March Meet The Maker - Meet Me - Bev Brown AKA Uniko.

Happy Monday 😃

Today is day 1 of March Meet The Maker 2025 and having followed for quite a few years from the side lines, I dipped my toes in once but couldn't keep up! I decided this was the year to commit and join in on the fun. 

Especially as March is looking quieter compared to January and February. Plus, with all the celebrations last month, I gained quite a few new followers. So this is a good opportunity for me to tell you more about Uniko.

Today is Brand Re-Introduction. 

So I've called it, Meet Me.

Hello I’m Bev and I am Uniko 😃

I design all the products and lovingly package and check them for any imperfections. Providing you, my lovely customers with top quality, unique and innovative products is my aim. I am pleased to say it is very rare a faulty stamp passes my eagle eyes! 

And I do a happy dance every time I’m packing a wonderful order and my heart bursts with joy when a customer tags me @unikoltd when they share a card or creation using Uniko products ♥️

If you message, phone or send an email to Uniko, it’s me on the other end of the line. I am always happy to help and do my best to answer as quickly as possible. If it’s technical related and I don’t know the answer, I have to contact my tech support. AKA as husband 😂 He works full time & so I often have to wait until he’s not busy for his help! Other than him, it’s just me here. 

However, I am honoured to have a wonderful team of Brand Ambassadors…

Anita @craftyneet 

Izzy @izzyscrap 

Steph @morticraft 

Julie @sportyjules56 

Vinita @craft_craver 

These beauties help me on the blog and across social with amazing creative inspiration 🥰

AND I can’t forget to mention Claire @earlybirdstamps who has been by my side at all the craft shows I take Uniko too since the very first one ♥️

I know not everyone is on social media to be able to tag/share their makes with me. So why not snap a photo and email me instead. The beauty above is by Ruth @ruthgetscrafty on Instagram.

Before I get to todays card, how about 5 things about me you might not know… 

1. I love colour and I have an ink pad addiction 😂
2. My favourite number is 3 
3. I love cats 🐈‍⬛ 🐈 Jelly (almost 4) and Cali (almost 1) are my fur babies. 
4. Chocolate is my weakness, especially Salted Caramel M&Ms and Brownie M&Ms 😋
5. When I’m not crafting or on mum duties to my twin boys you might find me reading a good book. I like mystery, crime, thriller and psychological thrillers 📚

It wouldn't be a Uniko post without some inspiration, so here's what I made today. 

I've had this stencilled Layering Bright Butterfly fluttering around my desk since I inked it some time last week! So it was calling to be adhered to a card. 

With little time to create before the light of the day faded I put together this really CAS card. I think it took me longer to find the Floral Vines clear stamp set to be able to stamp the sentiment I wanted, than it did to put the card together! 

Thank you again for all the wonderful release day orders on Friday and over the weekend. You are all awesome.

Welcome to Uniko if you are new around here 😃 

Crafty Hugs

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Autumn has arrived!

Hi all, 

Steph here with my Uniko Brand Ambassador post for October and given that the weather has now and truly turned, I thought I'd celebrate Autumn rather than moaning about how cold and wet it is! (But I might still moan a bit!).

For this card I have used Uniko I Love Coffee stamp set, just what is needed on a soggy autumnal day! My floral background uses Uniko Beautiful Blooms II stamp set which I think works beautifully in the orange and browns I have chosen for my card. 

Using fawn / brown based colours I turned the Uniko English Country Garden - Butterflies into moths for my next card. I stamped the solid butterfly over the background and added one of each the small and large butterflies using foam pads. 

My final card uses Uniko Winter Botanicals: Sweet Broom stamp set. I masked a section across the upper part of the card on which I later stamped the sentiment from Uniko Floral Vines stamp set. 

So that's my autumnal inspiration to match the autumnal weather (might be nicer if the rain would stop!). Thanks for stopping by.

Much love

Steph x

Saturday Showcase - Originally Organic

Happy Weekend 😃

Earlier in the week, I think it was during my latest video I talked briefly about the Originally Organic collection and it got me to thinking how I've not inked it up for quite sometime 😢 So today I corrected it and inked up the first in the collection, Originally Organic for a little showcase. 

For my first card today I decided to go for a one layer card adding my favourite trio of colours through a simple circle die cut window. I then stamped the leaves and added the bell style flowers over the top in black ink. 

The friends are flowers sentiment is from the set, but the trio of dots I added around the sentiment and up in between the pink and blue circles are from Floral Vines. 

For my second and last card for today I used the other main image from the set, this beautiful swirling organic leafy sprig.

This time I went for a little dimension and fussy cut detail. After stamping and fussy cutting I coloured the image with alcohol markers. I also decided to add the Stencil - MOD Background Builder to the Avocado base card.

Lastly I added a sentiment from Floral Vines, along with the trio of dots again before finally adhering the panel to the card base using foam tape. 

It's been fun to revisit this older and much loved set, I hope you find some inspiration from todays cards. 

Crafty Hugs

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Seeing Stars and More

 Good morning, Julie here with a little inspiration featuring the  Background Builders Seeing Stars and Seeing Stars stencil and a few sentiments from Reach for the Stars, You Are Yes You, Everyday Family Sentiments and Floral Vines.

I was inspired by the new challenge over at Cardz4Guyz where the theme is Stars and or Stripes. I know many of you find masculine cards difficult so I thought I would share a few ideas that would work equally as well for a female recipient.

As my Grandson loves a rainbow, I thought I would use that as a starting point too to create a couple of examples. My first idea uses just three Distress Inks and the stencil to create a background for the sentiment, you could also use star stamps from Background Builders Seeing Stars .

Using Mustard Seed, Salty Ocean and Picked Raspberry, I inked through the stencil onto an A6 panel of white card, moving it around so that all the white space was covered. The card was roughly divided into 3 sections and where the colours overlapped, it created 3 more colours! Initially I kept the inking light but as I moved the stencil around the panel, I added stronger colours, but kept the edges subtle and ensuring only 2 colours overlapped to prevent a muddy look. Once happy with the coverage, I turned to the sentiment.

On a panel of white card, I stamped the STAR from Reach for the Stars in black, and then fussy cut it out, leaving a white border. On some black card from the scrap box, I stamped the sentiments and then cut them into strips. The STAR was added with foam pads and the strips were glued flat. A few sequins or gems would certainly make it more feminine but as I was making a masculine card, I left them off.

This second card is simpler to create, this time I added a light inking of the 3 Distress Inks and then added the stars with a heavier hand and the same three inks, filling in extra stars where required. 

The sentiment is as before but the Happy Birthday replaced with a simple Dad. This time I trimmed the panel down to leave a slight border when added to an A6 base card. I've a feeling this one will be used by my Grandson to give his Dad on Father's Day. If you think it's a tad bright then why not change to a plainer colour scheme such as shades of blue and green just like this card!

This time I used the Seeing Stars Background Builder stamps and kept the whole card one layer. Although the main stars are from the BB Seeing Stars, some smaller ones came from some Uniko Christmas sets. After the stars were stamped in a range of DIs, Twisted Citron, Mermaid Lagoon, Salty Ocean and Peacock Feathers, I stamped the sentiment from Reach for the Stars in black and added some white dots of white puffy paint. 

That's all from me for today, hope I've given you a little bit of inspiration for those difficult masculine makes.

Happy crafting.

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! 

Two for Tuesday, BA Inspiration

 Good afternoon, Julie here with two cards on Tuesday!

I was inspired by the sketch over at The Paper Players to create two cards using the same sketch, colours but different themes.

Here are the two I came up with.

Here's a closer look at the first card.

I love a sketch, they are a great way to get inspired when your mojo is not quite working as it should!

For this I started by stamping the small outline rose and two of the leaflets in Versamark and embossing with gold EP. Using some Candied Apple, Mowed Lawn, and Pealed Paint DI smooshed onto my craft mat, I water coloured before fussy cutting out. A little shadow was added using one of my Zig watercolour markers.

The central strip was stamped using a selection of Simply Said sentiments in Altenew Evening Gray on a strip of paper, before adding to an A6 base card. A piece of textured white card from my stash was mounted onto some gold card and the Floral Vines sentiment was added and embossed with the same gold EP. The rose spray was then added to the top panel and attached over the central strip.

My second card uses the poinsettia from Season of Beauty, Christmas Sentiments and the Winter Foliage stencil.

The central panel was a leftover from an other project yet to see the light of day and perfect for this card. After stencilling over kraft with Unicorn white ink, I cleaned the stencil and then when the white ink was dry, I inked again with DI, love the white shadow you get with this technique.

The poinsettia was stamped with Versamark then embossed with gold EP, bracts and flower center were then added. Using the same water colour technique and colours as the first, I then fussy cut it out when dry. 

This time I used a plain white panel for my sentiment, adding the fussy cut image in the left hand corner before adding the whole over the central band.

Two cards using the same sketch, colours but different looks. I think it's a layout that will come in handy again as I think it's very versatile. 

So that's it from me for the moment, hope I've inspired you to create something for yourself along the same lines.

Until next time, keep safe and keep crafting!

Brand ambassador inspiration : Hello Lovely : Three ways

 Hi there!

Hannelie here with inspiration on how to use a large floral stamp in three different ways... all with alternative ways to add color !

First card :

Second card:

Third card:

I used Hello lovely clear stamp set on all three cards, stamped with my Misti and Versafine Black Ink.

Inks used : Distress ink : Picked Raspberry - Spiced Marmalade - Mustard Seed

For the the first card, I used a piece of torn paper/card stock to mask the area where I wanted to add color. I then started the ink blending and stamped the image over the blended ink area. I finished off the card with a birthday sentiment from Simply Said Blocks.

For the second card I used octagon dies. I used the smaller die to cut a mask for ink blending. I removed the mask and stamped the image. After stamping I used the larger die to cut it out, leaving an uncolored , but stamped frame. I layered it over glittered paper, also cut with the larger die, but rotated to only show a glimpse of glitter. The sentiment is from the same floral set.

For the third card, I used the Bright Butterflies stencil to add color, and stamped just a part of the large floral image on the bottom part of the panel. The birthday sentiment is from the Floral vines clear stamp set

Thank you so much for looking! I hope you leave with a lot of inspiration to get more out of those large floral stamps... without 'real' coloring!

Enjoy the weekend ♥

Hannelie

More BA Inspiration using some of the June release

 Hi, Julie here with a few more ideas using the fab new Sunshine and Rainbows stamp set and the Raindrops stencil. I had so many ideas about the new Sunshine and Rainbows set, that I just had to make a few more cards to share with you all. I've teamed it up with the new Raindrops stencil as well as including the older Rainbow and Cloud stencil, which pairs up rather nicely with both.

Here's my first card using Sunshine and Rainbows stamp set. I've used the rainbow stamps but the reverse of them to give a different look.

To begin, I taped off a section of an A6 panel of white card and stamped a couple of the rainbows, then moved the tape and stamped below them and above them.

Having a MISTI makes it easy to get good coverage, overlapping each arc also gives a more blended look to the finished rainbow. Here's the finished panel. The only problem with using the wrong side of the stamps is the smallest arc which is solid, so I cut a mask to create the white center. The inks were a selection of Altenew and DI.

My sentiment panel was stamped on vellum with Altenew Obsidian and heat embossed with clear EP. My first attempt smudged as the Obsidian ink is very slow drying and just sat on the top of the vellum, by heat embossing I eliminated that problem. I used a slim rectangle frame cut using an Altenew die from white card which allows the vellum to be attached to the finished panel without the glue being visible.

My second card combines the stamps with both stencils.

On a panel of pale blue card, I inked through the raindrops stencil with Versamark and embossed with clear EP. I wasn't completely happy, so added a layer of Salty Ocean DI over the top, buffing away any excess ink. Using the clouds on the second stencil, I added white texture paste roughly to give the clouds some added texture. I had to do this in two parts as the stencil doesn't allow you to use more than a couple at one time. Using the right side of the rainbow stamps, I created my rainbow, then cut it out and added it to a strip of matching white card to which I had stamped the greeting. I trimmed the stenciled panel down, and added the rainbow and sentiment on pads.

My final card was made for my daughter's birthday, which was yesterday, using the correct side of the stamps. Each rainbow was stamped randomly over an A6 panel of white card, adding the heart from the same set in the arc.

The gaps between the rainbows looked a tad empty, so using both sets of small dots from the Floral Vines set, I randomly stamped using a pale grey ink. I picked up on the grey for the mount and sentiment panel, stamped using Doodle Flower and heat embossed with white. The white frame was made using two stacked square dies. The finished card is a 5 x 7inch.

So that's all from me for the moment, hope I've given you some more ideas about how to use the stamps and stencils. Stay safe and keep crafting!

BA Inspiration, Combining sentiments from more than one set

Good morning all, Julie here with some Brand Ambassador inspiration. 

Do you find masculine cards difficult? I love making cards for blokes just as much as for the girls, until recently the boys outnumbered the girls in our family! My go to style for masculine cards is CAS and the choice of colours also plays a part, bold bright colours work well for masculine cards. So here's a simple idea that you can use over again, just change the sentiment!

Over at Cardz4Guyz their new challenge theme is something beginning with D, so I chose Die Cuts and used some Uniko sentiments to create my card focal point. As I made quite a few extra die cut shapes, I decided to make a few more cards with them and share them with you here.

Here are the first two, the bright one on black I used for the challenge at Cardz4Guyz and the other I made with the more pastel tones on white for a feminine take. The layout of the die cuts is slightly different but the sentiment is the same.

To begin, I selected a few different sentiment stamp sets which I could combine to make my sentiment phrase. For these two cards I selected Everyday Sentiments, Doodle Flowers and Happy Days. Using a speech bubble die set, I cut a load of colourful shapes from card scraps, waste not want not.

On the long speech bubble, I arranged the sentiment then stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with white EP. I find it easiest to use a jig for stamping on small items, so for this I cut the shape from a piece of scrap card which I placed in my MISTI and arranged the sentiment stamps in the opening. Try test stamping on some scrap to ensure you don't waste the die cut!

Using this stamped bubble as the start, I arranged the die cuts over my A6 base cards, trimming off anything that was overhanging. You don't need to make up your own sentiment phrases, there are lots of ready made ones that Bev has released, but I thought it would allow me to fill the long thin speech bubble.

As I had a few leftover die cuts, I went with a different sentiment phrase and layout, this time using a mix of Doodle Flowers and Floral Vines.

It was the same process as for the other two cards, except that the sentiment was in a different place.

This card could be for a male or female recipient really. If you don't have speech bubble dies, you could use other die cut shapes to get the same effect, balloon dies would work well.

OK,  that's all from me for the moment, but I hope I've given you some ideas to create masculine cards and get more use from your sentiment stamps.

Stay safe 'til next time and keep crafting!

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - CASE Myself

This is a second special Birthday-surprise for Bev!

Today it's on me to join into the fun of the CASE myself event on the Uniko Blog!
There's a difference to the other participating crafters - they are all Alumni Team Members who just came back to celebrate the 10th Birthday of Uniko with Bev, the team and all customers...
But I am still an active member! During the next days you will see what I'm talking about... the February Release is coming closer - just a few days left until the Sneak Peek and Introducing Days will start! 😀

Beverley released her very first stencil designs in autumn 2017.
I was so honoured when Bev asked me to join a small team with a focus on stencils! Sure I wanted!
During the years I had some Guest Designer postings, but wasn't a permanent member of any team before!
On February, 17th 2018 Bev introduced our new Stencil Design Team on the Uniko Blog
- Sarah Gray, Julie Beech, Linda Walmsley and me.

But first let's return to the CASE myself event!
Is there anything closer than using my very first contribution I made as fresh team member of the Stencil Design Team and CASE it?
Definitly not!

This is the card I used as CASE inspiration:

K1-907 - fly by balloons

I made three new cards.

For the first one I used the Equalizer block Stencil, The English Country Garden Butterflies Stamps and Dies and a sentiment of the Anniversaire Arts Décoratives set.
Here I've used the layout and the colours of the balloon card. I also took the three different colours of the balloons to the butterflies. The background isn't embossed here, but the front of the butterflies and the sentiment are. The butterflies are adhered one side flat, the other one with a mix of 1 mm and 2 mm dimensional pads.

K1-1561 - Birthday Butterflies

The second one is made with the Honeycomb Pattern Stencil and the Bee happy and Simply Said Blocks II.
Here I've used the layout, but different colours. Again I intensified the colours from top to bottom. The three bees are identical, but (like balloons in the wind) they fly in different directions. The sentiment isn't on a banner this time, but it has a black background like in the original card.

K1-1560 - Bee Wishes

And the third one is in the background like the one before, but I changed the sentiment to one of Floral Vines and the bees to "the one" of Mid Century Modern Florals.
Maybe you can remember, where you have seen these bees before?
If not, hop here or here and you will find my funny special own bee-creations - it's like a second act of CASEing myself.
The little rings and dots give an optical kind of black background for the sentiment, but with a lighter, less bold look.

K1-1559 - Happy BeeDay

To see the full lists of supplies and some more pictures, please follow the added links to my blog.

Stay inspired and be excited, what the Uniko BA-team will show you soon!

 

Greetings from Wiebke

12 Days of Christmas Giveaways - Day 9

 

Happy Tuesday!

Welcome to day 9 of the 12 Days of Christmas, Giveaways. 

If you missed day 1 and you're wondering what this is all about, be sure to check out all the details HERE and you're welcome to catch up and comment on the previous days. You can find links in the right hand sidebar.

Today I have another last minute, quick make Christmas card to share with you, but this time I have used a 'non Christmas' clear stamp set and made it festive...

It wasn't until the other day, whilst looking through my clear stamp selection that I even thought about making the floral image from Floral Vines festive. But looking at this one layer Christmas card, I think it turned out pretty good. Even if I do say so myself! 

As you can see I used the floral image to create a focal point for my sentiment to sit inside. I used a mix of stamp sets for the sentiment. The 'happy' from Christmas Sentiments and 'Christmas' from Most Wonderful.

What do you think? Does it pass off well in these festive colours? 

So today's giveaway* is...

Floral Vines

Most Wonderful 

To be in the chance of winning simply leave a comment on this post and or any of the social media platforms I will be sharing the giveaway!

Crafty Hugs 

* As it is a giveaway the prize is open to participants worldwide. The item will be marked as a gift from me personally to avoid customs charges. An alternative prize will be offered if the winner already owns any of the prize offered on the day they win. You have until midnight Thursday 30th December 2021 to comment. Winners will be announced on the blog on Friday 31st December 2021.