Pretty Wonderful ~ Buzzy Blooms ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

Some days it just feels so good to get inky... I had a blast making this card. A little ink smooshing and ink blending and some white acrylic paint spatters can make for a good day in my book!

I inked up all of the stamps in the Buzzy Blooms kit. I used the honeycomb and script for my background. The blooms for my focal and then those beautiful bees for accents. I am smitten, y'all!! I made this beauty for a friend that is moving away. A little reminder for her that she is wonderful. The sentiment is from The Softest Thoughts stamps.

I ink smooshed and blended the background using Antique Linen, Evergreen Bough, Mermaid Lagoon, and Vintage Photo Distress Inks.

Copic markers used:

Flowers: Y21, YR21, YR02, R22

Centers: Y15, Y38, Y28

Leaves / Stems: YG00, YG95, YG67

Background: BG000, B000

Bees: Y11, Y38

I die cut the background panel using a die from the Zig-Zag Rectangles {nesting dies}. I wrapped the two corners with May Arts Natural Burlap String and secured them on the back with scotch tape. I tied a bow with two pieces of the string and adhered it using a mini glue dot. The sentiment is adhered to the flowers and then I popped it and the flowers up on the card with foam tape. I glued the left bee directly to the card and popped up the right bee to give it a little dimension. Love how this turned out!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Rainbow Chicken Card ~ Just Beak-Cause ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

Today I'm sharing a fun rainbow chicken card I made using the new Just Beak-Cause chicken from Unity. Love this cutie!

I inked up the fun new chicken and sentiment with Black Amalgam ink. I colored it up with some Copic markers. I die cut it using a die from the Scallops & Squares {nesting dies}.

Copic markers used:

Chicken: Y11, Y15, YR20, YR15, YG11, YG23, B00, B02, BV00, BV02

Wattle: R20, R14

Beak / Feet: YR20, YR15, YR27

Eyes: C0, C2

Wall: E11, E25

Butterfly: B00, B02, BV00, BV02

Flowers: RV10, RV02, Y15

Leaves / Stems / Ground: YG11, YG23, YG17

Sky: B0000, B000

I heat embossed the Hoedown Hankie background stamp using white pigment ink along with the Alabaster White Embossing Powder on a piece of white card stock. I ink smooshed the background using Squeezed Lemonade, Carved Pumpkin and Abandoned Coral Distress Ink. I then blended some more Squeezed Lemonade and a bit more Abandoned Coral until I was happy with the blends. I wiped off the excess ink from the heat embossed image using a microfiber cloth. I then ran the background through my Big Shot with a die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}.

I adhered the background to a white A2 top fold card base. Adhered a piece of lace ribbon using tear tape and added a button using glue dots. And then I popped up the focal chicken square using a bunch of foam tape. So cute!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

~ Friends of Unity April 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for another Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! Woohoo! I can't believe that it's already April! How is that even possible?! This month's cue is a fun one...

Today we are sharing inspiration for Earth Day / Recycle!! I was kind of all over the place trying to decide which direction to go with my makes this time. But I'm happy with them and I hope you enjoy them.

Where would the world be without mothers?! Well, the answer is absolutely no where as we birth the babies that populate it so I decided to make a Mother's Day card. My first card features the super cute and new Little Miss Moo stamps from this month's Kit of the Month membership. You can sign up for the KOM membership and get this adorable stamp along with all the others in the kit, plus all the perks of the membership, mailed straight to your door. OR buy it as a 1-Time Purchase. Isn't it just the cutest stamp?!

 

 I die cut the adorable moo cow and my background using dies from the BIG Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. I found a fun ink smooshed background in my "To Be Used Later" pile that looked MOO-velous with this sweet cow. LOL! I really like the pretty spring colors! I had ink smooshed it with Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry, and a tiny bit of Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks. 

I couldn't decide which sentiment to use so I used both! I adhered them to the cow panel and then popped up the panel and sentiments together with foam tape.

Copic markers used:

Cow: E000, R00, R20, E51, C0, C2, C3, N0, N1, N3, N5

Flowers: Y11, Y15, RV14

Flower Centers: YR02, YG68

Tiny Flowers: RV14

Leaves / Grass: YG11, YG23, YG67

Basket: E21, E23, E25

Do you ever look at packaging and think that would be cool on a card?! I can't be the only one. LOL! I was tearing up a cardboard/paper envelope and I just loved the look of the corrugated paper. I HAD to use it for a card! And it brings the Recycle element to my second card.

I stamped the beautiful Elise Girl with Black Amalgam ink on white card stock and colored her up with Copic markers. I decided early on that I would fussy cut her because she has a lot of extra hearts and flowers around her so I cut all of those off so the background would show through. I masked the sentiment and used Black Amalgam ink as well as Candied Apple Distress Ink for the heart.

Copic markers used:

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Hair: C0, C3, C5

Dress: Y11, Y15, RV10, RV14

Pants: RV000, RV10

Flowers: Y11, Y15, RV000, RV10, RV14, BG000, BG10, BG01

Leaves: YG11, YG23

Bird: Y11, Y15, BG000, BG10, BG01, Y28

 I wrapped the recycled paper with some aqua twine from my stash. I secured the pieces with tape on the back and used a lot of glue to adhere the it to the card base. I adhered Elise Girl to the bottom of the sentiment and popped them both up on the card with lots of foam tape. And then I finished off the card with a few raindrop embellies.

It only made sense to use the cute world stamp from the 2025 Advent Calendar for my last card. I stamped it with Black Amalgam ink and fussy cut on the line. I colored the edges of my fussy cutting with a black marker.

My card design was inspired by the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 41. I'm hosting a fun sketch challenge in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. The challenge is open until April 27th. Lots of time to join in the fun and play along.

I paired up the cute world stamp with the Cloud Hopper Chronicles {paper pack}. I die cut some of the scrap papers using the smallest circle die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. I used my last full sheet for my striped background. I trimmed it to 5-1/4 x 4". I adhered the circles and cut off the excess on the ends. And then adhered the panel to a Kraft A2 card base. I popped up the world circle with foam tape.

All that was left was the sentiment and searched and searched through my stamps and came across this one. I stamped the sentiment from the Whole Wonderful World stamps. I think it works nicely.

Copic markers used:

Water: BG000, BG10

Land: YG11, YG03

Heart: RV10, RV14

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...

... Sue D!! Congratulations, Sue!!

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

Please claim the prize before April 29th, 2026. 

Well, that's it for me this time! It's a short hop this month with just six of us sharing makes. I'm so excited to see how our friends were inspired for this month's hop. 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

Joyce

Rachel

Dawn

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Membership Wednesday ~ March 2026 KOM Rooted & Radiant ~ Slow Bloom Society ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

Happy Membership Wednesday! I had a fun idea for a pocket card with a vintage vibe.

I inked up the gorgeous flowers from the March 2026 Kit of the Month called Rooted & Radiant from Unity. This beauty is also available separately as the Slow Bloom Society stamps.

I die cut the flowers and a Kraft mat for the back of the tag using a die from the Make a Tag {die set}. I also die cut my pattern papers from the Bohemian Dream {paper pack} and Vintage Whispers {paper pack} using the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}.

You can check out my process video here {or click the video above}... Vintage Pocket Card | Slow Bloom Society | Unity Stamp Co.

I tore the edge on the pocket paper leaving it white to compliment the white in the background of the flowers and the sentiment. TIP: when tearing paper be sure to tear towards you... holding paper in your left hand and tearing with your right hand. For left handed makers, holding paper in your right hand and tearing with your left hand.

The background of the flowers is ink smooshed with some Abandoned Coral Distress Ink. The edges of the tag are distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I finished off the tag with some white lace ribbon I got on clearance at Hobby Lobby tied off with May Arts Natural Burlap String.

Copic markers used:

Flowers: R00, R11, R22, Y15, Y38

Blue Buds: BG70, BG01, BG72

Yellow Buds: Y15, Y38

Stems / Leaves: YG91, YG95, YG97

Background: BG70, BG01, BG72

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

This gorgeous stamp is also available separately in the Slow Bloom Society stamps.

That's it for me today! I hope you've been INKspired to play with your membership stamps! 

Have a wonderful day!

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

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 66 ~ Tender Thoughts ~ Creative Worship Stamps

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with a little inspiration for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 66 hosted in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! Today I'm sharing a lovely Christmas card featuring a beautiful stamp set from our amazing Sponsor Creative Worship Stamps! This month's prize is a $20 gift code to Creative Worship Stamps! Woohoo!

I started by ink smooshing my backgrounds for this one onto a card front {4-1/4 x 5-1/2"} and a scrap of white card stock that was just large enough for the tree stamp from the Tender Thoughts Stamp and Die Bundle. I ink smooshed the panels with Stormy Sky, Seedless Preserves, and Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks. Once I was happy with the ink smooshing, I blended more Chipped Sapphire over the whole panel.

I dried the backgrounds completely with a Wagner Precision Heat Tool. I applied some anti static powder to the scrap panel. I stamped the beautiful trees from the Tender Thoughts Stamp and Die Bundle on my scrap panel using Sugar Cube Pigment Ink from Taylored Expressions and then I dusted the wet ink with Alabaster White Embossing Powder from Unity and melted it with a heat tool. I die cut the panel using a stitched circle die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies} from Unity. I also die cut a scrap of white card stock just to get the snowy ground piece for the deer. I fussy cut the wavy hill with EK Success Cutter Bee Scissors.

I die cut the background panel using a stitched rectangle die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies} from Unity. I adhered the circle to the panel and then trimmed off the edge. And then I spattered the whole panel using Apple Barrel White Acrylic Paint. I stamped the deer with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and I started fussy cutting it on the line and then remembered too late that I had a die and could have used that to cut it out. I stamped the sentiment from the Holly Jolly Stamp & Die Bundle and die cut it out with the coordinating die. I popped up the sentiment on the card with foam tape. I finished the card off with a few pieces of White Glossy Card Bling from A Colorful Life Designs.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 66 for the month of February. 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

Holiday Sparkle ~ Frost Kissed Gratitude ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

Today I'm sharing a sweet holiday thank you card I made with the adorable new Frost Kissed Gratitude stamp from Unity. Such an adorable snowman!! He's part of the Cyber Monday release over at Unity!! 

I started with a fun background for the snowman. I ink smooshed Uncharted Mariner and Antique Linen Distress Inks on white card stock. I dried the background completely before I ran it through my Big Shot with the Silent Snowfall Embossing Folder {no longer available}. I lightly swiped the raised snowflakes with a white pigment ink pad to make them pop just a bit more. I trimmed the background to 4 x 5-1/4" and set it aside.

I watercolored the cute Frost Kissed Gratitude snowman with Lost Shadow, Uncharted Mariner, Rustic Wilderness, and Antique Linen Distress Inks. I dried him up with my heat tool and then die cut him with a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. I popped up the circle on the corner of the ink smooshed and dry embossed background and then I trimmed off the edges. I adhered the panel to a white A2 top fold card base.

I stamped, trimmed and popped up the sentiment on the card too. I just love this card! It was fun to watercolor. I don't do it nearly enough.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Hip Hop Hooray ~ Preview Day 1 ~ The Greeting Farm

 Hello there crafty friend!

It's the first day of previews at The Greeting Farm for the awesome November release! Three amazing stamp sets are releasing this month!! So exciting! Be sure to check out The Greeting Farm blog each day this week! The previews start today with HIP HOP HOORAY! A super cute and fun set!

I stamped the cute girl and boom box with Memento Tuxedo black ink on white card stock and colored the images up with Copic Markers. I fussy cut them on the line and colored the edges of the fussy cutting with a Memento Tuxedo Black marker making the fussy cutting all nice and neat. 

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

Skin: E000, E00, E11, E04

Hair: Y21, E43, E44

Hoodie: BG000, BG10, BG34, Y11, Y15

Pants: Y11, Y15

Shoes: BG10, BG34, C0, C2, C3, C5

Hat: YR30, YR02, R22, BG000, BG10

Boom Box: C0, C2, C3, C5, YR20, YR02, R22, BG000, BG10, BG34

I had a fun graffiti-like background in mind so I ink smooshed a few fun colors for my background. I used Squeezed Lemonade, Saltwater Taffy and Cracked Pistachio Distress Inks. I also stamped the music notes with the Saltwater Taffy and Cracked Pistachio Distress Inks.

I heat embossed the sentiment with white pigment ink and white embossing powder on black card stock. I trimmed it and adhered it to the card. And then I adhered the boom box, but I popped up the girl with foam tape.

This adorable new stamp set will release in the store on the 15th at 12am EST. Come back tomorrow for preview day 2.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

50th Birthday Card ~ Mix Tape ~ Hero Arts

Hello there crafty friend! 

I made a fun 50th birthday card for my best friend with a touch of gold. 

I used the cool Mix Tape dies from Hero Arts. I wanted to use gold because it represents a 'golden jubilee' milestone, symbolizing success, prosperity, and achievement. And purple is her favorite colors so I had to throw that in there too.

I die cut the '50 Best Hits' using the Alphanumeric Label Thinlits dies from Tim Holtz and Sizzix. The 'happy birthday' sentiment is from the Chic Script Salutations {die set} from Unity.

I ink smooshed a simple background with some Villainous Potion Distress Ink. The background was die cut with the Slash Stitched Rectangle dies from Gina Marie Designs. Such a fun card to make custom for my bestie and she loved it!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Making a Fun Background ~ That's a Wrap ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

Today I'm sharing a fun holiday card I made with the awesome new That's a Wrap stamp from Unity. 

I love this new ribbon stamp! It would be great with pattern papers, too! I thought I'd make a fun background since we have the Creating a Background Challenge going in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group... why not play along with a fun holiday card!

You can check out my process video here... Making a Fun Background | That's a Wrap | Unity Stamp Co. or click on the video below.

A little ink smooshing, ink blending, ink swiping, water spatters, and water stamping, plus regular stamping all happening to create this background. SO fun to  make! I used the beautiful Linen background stamp and Christmas Over Again background stamp. And I used Candied Apple, Lumberjack Plaid and Barn Door Distress Inks.

I stamped the beautiful That's a Wrap ribbon and sentiment on white card stock. I colored the shaded parts of the ribbon with a little Copic marker {C0 and C2}. I die cut the sentiment using a tag die from the Scalloped Tags die set. I fussy cut the ribbon leaving a white border. I share a fun trick for cutting inside the loops on my video.

It's like the card is a gift! I just love how this whole card turned out. Hope you've been inspired to play along with the Creating a Background challenge. We'd love to have you join in the fun! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

~ Friends of Unity November 2025 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

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

Our cue this time is Creating a Background! So fun! And even more fun because we're hosting another fun challenge in the Unity {Show & Tell} Facebook group! Be sure to hop along with us to see inspiration for the challenge. I sure hope that you can play along with us. Three lucky winners will each win a $25 gift card to Unity! Yippee!!

For my first card I created a fun wintry background for the new deer stamps from the November 2025 KOM called Tinsel, Toasts & Truth (the website should be updated with the new KOM on Monday). It's also available separately in the Where Treetops Listen stamps. 

I started the background by ink smooshing Salty Ocean Distress Ink. And then I swiped the ink pad down the card front leaving fun streaks of ink. I dried the panel with a heat tool. And then I heat embossed the Grit & Glint Snowflake background stamp using white pigment ink and white embossing powder. Such a fun background! It was hard to cover any of it up. 

I had used this technique back in August with the fun Ghastly Gourds stamp. It's a really quick way to add color to your background. You can check out the details for this card here... Have a Spooky Day card. You can see more of the ink smooshed background in this one.

I cut a simple hill from white card stock to ground the scene. I fussy cut the trees and deer leaving a white border around them and adhered them to the card. And then trimmed the sentiment and adhered it too. Love how this turned out!

My second card also has some ink smooshing. Ink smooshing is my go-to technique for backgrounds! This time I used Candied Apple and Lumberjack Plaid Distress Inks. Once I was happy with the ink smooshing, I blended some more Candied Apple over the panel to cover all the white spots. I did a bit of water spatters by spritzing some water in the palm of my hand and clapping over the panel. I dried the panel completely with a heat tool.

 And then I did some stamping! I stamped the ink smooshed background with the Linen background stamp using Candied Apple Distress Ink. Can you see the texture in the background? I love it! I then stamped the background with the Buffalo Plaid background stamp using Black Soot Distress ink. I love the technique of using two background stamps together. I've shared some fun cards with this technique in the past. You can check them out here... Fun with Background Stamps {there's also a video}. I die cut the background using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies} and adhered it to a black A2 card base.

I stamped the cute Santa from The List Guy stamps and colored him up with Copic markers. I fussy cut him on the line {except around the fur trim and pom pom where I left a white border}. I adhered Santa to the card covering up the edge of the scallops on the bottom right corner. To finish off this card, I heat embossed the sentiment, trimmed it and adhered it to the card.

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

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Beard / Mustache / Fur Trim / Pom Pom: C0, C2

Hat / Coat: R20, R14, R37

Belt: N0, N2, N4

Buckle: Y11, Y15, Y28

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...

... Meghan Kennihan!! Congratulations, Meghan!!

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

Please claim the prize before November 26th, 2025. 

Well, that's it for me this time! Be sure to hop along and enjoy some more inspiration from our friends! I can't wait to see how they all 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 ---> Doreen

Amber

Jane

Dawn

Toni

Rachel

Jenni

Joyce

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal