Inky Paws Challenge #226 ~ Summer Theme Challenge

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for a new Inky Paws Challenge... a super fun Summer Theme Challenge! I sure hope that you'll play along with us using your Newton's Nook Designs products! You have until Friday, July 5th to get your entries in for the #226 Summer Theme Challenge and a chance to win a $20 store credit to Newton's Nook Designs!

Inky Paws Challenge #226 - Summer Theme Challenge

Such a broad and fun theme! I'm excited to see the entries for this one!

I thought the Garden Mice Stamp Set was perfect for the Summer theme! Especially the mouse with the butterfly. Butterflies come to mind when I think of Summer. I stamped the adorable mouse and butterfly with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored them up with my Copic markers. I then die cut the mouse and butterfly using the coordinating Garden Mice Die Set. 

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

Mouse: N0, N1, N2, N4, N6, R00, R20

Butterfly: Y11, Y15, YR15, YR16, N0, N1

I cut two pieces of pattern paper from the beautiful Summertime 6x6 Paper Pad. And then I die cut them together using the postage stamp die from the Framework Die Set. I ended up also die cutting a piece of thin card stock using the same postage stamp die and I adhered the pattern papers to the card stock. It was just easier to have them together on one piece of card stock when I adhered them to the white A2 card base. 

I die cut a circle of white card stock using a die from the Circle Frames Die Set. I laid the mouse and butterfly on the circle die cut so I could figure out where I wanted to stamp the sentiment. Once I had stamped the sentiment, I adhered the mouse and butterfly on the circle. Added foam tape to the back of the circle and popped it up on the card. To finish up the card, I added three enamel dots from my stash.

Now it's your turn to get your paws inky with your Newton's Nook Designs products and create a project with a Summer theme. Be sure to link up to the Inky Paws Challenge! Can't wait to see your projects!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Unity Get Together Make & Take ~ Butterfly Breeze Meadow ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

A couple of weeks ago I went to a fun Unity get together with crafty friends from Missouri and Kansas {and a sneaky friend from Florida! Hi Doreen!} in Deepwater, Missouri at the awesome crafty store called The Craft Lab. I shared a few tips & tricks for Copic Coloring with the ladies that attended. Sadly, not everyone was able to participate. Mostly because Copic coloring can take so long and we ran out of time!

My card features the beautiful Butterfly Breeze Meadow background stamp and the Paper Wings stamp from Unity. I can't get enough of the butterfly stamps at Unity. Paper Wings is one of my absolute favorites though. And Butterfly Breeze Meadow is definitely my favorite background stamp. It makes such a pretty card!

Check out this fab group of ladies! Each one is a sweetheart and oh, so talented!

Anywho, I offered to do a video to share with the group and figured I'd just share it here on my blog as well. This isn't my typical video as you'll notice it's much longer. It's also not fast forwarded as much. A 1hr. 15min. video plus editing time - definitely a labor of crafty love. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the video - please only constructive criticism. I love to share what I do as a cardmaker and colorist and hope that you enjoy the video. If you have any questions about the video or Copic coloring, ask in the comments. I'll answer as soon as possible.

I also used a cut apart sentiment {I'm not seeing it on the website, but here's a different one... Cut Apart Sentiment Strips} and the awesome Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set. I die cut a white panel for the inside of the card too. You can see that in the video but I didn't take a photo.

Speaking of the video! You can check it out here... Copic Color with Me: Tips & Tricks | Butterfly Breeze Meadow | Unity Stamp Co.

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

Flower Petals: Y11, Y15, Y38

Flower Centers: YR21, YR15, YR14

Leaf / Greenery: YG11, YG23, YG45

Paper Wings Butterfly: BG000, BG15, BG45, BV20, BV11, BV34, C00, C1, C3

Background Butterflies: BG000, BG15, BG45, Y11, Y15, Y38, BV20, BV11, BV34

Background: B0000 

I had so much fun coloring and chatting with the ladies. It's a wonderful time of crafty fellowship and it rejuvenates my crafty soul each year. Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you have an ink-tastic day! 

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Membership Wednesday ~ June 2024 KOM and BOM ~ Unity Stamp Co.

  Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a pretty card featuring a gorgeous stamp from the June 2024 Kit of the Month membership called Whisper of Summer from Unity. And I paired it up with the awesome June 2024 Background of the Month membership called Starry Splendor. These awesome stamps were meant for each other!

I stamped the butterfly {or is it a moth?} on a piece of Stampers Select White Card Stock from Papertrey Ink using Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks. I softened the lines of the ink using a blending brush.

I die cut the butterfly {or moth} using a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies} and set it aside. I stamped the background using the same three inks only this time I worked diagonally. I stamped directly on the front of a white A2 top fold card base. 

I stamped the sentiment using the Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink and trimmed it up fussy cutting a tail on the one end. I adhered it to the circle and then added foam tape on the back of both pieces. I removed the backing and popped them up on the card. I finished off the card with a few rhinestones from the Spring Bling rhinestones from Gina Marie Designs.

 

Here's a quick look at this month's Kit of the Month membership! LOVE it!! So many wonderful stamps!

And here's a look at the awesome Background of the Month membership! I love it! 

Well, that's it for me today! I hope you've been inspired to play with your membership stamps! 

Have an ink-redible day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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~ Friends of Unity March 2024 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! Anyone else amazed that it's March?! Say what?! Where is the time going? If we could just slow down this ride, I sure would appreciate it! Anywho... this month's hop is fun and the cue is open to interpretation so I'm excited to see all the ideas from our friends.

Found in Nature is our cue this month! I had fun with a couple of ideas for this month's hop. 

First up is the beautiful 'shrooms in the brand new Kit of the Month called Love & Good Vibes. I was curious if there were purple mushrooms so I did a google search and there are! They're called Amethyst Deceiver or laccaria amethystina. As they grow older, they fade in color and wither - hence the name deceiver. I tried to color them so the smaller ones were darker and the bigger ones were lighter. It was fun coloring them. I used V000, V12, V15, V17 for the mushrooms and B0000, B000, B00 for the background.

I die cut the mushroom panel using the cool new Scallops & Arches {nesting dies}. I also die cut a mat from Kraft card stock from Papertrey Ink using the largest die from the set. I added a couple strips of washi tape in similar colors. Anyone else have a TON of washi tape and never use it?! Or is that just me? LOL! Well... it felt good to actually use some.

I stapled over the washi tape using my mini stapler from Stampin' Up and then I adhered the panel to a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" card front of True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink. I adhered the card front to a white A2 top fold card base turned on the side for a landscape card.

I felt the card needed something so I grabbed my Spectrum Noir glitter pen and painted over the tops of the 'shrooms several times. Lots and lots of glitter on these pretty mushrooms. You can really see it on the tall mushroom on the left. So sparkly and fun in person!

Next I wanted to play with the Background of the Month from January 2024 again. The Butterfly Breeze Meadow background stamp is amazing! And if you're not one to color, it's a great stamp to heat emboss. Which is what I did for these four cards.

I applied TE Anti Static powder from Taylored Expressions to the 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" card front of Hawaiian Shores card stock. I stamped the background a couple of times with the help of my Stamp Platform using Sugar Cube Pigment ink from Taylored Expressions. I then added some Alabaster White Embossing powder from Brutus Monroe and melted the powder with a Wagner Precision Heat Tool.

I also heat embossed the sentiments from the Snarky Birthday Greetings. Same steps as above. For my second card I used Raspberry Fizz card stock from Papertrey Ink.

I die cut the floral heat embossed panels using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. And the sentiments are die cut using one of the dies from the Scalloped & Stitched Sentiment Nesting Die Set. For my third card I used Berry Sorbet card stock from Papertrey Ink.

I adhered my layers to A2 top fold card bases that matched the card fronts. For my final card I used Dark Indigo card stock from Papertrey Ink. Because I used colored card stock for my card bases, I also cut 4 x 5-1/4" panels from white card stock that I adhered inside my cards to write to the recipients of the cards. These were pretty easy cards... the heat embossing was the most time consuming for these.

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...

... Sue D!! Congratulations, Sue!!

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

Please claim the prize before April 3rd, 2024. 

Well, that's it for me this time! Please hop along and enjoy some more inspiration from the Friends of Unity! 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 ---> Jane

Amber

Tammy

April

Colleen

Rachel

Kim

Gaylynn

Joyce

Dawn

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you, oh, so much!!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Membership Wednesday ~ January 2024 BOM Butterfly Breeze Meadow ~ Unity Stamp Co.

  Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a quick sympathy card featuring the January 2024 Background of the Month membership from Unity called Butterfly Breeze Meadow. Yesterday was a rare day where I just didn't feel like coloring and a monochromatic card sounded perfect.

I stamped the beautiful A2 background stamp on Stampers Select White Card Stock from Papertrey Ink using Lost Shadow Distress Ink. I trimmed the panel down to 3-3/4 x 5".

I die cut a piece of Smokey Shadow Card Stock from Papertrey Ink using the largest die from the Postage Stamp {nesting dies}, also from Unity. I adhered the stamped background to the postage panel and then adhered the panel to a Stampers Select White Card Stock A2 card base.

I could of sworn that Unity has or had a 'with sympathy' die but I looked through my stash and didn't find one and then I checked the website and didn't find one. Maybe I imagined it. I don't know, but I still wanted to go with a sentiment that conveyed the feeling of a sympathy card so I went with the On My Mind {die}. I die cut the sentiment from Weathervane Card Stock from Papertrey Ink two times. And then I die cut it from Smokey Shadow Card Stock. I adhered the layers of the sentiment together using the awesome Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue. I love the fine tip on this glue!! And it hasn't clogged up on me one time! Love, love, love it!!

Here's a quick look at the Background of the Month membership this month! So gorgeous!

 Well, that's it for me today! I'll be back next week with a card probably using a stamp from the January 2024 Kit of the Month. Not totally sure, but that's what I'm leaning towards. Until then, have an ink-tastic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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One Stamp Two Cards ~ Seraphim Wings ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

Did you see that Unity had one last release for 2023?! I finally had a chance to play and, of course, I just HAD to play with the gorgeous Seraphim Wings. Love, love, love this gorgeous butterfly!! And it's SO big that I was able to make two cards from one stamped image!

Very simple CAS cards but oh so pretty and versatile depending on the occasion.

I stamped the butterfly in the middle of a half sheet of white card stock measuring 8-1/2 x 5-1/2". I cut the butterfly in half and then trimmed both of my panels to 4 x 5-1/8".

I failed miserably this year sending out birthday cards and was thinking this sentiment would be awesome for my first official birthday card for the 2024 year. I intend on sending more birthday cards in 2024 and this card design is perfect for a quick card.

I adhered the butterfly panel to a Pretty in Pink card front {Stampin' Up} measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" that I adhered to a white A2 top fold card base. Here's a quick list of the Copic Markers I used to color up this half of the butterfly: Y11, Y15, R81, R83, V12, V15, B0000, B000.

I also haven't sent as many sympathy cards this year as I should have. I always intended too but time seemed to get in the way. So, I plan to make more sympathy cards to have on hand.

I think neutral cards are nice for sympathy cards and this beautiful sentiment with the gorgeous butterfly are perfect. Such a simple card that I can duplicate it, too. 

All the measurements are the same for both cards. I adhered the butterfly panel to a Crumb Cake card front {Stampin' Up} that's adhered to a white A2 top fold card base. Here's a quick list of the Copic Markers I used for the second card: N1, N3, W00, W1, W3, W5, C00, C1, C3.

You can check out my video for these cards here... One Stamp Two Cards | Seraphim Wings | Unity Stamp Co.

 That's it for me today! Head on over to Unity and check out the awesome new releases for the last sale of 2023!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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