Fun with Circles Holiday Card ~ Just for You Dear ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

Today I'm sharing one more holiday card for Unity's August release. This time I inked up the super cute and adorable Just for You Dear. This adorable stamp is also available in photopolymer... {Clearly Unity} Just for You Dear. I love that Unity offers some of their stamps in clear and rubber now!

I had a fun idea for layering circles in a card design and wanted to give it a try! I thought the deer from Just for You Dear would work perfectly with this design. I stamped the sweet deer and sentiment with Black Amalgam ink and colored up the deer with my Copic markers. 

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

Deer: E51, E21, E23, E25, E29

Ears: R00, R20

Scarf: R20, R14, G24, G46

You can check out my Copic coloring video here... Copic Color with Me | Just for You Dear | Unity Stamp Co.

I die cut the sweet deer, a green mat from Garden Green card stock from Stampin' Up, and a bunch of circles from the wonderful Watercolor Winter {paper pack} using the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. I die cut the sentiment using a die from the Scalloped & Stitched Sentiment Nesting Dies. I trimmed a mat from the same Garden Green card stock.

You can check out my process video for this card here... Fun with Circles Holiday Card | Just for You Dear | Unity Stamp Co.

The green striped pattern paper in the background measures 4 x 5-1/4". It's adhered to a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" card front of Garden Green card stock and then I adhered the panel to a white A2 top fold card base. The adorable deer circles and the sentiment are popped up using foam tape. Such a fun card to make!

I hope you have an ink-tastic day! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Inky Paws Challenge #229 ~ Birthday Theme Challenge

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for a new Inky Paws Challenge... a super fun Birthday Theme Challenge! I sure hope that you'll play along with us using your Newton's Nook Designs products! You have until Friday, August 16th to get your entries in for the #229 Birthday Theme Challenge and a chance to win a $20 store credit to Newton's Nook Designs!

Inky Paws Challenge #229 - Birthday Theme Challenge

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

I really wanted to give the new Fractured Card Layout Die a try. So I grabbed the Birthday Meows 6x6 Paper Pad and trimmed a few pieces of the pattern paper to fit over the die. I secured them on the back of the die with a piece of washi tape. I love how quick and easy this design was to make!

I stamped the adorable kitty from Newton's Heart Stamp Set on white card stock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I then stamped it again on a scrap of the pink pattern paper. I Copic colored the kitty on white card stock and die cut it using the coordinating Newton's Heart Die Set. And I fussy cut the pattern paper heart and paper pieced it to the kitty.

I wanted the kitty to fit in with the birthday theme just a bit more so I also stamped the party hat and present from the Newton's Birthday Delights Stamp Set. I colored them with my Copic markers and then die cut them using the coordinating Newton's Birthday Delights Die Set. The sentiment also comes from the Newton's Birthday Delights Stamp Set. I masked the bottom portion of the sentiment using a post-it note when I inked it up. I removed the post-it note and then stamped the sentiment. I did this a couple of times in my mini misti to get a nice crisp stamped 'partial' sentiment. I trimmed it up and then adhered it directly to the card.

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

Kitty: C00, C1, C3, R00, R20

Party Hat: RV10, RV11, YG21, YG03, B000, B00

Present: YR21, YR15

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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~ Friends of Unity August 2024 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

Welcome to our August Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! This month's cue is a sweet one. I hope you'll hop along with us and enjoy some wonderful inspiration from our friends!

This month's cue is Friendship. I am blessed to have friends from elementary school, high school, college, church, and a bunch of like-minded crafty friends online. My focus for this cue was to create cards to send to some of these friends.

First up is a card of encouragement for a dear friend. I stamped the gorgeous sunflower from the brand new Radiant Resilience stamps six times using Black Amalgam ink on white card stock. I then colored three of the sunflowers and colored just the inner petals of the other three sunflowers.

I die cut the three sunflowers using the second largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Dies. I fussy cut the three sunflowers around the inner petals. I secured the sunflowers to the die cut panel using washi tape and then I die cut the panel again using the same die. And then I added foam tape to the back of those inner petals and popped them up on the sunflowers. You can see some of the dimension in the photo above.

