Just Us Girls challenge #834 - CASE a DT Member Week

Hello again friends! I'm back to share my DT card for the Just Us Girls challenge and as it's a five week month this week it's 'CASE a DT Member Week'.  You just have to use one of the DT creations (doesn't have to be mine) as your inspiration and create something of your own.  In case you're not sure 'CASE' means to 'copy and share everything' or alternatively 'copy and selectively edit' which basically means use the parts of the design you like and maybe change up the colours or use the colours and change the focal image; you get it.  I'm sure there will be lots of entries for this one.

For my card I used a fun die set from Gina K Designs that I've had on my desk for a few months and have been dying to use and today was that day lol!  I used a bright and happy colour combo inspired by the current CAS Colours & Sketches challenge, although my design got a bit away from me and I don't think it qualifies as CAS anymore lol, but anyway I think it turned out super sweet.  I hope you like it too. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the cupcake:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a panel 4" x 5 1/4" from light pink card and created my own background using small stamps and coral and turquoise ink pads.  I decided to use a stitched rectangle die to cut out the panel to give a nice decorative edge. I die cut all the pieces for the cupcake using pink, coral and turquoise card from my scraps bin, lightly inked the edges with a slightly darker ink and adhered them together using liquid glue.  I die cut the picture frame from white card x 2 and adhered them together using liquid glue (I left the inner squares as a single layer).  I stamped the sentiment onto white card using the coral ink pad and used the coordinating die to cut it out  (plus 3 from white so that I could stack it up).  I added the frame to the background, at a jaunty angle, using liquid glue and also added the inner squares using liquid glue.  The cupcake was added over the lower square using foam squares and the sentiment was added in the upper square using liquid glue.  I also added a bow in the top left corner using liquid glue.  The panel was adhered to the card base using double sided tape.  I finished off with a few clear solid sequins and some crystal glaze over the heart.  For the inside I cut another white panel using the stitched rectangle die and added a strip of my homemade 'patterned paper' to the bottom using liquid glue.  I also added a thin strip of turquoise card along the top using liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre using the coral ink pad and finished off with a heart and bow in the bottom right corner.  The panel was then adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

* to be updated *

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. 

I appreciate you stopping by.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Gina K Designs - sweet celebrations die set

Gina K Designs - picture perfect frames die set

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

Gina K Designs - birthday sprinkles stamp & die (for sentiment and small stamps)

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

Gina K Designs - ink pads - light carnation, sunkissed coral, ocean mist, tranquil teal

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)

Stampin' Up - subtles card stock pack (for pink card)

Tonic Studios - Nuvo crystal glaze clear

all other card from my 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 links as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you x

Krafty Chicks challenge #831 - ATG with a twist

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 5; and as it's an extra week this month we have an anything goes theme and Diane is our hostess. However we are mixing it up this year and adding an optional twist and the twist this time is 'mood board' and we have a beautiful summery board to inspire you.  Such a fun twist and we hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

Here is the gorgeous mood board image:

My eye was immediately drawn to the water melon image and luckily for me I had just purchased a fun fruity stamp set from Time For Tea Designs in their recent sale so it was shown some love right away!  I created my own 'patterned paper' using the stamps and I think it turned out super cute.  I hope you like it too. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the cute image:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and created my background using the single melon slice stamp; I also stamped the bunny with the melon slice and coloured them all with my Promarkers.  I used the coordinating die to cut out the bunny image (along with 3 more from plain white) and added white highlights with a gelly roll pen.  I stamped the sentiment using black ink on white card and also die cut another 3 from plain white card and stacked them using liquid glue.  I decided to cut out the background using this fun wavy edges die and also cut a mat layer from black card using the next size up; I adhered the layers together with double sided tape.  I used the same wavy edge die set and cut a smaller one from vellum to use as a grounding layer for my image and sentiment (as the background was super busy).  I decided I needed another layer of vellum to give some separation.  I added the bunny and sentiment onto the vellum using liquid glue and added the two layers of vellum together using double sided tape.  This was then adhered to the background panel using liquid glue. The panel was added to my card base using double sided tape.  I didn't add any embellishments as the background was busy enough already.  For the inside I cut another white layer and black layer using the wavy edge dies.  I had a tiny piece of the background left over so cut a strip for the bottom again using the wavy edge die and adhered all the layers together using liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre using black ink (I did some masking so that I could slightly change the sentiment).  I stamped, coloured and die cut one more melon slice and added that to the top right 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:

Craft-alnica challenge - children

Double D challenge - favourite fruit

Dream Valley challenge - hand coloured image 

I Love Promarkers challenge - children

Little Red Wagon challenge - one thing (1 image, 1 sentiment, 1 panel of handmade paper)

Papercraft challenges - good enough to eat

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

Sweet Stampin' challenge - for the children

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'ATG with a optional twist of mood board' 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'll be back later with my DT card for the Just Us Girls challenge.  

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Time for Tea Designs - fruitful friends stamp & die set - on sale!

Scrapbook.com - nested wavy rectangles die set

Promarkers

Sakura - black ballsign glaze pen (to darken the bunny nose and melon pips)

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

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 - 220gsm black card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

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

4th Annual Shark Week IG Card Hop

Hello friends, I hope you're all doing ok and having a great week so far. I'm taking part in the 4th annual IG hop to celebrate Shark Week. The card hop is hosted by my good friend Kelly and today's hop will showcase some fintastic cards featuring all things shark to celebrate Shark Week. Our theme this year is “Making Waves”; and our goal is designed to take you on an ocean voyage of jaw-some shark themed cards and share important facts about the marine life that call it home! Dive in and enjoy the creativity and inspiration!

I always try to find a shark set that I haven't used before, even if it's retired, so when I found this fun set from Sunny Studio Stamps on eBay, I grabbed it for this year's hop.  There are so many fun shark stamps available and I cannot wait to see what my fellow hoppers have used this year. I created a cute under the sea scene and I hope you like my card.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the cute images:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and die cut the gorgeous bubble coral frame from the centre.  I took another white panel and ink blended some ocean mist ink in the centre, adding some water droplets and white spatter for extra interest.  There is also a single coral die in the set which I cut 3 times from white card and ink blended over with ocean mist and tranquil teal ink pads.  I stamped the images onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured them with my Promarkers and added some white gelly roll pen highlights.  I used the coordinating dies to cut them out.  I cut off one of the corals from the frame and replaced it with one of the larger ink blended ones using liquid glue. I added the fish and octopus with liquid glue and the shark was added with foam squares.  I added foam strips behind my frame panel and adhered it over the background.  I stamped the sentiment from a few different sets and cut them out using sentiment strips dies.  I adhered them at the top of the frame using liquid glue.  I finished off with some clear raindrops, which I think look like bubbles!  I adhered the panel to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel and ink blended the ocean mist ink along the bottom, again adding water droplets and white spatter. I stamped, coloured and die cut another shark and 2 fish and also die cut and ink blended two more corals.  I adhered everything to the bottom of the panel using liquid glue.  I also stamped and die cut two sentiments and adhered them with liquid glue.  I adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  I'm really happy with the inside and feel it's equally as cute as the outside.  

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

Allsorts challenge - at the seaside or ATG

Cardz 4 Guyz challenge - summer theme

Craft-alnica challenge - children

Dream Valley challenge - hand coloured image

Girlz and the Art of Letters challenge - letter F (for fish)

I love Promarkers challenge - children (I think kids would love a shark card)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

Sweet Stampin' challenge - for the children  

The Paper Funday challenge - ATG optional twist summer splash

Please swim on over to IG to see the amazing shark creations. Please use the hashtag #4thsharkweekigcardhop to find all the cards in the hop.

Enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for stopping by.  I'll be back tomorrow with my cards for the Krafty Chicks challenge and also the Just Us Girls challenge, so I hope you will be able to pop back and check them out.  

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Sunny Studio - sea you soon stamp & die (got mine from eBay)

Memory Box - bubble coral collage die set (94562) (got mine from a FB destash page)

Lawn Fawn - duh-nuh stamp & simply summer sentiments stamp (for sentiments)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - ocean mist & tranquil teal

Gina K Designs - large strip sentiments dies

Gina K Designs - sentiment strips dies 

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

Winsor & Newton - white gouache (for spatters)

Little Things From Lucy's Cards - clear raindrops - store now closed

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

Just Us Girls challenge #833 - 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. I made two cards today inspired by Gina's recent 'slice and dice' live on YouTube.  I used an older layering stencil and used a different colour combo for each style of card.  My cards are not as perfect as Gina's but I think they turned out great and I hope you like them.  Let me know if you have a favourite.

Here are my cards:

A closer look at the pink one:

and a closer look at the orange one:

plus I decorated the insides:

I began by cutting two white panels 4" x 5 1/4" and stencilled both panels using the same layering stencils, just changing up the colours.  I followed Gina's guide and trimmed the orange panel down to 3 3/4" x 5 1/4" and then cut the panel into threes, each measuring 1 1/4" x 5 1/4".  For the pink panel I cut the panel in half at 2" and then cut the strips in half at 2 5/8".  I cut black mat layers 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and used liquid glue to adhere them together.  I stamped a happy birthday sentiment for the pink card and a thank you sentiment for the orange card using black ink onto white card; I used the coordinating dies to cut them out (along with 3 extra for each from white card so that I could stack them up).  I added the birthday sentiment onto the pink card in the centre of the panel using liquid glue and added the thank you sentiment in the bottom right of the panel on the orange card again using liquid glue.  I finished off both panels with some black pearls and they were added to card bases with double sided tape.  For the insides I kept it really simple this time (as I was pushed for time and I had already cleaned my stencils!).  I ink blended the pink and green in borders along the bottom of one panel and orange and green on the second panel.  I stamped greetings in black ink in the centres and added black mat layers.  The panels were then adhered to the card bases with double sided tape.  

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

Beautiful Blossoms challenge - anything floral goes optional mood board

Daisy Chain challenge - birthday

Stencil Fun challenge - ATG optional theme patterns

The Sisterhood of Crafters challenge - flowers

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

Try It On Tuesday challenge - summer blooms

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 Bonnie so please leave her some love too.

I appreciate you stopping by.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Gina K Designs - winter rose layering stencil

Gina K Designs - graceful greetings stamp & die (for outside sentiments)

Gina K Designs - *perfect posy stamp (for inside sentiments) (*Bumbleberry Crafts)

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

Gina K Designs - ink pads - bubblegum pink, passionate pink, tangerine twist, honey mustard, jelly bean green, fresh asparagus

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

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card

Limetree Craft - 220gsm black 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 links as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you x

Uniko - Christmas in July Brand Ambassador Inspiration

Hello friends; Bev at Uniko is doing a fun Christmas in July celebration with lots of great cards from herself and the brand ambassadors ahead of her new Christmas themed release at the end of the month. There will also be prizes up for grabs. Check out the Uniko blog for all the details.

I'm back with my second inspiration card, this time using Background Blocks: Scandinavian Christmas clear stamp (which will be back in stock very soon).  I did some gold heat embossing onto dark cardstock and although it was difficult to photograph it turned out really elegant.  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 dark green panel to 4" x 5 1/4" (although I did cut it down later), stamped the background blocks image using versamark ink and heat embossed it with gold detail embossing powder.  I also stamped and gold heat embossed the sentiment and cut it out with a sentiment strips die.  I die cut a frame from gold mirror card and also cut 3 more frames from the dark green card so that I could stack them using liquid glue.  It was at this point that I cut down the green panel using a rectangle die from master layouts 2 which left a tiny border around the frame.  I adhered the frame over the embossed panel using liquid glue.  I added the panel onto my card base using double sided tape.  The sentiment was added overlapping the frame using a mix of liquid glue and foam squares and I finished off with some tiny gold pearls.  For the inside I cut a white panel using a stitched rectangle die and a green panel from the slightly larger plain rectangle die and adhered them together using liquid glue.  I had some tiny pieces of heat embossed panel left over so cut them into 1 1/8" squares and then cut these on the diagonal, placing one in each corner of the white panel using liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in dark green ink and adhered the panel to the card base using double sided tape. 

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

613 Avenue Create challenge - ATG optional twist any holiday

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - Christmas

Classic Design challenge - ATG optional twist any holiday

CRAFT challenge - Christmas

The Crafter's Cafe challenge - ATG optional Christmas in July

Creative Moments challenge - shimmer and shine

Die Cut Divas challenge - Christmas in July

Dragonfly Dreams challenge - Christmas in July with glitter or sparkle

Inkspirational challenge - Christmas in July

Peace on Earth Christmas challenge - ATG Christmas optional mood board

Not long now until the new release at the end of the month and I hope you've enjoyed the inspiration from Bev and my fellow brand ambassadors as we celebrate Christmas in July. 

I'll be back later with my card for the Just Us Girls challenge.  Thanks for stopping by. 

Love & hugs, 

card supplies:

Uniko - Background Blocks: Scandinavian Christmas

Uniko - Pure Florals: Poinsettia (for sentiments)

Cosmic Shimmer - bright gold detail embossing powder

Versamark - embossing and watermark ink pad

Gina K Designs - master layouts 18 (for frame)

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

Gina K Designs - black gold & silver mini pearl mix

Gina K Designs - large strip sentiments dies

Gina K Designs - Christmas pine ink pad (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)

dark green card & gold mirror card from my stash

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

Thank you x

Krafty Chicks challenge #830 - Masculine

Good morning lovely friends; I hope your week is going well so far and you're surviving the heatwave; although thankfully it's a little cooler here now. 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.

As usual I was pushed for time so kept my card fairly clean and simple, but as I've said before I think most men prefer their cards that way anyway.  My card is almost a SIP card this week (stamps, ink and paper) but I did use a banner die to cut out the birthday greeting.  I think it turned out great 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 white panel 4" x 5 1/4".  I stamped the background stamp using two different shades of grey ink; I put the darker shade in the centre and the lighter on the edges and used a blending brush to soften the line between them and I liked that it ended up looking quite distressed.  I stamped three stars in red, blue and the lighter grey and fussy cut them out.  I adhered them over the background using foam squares.  I stamped the sentiment in the darker grey and used a banner die to cut it out and adhered it over the centre star using a combination of foam squares and liquid glue.  For a finishing touch I stamped some smaller, solid stars around the panel and added some black spatter.  I adhered the panel onto my card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut a panel 3 3/4" x 5" and stamped the background and 2 stars directly at the bottom of the panel; I also added some smaller stars and spatter.  The sentiment was stamped in the centre using the darker grey ink and the panel was adhered to the card base using double sided tape.  

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

Colorful Options challenge - red, white & blue (option 1 and 4)

Crafty Calendar challenge - happy birthday (entry 3 of 3)

Daisy Chain challenge - birthday

Girlz Makes Guyz Cards challenge - ATG masculine

If You Give A Crafter A Cookie challenge - red, white & blue (inspired by colours, stars & stripes)

PINspirational challenge - red, white & blue (inspired by the colours)

The Neglected Stuff challenge - background stamp is 2 years old and only now using it

Tic Tac Toe challenge - middle line - any colour, free, sentiment

Unicorn challenge - no design paper

We Love Stamping challenge - summertime (playing the ATG option this time)

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: offset stripes clear stamp

Uniko - background builders: seeing stars clear stamp

Uniko - anniversaire arts decoratifs clear stamp (for sentiments)

MFT - blueprints 27 (for banner die)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - red hot, blue denim, stormy sky & soft stone

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)

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