~ Friends of Unity January 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend & Happy New Year to you!

It's time for our first Friends of Unity Blog Hop of 2026!! Woohoo! I'm ready to kickoff a brand new year with our friends and share some fun inspiration with our cue...

Today we are sharing inspiration that we CASEd. What does CASEd mean? It's an acronym for Copy And Share Everything or Copy And Selectively Edit. It is a common practice in the cardmaking community where a card maker is inspired by another person's design and recreates it, either as an exact copy or with some modifications. For example, changing up the colors or using a different stamp. I had a lot of fun with my makes for this one.

My first card features the cute new Cupid Pissy Kitty. Isn't it just too cute?! It was also fun to color up with my Copic markers.

Copic markers used:

Kitty: N0, N2, N4, YR20, YR15, R20

Eyes: C0, C3, YG00, YG11

Sash: RV10, RV02

Wing: C0, C3

Bow / Arrow: E21, E25

My card design was CASEd from cards that Angela Magnuson shared in the Unity Show & Tell. She had blended over a stencil and then stamped a pretty flower silhouette. Her design was very CAS {Clean & Simple}. My design took a left turn. Haha... 

I ended up die cutting my panel and adhering it to a white card base. I die cut the panel using the largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set. I also popped up the sentiment with foam tape.

I blended Kitsch Flamingo and Picked Raspberry Distress Inks over the fun Layered Hearts {stencil set}. I finished off the card with a few pieces of confetti from the Crystal Opaque Creme Puff Card Bling from A Colorful Life Designs.

Keeping with a love theme for my second card. This time I inked up the adorable birdie from the brand new January 2026 KOM called Margins of Ever After. This cutie is also available separately in the  Wee Little Love Courier stamps. Too stinkin' cute!!

Inspiration for this card came from a fabulous card shared by Danni Bindel. Danni shared a card featuring the Fluff Squad. And funnily enough, she was actually inspired to make this card using one of the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketches!! Made me giggle when I realized that. I love how our cardmaking community inspires each other!

I die cut the birdie using a die from the Oval Frames die set from Newton's Nook Designs. Unity really needs to add some fun oval dies to their collection!

Copic markers used to color up this cutie:

Bird: B000, B00

Eyes: C0, C3

Beak / Legs / Feet: YR20, YR15

Heart: RV10, RV02, YR20

Grass: YG00, YG11

 I paired up this sweet bird with the Cloud Hopper Chronicles {paper pack}. So many fun layers in this one. I used paper scraps across the card and then I popped up the trimmed sentiment and the oval using foam tape.

I wanted to play with lots of color for this one. I found a great piece of pattern paper from the Oh Hey! It's Your Day {paper pack} for my background and pulled colors from the papers for my coloring.

My last card was inspired by this lovely card by Amy Marie in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group. I was pulled into the card by the theme... I love books!! But really the arch is what got my attention. Amy used the beautiful girl from the March 2025 KOM Chapters & Crossings.

I thought the gorgeous flowers from the new January 2026 KOM would look lovely in this card design. These beauties are also available separately in the Where Butterflies Wait stamps. I die cut the flowers using the largest die from the Scallops & Arches {nesting dies}. 

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used:

Pink: RV10, RV02

Red Flowers: R20, R14

Yellow Flowers: Y11, Y35, R20, R14

Butterfly: BG10, BG01, Y11, Y35

Greens: YG00, YG11, YG23

Background: B000

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...

... Sabra & Holly Gerdes.!! Congratulations, Sabra & Holly!!

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

Please claim the prize before February 4th, 2025. 

Well, that's it for me this time! Another short hop this month with just seven of us sharing our makes. Be sure to hop along and enjoy some more inspiration! I can't wait to see how our friends were inspired by this month's cue. 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

Toni

Jenni

Jane

Dawn

Rachel

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 65 ~ A Shabby Christmas ~ Not 2 Shabby

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for a new sketch challenge over in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! Today I'm sharing a pretty Christmas card featuring beautiful papers and ephemera from our awesome Sponsor Not 2 Shabby! This month's prize is a $25 gift certificate to Not 2 Shabby! Yay!

I used a fun combination of the papers from the A Shabby Christmas 6x6 Paper Pad for my background. I used the measurements from the sketch for each layer except the red glitter mat which I made a smidge smaller at 3-7/8 x 5-1/8".

The red glitter strips measure 1/4" wide and I kept them at 6" long. I wove them onto the top layer and adhered them starting at the top. Once the top was set I found I could adhere the horizontal strips easily and then adhere the bottom of the vertical strips. I sure hope that makes sense... my head is still congested and my brain isn't working. :)

I punched a 1/8" hole in the top of the star ephemera from the A Shabby Christmas Ephemera and added a little bit of burlap string. I trimmed two fishtails on the ends of the stamped sentiment from the Pick Me Up stamp set from Not 2 Shabby. And then I covered the back of the star and the sentiment with foam tape and popped them both up on the card.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 65 for the month of January. 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 ~ December 2025 KOM Peace, Paws & Possibility ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

Happy Membership Wednesday! Before we get to my card for today, I just want to say a great big THANK YOU! Thanks for visiting my blog... if this is your first time or you're a frequent visitor, THANK YOU! I appreciate you! And I hope that you and your loved ones have a blessed new year! 

Today I'm sharing a fun & cozy card I made using a super cute stamp from the December 2025 Kit of the Month membership from Unity.  I stamped the fun socks with Black Amalgam ink and colored them up quick with a handful of Copic markers. I die cut them using a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. 

Copic markers I used:

Heart Sock: C0, C2, C3, V000, V12, V15

Plaid Sock: V000, V12, BG10, BG34, C0, C2

Striped Sock: BG10, BG34, V000, V12, V15

I paired up the fun socks with the Monster Mayhem {paper pack}. So the whole time I'm making this card, I'm thinking... 2319!! 2319!! That's, of course, from the Monster, Inc. movie. Haha... it cracked me up anyhow. 

My card design was inspired by Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 31. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with this card and then I remembered this sketch and BAM! I love having these sketches to go back to. Makes card designing so easy peasy.

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

This cute stamp is also available separately in the Sole Mates 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

Birthday Fun ~ Party Pup ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

Today I'm sharing a fun birthday card I made with the cute new Party Pup stamp from Unity. This pup is just too cute!

I stamped the cute Party Pup and sentiment separately with Black Amalgam ink and then I die cut the pup with a tag die from the Make a Tag {die set}. I pulled out some Copic markers and got to coloring.

Here's a quick list of the Copics I used:

Pup: N0, N2, N4

Eyes: C0, C2

Hat: R20, R14, Y11, Y15

Chair: BG10, BG01, BG15

Balloon: RV000, RV02

Background: Y11

Floor: C0, C2, Y11, Y15, R20, R14

I wanted a fun background for this cute pup so I die cut a piece of pattern paper from the Yay, It's Today {paper pack} using the Falling Stars Background Die {unfortunately, I think this one is retired}. I popped out all of those stars to use for another project and adhered the background to a white A2 top fold card base.

I trimmed the sentiment and adhered it to the tag and then I added foam to both pieces and popped it up on the card. Whatcha think?

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 64 ~ Sparkle Glitter & Joy Snowmen ~ Digi Doodle Studios

Hello there crafty friend!

I've been sick so I'm running behind with my last card for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 64 hosted in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! I've had these cuties printed on my desk just waiting for me to color them up.

I resized the Sparkle Glitter & Joy Snowmen digi set in a Word Document and then I printed them off on white card stock. I colored them up with Copic markers. I then fussy cut them leaving a white border and popped them up using foam tape.

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used:

White: C0, C2

Nose: YR20, YR15

Hats / Scarves: V000, V12, V15, B00, B02

JOY: B000, B00

I paired up these cuties with the Winter Plaids & Patterns 6x6 Paper Pad. I used the measurements from the sketch for my layers. 

I finished up this one with some Glossy White Card Bling from A Colorful Life Designs.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 64 for the month of December. There's just a few more days left to enter the challenge! 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! I'm always blown away by the creations from the DT... they are amazingly talented cardmakers!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Advent Calendar 2025 Day 24 ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

It's Day 24 of the 2025 Advent Calendar from Unity!! Tomorrow is Christmas... unbelievable how fast the days flew by over the last 24 days. I hope that you've been inspired along the way to play with your advent goodies. And if you haven't had time to play along, I hope that you do soon. Merry Christmas crafty friends!

Today's stamp is actually two stamps!! A sweet sentiment that says Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and a fun fireworks stamp. I stamped them both with Wow Clear Embossing ink. And then I heat embossed them with Ultra Fine Antique Gold Embossing Powder from Simon Says Stamp.

You can check out my video revealing the Advent Calendar Day 24 stamp and my process in making this card here... Unity Advent Calendar 2025 Day 24 | Unity Stamp Co.

Inspiration for my card came from past Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 24. This one deviated from the sketch but I think I kept a couple of the elements.

Even though I used anti-static powder you can see I had some fly-aways. Normally, that would drive me crazy and I'd probably redo the card, but since it's fireworks which typically have fly-aways... I'm okay with it!

That's the end of the 2025 Advent Calendar from Unity! I hope that you've enjoyed the inspiration I've shared over the last few weeks. Have an INKtastic day & a very Merry Christmas!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Advent Calendar 2025 Day 23 ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

It's Day 23 of the 2025 Advent Calendar from Unity!! I can't believe we are almost finished with the advent calendar AND it's almost Christmas Day!

Today we have a fun gal in a festive drink. I stamped her with Black Amalgam ink. I die cut my circle using a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. 

You can check out my video revealing the Advent Calendar Day 23 stamp and my process in making this card here... Unity Advent Calendar 2025 Day 23 | Unity Stamp Co.

Inspiration for my card came from the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 15! This simple sketch is so fun!

So excited to add another holiday card to my stash for next year! I am loving this fun card!

Copic Markers:

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Skirt: R20, R14

Glass: YG11, YG23

Ground: C0, C2

I paired up the girl in the martini glass with the A Dash of Christmas {paper pack}. The sweet sentiment is from the Chilled to the Bone stamps. I finish this one off with a few enamel dots.

I'll be back tomorrow for the final Day 24 of the 2025 Advent Calendar from Unity!

Have an INKredible day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Inky Hugs,

Crystal