Blog Hop Winner, Restocks & a Card!

Happy Wednesday! 

Apologies for being late with announcing the winner of the June Release Blog Hop, but without further ado, the winner is...

Dee Earnshaw said...

OMG what amazing looking cards - the first one with the butterfly is stunning - thanks for sharing

Congratulations Dee, please send an email to bev@uniko.co.uk no later than 30th June 2022 to claim your £20 eGift code. 

In other news...

A fabulous and highly requested bunch of restocks have arrived in the studio, these include Background Blocks Mid Century Modern, Background Builders Round In Circles, Mid Century Modern Florals and Sentiments Outlined. 

The Stencil, Layering Zesty will arrive by the end of the week too. All backorders awaiting this stencil will be posted this week too.

Lastly for today I have a card using the new Background Builders Hearts paired with a sentiment from Simply Said Blocks III.

I'm still on my rainbow colour kick. I've had these hearts stamped and cut for a while, it's just taken me longer to decide on an arrangement! Do you find that the layout is often the trickiest part of creating? 

 

That's all for today, now time to enjoy this sunshine as we never know how long its going to stay around for! 

Crafty Hugs 

12 Days of Christmas Giveaways - Day 2

Happy Tuesday!

Welcome back to day 2 of the 12 Days of Christmas, Giveaways. 

If you missed day 1 and you're wondering what this is all about, be sure to check out all the details HERE. 

So let's get to my card today...

As you can see, it's not all about Christmas over the next 12 days. Today is all about the florals. So much time has passed since I inked up this beauty, Pure Florals Rose. 

This set is perfect for Valentines, Anniversary, Weddings and more. Today I went for a general love themed card. I used a heart mask and stamped the Background Block Horizontal Stripes to stamp inside. I wanted the heart to be a little more defined, so I drew round the inside of the mask with a fine liner.

The Pure Florals Rose clear stamp set has a two step stamp option which I have used on my card today. I used the smaller full bloom. It's hard to see in the photos, but I have applied some darker red shading to the middle of the rose.

So today's giveaway* is...

Pure Florals Rose

Background Blocks Horizontal Stripe

To be in the chance of winning simply leave a comment on this post and or any of the social media platforms I will be sharing the giveaway!

Crafty Hugs 

* As it is a giveaway the prize is open to participants worldwide. The item will be marked as a gift from me personally to avoid customs charges. An alternative prize will be offered if the winner already owns any of the prize offered on the day they win. You have until midnight Thursday 30th December 2021 to comment. Winners will be announced on the blog on Friday 31st December 2021.

CAS Colours & Sketches #210

Hey!

It's time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. This month we have the lovely Jane as hostess and Jane has a wonderful sketch challenge HERE and seen below, to spark your creativity. 

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch & don't forget to keep your creation CAS too ;)

This is what I came up with using the sketch...

I really couldn't decided what images to use on my card today, but seeing as it is Valentine's Day AND the fact that I needed a Valentine's card for hubby, I went with hearts and used Always & Forever clear stamp set. Normally, I try not to use retired Uniko clear stamp sets, but unfortunately I don't have a lot of hearts/love themed sets to chose from (must rectify that). 

I went with a classic red, white and grey colour scheme for my card and added in a polka dot panel, trying to keep the design masculine with a subtle geometric feel. I couldn't resist a little sparkle though and after stamping the heart in red ink, I then stamped it again with VersaMark ink and embossed with Crystal EP. Using a MISTI makes this a cinch ;)

Anyway, be sure to check out all the Design Team inspiration HERE on the CAS Colours & Sketches blog and I hope to see you in the gallery :) Challenge End Time: 6:00 p.m. Eastern U.S. time/11:00 p.m. London U.K. time Monday, January 20, 2017

Hugs

Supplies:-
Uniko Clear Stamps Always & Forever (Retired) and Background Builders: Round In Circles
Ink: Stampin' Up! Real Red, VersaMark and VersaFine Onyx Black
Card: Stampin' Up! Whisper White
Accessories: Stampin' Up! Real Red Enamel Dots and Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine. Foam Adhesive and MISTI tool.

CAS Colours & Sketches #158

Hey!

Welcome back to another fun challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. This week is sketch week and our host Patricia has a fun and easy sketch for you...

With Valentine's Day just around the corner I thought I'd make a card suitable to give the hubby ;) and this is what I came up with second time round...

The first card I made which I will share further down was fun to make, but once I had finished it, it wasn't CAS enough. So this is how this card came about! 

