Uniko October 2023 Release in Review, Brand Ambassador Blog Hop & Giveaway

Happy Saturday!

Over at Uniko today we have a Release in Review post for the new October 2023 products.  It took a while for the goodies to reach the Design Team so we weren't able to make inspiration projects in time for the introductions at the start of the month.

Bev is holding another blog hop and giveaway, so if you hop along and comment on all the Brand Ambassadors' posts (links over on the main post) you are in with a chance of winning a £20 eGift Card.

Ok, I'll get straight to it with my projects.

For this card I paired some of the new goodies with the Natures Treasures II Stencil...

I wanted to stamp some of the small leaf images inside the leaf stencil so I used a tool for this card that I've not used for years...my light box!!  To make it easier to stamp within the stencil I began by taping the stencil to the panel and then using an embossing tool from the back of the panel to trace around the shape, thereby pushing the cardstock forward so it was raised on the front and more in line with the edges of the stencil.  I grabbed one of my blending brushes and used the residual green ink from one of my previous projects to create the pale green background, and then proceeded to stamp the small leaf images from the new Autumn Serenade Clear Stamp Set.  The 'thanks' is also from this set and the 'for all you do' is from the new Big & Bold - Thank/s/ful Clear Stamp Set.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Autumn Serenade, Big & Bold Thank/s/ful
• Stencil: Uniko - Natures Treasures II
• Ink: Altenew - Autumn Blaze, Olive, Mocha, Sea Forest, Marshland; Versafine Clair - Fallen Leaves
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Scalloped Resctangles

Next up is a card using the beautiful Remembrance Clear Stamp set...

The poppy images in this set are just beautiful as they are so I just kept this card super simple.  Just stamped and coloured with Copics.  I chose to go with a blush pink for the petals, I think the pink and peach varieties are stunning.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Remembrance
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; VersaMagic - Pink Grapefruit
• Coloured with Copic Markers
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles

Next up is the new addition to the Big & Bold series...Big & Bold Thank/s/ful. 

I began by stamping the wreath from the Rustic Wreath Clear Stamp set, also stamped the berries, and then the tiny leaf from the Autumn Serenade Clear Stamp set.  I stamped the 'thank' and the 's', first in grey ink for a slight shadow, then shifted my card slightly before stamping in black.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Big & Bold Thank/s/ful, Rustic Wreath, Autumn Serenade
• Ink: Altenew - Forest Glades, Moss, Crimson, Silver Lake; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

And finally, I have two cards using the Framed: Snowflakes Clear Stamp set...

I began using one of the trees from the Christmas Pop Trio Stencil and ink blended using Cracked Pistachio Distress ink.  I then used just a section of the large stamp from the Framed Snowflakes set to stamp the background within the stencil.  I completed the card with a sentiment from the Pattern Building Christmas Tree Clear Stamp set and added some gems and a star from my stash.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Framed Snowflakes, Pattern Building Christmas Tree
• Stencil: Uniko - Christmas Pop Trio
• Ink: Distress Ink - Cracked Pistachio; Altenew - Hydrangea; Versafine Clair - Nocturne
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Scalloped Rectangles

And I used the Framed Snowflakes again here, paired with a sentiment from the Stunning Snowflakes Clear Stamp Set...

Revisiting an old design layout here.  I used low tack masking tape to create the horizontal mask.  I ink blended using Saltwater Taffy Distress Oxide ink, blending it out in both directions.  I then used the individual snowflakes that come with the Framed Snowflakes stamp set and inked these along the edges of the mask in various colours of pigment ink.  I removed the mask and added a sentiment from the Stunning Snowflakes set and finished with some silver glitter snowflake gems, sparkle was required!

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Framed Snowflakes, Stunning Snowflakes
• Ink: Distress Oxide - Saltwater Taffy, Versa Color - Mint, Lagoon Blue, Altantic, Peony, Petal Pink; Versafine Clair - Nocturne
• Gems from stash

I hope you enjoy taking a look at all the inspiration from the team, and if you're in the UK, enjoy the extra hour in bed tomorrow!

