Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 8 ~ Big Candy Heart ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Sharing a fun new sketch for the month of February in my Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. This sketch is pretty versatile as I think it can be used for a super CAS card or you could add pretty papers for a background layer like I did for my first card using the sketch.

What do you think? As with all the sketches I share the measurements and elements are not required. Just the basic design is supposed to be a help to boost inspiration. 

I was inspired to play with the new fabulous Big Candy Heart!! I couldn't wait to ink up this beautiful heart. I inked it up with Black Amalgam ink and colored it up with a handful of Copic markers. I also inked up the adorable ladybug from the Little Lady Greetings Itty Bitty stamps. I've had this cute stamp in my stash forever and just now inked it up! Using new goodies with old goodies in my stash is always so much fun!

Here's a quick list of the Copic Markers I used to color up the big heart and the ladybug:

Candy Heart ~ R00, R01, R02, Colorless Blender

Ladybug ~ R00, R01, R02, R22, R43, T3, Colorless Blender

My background layers were created using the gorgeous Enveloped in Love {paper pack}!! Love love love these gorgeous papers! I've had them set aside for awhile to play and make some Valentine's Day cards. I cut the pretty pink papers to 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" for my card front layer and adhered it to my white A2 top fold card base measuring 4-1/4 x 11"; scored at 5-1/2". 

I die cut the 'i love you' pattern papers with the second largest postage stamp die from the Postage Stamp {nesting dies} also from Unity (currently out of stock). I adhered it directly to the card. I adhered the ladybug to the bottom of the heart with a bit of liquid glue and then added foam tape to the back of both. I popped them up on the card and then finished it off with a few Translucent enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs. I think it turned out pretty cute!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Membership Monday ~ January 2023 Whit Kit Espresso to You ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

So happy to have you stop by for my last Membership Monday post! I'll be continuing this series... only it'll be moving to Membership Wednesdays. I'm excited to share some fun projects with you in the month of February... lots of beautiful stamps coming out next month for all four memberships that are available at Unity Stamp Co. Eeep! Can't wait! Anywho... back to today's cards. I'm sharing a pretty vintage style card using the January 2023 Whit Kit called Espresso to You.

I just adore this beautiful stamp from the kit and the vintage papers are gorgeous! I just had to go with one of my favorite color combos for this one... throwing a bit of turquoise and red in there. I just love how it pops with the browns!

I used Peacock Feathers and Uncharted Mariner Distress Oxide inks to watercolor the cups on Canson XL watercolor paper. Feeling out of practice once again with my watercoloring skills. I kind of fixed my attempt at watercoloring by distressing the edges of the cups with a bit of Vintage Photo Distress Oxide ink. I think it adds to the vintage vibe of the card too. 

You can check out my process video for this card here... Vintage Coffee Card | January 2023 Whit Kit | Unity Stamp Co.

I did a bit of stamping on the vintage paper as well using the splatter and coffee rings stamps. I also distressed the edges of the papers with a bit of Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Oxide inks. And then distressed them again with a paper distresser that roughed up the edges a bit. I stamped the sentiment with white pigment ink and heat embossed some white embossing powder. I wrapped the paper layers with some of the burlap string included in the card kit. I popped up the cups with foam tape and finished off the card with a few enamel dots from my stash. I'm really liking how this one turned out!

For my bonus card, I stamped the cups onto one of the vintage papers in the kit using Black Amalgam ink. I colored up the cups with Copic markers {listed down below}, fussy cut them and adhered them to this pretty vintage paper piece. I stamped the splatter and coffee rings all over the front of my kraft card base using Vintage Photo, Antique Linen, and Ground Espresso Distress Inks.

I adhered the vintage paper to the kraft card base. Cut two 1/8" strips of dark brown card stock and adhered them to either side of the vintage paper. This is my favorite trick to avoid extra layers to a card but still make it look like there's some dimension and layers. I stamped the sentiment directly on the vintage paper with Ground Espresso Distress ink. 

