TIME OUT Challenge #2

Hey!

It looks like a lot of you enjoyed the new TIME OUT Challenge, it was lovely to see so many entries for the first challenge. I'm still working my way through to comment but I'll be stopping by all the lovely entries :)

Anyway, it's time for a new challenge and this week it is 'Home Sweet Home' a picture inspiration challenge. 

Photo Source: House Decorating Ideas

You can probably guess which direction I went in for my card. Most of you know I'm a sucker for butterflies!

Such a fresh & clean inspiration photo I decided to interpret this onto my card. I went for a textured white card base and a smooth white panel adhered to the base using foam adhesive. I dug through my patterned paper stash and found some lovely Pink Paislee paper. I die cut three patterned paper butterflies using the Designer Dies BRIGHT Butterflies and also three matching vellum butterflies and layered them as seen below.

As much as I love pattern & patterned paper being a surface pattern designer by 'trade', sometimes they can be over powering, especially on CAS cards. Adding the vellum butterfly over the top of the patterned butterfly softens the pattern & also adds depth.

Ok, that's all from me today, but there is SO much more inspiration from the FABulous Design Team  HERE and also all the details on the challenge & entering. I can't wait to see what you create for this challenge :)

Supplies

Card Stock: White from stash

Ink: SU! Peach Parfait (Retired)

Stamps: Uniko Studio Flower Power #1

Accessories: Uniko Studio Designer Dies BRIGHT Butterflies, Pink Paislee Prairie Hill Paper Collection, SU! Vellum, Pearls & Foam Adhesive.

Just.... a note!

Hey!

So I know why I've not had much energy these past few days, bugs! Urgh :( Fighting off a sore throat which has now turned into a head cold is much harder when you're pregnant! It's been a day of bed rest here today, but in between naps I was cleaning my desktop and came across this card that I made a while back & not shared with you...

It uses a 'ghosting' technique which I learn't from the amazing Jennifer McGuire which I have also shared before HERE. 

Short & sweet from me today as there is much resting & recuperating to be done. I really don't want this bug hanging around too long! I will be back tomorrow as it's time for the next TIME OUT Challenge. Until then, thank you for stopping by today :)

Supplies

Card Stock: SU! Crumb Cake

Ink: SU! Crumb Cake & Lucky Limeade. Papertrey Ink Fresh Snow, Summer Sunrise, Raspberry Fizz & Hawaiian Shores.

Stamps: Uniko Studio Background Builders: Squared, All Occasion Sentiments #1 and Flower Power #1

Accessories: Embroidery Floss, Pearls & Foam Adhesive

My 'Go To' Sentiment

Hey!

Finally I found some energy to make a card to share with you all. They say that during the second trimester your energy is supposed to return & mine hasn't made an appearance yet! Anyway, enough of my rambling how about the card...

This seems to be my 'Go To' sentiment at the moment, perfect for all occasions. I decided to use the current CAS(E) this Sketch! layout seen HERE and below.

As soon as I saw the sketch I knew the stamps I wanted to use. Firstly I dusted off Peace on Earth & used the curved branch. I then stamped the sentiment from A Gift From You and layered the flowers from Flower Power #1.

A few pearls to the flower centres and the panel adhered to the base card using foam adhesive finished the card off. 

That's all from me today, I 'hope' to be back tomorrow with more to share. I had best muster some more energy and get the tea on! Until next time, thank you for stopping by today :)

Supplies

Card Stock: White (Boyes)

Ink: Papertrey Ink Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores, Summer Sunrise & Spring Moss

Stamps: Uniko Studio Peace On Earth, A Gift For You & Flower Power #1

Accessories: Pearls & Foam Adhesive

Throwback Thursday

Hey!

I'm back this morning for the next Throwback Thursday post, again it seems ages since I did one of these posts as last week I introduced a NEW challenge blog TIME OUT Challenge HERE. There is still plenty of time to join in on the challenge too.

Anyway, this is the card I decided to revisit, you can view the original & all the details HERE.

And this is my new take on the card...

I decided to keep the layout the same, but just changed the colours to fit in with the NEW Uniko Studio Challenge #8 HERE and give the NEW Designer Dies Beautiful Blooms I some use! After stamping & die cutting the bloom I added some glitter for that extra sparkle! 

It's a wet & windy afternoon here in the North East of England, but I've still plenty of sorting & organising to do which will keep me busy! I hope everyone is having a lovely day / week whatever you may be up to. 

