Coffee Time ...

... Hello again! I've had a super afternoon, playing with stamps and ink - something I've not done for a while. I've got a couple of cards with coffee theme to share. My first card also celebrates the 9th birthday of one of my favourite stamp companies - Uniko. I've been a fan of Bev's designs since she started the company and I've also been lucky enough to be on her design team too. This card is for Bev:

Stamps: Uniko - I Love Coffee, Originally Organic

Inks: Versamark; Gina K - Stormy Sky

Dies: Honey Bee - Coffee Cup Card

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Crumb Cake; Vellum; Copic Markers; Silver Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Bev's Uniko 9th Birthday Bash - US9BD.

I used Honey Bee's large coffee mug die to cut out the card. I used some kraft card for the cup lid and stamped lots of little coffee beans over it in Versamark. On the main mug I stamped the beautiful Originally Organic flower - this is a favourite of mine. I coloured it with Copic markers paying homage to Uniko's house colours. I embossed the finished image with silver powder. I cut the cup holder in vellum as I didn't want to hide the pretty image when it is put over the mug. On the inside, I stamped a simple and heartfelt sentiment in grey.

My next card kind of sums up how I feel at the moment. This third lockdown has really gotten to me, as it has to many, and this just made me feel better:

Stamps: CAS-ual Friday Stamps - Cup of Coffee, Hot Coffee, Peace, Love & Coffee; Stampendous - Coffee Background

Inks: Gina K - Warm Cocoa; Memento - Rhubarb Stalk

Dies: CFS - Coffee Cup

Accessories: White Card

I'm submitting this card to Caffeine Fueled Paper Play - CFPP#02 (a challenge I've been meaning to play along with for ages), and to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#23.

I've not used any of the coffee themed stamp sets that I have from CAS-ual Friday, so it's been fun to give them an outing! I stamped the background image using soft brown ink - it has lots of wonderful coffee quotes. I stamped the coffee mug on white card and added this brilliantly snarky sentiment. Absolutely perfect for how I'm feeling! I used the matching die to cut out the mug and adhered it to the front of the card. On the inside, I simply stamped another sentiment and added a tiny coffee mug.

I really do think that's it from me today. The sun is just starting to go down behind the houses over the road. It's been a beautiful bright day and I've played inside - my idea of fun. See you tomorrow!

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!!

Uniko Challenge - Photo Inspiration ...

.... Good morning! Time is flying by this month, we're already half-way through May. It does mean that it's time for our new challenge at Uniko - USC#47. For the next few weeks, we have a photo inspiration challenge for you, with the option of making your card a birthday card. I decided to skip the option and just use the photo for inspiration, here's my card:

Stamps: Uniko - Pure Florals Gerbera, I Love Coffee, Originally Organic Additions
Inks: Distress - Shabby Shutters, Crushed Olive, Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron, Worn Lipstick, Ripe Persimmon; Distress Oxides - Bundled Sage, Twisted Citron; Versmark; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Uniko - Gerbera Collection; Honey Bee - Coffee Cup Card
Accessories: Tim Holtz Watercolour Card; SU Card - Crumb Cake; White Lustre Card; White & Clear Embossing Powder; Copics

I really like this photo - it's so fresh and bright. I decided to focus on the leaf pattern on the suitcase and the pretty jug of flowers. I used my large coffee cup die to cut the card base (the finished card is 5 3/4" high x 3 3/4" wide) from watercolour card. I randomly stamped the outline leaf in Versamark and heat embossed with white powder. I used several shades of green distress ink directly on the card and spritzed with water to allow the inks to blend. I set the card aside to dry naturally. On a smaller piece of watercolour card, I stamped the large outline gerbera daisy, embossed it with white powder and inked it with a couple of shades of pink and orange. Once it was dry, I used the matching die to cut it out. I die cut the cup band from some kraft card, stamped on the sentiment and heat embossed it with clear powder. I added some more leaves to the band with the solid leaf image and used distress oxide inks which work perfectly on the coloured card. I cut the coffee lid from white card and attached the gerbera daisy to the lid. I used the coffee cup die to cut out a white card panel for the inside. I stamped the gerbera daisy in the corner, coloured it with Copic markers, returned it to my MISTI and restamped in black ink to give a crisp outline. I finished the inside by adding a simple sentiment.

In the photo above you can see the front of the card without the coffee cup band. I'm submitting this card to House of Cards - HOC#05 where they want us to make a shaped card, and also to Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - HLSAGD#05. I hope you can see how my card relates to the inspiration photo.

For more inspiration with our new challenge to visit the Uniko blog to see cards from the rest of the Design Team and also from our guest designer, Sue.

That's all from me for now - see you again soon.

Uniko - Challenge Reminder ...

... Hi! I didn't get chance to make a card when we started our new challenge at Uniko - USC#40, where the theme is SPRING WITH OPTIONAL TWIST OF EASTER. Today is a reminder that there's still plenty of time to join in. I've made a spring card - no sign of Easter. However, I have teamed it up with my all time favourite beverage - COFFEE!! Here's my card:

Stamps: Uniko - I Love Coffee, Originally Organic, Simply Said

Inks: Stampin' Up! - Wisteria Wonder, Mint Macaron, Rich Razzleberry; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Spirals
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Sahara Sand, Mint Macaron; Clear Embossing Powder; Spectrum Noir Sparkle - Clear

I'm submitting this card to the Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop where the theme is Spring, and also to Sunday Stamps Challenge - SSC#149 colours.

I stamped the flowers and sentiment directly on the card base and then ran the card and coverplate through my Big Shot. After die cutting the pattern into the front of the card, I restamped the images using Versafine and then heat embossed them with clear powder. I added colour to the flowers using a clear Spectrum Noir brush and the inks - I do like the sparkle. I stamped the coffee mugs on white and kraft card, cut out the coffee lids and attached them to the mugs. I stamped the label fronts on white card and then randomly stamped some of the tiny images from Originally Organic using different colours. I cut out the labels and adhered them to the mugs. I attached the mugs with dimensional gel - it doesn't show up too well in the image above. On the inside I cut a mat layer of mint card and on the white panel added a greeting and some more flowers.

Do visit the Uniko blog to see more from the rest of the team. Do join in the fun - we have prizes too:

• Main Winner - chosen by the DT - £25 eGift Certificate
• Random Twist Winner - £4 in stock clear stamp set of winners choosing
• Random Uniko Stamps Winner - £4 in stock clear stamp set of winners choosing
• Top 3 - chosen by DT - 150 Loyality Reward Points

You've got plenty of time to join in with the fun - deadline for submission is midnight (BST) Friday 21st April, that's (7.00pm EDT in the States. See you soon!

CIC - Colours ....

.... Darn! This post is rather late - I got it all prepared yesterday and then forgot to set it to publish!  Silly me!!!

Morning all! It's time for our new challenge at Cupcake Inspirations - CIC#360 - we have some lovely colours to play with - BLUSH, RUBY AND GOLD. So lush, so rich and so pretty. I've made a birthday card:

Stamps: Uniko - Flower Power #34, I Love Coffee, Simply Said Birthday; CFS - Whole Shebang
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versamark; Stampin' Up! - Blushing Bride, Rich Razzleberry
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Mats
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Blushing Bride, Rich Razzleberry; SU DP - Blushing Bridge; Clear and Gold Embossing Powder; Vellum; Gems; Copics; Wink of Stella - Clear

I thought the colours would make a lovely feminine card for a very special lady - Bev of Uniko. It was Bev's birthday yesterday and this card is on its way to her but, as you can guess from the greeting, it's going to be rather late!

I used the sketch at this week's Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#236 for the layout. I cut panels of card in white, blush and ruby. I used Versmark to stamp the open outline flower and heat embossed them with clear powder; gives a lovely tone on tone look. Then I added some smaller flowers in blush and ruby. I die cut a panel of vellum for the sentiment. I stamped three large flowers - one solid which I embossed with gold tinsel powder, and two outline flowers on vellum. I coloured the reverse of the vellum flowers and added some sparkle to them with a clear Wink of Stella Brush. I attached them to the card with dimensional gel. I finished off with some gems for more sparkle. On the inside I cut a mat layer of blush design paper and on the white panel added a fun greeting and some more flowers.

Our challenge this week is sponsored by Altenew and they are very generously providing a prize of Way too Sweet stamps (see below) for the lucky winner of this week's challenge. Let them tell you about themselves:

Established in April 2014, Altenew strives to bring elegant, natural and versatile designs in paper crafting products. Altenew firmly believes in sharing happiness and comfort with our loved ones through creative expression of crafting. We know that personal, delicate touches of a hand-made card or scrapbook page can bring joy to people that are important in our lives and we are proud to create products that help inspire alluring projects/creations.

I don't have any Altenew stamps, but I think I may have to fix that!! For more inspiration using these lovely colours to visit the blog to check out more from the team.  Have fun!

Coffee Just for You ....

.... Hi!  I know, third post this morning!  It's a busy one today. :)))   It's time for the Winter/Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and Bev, at Uniko, is one of the sponsors.  I've made a winter themed coffee card to share here:

Stamps: Uniko - I Love Coffee, Pure Florals Cosmos, A Gift for You
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versamark; Stampin' Up! - Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Sahara Sand
Dies: Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Stax #2
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Sahara Sand; Silver Mirri Card; Vellum; Cuttlebug EF - Dots 'n Spots; Silver Embossing Powder; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear; Signo - White Pen

I've used the sketch from The Challenge - TC#54 for the layout and the colours are from Colour Throwdown - CTD#372, so pretty.

I think this coffee set from Bev is just fab.  I stamped the cup on kraft card and cut it out.  I coloured the lid with a white pigment pen.  I added a little cup holder by stamping the flower on some scrap card and then cutting to fit the cup.  I used kraft card to make the base and adhered a strip of silver mirri card at the bottom.  I cut a panel of white card, smaller then the card which I embossed with dots and spots.  I added sparkle to some of the dots, but sadly you can't really see it in the photo!  I stamped the little flowers in Versamark on vellum, heat embossed them with silver powder and then cut them out.  I coloured the reverse with Copic markers and added lots of sparkle to the front of the flowers with a clear Wink of Stella brush.  I finished the front with a simple greeting.  On the inside I cut a mat of silver mirri card and on the white panel added some coffee beans, a greeting and a small flower.

That's the last post today - promise!  If you stuck with my through all the posts today - thank you. See you tomorrow.

Uniko - Countdown to Christmas Hop ...

.... Hello again!  So glad you stopped by again.  We're having a Uniko Design Team Countdown to Christmas Blog Hop as a couple of us (me and Nicki) didn't get our stamps in time to join in with the launch of Beverley's new stamps.  I've made cards using all the new sets - well, I just had to.  I'll start with Jingle Bells:

Stamps: Uniko - Jingle Bells
Inks: Kaleidacolour - Blue Breeze, Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Gloss Card; Embossing Paste; Copic Markers

I made some brayered backgrounds for my 52 {Christmas} Card DT project and I had one left over, so used it for this card.  I added some texture in the form of snowflakes with embossing paste.  I stamped lots of bells on white card, coloured them with Copic markers and adhered them to the card with dimensional gel.  I finished the front with a bold sentiment.  I edged the panel with a silver pen before adhering it to the card base.  I haven't done the inside, yet!  I'm submitting this card to Merry Monday - MM#181 where they want to see blue, white and texture.

And I finally got the inside done too - here it is:

My next card features my favourite set - I Love Coffee.  And I do love my coffee.  This is such a fun set.

Stamps: Uniko - I Love Coffee
Inks: Kaleidacolour - Cappuccino Delight, Versamark; Stampin' Up! - Bermuda Bay
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Early Espresso; Memory Box Stencil - Rings & Puddles; White Embossing Powder

I stamped the coffee cup on some scrap card and cut it out, edged it with a marker and then stamped the Uniko flower inside.  I stencilled some coffee rings on the card using Kaleidacolour ink.  I finished the card with a sentiment stamped in Versamark, embossed with white powder and attached to the card.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of dark brown card and on the white panel stamped the sentiment again and added some coffee beans.  I'm submitting this card to Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#214 as I used the sketch for the layout, and also to Colour Throwdown - CTD#370 - love these colours.

Next I used Labelled Christmas and made an ultra CAS card - this was fun after all the other cards I've made lately!

Stamps: Uniko - Labelled Christmas, Simply Said Christmas
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Rose Red, Perfect Plum
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Perfect Plum; SU Punch - 1¾" Circle

I stamped three of the images using different shades of red and cut them out with a circle punch.  I adhered them to a white panel which I mounted on some dark lilac card.  I used the colours from Colour Me Card Challenge - CMCC#99 and, as the theme is Anything Goes at AAA Cards - AAA#53, I'm playing along there too.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of dark lilac card and added a simple greeting.

Last, but no means least, I made a card using Essentially Christmas:

Stamps: Uniko - Essentially Christmas, Background Builders Christmas
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Real Red, Garden Green; Versamark
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Real Red, Garden Green; Gold Tinsel Embossing Powder

I got my inspiration for this card from Muse Challenge - MUSE#143, where I CASEd Tracey's lovely card.  I cut a panel of red card for the mat layer.  On the white panel I stamped the sentiment in Versamark and heat embossed with Gold Tinsel embossing powder.  I stamped the tree in the corer and added lots of little red stars.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of green card and on the white panel added some little Christmas trees and a sentiment.

Don't forget that by commenting here and on all the Design Team blogs along the way you will be in the chance of winning the ENTIRE RELEASE! (Or an eGift Certificate to the value of any of the products from the release you may have purchased).  Remember, simply visit & comment along the hop by midnight Saturday 5th December, to be in the chance of winning  the ENTIRE release! The WINNER will be announced Sunday 6th December.

Bev - Uniko
Deborah - that's me!
Jane
Nicki
Sarah G
Sarah P

Have fun hopping along - that's all for now.