Uniko - Introducing Sweet Broom

Hi there

I'm back with Day 3 of introductions, showcasing another stamp set from the new products due for release by Uniko on Tuesday. This one is called Sweet Broom and it's super versatile as it can be used for general floral cards or Christmas too as I've shown below.

I stamped one of the images from the set 3 times in Altenew Evergreen Ink followed by the detailed layer in Forest Fern ink. I added some additional coloured detail with Promarkers and adhered a festive sentiment from the simply said blocks Christmas set, introduced yesterday. The red panel has some tone on tone images from the Sweet Broom stamp set too. 

This time shown as a birthday example using the other bloom from the set and stamped with more Altenew inks in Greys and Yellows with another of the Simply Said blocks sentiments from the original set in this range. I've added some dotty details using a grey Promarker pen and some teeny gems and silver pearls.

The release schedule, can be found over on the Uniko blog HERE as well as links and peeks at how my fellow teamies have worked their magic!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll join me for one more day of introductions tomorrow.

Less is More #360 & #361

Morning friends, I'd like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. This is our final challenge of the year at Less is More and it'll be a 2-week challenge. We'd hate to have you rushing with cards over Christmas so this should give you a little longer to play - who knows you may even receive some new goodies from Santa that you'd like to use!

Anyway we have a delightful sketch for you, designed by fellow Less is More teamie Anita and I hope you enjoy! 

Here's my examples using my all time favourite set from our December sponsor, Happy Little Stampers so do play along for a chance of a prize, which we'll announce at the start of next month.

Both cards use the Butterfly Birthday set and for the first one I've stamped, masked, rotated my card panel in the misti to create a 'mirror' image (I hope) both top and bottom. The images are coloured with Promarkers and I die-cut the shape of the top panel before popping up on 3d foam. The sentiment is from the Mix Mash set also by Happy Little Stampers.

This time I did a heat-resist technique using the same Butterfly Birthday image, using Ranger Liquid Platinum EP. Once the image had cooled I inked over layers of Distress Inks in my favourite colours: Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed. The die-cut 'Happy' is from STAMPlorations and I used a scrap of card heat embossed in the same colour to create it. The 'birthday' is from the HLS Mix Mash set.

As always there's loads of fabulous designs from my fellow teamies over on the main blog HERE and I do hope you'll pay them a quick visit. 
Thanks for calling by and have a fantastic festive period!

Uniko - Introducing Pure Florals: Rose

Hi there, today is our final day of introductions in advance of this month's release from Uniko before the BIG REVEAL, RELEASE and traditional BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY tomorrow morning. 
If you are a Uniko addict and familiar with the beautiful collection of Pure Florals then you are going to love this latest addition to the range. I think this has to be my favourite set in the release and it's just oozing elegance. 
I couldn't wait to get all watery-coloured and inky with these stunning blooms and started out by heat embossing the images onto Bristol cardstock using Ranger Silver Pearl embossing powder. I've used Distress inks in Festive Berries and Worn Lipstick for the flower heads with a jumble of greens for the leaves! 
Here's my first example and if you were paying attention on Day 1 of the introductions you might wonder why I wasted a perfectly decent oval of the dotty background when framing the snowdrops ... well never one to waste anything - here it is and I've added a simple sentiment from the Simply Said set along with a few sequins from my stash. 

The next 2 are the 'same but different' - they both use some more of those water coloured roses, as used above and the Lattice stencil, which I hadn't got around to using when we introduced this one earlier in the week. First up inked with Distress Ink in Pumice Stone.

and this one with the stencil inked in Spun Sugar and Festive Berries to tone with the rose heads.

I hope you've enjoyed the introductions this week and feel inspired to go shopping tomorrow! We've got the final reveal of one more mini set tomorrow along with the release of all the goodies so I hope you'll stop by then too. 

The release schedule with all the information you need is over on the Uniko blog HERE, where you'll also find links and peeks at how my fellow teamies have worked their magic!
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll be back tomorrow.

Uniko Revisit - November 2017

Hello there fellow crafters it's a REVIST month over at Uniko where Bev askes us to 'dig out', dust down and bring a previously released set back into the spotlight! Well it's not just one set this time but a whole array of exciting products ... some new and some older so let's get this party started!
First of all I'm delighted to announce that the long awaited coordinating dies for the ever-popular Flower Power Series have arrived! I, for one, have been waiting for these for years - mainly because I'm lazy and hate fuzzy cutting! So here's a couple of little cards using those along with a recently released Stencil to coordinate with the Background Block - Wonky Stripes Stamp.

If you follow my blog regularly you'll know I love to go a little wild with colour and inking up this stencil with the Distress inks in Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed (with mixed shades in between) seemed the way to go. With all that colour I decided to leave the flowers to outlines only and just added a little promarker colour to the centre followed with glossy accents. I only used half of my stencilled piece so scroll on down to see how I used the rest! 

These 2 are very similar and use another of the Flower Power images with matching dies. Believe it or not the Stencilled backgrounds on both examples come from another half of a 'stencilled' panel,  each card using a quarter so plenty more scraps to create something else! Here I die-cut the stem and leaves also but coloured them with a black Promarker and added some white gel dotty detail

Next up it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!! Which is as well seen as we are dusting down or should I say glittering up those Designer Snowflake Dies and this is my first ever spinny card. The background uses another newly released stencil to coordinate with the Background Block Scattered Dots but I thought it would work as snow! Yeah??? 

Having die-cut a circle from my card front and a separate panel, I blended Distress inks through a stencil of the same size on to the inside of the card. Once the ink had dried I placed the stencil over the top and used texture paste followed by glamour dust to create some festive snow. The Snowflakes were die-cut using glitter paper and adhered to card with a piece of sparkly twine sandwiched between the two to create the 'spinny' effect.  

... and last but not least here's how I used up that extra half of stencilled wonky stripes from earlier?

The stencilled panel was sliced down the middle and adhered to the card base with one strip down each side. The front panel is mounted on 3d foam and features a festive tree from the Previously released Christmas Pop set, stamped in closely coordinating colours using Altenew inks.

As is the tradition there's a blog hop giveaway and you'll find all the details including the links to my fellow teamies blogs and a sneaky peek at what they've created for the REVISIT post over at Uniko HERE

Before I leave you to hop here's the image of the sets and as always thanks for visiting my blog today and I wish you lots of luck on the hop!

   

Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge - October 2017

Hi there, it's time for this month's challenge over at Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge.

I know many of you hate the ONE layer cards - me included if I'm honest, as they never feel quite adequate enough for a card and if I've coloured it ... as is the case with this one, it bleeds through to the inside! My trick ... make the card, photograph, post on your blog and then crop it to fit on top of a card base! 
Here I've used my absolute favourite HLS set 'Butterfly Birthday' stamping and masking a collection of butterflies before colouring in rainbow-ish fashion with Promarkers. I masked the area for the sentiment too then hand-drew around the box for added definition before stamping. Finally I used a few enamel dots, which if the truth be told, are hiding a couple of 'innocent' smudges! I'm such a messy worker! 

Our challenge is sponsored by HLS and one lucky person will win a $20 certificate to spend in the online store HERE so why not join in - there's a whole month to do so!
You might even like to link up to some of the other Happy Little Stampers challenges and all the details are on the blog HERE and before you play along please check out our guidelines below and I hope you'll join us.

Don't forget to pop along to the CAS Challenge blog HERE where you'll find all the links and designs by my fellow teamies ... you're in for a treat!

Thanks as always for visiting my blog today and catch up soon!

