~ Friends of Unity March 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend! Happy March to you!

It's time for another Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! Woohoo! This month's cue is one of my faves...

Today we are sharing inspiration using the fun Friends of Unity Sketch above!! Lots of fun layers that are perfect for those pattern papers in the ol' stash. If you're inspired and want to play along just use the sketch and share in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook Group. If you're not in the group, please tag me on your social media... I'd love to see your take on the sketch!

My first card features the cute new Just a Couple Spring Chickens stamps from this month's Uniquely Unity membership. You can sign up for the membership and get all the perks along with this cute stamp mailed straight to your door. Or buy it as a 1-Time Purchase. Isn't it just the sweetest stamp?! I die cut it using a die from the Scallops & Arches {nesting dies}.

Copic markers used:

Chicken: E21, E23, R00, R14, YR20, YR15

Eyes: C0, C2

Flowers: RV10, RV02, Y15

Stems / Leaves: YG91, YG95

Pot: B0000, B000, B91

 

My paper layers are a fun mix of pattern papers from the Jubilant Tapestry {paper pack}. I die cut the floral papers using a die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. I mat that with a 3-7/8 x 5-1/8" piece of Midnight Muse card stock from Stampin' Up. The background layer measures 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" and the grid paper measures 3-9/16 x 1-1/2". All of my layers are adhered to a white A2 top fold card base.

I die cut a piece of Midnight Muse card stock with a die from the Scalloped & Stitched Sentiment Nesting Dies. I stamped and trimmed the sentiment and adhered it to the die cut mat. I adhered the sentiment to the arch and popped them up on the card with foam tape. I die cut the heart from one of the pattern papers using a die from the Dashes and Frills Hearts {die set} and adhered it to the card finishing this one off. 

For my second card I inked up the adorable sheep from the Shear Surprise stamps. I die cut them using another die from the Scallops & Arches {nesting dies}. I colored them up with Copic markers that coordinated with the lovely colors in the Where Little Gardens Grow {paper pack} I used for my layers. Loving the spring colors!!

Copic markers used:

Sheep: N1, N3, N5, R00, R20, C0, C2

Eyes: C0, C2

Flowers: RV02, Y35

Stems / Leaves / Grass: YG11, YG23

Wall: YR20, YR21, YR02

Sky: B0000, B000

 I used the awesome Zig Zag Rectangles {nesting dies} for this card. PRO TIP: die cut smaller portions from the larger pieces of pattern paper for future projects. I really love the delicate floral paper in the background layer so I used the smaller stitched rectangle die {the plaid layer} to die cut a piece from the center of my background papers so I can use it for another project. To finish this one off, I adhered the trimmed sentiment to the arch and then popped up the sheep and sentiment with foam tape. 

Anybody else snag this cutie from last month's sale?! The sass is pretty serious with this one! LOL! I die cut this cutie with the Scallops & Arches {nesting dies}. I colored up the Already Old bird with just a handful of Copic markers.

Copic markers used:

Bird: Y11, Y15, Y38

Eyes / Ground: C0, C2

Balloon: RV000, RV10, RV02

Sky: B0000, B000

I paired up the bird with the pretty Swing into Spring {paper pack}. This time I die cut my layers using the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set. I adhered the three layers in the middle {blue, floral and pink papers} all together and popped it up on the script background layer using foam tape. 

I adhered the sentiment to the arch and added a bunch of foam tape to the back of the arch and sentiment and then popped them up on the card. I finished this card off with a big blue button! This one will probably have to be hand delivered but I love how it turned out!

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...

... Denise Bryant!! Congratulations, Denise!!

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

Please claim the prize before April 1st, 2026. 

Well, that's it for me this time! Be sure to hop along and enjoy some more inspiration from our friends. I can't wait to see our friends' take on the sketch. 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 ---> Doreen

Amber

Jenni

Joyce

Dawn

Rachel

Toni

Jane

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 40 ~ Peek-A-Bee ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing more inspiration for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 40 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. A cute little bee card!

I inked up the adorable Peek-A-Bee stamps and colored it with some Copic markers. I fussy cut the bee and set it aside.

Copic Markers used:

Bee: Y11, Y15, Y35, C3

Eyes / Clouds: C0, C2

Wings: B000

Grass: G000, G82

I paired up the sweet bee with the Cluck & Bloom {paper pack}. These papers aren't just for chicken cards! I thought I'd make a funky scene card with the papers and added a few clouds using the Everyday Clouds {Mini Dies & Stencil Set}.

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 40. 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 omitted the mats for the triangles this time. 

I adhered the pattern papers directly to a Kraft card base. I adhered the bee to the edge of the green striped paper. And then I trimmed off the right edge of the sentiment and popped it, and the clouds, up on the card with foam tape. I hope you can find time to play along with the sketch challenge. Have an INK-riffic week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 67 ~ Christmas Village ~ Pajama Crafter 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 cozy monochromatic Christmas card featuring a sweet stamp from our wonderful Sponsor Pajama Crafter Stamps! This month's prize is a $25 store voucher to Pajama Crafter Stamps! Yippee!

I started with my background... I wanted to use a couple pattern papers and I am loving the Taupe Tidings Paper Pack!! I love the rich browns and, of course, the taupe. I trimmed the snowy pattern paper to 5-1/2 x 4-1/4" and die cut my offset mat from the middle of that piece. I adhered the larger panel to a white A2 card base. I die cut the tree pattern paper using a large rectangle die from my stash and adhered it over the snowy background.

I set the card base aside and inked up one of the cute houses from the Christmas Village Stamps. I went back and forth several times on if I wanted to color it. It's so hard sometimes not to color all the things. LOL! But since I wanted a monochromatic look I decided to just leave it. I die cut it and adhered it onto the snowy square with foam tape. I then adhered the offset squares to the card with liquid glue so I'd have a little give in getting my placement just so.

