Friday Focus - Stencil Layering Modern Poinsettias

Happy FriYAY! 

I can't believe another weekend is upon us and this weekend I am headed to Leeds for the Uniko and Ruth Gets Crafty Criis-Mash! workshop. 

Today I thought share a card I have had in my head for a while using the Stencil Layering Modern Poinsettias and I finally got round to recording a new video on how I made it. You can watch it HERE over on the Uniko YouTube channel.

I'm aiming to share more Friday Focus videos, so be sure to be subscribed to the channel to see when I post them! 

In other news... 

From October 1st we will no longer be posting here on the Uniko Blogspot Blog. I'm not crying, you are! I am kind of sad about leaving this space as it's been here since day one. But it's a move I feel I need to make.

Don't worry though, you will be able to find all the usual inspiration HERE on the Uniko website blog from myself and the Uniko Brand Ambassadors. 

Thank you to all my loyal followers, I hope you will come over to the website blog and follow Uniko there too.

Crafty Hugs

 

Festive Floral Friday & NEWS

Happy FriYAY! 

I've finally found a few minutes to sit down and write a quick blog post and share a card I made during a YouTube video during release week HERE. I decided on a sentiment to finish off this fun design.

I saw this fun layout/technique on Pinterest, a card by Hannelie and I've used it a few times and thought it would look fun with this stencil and I do love how it turned out.

I can't believe how quickly the summer is passing by, less than two weeks and The Beans will be heading off to their first day at secondary school! 

We're making the most of these last few days and are heading off for a little family vacation. The website will remain open to place orders, but please be aware any orders placed will not be posted until Wednesday 26th August.

Thank you for your understanding and continued custom and support.

Crafty Hugs

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Christmas In July!

Hello again friends, I'm here with another card to inspire you and celebrate Christmas in July with Uniko!  Today I'm using the Background Blocks: Scandinavian Christmas stamp along with a sentiment from Pure Florals: Poinsettia stamp.   

For my card I gold heat embossed the background blocks stamp onto a dark rich green card and added 4 layers of the gold frame for some dimension.  I stamped and gold heat embossed the sentiment onto the green card and used a die to cut it out.  I added it with foam squares to the bottom left corner and finished off with some gold pearls.  A fairly simple card but it looks so beautiful and shiny in real life.  

Bev along with my fellow Brand Ambassadors will be sharing Christmas in July inspiration all throughout the month and there will be a giveaway PLUS a new release - how exciting! 

 

Thanks for stopping by today and don't forget to check back for more inspiration.  

Love and hugs, 

Win it Wednesday - Christmas Scramble

Happy Wednesday.

Gosh, how did we get to Wednesday already? First week of the school summer holidays and I already feel like I am chasing my tail keeping up with everything! Hence why I am a little late with today's card and Win it Wednesday.

I managed to squeeze in 10 minutes to make this card...

I'm always inspired when restocks arrive and I couldn't resist inking up Background Blocks Christmas Scramble for this quick and easy, plus fairly mass produceable Christmas card.

I started by stamping the block in VersaMark and heat embossing with Polished Gold EP. I then highlighted the letters with a Dark Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Blend to make them stand out against the red card stock. To finish I adhered the panel to a white card base.

As it is Win It Wednesday I am giving away this clear stamp.

Simply comment on this post here or across Uniko's social media by the 31st July 2026 for your chance to win. Winners announced in August and an alternative prize to the same value will be offered ONLY if you already own this stamp.

Crafty Hugs

Christmas in July - Win it Wednesday & a Winner!

Happy Wonderful Wednesday! 

My goodness its a warm one here in the NE of England 🥵 Another heat wave has landed and it's been a challenge working today. Hence my late post as it is cooling down ever so slightly in the studio.

Today I dusted off Rustic Wreath, as this little beauty is due back in stock in the next week or so. It feels like its been ages since I used this set, so it was nice to ink it up again.

As you can see I crazily opted to stamp and heat emboss the wreath in WOW! Polished Gold EP. Not the best crafting technique to do in a heat wave 🤣 

I then added a little accent, which is sneaky sneak peek at something coming at the end of the month. You might recognise the bow, but its a miniature version of the one you know and love from Mid Century Modern Baubles. I added a few Autumn Red Nuvo Crystal Drops to accent and one of the sentiments from the stamp set.

How about this stunning green card? This is the new Concord & 9th Basil colour and I love it. 

Anyway, thats all the inspiration I have to share today, so how about a little prize. I have a spare set of the Rustic Wreath to give away to one lucky comment left here on the blog or any social media post I share this card on.

Comment by 31st July 2026 and I will randomly select a comment. Winners will be posted at the start of August. If the winner already owns this beauty an alternative prize to the same value will be offered.

AND before I go and lay in front of the fan again, I have randomly selected a winner for the June 2026 Release Brand Ambassador Hop. 

Congratulations to Jane D, please send me an email to bev@uniko.co.uk to claim your prize 🎉

Be sure to stop by the blog tomorrow for more Christmas in July inspiration.

Crafty Hugs

Festive Floral Friday

Happy FriYAY! 

Today I have a festive floral card to share with you. This card was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest HERE and I put my own spin on it.

I decided to dust off and give some fresh inky love to Flower Power #12. I started by drawing a light pencil line down the centre of my 10.5 x 10.5cm card panel and then stamped the outline flower in Cranberry ink. I then stamped the centre flower in Poppy ink and the trio of dots into the centre of the card. 

I've had this little bow die on my die magnetic catcher for a while waiting for the perfect project to be used on. I think the die was a Neat & Tangled one from years ago...? 

I die cut the bow elements from a piece of scrap card as close a match to Cranberry ink and adhered it to my card. I added a little white heart embellishment and my sentiment from Simply Said Blocks Christmas. 

I can't wait to share a new version of this card at the end of the month with a new product. Anyway, that's all I have to share today. 

Crafty Hugs

Happy Christmas in July!

Hello & Happy July.

I'm sorry, not sorry! It's that time of year again for Christmas in July. This month there will be lots of festive inspiration, a few giveaways through the month and a NEW release.

Today I am kicking things off with a quick clean & simple idea to get more use out of your alphabet stamps, I used Alphabet Solid.

I started with a Poppy card panel measuring 9.5 x 13cm and I stamped the word CHRISTMAS in Cranberry ink on the left side. To be able to space evenly I started with the IST in the middle.

I then stamped and heat embossed the merry from Festive Sentiments in white embossing powder to compliment the solidness of the Christmas.

To finish the card I adhered the panel to a white card base. This card is perfect for easy mailing, always a bonus at Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by today & Crafty Hugs

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Mid Century Modern Birthday

 Good morning all, 

Steph here today wishing Uniko a Happy 14th Birthday and taking us on an MCM journey using Uniko Mid Century Modern Birthday stamp set. 

I stamped a series of boxes across the bottom of the card and added the outline, ribbon and bow details using darker shades of ink. Following this I added the stamped sentiment.

For my second card I wanted to use more of the smaller stamps in the set and instead of using the stamps as presents I created a pattern for either end of the card. I stamped the sentiment in the middle and them in filled with a few more of the smaller stamps.

And finally, although this is a birthday post, I couldn't resist creating a Christmas card as the idea had brewed in my head as I was creating the two previous cards! My Christmas present 'tree' is topped of with a lovely bow and the sentiment is from the Uniko Simply Said Blocks Christmas stamp set (but now I think about it, it could also be a birthday card for a Dec birthday!). 

I hope you are enjoying the Uniko birthday celebrations this month and have had time to join in the fun Linky Party here. 

Keep an eye out for a new release later in the month too.

Much love

Steph x

Two For Tuesday - Christmas Bauhaus

Hello & Happy Tuesday.

I've a couple of quick Christmas cards to share with you today using the Background Blocks Bauhaus. I came up with these couple of ideas when the stamp came back in stock at the end of November. I just needed 20 mins to make them!

Let's have a look...

I started with using the Background Blocks Bauhaus on the landscape orientation to create a one layer card. I used VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink and for my Christmas Sentiments, sentiment. 

I chose Dark Poppy Parade and Dark Granny Apple Stampin' Blends to randomly colour the stamp to create a festive look. You can watch this card being made over on YouTube HERE.

I had so much fun making this simple card, I went on to make another. 

This time I went for a similar look to a previous card I have made using this stamp, which I shared HERE. 

I used the same colours and a different sentiment from Christmas Sentiments and switched things up with using the block landscape and also mounting the stamped layer onto my base card using foam tape.

That's all I have for today.

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

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

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

Snowflake Serenade - 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Day 12

 

Happy Thursday.

Welcome to the final day, day 12 of the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways. I hope you have enjoyed the inspiration and there is still time to comment across social media to be in the chance to win. 

When I was thinking about what to use for my post and product today, I realised I haven't used any snowflakes. And for me Christmas involves snowflakes. So it was time to dust off Snowflake Serenade and give it some fresh inky love.

Here's what I came up with.

I fancied ombre blues today, selecting Powder, Harbor, Blueberry and Midnight. I then ink blended them onto a piece of white card. 

I then placed this into my stamping platform and positioned the snowflake serenade, sentiment and a trio of accent snowflakes before inking with Encore Silver ink and heat embossed with Stardust EP.

A pretty simple, pretty quick, super sparkly snowflake card to add to the Christmas card stash. If you fancy watching me make this card, I have a YouTube short HERE. 

Before I go, the giveaway. Be sure to leave a comment by 31st July 2025 for your chance to win the Snowflake Serenade I've used on this card. If you are the lucky winner picked randomly from comments left across Uniko’s social media and already own the products, an alternative will be offered. 

Winners will be announced first week of August 2025.

Crafty Hugs

Pretty Poinsettia Postage Collage - 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Day 11

 

Happy Wonderful Wednesday.

Welcome to day 11 of the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways. Today I am sharing a pretty poinsettia card using Pure Florals Poinsettia which was brought back from retirement and reintroduced last year.

And I've paired it with a non Uniko product collection from Waffle Flower Crafts, their amazing Postage Collage Collection. 

Yep, I couldn't resist any longer and purchased a basics collection which includes the Postage Collage Dies, Postage Collage Block Stencil and two mini stamp sets, Royal Mail and Postage Collage.

Let's have a look at the card I created.

I die cut the postage collage and then used the block stencil to add the colours. I chose Honeysuckle, Poppy and Cranberry and I wasn't precious over the colours mixing a little into the shapes.

I then placed the die cut and stencil into my stamping platform. I placed the poinsettia stamp as best I could covering as many of the shapes. I had to repeat stamp about 3 times to get a full image, especially along the inside edges of the stencil.

I added a couple of the accents from the small Postage Collage and Royal mail stamp sets and added the Peace On Earth sentiment from Pure Florals Poinsettia. I did add a little sparkle to the poinsettia centre using a gel pen. 

This was a fun first mash up of Uniko and the Waffle Flower Crafts products and I have more ideas waiting to be tested. 

If you fancy watching this card being made I have a short over on YouTube HERE.

Before I go, the giveaway. Be sure to leave a comment by 31st July 2025 for your chance to win the Pure Florals Poinsettia I've used on this card. If you are the lucky winner picked randomly from comments left across Uniko’s social media and already own the products, an alternative will be offered. 

Winners will be announced first week of August 2025.

Crafty Hugs