Thursday, 7 August 2025

Guesting at JUGS

Afternoon all. 
Just popping by to share a card for the latest JUGS challenge. This time not as a participant but as their August GD!!
The theme for this week is die cut florals so here is my make.



This is a card I made for the wedding of my daughter's friend, not knowing the colour theme, I went classy and neutral with silver and white, even though the roses look gold they are silver. The mirror card picked up the reflection from the oak windowsill! The photo also makes it look as if the die cut heart is towards the bottom of the A5 card but I had to angle the camera so that the silver mirror card wasn't too reflective, it's a beast to get a good photo!

To start, I die cut a panel of white card and die cut a heart shape from the center before running it through my Big Shot with an EF to create some texture. A piece of holographic hearts wrapping paper was attached to my base card to show through before the embossed panel was popped up on foam pads. The blooms and leaves are from Altenew, Rose Flurries,  die cut from vellum, white and silver, layered up and arranged around the heart aperture together with a few Pretty Pink Posh sequins. A die cut sentiment in dark grey, from an ancient Cuttlebug plate die, was glued over the wrapping paper and a stamped HLS sentiment completes.

So that's it from me but please check out the rest of the fab JUGS team for their take on the theme.

Joining in over at:-

Introducing Background Blocks MOD Circle Builder

 Good morning and welcome to day 3 of the intros for Uniko's August release.

Today it's another Background Block and it may be familiar to some as it is based on a previously released stencil. Here are a couple of ideas I came up with to use the stamp.

Firstly is this simple design using a half of a panel from an A6 one I created by repeated stamping of the pattern.


There are a few extra stamps that come with the set and I used the smallest semi circle to stamp across the panel in Twisted Citron and Peacock Feathers DI. Once stamped, I matted it on a panel of matching green card and added to a plain white base card, stamping the sentiment in black.

My second design uses the other half of the panel but this time I coloured some of the quadrants with Copic marker in a mix of black and yellow.


The sentiment is from Sentiments Outlined, which I coloured using the same Copic markers. Using my guillotine I cut it into strips before cutting away around the end letters and then adding to the patterned panel. This was was then simply adhered to my base card.

So that's all from me but please check out what all the other BAs have been up to.


Julie -
me



See you same time tomorrow for more retro inspiration.

Wednesday, 6 August 2025

Introducing Background Blocks Bauhaus

Morning all, it's day 2 of Uniko's August release intros.
Today we are focusing on a fab addition to the Background Blocks series, Bauhaus. Here are a couple of ideas I came up with.

The first thing I did when I got the stamp was to fill an A6 panel of white card. The block is a pattern on a 5 x 4 grid but easily lined up to fill a panel with. Here I've trimmed the panel down to a 5 x 5 square and coloured with Copics in a masculine colourway.


My green Copic decided to run out on me after a couple of semi circles and I didn't use Copic friendly card so please excuse the patchy inking!
Matted onto a panel of green card and then onto a small square base card, a simple Doodle Flower sentiment from the stash matted on the same green card, completes.

I had a panel left over so decided to make this card using an eclipse technique.


To colour the semi circles this time, I made a simple mask from a scrap of acetate cut with a small circle die which I made into a semi circle with the addition of a small scrap of acetate taped over half. For this I used DIs in Worn Lipstick, Peacock Feathers, Twisted Citron and Gathered Twigs.
Once completed, I die cut 30 using my newly purchased at the Warrington class, die from Spellbinders.
I removed the 30 from the cut panel, then added it to a scrap of copy paper, before die cutting the 30 again from white fun foam. The foam numbers were added back into the opening together with the center of the 0, then adding the die cut 30 back over the top of the foam cuts.
On an A6 top fold card, I stamped the sentiment and added the eclipse panel, adding a couple of black card strips to give it a little more impact.

So that's all from me but why not check out what the rest of the team have been up to with their new stash?

  Anita




See you back here tomorrow with another new introduction.

Tuesday, 5 August 2025

Introducing Background Builders Mid Century Modern

Good morning, hope you survived Storm Floris without too much damage and inconvenience.
Today sees the start of another series of intros for Uniko's summer releases. This set of stamps and stencil are great for building backgrounds with a retro, MCM vibe.
First out of the blocks is another Background Builders stamp set that will coordinate with lots of the other MCM style stamps in the Uniko range. Here are couple of ideas.

First is this panel made by stamping just 2 of the elements from the set.


I used DOxides in Candied Apple, Spiced Marmalade Vintage Photo and I think Twisted Citron but it does look rather dark for that! Each of the large elements were stamped alternating the stamp between stampings and then the smaller open oval added into each center for a funky 70's vibe. 
One of my stash of  Doodle Flower sentiments on kraft with white heat embossing completes. The busy panel needed a simple sentiment I think.

My second card uses a few more elements from the set this time stamped onto green card with more Doxides. This time I used Rustic Wilderness, Squeezed Lemonade, Vintage Photo and Black Soot.


This has a more 50's feel about it I think.

Ok that's all from me but the rest of the girls have been busy too so why not check out what ideas they've come up with?


Julie -
me



I'll be back tomorrow with another introduction, see you then.

Monday, 4 August 2025

August Release Sneak Peeks

 Good morning.

I had a lovely day yesterday with a few Uniko lovers, the fantastic Dies 2 Die 4 and Bev for a day of crafty fun in sunny Warrington. Lovely to see some old friends and meet some new ones AND craft together. They got to preview some of what is coming this week and they were impressed, I think.

Now, it's time for Bev's August release sneak peaks, I know two in quick succession but last time it was all about Christmas in July, this week has more of a retro vibe

If you love Uniko's Mid Century Modern & Bauhaus style products, these first three peeks will be right up your street!
They are fantastic in their own right, but combined with previously released products, they are going to up the level and bring fresh and exciting creative possibilities. 

This first peek is of a fun Background Builder stamp set with lots of fun Mid Century Modern elements. 

Next is a fun Background Block, you know Bev loves a good instant pattern! 


You might recognise the pattern in this next peek from a previously released and popular stencil design. This is the stamp version.


Next we have a basic pattern, but one I think will be very useful



This next peek is of a new layering stencil and if you love anything retro, this is a must have! 


Lastly, but by no means least we have another Ink & Flip Pattern Stencil with a retro twist too.


That's all the peeks, what do you think? Are you as excited as I was when I received my package?
Not long to wait, I'll be back tomorrow with the first of the intros, so see you then!