Uniko: You're Going to Flip - Ink & Flip Geometric Heart Layering Stencil Revisited

Good morning 

More Ink & Flip inspiration for you today from Uniko.

Each day this week, Bev and the Brand Ambassadors are revisiting the existing Ink & Flip stencils, ahead of a new release stencil set which will be available from Saturday.  Be sure to check out the Uniko blog to see lots of inspiration from the team.

So today is all about the Ink & Flip Geometric Heart Layering Stencils.  You can use the two stencils together or just use the central geometric heart on its own.

I have two cards for you today and have used just the central heart on these, and for my first I've kept it super clean and simple...

I inked up using the first side of the stencil with Distress Oxide ink in Speckled Egg.  I then cleaned the stencil, flipped it over and then spread over the stencil using a mix of stencil paste and Distress Oxide ink in Kitsch Flamingo.  This was then left to dry before finishing the card with a sentiment from the Flower Power #3 set in black ink.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Uniko - Ink & Flip Geometric Heart Layering Stencil
• Stamps: Uniko - Flower Power #3 (sentiment)
• Ink: Distress Oxide - Speckled Egg, Kitsch Flamingo; Versafine Clair - Nocturne
• Stencil Paste: Sweet Poppy - Stencil Dimensions in Pearlescent White

For my other card I dug out by Brusho pigment powders...

On some watercolour card I laid the heart stencil down, sprinkled sparingly with purple Brushos and then spritzed with a mist of water to release the pigment.  I removed the stencil and left the pigment to dry, then I flipped the stencil and repeated the process using blue Brushos to complete the heart.  I had a rummage in my coloured papers and found this co-ordinating purple jacquard paper, also with a geometric pattern.  I used a border die, trimmed down the panel and adhered it to the card base, leaving the patterned paper showing at the base.  I finished with a sentiment from the Just Because stamp set.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Uniko - Ink & Flip Geometric Heart Layering stencil
• Stamps: Uniko - Just Because
• Ink: Brushos - Purple, Ultramarine; Versafine Clair - Nocturne
• Dies: Stampin' Up Edgelits - Adorning Accents; Altenew - Featured Sentiments
• Patterned paper from stash

I hope these have given you some inspiration today.  Don't forget to visit the Uniko blog, here, to see the Brand Ambassadors' makes using this stencil set, and we'll be showcasing another tomorrow.

Uniko October New Release, Brand Ambassador Blog Hop and Giveaway

Good morning!

It's new release day over at Uniko and if you follow the Uniko blog you'll have seen the introductions from Bev throughout this week.

The release will be available to purchase from the Uniko website from this evening at 9pm BST.

There are some great new stamps in this release.  First up is the latest addition to the Framed series: Framed - Snowflakes

Here's the card I made using this set...

Here I used a panel of watercolour paper and heat embossed in white the main frame and a couple of the separate snowflakes.  I used the wet on wet technique, adding water within the confines of the frame and then adding colour from a variety of pink, blue and purple Zig markers.  Once dry I trimmed the panel down and adhered it to a card base.  The sentiment, from the oldie but goodie Stunning Snowflakes set was heat embossed on vellum and wrapped around a strip of pink cardstock.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Framed Snowflakes, Stunning Snowflakes
• Ink: VersaMark; Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White

Next up is a beautiful new stamp set called Autumn Serenade, a new addition to the "Serenade" series...

Here's my make using this one...

I began by stamping the main swirl image and heat embossing in gold.  I then masked off a vertical section and ink blended with four shades of Distress Oxide.  The stamped sentiment finished this one.

I just love the shine of the gold with the chalky finish of the oxides. Just remember to give the embossed parts a quick buff with a soft cloth to bring the shine back after inking.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Autumn Serenade
• Ink: VersaMark; Distress Oxide - Lumberjack Plaid, Vintage Photo, Carved Pumpkin, Pine Needles; Versafine Clair - Fallen Leaves
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Gold Rich

Bev has now added poppies to her floral collection.  Introducing, Remembrance...

And here's my card...

I stamped the image on some watercolour paper and then, after not using them for ages, decided to add colour with my Brushos.  I carefully sprinkled a teeny amount of the red and spritzed with a water mister.  I then did the same with two shades of green.  Once the panel was completely dry I die cut with a scalloped rectangle and stamped the sentiment before adhering to a card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Remembrance
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Brushos - Brilliant Red, Emerald Green, Leaf Green
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Scalloped Rectangles

There is also a new addition to the BIG & BOLD series, with BIG & BOLD Thank/s/ful.  Such a useful set and this can also be paired with BIG & BOLD You.

The set also features a two step leaf in both solid and outline form along with a variety of accent sentiments.  The leaf design also co-ordinates with those in the Autumn Serenade set.

Unfortunately, I don't have a sample card to share for this set yet.

Bev will be selecting one lucky winner to win the entire release.  All you need to do is leave some comments over at the main Uniko blog post, here, as well as comments on the Brand Ambassadors' blog posts (linked within that post) and/or social media.  You have until midnight on Saturday 14th October 2023 BST, good luck!

I think you'll agree that Bev has smashed it once again with these new products.

Happy Saturday, I hope you enjoy taking a look at all the inspiration from the team.

Uniko Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Stencil Techniques Trio

Hi guys

I'm over on the Uniko blog today with some inspiration using stencils.  You can find all the details of how I made these over on the blog, here.

So I've got three different techniques for you using three different stencils from the Uniko range.

Using Pigment Powders and Water

Materials used:

• Stencil: Uniko - Flower Power #5
• Stamps: Uniko - So Much
• Ink: Brusho - Orange, Brilliant Red; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Using the Ghosting/Watercolour Lifting Technique

Materials used:

• Stencil: Uniko - Stylised Floral
• Stamp: Uniko - Simply Said
• Ink: Distress Oxide - Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet, Mermaid Lagoon; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles

Reverse Stencilling

Materials:

• Stencil: Uniko - Flower Power #1
• Stamps: Uniko - Simply Said Blocks
• Ink: Distress Ink - Twisted Citron, Evergreen Bough, Peacock Feathers; Versafine Clair - Nocturne
• Accents: Little Things from Lucy's Cards - Jewels: Ice Cube Mix

Thanks for taking a look, hopefully these have given you some creative inspiration.  I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Crafty hugs

Winter Foliage Bundle

Hi guys

Today I'm sharing another card I made this Christmas, using some new goodies from The Greetery.  I can't take credit for this design as I saw a few examples from The Greetery where they used these products together and that's what encouraged me to buy them.

I'll get straight to the details...

I began by die cutting a panel with a stitched rectangle die.  I lightly ink blended from the centre using Distress Oxide ink and then laid a snowflake stencil over the top and inked through with white pigment ink.  On some watercolour paper I sprinkled various shades of Brusho pigment powder and spritzed with water.  Once dry I die cut all the foliage.  I stamped the sentiment and heat embossed it in gold.  I layered up and adhered all the foliage before die cutting the string tie from gold cardstock and adhering this over the stems.  To finish I added some red Stickles for the berries.

Materials used:

• Dies: The Greetery - Inside & Out Berry Branch, Fit to be Tied; Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Ink: Distress Oxide - Tumbled Glass; Hero Arts - Unicorn; VersaMark; Brusho - Leaf Green, Emerald Green, Dark Brown
• Stencil: Memory Box - Tiny Snowflakes
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - O Christmas Tree 
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Gold Rich
• Accents: Stickles - Ruby

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards - Game #205 - Christmas

Happy Little Stampers - December Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers - December Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

NBUS - Challenge #33 - The Greetery dies are new to my stash

CHNC - Challenge #574 - Anything Goes Christmas

STAMPlorations - December Theme and Photo Prompt Challenge (I used the photo prompt)

Uniko - Challenge #68 - Celebrate (Reds and Greens)

I'll be back with another later, thanks for visiting.

Less is More Challenge #449

Good morning

This time over at Less is More it's the turn of a Colour challenge.  I'll get straight to the cue card...

We have a fabulous Guest Designer joining us for this one.  It's Sid who was our winner for the month of May.  Please do pop over to take a look at his project for this challenge and to say hi.

For my sample card I used some products which are brand new to my stash and only arrived in the mail earlier this week.  Yes, that's how last minute my Design Team makes are these days!  

I discovered Simply Graphic, a fabulous French company, thanks to my former LIM teamie, Chrissie, sharing some of her beautiful makes using their dies.  I just couldn't resist placing an order.

Here's what I made...

All the dies you see here are from Simply Graphic, apart from the sentiment oval.  I began with a piece of watercolour paper and used a mix of Brushos and water to create a background of differet blue shades, and it was this that the two main flowers were cut from.  I die cut the tall leafy stem from white cardstock and the shorter foliage from pale blue vellum.  I gave my card base a light splattering using Distress Ink mixed with water and then arranged and adhered the cluster of die cuts.  I stamped the sentiment in dark blue onto an oval die cut and adhered this using glue dots.  The card was then finished with a few pool toned jewels.

Materials used:

• Dies: Simply Graphic - a selection of flowers and foliage; Lil' Inker Designs - Stitched Ovals
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Simple Script
• Ink: Brushos - Ultra Marine, Turquoise, Emerald Green; Distress Ink - Broken China; Altenew - Desert Night
• Vellum from stash
• Accents: Little Things from Lucy's Cards - Jewels: Shimmering Pool Mix

Challenge entries:

NBUS - Challenge #29 - I just had to share at Darnell's challenge, I don't think I've ever used new products so quickly before!

If you need more inspiration, don't forget that my teamies are sharing their projects over on the main LIM challenge post, and if you follow their links they may have more on their personal blogs too.

Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend :)

Less is More Challenge #417

Good morning

It's new challenge day at Less is More and we're back with a theme challenge.  Here's our cue card...

We have a super talented Guest Designer joining us for this challenge, Helen of Helen's Craft Haven, who was our lucky February winner.  I do hope you'll can take a minute to pop on over to her blog to see her take on this challenge theme and say hi.


I have two sample cards for you this time, both with a wild flowers/foliage kinda theme for some reason, and also a bonus card as my second card turned into a twofer!

Here's card one, using a technique that I love, the ghosting technique, as this creates a delicate version of the image and generally out of focus...

On a piece of white cardstock I made a sunset blend of inks using Distress Oxides.  I then used the ghosting technique which involves laying a stencil over the top, spritzing with water and then blotting away the colour.  Once dry I die cut a section of it and popped it up onto another panel using a larger die from the same set.  After adhering to the card base I finished with a small black sentiment.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Oxide - Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, Abandoned Coral; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stencil: STAMPlorations - ARTlorations Bloom Silhouettes
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Wonky Stitched Rectangle Stax
• Stamp: Altenew - Thinking of You

Challenge entries:

STAMPlorations - April Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes

Next up I used a stencil again, but this time grabbed my Brushos...

I've only tried this technique once or twice but it has lovely results.  I laid a stencil onto some watercolour paper and very gently sprinkled a mix of Brusho powders, very sparingly, into the gaps in the stencil.  Without moving the stencil I then spritzed a mist of water over it, which activates the pigment powders.  I then carefully removed the stencil and left the image to dry completely.  I trimmed a section of it down and mounted it onto some teal cardstock. Before adhering to the card base I stamped a sentiment flag vertically to look like a tag when the panel was adhered along its edge.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Imagination Crafts - Bay Leaf
• Ink: Brushos - Emerald Green, Turquoise, Leaf Green; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Flag It
• Cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #384 - CAS

And my 'twofer' is made from the remaining part of the Brusho panel.  This one doesn't follow the Less is More guidelines as there isn't really enough white space but I thought I'd share it with you anyway in this post.  Materials used here are as the card above, with the addition of a stitched die by Create a Smile.

Challenge entries:

Fab 'n' Funky - Challenge #476 - Birthday



Thanks so much for visiting, I hope you'll join us for this 'out of focus' challenge.

And in the meantime, please do stay safe :) xx

Guest Designer for Honey Doo Crafts - Selection Two

Good morning

I'm back today to share more makes using the wonderful products from Honey Doo Crafts which will be showcased on Hochanda tomorrow.

Honey Doo Crafts have some absolutely stunning floral stamps, some simple outlines which are great for colouring, and others which are super detailed.

My first card today features a flower and leaves from the Cherry Blossom set, together with co-ordinating dies, and a background using the super cool Brush Strokes set...

This is one of my favourites using these products.  Directly on the card base I stamped the same brush stroke image in two different shades of dye ink to create a kind of plaid effect.  The flower and leaves were stamped and embossed in white and I used co-ordinating Distress Inks to blend the colour.  These were then die-cut with their co-ordinating dies.  The leaves were adhered flat, the flower was popped up on 3D foam and I stamped the sentiment in black, positioned to balance the design.  I finished with a single glittered enamel dot for the flower centre.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo - Brush Strokes, Cherry Blossom, Birthday Sentiments
• Dies: Honey Doo - Cherry Blossom
• Ink: Altenew - Lagoon, Sea Breeze; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress Ink - Broken China, Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio
• Enamel dot from stash

Next up I've used another of the gorgeous floral sets called Fleur, which I've also paired with Brush Strokes for background detail...

I love grey and blush together so chose that colour palette for this one.  I started on the card base and stamped one of the brush stroke images three times to add interest to the background.  The flowers and leaves were stamped and heat embossed in white onto grey and blush cardstock and fussy cut.  These were really easy to cut out just by following the embossed edges.  Before adhering these I used the handle of a paint brush to add a slight curl to the leaves and petals, then popped some up on glue dots.  The dimension can be seen more clearly below...

The sentiment was stamped in a co-ordinating grey ink and to add some interest to the card base I created some double score lines around the edge.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo - Brush Strokes, Fleur, Birthday Sentiments
• Ink: Altenew - Blush; Hero Arts - Soft Granite; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Coloured Cardstock: Papermania - Midnight Blush

On this next card I used Fleur again for an autumnal theme...

I began with some kraft cardstock and stamped and heat embossed the sentiment in white.  I then used the different leaves from the set and also heat embossed these in white.  I then used coloured pencils to add the shading to the leaves.  The panel was then trimmed down with a stitched rectangle die. 

Before adhering the panel flat, I stamped the flowers in a soft neutral shade to add interest to the border of the card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo - Fleur, Birthday Sentiments
• Ink: VersaMark; Altenew - Morning Frost
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Wonky Stitched Rectangles
• Coloured with Faber Castell Polychromos
• Kraft Cardstock - Neenah - Desert Storm

For this card I used the gorgeous Carnation set...

On a panel of watercolour cardstock I stamped the stems and the flower heads, with a little masking to place one behind the other.  Once the ink was dry I covered the majority of the card, just leaving the area of the flower heads visible, and very lightly sprinkled some Brusho crystals in two shades before spritzing with water.  I used a paint brush to manipulate some of the colour then left to dry. I then die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle and stamped the sentiment in the same black ink.

To finish, I mixed some silver mica powder with water and gently splattered my panel to add some shimmer and sparkle.  The panel was then adhered to a co-ordinating coloured card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo - Carnation, Birthday Sentiments
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Brushos - Purple, Ultramarine
• Die: Create a Smile - Double Stitched Rectangles
• Mica Powder: Honey Doo - Silver Sparkle
• Cardstock from stash

Don't forget, Honey Doo Crafts have two upcoming shows on the craft shopping channel, Hochanda (Freeview 85 / Sky 673) this coming Saturday, 10 November 2018, a 10am and 2pm GMT.

Thanks so much for popping by.  I'll be sharing more of my makes shortly.