Just Us Girls challenge #830 - Die Week

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 Ina has chosen 'use a forgotten favourite'. I know we all have dies that we used to love but then new supplies come along and they get relegated to the back of the draw; this challenge is the perfect opportunity to show them some love and I cannot wait to see all your gorgeous creations.  Our guest this month is Bonnie so please pop over and show her some love.  

I've had these talk bubble dies in my stash for years and to be honest I think I've only used them once but I love the look of these types of dies.  I decided to go with a fairly simple but colourful and playful design on my card 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 4" x 5 1/4" and using coloured card from scraps bin die cut lots of the talk bubbles.  Once I had played about for a while and settled on the layout I stamped the sentiments on to each one using black ink.  I added foam squares to most of them except for the two that were hanging over the edge of the panel; these were added with liquid glue.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel and then adhered it to my card base with double sided tape.  I debated adding embellishments but in the end I decided not to.  For the inside I cut another white panel and added three of the talk bubbles to the bottom with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and then added the panel to the case base with double sided tape.  It was a fairly quick and simple card to make once I figured out what I was doing.  

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

* to be updated *

I can't wait to see what forgotten dies you grab this week and I cannot wait to see what you create. 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:

Simon Says Stamp - talk bubbles die set

Paper Smooches - birthday sampler stamp (no longer available)

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

coloured card from my scraps bin

Krafty Chicks challenge #826 - 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.

It was my friend's birthday a few days ago and this is the card I made for her.  I've had this stamp for a little while and never used it and saw it when I was searching for something else so I thought I would finally show it some love.  I ended up making a shaker card, which I haven't done for a while, and I think it turned super pretty.  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 embossed it using a pretty swirly embossing folder.  I stamped the wreath image, coloured it with Promarkers and used the coordinating die to cut it out.  I also cut another 3 from white card so that I could stack it up using liquid glue.  It was a this point that I decided the wreath would be perfect for a shaker window so cut a piece of acetate and added that behind the stamped wreath using liquid glue.  I then adhered this to the other 3 plain white wreaths using liquid glue.  I used some clear sequins for inside my shaker but felt I still needed a little more dimension for them to shake freely so added some foam tape shaker strips around the wreath and adhered it over the sequins onto the background.  I didn't use the sentiment from the wreath set for the front as I wanted something a little bigger so found this sentiment already stamped and die cut so I only had to cut another 3 plain white ones to stack up, again for extra dimension.  The sentiment was adhered onto the background using liquid glue.  I added some scrap white card behind my panel and added it to my card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel and partially embossed the swirly pattern along the bottom.  I stamped, coloured and die cut another wreath and cut it apart so that I could place it over the embossed portion, using liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

Allsorts challenge - bees, blooms and/or birds

Alphabet challenge - E is for embossing (wet or dry)

Beautiful Blossoms challenge - anything floral goes optional mood board

Can You Handle The Pressure challenge - use an embossing folder with an optional twist of purple

The Crafter's Cafe challenge - ATG optional blooms

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - something beginning with B (blooms)

Little Red Wagon challenge - I see (I used acetate for my shaker window)

Moving Along With The Times challenge - use a colouring medium (I used alcohol markers)

Tic Tac Toe challenge - floral, dry embossing, summer (my colours are summery)

Try It On Tuesday challenge - in the garden

TGIF challenge - popping it up (I used foam squares for my shaker window)

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:

*Gina K Designs - let's celebrate stamp & die

Gina K Designs - elegant thoughts stamp & die (for outside sentiment)

Gian K Designs - petite flourish embossing folder

Gina K Designs - clear quartz solid sequins

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

Promarkers

*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 #87 - for the girls

Good morning lovely friends and welcome to July which is my favourite month as it's my birthday month lol!  I can't believe we are already more than half way through this year.  A cooler week this week (thank goodness) but it's forecast hot again next week I believe.  

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 'for the girls' and we all love our flowers and girly images so I'm sure it will be a popular challenge. Our guest designer this month is Brenda so please pop over to her blog and leave her some love.

I decided to go with flowers for my card as there was a recent incentive stamp & die set from Gina K that I hadn't used yet and wanted to show some love.  I went with a bright and happy yellow, grey and black colour combo that I think would brighten anyone's day.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by stamping the image onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured it with my Promarkers and used the coordinating die to cut it out.  I also cut three more from white card so that I could stack them up using liquid glue.  I used some patterned paper from an older GKD 6x6 pad and cut it out using the plain rectangle from master layouts 21 and I also cut 2 arches from white card from the same ML set.  I added a black mat layer to the paper panel and adhered them together with double sided tape.  I stamped the sentiment using black ink onto the smaller arch and glued both the arches together using liquid glue.  I added the flower image to the bottom right of the arch using liquid glue. I added some scrap white card behind the arch and adhered into the paper panel with double sided tape.  The panel was adhered to the card base with double sided tape and I finished off with some yellow pearls.  For the inside I cut a white panel, again using the rectangle from ML21 and added a black mat layer.  I added a strip of the patterned paper to the bottom of the panel with liquid glue and stamped a sentiment in the centre with black ink.  I stamped, coloured and die cut another flower spray but felt it was a little too large for the inside so decided to trim the bottom leaves off and also the top bud flower (although I did re-use the bud and one of the leaves but re-arranged them) and adhered it to the bottom right corner of the arch.  The panel was then added to the card base with double sided tape. 

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

Allsorts challenge - bees, blooms and/or birds

Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge - sketch #688

Beautiful Blossoms challenge - anything floral goes optional mood board

Crafter's Cafe challenge - ATG optional blooms

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - something beginning with B (blooms)

Moving Along with the Times challenge - use a colouring medium (I used alcohol markers)

The Pick 3 challenge - yellow, frame & sentiment

Try It On Tuesday challenge - in the garden

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:

*Gina K Designs - holding you close stamp & die

Gina K Designs - perfect posy stamp (for outside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - watercolour floral 6x6 paper pad

Gina K Designs - master layouts 21

Gina K Designs - wild dandelion card stock (for card base)

Gina K Designs - rainbow pearl mix

Promarkers

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

Limetree Craft - 220gsm black card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Memento - tuxedo black ink

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

*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

Uniko's June release - release day!

Good morning friends and welcome back to my blog. Today is the day that you can purchase the new goodies from Uniko's June release. I've had so much fun this week for my first release as brand ambassador and I do have one more card for you using the new release products.  Before I show you my card I thought I would re-cap the new products that are now available.

And that wraps up the June Release. I hope you love the products as much as I do. But, as always, the Brand Ambassadors are here to tempt and inspire you a little bit more.

For my final card I used both the Ink & Flip: Triangulate stencil and the Layering Modern Blooms 4 piece stencil to create my fun card.  I went with a classic yellow & black colour combo and I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I took an extra photo to try and capture the dimension:

I began by stencilling the Ink & Flip: Triangulate stencil using black ink onto white card.  On a separate piece of white card I stencilled the Layering Modern Blooms flowers and leaves using yellow and grey ink.  I'm not as proficient at fussy cutting at Bev but I fussy the flowers and leaves and also decided to fussy cut the triangles so that they were all separate. I took a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and after adding foam squares behind the triangles adhered them so that they created a border on my panel.  I felt at this point that the inner portion was a little plain so took the Quilted stencil and some yellow ink and partially stencilled the design.  I added foam squares behind the flowers and added them to the bottom of the panel; the leaves were added with liquid glue and I stamped a sentiment at the top with black ink.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel and adhered it to my card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I used some left over flowers, leaves and triangles and created a border at the bottom of my card using liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and adhered the panel to my card base with double sided tape. 

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

Allsorts challenge - bees, blooms or birds

Color Hues challenge - yellow and black

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - use paper and/or scissors (I fussy cut everything)

The Pick 3 challenge - yellow, frame, sentiment

TGIF challenge - popping it up (everything except the leaves are popped up with foam squares)

For more inspiration please check out what Bev and the rest of the team have created by clicking the links below:

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Natalie

Vinita

Bev is generously offering one lucky commenter a £20 eGift Certificate to spend in store, just make sure you comment on all the brand ambassador blogs/socials for a chance to win.  The winner will be announced on Wednesday, 8th July 2026.

Have a great weekend; thankfully it's cooling down here, so hopefully we will be feeling a bit more comfortable tomorrow *yay*.  

Love and hugs, 

card supplies:

Uniko - Ink & Flip: Triangulate stencil (available now in the Uniko store)

Uniko - Layering Modern Blooms 4 piece stencil (available now in the Uniko store)

Uniko - quilted stencil

Uniko - originally organic stamp (for outside sentiment)

Uniko - flower power #11 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

MFT - extreme black hybrid ink pad

*Gina K Designs - ink pads - wild dandelion, sweet corn & soft stone

*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

Uniko June Release: Day 4 introduction

Good morning friends and welcome back to my blog. It's day four and the final day of introductions for Uniko's June release. Today's introduction is another brilliant stencil called 'Ink & Flip: Chevron Duo'. You know how much I love these fantastic stencils; there are so many ways to use them just by flipping the stencils different ways. I needed to make a Father's Day card for my hubby and this stencil was perfect.  I used 4 shades of blue ink pads to create the pattern and kept it really simple (as my husband doesn't really do fussy). 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I made a 5" x 7" card so cut a white panel to 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" and using the 4 ink pads created my background.  I decided to cut the panel along the edge of the stencilling (top and bottom) so that it would have a fun zig-zag edge and I added some scrap white card behind for dimension.  I cut another white panel and added the stencilled piece on top using double sided tape.  I stamped the sentiments above and below the panel with black ink (for the Father's Day I had use the Mother's Day stamp and do some masking and replace the mother with father).  I adhered the panel 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 cut another white panel and stamped the sentiment in the upper centre with black ink.  I stencilled once again and cut out a small piece to go at the bottom of the panel, which was adhered with liquid glue. The panel was then added to the card base with double sided tape. 

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

* to be updated *

 Please check out what Bev and the rest of the team have created by clicking the links below:

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Natalie

Vinita

It's release day tomorrow and all the products we've introduced this week will be available in the Uniko store at 9am.  I will be back at the same time with one extra card so I hope you will come and check it out.  

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Uniko - Ink & Flip: Chevron duo stencil (available tomorrow)

Uniko - everyday family and everyday spring stamps (for outside sentiments)

Uniko - everyday love stamp (for inside sentiment)

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

Craft UK Limited - 5" x 7" card & envelope pack

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

*Gina K Designs - ink pads - in the navy, blue denim, blue raspberry, powder blue

*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

Just Us Girls challenge #829 - Stencil Week

Hello again friends!  I'm back to share my DT card for the Just Us Girls challenge and this week it's 'ATG Stencil Week'.  As long as you use a stencil you can create anything you like so I'm sure there will be lots of entries.

I'm really enjoying using my stencils more and it's making me re-visit ones I haven't used for years. My card today is using a stencil set that I really love but not used for a very long time.  I used a fun orange and teal colour combo and I think it turned out super cute.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by stencilling the gorgeous butterfly background and cut it down using a stitched rectangle die.  I also cut an orange mat layer which I adhered together with double sided tape.  I die cut a white circle, which has some pretty dot detail, and stamped the sentiment in black ink.  I fussy cut one of the butterflies and added it above the sentiment with foam squares.  I also die cut a slightly larger vellum circle and adhered them with liquid glue. The circle was added in the bottom right corner with foam squares and I finished off with some black pearls. The panel was adhered to the card case with double sided tape. For the inside I cut another white stitched rectangle and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  As I had managed to cut the front panel fairly evenly I decided to add that around the stitched panel for a different look adhering them with liquid glue.  I fussy cut another butterfly and added that in the bottom right corner with liquid glue.  The panel was adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - die cuts and/or stencils (I've used both)

Craft Rocket challenge - birthday

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - something beginning with B (butterflies)

Girlz Creative Crafts challenge - butterflies

Make My Monday challenge - use a stencil

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - I used scissors to fussy cut my butterflies

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

Stencil Fun challenge - use a stencil optional theme butterflies

I had stencilled an extra panel thinking I would use it on the inside but changed my mind so I used some of it to fussy cut the butterflies but then had quite a lot left over.  I decided to make a matching tag to go with my card.  

Here is my matching tag:

Plus I decorated the back of the tag:

I simply cut two tags from white card (one for the front and one for the back).  For the front I had a piece of the stencilled panel that was large enough to cover 3/4 of the tag, and adhered it with liquid glue; I also added a thin strip of the orange card.  I fussy cut another butterfly and die cut a small vellum circle and adhered them together with foam squares.  I stamped and cut out a sentiment and placed that across the butterfly with foam squares.  I finished off with a few black pearls.  For the back of the tag I added a small border of the stencilled panel along the bottom and also a strip of orange card using liquid glue.  I stamped a sentiment above this with black ink.  I also added an orange hole re-inforcer to both tags.  I adhered both tags together using liquid glue, threaded through some white ribbon and tied a bow using teal twine. 

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

A Place to Start challenge - ATG optional twist anything but a card

Heart's Quest for Shaped Cards & Tags challenge - ATG

Tag-Along (& ATC's) challenge - add some text or ATG

Try It on Tuesday challenge - in the garden

Here is the card and tag together:

Such a great challenge and I cannot wait to see what you create. Please pop over to the challenge blog and leave some love for the rest of the design team. Our guest designer is Kellianne so please leave her some love too. 

I appreciate you stopping by. 

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Taylored Expressions - butterflies stamp & stencil combo

Waffle Flower - nesting circle dies

MFT - sweet 16 freebie stamp 

*Gina K Designs - master layouts 02 (for stitched and plain rectangle)

Gina K Designs - master layouts 19 (for decorative circle die)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - butterscotch and blue lagoon

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)

Limetree Craft - 160gsm tangerine versatile card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

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

tag supplies (in addition to above):

Waffle Flower - nesting tag dies

Clearly Besotted - a little sentiment stamp (no longer available)

ribbon & twine from my 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