Membership Monday ~ July 2021 UU Grace Will Lead You ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with another Membership Monday post... this time I'm featuring the lovely Uniquely Unity membership stamps from Unity Stamp Co. called Grace Will Lead You! Such a delicate and lovely stamp set... I just had to pull out my ZIG watercolor pens and do a bit of watercoloring.

This is a super CAS card with a little interest added by scoring lines to create a box around the image. Of course, this little bit of interest is hard to see in the photo above but I think my close up photo may be easier to see.

I stamped the image on Canson XL watercolor paper and did a little watercoloring. I added a bit of shadow with a light grey... in real life it doesn't look as dark.

Another close up showing that scored box around the watercolored image. Isn't that just a beautiful stamp?! I love it! Here's a link to check out the past membership kits... Past Uniquely Unity. I hope you'll check them out... maybe it's the membership you've been looking for! And here's a {Quick Clips} video for this card... {Quick Clips} CAS Card | Grace Will Lead You | Unity Stamp Co.

Inspired?! Pull out your Uniquely Unity stamps and get inky! I'd love to see what you create! I'll see you next Monday with a mini slimline card using the awesome July 2021 Kit of the Month!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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~ Friends of Unity July 2021 Blog Hop ~

 Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for our July 2021 Friends of Unity blog hop!!

This month we have a fun Summer Vacation cue...

One of my most favorite places to go for vacation is Lake Tahoe... we've had many wonderful vacations there over the years. What's your favorite vacation place? I hope you'll share below in the comments.

I have two quick cards to share this hop! My first is a simple watercolored mini slimline card using the newly released All Sunshine & Happy stamp set. I used my ZIGs and a watercolor pen.

I die cut the watercolored panel with a Wonky Stitched Mini Slimline die from Gina Marie Design and then I adhered it directly to a 6-1/2 x 7" white card base scored at 3-1/2". I finished it off with a few drops of Nuvo Glitter Purple Rain drops.

My second card is also a mini slimline card, but this one is a little smaller measuring 6 x 6", scored at 3"... so a 3 x 6" card. These are my favorite size of mini slimline! I used the super fun Time for Travel stamp set along with part of a splatter stamp from the Never stamp set. I blended Squeezed Lemonade, Kitsch Flamingo, and Peacock Feathers on a 3 x 6" piece of white card stock.

I used the Stitched Circles from Simon Says Stamp for the 3 stitched circles and then I used the Tribal Stitched Mini Slimline die from Gina Marie Design. I flipped the negative piece of the slimline die cut and adhered it to a white card base. I cut a white mat for the top layer and adhered the die cut panel to it. I colored up the little circles with a few copic markers.

And then I popped up the circles and 'Vacation' with foam squares. So colorful and summery! I love it!

As I mentioned above, I'd love for you to comment below what's your favorite vacation spot? I'll pick a lucky winner from the comments to win the Sending Up Something Beautiful stamp set. One of my favorite sets... so much so - I have a duplicate in my stash! LOL! I'm sure some of my friends are also having giveaways, so be sure to comment on each of our blogs as you hop along!

Let's get to the hopping...

Crystal <--- you're here

up next ---> Colleen

 Eileen

Dawn B.

Rachel

Alaine

Dawn F.

Robyn

Thanks so much for supporting our little hop!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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3 Day Mermaid Hop ~ Salina Girl & Ocean Waves Background ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

It's day 2 of the 2nd Annual 3 Day Mermaid Hop and I am back with another pretty mermaid card!! This time I'm featuring the gorgeous Salina Girl stamp from Unity Stamp Co. along with the awesome Ocean Waves Background stamp! Love these two stamps together!

I stamped the Ocean Waves Background stamp on Canson XL watercolor paper with Gina K. Design Amalgam black ink. I heat set it with my Mini Wagner Heat tool and then blended Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers and Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide inks over the background. I added some water splatter by spritzing water into the palm of my hand and then clapping over the background. I let the water sit for just a bit and then dabbed the background with a paper towel. The oxide inks covered up a bit of the stamped background so I stamped the background again over the blended inks to make it a crisp black image again. I couldn't find just the right purple card stock in my stash so I decided to make my own by blending Wilted Violet Distress Oxide over Canson XL watercolor paper. I die cut it with a large scalloped rectangle die and then mat it on True Black card stock.

