TMR - Theme ...

... Hi! Are you watching the Winter Olympics? I am! I really enjoy watching it all - particularly the ice-skating, but the skiing is fun too. I have to admit that I only watch - I fall over if I try to go out in the snow and ice 😉 This is all leading up to our theme for The Male Room - TMR#79. For the next couple of weeks, we'd like to see your masculine projects with a Sport/Winter Olympics theme. I actually got a bit carried away - I made three cards, here's the first:

Stamps: Uniko - All Occasion Sentiments #2, Background Builders Seeing Stars, Extra Time
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Blue Denim
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kanban Toppers - Extreme Sports; Stampin' Up! Card - Night of Navy; Clear Embossing Powder

I knew exactly what I was going to use to make my cards for the Sports/Winter Olympics theme. I've had some Kanban toppers in my stash for about 8 years. I got them from QVC and they come out everytime I need something masculine. I clipped out this skiing photo (this works for the Olympic Sports theme) to use on a square card. I didn't want to hide the photo, so I stamped the greeting directly on the image and heat embossed it with clear powder. I adhered the panel to the card using dimensional foam. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of dark blue card and on the white panel, I added a greeting and some stars stamped in the same colours as the ski suit. This was so quick and easy to make. I'm submitting it to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#19 where Anything Goes!

My next two cards are not based on the Winter Olympics but on more regular sports of football (or soccer to my American friends) and rugby. Here's the football version:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Builders Seeing Stars, Time
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Red Velvet, Blue Denim
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kanban Toppers - Football; Stampin' Up! Card - Night of Navy

This time I clipped out three of the smaller images featuring football. I stamped the stars on the card using colours from the photos and finished the front by adding a fun sentiment. I attached the two images on the side flat to the card and used dimensional pads to add the image in the middle. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of navy card and on the white panel added a simple message along with some red stars top and bottom. I used the sketch from Reverse Confetti Sketch for you To Try - SFYTT#57 for the layout. This was another quick and easy card to make.

And the last card features rugby images, which is sort of appropriate as the NatWest Six Nations Championship is running at the moment:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Gorgeous Grunge, Greatest Greetings; Uniko - All Occasion Sentiments # 2, Fontiments Birthday
Inks: SU - Island Indigo; Gina K - Blue Lagoon
Dies: Die-namics - Circles Set 2 #4 and #6, Stitched Circles #4 and #6
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kanban Toppers - Rugby; Stampin' Up! Card/DP - Island Indigo

I used the same sketch as before but changed out the shapes for circles. I used dies to cut out the images and card for matting. I stamped the spatter and sentiment directly on the card and adhered the circle images on top. On the inside, I cut a layer of teal design paper for the mat layer, and on the white panel, I kept it very simple with a bold birthday greeting. I'm submitting this card to Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#129 where they want us to use the colour teal!

Don't forget to visit The Male Room blog to see more from the Design Team and also from our guest designer, Laurie. Do have fun with this theme, I can't wait to see what you create. You have plenty of time to join in, the deadline for submission is midnight GMT on Tuesday 27th February (that's 7.00pm EDT in the States).

That's all from me for now - I'm off to watch the ice-skating. I have my DVR set up to record the programmes and I watch them while I iron!! See you soon.

Uniko - Stars and More Stars ....

.... Morning! It's the last day of our introductions for Uniko's September release. Today we have another addition to the Background Blocks series - BACKGROUND BLOCKS STARS, and another in the set in the Background Builders series - BACKGROUND BUILDERS SEEING STARS. You might have noticed a distinct, and very on trend, theme with this release. I absolutely love this release.

Stamps: Uniko - Background Builders Seeing Stars, All Occasion Sentiments #2
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Lemon Lime Twist, Brocade Blue; Gina K - Onyx Black; Memento - London Fog
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Copics; Wink of Stella - Clear; Glossy Accents

I've combined a couple of challenges in this card. I've used the colours of royal blue and lime green from the current Less is More - LIM#344 and the layout is based on the sketch over at CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS#237, sadly the challenge has closed, so I can't play along!

I stamped the stars on white card and coloured the striped one with Copic markers, adding a touch of sparkle to the stripes. I carefully cut them all out. I knew that I wanted to pair these stars with the word "AWESOME" from All Occasion Sentiments #2 - it has a star in the middle! I cut a panel of white card slightly smaller than the base and stamped the word in black towards the top. I added some sparkle to the inside of the star. The longest part of this card was planning the layout of the stars! Once I had them laid out, I took a photo on my phone and used that to help me position them properly. I attached the green stars flat to the card, then used one layer of dimension tape on the blue circle one and the grey (by the dotty green). The last two stars were attached with two layers of dimensional tape. Then I added the smaller stars. I edged the white panel with blue and green and used dimensional tape to attach it to the base. Finally, I added some glossy accents to the black star. On the inside I stamped some star borders on the top and bottom of the panel and finished by edging with blue and green copics.

My next card showcases Background Block Stars - and I'm so pleased I had the actual stamps as I was able to emboss the image:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Block Stars, Simply Said Blocks, Reach for the Stars
Inks: Versamark; Gina K - Onyx Black; SU - Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Rectangles #2
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Copics; Wink of Stella - Clear; Silver Tinsel Embossing Powder

I stamped the block image in pale grey on white card and coloured it with Copics then, as I used my MISTI, I put the card back in and restamped it with Versamark and then heat embossed with silver tinsel powder for a subtle powder. I made the mat panels by die cutting two panels of white card and then colouring them with Copics so they match the stars. I added lots of sparkle to the open stars with a clear Wink of Stella brush. I finished the front by stamping Happy Birthday with the new Simply Said Blocks - I really like the contrast of the clean, fresh image and the bold sentiments. On the inside I cut a panel of white card, edged it with Copic markers and added some more stars and a greeting. I've used the colours from this week's Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - CIC#421.

Don't forget to visit the main Uniko blog to see lots more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

RELEASE DAY: Tomorrow - Saturday 9th September at 9.00am BST. There will be a DT Blog Hop and a Giveaway. Do leave comments as you go along - we all like them.

That's all for now - see you tomorrow!

Uniko - Marvellous Mehndi ....

... Morning! Today I'm introducing another set from the Uniko October release. This one is Marvellous Mehndi, and I think it's my favourite. I'm still waiting on my actual stamps to arrive here in the States, but Bev very kindly let me have the digital files. Oh my goodness I've had so much fun with them. I decided to create my own background paper using all the paisley images in the set. I used Publisher to create the paper. One of the things I really like about digital images is the ability to change the size of the image, which really worked well making this background. I actually made two cards today! Here's the first:

Stamps: Uniko - Marvellous Mehndi, All Occasion Sentiments #1, All Occasion Sentiments #2, Simply Said
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Basic Black; Gem; Wink of Stella - Clear

I cut the printed panel slightly smaller than the card, layered it on a black mat and adhered it flat to the card. I created the sentiment panel by stamping the greeting in black on white card, layering it on a black mat, adhering it to the front of the card and finishing off with a tiny gem. I add some sparkle to the areas of the paisley images with a clear Wink of Stella brush. On the inside I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel stamped a greeting and added a tiny paisley pattern that I fussy cut and adhered. I think black and white, with a touch of sparkle is very glamourous, very elegant, so I'm submitting this one to the current Inkspirational challenge - INK#118.

For my second card I used another sheet of the background paper. This time I used rainbow colours to selectively colour areas in the paisley pattern. I went for a lighter rainbow look:

Stamps: Uniko - Marvellous Mehndi, All Occasion Sentiments #3
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Pumpkin Pie; Vellum; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear; Clear Embossing Powder

I didn't want to hide the panel, so I stamped the sentiment on vellum and heat embossed it with clear powder. I attached the sentiment at an angle, and then layered the panel on some orange card. On the inside I cut another mat of orange card and on the white panel finished the greeting and added a tiny coloured paisley. As I've used rainbow colours on this card, I'm going to play along with Can You Case It? - CYCI#139.

