Uniko

Forgotten Birthday

20171022_133913_001Hey there. I have spent quite a few hours this weekend crafting, exploring different techniques, and generally having a productive time. All this, because I realised there’s a lot of inspiration out there at the moment, and I just couldn’t help myself. A lovely crafty weekend, therefore.

This card is inspired by three challenges, all with a Clean and Simple rule. I think I have managed it, but probably all thanks to the stamp set from Uniko. A recent purchase, last weekend, where I also met Bev and her design team. This is a gorgeous layering stamp set. 20171022_133920

I started with a large card base, as I wanted to use a lot of the images for the flower set – Beautiful Blooms III. I used my Altenew inks, and I must say I think they go well together. I also had a hunt around for a suitable sentiment, and by chance came across my Crazy Talk from Tim Holtz and Stampendous – who’d a thunk (!!) that a stamp set made for a more grungy look would fit and suit this pretty card? Just shows you……..

To further make me happy – I didn’t make one smudge, I didn’t have to add sequins or some-such to cover anything – it kinda all came together nicely.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

     clean and simple following theme

For your blog     card with flowers – clean and simple

     clean and simple, one layer

Oh My Stars!

Hello everyone. I have really struggled getting the photographs right for these cards. I tried outside, inside, different lights, but it didn’t really work very well. You’ll have to trust me that the cards are really sparkly…..

The card is for the current Simply Less Is More challenge, to make a one layer card with stars, so I thought I would go with some glitter embossing powder from Wow! The stamps are from Uniko, and I stamped the wavy star lines twice across to make them connect across the 6 inch square card, and another row underneath. I used Ranger Perfect Medium, then Wow! powder ‘grape’, heat embossing to set. I used a tone on tone look for the first card, then used the sparkly white powder for the second card, again with Uniko stamps.

The sentiments are also from the same stamp collection, and I added a trio of stars around one of the sentiments for added interest.

Again, these powders are really sparkly, but I just couldn’t get the pictures to reflect that – note to self – must try harder.

I hope you are all well, and looking forward to a good weekend with some crafty time.

Hello, Beautiful

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I’ve had a really great day today, from several angles. I picked my mum up this morning, and we went to Doncaster Dome for a craft show. During the course of the show – with lots of my favourite companies – I had the absolute pleasure of meeting the Uniko team. Bev the designer and owner, and Jane from the design team in particular. What a lovely team of people, and they had some amazing examples on show – I couldn’t resist buying several items.

This card took inspiration from the current challenge from CASology. The current cue card has the word ‘odd’…..now you could go anywhere with this, I am sure. I hunted through my stash for quirky and ‘odd’ statements, but couldn’t seem to find one that could be used in a CAS card.

So I decided to go with an odd number of items on the card….one flower, five leaves. I know, I know – when added together it’s an even number, but on their own – it is an odd number for each one……

The flower is from a set purchased today from Uniko – Beautiful Blooms III. Isn’t it a gorgeous flower? It is a layering flower and leaves set, but I chose not to use the leaves from this set, and went with leaves from Altenew ‘Pretty Pansies’. I did a bit of masking, to make it look like the leaves are behind the flower – a technique I am constantly trying to perfect!

I used Altenew inks, as they layer and tone very well, lilac/purple for the flower, and the greens for the leaves. The sentiment is from another Altenew set ‘Perennial Beauty’.

I also used another purchase of mine – stitched rectangles. You know I usually use the wonky rectangles, but sometimes I don’t think those give such a clean look, whereas these dies do.
I shall be entering the following challenges:

CASology – odd

Stamplorations October challenge – theme – two colours

Stamplorations CAS challenge – CAS

 

 

Galaxy background

Now, I know I’m coming late to the party, but I have never done a galaxy background. It has never interested me, and the more people that did one – the more I stayed away. I’m funny like that – not really following trends until they are over. I have watched numerous videos about the galaxy backgrounds, but it wasn’t until I saw the Simon Says Stamps Monday challenge, and having just had my Uniko delivery, then I thought I would have a go.

Why inspired now? No clue. No idea………but having all the stamp sets from Uniko based around stars, and wanting to do a less than simple card – well, out came my Gansai Tambi, and distress inks, and I set to it.

I used the stamps from Uniko ‘Background Builders’ and mixed in MFT ‘Stars Above’, embossing onto water-colour card with white. I then created a mess with my Gansai Tambi water-colours, pastels, starry colours, Brusho’s – you name it, I seemed the throw everything at it! I didn’t know when to stop. I just know I had to have some bright colours in the background showing through when I covered the piece with distress ink Black Soot, splashed with water, then splashed with white…………Actually, I can’t remember half of what I did to it!

The sentiment is from MFT, and a coloured base card just to bring some of the colour together from the background.

I don’t know if I’ll be doing this frequently, but I had some fun. Maybe when I am in the mood not to think, but just play, I’ll have a go again.

The challenges I will be entering:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge – it’s written in the stars

QKR Stampede – anything goes

Colour Crazy Challenge – anything goes

 

 

 

 

 

Uniko delivery

Hi everyone. A quick posting today, as I had a delivery from Uniko – and I have played already! Just in time to join the current challenge at Time Out.

I used the Gerbera stamp on both cards, but using a different technique. The first one is actually the card on the right, stamping the background builder stars in rainbow colours and Catherine Pooler Inks, then stamping the flower outline and main flower. I didn’t really like how this came out, as you can see the stars behind the flower.

The second card, I stamped the flower – no outline – then masked it off and stamped the rows of stars. I liked this much better, and the Misti made lining them up so much easier. I just moved the card along, leaving the stamp where it was.

The sentiment is also from Uniko, a block sentiment, in Versafine black onyx.

I can see I will be playing with these stamps over the next few days as I order the new bundle at 5% off – it would be rude not to! – and added the Gerbera stamp and die set too. :)