Floral Archives - Page 4 of 19 - Clear Stamps Sets for Cardmaking & Paper Crafts

16 Jun

Hello, Hey, Hi!

Hello!

Oh my, what a strange couple of months it has been! I am so out of the loop with everything as we start to come out of lockdown or hibernation here in the UK.

The majority of my time these past 2 1/2 months has been spent doing home learning with The Beans, doing the tasks the school set out and then speech practice. Then it has been keeping the home life ticking over, washing, cooking and cleaning. With everyone home 24/7 it has felt like an endless task. Then as bedtime for The Beans rolls around I collapse in a tired heap and no mojo to create 🙁

BUT…. finally I got the spark back to be creative when my husband finally uttered the words… ‘you can open up for orders again on 1st July’. This is what I had been waiting for and it has injected a bit of life back into me!

Life is still crazy, I am still doing home learning with The Beans as we decided not to send them back to school in this time of uncertainty. BUT I am being a bit better at giving myself some time during the day to do something for myself.

Like today, I finished the card I started making yesterday….

I thought some cheery flowers would be best to kick start my creativity and I decided to ink up the peony cluster from Hello Lovely.

I kept things simple and used some Stampin’ Up! markers to colour the blooms and leaves. I used just one colour for each of the flowers, but went over areas with the same colour to achieve a darker shade. I did however use two greens for the leaves.

I trimmed through the image and fussy cut around the edge so it would be a border along the edge of my card and I popped it up with foam adhesive for some dimension. The sentiment is one of the mix and match options from the set.

I will be back again in the next few days with more to share, but for now I will just recap…

The website will open for orders Wednesday 1st July 2020. Orders will be posted out once or twice a week. I will confirm what days I will be posting orders once I have done a little research into the less busy times at my local branch. More details coming soon 🙂

Thank you to my awesome Brand Ambassadors for keeping the inspiration flowing during this time AND thank YOU for hanging in there with Uniko during these uncertain times. Your emails and messages have been much appreciated.

Crafty Hugs

Bev

By uniko Cards, Floral 0 Comments Read more...

29 Mar

Hello Sunshine

Happy Monday!

I thought I would pop by and share a Spring themed card to brighten up your day, put a spring in your step and start the week off on a positive note.

This is one of the cards I made over the weekend, when I found some creativity 🙂 I was totally inspired by the comments left on my Sending Hugs post HERE and it got me to thinking about ‘enjoying what we have’ and not what we don’t or want.

So, I took that on board and looked through my favourite challenges online and then to my stash for something I haven’t used for a while. One of the challenges I love to join in on is Freshly Made Sketches. So I decided to join in with the sketch seen HERE and below.

As you can see I was inspired to ink up the heart wreath from Originally Organic Additions. I love this set for Spring & Summer themed cards and I chose to use some yummy The Stamp Market inks, Leafy, Bubble Gum & Melon.

The ‘Hello Sunshine’ sentiment is from Spring Botanicals Tulips and I added some of my favourite Nuvo Drop embellishment to finish my card off. I stocked up on some stamps prior to lockdown & we have a post box just around the corner, so I hope to send some happy mail out this week to spread some cheer.

I hope you have a lovely day & thank you for stopping by.

Crafty Hugs

By uniko Cards, Challenge, Floral, Stamp Focus 0 Comments Read more...

28 Mar

Sending Hugs

Hello!

How are you? I do hope you are well and tucked up safe at home. I thought I would pop by today with some virtual hugs and to check in with you all.

I feel I ‘up and left’ abruptly and I didn’t give any warning about suspending ordering on the website. I apologise for that, especially as I had started a sale and extended the discount code.

Last Saturday I was feeling optimistic and hopeful. That I could ‘carry on as normal’ through this weird and crazy time. But then, as the weekend continued, we watched the news and maybe I read too much on social media.

My optimism dwindled and the reality of it all came flooding in. From Monday I would be doing home learning with The Beans. I would be responsible for making sure that a form of education continued. That they both continue to progress with their speech. AND on top of that, I have a home to keep in check, meals to prepare & cleaning to keep on top of.

