Uniko - Life Is A Song, Background Blocks Equaliser, and Equaliser Stencil ...

... Hi! We're on day four of our Uniko Introductions. Today we have two more stamps sets and a stencil; they have a distinctly musical theme! I've made two cards; here's the first:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks Equaliser, Reach for the Stars, Life is a Song
Inks: Gina K - Charcoal Brown, Wild Wisteria, Lovely Lavender, Kraft; Distress Oxide - Antique Linen
Dies: Die-namics - Double Stitched Circle Stax #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Early Espresso; Clear Embossing Powder

I've used the sketch from MFT Wednesday Sketch Club - MFTWSC#373 for the layout of my card, and the colours are from Colour Throwdown - CTD#481. I started by stamping the equaliser image on white card and heat embossing with clear powder. I added colour to the image using a water brush and squishing the ink on an acrylic block. Once finished I used a stitched edge die to cut out the circle. I cut a panel of brown card and attached it to the front of the card. I stamped some of the musical notation stamps on a strip of brown card and adhered that over the top of the circle. I finished the front by stamping a greeting. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of brown card and created a fun greeting in the middle of the white panel.

Next, is a one layer card - it is very quick and easy to make:

This was such fun to make! I taped the stencil to a square card, making sure to mask any areas that I didn't want inking. Then I spritzed on some of my new Dylusions Shimmer sprays - you can't see the shimmer in the photo above, but I've taken a detail shot which shows it nicely! I've based the colours on this week's CAS Colours & Sketches challenge - CASC&S#260, although I think it might not be CAS enough!! Once the inks dried, I stamped the greeting in bold black. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of deep pink card and on the white panel added a greeting and musical notation. I'm submitting this to Simon Says Wednesday challenge - SSWC#2102, where they want us to make our own background.

Stamps: Uniko -All Occasion Sentiments #1, Life Is A Song
Inks: Gina K - Peach Bellini, Blue Raspberry; Versafine - Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! - Raspberry Ripple
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Raspberry Ripple; Dylusions Shimmer Sprays - London Blue, Tangerine Dream, Bubblegum Pink

Thanks so much for stopping by to see my cards. Don't forget to visit the Uniko blog to see much more from the rest of the Design Team. The release schedule is:

Introductions: 23rd - 27th February

RELEASE DAY: Wednesday 28th February, 9.00am GMT. Join us for our traditional Design Team Blog Hop and Giveaway!

See you again tomorrow!

Uniko - Seeing Stars and Chrysanthemum Stencils ....

Hello! I hope you've been enjoying our introductions; today is the midpoint of Uniko February Introductions and we're showcasing two new stencils - one if a huge flower and the other lots of stars. Here's my card made with the Chrysanthemum stencil:

Stamps: Uniko - All Occasion Sentiments #3, Pure Florals Chrysanthemum
Inks: Distress - Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry; Distress Oxide - Worn Lipstick; Memento - Grey Flannel
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Strawberry Slush

I kept this card super simple as I wanted to showcase the beauty of the chrysanthemum. I taped the stencil to a large card and inked up the image with three shades of pink distress ink. I added a very simple sentiment across the centre of the flower in a coordinating pink distress oxide ink. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of pink card and on the white panel added the small solid flower from Pure Florals Chrysanthemum and the word 'friend'. I used the colours from this month's House of Cards challenge - HOC#02.

I went for another clean, simple card to showcase the Seeing Stars stencil:

Stamps: Uniko - Reach for the Stars. Simply Said
Inks: Distress - Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch, Chipped Sapphire, Black Soot; Versamark; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Pacific Point; Kaleidoscope Embossing Powder

I masked off a one-inch border all the way around the card, taped on the Seeing Stars stencil, and inked through the stencil with Versamark. After removing the stencil, I applied iridescent embossing powder, heat set it and then applied several shades of blue to create a starry sky. I removed the masking tape and added a greeting. Ont he inside, I cut a mat layer of blue card and on the white panel added a simple greeting and some more stars.

