Krafty Chicks challenge #775 - 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. It can't get any easier than this week's challenge so we hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

I was really pushed for time this week so I was happy to find most of what I used on my card already prepared in a box at the side of my desk.  Sometimes if I die cut something or colour something and then decide not to use it, I will put it the box to use another time.  It is a real time saver when you're out of time.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the flowers:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by die cutting the white panel with a stitched rectangle die.  The basket weave cover plate had already been die cut from white card and was in 'the box' so I adhered them together with liquid glue.  I had the flower cluster left over from my Gina K appreciation card so added that with foam squares and the happy birthday was already die cut and stacked x 4 so I adhered that with liquid glue.  I added some black pearls around the card and also put some clear raindrop embellishments in the centres of the flowers. The panel was backed with some scrap white card for a tiny bit of dimension and added to my card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel with the stitched rectangle die, stamped the same flower cluster in the top left and bottom right corners with light grey ink and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  The panel was then adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  This card came together so quickly but I think it's really pretty.  

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

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - make your mark

Beautiful Blossoms challenge - anything floral goes with optional mood board

Die Cut Divas challenge - happy birthday

Little Red Wagon challenge - to boldly go (use bright or bold colours)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - sending flowers

Tic Tac Toe challenge - flowers, free, CAS

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

Word Power challenge - make the sentiment the focus of your card

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:

Gina K Designs - spring clusters stamp & die bundle

Gina K Designs - spring clusters colouring stencils

Gina K Designs - floral friendship stamp (for inside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - basket weave cover plate die

Gina K Designs - Master Layouts 14 (for stitched rectangle die)

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

Gina K Designs - ink pads -  sea glass, turquoise sea, light lilac, medium lilac, soft stone

Gina K Designs - ink cubes - light & medium spruce

Little Things From Lucy's Cards - clear raindrops (store now closed)

Limetree Crafts - 250gsm silky smooth white card - not currently available - but they do have 280gsm silky smooth white card available here - but limited numbers

Versafine - onyx black ink

Pearly Sparkles challenge - guest designer

Hello again friends; here I am again back with my second post for today!  I am delighted to be a guest designer over at Pearly Sparkles challenge this month and their theme is 'shaped card' so we want you to make a fun shaped card - no squares or rectangles allowed.  I hope you have fun with the challenge and I can't wait to see what you create.

I decided to make a circle card but with a fun twist - I made it into a doughnut shaped card.  It is so much fun and because my son loves pink sprinkled doughnuts I had to make it pink lol!  It's only a dinky 4 1/4" diameter but it makes it even more adorable.  I hope you love it too.

Here is my shaped card:

A closer look:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by making a 5" x 5" card base from white card and used the largest of my new nesting circle die set to cut out my circle card base.  I also cut a circle from kraft card to place on the front on my card.  I cut out the next circle down from the die set from pink card and traced a wobbly outline with pencil and cut it out with my scissors for the icing of my doughnut (I should have cut it a little bigger so that the kraft card wasn't showing quite so much but I still think it looks great).  I took one of the smaller circles in the set (approx 1 1/2" diameter) and cut the doughnut hole from the card base, the kraft circle and the pink circle. I adhered the kraft circle with liquid glue and the 'icing' with foam squares.  I was thinking about what to use for the sprinkles when I saw a die on my desk from a previous project that I thought would be perfect - a film strip die - the bits that fell out of the die cut were the perfect size and shape.  I cut out multiples from pink, blue, yellow and white card and added them randomly on the icing with liquid glue.  I added some crystal glaze to the sprinkles so that they would stand out and look dimensional.  I stamped the sentiment onto white card and cut it out with a sentiment strip die, adhered it with foam squares and then added a cute twine bow above it with liquid glue.  For the inside I cut another smaller circle from white card, again cutting the doughnut centre, stamped a small sentiment on either side in black ink and then adhered this to my card base with liquid glue.  I added a few of the sprinkles around the sentiment too.  I did cut a small piece off the back of the card base so that my card would stand up straight without toppling over.  This card really makes me smile and I hope it makes you smile too.  

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

Christmas (or not) BINGO challenge - Line I - circle or oval card shape, free, button or knot

Crafty Catz challenge - ATG

Dream Valley challenge - ATG

Halloween & Other Occasions challenge - birthday

Seize The Birthday challenge - ATG birthday/no topping

I would like to thank Helen and everyone at Pearly Sparkles challenge for having me as a guest this month. I hope you will be able to play along with the challenge and I cannot wait to see all your shaped card projects.

