Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 19 ~ Sweet Easter Gnome with Egg Hunt ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing more inspiration for the TOPII Sketch 19 for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. A sweet Easter card using one of the adorable gnomes in the Sweet Easter Gnome stamps from Unity Stamp Co.

I'm still trying to finish off the paper pack I found last week. It may take longer to finish off this paper pack only using one strip of pattern paper per card for this sketch though! LOL! I did also use a scrap of white card stock from my old Scrapping for Less days. It's just slightly different from the Stampers Select White card stock from Papertrey Ink that I used for my card base. I think it's still ok.

I stamped the adorable gnome and sentiment using Black Amalgam ink from Gina K. Designs and copic colored the gnome. I also stamped three eggs using stamps from the Egg Hunt stamps. I stamped them using Kitsch Flamingo, Salvaged Patina, and Mustard Seed Distress Oxide inks.

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

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Beard: C00, C1, C3

Hat / Feet: C00, C1, C3, RV0000, RV10, RV13

Easter Egg: Y11, Y15, Y35, RV0000, RV10, RV13, BG0000, BG11, BG01

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 19. 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. I have another fun idea for a card to share next week using the sketch. And then I may only have tiny pattern papers bits to play with... so I'll have to figure out what I'll do with those this time.

I fussy cut the gnome and cleaned up the edges by coloring them with a Memento Tuxedo black marker. I also fussy cut the eggs but I left a thin white border around the eggs. I adhered them all together and then adhered them to the card. I popped up the sentiment with foam tape. A pretty simple but cute card for my Easter card stash! Woohoo!

 I hope you're inspired to play along with the sketch... and maybe even use up some of those paper scraps and/or paper pads! Have a wonderful week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Inky Paws Challenge #218 ~ Color Challenge

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for a new Inky Paws Challenge... a beautiful Color Challenge! 

I sure hope that you'll join in the fun and play along with us with your Newton's Nook Designs products! You have until Friday, March 15th to get your entries in for the #218 Color Challenge and a chance to win a $20 store credit to Newton's Nook Designs!

Inky Paws Challenge #218 - Color Challenge

Such beautiful Spring colors... Violet, Lavender, Yellow, and White!! Love them!

I started by die cutting a piece of Stamper's Select White card stock from Papertrey Ink using the stitched rectangle die from the Frames & Flags Die Set. I then lined up the first stencil from the Bunny Tails Stencil Set centering it on the panel and secured it to the back of the die cut panel using purple tape.

I then blended Shaded Lilac and Wilted Violet Distress Oxide inks over the stencil. I dried the ink with my heat tool and replaced the stencil with the second stencil in the set. I used a crafty palette knife to apply Distress Textured Paste Sparkle. Now, I actually thought I grabbed just the regular textured paste for white bunny tails. Oops! I do like the sparkle! Interesting how it changed the purple inks to pink. I did add one cute little white pom pom to the bottom bunny. Just for some interest and dimension on the card.

I die cut a piece of Perfect Plum card stock from Stampin' Up using the banner die from the Frames & Flags Die Set. I then heat embossed the sentiment from the Spring Pile Up Stamp Set using white pigment ink, white embossing powder and a heat tool. I die cut the purple stripes paper from the Springtime 6x6 Paper Pad using the largest stitched and scalloped die from the Frames & Flags Die Set. I placed a scrap of the yellow pattern paper over top of the die cut piece and laid the large die over top. I secured the yellow pattern paper to the die using washi tape and then ran it through my big shot. All that was left was to adhere all of my layers together onto a Perfect Plum card front measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" that I adhered to a white A2 top fold card base measuring 4-1/4 x 11", scored at 5-1/2".

Now it's your turn to get your paws inky with your Newton's Nook Designs products and create a project using the color combo of Violet, Lavender, Yellow, and White. Be sure to link up to the Inky Paws Challenge! Can't wait to see your projects!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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~ Friends of Unity March 2024 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! Anyone else amazed that it's March?! Say what?! Where is the time going? If we could just slow down this ride, I sure would appreciate it! Anywho... this month's hop is fun and the cue is open to interpretation so I'm excited to see all the ideas from our friends.

Found in Nature is our cue this month! I had fun with a couple of ideas for this month's hop. 

First up is the beautiful 'shrooms in the brand new Kit of the Month called Love & Good Vibes. I was curious if there were purple mushrooms so I did a google search and there are! They're called Amethyst Deceiver or laccaria amethystina. As they grow older, they fade in color and wither - hence the name deceiver. I tried to color them so the smaller ones were darker and the bigger ones were lighter. It was fun coloring them. I used V000, V12, V15, V17 for the mushrooms and B0000, B000, B00 for the background.

I die cut the mushroom panel using the cool new Scallops & Arches {nesting dies}. I also die cut a mat from Kraft card stock from Papertrey Ink using the largest die from the set. I added a couple strips of washi tape in similar colors. Anyone else have a TON of washi tape and never use it?! Or is that just me? LOL! Well... it felt good to actually use some.

I stapled over the washi tape using my mini stapler from Stampin' Up and then I adhered the panel to a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" card front of True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink. I adhered the card front to a white A2 top fold card base turned on the side for a landscape card.

I felt the card needed something so I grabbed my Spectrum Noir glitter pen and painted over the tops of the 'shrooms several times. Lots and lots of glitter on these pretty mushrooms. You can really see it on the tall mushroom on the left. So sparkly and fun in person!

Next I wanted to play with the Background of the Month from January 2024 again. The Butterfly Breeze Meadow background stamp is amazing! And if you're not one to color, it's a great stamp to heat emboss. Which is what I did for these four cards.

I applied TE Anti Static powder from Taylored Expressions to the 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" card front of Hawaiian Shores card stock. I stamped the background a couple of times with the help of my Stamp Platform using Sugar Cube Pigment ink from Taylored Expressions. I then added some Alabaster White Embossing powder from Brutus Monroe and melted the powder with a Wagner Precision Heat Tool.

I also heat embossed the sentiments from the Snarky Birthday Greetings. Same steps as above. For my second card I used Raspberry Fizz card stock from Papertrey Ink.

I die cut the floral heat embossed panels using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. And the sentiments are die cut using one of the dies from the Scalloped & Stitched Sentiment Nesting Die Set. For my third card I used Berry Sorbet card stock from Papertrey Ink.

I adhered my layers to A2 top fold card bases that matched the card fronts. For my final card I used Dark Indigo card stock from Papertrey Ink. Because I used colored card stock for my card bases, I also cut 4 x 5-1/4" panels from white card stock that I adhered inside my cards to write to the recipients of the cards. These were pretty easy cards... the heat embossing was the most time consuming for these.

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 3rd, 2024. 

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 ---> Jane

Amber

Tammy

April

Colleen

Rachel

Kim

Gaylynn

Joyce

Dawn

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you, oh, so much!!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 43 ~ Christmas Confetti ~ Twiddler's Nook

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 sweet Christmas card featuring the cutest little snowflake clay bits I think I've ever seen! I used the Christmas Confetti Clay Embellishment Mix from this month's fabulous sponsor, Twiddler's Nook! Our monthly sketch challenges are now Sponsored by some of our favorite crafty companies!  Amanda from Twiddler's Nook has generously offered up a fun prize for {BYSHC} Sketch 43... Winner's Choice - either a $20 gift card to Twiddler's Nook OR a Christmas themed prize package curated by Amanda!! So amazing!! Thanks so much, Amanda!

Twiddler's Nook has an amazing assortment of clay embellishment mixes!! I have a whole bunch in my collection. Some people use them for shaker cards, but I really like to use some of the bits on my cards. I used just a handful of the white snowflakes in the Christmas Confetti Clay Embellishment mix for this card. There's also peppermints and a Christmas mix of sprinkles in this cute mix!

I paired up the cute snowflake clay bits with the adorable Snow Much Fun 6x6 Paper Pad from Doodlebug Designs. I love using paper pads when I'm working with so many layers! The papers are already made to coordinate. I just need to decide which papers I want where! For this card I used the snowflakes for my bottom layer because it has all the colors in it. I broke it up with the purple polka dot papers across the card and then I also used the blue (or is that periwinkle?) and mint papers for my other layers. I mat each of my paper layers with Stampers Select White card stock from Papertrey Ink.

I die cut the circles using the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies} from Unity. The adorable Snow Cute Doodle-Pop was just the perfect touch for this card! I also added the two snowflakes that came with the Doodle-Pop. Can't go wrong adding cute snowflakes! The sentiment is from the Snow Much Fun Chit Chat package. I just love how this card turned out and it was so easy just following along with the measurements from the sketch.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 43 for the month of March. Loving all the layers in this fun sketch! I can't wait to see what everyone does with it. I hope you'll join us and play along with the sketch! 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! Lots of beautiful inspiration this month from the design team.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Unity Lovers ATC ~ Galentines ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

I know that Galentines and Valentine's Day are well passed us but I just wanted to share the Galentines ATCs that I made for the Unity Lovers ATC swap. I used a whole bunch of Unity goodies to make these ATCs. It's always so much fun to turn on one of my audible e-books and get inky while I listen. Often times I can remember bits of the story that I listened to when I look at the projects I was working on. In fact, I remember I was listening to Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. I really enjoyed this book... a bit of romance, some fantasy and magic all during a time of war between gods. A really good read!

I started with two full sheets of Distress Watercolor Card Stock from Ranger measuring 8-1/2 x 11". I ink smooshed Lost Shadow, Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Vintage Photo, and Speckled Egg Distress Oxide inks on each sheet. I dried the card stock completely with a heat tool. Stamped the cute hearts from Mousing Around: Hiya Pal all over the card stock using Speckled Egg, Ground Espresso, and Picked Raspberry. I wasn't thinking about the direction of the hearts and how I'd need to cut the card stock for the ATCs. So I ended up needing to ink smoosh another full sheet of card stock. Ooops! I splattered all three sheets using Tarnished Brass Mica Spray and Picket Fence Spray Stain and cut them up into ATCs. And then I distressed the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Oxide ink.

I stamped the distressed hearts from A Little Grunge Love using Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide ink and lightly blended some Kitsch Flamingo Distress Oxide ink over them. I also stamped the 'love' sentiment from Winter Cheer and Deer using the same Picked Raspberry ink. I fussy cut each of the hearts and the 'love' sentiments. Oy... that took some time! I think my eyes went a bit cross eyed once or twice! LOL!

And then I die cut Early Espresso card stock from Stampin' Up using the Unity {metal die}... I die cut 36 of those babies! {Sadly, I'm not seeing this die on the website right now... it must be out of stock}. Adhered two together using my new favorite Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue. I love this glue for die cut sentiments! The fine tip is amazing and I haven't had an issue with clogging. All that was left to do was adhere the sentiments to the ATCs and I popped up the hearts with foam tape. I did shift the placement of the popped up hearts depending on the ATC. I didn't want to cover up all the pretty hearts in the background. So the cards aren't quite identical but they are pretty close!

That's it for me today! Have an ink-tastic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Membership Wednesday ~ February 2024 KOM Grace and More Grace ~ Unity Stamp Co.

  Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a lovely monochromatic card featuring the fabulous February 2024 Kit of the Month membership from Unity. I've just been itching to ink up this beautiful fairy! Love her!

I stamped the beautiful fairy with Black Amalgam ink from Gina K. Designs. I knew I wanted to work with purple for this one so I went looking through my papers and found the Watercolor Stripes {paper pack}. I die cut the fairy panel using a die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set.

I copic colored the cute fairy with just a handful of Copic markers: E000, E00, V000, V12, V15. I stamped the fairy again on a post it note and fussy cut around her and the circle in the background. I placed my mask over the panel and ink blended with Seedless Preserves, Dusty Concord and Villainous Potion Distress Oxide inks. Adhered the fairy panel to the pattern paper and wrapped it with a piece of iridescent ribbon. I tied a pretty bow and secured it with a glue dot.

I wanted to use one of the many cut apart sentiments I have in my stash so I looked through them to find one that worked nicely with the fairy. Adhered it to the card front and trimmed off the edges. I then adhered the card front to a white A2 top fold card base using liquid glue.

 

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

 Well, that's it for me today! Hope you have an ink-tastic day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 19 ~ Epstein and Garfield ~ Rubbernecker Stamps

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a brand new sketch for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I had to much fun that I ended up making two cards to share! I'm still working on some birthday cards to build up my stash. And I'm still trying to use up those leftover papers from my days on the Scrapping for Less Design Team. These leftover papers have just been sitting there taking up room in my studio for over 3 years now. I challenged myself last month to start using them all up!! So, I'll be sharing the cards I create throughout the month. Some will be using the new TOPII sketch and others will just be ideas I came up with using the last few scraps. I hope you're inspired to not only play along with this month's sketch, but also use up those scraps right along with me!

My two cards for TOPII Sketch 19 featuring owl stamps from Rubbernecker Stamps. I thought these cuties would be perfect for this sketch! I used Epstein and Garfield... I can't seem to find them on the website now, but they do have a fun Have a Hoot stamp set that includes Epstein and a stamp that is kinda similar to Garfield. Always happy to enable crafty friends!

First up is the adorable Epstein owl from Rubbernecker Stamps. Isn't he just the cutest?! I stamped him up using Black Amalgam ink from Gina K. Designs. I think I might need to add some ink to my ink pad though. I just couldn't get a crisp stamping of his eyes. I will likely color them in black with my Memento Tuxedo Black marker. 

I used up a bunch of the pattern papers last week with my three cards for Sketch 18 so I decided to just use a strip of the pattern paper for my cards today. These strips measure 1-3/4 x 5-1/4". I also used some leftover card stock for my red card front and for the white scallops strips. So I don't actually know what brand of card stock these are.

I didn't want to cover up the pretty pattern paper so I die cut a vellum circle using a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies} from Unity. I adhered the owls to the vellum circle and then adhered the vellum circle by just adding glue behind the owls so none of the glue would show through the vellum.

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used to color Epstein up:

Feathers: W00, W1, W3, W5, E84, E87, E89

Eyes: Y11, Y15, Y26

Beak / Feet: YR15, YR27

Heart: R20, R14, R46 

Here's a look at the fun new sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 19. I think this'll be a good sketch for those larger leftover pieces. 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. I have a few fun ideas for this sketch and I hope to play some more with it during the next few weeks.

My second card featuring the cute Garfield owl from Rubbernecker Stamps.

I used another scrap for this card along with a fun yellow card front from my stash. I love how the yellow background makes Garfield's eyes and cup pop on the card.

I used an old scallop edge punch from Stampin' Up with some scraps of white card stock to make the fun white scallop edges. I punched them and then trimmed the edges... I'd say they're about 1/2" wide so I could just adhere them to the pattern paper strip before adhering the strips to the card fronts.

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used to color up Garfield:

 

Feathers: W00, W1, W3, W5, E84, E87, E89

Eyes / Cup: Y11, Y15, Y26

Beak / Feet: YR15, YR27 

The sentiment is from the Gotta Love Sentiments from Unity Stamp Co. I trimmed them and popped them up with foam tape. So happy with how these cards turned out and they didn't take very long either! I hope you're inspired to play along with the sketch... and maybe even use up some of those paper scraps and/or paper pads! Have a wonderful week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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