~ Friends of Unity June 2025 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! This month's cue is the only one that we do annually! I love seeing all of the inspiration for this cue!

This month's cue is MASCULINE! I don't know about you but sometimes I really struggle with making masculine cards. But for this hop I made a couple cute cards that I think have a masculine flair.

First up a fun Dad day card I made using the super fun Dad Mode Grumpy Bunny. I LOVE this bunny! He is just too cute. And the sentiment is funny.

I stamped the bunny and sentiment with Black Amalgam ink. I colored the bunny with Copic markers and then I die cut the bunny with a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. I trimmed up the sentiment and popped them both up on the card with foam tape.

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

Bunny: C0, C2, C3, R00, R20

Eyes: C0, C2, R00

Robe: E11, E25, YG95, G99

Ground: C2, C3

I went with a simple but fun design. I cut some of my precious Basic Grey stash... **YIKES** I know! But I have so much and it's just sitting there collecting dust. Why not put it to good use?! These are the Archaic papers. SO perfect for a masculine card! I cut a triangle from this fun striped designed paper and adhered it over another pattern paper from the pad. I then cut 1/8" strips of black card stock and adhered those on either side of the triangle for a faux mat. I thought that would be WAY easier than trying to cut a triangle mat. 

Next up is a cute Father's Day card featuring the adorable Turtley stamp. Such a super cute stamp! I love it! This one was so much fun to color too! The sentiment is from the Best Tool in the Box stamps. Another great stamp kit for Father's Day cards.

I colored up the turtle with some Copic markers and then I die cut the panel with a die from the Scallops & Squares {nesting dies}. 

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

Turtle: YG21, BG000, YG11

Shell: YG21, BG000, YG11, E21, E23, E29

Ground: YG11, G94

Sky: BG000

Flowers: Y11, YR23, YR15, YG11, G94

I used the same paper pack for this one as the bunny card... the Archaic paper pad from Basic Grey. The shapes and colors in these papers just scream MASCULINE!! Anywho, I used a past {BYSHC} sketch for my design. Having all these sketches in my arsenal sure makes the card designing easy peasy. I die cut the paper under the turtle using the next size up. I finished off the card by popping up the turtle and the sentiment. I think my husband will like this one or maybe I'll give him the other one. Not sure.

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...

... Meg Crawford!! Congratulations, Meg!!

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

Please claim the prize before July 2nd, 2025. 

Well, that's it for me this time! Please hop along and enjoy some more inspiration from the Friends of Unity! I can't wait to see how our friends were inspired by the Masculine 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 ---> Doreen

Jenni

Kari

Toni

Joyce

Rachel

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{Please note that comment moderation is ON. Your comment will appear shortly.}

~ Friends of Unity June 2023 Blog Hop ~

   Hello there crafty friend!

It's the first Saturday of June which means it's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! This month's cue has become an annual theme. It's one that us card makers are always looking for ideas and inspiration for our makes. I hope that you'll hop along with us this month and find lots of inspiration from our friends. Now, onto our cue this month... 

... Masculine. Yup! Those cards for the guys in our lives. Sometimes masculine cards can be tough. I'm sharing a couple of easy masculine card ideas that never fail. Let's get to it...

Brown on Kraft - Monochromatic Earth Tones

I'm excited to share my first card because it's also a sneak peek of a new stamp that will be releasing in just a few days. And yes, I got permission to share early. Woot woot! Thank you Ang & Whit!! I'm super excited about this upcoming release... it's Tuesday, by the way. Unity is releasing some super cool background stamps... a collaboration with Brutus Monroe, along with some other wonderful stamps. I just adore the Wrinkle background stamp. I inked it up for my background on Kraft card stock using Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, and Ground Espresso Distress Oxide inks with a spritz of water here and there. It almost gives the background a leather vibe. Don'tcha think?!

I just love the texture that it gives the card. I also die cut the background with the recently released Deckle & Stitches Nesting die set. So excited to get these amazing dies in my recent order. Can't wait to use them more! So fun! I also stamped a fun background using the large fonts from the Favorite Dad stamps. I used the same three distress oxides to stamp those. I actually stamped a larger panel so I might just use the leftovers for another card. I laid the sentiment background over the Wrinkle background and then I placed the large deckle die overtop and secured it to the sentiment background with a couple pieces of washi tape. I then pulled it away and die cut it. Then I adhered the pieces together.

Did you notice the design for my card?! It's the sketch I recently shared in my Tawny Owl Paperie | Inky Inspiration Facebook group. It's also the same sketch that I used for one of my cards in last month's Inspired By hop. I just loved the card design so much I had to turn it into a sketch. I'm actually hosting a challenge in my group for this sketch with a fun prize. I hope you'll join us and play along! 