Ok, that is it from me for today, but thank you for stopping by and visiting my corner of blogland.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Waffle Flower - nesting circle die set

MFT - sweet birthday wishes stamp (for outside sentiment) - no longer available

MFT - sweet 16 stamp (for inside sentiment) - no longer available

Funky Fossil Designs - filmstrip dies (for sprinkles)

Crafter's Companion - kraft cardstock 

Versafine - onyx black ink pad

Tonic Studios - Nuvo crystal glaze 

Limetree Crafts - 250gsm silky smooth white card - not currently available - but they do have 280gsm silky smooth white card available here - but limited numbers

pink card from stash

twine from stash

AAA Birthday challenge #75 - summer birthday

Hello again friends and happy 1st of July.  The weather has certainly perked up again over the last few days, although it's a little bit too hot for me.  It was my nephew's wedding on Sunday and although it was only 24 degrees I managed to burn the back of my neck lol!  We had a wonderful day and the bride looked amazing, like a princess (no photos yet I'm afraid until the newlyweds have shared their own).  

I'm here today to share my card for this month's AAA Birthday challenge and this month our theme is 'summer birthday' which is such a fun challenge.  I hope you will take on our challenge this month and get creating. Our guest designer this month is the lovely Pauline so please pop over to her blog and leave her some love.

My mind instantly went to food when I saw the theme - I was thinking ice-cream, ice lollies, candy floss etc but I finally settled on ice lollies as my focal point.  There is nothing cooler than a frozen ice lolly in the hot sun mmmmmm!  It's a fun card and I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the lollies:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I often admire Yana Smakula's cards and the way she uses coloured card for her backgrounds; they always look so cool.  I decided to try it on this card and used a panel of blue card cut to 4" x 5 1/4".  I splattered some blue ink as well as some perfect pearls mixed with water onto it to add some interest.  For my focal point I stamped 4 of the ice lollies but used a blending brush to add the ink to the stamp so that it would be a bit softer and have a little roughness to it.  I used the coordinating dies to cut them out. I also stamped 4 sticks using a kraft ink and also die cut them out.  I stamped the happy birthday sentiment directly onto the background in the centre with black ink.  I then decided to stamp the sub sentiment onto the blue lolly in black ink.  I die cut 3 more layers for each lolly and stick and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I added foam squares behind each lolly and added them to my card base, two above the sentiment and two below, in a grid formation (again inspired by Yana). I added some scrap white card behind my panel with double sided tape and then this was adhered to my card base with double sided tape.  I finished off with some clear raindrop embellishments.  For the inside I cut a white panel 3 3/4" x 5" and added a blue card mat layer with double sided tape.  I stamped and die cut another lolly and adhered in onto the lower right of the panel with liquid glue and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  The panel was then adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  A bright and fun card and I'm really happy with how it turned out. 

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

AAA Cards challenge - anything CAS goes optional twist sentiment focus

Allsorts challenge - seaside or ATG

Cardz 4 Galz challenge - welcome to summer

Classic Design challenge - ATG optional twist vacation/holiday

Creative Knockouts challenge - summer fun

Die Cut Divas challenge - happy birthday (I love MFT and have used their products on my card)

Halloween & Other Occasions challenge - happy birthday

Little Red Wagon challenge - to boldly go (use bold colours)

Make My Monday challenge - summer fun

Papercraft challenges - summer vibes

The Four Seasons challenge - summer (optional mood board)

The Sisterhood of Crafters challenge - summer fun

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 - you're the sweetest stamp (the die set is now sold out)

Gina K Designs ink pads - powder blue, key lime, tangerine twist, wild dandelion, passionate pink, kraft

Little Things From Lucy's Cards - clear raindrops - store now sadly closed

Versafine - onyx black ink pad

Limetree Crafts - 250gsm silky smooth white card - not currently available - but they do have 280gsm silky smooth white card available here

blue card from my stash

Ranger - perfect pearls (perfect pearl colour)

Krafty Chicks challenge #774 - masculine

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 4; as always the theme is 'masculine' and Lori is our hostess. I know masculine makes can be difficult but we always need them so take the challenge and get ahead.  We hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

Today's card was made for my brother-in-law who is a carpenter.  I recently bought this die set especially to use for his card but I think it will be useful for lots of my masculine relatives.  I hope you like it.

A closer look at the tools:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by die cutting all the tools using card from my scraps bin and assembled them using liquid glue.  I wanted to replicate a peg board but unfortunately I don't have a die for that so just used a die plate with lots of circles (which are a little large but I think it works).  I created my background by swiping my brown ink pad down a piece of kraft card to resemble wood graining or planks (as per Gina K).  I attached the wood graining panel onto my 5" x 7" card base with double sided tape.  I then took my faux peg board and added tiny foam squares behind it and adhered it onto a white panel so that it would have some space between the layers, as per a real peg board.  I adhered the die cut tools with foam squares along the peg board.  I wanted it to look like there were pegs holding up the tools so I die cut some small circles from dark grey card and added them with liquid glue.  I added the peg board piece onto the panel with double sided tape.  I die cut the happy birthday sentiment 4 times from red card and adhered them together with liquid glue.  This was added above my peg board with liquid glue.  I white heat embossed the brother in law sentiment onto red card and cut it out with a sentiment strip die; this was then added below the peg board with foam squares.  I didn't add any embellishments as I thought there was lots going on already.  For the inside I cut a white panel 4 3/4" x 6 3/4" and added a thin strip of the wood grained card to the top and bottom with liquid glue.  I die cut another ruler and screwdriver and adhered them with liquid glue over the bottom strip.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre of the panel with a dark brown ink pad and then adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  I'm really happy with how this card turned out and my BIL loved it.  

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

613 Avenue challenge - ATG optional twist masculine

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - die cuts and/or stencils

The Crafter's Cafe challenge - ATG optional masculine

Creative Inspirations challenge - one for the boys

Inspired by challenge - s'mores (I was inspired by the colours)

Pearly Sparkles challenge - masculine

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

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 appreciate your lovely comments.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Spellbinders - all the tools die set

Spellbinders - simply perfect mix & match sentiment dies

MFT - peek-a-boo polka dots die (for faux peg board)

Gina K Designs - lots of dots die set (for small circles)

Gina K Designs - warm cocoa ink pad

Gina K Designs - large strip sentiments dies

Stampin' Up! - family party stamp (for BIL sentiment) - retired

Honey Bee Stamps - inside: birthday sentiments

Crafter's Companion - kraft cardstock

Limetree Crafts - 250gsm silky smooth white card - not currently available - but they do have 280gsm silky smooth white card available here

coloured & speciality card from scraps bin

Cards For All Seasons IG Hop - Week 13

Hello friends; I hope you're having a great week so far. I'm back today 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 13 and our theme is 'tools & techniques'. Is there something you love doing or maybe something you've always wanted to try - well this is the week for you. There are going to be so many awesome ideas along the hop this week and I can't wait to see what sparks your imagination.

I had so many ideas running through my mind but one in particular called to me.  I've always loved this technique but never tried it before, not really sure why not though.  I used the reverse stencil technique this week and it is so much fun and gives off so much drama!  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

I decorated the inside as usual:

I began by cutting a piece of white card 5 1/2" square; this was because I wanted a piece for the inside and I knew I would have some left over after cutting my front panel.  I used bright pink and bright orange ink pads and blended the background.  I then placed the stencil overtop and blended over it using black ink - this is the scary part because you think you've ruined it lol!  I had a proper workout doing this step as you want to get it as black as you can for the most drama!  Once the stencil is removed you stand back and admire the beautiful background.  I used a stitched rectangle die to cut my front panel and matted it onto a black layer with double sided tape.  I die cut the sentiment from orange and pink card and the shadow from black card.  I adhered them together with liquid glue.  I added foam squares behind the sentiment and added it to the centre of the panel where the orange and pink overlapped.  I finished off with some clear quartz sequins.  I added some scrap white card behind my panel instead of foam tape and then adhered it to my card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut a white panel, again using the stitched rectangle die and also used the stitched die to cut a piece of the leftover stencilled background.  I adhered them together with liquid glue and then matted the panel onto a black layer with double sided tape.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  The panel was then added to the card base with double sided tape.  A fairly simple card but the background really packs a punch. 

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

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - die cuts and/or stencils

Crafty Catz challenge - ATG optional twist hot colours

Daisy Chain challenge - birthday

Halloween & Other Occasions challenge - birthday

Inkspirational challenge - use stencils optional twist geometric

Moving Along With The Times challenge - birthday

Shopping Our Stash challenge - a stitch in time (I used a stitched rectangle die)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

Stencil Fun challenge - anything stencil goes optional theme summertime fun

Word Power challenge - make the sentiment the focus of your card

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. 

I'll be back in the morning with my card for the Krafty Chicks challenge so I hope you will pop back and check it out. Until then thank you so much for stopping by.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Gina K Designs - crop circles stencil

Gina K Designs - birthday trio die set

Gina K Designs - birthday cheer stamp set

Gina K Designs - Master Layouts 14 (for stitched rectangle)

Gina K Designs ink pads - tangerine twist & passionate pink

Gina K Designs - clear quartz solid sequins

MFT - hybrid black ink pad - now discontinued

Limetree Crafts - 250gsm silky smooth white card - not currently available - but they do have 280gsm silky smooth white card available here

Limetree Crafts - 220gsm black card

Versafine - onyx black ink pad

Patterned Paper Party IG Hop - ATG

Hello friends; I hope you've had a great week and are looking forward to the weekend.  It's been scorchio here this week, especially yesterday which was exceptionally hot.  We had some light drizzle first thing this morning but it's now very hot again.  I hope it's warm and sunny where you are too.  

I'm here today to share some cards I made for a new IG Hop that I'm taking part in called the Patterned Paper Party 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. 

I saw a fun tutorial on YouTube by @rickadkinsdesigns called Stack, Cut, Shuffle, and loved the idea of creating 4 similar but different card fronts using 4 sheets of your patterned paper.  You can watch his video here if you're more of a visual learner (like me).  I followed the basic layout of Rick's design but instead of adding flowers I added cute bear images.  I hope you like them.

Here are all four cards together:

Here is one of the cards in full view:

A closer look at one of the other adorable bears:

Plus I decorated the insides:

I began by cutting all four papers to 4" x 5 1/4".  On the 4" side I cut all four papers at 2 1/2" so we had 4 pieces 2 1/2" x 5 1/4' and 4 pieces 1 1/2" x 5 1/4".  I took the larger pieces and cut them on the long side at 3" and the smaller pieces were cut at 3 1/4". I separated the pieces into 4 piles so that 1 of each  pattern was in each pile. I cut 4 white panels 4" x 5 1/4" and adhered each pile onto the panel with liquid glue.  Once I had all 4 panels completed I decided to cut it out with a stitched rectangle die (so the panels did end up ever so slightly smaller).  I also die cut 4 white stitched circles as my grounding panels for my bears.  I stamped the bears onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured them with Promarkers, added some white gelly roll pen highlights and cut them out with the coordinating dies.  I also used a black gelly roll pen on their eyes for a bit more definition.  I stamped 4 of the happy birthday sentiments and cut them out with a sentiment strip die.  Now I had all my elements ready it was time to assemble my cards.  I added foam tape to everything lol!  I placed the sentiments onto the circles and then added the bears as if they were standing on top of it.  The circles were placed over the joins of the papers in slightly different places on each card front.  Instead of adding foam tape behind my panels I used 3 pieces of scrap white card for stability and dimension. The panels were then added onto the card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I used a thin strip of each of the pattern papers to the bottom of a 4" x 5 1/4" white panel and then used the same stitched rectangle die to cut it out.  I stamped one of the bears as if it was standing on the strip and added a sentiment in the centre, both with black ink.  I added the panel onto my card base with double sided tape.  A really fun layout and a great way to quickly use up some of your papers.  

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

As You Like It challenge - add a sentiment or not (I always have to add a sentiment to the front)

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Crafty Calendar challenge - add a sentiment

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Daisy Chain challenge - birthday

Halloween & Other Occasions challenge - birthday

I Love Promarkers challenge - ATG or summer time

Love Those Pretty Papers challenge - use patterned papers optional wedding

Moving Along With The Times challenge - birthday 

Shopping Our Stash challenge - a stitch in time (I used stitched dies)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - going around in circles

Stamping Sensations challenge - furry friends

We Love Stamping challenge - nature

We hope you will be inspired by our Patterned Paper Party IG 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 #patternedpaperpartyhopjune2025 and we will find you. 

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Lots of love

card supplies:

Me To You - spring chic 6x6 paper pad - retired

MFT - bitty bears stamp & die set - retired

Promarkers

Gina K Designs - Master Layouts 14 (for stitched rectangle die)

Gina K Designs - Master Layouts 3 (for stitched circle die)

Gina K Designs - sentiment strip dies

Gina K Designs - clear quartz solid sequins

Limetree Crafts - 250gsm silky smooth white card - not currently available - but they do have 280gsm silky smooth white card available here

Versafine - onyx black ink pad

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

Sakura - black gelly roll pen