~ Friends of Unity August 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for another Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! Woohoo! I've been looking forward to this month's cue for awhile now!

Today we are sharing inspiration for the Grunge cue!! The possibilities are seriously endless with this one... I had several ideas and only time to make a couple. 

First up is a fun Halloween card featuring I Bite Pissy Kitty. But I think the star of the card is actually the Ghastly Gourds background stamp. Oh how I love these pumpkins!! 

I did a bit of ink smooshing first with Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin and Black Soot Distress Inks.

And then I swiped the panel with my Carved Pumpkin Distress Ink. I love the streaks of ink this technique creates!

I then stamped the panel with the Ghastly Gourds using Black Soot Distress Ink. And then I inked up just the top portion of the Smell My Feet background stamp and stamped it crooked on the top and bottom corners of the panel. I think the stamp was actually upside down... but that's okay. LOL

I Copic colored the fun kitty and fussy cut it leaving a white border. But then it was too bright so I distressed around the edges using the residual ink on my black blending brush. I added some black string to the panel and popped up the kitty using foam tape. And then I heat embossed the sentiment and popped it up on the card to finish it off.

Copic markers used:

Cat: C0, C3, C5

Eyes: YG11, YG06, YG67

Nose:RV02

Wings: C2, C5, 100

Bow: V12, V15

Pumpkin: YR20, YR15, YR68, Y15, Y08, E21, E25

I went a very different direction with my second card. I wanted to use Seraphim Wings but instead I ended up using the coordinating Seraphim Wings die (unfortunately I don't see this on the website currently). I didn't take photos of my ink smooshing for this one. I used Speckled Egg, Evergreen Bough and Vintage Photo Distress Inks for my ink smooshing.

And then I stamped the gorgeous What's Old is New background stamp with Ground Espresso Distress Ink. I die cut the panel with the Seraphim Wings die. And then I ink smooshed another panel with the same colors. I inked up the background stamp again this time with Vintage Photo but only in random spots. I didn't cover it completely with ink. And then I lightly placed the stamp on top of the ink smooshed panel and pressed gently. I still had a puddle of brown ink (I think it was Ground Espresso) so I used it to spatter the panel.

I used a die from the Notebook Borders Die Set  to cut that left edge on my background panel. Distressed the edges of the die cut butterfly with residual ink on my brown blending brush. Stamped the sentiment with Ground Espresso Distress Ink. And then I ink smooshed another white panel with just Speckled Egg and Evergreen Bough distress inks for my bottom panel. I adhered all my layers onto a white A2 top fold card base. I feel like it needs something... maybe I'll add enamel dots. What do you think?

Now before we get to the hopping, random dot org chose a lucky winner from the comments on last month's hop to win a fun prize and the lucky winner is...

... Wilma DeG!! Congratulations, Wilma!!

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

Please claim the prize before August 26th, 2026. 

Well, that's it for me this time! I'm so excited to see how our friends were inspired for this month's hop! 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

Von Marie

Toni

Jenni

Joyce

Rachel

Dawn

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Membership Wednesday ~ April 2026 KOM Life is Ridiculous ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

Happy Membership Wednesday! Have you seen all of the adorable stamps in this month's Kit of the Month membership from Unity!? Oh My Gosh!! I am seriously in love with so many of them... it was hard to decide which to play with!

But I did! I inked up the adorable butterfly from the April 2026 Kit of the Month called Life is Ridiculous. This cutie is also available separately as the A Thought Flew By stamps.

Unity has been releasing some absolutely gorgeous papers this year. I just had to crack open the Raindrop Serenade {paper pack}. These papers aren't just for rainy day cards! I love the pretty colors in the plaid papers and the tiny flowers are so pretty! I die cut the papers using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. I tore the flower papers and adhered the layers for an easy peasy background.

I die cut the cutie butterfly with a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. And colored it up with my Copic markers. I used similar colors to the papers so it all coordinated.

Copic markers used:

Butterfly: B000, B00, B02, Y11, Y15, BV00, BV02, BV17

Eyes: C0, C2, YG11, YG03

Branch: E15, E57

Leaves: YG11, YG03

Sky: BG000

Here's a quick look at this month's Kit of the Month membership!

This gorgeous stamp is also available separately in the A Thought Flew By stamps.

That's it for me today! I hope you've been INKspired to play with your membership stamps! 

Have a wonderful day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 41 ~ Paper Wings ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing my first card for the new Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 41 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. A vintage style card!

I inked up my favorite butterfly from the Paper Wings stamps on a piece of pattern paper and colored it just a tiny bit with a couple Copic markers: W1 and RV10. I fussy cut the butterfly on the line {except around the antennae} and colored the edges of the fussy cutting with a Memento Tuxedo Black marker.

I paired up the lovely butterfly with the Vintage Whispers {paper pack}. These papers are so gorgeous! I alternated light and dark patterns to achieve the look I was going for. All of the circles were die cut using a small stitched die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}.

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 41. 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 moved the sentiment to the other side.

I adhered the circles on the 4 x 5-1/4" panel and then trimmed off the edges. I then adhered the panel to a white A2 card base. I bent the wings of the butterfly up and adhered just the thorax and antennae of the butterfly to the center circle. I finished off the card by stamping the sentiment from the Extended Celebration stamps with Black Amalgam ink directly on the card. I hope you can find time to play along with the sketch challenge. Have an INKriffic week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

~ Friends of Unity January 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend & Happy New Year to you!

It's time for our first Friends of Unity Blog Hop of 2026!! Woohoo! I'm ready to kickoff a brand new year with our friends and share some fun inspiration with our cue...

Today we are sharing inspiration that we CASEd. What does CASEd mean? It's an acronym for Copy And Share Everything or Copy And Selectively Edit. It is a common practice in the cardmaking community where a card maker is inspired by another person's design and recreates it, either as an exact copy or with some modifications. For example, changing up the colors or using a different stamp. I had a lot of fun with my makes for this one.

My first card features the cute new Cupid Pissy Kitty. Isn't it just too cute?! It was also fun to color up with my Copic markers.

Copic markers used:

Kitty: N0, N2, N4, YR20, YR15, R20

Eyes: C0, C3, YG00, YG11

Sash: RV10, RV02

Wing: C0, C3

Bow / Arrow: E21, E25

My card design was CASEd from cards that Angela Magnuson shared in the Unity Show & Tell. She had blended over a stencil and then stamped a pretty flower silhouette. Her design was very CAS {Clean & Simple}. My design took a left turn. Haha... 

I ended up die cutting my panel and adhering it to a white card base. I die cut the panel using the largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set. I also popped up the sentiment with foam tape.

I blended Kitsch Flamingo and Picked Raspberry Distress Inks over the fun Layered Hearts {stencil set}. I finished off the card with a few pieces of confetti from the Crystal Opaque Creme Puff Card Bling from A Colorful Life Designs.

Keeping with a love theme for my second card. This time I inked up the adorable birdie from the brand new January 2026 KOM called Margins of Ever After. This cutie is also available separately in the  Wee Little Love Courier stamps. Too stinkin' cute!!

Inspiration for this card came from a fabulous card shared by Danni Bindel. Danni shared a card featuring the Fluff Squad. And funnily enough, she was actually inspired to make this card using one of the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketches!! Made me giggle when I realized that. I love how our cardmaking community inspires each other!

I die cut the birdie using a die from the Oval Frames die set from Newton's Nook Designs. Unity really needs to add some fun oval dies to their collection!

Copic markers used to color up this cutie:

Bird: B000, B00

Eyes: C0, C3

Beak / Legs / Feet: YR20, YR15

Heart: RV10, RV02, YR20

Grass: YG00, YG11

 I paired up this sweet bird with the Cloud Hopper Chronicles {paper pack}. So many fun layers in this one. I used paper scraps across the card and then I popped up the trimmed sentiment and the oval using foam tape.

I wanted to play with lots of color for this one. I found a great piece of pattern paper from the Oh Hey! It's Your Day {paper pack} for my background and pulled colors from the papers for my coloring.

My last card was inspired by this lovely card by Amy Marie in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group. I was pulled into the card by the theme... I love books!! But really the arch is what got my attention. Amy used the beautiful girl from the March 2025 KOM Chapters & Crossings.

I thought the gorgeous flowers from the new January 2026 KOM would look lovely in this card design. These beauties are also available separately in the Where Butterflies Wait stamps. I die cut the flowers using the largest die from the Scallops & Arches {nesting dies}. 

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

Pink: RV10, RV02

Red Flowers: R20, R14

Yellow Flowers: Y11, Y35, R20, R14

Butterfly: BG10, BG01, Y11, Y35

Greens: YG00, YG11, YG23

Background: B000

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...

... Sabra & Holly Gerdes.!! Congratulations, Sabra & Holly!!

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

Please claim the prize before February 4th, 2026. 

Well, that's it for me this time! Another short hop this month with just seven 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 ---> Amber

Toni

Jenni

Jane

Dawn

Rachel

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Advent Calendar 2025 Day 13 ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

It's Day 13 of the 2025 Advent Calendar from Unity!! I have a cute hello card to share today.

Today's stamp is a super cute cat. So cute! I stamped it with Black Amalgam ink and colored it up with Copic markers.

Copic markers used:

Butterfly: RV10, RV14 Eyes: C0, C2 Ears / Nose: R00, R20 Fur: YR20, YR15, N0, N2, N4 Ground: C0, C2 Sky: BG000

You can check out my video revealing the Advent Calendar Day 13 stamp and my process in making this card here... Unity Advent Calendar 2025 Day 13 | Unity Stamp Co.

