{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 29 ~ Gingerbread Kisses ~ Not 2 Shabby

 Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with more inspiration for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 29!! I wanted to share a bit of news regarding the sketch and also my plans for next year, but I'll share that down below so please read through this to the end of this blog post! I am just tickled to see that so many are loving this sketch! The card I'm sharing today literally took me just 10 minutes. And that was just because I couldn't decide on the right pink card stock to coordinate with the pattern paper! LOL

The beautiful ephemera and pattern papers I used today are from Not 2 Shabby and they're called Gingerbread Kisses. I'm just smitten with the colors in these papers!! I just checked the website and it looks like the pattern paper pad is out of stock but the Gingerbread Kisses ephemera is in stock!! Woohoo!

The pattern paper is double sided so the candy canes are on the other side of this gorgeous glitter paper. I cut the pattern paper to 3-3/4 x 5" and then drew a line lightly with my pencil from the top right corner to the bottom left corner. I then cut the opposite corner to corner leaving a pencil marking for me to cut the leftover pieces. I hope that makes sense. I've showed how to cut these in my video here... Advent Calendar Day 9 | {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 29 | Unity Stamp Co. But rather than draw two lines corner to corner I've started just doing the one and then cutting the opposite corners.

I adhered the pattern paper to a piece of white card stock measuring 4 x 5-1/4". I then adhered the panel to a card front of Pretty Pink card stock from Stampin' Up measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" and adhered it to a white A2 top fold card base. I popped up the ephemera with foam tape. There isn't a sentiment included in the ephemera... or at least I don't think there is. I actually didn't look through it. LOL... the cute gingerbread house was on the top so I grabbed it. I did remember I had a cute gingerbread sentiment in a Not 2 Shabby stamp set so I went looking for it and found it! It's the Peppermint Mocha Season stamp set. I love this sentiment!!

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch 29 for the month of December!

I hope you'll join us and play along with the sketch! If you're interested in seeing a bit more inspiration for this sketch, check out the amazing inspiration from the design team over on the {BYSH} Cardmakers blog! 

Now, about that news regarding the sketch... I've decided to extend the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 29 through the month of January. December has been so busy and I know some have mentioned that they didn't get to play with the sketch yet. I'm also really enjoying this sketch and I'd like to make a couple more cards with it. So with that said the December challenge will be extended through to January 31st. I hope that you'll get to play along with us!

And regarding my plans for next year... December was SO crazy busy for me that I've decided to take January off. I have a handful of DT obligations that I'll be sharing this month but as far as {BYSHC} I'll only be sharing 2 cards. My plan for 2023 is to share just 3 cards for each sketch. I made so many Christmas cards last year that I still have a bunch left over so I'm decreasing my goal for 2023 to just 75. I figure 3 cards a month plus the ones that I make for the linky parties, I should be set! Well, that's it for me today. I'll be sharing another card for this sketch on January 13th.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Ink Swipe Technique with Oxides ~ December Challenge ~ Kindness Is Like Snow ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing more inspiration for the December challenge over in the Unity Show & Tell group. It's All About Backgrounds this month!! I got inky with the beautiful Kindness Is Like Snow stamps. I adore this fox!

The background was created by swiping oxide inks directly onto a piece of distress watercolor paper measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". I inked it up with Villainous Potion, Seedless Preserves, Wilted Violet, Tumbled Glass and Uncharted Mariner Distress Oxide inks. I then blended the inks with some water and a paint brush.

A bit of water splatters and white acrylic paint splatters to add more snow in the background. I then dried the background completely with a heat tool. Applied some anti static powder and stamped the snowflakes from the Kindness Is Like Snow stamps with white pigment ink. And then I added some white embossing powder over the snowflakes and heat embossed them with my heat tool.

Next I stamped the beautiful fox from the Kindness Is Like Snow stamps. I colored him up with the following Copic markers:

Fox ~ E95, E97, E09, W00, W1

Scarf ~ B000, B91, B95, B97, B99, V12, V17

You can check out my Copic coloring video here... Fox Copic Coloring | Kindness Is Like Snow | Unity Stamp Co. {My process video is further down in the blog post}

I continued the sentiment inside the card by masking the top portion with a post-it note.

You can check out my process video here... Ink Swipe Technique with Oxides | December Challenge | Kindness Is Like Snow | Unity Stamp Co.

