~ Friends of Unity August 2025 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! This month's cue is a lot of fun! 

Technique is such a broad scope for a cue... it took me a while to figure out what I wanted to make. I decided to play with my Distress Crayons again. It's been awhile.

I masked my 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" panels with iCraft Removable Pixie Tape from Therm O Web. And then I colored the masked off area with three distress crayons. For my first card, I chose Fossilized Amber, Mustard Seed, and Spiced Marmalade. I used a baby wipe to blend those colors and then removed the tape. I swiped my white pigment ink pad across the raised part just to add a touch of white.

I wanted to add some texture to my panels so I ran this one through my Big Shot with the Dot Matrix embossing folder from Tim Holtz/Sizzix. I paired up this fun background with an adorable bee from the  July 2025 Uniquely Unity Bee-Hold stamps. The die cut hexagons are cut out using the Hexagon Frames from Newton's Nook Designs.

Copic markers used: Y11, Y15, B000, C0, C2

I masked off my second panel at a diagonal. For this one I used Picked Raspberry, Spun Sugar, and Kitsch Flamingo distress crayons. I blended them with a baby wipe and then ran this one through my Big Shot with the Tattered Poinsettia embossing folder also from Tim Holtz/Sizzix.

I paired up my second panel with the beautiful Seasons of Life stamp. The sentiment is from Deck the Halls. I fussy cut the girl and adhered her and the sentiment to the card.

Copic markers used for this card:

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Hair: Y11, E43, E44

Hat / Scarf / Mittens: G000, G82, C0, C2

Coat: E21, E33, E25, R20, R22

I've kinda been on a roll with the Christmas cards so... I made another! For this one I masked the paper horizontally and I used Peacock Feathers, Salvaged Patina, and Mermaid Lagoon distress crayons. And I used a snowflake embossing folder that I believe is Tim Holtz but there's no brand name on it so I'm not sure.

I paired up this fun wintry background with the awesome Sending Christmas Smiles stamps. I adore this snowman! I fussy cut him and adhered him to the card. 

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used:

Snowman: C0, C2

Nose: Y11, YR20, YR15, YR68

Arm: E00, E59

Hat: N2, N4, N6

Scarf / Hat Band: R20, R14, R27

Now before we get to the hopping, I chose a lucky winner from the comments on last month's hop to win a fun prize and the lucky winner is...

... Becca Yahrling!! Congratulations, Becca!!

Please email me at crystalominkler@gmail.com to claim your prize. 

Please claim the prize before September 3rd, 2025. 

Well, that's it for me this time! It's a short hop this month with just six of us sharing our makes. Be sure to hop along and enjoy some more inspiration! I can't wait to see how our friends were inspired by this month's cue. I will be doing another fun giveaway this month!! Be sure to hop along and comment for a chance to win. {When you comment please leave your name just in case it posts as anonymous.} I'll announce the winner next month! 

Let's get to the hopping...

Crystal <--- you're here

up next ---> Jenni

Toni

Rachel

Dawn

Joyce

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 60 ~ Arctic Joyride ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for a new sketch challenge over in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! Today I'm sharing a fun Christmas card featuring a super cute stamp and pretty papers from our fabulous Sponsor Unity! This month's prize is a $25 gift card to Unity!! Yay!

I inked up the adorable penguin from the Arctic Joyride stamps using Black Amalgam ink. This cutie doesn't take much to color up. 

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used:

Penguin: C0, C2, Y15, YR15, YR68

Scarf: R20, R14

Sled: E25

Red Present: R20, R14

Blue Present: BG000, BG10, BG01

I paired the cute penguin up with the Snowflake Elegance {paper pack}. I used a soft white pattern paper for my bottom layer measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". The blue layer measures 4 x 5-1/4". I die cut the next layer using a die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. And then I cut strips from my scraps to 2-5/8 x 3/4".

I stamped, trimmed and popped up the sentiment on the card with foam tape. I fussy cut the penguin and then popped him up on the card too. I finished it off with a couple glitter white enamel dots from my stash.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 60 for the month of August. 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!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Membership Wednesday ~ July 2025 KOM Feelin' Fall the Things ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

Happy Membership Wednesday! Today I'm sharing a really quick card featuring a really cute stamp from the July 2025 Kit of the Month membership from Unity called Feelin' Fall the Things. Love the mix of stamps in this month's kit!

I wanted to do a CAS design but with a bit of dimension. I ink smooshed a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" card front of white card stock with Salvaged Patina Distress Oxide ink leaving a good amount of white space. I trimmed the panel down to 4 x 5-1/4" and adhered it to a white A2 top fold card base. I die cut another panel of white card stock with the Stitched Hillside Borders from Lawn Fawn.

I stamped the adorable bird with Black Amalgam ink and colored it up with Copic markers. I fussy cut it leaving a white border and popped it up on the card with foam tape. I stamped the sentiment in the corner to finish this card.

Copic Markers Used

Bird: V000, V12, V15, Y11, Y15

Leaves / Grass: YG11, G14

Daisy: Y11, Y15, C0, C2

Here's a look at this month's Kit of the Month membership!

This adorable stamp is available separately here... Tweetest Friends.

Well, that's it for me today! I hope you've been inspired to play with your membership stamps! Have an INKriffic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 34 Extended ~ Spectrum Gardenia ~ 49 and Market

 Hello there crafty friend!

It's been a busy summer and I'm having so much fun with TOPII Sketch 34 that I've decided to extend this challenge for a few extra weeks. Today I'm sharing more inspiration for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 34 Extended in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. Absolutely no stamping or coloring for this card!

I used papers from the Spectrum Gardenia 12 x 12 Collection from 49 and Market. The white distressed background paper measures 5-1/2 x 4-1/4". The orange strips measure 3/4 x 

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 34 Extended. The sketch, as always, is meant to inspire not require. So let the sketch lead in your design, but don't feel limited by it. I turned the sketch today and moved the sentiment.

And the cluster of ephemera is from the coordinating Spectrum Gardenia Ephemera Bits pack. I wrote 'Love' on the tab and stapled it to the ephemera using the Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tiny Attacher Mini Stapler. The sentiment is adhered directly to the ephemera piece and the butterfly was popped up with foam tape.

I adhered the four orange strips to the card and popped up the large ephemera piece with foam tape. I'm having a blast with this sketch! Now there's more time to play along... I hope you'll join in the fun! Have an ink-tastic week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Inky Paws Challenge #242 ~ Color Challenge {Week 4}

Hello there crafty friend!

 There's just a few more days to play along with the Inky Paws Challenge #242 - Color Challenge! You have until this coming Friday, August 1st to get your entries in for the challenge and a chance to win a $20 store credit to Newton's Nook Designs!

Inky Paws Challenge #242 - Color Challenge

I hope you're having fun with this color combo... Cotton Candy Pink, Orange Sherbet, Turquoise, and Royal Blue!! I couldn't help but make more birthday cards using products from the new release!

The new Card Layout 3 Die makes easy work of a fun background. I thought I'd use two pieces of patter paper and make two cards from the backgrounds I created. Easy peasy! I die cut pattern papers from the Birthday Time 6x6 Paper Pad. The colors in these papers are just PURR-fect for this challenge!

I stamped two adorable cats from the Cat Birthday Party Stamp Set. Colored them with Copic markers and then die cut them with the coordinating Cat Birthday Party Die Set. 

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used for my first card:

Cats: R00, R20, N2, N4, N6, C0, C2

Orange:YR20, YR15

Pink: RV10, RV52

Turquoise: BG000, BG01

Royal Blue: B02, B24, B28

Cake: E21, E23

I stamped the fun balloons and birthday cake from the Birthday Postage Sampler Stamp Set. I colored them up and then die cut them with the coordinating Birthday Postage Sampler Die Set.

I die cut the 'Happy Birthday' sentiment from pattern paper using the Happy Birthday Die. I die cut shadows from white card stock and adhered them together. And then I adhered all of the fun images to the card.

Now it's your turn to get your paws inky with your Newton's Nook Designs products and create a project using the color combo of Cotton Candy Pink, Orange Sherbet, Turquoise, and Royal Blue. Be sure to link up to the Inky Paws Challenge! Can't wait to see your projects!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Healing Takes Time ~ Drift & Remember ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

So glad you've stopped by my blog! Today I'm sharing a couple of quick cards I made using the gorgeous new Drift & Remember stamps from Unity.

This gorgeous new dragonfly stamp is huge! I love it!

I stamped the dragonfly on two card fronts measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" and die cut them using the stitched die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. I then colored them up very simply with a couple of Copic markers. For my first card I used: BG000, BG01, BG72, Y11, C0, C2.

I added a touch of Sakura white gelly roll pen to the eyes. I stamped the sentiments and die cut them using a die from the Scalloped & Stitched Sentiment Nesting Dies.

For my second card I used the following Copic markers: RV10, RV02, Y11, C0, C2. I ink smooshed the colored dragonflies with a bit of Vintage Photo Distress Ink and added a bit of spatters too.

I adhered my layers to two Kraft A2 top fold card bases. Super quick cards and ready to mail out to two friends that recently had surgery.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Wrapped with Extra Love ~ Holiday Flock Talk ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

I couldn't help myself... sharing one last card for the Christmas in July 2025 {BYSHC} Linky Party! I promise! It's the last one! But I just HAD to play with Holiday Flock Talk! It's a brand new stamp from our wonderful Sponsor Unity that just released! Yay!

What's better than a cute holiday birdie?! Well, THREE cute holiday birdies, of course! I stamped all three together for a mini slimline card. I colored them up with some festive colors using Copic markers.

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used:

Purple Bird: BV00, BV02, YR20, YR15, C0, C2

Hats: C0, C2, R20, R14, R27

Scarf: G000, G21, G82

Tree: G000, G21, G82, E57

Striped Present: R20, R14, R27, Y11, Y15

Blue Bird: B000, B00, B02, Y11, Y15, C0, C2, YR20, YR15

Tiny Present: G000, G21, R14, R27

Orange Bird: Y11, YR20, YR15, YR20, YR15, R20, R14, R27

Ground: C0, C2

I hope you'll stop by the Christmas in July 2025 {BYSHC} Linky Party to check out all the wonderful Holiday inspiration being shared and maybe you can even play along! I've been inspired by so many of the cards! That's why I've been making so many extras! LOL! Today is the last day to enter the linky party!

I die cut the trio using the Big Little Chain Mini Slimline dies from Gina Marie Designs. I popped up the die cut panel using foam tape.

I paired up these cuties with the Minty Christmas {paper pack}. My mini slimline measures 6-1/2 x 3-1/2" so I trimmed a piece of pattern paper to 6 x 3-1/2" and then cut it in half. I adhered the pieces to the sides of the mini slimline card base. And then I had a scrap of the mint paper. It's probably 2-1/2" wide by 3-1/2". That's a wrap for the linky party! I hope you've enjoyed my cards. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal