Belated Birthday Card

... Hi! I'm running late with this card. It's my brother-in-law's birthday today, and I got so caught up with the bank holiday weekend, that I forgot to make a card for him. However, it's never too late to wish someone a happy birthday. Here's the card:

Stamps: Uniko - Bauhaus Blocks, Simply Said Birthday, Everyday Sentiments, Birthday Sentiments, Background Blocks Mid Century Modern

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Blue Denim, Blue Sky, In the Navy

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Lawn Fawn - Clear Embossing Powder

This came together very quickly. I used my MISTI to stamp the Bauhaus Blocks images, removed them and coloured with Copic Markers. I returned them to the MISTI and restamped with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I then cut them into individual square panels. I added them to the front of an A2 white note card and finished with a suitable greeting. On the inside, I cut a white panel slightly smaller than A2 size. I stamped a fun background in light blue ink, and added a greeting in shades of dark blue. I edged the panel with a yellow marker and adhered it to the note card.

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:

Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#307 where it make a birthday card

Color Hues - CH#132 - to use yellow and blue

Cardz 4 Guyz - C4G#385 - make a clean and simple card

 

I really like the Bauhaus blocks images - they work perfectly for masculine cards, and also for feminine cards too. It just depends what colours you pick! That's it for now. See you again soon.

Birthday Balloons

... Morning! I was on a roll yesterday and made a fun and very bright birthday card:

Stamps: Uniko - Framed Balloons, Everyday Love Sentiments, Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments, Birthday Sentiments

Inks: Gina K - Petunia; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White & Black Card; Copic Markers; Clear Glitter Aquabrush; Posca -White Pen

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:

The Paper Players - PP#773 - Balloons and birthdays

Colorful Options - CO#0226 - Pinks and Purples

Uniko Studio 14th Birthday Party - US#14BD

I got my new stash from Bev (Uniko) yesterday and had to use it immediately. I've been waiting for this stamp to come back into stock. I love it. I used my MISTI to stamp the image, removed it and coloured the balloons and confetti with Copic markers. I returned it to the MISTI and stamped the image again with Nocturne ink, and then I cut it out and layered it on black card for a mat layer. I added some sparkle to all the balloons with a glitter brush and finished by adding the greeting and some white highlights on the balloons. On the inside, I cut a mat black layer and on the white panel simply stamped a greeting and cute birthday present. 

I can see this stamp being used lots and in lots of colours too. 

That's all for now. I'm off to have my hair cut this morning - always love to be pampered!! See you again soon. And double plus good, the sun is shining!! Yea.

Birthday Flowers

... Morning!! I was on a bit of a roll yesterday, it's so nice to be back making cards. I've another birthday card to share this morning:

Stamps: Uniko - Birthday Sentiments, Birthday Wishes

Inks: Gina K - Sunkissed Coral, Sea Glass, Emerald Sea; Versafine Claire - Nocturne

Accessories: Uniko Stencil - Fun Flowers Spray Mask; White Card; Copic Marker; Simon Says - Moonshine Confetti

I used colours from CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#567 (so nice to be playing along again), and I'm also playing with Seize the Birthday -STB#312 - I've gone with the Anything Goes birthday theme.

I used another stencil that's been in my stash for a while. It's a two-piece stencil and mask. I placed the stencil on white card, lightly inked the leaves and flowers, added the mask and inked details in the flowers and leaves. I used post-it notes to mask off some of the flowers - it worked fairly well. I finished the front by stamping a bold birthday greeting in black ink. I trimmed the panel to be slightly smaller than an A2 (US size) card, edged the panel with a black Copic and adhered to the card. I completed the card by adding some sparkle with confetti bits. Inside the card, I cut another piece of white card, lightly stencilled the flowers at the bottom of the panel and added a greeting. That's it. Another card for my stash!

It's good to be back. Thank you for visiting and leaving comments - they are always much appreciated.

Birthday Wishes

.... Hello!! It's been a while since I've been here. I was lucky enough to go to a Uniko/Dies to Die For workshop at the beginning of August and my creative mojo started to come back. So, here I am with a much needed birthday card for my stash:

Stamps: Uniko - Simply Said Blocks 3; Birthday Sentiments

Inks: Gina K - Applemint, Lucky Clover, Christmas Pine; Versafine Claire - Nocturne

Accessories: Uniko Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks; White Card; Copic Marker

I'm submitting this card to AAA Cards - AAA#297 where it's Anything CAS Goes with the option of all green, and I love all shades of green. I'm also playing along Just Us Girls - JUGS#790 where it's Stencil week. And, as this is the first time I've used this stencil, I'm also submitting to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#77.

I had such a good time at the Uniko/Dies to Die For workshop, that I was inspired to get out some of my Uniko stencils. I'm embarrassed to say that I've had this stencil for ages, but not used it. The design is made of three layering stencils, and I simply used three shades of green from light to dark. I trimmed the panel to be slightly smaller than 5" square, edged it with dark green Copic and adhered it to the card base. I didn't want to hide the image, so I stamped a small birthday greeting in black ink, cut it out and added to the card. For the inside, I cut a piece of white card to 4¾" square and I added the centre strip of the stencil to the card (I turned it sideways), and added a fun greeting.

It's been fun getting back to making cards. I needs lots!!

The reason I've been absent, is that Mum's cancer came back early last year, and I spent as much time as I could with her. Sadly, mum died in January, I've been coming to terms with no having mum here. It's been a tough, but my mojo seems to be back, and mum would be so pleased to see me making cards again. I worked my way through all my stash, and I so need more cards. So, I'm back. See you again soon.

Uniko Challenge - It's more friendly with two .....

.... Hi! My second post this week - I'm on something of a roll 😄 I'm here this morning with my card for the new Uniko Challenge - USC#48. We have a super fun quote from A A Milne to inspire you

"It's so much more friendly with two." - A A Milne

How you interpret the quote is up to you, and we have an optional twist to make your card suitable for a child. I skipped the option and concentrated on friends and two. Here's my card:

Stamps: Uniko - I Love Coffee, Birthday Sentiments
Inks: Ranger - Alcohol-Lift Ink; Gina K - Black Onyx; Versamark; Ranger Alcohol Inks - Sunshine Yellow, Crimson, Limeade, Flamingo
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Yupo; Black Card; White Embossing Powder

I created a striped background on Yupo with four shades of alcohol ink. Once dry, I used the new Alcohol-Lift ink pad to randomly stamp some flowers and coffee beans over the background - you can check out the video below to see Tim's demo. I stamped the lift-off images on some scrap white card and stamped the coffee mug label over the coffee bean images, and cut them out. I stamped the sentiment in Versamark on black card, embossed with white powder and adhered to the front of the card with dimensional pads. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel added a simple sentiment along with one of the stamped off flower images. I'm submitting this card to House of Cards - HOC#07 as I used their colours.

Don't forget to visit the Uniko blog to see more projects from the design team and also from our guest designer, Trinia P. Have fun!!

TMR - Include an unexpected item ....

... Hi! I can't quite believe just how busy I've been since getting back from the UK; I've had no time to play in my craft room as we've been doing family stuff!! I'm here today with my card for our new challenge at The Male Room - TMR#90. We have a super fun challenge - we want you to include AN UNEXPECTED ITEM on your masculine project. The possibilities are endless. I went for something silly and fun for a boy's birthday card:

Stamps: Uniko - Balloon Bash, Simply Said Birthday, Birthday Sentiments; MFT - Pretty Pocket
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Blueberry Bushel; Gina K - Lucky Clover; Versamark
Dies: Die-namics - Pocket
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Blueberry Bushel; White Embossing Powder; White Gel Pen; Black Micron Pen

I made a clean, simple card. I made the base from dark blue card and cut a panel of white card slightly smaller. I die cut the blue card to make a pocket on which I stamped a stitched edge and a simple birthday greeting, embossing them both with white powder. On the white card, I stamped balloons and added details with white and black pens. I stamped some stars in blue and green on the panel and then used dimensional tape at the edges of the pocket to attach it to the card front. I finished the card by putting a green balloon - my unexpected item - inside the pocket. On the inside of the card, I cut another panel of white card on which I added a greeting and some more stars. I'm submitting this card to Inkspirational - INK#165 where the word prompt is birthday.

Here's a photo of the card next to a blown up balloon:

I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome Wei and Lise Mariann to The Male Room DT - so glad to have you on board. Don't forget to check out The Male Room blog to see more inspiring projects from the rest of the design team and also from our guest designer, Ana.  You've got plenty of time to join the fun - deadline for submission is midnight (BST) Tuesday 31st July - that's 7.00pm here in the States. See you soon.

Uniko - Revisit and Blog Hop ....

..... Morning! I'm running a bit late with my project for Uniko's June Revisit and Blog Hop. This month we're showcasing the Beautiful Blooms range - there are three sets, and I've made a birthday card using Beautiful Blooms 2:

Stamps: Uniko - Beautiful Blooms 2, Birthday Sentiments
Inks: Versafine Clair - Summertime, Glamorous, Green Oasis; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Picked Raspberry, Carved Pumpkin
Dies: Die-namics - Linked Octagon Frame #2
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Gina K Card - Black Onyx; Uniko Stencil - Party Confetti; Wink of Stella - Clear

I love these pretty layering stamps they create the most lovely flower - you can, however, use the images on their own with just the outline, the solid or the filling. I've used a couple of challenges putting this card together - CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#275 for the colours, and CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS#275 for the layout. I started by creating the stencilled panel using a couple of different distress inks, die cut the panel and kept the linked frame. I used my MISTI (it really helps) to stamp the flowers and leaves and used my Scan'n'Cut to cut them out. I adhered the stencilled panel to some black card, adhered one of the flowers so that it looks like it's peeking out from the frame and then adhered the linked frame on top. I then used dimensional pads to attach the other flowers and leaves. I finished the front by stamping the large word on scrap card and fussy cutting it out and stamping the little word above. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of black card, and on the white panel added a greeting and another flower - using just the outline and fill images. This card is for my mother-in-law who has her birthday at the beginning of July. I'm going to take it to the UK with me later this week and give it to her next week - can't wait to see her!!!

I had planned to make lots more cards to show off all three sets, but I ran out of time, so I'm going to cheat a bit and show some cards that I made earlier this year using Beautiful Blooms 1 for our 6th Birthday Treasure Hunt:

And a card that I made in 2016 using Beautiful Blooms 3:

That's all from me today, but do visit the Uniko blog to see more from the rest of the team. Don't forget to join in the Blog Hop too and leave comments as you go. You've got until midnight (BST) Monday 18th June to leave a comment and be in with a chance to win your choice of one of these gorgeous sets.

Bev
Carol 

Deborah - that's me!!
Izzy 

Jane 
Lindsey

Rahmat
Sarah G

Sarah P

See you all again soon.

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.