Just Us Girls challenge #827 - Word Week

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog. I am here again to share my card for this week's Just Us Girls challenge and it's Word Week and Vicki has chosen 'summer'. I'm sure this is going to be a really popular week and I cannot wait to see all your gorgeous creations. 

The stamp set I used seems to be my go-to when I need summer themed cards. The images are so much fun and work really well with the postage frame die.  I went with bright and happy colours and I think this cards sums up most peoples summer: sunshine, cocktails, playing in the pool, flip flops and more cocktails lol!  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by stamping all the images onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured them with Promarkers and used the coordinating dies to cut them out (I also cut 2 more of everything from white card so that I could layer them).  I also added some highlights with a white gelly roll pen.  I die cut the postage frame and used the matching stencil to add some orange to soften the background (using the left over ink on my blending brush).  I die cut the stitched rectangle layer from a light orange card and adhered them together with double sided tape.  The images were added to the postage frame with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink onto white card and used the coordinating die to cut it out, along with two more from white card to stack.  Again this was adhered with liquid glue.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel for some extra dimension and adhered this to the card base with double sided tape.  I finished off with some orange pearls.  For the inside I cut a white stitched panel and again added the orange stitched layer with double sided tape.  I lightly ink blended along the bottom with the orange blending brush and added another ring and flip flops using liquid glue. I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink before adhering the panel with double sided tape.  

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

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - any occasion

Aud Sentiments challenge - monochrome and/or birthdays + sentiment

Classic Design challenge - ATH optional twist anniversary or birthday

Craft Rocket challenge - birthday

Farm Quest Grocery Game challenge - food and/or drink

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

Little Red Wagon challenge - O for outdoor

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - add a sentiment

The Four Seasons challenge - ATG summer optional mood board

I'm sure our gallery will be full of summer fun 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:

*Gina K Designs - the good life stamp & die bundle

Gina K Designs - master layouts 14 (for postage frame and matching postage grid stencil)

Gina K Designs - master layouts 02 (for stitched panel on the inside of my card)

Gina K Designs - rainbow pearl mix

Promarkers

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 - maize 160gsm card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

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

Krafty Chicks challenge #824 - Christmas

Good morning lovely friends, I appreciate you stopping by and I hope you're all doing ok. It's time for a new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 2; as always the theme is 'Christmas' and I am your hostess. We are slowly adding to the Christmas pile, which really takes the stress off later in the year. We hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

I pulled out an oldie but goodie polymer stamp from LOTV for my card today and I think it turned out super cute. It's a shame that making polymer stamps is no longer financially viable for them but I'll continue to use the ones I have as they really do make adorable images.   I went with a traditional colour combo of red and green, but with a twist, as I used lime green for a different look. I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the cute image:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by stamping my image onto alcohol marker friendly card and coloured it with Promarkers. There are no dies so I fussy cut out the image (don't look too closely at the handle!).  I also added some white gelly roll pen highlights.  I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and also using my trimmer cut lots of strips from red, white and lime green card.  I adhered the strips to the panel using liquid glue but left the top and bottom plain white so that I could stamp my greetings there.  Before I stamped the greetings I cut down the panel slightly using a stitched rectangle die.  The greetings were then stamped in the top left and bottom right corners using black ink.  I added some scrap white card behind my panel and adhered it to the card base with double sided tape.  I added the image with foam squares and finished off with a few black pearls.  I kept the inside fairly simple this time; I cut another white panel to 4" x 5 1/4" and added three strips to the bottom using liquid glue.  I used the stitched rectangle die to cut the panel down and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink. The panel was then adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up challenge - ATG Christmas optional twist marble magic

Christmas (or not) BINGO challenge - Line N: Christmas, free, dots/gems

Christmas Crafts All Year 'Round challenge - K for Kris Kringle

CRAFT challenge - cute/ATG

Creative Inspirations challenge - Christmas in June

Farm Quest Grocery Game challenge - food and/or drink

First Cup challenge - anything beverage/drink related

Girlz Creative Christmas challenge - ATG Christmas

Merry Little Christmas challenge - anything Christmas goes

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - scissors (I fussy cut my image)

Peace on Earth Christmas challenge - anything Christmas themed optional mood board

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - add a sentiment

The Paper Funday challenge - ATG optional twist polka dots and/or stripes

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

LOTV - Christmas mugs A5 polymer stamp (now only available in digi format here)

Promarkers

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)

Card Clubhouse IG Hop - Week 12

Hello lovely friends; I'm back to share my card for the Card Clubhouse IG hop organised by my sweet friend Kelly. We are on Week 12 and our theme is 'hello sunshine' so we would like to see sunshine dies, stamps, papers etc. 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 recently picked up this super cute sunshine die that I thought would be perfect for this challenge. It's quite large so I didn't really need to do much more to my card lol so it's quite a simple card today. I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the fun die cut:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by die cutting the sun 3 times so that I could layer them up with liquid glue.  I cut the outer part from orange card and the inner circle from yellow card.  I used some scrap card to cut the face pieces.  For the background I embossed a white panel using an older folder that I've had in my stash for years; the clouds are so cute.  I also cut a piece of orange gingham card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" to go behind my embossed panel and I adhered them together with double sided tape.  I die cut the letters x 2 to spell 'sunshine' from the yellow card and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I stamped and white heat embossed the sentiment and use a sentiment strips die to cut it out.  I added the sun and strip sentiment with foam squares and the sunshine word with liquid glue.  The panel was then added to the card base with double sided tape.  I finished off with some pastel orange and yellow pearls.  For the inside I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and added a strip of white card to the bottom that I also embossed with the cloud folder.  I die cut another sun and added that over the embossed piece, cutting off the overhanging piece.  I stamped a simple sentiment in black ink and added the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

AAA Cards challenge - 1+1 challenge (summer sun) - maybe not CAS enough so delete if not!

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - any occasion

Creative Knockouts challenge - die cuts/stencils/punches

Die Cut Divas challenge - ATG must use a die cut (4th entry)

Make My Monday challenge - dry/heat embossing 

Moving Along With The Times challenge - use your favourite stamp, die or tool (the alphabet letters are super old but they are the perfect size)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - add a sentiment

The Four Seasons challenge - ATG summer optional mood board

Try It On Tuesday challenge - flying high (the sun floats high in the sky)

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:

Lawn Fawn - stitched sun frame die set

Darice - clouds embossing folder

MFT - little letters die set

Clearly Besotted - a little sentiment stamp (retired)

Memory Box - mango gingham card 

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

Limetree Craft - maize and faded marigold 160gsm card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

*Gina K Designs - sentiment strips die set

Gina K Designs - rainbow 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

The Sisterhood of Snarky Crafters - guest designer card

Hello Saturday friends; I'm here again today to share my card as guest designer for The Sisterhood of Snarky Crafters challenge. I was lucky enough to win one of their recent challenges and was honoured to be asked and jumped at the chance to be a guest designer. The challenge this month is 'R is for rainbow' and they want to see your actual rainbows or rainbow coloured projects.  Also snark is not mandatory but is highly encouraged and appreciated.

I love a good snarky sentiment so could not miss the opportunity to use one.  I recently got this fun Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous stamp & stencil combo and the fun cat along with the sentiments are just hilarious.  I kept it fairly simple but I think it turned out fab.  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 a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and using the stencil on an angle created my fun rainbow background (I only used the ink left on my brushes as it was such a small area).  I stamped the cat, the hat, balloon and tie onto alcohol marker friendly card and coloured them with Promarkers.  There aren't any dies so I fussy cut them out.  I decided to trim the panel down slightly so the finished size is 3 3/4' x 5" and adhered all the elements with foam squares.  I stamped the sentiment at the bottom with black ink (I laugh every time I read it lol!).  I didn't add any other dimension (for a change) and adhered the panel directly to my card with double sided tape.  For the inside I used the stencil along the bottom of the panel, again going in rainbow order.  I stamped the balloon string with black ink and adhered the balloon over top with liquid glue.  The sentiment was stamped in the centre with black ink and the panel was added to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

Alphabet challenge - C is for circles

Colorful Options challenge - option 3 - rainbow

Craft Rocket challenge - birthday

Crafter's Cafe challenge - ATG optional funny and/or comical

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Crafty Calendar challenge - all about the men/boys

Creative Knockouts challenge - die cuts/stencils/punches (I stencilled my background)

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Dream Valley challenge - 4 legged friends

Heart's Quest Celebrations of Love challenge - BEWAS optional theme masculine

Let's Craft & Create challenge - a penny for your thoughts (use a sentiment)

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - scissors; I fussy cut my images

Pearly Sparkles challenge - this makes me smile

Show Us Your Pussy Cat challenge - ATG must include a cat

Stencil Fun challenge - ATG optional theme butterflies

Sweet Stampin' challenge - something for the boys

Please pop over to The Sisterhood of Snarky Crafters challenge blog for all the details/rules and to see the amazing creations from the design team. I would like to thank Chris 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:

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous - snarky cat birthday stamp/stencil bundle

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

Promarkers

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

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

Gorgeous Gift TagsIG Hop - June 26

Hello and welcome lovely friends. I hope you've had a great week; although I can't believe it's Friday already!  It's time for the Gorgeous Gift Tags IG Hop, which takes place on the 5th of each month. You always have the option to go for anything goes but the extra prompt this month is 'guys' so we want to see all your masculine inspired tags.   I can't wait to see what the rest of my fellow hoppers have made and I hope you can pop over to Instagram and join us.

I often think of geometric or basic shapes when I make of masculine cards and tags so I went with stars on my tags this month.  I created a fun background using distressed pattern stamps and a limited colour palette.  I think it turned out super cool and I hope you like it too.  

Here is my tag:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the back of my tag:

I began by die cutting two tags from 300gsm white card (one of the front and one for the back).  I stamped the stars using a few shades of grey and teal ink pads and die cut them out using the coordinating dies.  I also stamped the sentiments in black onto white card and used a sentiment strips die to cut out the thinner sentiment and my paper trimmer to cut out the larger one.  For the background I used the same ink pads and an old but well loved distressed pattern stamp to create a fun design, I just kept stamping until I was happy!  I added some black twine behind the thinner sentiment and then added all the elements to the tag with foam squares.  I ink blended the darker teal ink onto a scrap of the white card and then die cut some hole reinforcers for my tags; these were adhered with liquid glue.  For the back of the tag I again randomly stamped the distressed patterns (using the front as my guide) and added three stars in the bottom left corner with liquid glue.  I added the hole reinforcer with liquid glue and finally stamped the 'to' and 'from' with black ink.  I adhered the two tags together with liquid glue before threading white ribbon through the hole and tying teal & white twine into a bow.  

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

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

Colorful Options challenge - option 4 - other creative medium

Creative Moments challenge - make it masculine

Daisy Chain challenge - not square

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

Let's Craft & Create challenge - penny for your thoughts (add a sentiment)

Mix It Up challenge - ATG optional stamp background

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

The Paper Funday challenge - ATG optional twist polkadots and/or stripes

We hope you will be inspired by our Gorgeous Gift Tags Instagram Hop and will pop over and check out all the gorgeous tags along the way. If you would like to join us please visit my Instagram page or use the hashtag #gorgeousgifttagsjune2026 and we will find your tags. 

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Lots of love,

tag supplies:

Waffle Flower - nesting tag dies

Clearly Besotted - superstar stamp & die set (retired)

MFT - distressed patterns stamp

*Gina K Designs - create-a-tag holiday mini stamp (for to & from)

Gina K Designs - sentiment strips die set

Gina K Designs - ink pads - ocean mist, blue lagoon, soft stone, stormy sky, slate

Limetree Craft - 12" x 12" 300gsm smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

ribbon recycled from some clothing 

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

Just Us Girls challenge #826 - Die Week

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog. I am back to share my card for this week's Just Us Girls challenge and this week is Die Week and Carol has chosen 'butterfly'. I think everyone loves butterflies so I'm sure this will be a really popular theme and I cannot wait to see all your gorgeous creations.

I decided to use the Lawn Fawn butterfly wreath die set again but this time I only used the butterflies and not the wreath part.  I went for a soft colour combo and a bright card base and I think it turned out really pretty.  I hope you like it.  

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by die cutting the main part of the butterflies from white card and the inside parts were cut from vellum.  I used my Promarkers to colour the backs of the vellum in oranges and yellows and adhered the two parts together with liquid glue.  I cut an arch from white card and did some soft ink blending with sea glass ink and I also die cut a slightly larger arch from vellum and adhered them together with double sided tape.  I die cut some grass from green card x 2 and adhered them to the bottom of the arch using liquid glue.  I die cut a decorative panel from white card and roughly ink blended some orange and yellow inks (just using what was left on the brushes) to add some interest behind the arches.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink the upper left corner of the panel before adhering the arches with foam squares.  I cut teeny tiny slithers of foam tape for the backs of the butterflies and adhered them randomly over the arches.  I stamped the happy birthday sentiment in black ink and used a sentiments strip die to cut it out.  I adhered it with a mix of foam tape and liquid glue.  For a finished touch I added some gold metallic pearls.  I decided to make a coloured card base for a change and found this pretty orange pearlescent card in my stash.  I cut it to 4 1/4" x 11" and scored it at 5 1/2".  I added some scrap white card behind my panel and adhered it to the card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another decorative panel from white card, added another grass die cut in the bottom right corner and one more butterfly with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment with black ink in the centre of the panel.  The inside of my card base was an off-white colour and didn't look that good against my bright white panel so I cut another piece of the orange pearlescent card and adhered it inside the card base with liquid glue before adding the white panel on top.  

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

A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut (3rd entry)

As You Like It challenge - favourite sentiment (it has to be happy birthday as 90% of my cards are birthday cards)

Aud Sentiments challenge - monochrome and/or birthday + sentiment

Craft Rocket challenge - birthday

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Die Cut Divas challenge - ATG must use a die cut

Girlz and the Art of Letters challenge - B is for butterflies

Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge - inspiration photo

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

If You Give A Crafter A Cookie challenge - in the garden

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

I'm sure our gallery will be full of beautiful butterflies 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:

Lawn Fawn - magic iris butterfly wreath add on die set

Spellbinders - notched corner frames die set

*Gina K Designs - sea glass ink pad

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

Gina K Designs - fancy frames mini stamp (for happy birthday)

Gina K Designs - sentiment strips die set

Tiddly Inks - flutter by to say hi stamp (I cut off the hi part!)

Clearly Besotted - fresh grass die (retired)

Mama Elephant - B2B arches die set

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Stampin' Up! - cardstock vellum (no longer available)

*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