March Meet The Maker - Workspace

Happy FriYAY!

Today on March Meet The Maker it is all about workspaces. I've shared a reel over on Uniko's Instagram & Facebook of a little walk through my space, but I thought I would share a few photos here for those of you who are not on social media.

This is where I spend my days & the Uniko magic happens! My space is small, it is the box room in our house and I share the space with my husband too when he sometimes works from home. I had to make room for him when his office became a room for a Bean when they decided they were too big to share a room. 

My desk isn't usually this tidy! 

I did tidy up especially for today and if you look closely there is lots of things out of place and not organised at all. Hence why I haven't done a 'studio tour'! 

When I say Uniko is a small business, it is exactly that. There is no warehouse or staff, all of the Uniko inventory is neatly organised alphabetically in these white boxes. I can easily pick and pack an order when I need to. 

I do have plans in place for when my inventory outgrows this space, but for now, it works.

How cute is this pin? 

Lightening Laser are the sponsors of March Meet The Maker 2025 and it was generously free to those taking part. I've some ideas whirring as to some fun Uniko pins in the near future as this is just lovely.

And, I couldn't blog without sharing a card.

I've had this one made for a while and sat on my desk waiting to be photographed. As you can see from my post yesterday I have been loving the Stencil - Layering Picked Posies. 

My sentiment is from Spring Botnicals Tulip and stamped in Dove ink as I wanted it to be soft and not overpowering like it would be stamped in black.

That's all from me today. 

Crafty Hugs

Welcome Spring!

Hello 😃

Happy Spring to those of you in the Northern Hemisphere 🌷 It's such a delight to finally have the sunshine here, although still chilly on a morning and when it goes it, it really does help lift the mood. Even more so when today is also International Day of Happiness.

With it being a day of happiness I had to do things that make me happy. First up was making trio of cards using the Stencil - Layering Picked Posies that have been on my creative mind all week. 

Although this layering stencil is perfect all year round, it was screaming for spring colours. And of course I went for my usual colour palette that really makes me happy.

First up I went for a fun square layout using square die cuts. I made a similar card over on the Seven Hills Crafts blog today using this layout.

This partial inking on the squares is a fun way to use the flowers only and I left a space without the square to stamp my sentiment from Everyday Spring Sentiments.

Next up it was only right that I used all four layers for a focal point panel. This time I added in a little purple for the smaller flowers, of which I simply used the ink left on the blending brush for a softer look.

I adhered the stencilled panel onto my card base using double sided tape, leaving me to add the sentiment strip using foam adhesive. Again my sentiment is from the Everyday Spring Sentiments.

Lastly for today I wanted to use the full bloom on its own as a single flower. I used some simple masking to ink the leaves I wanted. 

I chose to have a little more dimension on this card by adhering the flower using foam adhesive and again, another of the sentiment choices from the Everyday Spring Sentiments.

Which layout do you like best?

I can't choose a favourite today as I had so much fun inking and making. 

As today is International Day Of Happiness and I know we can all do with a bit more happiness, so I have a HAPPY10 discount code over on the website today until 9am tomorrow 21st March 2025. No code necessary.

Crafty Hugs

March Meet The Maker - Detail or Variant

Hello & Happy Wednesday.

Today on March Meet The Maker, it is all about a detail or variant. I couldn't decide which to focus on for today, so thought I would share both a detail and a variant! 

First up a Uniko detail.

Ever since my very first order I have included a hand stamped (Uniko of course), hand written thank you note. Because I truly am thankful for each and every order no matter how big or how small it keeps my little dream business going ♥️

The stamp image varies as to what I have out on my desk at the time and I usually stamp a few ready to have on hand when I need them.

Next up is the variant. 

I had to showcase my Ink & Flip Stencils somewhere in March Meet The Maker! I'm so proud of this flippin' fun stencil concept and the collection has variations within the theme of inking, cleaning, flipping, and inking again to reveal the image. 

Originally I started with a one layer stencil, they have progressed to two layer stencils and this year I have a BRAND NEW variation coming! It's flippin' fun and there isn't too long to wait until you see the first of this new variant.

Today I decided to ink up Ink & Flip Layering Geometric Heart, Ink & Flip Layering Geometric Gem and Ink & Flip Layering Flower. Though I only used one layer of these two layer stencils. For the sentiments I have used a mix from Everyday Love Sentiments, Everyday Spring Sentiments & Sparkle Sentiments.

If you've not seen these in action, I highly recommend checking out the various videos on the Uniko YouTube Channel.

Crafty Hugs

BA Inspiration using Uniko Stencils: CAS card

  Hello everyone!

Happy Tuesday!

Vinita here. I had so much fun playing with new and old stencils!

These two stencils are a fantastic match. I always love to use small elements to highlight my card. And I love the way the card turned out!

 I used the quilted stencil first, using forest glacier Altenew ink on a white panel. Then I used one of the layering stencils from the Layering Bright Butterflies stencil set to create a purple floral background using Lavender filler and midnight violet Altenew inks.

 I adhered the floral panel onto a textured green panel and then on my white card base.

The sentiment is from the Flower Power #10 set. And I jeweled it for finishing touch.

Here is a closer look........

I hope you feel inspired!

Happy crafting!

March Meet The Maker - Aim

The Sky Isn't The Limit, It's Just The View.

Hello & Happy Monday.

Today on March Meet The Maker, it is all about aims. I've lots of aims this year, more than I will probably achieve! 

But I see it like this sentiment above which I used on my card today and how I interpret it. Why limit yourself?

Why should the sky be the limit? 

There is so much more beyond that, well that's what I think. That's why I included this sentiment in the Up & Away stamp set which I used on my card today.

Here's a few of my aims this year...

💕 Be authentically me.

To continue to be unique, true to my style, releasing products that are fun and spark creativity.

💕Be more visible.

It took me a few years to get out from behind the computer screen and take Uniko to paper craft shows. This year my aim is to take Uniko further a field in the UK and add a few more shows to my list. 

Along with that I want to be more visible across social media, and maybe even show my face a little more on camera! 

💕Learn & develop to improve.

This year I am invested in learning and developing my skills to improve how I showcase my products and design. From better photography to implementing and expanding features available on the Uniko website. 

That is just a little outline of some of my aims this year. I could probably write a dissertation on the subject of my aims in 2025. But I know the visual inspiration is what you'd rather have 😜

Today I used a Spellbinders die to create a frame mask to ink the Stencil - Cloud 9 through. I used 3 shades of blue, Powder, Harbor and Blueberry. 

I stamped the hot air balloon adding the basket and flag tail for a little bit of a different look and coloured with my Copic Markers. 

Finishing with my favourite sentiment. 

That's all from me today.

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.

 

March Meet The Maker - Tools & Materials

Happy FriYAY! 

Today on March Meet The Maker it's all about tools and materials. Here at Uniko HQ the tools and materials vary depending on what I am doing business wise.

Let's start with a little behind the scenes at the tools I use to design Uniko products. 

Sometimes I dust off my sketchbook and gather my pens and pencils, going back to my design degree roots and draw my designs first.

I then take all my designs onto the computer and digitise them ready to send to my manufacturers to either turn into stamps, stencils and occasionally designer dies.

Most times these days now that I am a little more proficient in Adobe Illustrator I go straight to designing digitally. I use my iPad and Apple Pencil to do this and I use a cool app which shows what I am doing on my large screen at the same time. 

I often have a stack of design books I am using for reference on my windowsill, I do love a browse in a book to find that spark of creative inspiration.

Next comes the tools and materials I use when I am crafting and showing how the products I design can be used. Here are a few of my 'go to' supplies. 

Of course there will be Uniko Clear Stamps and Uniko Stencils on my usually chaotic desk. Yes, I gave it a tidy to take photos 😂

Then there will be inks, my current favourite are Concord & 9th, white card stock from Stampin' Up! then there are ink blending brushes, my trusty MISTI stamping platform and my Tim Holtz Tonic Studios paper trimmer. 

Of course there are LOTS of other things I use, my VERY old Sizzix Big Shot die cutting machine, makers, pencils, tapes, glues and embellishments. The list goes on, and on, and on! 

Today I have selected a rainbow of colours to ink up the Uniko Stencil - Layering Organic Blooms, here's how it turned out.

I used just two of the stencil layers from the set, the leaves and the flowers, inking each layer with the rainbow of colours. 

I used Poppy, Marmalade, Buttercup, Parsley, Oceanside, Blueberry, Fig and a little smidge of Honeysuckle. 

Once I'd inked up the layers I decided it needed a little more detail, so I opted to stamp the coordinating flowers from the Organic Blooms clear stamp set in black ink. The sentiment I used is also from the stamp set, which I adhered using foam tape, with a few enamel dots finishing my card.

As you know I can't choose a favourite colour, why choose one when you can have them all, right?! But the other reason is that this month the challenge over in the Uniko VIP Facebook group is all about rainbows.

The group is private over on Facebook, a nice friendly space to share all of your Uniko makes. Follow the link HERE to request to join and also join in on the rainbow fun this month. There is a £10 eGift code up for grabs. 

Crafty Hugs