~ Friends of Unity May 2025 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! This month's cue just might be one of my favorites! 

This month's cue is Bloom Where You Are Planted! For me... that means flowers! I absolutely LOVE the assortment of flower stamps available at Unity! It wasn't easy, but I narrowed it down to two for this hop.

First up is the gorgeous Tulip Symphony. I adore this stamp! I wanted to do some watercoloring and this stamp was the first one that came to mind. I used my ZIG Clean Color Real Brush markers. I used Light Pink, Light Carmine, and Pink for the petals. And Yellow Green, May Green and Green for the stems and leaves. For the blue in the background I used a bit of Light Blue.

Once the panel was completely dry, I die cut it using a die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. I also die cut another piece of watercolor paper using the largest die from the Postage Stamp {nesting dies}. These gorgeous tulips could be a forever postage stamp. I love it!

I used Canson XL 140lb watercolor paper for my watercoloring layers. I adhered the postage layer to an A2 top fold card base of Kraft card stock from Papertrey Ink. I decided to make this a birthday card for my beautiful niece whose birthday was just a few days ago. I hope she liked it.

My next card features the beautiful blooms from the Snarky Mama stamps. I really wish Unity would make this stamp bigger. Don't you think it would look fab as a big slimline stamp?! I think so. I may just ask Ang if we can make that happen. :)

I stamped the flowers and the sentiment on Stampers Select White card stock from Papertrey Ink. And then I die cut it using a die from the BIG Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. I wanted to keep the card CAS so I looked through my embossing folders for a fun background and came across the Tim Holtz Brick 3D Embossing Folder. I finished off the card with some Raindrop Embellishments from the 2024 Advent Calendar.

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

Big Flowers: Y11, R20

Big Flower Centers: Y11, YR15, R14

Little Flowers: R20, R32

Leaves / Stems: YG11, G02, G07

Background: BG10, Colorless Blender

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...

... Denise Bryant!! Congratulations, Denise!!

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

Please claim the prize before June 4th, 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 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

Kari

April

Jane

Toni

Dawn

Jenni

Joyce

Doreen

Rachel

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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Membership Wednesday ~ April 2025 BOM Mod Bloom ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

Happy Membership Wednesday! Today I'm sharing a card featuring this month's fab background stamp from the April 2025 Background of the Month membership from Unity called Mod Blooms. 

I wanted to try a fun technique with Distress Crayons where I colored the rubber stamp, spritzed the stamp with a bit of water and then stamped the image. It worked pretty well. I went back in with the crayons to add a bit of detail.

I used Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, and Twisted Citron Distress Crayons. And then I used a Tumbled Glass Distress Crayon to watercolor around the flower.

I die cut the flower using a stitched rectangle die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. I die cut a piece of white card stock using the largest die from the Postage Stamp {nesting dies}. And then I adhered all of my layers to a white A2 top fold card base.

Here's a quick look at this month's Background of the Month membership! So many fun ideas for this stamp! Well, that's it for me today! I hope you've been inspired to play with your membership stamps! Have an INKredible day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Watercolors on Pattern Paper ~ February 2023 Whit Kit ~ Unity Stamp Co.

  Hello there crafty friend!

A quick blog post today to share one more card using the wonderful February 2023 Whit Kit from Unity. A super simple card! Stamping directly on pattern paper from the fantastic Newsprint Greetings {paper pack} for a quick background. 

I die cut the stamped background with the largest postage stamp die from the Postage Stamp {nesting dies} before I watercolored the flowers with ZIG Clean Color Real Brush markers. Normally I would have Copic colored the flowers BUT I'm really trying to use my ZIGs more and I did make this card right after the first one I shared on Wednesday. {If you missed that card, you can check it out here... Ink Smooshed Card}. So I didn't want to Copic color them again in the same colors. Had to change things up a bit!

I lightly distressed the edges of the die cut panel with some Vintage Photo Distress ink. And then I adhered the background to a Kraft A2 top fold card base measuring 4-1/4 x 11"; scored at 5-1/2".

I cut apart one of the sentiments from the cut apart sheet included in the kit. I cut the one end at an angle and adhered it to the card. And then I trimmed the excess from the side of the card.

You can check out my process video here...Watercolors on Pattern Paper | February 2023 Whit Kit 

| Unity Stamp Co. 

Here's a look at the wonderful Whit Kit for February!! So beautiful and I really enjoyed watercoloring the flowers! This wonderful card kit is available for only $42.99. That includes shipping! You also get a $6.95 discount on every order from Unity over $45. Members are also able to purchase past Whit Kit stamp sets for just $14 and past Whit Kit paper packs for $2 off!! So awesome!!! 

I'll be back tomorrow with one more card I made using the February 2023 Whit Kit.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Membership Monday ~ January 2023 Whit Kit Espresso to You ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

So happy to have you stop by for my last Membership Monday post! I'll be continuing this series... only it'll be moving to Membership Wednesdays. I'm excited to share some fun projects with you in the month of February... lots of beautiful stamps coming out next month for all four memberships that are available at Unity Stamp Co. Eeep! Can't wait! Anywho... back to today's cards. I'm sharing a pretty vintage style card using the January 2023 Whit Kit called Espresso to You.

I just adore this beautiful stamp from the kit and the vintage papers are gorgeous! I just had to go with one of my favorite color combos for this one... throwing a bit of turquoise and red in there. I just love how it pops with the browns!

I used Peacock Feathers and Uncharted Mariner Distress Oxide inks to watercolor the cups on Canson XL watercolor paper. Feeling out of practice once again with my watercoloring skills. I kind of fixed my attempt at watercoloring by distressing the edges of the cups with a bit of Vintage Photo Distress Oxide ink. I think it adds to the vintage vibe of the card too. 

You can check out my process video for this card here... Vintage Coffee Card | January 2023 Whit Kit | Unity Stamp Co.

I did a bit of stamping on the vintage paper as well using the splatter and coffee rings stamps. I also distressed the edges of the papers with a bit of Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Oxide inks. And then distressed them again with a paper distresser that roughed up the edges a bit. I stamped the sentiment with white pigment ink and heat embossed some white embossing powder. I wrapped the paper layers with some of the burlap string included in the card kit. I popped up the cups with foam tape and finished off the card with a few enamel dots from my stash. I'm really liking how this one turned out!

For my bonus card, I stamped the cups onto one of the vintage papers in the kit using Black Amalgam ink. I colored up the cups with Copic markers {listed down below}, fussy cut them and adhered them to this pretty vintage paper piece. I stamped the splatter and coffee rings all over the front of my kraft card base using Vintage Photo, Antique Linen, and Ground Espresso Distress Inks.

I adhered the vintage paper to the kraft card base. Cut two 1/8" strips of dark brown card stock and adhered them to either side of the vintage paper. This is my favorite trick to avoid extra layers to a card but still make it look like there's some dimension and layers. I stamped the sentiment directly on the vintage paper with Ground Espresso Distress ink. 

Just a little note about the vintage papers. If you look at the handles of my cups you can see that the Copic markers bled out of the lines {inside of the handles}. The vintage papers are pretty thin so I probably should have used less ink and maybe blended a little less. So if you decide to Copic color on these papers just be careful not to oversaturate your paper like I did. Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used:

Blue-Greens ~ BG70, BG72, BG78

Browns ~ E21, E23, E27, E29

Reds ~ R20, R14, R37

Here's a look at the beautiful card kit! Be sure to check out the Whit Kit membership at Unity... there's still time to sign up for this kit!! If you already have the kit, I hope you share your creations in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group! I'd love to see what you create! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Membership Monday ~ Color Burst Backgrounds ~ November 2022 Kit of the Month ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back for Membership Monday with inspiration for the November 2022 Kit of the Month! Today I’m sharing fun watercolored cards using Color Burst which is a fine concentrated powder colorant to be used with water on porous surfaces. A wonderful and quick way to make a great background to showcase any stamp!

For my first card, I stamped Santa with VersaFine Onyx Black ink on Canson XL Watercolor paper. I used ZIG Clean Color Real Brush markers to watercolor Santa. Fussy cut him and set him aside.

Santa's background was created with Terre Verte and Chartreuse Color Bursts. I love the texture that the bursts of color give to the card!

The trimmed background was mat with a green card stock measuring 4 x 5-1/4". It was then adhered to a red card front measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" that was adhered to a white A2 top fold card base.

My second card and I have to say I really love the pop of colors on this one! Same steps as the first card, I stamped it with VersaFine Onyx Black ink on Canson XL Watercolor paper and used ZIGs to watercolor it.

The background was created with Ultramarine Blue and Violet Color Bursts. I used a heat tool to help the drying process on both of the backgrounds. 

This panel was trimmed to 4 x 5-1/4" and adhered to a purple card front measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". I adhered it to a white A2 top fold card base, as well. You can check out my video sharing this technique here… Quick Color Burst Backgrounds | November 2022 Kit of the Month | Unity Stamp Co.

Here’s a look at the whole Kit of the Month for November!! Isn't it awesome?! I couldn't wait for this KOM to get to my mailbox!

Hope you've been inspired to get inky with your November Kit of the Month and if you haven't received yours yet, why not try this technique with stamps from a past KOM! I just love this technique. I hope you'll give it a try.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 23 ~ Christmas Watercolor Panels ~ Taylored Expressions

 Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with my weekly Christmas card using the current sketch from the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group and this time I needed something quick! I was going to look through my journaling cards real quick but I couldn't find them. One of these days I'll get my studio unpacked and organized! LOL! While I was looking though I found a package of Christmas watercolor panels from Taylored Expressions that I've had in my stash for awhile. I thought I'd give one of the panels a try... and it made for a pretty quick card!

It has been ages since I've done any watercoloring so it was fun to pull out my ZIGs and play. I colored up the panel with a few basic colors... greens for the trees, red for the sentiment and a touch of blue to highlight the snow. Super easy and quick!

For my background I ran a piece of Real Red card stock from Stampin' Up! through my Big Shot with an embossing folder called Snowflake Trim by Darice. I swiped my Sugar Cube White Pigment ink pad from Taylored Expressions lightly over the embossed card stock giving the snowflakes a hint of white.  

I trimmed the background to 5-1/8 x 3-7/8" and adhered it to a True Black card stock mat measuring 5-1/4 x 4". I cut a couple flags from the Real Red and True Black card stock. I punched the corners of the watercolored panel with a corner punch and then popped it up on the snowflake background with foam tape. I added a piece of foam tape just above the panel and adhered my little flags with some liquid glue and the foam tape. I adhered the entire panel to a Real Red card front measuring 5-1/2 x 4-1/4" and then I adhered the card front to a white A2 top fold card base that I turned on it's side. Done! I think it turned out pretty cute and it definitely has elements of the sketch.

Speaking of the sketch... here's another look at this month's {BYSHC} Sketch 23! I hope you've found some inspiration for the sketch or maybe just been inspired to make a Christmas card. If you're interested in seeing a bit more inspiration for this sketch, check out the amazing inspiration from the design team over on the  {BYSH} Cardmakers blog! I'll be back next week with my weekly Christmas card using this fun sketch!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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

 Hello there crafty friend!

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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