Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 41 ~ Garfield ~ Rubbernecker Stamps

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing more inspiration for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 41 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. A fun owl card!

I inked up the cute Garfield owl from Rubbernecker Stamps and colored it with some Copic markers that coordinated with my papers. I used the Garfield Die to die cut him. Sadly, Rubbernecker Stamps is no longer in business. I believe it was actually taken over by Brass & Bliss Craft Co. but I couldn't find this cute stamp anywhere to share with you all.

Copic Markers used:

Owl: W1, W3, W5, W7

Eyes: Y11, Y15, Y38

Beak / Feet: YR15, YR27

Cup: BG10, BG01, BG72

I paired up Mr. Garfield with the Ninth Street paper pad from The Paper Studio AKA Hobby Lobby. I just love the mix of colors in these papers! And the designs are fun too. I thought it was fun to die cut circles from the circle papers. I used the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies} from Unity.

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 used larger circles and replaced the middle circle with the owl. 

All the pattern papers are adhered directly to a white card base. I stamped and trimmed the sentiment from the retired Hoot Hoot Hooray stamps from Unity. I popped up Garfield and the sentiment with foam tape. 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

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 67 ~ Rustic Christmas Owl ~ Pajama Crafter Stamps

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with a little inspiration for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 67 hosted in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! Today I'm sharing a sweet Christmas card featuring a darling stamp set from our amazing Sponsor Pajama Crafter Stamps! This month's prize is a $25 store voucher to Pajama Crafter Stamps! Woohoo!

I stamped the sweet owl from the Rustic Christmas Owl Stamp Set with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it with some Copic markers. And then I fussy cut it on the line except around the fringe on the end of the scarf and around the pine needles. I colored the edges of my fussy cutting with a Memento Tuxedo black marker to help tidy up the edges.

Copic markers used:

Hat: C0, C2, R20, R14, R37

Scarf: R20, R14, R37

Beak / Feet: YR21, YR15, YR27

Eyes: C0, C2, E50, E53

Feathers: E50, E53, E25, E57, BG000, BG02

Stump / Pinecone: E53, E55, E57

Leaves / Pine Needles: YG11, G24, G46

Berries: R14, R37

I paired up the sweet owl with the Winter Parade Paper Pack. I just adore the colors in these papers!! I used a square die from my stash to die cut the layers behind the owl. I popped up the owl with foam tape and adhered the rest of my layers, including the beautiful sentiment that I fussy cut. I finished up the card with a few white enamel dots from my stash.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 67 for the month of March. If you're interested in seeing a bunch more inspiration for this sketch, check out the amazing inspiration from the design team over on the {BYSH} Cardmakers blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

~ Friends of Unity February 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop for February 2026!! Woohoo! I'm excited for this month's cue... 

Today we are sharing Sassy inspiration! Haha... yay! I made 3 fun cards to share with you all today.

My first card features the sassiest little leprechaun kitty from Zero Luck Given. Isn't it just too cute?! I had so much fun coloring him up with my Copic markers.

Copic markers used:

Kitty: YR20, YR15, YR27; plus some white gel pen

Eyes: C0, C2

Hat: YG00, YG11, YG09, N0, N1, N3, N5, Y15, Y28

Clovers: YG00, YG11, YG09

White Clover: V12

Stems / Grass: YG00, YG23

 

I actually started with my fun background for this card. I ink smooshed a panel of white card stock with Twisted Citron and Lucky Clover Distress Inks. And then I stamped the clovers from the awesome new February 2026 KOM called A Gentle Plot Twist. These gorgeous clovers are also available separately in The Luck of Knowing You stamp kit. I colored over the clovers with Copic markers to help them pop a bit more on the panel. I used YG00 and YG09.

I die cut the ink smooshed background using a stitched die from the Zig-Zag Rectangles {nesting dies}. My mat of True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink was also die cut using the slightly larger zig zag die from the same set. I adhered these layers to a card base of  Tropical Teal card stock from Papertrey Ink. I fussy cut the cute kitty leaving a white border and popped him up on the card with foam tape. I trimmed the sentiment and popped that up with foam tape too.

I went with a coffee theme for my second card. I inked up my favorite chicken from the October 2025 Uniquely Unity membership called Don't Cluck with My Coffee. She's my fave because I requested her and BAM, Ang delivered. Isn't she wonderful!? She's definitely got my coffee vibe going on. And that sentiment... hahahaha!!! Love it!

I wanted a simple one layer card for this one so I pulled out a couple stencils and created a fun, yet subtle, coffee background directly on my card base. I blended Antique Linen Distress Ink over the Falling Dots stencil from A Colorful Life Designs. And then I decided to color the last dot on each row with white Prismacolor pencil. Why? I'm really not sure... it was a whim. I like it on the top portion of the card but it's a little too much on the bottom. IMHO. The creative ideas don't always work! Whatcha going to do?! I then blended Vintage Photo Distress Ink over the Mini Coffee stencil from The Crafters Workshop. I could have sworn I had a stencil from Unity with a coffee theme, but I could not find it. Maybe I'm mixing it up with a die. Anyone know?!  

I stamped the chicken with Black Amalgam ink on Stampers Select white card stock from Papertrey Ink and colored her up with Copic markers. I found a scrap of Kraft card stock from Papertrey Ink in my stash that I used to ground the chicken. I distressed the edges of my card and the scrap using Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I adhered the sentiment directly to the card and added a couple scraps behind the back of the chicken {head, body & mug} so she'd lay flat on the card.

Copic Markers used:

White: C0, C2

Head / Tail Feathers: Y11, Y15, R22

Curlers: R20, R22, YR68

Glasses: Y11, Y15, Y38

Beak / Feet: YR20, YR16, YR27

Wattles: R20, R14, R27

Mug: BG10, BG34, E21, E18

Ground: E000, E21

My last card is a mix of old and new... I've been cataloging my Unity stamps in Google Sheets. So I finally had an opportunity to mark some of my retired stamps. I use a color system using circle dots. It's a whole thing. Maybe I'll share one day when I get closer to done. Anywho... my whole point was that now that I'm getting to know which stamps are retired, I plan to use them each month for our hop. At least one if I have one that works with our cue... AND I remember. Haha! Because it's also a good chance that these stamps haven't seen ink yet. And that's a shame so I'm going to try to fix that. I paired up the sweet and slightly sassy owl from Strange Bird with the awesome Thinkin' Out Loud stamps.

The pattern paper in my background is from the Rainbow Wishes {paper pack}. I adhered it to a white A2 top fold card base. I stamped the sweet owl from Strange Bird on a panel of white card stock using Black Amalgam ink. I colored up the owl with Copic markers and then decided to add some splatters. So I stamped the bird again on a post it note and fussy cut it making a mask. I die cut the panel using a die from the Postage Stamp {nesting dies}. I used iCraft Pixie tape to tape the edges and applied my mask and then I splattered the background with some Uncharted Marine Distress Ink. I also did a tiny bit of Apple Barrel black acrylic paint. Way more splatters than I intended, but it is what it is!

Copic markers used:

Owl: E21, E23, E25

Beak: YR20, YG15

Hat: Y11, Y15, Y38, G000, G82, YG21, YG91, YG93

Cliff: C0, C1, C3, C5, B95

I wrapped the top corner of the die cut with May Arts Black Burlap String and then tied it into a bow on the bottom corner. I added a bunch of foam tape to the back of the panel and popped it up on the card. And then I stamped the Thinkin' Out Loud word bubble and sentiment on a scrap of white card stock. I used an acetate grid sheet to make sure the sentiment was straight-ish. And then I popped it up on the card {tilted - haha!} using foam tape. I finished the card off with a few pieces of White Glossy Card Bling from A Colorful Life Designs.

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...

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

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

Please claim the prize before March 4th, 2026. 

Well, that's it for me this time! I sure hope you'll 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

Jenni

Rachel

Toni

Doreen

Dawn

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Advent Calendar 2025 Day 22 ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

It's Day 22 of the 2025 Advent Calendar from Unity!! Just a couple days to Christmas! What's on your to do list?! I need to finish wrapping gifts! Yikes!

Today's stamp is a super cute owl. I stamped him with Vintage Photo Distress ink. And die cut him and his layers using dies from the Scallops & Squares {nesting dies}. Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used: W0, W1.

You can check out my video revealing the Advent Calendar Day 22 stamp and my process in making this card here... Unity Advent Calendar 2025 Day 22 | Unity Stamp Co.

Inspiration for my card came from the {BYSHC} Sketch 47! I had fun with the layers in this sketch! 

I'm just smitten with this cute owl! The detail in this small stamp is amazing!

I paired up the sweet owl with the Rainbow Wishes {paper pack}. The sweet sentiment is from the Windowsill Woodlands stamps.

I'll be back tomorrow for Day 23 of the 2025 Advent Calendar from Unity!

Have an INKredible day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

One Of A Kind ~ One Of A Kind Big Kit ~ The Greeting Farm

 Hello there crafty friend!

 Today I'm sharing a sweet card featuring one of the cuties from the One of a Kind Big Kit from The Greeting Farm! How stinkin' cute is this sweet bean dressed up as an owl?! Love her! It's not currently available in the store but you can always request it in the Farmers Market. 

I heat embossed the cute little flower with white pigment ink and white embossing powder on white card stock. And then I did a bit of ink smooshing and blending with Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry, and Festive Berries Distress Ink on a white card front. 

I inked up the owl bean and another flower with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored them with Copic markers. I fussy cut her on the line and then I used a Memento Tuxedo Black marker to color the edges of my fussy cutting. This makes the cutting look nice and neat.

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

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Hair: Y11, E43, E44

Owl: W0, W2, W3, W5

Owl Beak: YR20, YR15, YR27, N2, N4

Owl Eyes: YG00, YG21, YG11

Flower: RV10, RV02, Y11, Y15

I die cut the ink smooshed panel with a pretty rectangle die from Poppy Stamps called Double Stitch Scalloped Rectangle Frames. I masked the top portion of the sentiment because it wouldn't all fit and then I stamped the sentiment with the Festive Berries Distress Ink.

I popped up the cutie bean with foam tape. I hope I've inspired you to get inky! Have a wonderful day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Membership Wednesday ~ August 2025 Uniquely Unity Windowsill Woodlands ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

Happy Membership Wednesday! Today I'm sharing a fun card to brighten anyone's day featuring the adorable owl from the August 2025 Uniquely Unity membership along with the cute background stamp from the August 2025 Background of the Month membership. 

I stamped the awesome background on Kraft card stock using Gathered Twigs Distress Ink. I blended some Vintage Photo Distress Ink over the panel and then die cut it using the largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set.

I then blended some Gathered Twigs Distress Ink around the edges of the die cut panel. I stamped the heart again on a scrap of Kraft card stock and blended a bit of Candied Apple Distress Ink in the center. I fussy cut the heart and set it aside. I stamped the adorable owl with Black Amalgam ink and colored it with Copic markers. I used a Sakura White Gelly roll pen to add some spots to the owl.

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

Owl: E000, E11, E25

Beak: YR20, YR15, YR68, YR27

Eyes: YG21, YG11

I fussy cut the owl and adhered it to the heart and then I popped up the heart on the card with foam tape. Can you see the hint of dimension? I cut three pieces of Natural May Arts Burlap String and tied them around the panel with a bow. And then I glued the panel to a Kraft A2 top fold card base. I heat embossed the sentiment on Kraft card stock and distressed the edges lightly with the residual ink on my brown blending brush.

Here's a quick look at this month's Uniquely Unity membership!

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

Well, that's it for me today! I hope you've been inspired to play with your membership stamps! Have an INKriffic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

~ Friends of Unity February 2025 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! This month's cue is super fun!

It's Monochromatic. I love this cue! 

We've done it once or twice now and I love seeing the variation in creations.

First up, I'm sharing the ATCs that I made for last month's Unity Lovers ATC swap. I ink smooshed 14 ATC panels of Stampers Select White card stock from Papertrey Ink measuring 2-1/2 x 3-1/2" using Black Soot Distress Ink leaving some white space. I then spattered the panel with Apple Barrel Black Acrylic Paint thinned with just a spritz or two of water. Once the panels were all dry, I die cut them using a fun ATC Layers die from Waffle Flower.

I stamped the adorable owl from the Cozy Vibes Owl stamps multiple times in my Stamp Platform with Black Amalgam ink. I didn't color them at all, just left them black and white. These stamps have so much detail you really don't need to color them. I fussy cut them leaving a tiny border around the edges. I adhered all of my layers to a 2-1/2 x 3-1/2" ATC panel of True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink. These took some time because of how many there were to make, but I really love how they turned out. 

You may have seen the cards I shared last Wednesday for Membership Wednesday using the Damask Grunge Background of the Month stamp from January 2025 along with the December 2024 Faded Roses BOM. I was on a roll and couldn't stop so I also stamped the background using Lost Shadow Distress Ink with the Damask Grunge BOM and Black Soot Distress Ink with the Faded Roses BOM. The sentiment is from the Extended Celebration {Front & Center Stamps}. I heat embossed it with white pigment ink, white embossing powder, and melted it with a heat tool. The background panels were die cut using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}.

 For my last card I ink smooshed the right side of a Stampers Select White card front panel measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink. The left side of the card is white {though in the photo it has a blue tinge - no clue}.

I dried the panel completely with my heat tool. And then I stamped the gorgeous butterfly from the February 2024 Kit of the Month called Grace and More Grace using Mermaid Lagoon and Peacock Feathers Distress Inks. I stamped it twice with Mermaid Lagoon for nice coverage and then one time with Peacock Feathers to give it a bit of that teal look more than a dark blue.

I did the same thing with the fun sentiment from the January 2025 Kit of the Month called Kinda Made for Each Other. I trimmed the panel cutting 1/16" off each side so the butterfly would stay center so now it measures 4-1/8 x 5-3/8". I adhered it to a white A2 top fold card base. I finished off the card with a few raindrop embellishments from my stash. I love how this one turned out! I'm determined to send out more cards this year. I always have good intentions but time seems to slip by and I forget about it. No more! I'm going to send out those paper hugs! And this will be one of them. It was such a super quick card too!

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...

... Linda Abel!! Congratulations, Linda!!

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

Please claim the prize before February 26th, 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 this month's cue. I wonder how many went with black & white or if we'll see more colors! 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 ---> Kari

Jenni

April

Toni

Rachel

 Amber

Dawn

Doreen

Joyce

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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January Scraps Cards ~ Penguin Hugs & Cozy Vibes Owl ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing the last two cards I created using the leftover scraps I opened up way back in October 2024. Goodness! My plan to use up scraps each month has been going way too slow! I need to up my game a bit. BUT I am so happy to finally be finishing off these papers!

I've shared this fun technique before here and here. For these two cards I cut 1/2" strips of the pattern papers and adhered them to a thin white card stock panel {I recommend using copy paper if you plan on die cutting the panels} leaving a little bit of room. I didn't measure it or anything... just eyeballed it. I then cut these into 1/2" strips. These papers are from a company that's no longer in business, unfortunately. I love them! Now that these papers are finished up, I'll pick out another pack and share them next week for the new TOPII Sketch 29 that starts on January 28th.

For my first card, I adhered all of the pattern paper horizontally across the white card stock and then I cut 1/2" strips. I adhered those strips to another piece of white card stock with a bit of space in between them making a fun pattern. I trimmed the panel down to 4 x 5-1/4" and adhered it to a white A2 card base measuring 4-1/4 x 11"; scored at 5-1/2".

I stamped the adorable Penguin Hugs with Black Amalgam ink and colored it just a little bit with C00, C1, C3, BV0000, BV11. I die cut the sweet penguin using a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}.

I stamped the sentiment, trimmed it up and then adhered it to the scalloped circle. I added foam tape to the back of both and popped them up on the card.

For my second card I used the same 1/2" strips of the pattern paper, but I adhered them diagonally to a panel of white card stock. And then I cut the strips vertically. I then adhered the strips horizontally on another piece of white card stock leaving a little bit of space in between the strips. This panel was trimmed down to 3-3/4 x 5".

I stamped the adorable owl from the Cozy Vibes Owl stamps with Black Amalgam ink and die cut it with another circle die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. I colored the owl a little bit with C00, C1, and C3.

I stamped the sentiment and trimmed it. Added foam tape to the back of both and popped them up on the panel. I then trimmed off the excess hanging over the edges and adhered the panel to a white A2 top fold card base. Two cute cards for my wintry/holiday stash and another paper pack done!! Woohoo!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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