Avery Elle April Guest Designer Search...

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Today I'm sharing a card with you that was made specifically for the Avery Elle April Guest Designer Search.

Avery Elle has awesome stamps. I'm a new fan of this company, and if you've never seen their line of stamps and dies, you MUST check them out on their website. Their blog has lots of inspiration too, so be sure to pop over there!


I used a few elements from the Suzani stamp set to create a pattern on the card base. The sentiment is stamped on white cardstock and mounted to a Smokey Shadow panel, then popped up with foam tape for dimension. I just LOVE this card! There are so many great stamps in this set that you could create hundreds of different patterns! Soooo fun :D

Thanks for checking me out today!!

Supplies: 
Stamps: Avery Elle - Suzani, Petals and Stems (sentiment)
Cardstock: PTI - White, Smokey Shadow
Ink: SU - Cool Caribbean, Taken with Teal; PTI - Smokey Shadow
Other: Foam Tape

Papertrey Ink February Blog Hop

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

HAPPY SPRING!!!!!!!! ooohhhh wait....it's really not spring yet. Bummer. Well, I guess we can all stop and pretend it's spring while we sit and hop along to see beautiful PTI spring-like stamped creations ;) I sure hope I can inspire you with my spring-y card...


The Fancy Folk Art die is cut three times and layered together to form a thicker, 3-D look.


I have also entered this into the Hexagons: Happy for Hexagons Challenge in the Moxie Fab World!


Thanks for stopping by! Happy Hopping :-D

Supplies: 
Stamps: PTI -Fancy Folk Art, Happy Hexagons, Doodlie-Do (sentiment)
Cardstock: PTI - White, Soft Stone
Ink: SU - Cool Caribbean, Pretty in Pink, Pale Plum,; PTI - True Black
Other: Happy Hexagon Cover Plate (PTI); Fancy Folk Art Die; Copic Markers

PTI MIM #152 - Layering Dye & Pigment Inks

Sunday, February 23, 2014


Man, it's been quite a while since I joined in on Papertrey's Make it Monday. I thought this week's was pretty cool, so I made time to get crafty!

I stuck with my usual CAS style, and used the ink layering technique on the three large butterflies. When I tested it out on a scrap piece of cardstock, the craft color ink showed the white dots much better, and so did the pink ink. Unfortunately, on this piece, it didn't show up as well. I think this technique takes some practice and experimenting to master, because I had a hard time getting it to really show with certain ink colors. Anyone have any tips for me?


Anyway, the card base is stamped with mini butterflies along the edges. The next layer is embossed with a chevron embossing folder. For the focal point and ink layering technique, I repeatedly stamped the dot image from the Grunge Me stamp set, going from left to right across the panel. Once it was dry, I stamped each of the butterflies on top of the white pigment ink. Finally, the birthday sentiment was added in black ink. Oh, and the two corners of the focal panel have rounded corners.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: 
Stamps: PTI -Beautiful Butterflies, Grunge Me (polka dots), Quilled Elegance (sentiment)
Cardstock: PTI - White
Ink: SU - Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black; PTI - Classic Kraft, Royal Velvet
Other: Stampin' Up! Embossing folder - Chevron; Corner Rounder Punch, Foam tape

A boy/guy card...

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Hey everyone!

I hope you're all doing great! I have another card to share with you featuring Uniko Studio's February Release sets---which are now available to purchase on the website!

I know I'm not alone in saying that it can be pretty difficult creating cards for the men or boys in our lives. Well, two of the sets this month are PERFECT for masculine cards!! I have combined Explosion and Background Builders: Squared for this super fun card.

The long checkerboard pattern was created by stamping the small square checkerboard stamp repeatedly (it was really easy!). Then, underneath that I stamped the empty squares stamp twice. The explosion image was stamped on a separate piece of card stock and fussy cut, then popped up with foam tape. Very simple card!


