Christmas Hot Chocolate

.... Morning! Today my card has a Christmas theme; I really want to get ahead this year. 

Stamps: Pink & Main - Christmas Mugs

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: PF - Ornate Trellis; P&M - Christmas Mugs

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Early Espresso; PF Press Plate - Ornate Trellis; Copic Markers

This card has the same background pattern as yesterday's card. This time I used copper foil in the Glimmer machine, and cut it out with the matching die. I made an A2 note card from brown card and adhered the foiled panel.  The focal image is a fun mug of hot chocolate. I stamped the image, coloured it with Copic markers, and used the matching die to cut it out. I layered the coloured image onto three other die cuts for added dimension and strength. I stamped the greeting in black ink, trimmed the end and glued it to the card. For the inside, I cut a piece of white card onto which I added a greeting, and I stamped the mug to one side.

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:

Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge - CCCC#49

A Cut Above - ACA#0126 - anything goes, but must feature a die (s)

ABC Christmas Challenge - ABCXMAS#0126 - 'B for Bright'

It's been ages since I played along with Caffeinated Christmas and ABC Christmas challenges, I'm so pleased to be back. And, A Cut Above challenge is another one that's new to me. That's all for now. Bye!

Rainbow Birthday

... Good Afternoon! I've got one card to share today. Last year I finally jumped on the press plate bandwagon. I got plates from Pinkfresh Studio, Spellbinders and Altenew. I had fun making several backgrounds and I've finally started making them into cards. This is a birthday card:

Stamps: Gina K - Blooming Sunflower; Mama Elephant - Mixed Wishes Greetings

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Soft Stone

Dies: Pinkfresh Studio (PF) - Ornate Trellis; Gina K - Blooming Sunflower

Accessories: White & Black card; Rainbow Foil; Copic Markers; PF Press Plate - Ornate Trellis

One of the things I discovered is that press plates work really well in a Spellbinders Glimmer machine!! I foiled the design onto black cards and used the matching die to cut it out - the shine is spectacular. I adhered the panel to an A2 note card. I used my MISTI to stamp the floral image on white card. I removed it and coloured the image with Copic markers, keeping the colours soft so as not to compete with the rainbow background. I stamped a simple birthday greeting in black ink. I used the matching dies to cut out the images as well as a number of black die cuts. I layered up the black die cuts and topped each with the focal images and adhered them to the front of the card. Inside the card, I cut a piece white card slightly smaller than A2, stamped the floral image in soft grey ink and added a simple birthday verse in black ink. I edged the panel with a black Copic and glued it into the note card.

I'm entering this card into several challenge one of which, Colorful Options, is new to me.

Colorful Options - CO#0126 - where they have either a colour theme or rainbow

Seize the Birthday - STB#318 - where it's either the topping option or birthday theme

Inkspirational - INK#358 - the word prompt is 'shine/shiny'

Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#82 - to use new, or never-before-used, stash

I'd like to thank you for the comments on my cards and welcoming me back to the blogland!! It's so good to be back making cards. Drop by again tomorrow, where I have a Christmas card to share - using the same pretty background. See you soon.

First Christmas Card of 2026

... Good morning! It's a really dull, dark morning in North Wales with rain, so perfect for staying in my craft room and playing. I didn't make any Christmas cards last year - no mojo!! But this year I've decided get started early and join in with as many Christmas challenges as I can. So, here's my first Christmas card of 2026:

Stamps: Gina K - Let Your Light Shine, O Christmas Tree

Inks: Gina K - Red Velvet, Tranquil Teal; Lisa Horton - Cloud 9 Solid Gold; Versamark

Dies: Gina K - Let Your Light Shine

Accessories: White Card; Lawn Fawn Embossing Powder - Gold; Christmas Wrapping Paper

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Jingle Belles - JB2601 - where they want us to use recycled gift wrap

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - MLCCB#66 - anything Christmas goes

Inkspirational - INK#358 - word prompt 'shine/shiny'

Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#82 - Darnell encourages us to use that never-used-schtuff

I saved the holly gift wrap from one of my gifts in December. It's so pretty that I decided to use it for the background. I trimmed the gift wrap to be slightly smaller than an A2 (US size 5½" x 4¼") card base and adhered it to the card. I stamped the greeting and stars in Versamark ink and heat embossed with gold powder, I used the matching dies to cut out the images. I also cut out a number of white pieces which I used to layer up and give the images dimension. Inside the card, I used another scrap of the gift wrap as the mat layer, and on the white panel I stamped a simple greeting in colours to match the paper and added some gold stars which, in real life, have a lovely shimmer.

It's quite tough getting decent photos in such dull light, but I think these have turned out okay! It's so nice to be getting back into making cards - I used to love sharing my cards with Mum, but I'm sure she's watching from on high!! It's good to have some mojo back 😀

That's all for now. I've got some new inks that I need to swatch and add to my collection. See you again soon.

MCM Birthday

... Hello again! I'm on a bit of a roll. Here's another birthday card I made. This is one for my stash. I've gone for a more masculine look.

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks Mid Century Modern, Bauhaus Blocks; Altenew - Just a Number

Inks: Memento - Rhubarb Stalk, Nautical Blue, Bamboo Leaves; Gina K - Soft Stone; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: MFT - Square STAX Set 2 -  #2

Accessories: White Card; Uniko Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks

I'm playing along with several challenges. They are:

Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#718

CAS Colour & Sketches - CASC&S#576 - I do like these colours

Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#508 - Birthdays

I started by picking three of the square images from the Layering Bauhaus Blocks stencil and inked them up with the three colours. I used a 1" square die to cut out the images. Next I stamped the graphic background in soft grey ink over a piece of white card. I trimmed off a section and adhered it to an A2 white card base. I used a marker to draw in a thin black line to define the panel. Next, I stamped the simple birthday greeting in black ink and finally I adhered the colourful blocks to the card front. Simple and graphic. For the inside, I cut a piece of white card onto which I stamped the graphic background in the centre of the panel. I finished by adding a fun greeting in black ink.

It's good getting back to making cards - I'm very slow and out of practise, but the objective is to enjoy myself and end up with a nice stash of cards ready for me to use.

That's it for now. I'm going to make a start of a couple more cards today and hope to be able to share them in the next few days. See you soon.

Winter Birthday

... Good morning! I'm here today with a card that I made for my aunt - she was 80 years old last Thursday. Sadly, we missed her birthday party, but she got this card from us:

Stamps: Gina K - Peaceful Poinsettia, Essential Greetings; Altenew - Just a Number

Inks: Gina K - Sea Glass, Ocean Mist, Cadet Blue, Light Spruce, Med Spruce, Dark Spruce; Versafine Claire - Nocture

Dies: Gina K - Peaceful Poinsettia

Accessories; White Card; Gina K Card - Blue Lagoon; Gina K Stencils - Peaceful Poinsettia, Winter Bliss; Grabie Glitter Pen; Clear Gems

I'm submitting this card to AAA Colourful - AAAC#23 - such perfect colours for a winter card, Addicted to Stamps & More! - ATSM#508 where they want birthday cards, and to Seize the Birthday - STB#318 where the topping is to make a snowflake background.

This is a non standard size card. I started by stencilling a snowflake background directly onto an A2 card. However, I decided I wanted the card to be a bit bigger. I cut a piece of blue card to give a ¼" border around the snowflake background and then added it to a custom size white card. I used my MISTI to stamp the poinsettia onto white card, I used the matching stencils to add colour to the flower, and then put the image back into the MISTI and restamped with black ink. I cut out the flower and some extras using the matching dies. I layered up the poinsettia flowers to give depth and adhered it to the front of the card. I completed the front with a simple greeting and some clear crystals. On the inside of the card, I cut a piece of blue card onto which I layered some white card. I stamped the poinsettia in a teal ink and added a fun greeting.

I love poinsettia flowers, well they're all leaves really, but they do look so beautiful. 

