Tuesday 28 February 2023

Introducing... Spring Botanicals Crocus

 


Welcome to Day 1 of the product introductions for our 11th Birthday Release. 

Today myself and the Brand Ambassadors are showcasing the newest addition to the Spring Botanicals Collection, Spring Botanicals Crocus. 

Like the other Spring Botanicals, this clear stamp set features an elegant line drawing of the crocus and an array of beautiful sentiments, some of them mix and match. They are the same font and size across all the stamp sets in the collection for more mix and match options.

Now let's see this clear stamp in action...


 Anita


Bev









A wonderful addition to the collection, don't you think?

We will be back tomorrow with more to share. This clear stamp set, along with all we are introducing this week will be available on Saturday 4th March 9am GMT. 


Crafty Hugs
 

Monday 27 February 2023

February/March 2023 Sneak Peeks

 


Hello & Happy Monday.

What better way to start off a new week, than with some New Release sneak peeks? I'm pretty excited about these additions to the Uniko line up. I hope you are too! 

First up, a new addition to the Spring Botanicals series...




Next some more Spring season sneak peeks...






Next the last clear stamp set of this release...




And how about a new stencil which coordinates perfectly with the sneak above AND others already released...





So what do you think? I'd love to know what you are excited to see in action. Which leads me to say, I hope you will join myself and the Uniko Brand Ambassadors as we begin the official introductions tomorrow. 

All the products will be available 9am Saturday 4th March 2023. 


Crafty Hugs






Friday 24 February 2023

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Masculine Birthday Cards

 Bonjour !

Izzy here, I hope that you are enjoying all the great Grand Prize Giveaways and the fabulous discount that Bev is offering to celebrate the 11 years of Uniko.

To go on with the celebration, I made two masculine birthday cards. If you are like me, I always struggle when it comes to make a masculine card but fortunately some colour combos help a lot.

For my first card, I used two stencils, Balloon Bash & Party Confetti that I combined together,  as well as the Big & Bold Happy bundle.


On a white card stock I first blended the blue/green inks through the Balloon Bash stencil to make the balloons shapes, then I placed it back and I layered the Party Confetti stencil and I blended the same inks on top.

For the sentiment, I die cut the Happy word in a metallic paper and I stamped in black the birthday word. I also added the black thread with a fine black liner.

To finish my card, I stamped this image on a teal card stock and I stamped the little circles that come from the Big & Bold Happy stamp set.

For my second card, I used two stamp set from the last release, Background Blocks Linear and Mid Century Modern Frames.


I kept this one very simple and I get inspired here by the colours of the last challenge at Color Hues. 
So I simply stamped the lines on a white piece of card stock and I coloured some parts with lime and cyan markers.

Then on another piece of card stock I stamped one of the frames together with a sentiment and I also coloured it with the same markers.

To finish this card, I flat adhered this panel on a double white card and I fussy cut the frame and I foam mounted it on the card.

That's all for me today. And don't forget you still have time to join in either the Grand Prize giveaways (HERE and HERE) and/or the Linky Party.  

Have a lovely day and thank you so much for stopping by.






Thursday 23 February 2023

BA inspiration: Balloon Bash and Mid Century Modern Squares

Hello friends!

Good Morning and Hope you all are well!

Vinita here with my first inspiration post. As you all know it's Uniko's 11th Birthday this month. So be sure to join the linky party here to win a Uniko Prize  £25 eGift Certificate!

A Birthday card with Uniko Birthday Balloon Bash clear stamp set. This is such a fabulous set I can't get enough of it! So here is my card:

I started on a white panel using Uniko - Mid Century Modern Squares stencil. First I inked it with various yellow shade inks and then again placed the stencil over the yellow design as shown in the pic using red ink.

And outlined the image using a black pen shown in the above pic.

Stamped a balloon image and fussy cut it, adhered it with foam tape. I added a string from the same set. And completed it with a large wish sentiment from Uniko Big & Bold- Wish stamp and die set.

This stamp set makes it so easy to create! What do you think?

So, guys, there is still some time to join, would love to see what you all come up with!

Happy crafty hugs!
Vinita

 

Monday 20 February 2023

Happy 11th Birthday Uniko - Another Grand Prize GIVEAWAY!



Hello & Happy Monday.

I'm back today with Another Grand Prize Giveaway 🎉  




I decided to add this prize to the celebrations as I was amazed at how many Uniko Stencil designs I have released over the past few years. I think I had previously dismissed stencils in my card making as I had associated them with mixed media only and not clean & simple. How wrong was I?! Stencils are so fun, versatile and add lots of creativity to clean & simple cards. 

So who wouldn't LOVE to win this?? 

This is a BIG deal for myself & Uniko to offer another prize package like this to another one lucky winner, the last few years haven't been easy, BUT without YOU I wouldn't be celebrating 11 years of being in business. 

So THANK YOU!

Thank you for supporting me, for supporting Uniko, for cheering me on, for purchasing the products I design, for sharing your purchases, wins & makes on social media and for simply being wonderful loyal customers.

Anyway, to be in the chance of winning this prize, simply add your name to the linky below. The link up will close at 23:59 Tuesday 28th February 2023.  

The winner will be announced on Sunday 5th March along with all the other 11th Birthday Celebration Winners 🎉






Why not take advantage of this fabulous discount code too! The code birthday11 is valid for the whole month of February 2023 and can be used on any order placed, even if you place multiple orders during the month!

Crafty Hugs

Rules etc...
* One entry per person 
* You don't have to link just from a blog, you can use any of your social media http links. 
* If you don't have a social media or place to link, you are more than welcome to link to your favourite Uniko product on the website ;) Please make sure you use your name and email address so I can contact you if you win! 
* This giveaway/prize package is sponsored purely by myself/Uniko and it is open internationally.
* I'd LOVE you to share this amazing prize far & wide!

Good Luck!

Saturday 11 February 2023

Happy 11th Birthday Uniko - Grand Prize GIVEAWAY!

 


Welcome back to more of Uniko's 11th Birthday Celebrations. 


Today I am back with the post you've all been waiting for! The one where you can be in the chance of winning a HUGE prize package...




Who wouldn't LOVE to win this?? 

This is a BIG deal for myself & Uniko to offer another prize package like this to another one lucky winner, the last few years haven't been easy, BUT without YOU I wouldn't be celebrating 11 years of being in business. 

So THANK YOU!

Thank you for supporting me, for supporting Uniko, for cheering me on, for purchasing the products I design, for sharing your purchases, wins & makes on social media and for simply being wonderful loyal customers.

Anyway, to be in the chance of winning this HUGE prize, simply add your name to the linky below. The link up will close at 23:59 Tuesday 28th February 2023.  

The winner will be announced on Sunday 5th March along with all the other 11th Birthday Celebration Winners 🎉






Why not take advantage of this fabulous discount code too! The code birthday10 is valid for the whole month of February 2023 and can be used on any order placed, even if you place multiple orders during the month!

Crafty Hugs

Rules etc...
* One entry per person 
* You don't have to link just from a blog, you can use any of your social media http links. 
* If you don't have a social media or place to link, you are more than welcome to link to your favourite Uniko product on the website ;) Please make sure you use your name and email address so I can contact you if you win! 
* This giveaway/prize package is sponsored purely by myself/Uniko and it is open internationally.
* I'd LOVE you to share this amazing prize far & wide!

Good Luck!

Thursday 9 February 2023

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Getting more from those little stamps

Good morning, hope you are all well. Julie here, still in birthday mode, with another card idea using a couple of the smaller stamps from Uniko. They may be small but the two candle images from the Big and Bold Wish stamp set certainly pack a punch when used together like this.



I used my MISTI stamping tool to quickly stamp all these candles, but you don't need to. My Memento Black Tuxedo is in need of reinking and I keep forgetting to add it to my shopping list, so the ability to stamp multiple times in the same place is essential!
On a panel of white card, I added a strip of masking tape, which I had previously torn the top edge from to use as a mask. Then the two candles were placed in the MISTI and off I went, moving the tape down for each row of candles. The flames I did stamp freehand, before colouring with Copic markers, the candles I left uncoloured.

On an A6 top fold white base card, I inked a panel of Salty Ocean DOx, from the fold to about a third of the way down. The candle panel was fussy cut and trimmed before being added over the inking on foam pads. The sentiment from Floral Vines, was stamped and embossed with white on a strip of black card and simply glued to the card front.

That's it from me, hope I've inspired you not to ignore those small stamps in your sets, used en mass like this they certainly pack a punch!

Happy stamping! 

Tuesday 7 February 2023

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Birthday Celebrations

Birthday celebrations you say?! 

Why yes! You may have noticed that it’s Uniko’s 11th Birthday this month so my Brand Ambassador Inspiration post is all about birthdays and Uniko (I have used the Uniko colours as well as products). 

So firstly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNIKO! 

Make sure you haven’t missed the Birthday Linky Party from the 1st of the month. And check back here on the Uniko blog for the next two Saturdays to be in with a chance of winning some Uniko goodies! 

So for my first card today I used Uniko Balloon Bash and Uniko Background Blocks Party Confetti stamp sets.

Secondly I have used Uniko Big and Bold Happy stamp and die set, stamping and die cutting the large ‘happy’ sentiment. 


Finally I have used Uniko Balloon Bash stencil teamed with Uniko Big & Bold Happy stamp and die set. This time just die cutting the sentiment without stamping it.


Hopefully these have put you in a party mood! There have been already been lots of birthday celebrations on the Uniko blog but make sure you keep checking back as Bev and the Brand Ambassadors have lots more lovely birthday celebrations to come. 

Much love
Steph x




Saturday 4 February 2023

Keep it Simple Saturday

 



Happy Weekend!

Today I am keeping it simple with a birthday card and giving some inky love to Balloon Bash and Stencil - Party Confetti. Plus, giving you a little reminder about the Linky Party 😉




Trying my hand at some soft ink blending today. I am definitely prone to being heavy handed when I am trying to be soft. So today instead of applying fresh ink to my blending brush, I simply used what was left on the brush.




I felt the design needed a little grounding, so reached for Background Builders Classics. I've definitely not given this stamp set much love, so it was nice to ink it up again. My sentiment choice is from Floral Vines.

Absolutely loving the comments and stamp set favourites on my post HERE yesterday. I'm definitely feeling a little guilt towards not choosing some of your faves! 




Hope you find time for some creativity today.

Crafty Hugs



Friday 3 February 2023

My Top 11 Uniko Products ❤️

 



Hello & Happy Friday! 

Today I thought I would share my Top 11 makes/products from the last 11 years. Which when I came up with the idea, didn't sound as difficult as it actually was 😂

Obviously I love all of the products I have designed over the past 11 years, but as I have honed my style there are some that I often reach for more over others. So, I thought it (might) be interesting for you to know. 

Some of my choices might be obvious to you, especially if you have been a follower here for a long time. Others, might surprise you and then you could be thinking, but you missed off.......! 

First off I'm heading back to 2014 and English Country Garden ButterfliesFor me this detailed but simple illustration has stood the test of time as paper crafting and card making evolves. It is still a clear stamp set I reach for over and over again. The addition of coordinating Designer Dies in 2019 added to the versatility of this little stamp set too.







I love butterflies. I know they're not to everyones liking, but to me they're delicate fluttering is mesmerising. The patterns and colours inspire me a lot. 

Next up is another small stamp set that has withheld the test of time and remains a firm favourite of mine, Natures Treasures II







This is one of my most recent makes using just one of the leaves from the set, even though it surprised me it is from August 2021 😮 I find fussy cutting the leaves therapeutic, but glad there is something coming soon to breathe new life into this set 😉


My next favourite is Originally Organic.




When I think of a product which shows off my style, what cemented my style of drawing and the one I look to when feeling stuck, this is the one I think of. 




Uniko Style is another that, although I don't reach for as often as others. It has a special place in my heart. I think because it is inspired by my favourite pattern design & has ties to my brand name!






Sticking with Florals and combining my love of paper crafting with surface pattern design & design styles. I had to choose Mid Century Modern Florals.




Now, this was really hard, because IMO can you really do this stamp set, without combining it with Background Blocks Mid Century Modern or Background Blocks Mid Century Modern II? They just go together like bread & butter!




Next, I chose Background Blocks Cogs & Everyday Sentiments.





Background Blocks Cogs pays homage to Uniko's original launch clear stamp sets. Today, Tomorrow & Always Time and Extra Time.




Along with bring unique designs, I was and still am on a mission to provide modern masculine paper crafting supplies. I think less is more when it comes to masculine makes, so a fun background and simple sentiment set are perfect choices. 


Talking of fun backgrounds I move onto my next product choice, Stencil - Wonky Stripes. This was one of the first two stencil designs I launched at Uniko, back in October 2017. 

Seriously, how has it been 5 years?!  




Stencils were common place in the paper crafting industry and I was certainly late to jump on the bandwagon with my designs. But, I am so glad that I expanded as they really are a fun addition and not just for the mixed media, layering loving crafters!




From fun geometric to classic patterned stencils, I moved on to super sizing popular Uniko florals and the next in my Top 11, Stencil - Pure Florals Gerbera.

 



I don't think much has to be said about this, do you?! 

Next, I chose Simply Said Blocks, another of my 'go to' sentiment sets. And two of my favourite makes using it. I simply couldn't decide between the cards! 






Lastly, I chose Winter Foliage.




I don't think there are many years since this clear stamp set was released in 2016, that I've not used it for the festive season.





And that concludes my Top 11 Uniko Products, with a couple sneaked in on the side 😂

I'd LOVE to know what surprised you, is there a product you thought I would choose, that I haven't? Is one of your top favourites on the list? 

I'm going to choose one lucky comment from those left across all social media platforms to win another FLASH prize at the end of the 11th Birthday Celebrations! 


Crafty Hugs