Stencil Fun IG Hop - January 26

Happy 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 'fireworks' and I'm excited to see what everyone has made.

Believe or not, despite having 5 folders full of stencils I do not own a fireworks stencil (something that I will have to rectify soon)!  I had a search through my stencils and found a floral layering stencil from Uniko and the detail layer looked a bit like fireworks to me so I used that.  I think it turned out ok 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 to 4" x 6" and using a rainbow of ink pads stencilled the makeshift firework pattern all over the panel.  I used a confetti stencil and lunar paste to add a bit of extra bling plus I also stamped some stars inside the 'fireworks' and randomly around to fill in any gaps using a silver metallic ink pad.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink and used a flag die to cut it out.  I trimmed the panel to 4" x 5 1/4" and added some scrap white card behind it for some extra stability and dimension and adhered it to the card base with double sided tape.  I also added some scrap card behind the sentiment before again adhering over the background with double sided tape.  I didn't add any embellishments as I felt it was busy enough already.  For the inside I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  I had a thin strip of the fireworks panel left over so adhered that to the bottom of the panel with liquid glue (I did squish the lunar paste but I think it looks ok).  I added the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

* to be updated * 

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 #stencilfunjanuary2026 and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend.

Lots of love

card supplies:

Uniko - layering picked posies stencil

Simon Hurley/Ranger - lunar paste in silver lining

MFT - fishtail flag stax die-namics

MFT - you're super stamp (for single star)

MFT - to the rescue stamp (for star cluster)

MFT - you wow me stamp (for outside sentiment)

MFT - make a wish stamp (for inside sentiment)

Limetree Crafts - 280gsm silky smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne black ink pad

Tsukineko Encore - ultimate metallic silver ink pad - ? no longer available

*Gina K Designs - layered confetti stencils (only used the dotty one)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - red velvet, tangerine twist, wild dandelion, grass green, blue raspberry, wild lilac, bubblegum pink

*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

CASE IT IG Hop - January 26

Hello again friends. I hope you've had a great day so far. I'm back to share this month's card for the CASE IT Instagram Hop where we find a project on Instagram that inspires us and we will share that project as well as the project we’ve created that was inspired by that original. There are so many beautiful creations on Instagram the only difficult part is narrowing down which one to CASE (which means Copy And Share Everything).

This month I was inspired by Amy (@stampwithamyk over on IG); her cards are so beautiful and this one is so dreamy, calming and delicate.  I wasn't going to make a sympathy card, as hers is, but I really need some for my stash so went with it anyway.  I chose a pink colour scheme instead of blue, used one dove instead of two, used a rectangle panel instead of her arch panel and my card is 5" x 7".  I think you can definitely see that my card was inspired by hers!  Here is her card for my inspiration:

Isn't Amy's card just stunning.  I've literally had this photo in my camera roll since September last year and finally got around to CASE-ing it.  The colours, ink blending and paper are just amazing. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting my card base; I cut some white card 10" x 7" and scored it at 5" on the longer side.  I found this beautiful paper in my stash that I got in a Papercraft Society box; unfortunately I only had one sheet so a bit sad that I've used it but I think it was perfect for a sympathy card.  I cut the paper to 4 3/4" x 6 3/4".  The stitched panel was left over from die cutting a frame previously (it was the centre piece that fell out) and it was the perfect size for this card as I didn't want to cover all that beautiful paper.  I cut a beige mat layer as I felt it was soft enough for the muted colours in the paper.  I die cut the dove from white card and added a bit of orange to the beak piece and green to the leaf and adhered them all together with liquid glue.  I ink blended some light pink ink to the top half of the stitched rectangle and added the dove over it with foam squares.  I stamped the sentiment in a mid grey ink as I thought black may have been too harsh.  I adhered the paper directly to the card base with double sided tape. I added some scrap card behind the stitched panel and adhered it to the paper with double sided tape.  I finished off with some pink heart embellishments (not going to say how long it took me to decide where to put them lol!).  For the inside I cut a white layer and adhered it to a beige mat layer and added some left over strips of patterned paper to the top and bottom with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with the same mid grey ink and then adhered the panel 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

Aud Sentiments challenge - ATG + sentiment

Christmas (or not) BINGO challenge - Line O: rectangle, stitching, free, patterned paper

Craft Rocket challenge - something new (my dove die is new to me)

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Crafty Calendar challenge - anything new (my dove die is new to me)

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Daisy Chain challenge - use dies

Heart's Quest Celebrations of Love challenge - BEWAS: sympathy

Little Red Wagon challenge - happy new...... I used a new dove die

Moving Along With The Times challenge - use stencils and/or dies

Pearly Sparkles challenge - use patterned paper

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - something new (my dove die is new to me)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - something new (my dove die is new to me)

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

We hope you will be inspired by our CASE IT 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 #caseithop and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Lots of love

card supplies:

MFT - peaceful dove die currently on sale!

Sunny Studio - everyday greetings (for outside sentiment)

Sugar Pea Designs - heartfelt sympathy stamp (for inside sentiment) store now closed

*Gina K Designs - Master Layouts 20 die set (for stitched rectangle)

Gina K Designs - light carnation ink pad (for ink blending)

Versafine Clair - morning mist ink pad

Paper from the Textures by Lou Collins Papercraft Society Box 63 - no longer available

Little Things From Lucy's Cards - crystal collection - summer of love - store sadly closed

Limetree Crafts - 280gsm silky smooth white card

beige card from 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

Krafty Chicks challenge #802 - Christmas

Good morning lovely friends, I hope you're having a good week so far. We are forecast lots of snow tonight so I won't be going anywhere for the foreseeable; at least it will give me some time to catch up on crafty projects lol!  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. It's time to start building up our Christmas card stash again so why not come over and join in the fun with us.

I love the look of kraft with red, green and gold so that was my colour combo for today's card.  I kept it fairly clean and simple but I think it turned out great.  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 5/14" and decided to make my own background paper using some diagonal border stamps.  I stamped each edge of the panel using a red ink pad because that was the only part of the background you were going to see.  I took a kraft card panel 3 1/2" x 5 1/4" and stamped the tree image in a dark green ink.  I also heat embossed the sentiment below with gold embossing powder.  I die cut a small star from gold mirror card and adhered it to the top of the tree with liquid glue.  Finally I added some white gouache splatters for some extra interest.  I adhered the panel onto the background with double sided tape.  I didn't add any dimension or embellishments to this card to make it cheaper for posting.  For the inside I cut another panel 4" x 5 1/4" and stamped the sentiment in the centre with the dark green ink.  I stamped another border using the red ink along the bottom.  I adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  A fairly quick and simple card and this would be a good one to mass produce if you needed to. 

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

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up challenge - ATG Christmas optional twist snow people

Aud Sentiments challenge - ATG + sentiment 

Classic Design challenge - make it merry

Creative Crafting Uncles challenge - Christmas/new year

Creative Knockouts challenge - celebrations

Inkspirational challenge - shine/shiny (I used mirror card and gold embossing powder)

Merry Little Christmas challenge - anything Christmas goes

Papercraft challenges - festive sparkle

Peace on Earth challenge - anything Christmas themed optional mood board

We Love Stamping challenge - something new/ATG (I chose the ATG option this time)

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:

Clearly Besotted - modern Christmas stamp - retired

Clearly Besotted - diagonal stripes stamp - retired

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

Clearly Besotted - simply said Christmas stamp (for inside sentiment) - retired

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Versamark - watermark and embossing ink pad

Cosmic Shimmer - bright gold detail embossing powder

*Gina K Designs - ink pads - Christmas pine & red velvet

Crafter's Companion - kraft cardstock 

gold mirror card from 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

Club Cardhouse IG Hop - Week 1 Warm Welcome

Good morning friends from a very chilly South Wales; the ice and snow have gone for the time being, although we are expecting more tomorrow evening!  I hope you are all safe and warm in your craft rooms lol!  I'm back to share my card for the new Card Clubhouse IG hop organised by my lovely friend Kelly. We are on Week 1 and this is our first week for 2026!  Our theme is 'warm welcome' so think welcoming the new year, new supplies and/or warm colours.  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 decided to make a welcome to the neighbourhood card as the house across the street from me has just been sold and I thought I would be ready for when the new neighbours move in.  As the sentiment I wanted to use was quite long I made a landscape style card, which is very rare for me!  I think it turned out super cute and I hope you like it too.  

Here is my card:

A closer look at the cute house:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and ink blended some green ink over half of the panel fading to white at the edges.  I masked off the bottom of the panel and stamped some trees over the ink blending using the same green ink.  I made a 'road' from some grey card and used a white gelly roll pen to draw the lines.  I adhered this below the trees with double sided tape.  I die cut all the pieces for the house, fences and dog from white card and ink blended them for a softer look using warm colours.  I adhered them together with liquid glue.  I did die cut 2 extra fences  and also 2 more dogs so that I could layer them up.  I added the house with foam squares and the fences and dog with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment below the road in black ink.  I felt the card was a little unbalanced so added the doghouse to the right side to compliment the dog on the left side.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel for a little dimension and then adhered it to my card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and stamped two trees in the bottom right corner and using the same green ink lightly ink blended over them to soften them.  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:

* to be updated *

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:

Altenew - neighborhood home die set

Altenew - across the pond stamp

Heffy Doodle - everyday sentiment duos stamp (for inside greeting) - store now closed

*Gina K Designs - natural silhouettes stamp (for tree)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - cherry red, grass green, warm cocoa, honey mustard

Sakura - black gelly roll pen (to add details to dog)

Limetree Crafts - 280gsm silky smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

grey card from 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

Gorgeous Gift Tags IG Hop - Jan 26

Hello friends, I hope you're doing ok and that you've had a lovely day so far. 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 'Icy' and I can't wait to see what the rest of my fellow hoppers have made. I hope you can pop over to Instagram and join us.

