Membership Wednesday ~ September 2024 KOM Wander and Wonder ~ Unity Stamp Co.

  Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a vintage style holiday card featuring the awesome poinsettia stamp from the September 2024 Kit of the Month membership from Unity called Wander and Wonder. I love to color poinsettias!! And I was so excited to find the background piece in my stash of 'maybe later' panels.

I started this card by stamping the lovely poinsettia and sentiment on white card stock with Black Amalgam ink. I then Copic colored the beautiful poinsettia. I actually recorded my coloring for this one and have a short video sharing that with you all {below}. 

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

Pinks: RV0000, RV00, RV10, RV11, RV14

Greens: YG11, G24, G46

Yellows: YG21, Y15, Y35

You can check out my Copic coloring video here... Copic Color with Me | September 2024 KOM Wander and Wonder | Unity Stamp Co.

Once I was happy with my coloring I fussy cut the poinsettia on the line and distressed the edges just a bit with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I trimmed the sentiment and then distressed it a bit with the same blending brush. I wanted to keep it light so I didn't add any more ink to the brush.

 I set aside the poinsettia and looked through my background panels that didn't work out for another project and went into my 'maybe later' container. I found a kraft panel from last year that I had blended over the Burlap Stencil using the Tsukineko's Champagne ink, both from the October 2023 Whit Kit. It was perfect for my card! I ink smooshed the panel with some Kitsch Flamingo and Vintage Photo Distress Inks. I then die cut the panel using the largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Dies from Unity. I distressed the edges of the panel using Vintage Photo Distress Ink and then splattered the panel with some watered down Ground Espresso Distress Ink. I adhered the sentiment to the poinsettia and then added a bunch of foam tape to the back of both and popped them up on the card.

 

Here's a quick look at this month's Kit of the Month membership! So in love with this month's KOM!!

Well, that's it for me today! I hope you've been inspired to play with your membership stamps! 

Hope you have an inkredible day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 25 ~ Full of Happy Hugs ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing inspiration for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 25 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I made this sweet card for a dear friend who just said goodbye to her furry friend.

I was surprised to find that I don't have many pet sympathy stamps. Actually I went through a good majority of my Unity stamps and this adorable stamp was the only one that I felt was really fitting. It's called Full of Happy Hugs. The title doesn't seem fitting but the stamp sure does. I know Unity has some wonderful pet sympathy stamps though. I need to add one or two to my wishlist and then my collection.

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

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Hair: E21, E23, E25, R35

Shirt: BG70, BG72

Dog: N0, N2, N4, N6

Grass: YG11, YG61, YG63

Here's a look at the sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 25. 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 like to think my inspiration is usually a good example of this since I'm almost always tweaking it here or there. Today's card is no different since my focal image is on the right side and the sentiment is moved to the bottom left.

I paired up the adorable stamp with the Timeworn Paws Anthology {paper pack}. I thought it was fitting for a pet sympathy card. I die cut the background layer using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. I had a strip of the bones paper in my paper pack already cut so I also die cut it using the same die.

I fussy cut the Full of Happy Hugs stamp on the line and then I trimmed the sentiment. I adhered them directly to the card. And I added a few enamel dots to finish off the card. I sure hope you've been inspired and can play along with the sketch! Have an inktastic week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Inky Paws Challenge #231 ~ Sketch Challenge Reminder

 Hello there crafty friend!

 There's still time to play along with the Inky Paws Challenge 231 - Sketch Challenge! You have until this coming Friday, September 13th to get your entries in for this fun challenge and a chance to win a $20 store credit to Newton's Nook Designs!

Inky Paws Challenge #231 - Sketch Challenge

This just may be my most favorite sketch so far! I couldn't wait to make a Christmas card using this sketch!

This time I wanted to stick more closely to the sketch so I picked a cute cup stamp from the Cup of Cocoa Stamp Set for my focal image. I stamped the cup on a scrap of card stock and stamped the sentiment on a larger scrap. I die cut the sentiment using a circle die from the Circle Frames Die Set being sure there was a good amount of room for the cup on the left side.

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

Snowman: C00, C3, YR15, YR16, R14

Snow / Whipped Cream: C00, C3

Mug: R20, R14, R46

Candy Cane: C00, C3, YG11, G24, G46

Candies: R14, G24

I used a fun mix of papers from the Meowy Christmas 6x6 Paper Pad. The best thing about the papers in this paper pad is that you could literally pick any three papers and they will work perfectly with each other for a fun background.

I shared these measurements last week but wanted to share them again. I think it's easiest to start with a piece of pattern paper that measures 4 x 5-1/4", but for my card today I used scraps of pattern paper. I just didn't have enough full sheets of the pattern papers. So I cut my example above and used the pieces as a guide for my pattern papers. I placed them over my pattern paper scraps and just traced around the edges with pencil and trimmed the pattern papers. I adhered the pattern paper pieces together on a lightweight card stock and then adhered them to a white A2 top fold card base.

I was surprised to discover that I don't have the coordinating Cup of Cocoa Die Set so I fussy cut the cup on the line. Colored the edges of the fussy cutting with a Memento Tuxedo black marker to make it look nice and neat and then I popped it up on the card with foam tape. I finished off the card with three red rhinestones from the Rainbow Bling Rhinestones from Gina Marie Designs.

Now it's your turn to get your paws inky with your Newton's Nook Designs products and create a project using the sketch. 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 September 2024 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! This month's cue is another one that we do just about every year, I think. It's a super fun cue because it includes all of you! I'm so excited to see the inspiration for this month's hop AND to see all the awesome cards you all are inspired to make, too!

This month's cue is a fun Color Challenge using the colors above. As always, the cue is meant to inspire, not require. In fact there's really no requirements except the use of some of these colors. You'll see some of the inspiration from our friends may have added splashes of green where the design calls for it. And neutrals are definitely fair game! 

First up is a pretty Fall card using a new stamp that's really geared towards Christmas cards but I wanted to see what I could do for a Fall card. It's the A Wintry Hello stamps. I love this new stamp! And I really like how this card turned out. The sentiment is from Planner Gal: Seasonal Hello and I heat embossed it.

I paired up the beautiful deer with the gorgeous Golden Autumn Whispers {paper pack}. These papers are so rich and amazing! I love them! I think they make a great background for this majestic deer! I die cut the pattern papers using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. I also die cut a long scrap of Early Espresso card stock {SU} to ground the deer and the scene. 

I wanted to add some color to the trees since it's a Fall card and not Winter so I just added some dots of color using a few Copic markers. I toned down the white around the trees and in the deer's antlers by distressing the edges with a bit of Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

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

Deer: E51, E55, E57

Tree Dots: Y15, YR15, R39, E55

Ground: E55, E57, N2, N4

Next up is a cute gnome card. It's been a long time since I've Copic colored on kraft and I wanted to see how this gnome would look. He's from the Sunshine & Laughter Gnome stamps. Such a cute gnome! He definitely looks shaded under that umbrella mushroom! I also used some Prismacolor white pencil for the mushroom.

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

Gnome Nose: E000, E00, E11, E04

Beard: C00, C3

Shoes: N2, N4, N6

Hat: Y11, Y15, YR15

Mushroom: R20, R14, R46, E51, E55, E57

Ground: E51, E55

I paired up this cutie with the beautiful Enrich the Soul {paper pack}. I die cut the pattern papers and the Kraft card stock using the largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set. The scrap of Kraft card stock is also die cut using a die from the Stitched Hillside Borders die from Lawn Fawn.

The sentiment is heat embossed and die cut using a die from the Scalloped & Stitched Sentiment Nesting Dies. All the layers are adhered to a Kraft A2 top fold card base, except for the gnome. I popped him up using foam tape. And then I finished off this card with a few black enamel dots from my stash.

My third and last card is a fun Fall card with a super cute and brand new stamp that just released today! It's called Winnie the Pooh: A Brighter Day. Isn't it just the sweetest stamp?! I adore Pooh bear and this stamp! It's also available in clear photopolymer... {Clearly Unity} Winnie the Pooh: A Brighter Day.

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

Pooh Bear: Y11, Y15

Sunflower: Y11, Y15, Y38, YR15, E51, E55, E57

Stem / Leaves: YG11, YG03, YG95

I paired Pooh bear up with the gorgeous Thankful and Blessed Pumpkins {paper pack}. I love the gorgeous pumpkins in this paper! I think it works really nicely with the sunflower. What do you think? I die cut the pattern paper using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}.

Pooh bear was fussy cut leaving a white border around the image and then I distressed around the edges with some Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I popped up Pooh bear with a bunch of foam tape onto a couple circles I die cut from Early Espresso and Vellum card stock using dies from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. And then I just trimmed the edges off on the left side and adhered all my layers.

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...

... Angy Hughes!! Congratulations, Angy!!

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

Please claim the prize before October 2nd, 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! AND don't forget about the Color Challenge! Create a new card or project using the colors from the cue and enter it into the album in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group. We'd love to have you play along with us!

Let's get to the hopping...

Crystal <--- you're here

up next ---> Kari

Tammy

Joyce

Jane

Jenni

Dawn

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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Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 25 ~ September Scraps

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing inspiration for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 25 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I've cracked open another pack of leftover papers and made a super fast card just using scraps!

I love how fast this card came together! Just a few tweaks and cuts and it was done!

Here's a look at the scraps I chose for September. Not quite a Fall theme but the colors could really be used for a Fall card. The row of papers on the top are all 6x6", otherwise all the other papers are bits and pieces.

I trimmed the floral paper down to 4 x 5-1/4" and adhered it to an A2 top fold card of Kraft card stock from Papertrey Ink. I then trimmed the ruler paper into strips just using the lines on the paper as a guide. I adhered the ruler paper to the floral paper.

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 25. 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 like to think my inspiration is usually a good example of this since I'm always adjusting the sketch. Today is good example as I turned the sketch for a portrait card and adjusted the sentiment.

I decided to trim the chicken circle that was in with my scraps. The white was too bright. I carefully pulled up the tail of the right chicken and just trimmed the white off going slightly under the green background. I die cut a stitched circle from Kraft card stock using a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies} from Unity. And then I heat embossed a sentiment from the adorable Bobbie Sue Girl stamps, also from Unity. This was such a fun and quick card! I hope you've been inspired to pull out those scraps and use them up! Have an inktastic week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Inky Paws Challenge #231 ~ Sketch Challenge

 Hello there crafty friend!

Who's up for a new challenge?! It's time to get our paws inky with a fun sketch challenge! I am always up for good sketch and this one is so fun! You have until Friday, September 13th to get your entries in for the #231 Sketch Challenge and a chance to win a $20 store credit to Newton's Nook Designs!

Inky Paws Challenge #231 - Sketch Challenge

Another super fun sketch! I can't wait to see what you create with it!

I couldn't help but make three cards for this sketch! First of all, it gave me an excuse to ink up both of the girls in the Pumpkin Latte Stamp Set. And secondly, I cut up three sheets of pattern paper for the sketch anyways... so why not make them all into cards! 

Here's the measurements I used for the sketch. The card stock was trimmed down to 4 x 5-1/4". I found it easiest to measure and cut the bottom portion first so I measured up from the bottom left 1/2" and 3-5/8" on the right side. I then drew a light line with pencil across the pattern paper. And I cut each of the three pattern papers. And then to cut that top pattern paper I measured from the left top corner of the pattern papers to 11/16". From the bottom corner I measured up that angled edge to 2-5/8". I drew another light line with pencil across the pattern paper and then I cut all three pieces of pattern paper. I then trimmed three light weight pieces of white pattern paper. I think mine is 60lb. I trimmed them down to 3-7/8 x 5-1/8". And then I adhered the pattern papers to these three white card fronts. Just like puzzle pieces... they fit together just perfectly and gave me three fun and Fall-filled backgrounds.

All of the pretty Fall backgrounds I created using the beautiful Autumn 6x6 Paper Pad. I adhered each of them to an A2 top fold card base of Kraft card stock from Papertrey Ink. I stamped the beautiful girls from the Pumpkin Latte Stamp Set on Stampers Select White card stock from Papertrey Ink using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I colored each of them using a bunch of Copic markers. And then I die cut them using the coordinating Pumpkin Latte Die Set. I wanted a bit of a layer between the girls and the Fall background but I didn't want to cover up the pretty papers so I die cut three circles of vellum card stock using a die from the Circle Frames Die Set. 

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

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Hair: Y02, Y21, Y26, E23

Boots: E51, E55, E57

Yellow Jacket: Y21, Y26, E55

Blue  Dress: BG10, BG70, BG72, Y21, Y26

Blue Jacket {Pumpkin Girl above}: BG10, BG70, BG72

Redwood Dress: E51, E13, E19, Y21, Y26

Blue Jacket {last card}: BG10, BG70, BG72, Y21, Y26

Scarf: BG70, BG72, BG10, E13, E19

Pumpkins: YR21, YR15, YR68, YR27, E51, E55, E57

Cups: C00, C3, E55, E57, Y21, Y26

These were such fun cards to make. I can't wait to see the awesome entries using this fun sketch!

I then heat embossed the sentiments on Kraft card stock using my favorite combo of products. I prepped the card stock with the TE Anti-Static Powder Tool. I stamped the sentiments using Sugar Cube White Pigment ink from Taylored Expressions. I then dusted the ink with Alabaster White Embossing Powder and melted the powder with a Wagner Precision Heat Tool. Once it was cooled, I wiped off the remaining anti static powder using a microfiber cloth. 

I trimmed all of the sentiments and cut a fishtail on the left side. And then I adhered all of my layers directly to the card. The girls were adhered to the vellum circles and then I glued the circles to the card by applying glue just to the back of the girls.

Now it's your turn to get your paws inky with your Newton's Nook Designs products and create a project using this awesome sketch. 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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{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 49 ~ Snow Many Flakes ~ Therm O Web

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 fun Christmas card featuring some awesome crafty goodies from our amazing sponsor, Therm O Web! Therm O Web has generously offered up a $25 gift card as a prize for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 49 this month! So awesome!!

I started with a fun, but sadly retired Deco Foil Toner Card Front called Snow Many Flakes by Therm O Web and Unity for my snowflake layer. Therm O Web has a whole bunch of Deco Foil Toner Card Fronts available on their website though. I trimmed a piece of Silver Shattered Glass Deco Foil Transfer Sheet and laid it on top of the card front foil facing up. I heated up my laminator for a few extra minutes after the green light turned on and ran the foil topped card front through my laminator. I've found my laminator does better if it has those extra couple of minutes. I grabbed my Stormy Sky and Chipped Sapphire Distress Mini Ink pads and just pulled them across the card front giving a windy look to the background. I used a water pen to blend out the harsh lines from the ink pads. It's softened up with not much water. The card fronts hold up pretty well to water anyways. I then scraped the edge of the card front with the Chipped Sapphire just giving it a darker edge. A substitute for using a mat.

I die cut a piece of Stampers Select White card stock from Papertrey Ink using a Stitched Hillside Borders die from Lawn Fawn. I adhered the snowflake panel to a white A2 top fold card base using iCraft UltraBond Adhesive from Therm O Web and then adhered the hill on the bottom edge using the same glue. I set the card base aside and started die cutting all the fun pieces from the Sizzix Tim Holtz Cozy Winter Thinlits dies. I pretty much used the cover sheet from the dies as my guide for colors... except for the bears scarf. I wanted to do a fun green. I used Dark Chocolate, Kraft, New Leaf, True Black, Pure Poppy and Stampers Select White card stock from Papertrey Ink for the bear. I Copic colored with YG11, G24 and G46 on the scarf; and colored the front of the mug on white card stock using BG70 and BG72. For the branch I die cut it from Early Espresso card stock from Stampin' Up. The snow is Stampers Select White card stock that I added some shadow to with a C00 and C1 Copic marker.

I die cut all the pieces for the little bird and adhered them all together using the iCraft UltraBond Adhesive from Therm O Web. I used Stampers Select White, Kraft, and Pure Poppy card stocks for the bird. I Copic colored the beak using YR12 and Y11; the Kraft and white card stock of the bird's body using E000, E51, and E55; the Pure Poppy card stock of the head and tail using R20, R14 and a tiny bit of R46; the white card stock of the wing using N0, N2, N4; and lastly YR12 and E55 on the white feet of the bird. To finish off the card, I stamped a sentiment from the Simple Little Joys itty bitty stamp from Unity. It was a perfect fit because I find joy in snow and a good cup of coffee. This was such a fun card to make!

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 49 for the month of September. Loving this 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 super creative inspiration this month from the design team.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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