Hello and thanks for stopping by for the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop! I was really pumped about this hop when I saw the post about using Black Backgrounds and seeing all the gorgeous samples Nichole Heady posted on her blog. I made it a point to MAKE TIME to create a project for this. Sometimes we just have to do that, or we'll never get to it, right?!

So here it is, my take on a technique called Black Magic. I watched this video, and it really is super easy. All it really is is stamping with White craft ink on black cardstock, and once dried, just color in with colored pencils! I used one element from the Mat Stack 5 Collection to create the frame shape. The center flower is stamped in White ink on black cardstock and popped up using foam tape. For added interest, I added small dots of Liquid Pearls to the stamped images. The ribbon is the PTI silk ribbon (sorry for the horrid photo....not sure why the white is so washed out!).

Happy Stamping!!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI - Mat Stack 5 Collection
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! - Basic Black
Ink: Stampin' Up! - Whisper White Craft Ink
Other: Silk Ribbon - PTI; Colored Pencils; Liquid Pearls

Uniko Studio DT Blog Hop - Extra Time

*** I'm excited to announce that I have been promoted from the
Digital Design Team to the Design Team!! ***

Hello and Welcome to the Uniko Studio Design Team Blog Hop! This month we are revisiting a stamp set that was released back in February 2012 - Extra Time.

If you've arrived from Kerry's blog, then you're right on track. If you just happened to find me here and would like to start at the beginning, please visit the Uniko Studio Blog to get started. I HIGHLY encourage you to check it out because Beverley is giving away an Extra Time stamp set!! Who doesn't love free stamps?!?! :D Below is the full list of participants.

Uniko Studio Blog

Aimes

Amber

Erika

Gayatri

Kerry

Nicki   -------------------------- That's Me!

Ren-Yi

Stacey

If you have not seen this stamp set, here is a preview with all the images included.

When I look at this stamp set, I immediately think of a masculine theme, therefore more muted, earthy, manly colors. Well, I LOVE color, so I had to mix it up a bit. In the card above, I created a background pattern using the timecard stamp. The three clocks featured are matted against dark brown cardstock and popped up with dimensionals. Finally, I stamped the sentiment with a dark brown ink.

Here's the more masculine card I was talking about ;) On kraft cardstock, I stamped all the different clocks using a white dye inkpad. The featured clock and sentiment is embossed with silver ink and popped up with dimensionals. A few small buttons add a little extra interest!

Thanks so much for stopping by to check out my creations! I hope you're enjoying the hop, and now it's time to head on over to Ren-Yi's blog!

I'm also entering these cards into the Make Your Own Background Paper Challenge in the Moxie Fab World! It's a fun challenge, so I urge you to enter something!! :)

Supplies:
CARD 1

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Extra Time

Cardstock: PTI - Soft Stone, White; SU - Chocolate Chip

Ink: SU - Rose Red, Apricot Appeal, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip; Tim Holtz Distress Ink: Pumice Stone

Other: Dimensionals

CARD 2

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Extra Time

Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Kraft, Basic Black

Ink: Sweet Stamps - White Dye

Other: SU - Silver Embossing Powder; Marvy Uchida Round Scallop Punch; PTI - Buttons; Dimensionals

Uniko Studio November Release & Reveal

Hello everyone! It's time for the Uniko Studio November Release & Reveal! There are a whopping 16 new projects being released today, and you'll definitely want to check them out! A new feature being added during this release are Digital Cut Files for your digital diecut machine. This month's release is all about Christmas and Winter. There are really a lot of fun digital papers to choose from--you'll see I used a variety of them on my cards below. To see the other design team members' projects, visit the Uniko Studio Blog for the links to their blogs.

**Make sure to read all the way to the end of this post. There is info on how to earn a chance to win some free goodies :)

Papers used from the Classics Christmas pack and 'Tis the Season

Papers used from the Eclectic Mix Christmas pack. Thank You clear stamps from the Label Love: Thank You set.

Paper used from the Eclectic Mix Christmas pack, and the Holly Jolly was cut from the paper in the 'Tis the Season pack.

TIP: If you are new to using Digital Files to create cards, I want to share something that I learned works well. I am very new myself and this time around I printed the patterned paper files on the color laser printer at work on regular printer paper. Then, depending on how I was going to use them, I either cut out the paper and attached to the cardstock like I would regular patterned paper you buy at the store. Or when using diecuts, I first adhered the paper to a piece of cardstock to give it more stability, then diecut it together. That resulted in a perfect diecut piece!!

This is only a small sample of all the wonderful things included in the UNIKO STUDIO NOVEMBER RELEASE!! Head over to the Uniko website to see everthing. Make sure to also visit the Uniko Blog for a chance to win Label Love: Christmas and ALL the Digital Products released this month!!

Uniko Studio Super FREE Saturday!

Hello everyone! I have my DT debut project to share with you for the Uniko Studio Super FREE Saturday. On the last Saturday of every month, Beverley is so kind to offer a new Digital Stamp Set and Coordinating Digital Papers, free for anyone to download! This month's theme is called Ho Ho Ho - Let it Snow! To see the other design team members' projects, check out the Uniko Studio Blog for the list of their blogs!

I created this card entirely in Photoshop using the Digital Stamps and one piece of the Digital Paper. The black stitched ribbon is a piece that came from the Bright Butterflies Additions set, and the rest of the elements are from the Ho Ho Ho set. To give it an extra special "pop", I added Stickles to all the snowflakes and the tops of the ornaments and under each "let it snow" sentiment. As usual, the picture doesn't do the sparkles justice ;)

Click on the image to see more detail in the sparkly snowflakes!

Uniko Studio Digital Design Team...YAY!!!

Good morning! I am thrilled to share some FABULOUS news with you. I have been chosen to be a member of the Uniko Studio Digital Design Team! If you are not familiar with this company, I encourage you to check out their WEBSITE and BLOG. Here is a short bio:

Uniko Studio specialises in surface pattern design & clear stamps for the hobby market. Uniko Studio features high quality photopolymer stamps designed & manufactured here in the UK, and if things go well we will branch out into other crafting supplies.

My role will be to feature the digital stamps and the digital papers in my paper crafting. I look forward to sharing my ideas with you, and seeing what creations you come up with too!

Now, head on over to the Uniko Studio blog to check out the rest of the Design Team members! I will be back shortly to share my first project with you!

DeNami Halloween Blog Hop

Welcome! If you are following the DeNami blog hop in order, then you should have come from the fabulous Greta Hess' blog. If not, and you want to start from the beginning, you can view the full list of participants over on the DeNami Design blog.

I really can't get over the fact that it's already mid-October, and Halloween is just right around the corner!! Aaaahhh, time is flyin'!!

My card is pretty simple and straightforward. I used the Jack O'Lantern Trio and heat embossed on the orange cardstock. The "punkin" diecut letters are stamped a few times using the Polka Dot Background with orange ink. The cardstock base is scored with diagonal lines for a fun, textured background! Thanks for stopping by! Remember....there is a chance to win two gift certificates to DeNami Design, so make sure to leave me a comment as well as on all the other participant's blogs!

Now, off to Deb's blog for an awesome stamped creation ;)

DeNami Anything Goes Challenge

Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I've participated in a DeNami Challenge! This one is awesome because you can do anything, as long as it has at least one DeNami Design stamp used in it. So, if you are a DeNami fan and haven't joined along yet, you still have a few days left! :)

The card below is for a wedding. I've used two of my favorite stamps: Solid Decorative Crest, and Decorative Flourish. It may be a little difficult to see in the photo, but I used the flourish to create a patterned background. It was heat embossed using pearlescent powder...so shimmery and pretty! I lightly inked the edge of the panel with navy ink, adhered to navy cardstock, then adhered to the base. The shimmery dots are Liquid Pearls (love those!). The decorative diecut label is popped up for added dimension. A small tag fastened with silk ribbon finishes it off!

Thanks for taking time to stop and check out my creation! I hope I've inspired you to make something pretty ;)

Supplies:

Stamps: DeNami Design - Solid Decorative Crest, Decorative Flourish. Papertrey Ink - Tiny Tags

Cardstock: PTI - Rustic Cream; SU - Night of Navy

Ink: SU - Night of Navy

Other: Spellbinders Dies, PTI Die Tiny Tags, PTI Silk Ribbon, Liquid Pearls, Dimensionals

Papertrey Ink August Blog Hop

I'm thrilled to participate in the Papertrey Ink August Blop Hop! The theme this month is Autumn Textiles. It makes me a little sad though, because that means summer is quickly coming to a close. I do look forward to some slightly cooler temps, but I'm just not ready for summer to be over!!

One thing I look forward to in the fall is my wedding anniversary. Since the fall brings lots of earthy/manly colors, I thought it would be perfect to make my hubby's anniversary card for this hop. I think this card will go down in history as the earliest I've EVER made a card LOL (our anniv. isn't until mid Sept)!

I would have loved to used some burlap or felt, but I didn't have any on hand and didn't have a chance to shop. To incorporate some fall texture, I used the houndstooth stamp from the Mat Stack 5 Collection, and stuck with a very fall color scheme. The stamps from Modern Basics remind me of leaves, so I stamped them behind the Mat Stack 5 diecut. For some embellishment, twine is wrapped around the popped up diecut. Three buttons at the bottom add some more interest!

Thanks for making me one of your stops along the hop, and enjoy viewing all the wonderful creations!!

Supplies:

Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Mat Stack 5 Collection, Modern Basics, Beautiful Butterflies (sentiment)

Cardstock: SU -Kraft; PTI - Rustic Cream

Ink:SU - Mellow Moss, Night of Navy; Tsukineko - Jumbo Java, Pumpkin

Other: PTI Mat Stack 5 Die, PTI Buttons, Twine, Dimensionals