Crimson Breed Tattoo is celebrating Valentine’s Day with its second annual flash sale, offering 35 hand-drawn, Valentine-themed designs for $60 each. The sale kicked off Tuesday and runs through the Saturday after Valentine’s Day – and customers are already jumping on it.
Tattoo artist Josh “Monster” Myers said the event makes tattoos more accessible for people who may not be able to afford the shop's usual $80 minimum or $125 hourly rate.
“Everyone deserves ink,” he said. “You shouldn’t have to refinance your house to get a decent tattoo.”
For the next two days, hopeless romantics, heartbreak survivors or anyone in the market for a new tattoo are invited to join the fun at the family-friendly shop.
Maxwell Sanders, 18, stopped by Wednesday night as a walk-in to get their first ever tattoo. After browsing through the available designs, they settled on a cigarette butt with smoke curling around a heart, a piece designed by Carissa Roth. Sanders said it was their favorite of all the flash tattoos and seemed more approachable than the others.
As Myers prepped his tools, Sanders’ three friends stood close by for “emotional support.”
“Pain is temporary, but swag is forever,” Sanders’ friend Max Lucas said.
Myers cleaned Sanders’ ankle and placed a stencil of the flash. Once Sanders was ready, he pressed the needle to their skin. Sanders squeezed a stress ball as the artist traced over the stencil. Within eight minutes, the tattoo was complete.
Maxwell Sanders shows their finished Valentine's Day-themed cigarette butt tattoo Feb. 12, 2025, at Crimson Breed Tattoo in Bloomington. The tattoo was completed by Josh "Monster" Myers, with a flash design by Carissa Roth, known as "Laynie Tattoos."
Myers said most flash sale tattoos take no longer than 30 minutes.
“It looks good!” Sanders said, admiring their new ink.
Myers said he looks forward to the “beautiful chaos” that often ensues during their themed sales.
This year’s flash tattoos range from Valentine's Day classics like hearts, flowers and cupids, to more unconventional options, such as a skull in the shape of a heart, a slice of lasagna and a rose with an eyeball in the center.
Roth has been a fine-line artist at Crimson Breed Tattoo for nearly five years. Known by her artist name, “Laynie Tattoos,” she said she enjoys creating unique and playful designs for the event.
“We always try to have a mix of classic and weird,” she said.
Tattoo artist Carissa Roth, known as “Laynie Tattoos,” tattoos a butterfly on Alanna Porter’s hand on Feb. 12, 2025, at Crimson Breed Tattoo in Bloomington. Porter, a regular client, sat calmly as Roth worked.
The studio keeps the ink flowing year-round with themed flash sales, including holiday specials, a spooky Halloween event, a Star Wars-inspired “May the Fourth” affair, and their fan-favorite Friday the 13th deal, the busiest of them all.
For each sale, the artists create their own flash sheets and enjoy a friendly competition of whose designs are most popular. Roth won their most recent Friday the 13th sale with her fine-line peach design, and she’s currently in the lead for the Valentine’s event as well.
For many customers, flash sales provide the perfect low-pressure, budget-friendly opportunity to get their first tattoo.
With only two days left, Friday and Saturday are expected to be the busiest. The evenings, especially after work or class, tend to bring the largest crowds.
“People just want to do something fun for Valentine's Day and a $60 tattoo is a cool way to do it,” Roth said.
Both Roth and Myers recommend customers eat beforehand. They also encouraged people to be open and honest with their artists if they need a break.
The Valentine’s Day Sale runs from noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are also welcome. Customers aged 16 or 17 must be accompanied by a guardian, while those 18 and older can come on their own. A valid ID is required for all customers.
For more details about the Valentine’s Day event, visit their Facebook page.
