Uniko

Clean and Simple colours

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Hi there. It’s been an absolutely fabulous Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK – temperatures in the mid to high twenties (centigrade) – very hot for me. I spent some time in my craft room as it is shaded and not too warm, and also because the current CAS Colours and Sketches challenge is coming to an end today.

The colours to use are Soft Sky, Berry Burst, and Sahara Sand. I chose to go the the rose from Uniko, because I have been getting lots and lots of Instagram postings from them for their new release coming very soon – all looks amazing – and it reminded me I have this rose stamp set.

The rose is actually an outline and base stamp set, but I really like this as it is – no inside colour at all on the rose or the leaves. I think it is very effective, and keeps things clean and simple.

I used Berry Burst to stamp my flower outline, then masked it off and stamped the leaves. I had to use an Altenew blue and brown, as I don’t have Soft Sky or Sahara Sand ink pads.

The MFT stitched rectangles cut my layers for me, and the sentiment is from Altenew. I was going for a one layer card – but realised I had cut my flower layer down before I remembered. Hey Ho! Them’s the breaks!

Have a good one, and I’ll hopefully catch you soon. 🙂

 

Little candles, big sentiment

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Hi there. A short and quick posting of just one card today, to enter the current CAS Colours and Sketches challenge to use Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, and Flirty Flamingo.

I used a Uniko stamp set for the candles, and a different set for the yellow ‘bursts’. I think these are meant for the centre of a flower, but I thought they looked like fireworks going off in the sky. I may try these with a dark background and possibly embossed at some point in the future.

I had to use a Catherine Pooler ink for the blue, as my Pool Party has dried up, but I did use the appropriate colours for the others.

Have a great day. 🙂

 

Stamping and colouring

Hi there. I have another ‘home’ day today. The snow yesterday settled but now looks like it’s virtually all gone – gotta love the English climate – and so I have been trying techniques that I haven’t really tried before.

I produce three cards, the first of which is this one for the current Time Out Challenge and CAS Colours and Sketches Challenge,

 

I used a Uniko stamp set for the corners – a lovely background builder stamp set (‘Vines’) with lots and lots of little, in fact tiny, stamps, to fill in small areas. Even this small set packs a punch as they are also 2 or 3 step images too…..The sentiment is from MFT – ‘Big Birthday Wishes‘, and all done using Catherine Pooler and Altenew inks.

The second card is using a cute – very unlike me – stamp set from Clearly Besotted. It is a recent purchase for me, but I just loved the 5 different little creatures on it. The set is called ‘A Bug’s Life’, and comes with a matching die set.

I coloured these with my Crafters Companion ‘Colorista’ alcohol pen set I have had for ages. I have tried these before, tried blending them, but it didn’t really work. I mentioned yesterday having a ‘Eureka’ moment – it is because I’m not using the correct card. I used Crafters Companion Neenah Classic Crest – blends like a dream.  (I really, really should listen to all that good advice on the experts who post their videos on YouTube!!!)

I couldn’t stop stamping and colouring, which is why there is a selection of cards. The ‘cute as a bug‘ sentiment from the same stamp set, but the ‘don’t bug me’ sentiment is from a Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi stamp set. One of these cards will be used in the current CASology Challenge – cue word ‘Bug’.

The third card is something I have been thinking about doing for ages, but way out of my comfort zone:

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This is a one layer, stamps and inks only card. The inspiration for one of the current challenges at The Library Challenge. I like the fact that the challenges over-lap. So there is already another challenge gone live, whilst this one is still going….

I used a combination of inks from Catherine Pooler and Altenew. The background is achieved with a dry baby-wipe on my finger, a torn paper edge, and a rub of the ink over that edge. This is a technique from Card-io I have been longing to try for ages – here was the opportunity.

The trees are stamped first, second, and third generation for that misty look going into the background. The grass is from a Card-io stamp set, as are the trees, birds, and the clouds. The sentiment is from Catherine Pooler, which I thought fit the scene, and the subject/topic of the book.

So – three different cards, for three different occasions, but I had fun with them all. 🙂

Valentine sketch and colours

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Hello again. I have created a card today based on the current challenge for CAS Colours and Sketches. This week is a combination of a sketch, and also using three colours, as well as being able to use neutral colours.

