~ Friends of Unity July 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend & Happy 4th of July!!!

It's time for another Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! Woohoo! This month's cue is lots of fun because it's a challenge that we are hosting in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group. I sure hope that you can find some time to play along with us! 

Today we are sharing inspiration for a fun Color Challenge!! A nod to America's 250th!! But it's not a 4th of July themed challenge - if that's how you are inspired though, go for it! We're just looking for fun and creative cards using the red, white & blue color combo. There are 4 fabulous prizes up for grabs for 3 lucky winners!! All you have to do is enter a card into the Color Challenge album in the Unity Show & Tell FB group.

I was inspired to use the new Sweet Bee Blooms stamp that's available separately or in the July 2026 Kit of the Month called Ahead of the Holiday Herd. Isn't it amazing?!!

Other than my addition of neutral black, I kept strictly to the color combo. A little out of my comfort zone giving the bees a little shading to keep them white and also keeping the centers of the flowers white with a little shading, but I think it turned out pretty.

Copic markers used:

Red: R20, R14, R27

Shadows for White: C0, C2

Blue: B000, B02, B24

I tore the edges of my layers and adhered them to a white A2 top fold card base. And finished it off with the sentiment that I popped up with foam tape. Kept it easy peasy and only made one card this time. My back is getting better but I'm still being careful not to sit too long and doing my stretches and exercises. Thanks to all those who are praying for me. I appreciate the get well wishes, too.

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...

... Carla from Arizona!! Congratulations, Carla!!

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

Please claim the prize before July 29th, 2026. 

I'm also sharing the winners for our friend Dawn. She wasn't able to participate this month but wanted to share her winners so I'm sharing them here. The lucky winners are... Meghan K. and Vannessa Osbourn. Please reach out to Dawn at lovepaperetc@gmail.com to claim your prize.

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 ---> Von Marie

Jenni

Rachel

Toni

Joyce

Doreen

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

~ 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

Inky Paws Challenge #242 ~ Color Challenge {Week 4}

Hello there crafty friend!

 There's just a few more days to play along with the Inky Paws Challenge #242 - Color Challenge! You have until this coming Friday, August 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 #242 - Color Challenge

I hope you're having fun with this color combo... Cotton Candy Pink, Orange Sherbet, Turquoise, and Royal Blue!! I couldn't help but make more birthday cards using products from the new release!

The new Card Layout 3 Die makes easy work of a fun background. I thought I'd use two pieces of patter paper and make two cards from the backgrounds I created. Easy peasy! I die cut pattern papers from the Birthday Time 6x6 Paper Pad. The colors in these papers are just PURR-fect for this challenge!

I stamped two adorable cats from the Cat Birthday Party Stamp Set. Colored them with Copic markers and then die cut them with the coordinating Cat Birthday Party Die Set. 

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used for my first card:

Cats: R00, R20, N2, N4, N6, C0, C2

Orange:YR20, YR15

Pink: RV10, RV52

Turquoise: BG000, BG01

Royal Blue: B02, B24, B28

Cake: E21, E23

I stamped the fun balloons and birthday cake from the Birthday Postage Sampler Stamp Set. I colored them up and then die cut them with the coordinating Birthday Postage Sampler Die Set.

I die cut the 'Happy Birthday' sentiment from pattern paper using the Happy Birthday Die. I die cut shadows from white card stock and adhered them together. And then I adhered all of the fun images to the card.

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 Cotton Candy Pink, Orange Sherbet, Turquoise, and Royal Blue. 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 #242 ~ Color Challenge {Week 3}

Hello there crafty friend!

 Sharing some more inspiration for the Inky Paws Challenge #242 - Color Challenge! You have until Friday, August 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 #242 - Color Challenge

Have you seen the new release over at Newton's Nook Designs? I am loving all of the fun new birthday goodies and just had to play with some to share with you today. Our colors for the challenge are Cotton Candy Pink, Orange Sherbet, Turquoise, and Royal Blue!! 

I used the awesome new Card Layout 3 Die for a fun background for my card. I love this new die!! I paired it up with the fabulous new Birthday Time 6x6 Paper Pad. The colors in these papers are just PURRFECT for this month's Color Challenge!

I die cut the sentiment from white card stock using the new Happy Birthday Die. I Copic colored the 'Happy' and 'Birthday' with BG000 and BG01. 

I adhered the sentiment to the card and got to thinking it would be fun to add a little something on top of the sentiment so I stamped the cute kitty from the Cat Birthday Party Stamp Set. I colored it up with Copic markers and die cut it using the coordinating Cat Birthday Party Die Set. And then I finished off the card with a few white enamel dots.

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

Cat: YR20, YR15, YR27, C0, C2, R00, R20

Balloon: BG000, BG01

Noisemaker: B02, B24, B28, RV10, RV52

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 Cotton Candy Pink, Orange Sherbet, Turquoise, and Royal Blue. 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 #242 ~ Color Challenge {Week 2}

Hello there crafty friend!

It's week two of the Inky Paws Color Challenge! We're playing with a fun mix of colors this month for a Color Challenge! I sure hope that you'll join us and play along with your Newton's Nook Designs products! You have until Friday, August 1st to get your entries in for the #242 Color Challenge and a chance to win a $20 store credit to Newton's Nook Designs!

Inky Paws Challenge #242 - Color Challenge

Our lovely colors are... Cotton Candy Pink, Orange Sherbet, Turquoise, and Royal Blue!! This beautiful color combo is perfect for any occasion! I shared a fun birthday coffee card last week and this week I'm sharing a Halloween card! So fun!

I noticed the colors for this month's challenge worked pretty well with the colors in the Halloween Party 6x6 Paper Pad sooo... I decided to make a Halloween card! I love making Halloween cards! I started with my paper layers for this one. The pink striped papers measure 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". I die cut the argyle papers using a die from the Framework Die Set.

I stamped the adorable costume clad kitties from the Trick or Treat Newton Stamp Set with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored them up with Copic markers. I die cut them using the coordinating Trick or Treat Newton Die Set. And then I set them aside to create my little scene.

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

Pirate Kitty: R00, R20, N2, N4, C0, C2

Pirate Costume: B02, B24, B28, C0, C2, RV10, RV52

Pumpkin Kitty: R00, R20, C0, C2

Pumpkin Costume: YG20, YR15, E21, E25

Astronaut Kitty: R00, R20, YR20, YR15, YR27

Astronaut Costume: BG000, BG01, B02, B24, B28, YR20, YR15, RV10, RV52

Moon / Stars: Y11, Y15, YR20, YR15

Clouds: C0, C2

I die cut the fun haunted house from the Haunted House Die Set two times... once from black card stock and again from white card stock. I colored the white windows using Copic markers. I cut a piece of black card stock to ground the fun Halloween kitties. And then I assembled the haunted house directly on the panel. I adhered the cute kitties right over top. I then die cut the moon, stars, and clouds from white card stock using dies from the Spooky Sky Die Set. I colored them with Copic markers and adhered them to the focal panel. I stamped and trimmed the sentiment and adhered it to the bottom left corner of the panel. And then I added foam tape to the back of the panel including the sentiment and bits of clouds off the edge and popped the panel up on the card.

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 Cotton Candy Pink, Orange Sherbet, Turquoise, and Royal Blue. 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 #242 ~ Color Challenge {Week 1}

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for a new Inky Paws Challenge! We're playing with a fun mix of colors this month for a Color Challenge! I sure hope that you'll join us and play along with your Newton's Nook Designs products! Don't forget... our challenges are a whole month long so there's lots of time to play along! Yay! You have until Friday, August 1st to get your entries in for the #242 Color Challenge and a chance to win a $20 store credit to Newton's Nook Designs!

Inky Paws Challenge #242 - Color Challenge

Our beautiful colors are... Cotton Candy Pink, Orange Sherbet, Turquoise, and Royal Blue!! Love this pretty combination of colors!

I stamped the beautiful coffee themed heart from the Heartfelt Coffee Stamp Set with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored up all the coffee cups with Copic markers. 

