Hi I tried using the guide provided but it's slightly smaller than the 2.25" x 3.5" size requirement (its possible I've done something wrong here I'm quite new to doing these kinds of layout things), what do I do to make sure everything fits in the boders properly?

Good question! I'd suggest not worrying too much about the bleed requirements being perfect, as there will be an opportunity to change and update your design if it's selected to go into print. 

Having said that...  I recommend using The Gamecrafter as a way to learn more about print requirements and to check your specific layout is okay. You'll need to create a free account, start a new project, and upload the file as a single bridge card. The Gamecrafter will then give you a preview image showing how the card looks with the bleed overlay, etc. 

There is a small learning curve but I think it's worth it because you can use The Gamecrafter to experiment with a lot of different print formats and objects. I hope that helps! 

thank you! that's really helpful!