~ Friends of Unity May 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for another Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! Woohoo! This month's cue is another fun one...

Today we are sharing inspiration for the Farmhouse cue!! There are so many directions to go in for this cue... I only had time to create two cards though.

When I was a kid I worked at a farm stand for a couple days and we were selling flowers. I'm pretty sure we weren't selling lilacs... I think it was daffodils or daisies but when I saw this gorgeous stamp in this month's Kit of the Month membership I just knew I had to ink it up. You can sign up for the KOM membership and get this gorgeous 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. Such a gorgeous stamp!

I inked up the gorgeous lilacs from the May 2026 KOM Odds, Ends & Adorable, also available separately in the Lilac Poise stamps. I stamped them directly on a piece of pattern paper from the Rustic Farmhouse {paper pack}. And die cut the paper using a die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set.

I colored the lilacs on the pattern paper using the following the markers.

Copic markers used:

Lilacs: V000, V12, V15, B000

Stems / Leaves: YG11, YG03, YG17

Outline: C0, C2

I also stamped the lilacs on a piece of white card stock and colored up 5 of the tiny little flowers. I fussy cut them and colored the edges with a black marker and then I popped them up with a little foam tape. I love the dimension this adds to the card!

My second card also features a stamp from the May 2026 KOM Odds, Ends & Adorable. It's available separately in the Still Kickin' stamps. Such a fun stamp!

Copic Markers used:

Donkey: W0, W1, W3, W5, W7, R00, R20

Hat: RV10, RV02, RV14, B000, B00, B02, Y11, Y15, YR20, YR15

My card design was inspired by the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 42. I'm hosting a fun sketch challenge in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. The challenge is open until May 25th and there's no theme. Just the sketch to inspire creativity. Lots of time to join in the fun and play along!!

I paired up the cute donkey with the Yay, It's Today {paper pack}. I used colors from the papers to color up the donkey. And I wanted him to pop a bit more BUT I didn't want to cover up the papers in the background so I added a rectangle of vellum card stock behind him that I die cut using the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}.

I popped up the donkey and the sentiment with foam tape. I adhered the vellum layer by adding glue behind the donkey. I finished off this one with a few enamel dots from my stash. I thought they were white, but it looks like they are an off white. Close enough! LOL!

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...

... Indy's Designs!! Congratulations, Debbie!!

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

Please claim the prize before June 3rd, 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 ---> Toni

Jenni

Rachel

Dawn

Doreen

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party ~ Holiday Grumplings ~ Taylored Expressions

 Hello there crafty friend!

It's day 4 of the {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party!! I'm excited to share another fun holiday card that I'm adding to my Christmas stash! This time I played with THE cutest little kitty from our fabulous Sponsor Taylored Expressions!

I used the adorable {and retired, sadly} Holiday Grumplings. I adore this kitty!! I stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored him up with Copic markers.

Copic markers used:

Kitty: YR20, YR21, YR15, YR27, R00, R20, C0, C2

Hat / Scarf: BG70, BG01, BG72, C0, C2, Y11, YR20, YR21

I paired up the kitty with the beautiful Whispers of Winter 6x6 Paper Pad from Ink N' Splatter available at our wonderful Sponsor Digi Doodle Studios. I die cut the focal panel using the Make a Tag {die set} from Sponsor Unity Stamp Co.

Inspiration for my card came from one of our past sketches... BYSHC Sketch 7. This one is a favorite that I come back to often! I used the measurements from the sketch for my card.

The sentiment is from same Holiday Grumplings stamp set. I heat embossed it with Anti-Static Powder Tool and Sugar Cube White Pigment ink from Sponsor Taylored Expressions along with Alabaster White Embossing Powder from Unity. I trimmed it and adhered it to the focal tag and then popped it up on the card. Easy peasy.

If you haven't already, stop by the {BYSHC} Spring into Christmas 2026 Linky Party to check out all the wonderful Holiday inspiration being shared!! I am loving ALL of the cards so far! I hope you have an INKtastic day!

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

Simple Fun Fold ~ Look Up Pup ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

I was just tickled to see a new pup that is the spitting image of our dog, Satellite. Such a cutie! Though our Satellite would be barking at the butterfly because that's how he talks with everyone. LOL!

I inked up the adorable Look Up Pup and colored it with Copic markers. I then die cut him using a die from the Scallops & Arches {nesting dies}. At this point I decided to make a simple fun fold card. I die cut another piece of white card stock with the same stitched arch die that will be the 'inside' of my card {or fold}. I also die cut the blue pattern paper and the pink grid paper {shown on the inside photo below}. I tore the blue paper right where I scored the focal panel so it would bend easily for my card to open.

Copic markers used:

Pup: E000, E11, E15, E59, C2, C5

Eyes: C0, C2, E59, E15

Butterfly: V000, V01, V12

Grass / Leaves / Stems: YG11, YG23

Flowers: Y38

Sky: B000

All the fun pattern papers for this card are from the fabulous Swing into Spring {paper pack}. Such pretty papers!! I die cut the floral print using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. It's adhered to the yellow paper that measures 5-1/2 x 4-1/4". And then the whole panel is adhered to a white panel that also measures 5-1/2 x 4-1/4". Adhering the two base papers gives the card a sturdier base.

So the simple fun fold is achieved with the two stitched arch panels adhered together on the left side. And I hid the coloring that bled through the back of my focal image using that pink grid pattern paper. Lots of space to write a little note and sign the card.

I stamped the sentiment and trimmed it. I adhered it to the side of the focal image. It also acts as a little tab so the recipient can open the card just by lifting from the sentiment. I finished off the card with a few sequins from my stash.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 40 ~ Newton's Rainy Day Trio ~ Newton's Nook Designs

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing more inspiration for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 40 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. A sweet rainy day card for a friend.

It has been a good long while since I've inked up any of my Newton's Nook Designs stamps and I just had to ink up these cuties I got from the Retiring Sale over at NND!! What a steal with retiring items now up to 75% off! I inked up the adorable Newton's Rainy Day Trio with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored the cute trio with Copic markers.

Copic Markers used:

Umbrella: BG000, BG01, YG00, YG11, YG23, V000, V12, C0, C2, C5, Y11, Y15, Y38

Raindrops: BG000, BG01

White Cat: C0, C2, R00, R20

Yellow Hat: Y11, Y15, Y38

Purple Coat: V000, V12, V15

Yellow Boots: Y11, Y15, Y38, C0, C2, C5

Blue Umbrella: BG000, BG01, C2, C5, Y11, Y15, Y38

Gray Cat: W0, W1, W3, R00, R20, C0, C2

Blue Coat: BG000, BG01, C2, C5

Orange Cat: YR20, YR21, YR15, R00, R20

Green Coat: YG00, YG11, YG23, C2, C5

Blue Boots: BG000, BG01, C0, C2, C5

I paired up the sweet trio with the Springtime 6x6 Paper Pad. I die cut the pattern papers using the Card Layout 5 Die. I trimmed the pattern paper so I'd only die cut the four panels from each pattern paper. I trimmed a piece of Kraft card stock to 5-1/4 x 4" and cut it at the diagonal for my two mats. I used a pretty yellow card stock for my background layer that's adhered to a white A2 top fold card base that I turned on the side for a landscape card.

Here's a look at the fun sketch for Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 40. 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. This time I got creative using the awesome Card Layout 5 Die from Newton's Nook Designs. I love it when a sketch takes me to unexpected places. And I turned the sketch on the side.

I die cut the cute trio and raindrops using the coordinating Newton's Rainy Day Trio Die Set. I stamped, trimmed and popped up the sentiment with foam tape. And then I decided to pop up the kitties too while I was at it. I hope you can find time to play along with the sketch challenge. Have an INKriffic week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

~ Friends of Unity March 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend! Happy March to you!

