Uniko - May Release, Design Team Blog Hop & Giveaway ...

.... Hi! We made it. It's Release Day for the new Uniko stamps, stencils and dies. Thank you so much for being with me over the past week. I've got a few new cards to share with you today. I'm going to start with the last card I made - I finished it at 1.00am EDT (that's 6.00am UK time):

Stamps: Uniko - Just Because, Large Background French Script, Simply Said Blocks II
Inks: Distress Oxides - Twisted Citron, Lucky Clover, Blueprint Sketch; Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Moonlit Fog
Accessories: Gina K Card - Black Onyx; Tim Holtz Watercolour Card; Sheer Shimmer - Sparkle; Clear Embossing Powder; White Lustre Card

The reason I'm so late working on this post is that I spent most of yesterday at Mega Meet in Novi. It's a big stamping/scrapbook show. I was watching Tim Holtz play with his inks, sprays, stamps and stuff, and that's where I got the idea for this card. I cut a panel of watercolour card slightly smaller than the card base and created the background using Tim's Distress Oxides. I really like the way the colours layer. I added another layer to the background by inking up the large French script background in a dark grey and randomly stamped it over the card. I put the panel into the MISTI, dusted it off with an anti-static bag, and stamped the greeting and flower in Versafine black ink. I had to stamp the images a couple of times to fill all the texture on the watercolour card. I used clear powder to heat emboss the images. On the inside of the card, I cut a panel of white card onto which I stamped the floral silhouette in two shades of green and added a greeting. I'm submitting this card to Your Next Stamp - YNS#89 where I've used their colours.

Next up is a card for Kat - just because:

Stamps: Uniko - Bee Happy, Originally Organic Additions; Large Background French Script
Inks: Distress - Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Shabby Shutters, Lucky Clover, Tumbled Glass, Blueprint Sketch; Gina K - Christmas Pine, Black Onyx; Memento - London Fog
Dies: Spellbinders Edgeabilities - Classic Triple Scallop (E8-003)
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Gina K Card - Christmas Pine; Vellum; Clear Embossing Powder; Uniko Stencil - Stylised Floral

I think this is my favourite stencil of this release and it works so well with the little bees from Bee Happy. I used distress inks to create an ombre pattern diagonally across the stencil. I attached the panel to the front of a card. I used an edge die to cut the pattern on dark green card. On the white panel, I stamped the French script vertically just for some subtle pattern and then stamped the greeting. I stamped three bees on vellum, heat embossed with clear powder, and fussy cut them out. I adhered the bees to the card and then stamped some more bees at the centre of each flower, they were stamped very lightly. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of dark green card and on the white panel, I stamped the heart and lots of little encouragement words and another little bee. I'm submitting this card to Fab Friday - FABF#137 where I've used their sketch for the layout of this card.

My last card is a birthday card for our nephew - it'll be in the post today:

Stamps: Uniko - Simply Said Blocks II, Birthday Sentiments, Background Blocks Party Confetti
Inks: Distress - Twisted Citron, Lucky Clover, Blueprint Sketch, Mermaid Lagoon; Gina K - Black Onyx; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Uniko - Explosion! Collection Dies
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Black; Sheer Shimmer - Frost; Clear Embossing Powder; Uniko Stencil - Party Confetti

I used the party confetti stencil and distress inks to colour several pieces of card and then used the Explosion! dies to cut out several shapes. I cut out a number of plain white pieces in order to layer the die cuts and make them thicker. I spritzed the background with frost Sheer Shimmer, attached the explosions bursts and a simple sentiment. On the inside, I cut a panel of white card onto which I stamped the party confetti background block using several shades of distress ink. I finished by adding a bold birthday greeting. I'm submitting this card to CAS-ual Fridays Challenge - CFC#199 where I used their sketch for the layout, and also to Seize the Birthday - STB#1005 for their Anything Goes Birthday. As you can see I've used the same shades of blues and greens as in both my previous cards.

Well, that's all the cards I was able to make this time - I really should leave it so late. Please do join our traditional Design Team Blog Hop and Giveaway (prize details can be found on Bev's blog). Here are the links:

Bev
Carol 

Deborah 
Izzy 

Jane 
Julie
Linda

Lindsey

Rahmat
Sarah G

Sarah P
Wiebke 

Before I go, here a final look at all the new products available today. I've had such fun playing with them.

Bee Happy

Flower Power #8

Just Because

Large Background French Script

Simply Said Blocks II

Honeycomb Pattern Stencil

Natures Treasures II Stencil

Party Confetti Stencil

Stylised Floral Stencil

Explosion! Collection Dies

Originally Organic Additions Dies

Wow! That was a long post but I think you'll agree that it was worth it. These stamps, dies and stencils are just fabulous. You can purchase them at the Uniko on-line store.

That's all for now - enjoy the Blog Hop! 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 - Flower Power #8 ....

... Morning! Have you started to make a list yet? Today is the last of the new stamps sets that form part of the upcoming Uniko release. I've made a very simple card in bold, bright colours:

Stamps: Uniko - Flower Power #8
Inks: Gina K - Passionate Pink; Stampin' Up! - Lemon Lime Twist, Pool Party; Memento - Grey Flannel
Dies: Hexagons - free with Craft Beautiful
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Uniko Stencil - Lattice; Gems; Copic Markers

There are lots of little stamps in this set that can be used to create a flower with stem and leaves, but I decided to focus on the bold, solid flower. I stamped it three times in bright pink and cut out the flowers with a hexagon die, I used Copic markers to edge each panel. I used the lattice stencil to create a subtle background and then adhered the hexagon panels in a line down the side. I added a tiny gem to the centre of each flower and finished the front with this lovely sentiment from the stamp set. I kept the inside very simple and only stamped another flower with some leaves.

I'm submitting this card to CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#271, I used their sketch, and the colours are from this week's Global Design Project - GDP#137. Don't forget to visit Bev's blog to see more inspiration projects from the rest of the Design Team.  See you again tomorrow!

Uniko - Stencils: Party Confetti and Stylised Floral ....

... Hello! We've reached the midpoint of our Uniko Introductions. Today I'm introducing a couple of new stencils and they're fab! I do hope you've enjoyed what you've seen so far, and thanks for your lovely comments. I'm going to start with an elegant thank you card showcasing the Stylised Floral stencil (and a sneak of tomorrow's intro too):

Stamps: Uniko - Simply Said Blocks II, Flower Power #8
Inks: Distress - Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet; Gina K - Wild Lilac; Versamark
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Gold & Silver Vellum; Gold Embossing Powder; Gems

I got the colour scheme from the current Inkspirational - INK#160 challenge where they want us to use Shades of Purple and Gold, and as I've used vellum on the card, I'm going to submit it to The Flower Challenge - TFC#20 where they want us to use vellum/acetate.

I started by cutting the gold vellum mat and a white panel slightly smaller. I put the stencil over the card, taped it in placed and inked all over with pale lilac, I added some darker purple around the centres of each flower, but you can't really see it in the photo - it's better in real life!! I stamped the little flower in Versamark on silver vellum, heat set it with gold powder and fussy cut them all out. I attached them to the card and added a variety of different colour and shaped purple gems to the centre of each flower. I finished the front of the card by adding a simple block sentiment. On the inside, I cut another gold vellum mat and on the white panel, I stamped a greeting and a few of the outline flower in shades of purple.

I wasn't sure what to make with the next stencil, and then I saw the MUSE challenge - MUSE#265 and it was so easy:

Stamps: Uniko - Birthday Sentiments
Inks: Distress Oxides - Lucky Clover, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves; Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Black Onyx
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Pistachio Pudding; Clear Embossing Powder

I made the base from pale green card. I cut a panel of white card smaller and put the stencil on top, taping it into position. I used the same three colours as the party banners on the Muse card and inked the stencil to match the pattern. I finished the front by embossing a bold sentiment in black. On the inside, I cut a panel of white card and stamped a birthday greeting using the three shade of ink and adding a very subtle hint of colour with the stencil.

That's all from me today, but it for more inspiration projects, do visit Bev's blog to check out more from the rest of the Design Team. The release schedule is:

Introductions: 5th - 11th May

RELEASE DAY: Saturday 12th May, 9.00am BST. Join in our Design Team Blog Hop & Giveaway! You will also be able to buy the whole release at the Uniko online store. For prize details see Bev's blog.  See you again tomorrow!

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.