Krafty Chicks challenge #798 - 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. I can't believe that Christmas is only 2 weeks away; I'm sure most of you are done with your cards for this year so why not get ahead and start on next years.  We hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

I pulled out an older but un-used stamp from Uniko for my project today.  I did some basic colouring as the bulbs were so small but I think it turned out super cute.  I hope you like it too.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the string of lights:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by stamping the image onto alcohol marker friendly card and coloured the bulbs with a rainbow of Promarkers.  As I said the bulbs were so small I couldn't really do any shading so it went pretty quickly.  I cut the panel down to 3 5/8" x 4 5/8" and matted it onto a gold mirror layer cut to 3 3/4" x 4 3/4".  As it was a slightly odd size my card base ended up being slightly shorter at 5 1/4" instead of 5 1/2".  I added some scrap white card behind my panel and then adhered it to my card base with double sided tape.  I stamped the sentiment onto white card with black ink and cut it out with a sentiment strip die; I again layered this onto a gold layer which I cut with my paper trimmer.  This was adhered to the panel with foam squares.  As a finishing touch I added some crystal glaze over the bulbs so that they would shine and look a bit like glass.  For the inside I cut another white panel 3 5/8" x 4 5/8" and stamped a portion of the image onto the bottom, again colouring it with my Promarkers.  I stamped the sentiment into the centre with black ink and then matted the panel onto a gold layer.  This was then adhered 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 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:

Uniko Stamps - framed - fairy lights stamp

Uniko Stamps - pure florals: poinsettia stamp (for inside greeting)

Promarkers

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store now closed

Gina K Designs - large strip sentiments dies

Tonic Studios - nuvo crystal glaze 

Memento - tuxedo black ink pad

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card

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

Cards For All Seasons IG Hop Week 25 - baking

Hello again friends; I'm back to share my card for this week's Cards for All Seasons IG hop organised by my lovely friend Kelly. We are now on Week 25 and our theme is 'baking/Christmas cookies/gingerbread'. Such a great theme this week and I know we all have cute images or die cuts that are baking themed. 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 found an adorable image that I wanted to use and thought I would create a shaped card with a plate full of gingerbread men as my focal point.  Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, with this card but I think it turned out ok in the end.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the cute gingerbread men:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by creating my circle card base by die cutting two large circles from white card, scoring one of the circles at the very top and glueing them together with liquid glue.  I used the same die to cut another circle from patterned paper and adhered that to the front of the card.  I used a fluted circle die (which I think looks like a paper plate) and die cut that 3 times from white card and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I stamped 7 of the cute gingerbread men onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured them with Promarkers before using the coordinating die to cut them out.  I added the 'plate' to the centre of my card base with liquid glue and added 6 of the gingerbread men on top with foam squares.  I stamped a sentiment in black ink and cut it out with a small circle die.  I added that overlapping the bottom of the plate with foam squares.  Finally I added some clear sequins for a little sparkle.  For the inside I cut a slightly smaller circle from white card and also a piece from patterned paper just to cover the bottom of the circle and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I added the one remaining gingerbread man with liquid glue to the bottom left and stamped a sentiment in the centre with black ink.  The panel was adhered to the card base with 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 #cfascardhop2025 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,

Gina K Designs - Christmas cheer stamp & die set (for gingerbread man)

Gina K Designs - clear quartz solid sequins

Spellbinders - fluted classic circles dies

Spellbinders - Santa's sippin' sayings stamp (for outside greeting)

Gina K Designs - merry sentiment strips (for inside greeting)

Waffle Flower - nesting circles dies

Go-Kreate - XXL plain circle dies - no longer available

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Paper pad from TK Maxx

*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 Dec 25

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 'Christmas', which I'm sure everyone has used this month.  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. 

I had this Trim-a-tree stencil/die bundle sitting on my desk for about 4 months so it was definitely time to give it some love.  The stencil has three layers so you can customise your tree however you like.  I made two tags today and used two different green colour combos, one is more traditional and the other is using spruce inks - do you have a favourite out of the two?  I love both of them because they are both quite different even using the same products. I hope you like them.