Uniko Challenge #42 - Reminder

Hi there, I'm back with a little reminder about our current challenge over at Uniko and the theme for this one is Flowers, so a really easy one to play along with. There's some stunning floral beauties in the Uniko range of stamps as well as other companies so I can't wait to be inspired by your creations in the gallery.
This time I've gone with the bold 'Uniko Style' set in some vibrant Altenew ink colours. It's another of my two-fer's as I started by stamping the panel of blooms in a random layout and decided I could split the panel into 2! 

The panel was die-cut using a basic stitched border die from My Favourite things and I've used a 'happy' and 'birthday' sentiment from the recently released 'Happy Succulents' set. I decided to add a fuzzy cut matching bloom to each card too which is popped up on 3d foam for extra interest.

As always there's plenty of fantastic creations by my fellow teamies, so why not head over to the Uniko blog HERE to check out the links and pay them a visit! I'm sure they'd appreciate it!

Once again we are joined by the lovely Cornelia, our Guest Designer for this challenge and I hope you'll pop along and visit her blog HERE and leave a friendly word and some love.

You have until Friday, 25th August to link up to the challenge and all the details you need about prizes and how to play can be found over at Uniko HERE

As always thanks for calling by my blog today and I hope you feel inspired and will play along with us!

AAA CAS Cards Challenge #92

Hello there friends, I'm back again this weekend and this time it's to introduce the latest challenge for this coming fortnight over at AAA CAS Cards
... but first of all we are also introducing some wonderful new teamies to our little challenge blog and I'm sure they'd love to receive a visit from you if you have the time to pop along and leave some love and encouragement. Our newbies aren't new to the world of blogging but just in case you haven't 'met' them before here's their names, with links to their blogs: 
Asa of Scrapatheltenkelt, Cheryl of Cards and Clutter, Elaine of Craft-e-place Lucie of Luciegcards, Maaike of Cards by Maaike and Tracie of Tracie Pond Designs
Alongside the original Design Team and our special and super talented Guest Designer; Jasleen of Happily Eva Crafter our newbies have worked their magic with our latest technique themed challenge



Here's my card and for this challenge ... we are being sponsored by Happy Little Stampers and I simply had to use their gorgeous 'Butterfly Birthday' set as it's my favourite and works perfectly with a resist technique. I've stamped the butterflies in Versamark ink before heat embossing then blended distress inks over the top. To add a little interest to the card front I've used a stitched landscape border die from Mama Elephant, with a sentiment and sparkly gems from Happy Little Stampers.

As always thanks for calling by my blog today and I hope you feel inspired to play along with us!
Have fun and happy crafting!

AAA CAS Cards Challenge #88

Hello there friends, it's time for another challenge over at AAA CAS Cards and the theme for this one is Stencil and here's my card followed by a little photo inspiration for you too. 
I've used the Morning Glory stamp set, by our wonderful sponsor for this one; STAMPlorations and it's teamed with a sentiment by Uniko: Simply Said Birthday and Simply Said II. The subtle stencil in the background is a paisley one by My Favourite Things and it's inked through with Distress Ink in Cracked Pistachio. The bloom is coloured with a base of Promarkers and pencils to highlight certain areas. 

We are also joined by Maria from White Mood, who is our Guest Designing for this challenge. Do pop along and visit her blog and leave a friendly word and some love - I'm sure she'll appreciate it.

As mentioned above our Sponsor is STAMPlorations and our lucky winner will receive a prize from Shery to the value of $15.

As always there's plenty more super CAS creations by my fellow teamies, with links to their blogs on the AAA Cards blog HERE

I'd like to add this to the Addicted to Stamps and More challenge wherethis week it's their 'Make Your Mark' challenge 

As always thanks for calling by my blog today and I hope you feel inspired and will play along with us!

Less is More #293

Hi friends, can you believe it's Saturday again?

Whoa where has that week gone?

So it's that 'dreaded' ONE Layer card week over at Less is More

but hopefully you won't find it too bad as we've chose the theme

Your Favourite Flower and as there's so many floral images out there

to use there must be quite a few favourites. Here's mine and I just adore

lillies! Sadly I tend to restrict them to outdoors as their scent

triggers my asthma if they are in a vase inside.

