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

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Organically Zesty

Good afternoon, Julie here with some BA Inspiration.

Today I've got my Color Hues DT hat on as well as my Uniko one on, as it's my turn to host their latest challenge. I chose lemon and lime as the colours and what says this more than the lemon from Organically Zesty! 

Here are a couple of ideas using the lemon stamp from the set. When I went back to the release, I couldn't believe it was way back in May 2022! Here's my first idea using a watercolour technique for the background and to colour the image.

I started by stamping the lemon in black onto MM paper and heat embossing with clear EP. It's just so much easier and cleaner than using black EP. I also stamped over the top again whilst still in my MISTI with Versamark and more clear EP to ensure there was full coverage.

Instead of getting my watercolour paints out I smooshed Altenew die inks onto an acrylic panel to form a palette. If you have reinkers it makes life so much easier, but I don't have any. I first added water to all the leaves then added a wash of Limeade and then some darker Lime ink. A grey Zig watercolour marker created the shadows. A mix of Lemon Yellow and Maple Yellow was used for the lemon, adding texture with a dry brush and the darker yellow ink. Again my Zig brush marker created shadows on the lemon and blossom. The white of the blossom is just the bare paper showing.

The lemon was then fussy cut and put to one side whilst I made my panel.

I found some scrap acetate sheet from some packaging to which I added some of the green ink and then spritzed lightly with water before carefully flipping and stamping onto a panel of white card. I repeated the process until I was satisfied with the coverage. The panel was die cut with a scalloped edged rectangle and mounted with pads onto a white base card followed by my lemon and a sentiment strip stamped with one from the set.

This is the second card I made with the same stamp but set it onto a black panel through which I'd inked with white pigment ink and the scattered polka dots stencil. A simple white panel stamped with another of the sets sentiments was glued in place and the lemon, made the same as the one above added on pads.

I decided to use this second design for the Color Hues challenge, which one would you have chosen?

Well that's all from me for today, happy crafting.

 

March Meet The Maker - Tools & Materials

Happy FriYAY! 

Today on March Meet The Maker it's all about tools and materials. Here at Uniko HQ the tools and materials vary depending on what I am doing business wise.

Let's start with a little behind the scenes at the tools I use to design Uniko products. 

Sometimes I dust off my sketchbook and gather my pens and pencils, going back to my design degree roots and draw my designs first.

I then take all my designs onto the computer and digitise them ready to send to my manufacturers to either turn into stamps, stencils and occasionally designer dies.

Most times these days now that I am a little more proficient in Adobe Illustrator I go straight to designing digitally. I use my iPad and Apple Pencil to do this and I use a cool app which shows what I am doing on my large screen at the same time. 

I often have a stack of design books I am using for reference on my windowsill, I do love a browse in a book to find that spark of creative inspiration.

Next comes the tools and materials I use when I am crafting and showing how the products I design can be used. Here are a few of my 'go to' supplies. 

Of course there will be Uniko Clear Stamps and Uniko Stencils on my usually chaotic desk. Yes, I gave it a tidy to take photos 😂

Then there will be inks, my current favourite are Concord & 9th, white card stock from Stampin' Up! then there are ink blending brushes, my trusty MISTI stamping platform and my Tim Holtz Tonic Studios paper trimmer. 

Of course there are LOTS of other things I use, my VERY old Sizzix Big Shot die cutting machine, makers, pencils, tapes, glues and embellishments. The list goes on, and on, and on! 

Today I have selected a rainbow of colours to ink up the Uniko Stencil - Layering Organic Blooms, here's how it turned out.

I used just two of the stencil layers from the set, the leaves and the flowers, inking each layer with the rainbow of colours. 

I used Poppy, Marmalade, Buttercup, Parsley, Oceanside, Blueberry, Fig and a little smidge of Honeysuckle. 

Once I'd inked up the layers I decided it needed a little more detail, so I opted to stamp the coordinating flowers from the Organic Blooms clear stamp set in black ink. The sentiment I used is also from the stamp set, which I adhered using foam tape, with a few enamel dots finishing my card.

As you know I can't choose a favourite colour, why choose one when you can have them all, right?! But the other reason is that this month the challenge over in the Uniko VIP Facebook group is all about rainbows.

The group is private over on Facebook, a nice friendly space to share all of your Uniko makes. Follow the link HERE to request to join and also join in on the rainbow fun this month. There is a £10 eGift code up for grabs. 

Crafty Hugs

Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Uniko Style

 Good evening, 

Steph here with my Uniko Brand Ambassador inspiration post this month where I have chosen to use the fabulous Uniko Style stamp set. I chose this one because of Bev's super card on the latest release which reminded me of my love for this stamp!

I thought it would be nice to pair the stamp set with a variety of Uniko stencils and each one has turned out surprisingly different. 

For this card I have stamped the Uniko Style florals with chalk ink and paired them with Uniko Mid Century Modern Shapes Circles & Stars stencil. I inked the stencil onto green card using a slightly darker green ink and an orange/brown ink.

This time I used dye inks and teamed with the Uniko MOD Background Builder Circles stencil. I kept the design fresh by stencilling onto white card.

Finally I used pink card and stencil paste through the Uniko Quilted stencil for the background of this card. The florals are slightly different too as I have heat embossed the outline and centres onto pink card.

Hopefully these examples will have you dusting off the Uniko Style stamp set and digging out some stencils to have fun getting inky with. I always end up covered in ink when I stencil! 

Much love

Steph x

Throwback to the 80's Memphis Style

Hello & Happy Thursday.

Today I have a fun video over on the Uniko YouTube Channel HERE where I show you how to make a card like this one, inspired by the Memphis style.

The Memphis Milano is an Italian originated design style of the 1980's. It is often described as kitschy and tacky because it is characterised by bold and bright colours, geometric shaper, strong patterns and abstract designs.

Loving colour, pattern and geometrics I think it is quite fun and I enjoyed replicating some of these inspirational designs I found at the end of my post using a variety of Uniko stamp sets.

I used simple masking to ink the colourful background and then the following Uniko stamps to create the patterns. Background Blocks Pinstripe, Background Builders Round In Circles, Background Builders Squared and Background Builders Triangulate. 

The sentiment is a mix of Mid Century Modern Birthday and Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments. In the video I make a slightly different card with a different layout and colours.

Here is some inspiration I found on Pinterest that inspired my creativity today.

Source Credit

Source Credit

I hope you enjoyed this little throwback to the 80's. Is it a style you would have a creative go at? I'd love to know.

Crafty Hugs

March Meet The Maker - Colour 🌈

Happy Wonderful Wednesday. 

Today on March Meet The Maker, it's all about colour. 

I love 💕 colour and I find it really hard to choose a single favourite, so I love the  🌈  instead! However, I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favourite cards that I've made fairly recently, and a few from the archives that I think show my use of colour.

Products Used - Ink & Flip Stencil Layering Hexagon & Simply Said Blocks III

As you will see, I love a white background. Personally I think this helps colours pop, especially brights. Here I used lots of my go to colours, raspberry pink, orange, yellow, green, turquoise and bright blue. 

Products Used - Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks, Christmas Pop & Simply Said Blocks Christmas

Not only do I love bright colours, I love pairing them with fun geometric designs and one of my favourite paper crafting techniques, spotlighting. 

One of my aims when I started Uniko was to bring more creative and fun designs that could be used for masculine cards. 

Everything I saw here in the UK, to me seemed to be so 'traditional' with images of sports, wood work and cars. Whilst there is nothing wrong with those types of images on stamps I used to use them, but they didn't spark creativity other than different colouring mediums and techniques. 

The colours I remember them in being muted shades of blues and browns and maybe a few greens. All colours I love but they just didn't give the WOW factor! 

Products Used - Background Blocks Linear & Mid Century Modern Frames

Driven by my love of pattern and design history, I've channeled this into some of my most popular collections like the Mid Century Modern & Art Deco. 

Simple lines and geometrics provide the tools for funky designs and are perfect for a splash of bright cheerful colours. 

Products Used - Background Blocks Mid Century Modern, Mid Century Modern Florals & Stencil - Mid Century Modern Circles & Stars

These next couple of cards are from the Uniko archives! My three 'go to' colours, raspberry pink, aqua/turquoise and yellow. 

Those who have been round here for sometime know I have an ink pad addiction. A new brand of inks that  have a rainbow of colours, I will give them a whirl. And I always start with these three colours as they work so well together! 

Products Used - Pure Florals Cosmos

Yes, I used a tiny bit of green to for the stems. I never used to be a lover of greens but over recent years I use it a lot more.

Lastly for today I couldn't resist a rainbow colour card.

Products Used - Background Blocks Halftone, Background Builders Round In Circles, English Country Garden Butterflies & Simply Said.

What's your favourite colour or colour combination? 

I apologise for not having anything new to share today, I've had my head down designing newness all day and I am rather excited about what I've been up to! 

I'll be back tomorrow with more to share.

Crafty Hugs

March 2025 Non-Release Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY!

Welcome to the March 2024 Non-Release Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY! 

It's been a while, mainly because of so many recent new releases. But to fill in for the months where I need a beat to catch up and give your bank balance a rest! It's time for a non release inspirational blog hop & giveaway. 

For those of you who are new around these parts I will explain what this post is all about...

Here at Uniko HQ it is just myself behind the screen, blogging, designing, packaging stamps & orders through the Uniko online shop, customer service and all the things in between. I *usually* release new product every other month for a number of reasons, but mainly so I can keep up with everything!

On non - release months like this month I like to set myself and the Brand Ambassadors a challenge to look back at a previously released product and give it some more love. Plus, I think it's always nice to revisit older sets and provide more inspiration and not just from me.

So without further ado, lets see the product I decided upon for March.

Sunshine & Rainbows £11.50

Released in June 2022 I finally jumped on the rainbow bandwagon and released my version of a building rainbow stamp set. Not only is this stamp set perfect for up coming spring, but all year round sending hope and cheer. 

The set works wonderfully independently, but with so many new products since it was released there are so many creative possibilities and pairings. 

Let's have a look and see what the Brand Ambassadors have created. Don't forget to comment along the hop for your chance to win a £25 eGift code to spend in store. 

Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Steph

Vinita

Such a cheerful and colourful hop. You know that I love a rainbow and rainbow colours, so this has set up my Tuesday well for sure. I hope it has added cheer to your day.

I hope you left some comment love along the way, I will randomly select a comment to win the £25 eGift code on Monday 24th March 2025. So be sure to comment before then.

Crafty Hugs