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.

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.

AAA Cards #303 – 1 plus 1 game

Hello there, it’s time for another challenge over at AAA Cards and do we have a great theme for you – use the centre prompt and add 1 or more from the outer circle!

I decided to make a masculine birthday card featuring a balloon. I die cut a balloon from the Avery Elle ‘Balloons’ matching stamp and die set and then spo9nged the underside with Altenew inks in Caribbean Sky, Persian Blue and Sapphire. The sentiment is from Stampin Up ‘Itty Bitty Sentiments’ which is retired. I added some twine for the balloon string and a few enamel dots and my card was done.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

Just Add Ink #773 – Just Add a Sketch

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

I decided to make a Christmas card with this sketch as I thought the background would be perfect for some DSP from Paper Roses ‘Poinsettia Garden’. I added a few layers (green and bronze cardstock) to my sentiment from PTI ‘Rustic Wreath’ and some white ribbon for my bow.

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, 18th November at 7pm (AEST) Australian Eastern Standard Time to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

AAA Birthday #79 – Music

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

Quite sometime ago, I saw a card made that looked like a piano, so I decided to give it a go and luckily I had a 12×12 piece of glossy black cardstock so I could make my piano cardbase. There was lots of cutting happening to form the piano keys and to get the piano shape right but I’m really happy with how it looks. I used some paper and fabric flowers and leaves in my stash to decorate the top of the piano, along with some large gems and golden butterflies and added some birthday sheet music to the cutaway area.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

AAA Cards #302 – Follow my Lead

Hello there, it’s time for another challenge over at AAA Cards and do we have a great theme for you – it’s time to follow the lead of Karen Rogers.

I was inspired by how Karen centered her coloured focal image and had her sentiment underneath. I changed it up slightly by putting my sentiment at the top of my image and opted not to have a sponged background. I used a new stamp set from Visibly Images called ‘Keep your gin up’ which I coloured wth a variety of Stampin Blends.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

Just Add Ink #772 – Colour Inspiration

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

Most people would likely think Halloween when they see these colours together, but I saw a sponged night sky. I used Stampin Up Bumble Bee and Misty Moonlight inks along with Tim Holtz Seedless Preserves ink to make my sponged background. I masked off the moon and added a santa sleigh die cut from Stampin Up Early Espresso cardstock. The sentiment is from Uniquely Creative. Lastly I added some water splatters to look like giant snow flakes.

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, 4th November at 7pm (AEST) Australian Eastern Standard Time to link up your project.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

CASE Me a Christmas Card 2025

Join the fun with “Case me a Christmas Card 2025” This series features ten creative hops in October—two on YouTube and eight on Instagram—where we’ll CASE (Copy And Selectively Edit) cards from fellow crafters. Make your own unique Christmas card inspired by someone in the hop, upload it via Inlinkz on @michelle_lupton ’s blog, and you could even snag a prize from one of our awesome sponsors. Or leave a comment on the stops on the hop (either on IG or on YT)! It’s all about sharing ideas, connecting with other cardmakers, and sparking your creativity for the holidays!

I cased the lovely Anita (@craftyneet) Her card is from a post back in August. I loved the ombre stamped semi-circles with the simple sentiment across the bottom. I changed it up by punching my circles from four different green cardstocks, cutting them in half before adhereing to my card base. I kept the simple sentiment along the base. It was a little bit fiddly but I’m really happy with how it turned out.

Here’s the hop list:

@tinstar05 – YOU ARE HERE!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you check out the other crafters and play along.

AAA Cards #301 – Anything goes CAS opt grey monotone

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

As you can see, I went with the optional twist to make it gey monotone. I sponged Stampin Up inks in Basic Grey, Smoky Slate, Gray Granite and Pebble Path onto some white cardstock which I then cut the Christmas trees out of using a new die. The sentiment is from Uniquely Creative.