Tuesday 30 May 2017

CAS Colours & Sketches #225 - The Double!

Hey!

I'm here again with my next CAS Colours & Sketches design team inspiration for you. This week is Patricia's turn for hostess as we each take it in turns for May & June.

This week is THE DOUBLE....





Here's how I used it...




I kept things pretty simple and chose a large stamp to be the focus of the design. The doily is from Decorative Doilies - The Hands of Time. I had to find close matches for the Purely Pomegranate and Blue Bayou as I have never had those colours!




I added an offset die cut rectangle instead of a full mat rectangle to add a little interest to the focal point and finished the design off with a few of my favourite enamel dots! 

That's all from me today, 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


Sunday 28 May 2017

DT Inspiration - Smooshed Sentimental Cards

Hi, it's Lindsey here with a post on how to make simple mixed media cards. 






I've used the colourful backgrounds with the big bold sentiments from the All Occasion Sentiments range. Very quick and easy to make and they pack a real punch.  







It's not difficult to create backgrounds like these, and it's lots of fun!
I've used a combination of smooshing and splattering with several different media: water-based ink pads, mica powders, Brushos, and Mica powders. I also added some metallic splatters using Gansai Tambi watercolours.

If you don't have all these different media there's no need to rush out and buy them all! The essentials are 2 similar shades of ink pads. The other medias are a bonus. You could also try adding accents using metallic gilding wax, shimmery pastels or even some sparkly eye shadow!

I chose a single colour theme in each media so that I didn't end up with a brown muddy colour.  








For my blue toned card I used a blue distress ink pad, turquoise Brushos and turquoise mica powder with a final splattering of silver watercolour paint.  

For my orange toned card I used yellow and orange ink pads, scarlet Brushos and gold mica powder with a final splattering of gold watercolour paint.






The smooshing technique is pretty haphazard.  
You need to randomly spot your ink pad on an acrylic block and then spray with a fine mist of water to disperse the ink. You want pools of ink rather than even coverage, then just stamp away onto a piece of card. While the card is damp you can sprinkle on some Brushos and Mica powders. If you want more coverage just repeat the process until you are happy.  






These backgrounds do take a while to dry, especially if you use normal card stock (my preference) although you can use watercolour card if you prefer. I put a large acrylic block over my finished piece to help it dry flat. If the background is a little warped once dry, you can adhere it to your card base with 3D sticky pads to offset this.  







Once the backgrounds are completely dry all they need is a bold sentiment and a trio of embellishments. I heat embossed the sentiment on my orange background and used a dark blue ink for the sentiment on my blue background.










I hope I've inspired you to go have a play!

Tuesday 23 May 2017

CAS Colours & Sketches #224

Hey!

I'm here this week after a little hiatus last week with my next CAS Colours & Sketches design team inspiration for you. This week is Emily's turn for hostess as we each take it in turns for May & June.

This week is sketch week and Karen has this wonderful sketch seen below to spark your creativity...




Here's how I used THIS WEEKS sketch...




My original stamp set choice didn't turn out well, so in the end I turned to my other favourite, Uniko Style! 




A nice CAS and fairly quick design to produce, so as I needed a few thank you cards I went on to make one in each of the Altenew ink colour families I have!




That's all from me today, 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


Saturday 20 May 2017

NEW Originally Organic Designer Dies!

Hey!

Now if you follow me on Social Media and your are signed up for the Uniko Newsletter (sign up located at the lower right of the website homepage), then you will already know about these NEW Designer Dies available NOW on the website HERE

Ever since the Originally Organic Designer Dies landed on my desk I have been itching to give them a proper test run ;) Luckily tonight the beans were playing ball and fell asleep with hardly any messing around! 

Here's how I decided to use them...




One of my favourite images from the Originally Organic clear stamp set is this swirly foliage and the NEW matching die has made me fall in love a little bit more! 

I think what I love most about this stamp is the delicacy and elegance it has with the swirls. The matching die is simply fabulous and keeps these details perfectly once die cut. 




I started by die cutting the image partially overlapping my mat layer, making sure to keep hold of all the pieces. 

I then placed my die cut layer and base card inside my MISTI stamping tool, placing the corresponding stamp in place to then stamp the image in Altenew Industrial Diamond ink. I then used a small selection of Copic Markers to colour the image. 

Once I had finished colouring and stamped the sentiment I adhered the die cut layer using foam adhesive, making sure to piece together and adhere the smaller pieces.

This is all I have to share tonight using these new dies, but I can assure you that you WILL be seeing more of these dies in action over the coming days too! 

Until then, thank you for stopping by this evening.
Hugs 

Friday 19 May 2017

Uniko Challenge #41 Masculine with Optional Twist Father's Day

Hey!

Welcome to the May/June 2017 Uniko challenge. I have changed the frequency and length of the challenges this year to hopefully give you a little more time to join in on the fun.

So this month we have the following challenge...

 

Cards for men are always a bit tricky and there's Father's Day coming very soon so we thought this theme would be a good opportunity to get some male themed cards into your stash.

 Challenge Guidelines:
* You can use any products/stamps to enter the challenge, but we do LOVE to see you use your Uniko products. Plus, there is an extra chance to win a prize if you do ;)
* Email entries welcome, just email a photo of your card to bev@uniko.co.uk and I will add it to the Uniko Flickr gallery and link up!
* Share the challenge graphic in your post and link back to the challenge if possible ;)

This month we have the winner of Challenge #39 the awesomely talented Hannelie joining us as our Guest Designer.

Here's her amazing card:


Fabulous isn't it? Love how she's used Uniko stamps in such a unique way. Be sure to pop on over to her blog HERE and leave her some love.

The Uniko Design team also have some masculine inspiration to share, be sure to follow the links to their blogs to find out more and I am sure they'd love a nice comment too ;)


CLICK HERE to see more from Beverley

Father's Day - photo by Deborah Frings - Deborah's Gems

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 Rahmat


CLICK HERE to see more from Sarah G


CLICK HERE to see more from Sarah P

Feeling all revved up and ready to get crafting? 

Well, just in case you need some more incentive to play along with the challenge here are the details of the prizes. As I said at the beginning of the post, I have changed the length and frequency of the challenge. The challenges are FIVE weeks long, giving us a total of SIX challenges this year.
THE PRIZES
  • Main Winner Chosen By the DT - £25 eGift Certificate
  • Random Twist Winner - £4 In Stock Clear Stamp Set of Winners Choosing
  • Random Uniko Stamps Winner - £4 In Stock Clear Stamp Set of Winners Choosing
  • Top 3 Chosen By DT - 150 Loyalty Reward Points
You've got plenty of time to play along with this month's challenge. The deadline for submission is midnight (GMT) on Friday 23rd June 2017 (7.00pm EDT).

Hugs

 

Wednesday 17 May 2017

WINNER of the May 2017 Release!

Hey!

My apologies for being MIA for so long, you have all kept me busy with orders since the May Release - THANK YOU! 

I've also been exhausted by the beans during the day with their naughtiness AND busy behind the scenes prepping for the next release & Uniko's trip to Stamp Magic in Doncaster next month, more of that another day. 

Anyway, I am popping in this afternoon to announce the WINNER of the blog hop HERE, we had for the May 2017 Release. Random.org helped me pick the lucky comment...




In order of the hop the lucky commenter is...




OMG your cards are just stunning. So many original ideas to inspire me - THANK YOU:)


Congratulations Dee! Please send me an email to bev@uniko.co.uk by Wednesday 31st May 2017 along with your postal address. I can then get your goodies on the way to you.

THANK YOU to everyone who left such lovely comments along the hop and for making the release another AWESOME one this year!

Hugs to you all.


Monday 15 May 2017

A video - coloring the Pure Florals Lily

Hey all its Rahmat here. I am up with a video today to show the coloring using the May release stamp Pure Florals - Lily.

The video is not a time lapsed one, it is a full process and about 27 minute long, feel free to forward or skip a few frames.

I will list the supplies at the bottom of the post, not adding the process, you can see the video :)










Supplies:
Uniko :
Pure Florals- Lily


Pure Florals - Cosmos
PFCosmosPP

Color Box - Archival inks
Zig clean color markers
Staedtler Marsgraphic 3000 duo markers
Waterbrush
Wink of stella
Rhine stones - black
Gold glitter paper
Pink card base
White card front

Thank you for stopping by, I really appreciate your kind  feedback :) Have a great day!
                                                                    


Tuesday 9 May 2017

CAS Colours & Sketches #222

Hey!

I'm here all be it late with my card for this weeks CAS Colours & Sketches challenge #222 HERE. This week Karen is our hostess as we take it in turns hosting one challenge each for the months of May & June.

This week is sketch week and Karen has this wonderful sketch seen below to spark your creativity...





When I saw this sketch a few weeks ago I knew that the Uniko May Release stamps would be perfect to use with it! 





As you can see I've not used the Background Blocks Horizontal Stripe horizontal, instead showing its versatility by using it as vertical stripes. I used Lawn Fawn Plastic Flamingo to stamp the block and then trimmed it to the desired size. 

I then stamped Background Blocks Doodle Flower and adhered the stripes before trimming to the exact width of my card base. 




I selectively coloured the petals of the flowers and added a sentiment from Happy Succulents and finished the card off with a trio of Stampin' Up! enamel dots.

If you missed the Uniko May 2017 Reveal, Release & GIVEAWAY post on Saturday, you can catch up HERE. There is still time to hop along and comment to be in the chance of winning the ENTIRE release!

That's all from me today, 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

Saturday 6 May 2017

May 2017 Reveal, Release & GIVEAWAY!

Hey & Welcome to the Uniko May 2017 Reveal, Release & GIVEAWAY!

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 2  1/2 year old twin boys. So releasing every other month gives me chance to keep my head above water, well...just about!

This release is a little later than originally planned to coincide with Happy Stampers Festival, which I am exhibiting at today - YAY!

Anyway, today I am here with the help of the awesome design team to introduce you to the FOUR clear stamp sets available to purchase HERE now!

Let's have a look at them...


Background Blocks Doodle Flower £4 / £4.95
Copyright Uniko Ltd 2017


Background Blocks Horizontal Stripe £4 / £4.95
Copyright Uniko Ltd 2017



Happy Succulents £9 / £9.95
Copyright Uniko Ltd 2017



Pure Florals: Lily £15 / £15.95
Copyright Uniko Ltd 2017


Now I have done all the formal introductions, the Design Team and I have an AMAZING blog hop for you to enjoy.

Simply hop along the links below and be sure to leave a comment along the way for your chance to WIN the ENTIRE release, plus a couple of extras! A winner will be picked at random from all the comments left along the hop before Midnight Saturday 14th May GMT.




CLICK HERE to see more from Beverley




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 Rahmat




CLICK HERE to see more from Sarah G




CLICK HERE to see more from Sarah P



I really hope you have enjoyed all the wonderful inspiration this week. Thank you for all the lovely comments, they are all appreciated. 


Happy hopping & shopping!!