All Educated and Stuff ~ Sourpuss Scholar ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

I am just tickled to see another fun Pissy Kitty added to the collection over at Unity! Sourpuss Scholar is all ready for graduation!

I was struggling picking a sentiment for this card so I thought why not make a background using all of the sentiments?! I stamped the sentiments three times each trying to show each of them on the background. I probably could have fit a couple more in those empty spaces though. I then ink smooshed the background with some Peacock Feathers Distress Ink. I didn't use a lot of water because I didn't want the sentiments to smudge and I left a lot of white space to help the background pop.

I dried the background with a Wagner Precision Heat Tool and die cut it using a die from the Zig Zag Rectangles {nesting dies}. I stamped the super cute kitty {THAT FACE!! LOL!} and colored him up with Copic markers. I fussy cut him leaving a white border around the edges.

Copic markers used:

Kitty: YR20, YR21, YR15, YR27

Eyes / Diploma: C0, C2

Tassel / Ribbon: B000, B00, B02

Grad cap: N0, N1, N3, N5

I stamped the sentiment and trimmed it. I wanted to bring the sentiment to the front of the card visually so I used a black mat. I die cut a piece of black card stock using a die from the retired stitched banners die set. I adhered the sentiment to the card and popped up the kitty with foam tape.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

~ Friends of Unity February 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop for February 2026!! Woohoo! I'm excited for this month's cue... 

Today we are sharing Sassy inspiration! Haha... yay! I made 3 fun cards to share with you all today.

My first card features the sassiest little leprechaun kitty from Zero Luck Given. Isn't it just too cute?! I had so much fun coloring him up with my Copic markers.

Copic markers used:

Kitty: YR20, YR15, YR27; plus some white gel pen

Eyes: C0, C2

Hat: YG00, YG11, YG09, N0, N1, N3, N5, Y15, Y28

Clovers: YG00, YG11, YG09

White Clover: V12

Stems / Grass: YG00, YG23

 

I actually started with my fun background for this card. I ink smooshed a panel of white card stock with Twisted Citron and Lucky Clover Distress Inks. And then I stamped the clovers from the awesome new February 2026 KOM called A Gentle Plot Twist. These gorgeous clovers are also available separately in The Luck of Knowing You stamp kit. I colored over the clovers with Copic markers to help them pop a bit more on the panel. I used YG00 and YG09.

I die cut the ink smooshed background using a stitched die from the Zig-Zag Rectangles {nesting dies}. My mat of True Black card stock from Papertrey Ink was also die cut using the slightly larger zig zag die from the same set. I adhered these layers to a card base of  Tropical Teal card stock from Papertrey Ink. I fussy cut the cute kitty leaving a white border and popped him up on the card with foam tape. I trimmed the sentiment and popped that up with foam tape too.

I went with a coffee theme for my second card. I inked up my favorite chicken from the October 2025 Uniquely Unity membership called Don't Cluck with My Coffee. She's my fave because I requested her and BAM, Ang delivered. Isn't she wonderful!? She's definitely got my coffee vibe going on. And that sentiment... hahahaha!!! Love it!

I wanted a simple one layer card for this one so I pulled out a couple stencils and created a fun, yet subtle, coffee background directly on my card base. I blended Antique Linen Distress Ink over the Falling Dots stencil from A Colorful Life Designs. And then I decided to color the last dot on each row with white Prismacolor pencil. Why? I'm really not sure... it was a whim. I like it on the top portion of the card but it's a little too much on the bottom. IMHO. The creative ideas don't always work! Whatcha going to do?! I then blended Vintage Photo Distress Ink over the Mini Coffee stencil from The Crafters Workshop. I could have sworn I had a stencil from Unity with a coffee theme, but I could not find it. Maybe I'm mixing it up with a die. Anyone know?!  

I stamped the chicken with Black Amalgam ink on Stampers Select white card stock from Papertrey Ink and colored her up with Copic markers. I found a scrap of Kraft card stock from Papertrey Ink in my stash that I used to ground the chicken. I distressed the edges of my card and the scrap using Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I adhered the sentiment directly to the card and added a couple scraps behind the back of the chicken {head, body & mug} so she'd lay flat on the card.

Copic Markers used:

White: C0, C2

Head / Tail Feathers: Y11, Y15, R22

Curlers: R20, R22, YR68

Glasses: Y11, Y15, Y38

Beak / Feet: YR20, YR16, YR27

Wattles: R20, R14, R27

Mug: BG10, BG34, E21, E18

Ground: E000, E21

My last card is a mix of old and new... I've been cataloging my Unity stamps in Google Sheets. So I finally had an opportunity to mark some of my retired stamps. I use a color system using circle dots. It's a whole thing. Maybe I'll share one day when I get closer to done. Anywho... my whole point was that now that I'm getting to know which stamps are retired, I plan to use them each month for our hop. At least one if I have one that works with our cue... AND I remember. Haha! Because it's also a good chance that these stamps haven't seen ink yet. And that's a shame so I'm going to try to fix that. I paired up the sweet and slightly sassy owl from Strange Bird with the awesome Thinkin' Out Loud stamps.

The pattern paper in my background is from the Rainbow Wishes {paper pack}. I adhered it to a white A2 top fold card base. I stamped the sweet owl from Strange Bird on a panel of white card stock using Black Amalgam ink. I colored up the owl with Copic markers and then decided to add some splatters. So I stamped the bird again on a post it note and fussy cut it making a mask. I die cut the panel using a die from the Postage Stamp {nesting dies}. I used iCraft Pixie tape to tape the edges and applied my mask and then I splattered the background with some Uncharted Marine Distress Ink. I also did a tiny bit of Apple Barrel black acrylic paint. Way more splatters than I intended, but it is what it is!

Copic markers used:

Owl: E21, E23, E25

Beak: YR20, YG15

Hat: Y11, Y15, Y38, G000, G82, YG21, YG91, YG93

Cliff: C0, C1, C3, C5, B95

I wrapped the top corner of the die cut with May Arts Black Burlap String and then tied it into a bow on the bottom corner. I added a bunch of foam tape to the back of the panel and popped it up on the card. And then I stamped the Thinkin' Out Loud word bubble and sentiment on a scrap of white card stock. I used an acetate grid sheet to make sure the sentiment was straight-ish. And then I popped it up on the card {tilted - haha!} using foam tape. I finished the card off with a few pieces of White Glossy Card Bling from A Colorful Life Designs.

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...

... Wilma DeG!! Congratulations, Wilma!!

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

Please claim the prize before March 4th, 2026. 

Well, that's it for me this time! I sure hope you'll hop along and enjoy some more inspiration! 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

Jenni

Rachel

Toni

Doreen

Dawn

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

~ Friends of Unity January 2026 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend & Happy New Year to you!

It's time for our first Friends of Unity Blog Hop of 2026!! Woohoo! I'm ready to kickoff a brand new year with our friends and share some fun inspiration with our cue...

Today we are sharing inspiration that we CASEd. What does CASEd mean? It's an acronym for Copy And Share Everything or Copy And Selectively Edit. It is a common practice in the cardmaking community where a card maker is inspired by another person's design and recreates it, either as an exact copy or with some modifications. For example, changing up the colors or using a different stamp. I had a lot of fun with my makes for this one.

My first card features the cute new Cupid Pissy Kitty. Isn't it just too cute?! It was also fun to color up with my Copic markers.

Copic markers used:

Kitty: N0, N2, N4, YR20, YR15, R20

Eyes: C0, C3, YG00, YG11

Sash: RV10, RV02

Wing: C0, C3

Bow / Arrow: E21, E25

My card design was CASEd from cards that Angela Magnuson shared in the Unity Show & Tell. She had blended over a stencil and then stamped a pretty flower silhouette. Her design was very CAS {Clean & Simple}. My design took a left turn. Haha... 

I ended up die cutting my panel and adhering it to a white card base. I die cut the panel using the largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set. I also popped up the sentiment with foam tape.

I blended Kitsch Flamingo and Picked Raspberry Distress Inks over the fun Layered Hearts {stencil set}. I finished off the card with a few pieces of confetti from the Crystal Opaque Creme Puff Card Bling from A Colorful Life Designs.

Keeping with a love theme for my second card. This time I inked up the adorable birdie from the brand new January 2026 KOM called Margins of Ever After. This cutie is also available separately in the  Wee Little Love Courier stamps. Too stinkin' cute!!

Inspiration for this card came from a fabulous card shared by Danni Bindel. Danni shared a card featuring the Fluff Squad. And funnily enough, she was actually inspired to make this card using one of the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketches!! Made me giggle when I realized that. I love how our cardmaking community inspires each other!

I die cut the birdie using a die from the Oval Frames die set from Newton's Nook Designs. Unity really needs to add some fun oval dies to their collection!

Copic markers used to color up this cutie:

Bird: B000, B00

Eyes: C0, C3

Beak / Legs / Feet: YR20, YR15

Heart: RV10, RV02, YR20

Grass: YG00, YG11

 I paired up this sweet bird with the Cloud Hopper Chronicles {paper pack}. So many fun layers in this one. I used paper scraps across the card and then I popped up the trimmed sentiment and the oval using foam tape.

I wanted to play with lots of color for this one. I found a great piece of pattern paper from the Oh Hey! It's Your Day {paper pack} for my background and pulled colors from the papers for my coloring.

My last card was inspired by this lovely card by Amy Marie in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group. I was pulled into the card by the theme... I love books!! But really the arch is what got my attention. Amy used the beautiful girl from the March 2025 KOM Chapters & Crossings.

I thought the gorgeous flowers from the new January 2026 KOM would look lovely in this card design. These beauties are also available separately in the Where Butterflies Wait stamps. I die cut the flowers using the largest die from the Scallops & Arches {nesting dies}. 

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

Pink: RV10, RV02

Red Flowers: R20, R14

Yellow Flowers: Y11, Y35, R20, R14

Butterfly: BG10, BG01, Y11, Y35

Greens: YG00, YG11, YG23

Background: B000

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...

... Sabra & Holly Gerdes.!! Congratulations, Sabra & Holly!!

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

Please claim the prize before February 4th, 2026. 

Well, that's it for me this time! Another short hop this month with just seven of us sharing our makes. Be sure to hop along and enjoy some more inspiration! 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

Toni

Jenni

Jane

Dawn

Rachel

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Over it. All of It. ~ All the Fluff Pissy Kitty with Mousy Mischief Makers ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend and Happy Thanksgiving! 

Today I'm sharing another fun fold card I made! This time I've inked up two new releases from the Black Friday sale over at Unity. I used the adorable All the Fluff Pissy Kitty, along with the super cute sidekick stamp called Mousy Mischief Makers.  

I'm pretty terrified of mice, but these mice are just TOO cute not to play with! I inked them all up with Black Amalgam ink and colored them with Copic markers.

Copic markers used:

Kitty: C0, C2, C3, R00, R20

Kitty's Eyes: YG11, YG09

Scale: BG10, BG15, C0, C2

Mouse on Head: N0, N2, N4, R00, R20, BG10, BG15

Circle Mouse: C0, C2, C3, R00, R20

Mouse on Back of Card: N0, N2, R00, R20

Cheese: YR20, YR02, Y11, Y15

Ground: C0, C2

I die cut the kitty using a stitched rectangle die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. I die cut the mouse and his black mat using dies from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}.

This fun fold technique is called the Back Fold. I think it's also called Hinge Fold, not 100% sure about that one. It's a lot of fun to make AND super easy!

I made another card last year using this same fun fold technique. You can check it out here if you're interested... Back Fold Cat Card.

Haha... I just had to add another sentiment inside the card for a fun surprise! And I had a hard time picking papers for this card so I threw in another piece of pattern paper inside the card too. I used the Atomic Kitty Cat {paper pack}.

I was on a roll so I decided to ink up the back of my card too! How fun is this stamp?! I had a blast making this card. Hope you like it!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Spells and Sarcasm ~ I Bite Pissy Kitty ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

Today I'm sharing a funny Halloween card I made using the awesome new I Bite Pissy Kitty stamps from Unity. This kitty is PURR-FECTION!! I love the sassy face and those bat wings!!!!

I started by picking some papers that complimented our pissy kitty. I chose a couple from the Spooky Days {paper pack}. Once I had those figured out, I colored up the kitty and pumpkin using Copic markers.

