Uniko - Kindness Blooms and Fun Flowers Stencil ...

.... Good morning! It's the last day of Uniko Introductions, we have one more stamp set and another stencil - I really think you're going to like them both. I'm going to start with the stamp set:

Stamps: Uniko - Kindness Blooms, All Occasion Sentiments # 3 and #6
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! - Marina Mist, Sweet Sugarplum, Peekaboo Peach
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Peekaboo Peach; Vellum; Clear Embossing Powder; Copics; Nuvo - Aqua Shimmer Brush; Studio Katia - Silver Foil Crystals

I've made a really clean, simple card to showcase the large scribble flower in this stamp set. I used my MISTI to position and stamp the greeting. I stamped the flower on vellum, heat embossed with clear powder, coloured the reverse of the image with Copic markers, and added lots of shimmer to the front of the flower, then I fussy cut it out. I added some shimmer to the open letter of the word 'thanks' and finished the front by adding some silver foil crystals. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of peach card and on the white panel added a message and more flowers. I used the sketch from this week's CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS#260 for the layout and the colours are from last week's CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#260. I've also taken a close-up photo of the flower to show all the lovely shimmer - I find it best to make the image darker than normal so that you can really see the shimmer!

There are a lot more flowers on this next card where I use the Fun Flowers stencil, and matching stamps too:

Stamps: Uniko - Fun Flowers, Simply Said Blocks, Birthday Sentiments
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Blueprint Sketch; Gina K - Jelly Bean Green
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Melon Mambo; Clear Embossing Powder; Nuvo - Aqua Shimmer Brush; Studio Katia - Silver Foil Crystals

The layout of this card is based on the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#325, although it's going live too late to join in!! I taped the stencil to white card and used pink and blue inks. I tried to keep the blue to the scallop edges of the flowers. I cut the panel to size, edged it with a black marker and adhered it to the card. I stamped some leaves in green and the matching flowers from the Fun Flowers set, and added colour to two of the images with the stencil - I went for more depth of colour on these colours. Once finished, I cut them out using my Scan'N'Cut. I attached the plain flower flat to the card and used dimensional pads to attach the coloured flowers. I finished the front with a simple, bold sentiment. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of bright pink card. I used the stencil and inked a pale pink background all over the white card and added a greeting.

Well, that's it! We've finished all the introductions and I hope you have enjoyed seeing all the wonderful projects from the Design Team. Tomorrow is RELEASE DAY at 9.00am GMT (that's 4.00am EDT) and all the products will be available for purchase from the Uniko shop.

Do pop back again tomorrow and join us for our traditional Design Team Blog Hop and Giveaway! See you then!

Uniko - Blog Hop and Revisit ....

.... Hello!! I'm so sorry not to have been around much, but I've had a stinking cold since we got back to the States and it's taken nearly two weeks for me to start to feel like me again!!! I had big plans to play in my craft room, but I only managed to get in there yesterday afternoon to make my card for the Uniko Revisit. Bev, owner and creator at Uniko, tends to release new stamps every other month and in the "off-month" we usually revisit a previously released stamp set. However, this month, Bev has given us the choice of any of the new stamp sets and stencils released in 2017 - such fun and so many possibilities. This is the card I made:

Stamps: Uniko - Happy Succulents, Simply Said Blocks
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Lovely Lavender
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Copics; Uniko Stencil - Lattice; Clear Embossing Powder; Nuvo - Aquashimmer Brush

I used the colours from Colour Throwdown - CTD#475 and the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#319 on this card. I've just realised that I totally CASEd Bev's gorgeous ultraviolet succulents!! Thanks Bev for the inspiration 😊

I cut two panels of white card, on the smaller panel I stamped the large succulent bouquet using my MISTI. I masked off the image laid over the lattice stencil and lightly sponged on some pale lavender ink, darker in the corner and fading out to the edges. I removed the mask and coloured the image with Copic markers. I put the finished image back in the MISTI and restamped it in Versafine and embossed with clear powder to give a really crisp image. I used the blue Copic marker to add colour to the edge of the other white panel and then layered on the image panel and adhered the whole lot to the card base. I added some shimmer to the image with a clear shimmer brush. I stamped the sentiment on white card, embossed it with clear powder and cut it out. I used the lilac marker to colour some white card and then layered on the sentiment panel. On the inside, I cut a panel of white card and once again used the blue Copic marker to edge the panel. On the other white panel, I added a greeting and another succulent image.

Don't forget to visit the rest of the Design Team and comment along the Blog Hop for your chance to win a £15 eGift Certificate to spend in the online store. You have until midnight (GMT) Sunday 21st January to comment. Here's the Blog Hop list:

Bev

Carol

Deborah - that's me!

Izzy

Jane

Lindsey

Rahmat

Sarah

I'm sorry the pictures are so dark, but it's late here and I have to do the best I can. I hope to get a little light studio this year to help make my photos better!! That's all for now - thanks for stopping by - see you again soon.

Uniko - Spring Botanicals ....

... Hi! It's time to start the introductions for Uniko's December release. We have two sets today - Scattered Polka Dots Large Background and Spring Botanicals Snowdrop. Sadly, my parcel still hasn't arrived, so I'm going to let the rest of the team showcase the large background stamp, and I'm going to concentrate on the lovely snowdrop stamp. I made two cards, here's the first:

Stamps: Uniko - Spring Botanicals Snowdrop (digi), Reach for the Stars, Simply Said Blocks, Simply Said
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! - Lemon Lime Twist; Gina K - Black Onyx
Dies: Die-namics - Cross Stitch Rectangle Stax #5, A2 Rectangles Set 2 #9
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Lemon Lime Twist; Copics; Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Glitter Brush; Clear Embossing Powder

I printed the snowdrop image on white card, heat set it and die cut a panel with the cross stitch rectangle. I used Copics to colour the image and added lots of sparkle to the flowers with a clear glitter brush - you can see the sparkle in the photo below. I layered the panel on bright lime green card and adhered it to the centre of the card. I stamped the sentiment in Versafine on green card, heat embossed it with clear powder, cut it out and adhered it to the card with dimensional pads. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of lime green card and added a simple, but fun, birthday greeting to the white card.

Here's the close-up photo showing the sparkle - I had to make the image quite dark in order to show the sparkle!!

I'm submitting this card to AAA Cards - AAA#105 where they want to see sparkle - hopefully!!!

My second card features the snowdrops left as an outline image, but printed in colour:

Stamps: Uniko - Spring Botanicals Snowdrop (digi), Simply Said Birthday, Happy Succulents
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Black Onyx, Blue Raspberry
Dies: Die-namics - A2 Stitched Rectangles Set 1 #9, Oval Stax
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Gina K Card - Blue Raspberry; Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Glitter Brush; Clear Embossing Powder; US Stencil - Scattered Polka Dots; Vellum

I printed the image in colour and carefully cut it out. I used blue cardstock to make the base and on the white oval, I lightly stencilled some polka dots to create a bokeh effect. I die cut a panel of vellum on which I stamped and embossed a birthday sentiment. I ran the vellum through my Xyron and adhered it directly to the card. I used a strong adhesive to attach the snowdrops over the vellum. On the inside, I added a white panel with a simple greeting.

I added sparkle to the snowdrop flowers with a clear glitter brush, but you can barely see it in the photo above. It really does sparkle!!

Now that you've seen what I've made with the snowdrop, do visit Uniko to see more inspiration projects from the rest of the Design Team. A quick reminder of the release schedule:

Introductions: 12th - 15th December

RELEASE DAY: Saturday 16th December 9.00am GMT. The whole release will be available to purchase in the Uniko shop. As always, we will have a DT Blog Hop and Giveaway - enjoy!!

See you again soon.

Uniko - September Release, DT Blog Hop and Giveaway ....

.... Good morning! Today's the day! The new stamps from Uniko are available to buy today over at the Uniko shop. I've got a few cards to share with you this morning. I'm going to start with a clean, simple and bright card:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks Stars, Reach for the Stars
Inks: Gina K - Black Onyx , Red Velvet; Versamark
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Stars #1, #2 and #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Copics; Silver Tinsel Embossing Powder; Wink of Stella - Clear; Vellum

I got the inspiration for this card from the graphic on the Colour Throwdown Challenge - CTD#459 - the stripes on the vase reminded me of the striped stars on the Background Blocks Stars stamps. The layout is based on the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#304. As I coloured the stars with my markers, I'm submitting this one to CAS on Friday - CASOF#116. I stamped the image using my MISTI, then coloured it with Copic markers. Once coloured I stamped the image again in Versamark and heat embossed with silver tinsel embossing powder - I do think stars need to sparkle!! I layered the image on some black card and adhered it to a 4 bar card - it's a bit smaller than an A2 card, but it fits the background block size perfectly. I die cut three stars from white card and coloured two of them to match the stars on the panel and then I added sparkle with a clear Wink of Stella brush. I layered the stars with dimensional pads. I stamped the word "stars" on white card, cut it out and then layered it onto some vellum. On the inside I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel added some stars down the side. There's plenty of space for a message.

My next card features lots and lots and lots of little stars:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Builders Seeing Stars; Beautiful Blooms I; Simply Said Blocks; Happy Succulents
Inks: Gina K - Onyx Black, Cherry Red, Red Hot, Sweet Mango, Wild Dandelion, Jelly Bean Green, Blue Lagoon, Blue Raspberry, Wild Lilac, Lovely Lavender; Versamark
Dies: Uniko - Beautiful Blooms
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! - Basic Black; Clear Embossing Powder; Simon Says - Moonshine Confetti

The current challenge at TIME OUT Challenge - TOC#91 is to CASE our very own Beverley Brown - and I had to play along with that challenge. Bev's card has a lovely rainbow of solid colours with the pretty lily outline flower, so I played on that. On my card I've stamped a somewhat larger rainbow of stars and my flower is solid black, as is my greeting. I stamped the flower on white card, cut it out with the matching die and then "enamelled" it using Versamark mark and clear embossing powder. It has a lovely shine. I layered the rainbow panel on black card and finished the front with some clear sequins. On the inside I cut a mat layer of black card and kept the white panel fairly simple with a fun greeting and lots of rainbow stars!

