Casual Santa ...

HO HO HO !!

This is Santa here just to say "Bye" for this year as my work is done.

All you good little boys and girls will have got your gifts and now it's time for me to head off back to the North Pole. 

I just had a few little repairs to make to the sleigh and then the reindeers will be able to take us home.

Christina took this picture of me while I was busy mending the sleigh ... not my usual attire but the red suit is for special days.

Mrs Santa will be waiting with a nice roast dinner and the red suit can be washed and ironed ready for next year.

The Elves will also get some time off  ... until they have to start making next years toys.

Be good and take care ...

Santa  xx

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Footnote from Christina

The image is from Just Inklined and I thought it would make a really good Santa out of his normal outfit. He has been colored with Spectrum Noir and his glasses are Glossy Accents.  I have even smudged a little black on his skin to look dirty.

Colors used ...

FS2 FS3 IG2 IG3 IG6 TN2 TN4 EB4 TB6 TB7   Blender pen

P.S.   Thank you for entering into the spirit of todays card and especially to Elaine who wrote this lovely reply to Santa and I hope she won't mind me adding it here:

Dear Santa 
Thank you so much for all your hard work 
All the Little Boys and Girls are so happy with the New Gifts they have
You did a grand job .

I hope the repairs to your sleigh are not too major 
and you have a good journey back to the North Pole 
then the reindeer can have a good long rest .

Mrs Clause will be so pleased to see you 
back home and will spoil you 
with good hot dinners 
after traveling all over the world .

Christina has taken a very good Picture of you 
( she has a new camera you know and has been practicing , isn't she doing well ? )
it is nice to see you without your splendid red suit 
but to be honest i would have known your lovely face anywhere .

Anyway Santa 
I just want to wish you and yours a very Happy New Year .

Take Care 
Elaine H X

So pleased ...

Hi Everybody,

On Christmas Day I had all my family around at my house for dinner and a very jolly affair it was too. One by one they all arrived ..  laden with gifts to be exchanged.  It was full of loud chatter and much laughter.

Griff bought himself a Christmas sweater with a big Snowman on the front ... but my youngest daughter out did him by wearing a sweater that had lights in the Christmas tree that actually twinkled.

My youngest Grand daughter Robyn ... who is 21 ... couldn't wait to get through the door to tell me her good news.  Her boyfriend Jamie had proposed to her and  given her an engagement ring as part of her Christmas surprise.

They make a lovely couple and seem so happy together and everybody was really pleased at the news.

And today I have made this card for them in  Robyns' favorite color of deep purple.  Inside here is a little tag with their names and the date on it and I know she will love it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

My gift ...

Hi Everybody,

I had to show you this beautiful gift that my Grand-daughters give to me on Christmas Day

I was not allowed to open it until they where both with me and I was so touched by this lovely gift.

It is not a card but a large picture frame and it is created by Emma Ogden

She can be found on Facebook at Made by Emma Ogden

They had it specially made and have added all our family names to it.

This includes my husband Griff, my two daughters Amanda and Victoria, two grand-daughters Ashleigh and Robyn, one grandson Jamie and one great grand-daughter Isabella.

And I love it xx

This is Isabella playing with some of her gifts at my house.

Both of my daughters are in the photo and the one bending down is grand mother to Isabella.

We had a lovely time playing with her  and the keyboard was so much fun.

And I had quite forgotten how much mess one little girl can make ripping open presents.  She couldn't wait to get to the next one ... kids !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

I hope you are all enjoying your Sunday.  I know that some of you are in deep snow and although it looks pretty it is not my favorite thing ... especially if you need to be going somewhere.  The UK seems to grind to a halt whenever we have snow.

Here in the North West it is cold ... but the sun is shining and the sky is blue

Because I was late adding the post for last weeks Friday Freebie I have allowed it to run on until today and this morning a name was chosen

The winner of the bright and sunny yellow card is ...

Ann Morris

so if you would email me 

christina@card-making-magic.com

your postal address as soon as you can I will get the card in the post to you straight away

I hope you will visit on New Years Day as there is going to be a really huge Blog Hop and the chance for you to win lots of  "Goodies" from the many designers and suppliers that are taking part in it.

It is a really nice way to show readers that they and their comments are very much appreciated and I have a lovely prize that will be on offer. 

You will be able to click links to go to other blogs and all you need to do is leave a comment.  You will find blogs that will become your favorites as you hop along ... but please come back to me as you do ... I don't want to lose any of you wonderful people 

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

Made for me by Gracie and Margaret

Hi Everybody,

I have a little tutorial going "Live" today on the   Spellbinders Blog   so I hope you will pop over and take a look ... click the link on their page to expand the tutorial

Before the end of the year is with us I wanted to show you two more cards that have been made and sent to me by my readers.

