The Male Room Challenge #202 - Create Your Own Background

Morning! 

Welcome to this month's fund challenge from The Male Room where we are asking you to 'Create Your Own Background'.

Lots of options to play about with here. I went for a technique I saw on Instagram earlier in the year...but of course I can't remember who did it now. Mention it in the comments below if you know who it was!

So firstly I laid down strips of double sided tape and added the green embossing powder. I set this with the heat gun before using an embossing folder to create the leaf pattern. I decided to keep the rest of the card simple with a die cut sentiment and make the background the feature of the card. 

I'm excited to see what backgrounds you come up with and how you choose to create yours. Join in the fun over at The Male Room, and check out the inspiration from the rest of the Design Team. 

Much love

Steph x

Uniko Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Mid Century Modern Monday

Good morning all, 

If you were present for our release at the beginning of August, you will be familiar with the Uniko Background Builders Mid Century Modern stamp set. I had a really great time playing with this set so I wanted to use it some more for my Uniko Brand Ambassador Inspiration post this month. I love background builder sets as there are so many different combinations, layouts, colours etc...to play with.

For my first card I simply stamped the line stamps three times down the card and infilled with the stamps as shown. To this I added a sentiment strip stamped using a sentiment from the Uniko Bauhaus Blocks stamp set. 

On my next card I wanted to use the stepped line so I stamped this four times and selected the various semi circles to stamp over the top. I have used chalk ink on all these cards (I'm a bit obsessed with it at them moment!) which gives a nice translucent effect. The sentiment is a mix of stamps from Uniko Mid Century Modern Wreath Builder and Uniko Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments stamp sets.

My final card is inspired by a search of Mid Century Modern Pattern and I absolutely love how it turned out! I have used a couple of other stamp sets to create the background. these being Uniko Mid Century Modern Florals and Uniko Mid Century Modern Birthday stamp sets.

Well I hope you have enjoyed this Mid Century Modern showcase as much as I enjoyed creating it! 

Now it's over to you to show us what you create with your new stamp set. Don't forget to show us over on the Uniko VIP Facebook page. 

Much love

Steph x

AAA Colourful Colourboard #19

Good morning, 

Welcome to this month's challenge from AAA Colourful and here is the colourboard for this challenge:

Despite the colourcard image being a little autumnal, I decided to head in the direction of summer!

The ice cream dies are from Concord & 9th Cool Treats set. I added a white die cut frame and banner to finish my summery birthday card. I'm not a big fan of ice cream or ice lollies but they are nice to cool down with on a hot day. What is your favourite ice cream or lolly?

Lots of fabulous inspiration over on the AAA Colourful blog where you can also join in with this month's challenge.

Much love

Steph x

Uniko August 2025 Reveal, Release, Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY!

Welcome! 

Yay! We made it to release day here at Uniko and now we can treat you to the full product pictures, along with some more fabulous inspiration using the new products. 

Background Builders Mid Century Modern

Background Blocks Bauhaus

Background Blocks MOD Circle Builder

Background Blocks Swiss Dots

Layering Retro Stripes Stencil

Ink & Flip Mid Century Leaves Stencil

Now for one more card created using a couple of my favourites from the above release.

I think I have to declare the Background Builders Mid Century Modern as my favourite because there are an infinite amount of design combinations to be had. I do rather like the other Uniko background builders sets so if you do to then this is the set for you. I stamped the semi circles and yellow and green shapes before adding the two 'tramlines'. I then thought, 'I wonder what this would look like with Swiss dots over the top'...luckily the Background Blocks Swiss Dots stamp fit neatly inside the two lines I had stamped...it was meant to be! 

Lots more fun to be had with these stamps and stencils and I will definitely be keeping these on my desk for a while longer and having a play!

But of course, the rest of the Uniko Brand Ambassadors have had a great time with these sets too and you can see this over on the Uniko blog. Join in with the blog hop and you could be in with a chance of winning a £25 eGift code for the Uniko store. 

Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Steph - you are here

Vinita

Much love

Steph x

Uniko August 2025 Release - Introducing Layering Retro Stripes and Ink & Flip Mid Century Leaves Stencils

Morning all, 

Today we have two new stencils to introduce and we are starting with Uniko Layering Retro Stripes.

