~ Friends of Unity October 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for another Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! Woohoo! This month's cue is...

Today we are sharing inspiration for the Pink October / Breast Cancer Awareness cue!! I don't know why, but I really struggled to get going with this cue. However, once the wheels got rolling I couldn't stop so I have a whole bunch of inspiration to share with you all today. Lots of photos and I'll try to keep the chatter to a minimum.

First up is a fun card featuring the beautiful Strength In Unity stamp. Such a beautiful stamp. I thought it and the sentiment would be perfect to send to someone needing encouragement. I die cut the image using a circle die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}.

Copic markers used:

Skin Tone Combos: E000, E00, E11; E00, E11, E13, W3; E000, E00; E000, E11, E23; E00, E02, E04; E000, E00, E21; E000, E00, E11, E13; E000, E00, E02

Pinks: different variations using the following - R00, R20; RV000, RV10, RV21, RV02, RV13, RV04

White shadows: C0

I used a pretty pattern paper from the Fabulous Enough {paper pack}. And I mat it with a piece of kraft card stock that I die cut using one of the fun dies from the Edge Appeal {border die set}. This scallop die with the tiny hearts is probably my favorite from the set. I adhered the papers to a white A2 top fold card base and popped up the circle and sentiment with foam tape.

A little two-fer magic for my next two cards. One fabulous half sheet of card stock ink smooshed with Kitsch Flamingo and Picked Raspberry Distress Inks for two very different cards.

My first of the two features the Rise Up Darling stamp. I just stamped this gorgeous stamp over the inked smooshed background with Black Amalgam ink and die cut it using the largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set.

I trimmed up the sentiment and popped it up on the card with foam tape. Easy peasy! I love this stamp!

For my second card of the two, I inked up the brand new Survivor From Every Angle stamp. This gorgeous stamp is brand new and Angela assured me it would be available on the website today, but please be patient if it's not showing just yet. 

Copic markers used:

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Top: C0, C1, RV10, RV21, RV13

Jeans: C0, C1, C3, C7

Cup: C0, C1, RV10, RV21, RV13, RV04

Heart: RV10, RV21, RV13

I die cut the ink smooshed background using a die from the Zig Zag Rectangles {nesting dies}. I fussy cut the girl and adhered her to the bottom sentiment and then I popped her up along with both sentiments. I adore this new stamp!

Next up is a card of encouragement featuring the Difficult Roads stamps. I masked the edges of the die cut kraft card stock with iCraft Pixie Tape and then stamped the jar of flowers. I used a mix of Copic markers and Prismacolor Pencils to color up the stamp. I used the white prismacolor pencil and a couple greens. I didn't make note of which ones. Sorry about that.

Copic markers used:

Flowers: RV21, RV13, RV04

Jar: C0, C1

I used the Postage Stamp {nesting dies} for my focal image. I kept this card simple and just popped up the panel on a Kraft A2 top fold card base using a bunch of foam tape.

And my last make for the hop, a fun tag featuring the #Breastfriends {wit & wisdom} stamp.

I die cut the stamped panel using a die from the Make a Tag {die set}. I also die cut a mat and a little topper for the focal panel from pink card stock.

The topper for the focal panel needed a little something so I stamped it with the retired Hearts of Old background stamp using Picked Raspberry Distress Ink. The All for Love stamps would be a fun alternate for the retired background stamp I used. My handy Crop-a-dile worked wonders for the hole punches and then I added the hole reinforcer that I had die cut from white card stock. I finished off the tag with some white organdy ribbon tied with pink baker's twine.

Copic markers used: RV10, RV21, RV04

Now before we get to the hopping, random dot org chose a lucky winner from the comments on last month's hop to win a fun prize and the lucky winner is...

... Becca Yahrling!! Congratulations, Becca!!

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

Please claim the prize before November 4th, 2026. 

If you've made it this far, you deserve a great big coffee {or hot beverage of your choice}! LOL! I appreciate you hanging with me... I got a bit carried away with this month's cue. So THANK YOU for sticking with me. I'm so excited to see how our friends were inspired for this month's hop! 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 ---> Von Marie

Jenni

Dawn

Toni

Joyce

Rachel

Doreen

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Color Hues Challenge #142 ~ Cute Pumpkins ~ Angie Blom Digital Designs

Hello there crafty friend! 

I'm so excited to be joining the Color Hues Challenge as a guest designer today! I'm always blown away by the inspiration shared by the Design Team! Thanks so much for having me Color Hues!

These colors are all about Fall... at least for me! And Fall includes lots of pumpkins so I went with a fun pumpkin digi stamp for my card today.

I used the beautiful Cute Pumpkins digital stamp from Angie Blom Digital Designs. I resized and combined the pile of pumpkins and sentiment in a Word Document. And I printed it off on white card stock. And colored the pumpkins up with Copic markers.

Copic Markers used:

Amber: Y11, Y15, Y35, Y38

Burnt Red: R20, R14, R37, R89

Stems: E21, E25

Leaves: YG91, E21

Outline: C0

I die cut a layer of red using a die from Papertrey Ink called Love to Layer: A Little Loopy Die. I cut the pumpkins layer to fit just inside the loopy frame. A cute burlap string bow finishes off the panel.

I popped up the panel on a kraft top fold card base using foam tape. So much fun! I hope you'll play along with the fun challenge crafty friends!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 74 ~ Elf Grumplings ~ Taylored Expressions

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 sweet Christmas card featuring a fun retired stamp from our lovely Sponsor Taylored Expressions! One lucky winner will win a $30 store voucher to Taylored Expressions!! Woohoo!

