Uniko Christmas *almost* in July release - Day 1 of introductions

Good morning friends and welcome back to my blog. It's day one of introductions for Uniko's Christmas *almost* in July release (there was a delay due to products arriving late to Bev).  Our first introduction is 'Ink & Flip - Christmas Star'.  Bev has previously released the Ink & Flip: Christmas star background stencil and this one will nest into the centre of that one or can be used alone.  I love the clean crisp outline of this star and just inking it twice gives you a beautiful result.  

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and using two different shades of blue ink I ink blended the star (I inked the lighter shade first, then flipped over the stencil and did the darker shade).  It's a really easy stencil to line up but looks so crisp and dimensional.  I decided to add a little more interest to my star to grabbed an older Uniko stencil called 'let it snow' and masked off one larger snowflake, which I  added to the centre of my star, and a smaller snowflake, which I randomly ink blended around the star; using the same blue inks as before.  I stamped the sentiments in the light blue ink and then created an ombre look by adding the darker ink at the bottom and softening the line with a blending brush before re-stamping.  I added some silver pearls to the centres of the snowflakes and added the panel to my card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut white panel, ink blended the blue ink along the bottom and stencilled some snowflakes using the same blue ink pads.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre using a navy ink pad and adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape. 

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

* to be updated *

Please check out what Bev and the rest of the brand ambassadors have created by clicking the links below:

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Natalie

Vinita

Please pop back tomorrow at the same time to see the day 2 of the introductions.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Uniko - Ink & Flip: Christmas Star stencil (available on Saturday)

Uniko - let it snow stencil

Uniko - mid century modern wreath builder clear stamp (for outside sentiment)

Uniko - stunning snowflakes clear stamp (for inside sentiment)

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for card base)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - blue sky, blue denim & in the navy

I now have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my links as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you x

Uniko new release sneak peeks!

Hello friends and happy Monday; I hope you all had a good weekend.  It's almost time for the Uniko new release and Bev will be launching her Christmas (almost in July) products on Saturday at 9am so this week is all about the sneak peeks. Bev is introducing two new stamp sets and two new stencils in this release and here's a peek at what's coming soon.

First up is a new 'ink & flip' stencil:

This is one of her clever and innovative stencils and will coordinate with one of her previously released stencils.

Next up is a gorgeous stamp set:

So many possibilities with this lovely set.

Next up is beautiful layering stencil set:

This is a lovely set in Bev's signature style.

Finally another pretty stamp set:

A really useful set, which can be used alone or combined with other Uniko products.

That's all for the peeks but I'll be back with Bev and the other brand ambassadors tomorrow with the first of our introductions. All these items will be available from 9am BST Saturday 8th August, see you tomorrow!

Love and hugs, 

AAA Birthday challenge #88 - flowers

Good morning lovely friends and welcome to August, although I'm not sure what happened to July!  I remember we had a heatwave and my birthday and that's about it haha!  It's hard to believe that another few weeks and we will be rolling into autumn (but I love autumn so that's ok).  

As it's the first of the month it means we have a brand new challenge over at AAA Birthday challenge. This month's theme is 'flowers' and we all love our flowers and pretty colours so I'm sure it will be a popular challenge. Our guest designer this month is Susan aka auntysue so please pop over to her blog and leave her some love.

Whenever I think of flowers I always reach for my Gina K Designs stash as she designs some beautiful floral images.  The flowers I used were actually left over from a previous project so that was a plus for me!  I think my card turned out so pretty and I hope you like it too.  

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

So as I said the flowers were already embossed, coloured and die cut and ready to go from a previous card I made here.  I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and used master layouts 18 to cut out the stitched frame and inside rectangle and decided to emboss the inner rectangle to add some extra interest.  I die cut some leaves from green card and ink blended around the edges for some extra definition.  I cut a black mat layer using master layouts 2 and adhered the frame and inner rectangle onto this layer using liquid glue.  I adhered the flower in the lower left corner using foam squares and tucked the leaves around it using liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment onto white card using black ink and cut it out with the coordinating die (I also cut another 3 more to stack up).  The sentiment was added with liquid glue and I finished off with some black pearls.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel for stability and dimension and then this was adhered to the card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut the white panel and black mat layer using master layouts 2.  I embossed a thin strip of white card and added it to the bottom of the white panel and also added another flower and 1 leaf using liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink before adhering the panel to my card base using double sided tape.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Allsorts challenge - colours of summer or ATG

Atlantic hearts challenge - sketch 692

Beautiful Blossoms challenge - anything floral goes optional mood board

Can You Handle The Pressure challenge - ATG with a twist of celebration

Creative Friday challenge - dry embossing

Cut It Up challenge - emboss it

Girlz and the Art of Letters challenge - letter F (flower)

Little Red Wagon challenge - one thing (one large flower, 1 sentiment)

Moving Along With The Times challenge - feminine 

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - stitch it (I used stitched dies)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

The Sisterhood of Crafters challenge - flowers with an optional mood board

Try It On Tuesday challenge - summer blooms

TGIF challenge - bonus inspiration challenge (I went with lots of white with a pop of purple)

The Design Team have created amazing cards as always so please pop over to the blog and check them out and perhaps leave them some love on their personal blogs.