For some reason this stencil reminded me of a doll I used to own called Rainbow Bright. She definitely had a blue dress and I wonder if she had a rainbow similar to this design which is what triggered the memory. So, I used rainbow colours onto blue card but I had to ink all the layers in white ink first to help the colours show. 

For my next card I've moved the stencil around a bit to create a different pattern and added a stamped and die cut sentiment from the Uniko Big & Bold Wish stamp set with matching dies. 

Next up we are introducing Ink & Flip Mid Century Leaves stencil.

Here I have randomly inked the leaves and left spaces for flowers which I inked using another stencil.

For this card I used the stencil the other way and placed my flowers with the pointy part of the leaf facing upwards. I teamed the stencil with Uniko Mid Century Modern Florals stamp set for the flower heads and the leaf centres. 

Two really great stencils which we will all have a great time playing around with. And you can see lots more super inspiration over on the Uniko blog. 

Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Steph - you are here

Vinita

Don't forget we have the full reveal, release, blog hop and GIVEAWAY tomorrow. See you then!

Much love

Steph x

Uniko August 2025 Release - Introducing Background Blocks Swiss Dots

Good morning! 

Today we have yet another Background Block stamp called Swiss Dots and this really is the stamp you never knew you needed until you had it! The polka dots on this stamp are so dainty they really are a great addition / compliment to many different styles of card. Today I have used it with florals but come back for the full release to see how I have paired it with Mid Century Modern.

So, my immediate thoughts for this card were to get out Flower Power #5 because it features a dotty stem...but then I realised I don't have that one!! (Quickly adds it to the wish list!)... I looked through the many Flower Power sets I do have and opted for Uniko Flower Power #2. There's something about dots and stripes that just works for me! I fussy cut the floral and stem but only because I forgot I have the matching dies (and I quite like fussy cutting anyway)! 

An idea for another day would be to stamp the floral bloom over the Swiss dots and cut out.

For this card I stamped the Swiss dots in ombre (which hasn't photographed very well) and I knew I wanted to stamp directly over the dots so I chose the lovely bold (and one of my favourite sets) Uniko Beautiful Blooms I stamp set. 

Lots more stunning creations over on the Uniko blog and the final day of introductions tomorrow! 

Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Steph - you are here

Vinita

Much love

Steph x

Uniko August 2025 Release - Introducing Background Blocks MOD Circle Builder

 Good morning, 

We are continuing the introductions of the Uniko August release today with another addition to the Background Blocks series. This one is called Background Blocks MOD Circle Builder.

I had a great time stamping and colouring this, adding some of the additional stamps to the corners to give a rounded effect. I then set to work with my corner rounder and layers of cardstock, offsetting the layers in a mid century modern style.

Not having had the embossing powders out for a while, I set about heat embossing the repeat pattern on my second card and simple coloured in random segments with a darker shade of the cardstock.

As both my cards turned out more on the masculine side I'd say this is a great stamp for creating cards for the men in your life. 

Lots more fabulous inspiration over on the Uniko blog and the Brand Ambassadors blogs too. 

Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Steph - you are here

Vinita

More to come tomorrow so make sure you pop back then! 

Much love

Steph x

Uniko August 2025 Release - Introducing Background Blocks Bauhaus

Welcome back!  

We are in the swing of another wonderful release from Uniko today with an addition to the Background Blocks series. This one is called Background Blocks Bauhaus.

This card features the stamp twice and as you can see the repeat pattern works well for a background. I didn't think a small sentiment would stand out well given my choice of bold colours so I opted for the Uniko Alphabet Outlined stamp set for the letters HB2U (happy birthday to you).

Here I stamped half the stamp to one edge and the other to the opposite edge before masking and filling in the areas across the top and bottom. I chose two colours of blue, left some semi circles blank and filled the others with zentangle designs. This was a really fund card to make as I lost myself in the zentangle creations, very relaxing! 

Of course the Brand Ambassadors have done a fabulous job of creating wonderful and varied designs with this new stamp and you can check them out over on the Uniko blog. 

Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Steph - you are here

Vinita

Come back tomorrow and later this week for even more introductions! 

