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Friday, 12 September 2025

Stencil Fun IG Hop - September

Happy Friday friends; I hope you've all had a great week, although the weather here has been total pants - rain, rain and more rain!!  I am joining a new Instagram Hop this month called Stencil Fun. It's 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 'geometric' and as I love geometric designs it was a no-brainer to use it this month.  I'm excited to see who has used the optional theme.  

For my card I used a fun (and neglected) stencil from Uniko called 'abstract triangles'.  I decided to make extra work for myself my masking off each individual triangle so that I could colour the background in rainbow colours.  I used a ton of post-it notes but I think it was totally worth it.  I hope you like it too.
Here is my card:
a closer look at the stencilling:
Plus I decorated the inside:
I began by grabbing some white card and a rainbow selection of ink pads (along with lots of post-it notes) and ink blended the background.  It's not perfect by any means but I love the look of the rainbow colours.  The stencil was only just over 5" square so not quite big enough for a whole A2 background so initially I was going to cut it in half and make 2 cards but then I found this split background die in my stash that I thought would be perfect.  As it was an A2 sized background die it did mean that I had a gap in the middle but I thought that would be the perfect place for my sentiment.  I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and adhered the stencilled pieces with foam tape to the top and bottom.  It was at this point that I realised that I should have stamped the sentiment after adhering the top piece but didn't so had to stamp the sentiment onto a separate piece of paper and slide it into the gap and adhered it with liquid glue.  Thankfully it worked out ok but I was holding my breath lol!  I decided to create a black card base for a change instead of having a black mat layer and adhered the panel with double sided tape.  I was going to add some black pearls but both my grown up sons felt it looked better without so I actually took their advice for once!  For the inside I cut another white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and as I had a tiny piece of the stencilled background left over I adhered that to the bottom with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and the panel was adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  It looks a fairly simple card but it took a while to complete the background but I love it.

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

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - make your mark (ink blending)
Alphabet challenge - k for keep it simple
Classic Design challenge - ATG optional theme 'happy birthday'
Colourful Options challenge - ATG (I went for rainbow)
Make My Monday challenge - fun with stencils
Stencil Fun challenge - ATG but must use a stencil optional theme 'nature'

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 #stencilfunseptember2025 and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend.

Lots of love

card supplies:
MFT - blueprints 18 die set
Gina K Designs - flowing florals stamp (for front sentiment) - retired
Gina K Designs - birthday cheer stamp (for inside sentiment)
Limetree Crafts - 220gsm black card 
Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Thursday, 11 September 2025

Krafty Chicks challenge #785 - Christmas

Good morning lovely friends, I appreciate you stopping by and I hope you're all doing ok. It's time for a new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 2; as always the theme is 'Christmas' and I am your hostess. Another card to add to the Christmas pile, which really takes the stress off later in the year. We hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.
I bought the Christmas in July card kit from Gina K Designs and haven't had a chance to use it yet so this week was the perfect opportunity to dig it out and christen it.  The hardest decision was deciding which stamp set to use as the kit is jam packed but I eventually chose the Christmas tree set.  I hope you like it.
Here is my card:
A closer look at the trees:
Plus I decorated the inside:
I began by die cutting the trees, stamping the spine with versamark and heat embossing with gold embossing powder.  I also stamped and heat embossed the sentiment and used the coordinating die to cut it out.  I then die cut the frame from white card.  I found the ink smooshed panel left over from last year (I used part of it on this card here) and cut it down to fit behind the frame and they were adhered together with liquid glue; I matted this onto a gold layer with double sided tape.  I used a dots embossing folder on another white panel and also matted this onto a gold layer with double sided tape.  I added the trees with foam tape and placed the sentiment across the trees with a mix of liquid glue and foam squares.  I added some scrap white card behind the frame panel and then adhered this onto the embossed panel with double sided tape.  I then adhered it to the card base with double sided tape.  I finished off with 3 mini gold pearls.  For the inside I cut a white panel 3 3/4" x 5" and added a gold mat layer with double sided tape.  I had a tiny piece of the smooshed background left over so adhered that the bottom of the panel with liquid glue and also added a thin strip of gold card above it.  I added another tree in the bottom right corner and stamped the sentiment in black ink in the centre.  The panel was then adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  It's a very dimensional card and one that I will definitely have to hand deliver.  

