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

Patterned Paper Party IG Hop - July 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 'Christmas in July' which I'm sure will be very popular. I went with traditional colours and stamped my trees onto foiled patterned paper, which I had ink blended with three different shades of green ink.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the trees:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by choosing my papers; which were white with silver foiling.  I decided to make them green so ink blended over the papers using green ink pads.  I stamped the tree image over the papers and fussy cut them out; I also stamped the trunks onto kraft card using brown ink and again fussy cut them out. I adhered the trunks onto the trees using liquid glue.  I cut a white panel 3 7/8" x 5 1/8" and embossed it using a script embossing folder.  I matted this onto a green layer using liquid glue and then also added another layer cut from red gingham paper which was cut to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I felt that my card needed something else so used a lace die and cut it from red card.  It's actually quite a thick lacy border so I cut it down so that I was left with just the lace edges and added them to the top and bottom of the embossed panel with liquid glue and added the trees in the centre with foam squares.  I stamped the sentiment onto red card using black ink and cut it out with a sentiment strips die and added it over the trees using foam squares.  I used the tiny circles that fell out of the lace die cut as 'baubles' on my tree and added them with liquid glue.  The panel was adhered to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut a white panel 3 7/8" x 5 1/8" and added a strip of the gingham paper along the bottom with liquid glue.  I added this onto a green mat layer.  I originally only added the one tree but managed to smudge some black ink so covered it up with a second tree and for balance added the smaller tree as well.  Again I added the waste 'baubles' using liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment onto red card using black ink and cut it out with a sentiments strip die.  I added it next to the trees using liquid glue.  The panel was added to the card base with double sided tape. 

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

613 Avenue Create challenge - ATG optional twist 'any holiday'

Alphabet challenge - F is for festivities (Christmas)

Can You Handle The Pressure challenge - use an EF optional theme stars or stripes 

Christmas (or not) BINGO challenge - Line B - Christmas, red, plaid/check/gingham

Classic Design challenge - ATG optional twist 'any holiday'

The Crafter's Cafe challenge - ATG optional 'Christmas in July'

Die Cut Divas challenge - Christmas in July

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - Christmas in July

INKspirational challenge - Christmas in July

Make My Monday challenge - Christmas in July

Merry Little Christmas challenge - anything Christmas goes

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - I fussy cut my trees

Peace on Earth Christmas challenge - ATG Christmas optional inspiration board

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - add some text (one of my trees is cut from text paper and I used a script embossing folder)

Tic Tac Toe challenge - middle row: any color, free, sentiment and bottom row: any shape die, layers, embossing

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 #patternedpaperpartyhopjune2026 and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Lots of love

card supplies:

Uniko - Christmas pop stamp (for tree)

Uniko - pure florals: poinsettia stamp (for sentiments)

Cuttlebug/Provo Craft - script embossing folder

Gina K Designs - master layouts 21 (for lace die)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - lucky clover, jelly bean green, fresh asparagus

Gina K Designs - sentiment strips dies

Gina K Designs - large strip sentiments dies

Creative Papers - festive feeling 6" x 6" paper pad

Memory Box Co - cranberry gingham card

*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

Card Clubhouse IG Hop - June 26 snack time

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 12 and our theme is 'snack time' so we would like to see all your food and drink related dies, stamps, papers etc. 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.

My favourite food has to be pizza so when I saw the theme I knew exactly what I was going to use! This is an older die set but it always makes me smile when I use it.  I am a vegetarian so the pepperoni topping I used would be a no-no (much prefer mushrooms) but it looks so pretty on my die cut pizza.  The 'onions' are actually flower centres but I think they look fab.  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 pieces of my pizza slices and added some shading using the ink left on my blending brushes.  I used foam squares to adhere the crust and liquid glue for everything else.  I thought this red gingham card would be perfect for my background as it reminds me of a tablecloth. I cut a panel 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and adhered it to the front of my card base with double sided tape.  I die cut the ciao! word x 4 and stacked them up using liquid glue.  I also white heat embossed my sentiment onto black card and used my trimmer to cut it out.  I added the pizza slices to my background using foam squares and the ciao! with liquid glue.  The stamped sentiment was added with a mix of foam squares and liquid glue and I added some leaves around the pizza slices with liquid glue.  For the inside I cut a white panel 3 3/4" x 5" and added it onto a mat layer of the gingham card.  I also added a piece of the gingham card to the bottom of the panel with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment with black ink and added another die cut pizza slice to the bottom left 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

