TMR - Technique ....

.... Morning! We've had the most spring-like weather for the past week or so - we've had blue skies and sunshine, but somehow the temperature still feels like winter!! And then yesterday the temperatures went up, but the rain came too! Anyhow, enough of that, it's time for our new challenge at The Male Room - TMR#82. We want to see you use watercolours on your masculine projects. I had lots of fun and got really inky!! Here's my card:

Stamps: Visible Image - Fibonacci, Son Definition, Father Definition; MFT - Because You; Lawn Fawn - Happy, Happy, Happy
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Powder Blue, Jelly Bean Green, Wild Lilac
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Black; Brusho Crystals - Lime Green, Cobalt Blue, Violet, Leaf Green; Clear Embossing Powder; Shimmer Spritz - Frost; Tim Holtz Watercolour Card; Copics

I cut a panel of watercolour card to fit my card, sprinkled on some Brusho crystals and spritzed with water. I love the way these crystals bloom into colour and move with the water. I dried the panel carefully and then stamped this wonderful Fibonacci image in Versafine and heat embossed it with clear powder. I added a touch of sparkle to the whole panel by spritzing on frost shimmer spritz. I attached the panel to a black mat layer and then added it to the front of the card. I stamped a selection of words from several different sets, embossed them with clear powder and cut them down to get the words I wanted. I attached the words to the front of the panel. On the inside I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel stamped the Fibonacci image again, using several shades to echo the watercolour panel. I finished by stamping a greeting. This card is for my wonderful husband on our anniversary next month - it'll be 17 years!!!

I took another photo of the front of the card to show all the wonderful sparkle:

I'm submitting this card to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#20 where it's Anything Goes.

Before I go, I'd like to say goodbye and best wishes for the future to Cathy who, sadly, is leaving the DT. And, at the same time, I'd like to welcome Lynn (aka Linby) to the team - so glad to have you join us. Don't forget to visit The Male Room and see lots more inspiration projects from the rest of the Design Team. You've got plenty of time to join in the fun - deadline for submission is midnight (BST) Tuesday 10th April, that's 7.00pm EDT in the States.

That's all from me for now - see you soon.

Uniko - Blog Hop and Revisit ...

... Hello! Thanks so much for stopping by. It's time for our Uniko Blog Hop & Revisit. On months when there is no new release, we revisit a previously released stamp set. This month Bev has picked Fun Flowers and the newly released Fun Flowers Stencil. I had fun with both the stamp set and the stencil and ended up making two cards. Here's the first:

Stamps: Uniko - Birthday Sentiments, Fun Flowers
Inks: Gina K - Lovely Lavender, Wild Lilac; Versafine - Onyx Black; Versamark
Dies: Spellbinders - Classic Scallop Border (E8-001)
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Elegant Eggplant; Vellum; Clear Embossing Powder; Cosmic Shimmer EP: Mallow Flame Aurora, Pink Violet Blaze, Tropic Violet Lustre, Tropic Bilberry Blaze

I started by taping the stencil to white card and tapping a Versmark pad all over the panel. I removed the stencil and added several different embossing powders and heat set the powders. You can't see it in the photo, but the embossed images have a lovely lustre to them. I cut a strip of shimmer vellum on which I stamped and embossed the sentiment. I used some Spellbinder dies to cut the scallop border. I attached the sentiment strip and then layered the panel on dark purple card and adhered it to the card base. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of dark purple card and added a simple birthday greeting and some more fun flowers in lilac. I'm submitting this card to The Flower Challenge - TFC#18 where it's Anything Goes.

My second card is smaller, being a 4-bar card:

Stamps: Uniko - Fun Flowers, Simply Said
Inks: Gina K - Blue Lagoon, Jelly Bean Green; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Spun Sugar, Festive Berries
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Copic Markers; Dylusions Paint Pen; Uniko Stencil - Fun Flowers; Nuvo - Aqua Shimmer Brush; Gem

I put the stencil on the card and lightly brushed on some pale pink and red inks, concentrating the colour towards the bottom right. I stamped a flower and some leaves, cut them out with my Scan'N'Cut and added colour with Copic markers and a red Dylusion paint pen. I covered them all with a light layer of clear shimmer. I added the flower and leaves with dimensional dots. I finished the card by added a sentiment and a little gem to the centre of the flower. I was going to submit this to Less is More as they want us to use stencils, but I forgot that they also want it to be one layer!!! Oops! I've not done the inside of this card as yet.

Don't forget to visit the Uniko Blog and the rest of the Design Team, comment along the way for your chance to win a £15 eGift Certificate.

Bev
Carol 

Deborah 
Izzy 

Jane 
Julie
Linda

Lindsey

Rahmat
Sarah G

Sarah P
Wiebke 

You have until midnight (BST) Saturday 7th April to comment. That's all for now - see you again soon.

Good Luck ....

.... Good afternoon from a beautifully sunny, but very cold, Northville. I've had a fun morning playing in my craft room. It's St Patrick's Day today and in honour of the day, I've used a very old stamp set called Celtic Heritage to make a Good Luck card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Celtic Heritage; Uniko - Simply Said
Inks: Gina K - Jelly Bean Green, Christmas Pine
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Garden Green; WRMemory Keepers DP - Travel Light; SU Punches

This is a 4 bar size card - so a bit smaller than my usual. I started by stamping a lucky four leaf clover (with a hint of Celtic design) on a white circle and layered it on a scalloped dark green circle. I cut a panel of dark green card onto which I adhered some pretty patterned paper from my stash. I attached the panel to the card and added the clover panel on top. I finished the front by stamping a simple 'good luck' sentiment using words from two different stamp sets. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of the patterned paper and on the white panel added some more Celtic design elements, but left it blank for my own message. I'm submitting this card to CAS-ual Fridays Challenge - CFC#195 where they want to see greens, and also to MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge - MFTWSC#376.

A few weeks ago I sold a load of my old stamps at the annual yard sale at Scrappy Chic. It was both very sad and lots of fun going through my stash. I parted with many old wood mounted stamps that I've had for years and made room for new stuff. In the process, I rediscovered some of my old favourites - this being one! The stamp set came from Waltzingmouse Stamps (sadly now closed) that was owned by Claire Brennan. While Claire doesn't have her own company anymore, you can still get Claire's stamps from Gina K. It was so nice to rediscover some old favourites and you're probably going to see more old sets soon.

As a result of recycling so much of my stash, I have to update my catalogue system and I'm going to take the opportunity to set up an electronic catalogue too. I'm going to use the Evernote system - I've been watching an excellent video about the system by Kat Driggers - as I'll be able to see all my stash on my PC, phone and tablet! It's going to take a while, but I think it'll be worth it.

That's all for now - enjoy your weekend!

Uniko Challenge - Colours ....

.... Hello! Can you believe that we're halfway through March already? No, neither can I! Only a few more days until it's officially spring and then it'll be Easter before you know it. That sort of leads into today post - I'm sharing my card for the new Uniko Challenge - USC#46 where we want you to use some or all of the colours in the graphic photo and we have the option of making an Easter card. Here's my card:

Stamps: Uniko - Some Bunny, Happy Succulents, Birthday Sentiments
Inks: Distress - Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! DP - Daffodil Delight; Uniko Stencil - Scattered Polka Dots; Copic Markers; Spectrum Noir - Sparkle Brush; Clear Embossing Powder

As you can see, I used all the colours and made an Easter card too. I stencilled the polka dot background on the card using distress inks. I stamped the bunny on white card and coloured it with Copic markers. I put it back in the MISTI and restamped in Versafine and heat embossed with clear powder - I really like that you get a super crisp line using this method. I carefully cut out the bunny and adhered him flat to the card. I added lots of sparkle to his feet, chest, inner ear and bow tie. I finished the front by stamping a bold and simple greeting. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of yellow design paper and on the white panel added more polka dots and finished with a bold greeting. I'm submitting this card to Creative with Stamps - CWS#24 where they want us to use a bunny, and also to City Crafter Challenge Blog - CCCB#403 - they want bunnies too!