I die cut the Ocean Waves Background with two stitched rectangle dies so that I could pop up the center panel to give the card more dimension. I stamped the sentiment on a wide strip of Vellum card stock with Wow Clear Embossing ink and melted a fine black embossing powder with a Mini Wagner heat tool. I wrapped the sentiment around the top panel adding just a tiny bit of adhesive behind the sentiment and under where the mermaid would be placed. I mat both background layers with True Black card stock and adhered them together and then onto the card front.

I stamped the beautiful Salina Girl with Wow Clear Embossing ink and watercolored her with ZIG Clean Color Real Brush markers. To tie in the purple scallop layer, I added a bit of purple to the center of the flowers. I love how they turned out! Sometimes I struggle with watercoloring hair, but I'm really happy with how her hair turned out. Once the image was dry, I fussy cut it leaving a skinny white border and then I popped up the mermaid on the card with foam tape.

To finish off the card, I added a few Ebony Black Nuvo Gloss Crystal drops. 

Love it! I hope you like it too! 

Be sure to check out the hashtag #mermaidsarereal to see all the other fabulous mermaid creations being shared in the hashtag hop! Some of the stops on the hop are having giveaways!

Before you go... let me know in the comments what's your favorite mermaid stamp? Mine is Adella Girl from Unity Stamp Co. I'll be picking one lucky winner from the comments during the 3 Day Mermaid Hop that will win a Mer-Mazing Prize Package!*

I'll be back tomorrow with not one, but two more beautiful mermaid cards!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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*If an International prize winner is chosen, I will send an alternate prize... a gift card to Unity!

Layered Stencils ~ May 2021 Whit Kit ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I am back with another pretty card featuring the May 2021 Whit Kit called Beauty of Becoming. This time the card kind of had a mind of it's own and went in a totally different direction than I had planned. So funny how that can happen! 

This card has a similar design as the first card with the circle focal piece... but I stamped the beautiful flower stamp repeatedly with Classic Kraft ink on Kraft card stock for a watermark look. I also used the gorgeous Glacier Paste included in the kit for the fun sparkly polka dot background on the circle die cut.

The beautiful hummingbird is stamped with Gina K. Design Amalgam black ink and then heat set with a Mini Wagner heat tool. 

I watercolored the bird with Vintage Pastel watercolors from Prima Marketing. I added some more shading and dimension with Prismacolor Pencils. And finished the detail on the bird with a white gel pen... adding highlights to the eye and the centers of the flowers.

I stamped the sentiment on a scrap of white card stock with Vintage Photo Distress Oxide ink. I trimmed it and adhered it directly to the card. The hummingbird is popped up with a whole bunch of mini stampin' dimensionals. You can check out my video for this card here... Layered Stencils | May 2021 Whit Kit | Unity Stamp Co.

Here's a look at the contents of the May 2021 Whit Kit. 

Head on over to Unity Stamp Co. to sign up for this amazing membership!

I'll be back tomorrow with not one, but two more cards using this fabulous kit!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Relax It's Your Day ~ May 2021 KOM Summer Vibes ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I had a fun idea for the girl in the new May 2021 Kit of the Month called Summer Vibes from Unity Stamp Co. so I inked her up and gave it a go!

I stamped the image with Wow Clear Embossing ink and then heat set a fine black embossing powder. I then watercolored a fun relaxing sunset scene with lots of pretty colors. I even decided to add some clouds using Copic Opaque White ink.

I trimmed the panel down and tore the left bottom corner. I roughed up the edges with a Tim Holtz Tonic Paper Distresser but the card still needed something... so I decided to add some waves with the Cloud & Wave stencil from Unity. I love the soft subtle background it gives to the watercolored scene.

I'm entering this card in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, Stencil It.