The cute mustache was stamped with Vintage Photo and then I swiped the Ground Espresso ink down the stamp adding a cool texture to the mustache. I don't think you can see it as well in the photo though. It was die cut with a plain circle die and then adhered to a Dark Chocolate card stock mat from Papertrey Ink that was die cut using the smallest stitched circle die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. The sentiment, also from the Favorite Dad stamps, is stamped with Ground Espresso ink. I die cut it using the recently released Scalloped & Stitched Sentiment Nesting dies. I also used a slightly larger die to die cut a mat for the sentiment from Early Espresso card stock from Stampin' Up. The sentiment is adhered directly to the card and the mustache is popped up with foam tape. Brown on Kraft is always awesome for a guy card.

Nature Scene Cards

My second card features the sweet Happy and Cozy stamps. I had a blast playing with my ZIG Clean Color Real Brush markers. I used a couple of fun watercolor techniques for this card. I actually recorded my progress while I made this one. I'm hoping to share it soon {video is now below}. The background was created with a few blue ZIGS and a green one. It was actually really easy and it turned out pretty nice.

I dried the background with my heat tool and then stamped the trees using the ZIGs to color and then stamp each part. It was a tiny bit time consuming but it was fun coloring directly on the stamp. I played around a bit with the background until I was happy with it and die cut it with the deckle stitched die. Loving this die for guy cards! I stamped the cabin on a scrap of Canson XL watercolor paper using Black Amalgam ink from Gina K Designs. I used a few ZIGs to color up the cabin. Once it was dry, I fussy cut it. I colored the edges of the cabin using a Memento Tuxedo black marker. This is a great tip for making fussy cutting look nice and neat. 

You can check out my process video here... Watercolor Techniques featuring Happy and Cozy | Unity Stamp Co.

I stamped the sentiment from Favorite Dad stamps again... this time I heat embossed it with Sugar Cube Pigment ink from Taylored Expressions and Alabaster White embossing powder from Brutus Monroe on Early Espresso card stock from Stampin' Up. I just trimmed the sentiment this time and adhered it to the card. To finish off this card, I added a few more stars using a white gel pen. Nature cards are another great idea for guy cards. 

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...

... Vannessa Osbourn!! Congratulations Vannessa!!

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! Please hop along and enjoy some more inspiration from the Friends of Unity! I'm so excited to hop and check out all the pretty creations shared by our friends!! I can't wait to see the masculine cards our friends have made to share with us. 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

Kim

Jane

Tammy

Colleen

Bobbie Sue

April

Rachel

Gaylynn

Dawn F.

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you!!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{Please note that comment moderation is ON. Your comment will appear shortly.}

Happy Father's Day ~ BBQ Gnome ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I have a cute mini slimline Father's Day card to share today using a super cute new stamp that just released over at Unity Stamp Co. I kept the design simple for this one... pretty much CAS {Clean & Simple} but with a bit of color in the background.

I just adore this new BBQ Gnome from Unity. He's so cute with his spatula and BBQ sauce. And so much fun to color!

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used to color up the cute gnome:

Skin ~ E000, E00, E11, E04

Beard / Hat ~ C00, C1, C3

Oven Mitt ~ N4, N6, R20, R17, R27

Spatula ~ C00, C1, N0, N2, N4, N6

Grill ~ N0, N2, N4, N6, E42, E44, E49

BBQ Sauce / Kebabs ~ E42, E44, E49

Grass ~ YG11, YG23

Sky ~ B0000, B00

I die cut the panel using the Wonky Stitched Mini Slimline Die from Gina Marie Designs. I cut a piece of plaid pattern paper from the Let Your Soul Wander {paper pack} to 5-3/4 x 3-3/8" and adhered it to a to the right side of a 6-1/2 x 3-1/2" black card front. Next, I adhered it to a white mini slimline card base measuring 7 x 6-1/2"; scored at 3-1/2".

A simple and pretty quick Father's Day card. Be sure to stop by Unity for their big birthday sale and new release!! Lots of wonderful new goodies!

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.}

Thanks Dad ~ The Very Best Guy ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I have a super quick masculine card to share today. I've used the wonderful new sentiment stamps for the guys called The Very Best Guy from Unity Stamp Co.!! These stamps are perfect for Father's Day or really any day.

I paired up the sentiment with the Roger Guy stamp and the Classic Garage papers from Stampin' Up. I also used a couple black and white washi tapes I think that were from Stampin' Up, but I really don't know. They are just in my stash of washi tapes.

I went with some color for 'Roger' so that he would contrast on the card. Also my husband, who used to wear black all the time, has started to wear more color so I thought I'd put him in a different shirt. Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used to color up Roger Guy:

Skin ~ E000, E00, E11, E04

Shirt ~ YG11, BG72, BG75, Colorless Blender

Jeans ~ B91, B95, B97, B99

Watch / Ring ~ N0, N2, N4, N6

Outline ~ N0, N1

Notice the cute heart...?! Well, I used the awesome new Linen Background of the Month stamp and die cut an ink smooshed background with the Fall Out Hearts {background die}. I started my card for next week's Membership Wednesday... heehee... you'll see more of these cute textured hearts next week!! In the meantime, head over to Unity and check out the amazing new releases and the fab sale going on right now!!

