Guesting at JUGS

Good afternoon, it's my 3rd week of guesting over at JUGS. It's Mood board week there and this is my take.

I focused on the blackboard and apple elements, creating this simple teacher thanks card. I know it's not the right time of year but it will come in for my Grandson next July!

I reached for my Clearly Besotted A Class Act stamp set, stamping one of the standing pupil characters along with the owl teacher, apple, the blackboard and sentiment.

After colouring with Copics, I then fussy cut out the elements, including the tiny apple! For the blackboard, I stamped the sentiment onto a piece of black card with Versamark and heat embossed with white EP. It was then trimmed down and added to the coloured easel over the top of the stamped board.

On a square panel I arranged the elements, sticking all but the owl flat and popping up her on some foam pads.

A small panel of yellow was added beneath the white square before adding to a small white square base card.

So how will you interpret the pic? As always the JUGS team have lots of fab ideas for you. Looking forward to seeing your makes in the gallery!

Joining in over at:-

Sailing By

Morning, time for a new challenge at Cardz4Guyz.

For the second of our now monthly challenges we would like to see your projects on the theme of:-

BOATS

I don't have too many boat images but I immediately thought of my cute little LOTV guy and his sailing boat.

This is another take on a Jill Foster sketch, using a Do Crafts EF,  a Memory Box happy die and the aforesaid LOTV Sailing By. 

After stamping the image, colouring with Copics and fussy cutting, I die cut the happy 3 times, colouring one layer with a matching Copic. I think it must have been a different card as it looks so much darker than the boy's shorts! I layered up the die cuts to give the happy a bit of extra dimension and strength and stamped a Uniko sentiment birthday onto a scrap of white card.

An A6 panel of white card was embossed with the EF, it reminds me of waves, which I then trimmed down and added to my white A6 base card. All the other elements were then glued on flat.

So that's all from me, but please visit the Cardz4Guyz blog to see what the rest of the team have come up with and then why not join in?

Color Hues #116

Afternoon all.

I can't quite believe we're over halfway through August already! This summer has been one of the sunniest, driest in many years, 1976 was probably the last one quite as bad as this. Our large pond has shrunk beyond recognition and even the herons and egrets have flown off for better pickings!

Anyway, it's time for a new colour challenge from Color Hues and it was my turn to choose, here is what I came up with.

I found Sunny from Stamping Bella in my box of coloured and to colour images, no idea where from!! She was already coloured and in the correct colours and even fussy cut, so my original idea of a nautical theme went out the window. Mind you after rooting through my stash of DP I almost did go down that route as I couldn't find a suitable DP in the correct colours until I found a sheet of free DP from years ago, no idea of brand but could be NitWits. 

I cut a panel from the sheet on an angle, mounting it onto an A6, white, top fold base card. Next I added a panel of white card embossed with an EF. I know its the wrong way round but I quite like the debossed look! The sentiment, also Stamping Bella, was stamped on a circle of white and mounted onto a Copic coloured slightly larger one. Sunny was then added to complete.

So what theme will these new colours inspire in you? Please use only these colours but neutrals, gold and silver are also allowed, but please have fun!

For more inspiration please check out the rest of the team and our GD here.

Guesting at JUGS

Good afternoon, it's time for a new challenge from the girls at JUGS where I'm honoured to be serving as their August GD. Here's my design for this weeks challenge.

 

I love these fab Ai ladies, they always make me smile. Not sure which one I'd be but they are both having a great time.

After using Copics to colour, I decided on my layout. However the DP I thought I could use wasn't quite right so made my own using Copics and a straight edge for the stripes and a montage of Uniko sentiment stamps in matching colours. A Copic coloured piece of Grosgrain ribbon covered up the join.

The fun ladies are laughing so much I decided to use a wobble mechanism and set them above an embossed white circle mounted on, yes you've guessed it, a Copic coloured larger plain one.

The sentiment was computer generated and cut with a really old Sizzix die.

So what will you make to fit the theme? For more fabulous inspiration, please check out the JUGS team here.

Joining in over at:-

Uniko August Release Day, Blog Hop and Giveaway!

Good morning and welcome to release day at Uniko!

As usual we are have a blog hop and giveaway to celebrate, but first here are a few more ideas using the new release.

This card almost didn't get made. I started it after seeing a pic of some 1950's fabric but was disappointed when the Squeezed Lemonade DOxide I used for the pale elements from Background Builders MCM wasn't as bold as I wanted compared to how it worked on this panel. Anyway I put it to one side and carried on with other ideas.

 

Background Builders: Mid Century Modern £11.50

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2012 - To Date

www.uniko.co.uk

Picking it up after a couple of days, I decided to continue the pattern using the elements from the set, adding more ovals in Faded Jeans DOx and Black Soot DOx for the smaller element. Trimmed down, I added it to an A6 white base card and stamped the sentiment, a mix of MCM Birthday and MCM Sentiments. A strip of black card was also added and that was it. In the end I rather like the bold masculine feel of this design.

Next I have a design that uses the Ink & Flip Mid Century Leaves stencil combined with BB Swiss Dots.

Background Blocks Swiss Dots £6.50

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2012 - To Date

www.uniko.co.uk

Ink & Flip Mid Century Leaves £4.50

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2012 - To Date

www.uniko.co.uk

Using a selection of Distressed Oxides, Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, Wilted Violet and Salty Ocean, I inked a panel of white card with both sides of the stencil to create the basic pattern. Once completely dry, I replaced the stencil over the inking and stamped the Swiss dots through it with Versamark, heat embossing with white EP. No flipping the stencil, as I thought I had enough texture with just alternate leaflets. Using a straight edge and a black fine liner, I drew a line down the middle of the paired leaflets. The panel was then trimmed down and added to a 5 x 7inch black base card on foam pads. Sentiment, MCM Sentiments, heat embossed white on black completes.

This stencil has an Orla Keily vibe so I used some of her colours to make this card and stamped the central line using an element from the Background Builders set. Sentiment from my stash of Doodle Flower ones on kraft.

There are 2 more Background Blocks in the release, Bauhaus and MOD Builder Circles, both with a retro vibe.

Background Blocks Bauhaus £6.50

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2012 - To Date

www.uniko.co.uk

Background Blocks MOD Builder Circles £6.50

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2012 - To Date

www.uniko.co.uk

Finally there's the layering Retro Stripes from yesterday.

Here I've played with the stencil to see how I could modify it.

Instead of using all of the stencil, I just used one section, inking each with a progressively darker ink, Altenew's Tea Party set. There are 4 inks, so the middle one is just the second lightest inked more heavily. I tried moving the stencil to make the pattern into an arch but it didn't work, then tried it again by reversing the arc. This was more successful but the join was obvious, so still having my new large number dies out, added a die cut red 16 to cover the glitch! Simple sentiment in black added and the trimmed panel added to another 5 x7 inch black base card.

Layering Retro Lines Stencil £14.50

Copyright Uniko Ltd 2012 - To Date

www.uniko.co.uk

That's all from me but as usual Bev and the other BAs have created some more inspiration using the new products. Be sure to hop along and comment for your chance to win a £25 eGift Certificate to spend in store. Comment before 24th August 2025. Winner will be announced week of the 25th August 2025, open worldwide. 

 Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie - me

Steph

Vinita

Happy hopping!!

Introducing Stencil - Layering Retro Stripes and Ink & Flip Mid Century Leaves

 Good morning and welcome to the last day of introductions for the August release at Uniko. 

Today we are all about stencils.

First we have the Layering Retro Stripes. It's a set of 5 stencils that overlay to create a fab retro stripe pattern. For those of you of a certain age it might remind you of the old Severn Trent logo or in a different colourway of the LWT indent logo for back in the 70's! Well it did me anyway!!

Here's my first card with a similar colourway to the water logo, it must have been in my head when I chose the colours. After creating the initial central knot of lines, I placed the stencils around the edge of my panel to fill in the open space. These colours were DIs in Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Pine Needles, Peacock Feathers and Lucky Clover but the world is your oyster, just pick your faves or go with a rainbow!

The sentiment is Outlined sentiments, coloured with a black marker and matted onto a scrap of green card.

Next is a card made with the Ink n Flip Mid Century Leaves. Those of you who attended the Winwick class last Sunday may recognise this next and final intro. For this idea I didn't flip it though.

I looked at the stencil when I first got it and decided they did look like leaves so did them as such, inking with Twisted Citron and a hint of Mowed Lawn DI, it was only when I flipped the stencil that I realised that the pattern develops from the points touching. Anyway I left it as such to show it can be used without flipping, adding some magenta retro blooms, Flower Power #7 to the openings created by not flipping.  A fine black liner and a straight edge created the stems. A simple sentiment matted on the same green as my trimmed panel was added then the whole panel added to a white A6 base card.

That's all from but please check out the rest of the Uniko team to see how they've used these fab new stencils

Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie - me

Steph

Vinita

See you back tomorrow for the big release, blog hop and GIVEAWAY!!

Introducing Background Blocks Swiss Dots

Morning, day 4 of the intros for the latest Uniko release. Today it's another Background Block, Swiss Dots. Here's how I used it.

After stamping on a panel of white card, I die cut a square from it and put it to one side whilst I stamped a few flowers and foliage. I used the recently released Originally Organic Flower Garden stamp set for the blooms, stamping in a pale ink onto Copic friendly card. I also stamped some leaf clusters from the Originally Organic Stamp set. All were coloured with Copics and fussy cut before being arranged onto my square panel and glued down. The completed panel was then added to a white A6 base card with foam pads after a simple greeting from the Originally Organic Flower Garden stamp set was stamped in black.

So what have the rest of the team been up to? Why not clink the links to find out?

 Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie - me

Steph

Vinita 

See you back here same time tomorrow for another intro.

Joining in over at:-

Flowers

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