Creative Moments challenge - pastels or brights 

Dragonfly Dreams challenge - masculine

Farm Quest Grocery Game challenge - anything food and/or drink

Love Those Pretty Papers challenge - use patterned paper optional theme pastels

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

TGIF challenge - popping it up (my pizza slices and sentiment are popped up with foam squares)

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:

Spellbinders - D-Lites party food die set (retired but found a pre-loved one here on sale!)

Spellbinders - sugar coated sentiments stamp on sale!

Spellbinders - be bold blooms die set (for leaves and 'onions')

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 maize versatile card

Limetree Craft - 220gsm black card

WOW! - opaque bright white super fine embossing powder

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Versamark - embossing & watermark ink pad

Memory Box - cranberry gingham card (no longer available)

all other card from my scraps bin

Card Clubhouse IG Hop - Week 12

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 12 and our theme is 'hello sunshine' so we would like to see sunshine dies, stamps, papers etc. 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 recently picked up this super cute sunshine die that I thought would be perfect for this challenge. It's quite large so I didn't really need to do much more to my card lol so it's quite a simple card today. I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the fun die cut:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by die cutting the sun 3 times so that I could layer them up with liquid glue.  I cut the outer part from orange card and the inner circle from yellow card.  I used some scrap card to cut the face pieces.  For the background I embossed a white panel using an older folder that I've had in my stash for years; the clouds are so cute.  I also cut a piece of orange gingham card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" to go behind my embossed panel and I adhered them together with double sided tape.  I die cut the letters x 2 to spell 'sunshine' from the yellow card and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I stamped and white heat embossed the sentiment and use a sentiment strips die to cut it out.  I added the sun and strip sentiment with foam squares and the sunshine word with liquid glue.  The panel was then added to the card base with double sided tape.  I finished off with some pastel orange and yellow pearls.  For the inside I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and added a strip of white card to the bottom that I also embossed with the cloud folder.  I die cut another sun and added that over the embossed piece, cutting off the overhanging piece.  I stamped a simple sentiment in black ink and added the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

AAA Cards challenge - 1+1 challenge (summer sun) - maybe not CAS enough so delete if not!

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - any occasion

Creative Knockouts challenge - die cuts/stencils/punches

Die Cut Divas challenge - ATG must use a die cut (4th entry)

Make My Monday challenge - dry/heat embossing 

Moving Along With The Times challenge - use your favourite stamp, die or tool (the alphabet letters are super old but they are the perfect size)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - add a sentiment

The Four Seasons challenge - ATG summer optional mood board

Try It On Tuesday challenge - flying high (the sun floats high in the sky)

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:

Lawn Fawn - stitched sun frame die set

Darice - clouds embossing folder

MFT - little letters die set

Clearly Besotted - a little sentiment stamp (retired)

Memory Box - mango gingham card 

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

Limetree Craft - maize and faded marigold 160gsm card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

*Gina K Designs - sentiment strips die set

Gina K Designs - rainbow pearl mix

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

Thank you x

Stencil Fun IG Hop - April 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 new to you' and I'm excited to see what everyone has made.

I used a recent purchase from Uniko and a new addition to their 'ink & flip' stencil line and this one is a beautiful butterfly design.  I went with a bright and springy colour combo of pink and orange and used my dies to create a fun layout.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