I talked it all through with hubby and with the uncertainty of his work, people scaling back on non-essentials and not wanting to risk bringing the virus home on going out when we don’t really need to, we took the decision to suspend orders on the website on Monday morning.

We had a feeling that the news that evening would be a ‘lockdown’. To only leave the house for essential shopping. We were right and since posting my last few orders (thank you) and buying a few essential items from the supermarket, we haven’t left our property.

So here I am, almost a week into not leaving the house & garden and having survived a week of home learning! As much as it has been a joy to have my boys home, to spend time seeing how much they have learn’t since they started school. It’s been stressful and exhausting! But they have thrived on the 1-2 learning environment, I’ve seen so much progress in such a short time with their speech and we’ve even done some fun tasks like drawing & painting, pizza making & junk model making!

I had envisioned that I would just go back to my once working on a night once they are in bed and continue with daily creating, blogging & working on new designs. Oh how wrong I was! This week I have simply been too tired once I have got them tucked up and settled and just collapsed in a heap on the sofa or in bed!

I am hoping that as we all adjust to the new routine, I will find the energy to do more of what I love and sharing it with you 🙂

Like today, I have spent most of the day Spring cleaning my studio space, organising and I actually sat down to make the card I am sharing with you. It’s funny how you come across things to put aside to use at a later date.

I came across an ink blended piece of card I had stamped with Background Blocks Graffiti Texture. Part of it had not stamped well, so I had put it aside to use for a different purpose. Like most times, these get ‘buried’ and forgotten about. Until today when I came across it and decided to die cut the largest loopy flower from Designer Dies Kindness Blooms.

I was even inspired to play along with a card challenge! I used the current sketch over at CAS Colours & Sketches seen HERE and below.

The website will be back once some form of ‘normality’ resumes in the UK and we are no longer in a lockdown situation. You never know, I might even have a shiny new website to reopen with and a bunch of new products ready and waiting! I will however have a discount code & a sale on. So there is something to look forward to!

Sorry for such a LONG post. I didn’t think I had that much to say! I do hope you are all well, safe and finding things to keep yourself busy. I will do my best to check in & share more creativity this week.

Take Care & Crafty Hugs

By uniko Cards, Challenge, Floral 0 Comments Read more...

19 Mar

Uniko Challenge #58 Spots & Stripes with Optional Twist to use a Stencil

Welcome to the March/April 2020 Uniko Challenge.

For this, our second challenge of the year we’re asking for spots and stripes on your cards and an optional twist of using a stencil.

This month we’re delighted to have Mac Mable as our Guest Designer. She is well known for her creative use of techniques and you’re going to love her interpretation of the theme.

Isn’t that just an awesome use of spots and stripes? If you get time please pop over to her blog and tell her how very impressed you are – HERE.

Today I opted for a clean & simple design with a rainbow of colours. I chose not to use a stencil this time but mixed up a few Uniko clear stamp sets to create my card.

I recently saw someone use some colourful striped and spotty designer paper and I wrote the idea down to have a go at recreating it with stamps. I used Background Builders Classics to stamp the stripes in a rainbow of Altenew ink colours. I then went in and used the Santa nose stamp from Jolly Santa to stamp the dots in-between, colouring them with a black fine liner to make them solid.

I ‘ve then combined the flower from Flower Power #5 with the leaves from Flower Power #6 and added the bee and sentiment from Bee Happy.

I love how colourful and cheerful this card turned out, it is more than ever needed at this time of uncertainty and worry around the world.

As usual the Uniko Brand Ambassadors have been creative and have inspiration for you too. Be sure to head on over to the Uniko blogspot blog HERE for links to their blogs & also the prize and link up for the challenge.

I hope that you find some creative time to join in on the fun & look forward to seeing you in the gallery.

Crafty Hugs,

By uniko Cards, Challenge, Floral, Uniko Challenge 0 Comments Read more...

16 Mar

Have You Seen?

