Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 39 ~ The Softest Thoughts ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing more inspiration for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 39 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. Four adorable Valentine's I made for my kids.

I am loving this sketch for my longer scraps. They weren't all long enough to go across the A2 card so I added a 4 x 5-1/4" layer. These scraps are all from the Enveloped in Love {paper pack}. It pairs up nicely with Kraft card stock for a vintage vibe.

I stamped the bunny and sentiment from The Softest Thoughts 4 times each on a full sheet of white card stock. Unfortunately, this one didn't have enough room to die cut it with a circle die but the square worked so I went with it. I used a die from the Scallops & Squares {nesting dies}. I was in a bit of a rush to mail this one to my son at Tech School for the Air Force so his also didn't get the distressed edges.

So the next three cards are pretty much identical. I didn't use green scraps on these ones so I colored the bunnies sweater and hat with a soft pink. All of the bunnies were die cut using a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}.

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 39. 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 used five or six scraps for each of the cards alternating the colors or patterns so it was pleasing to the eye.

Copic Markers used:

Bunnies: C0, C2, R00, R20

Green Hat & Sweater: G000, YG91, YG93, YG95, C0, C2

Pink Hat & Sweater: R00, R20, C0, C2

Hearts: R20, R14, R27

Ground: E000, E11

I adhered all of the layers directly to the Kraft card bases. All except the sentiments which I popped up with foam tape. So glad I got to use up some more scraps. I hope you can find time to play along. I can't wait to see what you create. Have an INKredible week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

~ Friends of Unity February 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop for February 2026!! Woohoo! I'm excited for this month's cue... 

Today we are sharing Sassy inspiration! Haha... yay! I made 3 fun cards to share with you all today.

My first card features the sassiest little leprechaun kitty from Zero Luck Given. Isn't it just too cute?! I had so much fun coloring him up with my Copic markers.

Copic markers used:

Kitty: YR20, YR15, YR27; plus some white gel pen

Eyes: C0, C2

Hat: YG00, YG11, YG09, N0, N1, N3, N5, Y15, Y28

Clovers: YG00, YG11, YG09

White Clover: V12

Stems / Grass: YG00, YG23

 

I actually started with my fun background for this card. I ink smooshed a panel of white card stock with Twisted Citron and Lucky Clover Distress Inks. And then I stamped the clovers from the awesome new February 2026 KOM called A Gentle Plot Twist. These gorgeous clovers are also available separately in The Luck of Knowing You stamp kit. I colored over the clovers with Copic markers to help them pop a bit more on the panel. I used YG00 and YG09.

I die cut the ink smooshed background using a stitched die from the Zig-Zag Rectangles {nesting dies}. My mat of True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink was also die cut using the slightly larger zig zag die from the same set. I adhered these layers to a card base of  Tropical Teal card stock from Papertrey Ink. I fussy cut the cute kitty leaving a white border and popped him up on the card with foam tape. I trimmed the sentiment and popped that up with foam tape too.

I went with a coffee theme for my second card. I inked up my favorite chicken from the October 2025 Uniquely Unity membership called Don't Cluck with My Coffee. She's my fave because I requested her and BAM, Ang delivered. Isn't she wonderful!? She's definitely got my coffee vibe going on. And that sentiment... hahahaha!!! Love it!

I wanted a simple one layer card for this one so I pulled out a couple stencils and created a fun, yet subtle, coffee background directly on my card base. I blended Antique Linen Distress Ink over the Falling Dots stencil from A Colorful Life Designs. And then I decided to color the last dot on each row with white Prismacolor pencil. Why? I'm really not sure... it was a whim. I like it on the top portion of the card but it's a little too much on the bottom. IMHO. The creative ideas don't always work! Whatcha going to do?! I then blended Vintage Photo Distress Ink over the Mini Coffee stencil from The Crafters Workshop. I could have sworn I had a stencil from Unity with a coffee theme, but I could not find it. Maybe I'm mixing it up with a die. Anyone know?!  

I stamped the chicken with Black Amalgam ink on Stampers Select white card stock from Papertrey Ink and colored her up with Copic markers. I found a scrap of Kraft card stock from Papertrey Ink in my stash that I used to ground the chicken. I distressed the edges of my card and the scrap using Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I adhered the sentiment directly to the card and added a couple scraps behind the back of the chicken {head, body & mug} so she'd lay flat on the card.