What do you think of the ink swiping technique with the oxide inks?! I am in love!! I have a feeling I'll be playing with this technique often! The All About Backgrounds challenge is coming to an end. I can't believe how fast December has flown by. I hope you can find some time to play along and be sure to enter your card into the album before the challenge ends on December 31st. I'd love to see what you create so please share your cards in the Unity Show & Tell group and tag me too!! I have had a blast sharing inspiration for the last three months. I hope you all have also enjoyed the inspiration. Echo will be starting up a new challenge next Thursday... how exciting! I can't wait to see what she has in store for us all!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Membership Monday ~ Torn Paper Layers ~ December 2022 Kit of the Month ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing one last card for the December 2022 Kit of the Month. I've played with lot of layers of pattern paper along with the beautiful mushrooms stamp.

Loving all the pretty papers from the Kindness is Magic {paper pack}. It was hard to pick papers for this one. I even decided halfway through to change out a paper because I didn't use much blue-green in my coloring. Using papers with similar colors to the mushrooms helps to balance the colors in the design.

Here's a quick list of the Copic Markers I used for the mushrooms:

Mushrooms ~ W00, W1, W3, R20, R14, R27

Flowers ~ Y11, Y15

Leaves ~ YG03, YG63

Background ~ BG0000

Grounding ~ W00, W1

Next, the layers were all adhered together onto the bottom layer that I didn't tear for a bit of contrast to the design. Last of all, I stamped the sentiment, trimmed it and adhered it to the card.

You can check out my process video for this card here... Torn Paper Layers | December 2022 Kit of the Month | Unity Stamp Co.

Here's a look at the whole KOM... so many beautiful stamps!! Can you believe you get a full sheet of rubber for only $42. That includes shipping! You also get a $6.95 discount on every order from Unity over $40. And you can purchase any past kit for only $26 plus shipping. Such a great value! But be sure to sign up before the end of the year because the membership prices are increasing in January 2023!

Click here to learn more about the Kit of the Month membership!

I hope that you've been inspired to get inky with your Kit of the Month! If you missed the other card I shared using this month's KOM, you can check it out here... Monochromatic Coffee Card. That's it for me friends! I've had such a blast sharing inspiration with the Kit of the Month the past couple of months here on the Unity blog. I hope you've been inspired to play!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Advent Calendar Day 24 ~ You Warm My Heart ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

It's Day 24 of the Unity 2022 Advent Calendar! I've teamed up with Echo and Sandhya to do a little reveal and project on our YouTube channels using the fantastic Advent Calendar from Unity Stamp Co!! I hope that you've enjoyed the inspiration we've shared over the last 24 days!

Day 24 ~ a super sweet mug topped with whipped cream!

I paired it up with the Coffee Lovers {paper pack} from Unity. And did some simple copic coloring using C00, C2, BG0000, BG70, BG72.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch 10 that inspired my card.

I also used the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}, also from Unity. 

The sentiment is from the Mittens, Cocoa and Hearts Itty Bitty stamps.

Check out my process video here...  Unity Advent Calendar Day 24.

That's it for this year's Advent Calendar! I sure hope that you enjoyed the inspiration shared by myself, Echo and Sandhya. I know that I've enjoyed seeing all the fun and beautiful inspiration in the Unity Show & Tell. Did you know there's an album in the group to share inspiration for the Advent Calendar? If you haven't already be sure to check it out! Lots of wonderful tags, cards and journal pages. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!! I'll be back on Monday with some inspiration for the wonderful December 2022 Kit of the Month.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 29 ~ Christmas Wishin' ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Christmas Day is just two days away!! Once December starts it just seems to zip by so fast! I colored up this beautiful snow globe stamp from the Christmas Wishin' stamps from Unity awhile ago but just hadn't used it... until now! I think it's perfect for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 29. I also saved time and used the pattern papers left over from the cute car card I shared a couple weeks ago. A combination of the Krafty Season {paper pack} and Krafty Deck the Halls {paper pack} from Unity.

I love snow globes! I have a small collection of them and love to display them for Christmas on our fireplace mantle. The sweet snow globe from the Christmas Wishin' stamps was definitely a must have for my stamp collection.

