Author: tinstar05

Hey there! I’m a card-making enthusiast with a passion for creativity that knows no bounds. Currently, I’m fortunate to be a part of four fantastic international card design teams, where I get to explore my craft and connect with fellow artists from all corners of the globe. It’s amazing how the world of card making can bring people together, and I’m constantly inspired by the diversity of styles and ideas that come my way. Beyond my card-making adventures, I lead a pretty busy life in the learning and development field, where I work full time as a Learning Lead. I thrive on helping others grow and reach their full potential, and it’s a role that keeps me on my toes and constantly learning. When I’m not immersed in the world of work or crafting, you can find me on the netball court, coaching and sharing my love for the game with a bunch of amazing individuals. So, whether I’m crafting, guiding professional development, or coaching on the court, I’m all about embracing lifes colorful and creative possibilities! Thanks for stopping by my corner of the web, and I hope you enjoy exploring my card creations and more.

Playing with Festive Fridays #200

Two more days of annual leave before returning to work, so I’m making the most of my time in my craft room.

Today I’m playing with the Festive Friday challenge #200. I choose red, yellow, orange and birthday for my card.

I cut my three colours into 1/4 inch strips and mounted them to make them look like they’re floating on my card front. I then die cuty and embossed the Lisa Hoerton Crafts ‘Tea Rose’. The sentiment is from a Uniquely Creative cut apart.

I really like how the floating strips look behind my flower. Thanks for stopping by for a look. Enjoy your weekends.

AAA Birthday #81 – Winter Birthday

Hello there, it’s time for a new challenge over at AAA Birthday and do we have a great theme for you for our first one in 2026!

It was hard for me to feel wintery when making this card, as we’re in the middle of summer here in Australia and it’s a bit of a hot one!

For my card, I went with a retired DSP from Stampin Up called ‘Feels like Frost’ for it’s snowflake design. I then added some vellum over the top to soften the look with some diamantes in various sizes to hide the glue. I stamped up the cupcake from Averyelle ‘Cupcakes’ and used a sentiment from Altenew’s ‘Layered Cupcakes’. I added puffy paint to the cupcake to simulate the frosting and tied it all together with some pretty ribbon and twine.

Come join in the fun; we’d love to see how you were inspired. Check out the projects that the other artists at AAA Birthday have created, take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Saturday 31st January to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

New Years Day Crafting

Welcome to 2026! What better way to welcome the new year than to get crafty!

I’m playing along with some of my favourite challenges that in 2025 I didn’t have much time to play with.

First up is a card for:

I thought the FMS sketch was perfect for some Stampin Up DSP called ‘Reindeer Days’ that is all about Christmas colours.

My second card is for the Paper Craft Crew Challenge #654 – Inspiration photo.

I was inspired by the falling snowflakes in the photo and knew I had the perfect DSP scrap in my stash that was covered in different sized snowflakes. I mounted the DSP on some light blue cardstock and then onto a dark grey cardbase. I had some grey thread which I wrapped it around for a bow, added a sentiment from Uniquely Creative and some gems to the centres of the snowflakes for that finishing touch.

Thanks for stopping by this new years Day. I hope 2026 is a fabulous one for you and you are inspired to get crafty with these challenges too.

New Years Eve crafting

Getting a little bit of card making in before the end of the year.

First I played along with the Creative Creases Challenge #110 which is anything goes with a fun fold.

I made a double front flap card using Stampin Up products – DSP ‘Beautiful Gallery’, stamp set ‘Special Moments’ and cardstock Basic Beige, Mossy Meadow and Early espresso.

Next up is a card for the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers #269 and 52 Christmas Card Throwdown #110.

I chose the 52CCT past technique of embossing. I used a Sizzix EF ‘Snowflakes’ for my background and added the Santa and sentiment from the Whimsy Stamps ‘Merry Stressmas’ stamp set that I coloured with my Stampin Blends and added some puffy paint for the cuffs.

Well that’s it for 2025! I’m off to have a glass of bubbles or two. Thanks for stopping by and continuing to support me in my creative journey.

See you back in the blog-a-sphere in 2026!