First up using the Layered Lily set from Altenew and a fun 

sentiment from Winnie & Walter

The challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday this week is 

Stamp-It so I'd like to head over there with this one

Next up using a sentiment from this month's sponsor (Happy Little Stampers)

from the Fun Birthday Sentiments set. The lilies are from a Clearly Besotted

set called Forgive Me.

I hope you feel inspired to play along with us this week and don't forget to 

check out the fabulous designs by my fellow teamies at Less is More.

Thanks so much for calling by.

Less is More #286 & #287

Happy Saturday LIMettes, it's time to announce another new challenge over at Less is More BUT for a change this one will run for 2 Weeks! No excuses for not playing along with us this time!
It's a mini summer break for some of the Design Team, who will be attending  the Happy Little Stampers Craft Retreat next weekend!!! The excitement has been brewing for some months now but at last we are almost there!
I'm hoping Mr Blogger will behave and post this on my blog as I'm 'hopefully' as you read this enjoying some Belgian Waffles, Chocolate, Beer etc  'fingers-crossed' in the warm and sunny environment of Bruges!
So onto the challenge for the next 2 weeks and it's Recipe week - we'd like you to use  something TACTILE on your cards but still maintaining a clean and simple design.
Here's mine featuring 2 very feminine birthday cards and don't forget to pop across  to my teamies blogs for more awesome inspiration and clever tactile makes! 

Here, I started out by blending Distress Inks in yellow, pinks and oranges onto a 

panel of cardstock, running it though an embossing folder by WeR Memory Keepers

 (Next Level Embossing) before dusting it with Perfect Pearls. This leaves a textured and 

shimmery surface. Next up I've heat embossed the Gerbera from Uniko onto some Vellum 

using WOW Brass Metallic sparkle EP which leaves a glittery texture. Then with the

same EP I've created a frame around the offset panel along with the 'Happy'

die-cut sentiment from Hero Arts. to finish some sequins from Lucy's Little Things.

  

Next up using a brand new die from Neat and Tangled (Punchinella). Ive had my eye

 on it since I saw Laura Bassen use it HERE. To begin with I blended more Distress Inks,

 this time in pinks and purples onto a piece of cards stock. Spritzed and flicked a mixture 

of water and perfect pearls over it ... (you know I can't resist that little trick) then mounted 

my die-cut panel on top. This is a glitter card-stock making it tactile with the circular cuts

 as well as the glitter. The 'Happy' circle is also from Neat and Tangled with the embossed 

'birthday' from Winnie & Walter. A little extra tactile-ness with the double die-cut 

butterfly from Clearly Besotted and sequins from Pretty Pink Post.

 That's all from me and I do hope you'll feel inspired to play along with us.

I'm looking forward to seeing where your crafty tricks and tips take you with 

this one and I'll catch up with you all again soon - post retreat!

Thanks as always for calling by today!

Late Night Challenges

Hi there friends I'm literally flying in with a couple of cards as I'm off to bed ASAP! Back to work tomorrow after a superb week off with fantastic weather (for the UK)
So CASology are celebrating a whopping 200 challenges so here's a CAS Birthday card to enter using a brand new set (to me) Altenew Daisy along with a sentiment also from Altenew Brushstroke Sentiments.


I've also used masking on both of these cards so heading over to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where it's Mask IT

and I'd like to pop my second one in at Addicted to Stamps & More  where they are having an Anything Goes week.

This one is for another of my cousins who's partner has just given birth

to their second child ... a little girl. A quick make here as my mum told 

me in the week it was going to be a boy!!! Using stamps from Mama Elephant:

Just hatched to make a cute shaker card with distress inks for the background 

spritzed with Perfect Pearls, a stitched circle frame using dies from Simon Says Stamp 

and the chick is coloured with Promarkers.

Right short and sweet and thanks as always for calling by

Catch up with you all soon