I hope you will be able to join in with the challenge this month but don't forget it has to be birthday themed. I can't wait to see your creations in the linky.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Gina K Designs - blossom trio 3d embossing folder, dies and colouring stencils

Gina K Designs - master layouts 18

Gina K Designs - master layouts 2

Gina K Designs - tapestry embossing folder

Gina K Designs - foliage fillers dies (for leaves)

Gina K Designs - courtyard silhouettes stamp & die set (for outside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - designer dots stamp (for inside sentiment) *scrapbook.com exclusive

Gina K Designs - gold, black & silver metallic pearl mix

Gina K Designs - ink pads - light lilac, medium lilac & dark lilac, marigold

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for card base)

Limetree Craft - 220gsm black card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

I have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my links as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

Thank you x

Just Us Girls challenge #834 - CASE a DT Member Week

Hello again friends! I'm back to share my DT card for the Just Us Girls challenge and as it's a five week month this week it's 'CASE a DT Member Week'.  You just have to use one of the DT creations (doesn't have to be mine) as your inspiration and create something of your own.  In case you're not sure 'CASE' means to 'copy and share everything' or alternatively 'copy and selectively edit' which basically means use the parts of the design you like and maybe change up the colours or use the colours and change the focal image; you get it.  I'm sure there will be lots of entries for this one.

For my card I used a fun die set from Gina K Designs that I've had on my desk for a few months and have been dying to use and today was that day lol!  I used a bright and happy colour combo inspired by the current CAS Colours & Sketches challenge, although my design got a bit away from me and I don't think it qualifies as CAS anymore lol, but anyway I think it turned out super sweet.  I hope you like it too. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the cupcake:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a panel 4" x 5 1/4" from light pink card and created my own background using small stamps and coral and turquoise ink pads.  I decided to use a stitched rectangle die to cut out the panel to give a nice decorative edge. I die cut all the pieces for the cupcake using pink, coral and turquoise card from my scraps bin, lightly inked the edges with a slightly darker ink and adhered them together using liquid glue.  I die cut the picture frame from white card x 2 and adhered them together using liquid glue (I left the inner squares as a single layer).  I stamped the sentiment onto white card using the coral ink pad and used the coordinating die to cut it out  (plus 3 from white so that I could stack it up).  I added the frame to the background, at a jaunty angle, using liquid glue and also added the inner squares using liquid glue.  The cupcake was added over the lower square using foam squares and the sentiment was added in the upper square using liquid glue.  I also added a bow in the top left corner using liquid glue.  The panel was adhered to the card base using double sided tape.  I finished off with a few clear solid sequins and some crystal glaze over the heart.  For the inside I cut another white panel using the stitched rectangle die and added a strip of my homemade 'patterned paper' to the bottom using liquid glue.  I also added a thin strip of turquoise card along the top using liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre using the coral ink pad and finished off with a heart and bow in the bottom right corner.  The panel was then adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Color Dare challenge - colour challenge #714

Farmquest Grocery Game challenge - anything food or drink related

Little Red Wagon challenge - one thing (one cupcake, one sentiment, one bow)

Papercraft challenges - good enough to eat

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - stitch it (I used a stitched rectangle die)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

Such a great challenge and I cannot wait to see what you create. Please pop over to the challenge blog and leave some love for the rest of the design team. 

