Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Retro Autumn

Good morning from Steph! 

Retro Autumn?! What do I mean by that? Well simply that I have combined the Uniko Layering Retro Lines stencil with a few Uniko autumnal sets. 

I stencilled three panels with the same green shades using part of the Uniko Layering Retro Lines stencil. To all three I added a sentiment from the Uniko Butterfly Serenade stamp set. 

 

For this first card I used a grey ink and added a floral outline from the Uniko Originally Organic stamp set.

Next I added some colour using the Uniko Autumn Serenade stamp set, both the large stamp and some of the smaller elements in the set also. 

Finally I went super simple with just one leaf stem stamped in green from the Uniko Originally Organic Flower Garden stamp set, and added a few dots of colour with Nuvo drops. 

The change in weather in the UK is definitely influencing my crafting this year. I can't remember it doing so in previous years other than I do like to switch over to festive crafting in autumn because they are my favourite cards to make! Do the seasons influence your crafting style?

Much love

Steph x

Hello September

Happy September and welcome to a new month of inspiration at Uniko. 

I might be away on a family holiday, but I have planned and scheduled inspiration to share with you while I am. Plus the Uniko Brand Ambassadors will be sharing inspiration throughout the month too. 

As summer draws to a close here in the northern hemisphere we start to think all things cozy. So I thought I would bring those cozy vibes with a autumn inspired card. 

I know officially autumn doesn't start till the 22nd September, but there is already signs that it isn't far away. The nights are drawing in and there are cooler temps once it gets dark too. 

As you can see I decided to dust off Autumn Serenade and used the Spellbinders Essential Arches dies and stamped the serenade in Nutmeg and filled in gaps with the single leaves stamped in Spiced Cider, Artichoke and Evergreen. I then added the Hello Autumn sentiment onto a circle die cut with a fussy cut little leaf. 

I think I captured the autumn vibes and I think after my holiday I will be ready to welcome the coziness of autumn when it arrives.

Are you an autumn lover?

Crafty Hugs

Thankful...

Hello!

Firstly, Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends, wonderful customers in the USA and to those that are marking the holiday. I wish you all a lovely day, however you are celebrating. Although, we don't celebrate the holiday here in the UK, I always like to take the opportunity to let you know how thankful I am for all that support me & Uniko.

So here is a card in honour of the occasion...

I was inspired to give some fresh inky love to the Large Background Sketched Foliage, it's been a while and seeing all the leaves waiting for me again in the back garden, it inspired my colours.

I masked off the edges of my card base before putting the panel inside my MISTI to stamp the large background. I'm currently enjoying using a variety of colours on one stamp & using a stamping tool makes it super easy. My raised sentiment is from Autumn Serenade and adhered using foam tape. 

As always, once I get creative it lead onto another card...

This time I wanted to create a look of a window, so I created a raised die cut window to adhere above the stamped foliage background, using foam tape. I then added the smaller butterfly from English Country Garden Butterflies, which I doubled up using the solid butterfly stamped in Honeysuckle & then I adhered the partially coloured outline butterfly over thee top, secured down the middle.

The card made me smile, so I decided to add the smile die cut from Uniko's Exclusive Picked Poise Collection, available on CraftStash. See link on left hand side of the blog! 

 

I also had another reason for using the Large Background Sketched Foliage. And that is, as much as I love this stamp, I have made the sad decision to retire it once it has sold out. This stamp along with 3 others are in the SALE and RETIRING sections on the website. 

Which nicely leads me onto remind you, in case you missed the newsletter this week of Uniko's Thankful For You, SALE & Surprise Discount Codes with every order.

I decided to do #blackfriday a little different this year. Of course there is a SALE. 

BUT, I am also giving back to everyone who places an order between 21st - 27th November 2023*. Receive a surprise discount, from £5-£25 to use with your next order. 

* Code cards look like this (with a code on them obviously 😉) and they are tucked inside an envelope. So even I don’t know what I’m putting in your orders. It’s totally random as to who gets what discount. But you are guaranteed the minimum of at least £5. 

Have a wonderful day!

Crafty Hugs 

October 2023 Release in Review, Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & Giveaway

Happy Weekend!

Welcome to our October 2023 Release in Review, Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & Giveaway. As the Brand Ambassadors didn't receive their goodies in time to join me for the October Release introductions, I thought it would be nice to have another blog hop to celebrate the release.

If you missed the original release day blog hop & formal introductions, you can catch up HERE. The giveaway is closed on that post, but to keep tradition I have another giveaway listed at the end of this post. 

Enough talk, lets get to the inspiration...

Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Steph

Vinita

Now for the giveaway. Simply comment along the hop for your chance to win a £20 eGift Code to spend in store. Commenting will close for the giveaway midnight GMT Sunday 5th Nov 2023 and I will randomly select a winner and announce Monday 6th Nov.

I hope you have enjoyed this revisit hop 😊 

Before you go I have one more treat in store...

Click to Read!

Crafty Hugs 

Autumnal Thanks & a Winner!

Hello & Happy Thursday, 

Apologies for my quietness around here and socials, its been a week of forced rest and recovery from a horrible chesty cold the Beans brought home from school and kindly shared with me and the whole family.

Anyway, luckily I made this card before I was poorly and saved it to share with you all for when I announced the winner of the October Release Blog Hop.

I've said it so many times before, but I always try to add in some smaller stamps to fill the gaps when designing stamp sets. These little accent stamps can create big impact, which I have hopefully shown on my card.

I revisited an old technique, of which the name has currently left my brain! Where you ink the stamp with a light shade and the roll the edges in a darker shade or even dap with a small blending brush. This gives aa natural looking effect to the image.

I used scotch tape to mask the section for the sentiment and then stamped the leaves. I used a variety of Concord & 9th colours with an autumnal feel. I then inked an acrylic block with a few of the colours to add watercolour splats before stamping my sentiment & accenting with two fussy cut leaves.

I've mainly used Autumn Serenade, but also the leaf from Big & Bold thank/s/ful from the October Release, which leads me on nicely to the winner.

Thank you for all the lovely comments here on the blogs and around social media, they are appreciated by us all. So with the help of random name generator, the lucky comment is...

cm7 October 2023 at 14:43

An array of beautiful cards, Steph; each one really highlights how wonderful this new release is. I'm especially smitten with your snowflakes; a pretty wintry wonderland, indeed!
~carol

Congratulations Carol! 

Please drop me an email at bev@uniko.co.uk along with your mailing address and I will get your goodies in the post to you.

We have another Release in Review Brand Ambassador Blog Hop coming at the end of the month for another chance to win & lots more inspiration. Plus, I will be back tomorrow with Day 5 of Uniko's 12 Days of Christmas inspiration and giveaways! 

Crafty Hugs

National Coffee Day Coffee Lovers Blog Hop Uniko Winner

 

 

Happy Tuesday!

Apologies for my lateness in announcing the winner of the National Coffee Day hop. It's been a busy time with shows and a new release.

Anyway, with the help of Random.org a winner from all the lovely comments left has been selected and I am pleased to announce the winner of the...

is...

Lee30 September 2023 at 14:35

I love that sentiment and love the colors . Thank you ! Happy Coffee Day!

Congratulations Lee! I have sent you an email.

Before I go I have a new card to share with you as I fancied pairing the NEW Autumn Serenade with I LOVE Coffee and this is how it turned out...

I started by stamping the main swirling leaves from Autumn Serenade in a selection of Concord & 9th inks, Spiced Cider, Sunflower, Stardust, Avocado, Artichoke, Wheat and Nutmeg. I used my MISTI to blend and repeat stamp to get a nice autumnal coverage. I then added a sentiment strip and the coffee cup from I LOVE Coffee, adorned with a leaf.

That's all from me today.

Crafty Hugs

October 2023 NEW Release, Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY!

Hello, Happy Saturday, Happy World Card Making Day AND Happy New Release Day!

Wow! Could the weekend be any better? 

I hope you have enjoyed my introductions this week and I'm super excited to share these new products with you. They will be available to purchase at 9pm BST tonight HERE on the website.

But, let me first formally introduce them. 

First we have the next addition to the BIG & BOLD series with BIG & BOLD thank/s/ful. This set is super versatile, making two large sentiments. But you can make a third when you pair it 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. 

BIG & BOLD thank/s/ful  £11

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2012 - To Date

www.uniko.co.uk

Next we have Autumn Serenade. 

Autumn Serenade £11

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2012 - To Date

www.uniko.co.uk

The large swirling stamp has been calling for this autumnal look for a while now and linking it to BIG & BOLD thank/s/ful with the same leaf image makes it even more versatile. Like other clear stamp sets in the Serenade series, it features mix and match sentiments, along with lots of fun accent stamps. 

Keeping with an autumnal seasonal feel and upcoming Armistice Day I am delighted to add Uniko's version of poppies to the floral line up. Though it has lots more creative potential.

Remembrance £11

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2012 - To Date

www.uniko.co.uk

Lastly, but by no means least we have the next addition to the Framed Series with Framed - Snowflakes. It was time to add more snowflakes to the Uniko line up and I think this makes the perfect addition. 

Framed - Snowflakes £11

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2012 - To Date

www.uniko.co.uk

And now we have the formal introductions done, let's get to more inspiration using them. Be sure to leave some comments love either on their blogs or social media. You have until midnight Saturday 14th October 2023 to comment and then I will be randomly selecting a winner to win the entire release.

 Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie 

Steph

I hope you have enjoyed this release 😊

Crafty Hugs 

Introducing... Autumn Serenade

Welcome to Day 2 of the product introductions for our October Release. 

Today I am introducing a new addition to our Serenade series with Autumn Serenade. I definitely think there is a place for more leaves & foliage in the Uniko line up. And you might notice the cross over with the leaf design from BIG & BOLD thank/s/ful which I introduced HERE yesterday.

Let's have a look at this set in action...

If you were in Lincoln at the weekend and took part in the make & take, you got to play with this new set and make this card. A simple ink blended rectangle using Distress Oxide Ink in Tea Dye, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain from top to bottom. 

I then removed the mask to stamp the falling leaf image. I wanted to keep the colour soft and rustic, so I used VersaFine Clair in Morning Mist. The sentiment from the set I wanted a little more prominent and so I stamped in VersaFine Nocturne ink.

For my second card today I wanted to highlight some of the smaller stamps in the set to create this clean & simple design.

I added in a few more green tones for the leaves, using Concord & 9th Avocado, Evergreen and Parsley, mixed with Stardust and Wheat.

I then stamped the Autumn Blessings over the leaf cluster. Super simple, but I am pleased how this turned out.

That's all I have for today, but I will be back tomorrow with more to share. This clear stamp set, along with all the products being introduced this week will be available 9pm GMT Saturday 7th October 2023. 

Crafty Hugs