Here are my tags:

A closer look at each tag; the traditional one:

and the spruce one:

I decorated the backs the same on both tags:

I began by die cutting the trees x 8 from white card; I did so many so that I could layer them up for dimension instead of using foam squares.  I also cut 4 tags from white card.  I took the trees and using the stencils coloured one with the traditional colour combo and one with the spruce combo.  On both tags I used the same red ink for the ornaments and tree skirt.  For a little bling I added sparkle gel over the ornaments, although it's hard to see in the photos.  I cut four stars from gold mirror card.  I stamped the sentiments in versamark and heat embossed them with gold embossing powder before using the coordinating dies to cut them out.  I also cut 3 more plain white so that I could layer them up also.  I took the tags and using the same green ink as I used on the tree stamped the background with a pin dot stamp.  I adhered the trees with liquid glue and on the first tag the sentiment was added to the upper right corner with liquid glue.  For the second tag the tree was again adhered with liquid glue but as the sentiment was longer for this tag I stacked each end with the extra layers but left the middle without any dimension; this was then added with liquid glue.  I added the stars with liquid glue and finished off with some tiny gold pearls.  For the back side of the tags I again stamped the pin dot background in the green inks and stamped and gold heat embossed the to: and from:.  I added a thin strip of gold mirror card to the very bottom and also a gold star in the top right corner.  I dug through my ribbon stash and found some coordinating ribbon and twine that I liked; the ribbon was threaded through the hole and the twine was tied around into a bow.  

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

The 12 months of Christmas Link Up challenge - ATG Christmas

A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut

A Place to Start challenge - ATG optional twist winter things

As You Like It challenge - gold, silver or glitter (I used to always be a silver girl but lately I've been drawn to gold)

Aud Sentiments challenge - Christmas and/or winter + sentiment

Color Dare challenge - #680 red/green

Crafty Gals Corner challenge - tis the season entry #3

Creative Inspirations challenge - tis the season

Die Cut Divas challenge - Christmas/winter

Double D challenge - Christmas wrappings (tags, ribbon, bows)

Everybody Art challenge - BINGO board (green, red, Christmas)

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - Christmas

Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge - inspiration photo

If You Give A Crafter A Cookie challenge - time for Santa/inspiration photo

Inspiration Station challenge - inspiration photo

Make My Monday challenge - Christmas trees

Merry Little Christmas challenge - anything Christmas goes

PINspirational challenge - inspiration photo

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - use dies in diecember

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - use dies in diecember 

Stencil Fun challenge - winter related

Tag along (& ATC's) challenge - red & green

The Four Seasons challenge - ATG winter/inspiration photo

The Dream Factory challenge - candy cane lane/anything Christmassy goes

Wow, not surprising but so many Christmas/winter related challenges around at the moment!

 

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 #gorgeousgifttagsdec2025 and we will find your tags. 

Thanks for stopping by and take care. 

Lots of love

tag supplies:

Gina K Designs - trim-a-tree layering stencils & die

Gina K Designs - pin dot background stamp

Gina K Designs - a little something stamp & die 

Gina K Designs - ink pads - jelly bean green, fresh asparagus, red hot

Gina K Designs - ink cubes - light spruce, medium spruce

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

Waffle Flower - nesting tags die set

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card

Cosmic Shimmer - bright gold detail embossing powder

Versamark - embossing & watermark ink pad

ribbon & twine from my stash

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

Krafty Chicks challenge #797 - 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 we are on Week 1; as always the theme is 'birthday' and Leanne is our hostess. This is such an easy challenge as we always need birthday cards so we hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

It was my niece's birthday a few week's ago and I'm sharing the card I made for her.  She's not a very girly girl and loves her branded sneakers/trainers.  She was lucky enough to go to NYC for her birthday 2 years ago and had some custom work done on her trainers to wear whilst she was there so I decided to replicate these for her card this year.  Here are her custom trainers:

Here is the card I made:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

As the card was for my niece I made my card base 6" x 8" but eventually trimmed it down to 5 1/2" x 7 1/2" as it fitted the layout better.  I die cut the trainers from white card and the details from black card and adhered them with liquid glue.  I didn't have a NYC skyline die so just used a generic one that I had but I think it still looks great; I also cut this from black card and adhered it with liquid glue.  I know my niece's trainers were mostly white but I used artistic licence as I felt the black looked better on my card!  I created the background by ink smooshing grey ink onto a white panel and once dry layered it onto a black mat layer with double sided tape.   I cut a white panel and embossed it with a star folder and again matted it onto a black layer; I also added some scrap white card behind this panel for some extra dimension.  I stamped the sentiments in black onto some scrap white card and used a banner die and sentiment strips die to cut them out.  I adhered the ink smooshed panel onto the card base with double sided tape,  added the embossed panel into the centre, also with double sided tape and placed the trainers on top with foam squares.  I placed the sentiments in the top right and bottom left corners with foam squares.  As a final finishing touch I die cut some stars from black card and arranged them around the trainers with liquid glue.  For the inside I cut another white panel and ink smooshed around the edge leaving a white panel in the centre for my sentiment and to be able to write my message (I simply held a scrap piece of paper over the centre whilst smooshing and removed it before it dried).  I stamped the sentiment in black ink and added a few black stars to the bottom left corner.  This panel was then adhered to a black mat layer with double sided tape and added to the card base.  I'm really happy with how this card turned out; there is so much texture and dimension and although it's for my niece it's quite gender neutral and would be suitable for anyone.  I hope you like it too.

