~ Friends of Unity April 2025 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! This month's cue is a whole bunch of fun... Use All Scraps!! 

 As you may know, I've been trying to use up my scrap papers in an effort to make room for new papers that I've already bought. LOL! It's been a huge task and I'm making very slow progress. But I'm loving this month's cue because I have lots of scraps and bits to use. 

First up is a fun birthday card I created with scraps I had in my bin. I had stamped this background using sentiments from the Cheers & Confetti stamps. I had already die cut it using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}.

It was just plain black & white so I thought I'd jazz it up and ink smooshed it with Salty Ocean and Peacock Feathers Distress Inks. I dried it completely with a heat tool and adhered it to a black A2 top fold card base. 

I also had the puppy panel in my bin. I had stamped the sentiment along with the pup from the Pawsome Peepers with Black Amalgam ink. I left the panel black and white but I did add some shadow to the pup with Copic markers: C00 and C2. Love how quick this 'scrap bin' card came together!

Next up is a card inspired by my favorite Disney princess... Belle from Beauty and the Beast. I recently re-watched the live action version of this movie. I just love it! I was tickled to find this panel in my bin so I colored it up with Copic markers and made it into a card. This gorgeous stamp is called Enchanted Petals.

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

Greens: YG11, YG03, G94

Yellows: Y11, Y15

Blues: B0000, B000, B00, B02

Reds: R20, R14, R27

The panel was already die cut using a die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. I trimmed up the sentiment and adhered it across the panel. And then I wrapped the panel with three strands of black burlap string and I tied a pretty bow. I covered the back of the panel with foam tape leaving a little space for the string. And then I popped it up on a black A2 top fold card base. So enchanting!!

My third card features a fun ink smooshed background that I made awhile ago. I'm actually not sure what colors I used for it. I usually write the colors on the back if I don't use the panel but I didn't for this one. My guess would be Twisted Citron, Black Soot and Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide inks on a piece of Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Card Stock.

I love the textures in the watercolor card stock. The background is spattered with white acrylic paint that I thinned out a tiny bit with a spritz of water. I purposely chose a busy background to pair up with this fun bee and sentiment from the new Furious Farmyard. 

I colored the bee with YG21 and Y06. I die cut the bee and a mat using plain circle dies from my stash. I trimmed the sentiment and added foam tape to the sentiment and circle and popped them both up on the card. Do you have any fun backgrounds in your scraps stash? Pull it out and use it for a fun card! Double Dare You!! LOL!

I just HAD to play with more critters from the Furious Farmyard stamps for my last card!! I love all of their hilarious faces! I stamped the chicken, pig and cow and colored them up with my Copic markers.

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

Chicken: E21, E23, E25, YR15, YR27, R20, R14, C00, C2

Pig: RV10, RV11, R00, R20, C00, C2

Cow: C00, C2, C3, R00, R20, E51

Ground: YG91, YG63

Sky: B0000, B00

 My scraps for this card were the fun papers and the ribbon. The gingham paper is from Barnyard Bouquet {paper pack}. I had die cut it using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. The background paper is from the Jubilant Tapestry {paper pack}. The colors in these papers work so nicely together! It was like it was meant to be and this whole time they were sitting together in my scraps. Score!

I die cut the Furious Farmyard critters using a die from the Make a Tag {die set}. There was a scrap of pattern paper in the Jubilant Tapestry {paper pack} that was die cut using a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. I trimmed the circle and folded it over the top of the tag adhering it with glue. I popped up the focal tag panel on the card with foam tape and finished it off with a pretty bow from my scraps. This was such a fun card to make! I hope you're inspired to pull out some scraps and make a sweet card or two, or three. LOL!

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...

... Carla from Arizona! Congratulations, Carla!!

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

Please claim the prize before April 30th, 2025. 

Well, that's it for me this time! Please hop along and enjoy some more inspiration from the Friends of Unity! 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 ---> Kari

Amber

Jane

Jenni

Toni

Joyce

Rachel

Dawn

Thanks so very much for loving and commenting on our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Hey Beautiful ~ Miss Anya Jeans ~ The Greeting Farm

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a sweet and sunny card for any occasion!

I was looking through my collection of TGF goodies to see which stamps I've yet to ink up and the darling Miss Anya Jeans stamp set caught my eye. I just love inking up Miss Anya! She's so fun to color. I stamped her and the sentiment using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored her up with Copic markers.

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

Skin: E000, E00, E21, R00, R20

Mouth: R20, R14

Hair: YR23, YR24, YR27, R59

Shirt: Y11, Y15, R20, R14, R37

Belt: C00, C2, N2, N4

Jeans: B91, B93, B95, B97

Shoes: C00, C2, R20, R14

I fussy cut Miss Anya on the line and then I used a Memento Tuxedo Black marker to color the edges of my fussy cutting. This makes the cutting look nice and neat.

I used some bright and sunny papers and ephemera from my stash to make a background for Miss Anya. I even added a white doily. I like how it frames her face.

I added a strip of black card stock to the bottom of my paper layer to ground Miss Anya. I had such a blast making this card. I'm definitely ready for some sunshiny days! I hope I've inspired you to get inky!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Make Things Weird ~ Cluckin' Chicks ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

It's time for Unity's April release and I am just so excited to share my card featuring the latest addition to the roost... Cluckin' Chicks!! Fun stamps with two cute and hilarious chicks plus a few super funny sentiments. Love it!

I stamped the hilarious chicken with Black Amalgam ink and colored her up with just a few Copic markers.