I appreciate you stopping by.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Gina K Designs - sweet celebrations die set

Gina K Designs - picture perfect frames die set

Gina K Designs - master layouts 14 die set (for stitched rectangle)

Gina K Designs - birthday sprinkles stamp & die (for sentiment and small stamps)

Gina K Designs - birthday cheer stamp (for inside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - light carnation, sunkissed coral, ocean mist, tranquil teal

Gina K Designs - clear quartz solid sequins

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for card base)

Stampin' Up - subtles card stock pack (for pink card)

Tonic Studios - Nuvo crystal glaze clear

all other card from my scraps bin

I now have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my links as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you x

Krafty Chicks challenge #831 - ATG with a twist

Good morning lovely friends; I hope your week is going well so far. I'm sharing my card for the new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 5; and as it's an extra week this month we have an anything goes theme and Diane is our hostess. However we are mixing it up this year and adding an optional twist and the twist this time is 'mood board' and we have a beautiful summery board to inspire you.  Such a fun twist and we hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

Here is the gorgeous mood board image:

My eye was immediately drawn to the water melon image and luckily for me I had just purchased a fun fruity stamp set from Time For Tea Designs in their recent sale so it was shown some love right away!  I created my own 'patterned paper' using the stamps and I think it turned out super cute.  I hope you like it too. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the cute image:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and created my background using the single melon slice stamp; I also stamped the bunny with the melon slice and coloured them all with my Promarkers.  I used the coordinating die to cut out the bunny image (along with 3 more from plain white) and added white highlights with a gelly roll pen.  I stamped the sentiment using black ink on white card and also die cut another 3 from plain white card and stacked them using liquid glue.  I decided to cut out the background using this fun wavy edges die and also cut a mat layer from black card using the next size up; I adhered the layers together with double sided tape.  I used the same wavy edge die set and cut a smaller one from vellum to use as a grounding layer for my image and sentiment (as the background was super busy).  I decided I needed another layer of vellum to give some separation.  I added the bunny and sentiment onto the vellum using liquid glue and added the two layers of vellum together using double sided tape.  This was then adhered to the background panel using liquid glue. The panel was added to my card base using double sided tape.  I didn't add any embellishments as the background was busy enough already.  For the inside I cut another white layer and black layer using the wavy edge dies.  I had a tiny piece of the background left over so cut a strip for the bottom again using the wavy edge die and adhered all the layers together using liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre using black ink (I did some masking so that I could slightly change the sentiment).  I stamped, coloured and die cut one more melon slice and added that to the top right corner using liquid glue.  The panel was then adhered to the card base using double sided tape.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Craft-alnica challenge - children

Double D challenge - favourite fruit

Dream Valley challenge - hand coloured image

Farm Quest Grocery Game challenge - anything food or drink related

I Love Promarkers challenge - children

Little Red Wagon challenge - one thing (1 image, 1 sentiment, 1 panel of handmade paper)

Papercraft challenges - good enough to eat

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

Sweet Stampin' challenge - for the children

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'ATG with a optional twist of mood board' challenge and I cannot wait to see your creations in our linky. Please leave some love for my fellow chicks - Leanne, Diane and Lori.

Thank you so much for stopping by; I appreciate your lovely comments.  I'll be back later with my DT card for the Just Us Girls challenge.  

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Time for Tea Designs - fruitful friends stamp & die set - on sale!

Scrapbook.com - nested wavy rectangles die set

Promarkers

Sakura - black ballsign glaze pen (to darken the bunny nose and melon pips)

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for card base)

Limetree Craft - 220gsm black card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Stampin' Up! - card stock vellum - no longer available

4th Annual Shark Week IG Card Hop

Hello friends, I hope you're all doing ok and having a great week so far. I'm taking part in the 4th annual IG hop to celebrate Shark Week. The card hop is hosted by my good friend Kelly and today's hop will showcase some fintastic cards featuring all things shark to celebrate Shark Week. Our theme this year is “Making Waves”; and our goal is designed to take you on an ocean voyage of jaw-some shark themed cards and share important facts about the marine life that call it home! Dive in and enjoy the creativity and inspiration!

I always try to find a shark set that I haven't used before, even if it's retired, so when I found this fun set from Sunny Studio Stamps on eBay, I grabbed it for this year's hop.  There are so many fun shark stamps available and I cannot wait to see what my fellow hoppers have used this year. I created a cute under the sea scene and I hope you like my card.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the cute images:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and die cut the gorgeous bubble coral frame from the centre.  I took another white panel and ink blended some ocean mist ink in the centre, adding some water droplets and white spatter for extra interest.  There is also a single coral die in the set which I cut 3 times from white card and ink blended over with ocean mist and tranquil teal ink pads.  I stamped the images onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured them with my Promarkers and added some white gelly roll pen highlights.  I used the coordinating dies to cut them out.  I cut off one of the corals from the frame and replaced it with one of the larger ink blended ones using liquid glue. I added the fish and octopus with liquid glue and the shark was added with foam squares.  I added foam strips behind my frame panel and adhered it over the background.  I stamped the sentiment from a few different sets and cut them out using sentiment strips dies.  I adhered them at the top of the frame using liquid glue.  I finished off with some clear raindrops, which I think look like bubbles!  I adhered the panel to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel and ink blended the ocean mist ink along the bottom, again adding water droplets and white spatter. I stamped, coloured and die cut another shark and 2 fish and also die cut and ink blended two more corals.  I adhered everything to the bottom of the panel using liquid glue.  I also stamped and die cut two sentiments and adhered them with liquid glue.  I adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  I'm really happy with the inside and feel it's equally as cute as the outside.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Allsorts challenge - at the seaside or ATG

