Pearly Sparkles challenge - guest designer

Hello again friends; I'm back with my second post for today!  I am delighted to be a guest designer over at Pearly Sparkles challenge this month and their theme is 'hearts' which I'm sure will be very popular with Valentine's Day just around the corner but as you will see from my card it can be for any occasion as long as you include some hearts.  I look forward to seeing what you create.

I decided to make a birthday card using lots of different hearts (stamped, embossed and gems) and Valentine colours and it turned out exactly as I had wanted.  It's a fairly simple layout but even so I think it turned out super cute. I hope you like it. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the images:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by stamping the images onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured them with Promarkers, added some white highlights and used the coordinating dies to cut them out.  I used master layouts 4 for all my dies; I cut the smaller heart from white card and the shadow layer from red card and cut the scalloped rectangle from pink gingham card.  I embossed the white heart with a hearts embossing folder and adhered the hearts together with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiments in black ink onto the gingham panel and then adhered the heart on top with liquid glue.  I placed the images onto the embossed heart with foam squares.  As a final finishing touch I added some red heart embellishments in the top right and bottom left corners.  I added some scrap white card behind the scalloped panel and then adhered it to my card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another scalloped panel from white card and added a strip of the gingham paper to the bottom with liquid glue; I also added a thin strip of red card above to make it look more 'finished'.  I added another image to the bottom right corner and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  I adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.

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

* to be updated *

I would like to thank Helen and all the team at Pearly Sparkles challenge for having me as a guest this month. I hope you will be able to play along with the challenge and I cannot wait to see all your 'hearts' projects.

Ok, that is it from me for today, but thank you for stopping by and visiting my corner of blogland.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

*Gina K Designs - you are so loved stamp & die

Gina K Designs - delicate dahlias stamp (for outside sentiments)

Gina K Designs - happy hearts embossing folder

Gina K Designs - master layouts 4 die set

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

Memory Box - gingham bubblegum card

Limetree Crafts - 280gsm silky smooth white card (no longer available but they do have some alternatives here and here)

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Promarkers

Little Things From Lucy's Cards - crystal collection - citrus twist - store sadly closed

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store sadly closed

red 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

AAA Birthday challenge - DT card

Good morning lovely friends and welcome to February! As it's the first of the month it means we have a brand new challenge over at AAA Birthday challenge. This month's theme is 'slimline' and our guest designer again this month is Cathy R. so please pop over to her blog and leave her some love.

I don't make slimline cards very often, not really sure why, although they can be a bit tricky to photograph.   I had a fun image in mind when making my card so went with the larger sized slimline (4" x 9") so that it would fit.  You could of course make a mini slimline which is about 3 1/4" x 6 1/4", although they can be anything from 3" x 6" to 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" depending on which brand of dies you use.   I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the fun image:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by creating my card base from white card; I cut my piece to 8" x 9" and scored it at 4" on the 8" side.  I used master layouts 10 and die cut a white stitched panel and mat layer panel from dark brown card (although it looks black in my photos).  I used a fun tiger print stencil to create my background but of course I had to move the stencil down to fill the whole panel but as this is quite an open pattern it did leave a noticeable line in the middle which I didn't like.  I tried adding strips of the brown card and twine to try and mask the line but it didn't work for me so I finally decided to die cut the smaller panel from the die set and stencil that with the tiger print.  I also die cut the mat layer for this smaller panel and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I adhered the larger panels with liquid glue and then placed the smaller panel in the middle with liquid glue.  I think it looks more intentional now and not like a mistake.  I stamped the adorable giraffe image, coloured him with Promarkers and fussy cut him out.  I stamped the personalised message onto his 'board' with black ink. I added some scrap white card behind the panel and then adhered this onto the card base with double sided tape.  I added the giraffe with foam squares, added some die cut stars and some gold pearls for a finishing touch.  For the inside I cut another white stitched panel and brown mat layer.  I stencilled the bottom of the white panel with the tiger print stencil, added a strip of the brown card above and a few die cut stars with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and then adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape. 

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

* to be updated * 

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.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Woodware - party giraffe stamp

Promarkers

Uniko - tiger print stencil

*Gina K Designs - master layouts 10 die set

Gina K Designs - honey mustard ink pad

Gina K Designs - grand gentleman stamp

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

Gina K Designs - on the inside - birthday stamp

Clearly Besotted Stamps - happy birthday all 

MFT - blueprints 13 (for stars)

Limetree Crafts - 280gsm silky smooth card - not currently available but there are alternatives here and here

Limetree Crafts - dark chocolate 300gsm card

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

Krafty Chicks challenge #805 - ATG with a twist!

Good morning lovely friends; I hope your week is going well so far. I'm sharing my card for the new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 5; and as it's an extra week this month we have an anything goes theme.  However we are mixing it up this year and adding an optional twist and the twist this time is embossing wet or dry.  Such a fun and easy theme and we hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

I made my card at the end of December for my sister and brother-in-law's second wedding anniversary.  I don't know why but I always struggle with anniversary cards but I think this turned out super cute. For my embossing twist I used a gorgeous heart swag embossing folder.  The card was 5 1/2" x 7 1/2" as I like to make bigger cards for my family.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the cute image:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting a white panel and used the beautiful heart swag embossing folder to create my background.  I also cut a gold mat layer and adhered them together with double sided tape.  I stamped the images onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured them with Promarkers and added some white gelly roll pen highlights.  I die cut the pretty heart wreath frame from the gold card, cut the image panel from a slightly smaller circle die so that it would fit behind the frame and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiments in black ink and cut them out using an oval die.  I adhered the heart frame in the centre of the embossed panel with foam squares and added the sentiments with double sided tape.  To embellish I used some of the hearts that fell out of the frame and adhered them with liquid glue.  I added some scrap white card behind my panel and then adhered it to the card base with double sided tape.  A fairly clean and simple design but I was really happy with it.  For the inside I cut another white panel and gold mat layer and adhered them with double sided tape.  I embossed another panel of white card and cut two strips for the top and bottom of the panel, adhering them with liquid glue.  I also added thin strips of the gold card to the edges of the embossed pieces to make it look more 'finished' and a few gold hearts to match the front.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and then 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 - any occasion

Alphabet challenge - T is for texture

Can You Handle The Pressure challenge - must use an EF optional twist all white

Creative Moments challenge - love & romance

Cut It Up challenge - my heart

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

Shopping Our Stash challenge - love me do

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - have a heart

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

The Dream Factory challenge - love actually (love, hearts and/or Valentine's Day)

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'ATG with a twist of embossing' 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,

Sunny Studio - turtley awesome stamp

Promarkers

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store sadly closed 

Spellbinders - heart swag embossing folder - currently on clearance!

Spellbinders - essential stylish oval dies (to cut sentiments)

Poppy Crafts - heart wreath die

Taylored Expressions - flip the floral stamp (for anniversary sentiment)

Uniko - everyday family stamp

*Gina K Designs - succulent spray stamp (for inside sentiment)

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

gold mirror 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

Krafty Chicks challenge #804 - Masculine

Good morning lovely friends; I hope your week is going well so far. I'm sharing my card for the new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 4; as always the theme is 'Masculine' and Lori is our hostess. We know it's not everyone's favourite challenge, but we do have to make some masculine cards sometime and this challenge will hopefully help you get them done. We hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

I didn't make this card for anyone in particular, I just grabbed some supplies on my desk and had a play.  Thinking now though it is my brother-in-law's birthday at the end of the month so maybe he will be the lucky recipient lol!  I decided to make a 5" x 7" card for a change and although it ended up being fairly clean and simple I think it's super cute.  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 5" x 7" and using a new to me stencil created the 'wave' design using 5 different shades of blue inks.  I used Master Layouts 8 to cut the stitched rectangle and also used the plain rectangle to cut a blue layer.  I added some white gouache spatter for some extra interest.  I was going to simply add a sentiment and call it done but nothing looked right (do you have days like that?) so as the background looked like the sea to me I decided to add some super cute fish.  I stamped the fish and two shells onto alcohol marker friendly card, coloured them with Promarkers and used the coordinating dies to cut them out.  I stamped the water bubbles directly onto the background using white pigment ink, although it faded back quite a bit on the dark ink, and added the fish with foam squares.  I found a long, bold sentiment which I think suits masculine cards and manipulated it slightly so that it followed the curve of the 'wave' and stamped it onto the panel with black ink.  I adhered the panels together with double sided tape, added some scrap card behind it for some dimension and added to the card base with double sided tape.  I didn't add anything extra as I liked it as it was.  For the inside I cut another white stitched rectangle and blue mat layer using the master layouts dies.  I used the stencil to create some waves at the bottom of the panel and added some white spatter.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and using liquid glue added the two shells into the bottom right corner.  I adhered the layers together and added the panel to the card blank with double sided tape.  

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

Allsorts challenge - for boys or men

As You Like It challenge - favourite occasion (definitely birthday, 95% of my makes are birthday cards)

Aud Sentiments challenge - ATG + sentiment

Crafter's Cafe challenge - one for the boys

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal (hope my fish are ok)

Creative Crafting Uncles challenge - happy birthday

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Girlz Makes Guyz Cards challenge - ATG male

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

Inkspirational challenge - shades of blue

Moving Along With The Times challenge - use stencils and/or dies

Stamping Sensations challenge - something beginning with B - blue

Stencil Fun challenge - must use a stencil optional twist anything with 4 legs

Unicorn challenge - birthday

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'Masculine' 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 - beautiful backdrops stencil

Gina K Designs - just keep swimming stamp & die 

Gina K Designs - master layouts 8 die set

Gina K Designs - flowing florals stamp (for outside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - in the navy, blue denim, blue raspberry, blue sky, sea glass

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store now closed

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Winsor & Newton - white gouache (for spatters)

Promarkers

blue card from my stash

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

Card Clubhouse IG Hop - Week 2 goals/dreams

Good morning friends; I'm back to share my card for the new Card Clubhouse IG hop organised by my lovely friend Kelly. We are on Week 2 and our theme is 'plans/goals for 2026' maybe you want to start working out, reading more or just want to craft more; we want to see your interpretation in card form lol!  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.

