~ Friends of Unity August 2025 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

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

Technique is such a broad scope for a cue... it took me a while to figure out what I wanted to make. I decided to play with my Distress Crayons again. It's been awhile.

I masked my 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" panels with iCraft Removable Pixie Tape from Therm O Web. And then I colored the masked off area with three distress crayons. For my first card, I chose Fossilized Amber, Mustard Seed, and Spiced Marmalade. I used a baby wipe to blend those colors and then removed the tape. I swiped my white pigment ink pad across the raised part just to add a touch of white.

I wanted to add some texture to my panels so I ran this one through my Big Shot with the Dot Matrix embossing folder from Tim Holtz/Sizzix. I paired up this fun background with an adorable bee from the  July 2025 Uniquely Unity Bee-Hold stamps. The die cut hexagons are cut out using the Hexagon Frames from Newton's Nook Designs.

Copic markers used: Y11, Y15, B000, C0, C2

I masked off my second panel at a diagonal. For this one I used Picked Raspberry, Spun Sugar, and Kitsch Flamingo distress crayons. I blended them with a baby wipe and then ran this one through my Big Shot with the Tattered Poinsettia embossing folder also from Tim Holtz/Sizzix.

I paired up my second panel with the beautiful Seasons of Life stamp. The sentiment is from Deck the Halls. I fussy cut the girl and adhered her and the sentiment to the card.

Copic markers used for this card:

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Hair: Y11, E43, E44

Hat / Scarf / Mittens: G000, G82, C0, C2

Coat: E21, E33, E25, R20, R22

I've kinda been on a roll with the Christmas cards so... I made another! For this one I masked the paper horizontally and I used Peacock Feathers, Salvaged Patina, and Mermaid Lagoon distress crayons. And I used a snowflake embossing folder that I believe is Tim Holtz but there's no brand name on it so I'm not sure.

I paired up this fun wintry background with the awesome Sending Christmas Smiles stamps. I adore this snowman! I fussy cut him and adhered him to the card. 

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

Snowman: C0, C2

Nose: Y11, YR20, YR15, YR68

Arm: E00, E59

Hat: N2, N4, N6

Scarf / Hat Band: R20, R14, R27

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...

... Becca Yahrling!! Congratulations, Becca!!

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

Please claim the prize before September 3rd, 2025. 

Well, that's it for me this time! It's a short hop this month with just six 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 ---> Jenni

Toni

Rachel

Dawn

Joyce

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Christmas in July 2025 {BYSHC} Linky Party ~ Bunny & Guinea: Snowman ~ Rachelle Anne Miller Stamps

 Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back for Day 2 of the Christmas in July 2025 {BYSHC} Linky Party with another cute holiday card! It was so much fun checking out the inspiration shared yesterday for the start of the Linky Party. So many wonderful cards! Today I'm sharing a card using a sweet digital stamp from our sweet Sponsor Rachelle Anne Miller Stamps, AKA RAM Stamps.

I combined and resized the digital stamp and sentiment from the Bunny & Guinea: Snowman digital stamps. Isn't that just the cutest trio!? So adorable!! I printed off the digis on white card stock and colored them up with Copic markers.

Copic markers I used:

Bunny: W0, W1, W3, C0, C2, R00, R20

Snowman: C0, C2, YR20, YR15, YR16

Hat: C0, C2, YG11, G21

Scarf: YG11, G21, R20, R14

Guinea Pig: W0, W1, W3, C0, C2, E21, E25

I ink smooshed a wintry background using Uncharted Mariner and Villainous Potion Distress Inks. Once it was dry, I die cut it with the Swirls Pierce & Cut Plate from Sponsor Taylored Expressions.

The snowy hill was die cut using a die from the Stitched Hillside Borders from Sponsor Lawn Fawn. I trimmed the background to 5-1/4 x 4" and adhered it to a white A2 card base using iCraft UltraBond Adhesive from Sponsor Therm O Web. I popped up the sentiment and the fun trio using iCraft 3D Foam Tape Jumbo Roll (white) from Therm O Web.

 Woohoo!! I'm so excited to have another card done for my stash! If you haven't already, stop by the Christmas in July 2025 {BYSHC} Linky Party to check out all the wonderful Holiday inspiration being shared!! Have a fantastic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 56 ~ Snowman Dies ~ Jaded Blossom

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with a little inspiration for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 56 hosted in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! Today I'm sharing another sweet holiday card featuring an adorable die from our fabulous Sponsor, Jaded Blossom.

I die cut all of the fun pieces for the Snowman Dies from Jaded Blossom. Here's a list of the card stock I used to build the snowman: Stampers Select White card stock, Kraft card stock, True Black card stock, Prairie Grass card stock, Orange Zest card stock, and Berry Sorbet card stock from Papertrey Ink. I also used Soft Sky card stock from Stampin' Up.

I paired up the adorable snowman with the lovely papers from the Sugar Plum 6x6 Paper Pad from My Mind's Eye. The background panel measures 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". The scene paper measures 1-3/4 x 5-1/2" on the left and 1-1/4 x 2-3/8" for the right top piece and 1-1/4 x 2-15/16". The striped paper measures 3-1/4 x 5-1/2". I adhered all of my layers to a white A2 top fold card base.

I stamped the sentiment from the Christmas Village: Post Office stamp set, also from Jaded Blossom. Sadly, it's a retired set. I thought about stamping it on vanilla card stock but chose white so that the snowman wasn't the only white on the card. What do you think? Should I have done vanilla card stock?

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 56 for the month of April. If you're interested in seeing a bit more inspiration for this sketch, check out the amazing inspiration from the design team over on the {BYSH} Cardmakers blog! The design team, as always, rocked this sketch!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Inky Paws Challenge #236 ~ Color Challenge {Week 3}

Hello there crafty friend!

 Sharing some more inspiration for the Inky Paws Challenge #236 - Color Challenge! You have until Friday, January 31st 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 #236 - Color Challenge

Such a gorgeous color combo for any occasion but this time I had to make a Christmas card. Our colors for the challenge are Cherry Red, Dreamy Turquoise, Buttery Brown, and White!! 

I stamped the super cute snowman and pup from the Holiday Heights 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 Holiday Heights Die Set.

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

Snowman: BG0000, BG10, YR21, YR15, T0, T2, T4

Hat: E30, E21, E33, T0, T2, T4, T6, R20, R14

Snowman Scarf: BG0000, BG10, BG01 R20, R14

Dog: E30, E21, E33

Dog Scarf: BG0000, BG10, BG01

I used the hill side of the Hills & Grass Stencil to mask the bottom portion of my white card base. And then I secured the Snowfall Stencil over top using washi tape. I blended some Broken China Distress Ink lightly over the stencil using a blending brush. I removed the Snowfall Stencil and then blended a bit more of the Broken China Distress Ink over the edge for a defined horizon.

I placed the card in my Mini Misti and stamped the sentiment. I added a bit of shadow under the snowman using a BG0000 Copic marker. I added foam tape behind the snowman and pup and popped them 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 Cherry Red, Dreamy Turquoise, Buttery Brown, and White. 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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I Love Winter ~ Frosty Kisses Anya ~ The Greeting Farm

 Hello there crafty friend!

I am super excited and honored to be joining The Greeting Farm Design Team!! Woohoo! I can't wait to share my projects with you all. 

Today I'm sharing a sweet winter card featuring the adorable Frosty Kisses Anya. I just adore her sweet face and her cute snowman friend.

I stamped the adorable Anya with Memento Tuxedo black ink and colored her up with Copic Markers. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find Frosty Kisses Anya on the website. But if you'd like to have her you can check out the Farmers Market and submit a request via email... maybe she'll be available for the next Farmers Market. 

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

Skin: E000, E00, E11, E04, R00, R20

Hair: E43, E44, E47

Hat: C00, C2, Y11, Y15, Y38, R00, R20

Coat: C00, C2, Y11, Y15, Y38

Buttons: N0, N2, N4, N6

Gloves: C00, C2

Boots: N0, N2, N4, N6

Dress / Leggings / Bows: V000, V12, V15

Snowman: B000, B00, YR21, YR15

I ink smooshed the background with a bit of Tumbled Glass and Wilted Violet Distress Oxide inks. And then I heat embossed several snowflakes using the cute snowflake in the stamp set. I also heat embossed the sentiment on black card stock.

I fussy cut the snowman and Anya and colored the edges of my fussy cutting with a Memento Tuxedo Black marker so it looks nice and neat. Added a bunch of foam tape to the back of Anya and popped her up on the card. Love the dimension it gives to the card! I hope I've inspired you to get inky!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Unity Advent Calendar 2024 Day 22 ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

It's Day 22 of the 2024 Advent Calendar from Unity!! Just a couple days to Christmas! What's on your agenda?! I need to finish wrapping gifts! Yikes!

Today's stamp is a super cute snowman. I stamped him with Black Amalgam ink. And fussy cut him leaving a bit of a border around the top of the snowman but I cut on the line for the bottom. Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used: C00, C1, C3, B000, B00, B91, YR21, YR15, Y28.

You can check out my video revealing the Advent Calendar Day 22 stamp and my process in making this card here... Unity Advent Calendar 2024 Day 22 | Unity Stamp Co.

Inspiration for my card came from the {BYSHC} Sketch 34! I had fun with this sketch! 

A sweet holiday card and it's a fun fold!! The card opens in the center just under the snowman's hands.

I paired up the cute snowman with the Snowy Winter Greetings {paper pack}. The sweet sentiment is from the Simple Little Wishes {itty bitty} stamps.

I'll be back tomorrow for Day 23 of the 2024 Advent Calendar from Unity!

Have an inkredible day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

 

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Membership Wednesday ~ November 2024 UU Snow Buddies & BOM Evergreen Wonderland ~ Unity Stamp Co.

  Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a sweet holiday card featuring the adorable snowman from the November 2024 Uniquely Unity membership called Snow Buddies and I paired him up with the fantastic background stamp from the November 2024 Background of the Month membership from Unity called Evergreen Wonderland. These two fabulous stamps were made for each other!!

I inked smooshed a background very lightly with Tumbled Glass and Shaded Lilac Distress Oxide inks. I purposely left a lot of white space in the background. I dried the background completely with a Wagner Precision heat tool. And then I heat embossed the fab Evergreen Wonderland on the background. I prepped the card stock with the TE Anti-Static Powder Tool, stamped with Sugar Cube White Pigment ink from Taylored Expressions and dusted the background with Alabaster White Embossing powder. And then I melted the powder with my heat tool.

I stamped the sweet snowman using Black Amalgam ink from Gina K. Designs. I colored him up with my Copic markers and then fussy cut the little scene leaving a white border around the images.

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

Snowman: B0000, B00

Nose: YR15

Hat / Scarf: C0, C1, C3, V000, V12, V15

Around the Buttons: C0, C1

Snowy Ground: B0000, B00

I cut a simple hill from white card stock and adhered it to the background. I adhered the background to a white A2 top fold card base. Stamped the sentiment, trimmed it and popped it up on the card with foam tape. I adhered the snowman scene directly to the card.

Here's a quick look at this month's Uniquely Unity membership! Isn't it just the sweetest?!

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

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

Hope you have an inktastic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 51 ~ Snowman Dies ~ Jaded Blossom

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with a little inspiration for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 51 hosted in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! Today I'm sharing a sweet Christmas card featuring a wonderful die set from our amazing sponsor, Jaded Blossom, called Snowman Dies! 

I love the fabulous selection of dies over at Jaded Blossom! I'm a huge fan of the gnome dies but I don't have any Christmas ones YET, but I recently added the adorable Snowman Dies to my collection and I couldn't wait to try them out. Aren't they just the cutest?! I love them! 

I paired up the snowmen with some pretty papers from Waffle Flower called Season's Greetings. Once I chose my papers, I was able to pick out card stock that coordinated with the colors in the papers. For the snowmen and white on the beanie I used Stampers Select White card stock from Papertrey Ink. Here's a quick list of the other card stock I used for die cutting the snowmen:

Eyes / Buttons / Top Hat: True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink

Noses: Orange Zest card stock from Papertrey Ink

Arms: Dark Chocolate card stock from Papertrey Ink

Top Hat Band / Blue Scarf / Blue Beanie: Midnight Muse card stock from Stampin' Up

Berry / Red Scarf: Pure Poppy card stock from Papertrey Ink

Holly: New Leaf card stock from Papertrey Ink

The sentiment from the Christmas Village: Post Office stamp set from Jaded Blossom is heat embossed on Pure Poppy card stock with Sugar Cube White Pigment Ink from Taylored Expressions, Alabaster White Embossing Powder from Brutus Monroe and melted with a Wagner Precision Heat Tool. I die cut the sentiment using a die from the Scalloped & Stitched Sentiment Nesting Dies from Unity.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 51 for the month of November. Loving this fun sketch! I am really enjoying all of the awesome entries, too! I hope you'll join us and play along with the sketch. If you're interested in seeing a bit more inspiration for this sketch, check out the amazing inspiration from the design team over on the {BYSH} Cardmakers blog! Lots of super cute inspiration this month from the design team.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Quick Splatter Background ~ Sending Christmas Smiles ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

I'm back with one more card for Unity's latest release. I can't get enough of all the sweet holiday stamps!! The Sending Christmas Smiles snowman is just too cute!! I love it!! This cute stamp is also available in photopolymer... {Clearly Unity} Sending Christmas Smiles. I love the options of either red rubber or clear photopolymer!!

I stamped the cute snowman and sentiment using Black Amalgam ink from Gina K. Designs and then I colored up the snowman with my Copic markers. I then fussy cut the snowman on the line, except for his arm. I left a bit of a white border so the arm wouldn't get lost in the dark background.

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

Snowman: C00, C1, C3

Nose: YR21, YR15, YR68

Hat: N2, N4, N6, B000, B00, B91, B23

Scarf: B000, B00, B91, B23

I thought I'd share the card that inspired my card for today. Do you ever CASE your own cards?! CASE stands for Copy And Share Everything. I thought it would be fun to CASE my snowman card from last year. I've been asked several times how I made this card last year so I thought it was a perfect excuse to do it again and record my progress.

This is such a simple card design! I love how quick it comes together! And it's perfect for the big stamps like the new Sending Christmas Smiles snowman and last year's Something About Christmas snowman. It would even work well with The List Guy. The only difference between the two cards, other than the card stock and the stamp, is that I didn't splatter the snowman on the Something About Christmas card.

You can check out my process video for this card here... Quick Splatter Background | Sending Christmas Smiles | Unity Stamp Co.

I adhered all of my layers together and called this one done! Love how this turned out! I hope you have an inkredible day! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Advent Calendar Day 23 ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

It's Day 23 of the 2023 Advent Calendar from Unity!! I'm revealing the Advent Calendar stamp on my YouTube channel each day and also have a short blog post. We are nearing the end, my friends!

A beautiful circle of feathers stamp is the next Advent Calendar stamp! I stamped the feathers using Mermaid Lagoon and Twisted Citron Distress Oxide inks and then die cut them using the smallest circle die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}.

Inspiration for today's card comes from the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 8. I didn't really use the measurements for this one. I used the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies} and the middle circle die {I think} for the larger circle and then the smallest circle, as I mentioned above, for the feathers.

I paired today's Advent Calendar stamp with the gorgeous Flutter Away {paper pack}. The colors in these papers!!! So gorgeous!

I adhered the smaller circle to the larger circle and then added a bunch of foam tape to the back of both and popped them up on the A2 card.

You can check out my video revealing the Advent Calendar Day 23 stamp and my process in making this card here... Advent Calendar Day 23 | Unity Stamp Co.

I'll be back tomorrow for the last day of this years Advent Calendar from Unity! 

Have an ink-tastic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

 

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Advent Calendar Day 22 ~ {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 40 ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

It's Day 22 of the 2023 Advent Calendar from Unity!! I'm revealing the Advent Calendar stamp on my YouTube channel each day and also have a short blog post. I made a fun background using today's stamp with some ink smooshing and blending.

A fun snowflake stamp is the next Advent Calendar stamp! I stamped the snowflake several times with Sugar Cube Pigment ink from Taylored Expressions over the Stampers Select White card stock from Papertrey Ink and added Alabaster White embossing powder from Brutus Monroe. Melted the embossing powder with a Wagner Precision heat tool. Then I did some ink smooshing and a bit of ink blending using TE Blender Brushes from Taylored Expressions with Salty Ocean and Wilted Violet Distress Oxide inks.

Inspiration for today's card comes from the current {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 40. I omitted the background paper on the right side and left some white space instead. If you need another Christmas card or maybe you want to get ahead for next year, give the {BYSHC} Sketch 40 a try and enter your card in the challenge. The challenge ends December 31st. I hope you'll join in the fun! If you'd like to see some more inspiration for the sketch check out the {BYSHC} blog.

The sentiment for today's card is from a cut apart sentiment strip that was a freebie during Brown Thursday or Black Friday... not sure. I trimmed it up and adhered it directly to the card. No foam tape this time.

This one didn't turn out how I thought it would but I like it. What do you think? If you watch the video I'd love to know if you would have kept the other ink smooshed piece for the right side or if you would have gone with the white card base like I did.

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

Looks like the Advent Calendars are out of stock... but there's some new goodies that were just released for the final release of 2023. I haven't had time to play with any of them yet, but soon I hope! I'll be back tomorrow for Day 23 of the 2023 Advent Calendar from Unity! Have an ink-tastic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

 

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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