Uniko 10th Birthday Celebrations...Flower Power Stencils~Friendship and Birthday

Hello,

I'm delighted to be joining Bev and her Brand Ambassadors to celebrate Uniko's 10th Birthday.

As a Uniko Alumni, I was asked to select one of my favourite cards to CASE with new products. I so enjoyed my trip down memory lane in reviewing, and finally selecting, not one, but two cards, to update.  

For my first card, I selected a CAS little number I made in May, 2018, using Flower Power #8 stamps. The entire range of Flower Power stamps and dies are an absolute joy to play with; it's amazing how these small blooms can have such impact, whether they appear solo or in groups.

My updated version is a slimline card, featuring Stencil - Flower Power #8; this stencil sees the little stamp image magnified to be a stunning focal point! From the original card, I kept the red-to-pink palette from the blooms, using a combination of dye + distress inks. The green from the leaves appears in the slim frame of the sentiment, from Originally Organic, one of my all-time favourite collections and one of my first purchases from Uniko years ago.

Inspiration for my second card came from this clipboard card, from March 2020, where Flower Power #1 is the star of the stage.

For my updated version, I used Stencil - Flower Power #1 which, like the stencil above, is a scaled-up version of the stamp. I translated the kraft from the clipboard clip into a background panel, the pink stripes into a woodgrain base panel as well as the colour-of-choice for the flower, and the green leaves into a backing strip for the sentiment, from Birthday Sentiments. This is the first time I've used distress oxide inks on kraft and I'm delighted with the results. 

When I was invited to join Uniko in September 2017, I was beyond ecstatic; a dream come true! I still marvel at the awesome opportunity I was given and will always LOVE the Uniko family!  

Thank you, Bev and the rest of the team, for inviting me to join in this milestone celebration! 

Happy 10th Birthday and wishes for 10 x 10 more birthday celebrations to come!

Thank you for dropping by!

Uniko Brand Ambassador Inspiration ~ Sentiment Stamped Valentine Cards

Hello,

Welcome to my Uniko Brand Ambassador post with a Valentine's Day twosome. Earlier this month, in celebration of Uniko's 9th birthday, I shared two cards where I created 'patterned' word backgrounds using a variety of birthday-themed sentiments from several stamp sets. Since I enjoyed the results so much, I've replicated the process here, with an assortment of love/Valentine sentiments.  

The panels are essentially the same in terms of word placement/palette, but with slight variations in design. For the first,  I die cut a larger heart (triple backed with scrap cardstock for dimension) over which I added a sentiment cut from shimmer cardstock.

For this one, I cut a trio of hearts (each backed with two piece of cardstock) before affixing the heart die-cut sentiment. 

Even though it's an investment of time to create these backgrounds, the results make me happy. I hope they have the same effect on you!  If you have a chance (and the inclination/time), give your sentiments collections a play-on-the-stage. Guaranteed, you'll be delighted...and have fun in the process.

Thank you for dropping by!

Uniko 9th Birthday Linky Party...Small Sentiment Patterned Birthday Background Cards

Hello,

Welcome to the first day of the month-long Uniko Birthday Celebrations; this year, Uniko is turning NINE! Nine years of amazing inspiration and outstanding products! Definitely worth celebrating!

Today, we're starting off with the Linky Party and you're invited. Simply create a birthday card, any theme, any style and using any product you like and link it up via the link on the main blog. 

Two cards from me today, that are filled to the brim with a plethora of birthday-themed sentiments from several birthday sets. I had fun sorting through my collection to find stamps that were similar-ish in font and varied in size. 

Because some form of dimension is a must-have with my cards (one-layers are a no-go for me), I die cut and stacked stars for the first one

and 12-point stars for the second.  A heart in the center of each and...voila! Two cards to celebrate Uniko's 9th!

Turning the stage over to you and, as always, Bev is offering prizes. NINE, to be exact!

• Main Winner Chosen By the DT - £25 eGift Certificate
• Random Uniko Stamps Winner - In Stock Clear Stamp Set of Winners Choosing (any value)
• Top 5 Chosen By DT - In Stock £5 Clear Stamp Set of Winners Choosing
• Two Randomly Selected comments from the Design Team Hop In Stock £5 Clear Stamp Set of Winners Choosing

Winners will be announced Sunday 7th March 2021 along with all the other 9th Birthday Celebration Winners ;)

Before you go:  rumour has it there might be a month-long discount code being offered! Head over to the main blog and check it out!

Looking forward to seeing your birthday-themed cards in the gallery!

Thank you for dropping by!

Uniko January 2021 Blog Hop~Hello Lovely

Hello,

Welcome to the Uniko January 2021 Non-Release Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY! This month, Bev has selected Hello Lovely as the featured stamp deserving of some extra showcasing and love. A wonderful choice, especially with Valentine's Day coming quickly.

I decided to try an elegant approach to showcase this stamp, with a combination of gold embossing, gold shimmer + black cardstock and some pretty pearls.  No sentiment on the front, leaving it open as whatever occasion seems fit. Wedding, anniversary, birthday...lots of possibilities.

As usual we have our GIVEAWAY, so be sure to comment along the hop for your chance to win the Hello Lovely Clear Stamp Set.  You can find the list of Brand Ambassadors, with their lovely cards, here. 

Thank you for dropping by!

Uniko Jan-Feb Challenge #63~Anything Goes (optional twist Use A Stencil)...Snowflake Winter Birthday

Hello,

Welcome to Uniko Jan.-Feb Challenge #63, where the theme is Anything Goes, with the optional twist of using a stencil/s.

My card design (mini slimline/Photplay #6) was inspired by the theme here, as well as the current challenge at Seize the Birthday Challenge #205, where the 'toppings' prompt is Snowy Birthday. I reached for the oh-so-pretty Let It Snow stencil and, because I wanted a change from winter colours, I went for rainbow. A combination of stamps from Stunning Snowflakes and Birthday Sentiments make up the sentiment. 

That's it from me! Be sure to head over to the main blog to see the delights created by Bev and the 'challenge-launch' ambassadors.  As always, Bev is offering Prizes! 

THE PRIZES

• Main Winner Chosen By the DT - £15 eGift Certificate
• Random Twist Winner - £5 eGift Certificate
• Random Uniko Stamps Winner - £5 eGift Certificate
• Top 3 Chosen By DT - 150 Loyalty Reward Points

There is plenty of time to join and play along with this challenge. 

The deadline for submission is midnight (GMT) on Friday 19th February 2021.

Also sharing at:

Seize the Birthday Challenge #205 ~ Snowy Background

Thank you for dropping by!

Uniko 2020 Christmas Party...Sparkly Snowflake Joy

Hello,

Our lovely Bev has decided that, after all the topsy-turvy of the past year, it's time to send 2020 off with a celebration and so we are!! Welcome to the Uniko 2020 Christmas Party! We're inviting you to share your Christmas cards, tags and projects, using Uniko stamps, stencils and/or designer dies, with us. AND: there are prizes to be had!! 

First Prize £25 eGift Certificate

Second & Third Prize Winners Choice of £10 In-Stock Clear Stamp Set
Random Lucky Comment £5 In-Stock Clear Stamp Set

Bev and the Brand Ambassadors have some Christmas projects to stoke your festive spirit.  My card features the Sparkling Snowflake Designer Die, cut from - obviously, sparkly paper (affixed atop three layers of plain cardstock for dimension) - and a sentiment from Stunning Snowflakes. JOY (hopefully it's clear that the snowflake center represents the *O*) is from Photoplay and die cut from red shimmer paper, as are the back panel and the wee dots.

Ready to party with us?  Excellent...here are the details: 

• The party is open internationally.
• Anything Christmas Goes (cards, tags, projects, etc.).
• Your entry MUST include at least ONE Uniko product (clear stamp, stencil, designer die or digital freebie) as the MAIN focus of your entry.
• Join in as many times as you like, as long as your entry ticks the rule above!
• Link Up will CLOSE at 8pm 31st December 2020.
• WINNERS will be announced 4th January 2021.
• The first prize winner will be chosen from a vote by the Uniko Brand Ambassadors and the last two winners will be chosen randomly from all the entries that have adhered to the rules.

See you in the gallery!

Thank you for dropping by!

Uniko Challenge #62~'Tis the Season (optional twist: Sparkle)...Let it Snow

Hello,

Welcome to Uniko Challenge #62, where our theme is 'Tis The Season, with the optional twist of Sparkle!  Time to bling up those cards and projects!

We're delighted that Sathya is joining us for this challenge; her talents are amazing! Please do drop by her blog to see how she created her sweet card.

I continue to 'have a thing' for slimline cards - be they 'full-sized' or mini versions, which is what I've used here, made by Photoplay.  A simple recipe for my card: Background Blocks: Falling Snowflakes. Snowflake Serenade (for "Let It") and Designer Dies: Big and Bold Snow Collection.  Some ink blending, heat embossing, a bit of vellum for the snow base and four layers of cardstock for 'snow' and...done! What is hard to see: the Perfect Pearls spritzed on the sky and Wink of Stella painted on the snow die-cut.  In real life, we have sparkle! 

That's it from me! Be sure to head over to the main blog to see the delights created by Bev and the 'challenge-launch' ambassadors.  As always, Bev is offering Prizes! 

THE PRIZES

• Main Winner Chosen By the DT - £15 eGift Certificate
• Random Twist Winner - £5 eGift Certificate
• Random Uniko Stamps Winner - £5 eGift Certificate
• Top 3 Chosen By DT - 150 Loyalty Reward Points

As we're feeling festive we're giving you an extra week to play along with this challenge. 

The deadline for submission is midnight (GMT) on Friday 1st January 2021.

Thank you for dropping by!

Uniko September/October Challenge #61~Anything Goes (optional twist: Thanks)...Peony Hello Slimline

Hello,

Welcome to Uniko Challenge #61, where the theme is always *Anything Goes* with, this month, the optional twist of Thanks. Given how close we are to Thanksgiving here in Canada (seriously...where has the time gone. Don't answer...we know!), it's certainly a most fitting option.

We are delighted to welcome Ishani as our Guest Designer. Her autumn card is stunning! 

For my card, I went with Anything Goes but selected some of the bold colours from the Thanks image for my palette. At play is the peony spray from Hello Lovely, which I paired with a die cut Hello from my collection.  As I did with a previous Uniko Peony card, I drew colouring inspiration from Yana's Blending Free style. I just love the results and, especially, the 'less-stress' aspect of using markers to colour florals in this fashion!

Turning the stage over to you!

As always, Bev is offering prizes:

  

THE PRIZES

• Main Winner Chosen By the DT - £15 eGift Certificate
• Random Twist Winner - £5 eGift Certificate
• Random Uniko Stamps Winner - £5 eGift Certificate
• Top 3 Chosen By DT - 150 Loyalty Reward Points

You have plenty of time to join thc challenge; the link will close 

at midnight (GMT) on Friday 23rd October 2020.

Thank you for dropping by!

Uniko Brand Ambassador Inspiration: Inspired by Twofer Challenge Card #29~Butterflies...English Country Garden Note and Birthday

Hello,

Welcome to my Uniko Brand Ambassador post, where I'm defaulting to what I do in missing-mojo situations: drawing inspiration from other designers or, in this case, from challenges.  Today, my muse is none other than Twofer Card Challenge #29, where this month's theme is Butterflies!  A perfect opportunity to use the lovely English Country Garden stamps & dies to create two cards, with two different designs, for two different occasions.  

Here they are....

My first card features an alcohol inked background, with some gold alloy added for extra shimmer, as a canvas for a gold-embossed three-layer vellum butterfly. The sentiment, also gold embossed, is from Simply Said.

I am completely (as in totally, full-on) smitten with slimline cards, so I *had* to make one! Here, I prisma pencil coloured three butterflies, die cut and positioned them inside the circles, then added a birthday sentiment from Simply Said.

Here they are again...the shimmer of the alloy and pearlized inks is soooo pretty!

Hopefully, I've inspired you to use your Uniko butterflies in different ways, for different challenges/occasions! They really are wonderfully versatile!

Thank you for dropping by!

Uniko Studio July/August Challenge #60~In My Garden (optional twist: Hot Summer Colours)...Peony Happy Birthday

Hello,

Welcome to Uniko Studio July/August Challenge #60~In My Garden (optional twist: Hot Summer Colours)....

Joining us as our guest designer is Anushree; you'll be dazzled by her beautiful card that showcases a delightful mix of Uniko products! 

As you likely know from previous posts, I am full-on, 110%, completely addicted to slimline cards, so that's what I have for you today.  Adorning the PFS panel is the Pure Florals: Peony, which I've coloured a la the style of inventive, innovative Yana Smakula, found here.  I've always been a nervous Nelly when it comes to colouring florals, especially larger images, but Yana's blending-free technique, with its clear colour delineations to create shadows/highlights, has eased my anxieties (a bit, anyway) about 'realism'.  I believe I've found my go-to floral style! A sentiment from Anniversaire Arts Décoratifs and Studio Katia clear gems...ta dahhh! Done!

Same card, just a different view...

That's if from me...now your turn to play along.  As always, prizes are involved!

  

THE PRIZES

Main Winner Chosen By the DT - £15 eGift Certificate

Random Twist Winner - £5 eGift Certificate

Random Uniko Stamps Winner - £5 eGift Certificate

Top 3 Chosen By DT - 150 Loyalty Reward Points

The link will be open until midnight (GMT) on Friday 21st August 2020. Plenty of time to join us!

Thank you for dropping by!

Uniko May/June 2020 Challenge Reminder #59~Anything Goes (optional twist Bright & Happy)...Butterfly Hello

Hello,

Welcome to my reminder post for the Uniko May/June 2020 Challenge #59.

My card recipe is wonderfully easy to follow:

English Country Garden Butterflies stamp and die - I used a toner pen to add lovely, shimmery purple foil to parts of the butterfly 

Bright Butterflies stencil - dry embossed background 

Hello Lovely - sentiment

Hope you'll play along with us and, to amp up the encouragement, Bev has offered PRIZES as additional incentive:

• Main Winner Chosen By the DT - £15 eGift Certificate
• Random Twist Winner - £5 eGift Certificate
• Random Uniko Stamps Winner - £5 eGift Certificate
• Top 3 Chosen By DT - 150 Loyalty Reward Points

The gallery is open until midnight (GMT), Friday, June 19th, 2020.  See you there!

Thank you for dropping by!

Uniko Challenge #59~Anything Goes (optional twist: Bright & Happy)...Rainbow Polka-dots Birthday

Hello,

Welcome to Uniko Challenge #59, where we're embracing the ever-popular Anything Goes theme, with the optional twist of Bright & Happy (something we all need these days!). The smiles on the flowers in the image prompt...oh my! Can't help but smile along with them!

We have Viv joining us as our Guest Designer for this challenge and she has definitely embraced the bright and happy with her card; please do visit her blog and leave her some love!

Speaking of  things 'embraced'...I've become fascinated with foiling! So very easy to do with the Deco Foil Transfer 2 Gel and alllll the pretty foils on the market.  My card today uses the Scattered Polka-dot stencil, a sentiment from Birthday Wishes and rainbow Deco foil. Sparkly and pretty, those bright dots!

Hope you'll play along with us and, to amp up the encouragement, Bev has offered PRIZES as additional incentive:

• Main Winner Chosen By the DT - £15 eGift Certificate
• Random Twist Winner - £5 eGift Certificate
• Random Uniko Stamps Winner - £5 eGift Certificate
• Top 3 Chosen By DT - 150 Loyalty Reward Points

The gallery is open until midnight (GMT), Friday, June 19th, 2020.  See you there!

Thank you for dropping by!

Uniko Studio Brand Ambassador Inspiration~Inspired by Bev...You're My Super Hero

Hello,

Welcome to my Uniko Brand Ambassador post.  I'll be frank: my creativity is running on empty, even though I'm still making cards. Essentially, I'm defaulting to what I do in missing-mojo situations: drawing inspiration from other designers.  Today, my muse is none other than our sweet Bev!

Currently, the crafting universe is virtually *exploding* with gratitude/thank you cards dedicated to all those who are risking their well-being to keep our world functioning through the pandemic. Be they front line medical personnel, grocery store/warehouse staff, truck drivers...we are surrounded by 'heroes' we want to acknowledge. To that end, I brought out one of my all-time favourite Uniko sets -  Explosion Additions - and pretty much 'cased' Bev's card here, re-visioning it for the current situation...

I followed Bev's recipe for the most part with slight (very very slight *grin*) changes to the original: sentiments stamped on the small Explosion dies and partial stamping, with a small solid explosion image, on The Stamp Market letters. 

I'm happy with my copy-cat version of Bev's card, especially since it really is easy to recreate; something I'll definitely be doing!

Below are a few of my previous 'non-copied' cards made with the Explosions line. I love it!

Hope my card - or should I say, Bev's card - offered you some inspiration of ways to use Explosions to recognize the heroes where you live.

Please: stay safe and keep creating...doing so is good for the soul!


Thank you for dropping by!

Uniko Brand Ambassador...Snowflake Shaker

Hello,

Carol here with my Brand Ambassador Inspiration post for March.  

The calendar says Spring has sprung but, where I live, apparently Winter didn't receive the memo, as we're in the midst of yet another bout of snow and cold temperatures. More reason to stay inside and all the more reason to complete a card that I had started back in January! I know I 'should' be showcasing Uniko's gorgeous blooms but...the 'muses' called for something that befits the weather we're having! Let's just call it a 'winter' flower rather than a snowflake *grin*

Full-panel acetate-wrap shaker (so easy!) featuring: Let It Snow stencil background, Designer Die Sparkling Snowflake and a sentiment from Simply Said Blocks: Christmas.

Hopefully, March's blustery departure will herald a lovely April arrival (minus any April Fool's shenanigans)!

Thank you for dropping by!