Uniko - Framed Florals and Big & Bold Hello ....

.... Good morning! I'm here today with the last of the Uniko introduction posts. Today the Bev and the design team are introducing Framed Florals and BIG & BOLD Hello, the latest addition to the Big and Bold series. Both sets are just fabulous. I'm going to start with my card showcasing Framed Florals:

Stamps: Uniko - Framed Florals, Beautiful, Originally Organic Additions
Inks: Versamark; Gina K - Black Onyx; Stampin' Up! - Pool Party
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Grapefruit Grove, Silver Embossing Powder, Copics; Nuvo - Clear Shimmer Brush

I used my MISTI to stamp the image on white card, coloured it with Copic markers, repositioned it in the MISTI and stamped the image again with Versamark and heat embossed with silver powder. I cut the panel to leave a small white frame and then layered the whole image on dark peach card. I attached the panel towards the top left of the card and then stamped the sentiment. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of peach card and added a greeting to the white panel, along with a few little flowers. I'm submitting this card to Colour Throwdown - CTD#506 as I used their colours for the card.

My next card is much brighter and much bolder and features the large hello stamp:

Stamps: Uniko - Big & Bold Hello
Inks: Ranger - Alcohol-Lift Ink; Ranger Alcohol Inks - Crimson, Sunshine Yellow, Limeade, Flamingo; Gina K - Black Onyx; SU - Grapefruit Grove
Dies: Lil Inkers - Dual Dotted Rectangles #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Concord & 9th - Summer Glitter Paper Green; SU Card - Grapefruit Grove; Yupo Paper

At the end of July, I created a number alcohol inked yupo pages. I decided to use one of this card and make use of the new Alcohol-Lift ink pad. I simply die cut a panel from the yupo sheet (you need to run this through the machine several times to make sure you get a good cut). I put the panel into the MISTI, inked up the large hello stamp with the lift ink and stamped. I removed the alcohol inked panel, put in some white card and stamped off the lifted image - check back tomorrow to see cards with the image. I repeated the process to make sure the alcohol ink was sufficiently removed to reveal the word. I layered the panel on some green glitter paper and adhered it to the front of the card. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of peach card and on the white panel added a message and little flower. I'm submitting this card to Time Out Challenge - TOC#116 and to Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - HLSAGD#08.

That's the end of our introduction posts. Tomorrow is release day and we'll be showcasing all the new stamp sets. You will also be able to purchase the stamps from Bev's shop. That's all for now. See you again soon.

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 - Originally Organic Addition Dies ....

..... Oops! I'm rather late with this post. I added my card to Bev's blog, but totally forgot to write my post!! Silly me. So, I'm here, a bit late, with my introduction card for the new dies to go with Originally Organic Additions - so nice to have the dies. Here's my card:

Stamps: Uniko - Originally Organic Additions, Simply Said Blocks II, Organic Wishes
Inks: Gina K - Passionate Pink, Jelly Bean Green; SU - Pool Party
Dies: Uniko - Originally Organic Additions Dies
Accessories: Gina K Card - Black Onyx; White Lustre Card; Shimmer Spritz - Frost; Circle Punches

I used the sketch from the current Less is More - LIM#370 for the layout and the colours are from Global Design Project - GDP#137. I started by spraying some white card with frost shimmer spritz. Once dry, I stamped the images and used the matching dies to cut out the vine frame and flowers, I used punches for the circles. I made the base from black card so that the stamped and die cut images really pop. I attached the vine frame and circles flat to the card and used dimensional pads to add the little flowers and the sentiment. Ont he inside, I simply cut a panel of white card on to which I stamped a greeting and another flower.

For more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team, and our Guest Designer, Anna, do visit Bev's blog.

Sorry, this is so late - I was so convinced that I'd written this post! Hey ho! See you again tomorrow for the last of our introduction posts. Bye for now!!

Uniko - Blog Hop and Revisit ....

