~ 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

Really Fungi Bookmark ~ Fabulous Fungus ~ Newton's Nook Designs

Hello there crafty friend! 

Today I'm sharing a quick bookmark I've created for my son. I used a cute mushroom from the Fabulous Fungus Stamp Set from Newton's Nook Designs plus papers and a fun bookmark die.

I die cut a bookmark from Kraft card stock and a scrap of pattern paper from the Pastel Basics 6x6 Paper Pad using the Bookmark Die Set.

I stamped the mushrooms on the bookmark using a clear watermark ink. I also stamped the mushrooms on white card stock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I added dots to the mushrooms using a white gel pen.

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

Mushrooms: W00, W1, W3, W5

I die cut the mushrooms using a small stitched circle die from the Circle Frames Die Set. The sentiment is die cut using a die from the Basic Frames Die Set.

You can check out my process video here... Really Fungi Bookmark | Fabulous Fungus | Newton's Nook Designs.

Since this is for my son, I chose to go with a simple twill tape and braided linen trim to finish off the bookmark. A sweet and simple bookmark. I really like how it turned out!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Inky Paws Challenge #233 ~ Color Challenge {Week 4}

Hello there crafty friend!

 There's just a few more days to play along with the Inky Paws Challenge #233 - Color Challenge! You have until this coming Friday, November 1st 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 #233 - Color Challenge

Such an amazing color combo... Burnt Orange, Olive Green, Slate Gray, and Ivory!! I have had so much fun with this color combo! I hope you've enjoyed my inspiration and played along with us!

For my last bit of inspiration for the Color Challenge, I've made a bookmark. I love making bookmarks as gifts for my friends! And it's been awhile since I've made some so I thought with Christmas coming I'd make a few to add to their gift packages. I die cut a piece of Stampers Select White card stock from Papertrey ink two times using the die from the Bookmark II Die Set. I also die cut a piece of gray argyle pattern papers from the awesome Black & White Basics 6x6 Paper Pad. I trimmed one of the white bookmarks to show a bit of the argyle pattern underneath and then I adhered all three layers together. The second white bookmark is flipped around and adhered to the back of the bookmark so it's nice and clean looking on both sides.

I die cut a bunch of the fun books from white card stock using a couple dies from the Bookmark II Die Set. And then I colored them with my Copic markers. I used the colors I've pretty much been using all month for the color challenge inspiration. I just had to top the books with a cup of coffee so I stamped the cute mug from Never Enough Books Stamp Set and die cut it using the coordinating mug die from the Never Enough Books Die Set.

I stamped the TRUE sentiment {hee hee} from Never Enough Books Stamp Set at the base of my top white bookmark and then I adhered all the books and the mug. I found a pretty gray ribbon from my stash called Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon {from Stampin' Up... it's been in my stash forever}. And then I tied a little White Baker's Twine {also from SU}. I just love how this turned out! 

Now it's your turn to get your paws inky with your Newton's Nook Designs products and create a project using the color combo of Burnt Orange, Olive Green, Slate Gray, and Ivory. 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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Bookmark Pocket Slimline Card ~ Winnie the Pooh: Enjoy the Day, Pooh ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today is the last day for the Black Friday sale over at Unity Stamp Co!! I don't know about you but each addition to the Winnie the Pooh stamps has been a must have for me!! I couldn't wait to play with the new Enjoy the Day, Pooh!! Who doesn't love a cute picnic stamp!? 

This fun bookmark pocket slimline card would make a fun little gift for a book loving friend. I made the bookmark using a slimline die from Pinkfresh Studio called Slim Ornate Banner. I punched a hole on the top with a handy Crop-a-Dile... anyone else still have one of these in their stash? I added a couple pretty ribbons and tied them off with {Natural} May Arts Burlap string.

To make the pocket on the card I die cut two pieces of pattern paper from the Apple Pickin' {paper pack} from Unity using the . I trimmed them to fit on the 8-1/2 x 3-1/2" card base leaving a skinny border of Spring Moss card stock from Papertrey Ink. I adhered those layers together and then also die cut a piece of Vellum card stock, also from Papertrey Ink. I trimmed it to the same size as the light green pattern paper. I adhered it along the outer edges with Plus Vellum glue tape {not sure of the actual brand... this was a gift from a crafty friend}. 

How cute is this picnic stamp, though?! I believe this is another wonderful illustration by Angie Blom. I just love her stamps so much!

You can check out my video for this card here... Bookmark Pocket Slimline Card | Winnie the Pooh: Enjoy the Day, Pooh | Unity Stamp Co.

I tried to keep the Copic coloring for this pretty simple and just used two Copic markers for each image with exception to Piglet's sweater and the picnic blanket... I think I used three markers for those. I know some that are new to Copics get intimated by all the markers... I did when I was just starting out so I hope showing how easy it is with just a couple markers to achieve nice shading will help some of you take the leap and give Copics {or the other alcohol markers} a try. Here's a list of the Copic markers I used:

Skin ~ E00, E11

Hair ~ E30, E33

Pooh / Shirt ~ Y11, Y15

Shorts ~ B00, B12

Honey Pot ~ R20, R14

Piglet ~ RV10, RV21, RV14

Dishes ~ B000, B00

Cookies ~ E33, E35

Picnic Blanket ~ YG91, C00, YG95

Flowers ~ Y15, RV21

Grass ~ YG03, YG11

Rock ~ N1, N4

Book / Socks ~ C00, C2

Shoes ~ N4, N6

Head over to Unity and check out all the fab new releases... and the wonderful Black Friday deals!!! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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~ Friends of Unity October 2022 Blog Hop ~

 Hello there crafty friend!

It's one of my favorite times of the month... time for the Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! Our cue this month is a fun one that we played with last year. We had lots of fab ideas last year... can't wait to see the creations our friends have to share with us this year! 

Now, let's get to the cue...

... Anything But a Card!! Fun, right?! 

I had several ideas come to mind and I thought about revisiting one of the ones I shared last year but I decided to go with something new. You may have heard that I was lucky enough to visit the wonderful family behind Unity ~ the Magnuson and all the crew!! Such an amazing experience!! The Unity crew is amazing and they're truly a wonderful family!! Anywho, I made little gifts for everyone and I may have been early but I went with a fun Halloween theme. This way I wouldn't forget to send out my Halloween cards! Haha!

 

A few years ago, Bobbie Sue hosted a Napkin Decoupage challenge in the Unity Show & Tell. I got to thinking I could decoupage the front of these cute little Kraft gift bags I had found at Walmart. I also got some cute orange plaid napkins from Walmart in their dollar section. I separated the 2-ply napkins leaving me with just 1-ply for the orange plaid design. I unfolded them and cut them into sections that were slightly longer than the front of the gift bags. I then used Mod Podge to adhere the napkin to the front of the gift bags. I let the Mod Podge dry and then I tore the tops of the napkins off.

I placed the gift bag in my Stamp Platform and stamped the fabulous tree and the Happy Halloween sentiment from the Hallow's Eve Tree stamps with Black Amalgam ink from Gina K. Designs.

Copics I used for the Witch Gnome:

Skin ~ E000, E00, E11, E04

Hair ~ C00, C2

Hat ~ V000, V12, V15, V17, YG11, YG23

Shoes ~ N1, N3, N5, N7

Cauldron ~ N1, N3, N5, N7, V000, V12, V15

Broom ~ E21, E23, E25

I used a tiny blending brush to add a bit of Black Soot Distress Ink around the edges of the napkin. I wrapped each gift bag twice with some {Black} May Arts Burlap string and tied it off with a pretty bow.

Copics I used for the Vampire Gnome:

Skin ~ E000, E00, E11, E04

Hair ~ C00, C2

Hat ~ R20, R14, N3, N5, N7

Shoes / Bat ~ N1, N3, N5, N7

I fussy cut each of the adorable gnomes from the Witch Way stamps and cleaned up the edges by coloring them with a Memento Tuxedo black marker.

