Just Us Girls challenge #836 - Word Week

Hello again friends and welcome back to my blog. I am here to share my card for this week's Just Us Girls challenge and it's Word Week and Bobby has chosen 'water'.  It could be a summer beach scene, a masculine river scene or even just a critter in a swimming/paddling pool.  I'm sure this is going to be a really popular week and I cannot wait to see all your gorgeous creations. 

I used an older, retired stamp set that has been in my stash for years but I don't think I've ever used it.  I love the clean lines and fun wavy sea, along with some fun clouds.  I'm even happy with my fussy cutting on this one!  I hope you like it too.  

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by stamping all my images onto alcohol marker friendly card and used my Promarkers to colour them in.  I don't have the dies so I fussy cut them out.  I cut a white panel 3 5/8" x 4 7/8" and added a teal blue mat layer using liquid glue.  I wanted a fairly clean and simple layout so clustered all my images together in the lower right corner and added them with a mix of liquid glue and foam squares.  I also added two clouds in the upper half of the card using liquid glue.  I white heat embossed the sentiment onto a scrap of the teal blue card and cut it out using a sentiment strips die and added that below the cluster using liquid glue.  The panel was adhered to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and added the wave image along the bottom and tucked the sailboat behind, using liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre using blue 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:

* to be updated * 

I'm sure our gallery will be full of watery delights 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 & hugs,

card supplies:

Simon Says Stamp - sailing clear stamp (now retired)

Gina K Designs - just keep swimming stamp (for sentiments) 

Gina K Designs - sentiment strips die set

Gina K Designs - blue sky ink pad

Promarkers

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

WOW! - opaque bright white super fine embossing powder

Versamark - embossing and watermark ink pad

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)

teal blue card from my stash

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

Krafty Chicks challenge #833 - 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 dug into the latest Gina K Designs 'Christmas in July' card kit for today's card.  I used some non-traditional colours and kept it fairly clean and simple but I'm really happy with how it turned out. 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" and used the 'snowy' background stamp and some pink ink to create my fun splatter effect background.  I stamped the image onto alcohol marker friendly card and coloured it in with a combination of spectrum noir and Promarkers, also adding some white gelly roll pen highlights.  I used the coordinating die to cut it out (plus 3 more from plain white so that I could stack them).  I stamped the sentiment onto white card using black ink and again used the matching die to cut it out (plus another 3 from white to stack them up).  I adhered all the die cuts together using liquid glue.  As the sentiment was slightly too long for my card I fussy cut between the words so that I could them as two separate words.  I added the bauble image in the upper half of the card and the sentiments in the lower half of the card using liquid glue. I finished off with some black pearls.  I added some scrap white card behind my panel and adhered it to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and added some of the snowy background in the bottom third of the panel using the same pink ink.  I stamped, coloured and die cut one more image as before but decided to cut it apart and just use two baubles in the bottom right corner, using liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink before adding my panel to the card base with double sided tape.  As I had part of the second image left over I decided to decorate the back of my envelope and added it with liquid glue.  

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

ABC Christmas challenge - P, Q & R - (R for rectangle)

As You Like It challenge - favourite colouring medium (I have primarily used Promarkers for over 15 years and like how easy they are to use; no refilling and mine are still going strong)

Cut It Up challenge - add a sentiment + must use a die cut

Girlz and the Art of Letters challenge - Letter G (garland, girly)

I Love Promarkers challenge - in the pink

Merry Little Christmas challenge - anything Christmas goes

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 will be back in a little while with my DT card for the Just Us Girls challenge.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Gina K Designs - joyful borders stamp & die set (kit is sold out but will be available individually next release)

Gina K Designs - snowy background stamp

Gina K Designs - dusty rose ink pad

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

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

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card

Versafine - nocturne ink pad

Memento - tuxedo black ink pad

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

Promarkers

Spectrum Noir tri-blend markers (bright pink blend & lavender blend)

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

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

Stencil Fun IG Hop - August 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 'complementary colours', which means colours that are opposite to each other on the colour wheel i.e. red/green, blue/orange or yellow/purple.  I'm sure there will be lots of fantastic and colourful creations, and I'm excited to see what everyone has made.