It's time for another Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! Woohoo! This month's cue is one of my faves...

Today we are sharing inspiration using the fun Friends of Unity Sketch above!! Lots of fun layers that are perfect for those pattern papers in the ol' stash. If you're inspired and want to play along just use the sketch and share in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook Group. If you're not in the group, please tag me on your social media... I'd love to see your take on the sketch!

My first card features the cute new Just a Couple Spring Chickens stamps from this month's Uniquely Unity membership. You can sign up for the membership and get all the perks along with this cute stamp mailed straight to your door. Or buy it as a 1-Time Purchase. Isn't it just the sweetest stamp?! I die cut it using a die from the Scallops & Arches {nesting dies}.

Copic markers used:

Chicken: E21, E23, R00, R14, YR20, YR15

Eyes: C0, C2

Flowers: RV10, RV02, Y15

Stems / Leaves: YG91, YG95

Pot: B0000, B000, B91

 

My paper layers are a fun mix of pattern papers from the Jubilant Tapestry {paper pack}. I die cut the floral papers using a die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. I mat that with a 3-7/8 x 5-1/8" piece of Midnight Muse card stock from Stampin' Up. The background layer measures 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" and the grid paper measures 3-9/16 x 1-1/2". All of my layers are adhered to a white A2 top fold card base.

I die cut a piece of Midnight Muse card stock with a die from the Scalloped & Stitched Sentiment Nesting Dies. I stamped and trimmed the sentiment and adhered it to the die cut mat. I adhered the sentiment to the arch and popped them up on the card with foam tape. I die cut the heart from one of the pattern papers using a die from the Dashes and Frills Hearts {die set} and adhered it to the card finishing this one off. 

For my second card I inked up the adorable sheep from the Shear Surprise stamps. I die cut them using another die from the Scallops & Arches {nesting dies}. I colored them up with Copic markers that coordinated with the lovely colors in the Where Little Gardens Grow {paper pack} I used for my layers. Loving the spring colors!!

Copic markers used:

Sheep: N1, N3, N5, R00, R20, C0, C2

Eyes: C0, C2

Flowers: RV02, Y35

Stems / Leaves / Grass: YG11, YG23

Wall: YR20, YR21, YR02

Sky: B0000, B000

 I used the awesome Zig Zag Rectangles {nesting dies} for this card. PRO TIP: die cut smaller portions from the larger pieces of pattern paper for future projects. I really love the delicate floral paper in the background layer so I used the smaller stitched rectangle die {the plaid layer} to die cut a piece from the center of my background papers so I can use it for another project. To finish this one off, I adhered the trimmed sentiment to the arch and then popped up the sheep and sentiment with foam tape. 

Anybody else snag this cutie from last month's sale?! The sass is pretty serious with this one! LOL! I die cut this cutie with the Scallops & Arches {nesting dies}. I colored up the Already Old bird with just a handful of Copic markers.

Copic markers used:

Bird: Y11, Y15, Y38

Eyes / Ground: C0, C2

Balloon: RV000, RV10, RV02

Sky: B0000, B000

I paired up the bird with the pretty Swing into Spring {paper pack}. This time I die cut my layers using the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set. I adhered the three layers in the middle {blue, floral and pink papers} all together and popped it up on the script background layer using foam tape. 

I adhered the sentiment to the arch and added a bunch of foam tape to the back of the arch and sentiment and then popped them up on the card. I finished this card off with a big blue button! This one will probably have to be hand delivered but I love how it turned out!

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 April 1st, 2026. 

Well, that's it for me this time! Be sure to hop along and enjoy some more inspiration from our friends. I can't wait to see our friends' take on the sketch. 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

Amber

Jenni

Joyce

Dawn

Rachel

Toni

Jane

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal