Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 44 ~ Membership Wednesday ~ July 2026 KOM Ahead of the Holiday Herd ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

Happy Membership Wednesday! Today I'm sharing inspiration for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 44 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group.

I stamped the cute kitty from the July 2026 KOM called Ahead of the Holiday Herd on white card stock using Black Amalgam ink from Gina K. Designs. I die cut the cat using a die from the Scallops & Squares {nesting dies}. And then I did some coloring with my Copic markers.

Copic markers used:

Cat: C0, C2

Eyes: YG11, YG06, YG17, C0, C2

Nose: R00, R20

Towel: Y11, Y15, Y38

Robe: Y11, Y15, Y38, RV10, RV02

Ground: C0, C2

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 44. 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. My focal image is much bigger this time but I think the sketch is still apparent in my design.

I paired up the cute kitty, also available separately in the Self Care Satire stamps, with the Fabulous Enough {paper pack}. I used the measurements from the sketch for my background layers. And trimmed a 1/8" strip of black card stock to cover the line where the papers meet. The cute heart is die cut from one of the pattern papers in the pack using a die from the Dashes and Frills Hearts {die set}.

All of the layers are adhered directly to a white A2 top fold card base except for the sentiment and the heart. I popped those up with foam tape.

Here's a look at the Kit of the Month membership stamps. 

This cute stamp is also available separately in the Self Care Satire stamps.

That's it for me today! I hope you've been INKspired to play with your membership stamps! And if you're inspired to play along with the TOPII Sketch 44, I sure hope you'll enter your card into the challenge album. Have a fantastic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 70 ~ Meowy Kittymas ~ Crafty Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with a little inspiration for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 70 hosted in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! Today I'm sharing a sweet Christmas card featuring one of my favorite stamp sets from our amazing Sponsor Crafty Stamp Co.! This month's prize is a $25 gift card to Crafty Stamp Co.! I sure hope you can play along!

I stamped the adorable kitty with the tree and presents from the Meowy Kittymas stamp set. I adore the kitties in this stamp set!! All so cute! I just love this stamp!! I fussy cut the stamped image leaving a white border and adhered it to a vellum die cut circle.

Copic markers used:

Kitty: R00, R20, N0, N1, N3, YR20, YR15

Hat: C0, C2, R20, R14, R27

Tree: YG11, G24, E21, E25, R20, R14, R27, B000, B00, Y11, Y15

Star Bag: B000, B00, Y11, Y15, R14

Presents: E21, E33, R20, R14, R27

I paired up the cute kitty with papers from the Gingerbread Christmas 6x6 Paper Pack. I adore the colors in these papers... gorgeous! I stamped the sentiment, trimmed it and then I adhered it to the card. I popped up the kitty by placing foam tape behind just the kitty image.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 70 for the month of June. 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

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 69 ~ Santa Paws Newton ~ Newton's Nook Designs

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for a new sketch challenge over in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! Today I'm sharing a cute Christmas card featuring a sweet stamp from our wonderful Sponsor Newton's Nook Designs! One lucky winner will win a $20 gift code to Newton's Nook Designs!! Yippee!

 I inked up one of the adorable kitties from the Santa Paws Newton Stamp Set and die cut it using the coordinating Santa Paws Newton Die Set. I colored this cute stamp with Copic markers that are similar to the colors in the pretty papers I chose.

Copic Markers used:

Kitty: R00, R20, W0, W1, W3, W5

Santa Coat / Hat: C0, C2, R20, R14, R27

Belt: N1, N3, N6, Y15, Y28 

Bag: G000, G21, G82, G85

Presents: E30, E31, E33, R20, R14, R27, G000, G21, G82

I paired the cute kitty up with the Christmas Party 6x6 Paper Pad. There are SOOO many beautiful papers in the paper pad it was really hard to chose which ones I wanted to use. I narrowed it down to four that worked well together.

I die cut my card front panel using the scalloped die from the Circle Frames Die Set. I stamped the sentiment and then die cut it using the stitched circle die from the same set. To finish off the card, I popped up the Santa kitty and the sentiment using foam tape.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 69 for the month of May. 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

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party ~ Holiday Grumplings ~ Taylored Expressions

 Hello there crafty friend!

It's day 4 of the {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party!! I'm excited to share another fun holiday card that I'm adding to my Christmas stash! This time I played with THE cutest little kitty from our fabulous Sponsor Taylored Expressions!

I used the adorable {and retired, sadly} Holiday Grumplings. I adore this kitty!! I stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored him up with Copic markers.

Copic markers used:

Kitty: YR20, YR21, YR15, YR27, R00, R20, C0, C2

Hat / Scarf: BG70, BG01, BG72, C0, C2, Y11, YR20, YR21

I paired up the kitty with the beautiful Whispers of Winter 6x6 Paper Pad from Ink N' Splatter available at our wonderful Sponsor Digi Doodle Studios. I die cut the focal panel using the Make a Tag {die set} from Sponsor Unity Stamp Co.

Inspiration for my card came from one of our past sketches... BYSHC Sketch 7. This one is a favorite that I come back to often! I used the measurements from the sketch for my card.

The sentiment is from same Holiday Grumplings stamp set. I heat embossed it with Anti-Static Powder Tool and Sugar Cube White Pigment ink from Sponsor Taylored Expressions along with Alabaster White Embossing Powder from Unity. I trimmed it and adhered it to the focal tag and then popped it up on the card. Easy peasy.

If you haven't already, stop by the {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party to check out all the wonderful Holiday inspiration being shared!! I am loving ALL of the cards so far! I hope you have an INKtastic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party ~ Christmas Kitties ~ Angie Blom Digital Designs

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm so excited to share my first card for the {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party hosted by the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! This is our sixth annual Spring into Christmas Linky Party! Woohoo!! This event is a great excuse to get ahead on those holiday cards to relieve some of the stress later on in the year during the holidays. I am super excited to add a few more holiday cards to my Christmas card stash and I sure hope that you'll join in the fun!

For my first card I've made a sweet holiday card using the adorable Christmas Kitties from our Sponsor Angie Blom Digital Designs. I used one of Angie's printable images where she's done the work in combining the images for four different cards on one sheet. Only I cropped just the one image I planned to use and combined it with other digital stamps in a Word Document and printed them off on white card stock. I colored up the cute kitty image with Copic markers. 

Copic markers I used:

Kitty: YR20, YR21, YR15

Hat: C0, C2, R20, R14, R27

Scarf: R20, R14, R27

Tree: YG11, G24, G46, E53, E55, E57

Ornaments: R00, R14, R27

Star: Y11, Y15, Y38

Green Present: YG11, G24, Y11, Y15, Y38

Polka Dot Present: C0, C2, R00, R14, R27

Snow: C0, C2

I like to revisit some of our past sketches when I'm looking for inspiration. I went WAY back and chose BYSHC Sketch 2 for my card today. I flipped the sketch to fit my card design.

The beautiful plaid papers are from the retired Plaids for Christmas paper pad from Sponsor Not 2 Shabby. And I die cut the kitty using the retired Frayed Edge Stacklets dies from Sponsor Taylored Expressions. I adhered the sentiment to the focal image and popped them both up with foam tape.

I'm also a Sponsor for the {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party!! I have a wonderful prize set aside for one lucky winner. For a chance to win my fun prize make a Christmas card and link it up to the linky party blog post on the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers blog. All of the winners of all the amazing prizes will be announced on the {BYSHC} blog on Wednesday, April 22nd.

Be sure to stop by the {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party to check out all the wonderful holiday inspiration from our Sponsors and the {BYSHC} Design Team!! I'm so excited to continue building my stash of holiday cards for 2026... I hope you'll join in the fun and play along!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

All Educated and Stuff ~ Sourpuss Scholar ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

I am just tickled to see another fun Pissy Kitty added to the collection over at Unity! Sourpuss Scholar is all ready for graduation!

I was struggling picking a sentiment for this card so I thought why not make a background using all of the sentiments?! I stamped the sentiments three times each trying to show each of them on the background. I probably could have fit a couple more in those empty spaces though. I then ink smooshed the background with some Peacock Feathers Distress Ink. I didn't use a lot of water because I didn't want the sentiments to smudge and I left a lot of white space to help the background pop.

I dried the background with a Wagner Precision Heat Tool and die cut it using a die from the Zig Zag Rectangles {nesting dies}. I stamped the super cute kitty {THAT FACE!! LOL!} and colored him up with Copic markers. I fussy cut him leaving a white border around the edges.

Copic markers used:

Kitty: YR20, YR21, YR15, YR27

Eyes / Diploma: C0, C2

Tassel / Ribbon: B000, B00, B02

Grad cap: N0, N1, N3, N5

I stamped the sentiment and trimmed it. I wanted to bring the sentiment to the front of the card visually so I used a black mat. I die cut a piece of black card stock using a die from the retired stitched banners die set. I adhered the sentiment to the card and popped up the kitty with foam tape.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 40 ~ Newton's Rainy Day Trio ~ Newton's Nook Designs

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing more inspiration for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 40 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. A sweet rainy day card for a friend.

It has been a good long while since I've inked up any of my Newton's Nook Designs stamps and I just had to ink up these cuties I got from the Retiring Sale over at NND!! What a steal with retiring items now up to 75% off! I inked up the adorable Newton's Rainy Day Trio with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored the cute trio with Copic markers.

Copic Markers used:

Umbrella: BG000, BG01, YG00, YG11, YG23, V000, V12, C0, C2, C5, Y11, Y15, Y38

Raindrops: BG000, BG01

White Cat: C0, C2, R00, R20

Yellow Hat: Y11, Y15, Y38

Purple Coat: V000, V12, V15

Yellow Boots: Y11, Y15, Y38, C0, C2, C5

Blue Umbrella: BG000, BG01, C2, C5, Y11, Y15, Y38

Gray Cat: W0, W1, W3, R00, R20, C0, C2

Blue Coat: BG000, BG01, C2, C5

Orange Cat: YR20, YR21, YR15, R00, R20

Green Coat: YG00, YG11, YG23, C2, C5

Blue Boots: BG000, BG01, C0, C2, C5

I paired up the sweet trio with the Springtime 6x6 Paper Pad. I die cut the pattern papers using the Card Layout 5 Die. I trimmed the pattern paper so I'd only die cut the four panels from each pattern paper. I trimmed a piece of Kraft card stock to 5-1/4 x 4" and cut it at the diagonal for my two mats. I used a pretty yellow card stock for my background layer that's adhered to a white A2 top fold card base that I turned on the side for a landscape card.

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 40. 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. This time I got creative using the awesome Card Layout 5 Die from Newton's Nook Designs. I love it when a sketch takes me to unexpected places. And I turned the sketch on the side.

I die cut the cute trio and raindrops using the coordinating Newton's Rainy Day Trio Die Set. I stamped, trimmed and popped up the sentiment with foam tape. And then I decided to pop up the kitties too while I was at it. 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

~ 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

~ Friends of Unity January 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend & Happy New Year to you!

It's time for our first Friends of Unity Blog Hop of 2026!! Woohoo! I'm ready to kickoff a brand new year with our friends and share some fun inspiration with our cue...

Today we are sharing inspiration that we CASEd. What does CASEd mean? It's an acronym for Copy And Share Everything or Copy And Selectively Edit. It is a common practice in the cardmaking community where a card maker is inspired by another person's design and recreates it, either as an exact copy or with some modifications. For example, changing up the colors or using a different stamp. I had a lot of fun with my makes for this one.

My first card features the cute new Cupid Pissy Kitty. Isn't it just too cute?! It was also fun to color up with my Copic markers.

Copic markers used:

Kitty: N0, N2, N4, YR20, YR15, R20

Eyes: C0, C3, YG00, YG11

Sash: RV10, RV02

Wing: C0, C3

Bow / Arrow: E21, E25

My card design was CASEd from cards that Angela Magnuson shared in the Unity Show & Tell. She had blended over a stencil and then stamped a pretty flower silhouette. Her design was very CAS {Clean & Simple}. My design took a left turn. Haha... 

I ended up die cutting my panel and adhering it to a white card base. I die cut the panel using the largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set. I also popped up the sentiment with foam tape.

I blended Kitsch Flamingo and Picked Raspberry Distress Inks over the fun Layered Hearts {stencil set}. I finished off the card with a few pieces of confetti from the Crystal Opaque Creme Puff Card Bling from A Colorful Life Designs.

Keeping with a love theme for my second card. This time I inked up the adorable birdie from the brand new January 2026 KOM called Margins of Ever After. This cutie is also available separately in the  Wee Little Love Courier stamps. Too stinkin' cute!!

Inspiration for this card came from a fabulous card shared by Danni Bindel. Danni shared a card featuring the Fluff Squad. And funnily enough, she was actually inspired to make this card using one of the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketches!! Made me giggle when I realized that. I love how our cardmaking community inspires each other!

I die cut the birdie using a die from the Oval Frames die set from Newton's Nook Designs. Unity really needs to add some fun oval dies to their collection!

Copic markers used to color up this cutie:

Bird: B000, B00

Eyes: C0, C3

Beak / Legs / Feet: YR20, YR15

Heart: RV10, RV02, YR20

Grass: YG00, YG11

 I paired up this sweet bird with the Cloud Hopper Chronicles {paper pack}. So many fun layers in this one. I used paper scraps across the card and then I popped up the trimmed sentiment and the oval using foam tape.

I wanted to play with lots of color for this one. I found a great piece of pattern paper from the Oh Hey! It's Your Day {paper pack} for my background and pulled colors from the papers for my coloring.

My last card was inspired by this lovely card by Amy Marie in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group. I was pulled into the card by the theme... I love books!! But really the arch is what got my attention. Amy used the beautiful girl from the March 2025 KOM Chapters & Crossings.

I thought the gorgeous flowers from the new January 2026 KOM would look lovely in this card design. These beauties are also available separately in the Where Butterflies Wait stamps. I die cut the flowers using the largest die from the Scallops & Arches {nesting dies}. 

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

Pink: RV10, RV02

Red Flowers: R20, R14

Yellow Flowers: Y11, Y35, R20, R14

Butterfly: BG10, BG01, Y11, Y35

Greens: YG00, YG11, YG23

Background: B000

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...

... Sabra & Holly Gerdes.!! Congratulations, Sabra & Holly!!

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

Please claim the prize before February 4th, 2026. 

Well, that's it for me this time! Another short hop this month with just seven 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 ---> Amber

Toni

Jenni

Jane

Dawn

Rachel

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal