Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Watercolour Wednesday

Morning all, 

Steph here today with my Uniko Brand Ambassador inspiration and this month I wanted to practice my watercolour. I decided that Uniko Organically Zesty stamp set was a good one to use watercolours on and also needed a bit of a sunny lift! 

So for my first attempt I decided to do some ink blending onto the blank card first before stamping the lemon image and then adding more definition with watercolour pencils. 

For my second card I decided to use just the watercolour pencils but this time blend them using a water brush. This resulted in a much paler version of the previous card, not quite as 'zesty'!

Finally I switched to watercolour paints which was a scary prospect for me as I'm most definitely not a natural but I need the practice! I like the result other than the flowers which didn't turn out so well. I also think the green is a bit too bold and needed to be more yellow green like the other two cards. 

So, which version do you like best and what method do you prefer to use yourself? 

Much love

Steph x

March Meet The Maker - Where

Hello & Happy Monday.

Today on March Meet The Maker it is all about WHERE. 

So where can you find Uniko?

Well, the obvious place is the Uniko website...

You won't find Uniko products available on any other website, unless they are an exclusive like I did a while ago with CraftStash for example. I don't wholesale Uniko products out to any other craft shops. 

Every now and then you will find Uniko at paper craft shows such as Stamperama & Crafterama. My next show is in Gateshead on April 6th 2025.

Even though this year I aim to venture further a field with Uniko, there are some shows that have been out of my reach and when I can't be there, Dies to Die For have a small selection of Uniko products on their stand. 

I'd love to know if there is a show you would like to see me at?

Inspiration wise you will find Uniko here on the blog of course, plus Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube.

Talking of inspiration, today I thought I would share this week's Card Of The Week with you...

The fresh sunshine this morning inspired me today to choose this card using Organically Zesty. Plus Julie's recent inspiration HERE inspired me too. You never know, I *might* get round to inking this set up again if my plans this week go to plan! 

That's all from me today. I will be back later this week with more to share including restocks and a new video over on YouTube.

Crafty Hugs

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Organically Zesty

Good afternoon, Julie here with some BA Inspiration.

Today I've got my Color Hues DT hat on as well as my Uniko one on, as it's my turn to host their latest challenge. I chose lemon and lime as the colours and what says this more than the lemon from Organically Zesty! 

Here are a couple of ideas using the lemon stamp from the set. When I went back to the release, I couldn't believe it was way back in May 2022! Here's my first idea using a watercolour technique for the background and to colour the image.

I started by stamping the lemon in black onto MM paper and heat embossing with clear EP. It's just so much easier and cleaner than using black EP. I also stamped over the top again whilst still in my MISTI with Versamark and more clear EP to ensure there was full coverage.

Instead of getting my watercolour paints out I smooshed Altenew die inks onto an acrylic panel to form a palette. If you have reinkers it makes life so much easier, but I don't have any. I first added water to all the leaves then added a wash of Limeade and then some darker Lime ink. A grey Zig watercolour marker created the shadows. A mix of Lemon Yellow and Maple Yellow was used for the lemon, adding texture with a dry brush and the darker yellow ink. Again my Zig brush marker created shadows on the lemon and blossom. The white of the blossom is just the bare paper showing.

The lemon was then fussy cut and put to one side whilst I made my panel.

I found some scrap acetate sheet from some packaging to which I added some of the green ink and then spritzed lightly with water before carefully flipping and stamping onto a panel of white card. I repeated the process until I was satisfied with the coverage. The panel was die cut with a scalloped edged rectangle and mounted with pads onto a white base card followed by my lemon and a sentiment strip stamped with one from the set.

This is the second card I made with the same stamp but set it onto a black panel through which I'd inked with white pigment ink and the scattered polka dots stencil. A simple white panel stamped with another of the sets sentiments was glued in place and the lemon, made the same as the one above added on pads.

I decided to use this second design for the Color Hues challenge, which one would you have chosen?

Well that's all from me for today, happy crafting.

 

Sweet Saturday

Hello & Happy Weekend!

WOW! What a scorcher here in the UK. I love the sunshine and I do miss it when it's not here for sure. But today I have pretty much stayed out of it this afternoon and tried to keep cool in the studio.

I was inspired to dust off Organically Zesty for my cards today and decided to pair it with Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks. Which I am delighted to say is available on backorder HERE and I will be landing in the studio on Monday 25th September.

I started by using the stencil as a focal point on my 9 x 12.5cm card panel using Sprout, Buttercup and Marmalade to ink each of the layers. I then positioned my card in my MISTI to stamp the lemon image and used the fun spotlighting technique for the image to fall onto my base card. 

I used foam tape to raise the stencilled panel and a sentiment from the set with some Marmalade enamel dots finished the card.

I didn't want to favour one fruity image over the other, so went on to make a second card. This time I filled my card base with the Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks. I kept the same vibrant and juicy colours for ease and save cleaning the stencils! 

As you can see I stamped the orange image onto white card and fussy cut along the top edge. I then adhered this to my card base using foam tape. This time I added ,a sentiment from Simply Said Blocks III and again used the Marmalade enamel dots.

Here are both cards side by side. I can't decide which one I like the best can you?

Thanks for stopping by & crafty hugs.

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Zesty Cards

 Bonjour !

Izzy here with two inspiration cards that I'm combining with the current challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More where I used the beautiful layering stencil Zesty.

Playing with this stencil for my Addicted to Stamps and More card, I wanted to give even more love to it so I made this two zesty cards, just the ones you like to receive in summer.

For this first one, I used 2 layers of this stencil set to make the coloured background with Catherine Pooler "Limoncello" and Distress "Mustard seed & Twisted Citron" inks. 

To add a bit of dimension, I added the third layer with the juicy splashes on which I only drew the outlines with a black fine liner. I flat adhered this panel on a double green card.

On a white card stock, I stamped this gorgeous lemon from the Organically Zesty set. With Prismacolor pencils I softly coloured it. Then I fussy cut it and I glued it on a green die cut circle.

To finish, I adhered this lemon on the double card and I stamped the sentiment coming from the same Organically Zesty set.

For my second card, I only used one of the 4 stencils of this layering set. On a square pastel blue card stock, I first used the stencil as an embossing folder. Then I filled in the blank spaces by stencilling with a blue colour pencil.

I had on my desk for a long time these two cocktail glasses, and I thought they would be great on this embossed panel. So I coloured them with new pastel coloured pencils and I fussy cut them.

To finish my card, I flat adhered the embossed panel on a double pastel blue card, I glued the two glasses and I stamped the sentiment coming from the Organically Zesty set.

And now here is a sneak peek of the card I made with this stencil for the Addicted to Stamps and More challenge...

I hope that I inspired you to make fresh and zesty cards. I really love the layering stencil Zesty and the Organically Zesty set that you can find HERE and HERE.

Thanks so much for visiting today. Have a fabulous day and get crafty !

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - I just want to squeeze you!

  Hello everyone!

Happy Wednesday!

Vinita here featuring a lemonade card with a foliage background and  Organically Zesty stamp set to brighten your day!

First I created a foliage background inking with Versafine Onyx black color and heat embossed quickly before drying it using Clear EP. Then slightly blend the crushed olive DO and for the leaves rustic wilderness DO. And added some water splatters and soak the water with a baby wipe.

I stamped a lemon image on a white sheet and colored it with Distress oxides. Fussy cut the image. Before adhering the background panel I distressed the edges all around using DO and the card base too. 

Added some splatters on the lemon image slightly. Then added the sentiment from the same set and popped up the image using double foam tape. 

Hope you are inspired by it!

Happy crafting!

When Life Gives You Lemons...Smile!

Happy Friday.

It's definitely a happy day when the sunshine finally makes a good appearance AND when a batch of Uniko Stencil Restocks arrive!

These beauties, along with the sell out Flower Power #4 from the recent release are now available on the website. All orders containing a stencil backorder were mailed out this morning. Thank you for your patience.

I was inspired to get inky this afternoon and decided to give the Layering Stencil - Zesty a fresh ink up to create this colourful card.

I used all four layers of the stencil for this card, inking up the sliced fruits first in shades of pink, orange, green and aqua. I angled the stencils slightly before inking to add a different look to the card.

Once I finished inking the fruit, I added the juice splatter using Nuvo Glimmer Moonstone Paste, absolutely love the sparkle of this stuff. 

