World Card Making Day IG Hop 2026

Hello again friends; thanks for popping back and checking out my second card for today. I'm back again as we are celebrating World Card Making Day with an Instagram Hop organised by my lovely friends Kim and Geeta. We are excited to share our cards and projects with you and we hope you'll hop along with us as we share our love of crafting and card making.

There is no theme for this hop, it is purely a group of crafters sharing cards and our love of our fun hobby.  We know for some crafting is a lifeline to the 'outside world' and I feel the same.  I'm from a very small town in South Wales and don't have any crafty friends nearby so I really do count all my internet and blogland friends as my real friends and appreciate you all so much.  Crafting keeps my mind active and keeps me (relatively) sane in this crazy world.  I love this creative outlet and feel a sense of accomplishment when I look at the finished cards, tags and ATC's that I make.  I'd love to hear what you enjoy about crafting and what it means to you.  

I decided to make an autumnal apple pie card as we are now in the season of pies, leaves and hot beverages (well here in the UK anyway).  I've seen a few cards on my feed using the perfect pies dies and it reminded me that I haven't used this set for such a long time.  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 panel from beige card 4" x 5 1/4" and a piece of gingham paper 4" x 3 1/4".  I also cut a strip of white card and die cut it using a scalloped border die.  I added the scalloped strip behind the gingham paper and then adhered this onto the beige panel to create my background.  I stamped the sentiment at the top of the panel using dark chocolate ink.  I die cut the pie and extra pieces from beige, red, silver mirror, white and green card from my scraps bin and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I also cut a 'plate' from white card using a decorative circle die.  I added the plate with foam squares and  the pie, fork and larger apple with liquid glue.  The two leaves and smaller apple were added to the pie with foam squares.  I added a bow to the fork with liquid glue and also added two more sets of leaves under the plate.  I finished off with some red solid sequins. The panel was adhered to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut a white panel and a strip of the gingham paper.  I die cut another scalloped border but this time from beige card and adhered it under the gingham paper with liquid glue.  I then added this border strip to the bottom of the panel with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre of the panel with dark chocolate ink and added one more die cut apple in the bottom right corner.  I adhered the panel to my card base using double sided tape.  

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

* to be updated *

We hope you will be inspired by our World Card Making Day IG Hop and will pop over and check out all the gorgeous creations along the way. 

Thanks for stopping by and take care. 

Lots of love,

card supplies:

Spellbinders - perfect pies die set

Spellbinders - delicious decorations die set (for larger apples and leaves)

Spellbinders - perfect pies sentiments & fillings clear stamp

Spellbinders - dish it up die set (for fork)

Spellbinders - fluted classic circles die set (for 'plate')

Spellbinders - scarlet smooth disc color essentials sequins on sale!

Clearly Besotted - scalloped edges die collection

Gina K Designs - dark chocolate ink pad

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for my card base)

Limetree Craft - warm mushroom 220gsm card

Memory Box - cranberry gingham card

all other coloured/mirror card from my scraps bin

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

Thank you x

Penny Black Saturday challenge - guest designer card

Hello friends; it's another busy day on my blog today as I have two cards to share with you.  The first card is as guest designer for the Penny Black Saturday challenge.  I was lucky enough to win one of their recent challenges and was honoured to be asked to be a guest designer for them. The challenge is 'ATG' but has an optional twist of 'bright colours'.

