Time for a change ...........

Good morning .......

It's Monday again ...... another week of lockdown.  Although there are a few changes coming here on the island.
Our borders are remaining closed but, I think garden centres are opening to the public again from today, with social distancing measures in place.  And I think they're also looking at possibly opening some non essential shops soon.  Not that we can go anywhere, not until the end of the week anyway.
We've been in 14 days of strict isolation after hubby got tested for Covid the week before last.
He's fine now, the test came back negative, but he had me worried there for a while.
We haven't been in contact with anyone for weeks so we've no idea where, whatever it was he had, came from ...... it was weird!
That, on top of a whole load of other stuff that's going on at the moment, it's not been an easy couple of weeks.  Onwards and upwards though!

One big decision I've made is ..... I'm standing down from the Uniko Brand Ambassador Team.
It wasn't an easy descision to make, but I think I've done the right thing .... for me anyway!
I've loved been part of the Uniko family ...... can you believe it was back at the start of 2018 when I did my first post on their blog ..... how time flies.

It's been so much fun working with Bev and the rest of the Uniko Brand Ambassadors and I'd like to send a big Thank You to them all for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a fabulous team.

It's always a pleasure to work with the Uniko brand.  Here's a few of my favourite makes from the past couple of years ........

There's fabulous stencil designs ....... the leaves are a particular favourite of mine!

And a whole load of beautiful stamps .......

It's definitely been a fun two and bit years, and I wish Bev and the team all the best for the future!

Thanks for popping by ..... have a great week.

Stay safe and well.

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

Uniko Challenge #58 ...... Spots and Stripes

Good morning .....

Well we've made it to Friday again.

I've got a little reminder for you this morning about the current Uniko Challenge.  If you want to join in the fun then there's still plenty of time to play along.

It's Challenge #58 and we would like you to include Spots and Stripes.  As always there's an optional twist ....... for this challenge it's to use a stencil, or stencils if you like.

I haven't included the twist, instead I went for a nice CAS design but, I have used the spots and stripes.

The stripes (Background Block - Pinstripe) were stamped onto a piece of white card and then die cut using a nesting circle die.

I used a matching scalloped circle die to add a decorative layer behind, and then attached this using foam pads onto the front of my card.

I then stamped the flowers (Pure Florals - Cosmos) onto a piece of white cardstock and also onto a snippet of dotty patterned paper.
The ones on the white card I fussy cut around the image in full, and the ones on the patterned paper I just cut around the flower heads, paper piecing these on top, and then I attached the flowers to the side of my circle

I added a simple sentiment,  and finished off by adding some dots of Black Enamel Accents around the scalloped edge of the circle

Don't forget to check out more inspiration from the rest of the Uniko Brand Ambassadors and, we also have a fabulous Guest Designer too ...... the very talented Mac Mable is joining us for this challenge so be sure to pop by and say Hello.
Full challenge details and a list of prizes can be found on the Uniko Studio Blog.

Happy stamping!

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

Cheerio until next time ......

Products used:
Stamps: Background Blocks - Pinstripe, Pure Florals - Cosmos, Simply Said Blocks II (Uniko)
Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne
Others: Double Dot Patterned Paper (BoBunny); Nesting Circle Dies; Scalloped Edge Circle Dies; Green coloured pencil, Black Enamel Accents, Gold Glitter Glue.

Uniko Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & Giveaway .......

Good morning .......

Happy weekend! I hope you have a good one.

Because there are no new releases coming from Uniko this month, Bev and the Brand Ambassadors are having a Blog Hop today.   We're featuring the gorgeous Pure Florals - Gerbera stamp set.

I do love this set ...... it's full of beautiful, large blooms, in both solid images,  so if you're not that keen on colouring in your stamped images, you can stamp the flowers using different coloured inks. You also get the outline images which allows you to colour using markers, pencils, inks, whatever is your favourite. You also get some great words and sentiments in the set too.

I've used the outline stamps to create my card ...... simply stamped in black ink and then coloured using Distress Ink and a water brush.

I also used the stamp on a piece of co-ordinating coloured card, stamping with a similar colour of ink and masking the flowers as I stamped, to create a pretty all over design .....

I attached the stamped coloured panel to the front of my cardblank.
I die cut the bottom of the white panel using a stitched edge die, and attached that over the top adding a cute little twine bow

I stamped my sentiment and finished with a few dots of Nuvo Crystal Drops.

As with all the Uniko Blog Hops, there is a Giveaway.  To be in with a chance of winning this gorgeous stamp set all you have to do is visit the blogs in the hop and leave a comment ...... simple.
You've got until midnight (GMT) on the 22nd of March. 
Your next stop on the blog hop is the lovely Rahmat ........ Happy Hopping!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day and have a lovely weekend.
Mine's going to be spent playing with our new toy I think.  Getting to know the motorhome a little better .... in other words reading all the manuals that came with it!!

Cheerio until next time ......

Products used:
Stamps: Pure Florals - Gerbera (Uniko)
Inks: Versafine Clair - BlueBelle, Nocturne; Distress Ink - Mermaid Lagoon
Other: Fancy Stitched Edge Die (CUTplorations by STANMPlorations); Nuvo Crystal Drops, White twine

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