~ Friends of Unity August 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for another Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! Woohoo! I've been looking forward to this month's cue for awhile now!

Today we are sharing inspiration for the Grunge cue!! The possibilities are seriously endless with this one... I had several ideas and only time to make a couple. 

First up is a fun Halloween card featuring I Bite Pissy Kitty. But I think the star of the card is actually the Ghastly Gourds background stamp. Oh how I love these pumpkins!! 

I did a bit of ink smooshing first with Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin and Black Soot Distress Inks.

And then I swiped the panel with my Carved Pumpkin Distress Ink. I love the streaks of ink this technique creates!

I then stamped the panel with the Ghastly Gourds using Black Soot Distress Ink. And then I inked up just the top portion of the Smell My Feet background stamp and stamped it crooked on the top and bottom corners of the panel. I think the stamp was actually upside down... but that's okay. LOL

I Copic colored the fun kitty and fussy cut it leaving a white border. But then it was too bright so I distressed around the edges using the residual ink on my black blending brush. I added some black string to the panel and popped up the kitty using foam tape. And then I heat embossed the sentiment and popped it up on the card to finish it off.

Copic markers used:

Cat: C0, C3, C5

Eyes: YG11, YG06, YG67

Nose:RV02

Wings: C2, C5, 100

Bow: V12, V15

Pumpkin: YR20, YR15, YR68, Y15, Y08, E21, E25

I went a very different direction with my second card. I wanted to use Seraphim Wings but instead I ended up using the coordinating Seraphim Wings die (unfortunately I don't see this on the website currently). I didn't take photos of my ink smooshing for this one. I used Speckled Egg, Evergreen Bough and Vintage Photo Distress Inks for my ink smooshing.

And then I stamped the gorgeous What's Old is New background stamp with Ground Espresso Distress Ink. I die cut the panel with the Seraphim Wings die. And then I ink smooshed another panel with the same colors. I inked up the background stamp again this time with Vintage Photo but only in random spots. I didn't cover it completely with ink. And then I lightly placed the stamp on top of the ink smooshed panel and pressed gently. I still had a puddle of brown ink (I think it was Ground Espresso) so I used it to spatter the panel.

I used a die from the Notebook Borders Die Set  to cut that left edge on my background panel. Distressed the edges of the die cut butterfly with residual ink on my brown blending brush. Stamped the sentiment with Ground Espresso Distress Ink. And then I ink smooshed another white panel with just Speckled Egg and Evergreen Bough distress inks for my bottom panel. I adhered all my layers onto a white A2 top fold card base. I feel like it needs something... maybe I'll add enamel dots. What do you think?

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...

... Wilma DeG!! Congratulations, Wilma!!

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

Please claim the prize before August 26th, 2026. 

Well, that's it for me this time! 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 ---> Jane

Von Marie

Toni

Jenni

Joyce

Rachel

Dawn

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 72 ~ Winter Skies ~ Lawn Fawn

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 sweet stamp and fab papers from our wonderful Sponsor Lawn Fawn! One lucky winner will win a $25 gift card to Lawn Fawn!! Woohoo!

I stamped the fun snowflakes from the Winter Skies stamp set with second generation stamping of Worn Lipstick Distress Ink for a lighter pink that coordinated with the papers just a tad more. Second Generation Stamping is a paper crafting technique where you ink a stamp, make a first impression on scrap paper and then stamp a second time without re-inking to create a softer, lighter shade of the exact same color. 

I also stamped the sweet bears on a scrap of white card stock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I colored the bears with Copic markers {listed below}. I die cut the cute bears using the coordinating dies from the Winter Skies Dies. The stamp and dies are also available in a bundle... Winter Skies Bundle. I popped up the bears with foam tape.

