RSD - Progressive Challenge Team B ....

....  Hello!  I'm running a bit late with this post!  It's time for Team B to share the projects we've made for the Progressive Challenge.  We've used Rick's lovely digital image - String of Hearts Fairy which you will have received if you playing along with the first part of the challenge.  If you missed the first part and you want to play along you can get the image at Rick's Zibbet.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - String of Hearts Fairy; Stampin' Up! - Butterfly Basics
Inks: SU - Pear Pizzazz, Strawberry Slush, Pool Party
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Kaleidoscope; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear; SU Punch - ¾" circle

I printed the fairy on white card and coloured her with Copic markers and added lots of sparkle to her wings and several of the hearts using my clear Wink of Stella Brush.  I then spent some time fussy cutting her out - it's worth the effort.  I found the perfect design paper in my stash - read the sentiment!  I adhered the paper to the card base and then added some stamped images to the paper.  I stamped the little postmark onto a bit of scrap, punched it out and adhered it to the card.  I attached the fairy with dimensional tape.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of design paper, cut a panel of white card smaller and stamped a sentiment and a bit of collage.

Here's a close up of the sentiment on the design paper - it's perfect with the image.  And also a close up of the sparkle on her wings!

Today is the perfect day to stay in and play - why?  Well, it's blooming cold outside.  North America is under the influence of a huge arctic blast.  The temperature here as I type is -21°C, but feels like -27°C because of the wind (that's -4°F and -14°F for my American friends - I still use Celsius).  The upside is that the sky is blue and the sun is shining.  We've got friends who live in Boston and they're digging out after another 14inches of snow!!!  I think I am officially over winter - roll on spring!!  That's all for now.

52CCT - Colours .....

.....  Good morning - it's the weekend already!!!!  It's also time for our new challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - we've got some fabulous colours for you too - silver, grey and white.  Here's my take:

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Rustic Christmas, Simply Said Christmas, Background Builders Christmas
Inks: Memento - Grey Flannel; Versamark; Encore - Silver; Stampin' Up! - Whisper White
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Grey; Kanban DP - Silver/Grey Metallic; Silver Tinsel Embossing Powder

I've gone for a very contemporary look for this card.  I used the sketch from this week's CAS - Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#111, flipping it to fit my design.  I cut the checked design paper to fit the corner of the card and then cut the darker grey card to fit.  I stamped some snowflakes in white pigment ink over the dark grey card.  I stamped the Christmas tree in Versamark and embossed it with silver tinsel embossing powder.  It has a lovely shimmer!  I finished the front with a very clean, crisp sentiment in grey.  On the inside I added a mat layer of the pale grey design paper and on the white panel added a row of tiny Christmas trees in silver and a simple sentiment.

For more inspiration with our fabulous colours, check out the blog to see what my team mates have made for you.  You've got plenty of time to play along - deadline is Friday 20th February midnight GMT (7.00pm EST).  Have fun!!

Fabulous Friend ....

....  Good morning everyone!  It's Friday 13th today - I'm not superstitious, so it doesn't worry me at all!!  Earlier this week, Kathryn asked me to make a card for her.  She wanted a card to give one of her best friends, something to mark a special friendship.  It also happens that they met on 14th February!!!  So I've made a really clean, simple and pretty card - I'm safe posting it here today as neither of the girls will see it.

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Pure Florals Gerbera, Beautiful Blooms II, All Occasion Sentiments #3
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Cherry Cobbler, Pink Pirouette; Memento - London Fog; Encore - Silver
Accessories: White Lustre Card

I've used a few challenges to make this card.  I've used the layout from this week's CAS(E) this Sketch - CTS#110, the colours are from Colour Me Card Challenge - CMCC#58 and this week's CASology - CAS#133 has the cue word Love and I think the girls' friendship fits.

This card came together really quickly.  I stamped the outline image in grey and then stamped the solid image in pink.  These stamps are so easy to line up.  I finished by added a simple sentiment, stamping the words in different colours.  Don't you love the font on "fabulous"?  I kept the inside really simple - just a tiny flower (those gorgeous Beautiful Blooms).  There's lots of space for Kathryn to write a message.

I really must get on with some housework stuff - it's been a busy week in my craft room and my ironing pile is calling me.  It's always a good excuse to catch up with some TV programmes :)  That's all for now.  Do drop by tomorrow for our new challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  See you!!

AC - I can feel it in my bones ....

..... Hello!  I'm giving you all fair warning after all the pretty roses, birthday balloons and confetti from Uniko Studio's February release; today's card is NOT cute. 

I think it's fair to say that I'm making an early start on this year's Halloween collection - today's card features one of the more scary images from Rick St Dennis.  The image - Dark Holidaze Skullcracker is available at Smeared Ink as an individual digi or as part of the digital collection - Dark Holidaze.  Okay, now for my card:

Stamps: Smeared Ink (Rick St Dennis) - Dark Holidaze Skullcracker; Waltzingmouse - All Hallows Eve; Impression Obsession - Hand Over the Candy
Inks: Versamark; Stampin' Up! - Cherry Cobbler; Memento - London Fog, Tuxedo Black
Dies: Spellbinders - A2 Modern Stationery (S5-219)
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kanban DP - Mechanica; SU Card - Basic Black; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear, Gold; Perfect Pearls - Red, Rust

I actually got this image for the 12 Days of Creepmas at the end of last year, but didn't get around to using it.  So this creepy soldier has been sitting on my desk for a while looking for a place to go.  I covered a card with the diamond print design paper which turned out to be the perfect match for my perfect pearls!!  I stamped the church ruin in Versamark and rubbed on red and rust perfect pearls, set it with a light spritz of wather and then adhered the panel to the card.  I added the soldier at the front - guarding the ruin!  On the inside I cut a mat layer of design paper and on the white panel added a fun Halloween sentiment.  I've also taken a close up of the ruin so you can see the shimmer!

Well, that was fun!  It's to do something a littlle left of centre after all the pretty stuff!  If you like this image from Rick St Dennis, then check out his Zibbet or Esty shops - there's a huge selection of images to pick from - have fun!!!  See you tomorrow.

Uniko Studio's 3rd Birthday - February 2015 Release, Reveal and Giveaway ...

...  Hello.  Today's the day!  All the mini-sets that have been introduced over the last four days are available for purchase at the Uniko Studio shop.  It's officially Uniko Studio's 3rd Birthday today - congratulations Bev!  I found Uniko Studio a few months after they first opened and now have the great privilege of being part of Bev's talented Design Team.  Here are some cards showing all the new sets:

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Beautiful Blooms II, Balloon Bash, Simply Said Birthday, English Country Gardens Butterflies
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Pretty in Pink, Smoky Slate, Rose Red, Regal Rose; Memento - Grey Flannel; Versamark
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Grey; Sizzix/SU EF - Decorative Dots; Silver Embossing Powder; Copic Markers

I used the layout from this week's CAS(E) this Sketch - CTS#109 and the colours from this week's Less is More - LIM#209 (they're celebrating 4 years!!).  I used the little confetti stamps to create the border, added a strip of grey card and a panel of white embossed card.  I added several roses - all stamped with a mixture of pinks and greys.  I finished the front with a little silver butterfly.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of grey card, and on the white panel added a simple birthday greeting along with some decoration.

My second card is an anniversary card:

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Classic Numbers, Balloon Bash, Fontiments Birthday, Label Love Birthday
Inks: Versamark; Encore - Gold
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Rectangles #5
Accessories: Cream Lustre Card; Ranger - Watercolour Paper; Gold Satin Card; Derwent - Aquatone Watercolour pencils; Gold Embossing Powder

I finally got around to playing with some watercolour paints on this card.  I'm submitting to CAS-ual Fridays - CFC#136 and Happy Little Stampers - HLSFebCAS where they have embossing as the challenge.  I die cut a piece of watercolour paper, taped it down, wet the paper and added watercolour pencil scrappings.  Then I lightly brushed over blending the paint.  I love the soft green/blue background.  Once dry, I stamped, in Versamark, the sentiment and some confetti, and heat embossed with gold powder.  I layered the panel on to gold satin card and adhered it to the base.  I finished the front with an embossed gold balloon which I attached with dimensional tape.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of gold card and on the cream panel added a simple sentiment.

My last card today is another birthday card, but this time with a slightly more masculine feel.

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Classic Numbers, Simply Said Birthday, Balloon Bash, Label Love Birthday
Inks: Versamark; Stampin' Up! - Real Red; Archival - Jet Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Postage Stamps (S4-348) #5, Squares Lg (S4-126) #7, Squares Sm (S4-128) #7
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Papermania DP - Bookprint; SU Card - Basic Black, Real Red; Clear Embossing Powder

I used the colours from this week's Colour Q - cQc#279 for this card.  I covered the card with newsprint design paper and then cut several pieces of card to create a birthday stamp!!  I stamped the birthday sentiment on white card, over stamped a balloon in Versamark and then embossed with clear powder.  I triple embossed the balloon to give it the look of enamel, then cut it out.  I stamped a few smaller balloons on the red panel, added some strings and then adhered the white balloon with dimensional tape.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of newsprint and finished with a square panel - stamping a greeting on all four sides.

I had a blast playing with the new mini-sets and mixing them with some of my older sets too.  And now it's time to join in with the Release Day Blog Hop.  Simply visit all the blogs on the hop and leave a comment by Wednesday 18th February, to be in with a chance of winning the ENTIRE release!  As it's Uniko Studio's 3rd birthday, Bev is giving two more £10 e-Gift Vouchers for the shop.

Bev - Uniko Studio

Amber

Deborah (that's me)

Erika

Gillian

N@ Ali

Nicki

Sandie

Sarah

The new stamps are available now at the Uniko Studio shop.  If you order today and spend £15 or more, then Bev is offering free world wide shipping - that's a fab offer, simply quote FREESHIPPING during checkout if your order qualifies.  Here's a quick look at the four new mini-sets:

Wow, that's one marathon post!  Thank you for joining me while I introduced all these news sets.  Thanks also for leaving such lovely comments - it's always a great pleasure to see your comments - THANK YOU ALL!!!  I do hope you've enjoyed it all.  That's it for now - see you tomorrow!

ASM - Anything Goes ...

.....  Good Evening and Hello again.  It's time for our new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!  It's actually Team B's week, but when I saw the images from our sponsor, Sweet Pea Stamps, I just had to play along too. The winner of this week's challenge will get 4 digis from the store.  Our challenge this week is Anything Goes.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Sweet Pea Stamps - Concetta Kilmer's Rockabilly Rhonda; Dylusions - Clearly Quotes; Stampendous - Discover Today
Inks: Archival - Jet Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Dream Big; Copic Markers; Wink of Stealla - Clear

I absolutely love this image - the look in her eye is one of "don't mess with me!!"  I printed Rhonda on white card, coloured her with Copic markers and then fussy cut her out.  I used Wink of Stella to add sparkle to her wings, lips, eyeshadow and roses (sadly you can't really see it in the photo above).  I wanted to let the image be the focus of the card, so simply covered my card with some soft grey design paper (with inspirational wording).  I coloured some scrap white card with Copics to match the roses, stamped the sentiment, cut it out and adhered it with dimensional tape.  On the inside I used another sheet of design paper for the mat and added a simple sentiment on the white panel.

Thanks to Team B for letting me crash their week - I had such fun with this image.  Do check the blog to see what my team mates have made.  That's all for now.   See you soon.

Lovely surprise ....

.... I've just been making a note of some challenges to play along with, when I noticed that my butterfly card had been picked as one of the Colour Courtiers for Colour Q # 276 - thank you so much ladies.  I've been feeling a little bit low recently and this has really cheered me up :)

All the details about this card can be found on my original post here.  I think this butterfly is so pretty!  And if you come back tomorrow for the release of all the new Uniko Studio mini-sets, you might see it again!!  That's all for now - off to play!

Uniko Studio - Simply Said Birthday ....

...  Good morning - so pleased to see you.  Today we are introducing the fourth and final new mini-set from Uniko Studio - Simply Said Birthday, which is full of lots of birthday greetings in a selection of fab fonts!  Here's my card:

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Simply Said Birthday, Balloon Bash, Classic Numbers
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Pretty in Pink, Early Espresso, Smoky Slate; Memento - Peanut Butter
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Early Espress; Cuttlebug EF - Chevrons; Wooden Arrow; Vellum

I used a couple of challenges in creating this card.  I used the colours (but not the theme) from The Card Concept - CC#28 and when I saw the MUSE challenge - MUSE#104 I knew I had to play along.  I cut a mat layer of brown card slightly smaller than the base card and adhered it to the card.  I embossed white card with this fab dotty chevron pattern (similar to the MUSE card) and then lightly ran over the pattern with grey, pale pink and sand coloured inks to define the dots.  I stamped the birthday sentiment in brown on vellum, wrapped it around the card and adhered it to the base.  I finished the front with a little wooden arrow which I over stamped with stars!  On the inside I cut a mat layer of brown, and on the white panel stamped a birthday greeting and more stars.

I like the contrast of the scripty font on this birthday greeting and the geometric chevron pattern.  On the inside of the card are a couple more fonts!

Click on the links below for more inspiration with our new mini-set - Balloon Bash:

Bev - Uniko Studio
Amber
Deborah (that's me)
Erika
Gillian
N@ Ali
Nicki
Sandie
Sarah

Here's the release schedule:

Saturday to Tuesday - we're introducing each set day by day.  The DT will have examples of how to use the stamps - lots of inspiration guaranteed.

Wednesday 11th February - you will get to see all the products and be able to purchase them HERE on the website.  As tradition holds, there will be a Design Team Blog Hop with a chance for a lucky person to win the ENTIRE release!!!

Now, you won't want to miss out on any of the fun on our intro days as we will be drawing totally random winners for mystery prizes.  We are not giving any hints as to the prizes or their value, you'll just have to join in on the fun!

Places to join in on the fun and possibly win a prize are by commenting along the way on the Uniko Studio Blog, DT, liking the Uniko Studio Facebook page, following on Twitter and Pinterest!

I do hope you've enjoyed seeing my cards introducing the new Uniko Studio mini-sets.  Do come back tomorrow - I'll be sharing more inspiration cards using these sets and, more importantly, you can get them from Bev's shop at 9.00am.  See you soon.