~ Friends of Unity October 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 because you're all invited to play along with us! 

The Friends of Unity are hosting a fun Fall themed Color Challenge in the Unity {Show & Tell} Facebook group!! Yay! I sure hope that you can play along with us! One lucky winner will win a $50 Store Credit to Unity!! Wow! What an awesome prize!

I went a little crazy making cards, but I'm only sharing two today. I didn't want to have the worlds longest blog post today! LOL! Anywho, I created a fun background using the Geometric Leaves stencil from A Colorful Life Designs. I blended Carved Pumpkin, Candied Apple and Gathered Twigs Distress Ink over a Kraft card front measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". I trimmed it to 4 x 5-1/4" and wrapped it with three pieces of natural May Arts burlap string. And then I adhered it to a Kraft A2 top fold card base.

I stamped the super sassy chicken from the October 2025 Uniquely Unity membership called Don't Cluck with My Coffee! I'm just tickled with this stamp. I showed Angela a fun meme and asked for this stamp and voila! Love it! I couldn't wait to ink her up! I die cut the sassy chicken using a die from the Make a Tag {die set}. I chose to do it at an angle since the stencil I used had a geometric theme. I also die cut a mat from Kraft card stock using the largest die from the set.  

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

Chicken: E21, E23, E25

Eyes: C0, C2

Waddle: R00, R14, R27

Beak / Feet: YR21, YR15, YR27

Curlers / Tail Feathers: Y11, Y15, YR15, 

Cup: Y11, Y15, Y28, E23, E25

Glasses: Gold Uni-ball Gel Pen

This sassy chick is also available as a one-time purchase if you're not interested in signing up for the membership. I once again couldn't decide on a sentiment so I ended up using two. Both of them are die cut using dies from the Scalloped & Stitched Sentiment Nesting Dies. The chicken panel and the sentiments are all popped up on the card with foam tape.

For my second card I did some ink smooshing and blending. I used Carved Pumpkin, Candied Apple, and Gathered Twigs on Kraft card stock. I blended a bit more of the orange and red here and there until I was happy with the background. And then I dried it completely with a heat tool.

I prepped the card stock with anti-static powder and then inked up the beautiful Array of Fall stamps with clear embossing ink. I sprinkled the wet ink with my really old gold embossing powder from Stampin' Up. It worked really well. It's SO shiny! I love the gold on these background colors! I also heat embossed the sentiment.

I couldn't find any gold card stock in my stash so I had to make my own mat by embossing the edges of a 4 x 5-1/4" piece of Kraft card stock. It's not perfect but I like the texture in it.

I smooshed my Candied Apple and Carved Pumpkin Distress inks on acrylic blocks and added some more color to the flowers using a water pen. I think it helps the flowers pop just a bit more. I adhered my layers onto a dark brown A2 card base. What do you think of the heat embossed gold on this one? Too much? I'm kinda liking it.

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 October 29th, 2025. 

Well, that's it for me this time! Be sure to hop along and enjoy some more inspiration! I can't wait to see our friends makes for the Color Challenge! I'm 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! AND there's an additional giveaway on Dawn and Amber's blogs so be sure to hop all the way through to the end to see all the details on their blogs.

Let's get to the hopping...

Crystal <--- you're here

up next ---> Toni

 Dawn

 Jenni

Doreen

Jane

Rachel

Kari

Amber

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

~ 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

Inky Paws Challenge #243 ~ Sketch Challenge {Week 3}

Hello there crafty friend!

 Sharing some more inspiration for week 3 of the Inky Paws Challenge #243 - Sketch Challenge! You have until Friday, August 29th to get your entries in for the challenge and a chance to win a $20 store credit to Newton's Nook Designs!

Inky Paws Challenge #243 - Sketch Challenge

Have you played along with us yet? I sure hope you do. This is a super fun sketch. So fun that I turned it upside down. I wanted the brown to ground my images.

 I made a fun Fall card using the sweet Autumn Read Stamp Set. I die cut the cute stacks of books using the coordinating dies from the Autumn Read Die Set.