Well, that's all from me today. It's been fun making some cards. I still have lots to make. There are 9 family birthdays in January. Thank you for stopping by.

Birthday Boy

... Hello! It's been quite a while since my last post. I really thought I'd got it together, but it turned out not to be the case. However, I'm determined to get back to making cards - I've got hardly any left in my stash! So, today I'm sharing a card that I made for our son, Ben. Ben is 30 years old on Tuesday - I'm safe sharing it now, as he doesn't look at my blog!! Here's the card:

Stamps: MFT - Bitty Birthday Wishes, Sassy Pants Birthday Greetings

Inks: Gina K - Red Velvet, Stormy Sky; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: SU - Large Number Framelits

Accessories: Waffle Flower Stencil - Layered Triangles; Graphite Grey Mirri Card; Gina K Card - Red Velvet; White Card

I'm submitting this card to Color Hues - CH#124, great colours for a guy, AAA Birthday - AAAB#81, Winter birthday theme, and Inkspirational - INK#358, where they want shine.

This stencil is great for a masculine card. I did the first layer in red and the second in grey. I trimmed the panel to be slightly smaller than an A2 (US size card) card. I stamped a simple birthday greeting in grey, and finished the front with a bold, shiny number 30. I die cut two numbers from mirri card (so hard to photograph), along with several in white card which I layered up to give the number some depth. On the inside, I used what was left of the ink on the stencil to make a second generation image. On top of that I stamped a fun birthday greeting.

I've posted the card to Ben and, hopefully, he should get it by Tuesday. It's hard to believe he's 30 years old.

Before I go, I'd just like to wish everyone a Happy New Year - I'm sure this will be the latest one in the year. See you soon.

Swiftie Birthday Girl

.... Morning!! Today is Kat's 24th birthday!! I don't understand how I can possibly have a 24 year old daughter, I'm only 36 myself 😋Well, I wish!! Our once Goth Girl, has become a firm Taylor Swift fan, and I made this card for her:

Stamps: Stampingbella - Uptown Girl Loves to Sing, Uptown Girl Plays Guitar, Uptown Girl Loves to Perform, Shake It Off Sentiments; MFT - Festive Fireworks

Inks: Gina K - Soft Stone, Emerald Coast, Dusty Rose; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Versamark

Accessories: White Card; Dylusions Stencil Lg - Starstruck; Silver Holographic Card; Copic Markers; Embossing Powder - Lawn Fawn Silver, WOW Metallic Silver Sparkle; Clear Shimmer Aquabrush

When I saw these stamps I knew I had to have them in my stash. I couldn't decide which to use, so ended up using them all. Using my MISTI, I stamped the images onto white card with a pale Copic friendly ink. I removed the images, coloured them with Copic markers (I copied the suggested colours on the packing), put the images back in the MISTI and restamped with black ink. I then fussy cut out each image. To finish the images, I added a light coat of shimmer to the clothes. I used a large 7¾" square card for the base. I cut a piece of holographic card for the mat layer (in the photo you can see the fab rainbow effect). I cut the white card to 7½" square. I used a large stencil and inked on the stars, darker at the edges to pale in the centre. I added more 'firework' type stars stamping with Versamark ink and embossing with two types of silver embossing powder. They have a lovely shimmer. I adhered two images flat to the card, and used dimensional pads to add the guitar playing lady. I finished the front by adding a couple of greetings.

Inside the card, I adhered a holographic card for the mat layer. On the white panel, I stamped a simple greeting and added a few more 'firework' style stars in colours matching the dresses.

I'm submitting this card to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#78 (all the 'Taylor' images are brand new), Seize the Birthday - STB#313 - the topping is to use embossing (all the stars), and finally to Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#501 - make your mark (colouring).

Kat went to one of Taylor Swift's concerts in Liverpool last year - she had brilliant seats right towards the front. Here are some of her photos.

Happy Birthday Kat - have a wonderful day - enjoy yourself. That's it for today. Thank you for stopping by.