Now, don't forget to visit the Uniko blog to see more from Bev and the rest of the team. This set is so versatile. Hopefully, I'll get my actual stamps soon! Before I go, here's a quick reminder of the release schedule:

Introducing: 28th - 30th September. Bev and the DT show off the sets.

RELEASE DAY: Saturday 1st October - your chance to see the full release and also to buy the stamps at the Uniko shop. There's also a Blog Hop with the Design Team and a Giveway too!

Bye for now!

Uniko Studio - Balloon Bash ....

...  Hello again!  I'm back to introduce the first of four mini-sets from Uniko Studio - Balloon Bash.  All the sets being released will be available on Wednesday 11th February at Uniko Studio.  We're celebrating Uniko Studio's 3rd Birthday and you always need balloons at a birthday party.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Balloon Bash, All Occasion Sentiments #2, Fontiments - Birthday, Simply Said - Birthday
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Pretty in Pink; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Real Red;

I've used the colours from this week's Colour Q challenge - cQc#278 - they are so bright and such fun!  I've gone for quite a clean simple look.  I cut a mat layer of red card just smaller than the card base and then a panel of white card.  I stamped a simple birthday sentiment using stamps from a couple of older Uniko sets.  Then I went to town and created my balloons.  I stamped two oval balloons  in shades of pink, over stamped with a couple of the smaller stamps from Balloon Bash - love the little confetti style images.  I stamped the third balloon in orange, added some tiny flowers and then fussy cut all the balloons.  I stamped a background of stars and bubbles (the little confetti style stamps) onto the card base.  I stamped the balloon strings and added a large bow to look like the balloons are tied to the birthday greeting.  On the inside of the card I cut another mat layer of red card and on the white panel stamped a greeting (a sneak peek of another new set) and added some more confetti.

Click on the links below for more inspiration with our new mini-set - Balloon Bash:

Bev - Uniko Studio
Amber
Deborah (that's me)
Erika
Gillian
N@ Ali
Nicki
Sandie
Sarah

Here's the release schedule:


Saturday to Tuesday - we're introducing each set day by day.  All the DT will have examples of how to use the stamps - lots of inspiration guaranteed.

Wednesday 11th February - you will get to see all the products and be able to purchase them HERE on the website.  As tradition holds, there will be a Design Team Blog Hop with a chance for a lucky person to win the ENTIRE release!!!

Now, you won't want to miss out on any of the fun on our intro days as we will be drawing totally random winners for mystery prizes.  We are not giving any hints as to the prizes or their value, you'll just have to join in on the fun!

Places to join in on the fun and possibly win a prize are by commenting along the way on the Uniko Studio Blog, DT, liking the Uniko Studio Facebook page, following on Twitter and Pinterest!

Don't forget to come back tomorrow to see our second new mini-set - such a useful one!!!  See you soon.

Monochromatic birthday ....

... Good morning everyone!  The snow has melted away and we have brilliant sunshine this morning, but it's still a bit chilly!  This morning I've a very clean, simple birthday card to share with you:

Stamps: PTI - Wet Paint; Uniko Studio - All Occasion Sentiments #2
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: PTI - Tipped Tops
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Basic Black, Basic Grey, Smokey Slate

The challenge at Time Out - TOC#3 is to make a birthday card with the optional twist of making in masculine in style, I did masculine!!  I also saw Lisa's card and this is a nod to her beautiful card!  I got my PTI stamps and dies the other day and I'm really enjoying playing with them.  I've used the colours from this week's CAS - Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#70 challenge - monochromatic.

I cut the mat layers from the two shades of grey, stamped the word birthday in the corner of the smaller layer and then die cut the word "Happy".  I cut another word in black and then used the inlaid die technique.  I used the same technique on the inside to create a very bold greeting.  This is a perfect guy card - mono colours and clean, simple lines.  Really pleased how this turned out.

This card should have been really quick to make, but I did a stoopid thing!  I adhered the mats to the wrong side of the card and had to cut it off and adhere it to a new card base.  Note to self - must check to make sure that the card base is the right side up!!!  That's all for now.  See you soon.