At first I decided to not put a sentiment on the front of the card. I stamped the lovely sentiment from the Christmas Village Stamps inside the card using Ground Espresso Distress Ink {the same ink I used for the house}.

I left the card overnight and when I came back to it the next day, it needed a sentiment on the front. Funny how that happens! I finally decided to use the sentiment from the Sketched Florals - Poinsettia Stamp & Die Bundle. It looks like the bundle is no longer available, but the poinsettia stamp set is and it's on sale!! I used the sentiment dies from the bundle to die cut the sentiment.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 67 for the month of March. 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 66 ~ Snowy Hello ~ Creative Worship Stamps

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm sharing a little more inspiration for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 66 hosted in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! I wanted to go for a CAS design {though I added a couple layers so it's not technically CAS}.

I stamped the adorable snowman and bunny from Snowy Hello Clear Stamp Set. Isn't it just the sweetest stamp?! I love it! I colored it up with Copic markers and fussy cut it.

Copics used:

Snowman: C0, C2

Hat: C0, C2, R20, R14

Scarf: R20, R14

Coat: YG11, G24, G46

Carrot: YR20, YR15, YG11, G24

Bunny: W0, W1, W3, W5, C0, C2, R00, R20

I created a simple scene with a die cut circle using a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies} from Unity. I cut a couple layers for my snow layers and also die cut them with the same circle die. I heat embossed some snowflakes from the Snowy Hello Clear Stamp Set using white pigment ink and white embossing powder. I blended some blue ink... I just used the residual ink from my blue blending brush. And then I adhered the layers to the circle and trimmed off the left edge.

I ran a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" piece of white card stock through my Big Shot with a snowflake embossing folder. And then I trimmed it down to 4 x 5-1/4". I adhered it to the white A2 card base. I stamped the sentiment, trimmed it and popped it up on the card. I also popped up the circle focal image on the card with foam tape.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 66 for the month of February. 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 40 ~ Turtley ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing my first card for the new Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 40 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I've been trying to do a better job this year in sending out birthday cards but now I realize I need to replenish my stash.

I stamped the adorable Turtley with Black Amalgam ink and colored it up with Copic Markers. I also stamped the cake from Extended Celebration {Front & Center Stamps}.

Copics used:

Turtle: BG000, BG10, BG70, BG72, E21

Flowers: Y11, Y15

Grass / Stems: YG11, YG23

Cake: B000, B00, YG11, YG23, R20, R14, YR20, YR15, Y11, Y15

Candles: V000, V12, Y15

I trimmed the pattern papers from Oh Hey! It's Your Day! {paper pack} to 3-3/4 x 5" and then I cut them in half diagonally. This gave me two pieces for each paper so I set the other ones aside for later. I trimmed a piece of red card stock to 4 x 5-1/4" and cut it in half diagonally for my mats. I adhered the papers together and then adhered them to a Kraft A2 top fold card base.

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 40. 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 actually have some triangle scraps so I'm hoping to use them for my cards this month.

I decided to die cut a sentiment so I pulled out the Chic Script Salutations {die set} and die cut the happy birthday sentiment two times from a green card stock. I added some glossy accents to the turtles eyes and finished off the card with a few pieces of White Glossy Card Bling from A Colorful Life Designs. 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

Throwback Thursday ~ Otter Nonsense with January 2026 KOM ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

Today I'm sharing a fun custom birthday card I made using a mix of old and new stamps from Unity. I mentioned on my post earlier this month that I was wanting to start using some of my retired Unity stamps now that I'm getting them cataloged. Might as well start now with a Throwback Thursday post.

First off, I totally CASEd this card from the one I made last month for our Friends of Unity CASEd cue. Here's a link if you want to check it out... Where Butterflies Wait card. 

I used papers from the Oh Hey! It's Your Day {paper pack} for my background layer on a white A2 top fold card base. I stamped the gorgeous flowers from the January 2026 KOM on white card stock and stamped the otter from the retired Otter Nonsense on a scrap of white card stock. I die cut the flower panel using a die from the Scallops & Arches {nesting dies}. And then I got to coloring with my Copic markers.

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

Otter: W0, W1, W3, W5, N1, N3, N5, R00, R20

Pink: RV10, RV02

Red Flowers / Heart: R20, R14

Yellow Flowers: Y11, Y35, R20, R14

Butterfly: BG10, BG01, Y11, Y35

Greens: YG00, YG11, YG23

Background: B000

The awesome sentiment is from the Extended Celebration {Front & Center stamps}. I stamped and trimmed the sentiment and adhered it to the die cut panel and then I added foam tape to both pieces and popped it up on the card. Whatcha think?

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 39 ~ Little Weirdo ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing one last morsel of inspiration for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 39 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I inked up the cute new bird from Unity for a quick card.

I stamped the Little Weirdo bird using Black Amalgam ink and colored it up with Copic markers. I fussy cut it leaving a white border and set it aside.

Copic markers used:

Eyes:C0, C2, B000

Beak: YR20, YR21, YR15, YR27

Tongue: R20, R14

Feathers: Y11, Y15, RV10

The yellow of the cute bird made me think of lemons so I pulled out my Squeeze the Day {paper pack} and used a mix of scraps with a few strips that I cut from the pattern papers. I adhered the pattern papers to a white A2 top fold card and then trimmed off the edges.

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 think this sketch will be one that I turn to often when I have lots of long scraps.

I stamped and trimmed the sentiment. And then I popped the bird and the sentiment up on the card with foam tape. I hope you can find time to play along. This sketch challenge ends on Monday, February 23rd. Have an INKredible week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal