Uniko - Simply Said Blocks II, and Natures Treasures II Stencil ....

... Morning! We've finished with our sneak peeks of the new Uniko release and today is the first of our introduction posts. We are introducing two products today - Simply Said Blocks II - a super addition to the Blocks range, and a lovely new stencil - Natures Treasures II Stencil. I combined both the stamps and the stencil on this card:

Stamps: Uniko - Natures Treasures II, Simply Said Blocks II
Inks: Gina K - Peach Bellini, Jelly Bean Green, Kraft; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Die-namics - Oval Stax Set 1 - #4 and #5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Gina K Card - Kraft; Clear Embossing Powder; Inkadinkadoo Masking Paper; Copic Marker

I had so much fun making this card. I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#335 and the colours from Colour Throwdown - CTD#491. I cut a panel of white card slightly smaller than the base and covered the centre with an oval mask. Then I stencilled the leaves in peach at the four corners of the card. I used the mask and kraft ink next to create the white leaves. I finished by stamping leaves in green, peach and kraft, as well as adding some of the little flourishes. I die cut a white oval slightly larger than the mask, onto which I stencilled the larger leaves. I attached the oval with dimensional tape. I finished the front with a simple sentiment stamped in black and embossed with clear powder. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of kraft card and on the white panel I slightly stencilled some of the small leaves at the top and bottom corners and finished by adding a simple greeting.

Edited: To add that I'm also submitting this to the current challenge over at Just Us Girls - JUGS#439 where the word is SHADOW, and I've got a few on this card!

That's all from me today, but do visit the rest of the Design Team and our Guest Designer, Anna, to see lots more inspiration projects introducing Simply Said Blocks II and Natures Treasures II Stencil.

It's been so nice to get back into my craft room and play with paper and ink!! I do have some photos to share from my Back to Back retreat, but I think I'll save them until after the release! And, before I go, here's a reminder of the release schedule:

Introductions: 5th - 11th May

RELEASE DAY: Saturday 12th May, 9.00am BST (4.00am EDT). Join in our Design Team Blog Hop & Giveaway.

See you again tomorrow.

Uniko - Doodle Flower and Horizontal Stripe ...

.... Hello! So pleased that you stopped by. We have seen sneak peeks of the four new stamps sets from Uniko and today I'm here to do an introduction to the two new additions to the Background Blocks series - Doodle Flower and Horizontal Stripe. There really are endless possibilities with these sets. I do have to state that sadly I haven't received the actual stamps from the UK, so Bev very kindly let me have the digital images. Having the digi images is great but it does mean that there are some techniques I can't do - but I can still be quite creative!!

I'll start off with a simple and pretty birthday card to introduce Background Block Doodle Flowers:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks Doodle Flowers (Digi), Fontiments Birthday, All Occasion Sentiments #3, Uniko Style
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! - Pear Pizzazz, Regal Rose, Wisteria Wonder
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Pear Pizzazz; Copic Markers; Spectrum Noir Sparkle - Clear

I set the image size to 7 x 9.5 cm (the same as Background Blocks Halftone) and made it dark pink. I printed it on white card and then added more colour using Copic markers and a clear sparkle brush. I layered the finished image on to a mat of green card. I attached it off to the side and added a simple birthday greeting at the foot of the card. On the inside I cut another mat of green card and on the white panel added a message and simple flower. I used the colours from this week's Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - CIC#405 as they're so pretty!

Next up is an ultra simple sympathy card to introduce Background Blocks Horizontal Stripe:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks Horizontal Stripe (Digi), Natures Treasures II, Simply Said
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versamark
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Black; White Embossing Powder; Spectrum Noir Sparkle - Clear

Once again I sized the image to about 7 x 9.5 cm and printed at the best setting on to white card. Using my MISTI I positioned the sentiment and stamped it in Versamark and heat embossed with white powder - I was very careful to make sure that I removed any random specks of powder before heating. I attached the panel flat to the card. I stamped the leaves in Versamark on black card, heat embossed with clear powder and carefully cut out the leaves with a scalpel. I added a touch of sparkle to the centre of the leaves and then adhered them to the panel. On the inside I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel added a message and some tiny leaves. I'm submitting this card to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#10 where the theme is Anything Goes.

So you've seen the sneak peeks, and my introduction to these sets. Do visit Uniko to check out more introductions from the rest of the team. Do leave comments as you visit - there's always the chance of a random prize!! Before I go, here's a quick reminder of the release schedule:

Introductions: 3rd - 5th May - the team have some wonderful inspirations projects to share with you.

RELEASE DAY! - Saturday 6th May, 9.00am BST - more inspiration projects from the Design Team, your chance to purchase the stamps from the Uniko Store and, as usual, a Design Team Blog Hop and Giveaway!

Uniko - theme ....

.... Morning! I'm running late again (sorry guys) with my DT card for our challenge at Uniko - USC#36. We have a theme for you this month - AUTUMN with the option of Thanks. I've made a sympathy card as I need to replenish my supply, and I find it easier to make them when I don't actually need them. You know what I mean. Here's my card:

Stamps: Uniko - Natures Treasures I, Natures Treasures II, Simply Said; Stampin' Up! - Bloom with Hope
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Fired Brick, Vintage Photo, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Hickory Smoke
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Cajun Craze; Clear Embossing Powder

I've based this card on the photo over at TIME OUT Challenges - TOC#66 - I really like the way the window opens onto the autumn colours. I masked the edge of my card and sponged on several colours adding a darker edge with hickory smoke to suggest the window frame. I splashed on some water droplets - just love the way distress inks react with water. Dried them off to give a lovely mottled effect. I used my MISTI to position and stamp the sentiment. I then stamped some foliage images with distress ink. On the inside I cut a mat layer of rust card and on the white panel added a simple verse and more foliage.

Do visit our blog to see more inspiration from the Bev and the rest of the team. You've got plenty of time to join in with us - deadline for submission is midnight BST (7.00pm EDT) Friday 14th October. Oh yes, if you need more encouragement to join in, there are prizes - details on Bev's blog! Have fun!

Uniko - Revisit and Blog Hop ...

.... Hello again! Today it's the Uniko Revisit and Blog Hop. We're revisiting three sets this month, and they all work perfectly together. I've actually made a couple of cards. I'll start with a thank you card that I made - you can never have too many "thanks" cards.

Stamps: Uniko - All Occasion Sentiments #6, Natures Treasures II, Flower Power #3; Stampin' Up! - Gorgeous Grunge
Inks: SU - Pink Pirouette, Pistachio Pudding; Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Grey Flannel; Versamark
Dies: Die-namics - Pierced Rectangle Frames #2
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Pistachio Pudding; Vellum; White Embossing Powder; Copics; Wink of Stella - Clear; Stadtler - Aquarell Pencils; Sequins

I'm submitting this to TIME OUT challenges - TOC#56 where we had to CASE Kay's beautiful card. The colours are from this week's Paper Players - PP#294 with such pretty pastel colours. Kay's card has a die cut, flowers, sequins and white space - and so does mine. But instead of going for two colours, I've made a light, spring-like card. I stamped the splatter and Thanks images in pale grey and then attached the die cut frame with dimensional tape. I stamped the flowers on vellum using Versamark and heat embossed with white powder. I coloured on the back of each flower with Copic markers and then fussy cut them out. I used both the solid and open leaves for some variation and cut them out too. I stamped the word Thanks on watercolour paper and used Aquarell pencils to lightly colour each letter, and then I cut them out. I adhered the lilac flower flat to the card and used dimensional gel to attach the leaves and flowers. I used dimensional tape to attach the word thanks. On the inside I cut a mat layer of pale green card and on the white panel added a simple greeting and the solid flower.

My second card is really CAS.

Stamps: Uniko - All Occasion Sentiments #6, Natures Treasures II
Inks: SU - Pear Pizzazz; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Pear Pizzazz

I masked off a 1" border all the way round the card. Then I sponged on two shades of green ink. I stamped the leaves in a darker shades of green. Then, after removing the masking tape, I stamped the sentiment in black along the bottom of the inked panel. On the inside I cut a mat layer of green card and added some more of the botanical elements from Natures Treasures to the white panel. As I've only used soft pastel shades of green, I'm submitting this card to the current challenge at Less is More - LIM#275.

This is a blog hop and you should have come to my blog via Bev's, however, in case you've arrived here directly, here's the Blog Hop list:

Bev (Uniko)

Deborah (that's me!)

Jane

Lindsey
Sarah G

Sarah P

Nicki

If you leave comments as you go around the Blog Hop, you will be in with a chance to win all three of the featured sets, details on Bev's blog. You have until midnight (BST) Wednesday 18th May to leave your comments.  That's all for now!

Uniko - September Release and Giveaway ....

...  Hello again!  I'm back to share some cards made using Uniko's latest release.  You've seen our introductions and today all the stamps sets are available for purchase from Uniko.  Here are some more inspiration cards for you:

I started off making a really clean and simple card with Natures Treasures II:

Stamps: Uniko - Natures Treasures II, Pure Floral Chrysanthemum
Inks: Kaleidacolour - Capuccino Delight; Hero Arts Ombre - Pink to Red
Dies: Uniko - Chrysanthemum
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Primrose Petals; Gems

This card might look a little familiar (check out Bev's card from yesterday), but I can honestly say that I made this as soon as I saw the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch - CTS#142!!  I decided to skip the sentiment.  I stamped the small leaves and the vines from Natures Treasures II directly on the card.  I stamped the chrysanthemum using ombre ink on white card and cut it out with the matching die.  I finished the front with the addition of some little gems.  I'm also submitting this card to AAA Cards - AAA#48 where the theme is autumn colours.  You should see the chrysanthemums in my garden - they look fabulous!!!  On the inside I cut a mat layer of pink card (discontinued colour) and added a few more leaves on the white panel.  I left a large space for my message.

