January 2016 Design Team Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY!

Hey!

I'm SO happy you've stopped by the blog today as today is the January 2016 Design Team Blog Hop. Along with the hop we have a GIVEAWAY! So be sure to grab a drink, get comfy, relax and enjoy.

As we've quite a few new followers here, ("Hello & Thank you") I will explain what's going on! Here at Uniko I *USUALLY* 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 HQ. I currently run this little business single handedly, designing, blogging, demoing, classes, packing. Alongside that I am a full time mum to 16  month old twin boys. 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 take a look back at the previously released Always & Forever clear stamp set...

As you can see this set has a love theme & with Valentine's Day just around the corner I thought it would be nice to give you some' lovely' inspiration. Even though the sentimhents are geared towards Valentine's Day I hope to show you that the set is also good for Anniversaries, Weddings & general occasion cards too. 

As usual I like to show a couple of my old favourite creations & more can be found HERE on the Always & Forever Pinterest page.

This first card shows how the set coordinates with the flower from Beautiful Blooms I and I have also paired them with a sentiment from All Occasion Sentiments #1.

This second old favourite pairs the set with Background Builders: Round In Circles and the card was left sentiment free so it could be used for any occasion. 

Ok, how about some new inspiration using this set...

My card today uses the 'Love You' heart which instead of stamping I printed it using my new laser printer so that I could foil it through my new Heidi Swapp Minc Machine that I got from Santa! I'm sure you will be seeing LOTS of foiling over the next few weeks as you know I am addicted already ;) 

I'm keeping my fingers tightly crossed for some new Minc mediums being released at CHA this weekend, which will be good for stamping & card making. But I will also be exploring some ideas I've seen on You Tube too and sharing the results with you.

Anyway, for my card I die cut my tag from some left over SU! CS and stamped my sentiment from the set in VersaFine Onyx Black ink. I adhered my foiled heart using DST and after adding some ribbon and bakers twine mounted it onto my card base using foam adhesive. I added some tiny black heart die cuts also from SU! and gave them a splash of Wink Of Stella too.

Before we get to the traditional blog hop I would firstly like to introduce you to a new member of the Uniko Design Team. Please give a warm welcome to...

Lindsey Bowe from Doodlings

Welcome to the Uniko DT Lindsey & we all look forward to seeing your creations & inspirations using Uniko products :)

How about some more inspiration using this set from the FABulous DT...

CLICK HERE to see more from Deborah

CLICK HERE to see more from Jane

CLICK HERE to see more from Lindsey

CLICK HERE to see more from Sarah P

It wouldn't be a blog hop without a GIVEAWAY right? 

Simply comment along the hop to be in the chance of winning this featured set along with an eGift certificate for £10 to spend in store. Or if you win and already own the set an eGift certificate for £15 will be awarded. You have until midnight Sunday 17th Jan 2016 to comment and the winner will be announced on Monday 18th Jan 2016.

Thank you for stopping & hopping along with us today :)