Saturday, December 3, 2022

~ Friends of Unity December 2022 Blog Hop ~

 Hello there crafty friend!
It's the first Saturday of December and you know what that means... it's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! But today is not just a regular monthly blog hop... it's our 5th Anniversary of hopping!! Can you believe that?! 5 years has gone by so fast!! We've shared so many wonderful cards and projects over the last 5 years and added so many new friends!! I'm so grateful to my friends that help make this hop amazing each month and I'm also very grateful to the friends that come and hop along with us. All your love and comments each month mean so much to us. We appreciate you all!! I'll try to keep my blog as short and sweet as possible but be sure to read to the end because there's an amazing giveaway you don't want to miss out on. First, let's get to the cue...


... Glitter & Glitz!! The perfect cue for a 5th anniversary celebration!! I had fun with this cue!


My first project is a cute tag using the Advent Calendar Day 3 stamp!! How sweet is this beautiful poinsettia! I just love it! Did you get the Advent Calendar? It's so fun opening each little door... I just love it! There's still some in stock... just saying!!!


I inked up the stamp with Candied Apple Distress Oxide ink, spritzed it with a bit of water and stamped it on a piece of Kraft card stock that I had die cut with the smallest tag die from the Make a Tag die set {looks like it's currently out of stock}. I did a mix of first and second generation stamping - which basically means that I inked up my stamp and stamped directly on the paper {first generation stamping} and without reinking the stamp, I stamped it again leaving a lighter impression of the stamp {second generation stamping}.


I used my heat tool to dry the tag. I added a bunch of white acrylic paint splatters. And then I went nuts with some Liquid Pixie Dust splatters. Just two drops on my palette with a spritz of water went a loooong way!! It's so gorgeous in person... I think you can see some of the shine on that center poinsettia. I had some of the Liquid Pixie Dust left over so I brushed some along the edge of the larger tag. I popped the smaller tag up on the larger tag with some foam tape, tied an organdy ribbon around it and cut fish tails on the ends. And then I stamped the sentiment from the Poinsettia Wishes Itty Bitty stamp... I masked it and only partially stamped the sentiment with Sugar Cube pigment ink and then heat embossed Alabaster White Embossing powder. I trimmed it and then popped it up on the tag, too. To finish off the tag, I punched a hole in the top with my Crop-a-Dile and added some twine. So pretty!


My second project is a card I made using a couple new releases from the Cyber Week Sale!! Have you guys been enjoying all the releases for Brown Thursday/Black Friday and Cyber Week?! OMG!! SO many new and amazing stamps! I want them ALL!! LOL Anywho, for this card I ink smooshed Kitsch Flamingo, Salvaged Patina and Villainous Potion Distress Oxide inks on Stampers Select White card stock from Papertrey Ink. I dried my background completely with a heat tool. I then stamped the gorgeous new snowflake clusters from the December 2022 Sentiment Kit called Shake Your Flakes with Ranger Jet Black Archival ink. And then I went nuts splattering it with some Liquid Pixie Dust. I love this stuff!!! 


I set the background aside to dry and stamped the beautiful new Angie Girl and sentiment from the Freaking Cold stamps with Black Amalgam ink from Gina K. Designs. I colored the girl up with the following Copic Markers:

Skin ~ E000, E00, E11, E04
Hair ~ E95, E97, E08, E09
Sweater ~ C00, C2, C3
Hat ~ BG0000, BG10, BG23, BG34, BG13, V000, V12, V17, C2, C3
Mug ~V000, V12, V15, V17, E21, E27
Rings / Nails ~ BG0000, BG23, BG34, C3


I fussy cut the girl leaving some of the dots and hearts around the outline. I trimmed up the sentiment so it would fit across the background. It measures about 7/8 x 4". I then adhered the bottom portion of the girl to the sentiment. I added lots of foam tape to the back of both and set them aside.


I trimmed the background to 4 x 5-1/4" and adhered it to a card front of Cool Caribbean card stock from Stampin' Up. I then adhered the panel to a white A2 top fold card base. I removed the backing from the foam tape and popped up the sentiment and girl on the card. And to finish it off I added five rhinestones to the centers of the snowflakes. I love using purples and blues for winter cards and I think it really works with this sentiment. Doesn't she look cold?! LOL

To celebrate 5 years of hopping with our friends we got to thinking that it would be fun to share our favorite card from the past five years... well, I couldn't pick just one. I had about a dozen saved. I was able to narrow it down to five which I thought was reasonable for a 5 year anniversary. So here are my five favorites in no particular order...











Do you have a favorite card that I've made over the past five years?! I would love to hear which one is your favorite. Be sure to share in the comments which card has been your favorite for a chance to win a fun giveaway. I'll choose one lucky winner for this giveaway and announce the winner next month. 


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 package and that lucky winner is...



... Jenni S!! Congratulations, Jenni!!
Please email me at crystalominkler@gmail.com to claim your prize. 
Prize must be claimed within two weeks. 

That's it for my cards this month! AND in addition to the giveaway I mentioned above, I'm having another giveaway!!! Woohoo!! I will be announcing the winner for both my giveaways next month for our January 2023 blog hop!!

Thank you all so much for your continued support of our little hop for these 5 fantastic years!!! I really, truly do appreciate each and every one of your sweet comments! 

A few of my friends are having giveaways on their blogs too, so be sure to hop and comment on each of our blogs!! And now the amazing giveaway that I mentioned at the beginning of my blog post... Angela has generously offered (3) $25 Unity gift cards to giveaway for our 5 year anniversary celebration!!! How amazing is that?! If you'd like a chance to win one of these gift cards be sure to hop and comment on EACH of our blogs... three winners will be randomly chosen from the comments and they could be chosen from any of the blogs participating in the hop, not just mine!! So be sure to hop and comment by December 10th!! The winners for the (3) $25 Unity gift cards will be announced here on my blog and on the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group on December 11th. On a side note, as you hop along and comment, I wanted to recommend using Google Chrome as your browser. We've been having issues for awhile now with some hoppers only being able to comment as Anonymous and if you use Google Chrome you should be able to log in and comment as you hop. If you're still only able to comment as anonymous PLEASE add your name to the comment. I will only choose winners with a name included if not signed in with a google account. I hope this helps some of you. I know that it's been very frustrating!


Let's get to the hopping...


Crystal <--- you're here

up next ---> Eileen












Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!
We appreciate you!!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,
Crystal


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54 comments:

  1. Your poinsettia tag is so lovely! I love all of the holiday foliages, but poinsettias and holly are my favorites. The background on your card is just scrumptious-perfect colors! I’ve noticed that when I go to a blog from a Facebook link, my comment will be Anonymous.

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    1. Thanks so much for the sweet comment, Lucy! I also appreciate the tip about the anonymous commenting... good to know!

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  2. The tag one is my absolute favourite, I love how it is layered. Great choices for your favourites too.

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    1. Thanks so much for your sweet comments each month, Glennis! I appreciate you!

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  3. Gorgeous projects! I have Pixie Dust but didn't know what to do with it - thanks for the inspiration! I love the color combo on the card background too. One of my favorite cards is the adorable Winter Birdie posted September 23, 2022.

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    1. Thanks so much for hopping with us each month, Laurie! I appreciate your sweet comments!

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  4. I scrolled back in your Instagram to look at some of your amazing cards and I was most often drawn to the ones you've done on kraft. And you've inspired me to do more with kraft and I always love the results. A favorite of yours would be the truck in the little jar you won card of the month with at Creative Scrapbooker Magazine! Congrats on 5 wonderful FOU years! You're so dedicated to all of the groups you start and feature such wonderful cards. FOU, BYSHC, and of course your Unity DT work!! You should be very proud of your accomplishments!!

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    1. Thanks so much for your support each month, Vannessa! I always looks forward to your sweet comments! Hugs my friend!

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  5. I am in LOVE with the tag!! So simple, but that red Candied Apple in on kraft paper is such an eye-catching combination!

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  6. Wow! So excited to see I was a winner! I’ll email shortly! Your tag is perfection! I’m going to try something like this! Love the red on kraft! The sentiment on the secon had me literally laughing out loud!
    Jenni S.

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    1. Yay!! I was excited to see you as a winner too! Thanks so much for your sweet comments each month my friend! I appreciate you!

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  7. Gorgeous tag and love
    the card's colors. I always
    enjoy your cards and can't
    name just one. Happy
    Holidays and congrats
    on 5 fabulous years.
    Carla from Arizona

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    1. Thank you SO much, Carla! I've truly appreciated your comments each month. Thank you for hopping with us and supporting us!

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  8. Pretty poinsettia tag and I like the background for the card. One of my favorites of your cards is the Pooh card from Feb 2022.

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    1. Thank you so very much, Sue! I appreciate you hopping with us each month and your comments on my blog and YouTube videos are always so appreciated!!

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  9. 5 years! WOW! congrats! I LOVE them all but the Winter one in blues and purples is amazing! Love that Angie Girl!!!

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  10. Congrats on 5 years!!! Here's to the next 5!!! And yes, I got the advent calendar - my first time - I couldn't resist! lol Your tag is so pretty; love the red on kraft and of course, all the splattering. And the card is stunning!! Purple if my fave color and I always love the Angie Girls. It's just beautiful with all the BG stamping.

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    1. Thank you so very much, Becca! Your comments each month are so sweet! I truly appreciate you! Big hugs!

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  11. Wow!!!!! So much loveliness. That stapler card ❤️❤️❤️. Also, so wish I would have gotten the set with the snowflakes—your work is beautiful!

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    1. Thanks so much, Jane! Be sure to add the snowflakes to your wishlist!! Maybe you can get them next time. :)

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  12. Your poinsettia tag is gorgeous and your snowflake card is so pretty! I also enjoyed your cards you selected as faves from your past makes! Congrats on 5 years!

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    1. Thanks so much, Denise! It's been a wonderful 5 years... I appreciate you commenting each month! :)

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  13. Wow! Beautiful tag and card! Love the colors you used!

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  14. Beautiful cards!!! I think my favorite has to be the new Angie Girl card you made. I absolutely love a blue and purple combo, coffee/tea/cocoa and snowflakes and that card has everything in it.

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    1. Thanks so much, Bonnie Lynn! It's a new fave of mine too!

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  15. Your tag and card is so Beautiful!!! I love all your cards but I do love your bunny one if I have to choose but they are all beautiful.

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  16. Happy 5th anniversary to you and the team, thanks for the years of inspiration as well as helping me discover unknown Unity goodies! Such a fab range of glitzy cards. My fave is your second card as I love purple and all those sweet Unity gals!

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    1. Thanks so much for your sweet comments each month, Andre!! Appreciate you!

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  17. I love all of your creations. ⛄️

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    1. Thank you so much! {If you receive an email with my response, will you please reply to this comment with your name so I know who left this lovely comment.}

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  18. I love all of your cards.

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  19. Your poinsettia tag and Freaking Cold cards are so very beautiful. Thanks for sharing some of your favorites from the past 5 years. Cheers to all of the FOU ladies for reaching 5 years!

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    1. Thanks so much for always being so supportive, Meg! I appreciate you so much!

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  20. I love the pink and blue background you created!

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  21. The tag is perfection! And the color combo of the card is one of my faves!

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  22. Beautiful cards , love the tag!!! Thanks for the inspiration!!!🎄💕

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    1. Thank you so much! {If you receive an email with my response, will you please reply to this comment with your name so I know who left this lovely comment.}

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  23. Happy 5th Anniversary! I’ve been enjoying all of your Advent Calendar creations and have been inspired by your sketches. Love the background on your Freaking Cold card. My favorite of your 5 favorites has to be the sepia Daisy background card. So beautiful! Kelly Brillhart

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  24. These cards are awesome. It would be hard to choose a favorite but I think your Christmas cards are my favorites. I have always been a fan of your work but even more after meeting you in person. Thanks for all of your work to allow inspiration from you and your teams. ❤️❤️❤️

    Linda Abel

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    1. Happy Anniversary!! Woo HOO! Without a doubt I love your "One Kind Word " Bird, that worm, lol it cracked me up. I had to go back and look at the FOU cards, (old gal memory) and soon as I saw da bird, boioioing...winner. I lol again. It and lol'ed again. Thank you for putting this together every every every month. I love it and look forward to it!

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    2. Thanks so much, Linda! It was so fun to meet you in person. It makes your comments that much more sweet!

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    3. Awww... thanks so much, Carol!! I always enjoy your comments each month and appreciate your support.

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  25. Happy 5th Anniversary! I am so grateful to be a part of this incredible journey! Thanks for your vision and leadership! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I love your darling tag and gorgeous card! That background, though...stunning!

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    1. Happy 5th Anniversary to you too, Dawn! I am beyond thankful for you sharing your talent in our group for these past five years. I'm also super grateful for your friendship! Thanks so much for your sweet comment, my friend!

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  26. Happy Anniversary! Thank you for including me in this wonderful group. Just beautiful cards! Thanks for all you do and for always inspiring us. Happy New Year!

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    1. Happy Anniversary, Kim! I'm so grateful to have you on the team. I truly appreciate all the work you put into sharing and supporting our group. Thanks so much for your sweet comment, my friend!

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