Seize the Birthday challenge - surprise guest card

Hello friends, me again; Thursday are becoming such a busy day for me on my blog lol!  I was lucky enough to win a recent challenge so I am guest designing (or the surprise guest as they call it) for the Seize the Birthday challenge.

The theme for this challenge is 'double frame' which is really fun.

This is such a great theme and there are so many ways to use 2 frames on your card.  I took the 'easy' route and laid one frame on top of each other but you could offset them, add images inside them; I can't wait to see what everyone makes.  I used a new-to-me die set from Spellbinders and isn't the panda super adorable.  I think it turned out super cute and I hope you like it.   

Here is my card:

A closer look at the cute panda:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by die cutting my frames from black card and the inner piece from orange gingham paper (I'm loving these Memory Box papers are the moment) and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I added foam squares behind the smaller frame and added it onto the larger frame.  I die cut all the pieces for the  panda from black and white card and the bow from light orange card, adhering them together with liquid glue.  To make him more in keeping for a birthday I die cut a balloon and party hat from a different spellbinders set from the light orange card and the bobble from the gingham paper.  I added the panda onto the smaller frame using foam squares.  I stamped a simple happy birthday in black onto white card and used a sentiment strips die to cut it out.  I added the sentiment across the legs of the panda using a mix of foam squares and liquid glue.  I didn't add any embellishments as I liked it as it was.  The panel was the adhered to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut the same large black frame and a white inner but also cut a slightly larger rectangle from the gingham paper to layer between, which I did with liquid glue.  I die cut a second panda and added him to the bottom of the frame with liquid glue and stamped a sentiment in the centre with black ink.  The panel was adhered to my card base using double sided tape.  

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

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

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

Love Those Pretty Papers challenge - use patterned paper optional theme ghosts/goblins

NBUS challenge - the panda die is new to me

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - use patterned paper or scissors 

I would like to thank Nancy and all the Team at Seize the Birthday for inviting me to be a guest for this fun challenge and I hope you will pop over and leave them some love.  

Enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for stopping by.

Love and hugs, 

card supplies:

Spellbinders - dancin' birthday panda die set - on sale!

Spellbinders - birthday bliss die set DOM-Nov24 (for balloon & party hat)

Spellbinders - lots of wishing you sentiments clear stamp (for outside sentiment)

Spellbinders - envelope of wonder clear stamp 

Avery Elle - large pierced scallop die set

Memory Box - mango gingham paper

Gina K Designs - sentiment strips die set

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

Limetree Craft - 220gsm black card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

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

Stencil Fun IG Hop - July 26

Hello again friends; I am back to share my card for the Stencil Fun IG Hop organised by my lovely friend Jane. We a group of crafters who are determined to use their forgotten and neglected stencils. I'm definitely guilty of this; I have so many stencils but usually forget to reach for them so this hop is perfect for me. The theme is always anything goes but we will have an optional theme to use if we want to. This month's optional theme is 'sea/water', which means there will be lots of super cute creations, and I'm excited to see what everyone has made.

I created an underwater scene for my card using an older stencil from MFT.  I paired it with a super cute image and I love how sweet it turned out.  I hope you like it too.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the cute image:

Plus I decorated the inside:

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

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

Allsorts challenge - stencils

Alphabet challenge - F for festivities (birthday)

Craft Rocket challenge - animals 

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Crafty Calendar challenge - happy birthday

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Daisy Chain challenge - birthday

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

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

Stencil Fun challenge - ATG optional theme 'birthday'

Tic Tac Toe challenge - summer colours, border, stencil

Try It On Tuesday challenge - animals: real or imaginary

Unicorn challenge - no design paper

We hope you will be inspired by our Stencil Fun Instagram Hop and will pop over and check out all the gorgeous cards along the way. If you would like to join us please visit my Instagram page or use the hashtag #stencilfunJuly2026 and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend.

