Galaxy Skies for my journal .....

Happy Friday ........

I hope you've had a nice week. 
This has been pretty much how my week has gone ......

I may not have done the housework but, I've been very productive in the craft room and, it's still reasonably tidy in there, which is a bonus!

March is fast approaching, so I've been busy getting some of my blog challenge projects ready.  And, I've been playing in my art journal again ......

Galaxy backgrounds and words from a song, for Februarys prompt on an Art Journaling Challenge  I signed up to, from the Mixed Up Creative Academy  It's a fab monthly challenge, you get a prompt and a video and the amazing thing is ........ it's free to sign up! 

I used Distress Ink sprays with a touch of Perfect Pearls .......

Stenciling, and a bit of ink splattering ......

And some song words ......

If you love art journaling check out the Mixed Up Creative Academy ..... there's a link above.  There's other stuff on there too, not just Art Journaling courses.

There was no housework done this morning either ....... I had the little man to look after. 
He's been off school today ...... he had a rather large verruca taken off his foot at the doctors yesterday, and it's made him feel a bit off colour.  He couldn't get any shoes on, bless him.  So he's been keeping me company ..... drawing.

Here's the result of my morning ........

She's not perfect but, she's not bad for my first attempt at drawing a face ........ I can't believe how she's turned out!!!  Next step is too add some colour over the weekend.

We've only 10 more days before we head off to pick up the motorhome ........ boy are the days going slow!
We actually handed over the money for it on Tuesday ......... that's the kids inheritance gone! 
This new baby of ours is not going to be cheap!!  I'm having fun kitting it out though ..... whistling kettle, jerry can and extra power packs so we can 'wild camp'.  New bedding and towels, not to mention all the stuff for the kitchen.  Makes a change from buying craft stuff I suppose. 
Whilst I'm looking at all the practical stuff .... hubby's decided he wants a drone!  Hmmm.

Thanks for popping by ...... have a lovely weekend.  I hope it's not too wet where you are.
We've got weather warnings in place and possibly ferry disruptions again Saturday and Sunday.  Roll on Spring!

Cheerio until next time .......

Ooooh .... not long now!!!

Happy Tuesday ........

I hope your week has got off to a good start.
You can find me on the Uniko Blog today, with a Brand Ambassador Inspiration post.
It's all about foiling ...... showing a few different ways of adding some shine to your projects and making great use of some Uniko stencils.
Grab a cuppa and have a quick read.

Things are getting exciting here ...... we pick up the motorhome 2 WEEKS TODAY!!!!!

It's been a long five months since we ordered 'the van' back in October last year.  This little dream of ours is actually starting to come true ...... it's a bit scary.!
We've no idea what we're doing really.  We've stayed on boats for holidays, we're just assuming it will be similar, but without all the water of course!  Although we are planning to go to the Lake District and Scotland hopefully this year, there's water up there, we just won't be on it ..... hopefully!

Anyway, we're off to the UK week after next. Lauren bless her, is driving us down to Nottinghamshire which is where we're getting the van from, and then we're going to take a few days just to get used to things.  Call in and see the family on the way, and then who knows where we'll end up!
I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day.
I'm off to make pancakes ...... it's Shrove Tuesday!

Cheerio until next time ......

It's Release Day for the brand new collection from Uniko .......

Happy Sunday ........

I hope you're enjoying your weekend.

Today's the day Uniko fans ..... the brand new February/8th Birthday release will be available on the Uniko website from 9pm (GMT) this evening (Sunday).  Shopping lists at the ready!!

Each day for the past week, we've been introducing the new collection, hopefully giving you inspiration and ideas on how to use the new stamps and dies.

To keep the new release and birthday celebrations going just a little bit longer, we're having a Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & Giveaway!
Hop on through the blogs ...... you'll find the list below ..... and check out more fabulous ideas for using all the new goodies.
There's a fab prize for one lucky Blog Hopper too.  All you have to do is leave comments as you blog hop and you could be the winner of ......... the ENTIRE NEW RELEASE!!!  No picking your favourites ..... the winner gets the lot!
You have until midnight (GMT) on Saturday 29th February to comment and the winner will be announced, along with all the other 8th Birthday Celebration Winners, on the Uniko Blog on Sunday 8th March.

I've really enjoyed playing working with this new release.  There's so many fun designs it's hard to have a favourite.

Alphabet Outlined is such a great set to have in your collection.  Large individual letters, and numbers, make it easy to create cards for those special birthdays, or make your own sentiments.

They're easy to fussy cut too ......

Anniversaire Arts Decoratifs ....... a collection of fun sentiments in an Art Deco style font that work perfectly alongside the new Background Block - Arts Decoratifs 

I simply stamped and heat embossed the Background Block to cover a square of black cardstock ....

Makes such a cool background design, all it needed was one of those sentiments in the middle.

Another new addition with an Art Deco feel, is the brand new Background Builders - Arts Decoratifs.  A collection of Art Deco inspired, pattern building border stamps.  

One of the designs immediately made me thing of mermaid scales ........

Thank goodness for the MISTI ...... it made things so easy lining up the stamp over my Distress Ink blended background.  And look, those sentiments are the perfect partner.

Another new Background Block is the new Pinstripe II.  A great little design for creating interesting backgrounds, your own designer papers or adding decorative touches to your designs.  

Remember my card from yesterday with the pinstripe tone on tone design (if not, you can find it here) ..... well, this is how I used up the leftovers .....

I don't like throwing leftover bits into the bin so, I used punches to cut out various sized circles from the strips of stamped card.

  

Added in a few plain punched circles, and the odd glittery one here and there, to create this funky birthday card ..... oooh! and there's one of those fun sentiments again.

I probably shouldn't have favourites but, I think the new Happy Days stamp set is one ......

I do like silhouette stamps, and you can never have too many foliage designs so, this one is perfect for me.

Stamped in pretty rainbow colours, it's definitely a happy card

Another beautiful set is the Spring Botanicals - Tulips

Stamped onto watercolour card, heat embossed in white and coloured with ZIG Markers .... easy!

Last but not least, there's a brand new set of Designer Dies ....... Kindness Blooms

This fab little set co-ordinates perfectly with the previously released stamp set with the same name.  If you already have the stamp set, just think of all the new possibilities!

If you're on the Blog Hop then your next stop will be Rahmat (you'll find the link below)

Bev

Carol 

Hannelie

Izzy 

Jane
Julie

Linda (that's me)

Rahmat

Sarah P
Wiebke 

Happy hopping!

I do hope you love the new release.
It will all be available to buy on the Uniko Website at 9pm (GMT) this evening (Sunday)
And don't forget ...... the special 8th Birthday Discount Code is still valid.  Just add the code CELEBRATE8 before you check out!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio until next time .......

Introducing ...... Happy Days and Background Blocks - Pinstripe II

Happy Saturday ......

Welcome to the weekend!
It's the final day of Introductions for the new Uniko February/Birthday Release.  Tomorrow is the day when all the new products will be available on the Uniko website.
I hope you've enjoyed seeing the new stamps and dies in action ....... have you got any favourites?
Maybe these will be going onto your Wish List ........

Happy Days ..... a beautiful leafy silhouette in the same style as the previously released set Just Because

Perfect for those quick and easy cards, and suitable for all sorts of occasions.

I simply masked off a section of my card with some low tack tape and then brushed some Distress Inks onto the background.
With the masking tape still in place, I stamped the new Background Block - Pinstripe II over the inked panel

I then removed the tape and stamped the leafy silhouette ........

I added a sentiment using some of the words that come in the stamp set

and finished off with some sparkly sequins.

Silhouettes don't always have to be stamped in black though ........  another way I like to use them is to create tone on tone designs using different shades of inks and cardstock

I chose a turquoise coloured cardstock and then stamped the image in two simlar shades of ink

A simple sentiment and a few sparkly gems add the finishing touches

Speaking of tone on tone ....... here's a fun way to use the new Background Block - Pinstripe II

I stamped the pinstripe design onto three different colours of cardstock using similar shades of inks.
I then cut a strip from each piece and laid them together on a square of white card (check out tomorrow's post for what I did with the rest of the stamped cardstock!)

I added a sentiment to the middle and finished off with some pretty sequins

Well, that's it ...... the intros are all done. You've seen everything from the new release ..... what do you think?

Don't forget the official Release Day is tomorrow (Sunday), 23rd February when we will be having the New Release Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY!!
All the products from the new release will be available on the Uniko website from 9pm (GMT) tomorrow evening.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day and have a lovely weekend.

Thankfully Hubby made it back to the island last night.  Glad he wasn't on the boat, because that was cancelled ..... again!!  Roll on Spring! 

Cheerio until next time ......

Products used:
You're My Happy .......
Stamps: Happy Days, Background Block- Pinstripe II (Uniko)
Inks: Distress Inks - Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs; Versafine - Vintage Sepia; Versafine Clair - Nocturne, Versamark
Others: Gold Detail Embossing Powder (WOW!); Sequins

Tone on Tone Design ......
Stamps: Happy Days; Simply Said Blocks II (Uniko)
Inks: Versafine Clair - Warm Breeze; Catherine Pooler Ink - Fiesta Blue; Versafine Clair - Nocturne
Others: Clear sparkly gems

Pinstripe Happy Birthday ....
Stamps: Background Blocks - Pinstripe II, Simply Said Blocks (Uniko)
Inks: Versafine Clair - Monach, Warm Breeze, Paradise, Nocturne; Versamark ink
Others: Silver Detail Embossing Powder (WOW!), Sequins

Introducing ........ Spring Botanicals - Tulips

Happy Friday ......

I hope you've had a nice week.

Today is Day 4 of Introductions for the brand new Uniko release coming up on Sunday 23rd February at 9pm (GMT)

So far this week we've seen 4 of the new stamp sets, and yesterday it was the debut of a fabulous new set of Designer Dies.  If you've been following the blog posts all week you'll see that the Brand Ambassadors have been very busy!

We're going all floral today, looking forward to Spring, with another new stamp set ....... Spring Botanicals - Tulips

Just like the other stamps from the Spring Botanicals range, you get a gorgeous floral as the main image ....... two beautiful tulips, along with some words and sentiments with a cheery Spring feel.

Even though the main stamp is quite large ....... it makes a stunning focal point on your card ...... you can still use it to create a pretty all over design.

I stamped the tulips all over the card, and heat embossed them in gold.

I then used watercolour paints to colour the flowers

and added one of the sentiments from the set onto the white space ......

If you prefer something a little more CAS, and perfect for Spring .......

Again, stamped the tulips and heat embossed in gold, coloured with watercolour paints ......

and finished with a sentiment

I do love tulips, don't you.

The introductions are not over yet, there's still two more stamp sets to share with you before the big release on Sunday ...... see you tomorrow!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day and have a lovely weekend.
It looks like we're in for bad weather again ...... I just hope it holds off long enough for hubby to get back on the island.  He's flying home this evening ..... fingers crossed!

Cheerio until next time .........

Products used:
Hello Sunshine .....
Stamps: Spring Botanicals -Tulips (Uniko)
Inks: Versamark ink, Versafine Clair - Nocturne
Others: Gold Detail Embossing Powder (WOW!); Watercolour Paints (Altenew)

A Kind Word ......
Stamps: Spring Botanicals -Tulips (Uniko)
Inks: Versamark ink, Versafine Clair - Nocturne
Others: Gold Detail Embossing Powder (WOW!); Watercolour Paints (Altenew)

Introducing ....... Kindness Blooms Designer Dies

Happy Thursday .......

This week is flying by ........ thank goodness.  I don't like it when hubby is away!

I've had plenty to keep me busy though.  Today is Day 3 of Introductions for the brand new Uniko release, coming up at the weekend.

We're introducing a set of new Designer Dies for you today.  These co-ordinate perfectly with the previously released, cute floral stamp set called ....... Kindness Blooms.  I do love it when stamps have matching dies!

There's so much in this die set ........ the full flower shape, in two sizes, matching loopy flowers, there's a couple of dies that can be used as the centres, a cute little leaf shape which could also be a petal, allowing you to create your own flowers, and some words.

Use the stamps and die cut your images, with either of the flower dies.  Or, you may not have the stamp set ....... no problem, use the dies on their own and layer them as I've done here ....... there's so many options!

I cut the full flower shapes from coloured cardstock (a great way of using up all the leftover bits), the loopy ones from white and then layered the two together.

The leaves were stamped onto white cardstock, coloured with ZIG Markers and then die cut. And I also added some little kraft card centres to the flowers

To put the card together, I smooshed some Distress Inks onto a piece of white cardstock and then arranged the flowers and leaves on top

I added a sentiment using the words from the matching stamp set, and finished with a few gold ink splatters before attaching the panel to a Kraft cardblank.

Don't forget to check out the Uniko Blog and see what the rest of the Design Team have been creating with this gorgeous new collection.  And, if you've been leaving comments on these introduction posts then you never know, you could be one of the randomly chosen prize winners!

Oooh! almost forgot (there's so much going on) ....... there's still time to get 10% off your orders on the Uniko website.  Just use code CELEBRATE8 when you check out.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.
There's still more of the new release to show you ...... see you again tomorrow with another gorgeous stamp set!

Cheerio until next time ......

Products used:
Stamps: Kindness Blooms (Uniko)
Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne, Glamorous; Versamark ink; Distress Inks - Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry 
Others: Designer Dies - Kindness Blooms (Uniko); Coloured cardstock; Kraft card; Gold Detail Embossing Powder (WOW!); ZIG Clean Color Brush Markers;