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

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up challenge - anything Christmas goes optional circles or squares
ABC Christmas challenge - T is for trees
As You Like It challenge - flat or layered (I love adding layers to my cards as I like the texture and dimension it gives)
Cardz 4 Galz challenge - stitching real or faux (my frame has faux stitch detail)
Craft Rocket challenge - dots and/or stripes (my background is a dotty EF)
Crafty Calendar challenge - lots of layers
Creative Inspirations challenge - Christmas in September 
Die Cut Divas challenge - ATG (use at least 1 die cut or EF)
Dream Valley challenge - 2 or more layers
Let's Craft & Create challenge - ATG optional twist lots of layers
Merry Little Christmas challenge - anything Christmas goes
Peace On Earth challenge - anything Christmas themed optional mood board
Pearly Sparkles challenge - pink, pearls and/or sparkle
The Holly & Ivy Christmas challenge - anything Christmas goes

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'Christmas' 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 - O Christmas tree stamp & die set
Gina K Designs - Master Layouts 18 die set (for frame)
gold card from stash
Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad
Versamark - watermark ink pad

Friday, 5 September 2025

Gorgeous Gift Tags IG Hop September 25

Hello friends, I hope you're doing ok and that you've had a lovely day so far. It's time for a new theme 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 'autumn', which is great theme and with so many images to choose from such as pumpkins, leaves, apples, figures bundled up in their sweaters/gloves the world is your oyster!  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 wanted to use leaves on my tag as there are so many variations in the colours in the autumn.  I ended up going really clean and simple this month but I really like how it turned out.  I hope you like it too. 
Here is my tag:
A closer look at the details:
Plus I decorated the back of the tag:
I began by die cutting two tags from white card.  For the front of the tag I used a woodgrain backdrop die to add some texture and interest.  I die cut 3 leaves, 1 from red, 1 from yellow and 1 from green card from my scraps bin, added some inking around the edges for definition and added them to the tag with foam squares.  I stamped the sentiment in the bottom right of the tag using a dark brown ink pad.  I used some kraft coloured twine to make a small bow and using liquid glue adhered it to the top of the leaves.  I also added a hole reinforcer cut from kraft card.  I finished off with a few sequins to match the leaves.  For the back I die cut another 3 leaves and adhered them to the bottom left of the second tag and I also stamped another sentiment using the same dark brown ink.  I added another hole reinforcer cut from kraft card and then adhered the tags together with liquid glue.  I found some ribbon and twine that matched my colours and looped them through the hole for some extra colour.  I know it is really clean and simple but I love it. 

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

AAA Cards challenge - follow the leader (CASE Ceal's card)
Alphabet challenge - K is for keep it simple
Aud Sentiments challenge - tags and/or thank you + sentiment
Cardz 4 Galz challenge - stitching real or faux (my tag has stitching detail)
Christmas (or not) BINGO challenge - Line N - tag, free, stamped phrase
Color Throwdown challenge - red, yellow and green
Hand Stamped Sentiment challenge - inspiration photo (inspired by leaves and colours)
Inspiration Station challenge - inspiration photo (inspired by the colours)
Simply Clean and Simple challenge - ATG CAS optional theme birthday
The Four Seasons challenge - ATG fall optional inspiration photo
The Paper Funday challenge - ATG optional theme changing seasons

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 #gorgeousgifttagsSept2025 and we will find your tags. 

