~ Friends of Unity June 2025 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! This month's cue is the only one that we do annually! I love seeing all of the inspiration for this cue!

This month's cue is MASCULINE! I don't know about you but sometimes I really struggle with making masculine cards. But for this hop I made a couple cute cards that I think have a masculine flair.

First up a fun Dad day card I made using the super fun Dad Mode Grumpy Bunny. I LOVE this bunny! He is just too cute. And the sentiment is funny.

I stamped the bunny and sentiment with Black Amalgam ink. I colored the bunny with Copic markers and then I die cut the bunny with a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. I trimmed up the sentiment and popped them both up on the card with foam tape.

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

Bunny: C0, C2, C3, R00, R20

Eyes: C0, C2, R00

Robe: E11, E25, YG95, G99

Ground: C2, C3

I went with a simple but fun design. I cut some of my precious Basic Grey stash... **YIKES** I know! But I have so much and it's just sitting there collecting dust. Why not put it to good use?! These are the Archaic papers. SO perfect for a masculine card! I cut a triangle from this fun striped designed paper and adhered it over another pattern paper from the pad. I then cut 1/8" strips of black card stock and adhered those on either side of the triangle for a faux mat. I thought that would be WAY easier than trying to cut a triangle mat. 

Next up is a cute Father's Day card featuring the adorable Turtley stamp. Such a super cute stamp! I love it! This one was so much fun to color too! The sentiment is from the Best Tool in the Box stamps. Another great stamp kit for Father's Day cards.

I colored up the turtle with some Copic markers and then I die cut the panel with a die from the Scallops & Squares {nesting dies}. 

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

Turtle: YG21, BG000, YG11

Shell: YG21, BG000, YG11, E21, E23, E29

Ground: YG11, G94

Sky: BG000

Flowers: Y11, YR23, YR15, YG11, G94

I used the same paper pack for this one as the bunny card... the Archaic paper pad from Basic Grey. The shapes and colors in these papers just scream MASCULINE!! Anywho, I used a past {BYSHC} sketch for my design. Having all these sketches in my arsenal sure makes the card designing easy peasy. I die cut the paper under the turtle using the next size up. I finished off the card by popping up the turtle and the sentiment. I think my husband will like this one or maybe I'll give him the other one. Not sure.

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...

... Meg Crawford!! Congratulations, Meg!!

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

Please claim the prize before July 2nd, 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 the Masculine 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

Jenni

Kari

Toni

Joyce

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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Let Your Light Lead ~ Sacred Flight {Luna Moth} ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

It's Crazy Days over at Unity! I am in love with the gorgeous Sacred Flight {Luna Moth} stamps. Absolutely gorgeous!!

I inked up a fun background using the gorgeous luna moth stamp and then I stamped one more on a large scrap. This stamp is pretty big! I inked smooshed my background using Mustard Seed and Kitsch Flamingo Distress Inks.

I die cut the background using the largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting dies. And then I adhered the panel to a black A2 top fold card base. I colored up my luna moth with just a few Copic markers: Y11, Y15, RV10, RV02, RV04.

I fussy cut the luna moth leaving a white border. I spattered the card front and the luna moth with Liquid Pixie Dust from Inkon3 to give it a lot of fun shine. Once it was dry I added foam tape to the back of the luna moth and the trimmed sentiment and popped them both up on the card.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Sister of My Soul ~ Rooted in You {Just Jolande} ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

So many amazing new stamps and goodies over at Unity!! I just had to ink up the fun girl from Rooted in You {Just Jolande}. Love her!

I inked up a fun background using a couple blue inks. I die cut the panel with a die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting dies and distressed the edges a bit with my brown blending brush. I didn't go over my stamping though so the white space behind it would still show through.

I inked up Jolande with Black Amalgam ink on a scrap of white card stock and colored her with Copic markers. I fussy cut her leaving a white border around the edges. And I popped her up on the card with foam tape.

 

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

Skin: E000, E00, E21, R00, R20

Hair: E25, E29

Shirt / Shoes: Y15, YR23, YR15

Jeans: B93, B95, B97

Bag: YG11, G94, YG17, Y15, Y28

I adhered the background panel to a Kraft A2 top fold card base and spattered the background with some Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I wrapped the bottom with a few pieces of burlap string that I tied up in a bow. I added a few pieces of washi tape from my stash to finish it off. I just love how this turned out!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Hello Sunshine ~ Petal Princesses ~ The Greeting Farm

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a sweet card featuring the beautiful Daisy Anya from the Petal Princesses Big Kit from The Greeting Farm!

I had mentioned last month that when my kit arrived I couldn't help but ink up a few of the cute Petal Princesses and this one was my first to color up! Daisies are my favorite flowers so it was a must!

Unfortunately, the Petal Princesses Big kit isn't on the website currently but if you'd like to add these beauties to your collection, you can check out the Farmers Market and submit a request via email. Fingers crossed it'll be available for the next Farmers Market.  

I inked up Daisy Anya with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored her up with Copic markers. I fussy cut her leaving a white border. I also stamped the sentiment and trimmed it up.

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

Skin: E000, E00, E11, E04

Mouth: R20, R14

Hair: Y11, E43, E44

Daisy: C00, C2, C3, Y11, Y15, Y38, YG11, G14

Leaves: YG91, YG95, YG97

Dress: C00, C2, C3, Y11, Y15, Y38

Shoes: Y11, Y15, Y38

I paired up Daisy Anya with the Hello Daisy {paper pack} from Unity. These pretty papers and the colors worked so nicely with the colored Anya. It was almost like I had planned it... but I hadn't. The daisy papers measure 2-1/2 x 5" and 7/8 x 5". The golden yellow papers measure 2-3/4 x 5-1/4" and 1-1/8 x 5-1/4". The striped paper measures 2-3/4 x 3-3/4". And all of the papers are adhered to a white A2 top fold card base measuring 4-1/4 x 11" and scored at 5-1/2".

I popped up Daisy Anya and the sentiment with foam tape. And then I finished off the card with some yellow enamel dots. I hope I've inspired you to get inky!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 33 ~ Pissy Party ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing some inspiration for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 33 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I inked up the super sassy and cute kitty from the Pissy Party stamps. I love this cat!

I stamped the kitty and sentiment with Amalgam Black ink on Stampers Select White card stock and colored the kitty up with Copic Markers. I die cut the kitty using a circle die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. 

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

Kitty: C0, C2, R00, R20, Colorless Blender

Eyes: Y11, BG10

Hat: R20, R14, R27

Cupcake: Y11, Y15, YG11, YG03, BG000, BG10, BG15

Ground: BG000, BG10, BG15

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 33. 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 paired up the pissy kitty with the awesome Oh Hey! It's Your Day! {paper pack}. The bottom layers {polka dots and numbers} are adhered to a white A2 top fold card base. I also slipped a cute scalloped edge in there that I had punched out of Pure Poppy card stock from Papertrey Ink using an old punch from Stampin' Up.

I adhered the sentiment to the circle focal image and adhered that to the plaid banner. I then covered the entire back with foam tape and popped it up on the card. I finished off the card with a few red enamel dots from my stash. I'm having so much fun with this sketch! I hope you can find time to play along. Have an ink-tastic week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Inky Paws Challenge 241 ~ Sunny Days Theme Challenge {Week 1}

 Hello there crafty friend!

Who's up for a new challenge?! It's time to get our paws inky with a fun theme challenge! I always love the theme challenges! So many possibilities! You have until Friday, June 27th to get your entries in for the #241 Sunny Days Theme Challenge and a chance to win a $20 store credit to Newton's Nook Designs!

Inky Paws Challenge #241 - Sunny Days

I am SO excited to see all the fun entries for this challenge!

I started with my background for this card. I blended some Vintage Photo Distress Ink using the edge of the hill stencil from the Hills & Grass Stencil. I traced the edge of the hill on a scrap of card stock, I cut the edge and used it to mask the hill and then I was able to blend my sky with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink. I blended a little bit of Salty Ocean Distress Ink for an illusion of water. I blended some white pigment ink over the clouds from the Petite Clouds Stencil for my sky.

I die cut the panel using the largest die from the Frames & Flags Die Set. I adhered my panel to a Kraft A2 card base. You can't have a sunny day without a sun... so I die cut a cute sun using the sun die from the Sky Scene Builder Die Set.

Now that my background was ready, I stamped a bunch of images from the Summer Moments Stamp Set. So many cute images to play with! I inked them up with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored them up with Copic markers. I die cut all of the images using the coordinating dies from the Summer Moments Die Set. I adhered all of the images to my background. I stamped, trimmed and adhered the sentiment to finish it off.

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

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Hat: E00, E53, BG000, BG10, BG15

Book: C0, C2, C3

Yellow Towels: Y11, Y15

Striped Towel: C0, C2, Y11, Y15, BG10, BG15, RV10, RV02, RV04

Flip Flops: RV10, RV02, RV04

Shells: RV10, RV02, RV04, BG000, BG10

Sand Dollar: E00, E11

Bag: C0, C2, C3, BG000, BG10, BG15

Suntan Lotion: E11, E04

Sunglasses: C0, C2, C3, RV02, RV04

Sand on the Background: E11, E04

Now it's your turn to get your paws inky with your Newton's Nook Designs products and create a project using this fun theme. 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 58 ~ Christmas Tree Deer ~ A Colorful Life Designs

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 one of my all-time favorite stencils from our amazing Sponsor, A Colorful Life Designs! A Colorful Life Designs has generously offered up a $25 gift code as a prize for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 58 this month! So fantastic!

The fabulous Christmas Tree Deer Stencil is the very first stencil I purchased at A Colorful Life Designs. It's my most favorite and I just had to use it! I secured it to my Kraft card stock panel using iCraft Removable Pixie Tape. I also ran a strip of the tape diagonally across the panel and then I blended Mowed Lawn Distress Ink over the bottom portion of the stencil. 

I removed the tape and cleaned the stencil. I like to clean the stencil with just a touch of hand soap and then I rinse it thoroughly. I replaced the tape and blended Sugar Cube White Pigment ink from Taylored Expressions over the top portion of the stencil. I cleaned the stencil once again and placed it back on the panel. I masked around the deer and blended Vintage Photo Distress Ink with just a touch of Walnut Stain Distress Ink on the top.

I spattered the panel with White Acrylic paint spatters that I spritzed with just a drop of water to thin it out. I die cut two pieces of ric rac using the retired Ric Rac die from My Favorite Things. I also die cut two snowflakes using the Small Snowflake die from Gina Marie Designs. I adhered those together and then adhered it over the spot where the two ric rac pieces meet. I heat embossed a quick sentiment using the Simple Little Wishes from Unity. And then I finished off the card with a few confetti pieces from the White Glossy Card Bling from A Colorful Life Designs.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 58 for the month of June. I flipped the sketch for my card today! 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!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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