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used for the kitty and heart:

White: C0, C2

Cotton Candy Pink: RV10, RV52

Orange Sherbet: YR20, YR15

Turquoise: BG000, BG01, BG05

Royal Blue: B02, B24, B28

Coffee: E21, E25

'BREW': RV10, RV52

I die cut the heart using a die from the Heart Frames Die Set, but the scrap of white card stock wasn't big enough. Poor planning on my part! LOL! So I trimmed around the stitching on the heart and adhered it to another heart that I die cut from another piece of white card stock. 

I made a fun background using three of the colors and the Plaid Stencil Set. I blended

Kitsch Flamingo and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks over the first stencil in the set. And then I blended Broken China Distress Ink over the second stencil to finish off the pattern. I really like how it turned out. I popped up the heart and the sentiment using foam tape.

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 Cotton Candy Pink, Orange Sherbet, Turquoise, and Royal Blue. 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 #239 ~ Color Challenge {Week 4}

Hello there crafty friend!

 There's just a few more days to play along with the Inky Paws Challenge #239 - Color Challenge! You have until this coming Friday, May 2nd 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 #239 - Color Challenge

I hope you're having fun with this color combo... Dusty Violet, Spring Green, Sunshine Yellow, and Cocoa Brown!! I couldn't help but make one more Easter card! I know... Easter's over, but I'll save this one for next year.

I stamped the adorable kitty and peeps from the Newton's Peeps Stamp Set using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and I colored them all up with Copic markers. I die cut the cute kitty and peeps using the coordinating Newton's Peeps Die Set.

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

Kitty: R00, R20, C00, C2

Collar: V000, V12, V15, Y15, Y28

Peeps: Y11, Y15, YR23

Basket: E21, E23, E25

Ruffle: YG11, YG03, YG63

Flower: V000, V12, V15, Y15

Bow: V000, V12, V15

I paired up these cuties with a few scrap pieces of the beautiful Pastel Basics 6x6 Paper Pad. I love this simple yet fun design! The pattern paper scraps are all die cut using a fun stitched die from the Frames Squared Die Set. They are all adhered directly to the Kraft card base. I popped up the kitty and peeps with foam tape.

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 Dusty Violet, Spring Green, Sunshine Yellow, and Cocoa 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

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Inky Paws Challenge #239 ~ Color Challenge {Week 3}

Hello there crafty friend! Happy Easter!

 Sharing some more inspiration for the Inky Paws Challenge #239 - Color Challenge! You have until Friday, May 2nd 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 #239 - Color Challenge

Such a gorgeous color combo for any occasion but this time I had to make an Easter card. Our colors for the challenge are Dusty Violet, Spring Green, Sunshine Yellow, and Cocoa Brown!! 

I stamped the cute images from the Easter Postage Sampler Stamp Set using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Colored them up with my Copic markers and then I die cut them using the coordinating die from the Easter Postage Sampler Die Set.

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

Bunny: E21, E23, E25, C00, C2

Eggs: YG11, YG03, YG63, V000, V12, V15, Y11, Y15

Tulip: V000, V12, V15, YG11, YG03, YG63

I used some scraps leftover from a previous card that I had die cut using the Postage Stamp Layout Dies. I blended lightly with Vintage Photo Distress Ink over the little rectangle pieces. And then I cut three slightly larger rectangles and adhered the little postage pieces together. This gave them a little more stability. I adhered the cute images to the postage pieces and set them aside.

I blended a fun background on the front of a white A2 top fold card base using the Bunny Tails Stencil Set. I blended the bunny outlines with Villainous Potion keeping it light. And then I blended the little bunny tails with Wilted Violet Distress Ink. I die cut the beautiful sentiment from the Happy Easter Die three times from Kraft card stock. I adhered them all together to give the sentiment some dimension. I die cut the shadow layers from white card stock. I played around with the placement of all of the pieces for way too long... LOL... until I settled on the above. I really 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 Dusty Violet, Spring Green, Sunshine Yellow, and Cocoa 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.}