Just a little note about the vintage papers. If you look at the handles of my cups you can see that the Copic markers bled out of the lines {inside of the handles}. The vintage papers are pretty thin so I probably should have used less ink and maybe blended a little less. So if you decide to Copic color on these papers just be careful not to oversaturate your paper like I did. Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used:

Blue-Greens ~ BG70, BG72, BG78

Browns ~ E21, E23, E27, E29

Reds ~ R20, R14, R37

Here's a look at the beautiful card kit! Be sure to check out the Whit Kit membership at Unity... there's still time to sign up for this kit!! If you already have the kit, I hope you share your creations in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group! I'd love to see what you create! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 29 ~ Gnome Christmas and a Bonus Card ~ The Greeting Farm

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with not one, but TWO Christmas cards to finish off the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 29 for the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers!! Last month I got the super cute Gnome for Christmas paper pad from Echo Park Paper Co. and I thought it would be just too cute paired up with the adorable Gnome Christmas stamp set from The Greeting Farm.

What do you think? It almost looks like a snow globe the way I cut the sentiment. Complete accident, but I think I might try it again for a future card! I used two cute papers from the Gnome for Christmas paper pad... a cute green gingham and, of course, the gnome paper. I adhered those to an Old Olive piece of card stock from Stampin' Up measuring 4 x 5-1/4". I then adhered the paper layers to a card front of Pure Poppy card stock from Papertrey Ink measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". And then I adhered the layers to a white A2 top fold card base. I actually created both cards at the same time since I was in the zone and set them aside.

I stamped the adorable gnomes and the holly with berries on a scrap of white card stock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. This is my favorite ink to use on clear stamps because it cleans off very nicely. I then colored up the gnomes with the following Copic markers:

Skin ~ E000, E00, E11, E04

Hair / Beard ~ C00, C2

Holly & Berries ~ YG11, YG91, YG95, YG97, R20, R14, R37

Candy Cane ~ C00, C2, R20, R14, R37

Girl Gnome's Clothes ~ R20, R14, R37, YG11, YG91, YG95, YG97

Guy Gnome's Clothes ~ YG11, YG91, YG95, YG97

Shoes ~ N0, N1, N4, N6

I fussy cut the gnomes and cleaned up the edges of the images by coloring them with a Memento Tuxedo marker. I die cut a white piece of card stock using the stitched scalloped circle die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies} from Unity Stamp Co. And then I adhered the gnomes to the circle. I stamped the sentiment, trimmed the top and bottom, and then cut fishtails on both sides. As I mentioned above, it was a complete accident that it looks kind of like a snow globe but I love it! I cut a scrap of Pure Poppy card stock to be thinner than the white card stock and cute fishtails on it too. I adhered the sentiment and red layer together and then adhered the gnome circle to the bottom of the sentiment. I then added a bunch of foam tape and popped up the whole thing on my card. I used the thinner foam tape from Scrapbook Adhesives so my card won't be too bulky. 

If you've played with this sketch, you know that it's easy to make two cards when you cut two different pattern papers for the triangles. So, I have a bonus card to share using a cut apart from the Gnome for Christmas paper pad.

I popped up the cut apart using the same thin foam tape I used on my first card. I finished off the card by adding a few green enamel dots from my stash. 

This card may need a non-machinable postage stamp to mail but it was screaming for those enamel dots... had to happen! :)

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch 29 for the months of December-January!

There's just a few more days to join us and play along with the sketch for a chance to win a prize! 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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Membership Monday ~ December 2022 Whit Kit Getting Cozy ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

In the whirlwind that was December I didn't get a chance to play with the amazing December Whit Kit so I thought I would use it for a couple wintry birthday cards. I'm trying to build up my stash of birthday cards each month in an effort to be more consistent this year making AND sending them out! Anywho, I have two cards to share that I whipped up yesterday.

Have you seen the glorious Getting Cozy {paper pack} from the December Whit Kit?! It's so dang cozy... I'm loving all the sweater prints in this paper pack. I debated making several cards using different papers from the pack (and I still might do that) but I didn't have a lot of play time yesterday so I just made the two cards. 

This is a pretty simple card. The top layer of pattern paper is cut to 4 x 5-1/4". I then die cut it with a scalloped circle die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies} from Unity. I cut a piece of Weathervane card stock from Papertrey Ink to 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" and die cut a circle with the largest stitched circle die from the same nesting dies. Both of these circles left an opening to my white A2 top fold card base.

I stamped the sweet birds using Weathervane dye ink from Papertrey Ink to coordinate with my card front. I lined the birds up using the hole as a guide and tested it on my acetate grid before actually stamping on my card base. A slight adjustment got it aligned just right, I removed the paper layers, and stamped the birds. The sentiment is from the So Kind, So Caring, So You {July 2022 Sentiment Kit}. It's stamped with the same grey ink and fussy cut. I did add a couple scraps under the 'happy' so the sentiment laid flat. To finish off the card I added a couple drops of Glossy Accents to each of the berries.

For my second card I used the circle stencil included in the card kit. This is a no-layer card... all the ink blending and stamping is directly on the front of my card base. I laid the stencil on my card front and masked off the edges of the card base using a large post it note. I secured the stencil to my card base and table using purple tape.

I blended Tumbled Glass and Wilted Violet Distress Oxide inks over the circle opening of the stencil until I was happy with my blend. I did a bit of water splatter by spritzing some water in the palm of my hand and clapping over the circle opening. I dabbed the water with a paper towel and let the background dry completely before I stamped the little splatter stamp using Sugar Cube pigment ink from Taylored Expressions.

I used my acetate grid once again to check placement for the bird stamp. Made a quick adjustment by moving my card base and tested it again. I stamped the birds and then stamped the 'happy birthday' sentiment with the same black ink (I used that handy acetate grid once again to make sure my sentiment was straight). Two pretty quick birthday cards using the December Whit Kit! Woohoo... so happy to add these to my stash!

I also made this card for the Membership Insert included with last month's Whit Kit. Did you know that Unity started sending these fun inserts with each of their membership kits? There's a couple process photos and instructions also included. A wonderful perk to these fab memberships!

Here's a look at last month's Whit Kit... unfortunately the kit is not available any more but the Getting Cozy stamps and the Getting Cozy {paper pack} are available. Check them out at Unity!

Just a quick little note... I'll be back next Monday for one last Membership Monday post using the wonderful NEW January 2023 Whit Kit!! Starting in February, I'll be sharing inspiration for each of the memberships for Membership Wednesday! Yay! If you're interested in seeing my memberships makes I invite you to follow my blog by email. Just sign up using the box on the right hand side of my blog post (using the PC version of my blog). I do use a service called follow.it that send the emails for me. They include some ads at the very end of the posts but those are easy to ignore. Well, that's it for me this time.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 29 ~ Christmas Trimmings ~ Newton's Nook Designs

Hello there crafty friend!

It feels so good to be back in my studio making Christmas cards. I've been on a bit of break this month trying to get some things done around the house and for our homeschool year. I was missing my studio though and making Christmas cards makes me so happy. I'm so happy to be building my stash of holiday cards again. Without further adieu... my first Christmas card of 2023!

This sweet stamp is the Christmas Trimmings stamp set from Newton's Nook Designs that is actually retiring and is only $5.99 for the whole set!! What a crazy deal!! I just love the cute girls in this set and all the little accessories included! I thought the girl with the tree would be perfect for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 29 from the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers group. I've paired up these cute stamps with the Meowy Christmas 6x6 paper pad. I chose one of the double sided papers that wasn't pet related since I wasn't using a pet stamp. I adhered my pieces to a 4 x 5-1/4" piece of white card stock and then adhered it to a card front of Cherry Cobbler card stock from Stampin' Up. I adhered the card front to a white A2 top fold card base measuring 4-1/4 x 11"; scored at 5-1/2".

I stamped the girl/tree along with a bunch of presents and the star using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. This is my most favorite ink to use with clear stamps because it wipes off nice and clean. I also recommend rubbing the stamp with your finger or a white eraser before inking it up. Manufacturing leaves a bit of a film on the clear stamps and a good rub will take that off. I die cut each of the pieces using the coordinating dies (unfortunately, it looks like these are sold out). I adhered the presents to the tree and each other. I then adhered my little scene to a stitched circle die cut from Vellum card stock that I die cut using the Circle Frames dies from Newton's Nook Designs.