My last card today has dots and flowers:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks Polka Dots, Simply Said Blocks, Beautiful Blooms II, Reach for the Stars
Inks: Gina K - Black Onyx, Jelly Bean Green, Sweet Mango, Cherry Red
Dies: Die-namics - Pierced Circle Frames #2
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Black; Vellum; Wink of Stella - Clear

I've used the sketch from FUSION - FUSION#81 for the layout of this card, and the colours are from CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#239. I created the dotty panel by stamping the polka dots in all three colours, trimming the panel to size and then covered it with some shimmery vellum to soften the colours. I used the ink direct to paper to colour some card green and then die cut the circle frame. I stamped the flowers and added a touch of colour to the insides. I finished the front with a simple sentiment. On the inside I cut a mat layer of black card and added a greeting and some stars to the white panel.

It's traditional when we have a new release to have a Design Team Blog Hop - so follow along and leave some comments for your chance to win! You have until midnight BST Saturday 16th September to leave your comments. The winner will be announced on Sunday 17th September. Here's the Blog Hop list:

Bev

Deborah (that's me)

Izzy

Jane

Lindsey

Rahmat

Sarah P

Before I go - here's a look at each of the sets being released today:

Background Blocks Scattered Polka Dots

Background Builders Seeing Stars

Reach for the Stars

Background Blocks Stars

Simply Said Blocks

It's been a long post - thanks for staying with me to the end! I hope you've enjoyed my projects. I think this is one of my favourite releases - I just adore all those stars! There really is endless possibilities with these stamps.

That's all for now - see you soon.

Uniko - Stars and More Stars ....

.... Morning! It's the last day of our introductions for Uniko's September release. Today we have another addition to the Background Blocks series - BACKGROUND BLOCKS STARS, and another in the set in the Background Builders series - BACKGROUND BUILDERS SEEING STARS. You might have noticed a distinct, and very on trend, theme with this release. I absolutely love this release.

Stamps: Uniko - Background Builders Seeing Stars, All Occasion Sentiments #2
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Lemon Lime Twist, Brocade Blue; Gina K - Onyx Black; Memento - London Fog
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Copics; Wink of Stella - Clear; Glossy Accents

I've combined a couple of challenges in this card. I've used the colours of royal blue and lime green from the current Less is More - LIM#344 and the layout is based on the sketch over at CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS#237, sadly the challenge has closed, so I can't play along!

I stamped the stars on white card and coloured the striped one with Copic markers, adding a touch of sparkle to the stripes. I carefully cut them all out. I knew that I wanted to pair these stars with the word "AWESOME" from All Occasion Sentiments #2 - it has a star in the middle! I cut a panel of white card slightly smaller than the base and stamped the word in black towards the top. I added some sparkle to the inside of the star. The longest part of this card was planning the layout of the stars! Once I had them laid out, I took a photo on my phone and used that to help me position them properly. I attached the green stars flat to the card, then used one layer of dimension tape on the blue circle one and the grey (by the dotty green). The last two stars were attached with two layers of dimensional tape. Then I added the smaller stars. I edged the white panel with blue and green and used dimensional tape to attach it to the base. Finally, I added some glossy accents to the black star. On the inside I stamped some star borders on the top and bottom of the panel and finished by edging with blue and green copics.

My next card showcases Background Block Stars - and I'm so pleased I had the actual stamps as I was able to emboss the image:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Block Stars, Simply Said Blocks, Reach for the Stars
Inks: Versamark; Gina K - Onyx Black; SU - Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Rectangles #2
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Copics; Wink of Stella - Clear; Silver Tinsel Embossing Powder

I stamped the block image in pale grey on white card and coloured it with Copics then, as I used my MISTI, I put the card back in and restamped it with Versamark and then heat embossed with silver tinsel powder for a subtle powder. I made the mat panels by die cutting two panels of white card and then colouring them with Copics so they match the stars. I added lots of sparkle to the open stars with a clear Wink of Stella brush. I finished the front by stamping Happy Birthday with the new Simply Said Blocks - I really like the contrast of the clean, fresh image and the bold sentiments. On the inside I cut a panel of white card, edged it with Copic markers and added some more stars and a greeting. I've used the colours from this week's Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - CIC#421.

Don't forget to visit the main Uniko blog to see lots more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

RELEASE DAY: Tomorrow - Saturday 9th September at 9.00am BST. There will be a DT Blog Hop and a Giveaway. Do leave comments as you go along - we all like them.

That's all for now - see you tomorrow!