I decided to ink up All Occasion Sentiments #5 as it is now back in stock HERE on the website along with 7 other clear stamp sets. I paired it with a tiny heart from Flower Power #3 and a 'you' die cut from SU! I added some subtle clear Wink of Stella to the die cut and hearts along with a trio of tiny rhinestones.

Here is the first card I made which uses the sketch but isn't quite CAS enough for the challenge...

I used the same supplies, but added in a larger open heart stamp from Always & Forever. Again I added the die cut 'you' and subtle Wink of Stella to the hearts and die cut.

Be sure to stop on by the CAS Colours & Sketches blog HERE to see what the DT have come up with and to link up your projects. Hope to see you in the gallery :)

That's all from me today, I'll be back again with more to share soon, until then, thank you for stopping by.

January 2016 Design Team Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY!

Hey!

I'm SO happy you've stopped by the blog today as today is the January 2016 Design Team Blog Hop. Along with the hop we have a GIVEAWAY! So be sure to grab a drink, get comfy, relax and enjoy.

As we've quite a few new followers here, ("Hello & Thank you") I will explain what's going on! Here at Uniko I *USUALLY* only release new products every other month. This is for a number of reasons, firstly, being an avid paper crafter myself and knowing the current economic climate I know 'some' are on a limited budget when it comes to buying new stash, so this way you're not tempted to splurge too much every month.

The second reason is that it is just me here at Uniko HQ. I currently run this little business single handedly, designing, blogging, demoing, classes, packing. Alongside that I am a full time mum to 16  month old twin boys. So releasing every other month gives me chance to keep my head above water, well...just about!

So, on the in-between release months the Design Team & I take a look back at a previously released product, dust it off and give it some love.

This month I decided to take a look back at the previously released Always & Forever clear stamp set...

As you can see this set has a love theme & with Valentine's Day just around the corner I thought it would be nice to give you some' lovely' inspiration. Even though the sentimhents are geared towards Valentine's Day I hope to show you that the set is also good for Anniversaries, Weddings & general occasion cards too. 

As usual I like to show a couple of my old favourite creations & more can be found HERE on the Always & Forever Pinterest page.

This first card shows how the set coordinates with the flower from Beautiful Blooms I and I have also paired them with a sentiment from All Occasion Sentiments #1.

This second old favourite pairs the set with Background Builders: Round In Circles and the card was left sentiment free so it could be used for any occasion. 

Ok, how about some new inspiration using this set...

My card today uses the 'Love You' heart which instead of stamping I printed it using my new laser printer so that I could foil it through my new Heidi Swapp Minc Machine that I got from Santa! I'm sure you will be seeing LOTS of foiling over the next few weeks as you know I am addicted already ;) 

I'm keeping my fingers tightly crossed for some new Minc mediums being released at CHA this weekend, which will be good for stamping & card making. But I will also be exploring some ideas I've seen on You Tube too and sharing the results with you.

Anyway, for my card I die cut my tag from some left over SU! CS and stamped my sentiment from the set in VersaFine Onyx Black ink. I adhered my foiled heart using DST and after adding some ribbon and bakers twine mounted it onto my card base using foam adhesive. I added some tiny black heart die cuts also from SU! and gave them a splash of Wink Of Stella too.

Before we get to the traditional blog hop I would firstly like to introduce you to a new member of the Uniko Design Team. Please give a warm welcome to...

Lindsey Bowe from Doodlings

Welcome to the Uniko DT Lindsey & we all look forward to seeing your creations & inspirations using Uniko products :)

How about some more inspiration using this set from the FABulous DT...

CLICK HERE to see more from Deborah

CLICK HERE to see more from Jane

CLICK HERE to see more from Lindsey

CLICK HERE to see more from Sarah P

It wouldn't be a blog hop without a GIVEAWAY right? 

Simply comment along the hop to be in the chance of winning this featured set along with an eGift certificate for £10 to spend in store. Or if you win and already own the set an eGift certificate for £15 will be awarded. You have until midnight Sunday 17th Jan 2016 to comment and the winner will be announced on Monday 18th Jan 2016.

Thank you for stopping & hopping along with us today :)

Still TIME to play @ TIME OUT Challenges - Inspired By Words

* First post of the day, please come back again at 9am for our Guest Designer & USC #13 reminder post * 

Hey!

I'm back today with a reminder card for the 13th TIME OUT Challenge and this time it's a inspired by words challenge, the phrase for this fortnights challenge is...

If music be the food of love, play on

What do these words inspire you to create? I was inspired by the word love this time, which resulted in this card...

I used Uniko Studio Always and Forever stamp set & simply stamped the 'love you' heart in red ink & fussy cut around it. I adhered it to the white CS layer using foam adhesive then stamped the sentiment 'with all my heart' in black ink.

For all the info and to link up your challenge be sure to stop by the TIME OUT Challenges blog. I look forward to seeing your creations :) I'll be back tomorrow with more to share, until then, thank you for stopping by today.

Supplies:

Card Stock: White from stash. SU! Real Red

Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black. Avery Elle Cherry

Stamps: Uniko Studio Always & Forever

Accessories: PTI Fresh Snow Twill Ribbon & Foam Adhesive.

New Challenge DT Call - Time Out Challenges

Hey!

WOW! What a fabulous few days! Did you all enjoy the NEW release? I know a lot did as you kept me busy fulfilling orders! Well, if you missed the post & blog hop you can catch up on it HERE and there is still time to comment along the hop to be in the chance of winning the prizes up for grabs.

Anyway, today I am telling you all about a NEW challenge blog called TIME OUT Challenges that is starting with it's first challenge in March & currently has a DT Call. I thought I would give it a go and try out for the team, as you all know I do love a challenge blog! 

The theme for the DT call is Love and/or Friendship & this is what I came up with...

It wouldn't be Valentine's Day without a card for my husband! I decided to keep the hearts to a minimum an decided to use the NEW Explosion! set, as after all he is a guy and he might send me hearts and flowers but I know that they aren't his favourite!

I started out by using the current CAS(E) this Sketch! layout seen HERE and below.

I then stamped the explosion & LOVE sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and simply coloured it in with a red Copic marker and the sentiment in a pink Copic marker. I then trimmed the explosion out not leaving any border, which is really easy as it's all straight lines!

I then temporarily adhered the explosion to the white CS layer to stamp the exploding lines, 'YOU' sentiment which is masked from A Gift For You and the heart stamped from Always & Forever. The white layer is mounted to the black card base using foam adhesive as is the explosion.

Ok, that's all from me today, I had better get the dinner prepared, a lovely steak & chips over candle light tonight, plus lots of snuggles on the sofa with a good movie is planned! 

I hope you all have a LOVELY Valentine's Day & thank you for stopping by today :)

Supplies

Card Stock: White & Black from stash

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & VersaMagic Pink Petunia

Stamps: Uniko Studio Explosion!, A Gift For You & Always & Forever

Accessories: Copic Marker R46 & RV55, Foam Adhesive

Always & Forever

Hey!

I'm kicking the week off with another LOVE themed card...

The card uses a combination of challenges. First up is the current "Less is More" challenge seen HERE and below, which is a sketch challenge.

Next, I have used the current Dynamic Duos challenge colours seen HERE and below...

I started out by stamping the 'Always & forever' sentiment on to a panel of white card. I then adhered a panel of black card above and below the sentiment and adhered the whole lot to a Melon Mambo panel and then a white card base. The 'Love You' heart is stamped in SU! Melon Mambo and cut out and adhered to the card using foam adhesive. I added some glitter to the wording for that little added sparkle.

A perfect card to give to that special someone in your life, not just for Valentine's Day but anytime! I'm not so patiently waiting for the delivery guy today, yummy new stamps are soon to be inked ;) and there is much to be done in preparation for their arrival, I had best get to it! Until tomorrow, thank you for stopping by today & have a lovely day.

Supplies
Card Stock: SU! Basic Black & Melon Mambo. White from stash
Ink: SU! Melon Mambo
Stamps: Uniko Studio Always & Forever and All Occasion Sentiments #5
Accessories: Hero Arts Prisma Glitter

Love Hearts

Hey!

Today I have a couple more cards to share from Saturday, these I made during the demo, just a couple of ideas I had sketched out prior to doing the demo...

This first card uses the 'Love You' heart from Always & Forever paired with a trio of mini hanging glittered hearts.

The second combines the Always & Forever set with this months featured set Accent Essentials: Arrows.

I love this colour combo and the angles and multi directional flow of arrows. The embossed & raised 'Love You' heart draws the main focus and the point of the heart towards the 'Always & Forever 'sentiment.

Short & sweet from me today, I'm working on some exciting things for the upcoming February Release, one of which is a NEW website with LOTS of NEW & exciting features (with hubby's much needed help & knowledge!). Best get on as he has given me tasks to accomplish! 

Until tomorrow, thank you for stopping by today :)

Supplies

Card Stock: PTI Kraft. SU! Bermuda Bay. White & Red from stash

Ink: VersaMagic Red Magic & Turquoise Gem. VersaFine Onyx Black

Stamps: Uniko Studio Always & Forever & Accent Essentials: Arrows

Accessories: Stampedous! Crystal EP. Foam Adhesive. Hero Arts Prisma Glitter