Card Clubhouse IG Hop - Week 15

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 15 and our theme is 'letters home & anything postage' and we know how popular the postage trend is in crafting right now and there are so many stamps, dies and stencils available that this is bound to be a fun hop.  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 knew what I was going to use as soon as I saw this week's theme. I've had this stamp, die and stencil from Spellbinders since April 25 and it's never been used so this was the perfect time to dust it off.  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 1/4" x 5 1/2" and used the air mail stencil to create the fun red, white and blue border; I love this look so much and this could be used for lots of different occasions by changing up the colours.  I took the letters and envelope stamp and stamped it once onto white card using memento black ink and once on blue card using versafine clair black ink.  I coloured some of the white images very lightly using my Promarkers and used the coordinating dies to cut them out.  I added foam squares behind them and added them onto the blue background.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink onto white card and again used the die to cut it out; this was also added to the background with foam squares.  The blue background was added to the air mail panel with double sided tape and I finished off with some clear sequins.  The panel was adhered to the card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and stamped a sentiment in the upper centre using black ink.  I stamped a small part of the letters and envelopes background and again cut some extras from white card, which were lightly coloured with Promarkers.  I added these with liquid glue and also added a thin strip of red card behind the blue panel before adhering it to the bottom of the white panel with double sided tape.  I had one envelope left over so added that next to the sentiment with liquid glue.  The panel was added to my 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:

Spellbinders - send and seal stamp & die (on sale!)

Spellbinders - air mail layering stencils (on sale!)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - blue denim & red hot

Gina K Designs - clear quartz solid sequins

Promarkers

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

Memento - tuxedo black ink pad

Stampin' Up! - brights collection card stock (for blue card)

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

ATC Scrap Makes IG Hop - July 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 M, N & O.  I think it will be fun each month finding images/dies for each letter. I'm trying to stick to animals and food but we'll see how it goes. 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 (except for the Narwhal which is new to me) but I still love them so why not use them. I hope you like them; do you have a favourite from this month's trio?

Here are my three ATC's:

A closer look at 'M':

A closer look at 'N':

and a closer look at 'O':

I decorated the backs the same as usual:

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 and added some extra stamping and ink blending to make the ATC's match the images a little more.  I stamped all the images and coloured them with Promarkers and used the coordinating dies to cut them out.  The images were added to the backgrounds with foam squares. I die cut the letters from coloured card, stacking them x 3 and added them to the ATC's with liquid glue. For a little continuity through the series I once again used the frame dies that I had used on previous month's ATC's, cut them from coloured card and added full frames to the 'M' and 'O' ATC's but only parts of it to the edges of the 'N' ATC. For the backs I simply ink blended the matching colours around the edges and stamped one of the ATC info stamps (that I won a few months ago) in black ink.  

I would like to enter my ATC's in 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 #ATCscrapmakesjuly26 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,

card supplies:

Sizzix - love you tons stamp & die (bought mine from eBay)

Heffy Doodle - chimply the best stamp & die (store now closed)

Clearly Besotted - still a hoot stamp & die (retired)

Promarkers

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

Hunkydory - moonstone scalloped edged picture frames dies

MFT - little letters dies

MFT - distressed patterns stamp

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

ATC silicone stamp (won in a challenge)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - ocean mist, blue lagoon, warm cocoa, jelly bean green, grass green, red hot

coloured 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 link as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

Thank you x

Patterned Paper Party IG Hop - July 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 'Christmas in July' which I'm sure will be very popular. I went with traditional colours and stamped my trees onto foiled patterned paper, which I had ink blended with three different shades of green ink.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the trees:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by choosing my papers; which were white with silver foiling.  I decided to make them green so ink blended over the papers using green ink pads.  I stamped the tree image over the papers and fussy cut them out; I also stamped the trunks onto kraft card using brown ink and again fussy cut them out. I adhered the trunks onto the trees using liquid glue.  I cut a white panel 3 7/8" x 5 1/8" and embossed it using a script embossing folder.  I matted this onto a green layer using liquid glue and then also added another layer cut from red gingham paper which was cut to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I felt that my card needed something else so used a lace die and cut it from red card.  It's actually quite a thick lacy border so I cut it down so that I was left with just the lace edges and added them to the top and bottom of the embossed panel with liquid glue and added the trees in the centre with foam squares.  I stamped the sentiment onto red card using black ink and cut it out with a sentiment strips die and added it over the trees using foam squares.  I used the tiny circles that fell out of the lace die cut as 'baubles' on my tree and added them with liquid glue.  The panel was adhered to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut a white panel 3 7/8" x 5 1/8" and added a strip of the gingham paper along the bottom with liquid glue.  I added this onto a green mat layer.  I originally only added the one tree but managed to smudge some black ink so covered it up with a second tree and for balance added the smaller tree as well.  Again I added the waste 'baubles' using liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment onto red card using black ink and cut it out with a sentiments strip die.  I added it next to the trees using liquid glue.  The panel was added to the card base with double sided tape. 

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

613 Avenue Create challenge - ATG optional twist 'any holiday'

Alphabet challenge - F is for festivities (Christmas)

Can You Handle The Pressure challenge - use an EF optional theme stars or stripes 

Christmas (or not) BINGO challenge - Line B - Christmas, red, plaid/check/gingham

Classic Design challenge - ATG optional twist 'any holiday'

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

Die Cut Divas challenge - Christmas in July

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - Christmas in July

INKspirational challenge - Christmas in July

Make My Monday challenge - Christmas in July

Merry Little Christmas challenge - anything Christmas goes

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - I fussy cut my trees

Peace on Earth Christmas challenge - ATG Christmas optional inspiration board

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - add some text (one of my trees is cut from text paper and I used a script embossing folder)

Tic Tac Toe challenge - middle row: any color, free, sentiment and bottom row: any shape die, layers, embossing

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 #patternedpaperpartyhopjune2026 and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Lots of love

card supplies:

Uniko - Christmas pop stamp (for tree)

Uniko - pure florals: poinsettia stamp (for sentiments)

Cuttlebug/Provo Craft - script embossing folder

Gina K Designs - master layouts 21 (for lace die)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - lucky clover, jelly bean green, fresh asparagus

Gina K Designs - sentiment strips dies

Gina K Designs - large strip sentiments dies

Creative Papers - festive feeling 6" x 6" paper pad

Memory Box Co - cranberry gingham card

*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 #832 - mood board 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 it's Mood Board Week and Bobby has a beautiful board to inspire us this week. There are so many gorgeous summer themed images and colours to choose from and I'm sure this is going to be a really popular week. I cannot wait to see all your gorgeous creations.

here is a better look at the board:

My eye was immediately drawn to the top left picture featuring pink and teal colours and jars filled with a yummy looking beverage.  I found a jar die in my stash and created a fun shaker card (I know another one lol!).  I think it turned out really girly and pretty and I hope you like it. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the jar:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and used three shades of teal ink and ink blended all over the panel; I also added some water droplets and white spatter.  Whilst that was drying I die cut the jar x 10 so that I could stack up the frame part to create my shaker window.  I ink blended one complete jar (frame and inner) using a pink ink pad and added some white spatter to the inner part.  I cut a piece of acetate and adhered that behind the ink blended frame and then adhered the rest of the white frames behind using liquid glue. I also die cut a straw from a different die set from white card and using masking tape created the stripes by ink blending some kraft ink over it and I think it turned out fantastic.  I cut a small piece of kraft card and swiped some brown ink over it to give it some dimension to look like wood (but I think it works as sand too).  I stamped both the sentiments onto white card using a teal ink pad and used sentiment strip dies to cut them out.  I was going to use sequins in my shaker but found some glitter snow which is quite chunky so I thought that would work as ice in my drink.  I added the ink blended background onto my card base using double sided tape and added the kraft card along the bottom with liquid glue.  I adhered the inner part of the jar onto the background and then adhered the straw onto this using liquid glue.  I added a few spoonfuls of the snow and then adhered the layered frames over top with liquid glue trapping the snow inside.  I added the smaller sentiment in the top left corner using liquid glue and the longer sentiment was added across the bottom of the jar using foam squares.  I finished off with some clear sequins.  For the inside I cut another white panel and ink blended along the bottom using the teal ink left on my brush.  I cut a thin strip of kraft card and again dragged the brown ink along it for dimension and attached this to the bottom with liquid glue.  I used another inner jar piece, ink blended over it with the pink ink and added some white spatters.  I adhered this in the bottom left corner, trimming off the bottom of the jar that overhung the panel.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre using the teal ink pad and adhered the panel to my card base with double sided tape. 

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges

Addicted to Stamps and More challenge - make your mark (I ink blended my background)

Creative Inspirations challenge - summer sunshine 

Cut It Up challenge - create your own background (I ink blended my background)

Everybody Art challenge - summer time

First Cup challenge - anything beverage/drink related

INKspirational challenge - summer vibes

Let's Craft & Create challenge- fun in the sun (sipping cocktails is definitely fun)

Little Red Wagon challenge - P is for pink

The Four Seasons challenge - summer with optional inspiration board

The Pick 3 challenge - ink blending, sparkle, sentiment

I'm sure this will be a popular challenge as there is so much on the board to inspire you and I cannot wait to see what you create. Please pop over to the challenge blog and leave some love for our guest designer Bonnie and the rest of the design team.

I appreciate you stopping by.

Love and hugs,

Sizzix - jar of flowers die set (I only used the jar)

MFT - soda pop die-namics (for the straw)

Tonic Studios - bottoms up stamp

Gina K Designs - ink pads - innocent pink, kraft, blue lagoon, turquoise sea, tranquil teal

Gina K Designs - clear quartz solid sequins

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

The Works - glitter snow

Winsor & Newton - white gouache (for spatters)

kraft card 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

Krafty Chicks challenge #829 - CAS

Good morning lovely friends and welcome to my little corner of blogland. 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 open space (doesn't have to be white), 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.

When I was searching through my stash recently I came across this die set that I have had for years but never used and thought it was time to show it some love.  It has a retro, 60's vibe so went with bright and funky colours.  I think it turned out really fun 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 die cut the retro squares frames from black card and the inner pieces from yellow, orange and pink and adhered them together using liquid glue.  I added the strips vertically on the left side of the panel again using liquid glue.  I found a fun scripty 'hi' sentiment that fit the space to the right of the strips and stamped that using black ink.  The panel was adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel and adhered the black frame using liquid glue and filled the gaps using a mix of the yellow, orange and pink inners.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre using black ink and adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  Once the die cutting and glueing was done this was a super quick card to make.  

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

A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut

Cardz 4 Galz challenge - for a friend or friendship

CAS on Friday challenge - only dies and word stamps

The Neglected Stuff challenge - the dies were released in 2012 and this is the first time I've used them!

Unicorn challenge - no design paper

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:

MFT - retro squares die-namics

MFT - winter wreath clear stamp (for 'hi')

MFT - everything wonderful clear 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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

coloured card from my scraps bin

Stencil Fun IG Hop - July 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 'sea/water', which means there will be lots of super cute creations, and I'm excited to see what everyone has made.

I created an underwater scene for my card using an older stencil from MFT.  I paired it with a super cute image and I love how sweet it turned out.  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 to 4" x 5 1/4" and using the stencil and an ombre blend of ink pads, I created my 'sea' background.  I also used a wave stencil but wasn't sure if I liked it so just kept it to the bottom.  I used a grey ink pad to stamp the schools of fish and some bubbles onto the background.  I stamped the image onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured it with Promarkers and used the coordinating die to cut it out.  I also added some white gelly roll pen highlights to his cheeks and a black gelly roll pen to define his eye.  I also stamped the sentiment using black ink onto white card and fussy cut it out.  I added both the sentiment and puffer fish with foam squares, added some scrap white card behind the panel and then adhered it to the card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel and ink blended the lower part with the ink that was left on my brush.  I stamped the schools of fish and waves lines using the grey ink pad.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre of the panel with black 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:

Allsorts challenge - stencils

Alphabet challenge - F for festivities (birthday)

Craft Rocket challenge - animals 

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Crafty Calendar challenge - happy birthday

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Daisy Chain challenge - birthday

Little Red Wagon challenge - piano man (inspired by beyond the sea by Bobby Darin)

The Neglected Stuff challenge - stamp is 10 years old and first time I've used the puffer fish image

Stencil Fun challenge - ATG optional theme 'birthday'

Tic Tac Toe challenge - summer colours, border, stencil

Try It On Tuesday challenge - animals: real or imaginary

Unicorn challenge - no design paper

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 #stencilfunJuly2026 and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend.

Lots of love

card supplies:

MFT - watercolor wash free form stencil

Avery Elle - sea-prise stamp & die

Promarkers

Gina K Designs - ink pads - ocean mist, blue lagoon, turquoise sea, tranquil teal

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

Versafine Clair - morning mist ink pad

Winsor & Newton - white gouache (for spatters)

*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