Uniko 14th Birthday February 2026 Release - Introducing...Stencil Layering Retro Rainbow

Hi there

It's day two of the Uniko 14th Birthday Release introductions.

I adore all of Bev's retro style products and I'm so pleased she's added another one, this is a new stencil set...Layering Retro Rainbow.

For this simple one layer card I combined the stencil with stamps from the Season of Beauty and Anniversaire Arts Decoratifs sets...

This stencil set is so easy to use.  I began with the outermost arch so I could ensure the placement was where I wanted it.  I then stencilled each arch in turn in boho style colours.  I then stamped the foliage image and the sentiment in black.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Uniko - Layering Retro Rainbow
• Stamps: Uniko - Season of Beauty, Anniversaire Arts Decoratifs
• Ink: Altenew - Moon Rock, Dew Drops, Pastel Sunrise, Limestone, Sand Dunes; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

For lots more inspiration from the rest of the team using this new stencil set, please do visit the Uniko blog, here.  I'll be back tomorrow to introduce another of the new products.

All the new products will be available from Saturday 28 February 2026 at 9am GMT.

Thanks so much for visiting today.

Uniko Celebrating 13 Years - Introducing...Stencil Layering Organic Blooms and Organic Blooms Clear Stamps

Happy Wednesday

Welcome to day three of the Uniko new release introductions and today the team are introducing a new layering stencil set and co-ordinating stamp set.

You can use these independently and also together where you use the stencils to colour the stamped images.

For my first card I've used just the stencil set, together with a greeting from the stamp set...

I simply used the stencils to create the floral design directly on the card base.  I then used a curved die to cut the corner piece where I stamped the sentiment.  I added some co-ordinating sprinkles to finish the card.

Materials used:

• Stencils: Uniko - Layering Organic Blooms
• Stamps: Uniko - Organic Blooms
• Ink: Altenew - Wisteria, Ultraviolet, Andromeda, Minty Mint, Sweet Leaf; Versafine Clair - Nocturne
• Die: Avery Elle - Dotted Borders Die
• Accents: Little Things from Lucy's Cards - Sprinkles: Wisteria

And now my second card where I used just the stamp set...

On a die cut panel I stamped the flowers and leaves, using some masking.  I then coloured the image with Copic markers.  I stamped the sentiment, also from the set, onto a vellum strip and heat embossed in white before adhering this from the edge of the panel.  The panel was then adhered flat to the card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Organic Blooms
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; VersaMark
• Coloured with Copics
• Embossing Powder: Brutus Monroe - Alabaster
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Scalloped Rectangles

And I have one more where I've combined the stencil set with the stamp set...

I stamped a row of the flowers, masking so I could overlap them.  I then used the stencils to ink blend each flower, also using the masks where there were overlaps.  I kept this one really simple and just added a sentiment and nothing more.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Organic Blooms
• Stencils: Uniko - Layering Organic Blooms
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Altenew - Rubellite, Pink Diamond, Maple Yellow, Citrus Burst; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

I hope you're enjoying all these introductions this week, I'll be back tomorrow with the final introduction before revealing the entire release on Friday, when the products will be available to purchase.

Thanks again for taking a look, I appreciate your visit.

Less is More Challenge #449

Good morning

This time over at Less is More it's the turn of a Colour challenge.  I'll get straight to the cue card...

We have a fabulous Guest Designer joining us for this one.  It's Sid who was our winner for the month of May.  Please do pop over to take a look at his project for this challenge and to say hi.

For my sample card I used some products which are brand new to my stash and only arrived in the mail earlier this week.  Yes, that's how last minute my Design Team makes are these days!  

I discovered Simply Graphic, a fabulous French company, thanks to my former LIM teamie, Chrissie, sharing some of her beautiful makes using their dies.  I just couldn't resist placing an order.

Here's what I made...