The ink & flip stencil range is such a unique and clever idea; you literally ink half of the design, flip the stencil and ink the other half (in this case the butterflies).  It means you can use more than one colour on your design which makes it more fun and interesting.  As I said I went for two shades of pink and two shades of orange so that the edges of the butterflies could be a little darker for some extra interest.  The stencil is 6" x 6" so I blended a piece of white card 5 1/2" square so that I would some extra to use on the inside of my card and also fussy cut one of the butterflies.  I used dies to cut the triangle pieces from the stencilled panel and a stitched rectangle as my plain background.  I decided to fill the gap between the triangles with a sentiment but my longest stitched die wasn't quite long enough; I meant to do some partial die cutting but completely forgot and die cut the sentiment from the die I had so I had to get creative and cut another piece and glue them together.  Thankfully I had fussy cut the one butterfly so this could cover the join and no-one is any the wiser (except me and you, so don't tell anyone else!).  I added all the pieces onto the background with foam squares, even the butterfly so there is a fair amount of dimension on this card.  I cut a pink mat layer and adhered it with double sided tape and then added it onto the card base with double sided tape.  I felt the fussy cut butterfly needed 'something' so found a butterfly body from a memory box die set that fit perfectly, so die cut that from black card and added it with liquid glue.  I didn't add any embellishments as I thought the background was quite busy as it was.  For the inside I cut another white stitched rectangle, added the scrap of stencilled background to the bottom with liquid glue and stamped a sentiment in the centre with black ink.  I again mat this onto pink card and adhered 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 optional twist pastels

Allsorts challenge - in the garden

Color Dare challenge - #698 shades of pink + 1 other colour

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Daisy Chain challenge - no design paper

Die Cut Divas challenge - birthday or anniversary card (4th entry)

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

Let's Craft & Create challenge - beautiful butterflies

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - use paper or scissors (I fussy cut my butterfly)

Pick 3 challenge - wings, die cuts/punches, text

Stencil Fun challenge - must use a stencil optional theme rainbow colours

Tic Tac Toe challenge - pastel colours, free, stencil

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

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 #stencilfunapril2026 and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and brightening my day.  Have a great week everyone.  

Lots of love, 

card supplies:

Uniko - ink & flip butterfly pattern stencil

Uniko - everyday love and everyday sentiments stamps (for outside greeting)

Uniko - organic wishes stamp (for inside greeting)

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Memory Box - Pippi butterfly die (for body)

pink card from my stash

*Gina K Designs - master layouts 05 (for triangle die)

Gina K Designs - master layouts 14 (for stitched rectangle and strip die)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - passionate pink, medium carnation, tangerine twist, butterscotch 

*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

Card Clubhouse IG Hop - Week 6

Hello lovely friends; I'm back to share my card for the new Card Clubhouse IG hop organised by my sweet friend Kelly. We are on Week 6 and our theme is 'think spring'. So grab your flowers, easter goodies and pastel colours and join in the fun! 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 thought as Easter isn't too far away that my spring card would be Easter themed.  I found this super cute stamp and die set that I hadn't used yet so got to work.  It's a fairly simple design but I think it turned out adorable.  I hope you like it too.  

Here is my card:

A closer look at the cute image:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by stamping the image onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured it with my Promarkers and used the coordinating die to cut it out.  I also stamped and die cut 3 more from white card so that I could stack them.  I love gingham in any form (papers, clothing, bedding etc) so I grabbed this pink gingham card and die cut it using this fun wavy edge rectangle.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink and again used the coordinating die to cut it out (I also stacked this with 3 plain white die cuts too).  I added the image and sentiment onto the gingham background with liquid glue and added some pastel pearl embellishments.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel and adhered it to the card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another wavy edge rectangle from the gingham card and also a slightly smaller white rectangle and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I stamped the bunny in a light grey ink in the bottom left corner and added a sentiment next to him with black ink.  The panel was adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Crafty Calendar challenge - spring

Creative Crafting Uncles challenge - spring and/or Easter

Creative Friday challenge - feminine

Creative Inspirations challenge - cute critters

Creative Moments challenge - bunnies & blooms

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Die Cut Divas challenge - spring is coming

Double D challenge - Easter/church/cross

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - 4 legged friends

Heart's Quest Celebrations of Love challenge - Easter

Little Red Wagon challenge - signs of spring

Papercraft challenges - joy of spring

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - clean and simple

Stamping Sensations challenge - spring

Sweet Stampin' challenge - gingham/tartan/plaid

The Four Seasons challenge - spring

The Paper Funday challenge - ATG optional twist fur or feathers

Try It on Tuesday challenge - spring

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:

Spellbinders - pocket bunny stamp & die (CSOM-Feb23)

Promarkers

Scrapbook.com - nested wavy rectangle dies

Memory Box - bubblegum gingham card

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

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

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

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

*Gina K Designs - rainbow pearl mix

Gina K Designs - soft stone 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