Cardz 4 Guyz challenge - summer theme

Craft-alnica challenge - children

Dream Valley challenge - hand coloured image

Girlz and the Art of Letters challenge - letter F (for fish)

I love Promarkers challenge - children (I think kids would love a shark card)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

Sweet Stampin' challenge - for the children  

The Paper Funday challenge - ATG optional twist summer splash

Please swim on over to IG to see the amazing shark creations. Please use the hashtag #4thsharkweekigcardhop to find all the cards in the hop.

Enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for stopping by.  I'll be back tomorrow with my cards for the Krafty Chicks challenge and also the Just Us Girls challenge, so I hope you will be able to pop back and check them out.  

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Sunny Studio - sea you soon stamp & die (got mine from eBay)

Memory Box - bubble coral collage die set (94562) (got mine from a FB destash page)

Lawn Fawn - duh-nuh stamp & simply summer sentiments stamp (for sentiments)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - ocean mist & tranquil teal

Gina K Designs - large strip sentiments dies

Gina K Designs - sentiment strips dies 

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Winsor & Newton - white gouache (for spatters)

Little Things From Lucy's Cards - clear raindrops - store now closed

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store now closed

I now have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my links as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you x

Just Us Girls challenge #833 - Stencil Week

Hello again friends!  I'm back to share my DT card for the Just Us Girls challenge and this week it's 'ATG Stencil Week'.  As long as you use a stencil you can create anything you like so I'm sure there will be lots of entries.

I'm really enjoying using my stencils more and it's making me re-visit ones I haven't used for years. I made two cards today inspired by Gina's recent 'slice and dice' live on YouTube.  I used an older layering stencil and used a different colour combo for each style of card.  My cards are not as perfect as Gina's but I think they turned out great and I hope you like them.  Let me know if you have a favourite.

Here are my cards:

A closer look at the pink one:

and a closer look at the orange one:

plus I decorated the insides:

I began by cutting two white panels 4" x 5 1/4" and stencilled both panels using the same layering stencils, just changing up the colours.  I followed Gina's guide and trimmed the orange panel down to 3 3/4" x 5 1/4" and then cut the panel into threes, each measuring 1 1/4" x 5 1/4".  For the pink panel I cut the panel in half at 2" and then cut the strips in half at 2 5/8".  I cut black mat layers 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and used liquid glue to adhere them together.  I stamped a happy birthday sentiment for the pink card and a thank you sentiment for the orange card using black ink onto white card; I used the coordinating dies to cut them out (along with 3 extra for each from white card so that I could stack them up).  I added the birthday sentiment onto the pink card in the centre of the panel using liquid glue and added the thank you sentiment in the bottom right of the panel on the orange card again using liquid glue.  I finished off both panels with some black pearls and they were added to card bases with double sided tape.  For the insides I kept it really simple this time (as I was pushed for time and I had already cleaned my stencils!).  I ink blended the pink and green in borders along the bottom of one panel and orange and green on the second panel.  I stamped greetings in black ink in the centres and added black mat layers.  The panels were then adhered to the card bases with double sided tape.  

I would like to enter my cards into the following challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms challenge - anything floral goes optional mood board

Daisy Chain challenge - birthday

Stencil Fun challenge - ATG optional theme patterns

The Sisterhood of Crafters challenge - flowers

Triple B challenge - birds, blooms or butterflies optional mood board

Try It On Tuesday challenge - summer blooms

Such a great challenge and I cannot wait to see what you create. Please pop over to the challenge blog and leave some love for the rest of the design team. Our guest designer is Bonnie so please leave her some love too.

I appreciate you stopping by.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Gina K Designs - winter rose layering stencil

Gina K Designs - graceful greetings stamp & die (for outside sentiments)

Gina K Designs - *perfect posy stamp (for inside sentiments) (*Bumbleberry Crafts)

Gina K Designs - black, gold & silver metallic pearl mix

Gina K Designs - ink pads - bubblegum pink, passionate pink, tangerine twist, honey mustard, jelly bean green, fresh asparagus

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card

Limetree Craft - 220gsm black card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

I now have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my links as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you x