Author: uniko

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

Hello & Happy Monday.Welcome to the March 2024 Non-Release Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY! Hopefully you have hopped on over from HERE. You will find the list of Brand Ambassador blogs and they have so much beautiful inspiration to share with you.

Here’s what I have to share with you…

My first card is the reverse of THIS one I made and shared the other day HERE.

I’m all about ‘quick’ colouring at the moment and all for the bright cheery colours too! So these circle die cut masks were a fun option to add colour with interest. I used Everyday Spring Sentiments for the Happy Easter.

Quick colour option and ink blending for my second card too! This time I went for a rectangle aperture and some blues, yellows and greens to compliment the Spring Botanicals Snowdrop.

As usual I am offering a prize to one lucky comment left along the hop. Simply leave some comment love before Midnight GMT Monday 18th March 2024 and I will select a lucky winner to receive a £15 eGift Code to spend in the store!
Before I go, how about some March Madness?

Happy Hoppin’!
Crafty Hugs

Uniko 12th Birthday NEW Release, Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY !

Hello, Happy Sunday AND Happy New Release Day!

I hope you have enjoyed all the celebrations and the introductions this week and I’m super excited you have stopped by so I share these new products with you. They are NOW available to purchase HERE on the website.

Now let’s see some more creative inspiration using these new products. Be sure to hop along & comment along the way before 29th February 2024 to win a £30 eGift Voucher to spend in store. Hop links and formal introduction to the newness can be found HERE.

I started with Background Blocks MOD Builder and had an idea to stamp it over an ink blended block of yummy colours. These are Creamsicle, Watermelon and Wildberry, from the new Concord & 9th collection.

I then accented my card with a flower from Mid Century Modern Florals, but add the leaves from the Background Block MOD Builder set for a different look!

Next I had some more fun with a couple of the new colours and the big HAPPY sentiment from Mid Century Modern Birthday.

Originally I intended for a more rainbow colour scheme, but I ended up with a pink, red to orange colour combo!

This is a fairly quick and fun card to make if you’re in a hurry or stuck for an idea. The colours can be easily changed to suit the recipient too. I added the little Asterix element from the Mid Century Modern Birthday set and added a Midnight enamel dot to the centre too.

For my final card for today I did go rainbow, it just had to be done! I’ve done a rainbow version of every Ink & Flip Stencil so far, so I needed to continue with the Ink & Flip Layering Geometric Heart.

I just went with the one layer today and leave the heart open for a sparkly birthday sentiment. But don’t worry, you’ll see more using this stencil in the coming days 😃

Thank you for joining in on all of the Uniko celebrations so far. There is still time to join in on the celebrations, our 12th Birthday Card Linky Party HERE. Enter to Win Stamps For a Year HERE and Win Enter to Win Stencils For a Year HERE.
Along with all the birthday fun and new stamps, there are a few clear stamp restocks available on backorder & due in the studio 21st February. These restocks include Background Blocks PerspectiveBauhaus Blocks and Everyday Sentiments.

Crafty Hugs

Celebrating 12 Years – Introducing… Background Blocks MOD Builder

Happy Weekend 😃


Welcome to Day 4 and the last of the 12th Birthday/February Release product introductions. This release we are adding to Uniko’s ever popular Mid Century Modern Collection, along with our unique Ink & Flip Stencil series, which we kicked things off with HERE


For the last two days we have introduced the two additions Mid Century Modern Collection, Mid Century Modern Birthday and Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments.


Today we are introducing a new addition to the Background Blocks series and a design you will recognise from a previously released stencil design, MOD Background Builder


Let’s have a look at this in action…

This new Background Block is designed just like its Stencil version. In that you can stamp an instant focal point, but that it can be moved to create a full seamless pattern.

For this first card stamped the block in the centre of my card and then I stamped in the upper right and lower left to create a diagonal pattern.

I then coloured selected parts with a trio of Copic Markers inspired by Uniko brand colours. To finish I added the large Birthday Wishes heat embossed with Stardust EP and adhered using foam tape, along with a trio of enamel dots.

Next I wanted to show an all over look with a masculine feel, which I feel I have achieved with my colour choice.

When I know I am going to fill the whole area, I start in the middle and work outwards filling the pattern. Once I had coloured the panel I used a circle die to die cut a window for my sentiment.

I used the HAPPY from Mid Century Modern Wreath Builder and the BIRTHDAY from Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments.

For my final card today I wanted to combine the stamp with the stencil. This card is totally inspired by one made by Hannelie, Brand Ambassador Alumni.

I started by stamping the block to hang off either edge of my card. Once dry I used the stencil the same way to add the colour. Again inspired by Uniko brand colours.

I finished the card simply with the Thank You sentiment from Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments and a trio of enamel dots.

If after that awesome hop, you want or *need* a closer look at this clear stamp set. Why not join me over on YouTube HERE this afternoon for a demo of this newness.


This clear stamp set, along with all the products being introduced this week will be available 9am GMT Sunday 18th January 2024. 

Crafty Hugs

Introducing… Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments

Happy FriYAY 😃


Welcome to Day 3 of the 12th Birthday/February Release product introductions. This release we are adding to Uniko’s ever popular Mid Century Modern Collection, along with our unique Ink & Flip Stencil series, which we kicked things off with HERE


Yesterday we introduced the first Mid Century Modern addition, Mid Century Modern Birthday and today  we are back with more and this time Introducing… Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments.


These sentiments are the same fabulous and funky font, but smaller. The same size as the ones from the previously released Mid Century Modern Wreath Builder. 


Let’s have a look at them in action…

For my first card today you are getting a huge peek at what’s coming tomorrow. I won’t go into too much detail about the background, but as you can see it’s FABulous!

I’ve accented my background with a flower from Mid Century Modern Florals and added the HELLO FRIEND sentiment from the new Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments.

Next I went with another floral, Beautiful Blooms II to showcase another of the sentiments from this clear stamp set.

I started by stamping the solid bloom in Carnation ink onto my base layer. I should have then added my SMILE sentiment after I added the Honeysuckle outline flower as I would have added it a little further to the left.

I added the leaves stamped in Artichoke ink and a trio of Sunflower enamel dots to finish.

Lastly for today I decided to use the Stencil – Layering Bauhaus Blocks and tried out a new layer.

I started by masking off the lower section of my one layer card base. I then selected Grapefruit, Oceanside and Aqua Sky to ink the stencil and fill the top section of the card.

I then added the JUST BECAUSE sentiment on a strip of card adhered by foam tape and a few Oceanside enamel dots to finish.

If after that awesome hop, you want or *need* a closer look at this clear stamp set. Why not join me over on YouTube HERE this afternoon for a demo of this newness.


This clear stamp set, along with all the products being introduced this week will be available 9am GMT Sunday 18th January 2024. 

Crafty Hugs

Celebrating 12 Years – Introducing… Mid Century Modern Birthday

Happy Thursday 😃

Welcome to Day 2 of the 12th Birthday/February Release product introductions. This release we are adding to Uniko’s ever popular Mid Century Modern Collection, along with our unique Ink & Flip Stencil series, which we kicked things off with yesterday HERE


Today however, we are Introducing… Mid Century Modern Birthday. Let’s have a look at this clear stamp set in action.

For my first card I was excited to combine Mid Century Modern Birthday with the popular Background Blocks Linear.

I started by stamping the block along the edge of my card and after selecting a trio of colours, Lilac, Marmalade and Grape Soda. I matched as close as I could to Copic markers and coloured random blocks.

Next I stamped my little gifts and actually chose a sentiment combination from the clear stamp set being introduced tomorrow 😉 and assembled my card. A bit of fussy cutting, but you know how I love it!

My second card today I chose to go bold and sentiment only. My chosen colours also give it a masculine feel.

As you can see I repeat stamped the HAPPY sentiment across my Dove card panel in black ink. I then stamped the BIRTHDAY in Oceanside ink and again in VersaMark to be able to heat emboss with some WOW Sparkle EP.

The result, a simple card that packs a punch of impact.

You know me, when I can’t decide on a colour combo, I go rainbow! That’s what I used for my next card.

This clear stamp set features elements intended to ‘build’ gifts. But really the creative possibilities are endless. The Brand Ambassadors have demonstrated this perfectly. We all see things in different creative ways. Here I decided to create a geometric design down the edge of my card. Simply just having fun with the shapes and colours.

I finished this one layer card with the large WISHES sentiment and opted to pair it with the fancy script happy from Happy Days.

During my YouTube introduction video HERE, I created my next card. I had an idea in my head and just went with it.

I built my stamped gifts with colours and black ribbon and bows. Finishing off with some Cobblestone enamel dots and Copic colouring to the middle bow. My sentiment choice is from Simply Said Blocks.

That’s all I have today using this clear stamp set. But I will be sharing more later this week.

This clear stamp set, along with all the products being introduced this week will be available 9am GMT Sunday 18th January 2024. 

Crafty Hugs

Celebrating 12 Years – Introducing… Ink & Flip Geometric Heart Layering Stencil

Happy Wednesday & Happy Valentine’s Day 💖
Welcome to Day 1 of the 12th Birthday/February Release product introductions. This release we are adding to Uniko’s ever popular Mid Century Modern Collection, along with our unique Ink & Flip Stencil series.

With it being Happy Heart Day, I couldn’t resist kicking the introductions off with this fun two layer Ink & Flip Stencil. 

Introducing… Ink & Flip Geometric Heart Layering Stencil. So let’s have a look at the stencil in action…

I started off with one of my current favourite things, a full shaker card! They are just so fun, so much easier and quicker that the window style shakers.

Now this new Ink & Flip stencil comes in two layers, to understand this stencil visually I recommend watching my video introduction HERE.

I started with the background layer of the stencils, using Honeysuckle and then Marmalade ink.

I then added the geometric heart image using the second stencil layer. This time using Poppy and Cranberry inks. Once all the stencilling was done I created my shaker, finishing off with a sentiment from Everyday Love Sentiments and some heart dew drop embellishments.

For my second card I chose a clean & simple design using just the heart layer of the stencil.

Again I used Poppy and Cranberry inks to create the geometric heart. I then fussy cut this out, which is pretty easy with it being straight lines.

Once I’d cut the heart out I adhered it to my card using foam tape. To finish I added another sentiment from Everyday Love Sentiments and some tiny heart embellishments I’ve had for ages in my stash.

I really have had fun with this stencil and went with a striking dark grey background for my next card, this makes the heart really POP.

I used Cloudy Sky and Charcoal Soot from Altenew Gentlemen’s Grey ink collection along with Poppy and Honeysuckle, my current favourite colour combo. Red and pink together brings me cheer!

To me hearts are not just for Valentine’s. They can be Wedding, Anniversary, Engagement and more. I used Congratulations for this card from Everyday Sentiments (back in stock 20th February).

Next up I used the geometric heart layer again for an all over design on coloured card.

It’s rare I choose to use a coloured card layer to ink on, but I loved how this turned out and how it paired with a Kraft card base too.

Lastly, for today! I went for a traditional window shaker card.

To create this card I used the background layer of the stencil on its own. Inking in Honeysuckle, cleaning & then flipping to ink with Poppy.

I then used a craft knife to cut out my window to create the shaker. Again this was easy with the straight edges.

What a mammoth blog post, but hopefully it has given you a taster of the creative possibilities this two layer stencil has.

Thanks for stopping by.

Crafty Hugs

Uniko 12th Birthday Card Linky Party & Brand Ambassador Blog Hop

Hello, Happy Sunday & Happy Official 12th Birthday Uniko 🎉

12 years today Uniko officially opened their virtual doors to the public and I am so happy & proud to still be here.

So as tradition holds during Uniko’s Birthday Celebrations today we have a fun party everyone can join in on, Uniko’s 12th Birthday Card Linky Party & Brand Ambassador Blog Hop. Hopefully you have hopped on over from HERE. As usual the Brand Ambassadors have an array of beautiful birthday inspiration, so be sure to hop on over, along and leave a comment. The link up, rules and prize information can be found there too.

For my card today I dusted off Balloon Bash and like my cards I shared HERE, yesterday. I was inspired to use Uniko Brand colours.

In the past when using the balloons, I have masked them to create a bundle, but for this card I decided to just layer them with the trio of turquoise inks. Because when thinking about it, balloons are most often see through to a degree.

The sentiment I used is another peek at something being introduced next week for our 12th Birthday/February 2024 Release.

That’s all from me today, but be sure to head on over HERE to the start of the blog hop for all the Brand Ambassador blog links. You will also find the rules, prize details and link up for your Uniko birthday cards.

Happy Hoppin’ and Happy Crafting!
Crafty Hugs

January 2024 Non-Release Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY!

Hello & Happy Thursday.

Welcome to the January 2024 Non-Release Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY! With a New Year in full swing I thought it would be a good time to bring back some of the fun and inspiration that has slipped away over time.


So I am pleased to bring back the Non- Release month blog hops. 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 products I decided upon for January…

Beautiful Blooms I and Designer Dies Beautiful Blooms I 

So let’s have a look at my new creations I made using these…

First up I decided to use a technique that I haven’t used for ages, partial die cutting. I think I avoid this technique as it can be more time consuming than straight forward die cutting!

I started by stamping the large bloom in Honeysuckle ink. I then created a mask to place my die over the stamped image. I create a mask as these dies are one of my first sets and they are solid dies, meaning you can’t see through them.

I then worked out where I wanted to die cut too, 7.5 cm up from the bottom of my card. To die cut, place just the top section of the die inside the die cutting plates, up to the measurements. Once you die cut, use a cutting knife to trim across the straight edges.

On my base card I used the Background Blocks Linear stamped in VersaFine Clair Morning Mist. I then adhered the die cut panel using foam adhesive. I then finished with a sentiment from Simply Said Blocks and a few enamel dots.

For my second card I decided to use just the stamps and another fun technique, spotlight stamping.

Again, this was a little trickier and takes a bit of patience. I placed both layers in my stamping platform and used low tack masking tape on the base card when stamping the images on the square. I then removed the tape and square layer to stamp the image in a lighter shade of pink.

Again the top square layer is adhered using foam adhesive. This time I used a sentiment from Everyday Sentiments and kept the card free from any embellishment.

That’s all from me today, but be sure to head on over HERE to the start of the blog hop for all the Brand Ambassador blog links. If you comment along the hop you will be in the chance to win a £15 eGift Code to spend in store. Commenting closes for the giveaway Thursday 25th January 2024.

Happy Hoppin’!
Crafty Hugs

December 2023 NEW Release, Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY!

Hello, Happy Friday AND Happy New Release Day!

I hope you have enjoyed the introductions this week and I’m super excited you have stopped by so I share these new products with you. They are NOW available to purchase HERE on the website.

Hopefully you have hopped on over from HERE where I have introduced the new products and you will also find the links to the Brand Ambassador blogs.

Here’s what I came up with for today…

First up I decided to ink up Background Blocks Perspective and pair it with Mid Century Modern Florals. I started by stamping my favourite combo of stamps to create the flower, which I fussy cut out.

I then stamped the block which I coloured with two shades of orange and grey. I originally wasn’t going to fussy cut the block out, but I smudged my stamping and so had no choice but to cut it out and adhere it using foam tape!

My sentiment choice is from Bauhaus Blocks and I finished the card with enamel dots.

Keeping with the floral theme, I added some Beautiful Blooms II flowers to the Background Blocks Layered Stripes.

I started by stamping the block in Dove ink across the top of the card. You might be able to guess that I have hidden the join in my stamping with the beautiful blooms! My sentiment is from Simply Said Blocks II.

For my last card today I inked up the Stencil – Ink & Flip Snowflake. This card didn’t turn out how I intended either, sometimes it just goes that way after mishaps!

I started out being inspired by The Pantone Colour for 2024, Peach Fuzz. So I inked up the snowflake with Grapefruit and then Sorbet.

I then stamped the sentiment from Snowflake Serenade, which I accidentally dropped on the top of my card. Hence why the most of my snowflakes and embellishments are at the top of the card to cover my mishap!

I hope you have enjoyed this last release of 2023 😊


Now I have announced all the happy news, I have some not so happy news 😞
At the end of last month my manufacturer informed me of an increase in prices (again) as of January 2024. I have resisted increasing my product prices for the last couple of manufacture increases and it has been quite a number of years since I last increased them. 
I know the cost of living is affecting so many people and I hate to do this. But to keep Uniko going & bringing fresh, unique designs I unfortunately have little choice. 
As of Monday 8th January 2024,  product prices will be as follows…
StampsSmall (A7) – £6.50Medium (A6) – £11.50Large (A5) – £16 (Price Remains Unchanged)
Stencils – £4.50


I thank you all for your custom & support here at Uniko.
Crafty Hugs 

Introducing… Ink & Flip Snowflake

Happy Thursday.

Welcome to the last day of the December 2023 mini release introductions. Today we are introducing the next addition to our unique Ink & Flip Stencil series, Ink & Flip Snowflake.

Just like the previously released Stencil – Ink & Flip Star, which you can see in action HERE. The result, a beautiful geometric snowflake. You might recognise this product from some peeks I shared of the Uniko Stamping Retreat a few months ago. The attendees of the retreat were the first to test the stencil & receive it as their free gift.

Here is some inspiration using this new design…

You know me, I can’t resist rainbow colours and at least one make with a new product has to be in that colour scheme!

I used Concord & 9th inks for stencilling and my sentiment choice is from Christmas Wishes.

Along with rainbows, it is almost certain I will make a shaker card! I am loving these full panel shaker cards, they are so much quicker to make.

I used an Aqua Sky base to ink the snowflake and for the first ink through I used Oceanside. I then cleaned and flipped the stencil & applied Peacock for the second side.

I decided for this shaker to add my sentiment from Festive Sentiments Outlined, to the outside of the shaker. Definitely a hand deliver card as this makes it a little bulky.

That’s all I have today. This stencil, along with all the products we’ve introduced this week will be available tomorrow, 9am GMT Friday 8th December 2023. 

Crafty Hugs