Be As Kind To Yourself ~ Sparkle & Shine Fairy ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

Have you seen the new release over at Unity?! So many amazing stamps and goodies!! I fell in love with the Sparkle & Shine Fairy stamps. She's absolutely gorgeous!!

I just had to ink her up and color her with my Copic markers.

 

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

Skin: E000, E00, E11, R00, R20

Hair: E21, E23, E25

Crown: V12, V15, Y11, Y15, YG11, G94

Wings: V000, V12, V15, BG10, BG01, BG13

Dress: BG000, BG10, BG01, BG13

Mushroom: C0, C2, W00, W1, R00, R20, R14, R27

Stems / Leaves / Grass: YG11, G94

Wildflowers: V12, V15, Y11, Y15

I die cut the beautiful fairy using a die from the Scallops & Banners {nesting dies} and then I got stuck. I set her aside and started looking through my stash of scraps. I found a fun background that I had made awhile ago but the colors weren't right so I redid it with colors that complimented the fairy.

I stamped the Rustic Flutter background using Evergreen Bough and Wilted Violet Distress Inks. And then I stamped over the background with the Worn Grid background using Peacock Feathers Distress Ink. I just noticed that Worn Grid is no longer available at Unity. I really need to go through my stamps and mark the retired stamps. Anywho, a wonderful alternative is the Tattered Grid Background. 

I die cut the background using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. I adhered the panel to a white A2 top fold card base and then die cut the top of the banner using the same rectangle die. I then added a few raindrop embellies. Trimmed up the sentiment and popped it up with foam tape. I just love how this turned out!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Membership Wednesday ~ February 2025 UU Cottontail Cutie ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

Happy Membership Wednesday! Today I'm sharing a sweet card featuring the adorable bunny from the February 2025 Uniquely Unity membership from Unity called Cottontail Cutie. 

Isn't she the cutest bunny ever?! Love her! I stamped the bunny with Black Amalgam ink and colored it up with some Copic markers. I stamped the bunny again on a larger piece of white card stock and die cut it using a square die from the Scallops & Squares {nesting dies}. I fussy cut the Copic colored bunny and adhered it over top of the square die cut bunny. 

Here's a quick list of the ones I used:

Bunny: W00, W1, W3, C00, C2, R00, R20

Egg: RV10, RV02, V12, V15

I paired up the sweet bunny with the awesome Linen background stamp. I stamped the background a few different times using Kitsch Flamingo, Tumbled Glass and Mustard Seed Distress Inks. 

I stamped and trimmed up the sentiment. I added foam tape to the back of the sentiment and the bunny and popped them up on the card. I finished up the card with a few white enamel dots. So fun! I love it soo!

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

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

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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~ 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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It's Brown Thursday! ~ Guided by Grace ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

The awesome Brown Thursday Sale over at Unity Stamp Co. is here!!! What's Brown Thursday, you ask? Well, it's Unity's version of Black Friday and it's filled with a HUGE new release and a fabulous sale! I'm sharing an encouragement card featuring the gorgeous angel from the Guided by Grace stamps! Love it!

The angel is stamped with Black Amalgam ink on Stampers Select White card stock from Papertrey Ink. She's colored with Copic markers. I fussy cut her using EK Success Cutter Bee Scissors. She's popped up on the card with Scrapbook Adhesive Crafty Foam Tape.

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

Skin: E000, E00

Hair: Y11

Halo: Y11, Y15

Dress: BG70, BG72, BG75

Wings: E40, E81

The awesome background of Handmade Mulberry Paper from Unity is stamped with The Grace of Presence {bkg 4/21} using Black Amalgam ink from Gina K. Designs. I used the sunray from the 3-in-1 Stencil along with Mustard Seed Distress Ink to create the rays behind the angel.

You can check out my process video for this card here... Mixed Media Angel | Guided by Grace | Unity Stamp Co.

The sentiment is heat embossed on True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink. I finished off the card with some confetti from my stash. That's it for me today! Go check out the awesome new releases for Brown Thursday over at Unity! It's a HUGE release friends! Lots and lots of fabulous new goodies!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Sending Prayers ~ Peony Ledger ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a card I made using the new Peony Ledger stamp from Unity. Love love love this gorgeous stamp by Graciellie Design! If you haven't checked out the new releases or the current sale, be sure to stop by Unity. The sale ends tonight!!

I started this card by stamping the lovely Peony Ledger on a piece of white card stock measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". I then ink smooshed Lost Shadow and Wilted Violet Distress Oxide inks. I just recently got the Lost Shadow so I'm been anxious to play with it! Loving it so far!

I stamped the Peony Ledger a second time on a scrap of white card stock and colored it up with the following Copic markers: YG000, YG20, YG65, Y15, Y35, G0000, G82, YG91, Colorless Blender. I then fussy cut the flower on the line. I colored up the edges of the fussy cut flowers with a Memento Tuxedo Black marker so the edges would look nice. I then paper pieced the flowers over the ink smooshed peonies. I die cut the background using the largest die from the Make a Tag Die Set. I also die cut a piece of True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink.

I tore the left side of the peony tag... right along the edge of the stamped image. I then adhered the peony tag to the black tag. I stamped and fussy cut the sentiment. I also fussy cut a black mat from True Black card stock. I adhered them together and laid them across the top of the tag and then used a piece of washi tape to secure the Make a Tag die to the sentiment. I ran it through my Big Shot to achieve that stitched and scalloped edge. I splattered the tag with some diluted black acrylic paint. Once it was dry, I adhered the sentiment to the tag and wrapped the tag a few times with {Black} May Arts Burlap String.

The background layer was created by stamping the Wood Pile background stamp onto Weathervane card stock from Papertrey Ink with Weathervane ink, also from Papertrey Ink. I also added some black splatters to the background. I put a bunch of foam tape all over the back of the peony tag and popped it up on the card. I then adhered the card front to a white A2 top fold card base.

Head over to Unity to check out all the amazing new releases!! The current sale ends tonight!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Membership Monday ~ October 2022 BOM Santa Express ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing some inspiration for the amazing October 2022 Background of the Month from Unity Stamp Co. called Santa Express! This background is so amazing! I love the beautiful mix of images and really just wanted to showcase them as a whole for my card!

So I was thinking a pocket would be a fun way to showcase the background without covering it up too much. Of course, I did put that big bow on it but it doesn't cover it up too much. I stamped the background twice on Kraft card stock with Sugar Cube Pigment ink from Taylored Expressions. I covered the background with Alabaster White embossing powder tapping off the excess into a coffee filter. I melted the ep with my Wagner Precision Heat Tool.

Here's the stamp all inked up... look at all the detail!! Love love love it!

A bit of ink smooshing for both backgrounds with Candied Apple and Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide inks. I didn't want to cover the backgrounds completely... letting some the Kraft show. I die cut both backgrounds with the largest die from the Postage Stamp {nesting dies} from Unity. I distressed the edges of both backgrounds with Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Ink.

I tore off the top of one of the backgrounds and distressed the torn edge as well. I used iCraft Easy-Tear Tape to adhere the sides and bottom of the top background piece to the other background piece creating my pocket. I wrapped the pocket with Cherry Cobbler Sheer Linen Ribbon from Stampin' Up and tied a pretty bow.

I adhered the background to a Kraft A2 top fold card base using liquid glue. I then stamped the sentiment with Black Amalgam ink from Gina K Designs. I trimmed it and distressed the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink leaving some white in the center. I adhered it directly to the card... I considered popping it up with foam tape but the ribbon is enough bulk on here I think. The pocket is great for gift cards, a bookmark, or even just a note. I really love how this turned out!

Such an amazing new background stamp! You can check out the Background of the Month membership over at Unity Stamp Co. I'll be back next Monday with more inspiration for the beautiful Kit of the Month!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Membership Monday ~ August 2022 BOM Autumn Bounty ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I just love the colors of Fall!! So warm and inviting! I was curious to see what they would look like ink smooshed on Kraft card stock. And I had a fun idea for some layers and dimension for a card using the gorgeous new Autumn Bounty background stamp. This stamp is the current Background of the Month stamp... a wonderful Membership at Unity Stamp Co. If you love background stamps, this membership is for you! A wonderful deep red rubber background stamp delivered to your door each month!! Yes, please! I can't wait for mine to arrive each month!

I used Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Seedless Preserves, Peacock Feathers, and Vintage Photo Distress Oxide inks for my ink smooshing on Kraft card stock from Papertrey Ink. The Kraft card stock from Papertrey Ink is 110lb and holds up really well with ink smooshing.

I stamped the Autumn Bounty background stamp three times on three pieces of Kraft card stock. I trimmed one to 4 x 5-1/4" for my bottom layer. I trimmed the second one for my middle layer measuring 3-1/8 x 2-5/8". I mat both layers on True Black card stock also from Papertrey Ink. 

For the sentiment I used a new Adhesive Transfer sentiment from the {Blooming Friendship} Deco Foil Adhesive Transfers by Unity, a collaboration with Therm O Web. I applied the Adhesive Transfer sentiment to a piece of True Black card stock and trimmed it up. I added a couple layers of scrap under the right side of the sentiment so it would lay flat and adhered it to the card. All done... and I really low how this turned out! You can check out my process video for this card here... Membership Monday | Ink Smooshing with Layers | August 2022 BOM Autumn Bounty | Unity Stamp Co. 

Such an amazing new background stamp! I'm anxious to also ink it up and color with my Copic markers, too! You can check out the Background of the Month membership over at Unity Stamp Co. I'll be back next Monday with a card using the beautiful new August 2022 Uniquely Unity membership!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Membership Monday ~ July 2022 BOM Hibiscus ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today for Membership Monday I'm sharing a pretty sympathy card using the beautiful new Background of the Month stamp from Unity called Hibiscus. I have found myself in need of a few sympathy cards and my stash was getting low so I thought this background would be perfect for a quick card.

I didn't want to use bright colors since it's a sympathy card so I went with Saltwater Taffy and Speckled Egg Distress Oxide inks for a softer tone. I ink smooshed my background and then stamped the pretty Hibiscus background stamp with Ranger Jet Black Archival ink.

I trimmed the background and adhered it to a die cut piece of white card stock that I had die cut with the largest die from the Big & Little Chain Rectangle dies from Gina Marie Designs. I then adhered the panel to a A2 top fold card base cut from Stampers Select White card stock from Papertrey Ink.

The sentiment is from the new So Kind, So Caring, So You {July 2022 Sentiment Kit}. I simply stamped it with the Jet Black Archival ink and fussy cut around the black edges. I kept the layers minimal on this card for easy mailing and adhered the sentiment directly to the card. 

Such a beautiful new background stamp! I can imagine ink smooshing backgrounds for this beauty in so many different colors! You can check out the Background of the Month membership over at Unity Stamp Co. I'll be back next Monday with a card using the gorgeous new July 2022 Uniquely Unity membership!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Membership Monday ~ Coffee Crazy Background of the Month ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

It's the first Monday of a new month and I'm back with the new June 2022 Background of the Month membership stamp from Unity Stamp Co. and this one is called Coffee Crazy!! It's fantastic for coffee themed cards and projects! I love it! I love it so much that I wanted to show as much of it as I could so I decided to use it for both my layers in the background on this card.

 I ink smooshed my background with Antique Linen, Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Oxide inks. I dried the ink smooshed background completely with a Wagner Precision Heat Tool and then inked up the Coffee Crazy stamp with Ranger Jet Black Archival ink. I distressed the edges with Ground Espresso Distress Ink... I love the richness this gives to the card!

