~ Friends of Unity August 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for another Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! Woohoo! I've been looking forward to this month's cue for awhile now!

Today we are sharing inspiration for the Grunge cue!! The possibilities are seriously endless with this one... I had several ideas and only time to make a couple. 

First up is a fun Halloween card featuring I Bite Pissy Kitty. But I think the star of the card is actually the Ghastly Gourds background stamp. Oh how I love these pumpkins!! 

I did a bit of ink smooshing first with Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin and Black Soot Distress Inks.

And then I swiped the panel with my Carved Pumpkin Distress Ink. I love the streaks of ink this technique creates!

I then stamped the panel with the Ghastly Gourds using Black Soot Distress Ink. And then I inked up just the top portion of the Smell My Feet background stamp and stamped it crooked on the top and bottom corners of the panel. I think the stamp was actually upside down... but that's okay. LOL

I Copic colored the fun kitty and fussy cut it leaving a white border. But then it was too bright so I distressed around the edges using the residual ink on my black blending brush. I added some black string to the panel and popped up the kitty using foam tape. And then I heat embossed the sentiment and popped it up on the card to finish it off.

Copic markers used:

Cat: C0, C3, C5

Eyes: YG11, YG06, YG67

Nose:RV02

Wings: C2, C5, 100

Bow: V12, V15

Pumpkin: YR20, YR15, YR68, Y15, Y08, E21, E25

I went a very different direction with my second card. I wanted to use Seraphim Wings but instead I ended up using the coordinating Seraphim Wings die (unfortunately I don't see this on the website currently). I didn't take photos of my ink smooshing for this one. I used Speckled Egg, Evergreen Bough and Vintage Photo Distress Inks for my ink smooshing.

And then I stamped the gorgeous What's Old is New background stamp with Ground Espresso Distress Ink. I die cut the panel with the Seraphim Wings die. And then I ink smooshed another panel with the same colors. I inked up the background stamp again this time with Vintage Photo but only in random spots. I didn't cover it completely with ink. And then I lightly placed the stamp on top of the ink smooshed panel and pressed gently. I still had a puddle of brown ink (I think it was Ground Espresso) so I used it to spatter the panel.

I used a die from the Notebook Borders Die Set  to cut that left edge on my background panel. Distressed the edges of the die cut butterfly with residual ink on my brown blending brush. Stamped the sentiment with Ground Espresso Distress Ink. And then I ink smooshed another white panel with just Speckled Egg and Evergreen Bough distress inks for my bottom panel. I adhered all my layers onto a white A2 top fold card base. I feel like it needs something... maybe I'll add enamel dots. What do you think?

Now before we get to the hopping, random dot org 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 August 26th, 2026. 

Well, that's it for me this time! 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 ---> Jane

Von Marie

Toni

Jenni

Joyce

Rachel

Dawn

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Membership Wednesday ~ July 2026 BOM Daisy Defined ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

Happy Membership Wednesday! Today I'm sharing a little inspiration for the fun Color Challenge that the Friends of Unity are hosting in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group. Red, White & Blue is the color combo and I wondered how it would look with the fab Background of the Month stamp from Unity!

I started with my background for this one. I debated back and forth and back and forth and just finally went with red only for my background. I felt like if I did blue and red on the background maybe it would be too 4th of July-like. I used Candied Apple and Barn Door Distress Inks for my ink smooshing.

My card design was inspired by TOP Inky Inspiration Sketch 45 that just started yesterday in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I'm having fun with this sketch already!

I adhered the ink smooshed background to a light blue card base. And then I stamped the Daisy Defined background stamp on white card stock with Black Amalgam ink. I looked at it for a really long time trying to decide what to do. Haha... like really long. I walked away and folded the towels in the dryer. I needed a minute to focus on something else. When I came back I had the idea to color the daisies with a touch a blue but keep them mostly white. I really like how they turned out. There's also the tiniest hint of yellow in the center and green on the stems. Copic Markers used: C0, C2, B000, B00, B02, Y000, G000.

I stamped the daisies again on another piece of white card stock and ink smooshed them with the same two red distress inks. I die cut them with the largest die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. I fussy cut the colored daisies on the line and colored the edges with a black marker. And then I paper pieced them onto the ink smooshed circle. The ink smooshed layers needed something in between to break them up so I die cut a circle of the light blue card stock using a slightly larger circle die from my stash. I cut a banner from the light blue card stock and then fussy cut the sentiment and adhered them onto the circle and then I popped up the whole thing on the card with foam tape.

Here's a look at the Background of the Month membership stamps. This fabulous stamp is also available as a one-time purchase if you're not interested in the monthly membership. 

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

Have a fabulous day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Spooky Mixed Media Halloween ~ Scaredy Cats Club ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

I had some inky time with a brand new Halloween stamp from Unity's latest release. I just had to ink up the kitties with the ghosts... so cute!!

I inked up the Scaredy Cats Club stamp with Black Amalgam ink and colored it up with my Copic markers. I blended some Black Soot Distress ink around the edges of the die cut image to finish it off. I used a die from the Scallops & Squares {nesting dies} to die cut the cats and ghosts.

Copic Markers used:

Cats: N1, N3, N5, R20

Cats Eyes / Ghosts: C0, C2

Stems / Grass / Sentiment: YG00

Purple Background: V000, V12, V15, V17

I ink smooshed my background panel with Wilted Violet, and Villainous Potion Distress Inks. Once I was happy with my ink smooshing, I blended some Black Soot Distress Ink all over the panel. I die cut the panel using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}.

I adhered the sentiment to the square focal image and then popped them both up with foam tape. So fun to make a Halloween card. I hope you like it.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Hive Had Enough ~ This Stings ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

It was so fun to get back in the studio and get inky. I just couldn't resist this new bee stamp from Unity. I had to ink him up! He's currently a Spotlight Steal on the website!!

I colored up the bee from This Stings with some Copic markers and fussy cut him leaving a white border. If fussy cutting isn't your thing, there's a This Stings digital cut file available that's compatible with some electronic die cutting machines.

Copic Markers used:

Yellow: Y11, Y15, Y38

Antennae / Legs: N1, N3, N5

Wings / Eyes: B000, B02

Green: YG11, YG03

I ink smooshed a background with Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, and Wild Honey Distress Inks. Die cut it with the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. The grey spatters were supposed to be black spatters. My black acrylic paint is very watery. I guess I need to mix it more. 

I used the Stitched Hexagon Nesting Dies {I don't see this on the website anymore, sorry} for the black hexagons and the one behind the bee that I ink smooshed with just Wild Honey Distress Ink. And for the strip diagonally across the card I used the HoneyComb Chaos Die. I think it was a Spotlight Steal at one point. I don't see it on the website either. To finish off the card I popped up the bee and the sentiment with foam tape. So fun to make. I hope you like it.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

~ Friends of Unity June 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for another Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! Woohoo! This month's cue is lots of fun. But before we get to that we have a new friend joining us... please stop by Von Marie's blog and be sure to give her a great big welcome! I am really excited to have Von Marie join our team! Woohoo!!

Today we are sharing inspiration for the Food & Drink cue!! The possibilities are seriously endless with this one... I made three cards but I had ideas for a few more!! LOL! There's just so many food and drink stamps available at Unity. It was really hard to chose just a few.

You may have seen the other card I made with this gorgeous stamp. I just shared it a couple days ago on my Instagram. I absolutely love lemon everything so I just had to ink it up again. This beauty is from the June 2026 Whit Kit You're the Zest membership. The stamps are also available separately... You're the Zest {stamps only}. 

I paired the lemons up again with the gorgeous Squeeze the Day {paper pack}. I love the colors in these papers! And I have a bunch of scraps so I thought I'd use some of them for this card. I fussy cut the lemons and the sentiment. I popped up the lemons on the card with foam tape.

I used pretty much the same Copics for this card as the one I shared a few days ago.

Copic markers used:

Lemons: Y000, Y11, Y15, Y38

Branch: E11, E57

Blossoms: C0, C2, Y15, Y38

Leaves: YG00, G00, YG11, G02

Bee: Y11, Y15, B000

My second card features a sweet stamp called Just Peachy. I love a yummy peach! Nectarines are actually my favorite stone fruit but I love peaches too. I stamped this cute stamp with Black Amalgam ink and colored it with Copic markers. I stamped the sentiment and fussy cut them both. I adhered the sentiment to the peaches and then popped them up on the card with foam tape.

Copic Markers used:

Peaches: B000, Y11, YR21, YR61, YR23, YR15

Leaves: YG11, YG03, YG63

Bowl: BG10, BG70, BG93, BG72 

I paired the peaches up with the Cozy Cup Cafe {paper pack}. This paper has a coffee theme but I just love the peachy polka dot paper. It was a must for this card. I used some of my very old white grosgrain ribbon from Stampin' Up. I hardly ever touch my ribbons. Any one else not use ribbons very often? Just me?! I used a Sakura White Gelly Roll pen to bring back the white of the polka dots on the bowl.

Last of all I inked up one of the new cups from the June 2026 KOM The Art of Summering. I don't drink but I sure love me a yummy Arnold Palmer. So I colored up the tall glass with Copic markers to look like my favorite non-alcoholic drink. It sure was fun to color! If you're not interested in the membership, the Boozy & Bougie stamps are available separately. 

Did you notice that wonderful background stamp?! It's also from this month's KOM. And available separately here... The Paper Apothecary. I stamped it with the Lost Shadow Distress Ink from Ranger/Tim Holtz. And then did some ink smooshing with Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, and Vintage Photo Distress inks. I wanted it to look like I spilled some of my drink... haha!! 

 I die cut the panel using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}.

Copic markers used:

Lemon: Y11, Y15, YR15

Tea: E21, E35, Y11, Y15, YR15

Sprig: YG63

Ice cubes / Glass: C0, C2

Now before we get to the hopping, random dot org 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 July 1st, 2026. 

Well, that's it for me this time! 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 ---> Von Marie

Jenni

Toni

Joyce

Dawn

Rachel

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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