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.

 Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie - me

Steph

Vinita

See you same time tomorrow for more retro inspiration.

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

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Steph

Vinita

See you back here tomorrow with another new introduction.

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?

 Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie - me

Steph

Vinita

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

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!

Color Hues #115

Afternoon and Happy Yorkshire day!

 Is it August already? Can't believe the summer is passing but then it seems to have been with us for most of the spring too. The weather has been so weird, very little rain here and although we had some a couple of weeks ago, the effects have started to recede. Doesn't look like will be making hay as the grass is so thin and dry. Sheep have turned to escapologists in their search for lush pickings, my garden being one area they covert!

Anyway enough of this, the real reason for the post is the start of a new colour challenge at Color Hues. Here's my take.

I've used Altenew's Garden Picks dies and a few foliage stamps from their Wild Flowers stamp set for the background.

When I went to take my dies out, I found that I had a couple already made up in pink, so it was quite a quick make really, just the foliage and large bloom to colour. I've tried using coloured card but find that cutting from white then colouring with Copics is a better option as you can get a better range of colours without having to keep a selection of coloured card in the stash. These blooms were coloured using Copics RV14, 13, 11 and 10 and the leaves C5, 4, 2 and C0.

My background stamping was done with Versamark and embossed with WOW detail clear gloss. The other day I used some of the regular clear gloss and it turned out a bit patchy, no idea why. My base was made from some hammered dark grey metallic card that's been in my stash for over 15years, no idea where it's from.

So that's all from me but please check out the rest of the team and our GD here, you have until the 14 August to play along.

Have fun!

Joining in over at:-

Dies and/or Punches

#498

Release Day @ Uniko with a Blog Hop and Giveaway

Good morning and welcome to the Uniko release day, blog hop and GIVEAWAY!!

We hope you've enjoyed seeing all the new stamps and stencils that Bev has designed and now you can see what the sets are all about and more importantly get your hands on them!!

Here are a few reminders of what is in the release.

First off we have the Layering Christmas Bauhaus Blocks, a 3 part set that allows you to build up a pattern, as big or as small as you want. This card uses another 3 x 3 panel I made from the original A5 sheet I created.

For this I die cut the word JOY from an alphabet die set from gold mirror card, placing them diagonally across the grid. This was then mounted on more gold then onto a square white base card.

Here are the set I made from the one panel, and there are still some squares left!!

Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Christmas Blocks £10.75

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2012 - To Date

www.uniko.co.uk

My next card featured the BB Christmas Scramble. I think this is a great stamp for a quick but impactful card. Here I've used metallic paints on a black base and gold embossing.

Lots of other ways to colour the bold lettering or just leave it blank!

Background Blocks Merry Christmas Scramble £6.50

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2012 - To Date

www.uniko.co.uk

There's also another background block, My favourite colour is.

Background Blocks My Favourite Colour £6.50

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2012 - To Date

www.uniko.co.uk

Now we are onto the stencils, a couple of ink n flips featuring small trees and snowflakes, always a perennial favourite.

This card was made using an off cut from the intro post card, made extra Christmassy with more red and gold. 

 

Ink & Flip Christmas Tree Pattern Stencil £4.50

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2012 - To Date

www.uniko.co.uk

This next card uses the offcut again, waste not want not!

 

Not sure what went wrong with the EP on the large greeting but I quite like the texture it gave, even if it wasn't what I had first intended!

Ink & Flip Snowflake Pattern Stencil £4.50

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2012 - To Date

www.uniko.co.uk

Finally it's Flower Power #12. For this idea I've not used the flower elements but the sentiments to fill a panel, then embossed with white EP and inked with Mowed Lawn DI. A trio of die cut fir trees, no idea of brand they were a freebie from a craft retreat, complete

Flower Power #12 £6.50

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2012 - To Date

www.uniko.co.uk

So that's it but I'm sure that Bev and the rest of the BAs have lots more ideas about how to use this release. Why not check them out and leave some love on the way AND have the chance to win a prize.

 Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie - me

Steph 

Vinita

So don't forget to leave a comment before you hop off  or you may miss out on a chance to win a £25 eGift code. Comment by 3rd August with winners of all prizes announced Wed 6th August.

Happy Hopping!

Introducing - Flower Power #12

Morning all. Today is the last of the intros for the Christmas in July release from Uniko.

Our last intro is the latest in the Flower Power series. Here's my take with this not so traditional design!

I realised that clever Bev had designed this set so that the die from an earlier Flower Power release, fit the largest outlined poinsettia in the set, so after cutting some shapes from white card, I used my MISTI and a card jig to stamp a few. I made the jig from the die and a scrap of card. The jig allows me to stamp multiple images without the die cuts moving around. I find this much more successful than stamping then die cutting.

Once the ink, Altenew's Heartbeat, had dried I arranged the images in a grid of 3 x 3 onto a square of white card, leaving the center one for the sentiment. I could have placed the greeting over the central image but decided I liked this look better. I added a few punched yellow dots to the center of each to add a little bit of dimension, the sentiment from the set was simply stamped on red and heat embossed with white EP.

The white panel was then added to slightly larger red one that in turn was just smaller than my white square base card.

 So that's all from me but please check out the rest of the team to see what ideas they've come up with.

Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Steph

Vinita

See you back here bright and early for the full release, blog hop and GIVEAWAY tomorrow!

Introducing - Background Blocks My Favourite Colour

Good morning. Today at Uniko we're focusing on another new Background Block, My Favourite Colour.  It's a fun image and makes the easiest of Christmas cards just like this!

All I did for this was simply stamp the image onto a black A6 note card with Versamark, then heat emboss with gold EP. To continue the sparkly element, I coloured the fairy lights with a rainbow of metallic paint. Simples.

Why not checkout the rest of the BAs and Bev to see what ideas they have.

Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Steph

Vinita

See you back same time tomorrow for more inspiration!

Introducing - Ink & Flip Christmas Tree Pattern & Ink & Flip Snowflake Pattern

Morning all, day 3 of the intros for Uniko's July release. Today we focus on two brand new Ink n Flip designs. First off is Christmas Tree Pattern.

I started by inking a panel of A5 white card with Mowed Lawn DI through the stencil. Once covered, I washed and dried it before flipping it and inking in the other halves of the trees with Pine Needles DI.

From this finished panel, I cut out an A6 panel then added the sentiment, Christmas Sentiments, gold EP on red and fussy cut. A very simple card design but the pattern is so striking I didn't think it needed anything else.

Next is the Snowflake Pattern stencil. Here are a couple of ideas using the A5 panel I created using Salty Ocean and Blueprint Sketch. This time I added some extra interest by over stamping with the script stamp and heat embossing with white EP. I also decided to soften the look by softly inking over the panel with Salty Ocean DI.

This card uses just a fraction of the A5 panel and a matching turquoise blue base card with a little bit of holographic card as trim. Sentiment is Christmas Wishes.

This next card uses an A6 panel which I cut into with a pierced rectangle die. The large panel was added to a white base card, more of the leftover later!

A simple greeting in silver EP completes.

That's all for today but we'll be back tomorrow for yet another intro.

Why not check out what the rest of the team have come up with by clicking the links below.

 Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Steph

Vinita

See you back tomorrow for another intro!

Introducing - Background Blocks Merry Christmas Scramble

Good morning, it's day 2 of the intros for the Uniko Christmas in July release. Today we are introducing another in the Background Block series - Merry Christmas Scramble. Here are a couple of ideas I came up with to use them.

This first card which was actually the starting point for another card idea but I rather liked the simple gold embossing on black.

I simply stamped the block, then heat embossed with gold EP onto an A6 black base card. A few tiny red gems added to the berries completes this very simple card.

This next card could be the start of a batch of cards as I used paper piecing to fill in the outlines.

After stamping the block onto a panel of white with black ink, I repeat stamped it onto some Christmas DP. If you do it on 9 different pieces then you can make 9 different panels, but for this card I used some scraps and my MISTI to stamp in black and then fussy cut the letters out, gluing them over the black outlines on the white card. 

I die cut the white panel with a pierced rectangle die, mounted it onto one of the green DPs I used and then onto a red A6 base card.

So that's all from me for today but I'll be back tomorrow with more release intros but in the meantime why not see what Bev and the rest of the team have been up to. 

Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Steph

Vinita

Introducing Stencil - Layering Christmas Bauhaus Blocks

 Good morning, today we start the introductions for the Christmas in July release from Uniko. Today we are focusing on a fabulous stencil that will pair well with the previously released Bauhaus stencils or just on it's own as I have done here.

My first idea shows what you can do if you cut up the squares and rearrange them into your own pattern.

When I first got the stencils, there are 3 parts to this one, I covered an A5 panel of white card by inking with the stencil. Each layer was a different colour, I used Mowed Lawn, Candied Apple and Worn Lipstick DI, but I masked off some elements to change up the design, leaving the bird and parcel ties white and the 2nd half of the tree a pale shade of green. From the finished panel I cut a couple of 3 x 3 squares and then cut up the rest into 1 inch squares.

On a panel of white card, I assembled the inchies along with a die cut white panel stamped with the greeting. The white panel was then cut down and added to an A6 base card.

This second card uses one of the 3 x 3 squares I mentioned above, mounted on matching green and red card and then onto a small, square, white, base card.

I've kept the design clear of any sentiment, it's quite obvious that it's a Christmas card!

The other square and inchies I will keep for use later.

What do you think? For more ideas about how to use this fab new stencil set check out the BAs and Bev below.

 Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie - me

Steph 

Vinita

See you back here tomorrow for more Christmas in July fun.

Joining in over at:-

Uniko's Christmas in July Release Sneak Peeks

Good morning. It's release week over at Uniko with the focus on Christmas in July!

Here are a few sneaky peeks at the fab new stamps and stencils you can get hold of from 9am BST Thursday 31st July 2025!

First off is a fab Background Block that's sure to be a fave.

 

Next another in that series, great for quick and simple Christmas cards.

Sneak Peek 3 is of the final addition to the Flower Power series, think it fills the last gap in the series perfectly.

Now we move onto the new stencils. This first peek is a wonderful addition to the builder style stencils. A big clue, if you like the Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks, we think you'll love it! 

Next are a couple of Bev's innovative Ink n Flip designs.

These are sure to make your Christmas card making a FLIPPIN' breeze! 

So that about wraps up the peeks, I am sure there's something here for everyone. Hope you find time to join Bev and the Uniko Brand Ambassadors tomorrow as we start the introductions.

All these products will be available at 9am BST Thursday 31st July 2025.