Rustic Merry Christmas

Hello & Happy Thursday.

With the return of Rustic Christmas this week, after it flew off the shelves from its last restock. I thought I had better ink it up and get this idea onto a card before it sold out again! 

I used a little bit of masking for this card to 'trim' off the trunk of the tree at the bottom. It's quite a sizeable focal point tree and I wanted to make sure I had some space in the lower section of my card for the sentiment. Looking at the card now, it looks like the trees are buried in a few feet of snow! 

For this card I dusted off an old technique too. I used a water based marker from Stampin' Up! in Espresso to colour direct onto my stamp down the trunk of the tree and lightly across the middle of the branches. I then 'huffed' to moisten the ink before stamping. I repeated this a couple of times to get a good impression, so using my MISTI was a good idea.

I then alternated between inking the remainder of the stamp with Peacock and Artichoke to stamp the branches of the tree to complete the look. I wasn't too concerned about the colour getting on the branches and trunk as I knew the dark brown would be dominant. 

As you can see I altered the height of the trees for added interest. I finished off with a white heat embossed sentiment from the stamp set. I used Espresso card for the Merry Christmas and Artichoke for the From Our Home To Yours part. Adhering them with foam tape and embellishing with a few Peacock enamel dots.

I loved how this turned out, but it's definitely not one to mass produce! 

Did you see the newsletter and restocks that arrived in store yesterday? I highly recommend signing up HERE for it. 

So much loveliness has returned, I just need a little more creative time to play with them all as you know how restocks inspire me!

Rustic Christmas

Background Blocks Arts Decoratifs Christmas

Rustic Wreath

Happy Succulents

Kindness Blooms

Flower Power #1

Background Blocks Arts Decoratifs

Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks

Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks Stencil Recall
 
If you purchased Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks at Crafterama Lincoln on Sunday 6^th October 2024, please email me at bev@uniko.co.uk  I have recently changed manufacturer for this product and have subsequently discovered a small defect in the first batch I received which were sold at this fair.  I pride myself on providing the best quality products, so this issue is a top priority for me.  As soon as you confirm your purchase I will rectify the issue immediately and send you a replacement.   
 
Anyone who bought a stencil via the website has already been contacted and replacements sent so this recall applies only to in-person sales at that show.   Rest assured that products sold at more recent shows, and stock in our online store are the rectified versions.  Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience if you received a stencil from the faulty batch.

That's all the news from me today.

Crafty Hugs

It Worked... New YouTube Video

Happy Thursday.

Today I recorded a new YouTube video as I promised, showing how I created my card in yesterdays post combining the Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks with Background Blocks MOD Builder. 

For this card though I switched out the Background Blocks MOD Builder for the Stencil - MOD Background Builder, a slightly larger version of the stamp.

I switched up my colour combo for this card, using Honeycomb or Sunflower (I can't remember now), Spiced Cider & Midnight. I show the colours in the video! 

A little pre warning, the video is long, I talk a LOT and I won't be mad if you fast forward during my fussy cutting! So grab a drink and get comfy, or why not get your supplies and craft along with me! 

Here is the link to the video...

Happy Watching & Crafty Hugs

Technique Tuesday - Blackout with Uniko Stamps

Hello & Happy Tuesday. 

In between our new furry addition, Cali (the Calico kitten) playing and napping, I've managed to record a new video for you all and it's now available to watch HERE on the Uniko YouTube Channel.

Last Wednesday I shared THIS card over on the website blog and social media. I used the Stencil - MOD Background Builder for the same technique. 

I then realised that you might not know this technique, or you might. But all the same I thought it would be a fun video. 

Here's a look at the card I made in the video... 

I thought I would use this weeks Card of the Week products, Background Blocks Splatter, Balloon Bash and Everyday Sentiments. 

Have you seen the new feature on the website? 

Every Monday I upload a new card and all the products used are 15% off until the following Monday.

For the background colours I used Honeysuckle, Sorbet, Creamsicle, Sea Foam and Oceanside. For the balloons I used Peacock and Dragonfruit. 

I do hope you'll pop on by to watch the video. 

Crafty Hugs

 

Technique Thursday with Uniko Designer Dies!

Hello & Happy Thursday! 

Gosh, it's a warm one here today. Though I am sure when the sun starts to go down it will cool off, I can feel Autumn in the air. 

Anyway, today I have a fun technique and a video to share. YES, I have been brave and recorded a video. I am still learning and still have a few things to learn to make them pretty. But this card I made yesterday was easier to explain and demonstrate in a video. 

I used BIG & BOLD Snow Clear stamps and BIG & BOLD Snow Designer Dies. Plus there is a bundle option HERE!

My thinking behind this card and technique was that I wanted more of the stamped snowflake design to be seen and not hidden by a large die cut word. 

It's a little fiddly, time consuming and this first card took two attempts! But, I think the results are fun. You can check out my video HERE on You Tube and below is the finished card of the one I made during the video.

I hope you enjoy the video and I'd love you to subscribe, I will be sharing more in the coming days and weeks.

Crafty Hugs 

DT Inspiration - stenciled resist technique

Hello, Wiebke here to share some inspiration with you!

For today I made a colourful "sound card" with a stenciled resist technique.

The Uniko products I've used are the Equaliser stencil and a combination of the stamp sets Life is a Song & Most Wonderful.

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Magic of Music

Magic of Music - Detail

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About this card & technique:

For the stenciled resist technique I first applied a clear embossing paste through the Equaliser stencil onto the paper. After it was complete dry I started adding the colours - this time I used Zig Clean Color Real Brushes and blended them with a moisturised cloth and a brush and some water.

(When you don't have clear embossing paste you can also use clear embossing powder - apply the embossing ink through the stencil and then add the powder - don't forget to use a antistatic powder tool before!)

The embossed areas will stay white / in the colour of your paper and pop out of any colourful background!

Some colours tint clear products - if you want it really clear you need to check the combination of your materials before!

In this case it was ok for me to get some staining, it reminds me more to the old "Winamp Music tool"! ;-)

I cut down my paper in the shape of the equaliser blocks (with a similar edge around) and adhered it to my cardbase. The sentiment is a combination of two different Uniko stamp sets - Life is a Song & Most Wonderful,

To repeat the clear part of the background I used clear embossing powder for the first part of my sentiment "believe in the magic of" and white powder for the "music" and the note.

To add some sparkle, I drew a slim line around the sentiment with the amazing Sakura Gelly Roll - clear star pencil.

The headphones are a die cut (sorry, I have no brand name). I combined a normal black and a pearlescent black paper to get some optical dimension. The shells are adhered on the card with some 3D pads, for the rest I used a strong fluid glue.

To get the full list of all used supplies please hop to my blog.

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Musical greetings from Wiebke.

DT inspiration - Eraser technique

Bonjour !

Izzy here. Today I want to share with you a technique that I recently discovered on Papierelle's blog and that I particularly love. This is the Eraser technique.

For this technique I used the Pure Florals Peony stamp set released this past December together with the Large Background French Script stamp released in May 2018.

All you need for this technique is a pencil, sandpaper, a sponge, an eraser and a stamp. And the process is very easy : 

1. Rub off some graphite of the pencil over the sandpaper.
2. Pick up the graphite with a sponge and sponge it onto your card stock
3. Stamp the image you chose on top of this sponging
4. And to finish, erase the surfaces of your image you want to be white

Easy peasy, no ?

To make my card I cut a rectangle of Strathmore Bristol and I sponged it with the graphite. I stamped the gorgeous peonies with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I also stamped them on post-it notes to use them as masks to be able to stamp the French Script Background with a light gray ink.

Then I erased the inside surface of the peonies and I used my new loved pencil brushes to colour them. If you try this technique you will notice that the choice of the paper is important. Depending on the paper, it is sometimes hard to completely make the surface white. For this card I've used Strathmore Bristol because it's a very smooth surface and I knew it's compatible with the use of the Zig Clean Colour pen brush as watercolour pencils.

Even with this smooth card stock I didn't succeed to totally erase the graphite on the peonies. But I loved the vintage look it gives mixed together with the pink watercolour that's why I went on. To finish I sponged Black Soot Distress ink on the edges of the card stock. Once everything was totally dry I sprayed a fixative to be sure that the graphite would not smear everywhere.

I adhered this panel on top of a white card stock and I stamped a birthday sentiment which comes from the Pure Florals Chrysanthemum set. I love how this card looks, the peonies really stand out over the grey background !

I hope I inspired you with this gorgeous stamp set. It completes so beautifully the Pure Florals collection. It's my new favourite and a must have !

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a fabulous day !

Izzy xx

Bunny with Balloons!

Hey & Happy Monday!

I do hope your week has got off to a good start? We had a dusting of the white stuff outside this morning, which was fun for the beans to run about in for a few minutes before we went to do errands. I'm almost back to full health and I had a little creative time yesterday afternoon while the beans were napping to create todays card...

This was one of the cards I had planned on making for the release, but due to getting poorly it didn't happen, until now. I hope it was worth the wait?! 

I have used Some Bunny which is paper pieced, a really fun and easy technique to do with the bunny and paired him with the previously released but recently back in stock Balloon Bash clear stamp set. The sentiment is from Simply Said Birthday.

That's all I have for you here today, but I also have a Stamp Of The Week card HERE using this weeks SOTW, which is Balloon Bash. I'd love you to pop on over and see what I have over there today too :)

Ok, I will be back tomorrow with another bunny card and post. Until then, thank you for stopping by today.

A continuing theme...

Hey & Happy Weekend!

Today I've been at The Paperlane 'teaching' my last 2 classes before I take maternity leave (of sorts). I'll still be organising the kits for the August & September classes & running the business here at home, but won't be back at The Paperlane till October.

Anyway, one of the techniques we explored today was the baby wipe stamping which I shared HERE and HERE. These are a couple of cards included in the kit using the technique and the revisited set for this month, Pure Florals: Chrysanthemum...

I really liked a card layout I had seen HERE on this post by Nichole Heady & instantly thought of the small solid Chrysanthemum. I'm still loving the angled trend and love the reverse die cut / stamping technique.

An interesting discovery today using the baby wipe technique is that you get different results as to the type of baby wipe you use. On some the inks spread and blend more that on others, so it's good to experiment!

Now for a super CAS vibrant rainbow Chrysanthemum! This makes me happy this card & again I've used my FAVE combo of colours! 

That's all from me today, it's been a lovely but long day so I think I will hit the sack! Don't forget to join in & comment along the DT Blog Hop HERE for your chance to win the revisited set & dies or Gift Certificate to the same value.

Until tomorrow, thank you for stopping by :)

Supplies
Card Stock: White from stash. SU! Melon Mambo
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black
Stamps: Uniko Studio Pure Florals: Chrysanthemum
Accessories: Uniko Studio Designer Dies Pure Florals: Chrsyanthemum. SU! Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, Summer Sun & Pumpkin Pie Ink Refills. Fine Liner.

Baby Wipes?!

Hey!

Sorry for being MIA yesterday, I had a REALLY disturbed night with the 'lil beans. They were going CrAzY all night making me feel sick and I got little sleep. I did get a bit done during the day, but mainly making a dent in the amount of wedding invites to be done for Karl's cousin!

Anyway, they must have worn themselves out and I had a much better night last night, hence lots of card making in the studio :) Mainly cards for the class kits on Saturday at The Paperlane. This will be my last class 'teaching' until October, though I will be supplying kits to Caz for August & September that Caz will teach.

I've had a little play with a new to me technique, baby wipe stamping which I came across HERE. To say that I am impressed is an understatement and I really like the results. 

This was my first card using the technique. Don't the flowers look HAPPY & a little psychedelic? All the colours & stamps I've used are listed below in the supplies.

OK, I had better carry on whilst I've some energy & the 'lil beans are fairly quiet! If you want to explore this technique more we will be having a go at it in the classes on Saturday - I'd LOVE you to join me if you're in the area. If not the video I linked to above has all the details! 

That's all from me today, but I will be back tomorrow along with the Design Team for a Revisited Blog Hop - I hope you will join in on the FUN :) Until then, thank you for stopping by today.

Supplies

Card Stock: White from stash

Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black

Stamps: Uniko Studio A Gift For You & Flower Power #5

Accessories: Baby Wipes, Ink Refills (SU! Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie & Summer Sun), Black Fine Liner

Muse Guest Designer

Hey & Happy Monday!

I'm super happy to kick off this week with the honour of being the muse over at Muse. I was beyond thrilled when Ardyth emailed me a while back to see if I would Guest Design and how could I refuse such an honour and opportunity?!

This is the card I came up with...

The idea of the challenge is as follows:

* Use the Muse card as inspiration, explain your interpretation and link back to the Muse challenge.

* Provide supportive comments to at least 3 of your fellow member's submissions

* Vote for 3 of your fellow member's submissions that you find inspiring.

I used the white wash watercolour technique that I used on THESE cards. I love this technique, though it can be time consuming, but overall relaxing too. 

I hope I've inspired you to create and I hope that you'll join in on the challenge over at Muse :)

As this card incorporates a watercolour technique I thought I would enter it into the current "Less is More" challenge HERE, which is all about watercolours this week.

That's all from me today, I will be back tomorrow with more to share & until then, thank you for stopping by :)

Supplies
Card Stock: PTI Kraft
Ink: VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black & White Pigment Ink
Stamps: Uniko Studio English Country Garden - Butterflies & A Gift For You
Accessories: White Embossing Powder & SU! Brights Markers

Just.... a note!

Hey!

So I know why I've not had much energy these past few days, bugs! Urgh :( Fighting off a sore throat which has now turned into a head cold is much harder when you're pregnant! It's been a day of bed rest here today, but in between naps I was cleaning my desktop and came across this card that I made a while back & not shared with you...

It uses a 'ghosting' technique which I learn't from the amazing Jennifer McGuire which I have also shared before HERE. 

Short & sweet from me today as there is much resting & recuperating to be done. I really don't want this bug hanging around too long! I will be back tomorrow as it's time for the next TIME OUT Challenge. Until then, thank you for stopping by today :)

Supplies

Card Stock: SU! Crumb Cake

Ink: SU! Crumb Cake & Lucky Limeade. Papertrey Ink Fresh Snow, Summer Sunrise, Raspberry Fizz & Hawaiian Shores.

Stamps: Uniko Studio Background Builders: Squared, All Occasion Sentiments #1 and Flower Power #1

Accessories: Embroidery Floss, Pearls & Foam Adhesive

White Wash Watercolour Technique

Hey!

Today I thought I would share a few more cards which we made during the class at The Paperlane on Saturday, using a white wash technique that I came across. I made 3 cards using the technique...

This first card uses the Gerbera from Pure Florals: Gerbera which will be back in stock in the next couple of weeks.

We also used the Chrysanthemum from Pure Florals: Chrysanthemum...

There are only a few steps to achieving this look which are really simple which I have shown in picture format.

1. Stamp your chosen outline image in VersaMark or white pigment ink onto kraft card stock & emboss with white embossing powder. (You can use other colours of card stock as I will show you further down the post. I saw it done on the kraft & loved the look).

Stamping & embossing the image helps with the next couple of steps, keeping the white wash & colours inside! 

2. Next is applying the white wash. I used the lid of my white pigment ink as a pallet, but you could use a craft mat or piece of acetate. Smoosh some white pigment ink onto it and using fine watercolour brush and a small amount of water paint the image...

3. The next step is to start adding colour...

You want to choose fairly bright colours as over laying them over the white wash & blending them mutes them some what. For the pink Gerbera I used Melon Mambo & Regal Rose and for the Chrysanthemum I used Pumpkin Pie & Summer Sun. 

Using the same technique and supplies as applying the white wash I started adding the colours. In the picture above in the top right I have shown just the Pumpkin Pie added to areas of the petals and to the lower left I have used the Summer Sun & blended them to create a natural look. When I painted the original I did all the dark shaded areas with Pumpkin Pie first then I went over with the Summer Sun and if necessary went back adding more Pumpkin Pie if needed.

4. Once the whole image was painted, I went over with a dry baby wipe to remove any colour which had gone onto the white embossed lines.

It's quite a lengthy process, but it is relaxing and enjoyable and I think the results are beautiful! In this next photo I experimented & used black card stock. I used exactly the same colours as the Chrysanthemum on kraft card.

Both look stunning, but I do prefer the kraft version better. It is on my to do list to experiment with other colours of card stock! 

Along with the two floral cards I decided to use the technique on a one layer card using one of the doilies from Decorative Doilies - The Hands Of Time...

Again I started out by stamping the doily in VersaMark & embossing with white. I then applied the white wash. For the colours I kept it simple and I haven't done any blending...

I started with SU! Bermuda Bay which is a bright turquoise colour. I used a really fine watercolour brush to apply the colour to the spokes of the doily. I then used a retired SU! colour Baja Breeze which is a pale turquoise colour to fill in the other areas of the doily. Even with just applying flat watercolour a stunning result is achieved!

I hope that I have explained the technique to you all so that you can give it a try. If there is anything you are unsure of just leave me a comment to which I will reply or send me an email & I will reply by email.

Ok, that's all from me just now,  I will be back later to announce the WINNER of the March DT Blog Hope prize. Until then, thank you for stopping by :)

Supplies:

Card Stock: SU! Crumb Cake. PTI Autumn Rose & Melon Berry Black from stash

Ink: VersaMark. Memories White Pigment Ink. SU! Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun (retired) Bermuda Bay & Baja Breeze (retired).

Stamps: Uniko Studio Pure Florals: Gerbera, Pure Florals: Chrysanthemum, Decorative Doilies - The Hands Of Time & A Gift For You

Accessories: Water Colour Brush, Corner Rounder, Embroidery Floss, Foam Adhesive, Button & SU! Island Indigo Bakers Twine.