That's it for me today!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Pattern Paper Scene ~ Spring Mouse ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a sweet little card using an adorable new release from Unity Stamp Co. called Spring Mouse and I've created a fun little pattern paper scene with one of my favorite paper packs from Unity... Pretty Polka's!! I love polka dots! And the colors in this paper pack are so pretty!! I love them!

The sweet little Spring Mouse and sentiment are stamped with Gina K. Amalgam black ink and heat set with my heat tool. I trimmed the sentiment, mat it on Kraft card stock, and set it aside. I then watercolored the sweet little mouse with ZIG Clean Color Real Brush markers. Once it was dry I trimmed it to 2-5/8" square to fit nicely with the Kraft stitched square mat.

I trimmed a piece of the blue polka dot paper for my sky that measured 4 x 5-1/4" but as you can see in the video below I had to trim it slightly to straighten the focal piece. I had two strips of the green polka dot paper that were roughly 2-1/4" and 2" in height and 4" wide. I die cut the tops of both of these with a Grassy Border die from Lawn Fawn. I adhered all the layers together and then wrapped the burlap string around and tied a little double bow. I adhered the pattern paper scene to a Kraft A2 top fold card base and then popped up the sentiment with foam squares. Such a sweet little scene!

As mentioned above, I have a little video sharing how I created a Pattern Paper Scene for this sweet little mouse. You can check that out here... Pattern Paper Scene | Spring Mouse.

I just adore this sweet new stamp... and such a great sentiment too!

Stop by Unity Stamp Co. and check out all the wonderful new releases... I'm hoping to be back in a couple days with a fun set of cards that I have planned to work on today with another of the new releases!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge #6 ~ A Time of Peace ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with another Christmas card using the {BYSHC} Sketch #6... sharing my last card for the January sketch challenge. There's only a couple more days to play along! My card today features the adorable A Time of Peace stamp set from Unity. I paired this stamp set up with the Echo Park's Wise Men Still Seek Him papers and the light blue paper is from the Carta Bella Santa's Workshop papers.

I had set aside a stack of Christmas stamps that I wanted to make cards with way back in November but I never got around to creating cards with those stamps so since I've made the goal of creating a Christmas card a week... I've been able to pull those stamps from that stack and this adorable A Time of Peace stamp was in that stack. So glad I was able to finally ink it up! 

I stamped the sweet angel and sheep with VersaFine Onyx black ink on Canson XL 140lb watercolor paper and used ZIG Clean Color Real Brush markers to color it in. I die cut the watercolored image with a stitched rectangle die and decided not to mat it. I die cut a few stitched fishtail flags from the two paper packs with the Stitched Fishtail Flag STAX dies from My Favorite Things. I like how the mix of papers look on the side. I added some scrap papers behind the focal image so it was adhered level on the card. I masked the sentiment and stamped it so I could die cut it with a circle die and popped it up on the card with foam tape. 

As I mentioned above there's only a couple more days to play along with the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge #6 so be sure to join us in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group and check out the challenge!! We'd love to have you join us in the fun!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Watercoloring on Patterned Paper | January 2021 Whit Kit Anything is Possible | Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I'm sharing a little inspiration using the fantastic January 2021 Whit Kit Anything is Possible from Unity Stamp Co.! Today, I'm sharing a bit of watercoloring on the gorgeous patterned papers in the kit. The papers in this kit are mostly white and I thought I'd play with the watercolors, also included in the kit, and see if I couldn't add just a touch of color to those beautiful papers!

And it worked! I kept the watercoloring light so that the bricks in this particular paper weren't lost.

I then die cut the paper with a stitched rectangle die and then a stitched hillside die.

I just love how this CAS card turned out! The fabulous sentiment is also from the Anything is Possible stamp set that is included in this fabulous kit!

Here's a look at the contents of the kit.

I have a video on my YouTube channel sharing my watercoloring and assembly of this quick card. You can check that out here... Watercolors on Patterned Paper.

I just love that little splash of color from the watercolors on those pretty patterned papers!