Here's a quick list of the Copic Markers I used to color up all my stamped images (the list looks long, but I used the same markers for multiple things):

Skin ~ E000, E00, E11

Hair ~ E70, E74, E79

Hat ~ C00, C2, R20, R14, R37

Dress ~ RV10, RV21, RV14, R20, R14, R37

Shoes ~ R20, R14, R37

Tree ~ YG11, G24, G46, E70, E74, E79

Tree Skirt ~ R20, R14, R37, YG11, G14

Star / Ornaments ~ Y11, Y15, R20, R14, R37, B000, B02

Red / Green Presents ~ YG11, G14, R20, R14, R37

Pink / White Rectangle Present ~ RV10, RV21, C00, C2, B000, B02

Pink / White Square Present ~ RV10, RV21, RV14, C00, C2

Blue / Yellow Present ~ B000, B02, Y11, Y15

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch 29 that's been extended through January!

I hope you'll join us and play along with the sketch! 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! 

To finish off the card, I adhered the vellum circle to the card front. I used liquid glue that I applied just behind the stamped images so none of it shows through the vellum. I also added some thin foam tape behind the trimmed sentiment to pop it up on the card. This card turned out so cute! Not bad for my first Christmas card of 2023! Well, I'll be back in two weeks with one more card using the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 29.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Debossed Inky Resist ~ Technique Tuesday ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm starting a new series... Technique Tuesday! I'll be sharing fun techniques on the 2nd Tuesday each month with a bit of inspiration and a video. I hope that you'll be inspired to get inky and play along with some of the techniques that I share.

Today's technique is Debossed Inky Resist which is a combination of debossing and heat embossing. Debossing is the opposite of embossing as you are creating an indent in the card stock rather than raising it. I'm using a couple fun embossing folders from my stash along with Distress Oxide inks and a couple of cute Unity stamps.

For my first card I've used a Notebook embossing folder along with Spun Sugar, Squeezed Lemonade and Salvaged Patina Distress Oxide inks. I also used Distress Watercolor card stock for my backgrounds. 

I stamped the adorable camper from the Happy Little Abode set on white card stock and colored it with the following Copic Markers:

Blue-Green ~ BG0000, BG10, BG23

Yellow ~ Y11, Y15, Colorless Blender

Pink ~ R000, R20, RV21

The sentiment was heat embossed using a white pigment ink and white embossing powder. I trimmed it up and popped it up on the card. I also popped up the camper with foam tape.

For my second card I've used a Bricked embossing folder along with Antique Linen, Peacock Feathers, Vintage Photo, and Ground Espresso Distress Oxide inks. I inked up both embossing folders with a clear embossing ink. Next I placed the card stock in the embossing folders and ran them through my Big Shot. I then added some white embossing powder to the card stock and then I melted the powder with my heat tool.

I stamped the cute girl from the Totally Have This {Sassy Girl} set on white card stock and colored it with the following Copic Markers:

Skin ~ E000, E00, E11, E04, R000, R20

Hair ~ E70, E74, E79

Flowers ~ R000, R20, RV21, YG11, G14, Y11

Clothes ~ Y11, Y15, BG0000, BG10, BG23

I fussy cut the camper and girl cutting on the line and also leaving a bit of a border around the leaves, flowers, and the strings on the camper. The edges were all cleaned up by coloring them with a black marker. I adhered the bottom portion of the girl's skirt behind the sentiment and then popped them both up with foam tape. 

You can check out my process video here...  Debossed Inky Resist | Technique Tuesday | Unity Stamp Co. 

What do you think of the Debossed Inky Resist Technique?! I'm curious to see how it looks with some other embossing folders. What about you? Do you have an embossing folder in your stash that you'd like to try this technique with? If you give this fun technique a try, I'd love to see what you create so please share your cards in the Unity Show & Tell group and tag me!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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~ Friends of Unity January 2023 Blog Hop ~

  Hello there crafty friend!

Happy New Year to you! It's the first Saturday of January and I bet you know what that means... it's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! This month's cue is all about Birthdays.

