Brand Ambassador Inspiration - Background Blocks Waves

 Bonjour !

Izzy here with some more inspiration for the Background Blocks Waves stamp released last month.

While I was tidying up my desk, I found some colour test sheets for this stamp. Not wanting to throw them away, I used them to make the following cards. 

I also wanted to show you how versatile is this stamp, like all other Uniko products, by the way.

As a die-hard fan of the colour blue, I absolutely had to try this stamp with pretty shades of blue.

Being a sea fan too, I immediately thought of these porthole and swimsuit die cuts. But since they aren't Uniko products, I thought I needed something else for the release day. But I kept the card up my sleeve.

For this second card, I used scraps from the card I made for the introduction to this stamp. These pretty colours remind me of designs from the 1960s.

I die cut squares and I glued them onto a double white card. And to add a little hippie look, I used the flowers from the Doodle Flowers set. I created the sentiment with different sets and some masking.

I also tried this colour combination for the card of the introduction day, but I found it a little bit too pale for what I had in mind. But on the contrary, these are the perfect colours to illustrate Easter.

So I die cut an egg shape from this combo of colours and I glued it on a yellow double card. On a piece of white card stock I stamped the bunny from the Hoppy Easter set. I fussy cut it and I foam mounted it on the card. I heat embossed the sentiment from this set.

I was about to finish my post with the 3 previous cards, but I realised that one season was missing. So I tried to find an idea for a Christmas card. 

Once again I played with the Background Blocks Waves set, I first stamped it with green ink, then I turned the panel I stamped it again with the same ink. It finally made a lovely kind of plaid, just perfect for the Christmas theme.

I glued this panel on a double green card and I used the Flower Power #1 set and the matching die as embellishment. 

To finish I stamped and I gold heat embossed the sentiment from the Christmas Wishes set. I fussy cut it and I foam mounted it on the card.

Et voilà ! As you can see, this set is very versatile and you can use it for any occasion and combine it with a lot of different other products.

Thanks for joining me today and hopefully I've given you some more inspiration to use with your recent (or future) order !

Have a lovely day and thank you for stopping by.

  

March Meet The Maker - Where

Hello & Happy Monday.

Today on March Meet The Maker it is all about WHERE. 

So where can you find Uniko?

Well, the obvious place is the Uniko website...

You won't find Uniko products available on any other website, unless they are an exclusive like I did a while ago with CraftStash for example. I don't wholesale Uniko products out to any other craft shops. 

Every now and then you will find Uniko at paper craft shows such as Stamperama & Crafterama. My next show is in Gateshead on April 6th 2025.

Even though this year I aim to venture further a field with Uniko, there are some shows that have been out of my reach and when I can't be there, Dies to Die For have a small selection of Uniko products on their stand. 

I'd love to know if there is a show you would like to see me at?

Inspiration wise you will find Uniko here on the blog of course, plus Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube.

Talking of inspiration, today I thought I would share this week's Card Of The Week with you...

The fresh sunshine this morning inspired me today to choose this card using Organically Zesty. Plus Julie's recent inspiration HERE inspired me too. You never know, I *might* get round to inking this set up again if my plans this week go to plan! 

That's all from me today. I will be back later this week with more to share including restocks and a new video over on YouTube.

Crafty Hugs

March Meet The Maker - Workspace

Happy FriYAY!

Today on March Meet The Maker it is all about workspaces. I've shared a reel over on Uniko's Instagram & Facebook of a little walk through my space, but I thought I would share a few photos here for those of you who are not on social media.

This is where I spend my days & the Uniko magic happens! My space is small, it is the box room in our house and I share the space with my husband too when he sometimes works from home. I had to make room for him when his office became a room for a Bean when they decided they were too big to share a room. 

My desk isn't usually this tidy! 

I did tidy up especially for today and if you look closely there is lots of things out of place and not organised at all. Hence why I haven't done a 'studio tour'! 

When I say Uniko is a small business, it is exactly that. There is no warehouse or staff, all of the Uniko inventory is neatly organised alphabetically in these white boxes. I can easily pick and pack an order when I need to. 

I do have plans in place for when my inventory outgrows this space, but for now, it works.

How cute is this pin? 

Lightening Laser are the sponsors of March Meet The Maker 2025 and it was generously free to those taking part. I've some ideas whirring as to some fun Uniko pins in the near future as this is just lovely.

And, I couldn't blog without sharing a card.

I've had this one made for a while and sat on my desk waiting to be photographed. As you can see from my post yesterday I have been loving the Stencil - Layering Picked Posies. 

My sentiment is from Spring Botnicals Tulip and stamped in Dove ink as I wanted it to be soft and not overpowering like it would be stamped in black.

That's all from me today. 

Crafty Hugs

Welcome Spring!

Hello 😃

Happy Spring to those of you in the Northern Hemisphere 🌷 It's such a delight to finally have the sunshine here, although still chilly on a morning and when it goes it, it really does help lift the mood. Even more so when today is also International Day of Happiness.

With it being a day of happiness I had to do things that make me happy. First up was making trio of cards using the Stencil - Layering Picked Posies that have been on my creative mind all week. 

Although this layering stencil is perfect all year round, it was screaming for spring colours. And of course I went for my usual colour palette that really makes me happy.

First up I went for a fun square layout using square die cuts. I made a similar card over on the Seven Hills Crafts blog today using this layout.

This partial inking on the squares is a fun way to use the flowers only and I left a space without the square to stamp my sentiment from Everyday Spring Sentiments.

Next up it was only right that I used all four layers for a focal point panel. This time I added in a little purple for the smaller flowers, of which I simply used the ink left on the blending brush for a softer look.

I adhered the stencilled panel onto my card base using double sided tape, leaving me to add the sentiment strip using foam adhesive. Again my sentiment is from the Everyday Spring Sentiments.

Lastly for today I wanted to use the full bloom on its own as a single flower. I used some simple masking to ink the leaves I wanted. 

I chose to have a little more dimension on this card by adhering the flower using foam adhesive and again, another of the sentiment choices from the Everyday Spring Sentiments.

Which layout do you like best?

I can't choose a favourite today as I had so much fun inking and making. 

As today is International Day Of Happiness and I know we can all do with a bit more happiness, so I have a HAPPY10 discount code over on the website today until 9am tomorrow 21st March 2025. No code necessary.

Crafty Hugs

March Meet The Maker - Detail or Variant

Hello & Happy Wednesday.

Today on March Meet The Maker, it is all about a detail or variant. I couldn't decide which to focus on for today, so thought I would share both a detail and a variant! 

First up a Uniko detail.

Ever since my very first order I have included a hand stamped (Uniko of course), hand written thank you note. Because I truly am thankful for each and every order no matter how big or how small it keeps my little dream business going ♥️

The stamp image varies as to what I have out on my desk at the time and I usually stamp a few ready to have on hand when I need them.

Next up is the variant. 

I had to showcase my Ink & Flip Stencils somewhere in March Meet The Maker! I'm so proud of this flippin' fun stencil concept and the collection has variations within the theme of inking, cleaning, flipping, and inking again to reveal the image. 

Originally I started with a one layer stencil, they have progressed to two layer stencils and this year I have a BRAND NEW variation coming! It's flippin' fun and there isn't too long to wait until you see the first of this new variant.

Today I decided to ink up Ink & Flip Layering Geometric Heart, Ink & Flip Layering Geometric Gem and Ink & Flip Layering Flower. Though I only used one layer of these two layer stencils. For the sentiments I have used a mix from Everyday Love Sentiments, Everyday Spring Sentiments & Sparkle Sentiments.

If you've not seen these in action, I highly recommend checking out the various videos on the Uniko YouTube Channel.

Crafty Hugs

BA Inspiration using Uniko Stencils: CAS card

  Hello everyone!

Happy Tuesday!

Vinita here. I had so much fun playing with new and old stencils!

These two stencils are a fantastic match. I always love to use small elements to highlight my card. And I love the way the card turned out!

 I used the quilted stencil first, using forest glacier Altenew ink on a white panel. Then I used one of the layering stencils from the Layering Bright Butterflies stencil set to create a purple floral background using Lavender filler and midnight violet Altenew inks.

 I adhered the floral panel onto a textured green panel and then on my white card base.

The sentiment is from the Flower Power #10 set. And I jeweled it for finishing touch.

Here is a closer look........

I hope you feel inspired!

Happy crafting!

March Meet The Maker - Aim

The Sky Isn't The Limit, It's Just The View.

Hello & Happy Monday.

Today on March Meet The Maker, it is all about aims. I've lots of aims this year, more than I will probably achieve! 

But I see it like this sentiment above which I used on my card today and how I interpret it. Why limit yourself?

Why should the sky be the limit? 

There is so much more beyond that, well that's what I think. That's why I included this sentiment in the Up & Away stamp set which I used on my card today.

Here's a few of my aims this year...

💕 Be authentically me.

To continue to be unique, true to my style, releasing products that are fun and spark creativity.

💕Be more visible.

It took me a few years to get out from behind the computer screen and take Uniko to paper craft shows. This year my aim is to take Uniko further a field in the UK and add a few more shows to my list. 

Along with that I want to be more visible across social media, and maybe even show my face a little more on camera! 

💕Learn & develop to improve.

This year I am invested in learning and developing my skills to improve how I showcase my products and design. From better photography to implementing and expanding features available on the Uniko website. 

That is just a little outline of some of my aims this year. I could probably write a dissertation on the subject of my aims in 2025. But I know the visual inspiration is what you'd rather have 😜

Today I used a Spellbinders die to create a frame mask to ink the Stencil - Cloud 9 through. I used 3 shades of blue, Powder, Harbor and Blueberry. 

I stamped the hot air balloon adding the basket and flag tail for a little bit of a different look and coloured with my Copic Markers. 

Finishing with my favourite sentiment. 

That's all from me today.

Crafty Hugs