I inked up one of the cute elves from the retired Elf Grumplings Stamp & Die Combo using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. I then colored it up with some fun holiday colors using Copic markers.

Copic Markers used:

Skin: E000, E00, E11, R00, R20

Eyes: C0

Greens: YG11, G24, G46

Reds: R20, R14

Candy Cane: R20, R14, C0, C2

I paired up the cute elf with the Say Cheese Classic Mouse Christmas 6x8 Paper Pad by Simple Stories. I used the measurements from the sketch for my layers except the middle layer. I had a scrap that was a little smaller so I just went with it. 

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 74 for the month of October. 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 ~ September 2026 KOM Cozy, Merry & Slightly Unhinged ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

Happy Membership Wednesday! Today I'm sharing a cute tag featuring a stamp from the September 2026 Kit of the Month membership from Unity Stamp Co. called Cozy, Merry & Slightly Unhinged. 

These adorable stamps that are also available separately as the Holiday Hide & Peek stamps are just the perfect size for tags! I just adore this cute reindeer! I stamped him with Black Amalgam ink from Gina K. Designs and colored him up with Copic markers.

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

Reindeer: E21, E23

Antlers: E21, E23, E25

Ears: R00, R20

Nose: R20, R14, R27

Feet: N1, N3, N5

Hat: C0, C2, R20, R14, R27

Ornaments: Y15, Y28, YG11, G24, G46

I paired up the cute reindeer with pattern paper from the Minty Christmas {paper pack}. This piece of pattern paper actually came in the freebie goodie bag with my KOM membership. I die cut the reindeer and the pattern papers using dies from the Make A Tag {die set}.

I kept the tag pretty simple with just the two layers and punched a hole with my 1/8" handheld hole punch. I tied a piece of twine from the freebie goodie bag that came with my KOM membership. I finished it off with the trimmed sentiment and a snowflake embellishment from my stash.

Here's a look at the Kit of the Month membership stamps. 

This adorable stamp kit is available separately here... Holiday Hide & Peek.

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

Have a fabulous day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 46 ~ Halloween Cups ~ Angie Blom Digital Designs

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing my first card for the new Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 46 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I couldn't wait to print off the fun pumpkin mug from the Halloween Cups digital stamps from Angie Blom Digital Designs.

I just printed off the one mug from the Halloween Cups digital stamps. But there's a pretty good chance I'll print off one of the other ones too. Love the cute ghostie cup! Anywho, I combined and resized the pumpkin mug and sentiment in a Word Document and printed it off on white card stock. I had lots of fun coloring up the mug... I used colors from the fab pattern papers.

Pumpkin Mug: BG10, BG34, BG13, C3, C5, V000, V04, V05

Yellow: Y35, Y38

Whipped Cream: C0, C2

I paired up the cute mug with the Spooky Nights 6x6 Paper Pack from Ink N' Splatter available at Digi Doodle Studios. I don't see the physical papers on the website anymore but they do have the Spooky Nights 6x6 Digi Pattern Papers.

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 46. 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 can't wait to see what you all do with this sketch!! 

I adhered all of my layers to a black A2 card base. I sure 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

Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 45 Continued ~ Ghostly Good Times ~ Newton's Nook Designs

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sneaking in one more card for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 45 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I just got the fun Spooky Roundabout Stamp Set from a recent order and wanted to ink it up.

I've also been wanting to ink up the cute ghost kitty from the Ghostly Good Times Stamp Set. I thought it would be fun to pair up with the Spooky Roundabout Stamp Set. I die cut the ghost kitty using the coordinating die from the Ghostly Good Times Die Set.

 I die cut the fun roundabout stamp using the largest die from the Circle Frames Die Set. And I paired up the stamps with a neutral pattern paper from the Halloween Meows 6x6 Paper Pad.

Copic Markers used:

Ghosts / Stars: YG00, YG11

Jack-o-lanterns: YR20, YR21, YR15, Y15, E21, E23

Skulls: C0, C2

Bats: V000, V12, V15

Candy Corn: C0, C2, YR20, YR21, YR15, Y11, Y15

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 45. 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've had so much fun with this sketch!

I adhered the sentiment to the circle and then popped up the whole focal image with foam tape. I also popped up the ghost kitty with foam tape for a bit more dimension. The challenge ends today, September 28th. Get your entry in before midnight PDT. Have an INKriffic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 73 ~ Odie's Holiday Home ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing one last card for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 73 hosted in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! Did you see the cute Odie's Holiday Home stamp from Unity that just released?! Isn't he just the cutest?! I love him!

I inked up the cute pup from Odie's Holiday Home and colored him up with Copic markers. I die cut him using a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. 

Copic Markers used:

Pup: E000, E21, E23

Hat: C0, C2, B000, B91

Ground: C0, C2

Heart: RV10, RV02

I paired up the pup with the fun Chillin' {paper pack} for a holiday card with non-traditional colors. I die cut the plaid papers using the largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set. The blue snowy papers and paw prints papers were die cut using dies from the Scallops & Banners {nesting dies}. I used the smaller scalloped banner die twice for the blue snowy papers. I also used a fun pattern paper for my background layer.

I adhered all of my layers to a white A2 top fold card base. I adhered the sentiment to the puppy circle and then popped them both up with foam tape to finish off the card.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 73 for the month of September. There's still time to enter the challenge! The challenge ends on Wednesday, September 30th. 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