A Funky Farewell...

Hey & Happy Weekend!

It's time for another of those posts that I find hard to write and put all my feelings into. It is with sadness that we at Uniko are saying farewell to one of our FABulous Design Team members Sarah Gray from Funky Fossil Designs.

Sarah has been a member of the Uniko DT since March 2015, taking a break in 2017 to return in 2018 as part of the Uniko Stencil Design Team.

For over 4 years I have had the honour and pleasure of having Sarah as part of the Uniko family. It seems longer than 4 years as before Sarah was a member of the DT, she was a regular customer too! Seeing the inspiration and creativity flow when Sarah works her magic with Uniko products is simply amazing.

Some of you may know that Sarah launched her own business in the paper crafting industry in 2018, Funky Fossil Designs. Initially specialising in Stencils, Sarah now offers a range of clear stamps and MDF pieces. You can checkout and purchase all the fabulous goodies HERE.

Running a business is not an easy task, especially when you have a family and another job to juggle, so Sarah has taken the hard decision to step down from the Uniko team to focus and grow her own business.

It wouldn't be right to say farewell to a fellow creative, without making a card...

In honour of Sarah's growing business I have combined a Funky Fossil Stencil - Brick Wall with  the foliage image from Uniko's Just Because clear stamp set.

I've had this design sketched out for ages and simply hadn't found the time to sit down and create it, until now.

It was hard to select just one sentiment to the card, so I decided to use three instead! These sentiments are from Simply Said Blocks and Simply Said Blocks II.

Uniko's Brand Ambassadors Jane and Izzy have joined me today to say farewell. Jane has also created a card combining Uniko and Funky Fossil products...

Jane has used Uniko's Background Blocks Pinstripe with Funky Fossil Folksy Christmas clear stamps. 

And this is how Izzy has combined Funky Fossil with Uniko...

Izzy has used Funky Fossils Circle Burst Stencil combined with Uniko's BIG & BOLD Happy clear stamps & Designer Dies.

Thank you Sarah for all that you have done for Uniko, YOU ROCK! As one friend to another and as a small business owner to another, I wish you ALL the success with your amazing, creative business within the paper crafting industry. 

Hugs

January Non-Release Design Team Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY!

Hey & Happy Weekend!

Welcome to the first Non-Release Design Team Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY of 2019 - Whoohoo!! 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 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 Design Team a challenge to look back at a previously released product and give it some more love. 

Usually I choose just one product that was released the previous year or a once favourite that hasn't seen much air time. However, like last January, I have given the Design Team a huge task of choosing to use their favourites from those released in 2018. Thats a total of 23 new clear stamp sets, 2 re-introduced clear stamp set, 14 stencil designs and 2 new designer die collections to choose from!

Let's see what the design team favourites are and how they have been inspired to use the products. Be sure to comment along the hop for your chance to win a Uniko £25 eGift Certificate. You have until Midnight (GMT) Saturday 19th January 2019 to comment, winner will be announced Sunday 20th 2019.

Bev
(Using Wonderful Day & sentiment from Pure Florals: Peony)

Carol 

Pure Florals: Chrysanthemum Stencil,  Simply Said Blocks 

Izzy 
(using Winter botanicals: sweet broom)

Jane

(using Beautiful)

Julie

(Using Pure Florals = Peony and Wonderful Day sentiment)

Linda
(using Nature's Treasure's II stencil & Just Because)

Rahmat

(Using Pure Florals: Peony)

{Coming Soon}

Sarah G

Sarah P
(using Beautiful)

 
Wiebke 
(using: Natures Treasures II Stencil - (2018/05) & Pure Florals - Rose Stamps (2017-12))

WOW! Wasn't that a fun hop. It certainly looks like all the florals were a BIG hit with the Design Team. 

I'd LOVE to know what your favourite product released in 2018 was, be sure to add it to the comments, I might just pick a random winner to win their favourite ;)

Thanks for joining in on the fun.

Hugs

Let it Snow .......

Happy weekend ......

Good morning! It's Linda here with a little bit of last minute Christmas card inspiration for you .... or maybe you're super organised and it's an early idea for next years cards. Either way its a nice simple design, using the pretty Let It Snow stencil from the last release and a little bit of Brusho magic

I don't know about snow ..... it's been a little wet where I am.  No white Christmas for us I'm afraid, so I've created my own little flurry of snowflakes.

I used the stencil along with some Versamark ink which I lightly sponged through the design onto a piece of white cardstock.  I then heat embossed with a detail white EP powder.

Next, I sprinkled a tiny bit of Cobalt Blue Brusho powder over the top, keeping the powder towards the top edge of my card.
I then spritzed with a little water and let the Brusho powder do it's magic,

I wanted to create this ombre effect so I kept most of the colour at the top edge of the card, letting it fade out gradually as the water took it down over the embossed snowflakes.

Because the snowflake design had been heat embossed, this acted as a resist to the Brusho colour, and when I mopped up all the excess water the snowflakes really came to life again ..... so simple to do and no two pieces will ever be the same.

A simple sentiment, a touch of glitter, and some sparkly sequins add the finishing touches.

I hope you've managed to get all your festive makes done in time for the big day.
Not long to wait now.

Thanks for popping by.

I'd like to wish you all 

 a very Merry Christmas

 and a 

Happy and Healthy New Year

Have a great time ..... I hope Santa brings you everything on your list .... and more.

See you in 2019!

Cheerio until next time ......

Un Accueil Chaleureux (A Warm Welcome)...

Hello & Happy Weekend!

Today I am delighted to be introducing you to the newest member of the Design Team. I am sure that this person will not be a stranger to the majority of Uniko followers and to those who join in on the Uniko and "Less is More" Challenges!

So without further ado I would like you all to give Izzy from Izzy Scrap a warm welcome :)

Hi, I’m Izzy. For those who already know me, you know how much I love the Uniko stamps so when I received Bev’s email asking me if I’d like to join the DT, I was just over the moon and I am still now. I’m so proud and so very delighted to be joining the wonderful and creative Uniko Design Team. I live in Le Mans in France with my amazing lovely hubby and our two teenagers (16 and 13) plus our two cats. They are my first fervent supporters (the cats too !). I bought my first crafting supplies (1 rubber stamp, 3 embossing pens and 1 embossing powder, using my halogen lamp to heat emboss !) about 20 years ago to make my own Christmas cards ! But I really started to craft in 2010 when we were abroad. I started with scrapbooking but I rapidly switched to cards. When we came back to France, my husband and children urged me to make my own blog, that’s what I did in May 2016. Since then I enjoy making cards and visiting blogs where I find my inspiration. I’d like to think that my style is rather CAS and I try to find my own style. I’m so happy to belong to this community so rich of wonderful people, full of artists and I’m very thankful to be part of it. It’s a nice way to meet new friends and it’s a great experience !

If you are unfamiliar with Izzy's style, here are a trio of cards Izzy has made to inspire you using a variety of Uniko clear stamps...

Background Blocks - Horizontal Stripe & Fun Flowers

Pure Florals: Gerbera (Back In Stock Tuesday) and Happy Succulents

Pure Florals: Poinsettia & Background Builders: Christmas (Retired, but may make a reappearance this upcoming festive season!)

How fabulous are these? I am sure you'll be as excited as myself to have Izzy part of the team and are looking forward to seeing the inspiration she has to offer. For more details on these creations and to see more of Izzy's work be sure to head on over HERE.

Thank you & welcome Izzy!

Hugs