Much love

Steph x

The Male Room Challenge #201 - Universe

Morning all, 

Welcome to this month's challenge from The Male Room which is all about the 'Universe'.

Just like the universe, the theme is vast! 

I created a background using the smooshing technique and distress oxide inks in Black Soot, Hickory Smoke, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet and Broken China. I then stamped the stars, planets and sentiment from the My Favourite Things Space Explorer stamp set. 

Join in the fun over at The Male Room where you will see further fantastic inspiration from the rest of the Design Team. 

Much love

Steph x

Uniko August 2025 Release - Introducing Background Builders Mid Century Modern

Hi all, 

Welcome to our first product introduction for the Uniko August 2025 release. Here we have Background Builders Mid Century Modern stamp set.

I have had a great time playing around with this stamp set which focuses on elements Mid Century Modern pattern design making it very easy to create beautiful backgrounds. I have teamed the stamp set with starburst elements from the Uniko Mid Century Modern Frames stamp set and Uniko Mid Century Modern Florals stamp set. 

As I was stamping my next card I thought about how these stamps from the set could be used on an Easter card...a thought to bank for later! This is a really great set if you like playing around with pattern. 

Pop over to the Uniko blog to check out what the rest of the Brand Ambassadors have created with this delightful stamp set. 

Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Steph - you are here

Vinita

Much love

Steph x

AAA Colourful Colourboard #18

Welcome, 

A lovely summery colourboard in store for you in this month's challenge from AAA Colourful.

Do you ever get inspired with the colourboard image? I tend to focus on the colours more than the image but maybe I should take some inspiration from the image too...one to think about! 

I went for a tropical paradise with my card, albeit a CAS one! I can't remember where the dies are from but I do like the size of the leaves and blooms. 

So what are you going to use these great colours for? Looking forward to seeing your creations over on the AAA Colourful blog. 

Much love

Steph x

The Male Room Challenge #200 - Dogs and/or Cats

Welcome! 

The Male Room has a new challenge for you today and the theme is Dogs and/or Cats.

I do love both dogs and cats but chose to focus on dogs for my card as we have a beautiful dog called Elsie as part of our family.

The chair and the dog are both from a stamp set I received with a craft magazine a long time ago. I was looking through my patterned papers for a wallpaper type background but came across the brick wall and thought it worked rather well. 

So, dogs or cats, or both for you? Show us by joining in the fun over at The Male Room blog.

Much love

Steph x

Uniko Ink & Flip Stencil Masculine Brand Ambassador Inspiration

Good morning, 

Welcome to the Uniko Brand Ambassadors joint post today where we are using Uniko and Ink & Flip stencils to create masculine projects.

I have used two different shades of blue ink to create my star using the Uniko Ink & Flip Christmas Star stencil and added sentiments to the centre from Uniko Sparkle Sentiments and Uniko Reach For The Stars stamp sets. The sentiment is heat embossed in gold onto vellum before adhering to the aperture which I cut out using a craft knife.

Just before the Uniko Brand Ambassadors celebration of Bev's innovative Ink & Flip stencils, we found out that a well known US brand has taken some of Bev's Ink & Flip designs without asking permission. They recently showed some sneak peeks of their August release which featured designs which are an exact copy of Uniko's Ink & Flip Christmas Star and Uniko's Ink & Flip Geometric Christmas Tree. Hopefully when Bev reaches out they will see their error and rectify it. But in the meantime, a friendly reminder to support small independent businesses. 😊

Lots more lovely masculine inspiration from the Brand Ambassadors if you follow this blog hop and if you leave lovely comments along the way you will be entered into a draw to win your choice of Uniko Ink & Flip stencil.

Anita

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Steph

Vinita

Much love

Steph x

AAA Colourful Colourboard #17

Good morning, 

Welcome to this month's challenge from AAA Colourful where we have the following colourboard:

This colourboard made me think of a hot country and I had been sorting through my stamp sets when I noticed one consisting of animals and leaves which I thought might work well.

Happily I found the patterned paper in my stash and it was a perfect match for this challenge.

An interesting collection of colours, what will it inspire you to create? Join us over at the AAA Colourful blog and see what wonders the other Design Team members have created.

Much love

Steph x