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

Kitty: YR20, YR21, YR15, YR27

Bat Wings / Nose / Eyes: C0, C2, C3, C5

Bow: G000, G21

Pumpkin: G000, G21, Y11, Y15, E000, E15, E59

I then die cut the kitty using a die from the Scallops & Squares {nesting dies}. I tilted the die at an angle for fun. Sometimes it's hip to not be 'centered' square. LOL! 

I couldn't pick just one sentiment... they are just TOO FUNNY!! I adhered the boo sentiment to the top of the square and then added a bunch of foam tape to the back. I also popped up the other sentiment using foam tape. And then I finished off the card with three orange enamel dots.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 60 ~ Frosty & Feisty {Pissy Kitty} ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with a little inspiration for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 60 hosted in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! Today I'm sharing a fun holiday card featuring fun papers, dies and stamp from our fabulous Sponsor, Unity Stamp Co.

I started with my paper layers for this card. I pulled out my Catmas Party {paper pack} and trimmed the background layer to 4 x 5-1/4". I adhered it to a red top fold card base. I cut four strips of patten paper measuring 2-5/8 x 7/8".  I die cut a piece of red card stock with a die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set. And then I adhered the strips in the center. I started by adhering the top and the bottom pieces. And then I was able to center the middle pieces and glue them down.

I stamped the fun kitty from the Frosty & Feisty {Pissy Kitty} using Black Amalgam ink and colored it up with Copic markers. And then I fussy cut it leaving a border. 

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

Kitty: N0, N2, N4, C0, C2, R20

Eyes: YG11, YG09

Hat: RV10, RV02, RV14

Ground: C0, C2

I adhered the sentiment to the center panel and then popped up the center panel using foam tape. And then I adhered the kitty. I love this pissy kitty! That face cracks me up!

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 60 for the month of August. 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! The design team, as always, rocked this sketch!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch 33 ~ Sun's Out, Sass Out Pissy Kitty ~ Unity Stamp Co.

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing one last card for the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Sketch Challenge 33 in the Tawny Owl Paperie Inky Inspiration Facebook group. I inked up the cute and grumpy kitty from the Sun's Out, Sass Out Pissy Kitty stamps. Another super fun 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 fussy cut the kitty leaving a white border around the image. 

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

Kitty: C0, C2, C3, R00, R20

Eyes: YG11, G14

Bikini: BG000, BG10, BG15

Flamingo Floatie: RV10, RV02, RV04, Y11, Y15, C0, C2

Water: B000, B00

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 Sun's Out, Sass Out Pissy Kitty Coordinating {paper pack}. I adhered the circle, sentiment, flamingo papers and the leaves paper together and then added foam tape to the back and popped the panel up on the card. I also slipped a simple scalloped edge in there that I had punched out of white card stock using an old punch from Stampin' Up. My panel was then adhered to a white A2 top fold card base.

This fun kitty and the papers are also available together as a bundle here... Sun's Out, Sass Out Pissy Kitty Bundle. I finished off the card with a few white enamel dots from my stash. There's just a few days left to play along with this sketch challenge. 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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Meowica ~ Purr-ade Crasher Pissy Kitty ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

Who is ready for summer?! The latest pissy kitty is!! LOL! Or maybe not!! Hahaha... it's such a cute stamp! This cutie is called Purr-ade Crasher Pissy Kitty from Unity.

I just had to ink her up and color her with my Copic markers.

 

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

Kitty: C0, C1, C2, R00, R20

Glasses: R20, R14, R27, Y11, Y15

Shirt: Y11, Y15, B000, B00, B02

Pants: R20, R14, R27

Sparkler: Y11, Y15, YR15

I die cut the kitty using a die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies}. I die cut one of the sentiments using a die from the Distressed Tickets {ticket dies} and then I ink smooshed it with Candied Apple and Lumberjack Plaid Distress Inks. I just trimmed up the 'meowica' sentiment. The sentiments are adhered to the circle and I popped them all up on the card.

The background was a scrap in my stash that I had run through my big shot with the Bricked embossing folder from Tim Holtz. It's not super easy to see the distressed bricks in the background in my photos but it's visible in person. I ink smooshed the background with Salty Ocean and Candied Apple Distress Inks. I die cut the background using the largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting dies. I adhered all of my layers to a white A2 top fold card base. And then I finished it off with some fun sequins from my stash. Love it!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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