Introducing...Pure Florals: Gerbera Designer Dies

Hey & Happy Weekend!

I've been wanting to do this post ever since the dies went live on the website on Tuesday, but my time to create & blog just seemed to slip away from me this week. My husband took a couple of half days and a day off work for some much needed family time this week :) it was lovely to have him at home.

Anyway, I here today to share a closer look at the matching designer dies for the Pure Florals: Gerbera clear stamp set. Now I 'seem' to have a better schedule & routine with the beans I decided it was time to get back on track with getting matching dies for previously released stamps. 

Pure Florals: Gerbera is the all time TOP seller here at Uniko and along with that I have had numerous requests for them so HERE they are...

As you can see by the photo above they are different from our dies in the fact they are see through, this makes stamping and die cutting a breeze. 

Today I have a little step by step photo tutorial (I'm not quite set up for videos yet) for you, hopefully showing you how quick and easy it was to make this card...

As usual I decided to use a challenge to jump start my creativity, I was recently made aware of a new to me challenge called {Cupcake Inspirations} and decided to check it out. The current inspiration (ending soon) HERE and seen below was perfect. I have just treat myself to a few new VersaMagic colours!

I started out by stamping the outline gerbera in Pink Grapefruit, a lovely coral pink...

This next photo shows how easy it is to line the die with the stamped image...

And here it is die cut...

I repeated the same process for the leaves, this time I chose the small solid leaf & stamped it in Oasis Green ink...

Before stamping my sentiment and assembling the card, I always lay the pieces of my card out how I want them to make sure I am happy with it...

Including photos (which aren't the best) this card took me half an hour! So having a die really does 'cut' the making process down! And lastly I have a little close up of the finished card...

Ok, that's all I have time for today, as the beans are just waking up from their nap! I hope to find some creative time this evening once they are in bed to make a few more cards using these new dies :) 

Until the next time, thank you for stopping by today.

August 2015 Design Team Blog Hop, GIVEAWAY!

Hey!

I'm SO happy you've stopped by the blog today as today is the August 2015 Design Team Blog Hop. Along with the hop and GIVEAWAY! So be sure to grab a drink, get comfy, relax and enjoy!

As we've quite a few new followers here, ("Hello & Thank you") I will explain what's going on! Here at Uniko I *USUALLY* only release new products every other month. Keep your eyes peeled this week for a NEW set of dies lining the shelf this week at Uniko HQ!! This is for a number of reasons, firstly, being an avid paper crafter myself and knowing the current economic climate I know 'some' are on a limited budget when it comes to buying new stash, so this way you're not tempted to splurge too much every month.

The second reason is that it is just me here at Uniko HQ. I currently run this little business single handedly, designing, blogging, demoing, classes, packing. Alongside that I am a full time mum to 11  month old twin boys! So releasing every other month gives me chance to keep my head above water, well...just about!

So, on the in-between release months the Design Team & I take a look back at a previously released product, dust it off and give it some love! This month I decided to dust off TWO products, the previously released Beautiful Blooms I and II...

I chose these two sets as it's Summer here (well, it's supposed to be Summer!) and I do love a flower or two. When I released both these sets HERE and HERE they were firm favourites and hardly left my desk. Though I still LOVE them I don't always reach for them so it was time to give them some more love.

As always I like to share a couple of my 'old faves' using the sets...

And here are a couple of new projects using them...

I started out with Beautiful Blooms I, vellum and detail white embossing powder. I simply stamped the blooms in VersaMark ink before heat embossing them white. I then used the matching Designer Dies to cut them out (these will be back in stock soon) before adhering them to a Melon Mambo card base. The sentiment from Simply Said Birthday is also heat embossed gold. I also added a few gold gems to finish the card off.

The current challenge over at "Just Us Girls" HERE is a Trend Week, the trend being vellum, so I thought I'd link it up there too ;)

Next I have a card I made for Saturday's class at The Paperlane. It's another card coloured with the Zig Clean Color Brush Pens...

I'm still getting to grips with the pens, but I am rather liking the results and how 'easy' they are to use. I especially like the spectrum of colours & shading you can achieve with just a few pens.

That's all I had time to create, but now for some AWESOME projects from the Design Team using Beautiful Blooms I & or II. 

Don't forget the GIVEAWAY... Simply comment along the hop for your chance to win the featured sets or a eGift Certificate code to the same value if you already own them.

CLICK HERE to see more from Deborah

CLICK HERE to see more from Gillian

CLICK HERE to see more from Jane

CLICK HERE to see more from Nicki

CLICK HERE to see more from Sarah G

CLICK HERE to see more from Sarah P

One last bit of NEWS, Uniko is sponsoring CASology this week so be sure to check out & join in on the challenge for your chance to win a £15 eGift Certificate to spend in store!

I think that is all for today, THANK YOU so much for stopping by today and your continued support and custom which makes my little dream and business stay alive.

Peachy Pink Watercolour Bloom

Hey & Happy Weekend!

This morning I am at The Paperlane running a class, it's lovely to catch up with my local customers once a month, being creative & getting some me time! Today we are doing a mixture of Christmas (Yep, I said the C word!) cards and floral cards. Adding in some watercolours and smooshing!

The card I am sharing today is one of the cards the class will be making...

I am still practising and getting to grips with my Zig Clean Color Brush pens, but I am thoroughly enjoying the process. I only have 4 colours of the pens, but it is amazing the spectrum of colours you can achieve with just those.

I was making my samples for the class kits and saw the new CAS(E) this Sketch! layout seen HERE and below and knew I had to make a card for the challenge, so I incorporated it into my class prep! 

I started out by stamping the bloom from Beautiful Blooms II in VersaMark ink and heat embossing it with detail white embossing powder onto smooth WC card. I then set about using just 2 colours of the Zig pens Dark Pink and Yellow to colour the bloom, achieving a lovely peachy pink spectrum. This then determined the card stock base colour (Papertrey Ink Melon Berry).

In the not too distant past if I was following this sketch I would have reached for Bakers Twine or ribbon for the line above the sentiment. But as the current trend is to use a die to create a break in the mat layer panel, I reached for my current favourite the Mama Elephant curved die! 

That's all from me today, I will be sharing another of the class cards later next week. Until the next time thank you for stopping by today.

TIME OUT Challenges - Inspired By Words

Hey!

It's time for challenge #37 over at TIME OUT Challenges and we are back to being inspired by words, the phrase for this fortnights challenge is...

Friendship is Golden

What do these words inspire you to create? I was inspired by the whole phrase, which resulted in this card...

I've been wanting to try THIS 'Fussy Cutting' technique, I saw over on the Papertrey Ink Make it Monday challenge for some time now and the 'Fabulous' sentiment from All Occasion Sentiments #3 is kinda perfect for the technique. 

The layout of my card & paring stamps instantly jumped into my creative mind and I am fairly pleased with how it translated on to the card itself. Believe me it doesn't always happen that way! 

As you can see from this close up both the sentiment and the star banners from Garlands Galore are heat embossed gold.

This fortnight we have a lovely guest designer joining us, Cornelia, be sure to stop by Cornelia's blog HERE to see how she was inspired by the photo and of course the FABulous TIME OUT Challenges Design Team...

Sandie

Lynn

Gerrina

Anita
Sarah
Elizabeth
Shona
Lisa

For all the info and to link up your challenge be sure to stop by the TIME OUT Challenges blog. I look forward to seeing your creations :)

As the current challenge over at Addicted to CAS HERE and seen below is banners, I thought I would enter my card there too, I do love playing along with challenges ;) Be sure to check it out and join in!

I'll be back again later in the week with more to share & until then, thank you for stopping by today.

Uniko Challenge Winners!

Hey!

I'm here today to announce the winners of our 'Black & White' with the splash of colour optional twist challenge.

The Design Team & I loved seeing your amazing creations and I throughly enjoy stopping by all of your blogs :)

Anyway, firstly we have a randomly selected winner who used Uniko products on their entry and that winner is:

Susan

Please contact Bev at beverley@unikostudio.com by the 18th August 2015 
to claim your 150 reward points.

Next up is our random winner who twisted with us:

Hannelie

Please contact Bev at beverley@unikostudio.com by the 18th August 2015 
to claim your 100 loyalty reward points.

Next we have our winner chosen by the DT:

Pauline

Congratulations and here is your winners badge:

You have won a £10 eGift Certificate to spend in Uniko store here-please contact Beverley at beverley@unikostudio.com by the 18th August 2015 

Also we would love to have join us as our Guest Designer at a future challenge. If you are interested please contact  Beverley at beverley@unikostudio.com by the 18th August 2015 

Now for our Top 3 chosen by our DT:

 #20 Darnell

#14 Lindsey

#16 Meg

Congratulations to you all & here is your Top 3 badge:

You have all won 50 loyalty reward points.
Please contact Beverley at beverley@unikostudio.com
by the by the 18th August 2015  to claim your prize.

Congratulations to all our winners & for everyone who joined in on the fun!

Watercolours & a Butterfly

Hey!

Happy Monday to you all, I hope you all had a lovely weekend and your week has begun well. My weekend was jam packed but full of love and FUN :) Surprisingly my Monday has been good so far, I usually don't do Mondays well! 

I even found a few spare minutes in between washing whilst the beans were napping to make the card I am sharing today...

Last week I finally bought myself some decent smooth watercolour paper to use with my Clean Color Zig Real Brush Pens which I treated myself to last month. I've been itching to get going with them after seeing all the buzz with them in blog land. 

So here is my first attempt! I chose the large butterfly from English Country Garden Butterflies to colour as I knew I'd be able to be 'creative' with my colouring! I am pleased with how easy they are to use and the results. I began by stamping the butterfly in VersaMark ink onto the watercolour paper and heat embossing it in detail white. 

I started out by colouring the centre of the butterfly in the Dark Pink, I then added the Turquoise Green to the edges and Bright Yellow to the bottom section of the butterfly centre. I then used my water brush to mix the colours until I achieved a result I was happy with. I finished the butterfly off with a layer of Wink Of Stella to add a bit of a shimmer. It's really subtle so doesn't show up well in the photos.

The layout of my card is based on this Freshly Made Sketch layout seen HERE and below. I decided to keep my card base and elements white and minimal so that the butterfly would really take centre stage.

Before I go I just want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who has taken the time to fill out my survey in THIS post. I am truly overwhelmed with the response and positive feedback I have received along with the comments and suggestions which I am taking on board. Once I have evaluated and collated the results I will share some of them with you ;)

I will be keeping the survey OPEN until this coming weekend, so you still have time to fill it in and help me improve Uniko!

Ok, that's all from me today, the beans are demanding their tea! I will be back tomorrow with more to share & until then THANK YOU for stopping by.

Tell Uniko What You Think!

Hey!

Here at Uniko I am always thinking of ways to improve, develop and evolve the company and it resulted in me realising that the best way to do this was by asking YOU! My dear friends, blog readers, followers and truly appreciated customers.

That's all from me today, I am hoping to squeeze in a little creative time tonight, some energy is required first!

It's been a crazy Saturday here with the beans, Ben refused to go for a nap this afternoon and in doing so woke Josh up and we had them both crying and not settling. So out we popped in the car for a random family drive just so they would nap! It did work, but it meant we got nothing in the house or any jobs done. 

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to help me, until next time :)