I die cut a piece of Orange Zest card stock from Papertrey Ink using the largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Dies. I adhered my panels together and then adhered them to an A2 top fold card base of Early Espresso card stock from Stampin' Up. I trimmed the sentiment and adhered it to the card. Trimmed the excess off the right side and then I added several enamel dots from my stash finishing up my first card. I think my friend will like it.

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used to color up the sunflowers:

Petals: YR21, Y06, YR15, YR16, YR27

Center: E21, E23, E25, E29

I created my second card using some leftover pieces from my first card. These are the inner petals that were leftover from the first card. I thought they'd look really pretty on a dark background. So I die cut a piece of Early Espresso card stock using the second largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Dies again. I adhered the partial sunflowers to the background and die cut the panel again.

And then I thought it would be fun to do some splatters. I went a little crazy with the splatters but it sure was fun! I let the panel dry and then I adhered it to a piece of Summer Sunrise card stock from Papertrey Ink. I wrapped the panel a few times with {Natural} May Arts Burlap String and then I added a bunch of foam tape to the back of the panel avoiding the string.

I heat embossed the sentiment from the adorable Lil' Bloomer stamps. I prepped the Early Espresso card stock with the TE Anti-Static Powder Tool from Taylored Expressions. I stamped the sentiment with Sugar Cube White Pigment ink, also from Taylored Expressions. I dusted the wet ink with Alabaster White Embossing Powder from Brutus Monroe and melted the powder with a Wagner Precision Heat Tool. Once it cooled, I trimmed the sentiment and then I adhered it to the sunflower panel. I trimmed off the excess and pulled the backing off of the foam tape and popped up the panel on an A2 top fold card base of Early Espresso card stock that I turned on it's side for a landscape card. Another lovely encouragement card for a friend.

My last card is a fun one for another friend. These crazy chickens from the Cuckoo stamps are just too much fun!! I hope it brings a smile to my friend's face. These chickens are so funny I decided to pair them up with the Rustic Cowhide {paper pack}. My daughter said they don't go together but I thought it was funny! Dare I say... a bit cuckoo! LOL!

I stamped the funny chickens from Cuckoo using Black Amalgam ink and then Copic colored them to look like some of our chickens. So recently we rescued a couple Silkie hybrid chickens. They are the craziest looking chickens and they look a lot like the two chickens on the right. So I colored those two to look like our Rip {bottom right} and Chewy {top right}. We don't actually have any white chickens but that middle one just looked like it should be white so I went with it. And then the top left is colored like a mix of our brown chickens... I think they are ISA browns and Rhode Island Reds. And the bottom left is colored like our Plymouth Rock Chickens. So much fun!

I die cut the chickens using a die from the Scallops & Squares {nesting dies}. I trimmed the pattern paper to the same height as the square and adhered them together. And I wanted to keep this card simple so I just adhered the panel to a black A2 top fold card base.

Inspiration for my third card is from the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 24. Did you know I host a sketch challenge in my Facebook group? I'd love for you to join the group and play along. You can find it here... Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration.

Sometimes I forget to take photos to share, but I do like to add a white panel in my cards when I use a black {or dark} card base. I also had a strip of the pattern paper leftover so I adhered it inside the card. 

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...

... Denise Bryant!! Congratulations, Denise!!

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

Please claim the prize before September 4th, 2024. 

*** Quick Announcement ***

Unfortunately, Gaylynn has stepped down from our FOU team so she asked me to announce her winner from last month's hop. Gaylynn's July 2024 hop prize winner is Silvia H (Anonymous). Congrats Silvia! Please contact Gaylynn Martling via Facebook Messenger or a note on Gaylynn's contact form located on her blog; within three weeks of this announcement.

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 ---> Amber

Jenni

April

Kari

Tammy

Joyce

Rachel

Colleen

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 48 ~ A Few of My Faves ~ 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 featuring the super cute A Few of My Faves from our fabulous sponsor, Unity Stamp Co.! Unity has generously offered up a $25 gift card as a prize for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 48 this month! So amazing!!

Not only am I sharing a brand new sketch, I'm also sharing a brand new stamp!! Yay! The adorable A Few of My Faves stamp just released over at Unity yesterday along with some other super cute and adorable holiday stamps!! Oh, and this adorable stamp is also available in photopolymer... {Clearly Unity} A Few of My Faves. I just can't get enough of this cute penguin!! I stamped it with Black Amalgam ink and Copic colored it with the following Copic markers:

Penguin: C00, C1, C3, YR21, YR15, YR

Scarf: R00, R20, R14

Presents: BG70, BG72, BG75, N0, N2, N4

I then die cut the penguin using a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. And die cut a mat from the beautiful papers using the next largest die from the set. I had also stamped the sentiment on a decent sized scrap so I ended up die cutting that using the bottom portion of the same die I used to die cut the penguin. 

I love this month's sketch! The stripes in the background can be just striped paper or can be created using papers from a paper pack or even just random complimentary papers from a paper stash! The possibilities are endless!! So for my card today I decided to cut 1/2" strips from the papers in the Snowflake Elegance {paper pack}. There are 13 different papers in this paper pack so I just cut 1/2" strips of each of those 13 papers. I cut a 4 x 5-1/4" piece of a thin white card stock and I adhered the paper strips onto that card stock and then trimmed off all the excess. I adhered the penguin circles to the background and then adhered my background to a white A2 top fold card base. Easy peasy!

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 48 for the month of August. Loving this 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! Lots of beautiful inspiration this month from the design team.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Inky Paws Challenge #228 ~ Sketch Challenge Reminder

 Hello there crafty friend!

 There's still time to play along with the Inky Paws Challenge 228 - Sketch Challenge! You have until this coming Friday, August 2nd 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 #228 - Sketch Challenge

Such a fun sketch! I couldn't wait to make a Halloween card using my favorite Halloween stamp!

I stamped the adorable Newton's Perfect Pumpkin using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it up with my Copic markers. I fussy cut this cutie and colored up the edges with a Memento Tuxedo Black marker making the fussy cutting nice and neat! I heat embossed the sweet sentiment using Sugar Cube White Pigment ink from Taylored Expressions along with Alabaster White Embossing Powder from Brutus Monroe. This is my favorite combo for a pretty white heat embossed sentiment. I melted the powder with a Wagner Precision Heat Tool and then trimmed the sentiment.

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

Kitty: R00, R20, N0, N2, N4

Hat: N2, N4, N6, N8, YG11, YG23

Pumpkin: E53, E55, E57, YR21, YR15, YR68, YR14

I die cut a hexagon from True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink using a die from the awesome Hexagon Frames Die Set. I adhered the sentiment across the bottom of the hexagon and adhered the kitty just on top... I think the pumpkin lays over the sentiment strip just a tiny bit. I added foam tape to the back of the hexagon and sentiment and set it aside.

I die cut the background paper using the stitched scalloped die from the Frames & Flags Die Set and I adhered it to a black A2 top fold card base. I cut the rest of my fun pattern papers from the Halloween Meows 6x6 Paper Pad. The orange striped papers measures 1-1/2 x 4-5/8". The cute kitty pumpkin paper measures 1-3/4 x 4-1/8". And the orange pumpkin paper measures 4-1/4 x 1-1/2". I adhered my paper layers to the card and then popped up the focal kitty! So happy to add a cute Halloween card to 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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Inky Paws Challenge #228 ~ Sketch Challenge ~ Christmas in July 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party

 Hello there crafty friend!

Who's up for a new challenge?! It's time to get our paws inky with a fun sketch challenge! I love a good sketch! You have until Friday, August 2nd to get your entries in for the #228 Sketch Challenge and a chance to win a $20 store credit to Newton's Nook Designs!

Inky Paws Challenge #228 - Sketch Challenge

Another fun sketch! I can't wait to see what you create with it!

For my card today, I started with my paper layers. I knew that I wanted to make a holiday card so I grabbed my Christmas Time 6x6 Paper Pad and picked out a few pieces for my layers. I chose pattern papers that would contrast each other when layered. Doing that means I didn't need to add mats to the layers. I adhered all my layers using iCraft UltraBond Adhesive from Therm O Web.

I'm playing along with the Christmas in July 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party. I invite you to stop by the linky party to check out all the wonderful Holiday inspiration being shared!! I have really been enjoying the cards being shared so far! If you have time, come join in the fun and build your stash of holiday cards for a chance to win a prize. Newton's Nook Designs is one of our amazing sponsors. So you could use the new Inky Paws Challenge sketch with a Christmas theme and enter both challenges. It's a fun twofer!!