One of my goals this year is to actually send out the cards I make; sounds easy doesn't it?  I was useless last year and sent out hardly any cards so that is what I am determined to improve this year. I have already sent one card out this year so I'm feeling positive!  I recently purchased this super cute die set which is a mail box with a gift card holder inside and I thought this would be perfect to represent me posting all my cards.  I hope you love it as much as I do.

Here is my fun shaped card:

A side view to show the dimension:

A closer look at the details:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by die cutting two of the main panels from red card which I used to make my card base (I scored the top of one of the panels about 3/4" in and then glued them together just along that small 3/4" strip ).  I cut the smaller layer panel from pink gingham paper and added that to the front of my card with liquid glue.  If you want the smaller panel actually opens and you can place a gift card inside, however I decided not to do that this time.   I added some scrap card behind the smaller layer and added them onto the card with double sided tape.  I did die cut the handle and the piece that would usually keep the front panel closed but it is just for decoration only.  I adhered both of these pieces with liquid glue.  I die cut lots of the elements from red, pink, white, black card and gingham paper and assembled them all using liquid glue.  I adhered the happy mail die cuts to the front of the card using liquid glue and then arranged the other elements at the top and bottom of the panel using a mix of liquid glue and foam squares.  I finished off with some black pearls.  For the inside I cut the smaller panel from white card and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  I also added one of the die cuts in the bottom right corner with liquid glue.  I actually added it to the back of the card base before I scored it and it did crack a little but it's not too bad.  I'm really happy with this fun shaped card and it could be used for so many occasions.  It could be turned into a chalk board for back to school or make it look like an A-frame sign that you would find outside a coffee shop etc.    

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

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - any occasion

Craft Rocket challenge - something new (my die set is new)

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

Love Those Pretty Papers challenge - ATG must use patterned paper optional theme snowman

Make My Monday challenge - use paper with pattern

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - use paper or scissors (I used gingham paper)

Pearly Sparkles challenge - use patterned paper

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 #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:

Time for Tea Designs - happy mail gift card holder die set on sale!

Time for Tea Designs - happy mail gift card holder add-on die set on sale!

Lawn Fawn - Valentine mice stamp (for inside sentiment)

Memory Box - bubblegum gingham card

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

red, pink and black card from stash

Gina K Designs - black, gold & silver metallic 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

Patterned Paper Party IG Hop - January 2026

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 'chilly', which is something fun and should be a popular twist, so grab your patterned papers and join in the fun. I only used a tiny bit of patterned paper but I think it packs a punch.  I hope you like it. 

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 ran it through my die cutting machine with a snow flurry cover plate (it gives a fantastic stitched swirly detail and looks so cool).  I found a small piece of the blue snowflake paper and decided to die cut some letters to spell the word brr; I also cut 2 more words from white card so that I could layer them up using liquid glue.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel and adhered it to the card base with double sided tape.  I added the letters in the lower half of the panel using liquid glue.  I stamped a thin sentiment and die cut it out using the coordinating die.  I added some slivers of white card behind it and adhered it over the brr word with liquid glue.  I finished off with some white snowflake embellishments.  For the inside I cut another white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and added a strip of the snow flurry background to the bottom and added a thin strip of the snowflake paper above it with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and then adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  A really clean and simple card but one with a lot of impact I think.

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

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up challenge - ATG Christmas optional twist snow people

AAA Cards challenge - follow my lead

ABC Christmas challenge - A is for anything Christmas

Christmas (or not) BINGO challenge - Line B - Christmas/non traditional colours/free (although my card would also fit Line N and Line O)!

Christmas Crafts All Year 'Round challenge - B is for Brr and Blue

Colorful Options challenge - blue & white

Crafty Calendar challenge - happy new year (my cover plate is new) entry 3 of 3

Creative Knockouts challenge - something to say

Daisy Chain challenge - use dies

Jingle Belles challenge - something old, something new (paper is old, cover plate is new)

Make My Monday challenge - use paper with pattern

Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - die cut the letters from patterned paper

Pearly Sparkles challenge - use patterned paper

Simply Clean and Simple challenge - ATG CAS optional theme use something new (cover plate is new)

The Four Seasons challenge - winter season

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

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 pageor use the hashtag #patternedpaperpartyhopjanuary2026 and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Lots of love

card supplies:

Craft Addiction UK - bold alphabet dies

Time for Tea Designs - snow flurry cover plate die

*Gina K Designs - all at once - holiday season stamp & coordinating die

Gina K Designs - holiday wreath builder stamp (for inside sentiment)

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Trinity Stamps - vanilla sugar snowflake embellishment mix

Craft ID paper pad bought from TKMaxx a few years ago

*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