Uniko: You're Going to Flip - Ink & Flip Geometric Heart Layering Stencil Revisited

Good morning 

More Ink & Flip inspiration for you today from Uniko.

Each day this week, Bev and the Brand Ambassadors are revisiting the existing Ink & Flip stencils, ahead of a new release stencil set which will be available from Saturday.  Be sure to check out the Uniko blog to see lots of inspiration from the team.

So today is all about the Ink & Flip Geometric Heart Layering Stencils.  You can use the two stencils together or just use the central geometric heart on its own.

I have two cards for you today and have used just the central heart on these, and for my first I've kept it super clean and simple...

I inked up using the first side of the stencil with Distress Oxide ink in Speckled Egg.  I then cleaned the stencil, flipped it over and then spread over the stencil using a mix of stencil paste and Distress Oxide ink in Kitsch Flamingo.  This was then left to dry before finishing the card with a sentiment from the Flower Power #3 set in black ink.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Uniko - Ink & Flip Geometric Heart Layering Stencil
• Stamps: Uniko - Flower Power #3 (sentiment)
• Ink: Distress Oxide - Speckled Egg, Kitsch Flamingo; Versafine Clair - Nocturne
• Stencil Paste: Sweet Poppy - Stencil Dimensions in Pearlescent White

For my other card I dug out by Brusho pigment powders...

On some watercolour card I laid the heart stencil down, sprinkled sparingly with purple Brushos and then spritzed with a mist of water to release the pigment.  I removed the stencil and left the pigment to dry, then I flipped the stencil and repeated the process using blue Brushos to complete the heart.  I had a rummage in my coloured papers and found this co-ordinating purple jacquard paper, also with a geometric pattern.  I used a border die, trimmed down the panel and adhered it to the card base, leaving the patterned paper showing at the base.  I finished with a sentiment from the Just Because stamp set.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Uniko - Ink & Flip Geometric Heart Layering stencil
• Stamps: Uniko - Just Because
• Ink: Brushos - Purple, Ultramarine; Versafine Clair - Nocturne
• Dies: Stampin' Up Edgelits - Adorning Accents; Altenew - Featured Sentiments
• Patterned paper from stash

I hope these have given you some inspiration today.  Don't forget to visit the Uniko blog, here, to see the Brand Ambassadors' makes using this stencil set, and we'll be showcasing another tomorrow.

Uniko October/November Stencil Release - Introducing...Flower Power #6

Good morning

It's day two of the stencil introductions for the latest mini release coming up from Uniko.

Bev is introducing another fab stencil to join the Flower Power series, this time it's #6, featuring the familiar rose design.  This one features the background solid images and the detailed roses, as well leaves, and also comes with masks of the solid images.

I kept my first card really simple but used something I've not used for a long time...texture paste...

I die cut a stitched rectangle from some linen cardstock and then mixed a little Distress Ink with white texture paste, before spreading it through the largest rose.  While still wet I sprinkled on some super fine glitter.  Before completely dry I gently pressed the glitter into the paste to ensure it was adhered.  When dry I inked through the leaves with Distress Oxide ink.  It would have been easier to do those first! I finished with a sentiment in black ink, from the Simply Said stamp set.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Uniko - Flower Power #6
• Stamps: Uniko - Simply Said
• Ink: Distress Ink - Scattered Straw; Distress Oxide - Cracked Pistachio; Versafine Clair - Nocturne
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Embossing Paste: Dreamweaver
• Accents: Sweet Poppy - Super Fine Satin Glitter - Crystalina Rainbow

And for my second I layered up the solid and detailed images...

I inked up the solid rose image first, then used a darker ink to add the detailed rose.  I also did the same with the leaves before die cutting with a pierced square die.  This was then mounted onto a larger square, die cut from deep pink cardstock.  I then finished with a stamped sentiment from the Pure Florals Rose stamp set.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Uniko - Flower Power #6
• Stamp: Uniko - Pure Florals Rose
• Ink: Distress Ink - Worn Lipstick, Festive Berries, Bundled Sage, Rustic Wilderness; Versafine Clair - Nocturne
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Pierced Square Stax

Please do pop over to the main Uniko blog, here, to see this new stencil in action, with some awesome projects from Bev and the Brand Ambassadors.

The new stencils will be available to purchase from the Uniko website from 3 November at 9.00am GMT.  Bev is also doing a Giveaway so pop along to the blogs of each member of the team and leave a comment for a chance to win the stencils.

I'll be back with more tomorrow, using the final two stencils from this release.

Micro Bead Wreath of Hearts

Good afternoon

I'm back this afternoon to share the last of my 2021 Christmas card makes.  Apologies that the selection was a little limited this year, that will teach me for leaving them even later than I usually do!

This will also be my last post of this year as I'm back to work tomorrow.  As you will have seen in my recent posts, I've also decided to step down from all the challenge blog Design Teams I've been part of for many years.  Hopefully this will give me the opportunity to put my spare time to better use and be able to craft more, without having the other commitments and deadlines that come with being on challenge blog Design Teams.  Hopefully it will be something I could reconsider in the future, it sure was fun.  I still remain a member of the Skull and Cross Buns Design Team and will introduce and showcase Emily's products when she needs me.

Ok, back to my final Christmas card, and this was the one I made for my other half...

To make it a bit more masculine I began with a die cut panel of kraft cardstock.  I used the same technique as my previous trees card which used micro beads...I inked through the stencil with Distress Ink first and then cleaned the stencil before spreading translucent paste through it over the inked image and then sprinkling on the glass beads.  This was then left to dry completely before adhering the panel to a white card base.  And yes, it's the same sentiment again!  It was on my desk so it got used for pretty much every Christmas card this year!  I heat embossed it on a black die cut strip.  To finish, I die cut a bow from red glossy mirri cardstock and adhered this to the top of the wreath.

Materials used:

• Dies: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles; Altenew - Featured Sentiments Die Set; The Greetery - Fit to be Tied
• Stencil: Clearly Besotted - Circle Around
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Simple Script
• Ink: Distress Ink - Rustic Wilderness, Pine Needles; VersaMark
• Embossing Paste: Sweet Poppy - Stencil Dimensions:Translucent
• Embossing Powder: Brutus Monroe - Alabaster White
• Cardstock: Neenah - Desert Storm; red mirri card from stash
• Accents: Sweet Poppy - Clear Glass Micro Beads

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards - Game #205 - Christmas

Happy Little Stampers - December Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers - December Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes

NBUS - Challenge #33 - The Greetery bow die and the wreath stencil are new to my stash

CHNC - Challenge #574 - Anything Goes Christmas

Uniko - Challenge #68 - Celebrate (Reds and Greens)

STAMPlorations - December Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes

I just love the online crafting community and want to say thank you all for your support and encouraging feedback throughout this year.  It's so great to know that I can provide lots of inspiration, and gain some back too!

So, all that's left to say is...

Trio of Micro Bead Trees

Hi guys

Tonight I'm sharing one of my very last cards made this year.  

I purchased a new stencil from Clearly Besotted, last month I think, which features some really cute abstract trees and I wanted to use it at least once this year.

As I've only used them once before, I decided to use my clear glass micro beads on this one...

Firstly, I die cut a stitched rectangle before adhering the stencil in place with some low tack tape.  I then ink blended through the stencil with three shades of Distress Ink.  I removed, cleaned and dried the stencil and placed it back in position.  I spread some stencil paste through the tree apertures and quickly removed the stencil before sprinkling over the micro beads.  The paste is opaque to begin with but turns translucent as it dries, and also then holds on to the beads once dry.  I left the panel overnight to dry then gave it a brush over to remove any beads that weren't fully adhered.

To finish I adhered the panel to a card base and then added a black sentiment strip, with the sentiment heat embossed in white.  You can see a closer view of the micro beads in the photo below.

Materials used:

• Dies: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles; Altenew - Featured Sentiments Die Set
• Stencil: Clearly Besotted - Trimmed Trees
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Simple Script
• Ink: Distress Ink - Blueprint Sketch, Wilted Violet, Picked Raspberry; VersaMark
• Embossing Paste: Sweet Poppy - Stencil Dimensions:Translucent
• Embossing Powder: Brutus Monroe - Alabaster White
• Accents: Sweet Poppy - Clear Glass Micro Beads

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards - Game #205 - Christmas

Happy Little Stampers - December Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers - December Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes

NBUS - Challenge #33 - new stencil

CHNC - Challenge #574 - Anything Goes Christmas

STAMPlorations - December Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes

I hope you liked this one.  I have another to share using micro beads so I'll probably be back with that one tomorrow morning.  That's all for today, I hope you'll pop back again.

Elegant Tree with Micro Beads

Hi there

I've shared all my multiple makes with you so now I'll start sharing a few individual cards I made for certain people this year.  Today I'm sharing my first card using glass micro beads which I purchased from Sweet Poppy.  This was the Christmas card I made for my bestie this year.

I die cut the upper panel first using a stitched rectangle die, obviously you can't feed anything through a die-cutting machine after using this technique.  I then ink blended through the tree stencil with three shades of ink before then spreading translucent paste over the top.  You then need to work quickly to add the micro beads after removing the stencil before the paste starts to dry.  I used clear micro beads here over translucent paste so the colours then show through once dry.  Next I manipulated a clear sentiment stamp to follow the curve at the base of the tree and then stamped and heat embossed in silver.

Once completely dry, and allowing any warping to flatten out, I adhered the panel over some silver no-shed glitter cardstock and then adhered this flat to the card base.  I just love the effect of these beads and how it sparkles, it's so pretty!  

Materials used:

• Stencil: Funky Fossil Designs - Elegant Tree
• Ink: Altenew - Lagoon, Bamboo, Hydrangea; VersaMark
• Embossing Paste: Sweet Poppy - Stencil Dimensions: Translucent
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Cosy Christmas
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Silver
• Accents: Sweet Poppy - Clear Glass Micro Beads

Challenge entries:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Challenge #522 - Anything Goes Christmas

Always Fun Challenges - Challenge #194 - Christmas

Allsorts Challenge - Week 603/4 - Sparkle and Shine

NBUS - Challenge #21 - first use of micro beads and this stencil

STAMPlorations - December Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes

Uniko - Challenge #62 - 'Tis the Season (option: Sparkle)

I still have a few more individual cards to share so will be back again very soon.

Less is More Challenge #418

Good morning

I do believe it's Saturday!  Although I'm working from home at the moment I keep completely losing track of my days, I'm sure you're all the same.

If it is indeed Saturday then it's time for the new challenge at Less is More.  We have a Recipe challenge for you this time, and here is the cue card...

We also have some wonderful news....we have not one, not two, but THREE NEW DESIGN TEAMIES!  So please pop on over to the main Less is More page, here, to see who they are.  Welcome to the team, folks!


Ok, on to my sample card, and this is a bit different for me...

This was my second attempt at making this, there was a bit of trial and error involved!  I wanted to use one of my new Clearly Besotted stencils to create the drips of an ice cream topping.  I'm clearly thinking about food far too much while in lockdown, eh!  To create the chocolate waffle cone I used brown cardstock and an embossing folder then trimmed it into a cone shape.  The ice cream was a little trickier...I ended up using pearlescent pale pink cardstock which I partially cut with a cloud die and then partially cut the rest with a round balloon die.  It's far from perfect but I think it worked out ok.  I then used part of a splat in the stencil which I blended through first with pink ink before topping with embossing paste and then sprinkling with glitter.  Once dry, all that was left to do was mount it on a panel, trim off the bottom of the cone, stamp the sentiment and pop the panel up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Dies: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles; MFT Die-namics - Cloud Trio and Blueprints 26 (partial dies used)
• Embossing Folder: Darice - Wire Fence
• Stencil: Clearly Besotted - Splat It
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Sweet Plushies
• Ink: Distress Ink - Festive Berries; Versa Color - Camelia
• Embossing Paste: Sweet Poppy - Stencil Dimensions Translucent
• Accents: Super Fine Satin Glitter in Crystalina Rainbow
• Cardstock from stash

Challenge entries

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #386 - Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers - April Anything Goes with Dies Challenge






Hopefully this theme will give you lots of options for themes and techniques you can use.  Looking forward to seeing your creations in our gallery.  And if you need some more inspiration, there's plenty over at the LIM challenge blog, just follow my teamies' links for more info on each of their cards.

Less is More Challenge #411

Good morning, everyone

Hopefully Blogger has scheduled this post for me on time this morning as I'm currently away.  I travelled up to Kent yesterday for our annual Christmas party last night (our company party is always in January) so I'll be travelling back down to Devon today.

I'm here to share the new challenge just starting over at Less is More and yes, shudder if you will, it's One Layer challenge time!  Here is the cue card, which you can interpret however you like...

Continuing as our sponsor for January is the generous Skull and Cross Buns, so please do play along as you'll automatically be in the running for the monthly prize.

I've used Skull and Cross Buns products on both of my sample cards this time.  And most of my makes usually have off centre designs anyway so this was a pretty easy challenge for me.

Here's the first, and I used the off centre rule for one of my techniques on this one...

I used a stencil to create the hearts, blending first in the pink shade, then placing the stencil 'off centre' and re-blending with the red shade.  Although this area of the stencil is fairly small, the design is continuous, allowing you to shift the stencil and continue inking with no break in the pattern.  Once the stencilling was complete I stamped the sentiment in black ink.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Brush Heart Pattern
• Ink: Distress Ink - Worn Lipstick, Candied Apple; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamp: Skull and Cross Buns - Brush Hearts

Challenge entries:

Always Fun Challenges - Challenge #145 - One Layer

STAMPlorations - January Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes

For this card I used one of the newer stamp sets to the Skull and Cross Buns range, Christmas Foxes...

This set isn't just for Christmas, it's great for sending winter wishes too.  I stamped the fox and the sentiments in black ink and then coloured the fox using coloured pencils.  To finish I used a dotted stencil to create the snow, using embossing paste, just masking off to avoid the stamped areas.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Christmas Foxes
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
• Coloured with Faber Castell Polychromos
• Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Dots and Spots Large
• Embossing Paste: Dreamweaver

Challenge entries:

CAS on Friday - Challenge #171 - Winter
Inkspirational - Challenge #204 - Fauna
Creative with Stamps - Challenge #46 - Scarf





As usual, this challenge will remain open for the next fortnight, so plenty of time to play along and link up.  I hope you can join us.