{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 47 ~ Christmas in July 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party ~ Fluffy Friends Holiday ~ Taylored Expressions

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with more inspiration for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 47 over in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! Today I'm sharing a fun Christmas card featuring the adorable Fluffy Friends - Holiday stamp set from our amazing sponsor, Taylored Expressions! Taylored Expressions has generously offered up a $25 gift card as a prize for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 47 this month! So fabulous!!

I started with my background for this card. I ran a card front of Stampers Select White Card Stock from Papertrey Ink through my Big Shot with the cool Fanfare Cutting Plate from Taylored Expressions. It looked like little hills to me. Haha! I thought it would be fun for this cute bear!  Like he's sledding through some hilly snow. I also die cut a small scrap using the same cutting plate and then I die cut it again using a die from the Stitched Square Stacklets.

I trimmed the background to 3-7/8 x 5-1/8" and mat it with a piece of Pure Poppy card stock from Papertrey Ink measuring 4 x 5-1/4". I die cut a mat using the next largest square die from the Stitched Square Stacklets from Pure Poppy card stock. I pulled a fun scrap of pattern paper from the Meowy Christmas 6x6 Paper Pad from Newton's Nook Designs. It was a decent width but I had to trim the length. It measures 2 x 4-1/8" and then I mat it with a Pure Poppy mat measuring 2-1/8 x 4-1/4". I adhered all of my layers to a white A2 top fold card base using iCraft UltraBond Adhesive from Therm O Web.

 I stamped the adorable bear and hat from the Fluffy Friends - Holiday stamp set using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then I die cut them using the coordinating Fluffy Friends - Holiday Die. I colored them up using Copic markers. I colored the black dots on the scarf using a Sakura White Gelly Roll pen. And then I added a few dots to the hat. I also cleaned up the edge under the sled where the red bled out of the line. Love my white gelly roll pen!! 

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

Bear: C00, C1, C3, R00, R20

Hat: R20, R14, R46

Scarf: YG11, G24, G46

Sled: R20, R14, R46, E53, E55, E57

 I heat embossed the sentiment from the Fluffy Friends - Holiday stamp set from Taylored Expressions. I prepped the red card stock with the TE Anti Static Powder Tool. I stamped the cute sentiment using the Sugar Cube White Pigment ink and added Alabaster White Embossing powder from Brutus Monroe. I then melted the embossing powder using my Wagner Precision Heat Tool. After letting the melted powder cool a bit, I rubbed my card stock with a microfiber cloth to remove the anti static powder. I trimmed up the sentiment and added a couple scrap pieces under the left side and the bottom using liquid glue. A great trick to adhere the sentiment flat for cards with layers. I also did that on the left and right sides of the squares.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 47 for the month of July. Loving this sketch! There's just a few days left to play along with us. 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! So many fabulous cards this month from the design team.

I'm also playing along with the Christmas in July 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party. Have you stopped by to check out all the wonderful holiday inspiration being shared?! I've been inspired by so many of the cards! That's why I've been making so many extras! LOL! I sure hope you'll stop by and check it out! Have a wonderful day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Christmas in July 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party ~ November 2023 KOM Festive Flair ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I can't believe how fast the time is going by! We are nearing the end of the Christmas in July 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party! It's always so sad to reach the end, but I'm super happy to be adding so many cards to my stash! I hope you've been inspired to play along with us. My card today features a couple of stamps from the November 2023 Kit of the Month called Festive Flair from our amazing Sponsor Unity Stamp Co. It's Membership Wednesday... a fun day to share inspiration for the awesome memberships over at Unity! I decided to play with an older KOM this time and make another holiday card for my stash!

I had a fun idea for a simple one layer card that kind of took a left turn. I blended over the cool Reindeer Games Stencil from our fabulous Sponsor A Colorful Life Designs using my red TE Blender Brush from another fab Sponsor, Taylored Expressions. I actually didn't add any ink to my brush but I'm pretty sure it has some Candied Apple Distress Ink on it. I kept it very light.

 And then I stamped the beautiful trees from the November 2023 KOM using Iced Spruce Distress Ink. I then applied some anti static powder using the TE Anti-Static Powder Tool from Taylored Expressions. I stamped the beautiful reindeer using Wow Clear Embossing Ink and then added some Raven Embossing Powder from Brutus Monroe. This is a fun black embossing powder with glitter in it. It's really beautiful in person. I melted the powder using a Wagner Precision Heat Tool. As always, I used the fabulous Pressure Pal from our awesome Sponsor Twiddler's Nook when I stamped the trees and the reindeer in my Stamp Platform. Love this tool!

 Once I had all the elements on the panel, it just didn't look right as a one layer card. I trimmed off the front panel of the card base and cut the panel down to 5-1/16 x 3-3/4". And then I die cut a piece of True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink using the largest die from the Postage Stamp {nesting dies} from Unity. I found a card front of Ocean Tides card stock from Papertrey Ink in my stash. I scored the 8-1/2 x 5-1/2" card stock at 4-1/4" for an A2 card. Stamped the sentiment on a scrap of white card stock, trimmed it and mat it with a scrap of black card stock. I adhered all of my layers using the iCraft UltraBond Adhesive from Sponsor Therm O Web. I finished off the card with two glittery red enamel dots from the Holiday Glitter Enamel Dots from Sponsor Gina Marie Designs. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find them on the website but these are a favorite of mine... Red & Green Foil Mirror Enamel Dots.

I hope you'll stop by the Christmas in July 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party to check out all the wonderful Holiday inspiration being shared! I've been inspired by so many of the cards! I sure hope you'll stop by and check it out! Have an ink-redible day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Inky Paws Challenge #225 ~ Sketch Challenge Reminder

 Hello there crafty friend!

 There's still time to play along with the Inky Paws Challenge 225 - Sketch Challenge! You have until this coming Friday, June 21st to get your entries in for this fun challenge and a chance to win a $20 store credit to Newton's Nook Designs!

Inky Paws Challenge #225 - Sketch Challenge

This is such a fun sketch to play with. I was excited to try a coffee themed card for my reminder card.

I recently added the beautiful Heartfelt Coffee Stamp Set to my collection and I've been really wanting to ink it up. I love it! I ink smooshed a piece of Stampers Select White Card Stock from Papertrey Ink using Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Inks. I dried it completely with the Wagner Precision Heat Tool. I applied TE Anti Static Powder to the background. And then I stamped the heart shaped coffee stamp onto the ink smooshed background using Sugar Cube White Pigment Ink from Taylored Expressions. I dusted the background with Alabaster White Embossing Powder from Brutus Monroe and then melted the powder using my heat tool. I followed the same steps again but only partially stamping the heart so I could die cut the circle with the cup as my focal image.

I die cut the center of the heart using the coordinating Heart Frames Die Set. And then I die cut the circle using the Circle Frames Die Set. I wanted a thin mat for the circle so I just fussy cut it. I heat embossed the sentiment using the same steps I used for the Heartfelt Coffee Stamp Set only on Early Espresso Card Stock from Stampin' Up. I die cut it using the same heart die and adhered it over the heart.

I ink smooshed another 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" panel of Stampers Select White Card Stock using the Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Inks again. I left a lot of white space this time for some contrast. I die cut the ink smooshed background using the largest die from the Framework Die Set. I also die cut a scrap of white card stock using the same die. I adhered the postage die cut pieces to a white A2 top fold card base. I adhered the circle to the heart and then added foam tape to the back of both. I removed the backing and popped them up on the card. To make the cup on the circle pop a bit more, I watercolored it with ZIG Clean Color Real Brush markers using Mid Brown, Dark Brown, Light Carmine and a water pen to blend them a bit. So happy to have another birthday card in my stash!

Now it's your turn to get your paws inky with your Newton's Nook Designs products and create a project using the sketch. 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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Spring into Christmas 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party ~ The List Guy ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I'm sneaking in another card for the Spring into Christmas 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party! I had a fun idea using one of my favorite holiday stamps, The List Guy, from our wonderful Sponsor Unity Stamp Co. and I just HAD to make it!

I ink smooshed my background using Twisted Citron, Evergreen Bough, and Mowed Lawn Distress Inks on Stampers Select White card stock from Papertrey Ink. I let it dry completely overnight. I heat embossed the wonderful Christmas All Around Background stamp, also from Unity using Wow Clear Embossing ink and Glory Gold Embossing powder from Stampin' Up. I die cut the background using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. And then I just had to add some splatters. I used Apple Barrel White Acrylic paint and the Mowed Lawn Distress Ink for my splatters. I let it dry and then adhered it using iCraft UltraBond Adhesive from our wonderful Sponsor Therm O Web to a white A2 top fold card base.

I stamped The List Guy and colored him up with some Copic markers. I fussy cut him on the line except around the fuzzy white parts I left a bit of a white border around those. And then I cut the edges with my Tim Holtz Tonic Guillotine Comfort Paper Trimmer. I added a bunch of 3D Foam Squares from our wonderful Sponsor Therm O Web and popped Santa up on the card. 

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

Skin: E000, E00, E11, E04

Beard / Fuzzy Trim: C00, C1, C3

Hat / Suit: R20, R14, R46

Belt: N0, N1, N3, N5, Y11, Y15, Y28

 

It took me a while to decide on a sentiment that would compliment the background and not be too big. I decided to go with the 'Merry Christmas' from the Gotta Love Sentiments, also from Unity. I heat embossed it on Green Parakeet card stock from Papertrey Ink. I also popped it up using the 3D Foam Squares.

I have had SO much fun playing along with the Spring into Christmas 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party! So much fun that I just had to make another card. And I might have one more... it's not quite done yet so I'm not sure if I'll make the deadline. I hope that you'll stop by the Linky Party and check out the cards that have been linked up. Lots of fabulous inspiration!! Don't forget the Linky Party ends at 11:59pm PST tonight. Get those entries in! Have an ink-tastic 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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~ Friends of Unity February 2024 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! 

This month's cue is one of my favorites... a sketch!! Woohoo! I love sketches! I can't wait to see what our friends have made using this fun sketch. But also, we're inviting y'all to join us and play along!! So fun! This is just a fun challenge to get our mojo going and have some creative fun. I hope you'll join  us!

Here's a look at our cue... the latest Friends of Unity Sketch.

I can't wait to see what you all create using this sketch! Please remember, like all the sketches I share, the sketch is meant to inspire not require. So let the sketch lead in your design, but don't feel limited by it.

So for my first card, I used the adorable Winnie the Pooh: No Fun Without You. Eeep! I am a huge fan of Tigger! And couldn't wait to get him inky. Here's a quick list of the Copic Markers I used to color him up:

Tigger: Y11, Y15

Bees: Y11, Y15, B000, B00, Colorless Blender

Grass / Leaves: YG11, YG23

Flowers: V000, V12, V15, YR21, YR15, Y15

Background: B0000, B000

I paired sweet Tigger up with the Cloud Hopper Chronicles {paper pack}. I die cut the panel using the smaller scalloped die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}.

I fussy cut the sentiment... not sure if I totally like it but it is what it is now. I added foam tape to the back of the panel and popped it up on the card. I love the softness of this card!

My second card actually turned into two cards! LOL! Featuring the gorgeous butterfly from the Seraphim Wings. I also used a sentiment from the So Kind, So Caring, So You {Front & Center Stamps}.

For these cards, I used the gorgeous Bohemian Dreams {paper pack}. I heat embossed the butterfly in white directly on the pattern paper. I also used the pattern papers for all of my layers that I adhered to a white A2 top fold card base. I added a white doily from my stash. I fussy cut the butterfly halves on this first card.

I adhered the butterfly halves in the center and on the antennae and then I gently lifted the top butterfly for some dimension.

Luckily my order arrived just in time for me to die cut these butterfly halves using the Seraphim Wings {coordinating dies}. I adhered the butterfly halves in the center again. The main panel is also die cut with the smaller scalloped die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}.

The sentiments from the So Kind, So Caring, So You {Front & Center Stamps} that I mentioned above. I heat embossed it in white on kraft card stock. Two lovely birthday cards for my stash!

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...

... Silvia Haynes!! Congratulations, Silvia!!

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

Please claim the prize before February 28th, 2024. 

Well, that's it for me this time! Please hop along and enjoy some more inspiration from the Friends of Unity! I'm so excited to hop and check out the awesome cards that our friends have created to share with us using the sketch 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 ---> Tammy

Gaylynn

Colleen

April

Dawn

Amber

Joyce

Rachel

Kim

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you!!

Have an ink-tastic day!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 42 ~ Cocoa Love ~ 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 sweet Christmas card featuring the cute cup of cocoa from the Cocoa Love Stamp Set from Not 2 Shabby! We're changing things up for 2024 and Not 2 Shabby is Sponsoring our {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 42! Jamie has generously offered up a super fun-filled Christmas prize package for one lucky winner! Yay! Thank you so much, Jamie!

I paired up the adorable cup of cocoa with the Hot Cocoa Warm Hearts Paper Pad. It just made sense! I used papers from the paper pad for all of my layers on this card. And as always, I adhered it to a white A2 top fold card base using Stampers Select White card stock from Papertrey Ink.

I stamped the sweet cup using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it up with my copic markers. Confession... I actually was looking at the stamp set on the website and saw this color combination shared in a sample. I thought it was so cute so I kinda replicated it. Here's a quick list of the copic markers I used:

Brown: E21, E23, E25

Red: R20, R14, R37

White: C00, C1, C3

Warm Gray: W00, W1, W2

Cheeks: R00, R20

I used the measurements directly from the sketch for my card. The only thing I changed up was adding the cup of cocoa with my sentiment for my focal piece. I die cut the heat embossed sentiment and the cup using the Cocoa Love Shabby Snips Die Set. I adhered the two pieces together with the sentiment overlapping the cup a bit and then I added a bunch of foam tape to the back of both and popped them up on the card.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 42 for the month of February. Loving this fun sketch! I can't wait to see what everyone does with it. I hope you'll join us and play along with the sketch! 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! You won't regret it! The design team made some really beautiful cards!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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