Here's a quick list of the ones I used:

Feathers: C00, C2, C3

Eyes: C00, C2, C3, Colorless Blender

Beak / Feet: YR21, YR15, YR27

Comb / Wattles: R20, R14, R27

Ground: C00, C2, C3

Outline: B0000

You can check out my process video here... Make Things Weird | Cluckin' Chicks | Unity Stamp Co.

I die cut the chicken using a circle die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. The sentiment is die cut using a die from the Scalloped & Stitched Sentiment Nesting Dies. Both are popped up on the card using foam tape.

I paired up this fun chicken with the Cluck & Bloom {paper pack}. I die cut the background paper using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. All of my layers are adhered to a white A2 top fold card base. I finished off the card with some Glossy Accents on the chicken's eyes! I love the fun shine it gives to the card!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 31 ~ Flutter & Fur ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm also sharing some inspiration for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 31 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I inked up the super cute and adorable bunnies from the Flutter & Fur stamps. I adore these two!

I stamped the bunnies and sentiment with Amalgam Black ink on Stampers Select White card stock and colored them up with Copic Markers. Fussy cut the bunnies and butterfly and the sentiment with my Cutter Bee scissors and adhered them together. 

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

White Bunny: C00, C2, C3, R00, R20, B0000, B00

Gray Bunny: R00, R20, W00, W2, W3, W5, G000, G24

Butterfly: Y06, YR15, YR68, N2, N4

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 31. 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 paired up these sweet buns with some Easter papers in my stash. I think I've inadvertently decided to finish off these Easter papers because I've left them on my desk and have reached for them a few times. We'll see if I get them finished or not. I do love the chocolate bunnies in the papers and the browns. So cute! I adhered the bunny and sentiment to a vellum egg shape that I die cut using a die from the Nesting Eggs Die from Waffle Flower. I popped the combo up on the card by adding foam tape behind the sentiment and bunnies.

I finished off the card with a few enamel dots from my stash. I'm having so much fun with this sketch! I hope you can find time to play along. Have an ink-tastic week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 56 ~ Christmas Sugar Cookies ~ Jaded Blossom

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 cute Christmas card featuring an adorable stamp from our wonderful Sponsor, Jaded Blossom! Jaded Blossom has generously offered up a $25 gift card as a prize for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 56 this month! So wonderful!!

I inked up the super cute reindeer cookie from the Christmas Sugar Cookies Stamp Set using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it up with Copic markers. I also stamped the sentiment from the Christmas Village: Post Office.

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

Brown: E51, E23, E25

Tan: E51, E23

Antlers: E51, E23, E25, E27

Nose: R20, R14, R27

Eyes: N4, N8

I paired up the sweet stamp with the Gentle Winter 6x6 Paper Pack from Ink N' Splatter. I die cut a scrap of vellum using a die from the Big and Little Pierced Chain Circle from Gina Marie Designs. I adhered the sweet reindeer to the vellum and then I added foam tape to the back of the reindeer to add some dimension to the card. 

I also popped up the sentiment using foam tape. I kept this card pretty simple. A few enamel dots or maybe snowflakes would make it a bit more snazzy but I like it simple.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 56 for the month of April. 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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{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 55 ~ Empty Snow Globe ~ Pink & Main

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with one last card for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 55 hosted in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! Today I'm sharing another sweet holiday card featuring a couple of great stamps from our wonderful Sponsor, Pink & Main.

I paired up the fun Empty Snow Globe stamp set with one of the adorable gingerbreads from the Sugar and Spice Holidays stamp set to make a faux shaker card. My intention was to make a shaker card, but I got distracted and forgot to add the clear card stock {acetate} layer so a faux shaker it is! LOL!

I stamped the Empty Snow Globe and the ginger using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored them up with some Copic markers. I brightened up the white icing using a Sakura White Gelly Roll pen.

Here's a quick list of what I used:

Gingerbread: E30, E34, E35

White Icing: C00, C2

Red: R20, R14

Snow Globe Base: E21, E23, E25

I used the lovely Sugar Plum 6x6 Paper Pad from My Mind's Eye for my pretty paper layers for this card. They are all adhered to a Kraft A2 top fold card base. The snow globe is popped up with some foam strips from Stampin' Up. Oh, and the snowflakes I added were from the Advent Calendar last year from Unity.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 55 for the month of March. There's just a few days left to enter the challenge! 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! I'm always blown away by the creations from the DT... they are amazingly talented cardmakers!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Fun Bunny Background ~ Happy Easter ~ The Greeting Farm

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm excited to share a super sweet and fun Easter card with you all!

I created a fun partial background using the adorable bunny peep from the Happy Easter stamp set. The adorable girl is also from the same stamp set. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find the Happy Easter stamp set on the website. But if you'd like to add it to your collection, you can check out the Farmers Market and submit a request via email... maybe it'll be available for the next Farmers Market.

I stamped the girl and bunnies with Memento Tuxedo black ink and colored them up with Copic Markers. I also spattered the partial background with Mustard Seed, Tumbled Glass, and Kitsch Flamingo Distress Ink.

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

Girl Skin: E000, E00, E51, R00, R20

Girl Hair: Y21, E43, E44

Dress: V000, V12

Green Bunnies: YG11, YG23 

Yellow Bunnies: Y11, Y15

Pink Bunnies: RV10, RV02

Purple Bunnies: V000, V12

Orange Bunnies: YR21, YR15

Blue Bunnies: B0000, B00

Ground: C00, C2

I added a 1/8" strip of black card stock to break up the partial background. And I mat the cute focal image with a black circle mat. 

You can check out my process video here... Fun Bunny Background | Happy Easter | The Greeting Farm.

Anyone else working on Easter cards for their stash? I just adore how this one turned out! I hope I've inspired you to get inky.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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