I cut my background into three pieces and adhered the top and bottom pieces to an Early Espresso card front measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". I adhered my middle piece to a 4-1/4 x 2-1/4" piece of Early Espresso card stock from Stampin' Up. I adhered a piece of scrap card stock between the top and bottom background pieces so my middle piece would lay flat and then I adhered the middle piece to the card front.

I set the background aside while I stamped the beautiful girl from Dream of Being with Gina K. Design Black Amalgam ink on white card stock and then I colored her up with the following Copic markers:

Skin ~ E000, E00, E11, E04, RV10, RV21

Hair ~ E43, E44, E49

Sweater ~ BG000, BG15, BG72, BG75

Cup ~ RV10, RV21, C00, C2

I distressed the edges of the colored girl panel with the Ground Espresso Distress Ink. I trimmed a 3-5/8 x 3/4" piece of Lost Lagoon card stock from Stampin' Up. I stamped the sentiment from the Just What I Needed stamp set from Unity with Wow Clear Embossing ink and heat embossed Alabaster White Embossing powder. I die cut the STAMPlorations Coffee sentiment from Early Espresso {twice} and Lost Lagoon card stock. I adhered all the die cut sentiments together... the two Early Espresso ones on the bottom and the Lost Lagoon on the top. I like the extra bit of dimension this gives the die cut sentiment. 

I trimmed the sentiment and cut a flag on the end. I adhered all of my pieces to the card using a few scraps of card stock under the focal piece so that it would lay flat. I added a few enamel dots to finish off the card. They were actually from a Christmassy/wintry enamel dot pack called Let it Snow from Carta Bella.... but they were just the right color. 

Here's a look at the sketch I used for my card design! I recently started sharing a monthly sketch in my Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group to help inspire and encourage cardmakers when they're in a bit of a crafty funk. A good sketch always gets my mojo going! I hope it helps others too!

I just love this new background stamp! So fun! You can check out the Background of the Month membership over at Unity Stamp Co. I'll be back next Monday with a card using a stamp from the new June 2022 Kit of the Month!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Membership Monday ~ May 2022 BOM Around We Go ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I am back with another fun card for Membership Monday!! This time I've played with the new May 2022 Background of the Month called Around We Go from Unity Stamp Co. When I saw this new background the first thing that came to mind was tree rings... so I thought I'd go with an earthy brown and green card with a tree as my focal piece but I still wanted the cool background to shine.

I ink smooshed a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" piece of white card stock with Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso,  and Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide inks. I dried it a bit with my mini Wagner heat tool and then set it aside. I stamped the cute tree from the Angie's Tree stamp kit with Vintage Photo Distress Oxide ink on a piece of vellum card stock. I dried it with my heat tool.

Once it was totally dry, I flipped it over and very simply colored up the tree scene with the following Copic markers:

Tree Trunk ~ E35, E59

Leaves ~ YG23, YG17

Hearts ~ R14, R27

Sky ~ B00

Grass ~ YG23

I could have colored up the pretty tree just on white card stock but I love the softness it gives the image when it's colored on vellum. I trimmed the vellum piece to be just slightly smaller than the front of the card base being sure that the tree was on the right side. I die cut the Around We Go background with a circle die from the Additional Circles dies from Waffle Flower. I chose a circle die to compliment the circles in the background. I adhered the background piece over the vellum piece on the card base. I wrapped the front of the card a few times with Ivory May Arts Burlap string and tied a pretty bow. I stamped the sentiment with Wow Clear embossing ink on Close to Cocoa card stock and melted some Alabaster White embossing powder with my Mini Wagner heat tool. I trimmed the sentiment and added some foam tape to the top and bottom of the sentiment and popped it up on the card.

Such a fun background stamp! I just love how my card turned out! You can check out the Background of the Month membership over at Unity Stamp Co.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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