Copics I used for the Frankenstein Gnome:

Skin ~ E000, E00, E11, E04

Hair ~ C00, C2

Hat ~ YG11, YG23, G14, YG91, N1, N3, N5

Shoes ~ E21, E23, E25

Pumpkin ~ YR21, YR15, YR68

Candy ~ YG11, YG23, V12, V15, YR15

I slipped a napkin, a Halloween card, some cute Halloween stickers and candy inside the bags. 

So fun! I love how they turned out!! I think everyone liked them too.

For my second Anything But a Card Project I went with my fave... a bookmark!! I love making bookmarks for my friends and family. I started with a die cut bookmark using the Bookmark Die from Newton's Nook Designs. I die cut two bookmarks - one from white card stock and the other from Hawaiian Shores card stock and set the Hawaiian Shores one aside.

I blended Twisted Citron Distress Ink on the bottom of the bookmark. And then I blended Peacock Feathers Distress Ink in the center. And last was Tumbled Glass Distress Ink which I let fade into white by just lightly blending near the top. I went over each section being sure to blend into the other colors until I was happy with my blends. I have found that three times is usually the charm for blending. I loved the blends but it needed something so I grabbed a stencil... I used a cute one from Gina Marie Designs called Mini Triangles 6x6 Stencil. I blended over the stencil without adding more ink to my brushes leaving a light background of the cute little triangles.

I stamped the beautiful stack of books from the I Love Big Books Itty Bitty directly onto the bookmark and also on a scrap of white card stock. I also stamped the sentiment directly on the bookmark. I colored the books on the white card stock with my Copic Markers and then fussy cut the image on the black line. Here's a quick list of the Copics I used ~ RV21, RV14, RV29, C00,C2, YG11, YG23, BG10, and BG23. While fussy cutting the image I cut off the twirly black line because I was basically paper piecing my image onto the bookmark. I cleaned up the edges of the fussy cut image by coloring them with a Memento Tuxedo black marker and then I adhered it to the bookmark. The back of my ink blended bookmark did get a bit messy from the ink on my desk so I adhered it to the Hawaiian Shores bookmark I had die cut at the beginning. Love how this turned out!!

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 package and that lucky winner is...

... Carla Hundley!! Congratulations, Carla!!

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

Prize must be claimed within two weeks. 

Well, that's it for me this time! I hope you'll try your hand at some handmade gifts. I had so much fun! Please hop along and enjoy some more inspiration from the Friends of Unity... I can't wait to see all the different projects being shared! I'm sure that some of my friends are having a giveaway so be sure to comment as you hop along.

Let's get to the hopping...

Crystal <--- you're here

up next ---> Amber

Kim

Rachel

Bobbie Sue

Gaylynn

Dawn F.

Colleen

Eileen

Joyce

Dawn B.

Robyn

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you!!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Hello Bookmark ~ Advent Calendar Day 16 ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

It's Day 16 of my Countdown to Christmas series!! I'm sharing a little reveal and a project each day on my YouTube channel using the fantastic Advent Calendar from Unity Stamp Co!! Please be sure to subscribe to my channel so you don't miss a day of this fun countdown series!

Day 16 ~ a cute stack of books with a succulent!

I paired it up with the Simple Spring {paper pack}, also from Unity. 

The sentiment is from the Not the End of Your Story {February 2021 Sentiment Kit}, and is stamped with Wow Clear Embossing ink on black card stock and then I melted some Alabaster White Embossing powder.

Check out my process video here... Unity Advent Calendar Day 16.

I'll be back tomorrow with Day 17 of the Advent Calendar reveal and another cute card!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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~ Friends of Unity November 2021 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

Welcome to our November 2021 Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! Can you believe the holidays are just around the corner?! I'm excited for our first Thanksgiving in our new home this month... and then, of course, our first Christmas next month. Our cue this month got me thinking about the holidays and handmade gifts...

...a Non-Card Project. I had several ideas come to mind and found a few online, but I decided to go with one of my favorite things to make for friends. A bookmark!

