Miss Moo is Two!

Hi everyone, 

Strange blog title?! So my great niece turned two las week. Her name is Amelia but her pet name is Miss Moo, so Miss Moo is two! 

This along with her love of Koala's were the driving factors behind the very special birthday card I made for her.

I die cut three circles from a piece of white card the size of a slimline base. Behind these apertures I stamped Clearly Besotted Birch Background II, and also onto the middle size circle cut out which was then adhered to the end of the row. The letters are cut using Altenew Tall Alpha dies and I have stacked two on top of each other for dimension. The koalas and the leaves are from the Clearly Besotted Cute Koala set and I have fussy cut them out before adhering in place. Finally I found a heart stamp that was just the right size and stamped twice, fussy cut and added to the top right hand corner.

Since Time Out Challenges is celebrating their 8th birthday I will link up this card there and wish them many happy returns! 

Much love

Steph x

 

Uniko 10th Birthday February 2022 Reveal, Release, Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & Giveaway!

Good morning all, 

Welcome to the Uniko 10th Birthday February 2022 Reveal, Release, Brand Ambassador Blog Hop and GIVEAWAY!! 

So, no procrastinating today, straight into the product reveals and more of my cards using them.

Background Blocks Cogs:

My first card (here) was a masculine design so for today's card I have gone feminine and used a sentiment from the BIG & BOLD You stamp set (also on this release) that struck a cord with me:

Next up we have Background Blocks Splatters:

If you were here earlier in the week you will remember that I made two cards with this stamp, one that looked like a coffee spillage and one that might result from a really big sneeze...! Well today's card is inspired by what my husband saw when he looked at the stamp, land and sea. It is teamed with Uniko Nautical Treasures stamp set and Uniko Everyday Sentiments stamp set (see below).

Some very useful sentiments included in the Everyday Sentiments stamp set and as you can see, I've used lots throughout the Introductions and on my cards today. 

Next an addition to the BIG & BOLD series in the form of BIG & BOLD You stamp set which I have teamed with the Flower Power #7 stencil and mask set for my next card (below):

I used all three of the Flower Power #7 masks to leave a white floral area and ink blended around them. The large size of the BIG & BOLD You sentiment made a perfect partner for this background and I found the little circle configurations very useful for infilling and adding interest to the card. 

Now for some more Fun Flowers fun with the Fun Flowers stencil and mask set which I have again teamed with the re-introduced Fun Flowers stamp set.

I love the addition of the masks with this stencil because it enabled me to overlap the florals without it resulting in a muddy mix of colour. I used acrylic paper here which seems to give the Distress Oxides a really bright and fresh finish. I added some detail by using the Fun Flowers stamps.

This card is similar to my introduction card (here) but this time I fussy cut the florals and added them to an orange background (because the other card wasn't nearly 70's enough!) using foam pads, before adding a sentiment from the Everyday Sentiments set.

The final Fun Flowers addition is the Fun Flowers Spray stencil and mask, which I think has a very elegant look about it. 

I used both the mask and stencil to ink the inner parts with Versamark ink before removing the stencil and inking the outer edge. I added the gold embossing powder and set with a heat gun before fussy cutting leaving a gold edge. I adhered this to a black card blank with a slightly shorter front than back and added acetate for the bottom section, which is seen better in the next photo. 

Last, but by no means least, we have the Framed Balloons stamp:

This is such a fun stamp and here I have used only the top part where I have repeat stamped and coloured before layering up with foam pads. It's sort of a decoupage effect.

Well wow! What another fantastic release from Bev and Uniko. 

As always we have the Brand Ambassadors blog hop and the chance to win a £10 eGift Code. All you have to do is visit each of the Brand Ambassadors blogs and leave a lovely comment, but of course I know you will do that anyway because of all the amazing creativity on display. 

Anita

Bev

Hannelie

Izzy

Jane

Julie

Steph - that's me

Wiebke

The products on this release will be available to buy from 10am GMT today over over on the Uniko shop website. Happy shopping!

Much love

Steph x

Uniko Introducing - Framed Balloons

Hey there, 

Thanks for joining us for the final of the Uniko Introductions before the BIG REVEAL tomorrow. Today we have just the one stamp to introduce but it's a fabulous one: Framed Balloons.

I told you it was fabulous! I turned my card into a shaker by cutting out the centre of the frame and adhering acetate across the gap. I stamped the sentiment onto a piece of card before colouring with alcohol markers. I added lots of silver sequins (possibly too many!) before sealing the two layers together with foam tape. The balloons are colours with alcohol markers too but the party confetti is filled in with nuvo drops for texture and dimension.

Head straight over to the Uniko blog to check out the awesome creativity of the Uniko Brand Ambassadors and remember to join us tomorrow for the full Reveal, Release and Brand Ambassador blog hop. 

Much love

Steph x

Uniko Introducing and Re-introducing - Fun Flowers Stencil & Mask, Fun Flowers Spray Mask AND Fun Flowers Clear Stamps!

Good morning, 

It's a Fun Flowers kind of day today for the Uniko Introductions, and Re-Introduction.

Firstly we have the Fun Flowers stencil and mask set and the Fun Flowers stamp set which I have used together on my cards today.

Here I have used one of the masks to keep the floral white and ink blended the Seedless Preserves Distress Oxide around it before trimming the card and adhering down the centre of a card blank. I did lightly blend some of the ink onto the flowers too just to remove the starkness of the white. I used the same ink to stamp one flower from the Fun Flowers stamp set and the sentiment from the Uniko Everyday Sentiments stamp set also on this release (see introduction here).

For this card I used the stencil (rather than the masks) and more of the Fun Flowers stamps to create my 70's inspired background. I die cut the 'happy' from the background using Uniko BIG & BOLD Happy die set and the 'BIRTHDAY' sentiment is from the Uniko Everyday Sentiments set. 

Finally for today we have another addition to the Fun Flowers series again in the form of a stencil and mask set.

Using the mask part of this set I applied various colours of ink to the flowers and leaves and gently blended outwards. I added the sentiment from the Uniko BIG & BOLD You stamp set (also introduced on this release here).

Hoping you love these introductions, I already know you will love the products! Don't miss out on seeing what the other Brand Ambassadors have created because they have done an amazing job.

Final introduction up on the blog tomorrow and then the big reveal on Sunday.

Much love

Steph x

Uniko Introducing - BIG & BOLD You & Stencil Flower Power #7

Glad to see you back for Day 2 of the Uniko Feb 2022 Introductions. Today we have a stamp set and a stencil to show you. 

First up we have BIG & BOLD You stamp set.

I thought the foliage stamp was just darling so I created a wreath in two shades of green using it. I used the yellow die cut circle to guide my stamping and I wasn't intending to use it on the card but in the end I though it looked great with the green and orange so I kept it! I stamped the sentiments in orange and fussy cut the 'you' (although I'm sure it won't be long before we see a die set to compliment this set!).

Next up we have the Flower Power #7 stencil. Each time a new one of these series of stencils come out I think it's the best!! This one is no exception and since you get the mask to go with it this opens up so many more possibilities. 

Here I have used both the stencil and then the mask (to cover the yellow) to enable me to get a layered effect. I have added a sentiment from the Uniko Sentiments Outlined stamp set.

I hope you have liked my cards today and I urge you to head over to the Uniko blog to see even more beautiful creations from the Uniko Brand Ambassadors. 

Don't forget, we have more Introductions coming tomorrow!

Much love

Steph x

Uniko Introducing - Background Blocks Cogs, Background Blocks Splatters and Everyday Sentiments

Hi there! 

Today we have the pleasure of introducing three of the new Uniko stamps which will be available to purchase at 10am GMT on Sunday 27th February 2022.

First up we have Background Blocks Cogs.

I seem to be veering towards coloured card bases these days so here I have used grey card and heat embossed the Uniko Background Blocks Cogs stamp in various metallic powders before adding a sentiment strip using foam pads. 

Next we have Background Blocks Splatters.

When I saw this stamp I immediately thought it looked like my desk when I (not infrequently) spill my hot beverage!! So I teamed it with the Uniko I LOVE coffee stamp set. My husband saw something completely different and you'll have to wait until release day to see what he saw! 

Next up we have the Everyday Sentiments set, in a font that I just love! 

Now, I'll pause here and let you choose if you want to scroll on down for the next card or not! 

I have used the 'GET WELL SOON' sentiment and created a pocket on the front of my card to include a tissue. I have used the Background Blocks Splatter stamp to represent something which may happen if you have a very bad cold and sneezes...😂. I even added some drops of glossy accents...ok, enough info there!

Hopefully you all got past that last card ok!! Just a bit of fun really.

Pop over to the Uniko blog to check out the other fantastic inspiration from the rest of the Brand Ambassadors. We will see you back here tomorrow for the next release introductions.

Much love

Steph x

Uniko 10th Birthday Release - Sneak Peeks

Good morning! 

The Uniko 10th Birthday celebrations continue today with the eagerly awaited Feb 2022 release sneak peeks! 

Before we get into the sneak peeks, I just wanted to remind you that there is still time to join in with the birthday Quests. Lots of fun to be had and lots of Uniko goodies to be won.

This month's release features 5 new clear stamps and 3 new stencils / masks. 

The first two sneak peeks add to the Background Blocks series:

The next stamp set adds to the BIG & BOLD series:

The next set adds some very useful sentiments in a font that I really love:

And finally for the new stamp sets, we have a really cool addition to the Framed series:

Before we move onto the stencils, we have the pleasure in announcing the return of a much loved stamp set, Fun Flowers:

And the reason for the return of this beauty?...how about a new co-ordinating stencil and mask set:

Following on from the recently released Flower Power stencils, we have an addition to this series also and this one also includes the masks:

And finally for the new stencil and mask release, which again co-ordinates with the Fun Flowers stamp set:

Have those sneak peeks got you all fired up? Not long to wait for the first introductions as we go live with those tomorrow! 

See you back here very soon! 

Steph x

Uniko 10th Birthday Celebrations - Quest 10

Here we are, the final Quest to celebrate Uniko's big 10th birthday!! I hope you have enjoyed all the quests and the amazing posts from the Uniko Alumni in between. 

The final Quest today is to identify the Uniko products from the snippets over on the Uniko blog. Good luck!

Don't forget to check back towards the end of the month for the Uniko Birthday Release. 

(Card uses: Uniko Background Blocks Graffiti Texture stamp, Uniko Big & Bold Wish stamp set and Uniko Big & Bold Wish Designer Dies)

Much love

Steph x

Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #484

Morning all, 

I must say I'm quite excited to see what everyone makes of today's Color My Heart Color Dare challenge #484. 

As you can see it's a Tic, Tac, Toe board so choose a row, column or diagonal and use those three colours. You are welcome to use the other colours in the board too as well as the free colours at the bottom. We reference Close To My Heart colours but you are welcome to use any brand as long as they are a VERY close match. 

Most of the time when I look at at colour board there are certain colours that just yell out to me (usually green!) and I was very tempted by the far right column. However, I decided to try not to go with my first choice and in the end I used the middle column of Mint, Silver and Grape. My approach to these type of challenges is to pull out the colours in card, ink or alcohol markers first of all and then wait for inspiration to come! On this occasion, as soon as I saw the colours together (and only those colours) I knew the Uniko Background Builders Arts Decoratifs stamp set would be perfect with it's Art Deco vibes. 

Using one of the strip stamps and Mint and Grape inks, I set about creating my background. To this I added a die cut piece of silver card and a smaller die cut piece of white card containing the sentiment from the Uniko Anniversaire Arts Decoratifs stamp set. I stamped the sentiment in Grape ink and then again in Versamark ink so I could heat emboss it with clear powder. This just gives it a little added luxury which I felt it needed to stand against the silver card. 

So now it's your turn to join in the fun and select your Tic, Tac, Toe colours. What will you be inspired to make? Check out the fabulous inspiration from the Color My Heart Color Dare Design Team over on the blog.

Much love

Steph x