As soon as I read the theme I wanted to use some cute critters and make a scene in the snow/ice.  I looked through my stash and found this un-loved set from Kraftin Kimmie stamps that was perfect. The polar bears are adorable and I loved the sentiment.  I don't have any dies for this set so had to fussy cut them out which I think looks ok.  I hope you like my icy, cool tag.  

Here is my tag:

A closer look at the cute polar bears:

I began by die cutting one tag from one white card and one from the snowy patterned paper.  I stamped the images onto alcohol marker friendly card and coloured them with Promarkers (just some light shading around the edges and some pink on their cheeks and ears).  I fussy cut the images and added small foam squares behind the three polar bears.  I die cut a curved piece from white card for the bottom of my tag and stamped the sentiment with black ink.  I decided to add some snow hills above the sentiment so used some light grey ink and a piece of torn paper to give the hint of colour; I then adhered this to the tag with liquid glue.  Once I had decided on my layout I adhered the polar bears and added the snowballs and brrr sentiment with liquid glue.  I stamped the single snowball directly onto the tag with black ink.  I added the white tag behind for a bit more stability and for a space to write on and lightly ink blended the grey ink around the tag for some extra interest.  I finished off with some tulle ribbon and tied a bow with some white and grey striped twine.  A really fun tag and it really does look so much nicer in real life.  

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

* to be updated *

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 #gorgeousgifttagsjan2026 and we will find your tags.

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Lots of love,

 

tag supplies:

Kraftin Kimmie Stamps - shake it up polar bears stamp (retired)

Promarkers

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

Waffle Flower - nesting tags die set

Clearly Besotted - decorative edge shallow die collection (now retired)

The Works - snowy Christmas 12x12 paper pad 

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card

*Gina K Designs - soft stone ink pad

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

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

AAA Birthday challenge #81 - winter birthday

Good morning lovely friends and welcome to 2026! It seems like last year went by in a blink of an eye; let's hope this year takes it a bit slower lol!  I hope your year is happy and healthy and all your dreams/goals come true.  As it's the first of the month it means we have a brand new challenge over at AAA Birthday. This month's theme is 'winter birthday' and our guest designer this month is Cathy R so please pop over to her blog and leave her some love.

I always think of critters such as penguins for winter birthdays as they are synonymous with cold, icy climes.  I used a cute image from a holiday set but the image itself is very suitable for a birthday card.  I went fairly CAS and let the little fella shine.  I hope you like it. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the adorable image:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" from alcohol marker friendly card and stamped the adorable image in memento ink in the lower right of the panel.  I coloured the image with Promarkers and added some white gelly roll pen highlights.  I did some stamp surgery to my sentiment so that it would ready happy brrr-thday which I thought was perfect for a winter birthday card and cut it out with a sentiment strip die.  I found a piece of scrap patterned paper in my stash that had an icy, snowy feel and cut a piece 2 3/4" x 5 1/4" and gave it a decorative edge with a scalloped die.  I added the paper to the left side of the white panel with double sided tape.  I added an extra layer of scrap card behind the sentiment before adhering it below the image with liquid glue.  The panel was adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  I didn't add any embellishments this time as I liked the clean and simple look.  Can you believe there is no dimension on this card at all, which is very rare for me!  For the inside I cut another white panel the same as the front and stamped another, smaller, image from the same stamp set and again coloured it with Promarkers.  I added a very thin strip of the paper at the bottom of the panel with liquid glue and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  The panel was adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

Christmas BINGO (or not) challenge - Line N - winter weather, blue, free or Line O - rectangle, free, patterned paper

Colorful Options challenge - blue & white

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Creative Knockouts challenge - celebrations

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Inkspirational challenge - cold

Little Red Wagon challenge - use the force! (I stamped and die cut)

Pearly Sparkles challenge - use patterned paper

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - add a sentiment

The Four Seasons challenge - ATG winter season optional inspiration board

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.

Have a great day.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

MFT - sweet holiday penguins stamp

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

Promarkers

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

MFT - bearly special birthday stamp (for outside sentiment which I modified)

Clearly Besotted - scalloped edges die collection - retired

Kristina Werner with Concord & 9th - joyful & merry dies (for strip die)

LOTV - verses polymer stamp (for inside sentiment) - no longer available

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (for card base)

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Memento - tuxedo black ink pad

patterned paper from a pad I got from TK Maxx a few years ago

*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