All these cards are so special and I really do appreciate the time and care taken to make them for me.

The largest one in this photo was made by Grace and she is a lady who lives opposite me.  It is very pretty in silver and white.

It is layered with silver paper and a lovely silver bow has been added.

The smaller cards is a beautiful hand painted picture of Grasmere Church

It came to me with a little note to say that this water colour ... painted by Margaret ... was sent to me because Margaret doesn't feel that any of her cards are good enough.

I think it is beautiful and I have taken it from the card Margaret and I have a silver frame that I am going to add it too

It will be a permanent reminder that although we have never met you took the time to paint this and send it to me and I thank you very much.




And as final note to this post can I say to all you cardmakers out there in the world .... NEVER ever under estimate your own work ... it is all wonderful .

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie 039

Hi Everybody,

This is the last Friday Freebie for 2014 and so I have chosen a lovely bright and cheerful one to remind us that spring is on the way.

The card is completed in a sunny yellow and white with an easy sentiment added for any occasion.

The die that I have used is the really beautiful Fleur de Elegance   from Spellbinders

I love this die as it is so versatile and quite large too.

I have added in Flowers  in various shades of yellow and they are from Wild Orchid Crafts

The satin Ribbons I have wrapped around the layers  adds  interest to the front

The Pearls that adorn my card is from Want2Scrap 



These three elements are items that I use on most of my cards and of course give me the title for my Blog ... Flowers, Ribbons and Pearls

So if you would like to win the last FF card for this year then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post.

As it is so late in the day that I have added this post  I will keep this offer open until Sunday morning and then I will announce the winner.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

To Everybody ...

Whatever the season means to you I hope it is a good one xx

Made for me by Mary and Brenda

Hi Everybody,

Over the last few days I have shown you some cards that have been made FOR me and not by me. Because I make cards I find that at Birthdays and Christmas time people won't make and send me cards because they don't make them like I do.

It wouldn't do for us all to make cards the same and the simple fact that it is handmade by YOU makes it super special to those that you give them too. Give the cards that you make with love and be proud of them.

Earlier this year I started a Card Class in my own home and most Wednesdays we have met and made cards.  I regularly post on these pages the cards that my two lovely ladies make.

Here are the ones that they have made in their own homes and gave to me at the last class for this year.

So you can see that I have a beautiful collection of cards that are there for all who visit my house to see.  I will be keeping each and every one of them as "Keepsakes" and thank you for taking the time to make me these lovely cards.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Made for me by Kim and Jenny

Hi Everybody,

Today I would like to show the cards made and sent to me by two more ladies who regularly visit my pages and leave me comments or send me emails.

I am so grateful for the support that ALL of you give to me in all the places that you can find me ... Website ... Blog .. Pinterest ...  Etsy ... Facebook ... Twitter and of course with Spellbinders. I couldn't do this without you

So here are the cards sent to me from Kim and Jenny

The gold one is made by Kim.   Griff and I met Kim and her husband Mick a few years ago on a cruise ship holiday and we all got on quite well.  We have kept in touch since the holiday and have met up again  and  have plans for more visits in the  New Year.

Jenny made me the silver card and she visits my blog regularly.  We made arrangements to meet when Jenny came to Blackpool for a visit with her husband Jim.  It was lovely to meet her and she gave me the warmest hug when I met her it was as if we had known each other for ages.

Thank you ladies the cards are on top of the telly ...

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Made for me by Maggie and Christine

Hi Everybody,

Over the past year I have made some pretty cards that have had some wonderful comments from all of you and they are very much appreciated.

You seem to have enjoyed the things I have posted and the videos that Griff and I have done... and we have many more planned for the coming New Year.

But over the next few days ... as we head towards Christmas Day  ... I would like to show you  the beautiful hand made cards that  some of my followers  have taken the time to make and send just for me

The red one is from Maggie, and I have her permission to show you the card she made for me and added my name to it.  It has beautiful Poinsettias on the front and she has used the Spellbinders to perfection. I have never met Maggie but she often leaves me  lovely comments and emails me.

The Blue one is from Christine and I have know her for the grand total of 46 years. We met in Woolworths in Helston when both our husbands where in the Navy at Culdrose. This card has been stamped and decorated with snowflakes and Fir trees.

Both of them are very special to me  and will take pride of place on top of my TV along with the other cards that I will show you over the coming days.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

It's not Pink ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is a million miles away from pink but I like it just the same

I made a card in my favorite style with the Hinge   at the top and it is a 5x7 which is a lovely sized card to create.

Not small but not too big to be posted and will take a nice flower display too boot.

I layered this with cream card and a designer paper from Anna Griffin.