I was going to use one of my favourite Penny Black hedgie stamps but then I remembered I had this cute 'balloon ride' stamp and I thought it would be perfect for the theme with the balloons in lots of bright colours.  I also decided to stencil some rainbow clouds for extra fun and I think it turned out super cute.  I hope you like it too.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the sweet image:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by stamping the image onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured it with my Promarkers and added some white gelly roll pen highlights.  I don't have the die so I fussy cut him out.  I cut a white panel to 4" x 5 1/4" and using a cloud stencil and a rainbow of ink pads created my bright and happy background.  I decided to die cut a cityscape for my bear to float above and originally went with black (as I usually would) but it was too stark for this card so I re-cut it from beige card, which I think looks much better.  I cut two of the cityscapes and adhered them together with liquid glue for stability.  I stamped the sentiment onto white card using black ink and used a sentiment strip die to cut it out.  Now it was time to assemble the pieces; I added the cityscape to the very bottom of the panel using liquid glue and the floating bear with foam squares in the centre.  I felt the sentiment was too long as it was so cut it apart and added it to the left of the bear using foam squares.  The panel was then adhered to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel and added some rainbow clouds at the bottom.  I stamped, coloured and fussy cut another image and, although it pained me to do so, I cut it in half so that I could add it to the bottom of the panel (so that he looks like he is floating out of the bottom of the card!).  I stamped the sentiment in black ink alongside the image.  The panel was adhered to the card base using double sided tape. 

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

* to be updated *

Please pop over to the Penny Black Saturday challenge blog for all the details/rules and to see the amazing creations from the design team. I would like to thank Helen and the team for having me as a guest this month. There is a mid-way reminder post on the 17th October so I'll be back with another cute PB card then.  I hope you will find the time to enter the challenge and cannot wait to see all your projects in the linky. 

Thanks for stopping by and see you all soon. 

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Penny Black - balloon ride clear stamp

Promarkers

MFT - mini cloud edges stencil

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

Clearly Besotted - a little sentiment clear stamp (for inside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - red hot, tangerine twist, wild dandelion, lucky clover, blue raspberry, wild lilac, passionate pink

Gina K Designs - large strip sentiments die set

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for card base)

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

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

Thank you x

Just Us Girls challenge #843 - Die Week - Halloween

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog. I am here to share my card for this week's Just Us Girls challenge and this week is Die Week and Carol has given us the theme of 'Halloween', so grab all your spooky themed dies and join in the fun with us. We all love our dies don't we and I cannot wait to see all your gorgeous creations. Our guest this month is Carrie Sheridan so please pop over and show her some love.

I used a die set from Spellbinders that I don't think I've ever used apart from the gourds and I was inspired by the card example on the packaging so made my version of it.  The colours are gorgeous together and I'm really happy with how it turned out.  I hope you like it too.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by die cutting all the elements from grey, white, black, purple and purple glitter card.  I used liquid glue to adhere them all together.  I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and embossed it with a 3d folder.  I added some purple ink all around leaving the centre white and darkened up the very edges with black ink.  I also added some black spatter.  I adhered the spooky cupcake, ghost, eyeball lolly, bats and sentiment with foam squares onto the embossed background before adhering it to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel and partially embossed the bottom using the same 3d folder.  I again lightly inked the embossing with purple and black ink and added a score line to make the embossed border look more finished.  I added a ghost and eyeball lolly to the bottom left corner and a bat to the top right corner and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  I adhered the panel to my card base using double sided tape.  

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

* to be updated * 

I can't wait to see all your die cuts this week and look forward to seeing your entries in the linky. Please pop over to the challenge blog and leave some love for the rest of the design team.

I appreciate you stopping by.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Spellbinders - boo-licious fall cupcake die set

Spellbinders - circle illusion 3D embossing folder

Clearly Besotted - simply said clear stamp (for inside sentiment)

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for card base)

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Gina K Designs - wild lilac ink pad

MFT - extreme black hybrid ink pad 

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

Thank you x

AAA Birthday challenge #90 - October 26

Good morning lovely friends and welcome back to my blog for the third card for today!

As it's the first of the month it means we have a brand new challenge over at AAA Birthday challenge. This month's theme is 'big & bold' and I'm excited to see what everyone creates this month.  Our guest designer this month is Loll so please pop over to her blog and leave her some love.

I decided to use a large sentiment die as my 'big' and some bright colours for the 'bold' part of the challenge.  The gold glitter card really sparkles in the light and holds its own really well against the bold, bright background.  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" x 5 1/4" and decided to do the 'Joseph's coat' technique for my background.  I started by ink blending three inks in 'stripes' across the panel and then stencilling with black over top.  I cut down the panel ever so slightly and added a mat layer cut from gold glitter card, adhering them with liquid glue.  I used the same gold glitter card to die cut the large sentiment and also cut 3 more from black card so that I could layer them up.  I added the sentiment onto the background using liquid glue.  Instead of embellishments I die cut some 'dots' from the glitter card and placed them randomly around the sentiment.  The panel was then adhered to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel and ink blended the three colours along the bottom and again stencilled over it with black ink.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and added a glitter mat layer with liquid glue.  The panel was adhered to my card base with double sided tape.  

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

* to be updated *

The Design Team have created amazing cards as always so please pop over to the blog and check them out and perhaps leave them some love on their personal blogs.

I hope you will be able to join in with the challenge this month but don't forget it has to be birthday themed. I can't wait to see your creations in the linky.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Lawn Fawn - giant happy birthday die

Uniko - party confetti stencil

Uniko - pure florals: cosmos clear stamp (for inside sentiment)

Tonic Studios - gold dust glitter card 

Gina K Designs - lots of dots die set (to cut the gold dots)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - tangerine twist, passionate pink, wild lilac

MFT - extreme black hybrid ink pad

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for card base)

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 links as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

Thank you x

Krafty Chicks challenge #840 - Birthday

Hello again friends. I'm back with my card for the new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week is Week 1, our theme is 'birthday' and our hostess is Leanne. We always need birthday cards, gift packaging and decorations so I'm sure you will find this week a breeze! We hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

I still had the Next Gen stamp on my desk from last week's card so I thought I would make a feminine card this time around using the same set.  I used some pretty gingham papers and I think it turned out great.  I hope you like it too. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting the 3 gingham papers using the scalloped die from master layouts 04 and adhered them together using liquid glue; I also added one more cut from plain white behind to add some stability.  I stamped the mobile phone image and also the conversation messages before using the coordinating die to cut it out (I also cut 3 more from white card so that I could layer them up).  I stamped both the sentiments onto white card using black ink and again cut 3 more plain white to layer them up.  I die cut 2 speech bubbles from white card and stamped the emoji in black onto one and the heart in red onto the other.  I added all the elements onto the background using liquid glue.  The panel was adhered to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I die cut a white scalloped panel and 3 strips from the gingham paper which I layered at the bottom of the panel using liquid glue.  I die cut two more speech bubbles and again stamped one with the emoji and one with the heart, which I added with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre using black ink and added the panel onto my card base using double sided tape.  

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 '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. I've still got a couple more cards for you today so please pop back and check them out if you can.   

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Gina K Designs - next gen stamp & die set

Gina K Designs - master layouts 04 die set (for scalloped rectangle)

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

Gina K Designs - ink pads - ocean mist, bubblegum pink, sweet mango, red hot

Memory Box - bluebird gingham, mango gingham, bubblegum gingham papers

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

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

Thank you x

Critter Crazy Challenge - Guest Designer Oct 26

Hello friends; it's a busy day on my blog today and my first card for you is my card as GDT for the Critter Crazy challenge . I was lucky enough to win one of their recent challenges and was honoured to be asked to be a guest designer for them. The challenge is always 'ATG' but you must include an animal on your project.  

I got this stamp set a little while ago but I hadn't used it so I thought it would be a fun one for this challenge.  I coloured the images with Promarkers and stencilled a paw print background.  I think it turned out super cute and I hope you like it too. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a light brown panel 4" x 5 1/4" and used the paw print stencil and some dark chocolate ink and created my background.  I also inked around the edges using the same ink pad and added some white spatters.  I stamped the images onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured them with Promarkers and added some white highlights with a gelly roll pen.  I don't have the dies so I fussy cut them out.  I found a small piece of beige checked paper and cut that to 2 3/4" x 3" and again darkened up the edges with the brown ink.  I used a scallop border die to cut a piece of white card and added that to the edge of the paper using liquid glue, once again lightly inking the edges.  I also tied some red and white twine around the panel and tied it in a bow.  I added foam squares behind the paper panel and added that onto the background at a slight angle.  I added the dog and balloon with foam squares.  I stamped the sentiment onto the light brown card using black ink and used a circle die to cut it out.  I added foam squares to the back and tucked it under the paper panel. I also die cut a tiny paw print from the light brown card and added that above the dog using liquid glue.  The panel was then adhered to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  I cut a scallop piece from the light brown card and adhered that behind a piece of the left over stencilled background using liquid glue.  I adhered this to the bottom of the panel using liquid glue.  I stamped, coloured and fussy cut the bone present image and added that in the bottom left corner using liquid glue.  The panel was then adhered to the card base using double sided tape. 

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

A Place to Start challenge - ATG optional twist: relates to a song (hound dog by Elvis Presley)

Classic Design challenge - ATG optional twist: autumn colours

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Do-All Creative challenge - ATG optional use die cuts

NBUS challenge - new or unused stuff (my stamp is unused from April)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

Please pop over to the Critter Crazy challenge blog for all the details/rules and to see the amazing creations from the design team. I would like to thank Becca and the team for having me as a guest this month. I hope you will find the time to enter the challenge and cannot wait to see all your projects in the linky.

Thanks for stopping by and see you all soon.

Love and hugs,

 

card supplies:

Whimsy Stamps - doggie birthday clear stamp

Honey Bee Stamps - friends forever stencil set (I only used one) - retired

Promarkers

Clearly Besotted - scalloped edges die collection

Time for Tea Designs - pawsome die set

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

Waffle Flower - nesting circle dies

Gina K Designs - dark chocolate ink pad

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for card base)

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Winsor & Newton - white gouache (for spatters)

coloured card and paper from my stash

twine from my stash

Card Clubhouse IG Hop - Week 20 - Shore Thing!

Hello lovely friends; I'm here to share my card for the Card Clubhouse IG hop organised by my sweet friend Kelly. We are on Week 20 and our theme is 'shore thing/nautical' so we are all creating a project inspired the sea/beach etc. This is going to be a great hop this week and I can't wait to see what sparks your imagination.

I didn't really know what to do this week, I was flitting from one idea to the next but eventually decided on a box card as I haven't made one for ages.  I used a die from Studio Light to cut the box and layers and the cute images are Lawn Fawn.  It was a little tricky to photograph but I think it turned out great.  I hope you like it.

Here is my box card:

a few more photos to show the details:

A plain panel on the back to write a message:

I began by die cutting the box from blue card (you need to cut two to make the full box) and cut the layers from patterned papers and one from white card for my message panel (which I stamped with black ink).  I added all the layers with liquid glue and then adhered the box together with red line tape.  I stamped the images onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured them with Promarkers and then cut them out using the coordinating dies.  I cut two of the inner strips from blue card and attached them with red line tape and then added my images with liquid glue (after a very long time procrastinating about placement).  I added the lighthouse, crab and flip flops with foam squares.  I die cut the decorative label from white card and the mat layer from the same blue card, stamped my sentiment in black ink and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I then added this to the front flap of the box with liquid glue.  I thought my lighthouse needed 'something else' so I cut two small triangles from yellow card, added a little shading with my Promarkers and a white gelly roll pen and added them either side of the lighthouse to replicate the light shining out; I don't think it looks too bad, even if I say so myself lol!

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

Dream Valley challenge - add a sentiment

Fab 'n" Funky challenge - more than one fold

Girlz Creative Fun Art of Scraps challenge - ATG must use design paper

Seize The Birthday challenge - use fall colours/ATG (no topping for me this time)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

I hope you will pop over to Instagram and check out the hop; please use the hashtag #cardclubhouse2026 to see all the gorgeous creations and also if you want to participate we will be able to find you.

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Love and hugs,

box card supplies:

Studio Light - SL-ES-CD116 exploding box die set - on sale!

Lawn Fawn - life is good stamp & die set

Promarkers

Gina K Designs - ocean silhouette stamp (for sentiments)

The Works - fresh feelings 12 x 12 paper pad

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

blue card from my stash

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

Thank you x