{BYSHC} Christmas in July 2026 Linky Party - Cozy Days Ahead.

Hello again and welcome back! The {BYSHC} Christmas in July 2026 Linky Party has begun! Please be sure to have any and all entries made to the blog before midnight on the 24th! 

Let's get on with the festivities! 😁

As I said in the previous post, I am a hoarder of scraps. I keep way to many but I do create amazing backgrounds with all of them! Most of my Linky Party cards will feature scraps in some way! I try to use scraps whenever possible.

The papers used for this card are from all different places! I do not discriminate with the scraps! Any and all! If they match or coordinate in any way.....they will be used! 

I have used this technique many times in the past, not sure what to call it, maybe the "mosaic background?" I saw the technique quite a while ago on a video that I cannot find now....sooooo

I created my own YouTube video! 

(p.s. it's my first video ever, also my first on youtube, so 🤞 it is helpful!)

I utilized an older {BYSHC} sketch for the layout. Sketch 48. The image is from Unity Stamp Co., called snow, snow cute and the sentiment is from the 10/2023 Kit of the Month Golden Glow. I stamped the cute snowman onto white cardstock, die cut it and some vellum with the scallops and circles nesting dies (also from Unity) and added to the edge of the card. I colored the snowman with KingArt Alcohol Markers. Products used for this card will be linked below.

The {BYSHC} Facebook page has all the past sketches posted in the "media" tab!

cardstock

adhesive

liquid glue for sequins

alcohol markers

vellum

{BYSHC} Christmas in July 2026 Linky Party - Warm Winter Wishes

 

Hello friends and welcome to the {BYSHC} Christmas in July 2026 Linky Party! The fun will continue from now until midnight on the 24th. Sooooo many sponsors with some amazing prize donations! Sponsor list is at the bottom of this post!

If you have followed my blog and/or the linky party in the past you know that I use this event to clean up my craft space! I utilize as many scraps and abandoned images that I have saved throughout the past few months. 

Kicking it off today with this super fun and festive scrap background card. This sweet snowman is from Unity Stamp Co., called snow buddies. The background papers are from all different manufacturers and thickness, but once you start mixing and matching colors and putting them together, they just meld!

More Unity products were used on this card as well....scallops and rectangle nesting dies, scallops and arches nesting dies, scallops and banners nesting dies. The sentiment is also part of another kit called simply holiday. The sentiments came as one piece, so I ended up cutting them up into individual pieces! Colored with KingArt Alcohol Markers and popped up with some foam adhesive. Gina Marie Designs enamel dots finish off the look!

Stay tuned for more scrap cards! They are my favorite!

As promised, the sponsor list is below!

Tawny Owl Paperie

Unity Stamp Co.

QT Cards with Mom

Jaded Blossom

RAM Stamps

A Colorful Life Designs

Not 2 Shabby

Digi Doodle Studios

Gina K. Designs

Club Scrap

Lawn Fawn

Creative Worship Stamps

Taylored Expressions

Crafty Stamp Co.

Newton's Nook Designs

Stamping Bella (NEW SPONSOR!)

Kraftin' Kimmie

Gina Marie Designs

Therm-O-Web

~July 2026 - Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Color Challenge

Hello and welcome to the Friends of Unity July 2026 Blog Hop! 

We have a color theme this month! Where I live, Florida USA, we are marking the 250th birthday of the USA! HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

I did NOT want to make only "4th of July" cards, so I created a mix!

My first card features a ink smooshed background (colors are Distress Oxides in stormy sky, faded jeans and speckled egg. Next I die cut that panel using the scallops and rectangle nesting dies. The boots are from the April 2022 Kit of the Month - True Colors which I colored with KingArt Alcohol Markers and then fussy cut out (cutter bee scissors are the best)! The sentiment is from Joy & Brighter Days. 

I then popped the image and sentiment up with foam adhesive and adorned with clear dew drops, thought they looked like rain.

Next up is a celebration card featuring lovely red flowers against a blue wood-look background.

The floral image and sentiment are from the July 2020 Front & Center Sentiment kit called ...aging gorgeously. I die cut it and the blue wood-look background paper (which is from rustic wood paper pack) using the scallops and rectangles nesting dies. I created a tag with the sentiment and attached it using some natural twine from Timeless Twine.

I added some Nuvo Aqua Shimmer in Glitter Gloss to the petals of the flowers. It was a little difficult to photograph, but it's there! :) I also added some enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs too!

Next up is a card that utilizes one of the amazing backgrounds of the month! 

I grabbed ...assorted blooms (BOM 2/2023), stamped it onto white cardstock with VersaFine Clair, colored with KingArt Alcohol Markers and then die cut with the scallops and rectangles nesting dies. Coordinating red polkadot paper was in with my scraps. The sentiment is from a grab bag I received, but the kit is Well Hello There, which I die cut by manipulating the scallops and banners nesting dies to accommodate the size I needed. I added some natural burlap twine from May arts designs and multiple colors of enamel dots and pearls from Gina Marie Designs.

