Card Clubhouse IG Hop - Week 11

Hello 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 11 and our theme is 'mix it up' so we would like to see either your mixed media projects or even papers or seasons that wouldn't normally go together.  We can't wait to see what everyone makes. 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 decided to go for a mixed media style card as I really like it when other people make them.  I'm not super confident with this theme as I don't like getting too messy but I did my own controlled version lol!.  I went with lilacs again and I really love how it turned out.  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 did some ink smooshing with my medium lilac ink pad.  I didn't use watercolour paper just my regular smooth white so didn't go overboard with the water.  After it had dried a little I blended over the smooshing with the same ink.  I also splattered some of the dark lilac ink and some white gouache for some extra interest.  Once the panel had completely dried I took a fun abstract design stencil and some sparkle texture paste and added the pattern somewhat randomly; I then left the panel to dry again.  I stamped the butterfly onto vellum with white pigment ink and heat embossed it with fine detail embossing powder.  I used the coordinating die to cut it out.  I did brush on some of the lilac ink on the back of the butterfly just to soften it slightly.  I found some papers that had bold words on a white background and used the inks again to colour them and tore them into two strips.  I also took a rectangle of vellum and tore the edges.  I added foam squares behind the paper strips and adhered them to the vellum. I did die cut a silver circle to go behind my butterfly but it's not that noticeable once it was all stuck together.  I added the circle with double sided tape and the butterfly with liquid glue.  The stack was then adhered to the background with foam squares.  Finally I cut out a pre-printed sentiment, lightly blended over with some ink and added it over the butterfly with liquid glue.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel to give it some stability and then adhered it to my card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel, ink smooshed at the very bottom with the lilac ink and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  I added a strip of vellum, a strip of paper, a silver circle and finally another vellum butterfly, all with liquid glue.  The panel was then adhered to my card base with double sided tape.  

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

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - birthdays

Allsorts challenge - ATG

Double D challenge - splatter (I used white gouache and purple ink to splatter)

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - use a stencil or embossing folder (I used a stencil & texture paste)

Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge - inspirational photo (I was inspired by the butterflies)

Little Red Wagon challenge - create your own background (I ink smooshed and stencilled my BG)

Moving Along With The Times challenge - one or more butterflies

Pearly Sparkles challenge - one or more butterflies

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

We Love Stamping challenge - all creatures great and small

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.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

*Gina K Designs - spring things stamp & die (for butterfly)

Gina K Designs - picture perfect greetings (for inside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - medium & dark lilac

Gina K Designs - white pigment ink cube

Versamark - embossing and watermark ink pad

Spellbinders - hummingbird textures stencil

Cosmic Shimmer - frosty dawn sparkle texture paste (discontinued)

WOW! - opaque bright white super fine embossing powder

Creative Expressions - wordies sentiment sheet - birthday (for outside sentiment)

Waffle Flower - nesting circle dies

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

*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 #824 - Mood Board week

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog. I am here to share my card for this week's Just Us Girls challenge and it's our 'mood board week' and Carol is our hostess.  It's such a fun and funky mood board and I'm sure you'll all have a lot of fun creating from it and I cannot wait to see all your gorgeous creations.

There are so many fun elements in the mood board.  Obviously the colours are bold and bright but the sofa, boat, beach ball and funky shapes could call to you.  I was immediately drawn to the pictures hanging on the wall and decided to create my card inspired by them.  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 a light pink panel 4" x 5 1/4".  To create my funky shapes I used a corner punch, some circle dies and my paper trimmer.  I dug out some teal, orange and pink card from my scraps box and cut lots of different shapes and sizes.  I also scored some lines onto the larger orange shapes.  I won't tell you how long it took me to settle on an arrangement that I was happy with (but it was a while) and adhered all the largest pieces first with foam squares.  I pulled in some black accents and added them with liquid glue and then adhered the circles to fill the gaps using both liquid glue and foam squares.  I deliberated over what sentiment to use but didn't want anything too large that would hide my layout so finally settled on this fun stacked one from Gina K Designs which I white heat embossed onto black and cut with the coordinating die.  I added the sentiment over the largest circle with foam squares.  The panel was then adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel and added a strip of the light pink card to the bottom with liquid glue.  I had some shapes left over so added them randomly with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and unfortunately got a finger print on the left edge so added one of shapes there to cover it.  The panel was then adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

Classic Design challenge - ATG optional twist anniversary or birthday

Crafty Gals Corner challenge - ATG optional theme flowers for mom

The Paper Funday challenge - ATG optional twist mountains or coast

Such a great mood board 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 Kerry so please leave her some love too.  

