Uniko - brand ambassador inspiration

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

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

Here is my card:

A closer look at the first panel:

A closer look at the middle panel:

And a closer look at the third panel:

An extra photo of them laying flat:

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

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

A Place to Start challenge - ATG optional twist no rectangles

Classic Design challenge - ATG with optional twist use die cuts

Creative Creases challenge - ATG with a fun fold

Papercraft challenges - back to basics

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

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

Thanks for stopping by; I appreciate your comments.

Love and hugs, 

card supplies:

Uniko - Ink & Flip: Christmas Star, Star stencil

Uniko - everyday family sentiments clear stamp

Uniko - everyday sentiments clear stamp

Uniko - everyday love clear stamp

Uniko - reach for the stars clear stamp (retired)

Uniko - wonderful day clear stamp (retired)

Mama Elephant - B2B arches die set

Gina K Designs - ink pads - soft stone and slate

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

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

Limetree Craft - 220gsm black card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

bling from my stash

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

Thank you x

Just Us Girls challenge #826 - Die Week

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog. I am back to share my card for this week's Just Us Girls challenge and this week is Die Week and Carol has chosen 'butterfly'. I think everyone loves butterflies so I'm sure this will be a really popular theme and I cannot wait to see all your gorgeous creations.

I decided to use the Lawn Fawn butterfly wreath die set again but this time I only used the butterflies and not the wreath part.  I went for a soft colour combo and a bright card base and I think it turned out really pretty.  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 the main part of the butterflies from white card and the inside parts were cut from vellum.  I used my Promarkers to colour the backs of the vellum in oranges and yellows and adhered the two parts together with liquid glue.  I cut an arch from white card and did some soft ink blending with sea glass ink and I also die cut a slightly larger arch from vellum and adhered them together with double sided tape.  I die cut some grass from green card x 2 and adhered them to the bottom of the arch using liquid glue.  I die cut a decorative panel from white card and roughly ink blended some orange and yellow inks (just using what was left on the brushes) to add some interest behind the arches.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink the upper left corner of the panel before adhering the arches with foam squares.  I cut teeny tiny slithers of foam tape for the backs of the butterflies and adhered them randomly over the arches.  I stamped the happy birthday sentiment in black ink and used a sentiments strip die to cut it out.  I adhered it with a mix of foam tape and liquid glue.  For a finished touch I added some gold metallic pearls.  I decided to make a coloured card base for a change and found this pretty orange pearlescent card in my stash.  I cut it to 4 1/4" x 11" and scored it at 5 1/2".  I added some scrap white card behind my panel and adhered it to the card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another decorative panel from white card, added another grass die cut in the bottom right corner and one more butterfly with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment with black ink in the centre of the panel.  The inside of my card base was an off-white colour and didn't look that good against my bright white panel so I cut another piece of the orange pearlescent card and adhered it inside the card base with liquid glue before adding the white panel on top.  

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

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

As You Like It challenge - favourite sentiment (it has to be happy birthday as 90% of my cards are birthday cards)

Aud Sentiments challenge - monochrome and/or birthday + sentiment

Craft Rocket challenge - birthday

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Die Cut Divas challenge - ATG must use a die cut

Girlz and the Art of Letters challenge - B is for butterflies

Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge - inspiration photo

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

If You Give A Crafter A Cookie challenge - in the garden

Triple B challenge - birds, blooms and/or butterflies optional inspiration board

I'm sure our gallery will be full of beautiful butterflies this week 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.

I appreciate you stopping by.

Love and hugs, 

card supplies:

Lawn Fawn - magic iris butterfly wreath add on die set

Spellbinders - notched corner frames die set

*Gina K Designs - sea glass ink pad

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

Gina K Designs - fancy frames mini stamp (for happy birthday)

Gina K Designs - sentiment strips die set

Tiddly Inks - flutter by to say hi stamp (I cut off the hi part!)

Clearly Besotted - fresh grass die (retired)

Mama Elephant - B2B arches die set

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Stampin' Up! - cardstock vellum (no longer available)

*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

ATC Scrap Makes IG Hop - March 26

Hello friends, I hope you're doing great and you've had a great start to your week. I'm sharing my creations for this month's ATC Scrap Makes IG Hop. We challenge you to use leftover die cuts, sentiments and card stock to create Artist Trading Cards (ATC's). You can send them in happy mail, save them on a ring to highlight your favorite creations, swap them with friends or add sweet notes to a lunchbox. Join us if you like; the only rules are to use scraps and create cards that are 2.5” x 3.5” in size. We share our little snippets of happiness on the third Tuesday of the month.

I have decided to make an alphabet series of ATC's and this month have created the first three.  I think it will be fun each month finding images/dies for each letter and I'm excited to see them all at the end.  I used mostly older, retired products but I still love them so why not use them.  I hope you like them. 

Here are all three ATC's:

A closer look at 'A':

A closer look at 'B':

and finally 'C':

I decorated the backs all the same:

When I ink blend I always keep a scrap of white printer paper to place underneath so that I don't make too much mess; I re-use this paper over and over again and it ends up either looking a hot mess or sometimes it becomes a really interesting piece that I keep for backgrounds.  I used this piece of paper to create the backgrounds for my ATC's today and to be honest they are better than something I would create from scratch as I can't always do random and messy well.  I added some white and gold spatter for some extra interest and some blending around the edges but other than that they are exactly as they were.  I stamped, coloured and die cut the cute images (I had to fussy cut the apple) and die cut 3 frames from gold mirror card.  The alphabet letters were already cut in my stash but I did cut some extra ones just to stack them up.  I added the frames and letters with liquid glue and the images with foam squares.  For the backs of the ATC's I simply ink blended the matching colours around the edges and stamped one the ATC info stamps (that I won a few months ago) in black ink.  

I would like to enter my ATC's into the following challenges:

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Creative Inspirations challenge - cute critters

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Farm Quest Grocery Game challenge - anything food goes

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - must use paper and/or scissors (I used scissor to fussy cut my apple)

Show Us Your Pussy Cats challenge - ATG with a cat

Tag-along (&ATC's) challenge - spring flowers or ATG

The Dream Factory challenge - sweet little things (small ATC's)

The Paper Funday challenge - ATG optional twist fur or feathers

We Love Stamping challenge - wild life or ATG (the bear is wild)

I hope you will pop over to Instagram and check out the hop; please use the hashtag #ATCscrapmakes2026 or #ATCscrapmakesMar26 to see all the gorgeous creations and also if you want to participate we will be able to find you.

I really appreciate you stopping by today.

Love and hugs,

ATC supplies:

Studio Katia - teacher's apple stamp

Mama Elephant - carnival cupcakes stamp & die

MFT - furever friends stamp & die

MFT - little letters die set

Hunkydory - Moonstone dies - scalloped edged picture frames

ATC silicone stamp won in a recent challenge

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Winsor & Newton - white gouache (for white spatter)

Gansai Tambi - starry colours palette (for gold spatter)

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

coloured card and mirror card from scraps bin

*Gina K Designs - ink pads - red velvet, warm cocoa, stormy sky

*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 #803 - CAS

Good morning lovely friends, I hope you're having a good 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/empty 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 needed another sympathy card and I think they suit a more clean and uncluttered design anyway so this challenge was perfect for me.  I used a coloured card base for a change and even though the background is not white that is fine as long as the design is clean and simple.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting my card panel 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" from a teal/green card.  I used an arch nesting die set to cut a white panel and also a layering panel from black card and ink blended some soft stone ink around the edge of the white panel.  I stamped the flowers and used the coordinating colouring layering stencils to ink blend them.  I used the matching die to cut it out and also cut one more from white card so that I could layer it up.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink and again used the matching die to cut it out plus one more from white.  I adhered all the layers with liquid glue.  I added the arch onto the card base with double sided tape and arranged the die cuts and adhered them with liquid glue.  I finished off with a few black pearls.  I know it's not a pure one-layer CAS card but I think it's clean and simple enough lol!  For the inside I cut the same arch panels, ink blended around the edge of the white panel with the soft stone ink and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  I adhered the layers together with liquid glue and added it on to the card base with double sided tape.  I meant to add another floral arrangement in the bottom corner but obviously got distracted and forgot; I'll have to add that before I send it out.  

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

A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut

Aud Sentiments challenge - ATG + sentiment

Beautiful Blossoms challenge - anything floral goes with optional mood board

Creative Knockouts challenge - something to say

Daisy Chain challenge - use dies

Dragonfly Dreams challenge - floral

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

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

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:

*Gina K Designs - spring clusters stamp & die set & layering coloring stencils

Gina K Designs - sending flowers stamp (for inside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - sea glass, blue lagoon, turquoise sea, sweet corn, key lime, grass green, fresh asparagus, soft stone

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

Mama Elephant - B2B arches die set

Limetree Crafts - 280gsm silky smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

coloured 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

Cards For All Seasons IG Hop Week 22 - Boo!

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 22 and our theme is 'boo'. Such a fun theme this week and open to lots of interpretation; even if you don't want to make any more Halloween creations you could use Halloween colours instead.  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 some plain white gift bags recently that I've had in my stash for years so I thought, even though I don't have many trick or treaters, why not decorate them to fill with sweets and chocolate (and if I don't have any callers I'm sure my sons and myself will eat the goodies lol!).  I know I've used this stamp set once already this year but it's so super cute and I gave more of the images some love this time around.  I went with the same layout and design on each bag just changed up the images and colours.  There are lots of photos today as I wanted to give each bag its moment in the spotlight haha!  I hope you like them.

Here are the bags all together:

Here is each bag and a close up of the image:

 

 

 

 

 

I worked in a production line style as I felt it made everything go faster.  I cut all the pieces of pattern paper, the striped paper is 4 7/8" x 5 1/8" and the strip of paper is 4 7/8" x 1 14".  I also cut black card mat layers for each piece and adhered them together with double sided tape.  I cut 5 of the arches from white card and using the next size up cut a black layer.  Before adhering them together I stamped the spider webs in black ink (although I used second generation stamping on 4 of them as I thought the first one was too dark) and stars in a colour to match the paper.  I did some ink blending around the edges in the same ink colour as the stars and then adhered the arches together with liquid glue.  I stamped and die cut all the images (except for the bats which I die cut from black card) and then coloured them with Promarkers.  I also added some white gelly roll pen highlights.  It was then time to assemble; I added the strip onto the black and white panel with double sided tape, added the arch into the centre with foam tape and placed the images and sentiment onto the arch with foam squares.  I added the bats with liquid glue and also added a string to the spider so he wasn't floating in mid air!  I think they are adorable and if I do have any kiddos at my door on Friday I'm sure they will love them.  

I would like to enter my gift bags into the following challenges:

Allsorts challenge - autumn colours

Cardz for Guyz challenge - use orange, black, purple - 1 or more

Crafty Catz challenge - ATG optional twist Halloween

Crafty Gals Corner challenge - fill in the blank - spooky____ treat bags

Creative Crafting Uncles challenge - Halloween

Creative Inspirations challenge - autumn/something spooky

Creative Knockouts challenge - Halloween or fall

Double D challenge - Halloween colours

Make My Monday challenge - Halloween colours

Papercraft challenges - spooky delights

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

Sweet Stampin' challenge - Halloween or Halloween colours

The Dream Factory challenge - Coco: day of the dead and/or Halloween

Try It On Tuesday challenge - Halloween

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 tomorrow 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,

supplies:

Hobbycraft - small gift bags 5 pack

MFT stamps - fab-BOO-lous friends stamp & die

Mama Elephant - B2B arches die set

MFT - black & white stripes 6x6 paper pack

Authentique - glowing 6x6 paper pad

Dovecraft - back to basics II 6x6 designer paper pack

Limetree Crafts - 280gsm silky smooth white card

Limetree Crafts - 220gsm black card

Promarkers

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

Gina K Designs - large strip sentiments dies

*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