Saturday 28 October 2017

Less is More #352

Morning friends!

I'm leaving this post in the 'trusty' hands of Mr Blogger as I'm away for a couple of days so hopefully his scheduling skills are working to the max today as I'd like to introduce our latest challenge from Less is More 

It's the turn of our RECIPE challenge and here's the cue card


I've gone with a really simple and straight forward technique using purpose made layering clear stamps which are so popular on the market these days for adding extra detail with the hard work taken out of it by the stamp designers and manufacturers.

I've 2 cards for you and first up using one of my favourite sets from Altenew along with their inks too which work beautifully with all the different tones in the sets.


In fact it ended up being a two-fer as I used different tones of the same colour families to ink up 
my butterflies...deep and subtle. I think I prefer the deep version but personal taste I suppose. The sentiment is from a couple of Uniko sets ... Festive Sentiments (Happy) and Simply Said (Birthday)



Next up a little Christmas variety using some other stamps from our super sponsor Uniko, these are Winter Foliage, Jingle Bells and Festive Sentiments. The pine-cone and poinsettia are both layered stamps and again I've used Altenew inks for stamping. 


It's an Anything Goes week at Simon Says Stamp so I'd like to head across there with this one.


As always there's loads of fabulous designs from my fellow teamies over on the main blog HERE and our sponsor for this month is Uniko so do play along for a chance of a prize, which we announce at the start of next month.




Hope you'll play along and have some fun and thanks for calling by today. 


Sarah

Saturday 21 October 2017

Less is More #351

Hi there, where did that week go? I seriously need some time to jump off this treadmill ... so I've gone off piste and 'out of this world' today for this week's theme challenge from Less is More and here's the cue card 



It's almost Halloween so feel free to combine it with something of a spooky nature but here's my example and just the one this week but I'm sure my fellow teamies will have plenty more offerings of inspiration over on the main blog HERE

Supplies:
We R Memory Keepers: Next Level embossing folder
Neat & Tangled: Hooray word die and sentiment stamp
Clearly Besotted: Out of this World set
Stampendous: Hanging around (just for the party hats)
Promarkers

I hope you'll join in the fun with this one and don't forget if you want to be in with a chance of a prize from this month's sponsor Uniko you need to play and we'll announce our winner at the start of next month!


Thanks for calling by today and have a good weekend!
Sarah

Monday 16 October 2017

Uniko Reveal, Release and GIVEAWAY - October 2017

Hi there and thanks for visiting me again today!

So you've had the Sneaky Peeks and Introductions and now we have the BIG Reveal, Release and GIVEAWAY of this month's new stamp sets from Uniko and I hope you've enjoyed all the showcases and inspiration in the lead up to today.

I've some more cards for you to showcase these fabulous sets and they are now available in the shop HERE and waiting for you to buy! I've gone a bit 'Santa/Christmas' happy with the first 2 using the Block Party Christmas shown here, with Distress Inky background and heat embossed images in white. Plus some glamour dust to a few areas and Santa almost heavenly! Well he is - right???


The same set featured below but highlighted areas coloured simply with Promarkers


Next up, featuring the Wonky Stripes Background Block, Festive Sentiments as well as the Block Party Christmas - but just Santa. Again simply coloured with Promarkers and a postage friendly bundle for the holiday season.



All that's left for me to do is set you off on the traditional Design Team Blog Hop and wish you luck. The details you need are over on the Uniko blog HERE so if you get lost along the way just head back there.

Sarah - that's me!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you like what you've seen these last few days and here's the FULL images of the sets we've been showcasing!

     

   


Even more exciting news for you is that Bev has got some more sneaky new goodies on offer from today too! First up she's re-releasing the Snowflake dies from a few years ago and just in time to team up lovely with these Christmas Beauties.


... and do you remember the AWESOME Flower Power range of stamps from Uniko? Well let's hope so as we've got some matching dies for the sets 1-6 on sale today! 


Last but by no means least and a brand new range of goodies for you ... STENCILS! The added bonus is they match some of the existing Background Block stamps so first up we have the Scattered Polka dots followed by Wonky Stripes! I can't wait to get my hands on these goodies so hope you do to!

   


Sarah

Sunday 15 October 2017

Uniko - Introducing Organic Wishes


Hi there, I'm back with the last of our introductions in advance of the release of new goodies from Uniko and today we are introducing you to Organic Wishes. I haven't had a lot of time to play with this set but I imagine it'll work wonders accompanied with the previously released Organics sets.

I've 2 cards to share and both using Distress inks to create the backgrounds but in very different colourways 


First up dreamy and feminine using Seedless Preserves, Picked Raspberry and Worn Lipstick before heat embossing the images with WOW rich gold powder.



Followed up with red hot and spicy in true Autumn tones. The Distress inks used here are Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon and Candied Apple before double-inking the images and sentiments with Memento Tuxedo black once the distress inks had dried.

So that's it and tomorrow is the BIG reveal and GIVEAWAY of this month's release and you can follow the schedule over on the Uniko blog HERE as well as links and peeks at how my fellow teamies have worked their magic!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you feel inspired and possibly tempted to purchase some goodies when the shop opens tomorrow.


Sarah


Saturday 14 October 2017

Uniko - Introducing Background Blocks Wonky Stripes


I'm thrilled you've visited again today as it's for the next Introduction as we get ready to release this month's goodies over at Uniko.

Today we are introducing you to the Wonky Stripes ... and yet another of those background blocks. I think this has to be one of my favourites of the month as there's so many possibilities and not just for Christmas although today's offerings are once again on a festive note!


These colours would work for loads of occasions but as the Bright and Beautiful Festive sentiments were to hand and the Christmas season was in mind that's exactly what I went with. More OFF the WALL and non-traditional Christmas colours with a few matching enamel dots for extra detail.

... and before you remove your sunglasses I've got a few more bright and striking ones with some mini-makes, each one using the 'wonky strip' background block, 2 rainbow santas! One, coloured with Promarkers plus added 'snow' detail using a white gel pen. The other one showing blended distress inks over the embossed BG, with the third in the trade-mark-ish 'Uniko' colours and teamed with a Christmas set from last year (I think) called Christmas Sparkle.




We've one more day of introductions before the BIG release and you can follow the schedule over on the Uniko blog HERE as well as links and peeks at how my fellow teamies have worked their magic!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll be back tomorrow for that last one before release day.

Sarah

Less is More #350

Morning friends!

Another week has zipped by and here's my regular Saturday morning post for Less is More and it's that ONE layer week which we love to love and hate in equal measures!

Here's the cue card for this week which should be straightforward and I can't wait to see what you come up with.


Once again using images by this month's sponsor Uniko and delighted that Bev is joining us again this month as the Guest Designer. The 'stamped' panel is from the Background Block: Stars, released last month with the 'Happy' sentiment one of the new sets being released on Monday. The 'birthday' from Simply Said Birthday.




Next up a really simple Christmas card using one of the sets, again from last month's Uniko release: Background Builders: Seeing Stars and sneaking in a little sentiment from the Festive Sentiments, soon to be released, later this week!


There's a couple of challenges I've decided to link this one up in; first up Addicted to Stamps and More with their 'Holiday' theme and Inkspirational is looking for a ONE layer card so hey-ho ... it would be rude not to!


 


As always there's loads of fabulous designs from my fellow teamies over on the main blog HERE and
our sponsor for this month is Uniko so do play along for a chance of a prize, which we announce at the start of next month.



Hope you'll play along and have some fun and thanks for calling by.


Sarah

Friday 13 October 2017

Uniko - Introducing Background Blocks: Falling Snow

Hi there, thanks for checking in again as I've another Introduction for you in anticipation of this month's stamp release from Uniko and today we've one of the ever-popular Background Block stamps! As we are approaching that Festive Season why not sprinkle some snowflakes!

I've 2 ideas for you today and both are teamed with some of those gorgeous Festive Sentiments we featured yesterday. First up it's all blues ... I simply can't resist using blue with snowflakes so they are inked with Altenew inks to create a mini-ombre effect with the sentiment inked in the same colours.



Next up ... who says snowflakes have to be white!!!! or blue even! Perhaps this is a little OTT though but I can't resist using non-traditional colours for Christmas and teamed with the Merry & Bright sentiment I think these Ziggy coloured snowflakes work brilliantly. I used a snowdrift die from MFT to separate the two sections of the card and used a Promarker in a deep blue to define the edge. The sentiment is inked with black then heat embossed with sparkling clear EP but sadly the sparkle doesn't show on the photo.


I hope this has whet your appetite for more!

You can follow the release schedule over on the Uniko blog HERE as well as links and peeks at how my fellow teamies have worked their magic with the sets!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll be back tomorrow for the next introduction.



Sarah

Uniko Challenge #43 - Reminder

Hi there, I'm back with a little reminder about our current challenge over at Uniko and in case you've not spotted this popular theme of the moment around blogland it's Autumn, with the option of adding a Halloween twist if you like.

Here's mine but using the colours of the season as oppose to the Halloween theme and I've used one of the older sets from Uniko: Natures Treasures II, with a bang up to date sentiment block from last month's release: Simply Said Blocks.



As always there's plenty of fantastic creations by my fellow teamies, so why not head over to the Uniko blog HERE to check out the links and pay them a visit! I'm sure they'd appreciate it!



Our Guest Designer for this challenge is Viyaylaxmi of All By Heart Creations who is one of our previous Uniko Challenge winners. Do pop along and visit her blog and leave a friendly word and some love, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

You have until midnight on Friday, 27th October to link up to the challenge and all the details you need about prizes and how to play can be found over at Uniko HERE

As always thanks for calling by my blog today and I hope you feel inspired and will play along with us!


Sarah

Thursday 12 October 2017

Uniko - Introducing Festive Sentiments

Hello there friends, are you ready for some more Introductions? I hope so as we are gearing up for the brand new release from Uniko this month and today is the turn of Festive Sentiments!

This really is a beautiful set that can work on it's own or combined with other Uniko Christmas stamps or from other companies too. There's a whole host of ways to play with these but here's mine to get you started.





Same but different. Having lined all the sentiments I wanted to use in the Misti I thought I'd better make more than one card! In fact I daren't take these out of my Misti until I'm satisfied I've stamped enough as it's a really quick and easy one to mass produce for Christmas. The Holly leaves and berries are from the Winter Additions Background Builders set, which is an older stamp but any little image would work here. 

The release schedule can be found over on the Uniko blog HERE as well as links and peeks at how my fellow teamies have worked their magic!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll be back tomorrow for the next introduction.


Sarah

Wednesday 11 October 2017

Uniko - Introducing Block Party Christmas


Hello there friends, ok you've had the Sneaky Peeks over the last few days and now it's time to get down to the real business of introducing these goodies from Uniko as we get ready for this month's release of new stamps!

Today we are introducing you to the Block Party Christmas and if you loved the Birthday version back in February then you'll love this one equally and here's how I've been playing!


For the first one I did some ink smooshing onto some watercolour cardstock using Distress Inks then stamped the Party Block in Memento Tuxedo black. When placed in the Misti it's relatively easy to over stamp a few times to get the right depth of black as watercolour cardstock can be a bit tricky. To add a little extra detail I've added glamour dust to some of the areas, Santa's beard, Merry and the Star, to name a few and I distressed the edges of the panel with some Blueprint Sketch Distress Ink before mounting on the cardbase.



For this second one I wanted to showcase how pretty the stamp is 'standalone' without extra colour or fuss. It really is beautiful embossed in white onto kraft or any coloured cardstock but the options are limitless. 

I hope this has whet your appetite for more!

The release schedule can be found over on the Uniko blog HERE as well as links and peeks at how my fellow teamies have worked their magic!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll be back tomorrow for the next introduction.

Sarah