Lots of love

card supplies:

MFT - watercolor wash free form stencil

Avery Elle - sea-prise stamp & die

Promarkers

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

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

Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Versafine Clair - morning mist ink pad

Winsor & Newton - white gouache (for spatters)

*I now have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my link as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

Thank you x

Just Us Girls challenge #822 - DT card

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog.  I am a little giddy today as I have some exciting news to share with you - I am joining the Just Us Girls challenge Design Team - woohoo!  As you may remember I was a guest designer for them back in February and they asked me if I would like to join them as a permanent designer, and of course I immediately said yes!  Today I am sharing my first card for them and it's Die Week and Vicki has chosen 'use a sentiment die'.  

I was so nervous making my first card as I wanted it to be 'good enough'; the team is super talented and I hope I've done them proud.  I wanted to make my sentiment die the star of the show so did a faux embossed background using the die and then cut one from gold as my focal element.  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 die cut lots of the hooray sentiment from white card. I added them to the white panel with liquid glue, staggering them by one letter on each row but made sure one was complete along the second row.  I then decided to die cut the panel using a stitched rectangle die.  I stacked 3 more white words on top of the one on the second line and then finished off with one cut from gold mirror card.  I liked that the word went slightly outside the die cut panel.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel and then adhered it to my card base with double sided tape.  I stamped a sub-sentiment using black ink and die cut it with a sentiments strip die; this was placed below the gold hooray with double sided tape.  I finished off with some gold and black pearls.  For the inside I die cut another stitched rectangle and 1 more hooray word from white card.  I added the word with liquid glue and stamped the sentiment above it with black ink.  I adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

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

Colourful Options challenge - option B - black & white with a pop of colour

Dragonfly Dreams challenge - use die cuts

Neglected Stuff challenge - my die is really old and I don't think I've ever used it!

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

I'm sure this will be a popular challenge as we all love our dies don't we?  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 and hugs, 

card supplies:

Avery Elle - hooray die (currently on sale!)

MFT - you wow me stamp (for both sentiments)

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

gold mirror card from my stash

*Gina K Designs - master layouts 02 (for stitched rectangle)

Gina K Designs - large strip sentiments die

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

*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

Shark Week 2025 IG Card Hop

Hello friends, I hope you're all doing ok and having a great week so far.  I'm taking part in the third annual IG hop to celebrate Shark Week. The card hop is hosted by my good friend Kelly and today's hop will showcase some fintastic cards featuring all things shark to celebrate Shark Week.  Our theme this year is “Stay JAWSitive”; a reminder to stay positive in all areas of life, while also promoting awareness around ocean conservation and marine life. Dive in and enjoy the creativity and inspiration!

I found a shark set that I hadn't used before so grabbed it for this year's hop - unfortunately it was from Heffy Doodle, which has now sadly closed, but it's such a super cute set I had to use it.  There are so many fun shark stamps available and I cannot wait to see what my fellow hoppers have used this year.  I hope you like my card.

Here is my card:

A closer look at my friendly sharks:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by stamping all my images onto alcohol marker friendly card and coloured them with Promarkers.  I don't have the coordinating dies so I had to fussy cut them out.  I also wanted one shark to face the opposite way so used my mirror image stamp to accomplish this.  It's not perfect but once it was coloured in I think it looks fine.  I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and using a wave stencil and sea glass ink created my background.  I took a stitched hill die and cut two 'sandbanks' from kraft card for the bottom of my panel, which I added with liquid glue.  I wanted a frame for my ocean so using an arch die I cut an aperture, added foam squares behind and adhered it to my stencilled background.   I stamped my sentiments from two different stamp sets in black ink and cut them out with sentiment strip dies.  I adhered the smaller images with liquid glue, except for one of the sea kelp, which I added behind the frame with foam squares.  The sharks and sentiments were added with foam squares too.  I finished off with some raindrop embellishments as I thought they looked a little like bubbles.  The panel was added to my card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut a large arch shape and using the ink left on my blending brush lightly blended over the whole panel.   I also cut one more sandbank and adhered it with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and adhered another shark and also a sting-ray with liquid glue.  The arch was added to my card base with liquid glue.  

We are also sharing fun and interesting shark facts in our instagram posts so I thought I would add one here too:

Shark Skin Is More Like Teeth Than Fish Scales

Sharks may look sleek and smooth, but their skin is actually made up of tiny v-shaped scales, also called dermal denticles, which are made of an inner pulp cavity and an outside layer of dentine, an enamel-like material (just like our teeth). With their scales being more similar to teeth than typical fish scales when a shark loses a denticle, it can actually fossilize over time, just like ancient shark teeth! In addition to being just plain cool, these scales also help decrease drag and turbulence, allowing sharks to swim faster and more stealthily while hunting for prey.

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

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - make your mark

Allsorts challenge - for a child

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal (hope my sharks are allowed)

Critter Crazy challenge - animal/birthday card (hope my sharks are allowed)

We Love Stamping challenge - sun, sea or sand/ATG

Please swim on over to IG to see the amazing shark creations.  Please use the hashtag #3rdannualsharkweekcardhop to find all the cards in the hop. 

Enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for stopping by.  

Love and hugs, 

card supplies:

Heffy Doodle - oceans of love stamp set - store sadly closed

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store sadly closed

Mama Elephant - B2B arch die set

Promarkers

Lawn Fawn - stitched hillside borders dies

Lawn Fawn - duh-duh stamp (for 'jawsome' sentiment)

Avery Elle - sea-prise! stamp (for 'hope you birthday is' sentiment) - retired

Gina K Designs - sentiment strips dies

Gina K Designs - large strip sentiments dies

Gina K Designs - sea glass ink pad

MFT - make waves stencil

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

Little Things from Lucy's Cards - clear raindrops embellishments - store sadly closed

Krafty Chicks challenge #764 - CAS

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 3; and as always the theme is 'CAS (clean and simple)' and Diane is our hostess. Now we know that CAS is subjective but generally it's lots of white space, no embellishments (or very few) and an uncluttered design.  It can be a difficult design to pull off but we hope you will take on the challenge and come over and join in the fun with us.

I haven't made any Easter cards yet this year and I've recently received the cutest set from Spellbinders so wanted to at least use it once this year!  I love the adorable bunnies in this set.  I love this card and may try and make a few more for my family but perhaps make the backgrounds different pastel shades for some variation.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the sweet bunny:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by stamping the bunny onto alcohol marker friendly card and coloured him with Promarkers.  I added a few white gelly roll pen highlights and then cut him out with the coordinating die.  For my background I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and stamped the circle in a muted lemon ink.  I stamped the flowers from the stamp set in a mid grey ink and coloured them with Promarkers.  I stamped the sentiment in the top left corner in black ink (I did try the mid grey ink first but it looked a little washed out so stamped over it with the black.  I added some scrap white card behind my panel with double sided tape and then adhered it to my card base, again using double sided tape.  The bunny was adhered over the circle with thin foam squares.  No embellishments but I really like it the way it is.  For the inside I cut another white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and repeated the stamping to mimic the front.  I added a secondary sentiment in the upper centre again using black ink.  The panel was added onto the card base with double sided tape.  This is about as CAS as I can get but I really like this design.  

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

AAA Cards challenge - sketch (I flipped it and rotated it)

As You Like It challenge - fussy or CAS (I like both options but I am getting more comfortable with CAS cards now and make them quite a lot)

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Creative Inspirations challenge - Easter

Creative Moments challenge - CAS

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Dragonfly Dreams challenge - animals

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - think spring

Halloween & Other Occasions challenge - Easter

If You Give A Crafter A Cookie challenge - bunnies & eggs inspiration photo

I Love Promarkers challenge - ATG or no patterned paper

Papercraft challenges - Easter elegance

PINspirational challenge - Happy Easter optional inspiration photo

Simply Create Too challenge - furry friends

Stamping Sensations challenge - birds, animals, flowers and nature

The Four Seasons challenge - ATG spring optional mood board

The Paper Funday challenge - ATG optional twist things that begin with B (bunny)

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'CAS' challenge and I cannot wait to see your creations in our linky. Please leave some love for my fellow chicks - Leanne, Diane and Lori. Thank you so much for stopping by; I appreciate your lovely comments.

Love and hugs,

Card supplies:

Spellbinders - spring smiles stamp & die set

Promarkers

Avery Elle - painted backdrops stamp set - retired

Gina K Designs - lemon drop ink pad

Versafine Clair - morning mist ink pad

Versafine - onyx black ink pad

Sakura - no. 10 white gelly roll pen

Limetree Crafts - 250gsm silky smooth white card - not currently available - they do have 300gsm bright white card available here

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store now closed

Shark week part 2 IG hop

Hello friends; I hope your Friday has been fantastic so far.  The weather here in South Wales has been decidedly un-summery today; we've had torrential rain all day.  I've been happily watching the Wimbledon men's semi-finals so I didn't mind lol!

I have another card for Shark Week again this hop is organised by my good friend Kelly and today we have been given a prize by Newton's Nook to give away to one lucky winner.  

Everyone who leaves a comment on the hop will be in the running the win the prize so pop over to my Instagram and follow along the hop.  Luckily I had another shark image so here is my card for the shark hop no.2:

and a close up of my happy shark:

I stamped the cute shark image and coloured him with Promarkers, I cut him out with the matching die and put him to one side.  I used a fab piece of 12 x 12 patterned paper, which I thought looked a bit like waves and cut a panel 3 3/4" x 5".  I also cut a smaller piece the same width and about 2" tall but fussy cut along the 'wave' so that I could place my shark behind it.  I placed the panel onto a navy card cut to 4" x 5 1/4" and stamped some little fish at the top to create a scene.  I added my fussy cut piece at the bottom with foam squares and then tucked my shark behind, also popped up on foam tape.  The sentiment was white heat embossed onto the navy card and cut with a banner die with a flag only on one side and this was placed at the top right corner of the card.  I didn't feel I needed to add any embellishments as the paper was quite busy.  A really fun card, I hope you agree!

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

Make My Monday challenge - birthday

Critter Crazy - ATG feature a critter (not sure if a shark would be considered a critter - delete me if not allowed)

Scrapping4Fun challenge - birthday

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

Little Bit of Rainbow challenge - shark week 

Dream Valley challenge - dies and/or punches

Cupcake Inspirations challenge - sea life

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a wonderful weekend. 

Love and hugs,  

Card ingredients:

Avery Elle - sea-prise stamp & die set

Promarkers

Gina K Designs - fine detail embossing powder & white pigment ink cube

The Works - fresh feeling 12 x 12 paper pad

MFT - blueprints 27 (for banner die)

Party Pals birthday card

Hello again crafty friends.  I hope the start of your week has been good.  My back is slowly improving but not as quickly as I would like but at least it is better than it was on the weekend. 

I have a cute card to share with you that I made for a lovely crafty friend who is on my design team and lives in beautiful Sweden (which I had the pleasure of visiting over 20 years ago). 

closer look at the card:

I firstly cut a white scalloped panel and another smaller white panel which was lightly inked with distress oxide inks to create a soft background for my cute images.  I coloured the adorable panda images and the 'happy' banner with Promarkers and added them with foam tape onto the blended panel.  I stamped the birthday sentiment with black ink and finally embellished the card with some clear sequins.  A very quick and fun card but really sweet I think. 

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

Sweet Stampin' challenge - clean and simple

Krafty chicks challenge - clean and simple

Daisy Chain challenge - no design paper

Inkspirational challenge - painting or colouring

I will try and be back later in the week with another card but until then enjoy the rest of your week and take care.  

Card ingredients:

Avery Elle - Party Pals stamp & die set

W plus 9 - sunshine layers die set

Distress oxide inks in tumbled glass & peeled paint

Promarkers

Pretty Pink Posh - sparkling clear mix sequins

Versafine onyx black ink