Stencil Fun IG Hop - Sept 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 'butterflies', which I'm sure will be very popular, as most people like butterflies don't they?  I'm sure there will be lots of fantastic and colourful creations, and I'm excited to see what everyone has made.

I used an older ink & flip stencil from Uniko called 'geometric butterfly' which I actually forgot I had. It has two layers but I didn't use the background layer just the butterfly one.  I paired it with an old embossing folder and a stitched frame die and I think it turned out really pretty.  I hope you like it too. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the beautiful butterfly:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by stencilling the butterfly onto some scrap white card using light blue and light green ink pads.  The great thing about these ink and flip stencils is that there is only one layer and you literally flip it over to do the other part of the design.  I decided to fussy cut the butterfly so that I could add some dimension behind it with foam squares.  I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and embossed it using a very old script folder.  I die cut a stitched frame from white card, as well as 2 more from 300gsm card, so that I could layer them up using liquid glue.  I added some blue and green spatter to the embossed background (it's quite subtle so a little hard to see in the photo) and then adhered the frame onto the panel with liquid glue.  I added the butterfly with foam squares in the upper part of the frame; I only added the foam squares behind the body of the butterfly so that the wings could be raised up.  I stamped the sentiment using the light blue ink pad and cut it out with a sentiment strips die.  I added the sentiment below the butterfly with foam squares.  I finished off with some blue and green sequins.  The panel was adhered to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel and partially stencilled the butterfly along the bottom.  I partially embossed the script folder just over the butterfly and I think it looks really effective.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with blue ink and added the panel onto my 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

Can You Handle The Pressure challenge - use an EF optional cloudy day

Craft Rocket challenge - use dies

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Let's Craft and Create challenge - frame it

Mix It Up challenge - ATG optional embossing

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - I fussy cut the butterfly

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - add some texture

Stencil Fun challenge - ATG use a stencil optional yellow

The Sisterhood of Crafters challenge - frame it

Triple B challenge - birds, blooms or butterflies optional inspiration photo

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 #stencilfunSeptt2026 and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Lots of love, 

card supplies:

Uniko - Ink & Flip geometric butterfly layering stencil

Uniko - floral vines clear stamp (for sentiments)

Provo Craft - cuttlebug script embossing folder

Gina K Designs - master layouts 18 die set (for frame die)

Gina K Designs - large strip sentiments die set

Gina K Designs - ink pads - ocean mist and applemint

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 and extra frames)

sequins from Little Things by Lucy's Cards & Studio Katia - both sadly 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

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

4th Annual Shark Week 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 4th 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 “Making Waves”; and our goal is designed to take you on an ocean voyage of jaw-some shark themed cards and share important facts about the marine life that call it home! Dive in and enjoy the creativity and inspiration!

I always try to find a shark set that I haven't used before, even if it's retired, so when I found this fun set from Sunny Studio Stamps on eBay, I grabbed it for this year's hop.  There are so many fun shark stamps available and I cannot wait to see what my fellow hoppers have used this year. I created a cute under the sea scene and I hope you like my card.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the cute images:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and die cut the gorgeous bubble coral frame from the centre.  I took another white panel and ink blended some ocean mist ink in the centre, adding some water droplets and white spatter for extra interest.  There is also a single coral die in the set which I cut 3 times from white card and ink blended over with ocean mist and tranquil teal ink pads.  I stamped the images onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured them with my Promarkers and added some white gelly roll pen highlights.  I used the coordinating dies to cut them out.  I cut off one of the corals from the frame and replaced it with one of the larger ink blended ones using liquid glue. I added the fish and octopus with liquid glue and the shark was added with foam squares.  I added foam strips behind my frame panel and adhered it over the background.  I stamped the sentiment from a few different sets and cut them out using sentiment strips dies.  I adhered them at the top of the frame using liquid glue.  I finished off with some clear raindrops, which I think look like bubbles!  I adhered the panel to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel and ink blended the ocean mist ink along the bottom, again adding water droplets and white spatter. I stamped, coloured and die cut another shark and 2 fish and also die cut and ink blended two more corals.  I adhered everything to the bottom of the panel using liquid glue.  I also stamped and die cut two sentiments and adhered them with liquid glue.  I adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  I'm really happy with the inside and feel it's equally as cute as the outside.  

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

Allsorts challenge - at the seaside or ATG

Cardz 4 Guyz challenge - summer theme

Craft-alnica challenge - children

Dream Valley challenge - hand coloured image

Girlz and the Art of Letters challenge - letter F (for fish)

I love Promarkers challenge - children (I think kids would love a shark card)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

Sweet Stampin' challenge - for the children  

The Paper Funday challenge - ATG optional twist summer splash

Please swim on over to IG to see the amazing shark creations. Please use the hashtag #4thsharkweekigcardhop to find all the cards in the hop.

Enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for stopping by.  I'll be back tomorrow with my cards for the Krafty Chicks challenge and also the Just Us Girls challenge, so I hope you will be able to pop back and check them out.  

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Sunny Studio - sea you soon stamp & die (got mine from eBay)

Memory Box - bubble coral collage die set (94562) (got mine from a FB destash page)

Lawn Fawn - duh-nuh stamp & simply summer sentiments stamp (for sentiments)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - ocean mist & tranquil teal

Gina K Designs - large strip sentiments dies

Gina K Designs - sentiment strips dies 

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

Winsor & Newton - white gouache (for spatters)

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

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store now closed

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

AAA Birthday challenge #86 - for the boys

Good morning lovely friends and welcome to June! Another month has bitten the dust as we roll on into 2026. We had scorching temperatures last week but it's forecast back to rain and cooler temperatures this week, but we can't complain really.  

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 'for the boys' and with Father's Day later in the month this could be your perfect opportunity to get ahead.  Our guest designer this month is Leslie so please pop over to her blog and leave her some love.

I recently purchased this fun soda pop die set (even better it was on sale) and was itching to use it so that is what I used on this month's card.  I also got the coordinating bottle cap dies so they got some love too. I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by die cutting all the soda pop elements; I cut the bottle from white card, the straw and label from red card and the top from silver mirror card.  I wanted the bottle to look a bit like coke so firstly ink blended some red ink all over before going over with brown ink.  I white heat embossed a sentiment onto the label and assembled the bottle using liquid glue.  I die cut the bottle tops from silver mirror and white card and the letters from red card and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I found a sentiment that I could do some stamp surgery on to fit my theme and stamped it in black ink onto white card.  For my background I found two patterned papers that went well with my colour scheme and adhered them onto a white panel (4" x 5 1/4") with double sided tape.  All the elements were added with foam squares.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel and this was then adhered to the card base with double sided tape.   I finished off with some clear raindrops as I thought they looked a bit like bubbles.  For the inside I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and added a strip of the red patterned paper along the bottom with double sided tape.  I die cut another bottle and assembled it the same way before adding it to the bottom of the panel with liquid glue and trimmed off the excess.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre of the panel with black ink before adhering it 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

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - birthdays (3rd entry)

Aud Sentiments challenge - monochrome and/or birthdays + sentiment

Creative Moments challenge - make it masculine

Classic Design challenge - ATG optional twist anniversary/birthday

Die Cut Divas challenge - ATG must use a die cut

Inkspirational challenge - for the guys

Farm Quest Grocery Game challenge - food and/or drink

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

Try It on Tuesday challenge - going round in circles (my bottle tops are circles)

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:

MFT - soda pop dies

MFT - bottle cap dies

MFT - little letters die set

MFT - let's stick together stamp (for sentiment on front which I cut apart)

Lawn Fawn - simply summer sentiments stamp (for sentiments on labels and inside)

Echo Park - summer dots & stripes 6x6 paper pad (for beige paper)

Echo Park - metropolitan dots & stripes 6x6 paper pad (for red paper)

*Gina K Designs - large strip sentiments die set

Gina K Designs - ink pads - faded brick and dark chocolate (to colour bottle)

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

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

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

Gorgeous Gift Tags IG Hop - April 26

Hello and welcome lovely friends. I hope you're all having a wonderful Easter Sunday and if you don't celebrate I hope you're enjoying your day.  The Easter bunny was generous to us again this year and we have a nice selection of chocolate to munch over the coming days lol!  

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 'flowers' and I know this is going to be a popular theme. 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 always like to play along with the optional prompt and this month I created a fun shaker tag using products from lots of different companies but especially Waffle Flower Crafts.  I wanted to try making a  completely transparent tag with no background, so that you could see all the way through, as I've never made one before.  I turned out super cute and exactly what I had in mind.  I hope you like it.

Here is my tag:

A closer look at the flowers:

Plus I decorated the back:

I began by die cutting two tags from white card, I adhered them together with low tack tape and then die cut a rectangle from the centre of them both to create my shaker window.  I added acetate to both tags and also shaker strips foam adhesive around the border of one of the windows.  I filled the window with a rainbow mix of sequins and then adhered both the tags together to enclose the sequins.  I stamped the flowers, coloured them with Promarkers and used the coordinating dies to cut them out.  I also die cut 2 more layers from plain white card so that I could stack them.  I added the larger floral spray in the bottom left corner with double sided tape and filled it out by placing one of the single flowers over the edge of it.  I placed another single flower in the top right corner.  I stamped and cut out a teeny sentiment and placed it over the larger floral arrangement.  I added some pink tulle ribbon through the tag and then tied a bow using a thin purple ribbon around this.  For the back of the tag I added another small flower in the bottom right corner and a second teeny sentiment on top of this with double sided tape. 

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

Allsorts challenge - it's springtime

Cardz 4 Galz challenge - spring flowers

Crafty Calendar challenge - dies/punches

Daisy Chain challenge - no design paper

Heart's Quest for Shaped Cards & Tags challenge - ATG

I Love Promarkers challenge - cute & whimsical or ATG

Moving Along With The Times challenge - anything spring

Stamping Sensations challenge - inspired by nature

Sweet Stampin' challenge - spring or Easter

Tag-along (& ATC's) challenge - blossoms, birds and/or butterflies

The Four Seasons challenge - anything spring optional mood board

The Dream Factory challenge - sweet little things

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

We Love Stamping challenge - spring

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 #gorgeousgifttagsapril2026 and we will find your tags.
Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Lots of love,

tag supplies:

Waffle Flower - nesting tag dies

Waffle Flower - a little note stamp & die set

Promarkers

Spellbinders - essential rectangles dies (to cut the window)

Mama Elephant - big new stamp (for teeny sentiments)

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Memento - tuxedo black ink pad

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store now closed

Little Things From Lucy's Cards - kaleidoscope sequins - store now closed

acetate, ribbon and tulle from my stash

Patterned Paper Party IG Hop - February 26

Hello friends, welcome back to my little blog. I'm here today to share my card for this month's Patterned Paper Party Instagram 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.

The theme is always 'anything goes' but each month we will have an optional twist that can be used if you like; this month the twist is pinks/red'', which is suitable for any occasion, so grab your patterned papers and join in the fun. The patterned paper I used was originally black and white striped but I had an idea to try colouring the white stripes with my pink and red Promarkers and it turned out really well so I used it.  I was excited to see the MFT challenges have restarted again so I followed their sketch. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

A quick comparison of the paper before & after I coloured it:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by colouring the patterned paper with my Promarkers and set it aside to dry.  I cut a white panel to 3 7/8" x 5 1/8" and a pink mat layer and adhered them together with double sided tape.  I stamped the image onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured it with Promarkers and added some white gelly roll pen highlights.  I also stamped the banner onto white card and also onto the patterned paper so that I could fussy cut the pennants and paper piece them onto the white one.  I also fussy cut the whole banner to go onto my card.  I die cut the dotty edge rectangle and cut the image panel down to fit inside which I adhered with double sided tape.  I added some scrap white card behind this panel.  I adhered the patterned paper to the bottom of the white panel with liquid glue and added the dotty panel on top with double sided tape.  I adhered the banner with a mix of foam squares and liquid glue to the top and a happy birthday sentiment (which I cut with a fishtail die) to the bottom.  I finished off with some pink and red gems.  For the inside I cut another white panel and pink mat layer and adhered them together with double sided tape.  I stamped and paper pieced a portion of the banner in the top left corner and added a strip of the patterned paper to the bottom.  I finished by stamping 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:

613 Avenue Create challenge - ATG optional twist animal magic

A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut

Alphabet challenge - V is for volume (I have dimension behind all my panels)

A Place to Start challenge - ATG optional twist small critters

As You Like It challenge - cute or elegant (I love using cute critter images; they make me smile)

Crafter's Cafe challenge - for the girls

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Creative Moments challenge - feminine

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Die Cut Divas challenge - pink/red colours

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - dies or punches

Inkspirational challenge - February collage (I was inspired by the colours)

Little Red Wagon challenge - just the way you are 

MFT Card challenge - sketch challenge

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - use paper and/or scissors (I used both, I fussy cut the banner)

PINspirational challenge - red and pink

Stamping Sensations challenge - favourite stamp or ATG (I love all MFT stamps and use them a lot)

The Dream Factory challenge - any type of animal

Tic Tac Toe challenge - red/pink, sentiment strip, patterned paper

Unicorn challenge - animals

We Love Stamping challenge - hearts or ATG (I went with ATG this month)

We hope you will be inspired by our Patterned Paper Party IG Hop and will pop over and check out all the gorgeous creations along the way. If you would like to join us please visit my Instagram page or use the hashtag #patternedpaperpartyhopfeb2026 and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Lots of love

card supplies:

MFT - sending sweet celebration wishes stamp 

MFT - black & white stripes 6x6 paper pack

Promarkers

Spellbinders - essential rectangles die (for dotty edge)

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

*Gina K Designs - ML 18 (for flag die)

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store now closed

gems from Little Things from Lucy's Cards - store now closed

pink card from my 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