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!

Uniko - Sneak Peeks 1 ....

... Hi, thanks to everyone who stopped by and left comments for my Uniko 6th Birthday cards celebration - I do hope you got your emails in for the Treasure Hunt. Anyway, continuing with the 6th Birthday celebrations, Uniko has a fabulous release coming up on Wednesday 28th February and I'm here with some sneak peeks. We have stamps and stencils too, so without further ado, here's the first sneak peek:

This is a super fun set which allows you to build your own greetings.There's a fun mix of script and capitals, and if you liked Festive Sentiments - then you'll love this one too!

Next up is an addition to the Background Blocks series - I can see this one being lots of fun to use.

And our last sneak peek today is a glimpse at one of the new stencils - I think you can guess what it is!

I am so thrilled that, unlike the last release, I already have the stamps and stencils in my hands - and I've been playing!! More of that soon 😉 Here's the release schedule:

Sneak Peeks: 20th - 22nd February - just to tease you!

Introductions: 23rd - 27th February. Your first chance to get to see the new products in action - we have a daily blog hop with the Uniko DT.

RELEASE DAY: Wednesday 28th February, 9.00am GMT (4.00am EDT). The stamps and stencils will be available to purchase from the Uniko shop. As usual, we will have our Design Team Blog Hop and Giveaway!

See you tomorrow with some more sneak peeks!

Uniko - DT Inspiration - Paper Piecing ...

... Hello again! I'll bet this comes as a bit of a surprise - two days in a row!!! I'm sharing some fun cards made using the paper piecing technique, details can be found over at Uniko.

My first card is for The Flower Challenge - TFC#17, which is where I got the idea to make cards with the paper piecing technique:

Stamps: Uniko - Pure Florals Cosmos, Happy Succulents
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Passionate Pink
Dies: Die-namics - Stitched Fishtail Flags Stax #1
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Fly Free; Clear Embossing Powder; Nuvo - Aqua shimmer brush

On the inside, I cut a mat layer of pink design paper and on the white panel, I added a greeting and some more flowers. I'm also submitting this to CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS#258.

Next, I have a card for our son - he moved house recently and we wanted to send him something to wish him well:

Stamps: Uniko - Home Sweet Home
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Aged Mahogany
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Attitude!; Copics; Nuvo - Aqua shimmer brush

I had fun making this cute little house. I like the grungy effect on the design papers. I added a touch of colour to the curtains and the front door. On the inside, I used some design paper for a mat layer and finished the message. I'm submitting this to Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#279 where they want to see clean and simple cards.

I'm making a start on my Easter cards and have a cute little one to share here:

Stamps: Uniko - Some Bunny, Happy Succulents
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Dusty Pink, Kraft; Distress - Cracked Pistachio
Dies: Die-namics - Stitched Fishtail Flags Stax #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - All That Glitters; Clear Embossing Powder; Nuvo - Aqua shimmer brush

I used the sketch from MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge - MFTWSC#372 for the layout of this card. I used the Stitched Fishtail die to cut the white panel, I simply cut off the fishtail as I only wanted the stitched edges. On the inside, I the leftover bit of green design paper for the mat layer and on the white panel I stamped the bunny.

Finally, I have two more cards for my Christmas stash. One has a contemporary feel and the other is more traditional, but they use the same poinsettia flower stamp:

Stamps: Uniko - Pure Florals Poinsettia, Most Wonderful
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Cherry Red, Kraft
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Home for Christmas; Clear Embossing Powder; Nuvo - Aqua shimmer brush

I'm submitting the top gold and neutral card to Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#324, although I have turned the sketch to make a landscape style card. Here's the inside of each card:

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

TMR - Theme ...

... Hi! Are you watching the Winter Olympics? I am! I really enjoy watching it all - particularly the ice-skating, but the skiing is fun too. I have to admit that I only watch - I fall over if I try to go out in the snow and ice 😉 This is all leading up to our theme for The Male Room - TMR#79. For the next couple of weeks, we'd like to see your masculine projects with a Sport/Winter Olympics theme. I actually got a bit carried away - I made three cards, here's the first:

Stamps: Uniko - All Occasion Sentiments #2, Background Builders Seeing Stars, Extra Time
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Blue Denim
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kanban Toppers - Extreme Sports; Stampin' Up! Card - Night of Navy; Clear Embossing Powder

I knew exactly what I was going to use to make my cards for the Sports/Winter Olympics theme. I've had some Kanban toppers in my stash for about 8 years. I got them from QVC and they come out everytime I need something masculine. I clipped out this skiing photo (this works for the Olympic Sports theme) to use on a square card. I didn't want to hide the photo, so I stamped the greeting directly on the image and heat embossed it with clear powder. I adhered the panel to the card using dimensional foam. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of dark blue card and on the white panel, I added a greeting and some stars stamped in the same colours as the ski suit. This was so quick and easy to make. I'm submitting it to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#19 where Anything Goes!

My next two cards are not based on the Winter Olympics but on more regular sports of football (or soccer to my American friends) and rugby. Here's the football version:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Builders Seeing Stars, Time
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Red Velvet, Blue Denim
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kanban Toppers - Football; Stampin' Up! Card - Night of Navy

This time I clipped out three of the smaller images featuring football. I stamped the stars on the card using colours from the photos and finished the front by adding a fun sentiment. I attached the two images on the side flat to the card and used dimensional pads to add the image in the middle. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of navy card and on the white panel added a simple message along with some red stars top and bottom. I used the sketch from Reverse Confetti Sketch for you To Try - SFYTT#57 for the layout. This was another quick and easy card to make.

And the last card features rugby images, which is sort of appropriate as the NatWest Six Nations Championship is running at the moment:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Gorgeous Grunge, Greatest Greetings; Uniko - All Occasion Sentiments # 2, Fontiments Birthday
Inks: SU - Island Indigo; Gina K - Blue Lagoon
Dies: Die-namics - Circles Set 2 #4 and #6, Stitched Circles #4 and #6
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kanban Toppers - Rugby; Stampin' Up! Card/DP - Island Indigo

I used the same sketch as before but changed out the shapes for circles. I used dies to cut out the images and card for matting. I stamped the spatter and sentiment directly on the card and adhered the circle images on top. On the inside, I cut a layer of teal design paper for the mat layer, and on the white panel, I kept it very simple with a bold birthday greeting. I'm submitting this card to Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#129 where they want us to use the colour teal!

Don't forget to visit The Male Room blog to see more from the Design Team and also from our guest designer, Laurie. Do have fun with this theme, I can't wait to see what you create. You have plenty of time to join in, the deadline for submission is midnight GMT on Tuesday 27th February (that's 7.00pm EDT in the States).

That's all from me for now - I'm off to watch the ice-skating. I have my DVR set up to record the programmes and I watch them while I iron!! See you soon.