... Hi! Good morning! Surprise, a post two days in a row :)))) I'm here today with the Uniko DT Blog Hop, Revisit and Giveaway. Bev releases new stamps every other month, and in the month where there is no new release the Design Team gets to revisit a previously released set. This month we're revisiting ORIGINALLY ORGANIC - one of my favourite stamp sets - and Bev has released matching dies too. Here's my card:

Stamps: Uniko - Originally Organic, Originally Organic Additions
Inks: Versamark; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Uniko - Originally Organic
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Bombay Sunset; Copics; Wink of Stella - Clear; Gold Embossing Powder; Alton Glitter Tape

I used the sketch from the current Your Next Stamp - YNS#66 challenge along with all the colours too. My new Kaisercraft design papers were just the right colour and I do like the opulent gold border. I used my MISTI to stamp the flower bouquet in pale grey and coloured it with Copic markers. Then, using the MISTI again for accurate stamping, I stamped it in Versamark and heat embossed with gold powder. Then I used the matching die to cut it out - so much quicker and easier than using scissors!! I stamped the sentiment and then adhered the flower image using dimensional tape. On the inside I cut a may layer using more design paper and on the white panel, stamped a portion of the flower image and a greeting. I added a touch of sparkle to the flowers on the front and on the inside using a clear Wink of Stella brush.

I'm also submitting this card to The Flower Challenge - TFC#09 where this month it's ANYTHING GOES.

Now do visit the rest of the team, follow the links below:

Bev

Deborah

Jane

Lindsey

Rahmat

Sarah G

Sarah P

Don't forget to leave comments as you go along the Blog Hop - you've got until midnight (BST) Sunday 18th June.  You'll be in with the chance to win the Originally Organic clear stamp set and the matching dies. If you already own the prize, then you will get a £15 e-Gift voucher. Have fun!!

CASC&S - Lush Succulents ....

.... Morning! We've finally got some sunshine in Northville, now all we need is a little more warmth!! Anyway, enough of that. I'm Guest Designer at CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#222 this month, and this week we have a really fun sketch for your cards. Here's my take:

Stamps: Uniko - Happy Succulents, Originally Organic Additions, Background Blocks Horizontal Stripe
Inks: Versamark; Versafine - Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! - Perfect Plum; Distress Oxide - Cracked Pistachio; Distress - Pine Needles
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Perfect Plum; Transparent Embossing Powder Kaleidoscope; Copic Markers; Spectrum Noir Sparkle - Clear

I saw the new challenge at Cupcake Inspirations - CIC#406 with the lovely image of cupcakes topped with icing succulents, so I knew what I was doing for my card. I got out the new Happy Succulents set from Uniko and started playing. I created the background panel by cutting a strip of white card to size, masking off a section and then stamped the horizontal stripes in Versamark and heat embossed them with sparkling embossing powder. Next I sponged on some Distress Oxide to the side and added a few water droplets to add texture. I adhered the panel flat to the card. I used the large succulent bouquet and stamped it in plum and dark green, and then carefully cut out sections. I added a touch of colour and sparkle to the green leaves with a clear Spectrum Noir Brush. I adhered the leaves to the card and then added the plum coloured succulents on top. I coloured the last succulent with Copic markers, cut it out and adhered it with dimensional gel. Before attaching all the succulents, I stamped the sentiment in black. On the inside I cut a mat layer of plum card and on the white panel stamped another succulent and a greeting.

Don't forget to visit CAS Colours & Sketches - to see more inspiration projects using this sketch. That's all from me for today. Have a great day!

Uniko - Happy Succulents ...

.... Hi! Did you see those wonderful projects from the rest of the team using the Background Blocks - I am so looking forward to getting the actual stamps - I want to emboss!!!! Anyway, I'm here today to introduce another new set from Uniko - Happy Succulents. This set has a similar style to Originally Organic and Originally Organic Additions - which is great and they work so well together - as you will see! I had such fun with these stamps that I ended up making 5 cards for today!! Yes, five!!

