Inkspirational Uniko Christmas...

I don't know about you but Christmas seems to sneak up more quickly with each passing year! Even with the best of intentions I did not get much of a head start on my Christmas card stash this year!

I had some left overs from creating some gorgeous Uniko poinsettia CHristmas cards earlier, so combined these pieces with Neat & Tangled sentiment stamped and embossed in Tinsel Silver, and added a strip of American Crafts red sparkle paper. Only another fifty or so to go LOL!

Playing along with the Uniko Christmas Challenge,

Inkspirational CAS with Sparkle, Jingle Belles and 

52 (Christmas) Card Throwdown (Previous) Glitter Challenge

 

Christmas Joy @ FUSION...

Time for more fun @ FUSION this fortnight! 

With inspiration from the fabulously versatile FUSION sketch and the colours (with an added pop of red!) and Christmas theme from the super Joyful inspiration photo, I combined this gorgeous poinsettia stamp from Uniko Studio, stamped heat embossed, fussy cut and layered, with this scripty sentiment from Mama Elephant, and a few rhinestones for a bit of extra Christmas sparkle. Come to think of it, I can't remember the last time I used rhinestones on a card - can you?

Love to see how you are inspired by FUSION photo, sketch or both!

Hope you get a chance to play along!

Hop on over to FUSION to see some more fabulously joyful inspiration from

 our amazing Design Team too:

Becca Cruger - Betty J. - Carol Mayne - Jeanne Jachna - Karren Johnson

Linda Callahan - Michelle Leone - Michelle Lupton - Michelle Williams

Also playing along with Winter Wonderland Christmas Flowers

Merry Monday Grey White and Red and

Little Red Wagon It's Embossable

Uniko Christmas

 

Stepping it Up... CAS to Mixed Media Card

Doing some last minute homework for the Online Holiday Card Class, inspired by Debby Hughes' stunning "easy to reproduce" gift tag card, I thought I'd show you how easy it is to step up from CAS to Mixed Media Cards - also to encourage you to play along with the current Mixed Media Card Challenge Christmas (with Bells optional), and still be a quick and easy card to reproduce!

My first CAS card was kept very simple, stamping Uniko Studio Pure Florala Ponsettia and Peace Love Joy sentiment on a Lawn Fawn tag in Hero Arts Gold ink and Rangers Pearl Gold embossing. The added splatter is created by flicking Heidi Swapp Gold Lame, rather than spraying, so there is still a lot of white space, essential for a CAS card.

Stepping it up, to create a Mixed Media Card, I sprayed the Heidi Swapp Gold Lame, added some MME gold striped patterned paper, Jingle and Joy gold twine bow and stamped this gorgeous STAMPlorations Jingle Bells image, with more solid lines, also using Hero Arts Gold ink and Rangers Pearl Gold embossing on the die cut Lawn Fawn tag. I diecut a second tag from a foam sheet, and used this behind the stamped tag for added dimension.

Playing along with Addicted to CAS Tag (Card 1),

Virginia's View All Things Metallic (Card 2),

STAMPlorations Stamps and Layers, and Inkspirational Shine.

Paper Crafts Magazine November Gallery Challenge,

Reminder for Mixed Media Card Challenge Christmas (with Bells optional).

Wanna Uniko Card Concept...

Playing with watercolours, this time using Distress Inks as the base, and these gorgeous Uniko Studio die cuts. Die cut the three Uniko Studio butterflies first, followed by the Uniko Studio flower and lastly the Fawn Stitched Journalling Card. My blue and green watercolour panels were also die cut, then this fabulous Uniko Studio sentiment stamped in white embossing powder on blue vellum.

Joining in the fun at the Uniko Studio Spring Challenge, 

playing with this fabulous Wanna Sketch, 

Card Concept Butterfly Challenge, Seize the Birthday and

Simon Says Stamp HAPPY BIRTHDAY Challenge.

 

 

This made me smile...

Seize a Uniko Birthday...

Playing along with Uniko Studio Fall Foliage Challenge and Seize the Birthday Texture Toppings. The background paper is part of a pack from Target, with the remaining papers a mix of Bo Bunny and Authentique. Stamped and fussy cut this gorgeous Uniko Studio gerbera and leaves, combined with Uniko Studio sentiment and Lil Inkers Stitched Polaroid frame and Annabelle's twine. With one exception, all the papers chosen are patterned - to add texture and the flower is pop dotted for added texture too.

 

This made me smile...

and this too!!!

CAS(E) this Sketch & Dash

11 Minutes and 12 seconds later!

This was originally a 10 Minute Craft Dash Card, but I ran overtime when I decided at the last minute that it would look cute to have the Lily Bee gingham check as a background as well as for the banner - but I think it was worth it!! Joining in the fun at CAS(E) this Sketch with this amazingly versatile sketch - you should see the DT samples and gallery - just FABULOUS!  Playing along with Sparkle Creations Weekly Christmas Card Challenge for the first time too - this weeks theme is Flowers.  The flower featured is Uniko Studio Poinsettia - the perfect Christmas flower, stamped on some old Basic Grey papers from my scrap stash, and the Uniko Studio sentiment stamped on a Paper Smooches fishtail banner.

Sparkle Creations Weekly Christmas Card Challenge - Flowers

This made me smile..

.

All that Glitters...

Inspired by this A Little Thing Called Love Art Print (below), a quick card to play along with Moxie Fab World All That Glitters Is Gold Challenge.  Paired this gorgeous Uniko Studio Congratulations sentiment heat embossed in Whisper Gold Mirror with this cute Kiwi Wedding Couple stamp, Lil Inkers Stitched Rectangles mat and some Neat & Tangled Birthday Bash Sequins.

Hey Sunshine, Seize the Curtain & Raid the Craft Supplies...

It's a glorious warm Spring day here today, and what better way to celebrate than with a little Sunflower Sunshine.  Playing along with Curtain Call Sunflower Surprise and this fabulous Seize the Sketch.  Whilst I did not have a specific sunflower stamp, I think this gorgeous gerbera stamp from Uniko Studio fits the bill, stamped in Hero Arts Cup O' Joe on Bo Bunny Forever Fall paper and fussy cut. The background paper is from Fancy Pants Down by the Shore.  I raided my general craft supplies to play along with Moxie Fab World Handmade Cards Week - General Craft Supplies Challenge and incorporated hessian, corrugated cardboard and twine (The Twinery Natural Twine) too!  A mat of Lil Inkers Stitched Rectangles ties in the homemade country theme, and is perfect for playing along with The Twinery You're Sew Fine.

  

 

You have until October 21st to raid your general craft supplies and Moxie Fab along...

All That Glitters...

CONGRATULATIONS Beverly!!!

I'm not quite sure how, but I had it in my head that this challenge ended tomorrow - but alas no, and so I ran out of time to join in the fun at Uniko Studio Sketch Challenge, but still have plenty of time to play along in Moxie Fab Worlds All That Glitters is Gold Challenge.  This Wedding card is created using Uniko Studio Background Builders Round in Circles and All Occasions Sentiments #1 stamped in Versamark Watermark and heat embossed in Whispers Metallic Gold Mirror.  These panels were then die cut using Paper Smooches Fishtail tag die and Dienamics Circle dies, and pop dotted onto the cardstock base.

I don't know about you, but I find the best way to photograph gold on my cards is by using a fill flash - otherwise my lovely gold cards end up looking brown!!

Also playing along at Simon Says Stamp Emboss It Challenge

Hello Uniko...

Uniko Studio are having their very first challenge, so I thought I'd play along!  The theme is Hello, and whilst you need to use a Uniko Studio product on your card, don't worry if you don't have any yet, as Uniko Studio have a fabulous selection of FREE downloadable digital goodies!

I have used this gorgeous layered Uniko Studio poinsettia stamp - this time in slightly less traditional colours of pink and green, together with an MFT Hello die cut.  I stamped the poinsettia image multiple times onto two sheets from my overflowing diverse collection of Basic Grey papers, and fussy cut two green layers and three pink layers, foam dotting each layer, and finishing with some Kaisercraft pearls.

Playing along with Little Red Wagon Falling to Pieces Challenge and 

this fabulous Dynamic Duo warm pink & soft green combination.

This made me smile!

and this too!

Retro Red Merry Christmas...

 

ETA. Playing along with the Moxie Fabulous Holiday Cards & More - Holiday Card Challenge

You have until September 2 to join in the fun!

I thought that it was high time to get a head start on Christmas cards, especially since I was fortunate enough to recently win this gorgeous Poinsettia stamp set from Uniko Studio (who are having their very first Challenge over here, so if you get a chance, pop by and say Hello before August 14th). I stamped the poinsettia several times onto Basic Grey paper and fussy cut, mounting the five layers with foam tape, and then added Annabelle Stamps Blackcurrant Sprinkles as the buds on the poinsettia and to decorate the border. To play along with Shopping Our Stash Use Your Oldest Punch, I created the border using my oldest punch, a Fiskars Scalloped Border punch.  The weathered wood paper is from Simple Stories.

Believe it or not, this card started off using this gorgeous Retro Sketch as it's springboard, and dived off into a whole other pool!!!

I do have a couple more ideas in mind for this sketch, which you may or may not see this week LOL!  

Playing along with Merry Monday Anything Goes Challenge, 

Little Red Wagon Christmas in July Challenge and
Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes too!

This made me smile