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

Supplies

Card Stock: White (Boyes) SU! Soft Sky

Ink: SU! Certainly Celery & Baja Breeze (Retired)

Stamps: Uniko Studio Beautiful Blooms I

Accessories: Uniko Studio Designer Dies Beautiful Blooms I, Papertrey Ink Bottle Tag Die & Hero Arts Prisma Glitter

Just For You...

Hey!

Seriously the days seem to be flying by here at Uniko Studio HQ. Currently my days are filled with fulfilling orders, designing & organising myself for the rest of 2014 plus LOTS of tidying, sorting, clearing out & organising in the house. I don't think I have ever been so organised! I'm doing ALL the things I know I won't be able to do, firstly before all I can do is waddle & secondly before the twins arrive! Lol! 

Anyway, I took a little time to craft last night & whipped up this card...

As I've said before every month I treat myself to a few goodies from the Stampin' Up! catalogue. When I saw the Sizzix Sqaure Framelits Die Collection they bumped a few things down the list as I had to have them! Inspired by all the flowers in the garden as I look out the window, I decided to use my new square dies to create a polaroid frame.

I started out with a rectangle of Papertrey Ink Bitty Dot Basics designer paper in Soft Stone measuring 8.5 x 11 cm. Then using one of the square dies I die cut the inner frame, finishing the polaroid off by rounding the corners. I placed the frame on my base card & lightly drew round the inner frame so I knew where to stamp the stem & leaves from Flower Power #2. The sentiment stamped on the frame is from A Gift For You & I finished the frame off by wrapping some embroidery floss around it & tying it in a bow. This is adhered to the card using foam adhesive as is the fussy cut flower from Flower Power #1.

Ok, that's all from me today, I've some more sorting & organising to do! I'll be back tomorrow with more to share, until then, thank you for stopping by :)

Supplies

Card Stock: White (Boyes)

Ink: SU! Certainly Celery (Retired) & Papertrey Ink Raspberry Fizz

Stamps: Uniko Studio Flower Power #1 & #2. A Gift For You

Accessories: Sizzix Framelits Square Die Collection, Embroidery Floss, Adhesive Pearl & Foam Adhesive.

[Uniko Studio Challenge] No. 8 - "Hello Spring"

Hello Uniko Fans - based on the ideas from the Design Team we're going to try a few things differently for the challenges. We're going to prompt you with a color inspiration and a theme. Let's see what you guys think of this - please feel free to leave us honest feedback since we want to know if you like types of challenges.

This months color inspiration is some soft, spring colors. Feel free to use some or all the colors. After all, this is just suppose to be an inspiration starting point to creating something fun.

And complimenting the colors, the theme this month is an easy one "Hello Spring".

Here is how the design team faired:

I decided to ink up a set I haven't used for AGES, Background Builders: Flower Power, which I used to stamp the background directly onto a white card base. I paired it with a clear sparkly embossed flower & stem from Flower Power #1 and finished the focal point off with a white embossed sentiment onto some vellum. For the layout of my card I used the current Retro Sketches layout seen HERE.

by Bev

by Gillian

by Erika
YouTube video here

by Nicki

by Amber

by Ren-Yi Lo

The Challenge Rules:

• You have until April 14th 09:00 UK time, to link your card up below
• Winners will be announced by April 17th
• Please add the Uniko Studio Challenge badge & link back to the challenge 
• If you don't have a blog to link back to the challenge, don't worry. Just use "USC"+<challenge number> as your tag. For example, for the second challenge "USC2" and upload it to a gallery. Or send Beverley an email (beverley@unikostudio.com) and she will add your entry for you.
• Showcase any Uniko Studio product: clear stamps, dies, digital pattern paper, digital cut files, or digital stamps. If you haven't purchased any Uniko Studio products, fear not. Plenty of freebies here.

The Prizes:

• A £10 Gift Certificate to the Winner & Guest Design Team spot on the blog for the next challenge
• Top Three Spotlight

We can't wait to see your creations. Come play along!

An InLinkz Link-up

[Uniko Studio Challenge] No. 7 Winners

Hello there - i'm sure you're eager to get down to business and know who the winners are. But let us say, it was tough just choosing a few when there were so many great ones. I hope you like the new challenge format - and if you have any ideas, please leave us some comments.

Here the winners for this challenge are...

The winner of the Uniko Studio Challenge #7 is....

by Laura's Vintage Lace & Roses

Congrats, Laura! What a great soft look with the gold and vellum. And we really love your flowers. Please contact [beverley at unikostudio.com] to claim your £10 Gift Certificate and please contact [renyi.lo at gmail.com] to arrange for your Guest Design Spot! :)

And as always, we have our top 3 honourable mentions.

by shirley-bee

by Camilla

by Poppaea Cards

Thanks so much for playing along. Come back on March 18 for a new challenge. We have another fun color palette and a new prompt to get you started.

WINNER!

Hey!

As promised I am back to announce the Winner of the March Design Team Blog Hop. So without further a do, Random.org chose #65 out of all the 219 comments in order of the hop.

AND the winner is...

cmMarch 11, 2014 at 8:11 PM

Your pairing of the butterfly and the Beautiful Bloom is striking and eye-catching! Gorgeous! A set in rainbow colours...even the thought has me swooning! Lovely, inspiring showcase!
c

Congratulations Carol, send me an email to beverley@unikostudio.com along with your postal address and I will get your prize in the post to you!

Thank you to each and every one of you who took the time to comment & join in with the hop :)

White Wash Watercolour Technique

Hey!

Today I thought I would share a few more cards which we made during the class at The Paperlane on Saturday, using a white wash technique that I came across. I made 3 cards using the technique...

This first card uses the Gerbera from Pure Florals: Gerbera which will be back in stock in the next couple of weeks.

We also used the Chrysanthemum from Pure Florals: Chrysanthemum...

There are only a few steps to achieving this look which are really simple which I have shown in picture format.

1. Stamp your chosen outline image in VersaMark or white pigment ink onto kraft card stock & emboss with white embossing powder. (You can use other colours of card stock as I will show you further down the post. I saw it done on the kraft & loved the look).

Stamping & embossing the image helps with the next couple of steps, keeping the white wash & colours inside! 

2. Next is applying the white wash. I used the lid of my white pigment ink as a pallet, but you could use a craft mat or piece of acetate. Smoosh some white pigment ink onto it and using fine watercolour brush and a small amount of water paint the image...

3. The next step is to start adding colour...

You want to choose fairly bright colours as over laying them over the white wash & blending them mutes them some what. For the pink Gerbera I used Melon Mambo & Regal Rose and for the Chrysanthemum I used Pumpkin Pie & Summer Sun. 

Using the same technique and supplies as applying the white wash I started adding the colours. In the picture above in the top right I have shown just the Pumpkin Pie added to areas of the petals and to the lower left I have used the Summer Sun & blended them to create a natural look. When I painted the original I did all the dark shaded areas with Pumpkin Pie first then I went over with the Summer Sun and if necessary went back adding more Pumpkin Pie if needed.

4. Once the whole image was painted, I went over with a dry baby wipe to remove any colour which had gone onto the white embossed lines.

It's quite a lengthy process, but it is relaxing and enjoyable and I think the results are beautiful! In this next photo I experimented & used black card stock. I used exactly the same colours as the Chrysanthemum on kraft card.

Both look stunning, but I do prefer the kraft version better. It is on my to do list to experiment with other colours of card stock! 

Along with the two floral cards I decided to use the technique on a one layer card using one of the doilies from Decorative Doilies - The Hands Of Time...

Again I started out by stamping the doily in VersaMark & embossing with white. I then applied the white wash. For the colours I kept it simple and I haven't done any blending...

I started with SU! Bermuda Bay which is a bright turquoise colour. I used a really fine watercolour brush to apply the colour to the spokes of the doily. I then used a retired SU! colour Baja Breeze which is a pale turquoise colour to fill in the other areas of the doily. Even with just applying flat watercolour a stunning result is achieved!

I hope that I have explained the technique to you all so that you can give it a try. If there is anything you are unsure of just leave me a comment to which I will reply or send me an email & I will reply by email.

Ok, that's all from me just now,  I will be back later to announce the WINNER of the March DT Blog Hope prize. Until then, thank you for stopping by :)

Supplies:

Card Stock: SU! Crumb Cake. PTI Autumn Rose & Melon Berry Black from stash

Ink: VersaMark. Memories White Pigment Ink. SU! Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun (retired) Bermuda Bay & Baja Breeze (retired).

Stamps: Uniko Studio Pure Florals: Gerbera, Pure Florals: Chrysanthemum, Decorative Doilies - The Hands Of Time & A Gift For You

Accessories: Water Colour Brush, Corner Rounder, Embroidery Floss, Foam Adhesive, Button & SU! Island Indigo Bakers Twine.

TIME OUT Challenge No.1

Hey!

So today see's the launch of the new TIME OUT Challenges the first challenge HERE for this fortnight is inspired by words:

Dancing in the Rain

What do those words inspire you to create? The words inspired me by reminding me of the saying "April Showers Bring May Flowers" and I created this card...

The word rain reminds me of overcast moody skies hence the grey card base & the word dance is a happy word hence the bright flowers on my card.

To celebrate this first challenge there are two sponsors, yep you've double the chance to win a prize for joining in. The first sponsor is Avocado Arts and the second is Make The Day Special. All the details about prizes & the challenge rules can be found HERE on the challenge blog.

I am part of a FABulous Design Team and everyone has been inspired by the words in a different way, be sure to pop on by their blogs for more awesome inspiration...

Lynn

Sandie

Nonni

Dawn

Lisa

Gerrina

Sherry

Ok, that's all from me for now, I hope to see you all taking some TIME OUT to join in on this fabulous & fun challenge! Until the next post, thank you for stopping by today :)

Supplies:

Card Stock: SU! Smokey Slate, White (Boyes)

Ink: PTI Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores & Summer Sunrise

Stamps: Uniko Studio Flower Power #1 and #2

Accessories: SU! Lucky Limeade Bakers Twine, Foam Adhesive, Pearls

March 2014 Design Team Blog Hop & More!

Hey!

I'm SO happy you've stopped by the blog today as today is March 2014 Design Team Blog Hop.  As we've quite a few new followers here, ("Hello & Thank you") I will explain what's going on! 

Here at Uniko Studio I currently only release new products every other month. This is for a number of reasons, firstly, being an avid paper crafter myself and knowing the current economic climate I know 'some' are on a limited budget when it comes to buying new stash, so this way you're not tempted to splurge too much every month. The second reason is that it is just me here at Uniko Studio HQ. I currently run this little business single handedly, designing, blogging, demoing, classes, packing etc, etc. so releasing every other month gives me chance to keep my head above water, well, just about!

So, on the in-between release months the Design Team & I take a look back at a previously released product, dust it off and give it some love! This month I decided to dust off the previously released Beautiful Blooms I clear stamp set which was released HERE back in June 2013.

Now I know I have just said that I only release new products every other month & contradictory to that this month I am SUPER happy to announce that a matching Designer Dies Beautiful Blooms I set is NOW available to purchase HERE.

Designer Dies Beautiful Blooms I £12.50

Copyright Uniko Studio 2014

www.unikostudio.co.uk

How about a super CAS card using both the stamps & matching dies...

The inspiration for my card came from the FAB new A Cure For The Monday Blues Challenge by DT member Taheerah HERE and seen below.

Here is a close up of those dies in action...

Now as tradition holds we have the Design Team Blog Hop. This month the hop is a little bit of sad & a little bit of happy. Firstly, the sad,  as we are saying "farewell" to two members of the team who have decided to step down, Gayatri who was a customer from Day 1 and joined the DT shortly after & also Stacey who has been with us for well over a year. 

Words will never be enough to express how truly grateful, valuable & inspirational these two awesomely talented ladies are to me, Uniko Studio and the rest of the DT. I will miss you both & miss seeing your monthly creations here at Uniko Studio SO much & I know the rest of the DT, Uniko Studio followers & customers will too. So THANK YOU to both of you, for your help, continued support & inspiration to helping this little company grow. 

Now, to the happy part! I am pleased to announce that we have a new member  joining the Uniko Studio Design Team - YAY! So without further ado & I'm sure this awesomely talented lady doesn't need much of an introduction to you all as I am sure you are all familiar with her awesome cards & creations, we have Gillian from Made With Sparkle joining the team.

So now I have rattled on for what seems like forever! I hope that you will hop along & comment on all the DT blogs saying "farewell" to Gayatri & Stacey as you go & welcoming Gillian too...

 Amber

Erika

Gayatri
Gillian

Nicki

Ren-Yi

Stacey
Taheerah

How about a PRIZE...? 

Simply comment along the hop for the chance to win the featured set PLUS the NEW matching Designer Dies or a Gift Certificate to the same value if you already own the set & can't with & purchase the dies! You have until Midnight Friday 14th March to comment and I will announce the winner here on the blog Saturday 15th March.

Happy Hopping!