Krafty Chicks challenge #814 - Birthday

Good morning lovely friends; I hope you're having a great week. 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. This is such an easy challenge as we always need birthday cards so we hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

My mother asked me to make a special birthday card for her friend's 80th birthday and she wanted it 7" x 7" in size.  I had recently purchased some lovely flower dies (that I saw on Lorraine's blog) and had to have so decided to use them on this card.  I used my printer for the sentiments this time as she wanted it personalised.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the flowers:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by creating my card base; I cut one panel 7" x 7" and one panel 7" x 8" from white card.  I scored the larger panel at 1" on the 8" side and then used this as a hinge to adhere both panels together.  I found a really pretty 12" x 12" paper pad and used that for my background and also to cut the bottom layer of the flowers.  I used white for the top layer of the flowers and adhered the two layers together with liquid glue.  I cut the paper to 6 1/2" square and matted it onto gold mirror card with double sided tape.  I used my printer to create the personalised message and cut it down to 5" square, again matteing it onto the gold card.  I added some scrap white card behind the smaller panel and adhered it to the background with double sided tape.  I adhered the flowers with foam squares and finished off with some gold sequins.  For the inside I again printed my sentiment using the computer and cut it down to 6 1/2" square and matted it onto the gold card.  I added a strip of the paper at the bottom along with a thin strip of the gold card above.  I added a large flower to the bottom left and a small flower to the top right before adhering the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - any occasion (3rd entry)

As You Like It challenge - favourite embellishment (again using my smooth flat sequins; so pretty and suitable for all ages and occasions)

Beautiful Blossoms challenge - anything floral goes optional mood board

Craft Rocket challenge - layer it up

Creative Friday challenge - birthday

Die Cut Divas challenge - anniversary or birthday card

Pearly Sparkles challenge - something old, something new (old papers, new flower dies)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - happy birthday

The Paper Funday challenge - ATG optional twist die cuts/punches

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 want to say how much I appreciate your lovely comments, your support really does mean the world to me.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Hunkydory - moonstone fabulous flowers die set

Craft Consortium - ink drops: candy 12" x 12" paper pad

Spellbinders - gold smooth disc color essentials sequins

Limetree Craft - 12" x 12" silky smooth 250gsm white card

gold mirror card from stash

printer & computer for sentiments

Card Clubhouse IG Hop - Week 7

Hello lovely friends; I'm back to share my card for the new Card Clubhouse IG hop organised by my sweet friend Kelly. We are on Week 7 and as it's 'April Fool's Day' our theme is 'just for laughs'. I'm sure we all have some funny or punny sentiment stamps or images in our stash so grab them and join in the fun! We can't wait to see what everyone makes. 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 was searching through my stash and found this fun coffee themed sentiment stamp, which I'm not sure if I have ever used (and the store closed a very long time ago so shame on me!).  I paired it with a to-go coffee cup and I think it turned out super fun.  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 white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and using a coffee ring stamp created my background; I also ink blended around the edges for a softer look using the same brown ink pad.  I die cut the to-go coffee cup and adhered the pieces together with liquid glue and added some white highlights with a gelly roll pen.  I stamped and heat embossed both the sentiments using kraft card and gold embossing powder and fussy cut the coffee word and used my trimmer to cut down the other sentiment.  I adhered everything onto the background with foam squares.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel and adhered it to the card base with double sided tape.  I finished off with a few red sequins. For the inside I cut another white panel and stamped and ink blended along the bottom to match the front.  I die cut another cup and adhered it to the bottom right corner with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with brown ink and adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - any occasion

As You Like It challenge - favourite embellishments (I really like these smooth sequins without the hole as they are pretty and suitable for all types of cards)

Do-All Creative challenge - repeated stamping (my background is one stamp repeated)

Double D challenge - humour

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

Mix It Up challenge - ATG optional die cuts

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - emboss it

The Paper Funday challenge - ATG optional twist die cuts/punches

I hope you will pop over to Instagram and check out the hop; please use the hashtag #cardclubhousehop2026 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,

card supplies:

Casual Fridays - coffee talk stamp (store now closed)

Spellbinders - I dance die set

Altenew - coffee ring mini stamp

Spellbinders - scarlet smooth disc color essentials sequins

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

Versamark - embossing and watermark ink pad

Cosmic Shimmer - bright gold detail embossing powder

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

coloured card from scraps bin

*Gina K Designs - warm cocoa 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

AAA Birthday challenge #84 - April 26

Good morning lovely friends and welcome to April! Another month has bitten the dust as we roll on into 2026.  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 'use washi tape' and our guest designer this month is Silke so please pop over to her blog and leave her some love.

I have to admit when I first saw the theme I was a little worried, I basically only use washi tape to make my envelopes look pretty when posting them lol!  I had a little think and decided to die cut some basic shapes to create my card and I think it turned out really well.  Maybe it's something I should do more of to use up the masses of washi that is neglected in my stash.  I hope you like it. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the washi/die cuts:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I found three rolls of washi tape that I felt coordinated well together and stuck them onto scraps of white card so that I could die cut the shapes.  I tried to make each one slightly different to add a little extra interest.  I used the gift builder die and cut it once from each pattern.  I decided to use the plain washi for the gift lids and white for the ribbon/bows.  Once everything was cut out I assembled them using liquid glue.  I cut the down the patterned gifts a little bit so that the plain gift would stand out a little.  I die cut two stitched rectangles from white card and arranged the gifts onto the smaller one using liquid glue for the two outer ones and foam squares for the centre one.  As a stroke of luck I found the sentiment already stamped and die cut in the perfect colour to match the washi tape; this was adhered below the gifts with liquid glue.  I added some scrap white card behind the smaller panel and added it to the larger panel with double sided tape.  This was then adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  I didn't add any embellishments as I loved it as it was.  For the inside I again cut two stitched rectangles from white card and adhered them together with double sided tape.  I did some stamp 'surgery' on the sentiment as it was too long for my panel and stamped it in the centre of the panel using a teal ink pad.  I created one more gift and adhered it to the bottom right of the panel with double sided tape.  The panel was then added to the card base with double sided tape. 

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

Addicted to CAS challenge - stripes (my two outer presents are striped)

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - any occasion

Creative Friday challenge - birthday

Die Cut Divas challenge - anniversary or birthday card

Girlz and the Art of Letters challenge - letter W (washi tape)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - happy birthday

The Paper Funday challenge - ATG optional twist die cuts/punches

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:

washi tape from my stash 

Simon Says Stamp - gift builder die

Simon Says Stamp - birthday basics stamp & die

Simon Says Stamp - stitched rectangle dies

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

*Gina K Designs - tranquil teal 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

Krafty Chicks challenge #813 - Masculine

Good morning lovely friends; I hope your week is going well so far. I'm sharing my card for the new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 4; as always the theme is 'Masculine' and Lori is our hostess. We know it's not everyone's favourite challenge, but we do have to make some masculine cards sometime and this challenge will hopefully help you get them done. We hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

I recently got this fun stamp from Uniko and thought I would show it some love before putting it away. It's a great stamp and so versatile for any age/gender although it's perfect for masculine cards as I always think they prefer cards that are fairly clean and simple (well my husband does anyway).  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the image:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by stamping the image onto alcohol marker friendly card using memento black ink and coloured it in various shades of blue Promarkers trying to create an ombre look from left to right (it's not perfect but it looks quite cool I think).  I decided to re-stamp the image using versafine clair black ink to make the lines more bold and crisp.  I also added some white gelly roll pen highlights.  I used a stitched rectangle die to cut out the panel and also used the largest stitched rectangle from the same set to cut out the navy card panel.  I wanted to pull in more of the lighter blue/teal so used a stitched rectangle from another set to cut a panel from the blue/teal card to fit between the other two.  I adhered all the panels together and added it to the card base with double sided tape.  I didn't add anything else as I like the CAS look of the stamp as it was.  For the inside I cut a white and navy panel using the stitched rectangles and stamped a sentiment in the centre with black ink.  I took a strip of white card and using my Promarkers created an ombre blend to match the front of the card.  I used the stitched rectangle to cut out the strip so that it would match the white panel and adhered it with liquid glue.  I adhered the panels together and added it to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

AAA Cards challenge - anything CAS goes optional zoo or animals

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - birthdays

Hand Stamped Sentiment challenge - color challenge

Seize The Birthday challenge - add a tag or ATG (no topping for me this time)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'Masculine' 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:

Uniko - background blocks: birthday scramble stamp

Uniko - everyday sentiments stamp

Uniko - everyday spring stamp

Simon Says Stamp - stitched rectangle dies

Promarkers

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Memento - tuxedo black ink pad

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card (store now closed)

*Gina K Designs - master layouts 2 (for the middle stitched rectangle)

*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

Patterned Paper IG Hop - March 26

Hello friends, welcome back to my little blog. I'm here today to share my card for this month's Patterned Paper Party Instagram Hop. Do you love patterned paper? Do you have a huge stash that needs using? Well so do we and it's time to get it used! We will be hopping on the 20th of each month to share our ideas. We will definitely be creating cards, but maybe sometimes tags, ATCs, gift bags/boxes, mini albums and scrapbook pages too. We want our patterned paper to be used.

The theme is always 'anything goes' but each month we will have an optional twist that can be used if you like; this month the twist is 'flowers', which is such an easy theme, so grab your patterned papers and join in the fun.  I have this gorgeous paper pad from Gina K Designs that I wanted to use but I was torn which papers to use so I picked out a few to try and ending up loving them all so to solve my problem I made two cards lol!  I used a postage die and filled the spaces with the patterned paper and I think they turned out so pretty.  I hope you like them too.

Here are my cards:

Here is Card 1:

and here is Card 2:

A closer look at the gorgeous paper on card 1:

Plus I decorated the insides:

I began by die cutting two of the postage dies from white card.  Also in the same die set there is a window frame die that cuts out the frame but also the rectangles and these fit perfectly in the postage die so I used the frame to cut my patterned paper plus an extra white layer for each piece to give them a bit more stability.  I adhered the rectangles to the postage piece with liquid glue.  For the lighter papers and die cut a mat layer from a peachy coloured card and for the darker papers I cut a mat layer from green paper (that also came from the paper pad) and I adhered them together with liquid glue.  I didn't want to hide too much of the papers so I just grabbed two sentiment stamps/dies and gold heat embossed the sentiment onto white card for the lighter papers and white heat embossed onto the green paper for the darker papers.  I cut both sentiments out with the coordinating dies.  I also cut an extra 3 layers for the sentiment so that I could stack them out.  I adhered the sentiments with liquid glue.  I finished off with some gold pearls on the lighter card and pink pearls on the darker card.  I added some scrap white card behind each panel and adhered them to the card bases with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut a stitched rectangle from white card and the mat layer was cut with the peach card for card 1 and the green paper for card 2.  I added a strip of the paper to the bottom of each panel with liquid glue and stamped a sentiment (using a similar colour ink pad) to the centre of each panel.  The panels were then adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  Do you have a favourite card?  I love them both but I think the peachy coloured one just pips it for me.  

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

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - birthdays

Beautiful Blossoms challenge - anything floral goes optional mood board

Daisy Chain challenge - flowers

Girlz Creative Crafts challenge - flowers

Girlz Rebel challenge - pearls

Love Those Pretty Papers challenge - use your patterned papers optional theme circles

Paper Rocks Scissors - use papers and/or scissors 

We hope you will be inspired by our Patterned Paper Party IG Hop and will pop over and check out all the gorgeous creations along the way. If you would like to join us please visit my Instagram page or use the hashtag #patternedpaperpartyhopmarch2026 and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Lots of love

card supplies:

Gina K Designs supplies:

watercolour floral paper pad

master layouts 11

master layouts 2

elegant thoughts stamp & die (for card 2)

graceful greetings stamp & die (for card 1)

birthday cheer stamp (for inside sentiments)

sandy beach & fresh asparagus ink pads

warm glow card stock (came in an old kit, don't think it's available now)

black, gold & silver pearl mix

rainbow pearl mix

other supplies used:

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

Cosmic Shimmer - bright gold detail embossing powder

WOW! - super fine opaque bright white embossing powder

Versamark - embossing and watermark 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

Krafty Chicks challenge #812 - CAS

Good morning lovely friends, I hope you're having a good week so far. It's time for a new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 3; and as always the theme is 'CAS (clean and simple)' and Diane is our hostess. Now we know that CAS is subjective but generally it's lots of white/empty space, no embellishments (or very few) and an uncluttered design. It can be a difficult design to pull off but we hope you will take on the challenge and come over and join in the fun with us.

As spring is in the air here in South Wales (at least for this week) I decided to make a spring themed card.  I picked a floral stamp set that I don't think I've ever used (naughty me) and I think it turned out really pretty.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the flowers:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" (although I do trim it down slightly later) and ink blended some green ink along the very bottom to replicate grass.  I stamped the images onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured them with Promarkers and fussy cut them out.  I also added some white gelly roll pen highlights.  I added the yellow flower and all the leaves with liquid glue and popped up the other two flowers with foam squares.  I stamped the happy spring sentiment below the flowers with black ink.  It was at this point that I decided to trim my card down to 3 3/4" x 5".  I added some scrap white card behind the panel and adhered it to the card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and ink blended the green ink along the bottom.  I stamped one flower directly onto the panel and coloured it with Promarkers, again adding some white gelly roll pen highlights.  I didn't add a sentiment as I thought I would add one later.  

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

AAA Card challenge - anything CAS goes optional twist zoo or animals

Addicted to CAS challenge - garden

Beautiful Blossoms challenge - anything floral goes optional mood board

Crafty Calendar challenge - spring

Creative Crafting Uncles challenge - spring and/or Easter

Creative Friday challenge - feminine

Daisy Chain challenge - flowers

I Love Promarkers - for the girls

Little Red Wagon challenge - signs of spring

Papercraft challenges - joy of spring

Pearly Sparkles challenge - mixed colour flowers

Simply Clean and Simple challenge - CAS optional baby animals

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - beautiful blooms

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - clean and simple

Stamping Sensations challenge - spring

The Four Seasons challenge - spring

Triple B challenge - use at least one bird, bloom or butterfly

Try It On Tuesday challenge - spring 

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'CAS' 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:

Uniko - flower power #11 stamp

Uniko - everyday spring sentiments stamp

Uniko - everyday love sentiments stamp

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

*Gina K Designs - jelly bean green 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