Don't forget to visit the main Uniko blog to see more inspiration from the Design Team (well, some of us!!) and also from our Guest Designer Michele. You'll see more from the rest of the DT when we do our reminder post in a couple of weeks.

Do you feel inspired? Well have fun, you've got plenty of time to join in, the deadline for submission is midnight (BST) on Friday 20th April, that's 7.00pm EDT in the States. And we have prizes too:

PRIZES

• Main winner chosen by the Design Team - £25 eGift Certificate
• Random twist winner - £4 in stock clear stamp set of winner's choosing
• Randon Uniko stamps winner - £4 in stock clear stamp set of winner's choosing
• Top 3 chosen by the Design Team - 150 Loyalty Reward Points

That's all for now - see you again soon.

TMR - Theme ....

... Hello! I can't quite believe that it's been two weeks since I posted anything!! Time is going by so fast. Anyway, it's time for our new challenge at The Male Room - TMR#81. We have a fun theme, we want to see Space/Science inspired masculine projects. I actually ended up making two cards, here's the first with a science theme:

Stamps: My Favourite Things - LLD Undeniable Chemistry
Inks: Distress - Cracked Pistachio, Evergreen Bough, Lucky Clover; Versamark
Dies: Die-namics - Chemistry Set
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Garden Green; Copic Markers; Spectrum Noir - Clear Sparkle Brush; White and Clear Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to AAA Cards - AAA#110 where they have an Ombre theme, to The Card Concept - CC#88 where they want shades of green, and to CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS#262. I die cut several different flasks from white card and coloured them with shades of green - moving from the most concentrated to the least. I stamped some 'molecules' in Versamark on to the card base, heat embossed them with clear powder and then inked over with soft shades of green. I also stamped some little hearts in the same shades of green. I stamped a sentiment on green card in Versamark and heat embossed with white powder. I added lots of sparkle to the 'chemicals' in the flasks and adhered them to the card. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of dark green card and added a fun sentiment on the white panel with more 'chemical' symbols!!

I was on a bit of a roll, so I made a second card, this time with a space theme:

Stamps: Altenew - To The Moon, Happy Dreams; Uniko - Reach for the Stars
Inks: Versamark; Delicata - Silvery Shimmer; Gina K - Moonlit Fog, Dark Sage
Dies: Die-namics - Circles Set 2 #5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Basic Black; Shimmer Spritz - Frost; White Embossing Powder

I made the card base from Stampin' Up! black card. I used the multi-step moon image from To The Moon to create the focal image, stamping in silver, pale grey and dark grey, and cut it out with a circle die. I spritzed the card with frost shimmer spray to give the impression of a galaxy of stars. I stamped the sentiment in Versamark and heat embossed with white powder. I finished the front by added a few larger stars in silver. On the inside, I cut a panel of white card on which I stamped another moon and added a greeting. I'm submitting this card to Less Is More - LIM#366 where they want a monochromatic card.

That's all from me for today. But do visit The Male Room blog to see lots more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team and also from our Guest Designer Lynda from Lynda's Crafty Hall. You've got lots of time to play along with this challenge, submission deadline is midnight BST on Tuesday 27th March, that's 7.00pm EDT in the States. Have fun!!

TMR - Theme - Recycle ...

