Saturday, January 7, 2023

~ 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












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

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,
Crystal


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52 comments:

  1. Wow, such fabulous cards!!! The card for you father in law looks so fun! Love the newsprint floral, amazing stamp, and the new vintage background looks like one I need!!!

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  2. Super cards Crystal, the first one is so great for the guys!

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  3. I also need to focus on birthday cards. I need to make sympathy cards also. Your cards are great, Crystal.

    Linda Abel

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  4. All of your cards are wonderful! I am absolutely in love with the first one. The vintage background and the heart die bordered in black are so amazing. The sentiment is hilarious and I love the inside that brings it all together for lots of laughs. I can't wait to make a card using it. the yellow and green floral card is beautiful and I love the mixed media feel. The last card is definitely adorable and so creative. I love plaid and can see why I might need to buy more plaid paper to try to CAS this one.

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  5. I love the sentiments on the first card-too funny! You can never have enough lovely floral cards ready for birthdays. I’ve wanted to make a pajama shirt card for a long time-saw one years ago and have thought about making one. Great masculine card! Thanks for all of the inspiration!

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  6. Fabulous cards and
    I love the floral background
    Stamp!
    Carla from Arizona

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  7. Great birthday cards! I love the one you made for your father-in-law! So clever!

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  8. Great cards as always! I am a fan of all your wonderful creations & these are no exception! Can't wait to get my Old News & Newspaper Print sets.

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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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  9. I love the vintage feel of the first one! Great plaid too!

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  10. I'm the opposite: I have too many birthday cards! Though never enough for a guy. LOVE the shirt card - may have to case that one!!

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  11. I love your take on the 2nd card Crystal! And that 3rd card is so unique and awesome!

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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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  12. Oooh, these are awesome birthday cards. I think that my favorite one is the plaid shirt. How creative!!!!

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  13. I just might have to add that Newsprint Floral to my wish list. So many gorgeous cards have been made with it. Great hop as always thanks! I make and send so many birthday cards! The sending is the most important part my friend! Share your lovely talents!

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    1. Wow! I'm shocked you don't already have the Newsprint Floral... I guess I thought you'd collect all the pretty flower stamps. lol Thanks so much for the sweet comment, Vannessa!

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  14. 8 feel your pain. Last year I made 3 birthday cards: one is sitting ready to glue and recipient might get it this year... 2nd one I lost, 3rd one was delivered by hand a day late without an envelope (that's another story). That's gotta make you feel better. Happy New Year! Only way now is up. Tee hee

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    1. Oh dear... maybe we can both do a better job at sending those cards this year! Hugs! Thanks for trying to make me feel better. :)

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  15. Ha! The sentiments on the first card cracked me up😂. All of your cards are so creative. I really enjoyed this hop...🐇🐇🐇. BetsGreene💜💜💜

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  16. Fantastic cards! I love that floral background. Ink smooshing is always a great background maker! And I for sure need to get better at making more and sending more birthday cards!!

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  17. Great cards! Love the hop theme this month, birthday cards are what I make the most.

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  18. Oh I definitely need to make a bunch of birthday cards too. Fabulous cards as always. I particularly love the Newsprint Floral Greetings card - especially since I just finally got my hands on that fabulous stamp set myself!

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    1. Yay! It's such a beautiful stamp! Thanks for the sweet comment, Amy!

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  19. Wow! I love all three of your birthday cards! I can't pick a favorite as they are all so wonderfully different from each other. You are giving me some great ideas. Thank you!

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  20. I always need birthday cards too, but never seem to have enough. Yours are awesome, and I love the multi-purpose one the most!

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  21. Wonderful cards. I love finding new designs for birthday cards and these are great masculine ideas too. I love the stamps you chose, the colors, and patterns. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  22. Crystal, I absolutely love your cards! I have to get my hands on that vintage background stamp. Your guy car is so cool...love it! It's perfect!

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  23. I’m kinda of a make them as I need them card maker! I really should try to stock up! Yours are awesome!
    Karen a

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  24. gorgeous cards as always! Your FIL's card is super creative!!

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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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  25. Love the shirt card. It’s part of idea book now.

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