My sentiment choice is partly from Organically Zesty, where I have masked part of the stamped sentiment. This was so I could add the Smile die cut which is from the Uniko Picked Posies Collection. This is available for purchase from CraftStash HERE.

That's all from me today, but I will be back tomorrow with more creative inspiration and a winner! 

Crafty Hugs 

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Zesty Birthdays

 Bonjour !

 Izzy here. In recent months I haven't been much present on blogland neither in my craft room. So after this involuntary break, it is quite hard to find inspiration. And that's where I bless all blogland challenges because that's where I draw my inspiration from.

Today I'm going to show you how I've been inspired by several challenges to use the Organically Zesty Clear Stamp set and the Layering Stencil Zesty.

 

The last Color Hues and Seize the Birthday challenges inspired me for my first card : Navy & Green Lime. 

The word Lime was enough for me to use this beautiful set and to stamp the lemon on white paper , to colour it in lime shades with colour pencils and to fussy cut it. To finish my card, it was easy to choose a double navy card to adhere it on top and to stamp the sentiment with Distress Oxide.

For the final touch, I put some glossy accent on the lemon drops.

For my second card, I've been inspired by the sketch of the Freshly Made Sketch challenge and the colours of CAS Colours & Sketches.

Here is my card

For this one I used the Layering Stencil Zesty in two ways. I first used the four layers with the colours Grape, Mango and Pink to make the foreground panel. Then I used only the "drops" layer stencil as an embossing folder to make the white background panel.

To finish my card I die cut two slices of lemon and coloured them with the same inks and I stamped and black heat embossed the sentiment on a strip of paper that I fussy cut.

So that's it from me for today. I really love these two products. They both match very well together but at the same time they are versatile so that you can use them separately. 

I hope I've encouraged you to have a look on the current challenges and to give some love to your Uniko's products. And thanks for visiting Uniko today !

Two For Tuesday - Alumni Brand Ambassador Rahmat Gouse

Happy Tuesday!

I am delighted to share two beautiful coloured cards by the talented Alumni Brand Ambassador Rahmat Gouse, using the recently released Organically Zesty clear stamps.

I am sure you are with me that Rahmat has wonderful creative talent and patience when it comes to colouring. I was beyond grateful when Rahmat said she would be willing to be called upon for Alumni features when she stepped down.

Just look at the beautiful texture detail on this orange, absolutely stunning. The hand coloured bubbles add the perfect accent without drawing too much focus away from the main feature.

The lemon is just as stunning and I love the added embossing folder texture.

The sentiment Rahmat has used is from Bee Happy clear stamp set and pairs wonderfully with these images.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing and you are as inspired as I am by these beautiful creations by Rahmat. Thank you for stopping by today.

Crafty Hugs

Fresh Monday Feels!

 Happy Monday!

Firstly I want to thank the Uniko Brand Ambassadors for all their amazing inspiration last week. I think you will agree with me in that they provided an amazing array of creative inspiration for us all to enjoy. And secondly a BIG thank you to all of YOU. For your support of Uniko throughout the week and across social media. AND for all your lovely orders 😊

I thought I would start the week off with some more fresh and zesty inspiration using Organically Zesty. I made these two cards last week, inspired by Anita from a while back HERE. I knew I had to give this colouring technique a try.

I started by creating a mask of the orange bloom. I am using Eclipse paper available from Stamp Addicts. I cut a piece as big as my card base, 10.5 x 14cm and I made sure to cut the mask out in one piece so that I could use both the positive and the negative for two cards. 

For this first card I stamped the orange onto my mat card layer. I then used the negative mask and applied it around the stamped image before blending inks over the top. I used Altenew Tropical and Warm & Cozy. I trimmed and adhered the panel to my card base for a subtle effect. The sentiment is from our popular Simply Said Blocks and I added some clear gloss Nuvo Drops to finish.

For my second card I used the positive mask. Again I stamped the orange and used the mask to cover the image before using the same colours to colour the background around the image. 

This time I used a sentiment from Organically Zesty and stamped it inside the orange. I trimmed the panel slightly and adhered it to my white card base. 

This is such a fun technique and I can't definitely see me using it for more images! That's all from me today, I will be back again with more inspiration using the new release. 

Until then, Crafty Hugs