And last but not least, what is red, white and blue without a cow!?!? I just felt the need to add a cow! LOL

I took some inspiration from the examples on the Unity website, created by Tammy Hawes and Shilo Miles. The postage stamp nesting dies are what makes this card! I grabbed the Barnyard Blowout paper pack, which has OOOOODLES of Red, White and Blue! Die cut the red gingham, then took the bandana page and cut it to fit. The cutest cow set..thinking of moo, was the set of choice! Such a sweet face!

The Friends of Unity are sponsoring a challenge on the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group! This same color palette! Let's see what YOU can create! Link to the album is here!

If you came here from Von Marie, but want to start at the beginning, Crystal's blog is here. To continue to the next, please visit my friend Rachel's blog here.

Thanks for the visit! Please leave me some love in the comments! 🩷🩷

{BYSHC} Sketch 71 - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

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

My first card is a compilation of some scraps and leftover things! LOL If you have followed me at all in the past, you know that this is my thing! LOL The plaid paper is from RAM Stamps, the blue is the back of a birthday page! :) The sentiment is from Unity Stamp Co., Ornaments Greetings.

I utilized the scallops and circles nesting dies from Unity for both circles, one of kraft and one of vellum. Added some enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs.

Please keep an eye out for the start of the {BYSHC} Christmas in July 2026 Linky Party which starts on the 17th!!!

{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!

 

~ June 2026 - Friends of Unity Blog Hop ~ Food & Drink

Hello friends! Welcome to June! The Friends of Unity are hoping this month with a super fun prompt....Food & Drink! I had a giant list of stamps at my disposal! Could only choose a few!

First card has to be a birthday cupcake....right?!?!? I started with the January 2023 Kit of the Month {bloom and evolve}, the sentiment is from Gotta Love Sentiments. I have always been inspired by Tenia's designs so this one pays homage to her style! :)

Patterned paper is from Oh Hey! It's Your Day! After I stamped the image (with Versafine Clair) using my Misti....I die cut it with one of the tags from the Make a Tag Nesting Die set. I used my KingArt Alcohol Markers to color the yummy cupcake to coordinate with the polka dots on the paper. I added a scrap from the same paper pack, some red twine, some foam tape and a heart paperclip! 

Next up a big squeeze!

I created this background a few months ago and it's been sitting here waiting for the perfect chance to shine! Today is the day! I used the Slices of Summer layering stencil but used yellow ink to create lemons! I used cookie dough lunar paste to make the seeds! Die cut with the scallops and rectangle nesting dies!

I decided to add a refreshing lemonade to this for a summer "chill" card! The itty-bitty is called chillin'.  Stamped with VersaFine Clair, fussy cut with cutter bee scissors and added using foam tape! 

I was scrolling through my photos the other day....looking for something and I came across a screen-shot I took 12 years ago! :| 12 years ago?!? Are you kidding me?!?! Realized that it was a card posted by Heather Hoffman that inspired me to find this sweet citrus set! Obviously I had to make something with the need a squeeze itty bitty, sadly now retired. Just as the newest Tawny Owl Paperie sketch was released....seemed like the perfect timing!

I started with a sunburst stencil which was in the August 2023 Whit Kit. I used twisted citron, dried marigold and scattered straw for the burst. I die cut the circle with the scallops and circles nesting dies. I used the leftover ink on the blending brushes to shade in the citrus. Next colored with KingArt Art Markers. Printed the sentiment from the computer. Added some coordinating buttons from my stash for a little extra dimension!

So many choices....I had to do at least one more! :)

This sweet itty bitty has been in my collection for sooooo long! It's called berry sweet moments, since been retired but I still love it!

Stamped with VersaFine Clair Nocturne, colored with King Art Alcohol Markers. Die cut with the make a tag nesting dies. The background paper is from Rustic Farmhouse, the red plaid is from Barnyard Blowout. The polkadot is actually Christmas paper! LOL

I added some burlap and red twine from May Arts Ribbon and some clear flat sequins. As well as some foam adhesive. 

I felt that it needed "something" but wasn't sure what to do. Since I colored with Alcohol markers, I thought I'd try to move it around some. I grabbed some isopropyl alcohol....without a plan! :/  I added a few drops to see what would happen and this is the result! :/ I sprinkled some lumberjack plaid on as well......not sure if I've ruined it or not, but this is the result. I may need to adjust it again. 

I left this on the blog post to show that you could always try something new and see what happens. I almost took this whole part off, but sometimes things work and sometimes they don't exactly, but in the end its still art and you created it! :)

Thanks for visiting and following along! I'd love to hear your feedback!!

If you'd like to start over at the beginning, Crystal's blog is the place to be! If you are ready to move on, Toni is your girl! :)

p.s.  apologies….I just now realized that the majority of my cards feature stamps that have been retired! :/

 

{BYSHC} Sketch 70 - Merry & Sweet

 Hello friends and welcome to {BYSHC} Sketch 70! Our sponsor this month is Crafty Stamp Co. Stamps and paper are brought to you by this amazing sponsor!

This sweet card combines the cozy paper of nutcracker & cocoa, and the whimsy of Christmas Cookie Gnomes!

Mark your calendars.....the {BYSHC} Christmas in July 2026 Linky Party is on the way!