March Meet The Maker - Product Story

 Hello & Happy Monday.

Today is the final day of March Meet The Maker and the final theme is product story. So far I've talked about the Originally Organic Collection, Ink & Flip Stencils & the popular Mid Century Modern Collection. 

There are lots of products that have stories, but I thought for this final day I would highlight the Stencil - MOD Background Builder. 

This stencil was the start of my 'builder' style stencils. The idea being that you can have an instant focal pattern, but that you can also move it around easily to fill a larger space.

I happened upon this 'builder' style from my surface pattern days and learning Adobe Illustrator in that this is a similar format to use to create and seamless pattern. And this was one I had created in my portfolio of designs. 

This shows the stencil used as an instant backdrop/focal point for the flower from Flower Power #3, accented with a sentiment from Simply Said Blocks.

This next sample shows how the stencil can be used as an all over pattern. I've accented with elements from the corners of the stencil and a sentiment from Everyday Sentiments.

Lastly for today I thought I would make a new card to share with you. 

I went for a little tone on tone ink blending for this card. First ink blended some Oceanside onto the white card panel, but faded it out towards the top. 

I then used Peacock from the bottom, through the stencil and then Oceanside towards the top. For my sentiment I used Birthday Sentiments as I still had it out on my desk. 

I love this stencil format and it was the spark that gave me the inspiration to go on to design the Stencil - MOD Background Builder Circles and then I expanded the format to design the Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks. I can confirm there will be new designs coming in this format this year!

And that wraps up March Meet The Maker. I hope you have enjoyed the blog series as much as I have and it's given you a little more insight behind the scenes. 

Crafty Hugs

 

March Meet The Maker - Making

Hello & Happy FriYAY! 

Today on March Meet The Maker it is all about making. So I made a card and created a little YouTube short of me making it, you can watch it HERE 😀

I chose Beautiful Blooms II to ink up today and here is my finished card...

I used my 'go to' colours, Buttercup, Honeysuckle, Oceanside & Parsley. My sentiment is a mix of the happy from Happy Succulents and the birthday from Birthday Sentiments.

AND before I go I am so late in randomly selecting and announcing the winner of the March Brand Ambassador Blog Hop (my apologies). 

Random.org selected lucky no. 

And the winner is Lucy E

Lucy E.11 March 2025 at 23:13

Fabulous cards! What creative ways to use the stamps!

Congratulations Lucy, please send an email to bev@uniko.co.uk to claim your eGift Code prize. Thank you to everyone who took the time to comment and hop along with us.

Crafty Hugs

March Meet The Maker - Favourite Collection

Happy Wonderful Wednesday.

Today on March Meet The Maker it's all about Favourite Collection. Now this is a little tricky, my favourites constantly change and well, I love everything I design! 

So far during March Meet The Maker I have given love to the products in the Organic series and I have also given a little love to the one of a kind Ink & Flip Stencils. So, it was only right that I let the Uniko Mid Century Modern Collection take the limelight today.

Whilst technically the Bauhaus design movement (1919-1933) was before Mid Century Modern (1945-1970), I've included them in the Uniko collection because, well they do work lovely together.

This collection is also a firm favourite with Uniko customers and often sells out quickly, I've had a recent rush on what *was* in stock, such as Mid Century Modern Florals which has had a flurry and sold out last week. 

With that, it is a collection I restock fairly quickly, more on that later though. Let's have a look at some of this collection in action, I've created a couple of cards using some of the products that are currently still in stock! 

I feel I've neglected the Stencil - Mid Century Modern Circle & Stars so chose that for some fresh inky love. As you know I love pink & orange together and so I chose to section off a little of the background to ink with Honeysuckle and then I placed the stencil and inked through with Marmalade to create this striking background inside the circle die.

I chose the Smile sentiment from Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments as this really does make me smile. And I finished with a few Marmalade enamel dots.

I had fun with circle die cuts that I created another fun card using more of a spotlight technique. I ink blended the stencil all over my base card using Blueberry, Fig and Grapefruit inks..

I then die cut circles from another layer before adhering using foam tape and finishing with another of the sentiments from Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments.

Along with making these new creations, I've been busy in the studio designing new products to expand this collection later this year and if you already love the collection, I think you'll love these new additions too 😜

Are you a fan of Mid Century Modern?

Before I go today I have some restock news, the following highly popular and requested clear stamps and stencils are now available...

Background Blocks Arts Decoratifs

Background Blocks Mid Century Modern

Background Blocks MOD Builder

Background Blocks Splatter

Background Blocks Wonky Stripes

Background Builders Diamonds

Bauhaus Blocks

Flower Power #2

Flower Power #3

Flower Power #7

Flower Power #8

Organic Blooms

Paw Print Hearts

Stencil - Geometric Happy Birthday 

Apologies for such a long post! 

Crafty Hugs

March Meet The Maker - Where

Hello & Happy Monday.

Today on March Meet The Maker it is all about WHERE. 

So where can you find Uniko?

Well, the obvious place is the Uniko website...

You won't find Uniko products available on any other website, unless they are an exclusive like I did a while ago with CraftStash for example. I don't wholesale Uniko products out to any other craft shops. 

Every now and then you will find Uniko at paper craft shows such as Stamperama & Crafterama. My next show is in Gateshead on April 6th 2025.

Even though this year I aim to venture further a field with Uniko, there are some shows that have been out of my reach and when I can't be there, Dies to Die For have a small selection of Uniko products on their stand. 

I'd love to know if there is a show you would like to see me at?

Inspiration wise you will find Uniko here on the blog of course, plus Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube.

Talking of inspiration, today I thought I would share this week's Card Of The Week with you...

The fresh sunshine this morning inspired me today to choose this card using Organically Zesty. Plus Julie's recent inspiration HERE inspired me too. You never know, I *might* get round to inking this set up again if my plans this week go to plan! 

That's all from me today. I will be back later this week with more to share including restocks and a new video over on YouTube.

Crafty Hugs

March Meet The Maker - Workspace

Happy FriYAY!

Today on March Meet The Maker it is all about workspaces. I've shared a reel over on Uniko's Instagram & Facebook of a little walk through my space, but I thought I would share a few photos here for those of you who are not on social media.

This is where I spend my days & the Uniko magic happens! My space is small, it is the box room in our house and I share the space with my husband too when he sometimes works from home. I had to make room for him when his office became a room for a Bean when they decided they were too big to share a room. 

My desk isn't usually this tidy! 

I did tidy up especially for today and if you look closely there is lots of things out of place and not organised at all. Hence why I haven't done a 'studio tour'! 

When I say Uniko is a small business, it is exactly that. There is no warehouse or staff, all of the Uniko inventory is neatly organised alphabetically in these white boxes. I can easily pick and pack an order when I need to. 

I do have plans in place for when my inventory outgrows this space, but for now, it works.

How cute is this pin? 

Lightening Laser are the sponsors of March Meet The Maker 2025 and it was generously free to those taking part. I've some ideas whirring as to some fun Uniko pins in the near future as this is just lovely.

And, I couldn't blog without sharing a card.

I've had this one made for a while and sat on my desk waiting to be photographed. As you can see from my post yesterday I have been loving the Stencil - Layering Picked Posies. 

My sentiment is from Spring Botnicals Tulip and stamped in Dove ink as I wanted it to be soft and not overpowering like it would be stamped in black.

That's all from me today. 

Crafty Hugs

March Meet The Maker - Detail or Variant

Hello & Happy Wednesday.

Today on March Meet The Maker, it is all about a detail or variant. I couldn't decide which to focus on for today, so thought I would share both a detail and a variant! 

First up a Uniko detail.

Ever since my very first order I have included a hand stamped (Uniko of course), hand written thank you note. Because I truly am thankful for each and every order no matter how big or how small it keeps my little dream business going ♥️

The stamp image varies as to what I have out on my desk at the time and I usually stamp a few ready to have on hand when I need them.

Next up is the variant. 

I had to showcase my Ink & Flip Stencils somewhere in March Meet The Maker! I'm so proud of this flippin' fun stencil concept and the collection has variations within the theme of inking, cleaning, flipping, and inking again to reveal the image. 

Originally I started with a one layer stencil, they have progressed to two layer stencils and this year I have a BRAND NEW variation coming! It's flippin' fun and there isn't too long to wait until you see the first of this new variant.

Today I decided to ink up Ink & Flip Layering Geometric Heart, Ink & Flip Layering Geometric Gem and Ink & Flip Layering Flower. Though I only used one layer of these two layer stencils. For the sentiments I have used a mix from Everyday Love Sentiments, Everyday Spring Sentiments & Sparkle Sentiments.

If you've not seen these in action, I highly recommend checking out the various videos on the Uniko YouTube Channel.

Crafty Hugs

March Meet The Maker - Aim

The Sky Isn't The Limit, It's Just The View.

Hello & Happy Monday.

Today on March Meet The Maker, it is all about aims. I've lots of aims this year, more than I will probably achieve! 

But I see it like this sentiment above which I used on my card today and how I interpret it. Why limit yourself?

Why should the sky be the limit? 

There is so much more beyond that, well that's what I think. That's why I included this sentiment in the Up & Away stamp set which I used on my card today.

Here's a few of my aims this year...

💕 Be authentically me.

To continue to be unique, true to my style, releasing products that are fun and spark creativity.

💕Be more visible.

It took me a few years to get out from behind the computer screen and take Uniko to paper craft shows. This year my aim is to take Uniko further a field in the UK and add a few more shows to my list. 

Along with that I want to be more visible across social media, and maybe even show my face a little more on camera! 

💕Learn & develop to improve.

This year I am invested in learning and developing my skills to improve how I showcase my products and design. From better photography to implementing and expanding features available on the Uniko website. 

That is just a little outline of some of my aims this year. I could probably write a dissertation on the subject of my aims in 2025. But I know the visual inspiration is what you'd rather have 😜

Today I used a Spellbinders die to create a frame mask to ink the Stencil - Cloud 9 through. I used 3 shades of blue, Powder, Harbor and Blueberry. 

I stamped the hot air balloon adding the basket and flag tail for a little bit of a different look and coloured with my Copic Markers. 

Finishing with my favourite sentiment. 

That's all from me today.

Crafty Hugs