Uniko - May Release, Design Team Blog Hop & Giveaway ...

.... Hi! We made it. It's Release Day for the new Uniko stamps, stencils and dies. Thank you so much for being with me over the past week. I've got a few new cards to share with you today. I'm going to start with the last card I made - I finished it at 1.00am EDT (that's 6.00am UK time):

Stamps: Uniko - Just Because, Large Background French Script, Simply Said Blocks II
Inks: Distress Oxides - Twisted Citron, Lucky Clover, Blueprint Sketch; Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Moonlit Fog
Accessories: Gina K Card - Black Onyx; Tim Holtz Watercolour Card; Sheer Shimmer - Sparkle; Clear Embossing Powder; White Lustre Card

The reason I'm so late working on this post is that I spent most of yesterday at Mega Meet in Novi. It's a big stamping/scrapbook show. I was watching Tim Holtz play with his inks, sprays, stamps and stuff, and that's where I got the idea for this card. I cut a panel of watercolour card slightly smaller than the card base and created the background using Tim's Distress Oxides. I really like the way the colours layer. I added another layer to the background by inking up the large French script background in a dark grey and randomly stamped it over the card. I put the panel into the MISTI, dusted it off with an anti-static bag, and stamped the greeting and flower in Versafine black ink. I had to stamp the images a couple of times to fill all the texture on the watercolour card. I used clear powder to heat emboss the images. On the inside of the card, I cut a panel of white card onto which I stamped the floral silhouette in two shades of green and added a greeting. I'm submitting this card to Your Next Stamp - YNS#89 where I've used their colours.

Next up is a card for Kat - just because:

Stamps: Uniko - Bee Happy, Originally Organic Additions; Large Background French Script
Inks: Distress - Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Shabby Shutters, Lucky Clover, Tumbled Glass, Blueprint Sketch; Gina K - Christmas Pine, Black Onyx; Memento - London Fog
Dies: Spellbinders Edgeabilities - Classic Triple Scallop (E8-003)
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Gina K Card - Christmas Pine; Vellum; Clear Embossing Powder; Uniko Stencil - Stylised Floral

I think this is my favourite stencil of this release and it works so well with the little bees from Bee Happy. I used distress inks to create an ombre pattern diagonally across the stencil. I attached the panel to the front of a card. I used an edge die to cut the pattern on dark green card. On the white panel, I stamped the French script vertically just for some subtle pattern and then stamped the greeting. I stamped three bees on vellum, heat embossed with clear powder, and fussy cut them out. I adhered the bees to the card and then stamped some more bees at the centre of each flower, they were stamped very lightly. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of dark green card and on the white panel, I stamped the heart and lots of little encouragement words and another little bee. I'm submitting this card to Fab Friday - FABF#137 where I've used their sketch for the layout of this card.

My last card is a birthday card for our nephew - it'll be in the post today:

Stamps: Uniko - Simply Said Blocks II, Birthday Sentiments, Background Blocks Party Confetti
Inks: Distress - Twisted Citron, Lucky Clover, Blueprint Sketch, Mermaid Lagoon; Gina K - Black Onyx; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Uniko - Explosion! Collection Dies
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Black; Sheer Shimmer - Frost; Clear Embossing Powder; Uniko Stencil - Party Confetti

I used the party confetti stencil and distress inks to colour several pieces of card and then used the Explosion! dies to cut out several shapes. I cut out a number of plain white pieces in order to layer the die cuts and make them thicker. I spritzed the background with frost Sheer Shimmer, attached the explosions bursts and a simple sentiment. On the inside, I cut a panel of white card onto which I stamped the party confetti background block using several shades of distress ink. I finished by adding a bold birthday greeting. I'm submitting this card to CAS-ual Fridays Challenge - CFC#199 where I used their sketch for the layout, and also to Seize the Birthday - STB#1005 for their Anything Goes Birthday. As you can see I've used the same shades of blues and greens as in both my previous cards.

Well, that's all the cards I was able to make this time - I really should leave it so late. Please do join our traditional Design Team Blog Hop and Giveaway (prize details can be found on Bev's blog). Here are the links:

Bev
Carol 

Deborah 
Izzy 

Jane 
Julie
Linda

Lindsey

Rahmat
Sarah G

Sarah P
Wiebke 

Before I go, here a final look at all the new products available today. I've had such fun playing with them.

Bee Happy

Flower Power #8

Just Because

Large Background French Script

Simply Said Blocks II

Honeycomb Pattern Stencil

Natures Treasures II Stencil

Party Confetti Stencil

Stylised Floral Stencil

Explosion! Collection Dies

Originally Organic Additions Dies

Wow! That was a long post but I think you'll agree that it was worth it. These stamps, dies and stencils are just fabulous. You can purchase them at the Uniko on-line store.

That's all for now - enjoy the Blog Hop! See you again soon.

Uniko - February Release, DT Blog Hop and Giveaway ....

... Morning! Today's the day! It's Release Day for Uniko's new stamps and stencils. This is going to be a long post, so I suggest you grab a coffee (or tea) and take a seat. We have six stamp sets and five stencils being released. I'm going to start with a very clean, simple card:

Stamps: Uniko - Balloon Bash, Birthday Sentiments
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Candied Apple, Mustard Seed, Salty Ocean
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Daffodil Delight; Uniko Stencil - Balloon Bash

I decided to focus on the lovely Balloon Bash Stencil as I didn't get to make a card on introduction day. This is a simple one-layer card - it's the third version. Ask me how I know, well you have to be very careful when you have inky fingers!! I inked up the yellow balloon first - being careful to cover up open areas on the stencil and to mask the card base too, then I moved on to the blue and red balloons. I decided to try the bleach out method using water. As you can see from the blotches it wasn't entirely successful, but I like the pattern so I kept the card! I stamped the greeting and then added some strings from the balloons to the word 'party'. Ont he inside, I cut a mat layer of bright yellow card and stamped a greeting and another balloon on the white panel. I'm submitting this card to CAS on Friday - CASOF#127 where they want one-layer cards.

Next is a card for Mother's Day:

Stamps: Uniko - Spring Botanicals Daffodil, Pure Florals Rose
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Gina K - Dusty Rose; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Marvellous Squares (S4-383) #6
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Design Paper - Let's Fly Away; SU Card - Blushing Bride; Nuvo - Aqua Shimmer Brush; Copics

One of my favourite sights in spring is to see daffodils gently swaying in a breeze against a lovely sky of fluffy clouds and sunshine. Yes, I realise that more often or not it's rain, but I can dream 😊 I decided to make the dream on a Mother's Day card. I stamped several daffodils and stems on white card and used my Scan'N'Cut to cut them out. I used Copics to colour them all and yes, you can get pink daffodils. I cut some design paper for the 'sky' and then adhered the daffodils to the card. I used dimensional pads for the yellow daffodil. I added sparkle to the flowers. I finished the front with a simple greeting. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of pink card and on the white panel, I stamped a message and another daffodil. I'm submitting this one to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#19, where Anything Goes.

Next is a very clean, simple and bold card:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks Party Confetti, Big & Bold Hugs, Background Builders Seeing Stars
Inks: Distress Oxide - Peacock Feathers; Gina K - Ocean Mist; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Winnie & Walter Cutaways - Hugs
Accessories: SU Card - Basic Black; White Lustre Card; Uniko Stencil - Seeing Stars

I created the pale aqua drop shadow by stamping first in aqua and then moving the card very slightly and stamped again in black. Then I used a die to cut out the word from the stamped card along with three plain white words and layered them together to make a more dimensional word. I made the card base from black card to allow the word to pop! I added some stencilled stars in the background. I used the distress oxide for this - so nice to have this soft shade showing on black card! On the inside, I simply cut a white panel and added a greeting and some more stars. I'm submitting this to AAA Cards - AAA#109 where they want Die Cuts only (maybe I shouldn't have added the stars!!).

Moving on to the pretty scribble flowers in Kindness Blooms:

Stamps: Uniko - Kindness Blooms, So Much
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Twisted Citron, Lucky Clover; Gina K - Wild Lilac, Lovely Lavender, Wild Dandelion, Sweet Mango
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Copics; Clear Embossing Powder; Nuvo - Aqua Shimmer Brush

I really do like these flowers - so pretty and such fun to colour, leave plain, fill with glitter - the choice is yours! I used my Copics to colour the flowers, cut them out with the Scan'N'Cut and then added lots of sparkle with a clear shimmer brush. I embossed some leaves on the card base and lightly sponged over with two shades of green ink to define the leaves. I adhered the lilac and upper yellow flowers flat to the card and used dimensional pads to attach the lower yellow flower. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of lilac card and added a simple greeting on the white panel. I'm submitting this card to Just Us Girls - JUGS#429, where I took the colours from their inspiration photo, and also to Less is More - LIM#365 - where they want to see Dry Embossing (hope this is enough).

And last, but by no means least, I have a very bright, bold, one-layer card to show off the Background Blocks Equaliser stamp:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks Equaliser, Life is a Song, Birthday Sentiments
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Candied Apple, Mustard Seed, Wilted Violet, Salty Ocean, Lucky Clover, Spiced Marmalade
Accessories: Tim Holtz Water Colour Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Zig Clean Colour Brushes

I made the card from watercolour card. I used my MISTI to stamp the image and words, I had to restamp several times as I stamped on the rough side of the card. I used clear powder to emboss all the images and then I had fun using my Zig brushes to colour the image. I kept it very simple and very bold. On the inside, I added a sentiment and surrounded it with lots of brightly coloured musical notes. This one is for our daughter Kat - she loves to make music!! I'm submitting this card to, some new to me, challenges. I'm playing along with 613 Avenue Create - 613AC#206 where Anything Goes, and also to heARTful Stamping Challenge - HSD#02 where it's Anything Goes & a stamp.

Wow! I do hope you enjoyed all my cards. Today we have our traditional Design Team Blog Hop and Giveaway! I've put the links below - do drop by and leave some love - we all like comments!

Bev
Carol 

Deborah 
Izzy 

Jane 
Julie
Linda

Lindsey

Rahmat
Sarah G

Sarah P
Wiebke 

Before I go, I'd like to give you one final look at all the stamp sets and stencils that are available for purchase today. I've had such fun making cards with them all. Enjoy!!

Background Blocks Equaliser

Background Blocks Party Confetti

Birthday Sentiments

Kindness Blooms

Spring Botanicals Daffodil

Life is a Song

Balloon Bash Stencil

Equaliser Stencil

Fun Flowers Stencil

Chrysanthemum Stencil

Seeing Stars Stencil

Thanks for visiting - see you again soon.