Saturday, April 4, 2020

~ Friends of Unity April 2020 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!!
It's my favorite time of the month... the first Saturday which means it's time to hop with a few of my friends who share an obsession of Unity Stamps!! Woohoo!


We're doing something a little different this month as you can see from the cue above... we're using this fun and simple sketch to inspire our creations this month!! I had fun making a couple cards to share with you all. Let's check those out...


I absolutely LOVE this sketch!! I just knew the coffee cup image from the new April 2020 KOM called Hope in Uncertainty was going to be perfect with this sketch!! I did turn the sketch here... I love that you can do that with a sketch! I did a little ink smooshing and splatters with Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Oxide inks on Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor card stock. I dried the panel with my heat tool and adhered it to a card front of True Black card stock measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". I adhered that to a white card base and set it aside.


I colored up this gorgeous coffee cup with the following copic markers:

Cup/Saucer ~ BG01, BG45, BG49
Coffee/Beans ~ E23, E25, E27, E51
Spoon ~ N0, N2, N4

I fussy cut the image and even the two extra beans. I then popped them up on the card using foam squares. I trimmed the sentiment and popped that up on the card, as well. I really love how this card turned out!! 


Now my second card came together very quickly... I recently finished adding all my Itty Bitty stamps to Evernote!!! Celebrate with me!!! Yay!! If you have taken on that task, you have an idea of why I'm so excited! Lol! Anywho, while I was doing that it was like finding old friends... stamps that I HAD to have but haven't used and they've just been waiting to get inked up. This fun stapler stamp from the Keeping it Together set was one of them and I found the sentiment to be very fitting. I struggled a bit this week with the social distancing, quarantine, and the fear that has become associated with the goings on of the world right now and I had some rock star friends help lift me back up... namely the gals in this very hop!! I love and appreciate each one of them so much! So this card was totally created with them in mind!


I followed the sketch design for this one. I did a bit of ink smooshing and splattering with Black Soot Distress ink on this cool patterned paper I found in my stash from Art-C... it doesn't have a name on it, sadly... and I stamped the sentiment directly on the paper. I then adhered the patterned paper to a kraft card front. I set it aside and stamped the stapler with Memento Tuxedo black ink... it took me a long while to decide on a color to color this. My go-to is always turquoise and even though I think it would have looked awesome, I wanted to use another color so I went with a bluish purple. I used BV02, BV04, BV08, C00, C1, C3. I fussy cut the stapler and popped it up on the card front. And then... I had this fun idea to add some staples! Ha! My stapler didn't want to cooperate... it kept jamming, but I showed it who was boss and got it to work. And I love the added touch it gives to the design of the card! Such a fun and seriously addicting sketch to play with! I will definitely be using this sketch again and again.

So, I have a little business to take care of before we get hopping. I need to share my winner from last month's hop and the lucky winner is...





... Michelle Bridgewater!!! 
You have won a sweet and adorable Phyllis Harris stamp called No Bunny Compares !!! Congratulations!!  Please email me at crystalominkler@gmail.com to claim your prize. Prize must be claimed within two weeks.

A few of my friends are having giveaways this month so be sure to check out all the fabulous creations along the hop and comment on each blog for a chance to win!! 

Thank you all so much for your continued support of our little hop... and for all of your lovely comments! I really, truly do appreciate each and every one of you.

Let's get to the hopping...

Crystal <--- you are here

up next ---> Eileen











Thanks so much for checking out my blog post!
See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,
Crystal





43 comments:

  1. Girl!! Your cards are right up my design ally!! I absolutely love and adore them!! Ink smooshing and splattering are my favorites and you are perfect at them!The stapler card is oh my perfect and now I must have the stapler stamp!! You are awesome. In so many ways!

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  2. wow - these are both awesome! I just subscribed to KOM - can't wait!

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  3. What great cards! I love your take on this fun sketch. I usually always love coffee cards the most, but your stapler card is the BEST!

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  4. Your coffee cup card is perfect! It's all the things I love: coffee, ink smooshing and encouraging messages! Well done!

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  5. Love both cards. Now I can't wait to get my kit of the month.

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  6. Love both of your cards... you are the sketch queen of my world! The first card is stunning but the second card is touching my heart!

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  7. A great sketch
    and your cards
    are so pretty
    and fun!
    Carla from Utah

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  8. Super cute cards. And so inspiring. I haven't truly made cards or scrapped in over a year. I really need to get my space down so I can get back to it.

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  9. Awesome cards! Loving both so much. Thank's again for sharing your creative talent.

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  10. Crystal these are both great cards. I can't wait until I can rejoin the KOM and then I will snap up the kit just for that coffee stamp. I just love it!(okay, there are Many tasty morsels in that kit). Thank you for a wonderful post. Take care of yourself!

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  11. Oh, I just can't wait for my KOM to arrive this month - I just love that coffee cup!

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  12. I especially love this coffee card and the sketch you used. I'm going to try that. It is simple yet catching!

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  13. ❤️❤️❤️love the coffee smooshes!!! Fantastic!!

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  14. Fantastic cards Crystal, I love how the ink smooshing sets off the images so well

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  15. I am always inspired by your creativity

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  16. As a java junkie - I completely appreciate everything about that coffee card - I love all the little details (Those beans! Yaaaysh!) lol
    But it's that second card that gets me. Cuz we are all here just trying to hold eachother together - I will ALWAYS be your stapler if you need me ... x

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  17. love both of your cards. I love love that stapler stamp! love seeing inspiration for it. it's perfect!

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  18. These are really amazing, I love them both.

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  19. You just can't go wrong with turquoise and brown! Such a striking card!

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  20. I like your encouraging cards for this time. Love the addition of the staples on the stapler card.

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  21. Crystal, I love both of your cards. Your coloring on both is amazing! I love the ink smooshing and splatters. The pairing of the stapler and sentiment is perfection. This card really speaks to me and many others I'm sure.

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  22. Cute cards! I thought it was funny the stapler jammed on your stapler card
    Good for you for setting it straight! 🙂

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  23. I always love your work! But that coffee cup... beautiful colors! 💟

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  24. Your cards are so eye catching and stand out. I love the way you colored the images. They are so intense. Love your cards.

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  25. That is a great card design, so versatile. The coffee cup one is my favorite.

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  26. I love both of your cards. The coffee one is perhaps my favorite! Love the ink splooshing, splatters and color scheme.❤️

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  27. Love this sketch and all your creations. I see this being added to my toolbox for many future uses.

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  28. That coffee set is so perfect for this lovely sketch. And I just adore the punny sentiment with the stapler. Great cards!

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  29. I LOVE the coffee card and the stapler is sooo fun!

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  30. OK I don’t usually do this but I am going to join your blog Hop, you have inspired me. Love your cards

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  31. Whoa!! I mean, OMGeeeeeeeee!
    The coffee card is most yummy!!
    But, ack!!! how fun is the stapler?? I don't remember that one at all! Very cute!
    Hang in the my sweet girl!

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  32. Your coloring is awesome! Love the stamps and sentiments you chose. Just perfect for the times. Yes, this was a great sketch I'll be using again. Love this idea. Hang in there, friend. We ARE in this together! Thanks for the distraction and the inspiration! Take care {hugs}

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  33. Yes, I agree that I love how your first card turned out. I love turquoise and brown together. The second card was just as good, I haven't seen the stamp. Good job.

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  34. So cute!!! My kotm comes I the middle of the month.. I get so inspired by you all!!

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  35. Love your cards. The stapler is such a fun card. I need to use this sketch.

    Linda Abel

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  36. Two fabulous cards- I love your take on the sketch on both of your cards!!!

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  37. LOVE your coffee card, especially during these trying times. The colors are so warm and cozy..and I do like my coffee! As for that stapler card...this is just adorable and the real staples that you added just make the card!

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  38. Great cards! I really love the coffee image and the colors you used!

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  39. Eeek! That stapler card is so clever and I love your artsy approach with the staples and ink splatters!

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  40. Both are fantastic! Love the rich colors and coloring of the coffee card and the other is SO cute and yeah... fitting now for sure. Love the color you chose!

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  41. I'm not sure why my comment isn't showing up because I left it on April 11th, so I'll leave another one. I love both of your cards but that one with the stapler is really unique and fun. Love that you used real staples for a great accent.

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