November Facebook VIP Challenge.

Hello & Happy Tuesday. 

Today is the start of a new challenge over in the Uniko VIP Facebook Group HERE. This month we are full steam ahead on Christmas, there isn't long now till the big day. So the challenge this month I thought I would make the challenge Anything Goes Christmas. 

Literally you can make anything Christmas, a tag, a card, a scrapbook page, or even gift wrapping. As long as you use Uniko products. I do accept entries that feature other brands, as long as the main focus is Uniko.

I know some of you don't do Facebook as social media, however, if you are happy for your makes to be added to the VIP group by me, please email me your entry. 

As usual there is a £10 e-gift code up for grabs. Be sure to get your projects uploaded by 11th December 2025.

Of course I have some inspiration to share with you...

If you know me, I love to stretch my stash and I know that we all love to get our moneys worth out of products we purchase. So I had this idea to use some of the Uniko Background Builder stamps to create a colourful Christmas tree. 

I actually recorded a video, so you can join me over on YouTube and craft along with me if you want to!

I used Background Builders Round In Circles, Background Builders Seeing Stars, Background Builders Triangulate, Christmas Sentiments and Pattern Building Christmas Tree. Along with a colourful selection of Concord & 9th inks.

If you watch the video you will see that I mentioned another version of this card, which I went along and made after I stopped recording. 

Here it is...

This time I trimmed my card to a triangle, instead of masking that I did in the first card. I repeated the same pattern and popped the stamped tree on my card with foam tape. 

That's all I have to share today, but I will be back with more Christmas inspiration soon. 

Crafty Hugs

Card Of The Week - Pure Florals Chrysanthemum

Happy FriYAY! 

I thought I would pop by and share a card using this week's Card Of The Week clear stamp set, Pure Florals Chrysanthemum.

This is my original card featured on the website...

And here is how I used the set today.

I love this flower, but I often don't have the patience to colour it! So I am always looking for fun ways to add colour. 

I came across THIS card on Pinterest and really liked the idea of adding a splash of colour with the sentiment strips over black & white stamped image. And I thought it would perfect with the Chrysanthemum.

I was going to use the sentiments from the stamp set, but knew I wanted three colours like my original card for the strips of card. So I had a look through my stash and came across the Sentiments Outlined and this sentiment was perfect. 

Shame I couldn't adhere them straight! Oh well, I still love how it came out. 

Don't forget that the Pure Florals Chrysanthemum is 15% off this week, until Monday morning when it'll change to a new product.

Also, did you see that a whole bunch of clear stamp restocks arrived yesterday and are now available on the website.

I know there are many of you waiting for the Christmas in July and August 2025 Releases to come back in stock. These are in my next batch due on 26th November. 

The best and quickest way to know when a product is back in stock is to sign up for the notify me when back in stock feature. This also helps me with ordering restocks.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Crafty Hugs

Mid Week Mid Century Modern

Happy Wednesday.

We've made it halfway through the week, so I thought I would share some Mid Century Modern inspiration. Plus I was itching to ink up the Ink & Flip Mid Century Leaves Stencil and pair it with a current favourite, Flower Power #10.

Here's how the combination came together.

I started with the Stencil, using Pistachio first and then adding Artichoke shading. I masked to miss a row of leaves. After flipping the stencil I repeated with the same colours. 

I then stamped the Flower Power #10 flower nine times, coloured with some autumnal Copic markers and fussy cut the flowers out before adhering with foam tape.

 

To finish I added a sentiment from Simply Said Blocks and a trio of Sunflower enamel dots. I love how this one turned out and I think I'll be having fun some fun with this and different Flower Power combinations. 

That's all for today.

Crafty Hugs

Two For Tuesday - Hexagonal Christmas

Happy Tuesday.

It's been a crazy start to Autumn here at Uniko HQ and I am hoping things are settling, in that I can start sharing more inspiration here and across social media.

Today I made time to make a couple of cards and I even recorded making one and have a YouTube Short HERE. 

I fancied Inking & Flipping and turning it Christmassy. 

For this card I was inspired by a layout I've used before HERE. As you can see I replaced the Chrysanthemum with the Ink & Flip Geometric Hexagon. 

I started inking with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink. Cleaned the stencil, flipped and used Nuvo Glacier Paste in Golden Era. 

I added a hand drawn string with a fine liner, added a sentiment from Christmas Sentiments and a bow stamped in Dragonfruit using the one from Mid Century Modern Wreath Builder.

Sometimes I like using a little bit of ribbon and these little tabs are one of my favourite ways to use it. It doesn't create bulk. I adhered the bauble layer to my card base using foam tape, 1mm thick.

Next up I wanted to use both layers of the Ink & Flip Geometric Hexagon.

First I started with the bauble. I inked it with Dragonfruit & then Peacock. I also stamped the same bow and fussy cut both the hexagon and bow.

Next I went to the background layer. I inked with Honeysuckle and Oceanside to create a slightly softer feel to the colours. I added gold splatter using Gansi Tambi Starry Watercolours.

I stamped the same sentiment, drew a line for the bauble string before adhering the hexagon and bow using foam adhesive.

That's all I have today, but I would love to know which is your favourite of the two.

Crafty Hugs

Christmas Inspiration

Hi everyone it’s Natalie here with my first card for the Uniko blog. 

 

I love the Season of Beauty stamp set it’s so pretty. It’s such a versatile stamp, you can either block stamp the image or I decided to colour mine up using COPIC markers. 

I wanted to keep the background quite clean but have some texture using a white on white background die. 

Then I used the circle from the die cut to create the shape of my wreath. Building up layers with the foliage around the poinsettia. 

I finished it up by adding my sentiment in the middle and adding a cute red bow. 

I hope you have liked my card for today and I look forward to seeing all of your creations! 

Fabulous Friday - Welcome Natalie Seddons 🎉

Happy Fabulous Friday.

I'm absolutely delighted to be kicking off the weekend with a welcome to the Uniko Brand Ambassadors post. 

I know you will, but please give a warm welcome to Natalie Seddons.

I've know Natalie for quite a few years now and always been in awe of her colouring skills. Natalie has worked colouring and creative magic with Uniko products. 

Here are some of my favourites...

Spring Botanicals Daffodil

Organically Zesty

Mid Century Modern Baubles

Now, I will hand you over to Natalie for a little introduction and a new card...

Hi I’m Natalie aka momma sedds and I’m very excited to be joining the Uniko team. I’m currently on maternity leave and trying to craft away whilst the little one naps! 

I started card-making back in 2011 but I’ve always been colouring and creating away. As soon as I found Copics and Distress inks I really found my style and they are my absolute favourite medium to work. 

I hope you like my creations and I can’t wait to share them with you!

Just look at that beautiful poinsettia. One day I'll be able to have the patience and colour like this. Now, it wouldn't be a Fabulous Friday Welcome without a website discount. 

From 9am today, Friday 24th October - 23:59 Sunday 26th October I have an automatic 15% off all orders on the website 🎉 

No code necessary, discount will show during the checkout process. 

Thank you for stopping by the blog today & happy shopping!

Crafty Hugs

Mid Century Modern Masculine Card

 Hello & Happy Thursday.

I had 15 minutes spare this afternoon while the light was still good to make a quick card. 

I’ve had this idea in my head of pairing the new Background Block MOD Circle Builder with Mid Century Modern Frames. 

I used my MISTI to stamp everything apart from the sentiment from Anniversaire Arts Decoratifs, as I couldn’t get it straight. So went old school with an acrylic block! 

I added some colour using Stampin’ Blends and just popped the frame up with foam adhesive after fussy cutting.

This card took just over 11 minutes to make and I have a short over on YouTube if you want to watch me make it. 

Crafty Hugs

Autumn Wishes using Nature's Treasure Stencil

Good morning all, Julie here with some BA autumnal inspiration. 

Over at Cardz4Guyz their latest challenge is to make a card using some or all of these colours in a masculine card, Orange, Purple and Black. I know many of you find masculine cards difficult so here is what I came up with.

CAS is a great way to make a masculine card and as flowers are a bit of a no no for them too, I turned to leaves. In this case I used Nature's Treasures stencil, some DIs,Wilted Violet, Black Soot, Ripe Persimmon, Carved Pumpkin, Dried Marigold, Ripe Persimmon, Spiced Marmalade and a sentiment from Organic Wishes.

I mostly used the smaller of the two stencils moving it around to create the look of an autumnal tree inking onto an A6 top fold white card. I wasn't sure how the purple element would work out but I quite like it. Where it overlays the orange it gives a shade of brown but the purpley hues suggest depth and the black stencilling, shadows. The sentiment is quite ambiguous and could be used for a variety of occasions, including sympathy.

On a side note it was loveley to see and interact with so many Uniko stampers at Port Sunlight last Saturday. If you wonder which one was me, I was the one with zero till skills and glasses!!

Just a quick reminder that over on FB, the Uniko FB VIP challenge is Autumn Vibes with the option of Halloween and you have until Novemeber 10th to add your Uniko makes. 

Happy crafting!

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Retro Autumn

Good morning from Steph! 

Retro Autumn?! What do I mean by that? Well simply that I have combined the Uniko Layering Retro Lines stencil with a few Uniko autumnal sets. 

I stencilled three panels with the same green shades using part of the Uniko Layering Retro Lines stencil. To all three I added a sentiment from the Uniko Butterfly Serenade stamp set. 

 

For this first card I used a grey ink and added a floral outline from the Uniko Originally Organic stamp set.

Next I added some colour using the Uniko Autumn Serenade stamp set, both the large stamp and some of the smaller elements in the set also. 

Finally I went super simple with just one leaf stem stamped in green from the Uniko Originally Organic Flower Garden stamp set, and added a few dots of colour with Nuvo drops. 

The change in weather in the UK is definitely influencing my crafting this year. I can't remember it doing so in previous years other than I do like to switch over to festive crafting in autumn because they are my favourite cards to make! Do the seasons influence your crafting style?

Much love

Steph x

Marvellous Monday Winners 🎉

Hello & Happy Monday.

It's a gorgeous, sunny autumn day here in the north east, which is lovely after the stormy weekend. Though, saying that Crafterama Lincoln was a lovely day too. So nice to catch up with so many of you there, enjoy your new goodies

Thank you too for all the lovely orders on the website too 😃

Anyway, before I get to announcing lots of winners, I have a card to share.

The other day I shared a card HERE on Instagram using the Background Block MOD Circle Builder and I still had a piece of the the stamped panel left, so used it today.

This time I trimmed it on a different angle and ink blended over the top with some shades of green. I added the Congrats sentiment from Simply Said Blocks and embellished with a couple of the smaller stamps from the set. Lastly, I added a trio of enamel dots.

Ok, now onto the winners.

First up, the winner of the September Non Release Blog Hop as I'm a little late announcing this winner. I used Random.org to pick a lucky comment and the winner is...

Congratulations Greta! Please email me at bev@uniko.co.uk to claim your prize.

Next up I have the 3 winners of the World Card Making Day 2025 Card Making Competition. Thank you for all that took the time to create with your Uniko goodies, tag me on socials and upload to the gallery. 

I went old school picking the winners by putting all the names in a hat... 

Congrats Ladies! 

I have sent you all a message to claim your Uniko prize 😃

Crafty Hugs

World Card Making Day 2025 with Uniko

Happy World Card Making Day.

What a wonderful day to celebrate and indulge in the joy of making cards. To help celebrate the day I thought it would be fun to run a little competition.

Make A Card Competition!

Simply make a card that uses a Uniko product. You could use a stamp, stencil, designer die or even a digital product. There are some free downloads HERE. 

Next, share it on social media (Instagram, Facebook or even Pinterest) and be sure to tag @unikoltd so I see it! You can even link up your card below this post to the gallery. If you don't do social media or have trouble linking up, email me your entry to bev@uniko.co.uk

You have today and tomorrow (Sunday 5th) to get your entries in.

3 winners will be randomly selected from those entered across all platforms to win a Uniko prize bundle. Winners will be contacted and announced here on Monday 6th October 2025. 

How about a little inspiration to get your card making mojo going...

Bev

Julie

Steph

Have a wonderful card making day.

Crafty Hugs

Technique Two For Tuesday - Background Blocks Christmas Scramble

Happy Tuesday.

I finally feel like I am settling into routine and found a little bit of creative mojo. Anyone else struggle when they've had a holiday? 

Anyway, let's have a look at what I created for today...

Since seeing the Brand Ambassadors use the paper piecing technique with this stamp, Background Blocks Christmas Scramble, I've been wanting to do it too! 

I decided to dive into my pattern paper bit box, something I rarely do and came across scraps of this Swiss dot paper from Papertrey Ink. I've had these scraps for years. 

As I was fussy cutting and adhering the letters, it got me to thinking how I could use the Background Block Swiss Dots, to create a similar look. 

So that's what I did for my second card.

For this I heat embossed the Swiss Dots background onto white card using VersaMark and Clear Gloss EP. I then inked over with Dragonfruit, Sweet Pea, Buttercup, Parsley, Oceanside & Midnight. Again fussy cutting and adhering using foam tape.

I could have achieved the same look by doing solid colours on more stamped and embossed Background Blocks Swiss Dots backgrounds, but I quite like this ink blended look. 

Although I love both, I can't decide which I prefer. Which do you prefer? 

Thanks for stopping by.

Crafty Hugs