Next I made a very masculine card with Background Builders Triangulate:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Builders Triangulate, Nautical Treasures, Background Builders Squared
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Soft Sky, Sahara Sand, Not Quite Navy, Lucky Limeade
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Luckly Limeade

Not as CAS as my first card, but lots of fun to make.  I love these stamps - so on trend with the tribal like patterns.  The colours are from Colour Q - cQc#308 - they are just perfect for a guy card!  I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#204 for the layout.  I stamped the pattern on the central panel by stamping first at the bottom and then the top, building up the patten and finishing with the arrows in the centre.  I used on of the triangle stamp to create the pattern on the green sail.  I stamped the boat on white card, cut it out and added patterned sails.  I finished with a simple sentiment.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of green card and added some pattern to the white panel.

Last, but by no means least, is a birthday card made using All Occasion Sentiments #6:

Stamps: Uniko - All Occasion Sentiments #6, Strike A Pose
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Hero Arts Neon - Blue, Green, Orange
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Happy Snaps; Clear Embossing Powder

I made this for our friend David who is celebrating his birthday today.  David's a photographer so I had to use Strike a Pose on his card.  I stamped the word "smile" repeatedly over the background using bright, neon colours from this week's The Male Room - TMR#19-15 challenge.  "Smile" works so well on a card for a photographer.  On the inside I cut a mat layer in green design paper and added some decoration to the white panel.  All being well, David should have received this card.  The photo on the card is one I took at last week's photo shoot with Diane - it was a blast!!

That's it!  We've done the introductions and you've come to the end of my release cards.  As is tradition, we have Design Team Blog Hop, you need to visit all the design team and comment on their blogs for the chance to the entire release - what a fantastic prize!!! You need to submit your comments by midnight (BST) Friday 25th September (7.00pm EDT).

Bev - Uniko

Deborah (that's me!)

Jane

Nicki

Sarah G

Sarah P

Finally, here's a look at all the sets available for purchase today:

All Occasion Sentiments#6 - £4.95

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2015

www.uniko.co.uk

Background Builders Triangulate - £9.95

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2015

www.uniko.co.uk

Natures Treasures II - £4.95

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2015

www.uniko.co.uk

Don't forget to visit Bev's blog to see if you are a mystery prize winner.  Thanks so much for stopping by to see these new releases.  That's all for now.  See you soon.

Uniko - Natures Tresures II ...

.....  Morning - today is the last day of introductions for the new Uniko release.  This set is really organic and works perfectly with Bev's floral stamp sets, but I'm focusing on the set.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Uniko - Natures Treasures II, Simply Said Birthday
Inks: Distress - Ripe Persimmon, Spiced Marmalade, Peeled Paint, Mowed Lawn; Archival - Monarch Orange, Coffee. Emerald Green
Dies: Spellbinders - Labels 23 (S4-347) #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Bluebelle

I'm submitting this card to several challenges:

• Less is More - LIM#241 - one layer card with the theme wishing
• Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#72 - Leaves
• Inkspirational - INK#91 - Colours - orange and green

Today is also the start of the new Uniko Challenge - USC#25 which this month has the theme Autumn/Fall with the optional twist of "Thanks".  I combined my introduction and challenge card, and opted go with the autumn.

I used a die to cut an opening in a mask and covered the card.  Then I sponged on shades of orange and green.  I added some drops of water to the distress ink to remove some ink and give a nice ghosted image.  After carefully removing the mask I stamped on some leaves tumbling down the page.  I finished the front with a simple greeting.  On the inside I cut a piece of Kaisercraft design paper to fit on the card and as the colour wasn't quite right, I rubbed over the paper with some spiced marmalade ink and then rubbed off the excess.  On the white panel I added a few more leaves.

As well as inspiration from the Design Team, we have two fantastic Guest Designers this month - you will be familiar with them both - check out what Ardyth and Pauline have made to inspire you.

Don't forget that there are prizes when you play along with the challenge.  The DT pick a winner who will get a £20 gift voucher for use in the shop.  The DT also pick the Top 3, who will each get 50 Loyalty Points added to their customer account.  If you've played along and used Uniko stamps on your card, then you'll enter the random draw and the winner of that will get 150 Loyalty Points added to their customer accounts.  Finally, if you've played along with the twist of "Thanks", there's a random draw for that too - the winner of this one will get 100 Loyalty Points added to their customer account.  You've got plenty of time to join in with the challenge - deadline is Friday 2nd October 8.00am BST (that's 3.00am EDT).

Tomorrow, 19th September, is release day.  The day you've been waiting for - the sets will be available for purchase at Uniko.  We will showing the sets in their entirety and, as is tradition, there's will be a Design Team Blog Hop with the chance for one lucky person to win the ENTIRE release.  And there's a little extra too!

You won't want to miss out on any of the fun from the 14th - 19th September, as Bev will be drawing totally random winners for mystery prizes.  No hints as to the prizes or their value, you'll just have to join the fun!

Places to join the fun, and possibly win a prize, are by commenting along the way on the Uniko Blog, Design Team Blogs, liking the Uniko Facebook page, and following on Pinterest and Twitter!  See you soon.