Bokeh...

Happy Wednesday!

Nope, I haven't made up a new language with the title of my post, I'm jumping on the band wagon & trending here again on the blog today, this time having a go at the Bokeh trend that's been popping up in the paper crafting community.

The term Bokeh pronounce BOH-KE comes from the Japanese word boke, which means the blur or haze. Bokeh has been around & can be seen a lot in photography. By definition bokeh is the blur, or the aesthetic quality of the blur, in out of focus areas of an image. The way the lens renders out of focus points of light. 

Source Wikipedia

Below are a couple of examples of bokeh in photography...

Source: umla.tumblr.com via Tammie on Pinterest

Source: thebedlamofbeefy.blogspot.com via ChelseaBrooke on Pinterest

Ok, so now you know a bit more about bokeh, how does this relate to paper crafting, I hear you ask..? Well, obviously it's about translating the concept of the 'blur' or 'haze' into a project and this is my first interpretation...

I started this card out on a piece of scrap paper sketching out my layout before stamping onto my crisp white card base! 

I then used the 3 solid individual stamps from Background Builders: Lattice, I  inked each of the stamps and stamped them off onto scrap paper before stamping onto the card two times before re-inking & repeating the process with each of the three colours. Stamping the ink off before stamping onto your card base creates a 'blurred' or 'hazed' type effect which is what we want! 

Below is a close up of the detail...

Now comes the fussy stage of this card, the stamping, paper piecing & glittering of the 2 linear individual stamps contained in the set! Some are adhered to the card flat & some using foam adhesive for extra dimension & ease of layering.

This card has some serious sparkle in real life! I enjoyed having a go at this technique and will deco be revisiting it at some point! 

I used the current The Play Date Cafe challenge colours again for my card seen HERE and below.

There's still time to join in on the Uniko Studio DT Blog Hop HERE & be in the chance of winning the featured set, be sure to comment by midnight tonight! (GMT Time). I'll announce the winner on the blog & FB on Friday! 

Thanks for stopping by today!

TTFN!

Supplies:
Card Stock: WPlus9. PTI Hawaiian Shores, Raspberry Fizz. SU! Lucky Limeade
Ink: PTI Hawaiian Shores, Raspberry Fizz. SU! Lucky Limeade
Stamps: Uniko Studio Background Builders: Lattice, Label Love: Birthday
Accessories: Foam Adhesive. Hero Arts Prisma Glitter.

Ombre Lattice

Hey!

WOW! What a fabulous Design Team blog hop yesterday, so many FABulous projects using the Background Builders: Lattice stamp, I really enjoyed it! Did you? If you missed the fun yesterday there is still time to join in on the fun HERE and win yourself the prize.

So for the month of March leading up to the next release here at Uniko Studio I gave the DT the task of revisiting the Background Builders: Lattice stamp so you'll be seeing this set popping up on projects throughout the month.

Today's card is one of those projects I've used it on...

Still keeping those green ink pads well & truly dusted off I decided to have a go at the Ombre trend that is still going strong. I started out by stamping the darkest green at the bottom of my card & working my way up to the lightest. 

I even tried to achieve the ombre effect on the label...

I did this by inking the label stamp first with the lightest ink then the middle green moving the ink pad lower down the stamp and then with the darkest green just touching the lower edge of the stamp. I'm pleased how it turned out. 

The perfect ombre green birthday card for a St Patricks Day baby! Moxie FAB World have an Ombre challenge HERE on their blog and The Pink Elephant HERE have a 'Green' challenge, so my card fits perfectly into both of those challenges! 

Two challenges defo worth having a go at! Don't forget to join in on the Uniko Studio March DT Blog Hop HERE & be in the chance of winning the set, all you have to do is comment along the way! 

That's all from me today, thanks for stopping by!

TTFN!

Supplies:

Card Stock: WPlus9 White. SU! Certainly Celery

Ink: SU! Certainly Celery, Lucky Limeade & Garden Green

Stamps: Uniko Studio Background Builders: Lattice, Label Love: Thank you & Label Love: Birthday

Accessories: SU! 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Certainly Celery Ribbon. PTI Limitless Layers Dies. Foam Adhesive

March Design Team Blog Hop!

Hey!

Happy Monday! I'm SO glad you've stopped by the blog today as we've a Design Team Blog Hop for you to enjoy. So grab a drink, get comfy and enjoy! 

This month here at Uniko Studio we are having a fresh look at the previously released Background Builders: Lattice. This set was released last year back in April HERE. Lattice was all the rage then in design & paper crafts and it can still be seen around the paper crafting community. It's defo a set to have  in your stamping stash!

Here's a look at the set...

In the set you get 4 building strips and 5 individual  stamps to create many a background or even a focal point using the individual stamps.

I have a few of my FAVE older projects to share with you first...

And now for a couple of NEW cards...

This first card uses the single solid lattice strip. I've stamped it on the diagonal alternating the colours for added interest and added a sentiment is from FONTiments - Birthday. I added some bling & some bakers twine to finish it off & I was done in less than 10 minutes! The card is a one layer card making it perfect for mailing! 

I used the current The Play Date Cafe challenge colours seen HERE and below for my card. It's a FAB colour combo for the lovers of BRIGHT colours! 

For my next card I decided to use some of the Modern Lattice Digital Paper Collection scraps I have in my box. This digital paper collection was released at the same time as the clear stamp set & works perfectly along side or on it's own on a project. You can see an example of this above on the 2nd card. 

Here's the collection...

And here's a new card using one of the papers...

Again, I cut the paper on the diagonal for added interest. I used the Best Wishes sentiment from Label Love: Birthday stamping it onto a banner die cut. I then used the largest of the individual lattice stamps paper piecing it & adding  button to finish things off. Another simple card to whip up in 10 minutes! 

Ok, so that's enough from me let's get to the hop! Your next stop from here is Aimes, if you find a broken link or get lost along the way the order of the hop can be found below...

Aimes

 Amber

Erika

Gayatri

Nicki

Ren-Yi

Stacey

Be sure to comment along the way for your chance to win Background Builders: Lattice & the Modern Lattice Digital Patterned Paper Collection. For those who already own these you can still join in on the hop & commenting. An alternative prize to the same value will be awarded to you! You have a total of 8 chances to win if you comment on all the DT blogs! You have until midnight Wednesday GMT to get your comments in!

Don't forget today is the last day to take advantage of the FREE Worldwide Shipping!

Enjoy & thank you for hopping along with us today! 

TTFN!

Happy Mother's Day!

Hey!

Today is Mother's Day here in the UK. A day to celebrate & show your Mother how much you love and appreciate all that they do and have done for you.  

Sadly my Mum is no longer with me & even though it's been 5 years since she passed away this day like many occasions is hard for me. I miss spoiling my Mum on this occasion, but I am lucky enough to get on well with my Mother In Law to be and so today we are treating her to lunch at our house. Sunday's are family days for us and we usually spend the afternoon at his Mam & Dad's having dinner & watching a movie. This week though it's our turn to host and for me to cook the dinner! 

Anyway, enough chit chat from me, how about a card...

This is the card I made for Karl to give to his Mam from us both. I stuck to my usual bright go to colour combo & used the Gerbera flower from Pure Florals: Gerbera which is perfect in these bright colours! This card is quite simple with just a bit of fussy cutting & masking to create the layered flowers.

Ok, I'd best be off to go start preparing the vegetables for dinner and put the chicken in to cook! I hope you all have a lovely day whether you are celebrating Mother's Day or it's just a normal Sunday. 

Be sure to stop on by the blog tomorrow for a Uniko Studio DT Blog Hop! We've a stamp set revisited hop planned for your enjoyment & there's a set up for grabs too!! Thanks for stopping by today :)

TTFN!

Supplies:

Card Stock: PTI Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores & Summer Sunrise. WPlus9 White

Ink: PTI Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores & Summer Sunrise. VersaFine Onyx Black

Stamps: Uniko Studio Pure Florals: Gerbera. Hero Arts

Accessories: PTI Hawaiian Shores Ribbon & Banner Die. Foam Adhesive.

Wonderful Washi

Hey!

I seem to have slept most of Saturday away today & had a late inky session in the studio, but overall had a good day! I hope your all having a good day & enjoying what you've done or are up to :)

It's been some time since I inked up my Wonderful Washi stamps & so I've a Wonderful Washi card to share with you all today...

It just so happens that Moxie FAB World are holding some challenges over on the blog and one of them HERE is all about using Washi Tape. So I had to join in on the fun using Uniko Studio's Wonderful Washi clear stamp set!! 

As I was layering my Washi over a doily that my friend Claire gave me to try out from SU! I stamped my Washi onto card. If I had not been layering it I would have searched for my white tissue paper and 'made' some of my own self adhesive Washi tape! 

A sentiment from Label Love: Birthday stamped onto a banner die cut, some satin ribbon, a heart shaped button & some bling finished the card of nicely! I used the current Dynamic Duos colour challenge HERE and seen below for my card. Two colours I'd not automatically grab to put together, but I'm liking it! 

So that's all from me today, I'm off to chill in front of the TV and watch a movie! Thanks for stopping by today. 

TTFN! 

Supplies:

Card Stock: PTI Aqua Mist

Ink: SU! Lucky Limeade

Stamps: Uniko Studio Wonderful Washi, Label Love: Birthday

Accessories: PTI Aqua Mist Button, Simply Chartreuse Satin Ribbon & Banner Die. SU! Doily. Rhinestones

Lush Lovely!

Hey!

That's firstly how I would describe how I feel about it being Friday & secondly it's how I would describe SU! Delicate Details Lace Tape! 

Today's card uses this tape that I've had for a couple of weeks but waiting for the right time & card to use it on...

I'm loving the lace craze that's popping up in fashion, pattern design & crafting and this tape is just 'Lush Lovely'! You get 2 types of the self adhesive lace tape in the pack & I've used the wider of the two as it worked better for my layout.

The layout I've used is from the current CAS(E) this Sketch! challenge seen below & HERE. When I saw the sketch & looked a few new crafting stash items this card came together in less than 10 minutes! I love it when that happens :)

Here's a close up of that Lush Lovely lace tape...

The sentiment I've used on today's card is from Pure Florals: Poinsettia which fits perfectly inside the banner die cut.

I hope you all have a Lush Lovely day & thanks for stopping by!

Hugs

Supplies:

Card Stock: PTI Aqua Mist

Ink: PTI Autumn Rose

Stamps: Uniko Studio BRIGHT Butterflies & Pure Florals: Poinsettia

Accessories: SU! Delicate Details Lace Tape. PTI Banner Die & Autumn Rose Satin Ribbon. Foam Adhesive

Seize the Birthday...

Hey!

Beginning today & for the month of March Uniko Studio is sponsoring Seize the Birthday challenge blog HERE. That means you have 4 chances to win the NEW BRIGHT Butterflies clear stamp set. 

This evening I thought I'd join in on the fun an give the Seize the Birthday sketch challenge a go and this is what I came up with...

Below is the sketch and all the challenge details can be found HERE.

FABulous Uniko Studio DT Member Stacey is on the Seize the Birthday DT and created this AMAZING card using the sketch & the BRIGHT Butterflies set...

Source: stampinwithstacey.blogspot.co.uk via Beverley on Pinterest

The layers and colours Stacey has used on this card is super fun & she has really made the sketch her own. Pop by Stacey's BLOG and share some love & also check out her fabulous creations, tones of inspiration over there!   

That's all from me today, I'm off to bask in the heat I call central heating! Yep, the boiler is finally up and running and the house is cozy and I have hot water on tap! I am truly grateful for the simple things in life, it's been a miserable week living without it! 

Thanks for stopping by & be sure to check out the challenge! 

Hugs

Supplies:

Card Stock: WPlus9 White, PTI Spring Rain

Ink: PTI Summer Sunrise & Autumn Rose

Stamps: Uniko Studio BRIGHT Butterflies

Accessories: SU! Delicate Doilies Die, PTI Limitless Layers Die