All the dies you see here are from Simply Graphic, apart from the sentiment oval.  I began with a piece of watercolour paper and used a mix of Brushos and water to create a background of differet blue shades, and it was this that the two main flowers were cut from.  I die cut the tall leafy stem from white cardstock and the shorter foliage from pale blue vellum.  I gave my card base a light splattering using Distress Ink mixed with water and then arranged and adhered the cluster of die cuts.  I stamped the sentiment in dark blue onto an oval die cut and adhered this using glue dots.  The card was then finished with a few pool toned jewels.

Materials used:

• Dies: Simply Graphic - a selection of flowers and foliage; Lil' Inker Designs - Stitched Ovals
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Simple Script
• Ink: Brushos - Ultra Marine, Turquoise, Emerald Green; Distress Ink - Broken China; Altenew - Desert Night
• Vellum from stash
• Accents: Little Things from Lucy's Cards - Jewels: Shimmering Pool Mix

Challenge entries:

NBUS - Challenge #29 - I just had to share at Darnell's challenge, I don't think I've ever used new products so quickly before!

If you need more inspiration, don't forget that my teamies are sharing their projects over on the main LIM challenge post, and if you follow their links they may have more on their personal blogs too.

Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend :)

Muse Challenge #232 - Swirly Colour Lifting

Hi guys

These months are flying by far too fast this year and it's my turn to be your designer again over at Muse this week.  I love it, of course, but it only seems like last week I was writing my last Muse post!

Hopefully you can grab some inspiration from my card this week.  I've included masking, ink blending, stencilling (water spritz colour lift), a glossy die cut and embossed sentiment strip.  Or perhaps you can take the colours or layout as your starting point.

Here it is...

I seem to be drawn to the purple/blue/green combo quite a lot but I haven't used these particular shades of ink together before.  I masked a diagonal strip of a white cardstock panel and blended the three Distress Ink colours.  With the masks still in place I laid a swirly stencil over the ink blending, spritzed with water, removed the stencil and waited a few moments before blotting with a paper towel to remove some of the colour.  I still love the moment the masks are removed and reveal those lovely clean lines of blending against the white!  I popped the panel up on fun foam before adding a black die cut sentiment and the remainder of the sentiment heat embossed in white on a strip of black.  I finished by adding some Glossy Accents to the die cut to give it some shine.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Dusty Concord, Faded Jeans, Pine Needles; VersaMark
• Stencil: Neat & Tangled - Swirly Twirly
• Die: Wplus9 - Sending Hoping Wishing
• Stamp: Altenew - Beautiful Lady
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Accents: Ranger - Glossy Accents

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you can play along this week, it will be great to see your interpretations of this one.

Less is More Week #328

Good morning!

It's new challenge time over at Less is More and if you're a regular LIMette then you'll probably know which week it is....One Layer week!  Yay....boooo!  haha   Whether you love it or it fills you with dread, hopefully you'll have a go.  Here is our theme for this week...

We also have a lovely Guest Designer joining us this week....Sue of Sue's Card Craft who was our lucky winner for March.  So please do pop over and say hi!

Right, onto my cards, and I have four for you this week!  First up is one that I think is a great masculine design, something I often struggle with but this came together really easily...

I simply stamped the diagonal stripes then overstamped the sentiment.  The dots were then stamped in pigment ink and I clear embossed them to add some shine.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Diagonal Stripes, Brushed Greetings II; MFT - Bokeh Builder
• Ink: Versa Color - Sky Gray, Atlantic, Turquoise, Bamboo; Versafine - Onyx Black;
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Clear Gloss

Challenge entries:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Going Dotty

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #241 - Anything Goes

I little ombre stamping and masking on this one...

I used a recently purchased set from Clearly Besotted for this one.  I stamped the sentiment first to ensure I had enough room, then stamped the cup and saucer in two shades of orange to create some depth.  I stamped the steam and then masked the cup and saucer to stamp the stripes, again overstamping to create an ombre effect.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Warm Solutions, Basic Stripes
• Ink: Altenew - Sunkissed, Orange Cream, Bamboo, Parrot, Olive, Moss, Limestone; Versafine - Onyx Black

Super simple stamping and masking for my third...

I started by stamping the dotty butterfly in the centre.  I then masked it and stamped the block of vertical stripes.  A little off-centre sentiment finished off this super simple card.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Butterfly Wishes III, Building Blocks
• Ink: Versa Color - Lavender, Ash Rose; Versafine - Onyx Black

I stripe of dots and stripey score lines too...

I masked off a vertical strip and stamped the dots in three colours.  I then added double score lines either side (which I messed up as one isn't quite lined up as I wanted!)  Then a sentiment in black to finish.

Materials used:

• Stamps: MFT - Bokeh Builder; Paper Smooches - Sentiment Sampler
• Ink: Versa Color - Atlantic, Mint, Heliotrope; Versafine - Onyx Black

Thanks so much for visiting today.  One layer cards don't have to be difficult.  Apart from the tea card which took some time with multiple stamping and masking, the rest were pretty quick to create.  Just lately I've been overthinking my designs a little too much and trying too hard.  So this week I went completely back to basics and kept them really simple.

I hope you can find the time to play along this week :)

Altenew Mega Challenge Blog Hop - Less is More

Hi there

There's something exciting just starting in blogland...

Altenew is teaming up with 18 challenge blogs for a MEGA Challenge Blog Hop to celebrate our wonderful crafting and cardmaking community, ahead of World Cardmaking Day on 1 October.

As part of the Less is More team I'm thrilled to be part of this fabulous hop with my fellow LIMette teamies, alongside the Design Teams of these awesome challenge blogs...

You can find the start of this Mega Hop along with all the details, including prizes to be won, here.  Links to all the wonderful challenge blogs can also be found throughout the hop.

So all you need to do is grab any of your Altenew products, start creating and link up for a chance to win.

I decided to have a play with my Painted Flowers stamp set and created this card, in true Less is More style of course...

I die cut a pierced square and stamped the flowers and leaves using lots of the individual elements in this fantastic layering set.  The sentiment was taken from another of Altenew's lovely sets, Beautiful Lady.  I also used Altenew Crisp Inks for the flowers.  A little yellow frame cut from another of the pierced squares and the card was finished.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Altenew - Painted Flowers, Beautiful Lady
• Ink: Altenew - Warm Sunshines, Mango Smoothie, Frayed Leaf, Forest Glades; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Pieced Square Stax
• Coloured Cardstock: Papermania

You may have noticed that another of the challenges taking part in the hop is Muse.  My teamies over there have also had some fun creating with Altenew, and I'll be back in just a moment with my second card.

Be right back :) 

Less is More Week #288

Hi there

I hope you had fun being spoilt by having two weeks for the last Less is More challenge!  While you had your thinking caps on I had a great time at the Happy Little Stampers Craft Retreat last weekend where I finally got to meet some of my wonderful teamies - the lovely Chrissie, Sarah and former designer, Anne.  It was fantastic to spend the weekend with a wonderful group of ladies who share the same hobby.

So, now that you're finished with creating with tactile elements we have a fresh new challenge for you this week and as it's the first challenge of the month we are back with a Colour theme which is...

Brown and Blue

We also have a new sponsor for the month of August...

This is a great little online store that stocks those crafty brands that are hard to get hold of here in the UK.  So why not play along throughout this month for a chance to win a prize :)

Now onto my cards.  For much of the craft retreat we were experimenting with Brushos.  The die cuts on my first card were cut from a piece of cardstock that I had smooshed into some Brusho colour crystals spritzed with water...

I masked a circle on a panel of white cardstock and blended within it with some blue Distress Inks.  I then flicked on some clean water and blotted with a paper towel to remove some of the colour.  The sentiment was stamped in dark brown, the panel popped up on 3D foam and the die cuts adhered overhanging the edge.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky; Versa Color - Pinecone; Brusho - Dark Brown
• Stamp: Altenew - Beautiful Lady
• Dies: Tim Holtz Sizzix - Wildflowers

Challenge entries:

Freshly Made Sketches - Challenge #248
Color Throwdown - Challenge #404

I'm also going to link up for fun at Happy Little Stampers August CAS Challenge where our theme is 'masking'.

For my second card I made a card using this cute stamp set by MFT...

I used watercolour cardstock for my image and card base.  I stamped the bear image in waterproof black ink and then watercoloured with some Distress Inks.  This was then die cut with a pierced square die.  On some brown cardstock I stamped the sentiment in VersaMark, heat embossed in white and then die cut using a fishtail flag die.  The sentiment strip was adhered flat and the image panel popped up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: MFT - Beary Special Birthday
• Ink: Archival - Jet Black; Distress Ink - Chipped Sapphire, Broken China, Vintage Photo and Tea Dye; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Dies: MFT - Pierced Square Stax, Fishtail Flag Stax
• Cardstock: Daler Rowney - Aquafine Watercolour

My teamies have some wonderful inspiration for you this week, and no doubt more super creations on their personal blogs too so if you have the time please do pop by.

That's all for now.

Less is More Weeks 286 & 287

Hi there

It's new challenge time over at Less is More.  Due to a few of the Design Team being away at the Happy Little Stampers craft retreat next weekend, this challenge will run for two weeks, so plenty of time for you lovely LIMettes to get your entries in!

So, what do we have for you this time?  Well, we're back with a Recipe challenge and we would like to see you use something...

Tactile

I have two samples for you, here's the first...

I took a panel of white cardstock and used an embossing folder to create the wavy background.  For more texture I used white embossing paste blended with some green and blue Distress Ink which is spread through a daisy stencil.  I then dotted on some Liquid Pearls on the flower centres and stamped the sentiment in black.  The panel was then popped up onto the card base using 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Embossing Folder: We R Memory Keepers - Next Level Wave
• Stencil: Imagination Crafts - Butterfly and Daisy
• Embossing Paste: Dreamweaver
• Ink: Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Mowed Lawn; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamp: MFT - Beary Special Birthday
• Accents: Liquid Pearls - Lemon Yellow

Challenge entries:

Ooh La La Creations - Challenge #209 - Add Some Texture

CASology - Week #207 - Rough

My next card is fairly simple but has tactile interest from the score lines, embossing and glossy enamel dots...

I started by stamping the flower in VersaMark before heat embossing with a lilac powder.  I then created some interest from the corner by adding some score lines.  The sentiment was heat embossed in silver, the panel popped up on 3D foam and a couple of enamel dots were added to finish.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Beautiful Blooms I; Clearly Besotted - Fancy Sayings
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Silver; Personal Impressions - Pastel Lilac
• Ink: VersaMark
• Accents: Doodlebug Sprinkles - Lilac Assortment
• Tools: Martha Stewart - Mini Score Board

Challenge entries:

Fantasy Stampers - Challenge #67 - Clean and Simple

The Crafter's Cafe - Challenge #153 - CAS

Uniko - Challenge #34 - Flowers

My teamies, as always, have some great inspiration for your over at LIM and on their personal blogs so, if you have time, please do take a look.

Thanks so much for visiting today.

Geometrics at Less is More

Hi there

There's a new challenge just starting at Less is More and this week we are back with everyone's favourite (ehem!) One Layer week.  This week we are looking for a...

Geometric Pattern

I've got three samples for you this week so let's get to it.


I was going to share this first card over on the LIM challenge post but my teamie, Sarah, had used the same stencil and also paired it with a bold sentiment, funny how our minds work on these challenges!  So, here it is...

I started by masking off the two bottom corners forming triangular areas.  I then laid my stencil over the top and blended three colours of Distress Ink.  I then removed the masks and stamped the sentiment...easy peasy!

Materials used:

• Stencil: MFT - Abstract
• Ink: Distress Ink - Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Festive Berries; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamp: MFT - Brushstroke Birthday

Challenge entries:

One Layer Simplicity - Challenge #26 - As You Wish April

AAA Cards - Game #61 - Stencilling
CAS Colours & Sketches - Colour Challenge #168 

Triangles again for my second card, this time being the facets of a gemstone...

I won this lovely heart stamp over at Kimberly's blog a while ago and this is the first time I've inked it up.  I stamped it in VersaMark ink and heat embossed with clear powder, created a mask and then blended Distress Inks within the shape, so the ink resisted the embossed lines.  The sentiment was simply stamped below.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Neat & Tangled - Heart of Gold; Wplus9 - Strictly Sentiments
• Ink: VersaMark; Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Mermaid Lagoon; Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Embossing Powder: Rubber Stampede - Clear

Challenge entries:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Try to Resist

I thought I'd go with circles for my final geometric pattern and created this unisex card...

All the circle and dot designs are from the same set, stamped randomly using inks in neutral colours.  I then chose the birthday sentiment, also with a dotted pattern, and stamped it below.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Inkadinkado - Circles and Dots; Clearly Besotted - Happy Birthday
• Ink: Versa Color - Laurel Leaf, Umber, Chateau Gray, Polar Blue, Sand Beige; Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entries:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Happy Birthday

So there you have it, nothing very difficult or scary about one layer cards.  The most difficult part was the masking of the heart.  Please pop over to my teamies' personal blogs if you have time as they have some super examples for you this week.  And we would, as always, love to see your creations in our gallery this week.

Autumn Is Here

Hi there fellow crafters

It's much darker in the mornings and getting dark earlier in the evenings and there's definitely a nip in the air here in the UK, and that's what this week's challenge at Less is More is all about.  We're back with our One Layer challenge and this week our theme is...

Autumn

You can find the guidelines for our one layer challenges here

I've got two cards to share with you today, here's the first...

I masked a horizontal panel and blended various Distress Inks in autumnal tones.  I then took a leaf image from a Kanban set, spritzed the stamp with water and then stamped on my panel one at a time, leaving the water to settle for a short while and then blotted with a paper towel to remove the colour.  Then, using second generation stamping I randomly stamped a small linear leaf image from a set by Honey Doo Crafts.  After removing the masks I finished by stamping the tree and sentiment from the same Kanban set in brown pigment ink.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Mustard Seed, Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade, Walnut Stain; Versa Color - Pine Cone
• Stamps: Kanban - Autumn Silhouettes; Honey Doo Crafts - Mini Shadows

Challenge entries:

The Friday Mash Up - Challenge #229 - Autumn/Masking (I didn't use the actual colours so just masking challenge here)
Stamping Sensations - October Challenge - Colours of Autumn
The Male Room - Challenge #20 - Autumn
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Autumn is in the Air
Time Out Challenges - Challenge #41 - 'Autumn...the year's last, loveliest smile'
Penny Black and More - October Challenge - Warm Autumn Colours




And my second card...

I used some mixed media paper to create my card base and then stamped the little leaves using VersaMark Ink.  I then heat embossed using gold embossing powder.  I used some of my Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens blended together with water to colour in the leaves.  The sentiment was then stamped in the centre in using brown pigment ink.

Materials used:

• Cardstock: Daler Rowney - Mixed Media
• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Mini Shadows; Clearly Besotted - Many Messages
• Ink: VersaMark; Versa Color - Pine Cone
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Gold Rich

Challenge entries:

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #394 - One Layer

Virginia's View - Challenge #19 - All Things Coloured

Fusion - Falling Leaves Bouquet (I used the photo for my inspiration)

{PIN}spirational Challenge - Challenge #150 - photo inspiration

Thanks so much for popping by.  One layer challenges can be a struggle but we would love to have you join us at Less is More this week.

Bye for now