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.}

~ Friends of Unity June 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 one of my faves that we've done a couple times now! I can't wait to see all the creations shared by our friends today! So let's get to the cue...

... Masculine cards!! Yes! 

Masculine cards can be so hard at times, but they are absolutely necessary for those guys in our lives and with Father's Day quickly approaching I thought it would be fun to share a few ideas for Father's Day cards.

For my first card I used the cute Best Tool in the Box stamp set... I love the cute tools in this set! I thought it would be so fun to tuck those tools in a pocket and I remembered that I have a pocket stamp!! I used the adorable pocket stamp from the Pocket & Patches stamp set. There is another pocket stamp in an older KOM called A Pocket Full of... that one would probably work too. Not sure about the size of the pocket in that kit though.

I actually started with the background for this card though. I stamped the Dance with Denim background stamp onto Buckaroo Blue card stock from Stampin' Up with Stormy Sky and Faded Jeans Distress Oxide inks. I didn't ink up the background stamp fully before stamping... I inked it up randomly one color at a time. I think it gives the background a bit of a distressed look. I stamped it again with both inks for my second background and then a third time on a scrap of card stock for my pocket.

I stamped the tools with Gina K. Design Black Amalgam ink and colored them up with just a handful of Copic Markers ~ E53, E55, E57, E59, N0, N1, N3, and N4. I fussy cut the tools and cleaned up the edges by coloring them with a Memento Tuxedo black marker. To assemble the card, I mat the denim backgrounds on Kraft card stock to coordinate with the brown in the tools. I used a 1/8" circle punch to punch the holes in the rivets of the pockets and added a couple brads from my stash. I adhered just the outer edges of the pocket leaving the top open for the tools and then I tucked the tools in there adhering them with liquid glue. I stamped the sentiment with the black amalgam ink on Kraft card stock. I trimmed it up adding a layer of scrap card stock to each side of the sentiment strip so it would lay flat and then I adhered it to the card.

For my second card I used the adorable Beary Best Dad stamp set. I'm pretty sure that I haven't used this one before so I was excited to finally ink it up! It was so much fun to color too! I tried a different technique for coloring up the fur... little circles around the face and on the body. Though I think it's more noticeable on the face. I do like how it turned out!

I paired it up with some pattern papers from my stash and the colors from the papers are what inspired my coloring choices for the image. Here's a quick list of the Copic Markers I used:

Little Bear ~ E51, E53, E55, RV21

Dad Bear ~ E51, E53, E55, E57, E59, R000, R20, RV21

Hat ~ E53, E55, E57, E59

Tie ~ BG10, BG01, BG13, YG11, YG13, YR21, YR15

Bow Tie ~ YG11, YG13, YR21, YR15

Grass ~ YG11, YG13, YG17

I die cut the stamped and colored panel with the largest stitched rectangle die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies} from Unity. I adhered the two pattern papers to my white A2 top fold card base that I turned on it's side. I trimmed off the excess pattern papers and then adhered the top panel. A pretty simple, but adorable card!

And a vintage style card for the grandfather's in our lives using the beautiful You Are a Classic stamp set!! Sometimes you just need some inky time and distressing the edges for this card... so relaxing! I love the deep brown hues on the pattern paper and the Vintage Cream card stock that I used to stamp on! So rich and beautiful in person!

The pattern paper I used was just another one from my stash but it wasn't necessarily vintage in style so the distressing with Vintage Photo Distress Ink around the edges really gave it that vintage look. I stamped the beautiful vintage car background and sentiment with Gina K. Design Black Amalgam ink on Vintage Cream card stock from Papertrey Ink. I mat all of my layers with Soft Suede card stock from Stampin' Up because it coordinated with the colors in the pattern paper but I don't think it really mattered since I ended up distressing each of the layers over the mats with the Vintage Photo Distress ink.

It's been quite awhile since I've used a button on one of my cards... they are just so bulky and it's so annoying paying extra to mail bulky cards, but this card just had to have one.  I wrapped the button holes with some {Ivory} May Arts Burlap string and adhered it to the back of the button with a glue dot. I also used glue dots and a touch of Ranger Multi Media Matte to adhere the button to the card. I'm pretty sure it's not going anywhere! LOL! I popped up the focal image and the sentiment with foam tape giving some dimension to the card. Another one done... so happy with how all of these 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...

... Cat Valdez!! Congratulations, Cat!!

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! Please hop along and enjoy some more inspiration from the Friends of Unity! I can't wait to see all the gorgeous inspiration from our friends! I will be doing another fun giveaway this month!! Be sure to hop along and comment for a chance to win! I'll announce the winner next month! 

***Google/Blogger is acting weird lately so please include your name in the comments just in case the comment is posted as anonymous we'll still be able to know who commented.***

Let's get to the hopping...

Crystal <--- you're here

up next ---> Amber

Eileen

Dawn B.

Rachel

Kim

Dawn F.

Colleen

Alaine

Joyce

Robyn

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you!!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{Please note that comment moderation is ON. Your comment will appear shortly.}