Inspiration for my card came from the {BYSHC} Sketch 14! Another great sketch with fun layers!

I die cut the cat using a die from the Scallops & Squares{nesting dies}. Popped it up on the card using foam tape.

I paired up the kitty with the The Secret of Change {paper pack}. I finished up the card with a cute sentiment from the Casual Winter Hello {itty bitty}. I think this turned out sweet!

I'll be back tomorrow for Day 14 of the 2024 Advent Calendar from Unity!

Have an ink-tastic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 35 ~ Paper Wings ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing one last card for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 35 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I had these lovely butterflies sitting on my desk from an event well over a year ago... haha... time sure does fly by! I figured it was about time I used them!

I had stamped these pretty butterflies from the Paper Wings stamps from Unity using Black Amalgam Ink. I colored them up with a mix of blue-green Copic markers as samples for the ladies at the event. The colors are just slightly different and less noticeable since I distressed the butterflies to tame the bright white paper.

Here's a quick list of the Copics I used for them:

Top Butterfly: BG000, BG01, BG05

Middle Butterfly: BG000, BG01, BG15, BG45

Bottom Butterfly: BG000, BG15, BG45

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 35. 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 used a scrap for my strip of pattern paper... not totally sure how long it is but it was about 2" wide. This sketch challenge ends on Monday, September 29th!

Speaking of the papers... I used the gorgeous Grit & Grace {paper pack}. I love these papers so much! And the colors in them worked really nicely with the colors of the butterflies. I wrapped my background paper with some natural burlap string and secured it with some tape underneath the panel. I adhered the panel to a Kraft A2 top fold card base.

I adhered the butterflies to the strip of pattern paper and then added foam tape to the back of the butterflies and the strip of pattern paper. And then I popped it up on the card. I found a cut apart sentiment in my stash, trimmed it and adhered it to the card. I finished off the card with a few raindrop embellies. It was so fun to use some clutter from my desk and scraps from my papers for this one.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 34 Extended ~ Spectrum Gardenia ~ 49 and Market

 Hello there crafty friend!

It's been a busy summer and I'm having so much fun with TOPII Sketch 34 that I've decided to extend this challenge for a few extra weeks. Today I'm sharing more inspiration for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 34 Extended in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. Absolutely no stamping or coloring for this card!

I used papers from the Spectrum Gardenia 12 x 12 Collection from 49 and Market. The white distressed background paper measures 5-1/2 x 4-1/4". The orange strips measure 3/4 x 

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 34 Extended. 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 turned the sketch today and moved the sentiment.

And the cluster of ephemera is from the coordinating Spectrum Gardenia Ephemera Bits pack. I wrote 'Love' on the tab and stapled it to the ephemera using the Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tiny Attacher Mini Stapler. The sentiment is adhered directly to the ephemera piece and the butterfly was popped up with foam tape.

I adhered the four orange strips to the card and popped up the large ephemera piece with foam tape. I'm having a blast with this sketch! Now there's more time to play along... I hope you'll join in the fun! Have an ink-tastic week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Flowers Anya ~ Preview Day 1 ~ The Greeting Farm

 Hello there crafty friend!

It's the first day of previews at The Greeting Farm for the amazing July release! This is a really fun release!! Be sure to check out The Greeting Farm blog each day this week!

I stamped Anya, the cute little flower pot, and the butterfly with Memento Tuxedo black ink and colored the images up with Copic Markers. I fussy cut them all on the line and colored the edges of the fussy cutting with a Memento Tuxedo Black marker making the fussy cutting all nice and neat. 

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

Skin: E000, E00, E11, E04

Hair: E31, E33, E37, E39

Bow / Dress / Shoes: R20, R14, R27

Pink Flowers: RV10, RV02, Y11, Y15

Red Flowers: R20, R14, Y15

Blue Flowers: B000, B00, B93, B97

Leaves: YG11, G94

Flower Pot: B00, B93, B97

Butterfly: B0000, B000

I made a fun background using the My Favorite Summer 6x6 Paper Pad from Echo Park Paper Co. The dark blue papers that cover the card measure 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". The yellow striped papers measure 4 x 5-1/4". The floral paper measures 4 x 1-3/4" and the dark blue mat for the floral paper measures 4-1/4 x 2".

I adhered all of my layers together and then adhered them to a white A2 top fold card base. I adhered the butterfly to the card. I adhered the little flower pot to the bottom of Anya's flower bouquet and then I popped them both up with foam tape. I stamped the sentiment, trimmed it and popped it up on the card, as well, with foam tape.

This darling new Anya is just too cute! Release goes live in the store on the 15th at 12am EST.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal