Uniko - Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Flower Power

Hi there

Happy Easter, everyone! 

Today I'm over on the Uniko Blog with some Brand Ambassador inspiration, and I chose to showcase the Flower Power sets this time.  You can find all the information on how I made the following cards over on the Uniko post, here.

First up, a little emboss resist and ink blending...

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Flower Power #3, Flower Power #4
• Dies: Uniko - Designer Dies Flower Power #1-#6 Collection; Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Scalloped Rectangles
• Ink: VersaMark; Distress Oxide - Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, Abandoned Coral, Worn Lipstick; Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers; Versafine Clair - Nocturne
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White

Next up I created a stamped floral background as my focal point...

Materials used:

• Stamps - Uniko: Flower Power #6
• Ink: Altenew - Wisteria, Hydrangea, Frayed Leaf; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Scalloped Rectangles

For my final card I watercoloured the flowers using watercolour pencils.  Unfortunately, my camera has washed out the colour a little on this one...

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Flower Power #2
• Ink: VersaMark; Versafine Clair - Nocturne
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Dies: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles; MFT Die-namics - Rectangle Peek-a-boo Window
• Watercoloured using Derwent Inktense pencils

Challenge entries:

Card 2:

Color Hues - Challenge #39 - Purple and Green

Card 3:

Inkspirational - Challenge #263 - Technique Challenge - Watercolour

STAMPlorations - April CAS Challenge - Anything CAS Goes (Blue & Purple)

I'd also like to make you aware of a 10% discount code that Bev at Uniko is kindly offering on all orders this Easter weekend so if you do want to make a purchase, please do use the code easterspecial10 for a discount.

Thanks so much for visiting today and I wish you all a wonderful Easter Sunday. 

Less is More Challenge #453

Hi guys

My goodness, where did September go?  Autumn is well and truly here in the UK, there's definitely a nip in the air.  I'm back working at the office now so I've certainly noticed a change in temperature now that I'm having to jump in the car early on the chilly mornings!

So, we've rolled around to another Saturday and it's time for a new challenge over at Less is More.  It's a colour challenge this time and we want to see you using...

I originally had a floral stamp in mind that I wanted to use but it had a lot of leaves and I was stumped about how I could avoid using green (the guidelines are to use the challenge colours and neutrals only), so I had a rummage in my stash and found these daisies from a retired Clearly Besotted set from years ago...

Although not a true layering set, this set does have the solid stamps which allow you to colour the image by stamping.  So, on a die cut panel I stamped the linear image in black, the solid areas of the daisies in purple and the flower centres using the striped stamps from the set, in yellow.  The bow/string is from the co-ordinating die set which I cut from a scrap of yellow cardstock.  I then finished with a heat embossed sentiment on a die cut purple strip.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Celebrating You; Altenew - Flower Vine (sentiment)
• Dies: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles; Altenew - Featured Sentiments Die Set; Clearly Besotted - Celebrating You Die Collection
• Ink: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Altenew - Hydrangea, Warm Sunshine; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Brutus Monroe - Alabaster

Thanks for visiting today, if you need more inspiration using the challenge colours please do take a look at the main challenge blog where my teamies are sharing their great projects.

Have a lovely weekend. 

Altenew Ultimate Challenge Blog Hop

Hi guys

Today I'm excited, on behalf of the team at Less is More, to be part of the Ultimate Challenge Blog Hop hosted by Altenew.

You can find full details and begin the start of the hop here.

Here are the projects I made for the hop, the first one using the gorgeous Flower Vine stamp set...

On some blush cardstock I stamped one of the vines in a pale ink first before colouring with Copics in blush and soft green shades, and then re-stamped using my MISTI and heat embossed it in white.  I die cut the panel with a scalloped rectangle and then stamped the sentiment in co-ordinating ink.  I love this set!  As well as the vines it has lots of tiny sentiments, great for so many occasions.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Altenew - Flower Vine
• Ink: Distress Ink - Antique Linen (first image before colouring); VersaMark; Altenew - Mountain Mist
• Embossing Powder: Brutus Monroe - Alabaster White
• Die: Create a Smile - Scalloped Rectangles
• Coloured with Copics
• Cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

NBUS - Challenge #29 - these new stamp sets were kindly gifted by Altenew to take part in the hop

Stamping Sensations - August Challenge - Any Celebration

And for my second card I used the Ditsy Print stamp set...

On some pale yellow cardstock I used the various layering stamps from the set to create the image, using inks from Altenew.  I then die cut using a pierced square and cut another slightly larger to frame it, popping the smaller one up on 3D foam.  The sentiment was stamped below in black.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Altenew - Ditsy Print, Flower Vine (sentiment)
• Ink: Altenew - Peach Perfect, Orange Cream, Autumn Blaze, Frayed Leaf, Sweet Leaf, Forest Glades; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Pierced Square Stax

Challenge entries:

Just Add Ink - Challenge #566 - Just Add a Frame

Thanks for visiting.  Please do join in the blog hop, there are prizes to be won and you could have one of your creations on the Altenew Blog!

Less is More Challenge #431

Good morning

And just like that it's the start of another new challenge over at Less is More!  I honestly don't know where the time is going this year.  Here in the UK we'll be putting our clocks back tomorrow, I can't get my head around it at all!

Anyhoooo, back to the challenge, and this time it's a Recipe challenge...

And continuing as our super generous sponsor for the month of October is

My crafty mojo has been a bit absent lately but I enjoyed making this one and I'm really pleased with the result, and I put some some of my Uniko products to use here too...

I began by stamping the pinstripes and then stencilled the largest leaves image in two shades of green ink.  I then stamped two more leaf images, in dark green and dark purple shades.  I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment in white on a sentiment flag die cut from green cardstock.  This was then popped up on 3D foam, securing two leaf die cuts, one cut from dark green cardstock and the other from vellum.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks: Pinstripe II, Nature's Treasures I, Flower Power #1
• Stencil: Uniko - Nature's Treasures II
• Ink: Altenew - Limestone, Evergreen, Andromeda; Distress Ink - Shabby Shutters, Iced Spruce; VersaMark
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Blueprints 26; Creative Expressions - Olive Branch; Britannia Dies - Leaf Strip
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White

Challenge entries:

NBUS Challenge #19 - This is the first use of the pinstripe background stamp and the sentiment strip die

STAMPlorations - October CAS Challenge - Anything CAS Goes

Thanks so much for taking a look today.  I hope you'll be inspired to play along over at Less is More, and you can find lots more inspiration on the main challenge blog, where my teamies are also sharing their projects for this foliage challenge.  As always, the link will remain open for two weeks.

Less is More Challenge #428

Hi guys

I can't honestly believe how fast the weeks are still flying by this year!  It's certainly been the strangest year hasn't it?

Ok, it's new challenge day at Less is More and this time we have a Colour challenge for you, here's the cue card...

For my sample card this time I decided to add the challenge colours to the background...

I die cut a rectangular panel then masked off around a rectangle in the centre before ink blending with Distress Oxide Inks.  I then shifted the masking tape a little to create a slightly larger rectangle and then blended the outer edge with a lighter shade.  With the tape still in place I added water droplets and then blotted these away.  Once dry I stamped the sentiment in black and adhered the white die cut over the focal area.  The panel was then adhered on fun foam.

Materials used:

• Dies: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles; Craft Emotions - Hogweed
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - You Are Wonderful
• Ink: Distress Oxide - Seedless Preserves, Wilted Violet, Shaded Lilac; Versafine - Onyx Black

The challenge linky will be open for two weeks as always, so as long as you use the challenge colours any CAS creation can be entered.  There is lots more inspiration from my teamies over at the main challenge blog.

Perfectly CAS - May 2020 Challenge

Hi there

I don't know about you but since we've been in lockdown I'm finding that these weeks are flying by so fast!

It's time for another new challenge over at Perfectly CAS and our theme for May is...

I've used one of my go to layouts for super simple cards for this one...

I often use this double frame design, the top die cut being popped up on foam.  The image was stamped using Memento ink, which doesn't bleed with alcohol markers, and coloured with ProMarkers.  I'm still toying with the idea of purchasing some Copics, I soooo want some but just don't know if it's and expense I can commit to, it would take me forever to purchase a decent selection!  The sentiment was simply stamped in black below the matted die cuts.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Under The Weather
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Pierced Square Stax
• Coloured with ProMarkers

Thanks so much for popping by, I hope you are all well and managing to keep yourselves occupied at home.  I have plenty I can be doing but seem to have been in a very unenthusiastic mood for the last week or so.  Hopefully I'll find some motivation again soon.

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)

Less is More Challenge #410

Hello

I'm back today to introduce the first of this year's challenges at Less is More.  We're continuing with our sequence of challenges and this time we're back with a Colour challenge.  Here are the details...

It's an 'out with the old, in with the new' challenge.

Living Coral was the Pantone colour for 2019, and True Blue is the Pantone colour for 2020.

(The colours are detailed over on the main Less is More challenge post)

And for the month of January we have the fabulous Skull and Cross Buns back as our sponsor.  So just by playing along in this month's challenges will mean you're in with a chance of winning our monthly prize!

Here goes, and I'll admit, I did struggle with this colour combo.  But I did get a couple of sample cards made for you.  Here's the first...

This was very simple to make.  I crossed over two strips of washi tape on the card base, topped with a trellis die cut and then overlaid with a flower die cut.  I didn't like how the trellis showed through the flower head so I die cut it again from some textured coral cardstock and inlaid the inner parts of the flower head, securing on the reverse, before adhering the flower in place.  I stamped a simple sentiment vertically as I think it nestled along the edge quite nicely.

Materials used:

• Dies: Clearly Besotted - Trellis Die; Wplus9 - Flower Doodles
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Tiny Type
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
• Washi tape from stash

And for this next make I used stamps by our Sponsor, Skull and Cross Buns...

Not the best photos of this card I'm afraid, for some reason my camera was having an off day!

I used a stitched rectangle die to create my top panel then stamped the bunting and confetti in blue and coral inks.  I stamped the sentiment in blue to balance out the design the popped the panel onto the card base using fun foam.  As a finishing touch I added some smooth silver gems amongst the confetti.  Not my go to colours for this type of card but I think it's turned out quite gender neutral here.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Modern Wedding; Celebrate Script
• Ink: Altenew - Starlight; Versa Magic - Pink Grapefruit
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Accents: Smooth silver gems from stash

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards - CAS Game #155 - Along the Edge

The challenge linky will stay open for the next fortnight so why not have a go with this colour combo, you never know what might materialise.  I struggled then ended up with two cards :)