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

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

Can You Handle The Pressure challenge - ATG embossing optional twist card of thanks

Hearts Quest Celebrations of Love challenge - BEWAS (birthday)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - use dies in diecember

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. 

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

MFT - all stars dienamics 

Clearly Besotted - cityscape die

Creative Designs - shadow stars embossing folder

MFT - blueprints 13 (for smaller stars)

MFT blueprints 18 (for banner die and larger star)

Stampin' Up! - family party stamp

Honey Bee Stamps - inside: birthday sentiments 

Gina K Designs* - large strip sentiments die

Gina K Designs - soft stone ink pad

Limetree Crafts - 280gsm silky smooth card

Limetree Crafts - 220gsm black card

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

AAA Birthday challenge #80 - box card

Good morning lovely friends and welcome to the last month of 2025!  I can't believe it's already December 1st - where did November go?   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 'box card' which may sound intimidating but there are lots of tutorials out there to follow (there are links over on the challenge blog if you want check them out).  Our guest designer again this month is the talented Sigrid so please pop over to her blog and leave her some love.

To create my box card I used a die set from Studio Light, which I have used once before to make a birthday box card for our cat Willow, which you can see here.  This time around I simply used all the dies in the set to create my card and I think it turned out so pretty and girly.  I hope you like it.   There are a few more photos today as I tried to get as many good views of the project as possible!

Here is my box card:

Plus I added a white panel on the back to write my message:

To create the box you need to die cut two of the pieces and adhere them together to make the box shape so I began by die cutting two of them from black card.  I adhered them together with strong red line tape so I know they would stay secure.  I also cut three of the supports for the inside of the box from black card.  I used a very old but a really pretty paper pad to cut the layers (the stripe paper has glitter running through it and looks beautiful in real life) and cut the back panel from white card and stamped a sentiment in the centre with black ink.   I then added them to the box with liquid glue. As I said I decided to stick with just the dies in the set so cut the butterflies from pink and orange scrap card (to match the papers) and also cut some leaves from paper from the pad.  I also die cut the grass from two different colours of green card from my scraps bin.  I stamped the happy birthday sentiment onto white card and used the decorative label die to cut it out; I also cut the layer from black card.  I adhered them together with liquid glue.  It was now time to decorate the box.  I adhered the grass to the inside supports with liquid glue and then added them into the box with more of the red line tape.  I adhered two of the smaller butterflies directly to the grass and box with liquid glue but the others had a tiny piece of acetate stuck to the backs with double sided tape so that they look like they are flying above the grass.  I did cover the backs with another butterfly to hide the tape.  These three butterflies were then adhered to the supports with red line tape.  I adhered two more of the butterflies to the side flaps with foam squares and the sentiment to the front also with foam squares.  I added two leaves behind the sentiment label (but not sure if I like them now lol!) and finished off with some black pearls in the centres of each of the butterflies.  I also added a butterfly to the white panel on the back.  At the last moment I decided to cut two banners, one from orange and one from pink card for the back flap; I adhered the orange one with liquid glue and the pink one with foam squares.  A really sweet box card and the added bonus is that is folds flat and will fit in an A2 envelope.  

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

A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut

Creative Creases challenge - ATG with a fun fold

Creative Friday challenge - ATG

Cut It Up challenge - fun fold + use a die cut

Girlz Rebel challenge - something beginning with B (butterflies/box card)

Little Red Wagon challenge - pearls & sequins & gems, oh my

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - use dies in Diecember

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

Tic Tac Toe challenge - shaped card, free, foliage

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,

box card supplies:

Studio Light - exploding box die set (SL-ES-CD116)

MFT - sweet 16 stamp (for happy birthday sentiment)

DCWV - Nana's nursery - baby girl 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" paper pad

Limetree Craft - 220gsm black card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Gina K Designs - on the inside stamp set (for sentiment on the back)

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

coloured card from scraps bin

acetate 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