Bears: C0, C2

Scarf: R00, RV10, R12, R32

I used a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" piece of pattern paper from the Knit Picky Winter 6x6 Petite Paper Pack for my background on a white card base. And I die cut a piece of the knit paper from the same pattern papers using the Stitched Hillside Borders Dies. Once I adhered all the layers together I stamped the sentiment using my mini misti to finish it off.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 72 for the month of August. 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

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 71 ~ Beautiful Poinsettia and Extra Grinchy ~ A Colorful Life Designs

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm sharing two last cards for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 71 hosted in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! I got done with my first card and while I was putting away the stencils I had an idea pop in my head for another card so I whipped the second one up real quick. In all I used 6 fabulous stencils from our wonderful Sponsor A Colorful Life Designs.

I blended over the Beautiful Poinsettia Stencil with Mustard Seed, Barn Door and Mowed Lawn Distress Inks. I added a touch of highlights to the center of the poinsettia with white pencil. And I distressed the edges of my panel with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I blended Vintage Photo Distress ink over the  awesome Cozy Knit Stencil for my background layer. I also distressed the edges of the kraft card base with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I blended Gathered Twigs Distress Ink over the sentiment from the Layered Mixed Wreath Stencil on kraft card stock. I fussy cut it and popped it up on the card to finish it off. I love the vintage vibe on this one.

I love the Grinch so when I saw my collection of Grinch stencils I just knew I had to ink one of them up! I blended Mowed Lawn Distress Ink over the Extra Grinchy Stencil on New Leaf card stock from Papertrey Ink. I die cut the Grinch panel using a die from my stash.

With the same distress ink I blended the tree background using the Simple Christmas Trees Stencil directly over the front of my New Leaf card base.

And then on white card stock I blended the same green ink over the sentiment from the Grinch Season Stencil. I trimmed the sentiment and adhered all of my layers directly to the card base. Easy peasy!

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 71 for the month of July. Today is the last day 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

Membership Wednesday ~ July 2026 BOM Daisy Defined ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

Happy Membership Wednesday! Today I'm sharing a little inspiration for the fun Color Challenge that the Friends of Unity are hosting in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group. Red, White & Blue is the color combo and I wondered how it would look with the fab Background of the Month stamp from Unity!

I started with my background for this one. I debated back and forth and back and forth and just finally went with red only for my background. I felt like if I did blue and red on the background maybe it would be too 4th of July-like. I used Candied Apple and Barn Door Distress Inks for my ink smooshing.

My card design was inspired by TOP Inky Inspiration Sketch 45 that just started yesterday in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I'm having fun with this sketch already!

I adhered the ink smooshed background to a light blue card base. And then I stamped the Daisy Defined background stamp on white card stock with Black Amalgam ink. I looked at it for a really long time trying to decide what to do. Haha... like really long. I walked away and folded the towels in the dryer. I needed a minute to focus on something else. When I came back I had the idea to color the daisies with a touch a blue but keep them mostly white. I really like how they turned out. There's also the tiniest hint of yellow in the center and green on the stems. Copic Markers used: C0, C2, B000, B00, B02, Y000, G000.

I stamped the daisies again on another piece of white card stock and ink smooshed them with the same two red distress inks. I die cut them with the largest die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. I fussy cut the colored daisies on the line and colored the edges with a black marker. And then I paper pieced them onto the ink smooshed circle. The ink smooshed layers needed something in between to break them up so I die cut a circle of the light blue card stock using a slightly larger circle die from my stash. I cut a banner from the light blue card stock and then fussy cut the sentiment and adhered them onto the circle and then I popped up the whole thing on the card with foam tape.

Here's a look at the Background of the Month membership stamps. This fabulous stamp is also available as a one-time purchase if you're not interested in the monthly membership. 

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 45 ~ A Cozy Day In ~ Newton's Nook Designs

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing my first card for the new Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 45 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I took advantage of the fab 13 Year Celebration sale over at Newton's Nook Designs and finally added this wonderful stamp to my collection! 

The A Cozy Day In stamp was purr-fect for my card today so I inked it up with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored it up with the following Copic markers.