I used an older, unloved stencil from Funky Fossil Designs and as it had two layers it was perfect for my complementary colours of blue and orange.  I paired it with a fun stamp set from Funky Fossil too and I think it turned out great.  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 white panel 4" x 5 1/4" (although I did cut it down later) and stencilled the panel using the blue and orange ink pads.  It's a fun mid century modern pattern and I thought it would be perfect for a masculine gaming themed card.  I stamped the controller using black ink onto alcohol marker friendly card, even though I only needed to colour the buttons I didn't want the black ink to smear.  There aren't any dies so I fussy cut the controller.  I decided to trim the panel to 3 3/4" x 4" and adhered it onto a white panel cut to 3 3/4" x 5"; I also added a thin strip of navy card under the stencilled panel.  I added this onto an orange mat layer using double sided tape.  I stamped the sentiment in the bottom left corner and added the controller to the right using foam squares.  The panel was then adhered to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and added the left over strip of stencilled background to the bottom using liquid glue; I also added a thin strip of navy card above it.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre and also added a space invader image in the bottom right corner using black ink.  The panel was adhered 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 play time

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - birthdays

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

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - I fussy cut my controller

Try It On Tuesday challenge - make it colourful

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 #stencilfunAugust2026 and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend.

Lots of love

card supplies:

Funky Fossil Designs - mid century modern half circles stencil

Funky Fossil Designs - gamer clear stamp 

Promarkers

Gina K Designs - ink pads - blue denim & tangerine twist

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

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

Thank you x

CASE IT IG Hop - August 26

Hello again friends. I hope you've had a great start to your weekend. I'm here 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. 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 Marge (@marge.crafts over on IG); I love her beautiful cards and could easily have chosen any one of her cards to CASE.  Her cards are 'card perfection', her style is clean and fresh and her layouts are wonderful.  As soon as I saw this card I was in love, her Father's Day card was so fun, the large case die cut and word die cut were the focal points but I just loved the balance her card had. I decided to make a summery feminine card but you can definitely see that my card was inspired by hers! Here is her card for my inspiration:

Isn't her card just perfect? Using Ardyth's LIMES process (you can watch her video here) we list what we see - Marge has used blue, white and kraft as her main colours, a striped panel in the background, a large briefcase die cut and dad word sentiment all layered on a kraft panel. So I used a beach tote die instead of the briefcase, a hello word instead of the dad word and used a yellow, teal, white and kraft colour combo.  Instead of the layers I used an embossing folder in my background which has wavy lines instead of stripes.  I also added a few tiny flowers.  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 white panel 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and embossed it using the summertime waves embossing folder, I also ink blended over the embossing using a teal ink pad.  I die cut all the components for the bag from white card and using yellow and brown ink pads ink blended over them. To create the stripes on the bag I cut some strips of masking paper and used the same yellow ink but with a heavier hand for some tone on tone stripes; I think it turned out great.  I adhered everything together using liquid glue.  I decided to die cut some sunglasses from black card and adhered them with liquid glue so that they looked like they were peeking out of the pocket.  I stamped the sentiment onto white card using black ink and used the coordinating die to cut it out.  I also die cut the hello word from black card and the shadow from vellum and adhered them together using liquid glue.  I adhered the panel onto my card base using double sided tape and then added the bag using foam squares.  The sentiment was placed over the pocket with liquid glue and the hello word was adhered over the handle using foam squares.  I decided to add some tiny flowers in the bottom right corner and found these already die cut from the perfect shade of yellow card.  I added the flowers with tiny foam squares and the leaves with liquid glue.  I finished off with a tiny pearl in the flower centres.  For the inside I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4 and embossed a strip of white card and ink blended it as before.  I adhered the strip to the bottom of the panel using liquid glue.  I added three more yellow flowers, leaves and another pair of sunglasses in the right bottom corner using liquid glue and stamped the sentiment in the centre using black ink.  The panel was then adhered to my card base with double sided tape.  

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

Allsorts challenge - colours of summer

Aud Sentiments challenge - alcohol inks and/or summer + sentiment

Can You Handle The Pressure challenge - use an EF optional theme tie it up

Color Dare challenge - surprise challenge - yellow, blue and brown

CRAFT challenge - summer/holiday or ATG

Creative Friday challenge - dry embossing

Cut It Up challenge - add a sentiment (must use a die cut)

Dragonfly Dreams challenge - beach or seaside

Everybody Art challenge - summertime

Moving Along With The Times challenge - feminine

Pearly Sparkles challenge - summer holiday

The Four Seasons challenge - ATG summer optional mood board

Try It On Tuesday challenge - make it colourful

Unicorn challenge - layer it up

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:

Hero Arts - tote bag die set

Spellbinders - summertime waves embossing folder (EOM-JUN24)

Spellbinders - pocket bunny clear stamp & die (for sentiments) (CSOM-FEB23)

Spellbinders - smart glasses die set - on sale!

Spellbinders - hello smile die set 

Spellbinders - mini blooms & sprigs die set (for flowers & leaves) - on sale!

Gina K Designs - ink pads - wild dandelion, tranquil teal, warm cocoa

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

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

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's Christmas *almost* in July release day!

Good morning friends and welcome back to my blog. Today is the day that you can purchase the new goodies from Uniko's Christmas *almost* in July release. I've had so much fun this week as brand ambassador and I do have one more card for you using the new release products. Before I show you my card I thought I would re-cap the new products that are now available.

And that wraps up the new Release. I hope you love the products as much as I do. But, as always, the Brand Ambassadors are here to tempt and inspire you a little bit more.

For my final card I used the Winter Garlands clear stamp to create a get well card.  I went with a horizontal A2 card for a change and I think it turned out great.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by stamping 3 of the garlands onto alcohol marker friendly card and coloured them with my Promarkers.  I didn't use my usual green combo and this time went with a more olive toned colour scheme.  I initially had a different idea in my head for this card so fussy cut all three garlands and also separated them into 3 smaller pieces.  My idea was initially to have a wreath style arrangement but didn't want to make a Christmas card as I wanted to showcase how this particular stamp is suitable for all year round.  I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and arranged the garlands coming in from the sides leaving a space in the centre for my sentiment.  In hindsight I could have just stamped them directly onto the card in this arrangement but hey-ho the fussy cutting wasn't too bad.  I added the garlands with liquid glue.  I stamped the get well message in the centre with black ink and also added black spatter.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel before adhering it to my card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel and as I had two pieces of the garland left over adhered them to the top left and bottom right corners with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and also added some black spatters just in the corners.  The panel was added to my card base with double sided tape. 

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

Alphabet challenge - H is for horticulture 

CAS on Friday challenge - get well

Colorful Options challenge - option 2 yellow-green spectrum

Girlz and the Art of Letters challenge - Letter G (get well, green)

Paper Rocks Scissors - I fussy cut the leaves

Simply Clean & Simple challenge - ATG CAS optional theme nature

We Love Stamping challenge - summer blooms (I'm playing the ATG option) 

For more inspiration please check out what Bev and the rest of the team have created by clicking the links below:

Bev

Julie

Natalie

Bev is generously offering one lucky commenter a £20 eGift Certificate to spend in store, just make sure you comment on all the brand ambassador blogs/socials for a chance to win.  The winner will be announced on Wednesday, 26th August 2026 along with the winner of the Christmas in July FB challenge.  

Have a great weekend; enjoy the nice weather if you still have it. 

Love and hugs, 

card supplies:

Uniko - winter garlands (now available in the store)

Uniko - flower power #6 (for both sentiments)

Promarkers

Gina K Designs - detail craft scissors (for my fussy cutting)

Hero Arts - black acrylic speckle (for my spatter)

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

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store sadly 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

Uniko's Christmas *almost* in July release - day 4 introductions

Good morning friends and welcome back to my blog. It's day four and the final day of introductions for Uniko's Christmas *almost* in July release. Today's introduction is another clear stamp set called 'Winter Garlands' and it contains 3 different gorgeous garlands that will fit vertically or horizontally on your A2 panel. This is another set that can be used for both Christmas and all year through. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I went very clean and simple for today's card.  I cut a white panel of alcohol marker friendly card to 4' x 5 1/4" and stamped the holly garland vertically more towards the left side of the panel.  I used my Promarkers to colour the holly and berries and stamped the sentiment in black ink.  I adhered the panel onto my card base using double sided tape.  Literally about 4 steps to make this card and it would be perfect to mass produce.  For the inside I cut another white panel and stamped the garland horizontally at the bottom of the panel and again coloured it with my Promarkers.  I stamped a strip sentiment below the garland using black ink and then adhered the panel onto my card base using double sided tape.  I didn't think my card needed anything else as I loved the CAS design. 

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

* to be updated *

Please check out what Bev and my fellow brand ambassadors have created by clicking the links below:

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Natalie

Vinita

It's release day tomorrow and all the products we've introduced this week will be available in the Uniko store at 9am.  There will also be a giveaway of a £20 e-gift card so check out the details on the Uniko blog tomorrow.  I will be back at the same time with one extra card so I hope you will come back and check it out.  

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Uniko - winter garlands clear stamp (releasing tomorrow)

Uniko - Christmas wishes clear stamp (for outside sentiment)

Uniko - pure florals: poinsettia (for inside sentiment)

Promarkers

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for card base)

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Memento - tuxedo black ink pad

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store now closed