I don't know about you, but I think Birthday cards are just about THE card that is most needed in my stash. I did a terrible job last year making birthday cards and an even worse job sending them. I'm not going to say it's a New Years Resolution or anything like that but it is a serious goal that I make AND send more birthday cards in 2023.  Who's with me?! Anybody else have the same goal?

My first card is a vintage style card using the new amazing January Background of the Month called Old News. I stamped the background twice on Kraft card stock with Black Amalgam ink. I trimmed the first one down to 4 x 5-1/4" and die cut the bottom with a stitched edge die. 

I distressed the edges with a bit of Vintage Photo Distress Ink and then just a touch of Ground Espresso Distress Ink to darken the edges a bit more. I popped it up on a Kraft A2 top fold card with some thin foam tape. And then I stamped the sentiment from the Could Be Better {June 2022 Sentiment Kit} with Ground Espresso Distress ink. Isn't that sentiment just too funny?! 

I die cut my second stamped background with a scalloped heart die from the Dashes and Frills Hearts {die set}. I distressed the edges with the same inks I used for the other background piece. And then I die cut a slightly larger stitched heart from a piece of Early Espresso card stock from Stampin' Up. 

I decided to stamp inside the card with another sentiment from the same sentiment kit. I think it's perfect along with the sentiment I used on the front of the card. And this makes it sort of a birthday card... well, I may have stretched it with this one, but my next cards are actual birthday cards.

I finally got a chance to play with the gorgeous Newsprint Floral Greetings background stamp. I inked smooshed some Evergreen Bough, Mustard Seed and Twisted Citron Distress Oxide inks onto a piece of Stampers Select White card stock from Papertrey Ink and a piece of Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor card stock. I usually use the white card stock from Papertrey Ink but I wanted to see how the background would look on the distressed watercolor card stock.

This is the ink smooshed background on the Stampers Select White card stock.

Once the ink smooshed backgrounds were dry I stamped them both with the background using Black Amalgam ink. I also stamped the sentiments with the same ink. I trimmed the sentiments and colored the edges with a Memento Tuxedo black marker to clean up my fussy cutting around the sentiment box.

This is the ink smooshed background on the Distressed Watercolor card stock.

I die cut the backgrounds with the largest stitched scalloped die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. I adhered the backgrounds to white A2 top fold card bases. I then popped up the sentiments with a thin foam tape.

And my last card is one that I made for my Father-in-Law using the Let Your Soul Wander {paper pad}. I saw a fun idea for this card a while back and thought it would be great for my FIL. I don't have any specific measurements other than the background piece is 4 x 5-1/4". The top corner piece (the collar) is just a corner from the 6x6 pattern paper. I laid it on the background piece how I wanted it and then flipped the papers over and drew a line where the papers met so I could cut it.

The pocket was die cut using one of the smaller dies from the Labels 5 Nested die set from Gina Marie Designs. I also die cut a scrap of white card stock with the same die. I cut both pieces and adhered them together and then I popped them up on the card with thin foam tape. I stamped the 'celebrate' sentiment from the Extended Celebration {May 2022 Sentiment Kit} by partially masking the stamp with a post it note before inking it up and then removing the post it note before stamping.

The buttons are from a Blueprints 19 die set that I've had in my stash for a long time and it's from My Favorite Things. I'm not sure, but I think it's retired now. I do think a small circle die would work just as well for the buttons. And maybe a tiny circle die could work for the button holes or you could draw them in. 

To finish off the card I stamped two sentiments on the inside. I couldn't decide if I wanted to just do 'happy birthday' or the other sentiment so I did them both! I really like how this one turned out. I hope my FIL likes it too. Well, that's it for my cards this time.

Now before we get to the hopping, I chose two lucky winners from the comments on last month's hop to win a couple fun prizes and the lucky winners are...

... Kelly Brillhart and Laurie2cats!! Congratulations, Kelly and Laurie!!

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

Prize must be claimed within two weeks. 

Well, that's it for me this time! Please hop along and enjoy some more inspiration from the Friends of Unity! I'm so excited to see all the creations from our friends this month... I'm always needing inspiration for birthday cards!! 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

Bobbie Sue

Gaylynn

April

Dawn F.

Rachel

Joyce

Colleen

Alaine

Kim

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you!!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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