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.

Sketch Saturday #769 opt twist add a flower

Hello there, it’s time for another Sketch Saturday Challenge and do we have a great sketch for you!

I went with the optional twist to add a flower and made my card a Christmas card with a die cut flower from Stampin Up ‘Poinsettia Petals’ dies. I popped this up over some Stampin Up DSP ‘Boughs of Holly on a Cherry Cobler cardstock base. I made the sentiment on my PC.

The gold holly bits replace the hearts in the sketch

Come join in the fun; we’d love to see how you were inspired. Check out the projects that the other artists at Sketch Saturday have created, take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Friday, 21st February (AEDT) Australian Eastern Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

AAA Cards #283 – Colour Challenge

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

I’ve been trying to use up my DSP stash and had the perfect piece for this challenge from the Stampin Up ‘New Horizons’ DSP pack. I cut a sliver for the middle of my card, die cut the cyclist from the ‘Greatest Journey’ dies and added a sentiment from the matching stamp set. A super quick and easy card.

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 Wednesday, 15th February to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

AAA Birthday #70 – Ink Smooshing

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

Ink smooshing is one of my favourite techniques; I love how your outputs are never the same and how you can layer the colours if you dry between applications.

I made 2 cards for this challenge, one feminine and one masculine. I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Saltwater taffy, Picked raspberry and Seedless preserves (feminine) and Mermaid lagoon, Cracked pistachio and Peacock feathers (masculine). The sentiment on the feminine card is from Altenew ‘Birthday Greetings’ and I used a die cut for the sentiment on the masculine card. The butterfly die was in my stash and I added Satmpin Up enamel dots to both cards.

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 Friday, 28th February to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

Sketch Saturday #768 opt twist include a heart

Hello there, it’s time for another Sketch Saturday Challenge and do we have a great sketch for you!

I decided to do some colour blocking with scrap paper for my background. I then stamped and die cut the cake from the Stampin Up ‘Cake Celebrations’ set. This is a nice and simple card for a masculine birthday.

Come join in the fun; we’d love to see how you were inspired. Check out the projects that the other artists at Sketch Saturday have created, take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Friday, 7th February (AEST) Australian Eastern Standard Time to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

Just Add Ink #735 – Colour Challenge

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

I decided to do a striped center panel on my card with scaps of the 4 colours. I then die cut a swirly leaf, added some glimmer to it and popped a sentiment created on my PC on top.

I love how classy this looks.

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, 29th January at 7pm (AEST) Australian Eastern Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

AAA Cards #282 – Follow my Lead

Hello there, it’s time for another challenge over at AAA Cards and do we have a great challenge for you – we are following the lead of Marlies this fortnight!

I loved the dies cuts and the pop of red with the heart. I mixed it up using squares for my die cuts overlapped in the top right corner with my red heart.

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, 1st February to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

Just Add Ink #734 Blog Hop – Just Add Something New

Hello there, it’s time for our first challenge of 2025 at Just Add Ink and that means we’re kicking off with a Blog Hop and what a great theme we have for you!

For my card I used a new DSP I picked up during the Boxing Day sales from Spotlight – I loved the glittery cupcakes and didn’t have a project in mind when I bought it until I was reminded that I needed a card/project for this challenge.

I have a friend’s birthday coming up, so decided to make a little purse to put her gift in and a matching fancy fold concertina card. On the card I fussy cut some of the cupcakes to add to the sentiment panels. The sentiments are from Stampin Up ‘Happiest of Birthdays’ stamp set.

Check out the inspiration from the other design team members by clicking their name:

1. Joanne Stubbings

2. Narelle Farrugia

3. Lou Klitzelman

4. Nikki Spencer

5. Chantell Randall

6. Tristan Dawes – you’re here!

8. Annie Alexander

9. Di Barnes

10. Kim Badelt

11. Kerry Parkinson

12. Jan McQueen

13. Tina Gilespie

14. Rochelle Bok

Or to follow the hop click on the next button.

We’d love to have you join us. You have until Wednesday, 22nd January at 7pm (AEDT) Australian Eastern Daylight Time to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

Sketch Saturday #767 opt twist use striped paper

Hello there, it’s time for another Sketch Saturday Challenge and do we have a great sketch for you!

I was inspired to make my first Christmas card of 2025 – I need to start early as I send about 100 cards every year! For this card I used some retired DSP from Stampin up ‘Boughs of Holly’ for my background panels and the a sentiment I chopped apart from Uniquely Creative. Super simple but very classic looking, don’t you think?

Come join in the fun; we’d love to see how you were inspired. Check out the projects that the other artists at Sketch Saturday have created, take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Friday, 24th January to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

AAA Cards #281 – Anything Goes opt twist flies through the air.

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

I always love an ATG them and adding in the optional twist of flies in the air was super fun to play with. I used a cute stamp set from Simon Says Stamp ‘Happiest Wishes’ and coloured the puppy dog flying away with his ballon with my Stampin Blends. I popped him over a sponged cloud background and added the bold sentiment on the side.

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, 18th January to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

AAA Birthday #69 – Winter Birthday

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

I used some of the snowflakes from the Kanban stamp set ‘Reindeers & Snowflakes’ inked up with my Altenew blue ink range and a sentiment I created on my PC. I think the silve3r die cut snowflake behind the sentiment helps it pop.

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 Friday, 31st January to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.