Copic Markers used:

White: C0, C2

Head / Tail Feathers: Y11, Y15, R22

Curlers: R20, R22, YR68

Glasses: Y11, Y15, Y38

Beak / Feet: YR20, YR16, YR27

Wattles: R20, R14, R27

Mug: BG10, BG34, E21, E18

Ground: E000, E21

My last card is a mix of old and new... I've been cataloging my Unity stamps in Google Sheets. So I finally had an opportunity to mark some of my retired stamps. I use a color system using circle dots. It's a whole thing. Maybe I'll share one day when I get closer to done. Anywho... my whole point was that now that I'm getting to know which stamps are retired, I plan to use them each month for our hop. At least one if I have one that works with our cue... AND I remember. Haha! Because it's also a good chance that these stamps haven't seen ink yet. And that's a shame so I'm going to try to fix that. I paired up the sweet and slightly sassy owl from Strange Bird with the awesome Thinkin' Out Loud stamps.

The pattern paper in my background is from the Rainbow Wishes {paper pack}. I adhered it to a white A2 top fold card base. I stamped the sweet owl from Strange Bird on a panel of white card stock using Black Amalgam ink. I colored up the owl with Copic markers and then decided to add some splatters. So I stamped the bird again on a post it note and fussy cut it making a mask. I die cut the panel using a die from the Postage Stamp {nesting dies}. I used iCraft Pixie tape to tape the edges and applied my mask and then I splattered the background with some Uncharted Marine Distress Ink. I also did a tiny bit of Apple Barrel black acrylic paint. Way more splatters than I intended, but it is what it is!

Copic markers used:

Owl: E21, E23, E25

Beak: YR20, YG15

Hat: Y11, Y15, Y38, G000, G82, YG21, YG91, YG93

Cliff: C0, C1, C3, C5, B95

I wrapped the top corner of the die cut with May Arts Black Burlap String and then tied it into a bow on the bottom corner. I added a bunch of foam tape to the back of the panel and popped it up on the card. And then I stamped the Thinkin' Out Loud word bubble and sentiment on a scrap of white card stock. I used an acetate grid sheet to make sure the sentiment was straight-ish. And then I popped it up on the card {tilted - haha!} using foam tape. I finished the card off with a few pieces of White Glossy Card Bling from A Colorful Life Designs.

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...

... Wilma DeG!! Congratulations, Wilma!!

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

Please claim the prize before March 4th, 2026. 

Well, that's it for me this time! I sure hope you'll 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 ---> Amber

Jenni

Rachel

Toni

Doreen

Dawn

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 39 ~ Make It Iced, Please ~ Not 2 Shabby

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing another card for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 39 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. A quick coffee card for today.

I used some pretty scraps from the retired Make It Iced, Please 6x6 Paper Pad from Not 2 Shabby to make my background for the card. It's been so cold... these bright and sunny colors are just bringing some warmth.

I combined three pieces of ephemera from the coordinating {and also retired} Make It Iced, Please Ephemera from Not 2 Shabby for my focal image for this card. I cut an edge on the circle ephemera for that edge in the sketch and grounded my other pieces of ephemera on the line.

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 39. 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 used long paper scraps for this sketch... no measuring needed.

The sweet sentiment is from the retired Cup of Love stamps from Unity. I love how quick this card came together. And I got to use up some scraps too. I hope you can find time to play along. I can't wait to see what you create. Have an INKredible week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 66 ~ Bear Hugs ~ Creative Worship Stamps

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 sweet Christmas card featuring an adorable stamp from our wonderful Sponsor Creative Worship Stamps! This month's prize is a $20 gift code to Creative Worship Stamps! Yay!

As I often do, I started with my background. I don't currently have papers from Creative Worship Stamps but I did see some pretty plaid papers on their website that I've added to my wishlist. I did find a pretty snowflake pattern paper in my stash that I thought would work well with the cute bear stamp. I used the Say Cheese Classic Mouse Christmas 6x8 Paper Pad from Simple Stories. I cut it down to 3-3/4 x 5".

I went searching through my card stock to find one that coordinated with the color of these pattern papers. I settled on Mint Macaron from Stampin' Up. I cut my mat to 4 x 5-1/4". I adhered the layers and then adhered them to a white A2 top fold card base. I die cut a piece of the Mint Macaron card stock using the Christmas Ornament & Bulb Tag Die Set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps {now Creative Worship Stamps}. I ran the die cut ornament through my Big Shot using the Silent Snowfall Embossing Folder from Unity {no longer available}. The top of the ornament was die cut from a Silver Foil card stock from Stampin' Up that's been in my stash forever. And I finished it off with a little iridescent organdy bow.

The star of the card is the adorable bear in a snowflake mug from the retired Bear Hugs stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps {now Creative Worship Stamps}. I stamped it and colored it with Copic markers. I fussy cut it leaving a white border around the image. I used a hole punch to start fussy cutting the handle on the mug. I decided to cut that on the line and I colored the edges with a black marker. I popped up the ornament on the card and also popped up the bear to finish off the card.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 66 for the month of February. If you're interested in seeing a bunch 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

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 65 ~ Hot Cocoa Gnomes & It's Gingie Time ~ Not 2 Shabby

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm sharing a little more inspiration for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 65 hosted in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that I love the papers and ephemera from Not 2 Shabby, right?! Like, they make card making so quick and fun! With that said... I have 2 cute cards to share today because they were so quick and easy to make! Why just make one?! LOL!

For my first card, I combined the sweet and adorable Christmas Critters 6x6 Paper Pad with the Hot Cocoa Gnomes Ephemera. The colors in these worked so well together. I was just tickled pink!

Both of those products are retired now, it looks like. But the variety on the website is amazing!! You have to go check it out... Not 2 Shabby papers!

I used pattern papers for my layers except for the white paper that's white card stock. And I finished this one off with a few white glossy confetti pieces from A Colorful Life Designs.

For my second card, I used the adorably sweet It's Gingie Time Ephemera. It was so hard to choose just one gingie!!

I paired up the adorable gingie with the coordinating It's Gingie Time 6x6 Paper Pad.

I adhered my layers to a black card base and die cut scraps of black card stock using the MFT Ric Rac die from my stash. The sweet sentiment is from the Gingerbread Coffee House stamp set. I heat embossed it using a white ink with white embossing powder on the black card stock. I love how the white pops on the black card stock.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 65 for the month of January. Tomorrow is the last day 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!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 39 ~ Hop to My Heart ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I hope you're having a wonderful week so far! Today I'm sharing my first card for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 39 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I'm in the midst of a cardmaking hiatus... needed some time to revive the mojo and for my family. BUT I still wanted to keep the sketch challenges going so I'm sharing a little inspiration for the new sketch.

I adore this sweet new bunny from the Hop to My Heart stamps from Unity. It's just too cute and adorably sweet! I stamped it with Black Amalgam ink and colored it up with Copic Markers. I also stamped the image over a piece of pattern paper and fussy cut the heart to paper piece onto this cute bunny.

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

Bunny: C0, C2, RV10, RV02, RV14

Hearts: RV10, RV02, RV14

Grass / Stems: G000, G82

Flower: Y38

Shading on paper pieced heart: RV000, RV10

I die cut the cute bunny using the Oval Frames dies from Newton's Nook Designs. And then I chopped off the bottom portion of the oval just under the grass line of the image. And I distressed the edges with the residual ink on my brown blending brush. My paper scraps are from the beautiful Enveloped in Love {paper pack}. I LOVE these papers!! And boy do I have a bunch of scraps!

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 39. 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 am a HUGE fan of using up scraps so I like to occasionally throw in fun sketches just for that purpose. This one is great for those long strips of pattern paper. 

I trimmed the sentiment and adhered it to the top of the oval and then I added foam tape to the back of both pieces and popped them up on the card. Lots of possibilities with this fun sketch! I sure hope you can find time to play along. I can't wait to see what you create. Have an INKredible week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 65 ~ Holiday Owls ~ Not 2 Shabby

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with a little inspiration for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 65 hosted in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! Today I'm sharing a sweet Christmas card featuring gorgeous papers and an adorable owl stamp from our amazing Sponsor Not 2 Shabby! This month's prize is a $25 gift certificate to Not 2 Shabby! Woohoo!

I started with my background first for this one. I really wanted to play with some of the fun glitter papers in the Festive Christmas 6x6 paper pad. I used pattern papers from the pad for each of my layers. I cut the four strips at 1/4" wide. I alternated the glitter strips and I think it really helps to draw the eye across the card to the cute owl.

I stamped the adorable owl from the retired Holiday Owls using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I colored it up with a handful of Copic markers.

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

Hat: R20, R14, R27, C0, C2

Holly: YG11, G24, R14, R27

Beak / Feet: YR20, YR15

Body: W0, W1, W3, W5

White Areas: C0, C2

I adhered the strips at the top of the panel and the right side of the panel leaving them loose in the left corner to weave. I was then able to adhere the weaved ends and didn't have to worry about them moving around. I trimmed the sentiment and popped it and the fussy cut owl up on the card with foam tape.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 65 for the month of January. If you're interested in seeing a bunch 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