~ Friends of Unity September 2025 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! This month's cue is SO much fun! 

It took me a while to get started. I was really stuck for ideas. But once I got started I couldn't stop. So with that said. There's a lot of content on this blog post. I made three projects and the last one was very involved. There's lots of photos and I'll try to keep the chatter to a minimum so the post isn't too terribly long. I hope you enjoy my projects and if you're inspired by my makes, I'd love to see what you make.

First up is a cute accordion tag book that was inspired by our sweet crafty friend, Jenni Shamblin. She's sharing one today that is SO beautiful. Be sure you stop by her blog {down below in the hop}.

Here's the tag book opened. I used small pieces of white card stock to attach the tags together. I didn't cover the back. I still might but I couldn't find a paper I liked to do it so for now it's just blank. I used four Fall themed tags that I received from Unity. Not sure if it was a gift or if I ordered it, but they sure made this project come together quickly.

Here's a photo sharing the Itty Bitty stamps I used: Planner Gal: Seasonal Hello, Pumpkin Spice Please, Bountiful Fall {retired}, Pumpkin Greetings {retired}, and three of the sentiments are from the August 2025 KOM Season of Soft & Spooky. 

Copic markers used: 

Orange: YR20, YR15, YR27

Yellow: Y11, Y15, Y21, Y38

Brown: E000, E00, E11, E23, E43, E44, E57

Green: YG11, YG63, G94

Red: R20, R14, R35.

Next up is a cute tag that could also be a bookmark. I was inspired by my favorite bookmark that I made eons ago. I thought I'd case it and maybe send it to a friend. I just realized I didn't write down the Copics I used for this one. Sorry about that.

I used a fun mix of stamps for this one: July 2021 KOM Special Spot in My Heart, Books a' Flutter {retired}, and Better With Friends. 

Inks used: Peacock Feathers and Vintage Photo Distress Inks, Black Amalgam Ink, Memento Tuxedo Black marker.

Here's a quick photo of my original bookmark and my cased bookmark. Original used the same book stamps, but the girl is from Part of the Story {retired}. Not sure about the other background stamps on that one. They might be Stampin' Up.

I wanted to share one more photo for this one. Once I had my background done on the bookmark I stamped the girl so that when I fussy cut off all the dots and hearts around her it would still be a part of her on the bookmark. I love those little details.

And my last project... a Mixed Media Mini File Folder. I had just received this awesome file folder die in an order and I was inspired to make something for the hop. It's the Floral Slots File Folder from Elizabeth Craft Designs. Once I got started with this project it took off so please bare with me. There's lots of photos and I recorded a quick video that I share at the end just sharing the finished project. The cover features a bunch of stamps but the big new pumpkin is the star. This pumpkin is in the September 2025 KOM Harvest to Holiday. It's also available separately here... Pumpkin Hearth. I ink smooshed the pumpkin with Spiced Marmalade, Carved Pumpkin and Abandoned Coral Distress inks. I blended some Vintage Photo Distress ink around the edges and colored the stem with Copics {E21, E25, E57}. In the background you'll find the big leaf from Beautiful Change, the stitch stamps from Time to be Happy Again, and a couple stamps from Love Who You Are.

The inside of the mini file folder. I inked smooshed the whole thing with Salvaged Patina, Peacock Feathers, Vintage Photo and Carved Pumpkin Distress Inks. The big tree is from the July 2021 KOM Special Spot in My Heart and the fun pumpkins are from Beautiful Change. The 'fall feels' sentiment on the tab is from the August 2025 KOM Season of Soft & Spooky. I masked it so that it would fit in the little spot.

Here's a look at the tag fronts. I ink smooshed the manila tags with Spiced Marmalade, Carved Pumpkin, and Abandoned Coral Distress inks. I blended a bit of Vintage Photo Distress ink to soften the white and then I distressed the edges with some too. I used the Tree of Gratitude stamps for these. All four of them are heat embossed with Penny EP from Brutus Monroe. The spatters are Ground Espresso Distress ink that I diluted with a tiny bit of water.

The other side of the tags. I distressed the edges on this side too but didn't do the spatter. I used a leaf from the Tree of Gratitude, another leaf from the August 2025 KOM Season of Soft & Spooky, and then trees also from that KOM. The three sentiments on the left are also from the KOM. And then the last one on the right is from Beautiful Change.

I just had to keep on going but I kept the back simple with just a few trees and a sentiment from the August 2025 KOM Season of Soft & Spooky. They are also available separately here... Long Rooted Truths. I tried to keep my chatter to a minimum. If you have a question about anything I made, please ask away in the comments. 

I recorded a quick video just sharing the finished project. You can check that out here if the video above doesn't work... Mixed Media Mini File Folder | Unity Stamp Co.

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...

... Dee in N.H.!! Congratulations, Dee!!

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

Please claim the prize before October 1st, 2025. 

Well, that's it for me this time! We have a full hop this month with lots of inspiration so I hope you'll grab a cup of coffee or tea or water... what have you, and keep on hopping! 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 ---> Doreen

 Jenni

Amber

Toni

Joyce

Kari

Rachel

Dawn

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

~ Friends of Unity August 2025 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! This month's cue is a lot of fun! 

Technique is such a broad scope for a cue... it took me a while to figure out what I wanted to make. I decided to play with my Distress Crayons again. It's been awhile.

I masked my 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" panels with iCraft Removable Pixie Tape from Therm O Web. And then I colored the masked off area with three distress crayons. For my first card, I chose Fossilized Amber, Mustard Seed, and Spiced Marmalade. I used a baby wipe to blend those colors and then removed the tape. I swiped my white pigment ink pad across the raised part just to add a touch of white.

I wanted to add some texture to my panels so I ran this one through my Big Shot with the Dot Matrix embossing folder from Tim Holtz/Sizzix. I paired up this fun background with an adorable bee from the  July 2025 Uniquely Unity Bee-Hold stamps. The die cut hexagons are cut out using the Hexagon Frames from Newton's Nook Designs.

Copic markers used: Y11, Y15, B000, C0, C2

I masked off my second panel at a diagonal. For this one I used Picked Raspberry, Spun Sugar, and Kitsch Flamingo distress crayons. I blended them with a baby wipe and then ran this one through my Big Shot with the Tattered Poinsettia embossing folder also from Tim Holtz/Sizzix.

I paired up my second panel with the beautiful Seasons of Life stamp. The sentiment is from Deck the Halls. I fussy cut the girl and adhered her and the sentiment to the card.

Copic markers used for this card:

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Hair: Y11, E43, E44

Hat / Scarf / Mittens: G000, G82, C0, C2

Coat: E21, E33, E25, R20, R22

I've kinda been on a roll with the Christmas cards so... I made another! For this one I masked the paper horizontally and I used Peacock Feathers, Salvaged Patina, and Mermaid Lagoon distress crayons. And I used a snowflake embossing folder that I believe is Tim Holtz but there's no brand name on it so I'm not sure.

I paired up this fun wintry background with the awesome Sending Christmas Smiles stamps. I adore this snowman! I fussy cut him and adhered him to the card. 

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

Snowman: C0, C2

Nose: Y11, YR20, YR15, YR68

Arm: E00, E59

Hat: N2, N4, N6

Scarf / Hat Band: R20, R14, R27

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...

... Becca Yahrling!! Congratulations, Becca!!

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

Please claim the prize before September 3rd, 2025. 

Well, that's it for me this time! It's a short hop this month with just six of us sharing our makes. Be sure to hop along and enjoy some more inspiration! 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 ---> Jenni

Toni

Rachel

Dawn

Joyce

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Christmas in July 2025 {BYSHC} Linky Party ~ Cozy Vibes Girl ~ Angie Blom Digital Designs

 Hello there crafty friend!

It's day 3 of the Christmas in July 2025 {BYSHC} Linky Party!! I'm excited to share another holiday card that I've made to add to my Christmas stash! This time I played with an awesome digital stamp from our fabulous Sponsor Angie Blom Digital Designs. I love this fab girl and the great big coffee cup!! I could use one of those this morning! LOL!

This beautiful girl is from the Cozy Vibes Girl digital stamps. I used one of the printable sheets so there was no need to resize or combine anything. I just printed it off... easy peasy! I colored the images with Copic markers and used a ruler to get that line above her head just right. I fussy cut around the images leaving some white around the pom pom and hair, otherwise the rest is cut on the black line. I colored the edges of my fussy cutting on the line with a black marker so the cutting looks nice.

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

Skin: E000, E00, E11, E04

Hair: E21

Coat: E21, E25

Hat / Scarf / Gloves: BG10, BG01, BG23

Snowflake: B000, B00, B02

Cup: BV31, BV02

Lid: C0, C2, C3

Keeping with a wintry theme, I chose the Christmas Snow 6x6 Pattern Paper Pad from our NEW Sponsor Crafty Stamp Co. I wanted a pretty blue paper that would coordinate with the blue of the snowflake.

Inspiration for my card came from one of our past sketches... BYSHC Sketch 23. I love using the past sketches and changing them up a bit to fit my card is always fun too.

All of my background paper layers are adhered using iCraft UltraBond Adhesive from Sponsor Therm O Web. I added foam tape called iCraft 3D Foam Tape Jumbo Roll (white), also from Therm O Web, to the back of the main panel and popped it up on the card. And then I finished it off with a little confetti called Metallic Turquoise Card Bling from A Colorful Life Designs.

If you haven't already, stop by the Christmas in July 2025 {BYSHC} Linky Party to check out all the wonderful Holiday inspiration being shared!! I have so many wonderful ideas for future cards! So inspiring! I hope you have an ink-redible day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 31 ~ Caffeinated Girls ~ Angie Blom Digital Designs

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm also sharing another card for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 31 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I felt like playing with some digi stamps so I looked through my files and found the gorgeous Caffeinated Girls from Angie Blom Digital Designs. Love the images in this fab set!

I combined and resized a few different images and a sentiment from the Caffeinated Girls digital stamp set in a Word Document. I printed it off and started coloring. Sadly, I started coloring before I picked my papers so the greens in my coloring were a little off. Otherwise, it works really well with the papers I found in my stash.

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

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Hair: YR20, E34

Sweater: R00, R32, YG11, YG03, G99

Cup: C00, C2, BG10, BG72

Coffee Cup Background: C00, C2, E000, E21, E25, R00, R11, R12, R14, R21, R27, BG10, BG72, YG03, YG67

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 31. 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'd love for you to join in the fun and play with us in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group.

I paired up this girl with the Coffee paper pad from Echo Park Paper Co. I've had these papers forever! Mostly just scraps leftover now so it was perfect for this card and I love how the colors worked so well with my coloring. 

I finished off this cute card with a few enamel dots from the coordinating Coffee enamel dots from Echo Park Paper Co. I just love how this turned out! I hope you can find time to play along with the sketch challenge. I can't wait to see what you create. Have an ink-tastic week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 31 ~ Love Stays, No Matter What ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for a brand new sketch challenge! Woohoo! Today I'm sharing my first card for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 31 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I inked up the wonderful new stamp from Unity's In the Light collection called Love Stays, No Matter What. 10% of sales from the In the Light line of stamps will be donated to various mental health and addiction movements, as well as families facing these battles.

Something about this girl just spoke to me. I needed to have her in my collection. I think she'll be great for encouragement cards. I stamped the girl and sentiment with Amalgam Black ink on Stampers Select White card stock and colored her up with Copic Markers.

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

Skin: E000, E00, E21

Hair: E43, E44

Shirt: YG21, YG03

Jeans: B91, B95, B97

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 31. 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 just realizing that this one is just slightly different from the one last month... LOL! Oh well. I think it's still fun!

I paired up this girl with the Rainbow Wishes {paper pack}. I thought the colors were nice with this image and the patterns are cheerful. 

I think this will be a really fun sketch to play with for the next four weeks! Lots of possibilities! I hope you can find time to play along. I can't wait to see what you create. Have an ink-tastic week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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