I colored up this cute snow globe with the following Copic Markers:

Snowman ~ B0000, B000, YR15, YR68, R20, R14, R27, C00, C2

Snow / Snow Globe ~ B0000, B000

Tree ~ YG11, G24, G46, R20, R14, R27, Y06, Y15, Y35

Presents ~ R20, R14, R27, Y06, Y15, Y35

Snow Globe Base ~ E53, E55, E57, E59

I fussy cut the snow globe and popped it up on the card with foam tape. If you're in need of a pretty quick card and have a stamped and/or colored image already in your stash, this may be the sketch to try! Ephemera is also a great focal piece for this sketch. I think this turned out pretty cute. My only wish is that I had embossed my sentiment in white so it would be more visible on the card.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch 29 for the month of December!

I hope you'll join us and play along with the sketch! If you're interested in seeing a bit more inspiration for this sketch, check out the amazing inspiration from the design team over on the {BYSH} Cardmakers blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Advent Calendar Day 22 ~ Heart to Heart ~ December Challenge All About Backgrounds ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing inspiration for the December challenge over in the Unity Show & Tell group. This month it's All About Backgrounds!! I'm also sharing inspiration for the 2022 Advent Calendar.

Today is Day 22 for the Advent Calendar and the stamp is a cute heart encircled by the words 'Made With Love'. I've paired up this cute stamp with the recent new release called Heart to Heart.

Not sure where to start to create a background? Grab some pattern paper! The beautiful sweater pattern paper I used is from the amazing December 2022 Whit Kit called Getting Cozy. Oh boy are the papers in the Getting Cozy {paper pack} just the coziest!! I stamped the hearts and 'xoxo' with Lumberjack Plaid, Festive Berries and Worn Lipstick Distress Inks.

Next I splattered all over the background with Liquid Pixie Dust. I then die cut the background with the largest stitched rectangle die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. The cute 'Made with Love' heart was stamped with Lumberjack Plaid Distress ink and then copic colored very simply with R20, R14, R27. Finally, I die cut the heart and a red mat using the two smallest circle dies from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. Adhered the circles together and then I popped them up on the card.

You can check out my process video here... Advent Calendar Day 22 | December Challenge | All About Backgrounds | Unity Stamp Co. 

Pull out those pretty pattern papers and play along! Mix it up and play with a fun stencil over the pattern paper! The possibilities are endless!! I can't wait to see what you create! Be sure to share your cards in the Unity Show & Tell group and also add them to the December challenge album in the group to be entered for a prize!! See you back here next Thursday for more inspiration for the All About Backgrounds challenge!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Advent Calendar Day 19, 20 & 21 ~ Mini Slimline Card ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm getting a bit caught up with the Unity 2022 Advent Calendar sharing a few mini slimline cards using the Day 19, Day 20, and Day 21 stamps. I've teamed up with Echo and Sandhya to do a little reveal and project on our YouTube channels using the fantastic Advent Calendar from Unity Stamp Co!! Please be sure to subscribe to our channels so you don't miss a day of this fun series!

Day 19 ~ pretty hanging herbs.

I've paired up these mini slimline cards with the The Secret of Change {paper pack} from Unity.

Day 20 ~ a pretty envelope

I also used the So Kind, So Caring, So You {July 2022 Sentiment Kit} for the sentiments. And colored up the stamped images with the following Copic markers: Y23, Y26, G12, G29, RV0000, RV32, RV34, C00, C2.

Day 21 ~ a beautiful butterfly

I also used the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies} from Unity. 

The cute die cut circles and the sentiments are popped up with crafty foam tape. A simple mini slimline design for these beautiful stamps!

You can check out my process video here... Unity Advent Calendar Days 19-21.

I'll be back tomorrow with inspiration for the All About Backgrounds challenge in the Unity Show & Tell and I've used the sweet Day 22 stamp from the Advent Calendar! Hope you'll come back to check out my cute card!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 29 ~ Advent Calendar Day 16 ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

It's Day 16 of the Unity 2022 Advent Calendar! I've teamed up with Echo and Sandhya to do a little reveal and project on our YouTube channels using the fantastic Advent Calendar from Unity Stamp Co!! Please be sure to subscribe to our channels so you don't miss a day of this fun series!

Day 16 ~ a cute stack of books!!

I paired it up with the Cozy Textiles {paper pack}, also from Unity. And colored it up with the following Copic markers: 

Skin ~ E000, E00, E11

Hair ~ E43, E44, E49

Jacket ~ RV0000, RV10, RV21, RV91, RV93, RV95

Jeans ~ B91, B95

Book ~ C00, C2

Bean Bag ~ B91, B95, B97, B99

Stack of Books ~ Y000, Y11, RV0000, RV10, RV91, RV93, B91, B95, B97

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch 29 that inspired my card.

