Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Special Birthday-surprise for Bev!

Hello there,

today, I have something special to share with you!
Something what makes me proud and thankful and happy in the same time!

Sneak Peek of the Mini UNIKO Logo flower

It's a planned surprise for Bev, so I just put the directe link to the post on my KomMa-designed Blog to avoid her peeking into the post, before I put it online at 11:00!
😉

Hope you like it!

Greetings from Wiebke

DT-Inspiration: Card with a rotating Stencil

Hello and Happy weekend to everybody!
It's time for another DT-Inspiration!

As always I made a card with a stencil for you. This time it's a quick one-layer card with a special "twist"!

 

 

For this design I thought a square card would be a perfect frame.
I marked the center of the card front, then placed my Nature Treasures II Leaf-Stencil.
The end of the stam I placed on the mark and fixed it with a fine needle - later I rotated the stencil around this needle, so I was sure to get the end of the stem always on the exact same spot!

I blended the three Oxide Inks with my blending brushes, beginning with the lightest one. When the first leaf was finished, I repeated the process on the opposite side. So it was easier to place the other 4 leaves without any exact measuring between these two leaves (eyeballing was enough).

Cause I liked the pattern in the center I used Vellum to create the circle with the heat embossed sentiment to keep it in sight. The two parts of the sentiment are from the set Simply Said Birthday. I cut the original sentiments with my scissors and combined them differently. Don't be afraid to stretch your stamps this way! If you cut them, you can always re-arrange them on an acrylic block with the help of the cutting line to the original form!)

To avoid any see-through glue I adhered the three sequins-flowers with a strong liquid glue on the edge of the Vellum and then I adhered the sequins with dimensional glue-dots on the card. The centers of these flower sequins I decorated with yellow Stickles (also to avoid any dust sticking to the glue dots behind later).
To finish the card I added some party pink Nuvo drops and some more yellow Stickles dots on the leaves as kind of buds.

I was surprised how quickly this card was finished! You needn't do many fancy things around your rotated stencil, cause this is the focal point!
This technique offers so many possibilities! I think I'll try some more of them soon - with different stencils and maybe also with a rotation-point outside of the coloured stencil-area (the center will be blank then).

I hope I could inspire you to stretch your creative muscles to try something new with your stencils!

You are invited to tell us in the comments which Uniko Stencils you used or want to use to give this technique a try!

Have a great and creative day!

Greetings from Wiebke

CAS Colours & Sketches #218

Hey!

Oh my, these days & weeks are certainly flying by! I think I'm finding them to pass so quick as my days and evenings are filled to the brim ;)

My days are spent entertaining and occupying two crazy beans! They are proper little boys, loving playing outside and getting dirty now the days are getting warmer and dryer ;) Though they are pretty good the majority of the time and play well together, so I do get the 'odd' moment to get things done. You can guarantee that if I get any kind of 'work' out to do they want me for something! So, I have been 'trying' to get it done once they go to bed, which occasionally has been a challenge :(

Hence the time I do get has been spent on getting new products ready for release on 6th May, which is the day I will be at Happy Stampers Festival in the Wirral (Liverpool) - YAY! Are you planning on coming...? I'd love to see you if you are :)

Anyway, I did find a little creative time to make todays card using hostess sketch for this weeks CAS Colours & Sketches challenge HERE and seen below.

And this is how I decided to use it...

For some reason I *really* wanted to make a shaker card and in my head I had forgotten about the vertical strip on the sketch! So, I adapted my original idea of how I was going to make the shaker but still got to make one! 

I purposefully didn't include a sentiment on the sketch as sometimes cards just don't need one on the front. Though the little square on the sketch could easily be where a sentiment could go or be placed. I decided to make a Spring card inspired by the current AAA Cards challenge HERE. 

I chose the solid flower from Flower Power #2 which is a modern Blossom flower design and paired it with a couple of leaves from Natures Treasures. I stamped them in colours to match the pretty pastel sequins in the shaker, which are from Pretty Pink Posh.

I hope that I have inspired you to play along this week and if you need a little more inspiration, be sure to head on over to the CAS Colours & Sketches blog HERE to see what the amazing Design Team and Guest Designer have created using the colours.

I look forward to seeing you in the gallery & have fun!

Hugs

A Look Back At 2016!

Hey!

Welcome back to another 'Look Back At 2016! This year has been an amazing year for myself personally, but it has been a fantastic year for Uniko. We have had 5 fabulous releases, with 16 new clear stamps sets lining the Uniko HQ shelves. 

I don't know about you, but to me this year has almost passed by in a blur! With that in mind I thought it would be nice now the main seasonal festivities are over and as 2016 draws to a close, to take a look back at Uniko's 2016.

Today, I am taking a look back at the April 2016 Release and giving some fresh inky love to Celebrate With Cake and Fun Flowers clear stamp sets.

First up I have a shaker card using Celebrate With Cake...

I seem to have a 'thing' for shaker cards when I use this set ;) I had some Stampin' Up! Designer Paper on my desk, left over from my CAS Christmas cards HERE. I decided to put some more of it to good use, instead of sitting and admiring it!

I used my MISTI tool again to line up and stamp the top and bottom of the cupcake and used Copic Markers to colour it in. The sequins are a mix of Stampin' Up! collections and the the 'happy' die cut is from the Hello You Thinlits Collection also from Stampin' Up! which has a good smothering of Clear Wink Of Stella. I then used the Papertrey Ink Banner Die to stamp the birthday sentiment onto, which is from Simply Said.

Next, I was inspired by THIS card created by Jennifer McGuire to create my next card using Fun Flowers. 

Again I put my MISTI tool to good use to stamp the layers of the flowers. I still require a little practice for the flower centres! 

I used my Zig Clean Colour Brush pens to colour the flower which is fussy cut and adhered flat to the card. I love the vibrancy of the Zigs just used as a marker and I now have another thank you card to send :)

So, that's a quick look back at the April 2016 Release, I hope I have given you a little inspiration to dust off these sets if you have them ;) There is a small amount of 3 of the sets in stock on the website and I have planned some restocks to arrive in January.

I hope you will join me again tomorrow, when I will be taking a look back at the 2016 June Release. Until then, thank you for stopping by.

Hugs

WINNER and a card!

Hey!

Apologies for being SO late again announcing the lucky comment WINNER of the July Design Team Blog Hop HERE. 

The Summer days with my beans have been keeping me busy and tired with little creative mojo. I am pleased to report that the creative mojo is returning and I have been busy posting over HERE this week with a new Stamp Of The Week ;)

Anyway, without further ado, random.org has helped me select a lucky winner...

AND lucky comment no.15 is...

Kimberly Rendino12 July 2016 at 18:51

This is such a beautiful set, Beverly! I love your cards....old and new!

Congratulations Kimberly! Please send an email to bev@uniko.co.uk by Thursday August 11th 2016 along with your snail mail address and I will get your prize in the post to you!

How about a card before I go, I have had this one to share for some time now...

I made this shaker card for Daisy, one of the beans' little friends who turned 2 a few weekends ago. Daisy LOVES Peppa Pig, but unfortunately I didn't have any Peppa Pig or pig related stamps, so instead reached for my Sweet Baby clear stamp set and made a shaker card! 

Even though the Sweet Baby clear stamp is is aimed at New Baby cards, the bear is so versatile and can be used for young children too. He is simply coloured with a few Copic markers and fussy cut out.

Ok, that's all from me today, but be sure to pop over HERE for more inspiration ;) Until the next time, thank you for stopping by.

Supplies

Uniko Clear Stamps:- Sweet Baby and Simply Said

Card Stock:- SU! Whisper White and PTI Vintage Cream

Ink:- Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:- SU! Sequins, PTI Limitless Layer Dies, Acetate, Foam Adhesive and Copic Markers

June Release Design Team Blog Hop Giveaway Winner!

Hey!

Happy Weekend to you all, I hope you are all having a good one so far. I've been at The Paperlane this morning running my little class with a lovely group of ladies. I will be sharing some of the cards we made over the coming days. 

It's been a warm but rainy day here for us in the NE of the UK. Though the beans managed to play outside for an hour or so before the heavens opened this afternoon. They were not very happy at all when we had to come in!

Anyway, I'm here today to announce the WINNER of the June Release Design Team Blog Hop. Random.org helped me choose the winner who left this lovely comment on Lindsey's blog. 

The WINNER is...

Mrs A.25 JUNE 2016 AT 17:47

Love your tropical background colours and love that bird set. This is a company I have not heard of before so must investigate further! hugs Mrs A.

Congratulations Mrs A! Please send an email to bev@uniko.co.uk along with your postal address by the 23rd July 2016 and I will get your winnings on their way to you.

Thank you to everyone who left comments and hopped along with us. We will be having our usual Revisited Blog Hop next week on the 11th July 9am BST with our usual GIVEAWAY too! 

Before I go, how about a little card inspiration...

This is one of the cards we made during the class today. I was getting the ladies to have a go with stencilling and ink blending - good inky fun! 

The diagonal stripe background was created using the SU! Stripe stencil and Peacock Feather distress ink. The outline hibiscus from the Paradise clear stamp set was stamped in VersaMark and heat embossed in detail white EP onto some card which had been ink blended with Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry and Spiced Marmalade. 

After fussy cutting the hibiscus out they are adhered to the card using DST and the middle flower raised with foam adhesive. I have also added a good smothering of Wink Of Stella to the flowers! The sentiment is from the set and a few Pretty Pink Posh sequins are added for embellishment.

Ok, that's all from me today, I will be back tomorrow with more to share. Until then, thanks for stopping by and enjoy your Saturday!

Supplies:

Stamps: Uniko Paradise

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Inks Peacock Feather, Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry and Spiced Marmalade. 

Card Stock: SU! Smokey Slate & Whisper White

Accessories: Foam Adhesive, Pretty Pink Posh Sequins and Wink Of Stella

Friendship, Tea & a WINNER!

Hey!

Argh... is my mood right now :( I have been sat 'trying' to make a few cards since 7pm and I have only managed to create this one! 

Everything I wanted to do just wasn't working out, my mojo seems to have been worn out by my two crazy beans today, who as I type are still messing around in their cots :( To say this mama isn't in the best mood is an understatement.

I have been wanting to make some cards for the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop HERE all weekend. But with having family over, Fathers Day and being unwell I didn't get time. Hence my eagerness to create tonight! 

Anyway, enough waffle how about a summer tea shaker card...

I kept things simple in the end, opting for a sentiment from the Uniko I LOVE Tea clear stamp set and pairing it with Flower Power #2, which has recently come back into stock. 

I also decided to use the Uniko Challenge photo inspiration colours seen HERE and below for my card. There is still plenty of time to join in on the Uniko Challenge and prizes up for grabs too ;)

Oh and to by the way Uniko is sponsoring the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop AND I am giving away a flash prize AND I have an extra giveaway HERE too! 

Before I go I have the winner of the Uniko June Release Day comments to announce! Random.org helped me choose the winning comment for the £10 eGift Certificate and the winner is...

Maggie M11 June 2016 at 15:12

Great new release and so good to see the restocks which are already on my wish list!

Congratulations Maggie! Please send an email to bev@uniko.co.uk by Tuesday 28th June 2016 to claim your prize.

Thanks to everyone who commented on the release day post, they are all appreciated. Don't forget that we have a Design Team Blog Hop using the new release this Saturday!

Ok, that's all from me today, I am off to hop along a few more of the cards in the gallery to spark some creativity! 

Thanks for stopping by today.

CAS Colours & Sketches #163

Hey!

Welcome to another challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches, a new month and a new hostess. This month Jane is our hostess and she is kicking the month off with a FAB colour challenge...

I'm not a lover of greens, they scare me a little! So, I took the easier route and went with floral for my card...

I'm not quite back up to full on mojo crafting after being ill and the result isn't quite what I had planned but it is growing on me! 

I hadn't planned on a watercolour wash type background behind the flowers it just kinda happened after I wiped the excess ink from the embossed flower. My baby wipe was wetter than I thought and spread the colour from the flower, so I just went with it and swiped some more!

I've used the Cucumber Crush green in the stems and the sequins (not quite the same shade but as close as I have). and the Mint Macaron is layered behind the stamped panel. The sentiment is from the new Simply Said clear stamp set and the flowers are from Pure Florals: Cosmos.

That's all from me today, be sure to check out the challenge and DT samples HERE and I look forward to seeing you in the gallery.

CAS Colours & Sketches #161

Hey!

Welcome back to another fun week & challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. This month our hostess is Stef and this week she has inspired us with another fun colour challenge HERE and seen below.

Shades of purple are not my go to colours and adding in metallic silver had me thrown for a little bit. After I had made my card using the nearest colours I have to those above, I realised I have used the same flowers as the last colour challenge...

Beautiful Blooms II is a lovely flower to stamp in two shades of the same colour :) I used VersaMagic Purple Hydrangea for the outline and Spring Pansy for the centre detail. The sentiment is from Pure Florals: Cosmos and embossed in Silver Dollar. 

As you can see in the close up the Silver Dollar EP adds a lovely shine to the sentiment and I finished the card of by adding a few tiny white crystal sequins. So, I'll be adding my card to the current challenge HERE over at AAA Cards, which is to use sequins :)

That's all from me just now, I hope to see you over in the CC&S gallery and be sure to check out the rest of the CC&S Design Team creations HERE.

Hello 2016!

HEY & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I do hope 2016 has begun well for you all and I wish you all a healthy, happy and creative New Year. 

We saw in the New Year quietly at home and watched the fireworks in London on the TV, with a hot chocolate then went to bed! So rock 'n' roll these days - LOL! 

I also had a little creative time before the New Year arrived and I made two cards to share with you this evening...

First up a 'Hello 2016' shaker card. Again I used the current ColourQ challenge colours seen HERE and below & this time I added in the current Freshly Made Sketches sketch seen HERE and below.

To make my shaker window I used a die from SU! Square Pillow Box collection and the shaker mix is from Little Things From Lucy's Cards. I used Uniko Classic Numbers to stamp the 2016 inside the shaker frame & the 'hello' die is from Mama Elephant die cut in gold CS and mounted over the top of two glittered stripes of double sided tape. You can never have too much glitter & bling to ring in a New Year :)

As I was on a creative roll I decided to make another New Year card, there were a few people I really wanted to send Christmas cards to, but I simply ran out of time. So I plan on sending New Years cards instead :)

This time I went for a mail friendly flat card. I started out by drawing a grid on my white CS layer & stamped the 4 squares from Uniko Classic Alphabet in black ink. I then stamped and heat embossed the 2016 in gold. 

Before rubbing out my grid I stamped 'Happy New Year' in the remaining squares. Once all my stamping was dry I erased the lines, added some glitter to the square outlines and adhered a few white heart dome stickers.

Today has been fairly quiet, this morning was spent with the beans just playing with their Christmas toys and me & my husband joining in ;) Then this afternoon I hosted New Years Day dinner for my husbands Mam, Dad & brother which was lovely. The beans love spending time with their grandparents :)

Now the beans are in bed and the family have left I am enjoying some more creative time & preparing my cards to mail out tomorrow. One of my many New Year resolutions is to send more of the cards I make!

Ok, that's all I have to share with you today. I will be back over the weekend (fingers crossed) with more to share, but if not 'normal' scheduling & work will resume on Monday as the holidays are 'officially' over then! 

Until then, thank you for stopping by & here's to another FABULOUS & EXCITING Year, with many Uniko creations & surprises ;)

Clean & Simple

Hey & Happy Monday!

I do hope your week has got off to a lovely start. Its been a beautiful day here in the NE of England and it's helped me feel energised to tick a few more jobs off the list! 

I've took a little crafty break & come back into the studio to create this clean & simple card...

I needed a little mojo boost so used a couple of challenges to spark the creativity. The first challenge is the current Crazy for CAS sketch seen HERE and below. 

I was inspired to dust off a few sets that hadn't seen daylight for a while on my card, Decorative Doilies - The Hands Of Time and Background Builders: Lattice and paired them with a sentiment from A Gift For You.

As I kept it Clean & Simple it fits perfectly into the soon to be ending Addicted to Stamps & More! challenge HERE. I added a few SU! sequins for a little sparkle to finish it off :) 

I've been busy in the studio today preparing for the August Release & to make room & also to celebrate little Prince George's 1st Birthday there is a Summer Sale over on the website HERE. Why not grab yourself a bargain or treat yourself to a set on or wish list?!

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

Supplies
Card Stock: White (Boyes)
Ink: Avery Elle Aquamarine, Raspberry & Mimosa 
Stamps: Uniko Studio A Gift For You, Background Builders: Lattice & Decorative Doilies - The Hands Of Time.
Accessories: SU! Sequins

Happy Monday!

Hey & Happy Monday!

I do hope your week has got off to a lovely start, mine has & again my apologies for the lack of post yesterday! It's a time management thing ;) things are taking me WAY longer than I plan them to! I thought I would share a photo as to what I was up to yesterday which stopped me from creating in the studio...

Nursery wall decorating! We ordered the giant Mickey Mouse thinking he would arrive pre cut, but he didn't so I got to work cutting him out and he was considerably easy to mount on the wall. The names however considering they were pre cut were the trickiest part. It was all worth it though as we are over the moon with the result :) Only a few more things to buy & sort for the room, including some other Disney wall decals! 

I do have a card to share with you all today, another sample from one of the classes on Saturday...

We got our shake on and made this shaker card. I have to admit this was the first EVER shaker card I have made. I've always thought them to be complicated, but I was surprised at how easy they are to make! So you might just see more of these on the blog!

I love the baby wipe technique and it's featured again in a small amount with the ditsy flowers from Background Builders: Vines :)

That's all I have for today, I had better go and get the tea started! I'll be back tomorrow with more to share & until then, thank you for stopping by today :)

Birthday Blooms

Hey & Happy Monday!

I do hope your week has got off to a good start? Things here at Uniko Studio HQ seem to have started well & I'm back (not quite on schedule) with another card to share - YAY!

I was inspired by Taheerah's Cure For The Monday Blues Challenge photo seen HERE and below. As you can see the stripes, flowers & sequins in the photo was what jumped out at me most.

I started out by trimming a piece of white CS 9.5 x 13 cm, I then temporarily adhere the panel to my SU! grid paper stack. I then lined my solid stripe stamp from Background Builders: Squared onto an acrylic block with grid lines on it. I then stamped said stripe in black ink using the grid paper & block to stamp it evenly spaced on the panel. I always start with the lowest line and work upwards. I hope to get a video set up organised, so that I can show you my background stamping process. 

Anyway, I hope the explanation has helped a little :) That's all from me today, I can't believe it's nearly time to cook the tea, so I had better crack on and finish a couple of things here in the studio! I'll be back tomorrow with more to share, until then, thank you for stopping by today :)

Supplies

Card Stock: White (Boyes) 

Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, SU! Lucky Limeade & PTI Raspberry Fizz

Stamps: Uniko Studio Background Builders: Squared, Beautiful Blooms I & A Gift For You

Accessories: Temporary Adhesive, Gold EP