Just Add Ink #776 – Choose Two or More

Hello there, it’s time for another Just Add Ink Challenge and do we have a great theme for you. You can choose two or more from – trees-twine-stripes-snow-shimmer-stockings!

I used some Stampin Up products DSP Whimsy & Wonder and Stamp/dies Whimsical Trees. The DSP had trees-stripes-shimmer in it which gave me three of the six items listed. I die cut a variety of the trees and then popped some up once and twice to provide some dimension and interest.

Come join in the fun; we’d love to see how you were inspired. Check out the projects that the other artists at Just Add Ink have created, take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Wednesday, 31st December at 7pm (AEDT) Australian Eastern Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

AAA Cards #305 – Anything CAS Goes – opt twist White-on-White

Hello there, it’s time for another challenge over at AAA Cards and do we have a great theme for you!

I love a White-on-White card so went with the optional twist. I used a Christmas tree die to cut out my base panel which I popped up with dimensionals and added a sentiment from Uniquely Creative. Can’t get anymore CAS than that right?!

Come join in the fun; we’d love to see how you were inspired. Check out the projects that the other artists at AAA Cards have created, take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until 3rd January 2026 to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

Just Add Ink #775 – Just Add a Celebration

Hello there, it’s time for another Just Add Ink Challenge and do we have a great theme for you!

I chose a birthday for my ‘celebration’. I used Stampin Up cardstock in Petal Pink, Crisp Cantelope, Flirty Flamingo and Calyspo Coral which I cut with my fringe scissors – these scissors are simply the best if you want to make lots of fringe cuts on your papers. I then cut fringes into some gold cardstock and added these strips under the colour cardstock layers. I then die cut a bow from gold glimmer paper which I wrapped around the fringed panel to look like a present. I lastly added a sentiment from uniquely Creative.

Come join in the fun; we’d love to see how you were inspired. Check out the projects that the other artists at Just Add Ink have created, take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Wednesday, 16th December 7pm (AEST) Australian Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

AAA Birthday #80 – Box Card

Hello there, it’s time for a new challenge over at AAA Birthday and do we have a great theme for you!

I made a different style of box card, it’s an explosion box card. There are so many versions on YouTube, so check them out to make one you like. A work colleague needed a special card for her dad’s 90th birthday and he loves horses, so I made this exploding card for her to give to him.

I created matt layers with teal and caramel cardstock which I think complimented my horse DSP. The sentiments and box topper were die cuts. I added a bit of tuille behind the topper for a bit of something something! Inside I made a cake with candles on it and I provided her some white card panels for her and her sibings to write their messages on and adhere to the empty caramel areas.

Come join in the fun; we’d love to see how you were inspired. Check out the projects that the other artists at AAA Birthday have created, take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Wednesday 31st December to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

AAA Cards #304 – Sketch

Hello there, it’s time for another challenge over at AAA Cards and do we have a great sketch for you!

I sponged a scrap bit of white cardstock with Stampin Up Old Olive and pear Pizzaz inks to blend the colours for my trees. I then used a tree banner punch to cut the strip of trees out and added a sentiment from Clearly Besotted ‘Modern Christmas’ and my card was done. Love it when card making is this simple!

Come join in the fun; we’d love to see how you were inspired. Check out the projects that the other artists at AAA Cards have created, take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Saturday 6th December to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

Just Add Ink #774 – Just Add Stencils – Dies or Both

Hello there, it’s time for another Just Add Ink Challenge and do we have a great theme for you!

I opted to only use stencils on my card. I have a fabulous one from Peper Roses called ‘Merry & Bright’ that has three different versions of a Christmas tree which I used Stampin Up Old Olive and Pear Pizzaz for two of the stencils and then added some glittery shine with Picket Fence’s Paper Glitz Sparkle for the third tree. I love how the different stencils and colours layered over each other provide some interesting depth on the tree.

Come join in the fun; we’d love to see how you were inspired. Check out the projects that the other artists at Just Add Ink have created, take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Wednesday, 2nd December at 7pm (AEST) Australian Eastern Standard Time to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.