I've been itching to ink up this gorgeous holiday stamp from last month's Uniquely Unity stamp kit called Holiday Things. Every since this stamp was revealed I've wanted to stamp it on Kraft and color it up with my Copics. And to turn it into a bookmark was just a bonus! I used the Basic Bookmark 3 from Papertrey Ink to die cut the stamped background.

I wanted to go with a different sentiment... one that was smaller and wouldn't cover up too much of the background so I used one from the fabulous new November 2021 Sentiment Kit called Cherished Holly. The sentiments in this beautiful kit are so perfect for holiday makes. I blended a bit of Vintage Photo Distress Oxide over the sentiment to soften it.

I used a whole bunch of Copic markers to color up this bookmark. Here's my list:

Pinecone ~ E00, E11, E23, E25

Snowman ~ C00, C2, B00, B02, YR15, YR21, YR68

Bell & Bow ~ Y15, Y35, Y38, R14, R20, R27

Holly & Berries ~ G000, G24, G46, R14, R20, R27

Wreath ~ YG03, YG63, YG67

Rocking Deer ~ E00, E11, E23, E25, G000, G24, G46, R14, R27

Candy Cane ~ C00, C2, R14, R20, R27

Gnome ~ E000, E00, E11, R00, R20, RV21, V01, V04, R14, R20, R27, C00, C2 

Lollipop ~ C00, C2, R14, R20, YR15, YR21, Y15, Y35, G000, G24, B00, B02, BV00, BV11

Gingerbread Man ~ C00, C2, R14, R20, R27, E11, E23, E25

Ribbon & Bells ~ G24, G46, Y15, Y35, Y38

Stocking ~ C00, C2, V01, V04, V09, R20, RV21

Ornament ~ Y15, Y35, Y38, N0, N2, R14

Baubles ~ R14, R20, RV21, V01, V04, B00, B02, Y15, Y35, G000, G24, YR15, YR21

Bow ~ R14, R20, R27

I also had a fun idea for some festive tea bag holders that I made using my favorite holiday paper from Unity... the Farmhouse Christmas {paper pack}. My sweet friend, Robyn, sent me some wonderful tea last year that my daughter and I can't get enough of. I thought it would be fun to send some to friends this year and I just had to wrap them up all pretty.

The tea bag holder is made from a piece of Kraft card stock measuring 3-1/2 x 11" scored at 4", 4-1/4", 4-1/2", and 8-1/2". I die cut the flap with one of the border dies from the A2 Scalloped Borders One dies from Spellbinders.

The pattern paper on the front and back {yes, I put pretty paper on the back too} are 3-1/4 x 3-3/4". The pattern paper on the flap is 3-1/4 x 2-1/2" and then I die cut it with the same border die. I die cut the cute little tags with a die from my stash. I have no clue where it's from or what's it's called. But any little die would work or maybe a little tag. The sentiment is again from the November 2021 Sentiment Kit called Cherished Holly... love this kit!!

I wrapped the tea bag holder with some twine and tied a little bow to keep the tea bag holder closed. I slipped the tag through the twine.

I added a piece of Kraft card stock inside the tea bag holder measuring 1 x 7-1/4" and it's scored at 1-7/8", 2", 5-1/4", and 5-3/8". This piece of card stock inside holds the tea bags in the holder when it's closed.

I think these turned out pretty cute! Now, before we get to hopping... have you checked out the fabulous Brown Thursday sale?! If you're not familiar with this sale, it's the biggest sale of the year over at Unity Stamp Co!! They just released a whole bunch of amazing new stamps and their annual Advent Calendar!! Oh my gosh... you have to check it out, if you haven't yet!

Well, that's it for me this time! I hope you'll try your hand at some handmade gifts. I had so much fun! Please hop along and enjoy some more inspiration from the Friends of Unity... I can't wait to see all the different projects being shared! I'm sure that some of my friends are having a giveaway so be sure to comment as you hop along.

Let's get to the hopping...

Crystal <--- you're here

up next ---> Eileen

April

Rachel

Dawn F.

Colleen

Kim

Alaine

Joyce

Robyn

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you!!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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