I stamped the adorable kitties from the Cat Christmas Tree Stamp Set using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I colored the image up with my Copic markers and then die cut it using the coordinating Cat Christmas Tree Die Set. I die cut an oval from vellum card stock using the Oval Frames Die Set to mat my focal image. Adhered the kitties to the vellum and then applied glue behind the kitties only. Securing the vellum to the card without the glue being visible.

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

White Cats: R00, R20, C00, C1, C3

Orange Cats: R00, R20, YR000, YR21, YR15, YR68

White Belly: C00, C1, C3

Light Gray Cat: R00, R20, N0, N1, N3

Dark Gray Cat: R00, R20, N0, N2, N4, N6, C00, C1

Star: Y11, Y15

Christmas Lights: R20, R14, YG11, G14, B0000, B00, Y11, Y15, N0, N2, N4, N6 

Red Ornament: R20, R14, R46, N0, N2, N4

Green Ornament: YG11, G14, N0, N2, N4

I heat embossed the sentiment using Sugar Cube Pigment White ink from Taylored Expressions on Real Red Card Stock from Stampin' Up. Before stamping I did use the TE Anti-Static Powder Tool, also from Taylored Expressions. I added some Alabaster White Embossing Powder from Brutus Monroe to the wet ink and melted the powder using a Wagner Precision Heat Tool. Once the embossed sentiment cooled I rubbed the card stock with a microfiber cloth to remove the excess powder. I trimmed the sentiment and adhered it to the card. So happy to have another card for my stash! 

Now it's your turn to get your paws inky with your Newton's Nook Designs products and create a project using this super fun 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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Christmas in July 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party ~ Merry & Bright Mug ~ Angie Blom Digital Designs

 Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back for Day 2 of the Christmas in July 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party with another cute holiday card! It was so much fun checking out the inspiration shared yesterday for the start of the Linky Party. So many wonderful cards! Today I'm sharing a card using a sweet digital stamp from our sweet return Sponsor Angie Blom Digital Designs called Merry & Bright Mug.

I started by inserting the Merry & Bright Mug printout sheet into a Word Document and then I cropped the mug. I combined it with a couple more images {you'll see them later this week} and printed the document. I colored up the beautiful mug with my Copic markers and fussy cut the mug. I used a Memento Tuxedo Black marker to color the edges of fussy cutting. This technique helps the fussy cutting look all nice and neat. I added foam tape from our awesome Sponsor Therm O Web called iCraft 3D Foam Tape Jumbo Roll (white) to the back of the mug and set it aside.

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used to color up this cute mug:

Mug: R20, R14, R46

Holly: R20, R14, R46, YG11, G24, G46

Whipped Cream: C00, C1, C3

Candy Cane: R00, R20, R46, C00, C1, C3

Leaf: YG11, G24, G46

I'm also playing along with the Color Hues Challenge today! Red and Green are so perfect for a Christmas card! This fun challenge is open until July 29th, if you want to play along! 

To create my background I used the awesome A2 Card Layout Die Set from our wonderful Sponsor Newton's Nook Designs. I trimmed four pieces of pattern paper from the beautiful Christmas Time 6x6 Paper Pad, also from Newton's Nook Designs. I secured them two at a time to the back of the die using washi tape. The washi tape was also cut by the die but that's ok. I have so much washi tape. I don't mind using it.

I adhered all my layers together using iCraft UltraBond Adhesive from Sponsor Therm O Web. I adhered the card front of Real Red card stock from Stampin' Up to a white A2 top fold card base turned on its side for a landscape card. I removed the backing from the foam tape on the back of the mug and popped up the mug on the card. I then added three green enamel dots from the Red & Green Foil Mirror Enamel Dots from our lovely Sponsor Gina Marie Designs to finish off the card. 

Love Newton's Nook Designs products as much as I do? Be sure to check out the current Inky Paws Challenge for details on how to win a $20 store credit to add some NND products to your stash!

 Woohoo!! I'm so excited to have another card done for my stash! If you haven't already, stop by the Christmas in July 2024 {BYSHC} Linky Party to check out all the wonderful Holiday inspiration being shared!! Have a fantastic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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July Scraps Cards ~ Just Keep Swimming plus More ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I finished up my latest batch of leftover scraps and turned them into four pretty simple cards. Yay! I also played with some stamps that hadn't seen ink yet which is always a great bonus! It feels so good to have some more papers done!

Here's a look at the four cards all together. All very different! I'd love to know if you have a favorite of the batch. If you have a moment, comment below and let me know.

My first card features the beautiful turtle from the Just Keep Swimming stamps. I love this turtle! It's always so much fun to color too. As far as the scraps for this card, I had a bunch of paper strips that were different lengths and widths. I decided to combine them for a fun background. I adhered them all to a 3-1/2 x 3-7/8" piece of thin card stock. I trimmed off the excess paper strips and adhered the panel to a white A2 top fold card base. I die cut some Vellum Card Stock from Papertrey Ink using the Stitched Wave Borders dies from Lawn Fawn for a fun wave background for the turtle. 

I stamped the turtle with Black Amalgam ink from Gina K. Designs. I colored up the turtle using my Copic markers and then I fussy cut it on the line. I colored the edges of the fussy cutting using a Memento Tuxedo Black marker from behind the turtle just in case my marker slipped. I secured the vellum waves together using washi tape and then I trimmed the excess so they would fit over the 3-1/2 x 3-7/8" panel. I adhered the turtle tucking his bottom behind the last vellum wave. I adhered the vellum to the card by adding glue to the back of the turtle. Once it was a little dry and wouldn't shift anymore, I added a drop of liquid glue to the bottom corners of the vellum to secure it a tiny bit more. I also added tiny dots of glue under the stitches on the very edge of each layer. The stitches covered the glue pretty well. You can see the glue a tiny bit on those bottom corners but it's hardly noticeable in person. I finished this card by stamping the sentiment.

Copic Markers: BG000, BG01, BG15, BG05, BG57, V0000, V12, V15

My second card uses three similar strips of pattern paper for a quick card design. I adhered them to a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" piece of Vintage Cream Card Stock from Papertrey Ink. And then I adhered the card front to a white A2 top fold card base of Stampers Select White Card Stock, also from Papertrey Ink. I stamped the adorable mermaid from the Spirit of a Mermaid stamps using Black Amalgam Ink and I also stamped the sentiment on the card. Sadly, this is one of the retired stamp sets from Unity. I colored up this beauty with my Copic markers and fussy cut her just like I did with the turtle. I added a touch of Sakura White Gelly Roll pen to the whites of her eyes and the frill on her top. And I popped her up on the card using foam tape.

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

Skin: E000, E00, E11, R00, R20

Hair: E50, E30, E35, E37

Crown: Y11, Y15, Y28

Body / Tail: V0000, V000, V12, V15

Sailboat: Y11, Y15, R12, R05, E30, E35

Waves: BG000, BG01, BG15

Bottle: BG000

Cork: E30, E35, E37

My third card uses four rectangle scraps for an interesting background. I overlapped them just a bit and adhered them all to a white A2 top fold card base. I stamped the fish from the retiring Fishy Philosophy stamps with Black Amalgam ink and fussy cut them. The sentiment I stamped with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink. I added foam tape to the back of these fish and popped them up on the card. And I finished off the card with a few clear drops from my stash.

Copic Markers: Y11, Y15, YR15

My last card also features the cute fish from the Fishy Philosophy stamps. I love this cute stamp set! I had one last large piece of scrap pattern paper from these papers so I just adhered it directly to white A2 top fold card base that I turned on it's side for a landscape card. This was such a simple card! I stamped the fish and the sentiment using the Black Amalgam ink. I fussy cut the fish just like the others and popped it up on the card, too.

Copic Markers: Y11, Y15, R12, R05

I'm so excited to have another paper pack done! Woohoo! What do you think of the card designs this time? Do you have a favorite? I love the simple designs of all of them so it's hard for me to choose a favorite. Well, I'm excited to pick out another pattern paper pack to finish off. I'll definitely pick one out to use with the upcoming Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 24 that will start in a couple of weeks. Have a wonderfully inky week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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