Uniko June 2024 Release - Introducing...Ink & Flip Layering Geometric Hexagon

Good morning!

Welcome to Day 1 of the introductions for the upcoming June release at Uniko.

I think you'll agree that Bev has been so clever with the Ink & Flip stencil sets she has designed so far and you've guess it, we have another for you...the Ink & Flip Layering Geometric Hexagon Stencil.  It' another set of two.

Here's my first card, using both of the stencils together...

First I inked up the outer background, first ink blending in  pale green and then, after flipping, in a cloudy blue.  Next I used the second stencil to create the inner hexagon, ink blending with two shades of yellow to create some dimension.  The bees are from the Bee Happy stamp set as well as a new set we will be sharing tomorrow, and the sentiment is from an existing stamp set called Zesty.  I finished by adding some shimmer to the bees' wings.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Uniko - Ink & Flip Layering Geometric Hexagon
• Stamps: Uniko - Bee Happy, Flower Power #9, Zesty
• Ink: Altenew - Minty Mint, Cloudy Sky, Warm Sunshine, Honey Drizzle; Versafine Clair - Nocturne, Misty Morning; Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Accents: Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen - Crystal Clear

And for my second card I used just the central hexagon, along with stamps from the Bee Happy set and the new set being introduced tomorrow...

This one layer card was so quick and easy to create.  I inked up the hexagon in two shades of ink, flipping halfway through to create the full design.  Then stamped the sentiment from the Bee Happy set and the bee and flight trail which is from a new set, also in this release.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Uniko - Ink & Flip Layering Geometric Hexagon Stencil
• Stamps: Uniko - Bee Happy, Flower Power #9
• Ink: Altenew - Warm Sunshine, Honey Drizzle; Versafine Clair - Nocturne, Misty Morning

And finally, I decided to use the stencils to create some gems...

I used two co-ordinating shades of each colour to create these gemstones, masking off the previous one as I went.  Then it was just a case of stamping the bold sentiment, which is from the Birthday Sentiments stamp set.  Another one layer card.

Materials:

• Stencils: Uniko - Ink & Flip Layering Geometric Hexagon
• Stamp: Uniko - Birthday Sentiments
• Ink: Altenew - Pinkalicious, Rubellite, Hydrangea, Ultraviolet, Aqualicious, Teal Cave; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

To see more projects and this stencil set in action my fellow Brand Ambassadors are sharing more makes over at the main Uniko blog, here.

This stencil, along with all the products being introduced this week will be available from 9am BST on Saturday 29 June 2024. 

I'll be back tomorrow with another introduction so please do pop back to take a look.

Uniko Celebrating 12 Years - Introducing...Background Blocks MOD Builder

Good morning and happy Saturday!

How have you been enjoying the Uniko new release introductions over the last few days?  Well, it's Day 4 and the last of the introductions today.  And we have an addition to the Background Blocks series for you...Background Blocks MOD Builder.

If you're a fan of Uniko this one may look familiar to you.  That's because the same design was previously released as a stencil.

Ok, I have two examples for you using this one and first up I did some emboss resist with water colouring...

I stamped and heat embossed the image in clear on some watercolour cardstock.  I then randomly watercoloured, wet on wet, over and around the image before die cutting the panel with a stitched rectangle die.  I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment, from the new Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments set that was introduced yesterday, on a strip of vellum and wrapped this around the panel, adhering on the reverse, before mounting the panel on the card base using 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks MOD Builder, Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments
• Ink: VersaMark; Distress Ink - Peacock Feathers, Blueprint Sketch, Crushed Olive
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Clear Gloss, Opaque Bright White

And my second card combines the new set with sentiments from the Mid Century Modern Frames set...

I stamped the main image in the centre but off the edge of the card in grey ink and then used the repeating design to add to the image at the top and bottom.  I then used one of the co-ordinating solid images to add colour to selected parts.  I stamped and heat embossed the greetings from the Mid Century Modern Frames set on grey cardstock and die cut these before adhering them flat, nestled within the design.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks MOD Builder; Mid Century Modern Frames
• Ink: VersaMark; Altenew - Silver Stone, Soft Lilac, Minty Mint
• Embossing Powder: Brutus Monroe - Alabaster
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Rounded Rectangle Stax

The team are sharing more projects over on the main Uniko blog, here so be sure to check that out and follow the links.

The entire release will be available to purchase from 9am GMT tomorrow, Sunday 18 January 2024. 

I'll be back tomorrow morning to reveal the entire release and share another card.

Uniko 12th Birthday Card Linky Party & Brand Ambassador Blog Hop

Hi there

It's a special day for Uniko today as it's 12 years since Bev launched the company.  Well done, Bev, that's a fantastic achievement, long may it continue!

So as part of the Birthday Celebrations today we have a fun party everyone can join in on, Uniko 12th Birthday Card Linky Party & Brand Ambassador Blog Hop.  You can find the main blog post, here.

Now for the card I created for this blog hop...I used 4 different Uniko stamp sets to make this one!

I began by creating the 3-tier cake by masking off the sides of my card and using stamps from the Background Builders Classics stamp set.  I then stamped the confetti above the cake using an image from the Big & Bold Happy stamp set and heat embossed this in gold.  The bunting was created using a stamp from the Background Builders Triangulate stamp set which I curved slightly.  The sentiment is from the Birthday Sentiments stamp set.  To finish I added some shine to the chocolate on the cake using Glossy Accents.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Background Builders Classics, Big & Bold Happy, Background Builders Triangulate, Birthday Sentiments
• Ink: Altenew - Buttercream, Dark Chocolate, Frosty Pink, Sea Glass, Minty Mint; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Gold Rich

There is plenty of time to join us by making and linking up.  The deadline for submission is midnight (GMT) on Thursday 29 February 2024.  And the lucky winner will receive a £25 eGift Certificate.

All the rules for the Linky Party are detailed over at Uniko.

So, check out the main post, here, where you will find all the projects of the Brand Ambassadors and where to start the blog hop and link up.

Thanks for taking a look and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

 

Uniko is Celebrating 11 Years - Birthday Card Link Party!

Good morning and Happy February!

The celebrations are starting over at Uniko today as the 11th Birthday Celebrations get underway.

In true Uniko tradition Bev is holding a Birthday Card Link Party, you can find it here.  There is a £25 eGift Certificate for the lucky winner and all you need to do is create a birthday card using only Uniko products and link it up over on the blog post.  The link will remain open until 28 February 2023.

Here's my celebration card...

I inked up my card base using the Party Confetti stencil in rainbow colours.  Then on a die cut panel I inked up the balloons using the Balloon Bash stencil in the same colours.  I finished the card with a sentiment from the Birthday Sentiments clear stamp set and popped the panel up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stencils: Uniko - Party Confetti, Balloon Bash
• Stamps: Uniko - Birthday Sentiments
• Ink: Distress Ink - Kitsch Flamingo, Mustard Seed, Peacock Feathers, Wilted Violet; Versafine Clair - Nocturne
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles

And as an extra thank you, Bev has a discount code for you...

So if there's anything on your wish list over at Uniko, why not grab it now while you can get this great discount.

Looking forward to seeing your birthday creations in the link gallery, which you can find here.

 

Heart of Hearts

Hi there

I shared a shaker card with you yesterday and thought I'd come back to share another one today.

This card I made for some very special friends who have recently got engaged.

I made a shaker window using a heart die which was cut from a small die cut square.  I filled the shaker with tiny heart confetti and trapped the sprinkles inside by backing with some silver glitter cardstock before mounting the panel onto a slightly larger die cut square.  The card base and uppermost square are linen cardstock but I used smooth white cardstock for the middle square.  I adhered the shaker sandwich flat to the card base and stamped the sentiment below.

Materials used:

• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Pierced Square Stax, Stitched Heart Stax
• Stamp: Altenew - Leaf Canopy 
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
• Cardstock from stash
• Accents: Little Things from Lucy's Cards - Sprinkles: Rainbow Hearts

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards - CAS Game #184 - Sketch

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #399 - Any Occasion

Addicted to CAS - Challenge #191 - Hearts

Happy Little Stampers - February Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

Time Out - Challenge #181 - Photo Inspiration

Simply Create Too - Challenge #167 - Use Hearts

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend, thanks so much for popping by.

Cocktail Shaker

Hi there

I don't usually write blog posts on a Saturday night but, quite frankly, what else is there to do?!  This pandemic has changed our lives so much hasn't it?  I might open a bottle of wine shortly (actually, there's no 'might' about it) but I'm certainly not going anywhere, just for a change!

Anyway, I thought I'd share a card I made earlier this month for a friend's birthday, so here it is, a fun little shaker card...

In my die cut upper panel I die cut an aperture with a cocktail glass die.  I then stamped the sentiment.  Sentiments are usually the last thing I add but once the foam is added on the reverse of a shaker panel it's more difficult to stamp cleanly.  The die has an inner section too so I cut it again from some silver glitter cardstock.  I then adhered this glitter die cut on the uppermost side, over the acetate.  I made the shaker window in the usual way: acetate, double sided foam barrier surround, filled with fun confetti and then sealed on the reverse before adhering to the card base.

Materials used:

• Dies: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles; Xcut - Cocktail Glass
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Floral Spray
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
• Glitter cardstock from stash
• Accents: Little Things from Lucy's Cards - Sprinkles: Let's Polka

Thanks so much for visiting, I'll be back very soon with more to share.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend and stay safe.

Less is More Challenge #430

Hi there

We have a different type of challenge for you over at Less is More starting this morning.  It is a Theme challenge but with a twist.  Our lovely leading LIM lady, Sharon, has a birthday today so our challenge is to CASe one of her lovely creations!

Happy Birthday, and wishing you a lovely day, Sharon xx

And here is her fantastic design...

There are so many elements to Sharon's creation: stars, flowers, warm shades, gold, foliage, die cutting, repeat stamping, banner sentiment strip, the layout...and lots more!  Just take any of these elements as inspiration for your own make.

And as we've whizzed into a new month, we also have the fabulous Uniko as our sponsor for the whole of October. 

Ok, onto my card.  I focussed on the colours, stars, flowers, gold die cuts, heat embossing, faux stitched edging, focal point trio and the banner sentiment.  I also used stamps from our sponsor...

I began by stamping some repeats of the flower stamps on a scrap of white cardstock and heat embossing these in gold before ink blending over them with the three different shades.  I then used some star dies to cut these out.  I die cut the balloon strings and bow from gold mirri card and adhered these to a die cut panel together with the stars.  I used one of the same inks to colour a sentiment strip and stamped and embossed the sentiment in gold.  This was popped up on glue dots before adhering the panel to the card base on fun foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Background Builders: Flower Power, Flower Power #2
• Ink: Distress Ink - Abandoned Coral, Carved Pumpkin, Mustard Seed; VersaMark
• Dies: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles; Wplus9 - Whole Lotta Happy; MFT Die-namics - Blueprints 26, Stitched Sentiment Strips
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Gold Rich
• Mirri card from stash

The teamies have provided lots more inspiration which you can find over at the main challenge page.  Why not play along?  I'd love to see your twists on Sharon's design, and as always, the linky will be open for two weeks :)

Skull and Cross Buns - July 2020 - Selection Three

Good morning

A couple more makes today using Skull and Cross Buns products.  Don't forget, their products will be showcased on Hochanda on the 9am show this coming Friday, 3 July 2020.

Ok, the new stencil I've used today is called Elongated Triangles...

For this first card I used low tack masking tape to create a border on my card base as well as some random strips in different directions.  I then laid the stencil over each exposed area and blended through in bold ink colours, with each section having the stencil pattern in a different direction.  I then removed the tape and stamped the various sentiments from the Quirky Sentiments set and the star from the Planner Banners set was stamped in silver.  A simple but striking one layer design.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Elongated Triangles
• Ink: Distress Ink - Twisted Citron, Wilted Violet, Blueprint Sketch, Peacock Feathers; Versafine - Onyx Black; Versa Color - Silver
• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Quirky Sentiments, Planner Banners

I used the same Elongated Triangles stencil here, but with a masculine theme...

For the top panel I ink blended the background with three shades of Distress Ink then used the ghosting technique, which involves laying the stencil over the panel, spritzing with water and then blotting away the colour from the exposed areas.  Once dry I die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die and stamped the sentiment from the Quirky Sentiments set.  I adhered the panel, offset over a black panel onto the card base before finishing off with some stamped elements from the Planner Banners set.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Elongated Triangles
• Ink: Distress Ink - Black Soot, Hickory Smoke, Ground Espresso; Versafine - Onyx Black; Versa Color - Pinecone, Charcoal
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles

Thanks as always for taking a look.  I'll be back with my final samples tomorrow morning, ahead of the show on Friday.

(AD - some products kindly gifted for design team purposes)

Happy Little Stampers June 2020 CAS Challenge

Hi there

The CAS Challenge at Happy Little Stampers is just starting. 

I'll get straight to it with the cue card...

I chose a really simple one layer design for this one...

This was so easy to create.  I masked off around one of the balloon shapes in the stencil and repeatedly ink blended it, adding light and shade while trying to retain the transparency of real balloons.  Then just finished with a simple black sentiment.  Perfect for lots of occasions.

Materials used:

• Stencil: MFT - Big Balloons
• Ink: Distress Ink - Twisted Citron, Worn Lipstick, Wilted Violet, Salty Ocean; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Sentiment: Lili of the Valley - It's Time to Party

Challenge entries:

STAMPlorations - June Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes

My Time To Craft - Challenge #433 - Use a Stencil

Time Out - Challenge #162 - Free

If you pop over to the main challenge blog you'll see a note from Kylie, our 'boss' at Happy Little Stampers.  She works so hard behind the scenes running lots of different challenge blogs and has decided to take a well-earned break for six months.  So the break will start after the June challenges finish, at the end of the month.

Less is More Challenge #419

Hi guys

Another fortnight has whizzed by so it's new challenge day at Less is More.  And this time we have a Colour challenge for you...

A bit of trial and error was required for this one and it took three attempts for me to make this card, but I got there in the end, I think!

The problem I had was achieving a cream hue for my focal image.  The first ink I tried was far too yellow and the second one I tried was too beige, so I had to try a few ink colours and embossing powder combos before I got this result.  I used hammered cardstock for the base and image panel although it's difficult to catch on camera.  I used a stitched rectangle die for my image panel and stamped and embossed the glasses and bubbles.  I then added some colour using ProMarkers.  This was then mounted onto a mat of cream linen cardstock and both were popped up onto the base using fun foam.  I finished with a sentiment stamped in black.

Materials used:

• Die: MFT Die-namics - Wonky Stitched Rectangle Stax
• Stamps: Avery Elle - Sip Sip Hooray; Reverse Confetti - Clink
• Ink: Versa Color - Vanilla; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - White Pearl
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

Crafty Cardmakers - Challenge #256 - Celebrations

Thanks so much for visiting.  And don't forget that we had new members joining the Design Team last time so there's lots of inspiration over at the main Less is More challenge blog, here.

More Honey Doo Makes

Good morning

I'm back today to share some more sample cards I've made for Honey Doo Crafts, ahead of their next shows on Create & Craft TV this Friday, 27 March 2020.

Amanda will be sharing her products and also doing demos in shows at 11.15am and 3.45pm.

All of my cards in this post were made using existing products, some of which will feature in the shows, and there will be a few new stamp sets on the shows too.  You can see previews of these over on the Honey Doo Facebook page, here.  Yesterday evening, Amanda held a Facebook Live giving you a preview of the stamps and samples.


First up I've used the Stars and Stripes set, Feathered Flourishes and Ribbons dies, and a sentiment from the Just in Case set...

I die cut a piece of kraft cardstock and then die cut some white cardstock with the Ribbons die and trimmed out just a section of it and adhered across the panel.  I then stamped and heat embossed the flowers in white pearl embossing powder and fussy cut them out.  I also die cut the flourish from some green vellum.  I curled the petals with a paint brush handle before adhering these with the flourish.  The sentiment was stamped in black and I added a pearl to the flower centre to finish before adhering the whole panel to the card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Stars & Stripes, Just in Case
• Dies: Honey Doo Crafts - Ribbons, Feathered Flourish; Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Ink: VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Wow - White Pearl
• Kraft Cardstock: Neenah Classic Crest - Dessert Storm
• Vellum and pearl from stash

For this next card I've used Stars and Stripes again, Mesh stencil and sentiment from Just in Case...

On a piece of cardstock I blended through the Mesh stencil using a rainbow of Distress Inks, which I then die cut with a stitched border die and adhered down the edge of the card base.  I then stamped the flowers in black and heat embossed in clear.  These were popped up on glue dots and I finished with a stamped sentiment.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Honey Doo Crafts - Mesh
• Ink: Distress Ink - Squeezed Lemonade, Carved Pumpkin, Candied Apple, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet, Broken China, Lucky Glover; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Stars and Stripes, Just in Case
• Die: Poppy Stamps - Stitched Landscapes

This one uses the Stitch in Time set and a sentiment also from Just in Case...

I used my MISTI to stamp the repeated flower background with just the one flower stamp in the set, these were then coloured with teal toned ProMarkers, the darkest flower in the centre then fading out to paler flowers around the edge.  The panel was then adhered flat before adding a popped up embossed sentiment.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Stitch in Time, Just in Case
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; VersaMark
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Embossing Powder: Wow - Opaque Bright White

A very simple card next, using the Starry Eye and Just in Case stamp sets...

I die cut two pierced squares, one in white and one from patterned paper.  I then stamped the flower onto the same patterned paper and heat embossed in white.  I popped up the white square over the patterned one, and then fussy cut the flower.  The pieces were adhered to the card base, the sentiment stamped below and a purple pearl enamel dot added to the centre of the flower.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Starry Eye, Just in Case
• Die: MFT - Pierced Square Stax
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow - Opaque Bright White

Starry Eye was used again for this next one, along with the Tartan stencil and Cheers sentiment set...

Here, firstly I stamped the flowers and then masked them before creating the background with the Tartan stencil.  I coloured the flowers and die cut the panel.  To finish I stamped the sentiment onto a vellum strip, heat embossed in white and then wrapped this around the panel.  The panel was adhered on fun foam and some gems added to complete the card.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Starry Eye, Cheers
• Stencil: Honey Doo Crafts - Tartan
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; VersaMark; Distress Ink - Victoria Velvet, Tattered Rose
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Vellum and gems from stash

My final card uses the leaves from the Stitch in Time set and sentiment from Daffodils...

I wasn't sure about this card, and I'm still not, but I wanted to use just the leaves from the Stitch in Time set.  I added masking tape to the card base about half way down and blended upwards with a little green ink and then used blue ink to create the clouds using a stencil.  I then stamped the leaves multiple times in a row, masking a few, and then coloured with ProMarkers.  The sentiment was heat embossed in white onto a die cut sentiment strip.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Stitch in Time, Daffodils
• Stencil: MFT - Cloud
• Ink: Distress Ink - Mowed Lawn, Tumbled Glass; Memento - Tuxedo Black; VersaMark
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Embossing Powder: Wow - Opaque Bright White
• Die: Clearly Besotted - Stripped Die Collection

Thanks so much for visiting.  I hope, with so many people having to stay at home, you can tune in to the two shows of Friday and support Amanda.  At the moment Honey Doo and Create and Craft TV have measures in place for the show to still go ahead despite the COVID-19 issues.  

Take care of yourselves during this uncertain time, I'm sending lots of love to you all xx

(AD - some products kindly gifted for design team purposes)