I would love to hear your feedback! Thanks for stopping by today ;)

Supplies: 
Stamps: Uniko Studio - Explosion!, Background Builders: Squared
Cardstock: PTI - White; SU - Basic Black
Ink: SU - Real Red; Staz-On: Black
Other: Foam Squares

Uniko Studio Challenge #7

Tuesday, February 18, 2014


Welcome to the next challenge over at Uniko Studio! We are trying something new for our challenges from now on, so we would love feedback about it either here on my blog, or over at the Uniko Studio blog!

There will be a color palette to use, as well as a theme. So for this month, you can see the color scheme below, and the theme is Distressed or Vintage.


To be honest, I was really dreading making a card for this challenge. As you may know, my style is pretty much clean and simple. So, the thought of having to tackle a distressed project was making me sweat a little, LOL. PLUS, the color combo is really NOT something I would ever choose to work with, but I ended up LOVING it!


I started by cutting a diagonal piece of card stock for the main layer. I inked up the background first with the Cool Caribbean ink, then with the Tea Dye distress ink, then the Fired Brick distress ink. The flowers are stamped with Smokey Shadow. I love the look of them against that background!

For the card base, again I applied Cool Caribbean ink in a few areas, then Old Paper distressed ink in the remaining visible spots. Congratulations is stamped with Smokey Shadow.

To give the card a bit more feel of texture, I added some circles randomly on both the card base and the top layer. Pearl stickers are carefully placed for a final finishing touch!

You've got plenty of time to enter your project. March 14th, 9:00 UK time is the deadline.

The Prizes:
  • A £10 Gift Certificate to the Winner and a Guest Design Team spot on the blog for the next challenge
  • Top Three Spotlight
  •  
What do you think?! I would love to hear your thoughts and any suggestions for the next time I tackle a distress project, LOL. I actually had a LOT of fun with it and am so happy with how it turned out!!

Supplies: 
Stamps: Uniko Studio - Pure Florals: Chrysanthemum, Background Basics: Round in Circles
Cardstock: PTI - Rustic Cream, Soft Stone
Ink: PTI - Smokey Shadow; SU - Cool Caribbean; Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Tea Dye, Old Paper, Fired Brick
Other: Pearl Stickers

PTI Anniversary

Friday, February 14, 2014

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I've been spending lots of time during the last week or so checking out all the new products that Papertrey Ink will be releasing tomorrow for their 7th Anniversary!! It's been so fun reading and seeing all the new stuff along with awesome samples by Nichole and the Design Team!

I'm playing along with the Day 1 Challenge, where you choose one of the 7 color combos provided, and one of the 7 sketches provided, and then create your card using those. The first sketch caught my eye right away and there was no turning back :) I thought it was perfect for my clean and simple style.


Here is the color combo...


I used the Live Love Life set my Maile Belles. It's the first time I used it, and I know it's gonna get a lot more inky time! I felt it needed a little more something since it's a one layer card, so I picked out some coordinating sequins and placed them randomly.


I would love to know what you think. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies: 
Stamps: PTI - Live Love Life
Cardstock: PTI - White
Ink: SU - Cranberry Crisp, Basic Black, So Saffron, Cool Caribbean, Pink Passion
Other: Sequins (Joanns)

Retrosketches Challenge #101

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

I'm back today to share another card using Uniko Studio's new February release stamps! I decided to play along with the current Retrosketches Challenge #101.


The new stamp set I used is A Gift For You, which is NOW available to purchase on the Uniko website!

I really love this sketch. You can do so many different things with it. My card is pretty straight forward. The present and bow were stamped in a pattern on the Baja Breeze cardstock. In between them, I stamped some sequins...another stamp from the A Gift For You set. I added some Stickles in random dots on the packages.

The angled part of the card is my favorite part ;) The open circles stamp is from Uniko's Background Builders: Round in Circles set, along with the striped circle behind the Happy Birthday banner. It's a little difficult to see, but the banner is raised up with foam tape for dimension. A coordinating button finishes it off.


Thanks for taking a look today!

Supplies: 
Stamps: Uniko Studio - A Gift for You, Background Builders: Round in Circles
Cardstock: PTI - Rustic Cream; SU - Baja Breeze
Ink: PTI - Smokey Shadow; SU -Baja Breeze
Other: Stickles - Baby Blue; Button from stash; Foam tape

Uniko Studio February Release!!!

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Happy Uniko Studio Release Day!

It's that time again where you get to see ALL the new February Release products in full which are now also available for purchase HERE on the website. Let's get started!


Explosion! £4.95
Copyright Uniko Studio 2014

Inspired by 1960's Pop Art, this little set is perfect for those tough masculine cards. Use it on it's own or pair it with any of Uniko Studio's products for even more possibilities.

Next we have a new Background Building set...


Background Builders: Squared £9.95
Copyright Uniko Studio 2014

Geometrics are still a HOT trend this year and with the popularity of Background Builders: Round In Circles in 2013, this set was created. Perfect for the backdrop on a variety of cards & creations AND for those troublesome masculine cards!

The last product to reveal today was inspired by the fact that it is Uniko Studio's 2nd Birthday...


A Gift For You £4.95
Copyright Uniko Studio 2014

This little set features a cute polka dot gift along with a 2 step stamping bow, birthday themed sentiments, and sequin accents, AND it's only a £4.95 set. Though the sentiments are birthday themed, this little set can be used for gift giving all year round!


I wasn't able to participate along with Bev's introduction posts the last few days because my package of stamps didn't arrive until yesterday! So, I was able to get one project made for this hop. Make sure to stop back this week and next week...I will have more projects to share using the new goodies!!!




The first time I saw this new Background Builders: Squares set, I just flipped!!! It's totally my style, and I could NOT wait to play with it! There are just ENDLESS things you can do with a set like this.

I kept it nice and CAS---a one layer card. (Please ignore the splotchy black ink. It's time for me to get a new black ink pad!!) All the elements are from the BB set, and the sentiment is from the new A Gift For You set.

That is all from me today, but as tradition holds we have a Design Team & Guest Designer blog hop organized for the release to tempt  inspire you a little more! 


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

Simply comment along the hop to be in the chance of winning the ENTIRE release (If you win & have already purchased the release a full refund will be given. As we are celebrating our 2nd Birthday this release Bev is offering up a 2nd Prize --- a £20 Gift Certificate! You have until midnight Sunday 16th February to comment & the winner will be announced on the Uniko blog & Facebook page.

Don't forget that all NEW Release products along with a selection of other Uniko Studio products are now available at i {heart} papers.

February 2014 Uniko Studio Sneak Peeks...

Friday, February 7, 2014

The Uniko Studio February Release is almost here & it's time to share sneak peeks of the three new clear stamp sets being released on February 11th 9am GMT. So without further ado, lets get to it...




First up is this little retro 60's style explosion. If you love Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol & all things pop art, then this is the set for you! Well, even if you don't or don't have a clue what I am talking about, this little set is sure to add a WOW factor to your creations & it's perfect for those troublesome masculine cards too! 




Next we have a peek at a new background building set. With Background Builders: Round In Circles being the top seller of 2013, Beverley decided to continue the geometric focus with all things squared. The geometric trend is still hot and this set is another reach for set for those masculine cards. However, they can be the perfect backdrop for a feminine card too! 




The last sneak peek for the February Release doesn't need much explaining really, with this release being Uniko Studio's 2nd Birthday, Beverley just HAD to release a birthday themed set. The sentiments may just be birthday themed, but this cute little gift can be used all year round for many occasions or holidays.

I'd LOVE to know what you think of these little peeks at what's to come :) Since it's a special occasion, Beverley will once again be choosing random lucky WINNERS from today through to release day, for commenting on Uniko's blog, sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest & more. The winners will be announced just before the Release & Reveal Post on February 11th.
 
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