Posts tagged “Flowers”

Uniko Challenge #64 Signs of Spring with Optional Twist Easter

 Hey!

Welcome to the March/April 2021 Uniko Challenge.


Here in the UK the days are getting lighter and even if the weather is not catching up that well we are seeing signs of Spring. So that’s the theme for our new challenge.

We’re delighted to welcome Stephanie as our guest Designer for this challenge. I’m sure many of you will know her well and been inspired by her wonderful cards. A visit to her blog is always a pleasure, find it HERE.

WOW! what a stunning card using those Uniko Originally Organic stamps on vellum and subtle French Script background.

I’ve been loving the signs of Spring on my daily walks to and from the school and The Beans have been learning about the seasons, so it is a hot topic of conversation.

I decided to give some fresh inky love to one of the Flower Power stamp sets, Flower Power #6 in particular with a sentiment from Flower Power #4.

I love using stamps I haven’t used for a while and it was a delight to use these roses and create this climbing frame.

That’s all I have to share, but be sure to hop on over HERE and see what the Brand Ambassadors have created. You will also find the link up to the challenge and all the prize details 🙂

Crafty Hugs 

Introducing… Hello Lovely

Happy Friday & welcome to the last of the January 2020 Release product introductions. Today I have saved the new floral addition to the Uniko clear stamp set line up till last.

So I introduce to you, Hello Lovely.

This on trend floral stamp set features a large spray of peony blooms that takes centre stage on your paper craft projects. You probably recognise the peony bloom from the previously released Pure Florals Peony. I have a little comparison to show you of the two stamp sets together side by side…

As you can see from the photo above there is quite a difference in the size of the blooms.

How about a look at Hello Lovely in action…

On this first card I have stamped them in Lawn Fawn River Rock ink and coloured the blooms with my Prismacolour pencils.

The sentiment is one of the mix and match options contained in the set and I am just loving these fonts.

Next I wanted to create a card to show how you don’t need to be a fan of colouring to use this stamp set.

I’ve not used or touched on the Pantone colour of 2020 much yet, so I was inspired to use Stampin’ Up! Night of Navy. I stamped the peony spray with VersaMark ink and embossed with WOW Metallic Gold Rich Regular embossing powder.

Before fussy cutting the stamped image out, I did add a few lowlights to the blooms using my B99 Agate Copic marker and using the colourless blender to remove any colour that went onto the embossed lines.

Before

That is all the cards I have to share with you today, I hope you have enjoyed all the product introductions this week?

I will be back tomorrow with the Uniko Brand Ambassadors at 9am GMT for the January 2020 Reveal, Release, Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY! I hope you will join us and comment along the hop for your chance to win the ENTIRE release! All the products will be available to purchase in the store HERE too 😉

Thank you so much for stopping by today.

Crafty Hugs

Stamp Set Focus – Background Builders Classics

Hey!

I had planned on writing this blog post last night, but the motherhood exhaustion hit post Bean bedtime and I just chilled instead – sorry!

Anyway, this is one of those types of post that I keep meaning to do more of and then life/other work gets in the way. I had also envisioned I would use more of the stamps from the clear stamp set I am focusing on, but I kinda got hooked on just one of the stamps! Please tell me it’s not just me that has these problems 😉

For my first ‘Stamp Set Focus’, I wanted to use the recently released Background Builders Classics. I felt it needed a little more inky love.

For my first two cards I used the same layout (inspired by Jane’s Uniko DT post HERE). I used the horizontal stripe stamp from the set more as an accent, rather than to build a background too.

StampFocusBBClassics1

For this first card I dusted off some older clear stamp sets. The large bold HAPPY is from All Occasion Sentiments #2 and it is so much fun to stamp it in a rainbow of colours! The flowers are from Flower Power #7 and the smaller script birthday is from Simply Said Birthday. I added a few Nuvo Drops to finish of my design.

StampFocusBBClassics1a

As I still had the horizontal stripe stamp positioned in my MISTI, I stamped up another to create my next card. This time combining it with a sentiment from the recently released Sentiments Outlined and accented with some blooms from Beautiful Blooms II.

StampFocusBBClassics2

I love how quick this card was to make, just a little bit of simple stamping and masking for the blooms and a little dimension for the stamped panel.

StampFocusBBClassics2a

Next I switched up the orientation of my card and used another of my favourite techniques and paired the stamp with some other ‘older’ Uniko stamps.

StampFocusBBClassics3

Using a stamping tool means your stamp is always in the same place for repeated stamping. This is handy for this technique, where I have used water  based markers to colour my stamp. I have done this technique quite a few times, like HERE.

StampFocusBBClassics3a

I used Stampin’ Up! markers in Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade and Costal Cabana for a lovely tropical palette to go with images from Paradise and Paradise Leaves.

Lastly, I wanted to ‘build’ a background and this is the result…

StampFocusBBClassics4

Having created a bold background I wanted to showcase it in a way not to take too much focus from it and it also needed a pop of colour.

StampFocusBBClassics4a

I used Stampin’ Up! dies to create the HAPPY, which I die cut each letter 3 times and adhered them together with glue. I wanted them to have some dimension but not too much to make the card bulky. Again I used the partially stamped sentiment, script birthday from Simply Said Birthday.

I hope I have inspired you a little and given you some new ideas and techniques to try out. I sure had fun using this one stamp!

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs


Words of Encouragement

Hello & Happy Weekend.

It’s been a pretty gloomy, rainy and windy day here. With a hint of Autumn in the air, I wanted to create something with some bright colours and use some simple words of encouragement.

I had a good look through my stash and I decided to use Background Blocks Doodle Flower. This is such a fun stamp to add pops of bright colours.

Words1

I kept my card design really simple, allowing the block of pattern to take centre stage. I stamped the block in Catherine Pooler Midnight ink and coloured with some bright Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Blends.

Words1a

The three small sentiments are from Simply Said Blocks and I stamped them onto some small scraps of coloured card to tie in all the colours and to make the sentiments pop a little more against the background.

Words1b

A pretty quick card to make, I didn’t time myself, but it must have taken me less than 20 minutes. So I thought I would join in on the fun over at AAA Cards with their current challenge HERE, Made in Minutes.

#146

Before I go today, I thought I would share another quick card using *some* of the crafty stash I have purchased this year! Even though I design my own products, I like to support other small business and I simply can’t resist adding other awesome companies products to my stash and they often include stamps!

FFunicorn1

Like these fabulous Chubby Unicorns from Funky Fossil Designs!

FFunicorn1a

I don’t normally go for cute stuff, but these were just the right amount 😉 I have paired the stamped unicorn with the Rainbow & Clouds Dies from ‘Lil Inker. The sentiment is a Uniko one, from Simply Said Blocks II.

That’s all from me today, I hope I have added a little cheer to your day.

Thank you for stopping by 🙂

Hugs


Aqua Stripes & Orange Blooms

Hey!

Today I have a quick card I made yesterday in between entertaining The Beans! I seem to have to create while the inspiration hits at the moment and when a few minutes pop up here and there. We are half way through the Summer holidays here and I am already feeling exhausted, just another 3 weeks to go!

AquaOrange1

I decided to combine Background Blocks Nautical Stripes with some more flowers, this time Beautiful Blooms II. I already had the Background Blocks Nautical Stripes positioned in my small MISTI from a previous project, so it made stamping pretty quick.

I already had my colours planned out, thanks to the current “Less is More” challenge seen HERE. I’d never have chosen orange to pair with aqua.

AquaOrange1b

I decided an ombre aqua would look more pleasing than just one flat colour, so I used a trio of Altenew aqua colours. I started with the lightest, stamping repeatedly with each colour until I achieved a look I was pleased with.

AquaOrange1c

I used two shades of orange to stamp the flower from Beautiful Blooms II and used my white gel pen to enhance the small dots on the flower. The leaves are also from Beautiful Blooms II and the sentiment from Simply Said. The flower and stamped panel are adhered using 1mm thick foam adhesive for subtle dimension.

AquaOrange1a

That’s all I have to share with you for today, I am hoping creativity strikes today and I get some more cards made to share with you 🙂

Until next time, thanks for stopping by today.

Hugs


Uniko Challenge #54 – Flowers with an optional twist of Die Cuts

Hey!

Welcome to the July / August 2019 Uniko Challenge.

We’ve another lovely favourite theme of flowers for this new challenge, but if you’d like to challenge yourself a bit more then go with our twist of using die cuts.

We’re really delighted to have Amy as our Guest Designer for this challenge. Just look at this beautiful layered die cut floral. Such happy and pretty colours too. Be sure to hop on over to Amy’s blog for more details and leave a lovely comment.

This is such a wonderful time of year in the Northern Hemisphere to be inspired by the bounty of florals in the Summer gardens. I love flowers and I was excited to ink some older Uniko flowers that haven’t seen much ink recently and I also wanted to go with the ‘twist’ of the challenge too!

UnikoChallenge#54

As you can see I chose to ink up Flower Power #2 and use the coordinating dies. This is one of my favourite flowers from the Flower Power series to cluster in colourful blooms.

UnikoChallenge#54b

I paired the flowers with leaves from Natures Treasures and also a NEW sentiment from the upcoming July 2019 Release 😉 You will see more of this sentiment on Monday on the blogs!

UnikoChallenge#54c

I’ve used Gloss White Nuvo Drops for the flower centres and I have also added White Blizzard Nuvo Drops inside the lines of the sentiment.

The Uniko DT have also been busy and have created some awesome flowery cards to inspire you to join in and play along, so be sure to pop on by their blogs.

Are you ready to play?

Well, just in case you need some more incentive to play along with the challenge here are the details of the prizes.

  

THE PRIZES

  • Main Winner Chosen By the DT – £25 eGift Certificate
  • Random Twist Winner – £5 In Stock Clear Stamp Set of Winners Choosing
  • Random Uniko Stamps Winner – £5 In Stock Clear Stamp Set of Winners Choosing
  • Top 3 Chosen By DT – 150 Loyalty Reward Points
  •  

You’ve got plenty of time to play along with this challenge. 

The deadline for submission is midnight (GMT) on Friday 23rd August 2019 (7.00pm EDT).

Hugs,

 


Birthday Doodle Flowers

Happy Weekend!

This week I’ve been playing with more of the Uniko Background Blocks clear stamps and this time I was inspired to use Background Blocks Doodle Flower. If you missed my earlier Background Blocks inspiration post, you can see it HERE.

Anyway, back to todays card…

BirthdayDoodleFlowers

As you can see I didn’t use the complete background! This is such a fun and versatile stamp, in that you can use it as a background, but you can also use the doodle flower elements by themselves.

BirthdayDoodleFlowers1

There are a couple of ways you could achieve this. Firstly, you could do what I did for my card and stamp the background block in Catherine Pooler Midnight ink, colour the flowers you want to use with Copic Markers & fussy cut them out.

Or, if you aren’t a fan of fussy cutting small flowers, you could mask off all but the flower you want, stamp & repeat the process to achieve the desired look.

I’ve paired the flowers with a sentiment from Birthday Sentiments clear stamp set & I added my favourite Dandelion Yellow Nuvo Drops to the flower centres and accents.

The layout of my card is from this weeks CAS Colours & Sketches HERE and seen below. It was so much fun to sit & play with my supplies and to join in on a challenge, it’s been a while 😉

sketch 323

As I’ve created a birthday card & AAA Cards is celebrating their 5th Birthday over HERE, I’m going to join in on their challenge too!

5th birthday banner

Don’t forget Uniko is one of the AAA Cards Birthday Sponsors & there is LOTS of ways to win!

Okay, that’s all I have to share with you today. I am off to the Spa with a couple of friends for the day / night 🙂 Another 40th Birthday treat! I hope you all have a wonderful day & have something nice planned too.

Until next time, thanks for stopping by!

Hugs


Uniko Challenge #52 – Spring with Optional Twist Easter

Hey! 

Welcome to the March/April 2019 Uniko Challenge.

Well the days are getting longer here in the UK and we look forward to warmer weather and more sunshine so our theme for this new challenge reflects that. We’d like your cards to be themed around Spring and if you celebrate Easter why not add our twist to your creations? 

We have the very talented Monika from Tinker Cards joining us as our Guest Designer for this challenge. Her card is just amazing, so fresh and clean and beautiful!

Awesome isn’t it? Be sure to go visit Monika’s blog HERE and tell her!

Here is what I was inspired to make…

USC#52

I was inspired to dust off Flower Power #2 and a sentiment from Flower Power #4, they are currently in the sale over HERE 😉

USC#52a

I’ve used Distress Oxide Inks to create my little rectangle background & before removing my masks I used the Scattered Polka Hexagon Stencil to add some Nuvo Moonstone Glimmer Paste. The ‘cherry blossom’ flower from Flower Power #2 is coloured with Copic Markers and I’ve used the coordinating Flower Power Designer Dies to cut the flower & stem out.

The design team have some wonderful inspiration too, so be sure to visit them too & leave some love 🙂

I hope you will join us and play along. Just in case you need some more incentive to play along with the challenge here are the details of the prizes.

THE PRIZES

  • Main Winner Chosen By the DT – £25 eGift Certificate
  • Random Twist Winner – £5 In Stock Clear Stamp Set of Winners Choosing
  • Random Uniko Stamps Winner – £5 In Stock Clear Stamp Set of Winners Choosing
  • Top 3 Chosen By DT – 150 Loyalty Reward Points

You’ve got plenty of time to play along with this challenge. The deadline for submission is midnight (BST) Friday 19th April 2019 (7.00pm EDT)

Hugs

Introducing… Background Blocks Pinstripe & You Are, Yes You

Hey!

Welcome to the LAST day of our 7th Birthday & February 2019 Release product introductions. The last four days have been so fun and colourful. If you have missed any of them you can catch up HEREHEREHERE and HERE.

I’m back again today with my guest designer and the design team to show you LOTS of inspiration! This time we are introducing a new Background Blocks Pinstripe & Yes, You  clear stamps. Hopefully you have hopped on over from the start HERE where I have introduced these 2 new products a little.

How about a closer look at the cards I have made using them…

IntroPinstripe

 

This first card shows the pinstripe background perfectly! I’ve stamped it in Altenew Pink Diamond ink a couple of times using my stamping tool. The flower from You Are, Yes You is then stamped directly over the top in VersaFine Onyx Black ink and coloured with one colour of Prismacolor pencil. I added one of the leaves from the same set and a sentiment from Simply Said. Again finishing the design with Nuvo Drops 😉

IntroDay5a

 

 

The colours for the card were again inspired by this weeks CAS Colours & Sketches challenge seen HERE and below. I rather like this colour combo, as I am quite a sucker for Grey!

CC&S color307-001

For my next card I decided to use the flowers & leaves from You Are, Yes You to embellish the corners of a die cut sentiment window frame.

BirthdayWishes&YesYou

 

The sentiment is from Birthday Wishes, which was introduced on Day 2 and it fits perfectly inside the Papertrey Ink Mat Stack 4. The flowers and leaves are coloured with Stampin’ Up! stamping blends, fussy cut out and adhered to the card with double sided tape.

IntroDay5d

Lastly, I wanted to try my hand at stamping a wreath using a self made wreath builder template and one of the leaves from You Are, Yes You…
WreathYesYou
Oh my! This was so much fun to do! I stamped and masked the leaf as I went round to create a lovely leaf wreath. The sentiment is from You Are, Yes You and I stamped, fussy cut and coloured the flower from the set to add to where the wreath began and ended to make it look neat.
IntroDay5c

That’s all I have to share today using these products, but I know Ruth our Guest Designer this month along with the Design Team have SO much more to share with you.

Hop on by to see what Ruth has created HERE and this is the order of the hop following Ruth…

Also, don’t forget the enter the HUGE giveaway over HERE to WIN Stamps For A Year! If you need help entering the giveaway as you don’t have a blog or social media to link, send me an email and I will assist you 🙂

WINstampsforayear

Thanks so much for stopping by & joining in on the 7th Birthday February Release fun 🙂

Hugs

Introducing… Passiflora & Designer Dies

Hey!

Welcome to Day 4 of our 7th Birthday & February 2019 Release product introductions. The last three days have been so fun and inspiring. If you have missed any of them you can catch up HEREHERE and HERE.

I’m back again today with my guest designer and the design team to show you LOTS of inspiration! This time we are introducing a new Passiflora Clear Stamp Set & Designer Dies. Hopefully you have hopped on over from the start HERE where I have introduced these 2 new products a little.

How about a closer look at the cards I have made using them…

IntroDay4a

My first card pairs the solid Passion Flower and leaf contained in the set with one of tomorrows introductions, another addition to the Background Block series. I’ve used my MISTI tool to stamp and layer the flower details, apart from the upper stamen of the flower, which is die cut and adhered with foam adhesive.

IntroDay4d

The darker shading on both the flower and the leaves was done by after stamping the image in a lighter shade. I used an ink dauber to apply the darker ink to selected areas of my stamp before stamping. I’ve found that using an ink dauber to apply the ink to the stamp results in a more even blended look. I’ve embossed the pinstripe background in gold, added a sentiment from Simply Said Blocks II and some Nuvo Drops too!

Continuing with the purple colour theme for the Passion Flower I opted for another clean and simple design…

IntroDay4c

Again I used the solid flower from the set (there is an outline flower too), but this time I white heat embossed the circular line detail of the flower and added the swirly foliage detail.

IntroDay4e

I’m loving the trend of embossed scoring lines, so tried my hand at it. It is quite subtle in the photo and more noticeable in real life. The sentiment is from Just Because clear stamp set and again I added my favourite Nuvo Drops!

Lastly it had to be a shaker card (apologies on my iffy photo, I’m still trying to get the hang of my new set up)…

IntroDay4b

There is something about new dies and my *need* to make a shaker card with them 😉 This time I went for some lovely bright pinks for the flowers and you can see that I have used the outline flower inside the shaker part of the card. I’ve also added a small circular detail stamp to the middle of that flower.

IntroDay4f

 

 

With the upper most solid flower I have used both of the stamen images, stamping, die cutting and layering them. If you look at some Passiflora flowers and the one I designed my stamp set from, they have a five stem stamen and then a 3 stem stamen. The sentiment is also from the set and again, more Nuvo Drops! I just love these too much! The shaker mix is from Little Things From Lucy’s Cards, Blush mix.

That’s all I have to share today using these products, but I know Ruth our Guest Designer this month along with the Design Team have SO much more to share with you.

Hop on by to see what Ruth has created HERE and this is the order of the hop following Ruth…

Also, don’t forget the enter the HUGE giveaway over HERE to WIN Stamps For A Year! If you need help entering the giveaway as you don’t have a blog or social media to link, send me an email and I will assist you 🙂

WINstampsforayear

Thanks so much for stopping by & joining in on the 7th Birthday February Release fun 🙂

Hugs