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Lots of love

tag supplies:
Waffle Flower - nesting tags dies
Gina K Designs - autumn leaves dies
Altenew - autumn bounty stamp (for both sentiments) - on sale!
Gina K Designs - dark chocolate ink pad
Little Things From Lucy's Cards - kaleidoscope sequins (store sadly closed)
twine and ribbon from stash

Thursday, 4 September 2025

Krafty Chicks challenge #784 - Birthday

Good morning lovely friends. I hope you're all doing ok and having a great week so far. It's time for a new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 1; as always the theme is 'birthday' and Leanne is our hostess. It can't get any easier than this week's challenge so we hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.
It was my sister's birthday last week and today I'm sharing the card I made for my boys to give to their auntie.  I don't seem to use purple very often and I'm not sure why because I love it.  I used a fairly simple layout and the card size is 5" x 7".  I'm happy with this card and I think it turned out really pretty.  I hope you like it too. 
Here is my card:
A closer look at the image:
Plus I decorated the inside:
I began by stamping the image onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured it with Promarkers and cut it into a rectangle.  I matted it onto a gold layer with double sided tape; I also added some scrap white card behind this layer for some dimension without using foam tape.  I cut a piece of gorgeous patterned paper 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" and again matted it onto a gold layer with double sided tape.  I stamped the sentiment using black ink and used a sentiment strip die to cut it out; I again added a gold mat layer. I die cut some leafy branches from the gold card and adhered them to the top left and bottom right corners of the purple panel.  I then placed the image panel over top with double sided tape.  The sentiment was placed across the lower part of the image panel with foam squares.  The panel was then added to the card base with double sided tape.  I didn't add any extra embellishments as I loved it as it was.  For the inside I cut a white panel 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" and added a gold mat layer with double sided tape.  I adhered a strip of the patterned paper to the top and bottom of the panel with liquid glue and also added two more of the leafy branches in the left lower corner.  Finally I stamped a sentiment in the centre with black ink.  The panel was added to the card base with double sided tape.  

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

A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut
Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - die cuts and/or stencils
Allsorts challenge - birthdays
As You Like It challenge - layered or flat (I love dimension and usually have at least one layer on my cards.  I love the look and even though it costs more to post I still have to do it)
Classic Design challenge - ATG optional twist happy birthday
Crafter's Cafe challenge - ATG optional use patterned paper
Die Cut Divas challenge - ATG must us at least one die cut
Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - stamp it in STAMPtember

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'birthday' 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:
Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store sadly closed
Promarkers
Uniko Stamps - floral vines stamp (for happy birthday)
Uniko Stamps - everyday family (for Auntie)
Gina K Designs - on the inside - birthday stamp (for inside sentiment)
Gina K Designs - let's get started die set: intri-cut exclusive (for leafy branch)
Verafine Clair - nocturne ink pad
paper pad from stash (can't remember where I bought it)
gold card from stash

Wednesday, 3 September 2025

Cards For All Seasons IG Hop - Week 18

Hello friends; I hope you're having a great week so far. I'm back today 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 18 and our theme is 'the great outdoors'. Such a fun theme this week; think camping, tents, campfires, bears, etc. 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 managed to get my hands on this fun camper van stamp & die set from Heffy Doodle before it closed and had never used it so I thought it would be perfect for this week's theme.  It's a tiny set that also includes a sentiment, a small tree and some silhouette flying birds (the 'tick' style ones). The layout was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest.  I think it turned out super cute and I hope you like it too. 
Here is my card:
A closer look at the camper van:
Plus I decorated the inside:
I began by stamping the camper van onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured it with Promarkers, added a few white gel pen highlights and cut it out with the coordinating die.  I also stamped 9 of the trees in 2 shades of green ink and again used the matching die to cut them out.  I cut a brown panel of card 3 15/16" x 5 3/16" and used a very old cuttlebug embossing folder for some texture.  I added it to a kraft mat layer that was cut to 4" x 5 1/4" with liquid glue. I cut the orange patterned paper 3 1/16" x 4 1/4" and again adhered it to a kraft layer with liquid glue.  The checked paper was cut to 1 9/16" x 4 15/16" and matted onto a kraft layer with liquid glue.  I added the paper layers to the embossed panel with liquid glue.  I die cut a circle from kraft card and stamped the sentiment at the very bottom using a dark brown ink pad (the birthday came from another set).  I added the trees with liquid glue and the camper van with foam squares.  The circle was adhered to the lower right corner of the panel with foam squares.  For a final finishing touch I added some orange and green enamel dots.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel for stability and dimension and then adhered it to the card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut a white panel 3 7/8" x 5 1/8" and adhered it to a kraft mat with liquid glue.  I added a strip of orange paper to the top and a strip of the checked paper to the bottom of the panel with liquid glue.  I added 2 of the trees and another camper van to the bottom left corner with liquid glue.  Finally I stamped a sentiment in the centre with dark brown ink. The panel was adhered 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 (I die cut my camper van, trees and circle)
Allsorts challenge - birthdays
As You Like It challenge - favourite colouring medium (Promarkers, I've used them for over 15 years and love them.  The blend well and I still have my original pens for the most part)
Christmas (or not) BINGO challenge - Line G - kraft, free, hand-coloured image
Classic Design challenge - ATG optional twist happy birthday
Crafter's Cafe challenge - ATG optional twist use patterned papers
Die Cut Divas challenge - ATG (I die cut my camper van, trees and circle)
Dream Valley challenge - 2 or more papers
Inspiration Station challenge - inspiration photo (I was inspired by the trees and colours)
Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - stamp it in STAMPtember
The Four Seasons challenge - fall/inspiration photo (I was inspired by the colours)