That's all from me for today - do visit the Uniko blog to see lots more inspiration projects from the rest of the Design Team. Here's a quick reminder of the release schedule:

Introductions: 24th - 27th February

RELEASE DAY: Wednesday 28th February, 9.00am GMT (that's 4.00am EDT). Join us for our Design Team Blog Hop and Giveaway!

See you soon!

Uniko - Spring Botanicals Daffodil ...

.... Hello again! Day two of our Uniko Introductions. Today we showcasing the new Spring Botanicals Daffodil. I got carried away and actually made two cards and both are on their way to my aunts in Wales - you'll see why now:

Stamps: Uniko - Spring Botanicals Daffodil
Inks: Gina K - Red Velvet, Grass Green; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Papermania DP - Lemon Sorbet, INspirations Cool Tones; Copics; Nuvo - Aqua Shimmer Brush; Uniko Stencil

I'm so pleased that Bev included the St David's Day words in this set - I normally have to do them on the computer. I stamped the daffodil on white card, cut it out with the Scan'N'Cut and then paper pieced the flower and leaves. I used some design paper that has been in my stash for a while!! 😉 I added some subtle design to the background - a quick peek at one of the new stencils. I finished the front by stamping the greeting in the colours of the Welsh flag. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of design paper and on the white panel added a greeting and another daffodil which I coloured with Copics.

As I've paper pieced the daffodil, I'm submitting the card to The Flower Challenge - TFC#17. Here's a close-up look at the flower:

My next card is much bolder and more graphic:

Stamps: Uniko - Spring Botanicals Daffodil
Inks: Versamark; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Basic Black; Welsh Flag (from Internet); Copics; Nuvo - Aqua Shimmer Brush; White Embossing Powder

I made the card from black card as I wanted the Welsh flag and the daffodil to really stand out. I found the flag on the Internet, printed it on white card and then coloured over the image with Copic markers. I added some sparkle to the dragon's wings and belly. I stamped the daffodil on white card, cut it out with the Scan'N'Cut and coloured it with Copic markers. I kept the colouring really simple with bold yellow petals and a more orangy yellow trumpet. I added sparkle to the daffodil's trumpet. On the inside, I stamped a greeting on the white panel and added another daffodil.

Do visit the Uniko blog to see more inspiration with this pretty daffodil stamp set. See you again tomorrow for more introductions. Bye for now.

Uniko - Birthday Sentiments, Background Block Party Confetti, and Balloon Bash Stencil ...

... Welcome to the first day of Uniko's introductions. We're introducing two new stamps and a new stencil. Grab a drink, sit down and enjoy! I'm starting with the lovely Birthday Sentiments:

Stamps: Uniko - Birthday Sentiments, Celebrate with Cake
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Lemon Drop; Stampin' Up! - Bashful Blue, Coastal Cabana
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Pink Pirouette; Washi Tape; Copics; Glitter

This set of stamps has super sentiments and it is so easy to build your own greeting. I decided on 'Celebrate with Cake' and naturally I had to use the cute cupcakes from the previously released Celebrate with Cake. I stamped the image three times on white card, used my Scan'N'Cut to cut them out and then coloured them with Copics. I added a lot of glitter to the cupcake frosting. I used some dotty washi tape to make a table top and adhered the cupcakes on top. I finished by stamping the greeting. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of pale pink card and added a greeting on the white panel. The layout is based on the sketch from CAS-ual Fridays Challenge - CFC#193.

Next up is Background Blocks Party Confetti. I've made a fairly CAS card and the colours are based on Uniko's own colours and the theme comes from Seize the Birthday - STB#1502:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks Party Confetti; I Love Coffee, Birthday Sentiments, Celebrate with Cake
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Dusty Rose, Ocean Mist, Turquoise Sea
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Bermuda Bay; Copics; Nuvo - Aqua shimmer Brush

The confetti image is so pretty. I kept it fairly simple. I stamped it once in pale aqua and then again using a darker aqua - you can see it in the photo above, but it is much more obvious in real-life. I stamped the coffee mug on white card, cut it out with my Scan'N'Cut (love that machine), masked the edges and then stamped the lovely Uniko flower in pink all over the mug. I finished the mug by adding the little label with a message. The theme at Seize the Birthday is Coffee and/or Tea, so I stamped the start of the greeting on the front and on the inside I finished it by stamping 'Cake' - sounds perfect to me!! I layered the stamped panel on aqua card and added a cupcake to the white panel.

I ran out of time to make a card with the love new Balloon Bash stencil, but do visit the Uniko blog to see more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team. Before I go, here's a quick reminder of the release schedule:

Introductions: 23rd - 27th February

RELEASE DAY: Wednesday 28th February, 9.00am GMT. The Design Team Blog Hop and Giveaway!

See you again tomorrow with another introduction post!

Uniko - Sneak Peeks 3 ...

..... Morning! Day three of Uniko's sneak peeks and I've got four more to share with you today. Here's the first:

This is an addition to the Spring Botanicals series, and it's one of my favourite flowers and, with my Welsh connections - it'll see so much ink!!

This is a fun doodle floral - I think it'll be such fun to colour!

Today we have two more sneak peeks at new stencils. I think you might recognise this flower - so beautiful.

This is the last sneak peek - another fun flower - it has a coordinating stamp set too.

That's the sneak peeks finished. Here's a reminder of the release schedule:

Introductions: 23rd - 27th February - you first chance to see the new goodies in use.

RELEASE DAY: Wednesday 28th February, 9.00am GMT (4.00am EDT). We'll have a Design Team Blog Hop and Giveaway! Products will be available in the Uniko shop.

See you tomorrow with the first of our product introductions.

Uniko - Sneak Peeks 2 ...

... Hello again! It's day two of Uniko's sneak peeks and today we have four for you to check out!! There's a definite theme to today's peeks, here's the first:

So, you can probably guess the theme - it's music! Such a useful addition - my daughter is in the choir - so I'll get so much use from this set!!

Next is another addition to the Background Blocks series - this might be harder to recognise, but I can see it's going to be brilliant!.

Now to the new stencils - this one coordinates perfectly with the Background Block stamp above!!

Here's the last sneak peek - no, it's not music, but it's perfect to go with the stars sets released last year. Here's a reminder of the release schedule:

Sneak Peeks: 20th - 22nd February - just a small glimpse of the new goodies.

Introductions: 23rd - 27th February - your chance to see projects using the new goodies from the Design Team.

RELEASE DAY: Wednesday 28th February, 9.00am GMT (that's 4.00am EDT). We'll have our traditional Design Team Blog Hop and Giveway! All the products will be available to purchase in the Uniko shop.

See you again tomorrow for more sneak peeks!!

Hobbies ....

.... Morning! This is going to be a quick post as I've got to get back in my craft room. I'm busy working on projects for the upcoming Uniko release! You've already seen a sneak peek, but there's lots more to come. In the meantime, I wanted to share a card that I've made for the TIME OUT challenge - TOC#103 where the theme is HOBBIES:

Stamps: Gina K - Art from the Heart
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Uniko Stencil - Doodle Flower; Clear Embossing Powder; Staedtler Aquarelle Pencils

I stamped the flower, embossed with clear powder and then used watercolour pencils to colour the image. I coloured the pencil image to match the pencils I used!! I masked the images and then selectively inked the hearts on the Doodle Flower stencil (got this idea from my DT buddy - Rahmat). I finished the front by stamping the sentiment. Crafting is my favourite hobby (love reading and photography too, but it seemed best to celebrate colouring and ink!) On the inside I simply stamped the sweet little heart made from a needle and thread.

That's all for now - I have to get back upstairs and get inky! See you tomorrow for a few more Uniko sneak peeks!