I also used the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}, also from Unity. And the little snowflake is from the Winter Sidekick Side-Order Thinlit/Texture Fades from Sizzix and Tim Holtz. 

The pretty girl and sentiment are from the Friends Family Graciousness October 2020 Whit Kit.

Check out my process video here... Unity Advent Calendar Day 16.

I'll be back on Monday with Day 19 of the Advent Calendar reveal and a pretty card! *So sorry for the delay... I'll be posting Day 19 through Day 21 on Wednesday.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Advent Calendar Day 15 ~ Star Ornament ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

It's Day 15 of the Unity 2022 Advent Calendar! I've teamed up with Echo and Sandhya to do a little reveal and project on our YouTube channels using the fantastic Advent Calendar from Unity Stamp Co!! Please be sure to subscribe to our channels so you don't miss a day of this fun series!

Day 15 ~ a sweet little silhouette stamp!

I paired it up with the White Winter {paper pack}, also from Unity. No coloring for this one... I stamped the reverse silhouette stamp with Weathervane ink from Papertrey Ink.

I also used the Scallops & Squares {nesting dies} and the Ornamental Greetings Ornament dies, both from Unity. {I'm not sure if the ornament dies are available just yet. Not seeing them on the website.} I decided not to add a sentiment but I might in the future.

Check out my process video here...  Unity Advent Calendar Day 15.

I'll be back tomorrow with Day 16 of the Advent Calendar reveal and a really cute card! If you are loving the cute stamps in the Advent Calendar, it's still available at Unity! At this point in the month it would still be a great set of stamps rather than a countdown to Christmas. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Shake Your Flakes ~ December Challenge ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing more inspiration for the December challenge over in the Unity Show & Tell group. It's All About Backgrounds this month!! I got inky with the fabulous Shake Your Flakes {December 2022 Sentiment Kit}.

The background was created by first stamping the cluster of snowflakes all over the white card front measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". I inked it up with white pigment ink. I then added some white embossing powder to the card front and melted it with a heat tool. 

I blended Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet and Villainous Potion Distress Oxide inks over the background. When I blend oxides I like to go over the blends a few times until I'm happy with the colors.

Next I stamped the background with the awesome Criss Cross Grunge December 2022 Background of the Month stamp. I wiped off the embossed flakes with a microfiber cloth and the lines of the background stamp moved to the back of the card like magic! Love the magic of heat embossing! I finished off the background with some water splatter and some white acrylic paint splatters. I wanted to break up the background a bit so I cut it on a diagonal and adhered the background to a white A2 top fold card base.

You can check out my process video here... Shake Your Flakes | December Callenge | Unity Stamp Co.

I stamped the sweet sentiment with Wilted Violet oxide ink. Next, I die cut it with the smalled stitched circle die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. I also die cut a stitched scalloped circle from white card stock and adhered the layers before popping it up on the card. To finish off the card, I added some pretty rhinestones to some of the snowflakes centers.

I've used a few background stamps the last few weeks for this challenge but you can create a background without using background stamps!! Repetitive stamping, like I did with the snowflakes cluster, is a great way to use your stamps for a wonderful background. The possibilities are seriously endless!! I hope you get a chance to play along. I'd love to see what you create. Be sure to share your cards in the Unity Show & Tell group and also add them to the December challenge album in the group to be entered for a prize!! See you back here next Thursday for more inspiration for the All About Backgrounds challenge!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Advent Calendar Day 14 ~ Holiday Wishes ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

It's Day 14 of the Unity 2022 Advent Calendar! I've teamed up with Echo and Sandhya to do a little reveal and project on our YouTube channels using the fantastic Advent Calendar from Unity Stamp Co!! Please be sure to subscribe to our channels so you don't miss a day of this fun series!

Day 14 ~ an adorable little snowflake!

I paired it up with the Brilliant Blizzard {paper pack}, also from Unity (looks like it's currently out of stock though). I colored it up with the following Copic markers: BG90 and BG93

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch 13 that inspired my card.

I also used the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}, also from Unity. 

The sentiment is from the Heart Warming Itty Bitty stamps.

Check out my process video here... Unity Advent Calendar Day 14.

I'll be back tomorrow with Day 15 of the Advent Calendar reveal and a really pretty ornament!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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