~ Friends of Unity September 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for another Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! This year has just been flying by... I can't believe it's September already. Geez! Although I am anxious for some cooler weather. It's been SO hot! Anywho, our cue this month is lots of fun.

Today we are sharing inspiration for the Anything But a Card cue!! Oh my gosh... I had so many ideas it was actually paralyzing. Like it squashed my mojo. I started a project and it was terrible so I tossed it. I don't normally do that. I save it for another day but this was actually really terrible. It took some time but I finally got the creative juices flowing and I have 3 projects to share. I'll keep the chatter at a minimum so the post isn't too long.

First up is a cute bookmark featuring the adorable Santa from the Holiday Hide & Peek stamps. I stamped him on white card stock. Colored  him up with Copic markers and fussy cut him on the line except where there was hair or fuzzy parts... I left a white border around those areas.

I paired him up with some papers from the Minty Christmas {paper pack}. I used a bookmark die from Papertrey Ink.

Copic markers used:

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Hair / Fur Trim / Ground: C0, C2

Santa Suit: R20, R14, R27

Mittens / Boots: C2, C3, C5, C7

Wall: E21, E23, E25

Next up is a holiday tag featuring the gorgeous September 2026 Background of the Month called Christmas Made Beautiful. I used another bookmark tag from Papertrey Ink for this one but I'm going to use this as a tag.

Copic Markers used on Kraft card stock:

Poinsettias: R20, R14, R27, Y11, Y15, Y38, Y28

Pine Cones: E21, E23, E25

Pine Needles / Foliage: YG00, YG11, G24, G46

Berries: RV10, RV02, RV66, RV69

I trimmed the sentiment and distressed the edges with the residual ink on my brown blending brush. Die cut a piece of brown card stock using a die from the Scallops & Squares {nesting dies}. I didn't want to cover up the pretty poinsettia cluster so I die cut a couple more bookmarks. One in kraft for the back to cover up the ink that bled through the card stock. And another one from the brown card stock to extend the 'tag' so I could adhere the sentiment to the side a bit.

And my last project is actually two that I made using a cute bee from the Hive Got Your Back. The sentiment is from the March 2026 KOM called Rooted & Radiant. These are tea bag holders... a fun little gift idea for any occasion.

Copic markers used:

Bee: Y00, Y15, Y38

Eyes: C0, C2

Wings: G000, G00

I paired up the bee with papers from the Squeeze the Day {paper pack}. These tea bag holders are made from one full sheet of white card stock measuring 8-1/2 x 11". One tea bag holder measures 3-1/2 x 11" and it's scored at 4", 4-1/4", 4-1/2", and 8-1/2". So you can cut two from the full sheet.

I die cut the flap and the pattern paper on the flap with one of the border dies from the Edge Appeal {border die set}. The pattern paper on the front and back of the holder measures 3-1/4 x 3-3/4". The pattern paper on the flap measured 3-1/4 x 2-1/2" before I die cut the edge. I think I just cut off 1/8" with the die. I used the leftover scrap from the full sheet to help secure the tea bags in the holder. It measures 3/4 x 7-1/4" and it's scored at 1-7/8", 2", 5-1/4", and 5-3/8".

I used the Scalloped Tags dies for the little tag I made. I don't see these tags on the website... I think they might have been a steal item. I fussy cut the bee and the sentiment and adhered them directly to the tag. I added a bit of foam tape to the top of the tag avoiding the part that hangs over the flap to secure it to the holder. And then I wrapped the holder with some burlap string.

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...

... Jamie Y.!! Congratulations, Jamie!!

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

Please claim the prize before September 30th, 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 ---> Von Marie

Jenni

Rachel

Jane

Joyce

Doreen

Toni

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 45 Continued ~ Heirloom Mum ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing another fun card for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 45 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. This time I inked up the gorgeous mum from the September 2026 Whit Kit, also available separately as the Heirloom Mum stamp.

I die cut the gorgeous mum using the largest die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies} and then I got to coloring with my Copic markers. I'm including the markers I used for the leaf even though it's basically covered up with the sentiment.

Copic markers used:

Mum: Y11, Y15, YR20, YR02, YR15, YR68

Leaf: YG91, YG63, YG67

Background: G000, YG91

I used a fun embossing folder from my stash called Gridlock. I believe it's a Tim Holtz EF. I love the texture it adds to the background.

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 omitted the background layer and just used my card base for my background.

I die cut the sentiment using a die from the Scalloped & Stitched Sentiment Nesting Dies. Just like the last few cards, I adhered the sentiment to the circle and then popped up both the circle and the sentiment with foam tape. And then I added some spatter using Tea Dye Distress Ink spritzed with a bit of water. I sure hope you can find time to play along with the sketch challenge. Have an INKriffic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 73 ~ A Little Dash ~ Unity Stamp Co.

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 with a vintage vibe using papers and an adorable stamp from our wonderful Sponsor Unity Stamp Co.! One lucky winner will win a $25 gift card to Unity!! Woohoo!

I inked up the super cute and adorable reindeer from A Little Dash. I love this little guy! He's just too cute! I die cut him using a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. And then I colored him up with the following Copic markers:

Reindeer: E000, E21, E23

Nose: R20, R14, R27

Antlers: E21, D23, E25

Ears: R00, R20, E21

Hooves: C2, C3, C5, C7

Scarf / Gift: R20, R14, R27, BG10, BG72

Ground: C2

I paired up the reindeer with the A Dash of Christmas {paper pack}. I love the vintage style papers in this paper pack!! I die cut my background layer using a die from the Deckle & Stitches {nesting dies}. The banner down the middle was die cut using a die from the Scallops & Banners {nesting dies}. And then for the banner across I just trimmed that with my paper trimmer and cut the fishtails using my scissors.

All of the layers are adhered to a Kraft A2 card base. I distressed the edges of the circle and the sentiment with the residual ink from my brown blending brush. I kept it light and pretty much covered the whole circle around the reindeer. The sentiment is adhered directly to the card. I popped up the reindeer circle using foam tape. I finished off the card with some Sakura White Gelly Roll pen dots on his cheeks.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 73 for the month of September. 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

Not to Behave ~ Witchy Woman ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

I was inspired to play once again with a fun sketch challenge AND the brand new Witchy Woman stamps from Unity. I mean... there's a cat!

Anywho, I just had to ink up the gal with the cat from the Witchy Woman stamps. I colored her up with a few Copic markers and fussy cut her leaving a white border around the image.

Copic Markers used:

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Eye Shadow: R11, R22

Blush: R00, R20

Lips: R22

Hair / Cat: C0

Dress: BG000, BG01, BG15

Earring: C0, BG15

As I mentioned above, my inspiration came from Sketch 696 from the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge. Such a fun sketch!

I paired up the witch and cat with the Atomic Kitty Cat {paper pack}. The retro vibe is purr-fect for this stamp! The pink kitty paper measures 2-7/8 x 4. The mint paper measures 2-1/4 x 4.

The two circles were cut using dies from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. I trimmed the sentiment to fit on the side of the image and popped up the focal image with foam tape. Love how this turned out!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Some Days... ~ Witchy Woman ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

The brand new Witchy Woman stamps from Unity totally reminded me of the t.v. show Bewitched. I loved that show! Of course, I tried the nose wiggle and it never worked... LOL!

Anywho, I just had to ink up one of the gals from the Witchy Woman stamps. I colored her up with a few Copic markers and die cut her using one of the oval dies from the Scallops & Ovals {nesting dies}.

Copic Markers used:

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Eye Shadow: YG91, YG63

Blush: R00, R20

Lips: R05

Hat: C0, C5, YG91, YG63

Hair: C0, C5

Dress: V000, V12, V15

Buttons / Belt: YG91, YG63

Buckles: YR15, Y28

Stars: Y15

I used some scraps from the Heebie Jeebies {paper pack} for my card. At least the smaller pieces are scraps. The purple background paper was a full piece that I die cut using the largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set. I thought it was fun to kind of frame the oval with the papers.

I adhered all of my layers to a black card front and then adhered the card front to a white A2 card base. I adhered the sentiment to the oval and then added foam tape to both pieces and popped them up on the card to finish it off. Hope you like it!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 72 ~ Snow Bunnies ~ Lawn Fawn

Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing one last card for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 72 hosted in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! I was inspired to make an all white card again... except I wanted to build a little scene so I added a tiny bit of color.

This time I built a fun white on white background using three different dies from our fab Sponsor Lawn Fawn. I used the Stitched Windy Backdrop die for my background. This is a landscape die and since I knew the space I wanted it for wasn't very big it wouldn't matter if it didn't fit the whole card base. The clouds are die cut using dies from the Puffy Cloud Borders dies. And the tree line was die cut using the Forest Border dies.

I inked up the exclusive Snow Bunnies from Lawn Fawn and Simon Says Stamps for STAMPtember way back in 2019. Geez!! I didn't realize I'd had these cuties that long. I did find another card on my blog using these cuties if you're interested you can click here to see it.

I adhered all of my layers to a white A2 card base. I adhered the bunnies directly to the card and then added the arms to the snowbunny and flower. No foam tape for this one. I think it has plenty of layers as it is. This was such a fun card to make! Hope you like it.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 72 for the month of August. There's still time to enter the challenge! The challenge ends on Monday, August 31st. 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 ~ August 2026 UU Mildred Moonspite ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

Happy Membership Wednesday! I know I shared inspiration for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 45 just yesterday but I had an idea for the awesome Uniquely Unity stamp from Unity using the sketch so here we are.

I had some inky fun blending my background for this one. I used the 8-in-1 Essential Masking Stencil for my moon. I blended a little Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, and Lost Shadow Distress Inks for the moon. And then I used the circle mask to protect my moon blends and I blended around the moon with Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, Evergreen Bough, and Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks. I blended Black Soot Distress Ink on the bottom to ground the moon. I used a moon stencil from my stash to add the craters to the moon. The details are pretty much covered by Mildred, oh well.

I was inspired by the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 45 hosted in the Tawny Owl Paperie | Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I am having so much fun with this sketch! I've extended this challenge until September 28th! Lots of time to play along!

I stamped fun Mildred Moonspite using Black Amalgam ink and colored her up with Copic markers. I fussy cut her leaving a white border and popped her up on the card along with the heat embossed sentiment using foam tape.

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

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Hair: YR02, YR68, YR27

Hat: N1, N3, N5, N7, YG00, YG11

Flowers: V12, V15, BG34

Coat: N1, N3, N5, N7, V12, V06

Dress: YG00, YG11, V12, V06

Purse / Necklace: V12, V15, BG34

Shoes: N1, N3, N5

Broom: E21, E25, E31, E33, E15

Frog: YG00, YG11, YG06

Frog's Cape: V12, V15

Background: YG00, C00

Ground: C00, C2, C3

Here's a look at the Uniquely Unity membership stamps. 

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