Welcome to the Jungle

Good morning.

We've got a brand new challenge over at Cardz4Guyz. This time I chose the theme of:-

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

I'm not quite sure where I was going when I chose this theme as I don't have that many jungle themed stamps but while I was helping out at Port Sunlight the other weekend, I went browsing the stalls and came away with a new MFT set called Picture Perfect and one of the images featured these cheeky chimps, perfect.

Over at MFT, I saw an idea that I thought I could use here. Instead of using the Polaroid die that goes with the set, which I don't have, and simply adding the coloured image into the frame, they cut out the monkey and added some extra fingers to him. Then they placed the frame and image over some die cut leaves. 

So I took a panel of white card, stamped the image but masked off the lines around the image and extended the large monkey image, stamping an extra set of fingers. Once coloured with Copics, I fussy cut them out and put to one side. From a panel of white scrap I die cut a rounded rectangle of white card and then die cut the aperture. The rectangle was slightly too big, so I repositioned it in my die and cut again, stamping the sentiment from another MFT set.

I have a box of green leaves from years ago when I used to craft in the caravan, so sorted out a few but ended up cutting more with some Sizzix dies in various shades of green. These were then arranged onto a kraft base card and glued down. 

To complete, I added my cheeky monkeys and extra fingers to the frame and secured with tape before adding foam tape to pop up the finished framed, image.

So that's all from me but please check out the rest of the team here for more Jungle inspiration.

Joining in over at:-

Clean or Fussy

Normally I would say clean but on this occasion I went a little fussy with all the foliage behind the image and the popped up image. Still it was all flat so it's easier to post and it still remained masculine.

Flippin' Release Day at Uniko, BA Blog hop, Giveaway and Port Sunlight!

I hope you've all enjoyed You're Going to Flip Week here at Uniko and you're as excited about this new stencil as we all are. It's now available on the Uniko website to purchase and if you're coming to Stamping Together in Port Sunlight today, Bev will have stock with her and will be also doing a LIVE demo on the How To Craft Network using this stencil. The live is recorded and will be shared once it is available in case you miss it. 

So down to business. My first card uses the same technique that I've been using throughout the week of Magic Reveal. This time I used the background foliage stamp from Bev's collaboration with Craft Stash and Versamark ink.

After my earlier failure, I tried harder to ensure there was lots of ink on the white panel but as you can see it is still quite pale but at least it is visible!!

After yesterday's card colours, I rang the changes and went for a more realistic look, using Twisted Citron DI for the background and Vintage Photo and Spiced Marmalade DIs for the butterfly. A freehand pair of antennae complete. I chose the sentiment from English Country Garden for a change, stamped in more Vintage Photo on a white panel.

Now for my second take.

This time I used the same resist technique but white pigment ink and the BB Scattered Dots stamp.

After stamping the dots with white ink on white card, I let it dry completely before adding the colour. I used what I thought was Altenew's Deep Iris but what turned out to be Lavender Fields! Think I must have dropped the pack of cubes on the floor at some stage and the tops came off and were put back incorrectly!! I love how the dots look dark against the softly inked sections and paler on the heavier inking, it's just an optical illusion as they are in fact the same colour!

Once dry I cut out the butterfly and carefully folded it along the edge of the body and then added glue just to the body so that the wings were held away from the hammered silver base card

A Simply Said Block sentiment in matching ink and white gel pen antennae complete.

So what's your opinion?

The rest of the BA's have been exploring what's possible with this new stencil, so why not go check them out too.

Be sure to comment along the way for your chance to win a Flippin' Good Prize! Commenting to win will close midnight BST Sunday 28th April 2024 and Bev will announce the winner on the blog 29th April. 

  Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie -that's me

Steph

Vinita

Hopefully I will be on my way to Port Sunlight as you read this post and perhaps if you are going too you'll see me on the Uniko stand, so please say hello. 

You're Going to Flip, New Ink and Flip Butterfly Introduction

Good morning, revisits are over now it's time to see the new Ink and Flip Butterfly in action.

Following on from the Geometric Hearts stencils, this butterfly one continues with the fractured, geometric look.

For this card, I've simply used the background stencil to create a space in which to place my butterfly.

Using a light touch of Mermaid Lagoon DI, I inked through first one side onto white card, then after wiping away the excess, I flipped it and repeated the process.

For the butterfly, I first inked with a heavier hand using more Mermaid Lagoon then wiped the stencil and repeated with Peacock Feathers DI. Love the jewelled effect of these two colours.

Once complete, I die cut with a pierced square die and mounted onto a slightly larger square of silver. A Simply Said sentiment in Memento Gray Flannel was stamped and the finished panel added to a 5 x 5inch white base card.

So what do you think?

From tomorrow you'll be able to try for yourself and if you are going to the stamp fair at Port Sunlight you'll be able to see and buy it for yourselves. Hopefully I'll be there too so please pop by the Uniko stand to say hi and even watch one of Bev's demos in the live studio.

Before then what have the other BA's been up to?

  Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie -that's me

Steph

Vinita

See you back here tomorrow for the release day blog hop and giveaway.

You're Going to Flip, Ink and Flip Geometric Heart Revisit

Good morning, it's time for another Flippin' revisit. This time we are focusing on the Geometric Hearts stencils. 

Here is my card using just the heart and no background stencil.

This looks a little gold in the pic but shiny surfaces are always a nightmare to photograph. I actually used Platinum Super Fine and Platinum Sparkle EPs from WOW.

One side of the heart was inked through with Versamark using a small dauber onto a panel of white card before embossing, first with the plain then flipping and repeating but using Sparkle. I wasn't expecting the aged look of the plain EP but quite like the look of it.

I trimmed the panel down and stamped the sentiment using a combination of Flower Power #4 and #7 sentiments in Memento Gray Flannel. It was then added to an A6 note card on pads.

Here are another couple of designs that I made earlier for the February Release.

Why not check out the rest of the team to see what they have been doing with these stencils.

 Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie -that's me

Steph

Vinita

I'll be back tomorrow for the new stencil intro, have you guessed what it is yet?

Joining in over at:-

You're Going to Flip, Ink and Flip Snowflake Revisit

Good morning. 

Today the Uniko Brand Ambassadors are revisiting the Snowflake Ink and Flip stencil.

Here's my card using a mix of the ink n flip large snowflake stencil and the Let it Snow stencil.

For this weeks revisits and intro, I'm mainly focused on the technique Jennifer McGuire's daughter refers to as the magic reveal.

For this panel, I inked through the Let it Snow stencil onto a panel of white card with white pigment ink then when completely dry I used the Ink n Flip stencil to create a snowflake over the top. I used Salty Ocean DI with a light touch and magically the white snowflakes are revealed!

If you look very closely you can just about see the white snowflakes in the center.

For a change I cut the panel down to a square added it to my base card, added a strip of sparkly silver and a sentiment stamped in Memento Gray Flannel.

That's all for today but here are a few more ideas using the Ink n Flip Snowflake stencil.

Why not pop over to see what the rest of the team have been up to?

 Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie -that's me

Steph

Vinita

I'll be here same time tomorrow for another revisit and some more Flippin Fun!

Color Hues #85

Afternoon.

As we are are over half way through the month of April its time for a new colour combo from Color Hues. This time Hannelie has chosen a bright and cheerful pairing and this is what I came up with.

While looking through my stamps for inspiration, I came across this Stampingbella tennis player that I got as a Christmas pressie from one of the kids. The yellow in the pairing reminded me of the yellow tennis balls and so I was off and running!

I found a circle of yellow card in my stash and using a wide, white chalk marker, drew the lines to make it look like a tennis ball. These are created when the two yellow felt pieces of the ball are glued together, they used to be made at the Slazenger factory not far from where we used to live. The net was created using an old Chery Lynn burlap border die, the excess trimmed away to leave a smooth net top.

After stamping Curvy Girl Plays Tennis, I coloured with Copics, then fussy cut her out. My front panel was cut with a slightly smaller circle than the one for the ball and I made a matching A6 note card from the same card.

To assemble, I glued the ball die cut onto my base card, added the girl to my slightly smaller die cut panel, then added the net. I stamped my sentiment, Uniko, then added a few homemade dots. I found some ancient Craftwork Cards confetti in a drawer, coloured them with a yellow Copic marker, then cut out some smaller dots, shaping them before adding to my front panel. Finally I added the panel to the base using foam pads.

So where will this new combo take you? As always there's lots of inspiration from the team here. Looking forward to seeing your take in our gallery!

Joining in over at:-

Flippin Marvelous, Ink and Flip Star Stencil Revisit

Good morning. All this week the Uniko Brand Ambassadors are revisiting the older Ink and Flip stencils on the run up to the new release on Saturday.

Today we are focusing on the Ink n Flip Star.

Here is my take.

I did a similar card for the initial release but for this I tried a new technique using a stamp to create a background that is revealed only when colour is added. For this I used the background stamp from Bev's collaboration with Craft Stash and Versamark ink.

You have to look carefully but there is a very subtle image hiding under the coloured panels!! Not sure why it didn't work as well as the Jennifer McGuire video but it could be the card or not enough ink.

After using the stencil with a rainbow of inks to reveal the star, I added a a circle sentiment, using Sending Rainbows and Organically Zesty, a larger black circle and an off cut from another project using similar colours. Knew it would come in at some point!! 

The final panel was cut down and then added to an A6 black base card.

Here are a couple more ideas using the stencil I've made before.

If you've never seen the Ink & Flip Christmas Star in action before, or you need a reminder, be sure to check out Bev's video HERE on Uniko's YouTube channel.

Now how about seeing what the rest of the team have been up to?

 Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie -that's me

Steph

Vinita

See you back for some more Flippin Fun tomorrow!

ATCAS meets The Male Room

Good morning.

It's a busy week on the blog with lots going on, especially today, but here's a card I made for the latest challenge at Cardz4Guyz where our challenge is:-

CAS 

(Clean and Simple)

Well you would think I was in seventh heaven with that theme BUT with such a free brief I was assailed by so many ideas I couldn't settle on one until I saw the challenges at The Male Room and Addicted to CAS. This is a fusion of all three themes, CAS, embossing and monochrome!!

Simply, one single imaged from LOTV stamped and embossed with white EP on a panel of kraft card inked with Vintage Photo DI.

All the shades, except a little bit of shadow on the bench, was created by lifting the DI with water and a fine paint brush. A simple Uniko sentiment stamped with Vintage Photo completes.

For more masculine, CAS inspiration, please check out the rest of the team here then why not join in?

Joining in over at:-

Uniko April Release Sneak Peek, You're Going to Flip!

Good morning.

The Brand Ambassadors and Bev are doing things a little different this week. 

On the blog leading up to Saturday when the NEW Ink & Flip layering stencil is available, we will be revisiting all the previously released Ink & Flip Stencils in turn. Each day there will be lots of inspiration on how to use these stencils. 

Hence, the naming of this week, You're Going to Flip Week! 

So let'set's have a look at the sneak peek.

Hope you will join us for the rest of the week for all the fun and don't worry, there are some new stamps on the way for May! 

Christmas Cuties

Good morning. Today the sun is shining and I spotted TWO swallows flying over the tractor shed this morning when we took the dog out for a walk, so hopefully this beastly wet weather is coming to an end and I can finally get in the veg patch! The first swallow arrived on Friday but today it had a friend!! 

Anyway, I've been meaning to share this card all week and kept forgetting so here it is now. 

It's perfect for a few challenges out there at the moment, two or more papers at the Christmas Cuties, H for Hats I for Inky at ABC Christmas Passion for Promarkers use a die and Cute or floral at AYLI.

This LOTV digi was printed then coloured with Copic markers, does that count as inky, in the football colours of my Son and soon to be Daughter in Law and pink for our granddaughter. I fussy cut the penguin family and then moved onto the rest of the card.

A new printer enabled me to print off the NitWits DP for the base but I found a smaller panel in the bits box for the central one. A circle aperture was cut into a square of white card and the image slipped behind, securing with tape. This is a larger square card 8 x 8 that was in my stash, Craftwork cards I think, with the background panel and central one added flat then the frame with the penguin family on pads. A simple Uniko sentiment strip completes. This is the extent of my layering, still relatively CAS with no embellishments.

That's it from me but here is a pic of the glorious English countryside to prove that summer can't be that far away at at least the grass has enjoyed the rain!

Joining in over at:-

Use 2 or more papers

Use a Die

H is for Hats

I is for Inky

Cute or Floral

I do love a floral card but on this occasion who could resist this cute penguin family, perfect for my Son's Christmas card and coloured in the appropriate football colours too!

Elbow Grease

Morning all. Hope you all had a fab Easter weekend. It was our Granddaughter's 2nd birthday yesterday, so we headed off across the moors to visit, I can't believe it's two years since she was born.

Anyway it's also time for a new challenge at Cardz4Guyz. This time we have a colour challenge for you:-

NAVY, KRAFT and RED

Here's my take using LOTV's Elbow Grease digi.

When I first saw the colours, I was going to go down the nautical route but that would have been a little cliche I think, so used this image instead.

No kraft card used but I incorporated the kraft colour into my pic with the cap, chamois and upholstery. Working with DTs from all over the world over the years, I've come to realise that kraft to Americans is not what I would call kraft. I think it's a washed out brown, a neutral shade where as they take it as more of a tan colour. 

I fussy cut him out after colouring with Copics, then added him to a die cut, textured, pale cream card panel. As I'd fussy cut the image, some of the details were lost, so I added them back with a black fine liner and a little bit more Copic colouring. 

I realised that there wasn't that much navy in my image, just the little chaps trousers and the folding roof, so I found some navy NitWits DP and stamped my sentiment, Uniko, with Versamark and heat embossed with white EP, adding it to my base before the die cut panel over the top on foam pads.

So where will these colours take you? If you're lacking ideas then pop over and check out the rest of the team here. As always we love to see your takes in the gallery.

Color Hues #84

Good afternoon.

As it's 1st April I hope you haven't been pranked too severely and if it's still not 12 o'clock where you are, you escape prank free!!

On the subject of dates, it's my Grand daughter's 2nd birthday today so there will be no pranking there, as there wont be at Color Hues for our new challenge. Here's my take on the new colour duo.

Peach is a tricky colour to capture so just do your best and have fun with it!

I looked at my inks and came up with Memento Cantaloupe which was the peachiest of my inks and inked up Woodland Wishes stencil and stamp from Altenew.

I first stamped the outline with a v pale ink then filled in the stencil with layers of Cantaloupe ink, the darkest was a little bit of Tangelo for the blooms, followed by shades of Green, Bamboo, Olive and Moss from Altenew. I did re stamp the leaves and flower centers with the pale ink but ended up adding detail with a fine liner and gel pen.

To frame the cluster of blooms, I cut a panel of peachy card with a rounded rectangle die and embossed it with a Spellbinders EF, adding it to an off white card base followed by the spray. A simple foiled sentiment completes.

Hope these fresh new colours inspire you to join in, but if you need more colourful inspiration, then please check out the rest of the DT and our GD here. 

Looking forward to seeing your makes in the gallery!

Joining in over at:-