... Hello again! It's a busy today!! Not only have I got my Uniko release post here, but today is the start of our new challenge at The Male Room - TMR#80. We want you to RECYCLE on your masculine projects. I think there are many ways to interpret this theme. You can recycle any leftover stash from previous projects, you can use old labels, junk envelopes, the choice is yours. I've recycled a chocolate wrapper. I wasn't sure what to make for this challenge, but after eating my Lindt Easter Bunny (so tasty) I thought I'd do an Easter card, but with a twist:

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Evil Flesh Eating Eggs; Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Crazy Talk; Uniko - Birthday Sentiments
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Jelly Bean Green
Dies: Die-namics - Wonky Stitched Rectangles Stax #4, Rectangles Stax Set 1 #8
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Lemon Lime Twist; Lindt Gold Bunny Wrapper; Ranger Alcohol Inks - Limeade, Ginger, Citrus; Copics; Nuvo - Aqua Shimmer Brush

I have a great fondness for these evil little eggs and I've used the image a few times to make an Easter card for my son. I printed the image on to white card and cut it out with a die. I coloured the image with Copic markers. I printed off another digital image the same size, cut out the individual eggs to use as a pattern on the Lindt bunny wrapper. I drew around each egg and inside the cut out eyes and mouths, and then very carefully cut the wrapper and adhered the wrapper to each of the little eggs. I used alcohol ink to colour the gold wrappers. Once dry, I adhered each of the eggs to the image, layered it onto some bright lime card and attached it to the card. I finished the front with a simple greeting. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of lime card and on the white panel added a bold greeting along with some more of the little eggs - this time without their gold overcoats! I did add some shimmer to these eggs. I'm submitting this card to Sunday Stamps Challenge - SSC#173 where they have a colour theme.

I took a close-up photo of the eggs so that you can see the print from the Lindt wrapper - I like the added texture it gives:

Don't forget to visit The Male Room blog to see more inspiration projects from the rest of the Design Team, and also from our Guest Designer, Keti from Keti's Projects.  I'm looking forward to seeing what you create with this challenge - you've got until midnight (GMT) on Tuesday 13th March - that's 8.00pm EDT (our clocks go forward a week before they do in the UK). Have fun!!

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

... Morning! Today's the day! It's Release Day for Uniko's new stamps and stencils. This is going to be a long post, so I suggest you grab a coffee (or tea) and take a seat. We have six stamp sets and five stencils being released. I'm going to start with a very clean, simple card:

Stamps: Uniko - Balloon Bash, Birthday Sentiments
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Candied Apple, Mustard Seed, Salty Ocean
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Daffodil Delight; Uniko Stencil - Balloon Bash

I decided to focus on the lovely Balloon Bash Stencil as I didn't get to make a card on introduction day. This is a simple one-layer card - it's the third version. Ask me how I know, well you have to be very careful when you have inky fingers!! I inked up the yellow balloon first - being careful to cover up open areas on the stencil and to mask the card base too, then I moved on to the blue and red balloons. I decided to try the bleach out method using water. As you can see from the blotches it wasn't entirely successful, but I like the pattern so I kept the card! I stamped the greeting and then added some strings from the balloons to the word 'party'. Ont he inside, I cut a mat layer of bright yellow card and stamped a greeting and another balloon on the white panel. I'm submitting this card to CAS on Friday - CASOF#127 where they want one-layer cards.

Next is a card for Mother's Day:

Stamps: Uniko - Spring Botanicals Daffodil, Pure Florals Rose
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Gina K - Dusty Rose; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Marvellous Squares (S4-383) #6
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Design Paper - Let's Fly Away; SU Card - Blushing Bride; Nuvo - Aqua Shimmer Brush; Copics

One of my favourite sights in spring is to see daffodils gently swaying in a breeze against a lovely sky of fluffy clouds and sunshine. Yes, I realise that more often or not it's rain, but I can dream 😊 I decided to make the dream on a Mother's Day card. I stamped several daffodils and stems on white card and used my Scan'N'Cut to cut them out. I used Copics to colour them all and yes, you can get pink daffodils. I cut some design paper for the 'sky' and then adhered the daffodils to the card. I used dimensional pads for the yellow daffodil. I added sparkle to the flowers. I finished the front with a simple greeting. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of pink card and on the white panel, I stamped a message and another daffodil. I'm submitting this one to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#19, where Anything Goes.