Happy Monday.

Today I am sending you some happiness, good health and sunshine wishes your way. I know that all around the world we are struggling to deal with the craziness of everything. Stay strong, listen to your government guidelines and spend some time creating to take your mind off it all.

I thought I would pop by to tell you about a Uniko feature in the newest issue of Die-Cutting Essentials that came out on Thursday.

I am super excited to share a little peek at the feature I did for the magazine using the newest Uniko Designer Dies Kindness Blooms collection. This collection of dies coordinate with the previously released Kindness Blooms clear stamp set and were released last month during our 8th Birthday celebrations.

This is my favourite card I made for the feature. One because it was super fun to make and two it shows most of the dies in the collection AND it also shows how the tiniest die in the collection can be used in a different way to create a fun background.

Yes, I really did use the tiny circle die to die cut all those individual holes in the background! I’ve also used both the solid flower die combined with the detail loopy flower die combined with the coordinating stamps. All the details and instructions for this card can be found inside the magazine. You can buy the magazine online HERE.

I’ve not managed to create anything new with this clear stamp set just yet, but I hope to this week if time allows. However, I did receive this beautiful card through the post this past week from a lovely customer, Anne S, who is clearly enjoying combining the stamps and dies.

It makes my day to see customers and friends finding enjoyment and creativity using the products I design. It inspires me to create and gives me new ideas of how to use them! It delighted me even more to receive this prettiness in the mail, which I will display in the studio. Thank you Anne 🙂

One last thing before I sign off for the day, it’s been a long one as I’ve not been sleeping well these past few days. Like most I am sure with all that is happening and on our minds.

Paper crafting, stamping, die cutting and making hand made cards is a wonderful therapy and distraction to all that is going on. So I thought that whilst Post Offices remain open here in the UK I would give you all a little discount code to use to treat yourself to something from the Uniko store.

Plus, with receiving the news yesterday that Happy Stampers Festival will not be going ahead at the end of April I have a lot of inventory and I am in need to create some space in the studio!

Thank you in advance for your support and custom. Each and everyone of you is truly appreciated. Stay safe & well.

Crafty Hugs

By uniko Cards, Designer Dies, Featured In, Floral 0 Comments Read more...

14 Mar

March 2020 Non Release Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY!

Hello & Happy Weekend.

This month is non-release month at Uniko and on non-release months myself and my awesome Brand Ambassadors revisit a previously released clear stamp set.

This month we are revisiting Pure Florals Gerbera and giving it some fresh inky creativity.

As usual we have our GIVEAWAY, so be sure to comment along the hop for your chance to win both the Pure Florals Gerbera Clear Stamp Set. An alternative prize will be offered if the winner already owns this.

You have until midnight Sunday 22nd March 2020 to comment along the hop.

I thought I would start with a pretty pink card and use a quick colouring technique. It’s a good one if you’re not one for spending ages on colouring, but you can achieve colour depth and shading.

I started out by stamping the solid Gerbera stamp onto a panel of card stock using The Stamp Market Fresh ink to create an all over background.

I then stamped a single image onto a small scrap of card using the same colour of pink. Selecting a slightly darker colour of pink I shaded in areas of the petals to create depth and make it look realistic.

I repeated my process for the leaf using The Stamp Market Leafy and a slightly darker shade of pencil.

The flower is adhered to the card using foam adhesive and then I have tucked the leaf in and adhered using double sided tape.

Lastly for today I have a simple Copic coloured bloom. I have been getting some practice in with my Copic markers (still have a long way to go), and I had some Coral pinks I wanted to play with.

The layout of my card is from this weeks Freshly Made Sketches seen HERE and below.

As you can see from my photo I have coloured around the edge of my bloom. The matching dies are currently out of stock (sorry) and so I didn’t cheat and went back to basics with some fussy cutting. I have seen this technique used a few times around social media and I love the effect it gives.

Apart from my base card, this card was made from scraps I had left over from other projects. Having a coloured block like the navy card is a great way of using up pieces, as it the piece I have used for the sentiment. The sentiment is from Birthday Sentiments.

That’s all I have to share with you today, but be sure to stop by all the Uniko Brand Ambassador blogs and comment along the way for your chance to win.

Thanks for joining in on the fun.

Hugs

By uniko Blog Hop, Cards, Challenge, Floral, Revisited Clear Stamp Sets 0 Comments Read more...

08 Mar

International Women’s Day Blog Hop

Happy International Women’s Day.

Today crafters have come together around the world to celebrate YOU and all the amazing women in this wonderful community around the world, with an inspirational blog and Insta Hop.

Uniko is proud to be a sponsor of this inspiring event, along with 25 amazing companies.

All the details about the Blog Hop & Insta Hop can be found HERE at the beginning of the hop.

In honour of the day, it was only right that I created a card to mark the occasion and bring a little inspiration back to those that inspire me

I stood for a while looking through all my Uniko clear stamps and products, before choosing the Beautiful clear stamp set to use. Along with the sentiments in the stamp set, the little Geranium style flowers can be coloured in bright, cheerful and inspiring colours.

As you can see I opted for my usual clean and simple style for my card today.

I stamped the flowers in VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink and coloured them with Copic markers. I seem to be on a roll with colouring with Copics at the moment and enjoying this colouring medium again! I still choose to stamp sentiments in VersaFine Onyx Black and clustered the flowers around the sentiment.

I do hope you will join in on the fun and celebrate today and how amazing & beautiful YOU are.

The next stop on the hop is Your Next Stamp and you can find the full list of sponsors, hop participants and organisers HERE.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Crafty Hugs

By uniko Blog Hop, Cards, Floral 0 Comments Read more...

23 Feb

February 2020 & 8th Birthday Reveal, Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY!

Hey & Happy Sunday!

Welcome to the February & 8th Birthday product reveal, blog hop & GIVEAWAY! Hopefully you have hopped on over from HERE where I have formally introduced all the products available for purchase at 9pm GMT.

I have a trio of cards to share with you today. First up a super CAS card using Happy Days.

I can see this little set being a ‘go to’ for quick cards. Here I started with a panel of white card as big as my card base. I drew a faint pencil line a few centimetres from the bottom, making sure to leave enough space for my sentiment.

I then inked the silhouette foliage in Limeade, Lime & Fresh Leaf Altenew inks and stamped onto my card. I made sure to stamp part of the stem under the line as I wanted to cut along the line and around the image. This is then popped up onto my card base using foam adhesive.

For my next card I used Happy Days again, but this time I had an idea to combine it with Organic Wishes.

My idea was to capture new fresh spring leaves amongst the winter foliage and I used the ‘Bloom & Grow’ sentiment from Spring Botanicals Tulip.

Another quick stamped and CAS card. This time I added the stamped panel to a lime green card base using foam adhesive & tied some linen thread around the bottom section to add a rustic touch.

Lastly for today & continuing the Spring garden theme I decided to ink up and colour Spring Botanicals Tulip.

I decided to stamp & emboss the tulips in white onto a panel of kraft card. I then coloured the tulips using Prismacolor Pencils. I find colouring on kraft really forgiving when you don’t want to spend a huge amount of time colouring!

I used a trio of red/pink for the flowers and a trio of green for the leaves & stem. I used a little bit of blending solution to achieve a nice smooth finish. I decided not to add a sentiment on the front of the card & will add one inside if I choose to send the card.

That’s all I have to share with you today, but I know my Brand Ambassadors have so much wonderful creativity to share with you too.

Be sure to comment on all the Brand Ambassador blogs for your chance to win the ENTIRE Release! You have until Midnight GMT Saturday 29th February 2020 to leave a comment. The winner will be announced Sunday 8th March 2020 along with all the other 8th Birthday Celebration Winners 😉

Thanks for stopping by today.

Crafty Hugs

By uniko Birthday Celebrations, Blog Hop, Cards, Floral, New Release 23 Comments Read more...

21 Feb

Introducing… Spring Botanicals Tulip

Hey!
Welcome to Day 4 of the February 2020 & 8th Birthday Release product introductions. If you missed day 1, be sure to catch up HERE , for Day 2, HERE and for Day 3 HERE.

Today I am introducing the newest addition to the Spring Botanicals clear stamp set series and this time I have Tulips. This stamp set doesn’t need much of an introduction. The set follows the same format as Spring Botanicals Snowdrop & Spring Botanicals Daffodil. It features a main floral image of Tulips and some Spring time & happy sentiments in the same fonts.

I’ve just the one card today 🙁 My mojo has been on a wander & my lack of time with it being half term and The Beans off school has not helped it! I did however find some inspiration over at CAS Colours & Sketches HERE with their colour challenge this week for my card!

I created a rectangle mask for my one layer card & blended the colours (as close as I could match) using my Taylored Expressions Blender Brushes. Then I decided to stamp the Tulips inside (using my MISTI) before removing the mask. The sentiment is also from the set and I masked & stamped it twice to break the sentiment so it would fit inside the inked section.

That’s all I have to share with you today. Be sure to hop along to Carol’s blog HERE and the rest of the Uniko Brand Ambassadors to see all their wonderful inspiration. Please leave some comment love along the way. I will be randomly selecting some comments left on the Introducing hops to win prizes!

Thank you for stopping by today & I hope you will come back tomorrow for more inspiration and the last of the product introductions.

Crafty Hugs

By uniko Blog Hop, Cards, Challenge, Floral, Introducing, New Release 10 Comments Read more...

30 Jan

January 2020 Release in Review Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY!

Hey & Happy Thursday!

Welcome to the January 2020 Release in Review Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY! Hopefully you have hopped on over from HERE, where I have explained why another blog hop so soon!

Anyway, how about some more inspiration. I couldn’t resist using the Hello Lovely clear stamp set again and this time I broke out my watercolours.

You might know this already, but I am not the best at colouring. I used to have a lot of patience to sit and colour, but these days I get fidgety and want to get onto my next project!

I don’t know about you, but when I put myself ‘out there’ with my creativity and creations, there is always this thought in the back of my mind that worries about the judgement and comparison of my cards to others. This can sometimes stop me from just going with the flow and ‘playing’.

When I started this card I decided I was going to play, not worry about if my colouring was perfect and just be messy! I have to say I really like the results and apart from using my Altenew water colours, a basic water colour brush and Catherine Pooler Midnight ink, I didn’t use any specialist paper or supplies.

Catherine Pooler Midnight ink works wonderfully with alcohol markers, so I knew it would work with watercolour too. I opted to use my normal Whisper White smooth card over watercolour card, but with doing this I knew my colouring wouldn’t blend or be as moveable on the paper.

I had a piece of scrap card next to my project to blot and test the colours as I went and just stared from light to dark. I then just kept the idea of ‘messy’ colouring as my end result.

Once I had finished this more time consuming card I went on to make this super quick one layer CAS card.

I used some low tack masking tape to mask the sentiment section and then stamped the Peony spray twice top and bottom. The ‘Love You’ sentiment is from Festive Sentiments Outlined and simply coloured with a red Copic marker.

Lastly for today I wanted to create a card I had in my head combing Background Blocks Scattered Hearts & Pure Florals Cosmos.

I stamped and masked the Cosmos flowers and then stamped the heart background over the top. As I already had my water colours out I did more ‘messy’ colouring for the flowers.

I added some clear Wink of Stella to the hearts and a simple ‘Love’ sentiment from Simply Said Blocks.

That’s all the inspiration I have to share with you today, but I know my awesome Brand Ambassadors have more stunning projects to share with you.

Be sure to comment along the hop for your chance to win. You have until Midnight Thursday 6th February 2020 to leave a comment and the random winner will be announced Friday 7th February 2020.

Thank you for hopping along with us.

Crafty Hugs

By uniko Blog Hop, Cards, Floral, Love, New Release 16 Comments Read more...

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