I'm going to start off with a pretty note card for my stash:

Stamps: Uniko - Happy Succulents (Digi), All Occasion Sentiments #1, Originally Organic Additions
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! - Pink Pirouette, Smoky Slate
Dies: Lil Inkers - Diamond Lace Coverplate
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Pink Pirouette; Copic Markers; Spectrum Noir Sparkle - Clear

I'm not exactly sure how big the main image is in this set (and I think I've made it a bit smaller) so I guessed and printed the image on white card. I coloured it with Copic markers, added some sparkle and then fussy cut it out. I wanted to keep the focus on the lovely image, but still add some interest to the card base, so I used a coverplate to die cut an overall pattern on the card. I adhered some pink card to the inside and then attached the coloured image with dimensional gel. I finished the front with a bold sentiment cut into a flag banner and attached it with dimensional tape. On the inside I cut a mat layer of pink card and added some flowers to the white panel. I'm submitting this card to the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge where they want to see a hint of pink! Done!!

One of the things I like about digital images is the ability to change the size and to flip them as necessary. In this stamp set there is a lovely solid succulent image which appears black when you import it on the computer. I use Word for my documents and there's an area under the design tab where you can change the colour theme for your documents, and the good thing about this is that you can then change the colour of the imported image really easily. I set up an arrangement of the succulents, sized them, flipped them and changed the colour a number of times, and created a set of cards:

Here's a more detailed look at each card. I'm starting with the most clean and simple of the set - the green one:

Stamps: Uniko - Happy Succulents (Digi), All Occasion Sentiments #6, Originally Organic
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Lucky Clover, Twisted Citron
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Ovals #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Emerald Envy; Spectrum Noir Sparkle - Clear; Brick Stencil (free with magazine)

I used a stitch edge die to cut out the image and then stamped a bold sentiment on the panel. I used a brick stencil to create a softly stencilled background and then adhered the panel. On the inside I cut a mat layer of dark green card and on the white panel added an image from Originally Organic. I'm submitting this card to Paper Players - PP#342 where they have a Tic-Tac-Toe grid and I used the centre line going down - green, die cut, leaf/leaves.

Next is the smallest card of the set. I switched up the colour of the image and used co-ordinating washi tape to decorate the card base:

Stamps: Uniko - Happy Succulents (Digi), Originally Organic, Originally Organic Additions
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! - Peekaboo Peach
Dies: Lil Inkers - Dual Dotted Circles #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Peekaboo Peach; Washi Tapes; Enamal Dots

I attached the die cut panel with dimensional tape and added some large enamel dots to the front. On the inside I cut a mat of peach card and added a few flowers to the white panel. Lots of space for my message.

Next is another very quick and easy card:

Stamps: Uniko - Happy Succulents (Digi), Originally Organic
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! - Sweet Sugarplum
Dies: Lil Inkers - Dual Dotted Circles #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Be-YOU-tiful

I changed up the colours again and this time cut out the image with a larger circle and added the sentiment at the top. I found some lovely design paper in my stash that works really well with the image and covered the card with it. I used dimensional tape to attach the die cut panel and on the inside I cut another piece of design paper for the mat and added a white panel on which I stamped a flower.

The final card in the set is square. Again, it's relatively quick and easy to make:

Stamps: Uniko - Happy Succulents (Digi), Originally Organic, Originally Organic Additions
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Lil Inkers - Dual Dotted Squares #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! DP - Print Poetry; SU Vellum - Botanical Gardens

So this time I opted for a blue colour scheme and cut out the image with a square die. I found some pretty design paper in my stash and cut a panel of blue patterned paper for one side of the card. On the other side I added some patterned vellum - which you can just about see. I attached the finished die cut panel directly to the card. On the inside I used another piece of design paper for the mat layer and on the white panel stamped a tiny flower. I'm submitting this card to Time Out Challenges - TOC#82 where they want to see Flowers (with the option of the Kiss technique).

I had such fun with this set. Do visit the Uniko blog to see more inspiration projects from the rest of the team. Finally, a quick reminder of the release schedule:

Introductions: 3rd - 5th May

RELEASE DAY! Saturday 6th May, 9.00am BST. The stamps will be available to purchase from the Uniko Shop and there will be our usual DESIGN TEAM BLOG HOP AND GIVEAWAY!!

See you tomorrow for our final introduction! Bye for now.