Uniko Challenge # 52 .....

Happy Friday ........

It's almost the weekend again .... these weeks are just flying by!  At least the weather has calmed down a little since the storm in the middle of the week.  Let's hope it lasts ..... hubby's planning on having a BBQ on Sunday!!

Anyway ........ let's get that Friday feeling shall we.  Fancy a blog challenge? 

It's time to get the new Uniko Challenge underway.   It's Challenge #52  and the theme is Spring, with the optional twist this month being ..... Easter

I love the inspiration picture ...... our bunnies are back in the garden, happily munching away at the grass.

I haven't used the twist this month, I was inspired more by the colours and the Spring element.

I started by stamping the daffodil (my favourite Spring flower) onto a piece of smooth watercolour cardstock and heat embossed the images in white.

I then blended Distress Oxide inks over the top ...... starting each colour on the edge and working my way towards the centre until the colours blended nicely together. 

The embossing acts as a resist to the inks so once I was happy with the colour I gave it a quick polish over with a soft cloth and removed any left over ink on the embossed images, so that the white really popped out against the background.
You could do the Distress inks first, then the heat embossing but ..... you would have to make sure that the backgound was completely dry before applying your embossing powder otherwise you risk not getting a perfect, crisp image.  Also, remember to use your anti-static bag before doing any kind of heat embossing.

I splattered some water onto my inked background, let it sit for a few seconds then mopped up the excess with a paper towel leaving this fab splattered effect on the background.

I never tire of doing this, it's a great way of adding some detail and interest to your projects, and the Distress inks, both the original and the oxides, react so well with water. 
And the great thing is no two backgrounds will ever be the same.

Next I die cut the word 'Happy' ..... once from the centre of the inked card, and twice from plain white cardstock.
I inlaid one of the white die cuts back into the coloured card, layered on the second white one and then finally the coloured one on the top.  This is sometimes called the hidden sentiment technique, or camoflagued sentiments.  I love it. 
You can add as many or as few layers as you like, just remember when you inlay the first layer you need to add in the bits from the centres of letters or gaps in the word that are cut from the coloured version (the one that will be the top layer!).  This means that your finished piece will be complete again ..... does that make sense?

I added a little stamped banner with the rest of my sentiment

You have lots of time to play along, the challenge doesn't end until midnight (GMT) on 19th April.  Although thinking about it, it will actually be midnight BST (British Summer Time) ..... the clocks go forward here on March 31st!!  But hey! you still have loads of time to enter.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy your day and have a great weekend.
Mine's starting early .... I'm off into town later to meeting someone for coffee, followed by a bit of retail therapy and a quick lunch with Lauren, and then hubby and I are out this evening. It's all go here!

Cheerio until next time .....

Products used:
Stamps: Spring Botanicals - Daffodil (Uniko), Birthday Sentiments (Uniko)
Inks: Distress Oxides - Salty Ocean, Cracked Pistachio, Versamark ink, Versafine Clair - Nocturne
Other: Detail White Embossing Powder, Platinum Embossing powder (WOW!), Big & Bold Happy Designer Dies (Uniko), smooth watercolour cardstock, white card