Less is More Challenge #454

Hi there, Happy Saturday

At Less is More today we have a new challenge and we're back with the dreaded One Layer!  But the theme is an easy one, here's the cue card...

For my card base and white space I chose some very lightly textured tan cardstock...

I aligned a metal stencil off the edge of my card front, held it in place with some stencil tape and then blended through it with four shades of Distress Ink.  I then finished it with a simple sentiment stamped in black.  And that was all.  I did think about adding some gems but I don't think it needs anything else.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Sweet Poppy Stencils - Foliage
• Ink: Distress Ink - Peeled Paint, Brushed Corduroy, Fossilized Amber, Aged Mahogany; Versafine Clair - Nocturne
• Stamp: Altenew - Leaf Canopy 
• Cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

CAS on Friday - Challenge #216 - Autumn or Halloween

My Time to Craft - Challenge #468 - Halloween or Fall Colours

Happy Little Stampers - October Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes

STAMPlorations - October Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting today, have a wonderful weekend.

Less is More Challenge #421

Good morning, everyone

It's Saturday morning so that means there's a fresh challenge just starting over at Less is More.  This time it's the turn of our Theme challenge and here is the cue card...

And we also have a generous sponsor back with us for the month of June, which is the fantastic Uniko so just by playing along in our challenges puts you in the running for our monthly prize.

I used products from Uniko on my sample card...

I did something I've not done for ages for this card, I trimmed away the front panel and used the outside edge of the inside to stamp my border.  I used my MISTI to stamp this multiple times with three shades of pink pigment ink to create an ombre effect.  Next I added a thin strip of pink cardstock to highlight the border of front panel.  I stamped, heat embossed in white and die cut the flower from co-ordinating cardstock and stamped the sentiment in black.  And to finish, I did something else I've not done for ages, I rounded the corners of the back panel for a little interest.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Background Builders: Flower Power, Kindness Blooms
• Die: Uniko - Kindness Blooms
• Ink: Versa Color - Petal Pink, Lilac, Amethyst; VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Altenew - Pure White
• Corner Rounder Punch by Tonic
• Cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

Time Out - Challenge #163 - Proust Quote

Just Add Ink - Challenge #508 - Just add "F" (flowers)

As always, the challenge will run for two weeks, and if you need more inspiration please do pop over to the main challenge blog, where you can also follow the links to my teamies' personal blogs as they may be sharing more projects there too.

Thanks as always for visiting x

More Honey Doo Makes

Good morning

I'm back today to share some more sample cards I've made for Honey Doo Crafts, ahead of their next shows on Create & Craft TV this Friday, 27 March 2020.

Amanda will be sharing her products and also doing demos in shows at 11.15am and 3.45pm.

All of my cards in this post were made using existing products, some of which will feature in the shows, and there will be a few new stamp sets on the shows too.  You can see previews of these over on the Honey Doo Facebook page, here.  Yesterday evening, Amanda held a Facebook Live giving you a preview of the stamps and samples.


First up I've used the Stars and Stripes set, Feathered Flourishes and Ribbons dies, and a sentiment from the Just in Case set...

I die cut a piece of kraft cardstock and then die cut some white cardstock with the Ribbons die and trimmed out just a section of it and adhered across the panel.  I then stamped and heat embossed the flowers in white pearl embossing powder and fussy cut them out.  I also die cut the flourish from some green vellum.  I curled the petals with a paint brush handle before adhering these with the flourish.  The sentiment was stamped in black and I added a pearl to the flower centre to finish before adhering the whole panel to the card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Stars & Stripes, Just in Case
• Dies: Honey Doo Crafts - Ribbons, Feathered Flourish; Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Ink: VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Wow - White Pearl
• Kraft Cardstock: Neenah Classic Crest - Dessert Storm
• Vellum and pearl from stash

For this next card I've used Stars and Stripes again, Mesh stencil and sentiment from Just in Case...

On a piece of cardstock I blended through the Mesh stencil using a rainbow of Distress Inks, which I then die cut with a stitched border die and adhered down the edge of the card base.  I then stamped the flowers in black and heat embossed in clear.  These were popped up on glue dots and I finished with a stamped sentiment.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Honey Doo Crafts - Mesh
• Ink: Distress Ink - Squeezed Lemonade, Carved Pumpkin, Candied Apple, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet, Broken China, Lucky Glover; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Stars and Stripes, Just in Case
• Die: Poppy Stamps - Stitched Landscapes

This one uses the Stitch in Time set and a sentiment also from Just in Case...

I used my MISTI to stamp the repeated flower background with just the one flower stamp in the set, these were then coloured with teal toned ProMarkers, the darkest flower in the centre then fading out to paler flowers around the edge.  The panel was then adhered flat before adding a popped up embossed sentiment.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Stitch in Time, Just in Case
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; VersaMark
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Embossing Powder: Wow - Opaque Bright White

A very simple card next, using the Starry Eye and Just in Case stamp sets...

I die cut two pierced squares, one in white and one from patterned paper.  I then stamped the flower onto the same patterned paper and heat embossed in white.  I popped up the white square over the patterned one, and then fussy cut the flower.  The pieces were adhered to the card base, the sentiment stamped below and a purple pearl enamel dot added to the centre of the flower.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Starry Eye, Just in Case
• Die: MFT - Pierced Square Stax
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow - Opaque Bright White

Starry Eye was used again for this next one, along with the Tartan stencil and Cheers sentiment set...

Here, firstly I stamped the flowers and then masked them before creating the background with the Tartan stencil.  I coloured the flowers and die cut the panel.  To finish I stamped the sentiment onto a vellum strip, heat embossed in white and then wrapped this around the panel.  The panel was adhered on fun foam and some gems added to complete the card.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Starry Eye, Cheers
• Stencil: Honey Doo Crafts - Tartan
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; VersaMark; Distress Ink - Victoria Velvet, Tattered Rose
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Vellum and gems from stash

My final card uses the leaves from the Stitch in Time set and sentiment from Daffodils...

I wasn't sure about this card, and I'm still not, but I wanted to use just the leaves from the Stitch in Time set.  I added masking tape to the card base about half way down and blended upwards with a little green ink and then used blue ink to create the clouds using a stencil.  I then stamped the leaves multiple times in a row, masking a few, and then coloured with ProMarkers.  The sentiment was heat embossed in white onto a die cut sentiment strip.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Stitch in Time, Daffodils
• Stencil: MFT - Cloud
• Ink: Distress Ink - Mowed Lawn, Tumbled Glass; Memento - Tuxedo Black; VersaMark
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Embossing Powder: Wow - Opaque Bright White
• Die: Clearly Besotted - Stripped Die Collection

Thanks so much for visiting.  I hope, with so many people having to stay at home, you can tune in to the two shows of Friday and support Amanda.  At the moment Honey Doo and Create and Craft TV have measures in place for the show to still go ahead despite the COVID-19 issues.  

Take care of yourselves during this uncertain time, I'm sending lots of love to you all xx

(AD - some products kindly gifted for design team purposes)

Same But Different

Good morning

Just popping by to share a couple of cards I made recently.

I needed to make two cards at short notice so I chose the same design idea, just changing up the products on each.

For both of these I masked the borders on the bottom right with tape and then stencilled a background, gently fading it out.  Both floral images were simply stamped in black and left as outline images.  And to finished I added black sentiment strips with the sentiments heat embossed in white.

For super quick last minute makes I love how these turned out.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Funky Fossil - Basketweave
• Stamps: Dina Wakley Media - Scribbly Flowers; S P & Co - Just a Note
• Ink: Distress Ink - Picked Raspberry; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Altenew - Pure White

Challenge entries:

Addicted to CAS - Challenge #177 - Ombre

Materials used:

• Stencil: MFT - Fishnet
• Stamps: Altenew - Extra Special, Leaf Canopy (sentiment)
• Ink: Distress Ink - Shaded Lilac; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Altenew - Pure White

Challenge entries:

Stamping Sensations - February Challenge - Feminine
Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #374 - CAS




Thanks so much for visiting.  I'll be back this evening with details of the next CAS Challenge over at Happy Little Stampers.  Happy Sunday, everyone x

Honey Doo Crafts - January 2020 Release - Selection Two

Hi there

As promised, I'm back with the rest of my samples using the new dies from Honey Doo Crafts as well as some existing products in the range.

And don't forget, Amanda from Honey Doo will be showcasing the new dies, along with some of their existing products on Create & Craft TV tomorrow, Friday 17 January 2020 at 9am and 1pm.

Ok, let's get to it, and first up are two cards using the new Tartan die...

I die cut a rectangular aperture in the front of the card base and also in some cardstock to be used as the upper panel.  I then cut the tartan die cut in half and adhered these back to back so there were no raw edges.  These were then sandwiched between the card and panel and the panel was adhered to the base using 3D foam.  I stamped and heat embossed the flower twice on yellow vellum, fussy cut these and adhered them together.  I added some decorative crystals to the centre.  The sentiment was stamped on a die cut tag and adhered under the flower, and a bow added to finish.

Materials used:

• Dies: Honey Doo Crafts - Tartan; Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles; MFT - Stitched Rectangles, Stitched Traditional Tags
• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Chrysanthemum, New Job
• Ink: VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Accents: Cosmic Shimmer Glitter Jewels - Iced Crystals
• Vellum and ribbon from stash

Challenge entries:

Dream Valley - Challenge #216 - Something New (new crafty stash and new start)
My Time to Craft - Challenge #413 - New Stash

Happy Little Stampers - January Anything Goes with Dies
Moving Along with the Times - Challenge  #114 - All Things New (new crafty stash and new start)

Here I used the Tartan die again to partially cover the background...

I adhered some mid grey cardstock to the card base then used the tartan die on dark grey textured card.  I trimmed this on the diagonal and adhered it to the bottom corner.  I stamped and heat embossed the flowers and leaves on clear vellum and coloured on the reverse with Zig markers.  These were fussy cut and layered up and adhered in place.  The sentiment was also heat embossed on a die cut piece of vellum and adhered under the flower with a glue dot.

Materials used:

• Dies: Honey Doo Crafts - Tartan; Spellbinders Nestabilities - Reverse Wonky Rectangles
• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Chrysanthemum, Retirement
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Altenew - Pure White
• Vellum from stash coloured with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers

Challenge entries:

Allsorts - Challenge #554 - Say It With Flowers
Penny Black and More - January Challenge - Make It Feminine

Next up I've used the new Encircle die...

I die cut a white panel with a stitched rectangle die and cut a circular aperture.  I die cut the Encircle die once from teal coloured cardstock and again from patterned paper.  I added some adhesive to the card base, trimmed down and adhered the positive part using the teal die cut.  I then inlaid the negative sections using the patterned paper die cuts.  I stamped the sentiment before adhering the upper panel on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Dies: Honey Doo Crafts - Encircle; Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles; Hero Arts - Infinity Circle dies
• Patterned Paper: First Edition - Wildflowers; teal cardstock from stash
• Stamp: Honey Doo Crafts - New Job
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black

And finally, I've used one of the existing stencils, Mosaic, along with two stamp sets, Budding Flourishes and Repot Rose...

I blended a die cut panel lightly with Distress Inks before adding the stencil and then deepening the colours.  I stamped the floral image in black ink directly over the blended background.  To finish I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment in gold onto a strip of vellum, wrapped this around the panel and adhered it to the base.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Honey Doo Crafts - Mosaic
• Ink: Distress Ink - Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, Broken China; Versafine - Onyx Black; VersaMark
• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Budding Flourishes, Repot Rose (sentiment)
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Gold Rich

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #372 - Make your Mark (ink blending and stencilling)
Sweet Stampin - Attitude of Gratitude
STAMPlorations - January Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes





Thanks again for visiting, I hope you can take a look at the products and demos on Create & Craft tomorrow.  If not, you can watch the shows on catch up on the website.  And don't forget, all the Honey Doo products are also available to purchase direct from their store, here.


(AD - some products kindly gifted for design team purposes)

Less is More Challenge #400

Good morning

It's new challenge day at Less is More and this will be our 400th Challenge!  I can hardly believe that when I became a member of the Design Team I joined for challenge number 225, back in May 2015!  Where on earth has that time gone?

So, let's get straight to it, and this time we have a Recipe challenge for you and it's all about using the little images in your stash...

Skull and Cross Buns continues as our sponsor for July so by playing along you are automatically in with a chance of winning our monthly prize.

Being a member of the Skull and Cross Buns Design Team was perfect for me as the majority of their stamps fit within the challenge criteria this week.  I have four samples for you, all showcasing SACB products.


Here's the first...

You'd be forgiven for thinking I've broken our rules with the dotted banner on this one, but I created this by using a little row of dots from the Planner Banner set, here.  I used my MISTI to ensure consistent placement across the card.  I stamped the little images within a square die cut and coloured with ProMarkers before popping it up onto another slightly larger die cut.  I finished by stamping the sentiment in lilac and added some shimmery sparkle to the bee's wings.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Planner Banner, Quirky Sentiments, Spring Motifs
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versa Color - Heliotrope; Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Pierced Square Stax
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Accent: Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen - Clear

Challenge entries:

Alphabet Challenge - I is for Insect
CASology - Week 348 - Shimmer

I kept my next card super simple...

This is purely just a stamped sentiment surrounded by lots of other tiny images, all from the same stamp set.  To add some interest I used hammered cardstock for the base, which you can just about make out in the photo below, it was really difficult to capture it...

Materials used:

• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Modern Wedding
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Altenew - Coral Berry, Forest Glades, Andromeda, Moon Rock

Challenge entries

STAMPlorations - Summer CAS Card Challenge - Anything CAS Goes
AAA Cards - CAS Game #144 - Maxi White Space

This next card is a CASE of a card I found recently on Pinterest by the super inspiring Donna Mikasa, you can find it on her blog, here.

I used emboss resist on the card base, stamping and heat embossing the images in clear embossing powder then blending over with Distress Oxide inks.  Then just simply adhered an offset panel flat to the base, with the sentiment stamped in black.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Crafting is my Super Power
• Ink: VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress Oxide - Squeezed Lemonade, Picked Raspberry, Shaded Lilac
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Clear Gloss

Challenge entries:

Try It On Tuesday - Colours of the Rainbow
STAMPlorations - Summer Theme and Sketch Challenge - Stamps and Anything Goes

And finally...

I began by inking through a sun ray stencil and then stamped the palm tree image in black.  I die cut the scene with a circle die then heat embossed the sentiment in gold.  I sliced a strip away from the front of the card and stamped the tropical leaves along the edge of the inner part.  The die cut was then adhered overhanging the edge.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Clearly Besotted - Sunny Day
• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Tropical Party, Quirky Sentiments
• Ink: Distress Oxide - Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, Abandoned Coral; Versafine - Onyx Black; VersaMark; Altenew - Frayed Leaf, Moss
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Gold Rich
• Die: Hero Arts - Infinity Circles

I think this would be a great opportunity to use the little images in your craft stash so why not join in by linking up to our gallery.  There's a fortnight to enter and you can find lots of inspiration from my teamies over on the main challenge post, here.