I appreciate you stopping by.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Waffle Flower - nesting circle dies

Creative Craft Products - corner/notch punch

Spellbinders - stylish oval birthday wishes stamp (for inside sentiment)

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

WOW! - opaque bright white super fine embossing powder

*Gina K Designs - birthday sprinkles stamp & die (currently in this month's kit but will be available separately in the next release)

Gina K Designs - white pigment ink cube

*I now have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If 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 #823 - CAS

Good morning lovely friends and welcome back to my little corner of blogland. 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 recently purchased a whimsical ephemera book after being enabled by another crafter on Instagram.  The images are so cute and the colours are gorgeous but after colouring with markers for over 20 years I was a bit stuck with how to use them (silly I know as I can just treat them the same way).  I decided my CAS card was the perfect opportunity to christen the book.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the sweet image:

Plus I decorated the inside (sort of):

I had the front panel left over from the sympathy card I made recently (I had cut this panel to use as a mask for the circle on that card here).  As it already had some sea glass ink around the cut edge I decided to lightly blend sea glass all over the panel.  I die cut the ephemera image with a slightly smaller circle than the opening and created a frame cut from teal card using two different sizes of circle dies.  I adhered the frame and image together with double sided tape and using the front panel as a guide adhered it directly onto the card base.  I stamped a birthday sentiment in coral reef ink (to match the image), added foam squares behind the front panel and added that onto the card base; so that the image was recessed below it.  I didn't add any embellishments this time as I thought it was cute as it was.  For the inside I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and stamped the sentiment in the centre with the coral reef ink.  I ink blended at the bottom with the sea glass ink and then added the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  I may have to die cut a small flower or something to add to the inside as it looks a little bare.  

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

As You Like It challenge - favourite season (I love spring as everything is starting to come back to life and it's getting warmer but not too warm)

Cardz 4 Galz challenge - a circle card (one or more circles)

Classic Design challenge - ATG with optional twist anniversary or birthday

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Simon Say Stamp Wednesday challenge - cute critters

The Four Seasons challenge - ATG spring optional mood board

Unicorn challenge - something new (my image came from a new ephemera book that I just got)

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:

Giraffe Creative Studio - cute whimsy spring whimsical ephemera book

Waffle Flower - nesting circle dies

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

teal card from scraps bin

*Gina K Designs - blooming sunflower mini stamp (for outside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - birthday cheer mini stamp (for inside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - coral reef and sea glass

*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

Earth Day 2026 IG Hop

Happy Earth Day friends and welcome to the 2026 Earth Day IG card hop! We’re so excited to have you join us as we celebrate creativity and our beautiful planet. Today, each stop along the hop is sharing handmade cards inspired by keeping the Earth green - think nature, recycling, sustainability, and all things eco-friendly!  As you hop along, we hope you feel inspired to create with purpose and spread a little love for our environment.  Be sure to visit every stop, leave some love, and enjoy the journey!  Let’s celebrate Earth Day together - one card at a time! 

I am a big believer in recycling and in our area we recycle an amazing 70% of our household waste. The benefits of recycling includes: Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators, Conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals, Prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials, Saves energy, Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change, Helps sustain the environment for future generations, Helps fight climate change, which in my book is a win-win! 

For my card today I used an amazing earth die, did some ink blending and I created my sentiment after being inspired by some art on Pinterest.  It turned out exactly as I planned and I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside (albeit very simply):

I began by ink blending onto white card using two shades of green ink, I then die cut the earth die from this.  I also ink blended another piece of white card using two shades of blue ink, which will be my oceans.  I used two nesting circle dies to create a frame from black card and also used the larger circle to die cut my earth and ocean background.  I adhered all the layers with liquid glue.  I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4".  For the stamped portion of the sentiment I took a stamp that was much longer and did some stamp surgery to cut apart the 'there's no' portion and curved it slightly in my Misti to match the curve of the earth and stamped it with black ink.  I die cut the 'planet' letters from black card and the B from red card, along with a small heart.  I adhered the earth with foam squares in the centre and then added the letters below with liquid glue.  I added the red heart onto the earth with liquid glue.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel and adhered it to my card base with double sided tape.  I loved the clean, crisp look and felt I didn't need to add any embellishments. For the inside I cut another white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and blended some green ink along the bottom and blue ink along the top.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink and added a tiny red heart in the bottom right corner with liquid glue.  I adhered the panel 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/stencils

Cardz 4 Guyz challenge - clean and simple

Creative Crafting Uncles challenge - circle(s)

Dragonfly Dreams challenge - clean and simple

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - clean and simple

NBUS challenge - use new or neglected stuff (my world die is new to me)

Simply Clean & Simple challenge - CAS optional baskets

The Dream Factory challenge - code 3 (use at least 3 colours)

Unicorn challenge - use dies

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

I hope you will pop over to Instagram and check out the hop; please use the hashtag #earthday2026ighop 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,

card supplies:

Hero Arts - world window fancy die

Waffle Flower - nesting circle dies

MFT - little letters die set

MFT - make a wish stamp

MFT - tag builder blueprints 6 (for hearts)

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

*Gina K Designs - never lose hope mini stamp (for inside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - blue denim, in the navy, grass green, fresh asparagus

*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

Gorgeous Gift Tags IG Hop - Jan 26

Hello friends, I hope you're doing ok and that you've had a lovely day so far. 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 'Icy' and 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.

As soon as I read the theme I wanted to use some cute critters and make a scene in the snow/ice.  I looked through my stash and found this un-loved set from Kraftin Kimmie stamps that was perfect. The polar bears are adorable and I loved the sentiment.  I don't have any dies for this set so had to fussy cut them out which I think looks ok.  I hope you like my icy, cool tag.  

Here is my tag:

A closer look at the cute polar bears:

I began by die cutting one tag from one white card and one from the snowy patterned paper.  I stamped the images onto alcohol marker friendly card and coloured them with Promarkers (just some light shading around the edges and some pink on their cheeks and ears).  I fussy cut the images and added small foam squares behind the three polar bears.  I die cut a curved piece from white card for the bottom of my tag and stamped the sentiment with black ink.  I decided to add some snow hills above the sentiment so used some light grey ink and a piece of torn paper to give the hint of colour; I then adhered this to the tag with liquid glue.  Once I had decided on my layout I adhered the polar bears and added the snowballs and brrr sentiment with liquid glue.  I stamped the single snowball directly onto the tag with black ink.  I added the white tag behind for a bit more stability and for a space to write on and lightly ink blended the grey ink around the tag for some extra interest.  I finished off with some tulle ribbon and tied a bow with some white and grey striped twine.  A really fun tag and it really does look so much nicer in real life.  

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

Aud Sentiments challenge - ATG + sentiment

Christmas (or not) BINGO challenge - Line N - winter weather, blue, free

Colorful Options challenge - blue & white

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

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

Mix It Up challenge - ATG optional use ribbon

Paper Rocks Scissors - ATG (I used scissors to fussy cut my images)

Pearly Sparkles challenge - use patterned paper

Stamping Sensations challenge - something beginning with B (bears, blue)

Tag-along (& ATC's) challenge - love/romance or ATG

The Four Seasons challenge - winter season + inspiration board

We Love Stamping challenge - something new or 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 #gorgeousgifttagsjan2026 and we will find your tags.

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Lots of love,

 

tag supplies:

Kraftin Kimmie Stamps - shake it up polar bears stamp (retired)

Promarkers

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

Waffle Flower - nesting tags die set

Clearly Besotted - decorative edge shallow die collection (now retired)

The Works - snowy Christmas 12x12 paper pad 

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card

*Gina K Designs - soft stone ink pad

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

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