ATC Scrap Makes IG Hop - November 25

Hello friends, I hope you're doing great and you've had a great start to your week. I'm sharing my creations for this month's ATC Scrap Makes IG Hop. We challenge you to use leftover die cuts, sentiments and card stock to create Artist Trading Cards (ATC's). You can send them in happy mail, save them on a ring to highlight your favorite creations, swap them with friends or add sweet notes to a lunchbox. Join us if you like; the only rules are to use scraps and create cards that are 2.5” x 3.5” in size. We share our little snippets of happiness on the third Tuesday of the month.

I found some images that came free with a card making magazine (the copyright date is 2012 so I've had them a while lol!) and as they were cute Penny Black images, which I love, I decided to use them on my ATC's this month.  If you've visited my blog recently you may have seen my CASE IT card here where I recycled a birthday card and matching envelope; well I still had some small scraps left over of the envelope so thought I would use it up and make my ATC's matchy-matchy this month. I love all of them this month but I do have a soft spot for the hedgies - which one is your favourite?

Here are my ATC's:

a closer look at each ATC:

How I simply decorated the backs:

 

So I began by cutting up the scraps left from the envelope so that I could utilise as much of it as possible.  I was able to cut one whole ATC and then strips and corners on the others.  I found a background I had stamped previously with a gauze stamp and for the others I used some coordinating coloured card from my scraps bin.  I coloured the images with Promarkers and fussy cut each one before adding some white gelly roll pen and shimmer pen highlights.  I adhered the papers to the ATC's with liquid glue and splattered some white gouache mixed with perfect pearls for a little shimmer (although it is very subtle).  I inked around the edges with pink ink for some extra interest.  I added foam squares behind each image and added them to the ATC's.  I stamped some uplifting sentiments in black ink onto white card (except for one that I stamped directly onto the ATC) and used coordinating dies for two of them and my paper trimmer for the final one.  I added the sentiments with liquid glue.  For the backs I simply add a tiny scrap of the envelope just to tie it all together, again inking around the edges with the pink ink.  Very bright and cheerful ATC's this month and I hope you like them. 

I would like to enter my ATC's into the following challenges:

* to be updated * 

I hope you will pop over to Instagram and check out the hop; please use the hashtag #ATCscrapmakes2025 or #ATCscrapmakesoct25 to see all the gorgeous creations and also if you want to participate we will be able to find you.

I really appreciate you stopping by today.

Love and hugs,

 

ATC supplies:

Penny Black images were magazine freebies from 2012!

Promarkers

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

Tonic - Nuvo aqua shimmer pen

Gina K Designs - lovely notes stamp & die set

Gina K Designs - enjoyable greetings stamp

Gina K Designs - layered carnation stamp

Gina K Designs - gauze background stamp

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Ranger - perfect pearls in perfect pearl

Winsor & Newton - white gouache

recycled envelope for backgrounds

coloured card from scraps bin

*I now have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my link as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Thank you x

Krafty Chicks challenge #794 - Christmas

Good morning lovely friends, I appreciate you stopping by and I hope you're all doing ok. It's time for a new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 2; as always the theme is 'Christmas' and I am your hostess. Scarily Christmas is not that far away now so if you haven't started your cards yet this is the perfect opportunity to begin. Obviously if you have joined in with us since January then it's another card to add to the pile, which really takes the stress off. We hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

I was looking through my stash and found this old metal stencil that I bought quite a while ago but haven't used yet so I thought why not show it some love.  I did mask off parts of the stencil so that I could blend them in different colours but boy was it fiddly; not a card I could mass produce lol!  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a white panel 4 1/2 x 5 1/2 (which I cut down slightly later) and using green and red ink pads blended through the stencil, masking off as I went along.  As I said it was quite a fiddly and tedious process but I think it was worth it as I love the contrast of the green against the red. Once the blending was finished I stamped the cabin image into the bauble with black ink.  I then cut down the panel to 4" x 5 1/4" and added some scrap white card behind it for stability and dimension.  I decided to mat it onto a red layer cut to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" although I could have just cut a red card base but I was in the zone and had already cut my card base from white.  I added the panel onto the card base with double sided tape.  I added some white gelly roll pen 'snow' but didn't feel it was bright enough so after a bit of searching found my white posca pen and added some 'snow' with that too.  I stamped and die cut the Merry word and used a sentiment strip die to cut out the Christmas word.  I added the merry with liquid glue and the Christmas was added overlapping with foam squares.  A final finishing touch was some snowflake embellishments which I added with liquid glue.  For the inside I cut a panel 3 3/4" x 5" and used the stencil to just add some interest to the bottom.  I matted the panel onto a red card layer with double sided tape and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  The panel was then adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  A very traditional Christmas card but I really like it. 

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

* to be updated *

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'Christmas' challenge and I cannot wait to see your creations in our linky.  Please leave some love for my fellow chicks - Leanne, Diane and Lori. 

Thank you so much for stopping by; I appreciate your lovely comments.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Sweet Poppy - Christmas snowflake bauble stencil - ? retired

Inkylicious - winter cabin (small) stamp

Kristina Werner with Concord & 9th - joyful & merry stamps & coordinating dies

Gina K Designs - ink pads - cherry red, red hot, Christmas pine

Limetree Crafts - 280gsm silky smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Sakura - white no.10 gelly roll pen

Posca - PC-5M medium bullet tip paint pen

Trinity Stamps - vanilla sugar snowflakes embellishment mix

red card from stash

*I now have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my link as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. 
Thank you x

Stencil Fun IG Hop - November 25

Happy again friends; I am back to share my card for this month's Stencil Fun IG Hop organised by my lovely friend Jane. We a group of crafters who are determined to use their forgotten and neglected stencils. I'm definitely guilty of this; I have so many stencils but usually forget to reach for them so this hop is perfect for me. The theme is always anything goes but we will have an optional theme to use if we want to. This month's optional theme is 'thanks' and I'm excited to see who has used this optional theme.

I have loads of Gina K Designs stencils and sometimes it's hard to choose which one to use but today I used one of my all-time favourites - Layered Carnations.  It's such a pretty set of stencils with 2 stencils for the flowers and 2 for the leaves but it's really easy to use and line up and the end result is beautiful.  I went for a pretty purple colour combo and I hope you like it. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a white panel and using 2 purple inks and 2 green inks stencilled the gorgeous design.  Once I was finished I decided to use Master Layouts 14 and cut the panel using the postage grid die.  I also used the larger mat layer to cut some purple card.  As I knew I wanted to use black ink to stamp my sentiment I also cut a slightly larger layer from black card using Master Layouts 1.  I added foam squares behind the postage grid panel and layered it onto the purple layer; this was then adhered to the black layer with double sided tape.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink onto a scrap of white card and used the coordinating die to cut it out.  I also cut another 2 from plain white card to stack up using liquid glue.  The sentiment was then added to the bottom right of the panel with liquid glue.  I finished off with some gold pearls embellishments.  For the inside I cut a white panel from Master Layouts 2 and stencilled just one of the flowers in the bottom right corner.  I also cut another purple layer and black layer as before and adhered them all together with double sided tape.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and then adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  A really pretty card and I love this postage grid die and always forget to use it!  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create challenge - ATG optional twist thank you

Crafty Catz challenge - ATG optional twist thank you/thanksgiving

Girlz Rebel challenge - something beginning with B - blooms

Little Red Wagon challenge - gold or silver (gold pearls)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - thank you

Stencil Fun challenge - ATG stencil goes optional twist use some gold

The Sisterhood of Crafters challenge - thanks

Triple B challenge - birds, blooms and/or butterflies optional mood board

We hope you will be inspired by our Stencil Fun Instagram Hop and will pop over and check out all the gorgeous cards along the way. If you would like to join us please visit my Instagram page or use the hashtag #stencilfunoctober2025 and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend.

Lots of love

card supplies:

Gina K Designs*:

layered carnation stencils

graceful greetings stamp & die set (for outside sentiment)

thankful greenery (for inside sentiment)

Master Layouts 1 die set

Master Layouts 2 die set

Master Layouts 14 die set

ink pads - lovely lavender, plum punch, jelly bean green, fresh asparagus

black, gold & silver metallic pearl mix

other:

Limetree Crafts - 280gsm silky smooth white card

Limetree Crafts - 220gsm black card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

purple card from stash

* I now have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store.  If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my link as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you.  

Thank you x

Cards For All Seasons IG Hop Week 23 - friendship

Hello again friends; I'm back to share my card for this week's Cards for All Seasons IG hop organised by my lovely friend Kelly. We are now on Week 23 and our theme is 'friendship. Such a great theme this week and us crafters always like to send cards to our pals (crafty or otherwise) don't we?  There are going to be so many awesome creations along the hop this week and I can't wait to see what sparks your imagination.

I went with an autumnal colour scheme for my card and dug out a frame die that I've had in my stash for years.  It's a fairly clean and simple design but there is lots of dimension and it looks really pretty in real life.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by ink blending a panel with some ink pads in orange, green and a muted red, added some water drops and white gouache splatters and left it to dry.  I took the floral frame die and cut it three times from white card and once the ink blended panel was dry cut it from that too so that I had 4 layers.  I adhered the layers together with liquid glue.  I used an hello friend die cut sentiment and vellum shadow that I had already die cut previously, I just need to glue to main sentiment to the vellum shadow, which I did with liquid glue.  I had some of the ink blended pieces left so took the lots of dots die and cut some circles as embellishments so that they would match the frame.  I debated about what colour to use as my background but didn't want to detract from the frame so went with white; I adhered the frame and die cut sentiment with liquid glue.  Finally I added the circles around the sentiment with liquid glue.  I cut my card base and used double sided tape to adhere the panel to the front.  For the inside I cut a white panel 3 3/4" x 5" and as I had some slivers of the ink blended panel left I added them to the top and bottom of the panel (completely forgetting that I had made a horizontal card for a change) but it looks ok.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  I'm really happy with this card and think it turned out really pretty.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut (3rd entry)

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - die cuts and/or stencils (3rd entry)

Color Dare challenge - #677 green/orange + 1 other colour (I chose red and added metallic gold)

Everybody Art challenge - friend

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - CAS

Little Red Wagon challenge - gold or silver (I used gold for my sentiment)

Mix It Up challenge - ATG optional theme CAS

Word Power challenge - make the sentiment the focus of your card 

I hope you will pop over to Instagram and check out the hop; please use the hashtag #cfascardhop2025 to see all the gorgeous creations and also if you want to participate we will be able to find you.

I'll be back a little later with another card so I hope you will pop back and check it out. Until then thank you so much for stopping by.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Simon Says Stamp - outline floral frame die

Memory Box - hello friend post script die

Gina K Designs - santana rose stamp (for inside greeting)

Gina K Designs - lots of dots die set

Gina K Designs - ink pads - sweet mango, prickly pear, tomato soup, jelly bean green

Limetree Crafts - 280gsm silky smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

*I now have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my link as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. 
Thank you x

CASE IT IG Hop - November 25

Hello again friends. I hope you've had a great day so far. I'm back to share this month's card for the CASE IT Instagram Hop where we find a project on Instagram that inspires us and we will share that project as well as the project we’ve created that was inspired by that original. There are so many beautiful creations on Instagram the only difficult part is narrowing down which one to CASE (which means Copy And Share Everything).

This month I was inspired by Kate (@katedeignancards over on IG); her cards are CAS and beautiful and this one had everything I love - plaid, kraft and Christmas.  I needed a birthday card for a friend so changed it from Christmas to birthday.  I went with a floral background instead of plaid and a circle shape instead of a heart but you can definitely see that my card was inspired by hers!  Here is her card for my inspiration:

Isn't Kate's card just CAS perfection?  I used the same layout but as I said went with a floral background, white main panel and floral die cuts instead of leafery.  I also added some splatters which Kate didn't.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the die cuts:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I actually recycled the birthday card that I received from my friend to make her card.  It was such a pretty floral design and even the envelope was the same pattern so I cut the card down to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I took a white panel and cut it to 3 3/4" x 5 1/2" and die cut a circle just a tad higher than centre to mimic Kate's heart cut out.  Now the floral card had a large birthday greeting in gold and once I had cut the circle you could see this though the window; I got around this but cutting a piece from the envelope and sticking it behind the window so it looked like a continuous pattern.  I die cut the flowers and leaves from some similar coloured card from my scraps bin and adhered them together with liquid glue.  To mix it up a little more I added my die cuts to the bottom right of the circle as opposed to Kate adding her greenery to the upper left corner.  I found a thin sentiment that I liked and added it to the Misti door and manipulated it until it curved around the outline of the circle (it's not 100% right but it looks ok I think) and stamped it onto the panel with black ink.  I used some of the black ink to add some splatters from the top left to the bottom right.  I think I need to pick up some black gouache as the ink faded to a grey once it was dry.  I made my A2 card base as usual and then adhered the floral panel to the front with double sided tape.  I added foam tape to my white panel and adhered this overtop with a 1/4" either side.  I didn't add any embellishments as I didn't think the card needed any.  For the inside I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and added some of the left over envelope to the top and bottom with liquid glue.  I had one flower left over from the front so added that the bottom right corner and one black circle die cut so added that the centre of the flower in the top left corner.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink and then adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  A really pretty card and I love how it turned out.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - die cuts and/or stencils

Everybody Art challenge - friend

Heart's Quest Celebrations of Love challenge - BEWAS (birthday)

Make My Monday challenge - birthday and use at least one flower

Triple B challenge - birds, blooms and/or butterflies optional inspiration board

We hope you will be inspired by our CASE IT Instagram Hop and will pop over and check out all the gorgeous cards along the way. If you would like to join us please visit my Instagram page or use the hashtag #caseithop and we will find you.  

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Lots of love

card supplies:

Spellbinders - sentimental ampersand (DOM Jan 23) die set

Spellbinders - standard circles large die set

MFT - bearly special birthday stamp (for outside greeting)

Gina K Designs - birthday cheer mini stamp (for inside greeting)

Limetree Crafts - 280gsm silky smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

coloured card from scraps bin

*I now have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my link as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

Thank you x

Krafty Chicks challenge #793 - Birthday

Good morning lovely friends. I hope you're all doing ok and having a great week so far. It's time for a new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 1; as always the theme is 'birthday' and Leanne is our hostess. We always need birthday cards so we hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

I'm actually sharing a card I made for my sister's birthday at the end of August but forgot to share with you.  She is known to like a drink or two so this die set was just perfect for her lol!  The card size is 7" x 7" as I like to make larger cards for my close family and also the die set I used it huge and needed a bigger card to fit it all on.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by die cutting all the elements from black, pink, yellow, gold glitter card and vellum and used liquid glue to adhere them together (except for the hearts which were added with foam squares).  I cut a panel of yellow patterned paper 6 3/4" square and matted it onto pink card.  I cut a white panel which I embossed with the fun streamers folder and again matted it onto pink card with double sided tape.  I added some scrap white card behind the embossed panel and then adhered it to the yellow panel with double sided tape.  The bottle and glasses were added with foam squares plus I also cut some stars from gold glitter card and adhered them above the glasses with liquid glue. I created the sentiment on my pc and printed out onto my usual white card and die cut it with an oval die; I again cut a pink mat from the same oval die set and adhered them together with liquid glue.  This was then added to the corner of the embossed panel with foam squares.  For the inside I cut a white panel 6 3/4" square and matted it onto a pink layer with double sided tape.  I added a strip of the yellow paper onto the top and bottom with liquid glue and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  I also added 3 more gold glitter stars next to the sentiment with liquid glue.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - die cuts and/or stencils

Aud Sentiments challenge - glitter and/or Christmas + sentiment (I used glitter card)

Farm Quest Grocery Game challenge - ATG food (or drink) goes

Heart's Quest Celebrations of Love challenge - BEWAS (birthday)

Just Us Girls challenge - ATG

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'birthday' challenge and I cannot wait to see your creations in our linky. Please leave some love for my fellow chicks - Leanne, Diane and Lori. 

Thank you so much for stopping by; I appreciate your lovely comments. 

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Spellbinders - cheers to us die set

Spellbinders - essential stylish ovals die set

Spellbinders - cascading streamers embossing folder - on sale!

LOTV - verses polymer stamp set - no longer available

Stampin' Up! - card stock vellum - no longer available

Limetree Crafts - 12x12 smooth white 250gsm card

The Works - pastel watercolours 12x12 paper pad - no longer available

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

pink and gold glitter card from stash

pc & printer for sentiment