Just Us Girls challenge #839 - Die Week

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog. I am here to share my card for this week's Just Us Girls challenge and this week is Die Week and Sue has given us the theme of 'thank you'. So grab your thank you or thanks dies and join in the fun with us.  We all love our dies don't we and I cannot wait to see all your gorgeous creations. Our guest this month is Julia Aston so please pop over and show her some love.

I used a favourite thank you die from Spellbinders and I love that it has a shadow.  Whilst I was getting that die from my stash I came across the 'build-a-wreath' die set that I haven't used yet so thought I would bust that out too.  As the thank you die cut is quite large I decided to make a square card for a change so that I could comfortably fit everything in.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by creating my card base; I cut white card to 11" x 5 1/2" and scored it at 5 1/2" to make my 5 1/2" square card base.  I also cut a white panel 5 1/4" square and embossed it using a leafy folder.  I used coloured card from my scraps bin to cut out all the branches for the wreath, the flowers and the gorgeous bow (my scraps bin could keep me going until the end of time I think lol!) and assembled the flowers and bow with liquid glue.  I die cut the thank you from gold mirror card and the shadow from vellum and adhered them together using liquid glue.  I arranged the branches to make the wreath shape and adhered them with liquid glue onto my embossed panel.  I added the bow at the top and the flowers on the bottom of the wreath using foam squares.  I added tiny slivers of foam tape behind the thank you word and added that into the centre of the wreath.  I finished off with some gold disc sequins.  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 5 1/4" square and partially embossed the bottom using the leafy folder.  I had one flower and two branches left over so added them to the bottom right corner using liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with dark brown ink before adding the panel to the card base using double sided tape.  

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

* to be updated *

I can't wait to see all your die cuts this week and look forward to seeing your entries in the linky. 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:

Spellbinders - thank you dies

Spellbinders - build-a-wreath die set

Spellbinders - branching out embossing folder 

Spellbinders - envelope of wonder stamp sentiments clear stamp

Spellbinders - gold smooth discs color essentials sequins

Gina K Designs - dark chocolate ink pad (to stamp 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)

I have Affiliate Links 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 #836 - Birthday

Good morning lovely friends. I hope you're all doing ok and having a great week so far. It's time for a new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week is Week 1, our theme is 'birthday' and our hostess is Leanne. We always need birthday cards, gift packaging and decorations so I'm sure you will find this week a breeze!  We hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

I found a stamp and matching stencil in my stash that I don't think I've ever used so I thought it was time to show it some love.  I went with a pretty colour combo of purple, yellow and green and made a shaped card.  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" and stamped the image using a sandy beach ink pad; I left my stamp in the Misti whilst I stencilled, and then re-stamped it with black ink at the end so that I wouldn't smudge the black ink when doing my blending.  I used 2 shades of lilac on the larger flowers and 2 shades of yellow on the smaller flowers and buds.  I used 2 shades of green for the leaves.  It's a really pretty, girly colour combo and not one I use very often but I should.  I die cut the panel using the notched corner frame die and decided to use the largest notched corner die to make a shaped card, which I cut from dark purple card.  I added the stencilled panel onto the card base with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment with black ink and used the coordinating die to cut it out (as well as 3 plain white ones so that I could layer it up) and then added that two thirds of the way down using liquid glue.  I finished off with some black pearls.  Apart from the sentiment there isn't much dimension on my card (for a change).  For the inside I cut a white panel using the notch corner frame die.  I would usually add some more stencilling on the bottom of my panel to coordinate with the front but to be honest I was pressed for time and had already cleaned my stencil so instead used a piece of yellow patterned paper, again cut with the die, and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I also added a thin strip of the purple card above the paper with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and added the panel onto my card base with liquid glue.  

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

* to be updated *

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'birthday' 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 in a little while with my card for this week's Just Us Girls challenge. 

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Pinkfresh Studio - delicate floral print cling stamp & stencil

Spellbinders - notched corner frames die set

Gina K Designs - courtyard silhouettes stamp & die (for outside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - springy sketches mini stamp (for inside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - light lilac, medium lilac, lemon drop, wild dandelion, jelly bean green, fresh asparagus, sandy beach

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)

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Teresa Collins - every day moments 6x6 paper pad - discontinued

purple card from my stash

I have Affiliate Links 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

Card Clubhouse IG Hop - Week 18

Hello lovely friends; I'm here to share my card for the Card Clubhouse IG hop organised by my sweet friend Kelly. We are on Week 18 and we have a lovely mood board to inspire you this week. There is something for everyone on this board; black cats, squirrels, pumpkins, leaves so I'm sure this is going to be a great hop this week and I can't wait to see what sparks your imagination.

Here is the beautiful mood board:

Isn't it fun with such gorgeous images.  My eye was immediately drawn to the colourful rainbow of pumpkins/gourds and I decided to make my version of that image.  I drew their faces with a marker which adds to the whimsy I think and did some soft ink blending in the background.  No stamps were harmed in the making of this card lol!  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at my 'dodgy' faces:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and used it in landscape orientation (which I don't do very often) so that I could fit all of my pumpkins/gourds in a row.  I die cut them from coloured card from my scraps bin and used a memento black marker to draw their faces.  I also die cut the leaves from a pale beige card and ink blended them with kraft, red and green inks for an autumnal look.  I cut a strip of the beige card and gave it a woodgrain effect using the kraft ink pad.  I ink blended the centre of the panel using jelly bean green, sea glass and sandy beach ink pads and also added some water drops and white spatter.  I added the 'wood' strip at the bottom with liquid glue and added the rainbow pumpkins/gourds with foam squares.  I added the most of the leaves at the top of the panel with liquid glue, apart from two, which were adhered with foam squares.  I used a pre-printed sentiment and die cut it with a sentiment strips die and added some scrap black card behind for dimension before adding to the bottom of the panel with liquid glue.  I finished off with a few gold sequins.  I added some scrap white card behind my panel for stability and a little dimension 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 another 'woodgrain' strip to the bottom with liquid glue.  I die cut three more pumpkins/gourds and added them in the bottom right corner and also added two leaves in the top right corner, all with liquid glue.  I used another pre-printed sentiment, again die cut with a sentiment strips die, and added that on the 'wood' strip using liquid glue.  The panel was then adhered to my card base using liquid glue.  

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 #cardclubhouse2026 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 - boo-licious fall cupcake (for pumpkin/gourd & leaf)

Spellbinders - gold smooth disc color essentials sequins

Gina K Designs - ink pads - key lime, jelly bean green, sea glass, tomato soup, honey mustard, kraft, sandy beach

Gina K Designs - large strip sentiments dies

Gina K Designs - sentiment strips dies

Simon Says Stamp - EZ strips Halloween & EZ strips reverse Halloween (gifted to me by a friend)

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)

coloured card from my scraps bin 

I 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

AAA Birthday challenge #89 - Patterned Paper

Good morning lovely friends and welcome to September.  After all the hot weather I suppose it was to be expected that September would start off wet!!  We can't really complain though can we, although I hope we have a nice, dry autumn from here on in.

As it's the first of the month it means we have a brand new challenge over at AAA Birthday challenge. This month's theme is 'patterned paper'' and we all have lots of paper pads in our stash so I'm sure it will be a popular challenge. Our guest designer this month is Chris so please pop over to her blog and leave her some love.

It was my sister's birthday a few days ago so I used this challenge as the opportunity to make her a card.  I always make my family cards bigger than normal so this card is 7" x 7" which meant I had lots of space to use some pretty pastel papers.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by creating my card base; I cut piece of white card 8" x 7" and one piece of white card 7" x 7" and scored the 8" side at 1" to give me a tab to attach both pieces together with red line tape.  I found some fun, pastel papers in a 12" x 12" pad I got from The Works and choose the 4 I liked the most.  I cut each paper to 3" x 3" and added a thin black mat layer with liquid glue.  I adhered the squares onto my card base using liquid glue.  I die cut a circle from pale green glitter card and also a scalloped circle mat layer from black card and adhered them together using liquid glue.  I die cut the cupcake and lollipop from card from my scraps bin and used liquid glue to assemble them.  I added the cupcake and the lollipop to the circle using a mix of foam squares and liquid glue and then adhered the circle onto the background using foam squares.  I stamped the happy birthday sentiment directly onto the background using black ink in the top left corner and stamped the 'you are fabulous' in the lower half of the bottom right square, again using black ink.  I die cut the letters to spell sister from black card and adhered them below the stamped sentiment using liquid glue.  I decided to add some hearts cut from black card as my embellishments and added a few on each square using liquid glue. For the inside I cut a white panel 6" x 6" and added a black mat layer with liquid glue.  I created a mini version of the outside of my card (using the scraps left over from the front of the card) added it to the bottom right corner.  I die cut one more lollipop, this time from blue scraps and added that over the mini square using liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre of the panel using black ink and the adhered the panel to my card base using double sided tape.  

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

* to be updated * 

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.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Gina K Designs - sweet celebrations die set (for cupcake & lollipop)

Gina K Designs - courtyard silhouettes stamp (for happy birthday sentiment)

Gina K Designs - on the inside - birthday stamp (for inside sentiments)

Uniko - you are, yes you stamp (for yo are fabulous sentiment) - retired

MFT - little letters die set (for sister word)

Spellbinders - standard circles large die set

Spellbinders - classic scalloped circles large

The Works - make & create pastel basics 12" x 12" paper pad

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

Limetree Craft - 220gsm black card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

all coloured card from my scraps bin

I have Affiliate Links 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 #838 - 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.

Stencils are so much fun and can be used for so many different occasions.  I used a fun stencil that I've had in my stash for a little while but hadn't gotten around to using and wanted to show it some love.  I went with a cool colour scheme and I think it turned out so pretty.  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 stencilled the leaf design all over using light blue and light spruce ink pads and once finished I used a stitched rectangle die to cut out the panel.  As soon as I saw the stencil I had the idea to create a butterfly from the leaves so I masked off two leaves and stencilled them 'back to back' to create a butterfly shape; I also fussy cut it out.  I wanted to add some interest to the butterfly body so I took a leaf stamp and stamped onto the 'wings' with black ink.  I cut a thin piece of black card for the body and two tiny slivers of black card for the antenna and adhered them with liquid glue.  I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  I die cut a stitched circle and a plain black circle and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I added foam tape behind the centre of the butterfly and added it to the top of the circle with foam squares and stamped the sentiment below it with black ink.  The circle was added to the stencilled panel with foam tape.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel and adhered it to my card base with double sided tape.  I finished off with some spearmint sequins.  For the inside I die cut a white panel using the stitched rectangle.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and adhered the panel to my card base with double sided tape.  As I had cut the stencilled panel quite evenly I decided to add that around the white panel with liquid glue for something a little different.  

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

AAA Colourful challenge - colour board #31

Alphabet challenge - I is for insects

Creative Knockouts challenge - use your fave embellies (sequins)

Dream Valley challenge - for a girl or woman

Inkspirational challenge - garden (leaves and butterfly)

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - lots of layers

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

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 Betty so please leave her some love too.

I appreciate you stopping by.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Uniko - ink & flip mid century leaves stencil

Uniko - doodle flowers clear stamp (for outside sentiment)

Uniko - flower power #10 clear stamp (for butterfly details)

Uniko - simply said blocks clear stamp (for inside sentiment)

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

Gina K Designs - master layouts 01 (for plain rectangle die)

Gina K Designs - master layouts 03 (for stitched circle die)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - ocean mist & light spruce 

Waffle Flower - nesting circles die set (for black circle)

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

Little Things From Lucy's Cards - 4mm & 6mm spearmint sequins - store closed

I have Affiliate Links 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 #834 - Masculine

Good morning lovely friends; I hope your week is going well so far and you've managed to fit in some crafting. 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.

I recently bought a few things from a friend's crafty de-stash and she sent me some lovely Hunkydory pre-printed images as a thank you.  I thought they would be perfect for a quick and easy masculine birthday card.  The images are so super cute and perfect for males of all ages.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the cute pre-printed image:

plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting the pre-printed image panel down using a stitched rectangle die and I also used the same die to cut a panel from lime green gingham paper.  I adhered the image onto the paper, using liquid glue, leaving an equal border at the top and bottom.  I also cut a mat black layer and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I used two pre-printed sentiments and die cut them out using a sentiment strips die.  I adhered the sentiments to the top right and bottom left along the border between the image and the paper using liquid glue.  I finished off with some stars die cut from gold mirror card.  I adhered the panel to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut a white panel with the stitched rectangle die and also a small piece from the lime gingham paper and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre using black ink and finished off with some gold stars.  The panel was adhered to a black mat layer and then added to my card base with double sided tape.    

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

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Creative Moments challenge - make it cute

Daisy Chain challenge - animals

Hearts Quest Celebrations of Love - BEWAS (birthday)

Little Red Wagon challenge - anything times three (3 cute animals, 3 balloons, 3 stars)

Love Those Pretty Papers challenge - use designer/patterned paper optional theme look to the skies

Paper Rocks Scissors - use paper or scissors (I used gingham paper)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

Tic Tac Toe challenge - #tttc300 - die cut/punch, patterned paper, bright colours

Try It On Tuesday challenge - inspired by a song ('Celebrate' by Kool & the Gang)

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'll be back later with my card for the Just Us Girls challenge.  

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Hunkydory - smudge & mitten pre-printed images (can only find them on eBay)

Memory Box - key lime gingham paper - discontinued

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

Gina K Designs - master layouts 01 (for plain rectangle die)

Gina K Designs - birthday babble sentiment sheets (for outside sentiments)

Gina K Designs - sentiment strips dies

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

MFT - tag builder blueprints 6 (for stars)

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

gold mirror card from my scraps bin

I have Affiliate Links 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 - brand ambassador inspiration

Good morning friends and happy Saturday yay!  I hope you can manage to fit some crafting into your weekend plans.  I'm here today to share some more inspiration using Uniko's newly released 'Ink & Flip: Christmas Star, Star stencil but this time I wanted to show that this stencil is definitely not just for Christmas.  

It's my sister's birthday next week so I thought I would get ahead and make a card for her from my sons.  I decided to make a tri-fold card as I've seen quite a few of them on blogs and social media recently.  I went with a subtle grey, black and white colour combo and I think it turned out great.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the first panel:

A closer look at the middle panel:

And a closer look at the third panel:

An extra photo of them laying flat:

I began by cutting 3 white panels 4" x 5 1/4" and stencilled the Christmas star into the bottom left and top right corners using a light grey ink and a dark grey ink.  I die cut each panel using an arch die and also cut a slightly larger arch from black card 3 times.  I adhered each stencilled arch onto a black arch using liquid glue.  To create the card base I cut a piece of white card 12" wide x 3 1/2" tall and scored it at 4" and 8" into a z shape.  I stamped all the sentiments using black ink and then added each arch onto the card base using liquid glue.  I also added another plain white arch on the backside of the card to make it look more finished.  I embellished with a few tiny silver stars and added some silver crystals in the centres of the stencilled stars.  A fairly simple card but I think it's quite dramatic and elegant.  

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

A Place to Start challenge - ATG optional twist no rectangles

Classic Design challenge - ATG with optional twist use die cuts

Creative Creases challenge - ATG with a fun fold

Papercraft challenges - back to basics

The Paper Funday challenge - ATG with optional twist of fancy folds

Try It On Tuesday challenge - inspired by a song ('Star' by Kiki Dee)

Thanks for stopping by; I appreciate your comments.

Love and hugs, 

card supplies:

Uniko - Ink & Flip: Christmas Star, Star stencil

Uniko - everyday family sentiments clear stamp

Uniko - everyday sentiments clear stamp

Uniko - everyday love clear stamp

Uniko - reach for the stars clear stamp (retired)

Uniko - wonderful day clear stamp (retired)

Mama Elephant - B2B arches die set

Gina K Designs - ink pads - soft stone and slate

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

Limetree Craft - 12x12 300gsm smooth white card (for card base)

Limetree Craft - 220gsm black card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

bling from my stash

I 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