I hope you've been inspired to play with your January 2021 Whit Kit! I believe the kit is still available so be sure to check it out if you haven't already signed up!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge #6 ~ Dreamerland Crafts ~ Together for the Holidays

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with another sweet holiday card for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge that is going on in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group for the entire month of January. I've been inking up some of those must have holiday stamps to keep on track with my goal of one holiday card a week for the year. This is card number three and I just couldn't wait any longer to ink up this adorable stamp from Dreamerland Crafts called Together for the Holidays!!  

Isn't it just the sweetest stamp?! I adore it! I inked it up with VersaFine Onyx black ink on Canson XL 140lb watercolor paper and then heat embossed some Hero Arts Ultra Fine Clear embossing powder. I love to heat emboss detailed images when watercoloring so that the watercolors stay where I've put them. I used a handful of ZIG Clean Color Real Brush markers to watercolor this sweet stamped image. I then stamped a couple of the snowflakes from the same set with Wow Clear embossing ink and heat embossed some Alabaster White embossing powder from Brutus Monroe. I also used a VersaMark marker and added dots of snow around the image by heat embossing them with more white ep. I love how it turned out!

Once the watercolored image was completely dry, I die cut it with a Stitched Square Stacklets die from Taylored Expressions and mat it on a 3-3/8" squared piece of Kraft card stock from Papertrey Ink. I then adhered it to a scrap piece of watercolor paper that I die cut with the Eyelet Elegance Square die from Gina Marie Design. I cut a 2" flag from Kraft card stock and adhered it to the back of the focal piece. I then popped up the whole focal piece with foam tape. The card base is a 10 x 5" piece of Kraft card stock scored in the middle to make a 5" square card. I cut some cute papers from Polkadoodles called Ho Ho Gnome... the blue snow paper is 4-7/8" square and the striped paper is 3 x 4-7/8". I adhered those together and then adhered them to the card base. The sentiment is from the Christmas Magic stamp set from Unity Stamp Co... it's stamped with the Wow Clear embossing ink and then I heat embossed some white ep. To finish off the card, I adhered a wood snowflake using Ranger Multi Medium Matte. So sweet... I love it!

Here's another look at the sketch I used. I adjusted the sketch slightly to work with a square card and the stamp that I wanted to use. I hope this card inspires you to pull out those holiday stamps and get ahead in creating your holiday cards! I'll be back next week with another fun holiday card!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Unity Stamp Co. ~ Just Hold On ~ Watercoloring & Stenciling

 Hello there crafty friends!

Today I'm sharing a subtle and sweet card with watercoloring and a little distress ink over a fun stencil... love how the flowers pop off of this card! The End of 2020 Sale over at Unity Stamp Co. is almost over!!! I wanted to share one more card that I created using the beautiful Just Hold On set along with a fun stencil and some distress inks! A simple but oh... so beautiful card!

I used my ZIG Clean Color Real Brush markers to watercolor the flowers and I lightened the tips with some Prismacolor white pencil.

I ink blended a subtle background with Tumbled Glass distress ink over the Mini Tile Mania stencil from The Crafters Workshop. Inked up the edges of the card front with a little Vintage Photo distress ink. I wrapped the card front with a little Ivory burlap string and then adhered it to a kraft base.

You can check out my process video here... Watercolor & Subtle Stenciled Background.

I hope you've been inspired to pull out some of your crafty stuff and get inky today! I hope to get a jump on my birthday cards for the coming year.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Unity Stamp Co. ~ Just Hold On ~ Metallic Watercolor Birthday Card

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a metallic watercolored birthday card with lots and lots of shimmer!! I used the beautiful Metallic Accent watercolors from Prima Marketing Inc to watercolor the gorgeous carnations from the Just Hold On stamp set that was just released at Unity Stamp Co.!!

A lovely CAS card that was pretty quick to make too!

I die cut the panel with the Pleated Lace Rectangle die from Gina Marie Design. I adhered it directly to a white A2 top-fold card base. 

I wrapped the front layer of the card with some Ivory burlap string and tied a little bow.

A look at some of the shimmer on the card!! I just love it!

You can check out my process in this video... Metallic Watercolor Birthday Card!

I sure hope you've liked the card I've shared today! I'll be back in a couple of days with more inspiration using this beautiful Just Hold On stamp set!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

~ Friends of Unity November 2020 Blog Hop ~

 Hello there crafty friend!

Welcome to the November 2020 Friends of Unity Blog Hop! Our cue this month is Backgrounds...

I think backgrounds could be backgrounds created with different kinds of techniques and such, or background stamps... and I've created a few cards using background stamps!!

I just HAD to use the new Let's Get Merry {slimline} stamp... but I used it for an A2 sized card. Love love love this stamp!!! I've stamped it on Canson XL 140lb watercolor paper with VersaFine Onyx black ink and watercolored it with my ZIGs. I used Lilac (No.083) and Blue (No.030) with a good amount of water for the leaves and Yellow (No.050) for the center.

I trimmed it down and die cut the right side with a stitched hillside die and then layered it on Lilac Grace and True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink. I stamped the sentiment from the Let's Get Merry {slimline} stamp on my white card base and then adhered the watercolored panel. I debated adding enamel dots, splatter, glitter... you name it, I thought about it. LOL... but I decided to leave it like this. I love how it turned out!

My second card was so fun to create!! I stamped A Little Christmas Carol background stamp with Green Galore ink (Stampin' Up!) and then again with Marina Mist ink (also SU!). I die cut the green one with the Forest Border die from Lawn Fawn. I also die cut a piece of Green Galore card stock with the same die and adhered them together a little offset so the green card stock gives a bit of a border. I then blended some Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide ink over the clouds of the Wave and Cloud stencil from the June 2020 Whit Kit called Live in the Sunshine. I mat the background pieces on a 4-1/8 x 5-3/8" white card front and then adhered it to a Kraft card base. I just love the scene I created with this one background stamp! So fun!

Then I just HAD to color up the adorable gnome from the Gnome One Like You stamp set that is the current freebie during the big Brown Thursday sale at Unity Stamp Co!! Love this little guy! I colored him up with the following copic markers:

Nose/Hands ~ E000, E00, E11

Beard ~ C00, C2

Hat ~ R000, R14, R46

Dress ~ G14, YG17, YG23

Shoes ~ N1, N4, N6

Heart ~ R14, R46, G14, YG17, YG23, E57

I stamped the Merry Christmas sentiment from the Let's Get Merry {slimline} stamp... I trimmed it and mat it on Real Red card stock. I popped it up on the card with foam squares and then added a couple enamel dots. 

And my last card featuring the gorgeous new Funky Flowers {slimline} stamp... this one is also stamped on Canson XL 140lb watercolor paper. I used a whole rainbow of ZIGs to watercolor this but I wanted a Fall palette so I used richer tones. I then splattered Dark Roast and Gold silks all over the panel. I made sure to dry the entire panel well with my heat tool.

I die cut the watercolored image with the Big and Little Chain Slimline die from Gina Marie Designs. I mat it on Gold Metallic Kraft stock from Tim Holtz and then adhered it to a 3-1/4 x 8-1/4" piece of Early Espresso card stock and then adhered it to a Kraft slimline card base.

I stamped the sentiment with VersaFine Onyx black ink and trimmed it. I mat it with the Gold Metallic Kraft stock and adhered it across the card.

A closeup of the teal flower... I really love how this one turned out. Such an amazing image to watercolor! I love it! 

Okay... now for some quick business before we get to the hopping. 

The winner from last month's hop is...

Beth!!!!

Congratulations Beth!! Please email me at crystalominkler@gmail.com to claim your prize. Prize must be claimed within two weeks.

I believe a few of my friends are having giveaways so be sure to check out all the fabulous creations along the hop and comment on each blog for a chance to win!!

Let's get to the hopping...

Crystal <--- you're here

up next ---> Eileen

Bobbie Sue

Kim

Dawn F.

Joyce

Robyn

Thanks so much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so very much!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal