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.

Color Hues #114

Good afternoon. We're over the halfway point in July so it's time for a brand new colour combo from Color Hues. Here's my take.

There's not much green around here at the moment, nor yellow for that matter unless you class straw as yellow. The dry and hot sunny weather, has bleached everything. The hay fields are thin and crispy and the flower borders are struggling to show any colour, only the tomatoes and butternut squash appear to be enjoying this hot summer! So as a result I thought of an alternate use for green and whilst flipping through my to colour box, I found this sweet little dragon from Lili of The Valley. Unless you're Welsh I think dragons should be green!

I used Copics to colour and then fussy cut him out. I decided to set him against a sky but as I couldn't use blue, found some grey ones that were a mistake when I first got my new printer! I used some linen effect card for the base and matching die cut panel, popping it up on foam pads after stamping with a Uniko sentiment. My little Dragon with Flowers was similarly popped up and the extra flower head added flat in the space I'd left by off setting the greeting.

So what will you make with the new colours? For more inspiration please check out the rest of the team here along with our GD for this challenge.

Looking forward to seeing your makes in the gallery.

Fun At the Beach

Good morning and welcome to a brand new challenge at Cardz4Guyz. Today we start the first of the new MONTHLY challenges and it is my turn to choose the theme. Bearing in mind that schools here will soon be breaking for the school holidays, I thought I would choose the theme of:-

SUMMER HOLIDAYS

As we are both now retired it seems like we are on holiday all the time but those of you with kids will either be looking forward to the next few weeks or dreading it!! As a kid and when ours were little, it was always a beach holiday, a week in the sun, or more likely rain if it was in this country! Here's my card based on the theme.

I've used this cute little chap a few times, he's on old rubber stamp from Paper Pretties, now no longer in business. 

For my design, I inked the corner of a white A6 base card with Tea Dye and Salty Ocean DIs and stamped the image onto a scrap of Copic friendly card before colouring him in with said Copics. After fussy cutting him out, I returned to the background, adding some sea foam with an embossing pen and white EP and a sentiment from a magazine. The little chap was then added over the top with some glue, simples.

So you have the whole month to think up an idea and join in, there's also plenty of inspiration over at the Cardz4Guyz blog too. 

Looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

Joining in over at:-

Sun, Sea and Sand

#180 Masculine