All Educated and Stuff ~ Sourpuss Scholar ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

I am just tickled to see another fun Pissy Kitty added to the collection over at Unity! Sourpuss Scholar is all ready for graduation!

I was struggling picking a sentiment for this card so I thought why not make a background using all of the sentiments?! I stamped the sentiments three times each trying to show each of them on the background. I probably could have fit a couple more in those empty spaces though. I then ink smooshed the background with some Peacock Feathers Distress Ink. I didn't use a lot of water because I didn't want the sentiments to smudge and I left a lot of white space to help the background pop.

I dried the background with a Wagner Precision Heat Tool and die cut it using a die from the Zig Zag Rectangles {nesting dies}. I stamped the super cute kitty {THAT FACE!! LOL!} and colored him up with Copic markers. I fussy cut him leaving a white border around the edges.

Copic markers used:

Kitty: YR20, YR21, YR15, YR27

Eyes / Diploma: C0, C2

Tassel / Ribbon: B000, B00, B02

Grad cap: N0, N1, N3, N5

I stamped the sentiment and trimmed it. I wanted to bring the sentiment to the front of the card visually so I used a black mat. I die cut a piece of black card stock using a die from the retired stitched banners die set. I adhered the sentiment to the card and popped up the kitty with foam tape.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Oh. My. Word. ~ The Pecking Order ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

Today I'm sharing a quick card on Kraft card stock. I do enjoy coloring on Kraft card stock.

I inked up the fun new chickens from Unity called The Pecking Order. I colored them up with some Copic markers and a very sharp White Prismacolor Pencil (for the eyes and feathers).

Copic markers used:

Comb / Wattle / Tongue: R20, R14

Beak / Legs / Feet: YR21, YR15

Eyes: C0, C2

Ground: E21, E25

I stamped the fun chicken feet print along the side for a kind of border. And then I couldn't pick a sentiment so I used two.

I trimmed the Kraft panel to 4 x 5-1/4" and adhered it to a piece of black card stock measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". I adhered the card front to a Kraft A2 card base. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Membership Wednesday ~ March 2026 KOM Rooted & Radiant ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

Happy Membership Wednesday! I went a little nuts with inspiration for today! I started with my background and ended up cutting enough for 3 cards so I made 3 cards.

Creating the backgrounds was super quick! I die cut three pieces of pattern paper from the Coffee Lovers {paper pack} using the second largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Dies. I stacked the die cut papers and cut them diagonally in my Tonic Guillotine Comfort Paper Trimmer. This way they were all cut at the same angle so they were easy to line up when I adhered them to Kraft A2 card bases.

First up is the adorable bunny from this month's Kit of the Month called Rooted & Radiant. He really doesn't like Mondays. I don't blame him! I inked him up with Black Amalgam ink and fussy cut him leaving a white border. I stamped and trimmed the sentiment and popped it up on the card. I also popped up the bunny with foam tape.

Copic markers used to color up this cutie:

Bunny: W0, W3, W5, R00, R20

Robe: BG000, BG01

Mug: YR20, YR15

Next up is the cut little chicken in the March 2026 Uniquely Unity membership called Just a Couple of Spring Chickens. Such a cute chicken! I used the other chicken from these stamps earlier in the month. You can check it out here... Just Another Bloomin' Day card.

Copic markers used for this fun chicken:

Chicken: E21, E23

Eyes: C0, C2

Wattle: R20, R14

Beak / Legs / Feet: YR21, YR15, YR27

Mug: YR20, YR15, E21, E25

Leaves / Stems / Grass: YG11, YG23

Flowers: BG000, BG01, Y38

Last up, I couldn't resist inking up my favorite chicken!! This cutie is from the October 2025 Uniquely Unity membership called Don't Cluck with My Coffee. Love it!

Copic markers used for this sweetie pie:

Chicken / Eyes: C0, C2

Wattle: R20, R14

Beak / Feet: YR21, YR15, YR27

Curlers / Tail Feathers: YR21, YR15, R14

Cup: YR20, YR15

Glasses: BG000, BG01

Ground: E21, E23

Here's a quick look at this month's Kit of the Month membership!

This adorable stamp is also available separately in the Hare-Brained stamps.

That's it for me today! I hope you've been INKspired to play with your membership stamps! 

Have a wonderful day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 40 ~ Lots o' Luck ~ Doodlebug Designs, Inc.

 Hello there crafty friend and Happy St. Paddy's Day!

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 trio of St. Paddy's Day cards!

I used the Lots o' Luck 6x6 Paper Pad along with the Lots o' Luck Odds & Ends ephemera pieces and the Lots o' Luck Icons Cardstock Stickers.

I trimmed the pattern papers to 3-3/4 x 5" and cut them at a diagonal. I cut mats from Cucumber Crush card stock from Stampin' Up to 4 x 5-1/4" and also cut those on a diagonal.

I adhered the triangle panels to a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" piece of True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink. I adhered the card front to a white A2 top fold card base. For my other two cards I adhered the triangle panels directly to white card bases. I used Stampers Select White Card Stock from Papertrey Ink. 

I used three sentiments from the Lots o' Luck Odds & Ends ephemera pieces. Each of them are popped up on the cards with foam tape. The Lots o' Luck Icons Cardstock Stickers really made these cards come together quickly. Just peel off and stick. Easy peasy.

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 adjusted the placement for the sentiments this time. So fun having them down the center diagonally.

Here's a closeup picture of the unicorn card showing the shine of the foil sentiment. Love it! I hope you can find time to play along with the sketch challenge. Have an INKtastic week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 67 ~ Rustic Christmas Owl ~ Pajama Crafter Stamps

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with a little inspiration for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 67 hosted in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! Today I'm sharing a sweet Christmas card featuring a darling stamp set from our amazing Sponsor Pajama Crafter Stamps! This month's prize is a $25 store voucher to Pajama Crafter Stamps! Woohoo!