I adhered the stack of books together and then popped them up on the card with foam tape. I also popped up the sentiment that I had heat embossed with white pigment ink and white embossing powder.

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

Pumpkins / Mug: Y11, YR20, YR15, E000, E11, E25

Yellows: Y000, Y11, YR23

Orange: YR20, YR15

Browns: E000, E11, E25

Blues: BG000, BG72

White: C0, C2

I used the fantastic Card Layout 4 Die to die cut my papers this time. If you don't have this die in your stash and you're not quite sure how to cut the pieces, you can check out my blog post from last week to see the measurement guide I shared for this sketch. I used three fun pieces of pattern paper from the Autumn Meows 6x6 Paper Pad. I traced around the shapes using the die as a guide and then cut out the papers. And then I was able to die cut the three pieces of pattern paper. I die cut a piece of Kraft card stock to cut out the frame. I adhered all of the pieces for my background to a Kraft A2 top fold card base. I finished off the card with a few glittery 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 card using this month's sketch. Be sure to link up to the Inky Paws Challenge! Can't wait to see your projects!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Inky Paws Challenge #209 ~ Color Challenge Reminder

 Hello there crafty friend!

 There's still time to play along with the Inky Paws Challenge #209 - Color Challenge! You have until this coming Friday, October 27th to get your entries in for the #209 Color Challenge and a chance to win a $20 store credit to Newton's Nook Designs!

Inky Paws Challenge #209 - Color Challenge

Here's another look at the fun colors... Rusty Orange, Honey Yellow, Cornflower Blue, and Caramel Brown.

I couldn't help but use the Autumn 6x6 Paper Pad again since the colors worked so well for this color challenge. I cut the yellow pattern paper to 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" and the leaf paper was a scrap leftover from last weeks card. I die cut the leaf paper with the hill die from the Land Borders Die Set. I had a fun idea to make a peek-a-boo card so I die cut a circle in the front of my white A2 card base and in the yellow pattern paper using a circle die from the Circle Frames Die Set.

I also die cut two pieces of kraft card stock using the next largest die in the Circle Frames Die Set. And then I die cut the scalloped circles using the slightly smaller stitched circle die to get that opening. I framed the opening with the kraft circle on the front of the card and on the inside so the hole looked nice on the inside {didn't capture that in the photos though}. Next, I stamped the cut hot cocoa from the Cup of Cocoa Stamp Set using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used to color up the hot cocoa:

Mug ~ B000, B41, B23, B66, Y11, Y15, Y38

Whipped Cream ~ C00, C1, C3

Cinnamon Sticks ~ E51, E34, E35

Chocolate ~ E51, E34, E35, E37

Heart ~ YR15, YR24, YR27

I die cut the hot cocoa cup using the stitched circle die from the Circle Frames Die Set. I was then able to place it inside the opening and adhere it in place. The sentiment and heart were also stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I trimmed the sentiment and adhered it to the card. I fussy cut the heart and cleaned up the edges real nice by coloring them with a Memento Tuxedo Black marker. And then I adhered the heart to the card, too. 

A look inside the card... I think I will probably add a sentiment inside. In the moment I just couldn't pick one.

Now it's your turn to get your paws inky with your Newton's Nook Designs products and create a project with the color combo of Rusty Orange, Honey Yellow, Cornflower Blue, and Caramel Brown. 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

{Please note that comment moderation is on. Your lovely comment will appear once approved.}

Inky Paws Challenge #206 ~ Color Challenge

 Hello there crafty friend!

 There's still time to play along with the Inky Paws Challenge #206 - Color Challenge!! You have until this coming Friday, September 15th to get your entries in for the #206 Color Challenge and a chance to win a $20 store credit to Newton's Nook Designs!

Inky Paws Challenge #206 - Color Challenge

Absolutely gorgeous colors... Sunset Orange, Turquoise, Sunflower Yellow, and Maple Brown.

