Thankful...

Hello!

Firstly, Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends, wonderful customers in the USA and to those that are marking the holiday. I wish you all a lovely day, however you are celebrating. Although, we don't celebrate the holiday here in the UK, I always like to take the opportunity to let you know how thankful I am for all that support me & Uniko.

So here is a card in honour of the occasion...

I was inspired to give some fresh inky love to the Large Background Sketched Foliage, it's been a while and seeing all the leaves waiting for me again in the back garden, it inspired my colours.

I masked off the edges of my card base before putting the panel inside my MISTI to stamp the large background. I'm currently enjoying using a variety of colours on one stamp & using a stamping tool makes it super easy. My raised sentiment is from Autumn Serenade and adhered using foam tape. 

As always, once I get creative it lead onto another card...

This time I wanted to create a look of a window, so I created a raised die cut window to adhere above the stamped foliage background, using foam tape. I then added the smaller butterfly from English Country Garden Butterflies, which I doubled up using the solid butterfly stamped in Honeysuckle & then I adhered the partially coloured outline butterfly over thee top, secured down the middle.

The card made me smile, so I decided to add the smile die cut from Uniko's Exclusive Picked Poise Collection, available on CraftStash. See link on left hand side of the blog! 

 

I also had another reason for using the Large Background Sketched Foliage. And that is, as much as I love this stamp, I have made the sad decision to retire it once it has sold out. This stamp along with 3 others are in the SALE and RETIRING sections on the website. 

Which nicely leads me onto remind you, in case you missed the newsletter this week of Uniko's Thankful For You, SALE & Surprise Discount Codes with every order.

I decided to do #blackfriday a little different this year. Of course there is a SALE. 

BUT, I am also giving back to everyone who places an order between 21st - 27th November 2023*. Receive a surprise discount, from £5-£25 to use with your next order. 

* Code cards look like this (with a code on them obviously 😉) and they are tucked inside an envelope. So even I don’t know what I’m putting in your orders. It’s totally random as to who gets what discount. But you are guaranteed the minimum of at least £5. 

Have a wonderful day!

Crafty Hugs 

Autumnal Thanks & a Winner!

Hello & Happy Thursday, 

Apologies for my quietness around here and socials, its been a week of forced rest and recovery from a horrible chesty cold the Beans brought home from school and kindly shared with me and the whole family.

Anyway, luckily I made this card before I was poorly and saved it to share with you all for when I announced the winner of the October Release Blog Hop.

I've said it so many times before, but I always try to add in some smaller stamps to fill the gaps when designing stamp sets. These little accent stamps can create big impact, which I have hopefully shown on my card.

I revisited an old technique, of which the name has currently left my brain! Where you ink the stamp with a light shade and the roll the edges in a darker shade or even dap with a small blending brush. This gives aa natural looking effect to the image.

I used scotch tape to mask the section for the sentiment and then stamped the leaves. I used a variety of Concord & 9th colours with an autumnal feel. I then inked an acrylic block with a few of the colours to add watercolour splats before stamping my sentiment & accenting with two fussy cut leaves.

I've mainly used Autumn Serenade, but also the leaf from Big & Bold thank/s/ful from the October Release, which leads me on nicely to the winner.

Thank you for all the lovely comments here on the blogs and around social media, they are appreciated by us all. So with the help of random name generator, the lucky comment is...

cm7 October 2023 at 14:43

An array of beautiful cards, Steph; each one really highlights how wonderful this new release is. I'm especially smitten with your snowflakes; a pretty wintry wonderland, indeed!
~carol

Congratulations Carol! 

Please drop me an email at bev@uniko.co.uk along with your mailing address and I will get your goodies in the post to you.

We have another Release in Review Brand Ambassador Blog Hop coming at the end of the month for another chance to win & lots more inspiration. Plus, I will be back tomorrow with Day 5 of Uniko's 12 Days of Christmas inspiration and giveaways! 

Crafty Hugs

Introducing... BIG & BOLD Thank/s/ful

Welcome to Day 1 of the product introductions for our October Release. 

Today I am introducing a new and long awaited addition to our BIG & BOLD series, BIG & BOLD Thank/s/ful. When I am designing new products, one of my aims along with value is versatility. More bang for your buck as the saying goes.

So this is what I have hopefully achieved with todays clear stamp set. As you will see by the name it its thank/s/ful, that's because I have created separate stamps for the thank, the 's' and the 'ful'. This way you can easily stamp a different sentiment suited for the occasion you are making for. 

I think my cards today demonstrate this...

For my first card I really stepped out of my colour comfort zone for this autumnal 'thanks' card! You know them moments after you've made something and then you are not sure about sharing it. This is how I feel about this card! 

Anyway, here it is. I used Concord & 9th inks in Nutmeg, Wheat, Stardust, Sunflower and Spiced Cider. Stamping from bottom to top using my stamping platform. I started with the thanks section of the sentiment and then repeating with the 's'. Using a stamping platform definitely made this easier.

To finish the card I added the thanks panel to a Spiced Cider card base and added the 'so much' sentiment and a trio of falling leaves also from the set. 

My second card today I kept an early autumnal colour scheme, this time adding in some greens...

This time I joined the thank with the ful for thankful and created a slimline card, overall size 10.5 x 20cm. I then set the sentiment aside to dry before fussy cutting it out. 

My background is stamped using the leaf stamp options, solid and outline. The vein detail comes as a separate stamp too. This time I used Parsley and Avocado along with Cayenne and Stardust. 

There is one more sentiment combination, I'll be sharing that on release day! Thank you for stopping by today & I'd love to know your initial thoughts about this stamp set.

This clear stamp set, along with all the products being introduced this week will be available 9pm GMT Saturday 7th October 2023. 

Crafty Hugs

 

10th Birthday Celebration THANK YOU's and a Fond Farewell

 

Hello & Happy Monday! 

Apologies for the late post today, but I wanted to pop by and finish this celebratory month with some THANK YOU's and of course I have used a little 10th Birthday February 2022 Release on my card today.

Firstly, I want to thank YOU all for making this a fun month. For all your lovely comments, for all the best wishes and cards, for joining in on the quests, sharing creations on social media AND for all your lovely orders. You have kept me wonderfully busy today 😊

Secondly, I want to thank the Uniko Brand Ambassadors past, present and those who came back to help celebrate this month, for all their jaw dropping creative inspiration. I'm sure you will agree that they bring and have brought so much creativity and new ideas on how to use Uniko products. 

I would also like to give a special shout out of thanks to Jane. Jane has been my super star organiser and the brains behind the Quests we have had over the course of this month. I bounced some ideas to Jane and she really did work her magic to make them happen. 

Lastly, and by no means least I would like to give another special thank you to Rahmat as we sadly wish her a fond farewell. After 6 years being a Brand Ambassador for Uniko, Rahmat has taken a hard decision to step down from the team.

I for one will especially miss Rahmat's stunning and creative colouring skills, she has brought so much to the team over the past 6 years and will be greatly missed by all. Though I am sure we will still see beautiful inspiration on social media and as a Guest Alumni here in the future.

And before I go, a clean & simple thank you card dedicated to all I have mentioned above.

A one layer wonder combining Alphabet Outlined and the NEW Background Blocks Splatter. I've had this 'Thank You' stamped out for a while, waiting to be accented in some way. 

Today was the perfect day! I simply partially stamped the splatter in 3 colours of ink, inspired by the Uniko logo colours. Simples!

THANK YOU again. 

Crafty Hugs

 

March Design Team Blog Hop Winners and a Card!

Hey!

Thanks for stopping by today. I've a long over due winner of the March Design Team Blog Hop to announce today. AND as it's taken me SO long to do so, I decided to draw an extra winner too! 

First up is the winner of the £15 eGift Certificate...

Preeti D. (aka Dutt Preety)24 March 2018 at 11:53

Beautiful cards :)

And secondly, the extra winner who will receive the Fun Flowers clear stamp set & Fun Flowers Stencil...

Karen @ Misplaced Mojo4 April 2018 at 04:43

So bright and cheerful! Love it!!!

Congratulations Preeti and Karen! Please email me at bev@uniko.co.uk no later than 7th May 2018 to claim your prizes. 

Before I go, how about a card...

It has been a while since I created just for fun and joined in on a few of my favourite challenges. I saw the new Freshly Made Sketches challenge seen HERE and below and was inspired to join in. 

I also turned to Color Throwdown HERE and seen below for some colour inspiration! I decided to dust off All Occasion Sentiments #6 and paired it with one of the stamps from Fun Flowers. 

A little bit of simple colouring with my Prismacolor Pencils, a little dimension and some Altenew enamel dots finished my CAS design. 

This is for you guys, A BIG THANKS to you all for joining in on the March Design Team Blog Hop, we all appreciate your lovely comments and support.  

Hugs

CAS Colours & Sketches #268 - Colours

Hey!

I can't believe we are half way through April already! This month our hostess is Karen and she has already inspired us with 2 fab challenges. This week is colour week and Karen has come up with this colour combo to inspire you HERE and seen below... 

This colour combo has all my favourite colours in pastel tones, which threw me a little but here's how I used them...

I've been enjoying using some of the previously released Uniko Background Blocks again and reached for a fave coming back in stock later this week, Background Blocks Doodle Flower. 

I've stamped the block in Altenew ink and used a close match Prismacolor Pencil to colour the petals. I've then stamped the block onto some Pool Party CS and fussy cut one of the flowers and added a Daffodil Delight sparkly enamel dot. Again, another sentiment from Simply Said Blocks, I just can't resist reaching for this sentiment set! 

That's all from me today, I hope thatI have inspired you to join in on the challenge?! If you need a little more inspiration, pop on over HERE to see what the CC&S Design Team have created.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs

CAS Colours & Sketches #262 - Colours

Hey!

A new month means a new hostess and Fiona is our hostess for March. As usual we are starting things off HERE with a colour combo...

Well, I admit this colour combo totally stumped me! I really struggle with purples and yellows and the added lime green just added to the lack of creative inspiration. When I have times like this I look through my stamps to see if I am inspired and how I can use the colours easily.

This is what I came up with...

An ultra CAS card using the new Kindness Blooms loopy flower and a sentiment (wonky) from Simply Said Blocks.

I simply stamped the flower onto my white card base and coloured various loops in with Fresh Fig and Lemon Lime Twist Stampin' Up! markers. I then added a enamel dot to the closest match of Crushed Curry to the flower centre. The sentiment is stamped, fussy cut and adhered (wonky) to the card base using foam adhesive.

That's all from me today, I hope thatI have inspired you (a tiny bit) to join in on the challenge?! If you need a little more inspiration, pop on over HERE to see what the CC&S Design Team have created.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs

CAS Colours & Sketches #243 - Colours

Hey & Hello October!

I feel really ahead of myself as I have made my card AND preparing my post on a Sunday afternoon, I'm usually still writing my post on a Tuesday morning! It sure feels good to be organised for once ;)

Anyway, enough of that how about a fresh new month of challenges over at CAS Colours & Sketches. This month Emily is our hostess and kicking the month off with this wonderful colour combo HERE to inspire your creativity...

Here is what I came up with...

I'd have normally gone for more of an Autumnal leaf card, with this colour combo. However, I was inspired to use them for a floral card, using Flower Power #6 paired with the Thanks sentiment from Simply Said Blocks. Time to get ahead and build my thank you card stash up again! 

Just some simple stamping, fussy cutting and layering using foam adhesive. Plus some Stampin' Up! enamel dots and the Stitched Framelits dies. 

That's all from me today using the sketch, but if you need some more inspiration using the sketch be sure to pop by the CAS Colours & Sketches blog HERE and see how the DT and Guest Designer have used it.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Hugs

CAS Colours & Sketches #241 - Colours

Hey!

It's time for this weeks challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. This month Fiona is our hostess and this week Fiona has a fun colour combo HERE to inspire your creativity...

Here is what I came up with...

I thought these colours were quite masculine and so I reached for the recently released and restocked Background Builders: Seeing Stars. However, instead of making a masculine birthday card I decided to make a 'Thanks' card as my stash is really low and I always have people to thank! The sentiment is from Simply Said Blocks.

Hopefully you can see the shimmer of the Wink Of Stella I added to the stars? I simply stamped them in black and coloured them with Stampin' Up! markers.

That's all from me today using the sketch, but if you need some more inspiration using the sketch be sure to pop by the CAS Colours & Sketches blog HERE and see how the DT and Guest Designer have used it.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Hugs

CAS Colours & Sketches #239 Colours

Hey & Hello September!

Where was and did the little bit of summer we had go? Sometimes in the UK we are lucky and we get an 'Indian Summer' in September, but not this year. We are in full Autumn weather today, with rain, wind and more rain!

Anyway, enough of that how about a fresh new month of challenges over at CAS Colours & Sketches. This month Fiona is our hostess and. Kicking the month off Fiona has this wonderful colour combo HERE to inspire your creativity...

Here is what I came up with...

I knew I wanted to make a fall inspired card and use leaves, so I reached for Natures Treasures II (back in stock on Sept 18th) and paired it with a 'Thanks' sentiment from the September Release, which you will see more of tomorrow ;)

My layout was inspired by the current CAS(E) this Sketch! layout seen HERE and below, such a fun sketch :)

I used the Tangerine Tango and Always Artichoke to stamp the leaves and fussy cut them out. The sentiment is stamped and foam mounted onto a white card base. I then just placed the leaves to represent the sketch and just adhered them with DST. I've then mounted the panel onto a Fresh Fig card base.

That's all from me today using the sketch, but if you need some more inspiration using the sketch be sure to pop by the CAS Colours & Sketches blog HERE and see how the DT and Guest Designer have used it.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Hugs

Uniko Sponsors the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Hey & Happy Friday!

I'm super happy you have stopped by today, Uniko was yet again honoured to be invited by the lovely Amy from Tsuruta Designs and is proudly to be sponsoring another fun blog hop and challenge...

The winner of the Uniko prize will get a £15 eGift Certificate

AND 

There are 2 Flash Prize up for grabs too 

PLUS

a little giveaway at the end of this post too ;)

Anyone is eligible for a Super Sponsor prize if they link up a newly created Fall/Autumn Themed Coffee, Tea & or Cocoa project, no back-linkng please. Random.org will be used to draw the winners.

To link up your projects and more details about the hop and Super Sponsors pop on over to the Coffee Loving Carmakers Blog HERE.

To kick this FABulous hop off I've created my own Autumn themed card...

So on my card today there is a HUGE sneak peek at a two stamps (part of a set) coming soon ;) I'm in the process of making samples for the upcoming Uniko Sept/Oct product release, so I couldn't help but use one of the new stamps on my card.

It is such a versatile stamp and can be used for all seasons really, but it looks awesome coloured in Autumn/Fall colours too! 

Here is a little close up of the detail...

The coffee cup is from I LOVE Coffee, stamped with the second sneak peek and coloured with Copic markers. The sentiment is a mix from I LOVE Tea and the coffee part partially stamped from I LOVE COFFEE.

That's all from me today, I will be sharing more tomorrow and we start the countdown to the Uniko Release on Sunday!

Anyway, I like to have a little blog candy too, so simply leave a comment on this post by 6am (PST) Friday 30th September and I will select one lucky comment to receive one of the SOON to be released Uniko clear stamp sets! 

We also have a new Uniko challenge HERE, the theme is Autumn with an optional twist of thanks so why not join in with you card there too. There are prizes up for grabs ;)

I look forward to hopping by and seeing all your wonderful creations, have fun!

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