I stamped the sweet owl from the Rustic Christmas Owl Stamp Set with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it with some Copic markers. And then I fussy cut it on the line except around the fringe on the end of the scarf and around the pine needles. I colored the edges of my fussy cutting with a Memento Tuxedo black marker to help tidy up the edges.

Copic markers used:

Hat: C0, C2, R20, R14, R37

Scarf: R20, R14, R37

Beak / Feet: YR21, YR15, YR27

Eyes: C0, C2, E50, E53

Feathers: E50, E53, E25, E57, BG000, BG02

Stump / Pinecone: E53, E55, E57

Leaves / Pine Needles: YG11, G24, G46

Berries: R14, R37

I paired up the sweet owl with the Winter Parade Paper Pack. I just adore the colors in these papers!! I used a square die from my stash to die cut the layers behind the owl. I popped up the owl with foam tape and adhered the rest of my layers, including the beautiful sentiment that I fussy cut. I finished up the card with a few white enamel dots from my stash.

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

Membership Wednesday ~ Hip Hop Honeybee ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

Happy Membership Wednesday! Today I'm sharing a sweet card I made using the cute bee stamp from the March 2026 Kit of the Month membership from Unity. 

This was a quick card with a few simple layers and Copic coloring.

Copic markers used:

Bee: Y11, Y15, Y38, R20

Eyes: C0, C2

Wings: B000

Shoes: C0, C2, B000, B00

Flower: V000, V12, V15, YR20, YG15, YR68

Stem / Grass: YG11, YG23

Sky: B0000, B000

Hearts: R20, R14

I die cut the bee using the largest die from the Sweet Scallops Nested Rectangles Dies. Unfortunately, it looks like these aren't available anymore.

My card design was inspired by the Friends of Unity Sketch for this month. I omitted the small horizontal strip on the focal image. If you'd like to see my other cards with this sketch, you can check those out here... FOU March Blog Hop.

My 4 x 5-1/4" paper layer in the background is from the Whispering Threads {paper pack}.

Here's a quick look at this month's Kit of the Month membership!

This adorable stamp is also available separately in the Hip Hop Honeybee stamps.

That's it for me today! I hope you've been INKspired to play with your membership stamps! 

Have a wonderful day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 40 ~ Newton's Rainy Day Trio ~ Newton's Nook Designs

 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 sweet rainy day card for a friend.

It has been a good long while since I've inked up any of my Newton's Nook Designs stamps and I just had to ink up these cuties I got from the Retiring Sale over at NND!! What a steal with retiring items now up to 75% off! I inked up the adorable Newton's Rainy Day Trio with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored the cute trio with Copic markers.

Copic Markers used:

Umbrella: BG000, BG01, YG00, YG11, YG23, V000, V12, C0, C2, C5, Y11, Y15, Y38

Raindrops: BG000, BG01

White Cat: C0, C2, R00, R20

Yellow Hat: Y11, Y15, Y38

Purple Coat: V000, V12, V15

Yellow Boots: Y11, Y15, Y38, C0, C2, C5

Blue Umbrella: BG000, BG01, C2, C5, Y11, Y15, Y38

Gray Cat: W0, W1, W3, R00, R20, C0, C2

Blue Coat: BG000, BG01, C2, C5

Orange Cat: YR20, YR21, YR15, R00, R20

Green Coat: YG00, YG11, YG23, C2, C5

Blue Boots: BG000, BG01, C0, C2, C5

I paired up the sweet trio with the Springtime 6x6 Paper Pad. I die cut the pattern papers using the Card Layout 5 Die. I trimmed the pattern paper so I'd only die cut the four panels from each pattern paper. I trimmed a piece of Kraft card stock to 5-1/4 x 4" and cut it at the diagonal for my two mats. I used a pretty yellow card stock for my background layer that's adhered to a white A2 top fold card base that I turned on the side for a landscape card.

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. This time I got creative using the awesome Card Layout 5 Die from Newton's Nook Designs. I love it when a sketch takes me to unexpected places. And I turned the sketch on the side.

I die cut the cute trio and raindrops using the coordinating Newton's Rainy Day Trio Die Set. I stamped, trimmed and popped up the sentiment with foam tape. And then I decided to pop up the kitties too while I was at it. I hope you can find time to play along with the sketch challenge. Have an INKriffic week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

International Women's Day ~ Lauren Girl ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

Today I felt inspired to share a card for International Women's Day!! Let's support and cheer each other on! You are amazing. You are fabulous. Beautiful girl, you can do hard things.

I inked up Lauren Girl from Unity but fussy cut her on the line removing the large flower over her shoulder. I colored her up with some Copic markers and colored the edges of my fussy cutting so it looks much neater.

Copic markers used:

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Hair / Shoes: C0, C1, C3, C5

Shirt: BG70, BG72

Dragonfly: BG49

Jeans: B000, B91, B95, B97

I used the Blue Medallion paper pad from Love Nicole... some very old papers in my stash. I wanted to jazz up the papers so I blended some Hickory Smoke Distress Ink over the Falling Dots Stencil from A Colorful Life Designs. It's a little darker than I intended but I still like how it turned out. I die cut the background with a die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies} from Unity.

I die cut a scrap of Weathervane card stock from Papertrey Ink using the same Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies} and then I heat embossed my sentiment using white pigment ink and white embossing powder for a vibrant white on the gray card stock. I thought the sentiment was fitting for International Women's Day... I hope you have a wonderful day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

~ 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