As I've mentioned before I'm a bit obsessed with truck stamps... I have to have them all and I just LOVE them! So I just had to play with the Harvest Haul Stamp Set. One of my absolute favorite NND stamps! I love all the Fall elements and, of course, the truck is just too cute! So fun in turquoise, too! I was shocked to discover that I don't have the Harvest Haul Die Set so I had to fussy cut the truck. I'm adding the coordinating die to my wishlist right now! I colored the edge of my fussy cut truck using a Memento Tuxedo Black Marker. Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used:

Truck ~ BG000, BG15, BG45, E21, E23, E25, C00, C1

Brake Lights ~ R20, R05, R17

Tires ~ N0, N1, N3, N5

Blanket ~ E30, E31, Y06, Y15

Pumpkins ~ YR21, YR15, YR68, YR27, E21, E23, E25

Basket ~ E21, E23, E25

Apples ~ Y21, Y06, Y15, YG11, G24

Corn Stalks ~ Y21, YR23

I colored the window with E30, E31, and E33. It looks much closer to the Kraft card stock in person. Sometimes photos just don't do the cards justice.

I blended Carved Pumpkin, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, and Broken China Distress Oxide inks over the Pumpkin Patch Stencil onto Kraft card stock for my background. The stencil shifted while I was doing the Broken China so I opted to use the background but just cover up the bottom. I die cut the panel using the large rectangle die from the Frames & Flags Die Set. I adhered it to a Kraft A2 card base. I die cut a piece of Kraft card stock using the hill die from the Land Borders Die Set. Stamped the sentiment using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and the adhered it to the card.

I popped up the fussy cut truck using foam tape. And finished off the card with a bit of May Arts Ivory Burlap String that I got at Unity.

Now it's your turn to get your paws inky with your Newton's Nook Designs products and create a project with the color combo of Sunset Orange, Turquoise, Sunflower Yellow, and Maple Brown. 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

{Please note that comment moderation is on. Your lovely comment will appear once approved.}

Emboss Resist with ZIGs Watercolor Wash ~ Technique Tuesday ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with another Technique Tuesday! On the 2nd Tuesday of each month I'll be sharing a bit of inspiration and a video featuring a fun technique. I hope that you'll be inspired to get inky and play along with some of the techniques that I share.

Today's technique is a fun twist on a technique I shared last month using ZIGs for a quick watercolor wash background... the twist? Throwing some Emboss Resist in there!

First up, I used the gorgeous flowers from the November 2021 Kit of the Month called Kinda Sorta Love Ya for a pretty Fall card. The flowers were stamped with white pigment ink and I heat embossed white embossing powder that I had applied to the wet ink. This shiny raised design is what resists the watercolor wash from the ZIGs.

I used Yellow, Bright Yellow, Orange, Brown and Mid Brown ZIGs for the background. Also used those colors to darken the flowers... adding Light Green and Olive Green for the leaves and stems. The watercolor washed background was die cut with the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set. I then adhered it to an Early Espresso card front and adhered the entire panel to a white A2 card base.

 The sentiment is from the Cut Apart Sentiment Strips... these strips come in handy when you need a quick sentiment for a card!

 Such a fun card to make!

Next up is a rainbow-filled birthday card featuring the awesome Rainbow Birthday stamps... illustrated by Graciellie Design and available in red rubber at Unity! So happy to have this one in my collection! I stamped the candles on watercolor paper, also heat embossing them.

For this background I used Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue and Purple ZIGs. Die cut the watercolor washed panel using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles Nesting Dies. Adhered the panel to a white A2 top fold card base.

I also heat embossed and watercolored the cake and an extra candle... doesn't it look yummy?! Used the same ZIGs that I used for the background. Added a touch of Light Grey for some shadow on the white icing. I also used the same rainbow ZIGs to watercolor stamp the sentiment.

Fussy cut the cake and candle and adhered them together. I added a bunch of foam tape to the back of both and popped it up on the card. Trimmed the sentiment and popped it up on the card with foam tape, as well.

You can check out my process video here for creating the backgrounds... Emboss Resist with ZIGs Watercolor Wash | Technique Tuesday | Unity Stamp Co.

Such a fun and simple technique with so many possibilities depending on what colors you use and the mix of stamps! If you give this fun technique a try, I'd love to see what you create so please share your cards in the Unity Show & Tell group and tag me. Have an ink-tastic day!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal