Card Clubhouse IG Hop - Week 16

Hello again lovely friends; I'm back to share my card for the Card Clubhouse IG hop organised by my sweet friend Kelly. We are on Week 16 and our theme is 'back to YOUR class' so we want you to make a card, not to be confused with back to school, YOU are the teacher so show us your speciality!  I'm sure this is going to be such much fun and such a varied hop this week and I can't wait to see what sparks your imagination.

If I was ever going to teach a class it would be totally chaotic as I love so many things such as stamping, colouring, ink blending, die cutting....the list goes on. So I decided to include most of them on my card this week lol!  My husband was rolling his eyes when I told him I was making a card for our cat's birthday but they are still part of the family aren't they?  Willow is 5 and she has a favourite giraffe toy (appropriately called giraffio) so that was the focal point on my card.  I hope you like it. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

plus I decorated the inside:

Here is a photo of Willow with Giraffio

I began by cutting a kraft card panel 4" x 5 1/4" and used a 'crackle' embossing folder to add some texture.  I also ink blended around the edge with a brown ink pad for some extra interest.  I stamped the image, coloured it with Promarkers and used the coordinating die to cut it out (I also cut 2 more from white card so that I could stack them).  I die cut a tag from white card and ink blended around the edge with yellow ink.  I die cut the letters to spell Willow from brown card and the number 5 from a deep yellow pearlescent card (I also cut the hole reinforcer for the tag from this card).  I adhered everything to the tag using liquid glue.  I added some yellow ribbon to the tag with liquid glue and also made a bow and adhered that with strong red line tape.  I added some scrap white card behind the tag and adhered that over the embossed background with double sided tape.  The panel was then added to my card base using double sided tape.  For a final finishing touch I added some crystal glaze to the brown patches of the giraffe.  For the inside I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and embossed a small piece of the kraft card, again adding some brown ink over top and adhered it o the bottom of the panel with double sided tape.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with brown ink and added the panel to the card base using double sided tape.  

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

A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut optional fall flowers

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - birthdays

As You Like It challenge - favourite safari animal (I think giraffes are a wonder of nature with their long necks; how do they keep their heads up?!  Also Willow loves giraffes too)

Creative Friday challenge - dry embossing

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Daisy Chain challenge - animals

Inspiration Station challenge - inspiration photo (I was inspired by the colours)

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - happy birthday

The Neglected Stuff challenge - I've had this stamp and EF for years and never used them

Tic Tac Toe challenge - board #298 - middle vertical line: ribbon/twine, free, yellow

I hope you will pop over to Instagram and check out the hop; please use the hashtag #cardclubhousehop2026 to see all the gorgeous creations and also if you want to participate we will be able to find you.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I have one more post for you today so I hope you can pop back and check it out.  

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Doodlebug & Sizzix - baby boy clear stamp (for giraffe) - discontinued

Promarkers

Waffle Flower - nesting tags dies

Creative Expressions - crackle embossing folder

MFT - little letters die set

MFT - by the numbers die set

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

Gina K Designs - dark chocolate ink pad

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)

kraft card and ribbon 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 links as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

Thank you x

Gorgeous Gift Tags IG Hop - July 26

Hello and welcome lovely friends. I hope you've had a great weekend and my US friends had a wonderful 4th of July.  It's time for the Gorgeous Gift Tags IG Hop, which takes place on the 5th of each month. You always have the option to go for anything goes but the extra prompt this month is 'Christmas in July' so we want to see all your Christmas themed tags. I can't wait to see what the rest of my fellow hoppers have made and I hope you can pop over to Instagram and join us.

I decided to go with cool colours for a change instead of the traditional red and green and opted for blue and grey.  I used some cute images and embossed my background and I think it turned out adorable.  I hope you like it too. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the images:

Plus I decorated the back of the tag:

I began by die cutting my tag from light blue card and embossed it with a snowflake embossing folder.  I took a white pigment ink cube and lightly rubbed it over the raised areas of the embossing to give a subtle white design on the blue.  I stamped the images onto alcohol marker friendly card and coloured them with Promarkers, also adding some white gelly roll pen highlights.  I don't have the dies so I fussy cut the images.  I die cut two 'hills' from white card and stamped the sentiment onto white card using a blue ink pad.  I added the hills to the bottom of the tag with double sided tape and the tree, bunny and sentiments were added with foam squares.  I also added a white hole reinforcer with liquid glue.  For the back of the tag I cut another tag from blue card, partially embossed the snowflake design on the bottom and stamped the sentiments using the same blue ink pad.  I also added a white hole reinforcer with liquid glue.  I adhered both the tags together using liquid glue.  I threaded some blue & white ribbon through the hole and added some white twine, which I tied into a bow.  

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

613 Avenue Create challenge - ATG optional twist any holiday 

Alphabet challenge - E for embossing; wet or dry

As You Like It challenge - favourite non card project (I love making tags, they are like cards but with much less space to fill!)

Can You Handle The Pressure challenge - use an EF optional twist use purple

CRAFT challenge - Christmas

Craft Rocket challenge - animals

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Cut It Up challenge - critters

Die Cut Divas challenge - Christmas in July

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

Moving Along with the Times challenge - use a colouring medium (alcohol markers)

Merry Little Christmas challenge - anything Christmas goes

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - I used scissors to fussy cut my images

Peace on Earth Christmas challenge - anything Christmas themed

Pearly Sparkles challenge - Christmas in July 

Sweet Stampin' challenge - Christmas in July

Tag-Along (& ATC's) challenge - favourite colours or ATG (I love non traditional colours for Christmas)

The Little Things challenge - ATG

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 #gorgeousgifttagsjuly2026 and we will find your tags.

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Lots of love,

card supplies:

Waffle Flower - nesting tag dies

MFT - Christmas cheer stamp

Gina K Designs - snowflakes embossing folder

Gina K Designs - sentiment strips dies

Gina K Designs - create-a-tag holiday mini stamp

Gina K Designs - white pigment ink cube

Gina K Designs - powder blue ink pad

Lawn Fawn - stitched hillside border dies

Promarkers

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

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card (store now closed)

Memento - tuxedo black ink pad

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

blue card from stash

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

Just Us Girls challenge #829 - 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.

I'm really enjoying using my stencils more and it's making me re-visit ones I haven't used for years. My card today is using a stencil set that I really love but not used for a very long time.  I used a fun orange and teal colour combo and I think it turned out super cute.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by stencilling the gorgeous butterfly background and cut it down using a stitched rectangle die.  I also cut an orange mat layer which I adhered together with double sided tape.  I die cut a white circle, which has some pretty dot detail, and stamped the sentiment in black ink.  I fussy cut one of the butterflies and added it above the sentiment with foam squares.  I also die cut a slightly larger vellum circle and adhered them with liquid glue. The circle was added in the bottom right corner with foam squares and I finished off with some black pearls. The panel was adhered to the card case with double sided tape. For the inside I cut another white stitched rectangle and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  As I had managed to cut the front panel fairly evenly I decided to add that around the stitched panel for a different look adhering them with liquid glue.  I fussy cut another butterfly and added that in the bottom right corner with liquid glue.  The panel was adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - die cuts and/or stencils (I've used both)

Craft Rocket challenge - birthday

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - something beginning with B (butterflies)

Girlz Creative Crafts challenge - butterflies

Make My Monday challenge - use a stencil

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - I used scissors to fussy cut my butterflies

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

Stencil Fun challenge - use a stencil optional theme butterflies

I had stencilled an extra panel thinking I would use it on the inside but changed my mind so I used some of it to fussy cut the butterflies but then had quite a lot left over.  I decided to make a matching tag to go with my card.  

Here is my matching tag:

Plus I decorated the back of the tag:

I simply cut two tags from white card (one for the front and one for the back).  For the front I had a piece of the stencilled panel that was large enough to cover 3/4 of the tag, and adhered it with liquid glue; I also added a thin strip of the orange card.  I fussy cut another butterfly and die cut a small vellum circle and adhered them together with foam squares.  I stamped and cut out a sentiment and placed that across the butterfly with foam squares.  I finished off with a few black pearls.  For the back of the tag I added a small border of the stencilled panel along the bottom and also a strip of orange card using liquid glue.  I stamped a sentiment above this with black ink.  I also added an orange hole re-inforcer to both tags.  I adhered both tags together using liquid glue, threaded through some white ribbon and tied a bow using teal twine. 

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

A Place to Start challenge - ATG optional twist anything but a card

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

Tag-Along (& ATC's) challenge - add some text or ATG

Try It on Tuesday challenge - in the garden

Here is the card and tag together:

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 Kellianne so please leave her some love too. 

I appreciate you stopping by. 

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Taylored Expressions - butterflies stamp & stencil combo

Waffle Flower - nesting circle dies

MFT - sweet 16 freebie stamp 

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

Gina K Designs - master layouts 19 (for decorative circle die)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - butterscotch and blue lagoon

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 - 160gsm tangerine versatile card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Stampin' Up! - card stock vellum (no longer available)

tag supplies (in addition to above):

Waffle Flower - nesting tag dies

Clearly Besotted - a little sentiment stamp (no longer available)

ribbon & twine 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

Uniko June Release Day 2 Introduction

Good morning friends and welcome back to my blog. It's day two of introductions for Uniko's June release. Our next introduction is a fantastic stencil called 'Ink & Flip: Triangulate'. Bev has quite a lot of these amazing and innovative stencils in her collection now and this one is just as amazing. There are so many possibilities of how to use them.  

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by stencilling my panel using 4 different ink pads (a yellow, orange, light and dark pink).  Instead of using the whole panel on the front of my card I decided to cut some circles from a white panel and layer it over the stencilled background for a fun, clean and simple layout.  Before adhering them together I stamped the split sentiment using black ink.  The panels were then adhered together with a mix of double sided tape and liquid glue.  I didn't add anything else as I really loved the clean design with the pop of colour from the circles.  For the inside I cut a white panel and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  I had a small piece of the background left over so I cut some small circles and added them to the bottom of the panel with liquid glue (I think they actually look like beach balls so an idea for a future card maybe lol!).  The panel was then adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

* to be updated *

Please check out what Bev and the rest of the team have created by clicking the links below:

Bev

Izzy

Julie

Natalie

Vinita

I hope you can pop back tomorrow at the same time to see day 3 of the introductions.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Uniko - Ink & Flip: Triangulate stencil (will be available on Saturday)

Uniko - everyday sentiments & everyday love stamps (for outside sentiment)

Uniko - organic wishes stamp (for inside sentiment)

Waffle Flower - nesting circle dies

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)

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

*Gina K Designs - ink pads - wild dandelion, tangerine twist, bubblegum pink & passionate pink

*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 TagsIG Hop - June 26

Hello and welcome lovely friends. I hope you've had a great week; although I can't believe it's Friday already!  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 'guys' so we want to see all your masculine inspired tags.   I can't wait to see what the rest of my fellow hoppers have made and I hope you can pop over to Instagram and join us.

I often think of geometric or basic shapes when I make of masculine cards and tags so I went with stars on my tags this month.  I created a fun background using distressed pattern stamps and a limited colour palette.  I think it turned out super cool and I hope you like it too.  

Here is my tag:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the back of my tag:

I began by die cutting two tags from 300gsm white card (one of the front and one for the back).  I stamped the stars using a few shades of grey and teal ink pads and die cut them out using the coordinating dies.  I also stamped the sentiments in black onto white card and used a sentiment strips die to cut out the thinner sentiment and my paper trimmer to cut out the larger one.  For the background I used the same ink pads and an old but well loved distressed pattern stamp to create a fun design, I just kept stamping until I was happy!  I added some black twine behind the thinner sentiment and then added all the elements to the tag with foam squares.  I ink blended the darker teal ink onto a scrap of the white card and then die cut some hole reinforcers for my tags; these were adhered with liquid glue.  For the back of the tag I again randomly stamped the distressed patterns (using the front as my guide) and added three stars in the bottom left corner with liquid glue.  I added the hole reinforcer with liquid glue and finally stamped the 'to' and 'from' with black ink.  I adhered the two tags together with liquid glue before threading white ribbon through the hole and tying teal & white twine into a bow.  

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

A Place to Start challenge - ATG optional twist anything but a card

Colorful Options challenge - option 4 - other creative medium

Creative Moments challenge - make it masculine

Daisy Chain challenge - not square

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

Let's Craft & Create challenge - penny for your thoughts (add a sentiment)

Mix It Up challenge - ATG optional stamp background

Tag-Along (& ATC's) challenge - add some text or ATG

The Paper Funday challenge - ATG optional twist polkadots and/or stripes

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 #gorgeousgifttagsjune2026 and we will find your tags. 

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Lots of love,

tag supplies:

Waffle Flower - nesting tag dies

Clearly Besotted - superstar stamp & die set (retired)

MFT - distressed patterns stamp

*Gina K Designs - create-a-tag holiday mini stamp (for to & from)

Gina K Designs - sentiment strips die set

Gina K Designs - ink pads - ocean mist, blue lagoon, soft stone, stormy sky, slate

Limetree Craft - 12" x 12" 300gsm smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

ribbon recycled from some clothing 

twine 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

The Male Room challenge - guest designer

Hello friends; I'm here again this morning to share my card as GDT for The Male Room challenge.  I was lucky enough to win one of their recent challenges and was honoured to be asked to be a guest designer for them.  The challenge this month is 'the outdoors' so we want to see all your outdoor scenes but don't forget it has to be masculine themed.  

I recently bought a stamp set from a destash group as I thought it would be perfect for masculine cards; as it turned out it was perfect for this challenge.  I decided to make an easel card, as it's been so long since I made one.  I hope you like it. 

Here is my card:

An angled view to show off the easel:

A closer look at the image:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I made my easel card 6" square and scored the front panel at 3" to create the easel fold.  I covered each panel with a mixture of orange striped paper and green plaid paper, adding a black mat behind each paper.  I stamped the row of trees onto a piece of white card and initially coloured them with Zig markers but thought they looked a little pale so went over them with my Promarkers.  I made a mask for the trees and ink blended some sea glass ink around them for the sky and used lucky clover at the bottom of the panel for grass.  I also stamped some birds above the trees in black ink.  I cut the panel down to 4' square again added a black mat layer behind.  On a separate piece of white card I stamped the tent and fire, coloured them with Promarkers and fussy cut them out.  I added the tent in front of the trees using foam squares and then adhered the panel below the score line using foam squares.  For the inside I cut a white panel 4 3/4" x 3" and added a black mat layer.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink and added a thin strip of the plaid paper to the bottom.  I adhered this to the top of the inside panel with double sided tape.  I created a strip using the plaid paper 5 3/4" x 1" and added a black mat layer.  I stamped the sentiment to the right of centre and added that below the message panel using double sided tape.  I cut a small white circle and slightly larger black circle and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I then adhered the fire image onto the circle with a foam square.  I finished off with some solid black sequins.  

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

* to be updated *

Please pop over to The Male Room challenge blog for all the details/rules and to see the amazing creations from the design team. I would like to thank Helen and the team for having me as a guest this month. I hope you will find the time to enter the challenge and cannot wait to see all your projects in the linky.

Thanks for stopping by and see you all soon.

Love and hugs, 

card supplies:

summer holiday stamp set free with Creative Stamping magazine

Promarkers

Me to You - spring chic 6x6 paper pad (for plaid paper)

Echo Park - candy shoppe dots & stripes 6x6 paper pad (for orange striped paper)

Waffle Flower - nesting circle dies

Heffy Doodle - happy camper mini stamp (for part of the front sentiment)

Honey Bee Stamps - swimming by stamp (for birthday word)

Spellbinders - black color essential smooth disc sequins

Limetree Craft - 12" x 12" 300gsm smooth white card

Limetree Craft - 220gsm black card

*Gina K Designs - ink pads - sea glass and lucky clover

*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