Next is a very clean, simple and bold card:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks Party Confetti, Big & Bold Hugs, Background Builders Seeing Stars
Inks: Distress Oxide - Peacock Feathers; Gina K - Ocean Mist; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Winnie & Walter Cutaways - Hugs
Accessories: SU Card - Basic Black; White Lustre Card; Uniko Stencil - Seeing Stars

I created the pale aqua drop shadow by stamping first in aqua and then moving the card very slightly and stamped again in black. Then I used a die to cut out the word from the stamped card along with three plain white words and layered them together to make a more dimensional word. I made the card base from black card to allow the word to pop! I added some stencilled stars in the background. I used the distress oxide for this - so nice to have this soft shade showing on black card! On the inside, I simply cut a white panel and added a greeting and some more stars. I'm submitting this to AAA Cards - AAA#109 where they want Die Cuts only (maybe I shouldn't have added the stars!!).

Moving on to the pretty scribble flowers in Kindness Blooms:

Stamps: Uniko - Kindness Blooms, So Much
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Twisted Citron, Lucky Clover; Gina K - Wild Lilac, Lovely Lavender, Wild Dandelion, Sweet Mango
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Copics; Clear Embossing Powder; Nuvo - Aqua Shimmer Brush

I really do like these flowers - so pretty and such fun to colour, leave plain, fill with glitter - the choice is yours! I used my Copics to colour the flowers, cut them out with the Scan'N'Cut and then added lots of sparkle with a clear shimmer brush. I embossed some leaves on the card base and lightly sponged over with two shades of green ink to define the leaves. I adhered the lilac and upper yellow flowers flat to the card and used dimensional pads to attach the lower yellow flower. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of lilac card and added a simple greeting on the white panel. I'm submitting this card to Just Us Girls - JUGS#429, where I took the colours from their inspiration photo, and also to Less is More - LIM#365 - where they want to see Dry Embossing (hope this is enough).

And last, but by no means least, I have a very bright, bold, one-layer card to show off the Background Blocks Equaliser stamp:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks Equaliser, Life is a Song, Birthday Sentiments
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Candied Apple, Mustard Seed, Wilted Violet, Salty Ocean, Lucky Clover, Spiced Marmalade
Accessories: Tim Holtz Water Colour Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Zig Clean Colour Brushes

I made the card from watercolour card. I used my MISTI to stamp the image and words, I had to restamp several times as I stamped on the rough side of the card. I used clear powder to emboss all the images and then I had fun using my Zig brushes to colour the image. I kept it very simple and very bold. On the inside, I added a sentiment and surrounded it with lots of brightly coloured musical notes. This one is for our daughter Kat - she loves to make music!! I'm submitting this card to, some new to me, challenges. I'm playing along with 613 Avenue Create - 613AC#206 where Anything Goes, and also to heARTful Stamping Challenge - HSD#02 where it's Anything Goes & a stamp.

Wow! I do hope you enjoyed all my cards. Today we have our traditional Design Team Blog Hop and Giveaway! I've put the links below - do drop by and leave some love - we all like comments!

Bev
Carol 

Deborah 
Izzy 

Jane 
Julie
Linda

Lindsey

Rahmat
Sarah G

Sarah P
Wiebke 

Before I go, I'd like to give you one final look at all the stamp sets and stencils that are available for purchase today. I've had such fun making cards with them all. Enjoy!!

Background Blocks Equaliser

Background Blocks Party Confetti

Birthday Sentiments

Kindness Blooms

Spring Botanicals Daffodil

Life is a Song

Balloon Bash Stencil

Equaliser Stencil

Fun Flowers Stencil

Chrysanthemum Stencil

Seeing Stars Stencil

Thanks for visiting - see you again soon.