ATC Scrap Makes IG Hop - April 26

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.

This month I am continuing my alphabet series of ATC's with D, E & F.  I think it will be fun each month finding images/dies for each letter (although I did struggle with F this month and breathed a sigh of relief when I found the fairy stamp lol!).  I'm excited to see them all at the end and I hope you are going to stick around to see them all too.  I used mostly older, retired products but I still love them so why not use them. I hope you like them.

Here are my three ATC's:

Here's a closer look at 'D':

Here's 'E':

and here's 'F':

The backs are simply decorated with the ATC info stamp and some blending:

Once again I used my leftover ink blending scrap paper for my backgrounds as they turn out really interesting and not something I would create myself.  I did add some stamping and ink blending over them to tie them into the image a little more and I think they turned out great.  I stamped the dog, elephant and fairy images and coloured them with Promarkers.  I had the dies for the dog and elephant but had to fussy cut the fairy.  I die cut the three frames (the same die set that I used last month) from gold mirror card and adhered them to the backgrounds with liquid glue.  I die cut the letters 3 times in each colour and stacked them with liquid glue; these were then adhered to the top left corner with liquid glue.  I added each of the images with foam squares.  For the backs of the ATC's I simply ink blended the matching colours around the edges and stamped one the ATC info stamps (that I won a few months ago) in black ink.

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 #ATCscrapmakes2026 or #ATCscrapmakesApril26 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:

MFT - puppy kisses stamp & die (for dog)

MFT - distressed patterns stamp

MFT - little letters die set

MFT - new best friend stamp (for paw stamp)

W Plus 9 - unforgettable stamp & die (for elephant)

Tonic Studios - I love you fairy much stamp (for fairy)

Hunkydory - Moonstone dies - scalloped edged picture frames

ATC silicone stamp won in a challenge

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Promarkers

Tsukineko - silver encore ultimate metallic ink pad (to stamp the stars)

coloured card and mirror card from scraps bin

*Gina K Designs - ink pads - dark chocolate, warm cocoa, slate, stormy sky, dark carnation

*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 Party IG Hop - April 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 'Easter, which I know was a little while ago, but you can get ahead for next year if you follow the twist, so grab your patterned papers and join in the fun.  I needed a last minute Easter card for my in-laws so I'm sharing that today plus I have a bonus birthday card which I made with some leftover paper after making my hubby's birthday card (I'll be sharing that on Thursday).  I hope you like them.

Firstly here is the Easter card:

A closer look at the image:

Plus I decorated the inside:

Here is the bonus birthday card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

For the Easter card I stamped the floral cross image onto alcohol marker friendly card and coloured it with Promarkers, adding a few white gelly roll pen highlights.  I cut it out with a stitched rectangle and matted it onto some yellowy/peach patterned paper. I then cut a piece of wood grain paper to cover the front of my card base (4 1/14" x 5 1/2") and adhered it with double sided tape. I added some scrap white card behind the smaller panel and added that to the background with double sided tape.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink and used a sentiments strip die to cut it out before adhering it to the centre of the image with foam squares.  I finished off with some gold pearls.  For the inside I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and added a strip of the wood grain paper to the bottom with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  

For the birthday card I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" (but I will cut it down later) and used some leftover strips of patterned paper to create my background which I adhered with liquid glue.  Once dry I used a stitched rectangle die to cut it out and added a black mat layer behind with double sided tape.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink and used a stitched circle die to cut it out.  I added the sentiment to the lower left side of the panel with foam squares.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel before adhering it to the card base with double sided tape.  I finished off with some black pearls around the sentiment.  For the inside I cut another white panel 4 " x 5 1/4" and added a strip of pink card to the bottom with double sided tape.  I stamped two presents onto the pink strip with black ink and added some details with a white gelly roll pen.  I then stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  I added a black mat layer before adhering the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  

Two very different cards but both using up some of my vast collection of patterned paper.  Do you have a favourite?  I like them both; the Easter card is elegant and beautiful and the birthday card is just bright and fun.  

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

* to be updated *

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 #patternedpaperpartyhopapril2026 and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Lots of love

Easter card supplies:

Studio Katia - floral cross stamp

Promarkers

Lawn Fawn - 6x6 petite paper pack 'spiffy speckles'

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

*Gina K Designs - friendly wishes mini stamp (for inside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - sentiment strips dies

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

Gina K Designs - black, gold & silver metallic pearl mix

birthday card supplies:

Spellbinders - color block slices die set

echo park - summer dots & stripes 6x6 paper pad

echo park - metropolitan dots & stripes 6x6 paper pad

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

*Gina K Designs - master layouts 02 die set (for stitched rectangle)

Gina K Designs - master layouts 03 (for stitched circle)

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

Gina K Designs - sketched wreath builder stamp (for outside sentiment)

*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 #816 - 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.

I'm trying to use stamps or dies that I've had in my stash for years and never used.  It's sad that I have so many unloved products that, although are now retired (or the stores have closed), are still usable and I'm determined to show them some love.  I know we all love new stuff to play with (I definitely do) but it's nice to dust off the old stuff too.  My card is almost a SIP card (I did use the coordinating dies to cut out the flowers) but apart from that it's just stamps, ink and paper (well white card).  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

When I made my CASE IT card on the weekend I had the panel left over that I cut the arch from; I had deliberately made sure it was centred in the panel so that I could use it on another card - and today is that card lol!  I took another white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and stamped the stem and leaves in dark green ink directly on the panel.  I stamped the three flowers onto a scrap piece of white card and used the coordinating dies to cut them out.  I added foam squares behind the arch panel and placed it over the stamped panel for some dimension.  I then placed the flowers over the stems with foam squares.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink and fussy cut it out and placed it in the top right of the arch using a mix of foam squares and liquid glue.  I finished off with some black pearls.  I adhered the panel onto my card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another panel 4" x 5 1/4" and stamped the stems and leaves in the bottom right corner with green ink and again stamped and die cut the flowers and added them with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the upper centre in black ink before adhering the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

Allsorts challenge - in the garden

Beautiful Blossoms challenge - anything floral goes optional mood board

Crafter's Cafe challenge - ATG optional no squares

Dragonfly Dreams challenge - clean and simple

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - clean and simple

Girlz Rebel challenge - flowers

Neglected Stuff challenge - use your neglected stuff (my stamp & die set)

Pearly Sparkles challenge - something old, something new (stamp is very old, arch die is new)

Pick 3 challenge - CAS, text, die cuts/punches

Simply Clean & Simple challenge - ATG CAS optional baskets

Stamping Sensations challenge - inspired by nature

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

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:

Clearly Besotted - simply quilled stamp & die - retired

Clearly Besotted - mini calligraphy stamp (for inside sentiment) - retired

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

*Gina K Designs - master layouts 21 (for arch die)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - grass green, apple mint, blue raspberry, medium lilac

Gina K Designs - black, gold & silver metallic pearl mix

*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

Card Clubhouse IG Hop - Week 8

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 8 and we have an awesome sketch to work with this week. It will be fun to see how everyone uses the sketch and 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.

It was my dog's 2nd birthday on Saturday so I decided to use the sketch to make a card for him (most of my family think I'm nuts making him a card but I know you'll all understand lol!).  I thought the sketch would work as a gate-fold card so that is what I made.  I hope you like it.

Here is the sketch:

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

Here is the card open (not the best photo but you get the gist):

To make my card base I cut a white piece of card 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and scored it at 2 1/8 and 6 3/8" to create the smaller panels for the gate-fold.  I cut some black and white paper for the larger panel on the sketch and adhered that the left side of the card with double sided tape.  For the smaller panel I decided to create my own 'paper' by stamping some cute dogs and dog related images randomly on a white piece of card and coloured them with my Promarkers.  I made the panel bigger than I need so that I could fussy cut out some extra dogs to decorate the front and inside.  For the middle strip I cut a plain piece of red card and I added both these pieces to the right side panel with double sided tape.  I created my personalised sentiment on the pc and printed it out before cutting it out with a stitched circle die.  I added the circle over the red strip with foam squares and placed one of the dogs I cut out next to it, again with foam squares.  For the inside I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and added a strip of the black and white paper to the bottom the liquid glue.  I added another fussy cut dog above the paper (as if he was peeking over) and added a bone below him, both with liquid glue. I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and then adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  I'm really happy with my card and think it turned out super cute. 

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

Classic Design challenge - ATG optional twist furry friends

Craft Rocket challenge - layer it up

Crafter's Cafe challenge - ATG optional no squares

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Creative Creases challenge - ATG with a fun fold (my card is a gate fold)

Creative Moments challenge - gone but not forgotten (MFT stamps)

Creative Friday challenge - design your own background 

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Do-All Creative challenge - ATG optional repeated stamping

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

Little Red Wagon challenge - that song (Who let the dogs out?)

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - I fussy cut the dogs

Try It On Tuesday challenge - make your own background 

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:

MFT - puppy kisses stamp (for dog and large heart)

MFT - you have my heart stamp (for bone and paw print)

MFT - friends at first sip stamp (for smaller heart)

Promarkers

MFT - new best friend (for inside sentiment)

MFT - black & white stripes 6 x 6 paper pack

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

red card from my stash

*Gina K Designs - master layouts 03 (for stitched circle die)

*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 - April 26

Hello again friends; I am back to share my card for the 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 new to you' and I'm excited to see what everyone has made.

I used a recent purchase from Uniko and a new addition to their 'ink & flip' stencil line and this one is a beautiful butterfly design.  I went with a bright and springy colour combo of pink and orange and used my dies to create a fun layout.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

The ink & flip stencil range is such a unique and clever idea; you literally ink half of the design, flip the stencil and ink the other half (in this case the butterflies).  It means you can use more than one colour on your design which makes it more fun and interesting.  As I said I went for two shades of pink and two shades of orange so that the edges of the butterflies could be a little darker for some extra interest.  The stencil is 6" x 6" so I blended a piece of white card 5 1/2" square so that I would some extra to use on the inside of my card and also fussy cut one of the butterflies.  I used dies to cut the triangle pieces from the stencilled panel and a stitched rectangle as my plain background.  I decided to fill the gap between the triangles with a sentiment but my longest stitched die wasn't quite long enough; I meant to do some partial die cutting but completely forgot and die cut the sentiment from the die I had so I had to get creative and cut another piece and glue them together.  Thankfully I had fussy cut the one butterfly so this could cover the join and no-one is any the wiser (except me and you, so don't tell anyone else!).  I added all the pieces onto the background with foam squares, even the butterfly so there is a fair amount of dimension on this card.  I cut a pink mat layer and adhered it with double sided tape and then added it onto the card base with double sided tape.  I felt the fussy cut butterfly needed 'something' so found a butterfly body from a memory box die set that fit perfectly, so die cut that from black card and added it with liquid glue.  I didn't add any embellishments as I thought the background was quite busy as it was.  For the inside I cut another white stitched rectangle, added the scrap of stencilled background to the bottom with liquid glue and stamped a sentiment in the centre with black ink.  I again mat this onto pink card and adhered it to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut optional twist pastels

Allsorts challenge - in the garden

Color Dare challenge - #698 shades of pink + 1 other colour

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Daisy Chain challenge - no design paper

Die Cut Divas challenge - birthday or anniversary card (4th entry)

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

Let's Craft & Create challenge - beautiful butterflies

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - use paper or scissors (I fussy cut my butterfly)

Pick 3 challenge - wings, die cuts/punches, text

Stencil Fun challenge - must use a stencil optional theme rainbow colours

Tic Tac Toe challenge - pastel colours, free, stencil

Triple B challenge - birds, blooms or butterflies optional inspiration 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 #stencilfunapril2026 and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and brightening my day.  Have a great week everyone.  

Lots of love, 

card supplies:

Uniko - ink & flip butterfly pattern stencil

Uniko - everyday love and everyday sentiments stamps (for outside greeting)

Uniko - organic wishes stamp (for inside greeting)

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Memory Box - Pippi butterfly die (for body)

pink card from my stash

*Gina K Designs - master layouts 05 (for triangle die)

Gina K Designs - master layouts 14 (for stitched rectangle and strip die)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - passionate pink, medium carnation, tangerine twist, butterscotch 

*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