread through. Ribbon from stash, sentiment from Painted Poinsettias. I followed {BYSHC} Sketch 50 for this one!

{BYSHC} Christmas in July 2025 Linky Party - Cozy Winter Vibes

 

Welcome to the party!! The Christmas in July 2025 {BYSHC} Linky Party has begun! 

My norm for the linky party is to use up my scraps! I have tried to keep the Christmas/Holiday scraps separate from the regular everyday scraps. It definitely helps! I also had an idea to grab some of the smaller stamps from the Unity Stamp Co. Advent Calendars of years past, as well as older sketches! If you didn't know all the past sketches are on the {BYSHC} Facebook page under media! Now onto the show!

A pretty plain and simple card, but definitely cute and cozy! Papers are from Teresa Collins Christmas Cottage (circa 2012), sketch 12 and the mug from the 2021 Unity Advent Calendar! 

Did I mention SPONSORS?!?!?! The sponsor list is the biggest we've ever had! We are so thankful for all of these amazing people for their support! The party ends on the 25th at midnight! 

The sponsor list is below! Enjoy and get those entries into the BYSHC Blog!!

Tawny Owl Paperie

Fresh and Renewed with Teresa

Angie Blom Digital Designs

Jaded Blossom

Not 2 Shabby

Therm O Web

Gina K. Designs

Unity Stamp Co.

Lawn Fawn

RAM Stamps

Taylored Expressions

The Greeting Farm {NEW!}

Creative Worship Stamps

Gina Marie Designs

Newton's Nook Designs

Pink & Main

Markers, Ink & Paper - Cathy Preissing

Digi Doodle Studios {NEW!}

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps {NEW!}

Club Scrap

Twiddler's Nook

Crafty Stamp Co. {NEW!}

A Colorful Life Designs

WHEW!! That's quite a list!  Love seeing new sponsors!

Enjoy and have lots of fun!!

~ July 2025 Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Mixed Media/Grunge

Welcome to the July 2025 Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! Hard to believe that July is already here and the year is half over!! Mixed media and grunge is the theme this month. To be honest, I didn't really think that I could pull off this theme so I did some research! LOL 

Mixed media art refers to artwork that combines more than one artistic medium or material. It can include elements such as painting, drawing, sculpture, and non-traditional materials like cloth, paper, wood, and found objects. Artists use mixed media to create intricate, layered pieces that break the boundaries between different art forms. 

This is the definition from Google, so I went with it! Layered pieces, different design elements, more than one artistic medium or material. Literally had no idea where to even begin. I found a card on Pinterest that was beautiful so I loosely followed it!

One thing that I did discover, is that pictures are hard to take and get all the elements to show at the same time! Sorry this first one is so dark, but I wanted to see everything! The background started as a piece of white cardstock, to which I ink smooshed some distress oxides in stormy sky, cracked pistachio, faded jeans, speckled egg, peeled paint and distress ink in evergreen bough. Then I sprayed some (new to me) dylusions ink sprays in periwinkle blue and vibrant turquoise. Once those were dry I started stamping! I used multiple stamp sets to create the background including Soul Mail, Numbers, etc. (retired), Winter Shakeup, Paper Wings and Extended celebration. I also used the stencil from the 10/2023 Whit Kit and some lunar paste in midnight snack in a few spots. I just kept adding stuff!! The lace is from stash, the flowers I have had forever! The butterflies, from Paper Wings, were stamped, colored and fussy cut. Added with liquid adhesive and foam tape on the wings for lift. Brads and clear sequins to finish it off!

WHEW that was a lot of work but also fun to just keep adding and adding until I liked the outcome!! LOL Onto the next one!!

I made a few sprayed backgrounds to start and then went back and figured out which one I would use. This is one of those. Ink smooshed with distress oxides in peeled paint, stormy sky and speckled egg. Then I sprayed on dylusions spray ink in vibrant turquoise and periwinkle blue. I stamped on a bunch of different background type stamps from Small Details, Rectified Poppies, Dinged Dots (appears to be retired), then added some of the elements from Soul Mail. The flower vase and sentiment came from that set as well. 

Something I wanted to try was stamping onto tissue paper and adding that. I stamped the script writing from Soul Mail to a piece of tissue paper, tore some pieces off and then used mod podge and glued the tissue on in several places. I think one of the hardest parts of mixed media is giving time to let all the layers dry! LOL I stamped, colored and then fussy cut the flower vase. Cut the sentiment into pieces and mounted everything with foam adhesive.

This is a fun technique that I do not do very often. In fact, may be the second time that I've done mixed media to this extent. I love the outcome, definitely not in my comfort zone but I dove in and took hold of it! It's fun giving new techniques a try! That's what this is all about! Stretching your creative brain! Give it a try!

I am the second on the hop, so if you came here from Crystal, you started at the beginning, next will be Toni. Please follow along and enjoy! 

See you in August!

{BYSHC} Sketch 59 - Sending Christmas Wishes

 Hello and welcome to July!! Sketch 59 is active until the end of the month!

Wow that was sooooo fast! Already July?!? 

My card for today was simple and easy! I love that kind! The papers are from Park Lane "Nice List." I measured and cut according to the sketch. I decided after I cut to tear the top and bottom edge of the center strip. The circle was stamped with the reindeer from the Unity Stamp Co. November 2023 Kit of the Month. Sentiment is from an old Stampin Up set from 2018 called Christmas Traditions. Stamped both in VersaFine Clair in Nocturne. Die cut the circle using the Unity Stamp Co. scallops and circles nesting dies, the sentiment was punched with a Stampin Up punch. 

I added a small piece of red ribbon tied in a bow onto the reindeer. I just felt he was too plain! I added both pieces with foam adhesive and then added some red pearls. The sketch is shown below! Enjoy!

Be sure to come back later this month and join us for the Christmas in July Linky Party! Lots of fun, prizes and inspiration to be had!! Mark your calendars!