Skin: E000, E00, E21

Hair: E21, E33, E35

Top: V000, V12

Jeans: B93, B95

Socks: C0, C2, V12, V15, BG72, BG49

Blanket: V12, V15

Book: E33, E25, BG72, BG49

Kitties: R00, R20, YR20, YR15, YR27

Chair: BG10, BG72, BG49, E33, E59

I paired up this cute stamp with the Coffee House Stories 6x6 Paper Pad. I die cut the hearts and polka dots papers using a die from the Circle Frames Die Set. I also used the same die and a circle die from my stash for the white frame.

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'm really loving the big circle for this sketch... a great excuse to use big stamps or create a scene with smaller stamps.

I adhered all of my layers to a white A2 top fold card base. I adhered the sentiment to the chair and then popped them both up on the card. 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

{BYSHC} Christmas in July 2026 Linky Party ~ Reindeer Blend ~ Jaded Blossom

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with one more make for the {BYSHC} Christmas in July 2026 Linky Party hosted on the {BYSHC} blog! Today I'm sharing a sweet holiday card featuring an adorable stamp from our fabulous Sponsor Jaded Blossom along with a bunch of other goodies.

I inked up the adorable Santa mug from the Reindeer Blend stamp set. I die cut it using the coordinating die from the Reindeer Blend die set. And then I colored it with the following Copic markers:

Face: E000, E00, E21

Cheeks: R00, R20

Hair / White Fur : C0, C2

Belt / Mittens / Boots: N3, N5, N7

Belt Buckle: Y38

Coffee: E51, E23, E25

Mug: RV10, RV02, RV34

I paired up the cute Santa mug with the Pink Christmas 6x6 paper pad from Sponsor Not 2 Shabby. Unfortunately, I don't see these papers on the website. I die cut the star papers using a die from the Stylized Rectangle Dies from Jaded Blossom.

Inspiration for my card came from one of our past sketches... BYSHC Sketch 13. I adjusted the sketch for an A2 size card. 

I die cut a circle from white card stock using a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies} from Sponsor Unity. I felt like it needed something so I die cut a couple snowflakes from the Gnome Dies: Winter Add Ons from Jaded Blossom. I adhered all of the my layers directly to a white A2 top fold card base that I turned for a landscape card using iCraft UltraBond Adhesive from Sponsor Therm O Web.

Have you stopped by to check out all the wonderful holiday inspiration being shared at the {BYSHC} Christmas in July 2026 Linky Party?! I sure hope you will! The party ends tonight at midnight! Have a wonderful day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Christmas in July 2026 Linky Party ~ Hot Cocoa Gnomes ~ Not 2 Shabby

Hello again crafty friend!

I'm back with a couple more holiday cards for day 7 of the {BYSHC} Christmas in July 2026 Linky Party!! I'm excited to share not one but two holiday cards that I'm adding to my Christmas stash! This time I mixed things up with some fun ephemera from Sponsor Not 2 Shabby and I paired it up with a stencil from Sponsor Gina K. Designs!

The adorable gnomes are from the Hot Cocoa Gnomes ephemera pack from Not 2 Shabby. Aren't they just the cutest?! I love them! The sentiment is from the Gingerbread Coffee House stamp set, also from Not 2 Shabby but I'm not seeing either of them on the website. But they do have a bunch of other fab ephemera packs!!

I paired them up with the Sweater Weather Stencil from Gina K. Designs. I blended Salty Ocean and Seedless Preserves Distress Inks for my first card. 

I die cut the stenciled panels prior to ink blending. I used a die from the Large Cross-Stitched Rectangle Stackables dies from Sponsor Lawn Fawn. I masked the edges of the die panels with iCraft Pixie Tape from Sponsor Therm O Web and then I blended with my inks. For my second card, I blended Mowed Lawn and Candied Apple Distress Inks. I made sure not to actually blend these since I didn't want brown in the middle so they just get lighter near the middle.

If you haven't already, stop by the {BYSHC} Christmas in July 2026 Linky Party to check out all the wonderful Holiday inspiration being shared!! I am loving ALL of the cards! I hope you have an INKredible day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal