Throwback Thursday and Last Chance!

 Hello & Happy Thursday! 

Today I am doing a little reminiscing with a throwback Thursday. 

Unfortunately, the time has come to say farewell to a couple of clear stamp sets. I never find this easy and it really does take me a while to let them go. BUT, as much as I do love these sets, trends change, just like the seasons AND there is always so much newness around the corner.

So what are we saying farewell to? 

Decorative Doilies - The Hands Of Time

Firstly it is with a heavy heart we are saying farewell to Decorative Doilies - The Hands Of Time. This stamp set holds a special place in my heart. I originally designed elements of this set at college while studying for my degree in Textiles and Surface Design. 

This set is closely connected to the two clear stamps I launched Uniko with back in February 2012, Today, Tomorrow and Always Time and Today, Tomorrow and Always Extra Time. These sets were designed for my final major project and I poured hours of research, drawing and designing into them as I learned Adobe Illustrator. 

Here are a couple of my favourite cards made using this set. You can see more on Pinterest HERE.

And for old times sake, I have a fresh card to share with you using this set...

Yep, I am still on that slimline card band wagon! However, I was inspired by the new sketch over at CAS Colours & Sketches seen HERE and below for the layout of my card. They have also requested it to be slimline.

The sketch was perfect for using lots of the doilies from the set. The hardest part was selecting which largest doily to showcase as the main feature. 

I knew I wanted this card to be super colourful, so I opted for this one as I love colouring it in rainbow! I love how it turned out. I used a selection of Stampin' Up! markers to colour the doily and then I used some of the coordinating inks to stamp the backdrop of doilies. I used all but two doilies for this card. 

The sentiment is from Simply Said Blocks III and I added some enamel gems to add the final touches. I know this won't be the last time I ink up these stamps. They will forever remain a firm favourite. Especially when it comes to quick sparkling Christmas cards. However, it will probably be the last card I make and share here on the blog using it.

The next stamp set we are bidding farewell to is...

Background Builders - Vines 

This is another stamp set from the early years of Uniko, April 2014 to be exact! Here are a few of my favourites using this set. And you can see more HERE on Pinterest.

And a close up of a different card 

And again, for old times sake, a new one...

It's funny how you don't use a stamp set or product for a long time, but when you finally ink it up and start creating a whole host of ideas come to mind! 

For this card I selected one of the long leafy stamps to create this garland across my card. I then stamped a variety of the tiny flowers in a selection of inks. I tried to choose colours with an autumn feel, but it came out pretty summery.

You might recognise some of the flower designs from the Flower Power series. Don't worry those aren't retiring just yet, they'll be about for a while longer. The sentiment I have used is from Floral Vines.

So that's it, my Throwback Thursday and a farewell to these two stamp sets. It's been lovely looking back and I know for sure these early stamp sets will always have a special place in my heart and crafting stash. 

There are still some available on the website HERE at bargain prices, waiting for a loving inky home.  Once they are gone the product will be removed from the website 😢 

That's all from me today.

Crafty Hugs

 

Happy New Year!

Hello & Happy 2020!

Welcome to another exciting year at Uniko :)

I am over on the Uniko Website Blog HERE with all the details about this Happy New Year card. I'd love you to hop on over and take a closer look.

I hope you have all had a wonderful New Years Eve and New Years Day and 2020 has begun well for you.

Crafty Hugs

Odd Rule of Composition

Hi it's Lindsey here for some DT inspiration.

I've been looking back at some of the early Uniko stamp sets and I've dusted off the "Delicate Doilies" stamp set.  The set has some wonderfully intricate stamps; it reminds me of the Spirograph toy I had as a child.

I've chosen a small, medium and large stamp.  I nearly always choose 3 images in my designs following the "Odd Rule" of composition.  Ditto, I've used just 3 sequins.

Odd numbers always look better than even numbers as it keeps the eyes moving around the design - if you have even numbers the brain automatically pairs them and then stops looking.  With an odd number we feel compelled to look into a picture trying to seek the missing component and find a balance.  Honest!  Try it and see for yourself.

The sentiment is from the new "Birthday Wishes" stamp set from the February release.

You can find "Decorative Doilies"in the Uniko shop HERE.

Thank you for your visit today.

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

My Five Faves From Year 1 of Uniko

Hey!

What a wonderful day I had yesterday, THANK YOU for the out pouring of love, support and wonderful orders, not just yesterday & today but over the past 5 years. You are ALL just the best :)

There is still a few hours left to take advantage of the FREE Worldwide Shipping Offer! 

Anyway, I decided that I would take a wander back over the past 5 years and each day leading up to the February 2017 Sneak Peeks choose my 5 favourite projects from that year. Oh my, what a task that was! Not that I love everything I made back then, my style has certainly changed some what over the years but I had A LOT more time on my hands back then and created so many cards! 

Here is what I chose from Year One...

This first card is an all TIME favourite and I think it will always hold a special place in my heart. This card was originally designed way back at University when I was near completing my degree and planning on launching Uniko. It uses stamps from one of my two debut clear stamp sets which were launched back on Feb 11th 2012! 

Unfortunately I have retired both Time and Extra Time clear stamp sets, due to the change in trends and demand for them. They might come back one day revised, refreshed and revamped who knows the 'time' trend might just have it's 'time' again! You can see more using these sets HERE on Pinterest. 

Next I chose a card using the ALL time BEST seller since Uniko began, Pure Florals: Gerbera. This set was also partially designed back at Uni and I chose this as one of Uniko's first florals due to the colour options this flower has. 

This flower looks FABulous in any colour of the rainbow! I also designed it to appeal to people who like to colour and those who don't, providing a solid stamp and an outline stamp, plus it features two views of the flower.

This set has had SO many requests over the past couple of weeks and these past few days, that it will be coming back into stock really soon. I just need to get the February 2017 Release underway and then I will get them ordered along with some other popular clear stamp sets which have recently sold out. To see more using this set, head on over to Pinterest HERE.

Ah, Decorative Doilies - The Hands Of Time. Another clear stamp set designed at Uni alongside Time & Extra Time. This set is SO much fun and looks fabulous as large sparkly snowflakes like in the card below.

I nearly retired this set recently, but it'll be making one last appearance in the shop before it retires in the next month or so ;) To see more using this set check out the Pinterest page HERE.

Do you remember the label trend? This next card uses Label Love: Christmas, which is on SALE as it is retiring :( The label trend seems to have passed its best and I have to make these tough decisions to make room for NEW clear stamp sets! 

However, I chose this card because I remember REALLY enjoying making this card. Building the large tree out of the smaller tree AND all the sparkle. It's hard to see in the photo, but each of the little trees are filled with clear sparkly glitter - YUM! 

You can see more using Label Love: Christmas HERE and you'd be able to recreate a version of this card using Christmas Pop Clear Stamp Set ;)

Lastly, but by no means least I chose this card below...

Like I said at the beginning with my first card Time and Extra Time will always hold a special place in my heart. I just LOVE this colour combo too, Papertrey Ink Soft Stone, Hawaiian Shores, White and Stampin' Up! Basic Grey. 

I ended with this card too as I wanted to say, THANK YOU again to you all! Thank you for stopping by and reminiscing with me as I take my wander down memory lane. 

I''ll be back again tomorrow with more to share :)

Hugs

Some 'ME" time!

Hey!

How are you all? Can you believe that we are in November already, how did that happen?! The days here are simply flying by, the beans certainly like to keep me busy that's for sure!! 

Yesterday morning Daddy took them to the park in the pram to watch the local non-league football, which gave Mummy some 'ME' time that I decided to use NOT doing housework for once! Instead I popped into the studio and created this card...

It is one that I had started a few days ago and finally got round to finishing. It just so happens that it also fits perfectly into the current challenge over at 'Less is More' HERE, which this week is a colour challenge using non-traditional Christmas colours.

For my card I used one of my favourite non-traditional colour schemes, aqua, white & silver along with a non-Christmas stamp set - Decorative Doilies The Hands Of Time. The sentiment is from Stunning Snowflakes and I also added a Snowflake die cut.

Ok, so that's all I have for today, tomorrow on the blog we have our winner of challenge #14 guest designing for us, so I do hope you will pop on by & join in on the challenge :) Until then, thank you for stopping by.

Doilies Just For You & a WINNER!

Hey!

Today I have a CAS card to share with you, but first how about a WINNER for the August Release Day Blog Hop?!

Random.org chose...

Comment 51 appears on Gillian's blog...

Margaret11 August 2014 13:42

Love the new stamp sets - the Strike a Pose set is great for scrapbooks as well as cards. Margaret

Congratulations Margaret! Send me an email to beverley@unikostudio.com along with your mailing address and I will get your prize of the entire release on it's way to you! If you ordered any of the release products on release day you can either choose a Gift Certificate to the value you spent in store or a refund. 

Now onto todays card...

When I saw the current CAS(E) this Sketch! layout seen HERE and below I knew I wanted to use Decorative Doilies - The Hands Of Time. I paired the sketch with the just passed Color Throwdown colours HERE and also seen below.

I'm not overly fussed with how it turned out, mainly due to my colouring, looking back I think I should have left some of the hands white and coloured the doily in more randomly than repetitively? 

Today is another chilled out day in the studio making cards and fulfilling orders :) I hope you all have a lovely day & until tomorrow, thank you for stopping by today!

Supplies

Card Stock: White (Boyes)

Ink: Avery Elle Fog & VersaFine Onyx Black

Stamps: Uniko Studio A Gift For You & Decorative Doilies - The Hands OF Time

Accessories: SU! Markers & Foam Adhesive

Clean & Simple

Hey & Happy Monday!

I do hope your week has got off to a lovely start. Its been a beautiful day here in the NE of England and it's helped me feel energised to tick a few more jobs off the list! 

I've took a little crafty break & come back into the studio to create this clean & simple card...

I needed a little mojo boost so used a couple of challenges to spark the creativity. The first challenge is the current Crazy for CAS sketch seen HERE and below. 

I was inspired to dust off a few sets that hadn't seen daylight for a while on my card, Decorative Doilies - The Hands Of Time and Background Builders: Lattice and paired them with a sentiment from A Gift For You.

As I kept it Clean & Simple it fits perfectly into the soon to be ending Addicted to Stamps & More! challenge HERE. I added a few SU! sequins for a little sparkle to finish it off :) 

I've been busy in the studio today preparing for the August Release & to make room & also to celebrate little Prince George's 1st Birthday there is a Summer Sale over on the website HERE. Why not grab yourself a bargain or treat yourself to a set on or wish list?!

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

Supplies
Card Stock: White (Boyes)
Ink: Avery Elle Aquamarine, Raspberry & Mimosa 
Stamps: Uniko Studio A Gift For You, Background Builders: Lattice & Decorative Doilies - The Hands Of Time.
Accessories: SU! Sequins

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.