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,

card supplies:
Heffy Doodle - happy camper stamp & die set - store now sadly closed
Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store now sadly closed
Promarkers
LDRS Creative - happy fall 6x6 paper pad - no longer available
Honey Bee Stamps - swimming by stamp (for birthday word)
Gina K Designs - dark chocolate ink pad
Crafter's Companion - 280gsm kraft card
MFT - just roll with it stamp (for inside sentiment)
Provo Craft/Cuttlebug - forest branches embossing folder
Your Next Stamp - summer chill enamel dots

Monday, 1 September 2025

Stamptember 2025!

Hello again friends; I hope you've had a great day so far.  I'm back again to share a card as part of this year's 16th celebration of STAMPtember from Simon Says Stamp.  The stamp set I am using literally dropped on my mat this lunchtime so I excitedly made a quick card to share with you.  I was lucky to be gifted the awesome stamp set called 'shiny baubles' which is part of Simon Says Stamp own STAMPtember release; this is not limited edition and will be restocked as needed.  

Today we are revealing NEW Simon Says Stamp-branded products designed to inspire and delight you. All are available exclusively at SimonSaysStamp.com. You’ll see intriguing new stamps (of course), inks, dies, embossing folders, and stencils, as well as some other fun surprises. 

During STAMPtember®, they will also be releasing EXCLUSIVE products made in partnership with many of the industry’s finest brands and ONLY available at SimonSaysStamp.com!  Heidi is going live tomorrow (Tuesday 2nd September at 12 noon ET) with STAMPtember exclusives, news, inspiration, prizes and much more so pop over to YouTube and set up your notification as you won't want to miss it!

I stamped each bauble with two colours of ink and added some gold heat embossing.  I hope you like it. 
Here is my card:
A closer look at the baubles:
Plus I decorated the inside:
I began by cutting a panel from fog card 4" x 5 1/4" and created my own background with the small star stamps in the set.  I stamped the larger bauble in two contrasting colours of red ink and the smaller bauble in two shades of green ink, adding the extra details in the darker shade of ink.  I added the toppers and focal images in the centre with gold heat embossing.  I don't have the dies so I fussy cut out the baubles.  I also gold heat embossed the sentiment directly onto the bottom of the panel.  I made a hole at the top of the baubles with my pokey tool and threaded some gold thread which I secured at the back with double sided tape.  The baubles were added with foam squares.  I added some scrap white card behind my panel for stability and dimension and added it to my card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I simply stamped a strip of the fog card with the stars and added it to the bottom of my white panel with liquid glue.  I gold heat embossed another sentiment from the stamp set in the centre.  The panel was adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  I'm hoping to create a few more cards throughout the month using this stamp set so stay tuned.  

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

12 Months of Christmas Link Up challenge - ATG Christmas optional twist circles & squares
CRAFT challenge - Christmas
Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - stamp it in STAMPtember
Sweet Stampin' challenge - use your favourite colour (I love red/green for Christmas)
The Holly & Ivy Christmas challenge - anything goes Christmas

There is loads of inspiration over on the Simon Says Stamp Blog and also over on Instagram. Please use the hashtags #stamptember #stamptember2025 #sssstamptember to check out what everyone is making.  

Thanks for stopping by and leaving me such lovely comments. 

Love and hugs, 

card supplies:
Simon Says Stamp - shiny baubles stamp set (gifted)
Simon Says Stamp - fog card stock
Versamark - watermark ink pad
gold thread from stash

AAA Birthday challenge #77 - snarky

Hello again friends and happy 1st of September.  I hope you all had a wonderful summer and the kids are ready to go back to school soon.   Let's hope the first of the 'ber' months isn't too bad and we have some crisp, dry days and not lots of rain!  

I'm here today to share my card for this month's AAA Birthday challenge and this month our theme is 'snarky' which is such a fun challenge. The urban dictionary's definition is:

"Snarky" is used to describe speech with a specific emotional tone, typically a form of sarcasm informed by cheekiness and a mild, playful irreverence or impudence".

We all love playful, fun sentiments and there are loads of stamp companies that make these types of greetings.  Dig through your stash, I'm sure you have some; even if it's just 'you're how old?'  Our guest designer this month is the lovely Carol so please pop over to her blog and leave her some love.
As you know I love MFT Stamps (so sad they are now closed) and I had the perfect set for this challenge.  I don't think I will ever not grab for my MFT products as they are so fun.  Anyway enough waffling, I hope you like it.
Here is my card:
A closer look at the image:
Plus I decorated the inside:
I began by cutting a white panel using a stitched rectangle die.  I cut the strip of striped patterned paper using a torn edge die and also the stitched rectangle die so that it would match up with the white panel (in hinsight I could have skipped the torn edge as I ended up covering most of it lol!).  I adhered this to the left edge of the panel with liquid glue.  I cut a small strip of spotty paper and added that to the bottom of the panel with liquid glue.  I also die cut a stitched rounded rectangle from some grid paper and adhered that to the centre with double sided tape, overlapping the other patterned papers.  I stamped the image onto alcohol marker friendly card and coloured it with Promarkers.  I don't have the dies for this set so I fussy cut him out.  I stamped the snarky sentiment onto orange card with Versamark ink and white heat embossed it, using my trimmer to cut it out.  I added foam squares to the sentiment and image and adhered the sentiment just overlapping the spotty paper and the image on top so that he looked like he was standing on it.  I finished off with some enamel dots (still trying to use them up).  For the inside I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and added a strip of orange card at the bottom with double sided tape and then a piece of the striped paper with liquid glue, which I again cut with the torn edge die.  I fussy cut another image, but this time only the top half, coloured him with Promarkers and added him with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with navy ink.  The panel was adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  A really fun card and I think this will be perfect for any of my older relatives.  

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

A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut
Allsorts challenge - birthdays or ATG (it is a birthday card, it says HBD on the inside)
As You Like It challenge - favourite colouring medium (I have used Promarkers for over 15 years; they blend well and most of my pens are the original ones and are still going strong)
Christmas (or not) BINGO challenge - Line N - stripes, free, stamped phrase
Crafter's Cafe challenge - ATG optional 'use patterned papers'
Dream Valley challenge - 2 or more papers
Little Red Wagon challenge - G is for gentlemen
Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - stamp it in STAMPtember

The Design Team have created amazing cards as always so please pop over to the blog and check them out and perhaps leave them some love on their personal blogs. I hope you will be able to join in with the challenge this month but don't forget it has to be birthday themed. I can't wait to see your creations in the linky.

Have a great day.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:
MFT - blueprints 13 (for stitched rectangle)
MFT - torn paper edges die set
MFT - stitched rounded rectangle stack die set
LDRS Creative - happy fall 6x6 paper pad (for striped paper)
My Mind's Eye - now & then 'Izzy' 6x6 paper pad (for other papers)
Versamark - watermark ink pad
Gina K Designs - in the navy ink pad
Your Next Stamp - self adhesive enamel dots - summer chill & white sugar & sparkle
orange card from my scraps bin