I don’t usually make Valentines cards, as I have previously mentioned, but I seem to be inspired this year. I have no idea why – maybe getting maudlin’ in my old age!

The colours I used weren’t quite the same as the guideline colours,. but I feel they are a good match.

The main die cut on the base card is a new one I received with the latest Catherine Pooler Stamp of Approval box, and I can see I am going to be using this postage stamp die set a lot. Once die cut, I embossed it for added interest using one of my We R Memory Keepers Next Level embossing folders. These folders give an absolutely amazing 3D impression……

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I then turned my attention to the main stamp. As I have just booked for the next Uniko Stamping retreat in Stockton-On-Tees, I have my Uniko stamps in front of me. This way I can see what I’ve got, and then what I want to buy at the Retreat. 🙂

I used the ‘Explosions’ stamp set for the main image, and also used a small sentiment from that same stamp set. The heart die cut is from the same Sue Wilson fillable die I used previously, and the sentiment is die cut using one of the layers from the Catherine Pooler die set.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

CAS Colours and Sketches – sketch and colours

Die Cuttin Divas – Anything goes with die cut

Shopping Our Stash – a card for valentines day

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge – anything goes

 

 

Somethings new, and old

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Hello there. I quick evening posting for this card, which I made yesterday. I had a delivery of the latest Catherine Pooler Stamp of Approval box, and I also ordered some more of her inks. I love her inks. Easy to use, stamp beautifully even on new stamps.

This stamp set is a new one from Uniko, paired with the new ink from Catherine Pooler ‘Royal Treatment’. A clean and simple design, using just the one ink colour on the white background.

The sentiment is from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous and stamped in the same colour.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

CASology – late

Uniko – something old, something new

QKR Stampede – anything goes

Stamplorations CAS challenge – CAS without optional twist

 

Simple sparkle

Hello again everyone. I have some time this weekend to do some crafting, and have put together these cards. I started to make these earlier in the week, and finally managed to complete them this morning.

The stamp set is from Uniko, one of their new stamp sets, and this time I have used the bud images from that set. After stamping with Versafine black onyx, I went in with my Polychromos to colour them, and even though they are quite small images, I still managed to give some dimension and blending to the flowers themselves.

I stamped the sentiment in black onyx too, as I like bold sentiments which stand out.

I then took a small piece of green glitter card from Crafters Companion, and die cut a strip from a Catherine Pooler collection I have, adding that for some added extra for a clean and simple piece of sparkle.

I am playing around with ways to photograph my cards, and these images came about as I have been putting my Christmas decorations on my table, and saw that this gorgeous plate – a Christmas present from a very dear friend – was just sat there, with some twig lights around it, looking all pretty……so I placed the cards on it.

I like how these turned out, and may have to keep the set-up for future cards.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

AAA Cards – CAS sparkle

Use Your Stuff – anything goes

QKR Stampede – anything goes

As You Like It – anything goes

Moving along with the times – flowers

 

 

 

 

Only stamping

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Hello again, and a Happy New Year to everyone. I hope the year is off to a good start for you.

I have been in my craft room for a couple of hours, and playing again with stamping and blending. This card was inspired by the current challenge at Inkspirational, with the challenge to use stamping only, and Time Out, with the theme of ‘New beginnings’. I have translated this loosely – a new beginning for someone whose birthday is today……a mixture of a new year for them, as well as a new year for all of us.

I still had my Uniko and Stamps By Me collection on my craft table, along with my Distress Oxides, and this is what I came up with.

The base card is 8 inches square, and the first thing I did was to stamp the ‘Happy Birthday’ sentiment. The same sentiment as yesterday, quite large, and I wanted it to be the focal point of the card.

After stamping in Versafine Black Onyx, and heat setting it in clear embossing powder, I then set about stamping my leaves etc for the back ground. I did set off originally with only stamping around the sentiment, masking it off with some ‘post it’ notes, but I carried on stamping and stamping until I had covered most of the background – large leaves first, using an Altenew green ink, and the leaves from the new Uniko ‘Pure Florals: Rose’.

I then took some smaller stamps from Uniko ‘Originally Organic’ and a small star from ‘Reach for the Stars’ – also Uniko – to fill in the spaces. For this I also used some brown Altenew inks.

Once I had completed the background, I felt the sentiment was a little too open and stark, so I masked the area around it and went in with my Distress Oxides, blending to leave the centre of the word a little brighter. I think I used Twisted Citron – or it could have been Fossilised Amber……! Hmmmm – does anyone else forget what they used when they are all on your craft table? 🙂

 

 

Uniko Rose

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Hello everyone. I hope you have had a good few days celebrating, and taking some time for yourself. This is the first time I’ve had time to craft since before Christmas. A busy time for us all, I know.

This card is for the current CASology challenge, and Simon Says Stamp challenge. A simple layout – but it did take me a while to settle on the size and shape of the card, and where to stamp each element.

Here are some of the other examples I made:

This stamp set is one bought from when I attended the Uniko craft retreat earlier in December. The stamp set is quite large, and comes with two different size roses – outline and infill, with buds and leaves, and even sentiments.

I used Altenew inks and stamped the rose, then masked it off to stamp the leaves, so it looks like they are underneath. I did think of colouring the leaves, but I like the effect of leaving them with just the outline, as it gives a more open feel to the card.

The sentiments are from a ‘Stamps By Me’ set I have had for a while, and suited the CASology challenge cue card – ‘kindness’.

I know it’s a short and quick posting today, but at least I’ve managed to do some crafting.

I wish everyone the best for the New Year. Best wishes – Lynda 🙂

Uniko Christmas Tree

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Hello everyone. I can’t believe it’s been two weeks since I posted to my blog. My goodness – time flies! I cut down my working days from 5 days to 4 days, and I seem to be even busier. Maybe it’s the time of year, and social occasions going strong.

I have been crafting and making some complicated Sue Wilson-type cards for family and then decided I needed some simpler cards as I seem to be falling way behind in making them.

I also went to the Uniko retreat in Stockton-On-Tees last Saturday. It was a great day, spending at least five hours playing with Uniko stamps, plenty of inking plenty of playing, and plenty of chat and coffee – my ideal day. Thanks Bev. 🙂 🙂

This tree stamp set is one I bought that day. I love the simplicity of the tree, and I find it is quite elegant.

I started by stamping the front tree in a red Altenew ink, masked it and stamped the green trees. I then added the sentiment from another Uniko set, stamping it in black, then heat embossing it with clear embossing powder.

I thought I’d photograph it with the snow in the background. It may not be a lot of snow compared to other places around the world, but it does seem to impact on travel in the UK quite quickly.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Aud sentiments challenge – Christmas and sentiment

Hand stamped sentiments – photo inspiration (trees and colours)

CAS on Sunday – CAS Christmas

Alphabet challenge – ‘T’ for trees

Uniko challenge – Christmas

 

Thursday two-fer

Hi all. I have a couple of cards for you this time, for different challenges.

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For the first card, I stamped some test tubes from Sheena Douglass ‘Alchemy’, coloured with Distress Oxides inks – of which I must have used about 5 colours to get the colour I wanted in the tubes – then die cut them with the matching dies. I curved them a little with my poky-tool, and added 3D foam squares to back of them to raise them a little.

The large sentiment is from the same stamp set and cut with my stitched rectangles from Lawn Fawn, with the smaller part of the sentiment from a Uniko stamp set – which happened to be just sitting there….

This card will be entered into:

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second card is using some of the Brusho water-colouring I did at the weekend.

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I placed a panel on a piece of card, then stamped a Uniko floral layering stamp on it several times, making sure to stamp off the page, too. I found the best way to do this was using my Misti, stamping on top of the brown, placed on the card, the  removing the brown panel and stamping directly onto the card base. That way, there isn’t any missing stamping near the edges of the panel, aligning the brown again when sticking it down.

I used Versafine black onyx for the outline, then used Altenew inks for the actual leaves. I didn’t add any other colour, keeping it quite monochrome, but I did add some dew drops to the top of the buds for a little added something.

This card will be entered into:

Uniko Challenge 43: Autumn/Fall (colours)

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge: monochrome