A Couple Of Masculine Makes

Hello & Happy Thursday.

I'm just about sorted for my travels down south tomorrow for Crafterama Kent, so I thought I would pop by and share a couple of masculine cards I've made this week. 

This first card I shared the other day as a YouTube Short, HERE. I love Background Blocks Perspective for quick (ish) masculine makes. 

For this one I created a mask to add some shading using Dove ink. I then removed the mask and add some simple colouring using alcohol markers. 

To finish I added a mixed sentiment from Simply Said Blocks and Simply Said Blocks Occasions and adhered them using foam tape. 

Today, over on YouTube HERE I am sharing a video making this card using Balloon Bash and Birthday Sentiments. I also share my tip on using and adhering thin frames, like this one from Kristina Werner A2 Thin Frames Die. 

What do you think of this fun colour combo too? 

I saw it somewhere on Pinterest (I think) and I jotted down colours I thought matched and would work together. 

I hope you'll have a look at my video and I'd love to know if you think my tip about the frame is useful. 

Ok, back to making sure I've everything for tomorrow, it's going to be an early start and a long drive down. I'll be sure to check in and share what I can on social media while I'm there. 

Crafty Hugs

Birthday Inspiration with Uniko Alumni Brand Ambassador Sarah Platt

Hello & Happy Tuesday!

It's a terrific Tuesday as I am absolutely thrilled to have another Brand Ambassador Alumni joining us today, the lovely Sarah Platt..

Sarah joined the Uniko family in August 2014 having been a regular participant in Uniko challenges and valued customer. 

What drew my attention to Sarah was her use of bright colours and clean style. Just like she has used today in her trio of birthday cards made especially for Uniko's 13th Birthday.

On this first card Sarah has used Background Blocks Wonky Stripes with die cut balloons decorated with elements from Balloon Bash. The sentiment is from Anniversaries Arts Decoratifs. 

I love how Sarah has continued the theme and colours, simply switching up the background block and balloon placement for a slightly different look. Here Sarah has used the Background Block Arts Decoratifs.

And for this last card Sarah has used Background Blocks Party Confetti.

A big thank you to Sarah for joining us today and taking part in the Uniko 13th Birthday Celebrations. Be sure to leave some comment love here on the Uniko blog and across social media platforms if you use them. I will be randomly selecting comments through the month to win some prizes.

Crafty Hugs

Birthday Inspiration with Uniko Alumni Brand Ambassador Lindsey Bowe

Hello & Happy Saturday!

It's a super Saturday as I am absolutely to have another Brand Ambassador Alumni joining us today, the lovely Lindsey Bowe.

Lindsey joined the Uniko family in January 2016 having been a valued customer and regular participant in Uniko challenges and events. I was drawn to Lindsey's clean style of card making, but that she could also add a spin of mix media without over powering the design.

I'm delighted Lindsey was able to join us this month to help celebrate our birthday. Let's have a look at the two birthday cards Lindsey has created to inspire us today.

On this first card Lindsey has used the Fabulous sentiment from the now retired, but once much loved All Occasion Sentiments #3. Heat embossed in gold to make it even more fabulous. 

Lindsey has decorated round the sentiment with the balloons from Balloon Bash and accented the sentiment with Birthday Wishes from Birthday Sentiments.

Next up Lindsey inked up Background Builders Seeing Stars and paired them with another older sentiment from Simply Said Birthday.

I think that you will agree with me that these cards are simply awesome and wonderfully inspiring. It's a delight for me to see how the Uniko Alumni are inspired and what products they reach for.

A big thank you to Lindsey for joining us today and taking part in the Uniko 13th Birthday Celebrations. Be sure to leave some comment love here on the Uniko blog and across social media platforms if you use them. I will be randomly selecting comments through the month to win some prizes.

Crafty Hugs

Uniko Birthday Inspiration Through The Years - Part 2

 

Happy Tuesday.

Welcome to day 2 of the Uniko 13th Birthday Celebrations and part 2 of my Inspiration Through The Years. If you missed part 1 you can catch up HERE. 

Today I am sharing three cards using a product from 2015, 2016 and 2017. I've then made a new card inspired by the original.

Let's have a look.

Balloon Bash was released in February 2015 and it is a clear stamp set that I designed to stand the test of time. I kept it simple with two simple solid balloon shapes, so confetti style stamps, strings and ribbon. I love how this set can be turned to time again and used with various paper craft trends and techniques as they come and go.

Here's my new card inspired by this original above.

As you can see I kept some things the same. The black card base and striking black balloon, which is hard to tell in the original, but for this I heat embossed with Stardust EP. I fussy cut the balloon and adhered it using foam tape.

For the star confetti I stamped it down the edge of my card in rainbow colours, adding similar bakers twine. I used the Happy Birthday from Floral Vines for my sentiment.

My next card uses Celebrate With Cake, originally released in April 2016. Although this clear stamp set is currently retired, I couldn't resist giving it a little bit of inky love. 

I don't think at this point I would re-release this particular stamp set, it is one that I hope to improve and bring a new version of in the future.

Here is my new card using this stamp set.

One thing I am loving with this feature on the blog, is dusting off some older neglected supplies. Not only Uniko stamps, but general craft supplies that have been packed away out of sight. 

I used to love using various shaped dies, such as these Lacey Circles from Spellbinders. They add a lovely accent to clean & simple cards without being too distracting from the image. I finished my card with the Happy Birthday from Simply Said which arrived back in stock today.

Lastly for today I dusted off Block Party Birthday. 

This large block stamp debuted in February 2017. The design was inspired by the Subway Art style and also a design I had done as a freelance designer which I did alongside Uniko when I first started. This design once the license had run its time became Block Party Christmas, this of which released later in October 2017. 

I know this clear stamp is currently out of stock, it will return soon. But again, I couldn't resist using it and giving it some love during this celebration.

I kept things simple today with ink blending my background in Sweet Pea, Aqua Sky and Oceanside. I then used my MISTI to stamp the background in the same colours and then heat emboss with WOW! Clear Sparkle EP. 

That's all from me today. I hope that you have enjoyed the inspiration today and this little look back at Uniko's past. I will have more to share in this mini series throughout the month.

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

 

Celebrating 12 Years - Fun Birthday Inspiration

 

Hello & Happy Friday! 

It's all about birthdays this month at Uniko as we celebrate twelve years. So it should be no surprise that the creative inspiration being shared will be birthday themed. 

A while back I spotted a fun sentiment on a card and it made me chuckle, so I decided to use it for my card today. 

As this is a unique sentiment, I dusted off my trusted Alphabet Outlined to stamp it. My intention was to stamp the sentiment central on my one layer card, but as you can see that didn't happen! I quite like the stagger/step effect that it turned out to be in the end.

I had my brother in mind for this card, he turns the BIG five zero later this month and so I chose some masculine colours to stamp the balloons from Balloon Bash in Peacock, Midnight and Stardust. I then matched the colours to Copic Markers as best I could with the ones I have to colour the sentiment.

If you missed day 1 of the celebrations and first of the giveaways, be sure to check it out HERE. I do hope you will join me tomorrow for more inspiration and a giveaway you will not want to miss! 

Crafty Hugs

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Masculine Birthday Cards

 Bonjour !

Izzy here, I hope that you are enjoying all the great Grand Prize Giveaways and the fabulous discount that Bev is offering to celebrate the 11 years of Uniko.

To go on with the celebration, I made two masculine birthday cards. If you are like me, I always struggle when it comes to make a masculine card but fortunately some colour combos help a lot.

For my first card, I used two stencils, Balloon Bash & Party Confetti that I combined together,  as well as the Big & Bold Happy bundle.

On a white card stock I first blended the blue/green inks through the Balloon Bash stencil to make the balloons shapes, then I placed it back and I layered the Party Confetti stencil and I blended the same inks on top.

For the sentiment, I die cut the Happy word in a metallic paper and I stamped in black the birthday word. I also added the black thread with a fine black liner.

To finish my card, I stamped this image on a teal card stock and I stamped the little circles that come from the Big & Bold Happy stamp set.

For my second card, I used two stamp set from the last release, Background Blocks Linear and Mid Century Modern Frames.

I kept this one very simple and I get inspired here by the colours of the last challenge at Color Hues. 

So I simply stamped the lines on a white piece of card stock and I coloured some parts with lime and cyan markers.

Then on another piece of card stock I stamped one of the frames together with a sentiment and I also coloured it with the same markers.

To finish this card, I flat adhered this panel on a double white card and I fussy cut the frame and I foam mounted it on the card.

That's all for me today. And don't forget you still have time to join in either the Grand Prize giveaways (HERE and HERE) and/or the Linky Party.  

Have a lovely day and thank you so much for stopping by.

BA inspiration: Balloon Bash and Mid Century Modern Squares

Hello friends!

Good Morning and Hope you all are well!

Vinita here with my first inspiration post. As you all know it's Uniko's 11th Birthday this month. So be sure to join the linky party here to win a Uniko Prize  £25 eGift Certificate!

A Birthday card with Uniko Birthday Balloon Bash clear stamp set. This is such a fabulous set I can't get enough of it! So here is my card:

I started on a white panel using Uniko - Mid Century Modern Squares stencil. First I inked it with various yellow shade inks and then again placed the stencil over the yellow design as shown in the pic using red ink.

And outlined the image using a black pen shown in the above pic.

Stamped a balloon image and fussy cut it, adhered it with foam tape. I added a string from the same set. And completed it with a large wish sentiment from Uniko Big & Bold- Wish stamp and die set.

This stamp set makes it so easy to create! What do you think?

So, guys, there is still some time to join, would love to see what you all come up with!

Happy crafty hugs!

Vinita

 

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Birthday Celebrations

Birthday celebrations you say?! 

Why yes! You may have noticed that it’s Uniko’s 11th Birthday this month so my Brand Ambassador Inspiration post is all about birthdays and Uniko (I have used the Uniko colours as well as products). 

So firstly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNIKO! 

Make sure you haven’t missed the Birthday Linky Party from the 1st of the month. And check back here on the Uniko blog for the next two Saturdays to be in with a chance of winning some Uniko goodies! 

So for my first card today I used Uniko Balloon Bash and Uniko Background Blocks Party Confetti stamp sets.

Secondly I have used Uniko Big and Bold Happy stamp and die set, stamping and die cutting the large ‘happy’ sentiment. 

Finally I have used Uniko Balloon Bash stencil teamed with Uniko Big & Bold Happy stamp and die set. This time just die cutting the sentiment without stamping it.

Hopefully these have put you in a party mood! There have been already been lots of birthday celebrations on the Uniko blog but make sure you keep checking back as Bev and the Brand Ambassadors have lots more lovely birthday celebrations to come. 

Much love

Steph x

Keep it Simple Saturday

 

Happy Weekend!

Today I am keeping it simple with a birthday card and giving some inky love to Balloon Bash and Stencil - Party Confetti. Plus, giving you a little reminder about the Linky Party 😉

Trying my hand at some soft ink blending today. I am definitely prone to being heavy handed when I am trying to be soft. So today instead of applying fresh ink to my blending brush, I simply used what was left on the brush.

I felt the design needed a little grounding, so reached for Background Builders Classics. I've definitely not given this stamp set much love, so it was nice to ink it up again. My sentiment choice is from Floral Vines.

Absolutely loving the comments and stamp set favourites on my post HERE yesterday. I'm definitely feeling a little guilt towards not choosing some of your faves! 

Hope you find time for some creativity today.

Crafty Hugs

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Balloon Bash Stencil

Welcome everyone! 

Steph here today. After all the fantastic birthday celebrations for Uniko’s 10th birthday in February, I didn’t feel like stopping the celebrations just yet! 

As I had the Uniko Balloon Bash stencil out, I decided to use this for my Brand Ambassador inspiration post. It is such a delightful stencil to use and you can create quick but stylish cards with it easily. I also focused on slimline cards for this showcase.

For my first card I have simply used one balloon shape and blended red, orange and yellow balloons in clusters up the card. I used watercolour card as I find  it easier to blend on, and distress oxides which I prefer to the original distress inks. I have added a sentiment from Uniko Birthday Sentiments set and finished off with enamel dots. 

Changing up my colours, I blended different shaped balloons across the top of my card, overhanging the edge. This time I added strings to the balloons using a ruler and metallic gel pen. The sentiment is again from Uniko Birthday Sentiments set which I have stamped in dark grey before heat embossing with clear powder.

For my final card today, I’ve used the balloon stencil to create a hot air balloon. I did this by simply blending the balloon as usual but before I removed the stencil I outlined it with metallic gel pen. I drew further curved lines inside the balloon and joined them to a hand drawn ‘basket’. I masked off my balloon and used Uniko Rainbows and Clouds stencil to create my background. The sentiment, again from Uniko Birthday Sentiments set, is heat embossed in silver to finish. 

I hope this has reinvigorated the birthday spirit for you and that you can see just how simple and effective the Uniko Balloon Bash stencil is. I love it!

Much love

Steph x