Uniko - Explosion Additions ....

.... Hi! We've almost reached the end of our Uniko introductions. Today we're introducing Explosion Additions - a really fun and versatile set. I've made a congratulations card of sorts - it's just right for teens! Here's my card:

Stamps: Uniko - Explosion Additions, Explosion
Inks: Versamark; Distress - Lucky Clover, Cracked Pistachio, Twisted Citron; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Emerald Envy; Clear Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to the current challenge at Less is More - LIM#316 where the theme is ALPHABET. I think these bold sentiments work perfectly for the challenge. I stamped them in Versamark and heat embossed with clear powder. Next I sponged on three shades of green ink which reveal the words. I cut a panel of white card and stamped the large half-tone star in two shades of green. I added three of the sentiments of the Explosion Additions set in black and finished off by edging the panel with black ink and adding a some smaller explosion stamps. On the inside I cut a mat layer of dark green card and on the white panel I added a simple greeting and another explosion stamp.

There are lots more introduction examples at the Uniko blog - do drop by and check them out. And finally a quick reminder of the release details:

Introductions: 20th - 24th February - the team have some fab inspiration for you

RELEASE DAY! Saturday 25th February - lots more inspiration from the Design Team, your chance to buy the stamps from Uniko's shop and, as always, a Design Team Blog Hop and Giveaway!

That's all for now - see you again tomorrow.

Uniko - Happy 5th Birthday ....

.... Hello! Today is Uniko's 5th Birthday! We are celebrating with a Birthday Card Link Up Party! And, as it's a party, there'll be prizes too, but more of that later. Here's the card I made to celebrate Uniko's 5th birthday:

Stamps: Uniko - Simply Said Birthday, Big & Bold Wish, Background Builders Chevrons, Explosion!
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, Night of Navy; Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Pool Party; Clear Embossing Powder; Spectrum Noir Sparkle - Clear; Copics

I like making cards for men, so I've opted for blues on my card, although I think it would work in reds and pinks too. I've used a few challenges in the making of this card:

• CAS(E) this Sketch - CTS#208
• CAS on Sunday - CASOS#101
• HLS CAS Challenge - HLSCAS#02

I used my MISTI to create the chevron panel - this tool really makes it easy to line up the stamp perfectly each time. I stamped the large word wish at the bottom of the panel in black and embossed it with clear powder. On a scrap of white card I stamped the large explosion image which I embossed with clear powder. I stamped some words in the explosion and then carefully cut it out. I added some sparkle to the edge of the cut out image and used dimensional gel to adhere it to the card.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of pale blue card and on the white panel added a birthday greeting and some candles.

Now, earlier I said that this is a Birthday Card Link Up Party and that there would be prizes. The link up will be open until midnight (GMT) Friday 10th March over at Uniko. The prizes are as follows:

• Main Winner - chosen by the Design Team - will win the FULL February 2017 release stamps
• Random Uniko Stamps Winner - £25 eGift Certificate
• Top 3 - chosen by the Design Team - in stock £4 clear stamp set of winners choosing

Do pop over to Uniko to see more birthday cards from the rest of the design team. And join the fun helping us to celebrate Uniko's 5th Birthday. See you soon!

USC - Anything Goes with Masculine Option ....

....  Hello and good morning!  It's time for our new challenge at Uniko.  This month our theme is:

ANYTHING GOES

WITH AN OPTION OF MAKING IT MASCULINE

I think you all know that I love making masculine cards and Bev has lots of stamps that are perfect for masculine style cards.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Builders: Chevrons, Explosion
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Cucumber Crush, Mint Macaron, Garden Green, Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Wild Wasabi; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU DP - Old Olive; Wink of Stella - Green

Green is probably my favourite colour and I have lots and lots of green inks!  I decided to base my card on shades of green and the chevron stamps are just perfect.  I used my MISTI to stamp the chevron - so easy and no card wasted!!! I stamped the chevrons on a scrap of card and originally had 7 colours!  However, it was a bit too wide, so I cut off a couple of rows and adhered the remaining rows to the cardbase.  I finished the front with the big explosion image and a simple, fun sentiment _ OMG!  I coloured the outline letters with green Wink of Stella - so there's some shimmer too.  On the inside I used a mat of design paper and simply added another chevron line!  I'm really pleased how this card turned out.

The team have got some fabulous cards for you today and this month we are joined by a couple of wonderful Guest Designers - I'm sure you'll have seen their work.  I'd like to welcome Anita of My Papercraft World and Melissa of Honeybeelane.  Do drop by to visit their blogs and leave some love!

There are prizes too!. Our DT will choose a winner who will get a £10 gift voucher. Our DT will choose a top 3 who will get 50 Loyalty Reward Points added to their customer account.  And we will do a random draw for those who used a Uniko stamp and this winner will get 150 Loyalty Reward Points added to their customer account.  If you've gone with the optional twist of a masculine card, then we will do a random draw and they will receive 100 Loyalty Reward Points added to their customer account. So go on - have fun!!  See you soon.

ASM - CAS ...

... Good evening!  It's time for CAS (clean and simple) challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!  A CAS card should have clean and crisp lines, minimal or no embellishments and lots of 'white' space.  Now the white space doesn't have to be "white", it can be any colour.  White space is a term used for the area of your card with no stamping, embellishments etc.  Here's my CAS card:

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Explosion; Avery Elle - Handwritten Notes
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black, Majestic Blue
Dies: PTI - Tipped Tops
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Cuttlebug EF - Diamond Plate; Copics; Clear Embossing Powder

This was fun to make!  I made the ombre card using three shade of blue Copics and blending well.  Then I stamped the explosion image, heat embossed with clear powder and cut it out.  I die cut two panel out of white card and coloured the edge of the larger piece to match the explosion shape.  I embossed the top panel with the diamond plate embossing folder.  I added "OMG!" to the centre of the explosion cut out and finished the front of the card with a simple greeting.  I've left the inside blank.  I'm submitting this card to Inkspirational - INK#58, as Sandie's challenge is to make a clean and simple card!

Our sponsor this week is QKR Stampede and the challenge winner will receive 3 digi images from them; they have a great selection.  To see more CAS cards from the rest of the Design Team, click on this link - do leave a comment, we all love to get some love!!  That's all for now!  See you soon.