HAPPY New Year 🎉

Happy 2026  🎉

We saw in the New Year quietly at home. The Beans gaming, husband watching TV and me catching up on some reading, until the fireworks in London were broadcast. It's been lovely to have a slow chilled day at home after a late night too. It was well after 1:30am before I finally got them to bed! 

Good job I made this card a few days ago.

I did a similar layout of this card using the Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Christmas Blocks when I was at the show in Kent. So I fancied giving the OG Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks the same treatment. I shared my original card HERE on Instagram.

I chose some brighter colours and kept to just 3, plus black for the sentiment which is a combo of Mid Century Modern Birthday and Christmas Sentiments.

I look forward to sharing more with you and have some exciting things planned here at Uniko. Wishing you all a wonderful, happy, healthy and creative year. 

Crafty Hugs

Uniko's Top 25 Products of 2025 - Number 3

Happy Monday.

I'm starting the week with the next product in Uniko's Top 25 Products of 2025 and coming in at number 3 is the Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks. 

 

This product being in the Top 25 and Top 5 doesn't surprise me really, as it has never really stays in stock for long and is regularly requested. 

It's definitely one of my favourites too. I did make a new card using it, but ran out of daylight to get it photographed for today, so I will share the new make on January 1st 2026.

So for today I chose some of my favourite makes.

You know how I love a geometric and pattern, so designing a product like this is right up my creative street. I love how it can be paired with florals. I have done this with SO many Uniko florals, but this card above I have paired it with Beautiful Blooms II.

Of course it is perfect for masculine makes with colour choice and a simple sentiment. On the card below I used a combination from Mid Century Modern Wreath Builder. 

Versatility of a product is also super important to me when designing a product. And I love to show creative versatility too, like I did with this card below. I inked individual squares from the stencil onto die cuts.

Lastly I made this card back in 2024 before the Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Christmas Blocks was released. 

I chose a joyful colour combination of Oceanside, Poppy and Parsley and used Christmas Pop and a sentiment from Simply Said Blocks Christmas.

This stencil is amazingly still in stock!  

And in case you missed it, I need your help in making some room on the shelves in the studio for restocks and newness coming in 2026. 

If you're not signed up to the Uniko Newsletter you might not have seen this BLOWOUT SALE! It's not one to be missed.

I'll be back tomorrow with number 2 of the top 25 of 2025. 

Crafty Hugs

BA Inspiration, Bauhaus Blocks

 Afternoon, Julie here with a card I made for my final week of guesting with the girls at JUGS. This week is stencil week and so I couldn't help myself and reached for the fab Christmas Layering Bauhaus Blocks stencil. Then I thought why not combine it with the regular Layering Bauhaus Blocks set, win win in my view!

I've gone large for this card, a full A5 white base card with an A6 panel for the stencilling. 

I started by inking through the Christmas set into the middle of my white A6 panel using Mowed Lawn, Candied Apple and Worn Lipstick Distress Inks, before filling in and around with a mix of the regular Bauhaus Stencil and Christmas one, keeping to the same colours. Just using these colours makes the standard stencil feel festive!

Once complete, the panel was trimmed to neaten up and double mounted onto some red and green card. A sentiment from one of my first ever Uniko purchases, not even sure of the name now but it's well used, was stamped with more Candied Apple and then embossed with clear super fine EP from WOW. I've learnt the hard way that stamping in a colour then adding clear EP is so much cleaner than using coloured EPs and easier on your pocket too!

So that's all for today, happy crafting!

Stencil Sunday - Patchwork Bauhaus Christmas Blocks

Happy Sunday. 

Today I have a fun card to share with you that I also created in a video and shared over on the Uniko YouTube Channel today HERE.

Recently I have seen quite a few patchwork style designs while browsing Pinterest and I had a fun idea to create a card in this style and use the new Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Christmas Blocks in the design. 

Here's how the finished card turned out. 

Fun, isn't it? 

I had no idea how this card would turn out, but I just went for it and I think there is so many ways you could develop this card design. For example you could add the images from the stencil to inch squares cut out and added with dimension or add tone on tone patterns to the coloured squares incorporating the original Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks. 

Just a little heads up in case you've not seen the Uniko newsletter, social media or don't watch the video straight away...

Check back tomorrow for more inspiration and some Bank Holiday Bargains over on the website!

Crafty Hugs

Amazing Layering Bauhaus Blocks Stencil

Happy Thursday.

What a scorcher for The Beans sports day today, so proud of them for doing their best, supporting each other when they were in the same race, supporting their friends and fellow key stage 2 students. It was a lovely morning spent.

After I got home I decided to ink up the Layering Bauhaus Blocks Stencil, because it simply wouldn't be a masculine month of inspiration if this didn't get used.

I've got into the habit to record my card making and I have shared a YouTube Short HERE of the process. Twenty four minutes reduced to 60 seconds! 

I chose a random colour combo of Blueberry, Oceanside and Lemongrass to ink the three layers of the stencil. It can be a bit of a lengthy process, especially if like me you fill the card. But I quite like how relaxing it is.

Originally I only had the one card in mind, with the panel trimmed into a triangle and adhered using foam tape. But when I trimmed the panel I instantly thought the offcuts were too good to go to waste. So I simply adhered them to another card base.

My sentiment choice is from Everyday Sentiments.

Crafty Hugs

Uniko Birthday Inspiration Through The Years - Part 5

Happy Friday.  

Welcome to day 21 of the Uniko 13th Birthday Celebrations and part 5 and the final of my Inspiration Through The Years. If you missed part 1,  part 2, part 3 and part 4, you can catch up HERE,  HERE, HERE and HERE.

Today I am sharing new inspiration from 2023 and 2024. For me personally I feel 2023 was the beginning of a little revival for Uniko as I added to the ever popular Mid Century Modern Collection, but also designed some new and innovative stencil designs, including the Ink & Flip Stencils. 2024 was a continuation of this revival which sparked new designs to explore and release this year.

Let's have a look at a couple of my favourite cards from 2023 that inspired my new version I'm sharing today. 

It may be no surprise to you that I chose the Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks. This stencil was originally released in May/June 2023 and was an instant hit and still remains to be. 

I took the original concept of the Stencil - MOD Background Builder in that you can create an instant focal point, but that you can also easily move the stencil to fill a larger background with the pattern. As you can see from the title I was inspired by the Bauhaus Design Style and this time created a 3 layer stencil to create the pattern and bring more colour to the background. 

The beauty of this geometric pattern is that depending on the colours you choose you can make it both masculine looking and feminine looking. The pairings with other products, sentiments and layout choices are endless. 

It was a delight to ink this stencil up again.

Here I was inspired a little by the colours of the second card above and the layout/technique of the first. When the stencil was released I also released the Bauhaus Blocks Clear Stamps that pair beautifully with the stencil. So I opted to use those on my card too, along with a sentiment from the same set. 

I know the Bauhaus Blocks Clear Stamps are currently out of stock, I will do my best to have them back with the next batch early March. 

Lastly is 2024 saw the development and expansion of the Ink & Flip Stencils along with a couple more additions to the Mid Century Modern Collection. It was a tough decision on what to choose with so many favourites, but here is what I chose and the card to inspire a new card.

Background Blocks MOD Builder and Mid Century Modern Birthday were both released in February 2024. The MOD Background Builder is purposefully designed to be smaller than the stencil, mainly because I wanted the patterns to offset each other. 

And Mid Century Modern Birthday came about because I wanted a large birthday sentiment option in the same font I created for Mid Century Modern Christmas and Mid Century Modern Wreath Builder. Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments was also released the same time. 

Here's my new card.

For this new card I simply stamped the block in a new layout, stamped the sentiment and heat embossed in my favourite Stardust embossing powder. I then coloured the block in a similar way to my original card, but with brighter colours.

And that wraps up looking back at Uniko Through The Years! 

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I have and it has provided you more inspiration to create with your Uniko supplies. 

Before I go today, I know, it's a really long post. There is still time to join in on and enter...

Uniko's 13th Birthday Linky Party

Grand Prize Giveaway - Win Stamps For a Year

Grand Prize Giveaway - Win Stencils For a Year

PLUS, did you know that Uniko has a VIP Group on Facebook for Uniko customers and fans? 

The group is a private and safe space to share your Uniko creations. Today I have launched a monthly challenge over there to inspire your makes and there is a little incentive to join in too. A chance to win £10 to spend in store to one randomly selected entry.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2723159841326437/

Use the link above to find the group and answer the questions, an admin of the group will approve and then you'll able to join in on the fun. I hope to see you there. 

Crafty Hugs

12 Days Of Christmas Inspiration & Giveaways - Day 6 Christmas Pop

 

Hello & Happy Festive Friday 

Today is Day 6 of Uniko's 12 Days Of Christmas Inspiration & Giveaways and along with the usual inspiration using today's featured product, I have some FABULOUS Festive Offers. I will get to those at the end of my post.

The product I chose to use today is the re-released Christmas Pop clear stamps. I wasn't sure I would be able to use it as stock levels have been going down fast again since my last restock. So I thought I'd better get the inspiration in before it sells out again!

I've had so much fun with this set, pairing with products that I have released since this clear stamp was first released. That it was only right I paired it with another favourite I've not used for a while, the Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks! 

And it pairs beautifully, even if I say so myself. These colours are so fun and vibrant too. I used Parsley, Oceanside and Poppy. 

To make this card using a current favourite spotlight technique, I've used it a lot recently! I ink blended the 3 layers of the stencil on two pieces of white card. I then stamped the Christmas Pop outline tree onto one of the stencilled panels and fussy cut it out. 

It was then a case of applying foam tape to the tree and lining it up on the other stencilled panel so that the design matched. I finished with a sentiment from Simply Said Blocks Christmas.

I'm running a little behind with my YouTube video today, but it will be up this afternoon. Be sure to subscribe to the Uniko Channel to be notified when a new video is available. 

*Edited to add, todays video is available to watch HERE.

Now for some Fabulous Festive Offers.

Firstly, FREE Worldwide Shipping minimum spend has reduced to just £30to qualify for free shipping. This is normally £75 for those outside the UK and £60 in the UK.

This is perfect for my lovely customers in the EU and Northern Ireland.

PLEASE NOTE - Due to GPSR that come into effect on 13th December 2024, I will no longer be able to ship orders to these destinations. The last day to order is Midday GMT Monday 9th December 2024 to give time for your orders to be processed through the Royal Mail system. It's a busy time of year, so can take longer. 

I am looking into this to try and find an option that isn't too expensive and I am attending an online event that will hopefully answer questions and give me more insight. Please stay in touch via this newsletter and Uniko socials for updates 😊

Special Offers 🎉

THREE for £15 on the following £6.50 value collections, BIG & BOLD, Everyday Sentiments, Flower Power and Simply Said Blocks. You can mix from any of these collections to qualify for the discount. 

THREE for £12 on stencils valued at £4.50

Discounts will automatically be applied to qualifying orders, so no code necessary. Offers expire at Midday GMT Monday 9th December 2024.

Crafty Hugs

It Worked... New YouTube Video

Happy Thursday.

Today I recorded a new YouTube video as I promised, showing how I created my card in yesterdays post combining the Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks with Background Blocks MOD Builder. 

For this card though I switched out the Background Blocks MOD Builder for the Stencil - MOD Background Builder, a slightly larger version of the stamp.

I switched up my colour combo for this card, using Honeycomb or Sunflower (I can't remember now), Spiced Cider & Midnight. I show the colours in the video! 

A little pre warning, the video is long, I talk a LOT and I won't be mad if you fast forward during my fussy cutting! So grab a drink and get comfy, or why not get your supplies and craft along with me! 

Here is the link to the video...

Happy Watching & Crafty Hugs

Smile, it's Wednesday 😃

Hello & Happy Wednesday.

I'm slowly catching up and getting back into routine now The Beans are back at school. It's lovely to be back in a routine, but it's oddly quiet without them home! 

‼️warning‼️

Long post ahead, lots to tell you about. So grab a drink and get comfy 😃

The Beans turned 10 on Monday, can you believe it? I'm not sure where the last decade has gone, it has flown by for sure. Here are a couple of photos for those who like to see. If not, just scroll on past to my inspiration today! 

Josh is on the left in blue and white stripes and Ben is in red on the right. These were the birthday cake requests I got this year! 

And here they are on their first day of year 5, just this year and next left in primary school before they head off to secondary school. Again, Josh on the left and Ben on the right.

Yesterday on Instagram and Facebook I shared these two cards for #twofortuesday using the Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks which is now back in stock, along with lots more I will tell you about shortly! 

First up I went for a bright and cheerful colour combo of Blueberry, Oceanside and Sprout. I then stamped the sentiment from Sentiments Outlined (now back in stock) over the top. 

Then with autumn just around the corner I went for an autumnal inspired colour scheme and a kraft card base. I used Wheat, Nutmeg and Spiced Cider and paired the stencil with Natures Treasures II and a Simply Said Blocks sentiment. 

I wasn't sure about this card at first, I think it was my offset layout. But the more I look at it, it is growing on me! 

So last night instead of going to sleep, I lay thinking of more ways I could use the Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks that I haven't done already!

And this idea popped into my head...

My idea was to combine the stencil with the Background Blocks MOD Builder (now back in stock) with the stencil to create a spotlight effect. At first I wasn't sure if it would work and when you look at this first flat lay photo it doesn't have a lot of impact.

But if I show you from this next angle you can see the raised elements a little more clearly. It's a spotlight come paper piecing technique. 

My colour combo is one I have used before and really liked, Rainforest, Watermelon and Parsley. Again my sentiment is from Simply Said Blocks.

After I made the card I got to thinking that you could also combine the Stencil - MOD Background Builder the same way. The stencil elements are a little bigger than the stamp, so would be a little easier to cut out and adhere.

So I've decided I will do a video tomorrow and share my process that way. It'll be posted on the Uniko YouTube channel.

As I mentioned earlier a whole bunch of restocks arrived in the studio. A few stencils and some popular and requested clear stamps...

❤️ Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks

❤️ Stencil - Layering Zesty

❤️ Stencil - Pure Florals Chrysanthemum 

❤️ Background Blocks Offset Stripes

❤️ Background Blocks MOD Builder

❤️ Background Blocks Mid Century Modern

❤️ Background Blocks Rays

❤️ Background Blocks Linear

❤️ Bauhaus Blocks

❤️ Background Builders Round In Circles

❤️ Mid Century Modern Florals

❤️ Paw Print Hearts

❤️ Sentiments Outlined

❤️ Flower Power #9

❤️ Flower Power #10

Phew! That's a big bunch of restocks 😍

AND that isn't all the news... 

To add a little cheer and celebrate double the double digits with The Beans turning 10, I have discounted 20 products by 20% in the SALE section on the website. The sale is online only and will end midnight (BST) Friday 13th September 2024. 

Ok, I think that is enough news for now! 

Happy Shopping & Crafty Hugs

Uniko's Customer Top 10 of 2023 - Number 2

Happy New Years Eve Eve! 

I'm back today this cold wet Saturday to share number 2 of Uniko's Customer Top 10 of 2023 most purchased products. It makes my heart happy to see the Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks in the top 10. I was half expecting it to be number 1, but it was pipped at the post. You'll have to wait for tomorrow though to see which product topped it. 

I'm biased, but this product is one of my faves and I enjoy creating with it. Here's what I made today...

I am inspired to incorporate peach into my colour schemes at the moment with it being Pantone colour of 2024. So today I paired Grapefruit with Aqua Sky and Pebble.

I masked off the top and bottom of my card panel, as well as the top and bottom squares of the stencils to have just the middle section. I then inked it to create a band across my card.

 

I then used the Thank You sentiment from Everyday Sentiments and then decided to add a flower from Mid Century Modern Florals.

Thanks for joining me again today.

Crafty Hugs