Posts tagged “Congratulations”

Rainbow Hearts

Happy Hump Day!

How’s your week going? Mine didn’t start well with no hot water Monday morning and the house alarm going off at 5am for no reason. To then having the plumbers round and taking off all the radiators in the house. It was chaos!

I am so glad I did essential work like packing orders (thank you 🙂 )before they arrived as I had to move one side of my studio to the other (it’s not a big room either) so they could get to the radiator. It took me all evening when they had gone to get the house straight and sort The Beans out too!

Things have improved slightly but I’ve been hitting minor problems each day and it’s frustrating. So today after I had finished my essential jobs, I set to making a card to cheer myself up.

This week at school The Beans are reading a book called ‘Rainbow Fish’, so it inspired me to make a rainbow card. All these colourful hearts make me happy 🙂

I’ve used some of my favourite Altenew colours to stamp the striped heart from BIG & BOLD Love from the NEW Uniko release. Instead of making a Valentine’s card I decided to add a congratulations sentiment from Simply Said Blocks II. This way the card can be used for a Wedding, Anniversary or engagement card to name a few occasions.

In the photo above you can see how I have used my favourite 1mm thick foam adhesive to adhere all the hearts and sentiment.

I hope this card has added some cheer to your day like it has mine 🙂 Thanks so much for popping by today & I hope to be back tomorrow with another card to share.

Crafty Hugs

June 2018 Design Team Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY!

Hey!

It’s time for another Uniko Design Team Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY – Whoohoo!! 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 Design Team a challenge to look back at a previously released product and give it some more love.

Usually I choose just one product that was released the previous year or a once favourite that hasn’t seen much air time. However, this time I couldn’t choose between the clear stamps in the Beautiful Blooms range, so I challenged the Uniko DT to use all 3 OR their favourite!

Beautiful Blooms I Clear Stamp Set

Beautiful Blooms I Designer Dies

Beautiful Blooms I can be bought as a clear stamp set and designer die bundle HERE.

Beautiful Blooms II

Beautiful Blooms III

My thinking / reasoning of designing the Beautiful Blooms series was to have some modern blooms that didn’t necessarily reflect a particular flower. They are open for interpretation as to what YOU the stamper believes the flower to represent. I feel this allows for more creativity and individuality to stampers projects.

Now I had to be fair, so I made one card using each of the clear stamps…

First up is Beautiful Blooms I and I decided to use both the clear stamps and matching designer dies. My card is heavily inspired by some of  Jennifer McGuire’s recent makes.

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I started by die cutting the largest bloom, largest stem and 2 small leaves from a piece of white card. I then temporarily adhered it to my card base whilst I stamped the coordinating images to the die cuts. I used my MISTI tool to stamp too.

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I used Altenew inks to stamp and the sentiment is from Simply Said Blocks II. Once I had completed all my stamping the die cut panel was adhered using foam adhesive.

Next, I decided to have a play with Beautiful Blooms II and created a super CAS card…

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I started by stamping the outline blooms in Altenew inks, then I ‘off stamped’ the bloom centre details before stamping inside the outline, as I wanted a fairly light shade to the blooms. I then used Lawn Fawn rectangle dies to die cut the layer before adding my sentiment from Just Because. The pane is adhered to a Stampin’ Up! Grey Granite card base using foam adhesive.

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Lastly, I dusted off Beautiful Blooms III to create a similar style card to my CC&S card last week HERE.

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I used my MISTI tool again for this card, because there is quite a bit of masking and layering of stamps. I used Altenew inks again, as they really do take the hard work out of choosing colours to layer! I tried to show a few of the different layering options with the blooms on this card too.

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That’s all from me, but lets see how the design team have been inspired to use the products and be sure to comment along the hop for your chance to win your choice from the 3 clear stamp sets being featured. You have until Midnight (GMT) Monday 18th June 2018 to comment.

 Hugs

A Look Back At 2016!

Hey & Happy Boxing Day!

I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Day, I think this year has to of been one of the best for us as a family of four 🙂 Seeing the beans faces as they walked into the front room with all the new toys and train set laid out was a picture. Plus, I just loved every minute watching them play together learning their new toys and then pulling daddy down to the floor to help and play. It truly melted my heart.

Here are a couple of photos from Christmas morning, apologies for my bed head!

Me and Ben the bookworm, checking out the new Peppa Pig books!

Josh admiring the train set

Josh getting stuck in with all the toys!

Anyway, back to the title of this blog post… A Look Back At 2016! This year has been an amazing year for myself personally, but it has been a fantastic year for Uniko. We have had 5 fabulous releases, with 16 new clear stamps sets lining the Uniko HQ shelves.
I don’t know about you, but to me this year has almost passed by in a blur! With that in mind I thought it would be nice now the main seasonal festivities are over and as 2016 draws to a close, to take a look back at Uniko’s 2016.
Today, I am looking back at the 2016 February Release. This was Uniko’s 4th Birthday celebration and I launched 4 clear stamp sets, Beautiful Blooms IIII Love TeaSome Bunny and Simply Said. So, I dusted the sets off and got to work with the help of my Christmas present from Santa, the MISTI and made a few new cards to share with you…

First up is a card using Beautiful Blooms III, the perfect set to get my MISTI into action! This set features a lovely modern 4 step layering bloom. I decided to only use 3 of the layers, but with the help of the MISTI it was a breeze and such a quicker process.

I’ve not had the time to sit and ‘play’ with my stamps or join in with challenges, so I was inspired to join in on the current CAS(E) this Sketch! sketch for the layout of my card seen HERE.

I also got my new and neglected Altenew inks out for this card. The sentiment is from Originally Organic, a clear stamp set I will be looking at later in the week, but the sentiments work perfectly with florals, so I couldn’t resit using it and showing you how Uniko clear stamp sets can work together for even more possibilities.

Next I was inspired by THIS photo on Pinterest to use I LOVE Tea clear stamp set and replicate some blue and white fine bone china.

The teacups are stamped in Encore Gold ink and again I used my MISTI for this simple stamped image. I don’t know if this happens to you, but when I stamp using metallic inks onto smooth card the image can slide slightly. So using the MISTI prevented this from happening 🙂

The teacups were decorated using the small Beautiful Blooms III image from the I LOVE Tea clear stamp set and the larger bloom from Beautiful Blooms III. As you can see I love to coordinate clear stamp sets when I am designing them! The sentiment is from Simply Said and as I need a few thank you cards post Christmas that was the reasoning behind my choice.

Lastly, but no means least I inked up Some Bunny clear stamp set. Though this set is oriented towards Spring and Easter, it is also a perfect set for New Baby cards, Children’s Birthdays and more.

I used the current Freshly Made Sketches sketch seen HERE for the layout of my card and I opted to make a New Baby Congratulations card. No harm in having one of these on hand for 2017, I know a few people expecting next year.

The bunny is such a fun and cute image, perfect for those who like to colour. But it also suits some paper piecing, for when you are short on time! The congratulations sentiment is another from Simply Said.

So, that’s a quick look back at the February 2016 Release, I hope I have given you a little inspiration to dust off these sets if you have them 😉 There is amount of 3 of the sets in stock on the website and I have planned some restocks to arrive in January.

I hope you will join me again tomorrow, when I will be taking a look back at the 2016 April Release. Until then, thank you for stopping by.

Hugs

August 2016 Design Team Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY!

Hey!

With the summer holidays in full swing here in the UK and as I spend time with my beans and family you might have guessed with no sneak peeks that there is no new release this month. So instead we have another Design Team Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY instead!

This month I decided upon the Pure Florals: Chrysanthemum clear stamp set, probably due to the lovely summer blooms that I am seeing on my days out and time in the garden!

This is what I came up with…

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As usual I turned to a couple of challenges to spark my creativity! It’s been a little all over the place these past few weeks and so I needed a little help again 😉

For the layout of my card I used the new Freshly Made Sketches layout seen HERE and below.

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I then needed a colour scheme for my card so I turned to the Color Throwdown seen HERE and below. A lovely summery combination this week perfect for florals.

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Quite a simple CAS card with a little masking and stamping! I started by stamping the sentiment and masking it off to stamp the flower and leaves. I added a little more interest to the card by dividing my aqua strips of card rather than layering a white piece of CS to create the lines of the sketch.

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Ok, that’s all from me, but there is more inspiration from the team…

 CLICK HERE to see more from Jane

  CLICK HERE to see more from Lindsey

 CLICK HERE to see more from Sarah G

 CLICK HERE to see more from Sarah P

It wouldn’t be a blog hop without a GIVEAWAY right?

Simply comment along the hop to be in the chance of winning this featured set.  Or if you win and already own the set an eGift certificate for £15 will be awarded. You have until midnight Sunday 21st August 2016 to comment and the winner will be announced on Monday 22nd August 2016.

Thank you for stopping & hopping along with us today 🙂

Stamp Of The Week – Pure Florals: Chrysanthemum

Hey!

A new week and a NEW Stamp Of The Week! This week I am dusting off… Pure Florals: Chrysanthemum

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Todays card is another quick CAS card…

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This time I chose to work with the largest solid bloom, stamping it 3 times onto a white mat layer using SU! Calypso Coral ink around the Congratulations sentiment also from the set. After the ink had dried I used my Wink Of Stella pen to colour over the stamped bloom, petal by petal to add a subtle sparkle to the card. The panel is then adhered to a Calypso Coral card base.

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A fun, quick and simple card idea to mass produce. The sentiment could easily be switched to suit any occasion.

Ok, that’s all from me tonight, I am trying to do at least an hour weeding, pruning and generally clearing the back garden. We are getting rid of two boarders that were full of prickly bushes and ivy to make more grass area for the boys to play on. Then I can let them play out without constant supervision as I know that they can’t escape from the garden!!

Anyway, I will be back tomorrow with more inspiration featuring this set and don’t forget that this set is discounted HERE on the website this week. Plus I have another 15% off discount code THIS WEEK ONLY!

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Thanks for stopping by 🙂

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Supplies:

Stamps: Uniko Pure Florals: Chrysanthemum

Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black and  SU! Calypso Coral

Cardstock: SU! Whisper White and Calypso Coral

Accessories: Wink Of Stella

Stamp Of The Week – Sweet Baby

Hey!

Welcome back to the NEW feature here at Uniko, Stamp Of The Week (SOTW). This week I am dusting off… Sweet Baby

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Later than planned with my next SOTW card due to a migraine on Wednesday resulting in an early night and Date Night yesterday resulting in a late night! We went out for dinner and a movie and I enjoyed Superman V Batman more than I thought I would, however I am still not sure of Ben Affleck as Batman.

Anyway, back to my card…

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Todays card uses the new CAS(E) this Sketch! sketch seen HERE and below, such a fun sketch with so many possibilities. This is the first idea that popped into my head.

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I used my Mama Elephant dies to create the scalloped edge to represent ripples on the water. The ducks are stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black, flat coloured with Copic markers and fussy cut out. The white panels and the larger duck are adhered to the SU! Pacific Point card base using foam adhesive. I love how the little ducklings sit nestled in the scallops 😉

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Ok, that’s all from me today, I will definitely be back with more to share using this set tomorrow. Don’t forget that this set is discounted this week HERE on the website.

Thanks for stopping by 🙂

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Stamp Of The Week – Balloon Bash

Hey!

Welcome back to the NEW feature here at Uniko, Stamp Of The Week (SOTW). This week I am dusting off… Balloon Bash

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What a busy couple of days, yesterday I had a bean free day and had planned at least an hour or so in the studio. However, I underestimated how much housework I had to catch up on after the February Release and being ill!

Anyway, hopefully I will make up for it today with the two cards I have to share with you…

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2016SOTW30As you can see they are nearly identical with slight differences. I wanted to showcase the confetti stamps contained in the mini set and I started by making the card with the circle confetti. I really quite enjoyed stamping the rainbow garland and decided to do the star one too!

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The balloons are stamped in Encore silver ink and heat embossed with Stardust EP for a lovely sparkly finish and the sentiments are both from the new Simply Said clear stamp set.

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Ok, that’s all from me today using this set, this mummy is tired after a fun filled day taking the beans to the seaside at Whitby with daddy. We had a lot of fun but it is oh so crazy and tiring venturing out locally, but to go for most of the day I’m wrecked now!

I will be back tomorrow with more to share. Don’t forget that this set is discounted in store HERE this week too.

Until tomorrow, thank you for stopping by today.

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Stamp Of The Week – All Occasion Sentiments #2

Hey!

Welcome back to the NEW feature here at Uniko, Stamp Of The Week (SOTW). This week I am dusting off… All Occasion Sentiments #2

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Todays card was made recently when I received a nice surprise on Christmas Day! I’d been such a good girl in 2015, that Santa brought me a Heidi Swapp Mini Minc Machine – YAY! Unfortunately the Mini Minc played up and stopped working completely so I had to send it back (via Santa), after waiting a few days I got an upgrade to a full size Minc Machine *GRIN*.

Anyway, I had to give it a test run and played with the usual freebies you get with it and then I remembered I have some foils I used a Uni, way back probably 5+ years ago. So up into the loft I went and I eventually dug them out and found a BEAUTIFUL multi coloured foil which resulted in this card…

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As the ‘AWESOME’ is fairly small only 2 colours from the rainbow picked up. However I have a super CAS card HERE today which shows the full rainbow effect.

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Not to take too much shine away from the foiled sentiment & in keeping with the star for the ‘O’, I stamped the star background strips from Background Builders: Christmas in VersaMark ink onto a black panel of CS and then dusted Perfect Pearls over the stamping to make them shimmer & shine. This is a little more subtle than using heat embossing. The result a quick & simple card to congratulate someone on how awesome they are.

OK, that’s all from me today, don’t forget that this set is 20% off this week HERE in store. Plus we still have a CRAZY January Sale on for a limited time only, so be sure to grab a bargain while you can & retiring clear stamps or dies before they are gone for good.

Until tomorrow, thank you for stopping by today 🙂

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Introducing…Home Sweet Home

Hey!

Thank you for all your lovely comments and excitement about the new release, it means so much to know that people like the look of things I have designed and I truly appreciate your support 🙂

 So the DT and I are back today to introduce you to the second set being released this month. Here is the little teaser I shared a few days ago as a little reminder…

 Well, there are no real surprises with the theme of this set, so I will get straight to my sample for today…

When I saw the new Freshly Made Sketches sketch seen HERE and below I knew it would be a perfect layout to use for this set.

I did adapt the sketch slightly by mirroring the focal point and the string bow so that the stamped sentiment would reflect the sketch better. I also used the current Colour Me…! challenge colours seen HERE and below for my card. Quite an unusual colour combo, but it worked well. I used the Bermuda Bay to stamp the house and the Marina Mist for the rounded square mat layer, which I sponged clouds onto. I did this by creating a small hand-drawn  mask and sponging white ink through.

 

Here is a close up of my sample, I raised the fussy cut house up on foam adhesive to add a little dimension.

 

 

Again I know the DT have showcased this set wonderfully, so be sure to stop on by their blogs have a look and leave them some love 🙂

 

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

Release Schedule:

Sneak Peeks 5th – 7th July. These little teasers give you hints at what is in store!

Introducing… 8th – 10th July. Here you’ll get to see the soon to be released products in action. The design team will be joining in on the introductions and you won’t want to miss a second!

Release Day! Saturday 11th July you will get to see all the products in their entirety and purchase them HERE on the website! As tradition holds there will be  a Design Team Blog Hop with a chance for a lucky person to win the ENTIRE release & a little extra!

Now, you won’t want to miss out on any of the fun from the 5th – 10th July as I will be drawing totally random winners for mystery prizes. I’m not giving any hints as to the prizes or their value, you’ll just have to join in on the fun!

Places to join in on the fun & possibly win a prize are by commenting along the way on the Uniko Blog, Design Team Blogs, liking the Uniko Studio Facebook Page, following on Twitter and Pinterest!

Hope to see you tomorrow for more & thank you for stopping by today 🙂