Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Christmas Blossom

Good morning, 

Steph here today looking at how to use non Christmas stencils to create Christmas cards. 

As with our revisit of the 2025 Uniko release products earlier this month, I have focussed my Brand Ambassador inspiration on Christmas and a 2025 release product, namely Uniko Layering Spring Blossom stencil.

I have used one inking of the Spring Blossom stencil to create all three cards and added elements to the last card using Uniko Layering Bauhaus Christmas Blocks stencil. 

Once I had inked the panel in Christmas colours, I placed a stitched die so that half of it contained the florals and half did not. I then stamped the 'Peace, Love &' part of the sentiment onto the blank half. On another piece of card I stamped 'joy' from the Uniko Big & Bold Joy stamp set, fussy cut, adhered to vellum and fussy cut leaving a border. 

From the remaining inked panel I die cut a circle and mat it to a larger die cut circle of dark green card. I stamped the sentiment from the Uniko Simply Said Blocks Christmas stamp set and adhered this using foam pads.

This left me with just a small amount of the inked panel remaining so I die cut an oval and used the Uniko Mid Century Modern Baubles stamp set to add a bauble hanger. I inked up two circles using elements from the Uniko Bauhaus Christmas Blocks stencil and added bauble hangers. I threaded all three 'baubles' with twine and adhered to a rectangle of card which I then adhered to the card blank using foam pads. Finally I added a sentiment from the Uniko Simply Said Blocks Christmas stamp set.

Hopefully I've given you some inspiration today and shown you how you can create Christmas cards without necessarily using Christmas stencils or stamps. 

Much love

Steph x

Celebrate With Background Blocks Bauhaus

Hello & Happy Tuesday. 

Today I have a quick card using the Background Blocks Bauhaus stamp which was released back in August. 

This stamp, like all the Background Blocks, is great for quick cards and adding fun patterns. 

I stamped the block twice across the top of my white card panel (9.5 x 13cm) in VersaFine Clair Morning Mist ink. 

I then used a trio of Stampin' Up! Markers in Pretty Peacock, Not Quite Navy and Grapefruit Grove to colour some of the semi circles. 

I finished by adhering the panel to a Concord & 9th Sorbet card base and added a fussy cut celebrate from Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments. Plus a trio of Midnight enamel dots.

A restock of this stamp, all of the July, August and the popular Mid Century Modern collection is due in the studio week beginning 22rd August, so not long to wait now. 

Plus I will have sorted the new USA shipping following the tariffs by then too.

Crafty Hugs

Seasonal Stencil Sunday

 

Happy Sunday.

Today I have another Seasonal Stencil Sunday card and YouTube Video to share with you. In my last video using this stencil Layering Bauhaus Christmas Blocks, HERE, I talked about some other ideas and this was one of them.

This time I wanted to use some of the images on single inchies. I used a Stampin' Up! Stitched Shapes Die, the set comes with squares, circles and ovals I believe. And I have had them for years. 

The smallest square die is just the right size, though the border adds a little technical difficulties that slowed down the process a little during the video! 

It turned out pretty good in the end and I finished with a sentiment from Christmas Sentiments and a few enamel dots as well. 

I've another fun idea up my sleeve using this stencil and or the original Layering Bauhaus Blocks, but I'm saving to share that one when I am back from my vacation.

Just a little reminder...

Not long now till I am back! 

Crafty Hugs

September 2025 Non-Release Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY!

 Welcome to the September 2025 Non-Release Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY! 

For those of you who are new around these parts I will explain what this post is all about...

Here at Uniko HQ it is just myself behind the screen, blogging, designing, packaging stamps & orders through the Uniko online shop, customer service and all the things in between. I *usually* release new product every other month or so, for a number of reasons, but mainly so I can keep up with everything!

On non - release months like this month I like to set myself and the Brand Ambassadors a challenge to look back at a previously released product and give it some more love. Plus, I think it's always nice to revisit older sets and provide more inspiration and not just from me.

This month I set myself and the Brand Ambassadors a difficult challenge, to choose a favourite or favourites from one of the 2025 Releases! 

So far in 2025 we have had the following products released...

January 2025

Background Builders Flower Power

Flower Power #11 

Simply Said Blocks Occasions

Sparkle Sentiments

Stencil - Ink & Flip Layering Flower 

Stencil - Ink & Flip Geometric Gem

Stencil - Layering Picked Posies

Stencil - Mid Century Modern Circles & Stars

February 2025

Alphabet Solid

Background Blocks Waves

Bright Butterflies

Stencil - Layering Bright Butterflies

Stencil - Layering Organic Blooms

Organic Blooms

Spring Botanicals Primrose

Stencil - Geometric Happy Birthday

April 2025

Butterfly Serenade 

Originally Organic Flower Garden

Stencil - Layering Flower Fusion

Stencil - Layering Spring Blossom

Stencil - Ink & Flip Diamonds

July 2025

Background Blocks Merry Christmas Scramble

Background Blocks My Favourite Colour

Flower Power #12

Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Christmas Blocks

Stencil - Ink & Flip Christmas Tree Pattern

Stencil - Ink & Flip Snowflake Pattern

August 2025

Background Blocks Bauhaus

Background Blocks MOD Builder Circles

Background Blocks Swiss Dots

Background Builders Mid Century Modern

Stencil - Ink & Flip Mid Century Leaves

Stencil - Layering Retro Lines 

Wowsers, that's a lot of products to choose from! Even I found it a challenge to choose, but let's see what the Brand Ambassadors have chosen and created. Don't forget to comment along the hop for your chance to win a £25 eGift code to spend in store. 

Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Steph

Vinita

It's lovely seeing all the different products the Brand Ambassadors have chosen to use, so many wonderful techniques too. 

I know that a lot of clear stamps are currently out of stock, I have a bunch of restocks coming when I return from my vacation mid September.

I hope you left some comment love along the way, I will randomly select a comment to win the £25 eGift code on Monday 29th September 2025. So be sure to comment before then.

Have you joined the Uniko VIP Facebook group? A new challenge starts today and by entering a card you have the chance to win £10 to spend in store! 

Also a little friendly reminder...

Crafty Hugs

Swiss Dots & Bright Spring Blossom Card & Video

 

Happy Monday. 

I thought I would start the week of with another fun Background Blocks Swiss Dots and stencil combination. 

Remember THESE cards I shared pairing the Background Blocks Swiss Dots and Layering Picked Posies. Well, I fancied trying something similar with different colours and a different stencil. 

I chose the Layering Spring Blossom stencil along with a current favourite colour combination of Wildberry, Plumberry and Rainforest. I also used VersaFine Clair Morning Mist to stamp the Swiss Dots. 

You can watch the video HERE where I embark on this creative adventure. 

And here is the end result...

A different result for sure and maybe a little too busy for my usual liking. But it was fun to create and experiment with different colours and combinations. 

That's all from me today, have a wonderful Monday.

Crafty Hugs

Happy Anniversary - Celebrating 12 Years 💞

Happy Saturday.

Today is our 12th wedding anniversary and I thought I would share the card I made for hubby before we left. Not sure how I was so organised before we left! 

This has a clue as to where we are celebrating today 😍

I used the Spellbinders Steamboat Willie Duo Etched Dies, I couldn't resist these when I saw them released as I simply LOVE everything Disney! 

I kept things quite simple and classic for my Mickey & Minnie this time. There are quite a few different poses and combinations. Of course I had to include a little Uniko in there too! I used the Everyday Love Sentiments for the sentiment and Big & Bold Love for the tiny hearts.

Wishing you a magical day! 

Crafty Hugs

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

Seasonal Stencil Sunday - Double Ink & Flip

Happy Sunday.

Today I have a seasonal stencil Sunday card to share with you, a double Ink & Flip Christmas Tree card. I've had this idea to pair the new Ink & Flip Christmas Tree Pattern with one layer of the older Layering Geometric Christmas Tree.

And it turned out just how I imagined. 

I went for some non-traditional colours for this card, using Concord & 9th Grapefruit and Sorbet for the background pattern, then Eucalyptus and Rainforest for the focal tree. 

The focal tree is adhered to the card using foam tape and I finished with a sentiment from Simply Said Blocks Christmas stamped in VersaFine Clair Morning Mist and a trio of Sorbet enamel dots.

I think there is a lot of fun to be had with this combination of stencils with colour and texture. If you fancy watching how this card came together I have a short over on the Uniko YouTube Channel HERE.

Have a lovely Sunday.

Crafty Hugs

BA Inspiration, Bauhaus Blocks

 Afternoon, Julie here with a card I made for my final week of guesting with the girls at JUGS. This week is stencil week and so I couldn't help myself and reached for the fab Christmas Layering Bauhaus Blocks stencil. Then I thought why not combine it with the regular Layering Bauhaus Blocks set, win win in my view!

I've gone large for this card, a full A5 white base card with an A6 panel for the stencilling. 

I started by inking through the Christmas set into the middle of my white A6 panel using Mowed Lawn, Candied Apple and Worn Lipstick Distress Inks, before filling in and around with a mix of the regular Bauhaus Stencil and Christmas one, keeping to the same colours. Just using these colours makes the standard stencil feel festive!

Once complete, the panel was trimmed to neaten up and double mounted onto some red and green card. A sentiment from one of my first ever Uniko purchases, not even sure of the name now but it's well used, was stamped with more Candied Apple and then embossed with clear super fine EP from WOW. I've learnt the hard way that stamping in a colour then adding clear EP is so much cleaner than using coloured EPs and easier on your pocket too!

So that's all for today, happy crafting!

Wonderful Wednesday - A Winner & A Card

Hello & Happy Wednesday. 

I'm here to get you over the mid week hump with some inspiration and the winner of the August Release Blog Hop.

First up my card...

My card was inspired by being out in the garden this morning doing the outside jobs before we go on holiday, like mow the lawns, dead head the flowers in the baskets and sort the chickens too. 

I've not inked up the Layering Picked Posies for a bit, so I thought it would be nice to use for this quick, clean and simple card. 

I recorded a YouTube Short of me making the card, you can watch it HERE. 

I used random.org to select a lucky comment and the winner is...

Melissa Leftrick

Awesome cards!!!

Congratulations Melissa! Please send an email to bev@uniko.co.uk to claim your £25 eGift Code. 

Thank you to everyone who took the time to comment and hop along with us.

Before I go, a little friendly reminder.

Crafty Hugs

Brilliant Bank Holiday Bargains!

Hello & Happy Monday.

It's a holiday Monday here in the UK and I thought I would have add some bargains to the SALE page on the website.

I've a few items that are overstocked and taking up space thats needed for restocks and the next release in the autumn. Be quick as they'll return to normal price on Tuesday morning! 

And here is a couple of cards using a couple of the Bank Holiday Bargains...

Background Builders: Seeing Stars is one of the Bank Holiday Bargains and it is such a fun set for all occasions. I decided to create this simple Congratulations card.

I chose my favourite trio of Honeysuckle, Buttercup, Oceanside and added in Midnight. I then popped the stamped panel onto my card base using foam tape. 

I created a little reel making this card, which I have shared over on the Uniko Instagram page HERE. 

I enjoyed this layout and colour scheme so much I decided to keep it the same for my second card using Organic Blooms.

Again I have another video making this card which I have shared as a YouTube Short over HERE. 

I love both cards, but I think the Seeing Stars card is the one I prefer, I think it's the straight lines of the geometrics that appeal to me. 

Which card do you prefer?

Before I go, a little friendly reminder.

Crafty Hugs

Stencil Sunday - Patchwork Bauhaus Christmas Blocks

Happy Sunday. 

Today I have a fun card to share with you that I also created in a video and shared over on the Uniko YouTube Channel today HERE.

Recently I have seen quite a few patchwork style designs while browsing Pinterest and I had a fun idea to create a card in this style and use the new Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Christmas Blocks in the design. 

Here's how the finished card turned out. 

Fun, isn't it? 

I had no idea how this card would turn out, but I just went for it and I think there is so many ways you could develop this card design. For example you could add the images from the stencil to inch squares cut out and added with dimension or add tone on tone patterns to the coloured squares incorporating the original Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks. 

Just a little heads up in case you've not seen the Uniko newsletter, social media or don't watch the video straight away...

Check back tomorrow for more inspiration and some Bank Holiday Bargains over on the website!

Crafty Hugs