But the shade of green was a little too bright for me once I had added it and so I diffused it by adding a piece of embossed parchment over the top

I added large pearls to each corner to hide the glue dots holding the parchment in place.

I wrapped the blue ribbon around the layers from top to bottom for a change.

The large oval was cut from the cream and this beautiful die is the Fleur de Elegance   from Spellbinders Classic Collection .. and is one of my favorite sets to use.

I used the flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts  and they are a mixture of Roses, Cherry Blossom, Rose buds, Tulips  and Sweetheart blossom

The lovely verse is from  Clarity Stamp  and it has been stamped in green and clear embossed.

I have added in HatPin to complete the look and pushed it through the bow.

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

Here I am ...

Hi Everybody,

Late start today because I have been watching Junior Master Chef on TV.  It was the final and the three finalists are amazing they way they can put food together.

It takes me all my time to cook a roast dinner and I would love to have been there to taste the beautiful meals they all came up with.  Phoebe was the winner but every one of them is very special.

So a name has been chosen and  the winner of the Gold card is YOU ...

Ann Lauzon

Can you send me your postal address please to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and I will pop the card in the post to you straight away.

I hope you will like it when you get it and please let me know when it arrives with you

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Friday Freebie 038

Hi Everybody,

I am so sorry to disappoint you with the C&C shows but the cancellation really was out of my hands

However I will be sure to let you know when I am back again though I won't be there until next year now.

So here is the card for todays Friday Freebie and it is a lovely gold and white offering

I have used the new  Decorative Labels Thirty Nine  from the Spellbinders Classic Collection

It is such a pretty and ornate die and the possibilities are numerous

I have stamped the sentiment and embossed it in gold fine detail powder to blend with the card

The flowers are all white and from Wild Orchid Crafts

They are a mixture of Roses, Cosmos Daisies. and Cherry Blossoms and they have all been sparkled with Glitter Magic

If this is a card that you would like to win then all you need to do is  leave me a comment at the end of the post and if you are not already a follower then please join.

A winners name will be chosen and announced in tomorrows blog post so please come back and check if it is you.

You will have 48 hours to claim the card and I really hope the winner will like it once they get it home.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

A Gilded Life ...

Hi Everybody,

This is a complete change for me and working with these bezels is something I have never done before I went on my trip to Spellbinders in Phoenix

We did a workshop with Stacey and these are what I made.

Now I know there are experts out there who will think they don't hit the mark ... but this is my first attempt and I was quite pleased.

They are the Chandelier and Heart  Bezels from Spellbinders   A Gilded Life  collection and I have added the link so that you can view some of the other products that are available.

The jewellery that can be made is fabulous and with practise you can make it too.... and better than I have done.

I added in some of the self adhesive strips from Want2Scrap  to add a little more adornment to my pieces and maybe I will wear one on Create and Craft today.

News Extra 

I am sorry to tell you that the Spellbinders shows lined up for TV over today and tomorrow have been taken off Create and Craft because  they have sold out of the Teal Grand Calibur ...

You have been busy treating yourselves to Christmas presents  and you have bought them out and  now there have no more  in stock at present ....

 Disappointed ???  Yes ... me too !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Three ways to use ...

Hi Everybody,

Today I would like to introduce you to this beautiful die template from

Spellbinders Victorian Collection 

 it is called  Heirloom Oval (click the link)

 The set is in three parts and it can be used in many different ways.  Here I have tried to show you three ways to make this die work for you so that you get the full value from your purchase.

The first card has used the die to create the base  which has been hinged at the top to use in portrait view.

Then another layer is cut with the filigree pattern and layered on the top with foam pads.

I used the smaller centre part raised again with foam pads and added a simple pre printed greeting topper from Anna Griffin

The ribbon, hat pin and the  Wild Orchid Crafts  flowers all compliment the card which is very simply decorated

The second card has used the three largest dies to create the filigree pattern cut in white.

I then used the outer edge and the inner one to cut another frame in pink but without the filigree pattern in it and glued these two together

I cut another complete shape in white and added a verse to this before adding in the frame I have just created.

Then add all of this to your matted and layered base card and decorate as you wish.  I have used Crinkle Ribbon and WOC flowers ... plus the hat pin

The third card creates the base card and hinges it on the long sides to use in Landscape view.

A frame has been created as in the second card and added with foam pads to the base.

I have decorated with WOC flowers and added in a pearl flourish from Want2Scrap

All my flowers have been sparkled with Glitter Magic

I hope I have helped you to see that by varying the Orientation  the color and the decoration you can create really pretty cards that you will be proud to give

And now I am on my way to the Create and Craft Studio to show you the Teal Grand Calibur tomorrow

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx