Bank Holiday "Give Away"

Hi Everybody,


We don't seem to have had a goodie bag "Give Away" for a while and so I thought that as we head into another new month it was high time we had one.

This is a really good offer and there are all sorts of tempting things in the pack and we will have two winners

The draw is open for one week and then you will have 48 hours to claim the prize.

You could win...

1 Set of  Stamps 
1 pack of Wild Orchid Crafts flowers
1 pack of Glitter Magic glitter
1 paper stack
5 Decorative Hatpins
6 Want2Scrap packs of "Bling"  

(The flowers, stamps,  hatpins and paper stack will be slightly different in each pack, but the same high quality)

If you are not a regular follower then you will need to become one and if you enter your name then please leave me a comment at the bottom of the page.

This link up is organised by InLinkz and so you will need to click the box to add your name and email address to the list.

You do not need to have a blog to enter just leave the URL box empty  ...  and I am happy to send the prize anywhere you live.

Only one entry please and any duplicate will be removed.

Craft show ...

Hi Everybody,

I have had a really good day out at the Leigh Craft Show and if you came across to say hello then it was lovely to meet you.

You all made me feel really special and it was lovely to talk to you and hear your personal stories

Many of you said that you recognised me from YouTube and others knew me from Create and Craft and it was reassuring to know that lots of you also visit my blog and website.

But at the craft show .... strangely enough I didn't buy that much.  Here is what I did get on my day trip out

I had to have some of the  AnnaMarie Designs  card stock as I love the spotty and stripy card  that AnnaMarie produces

Another favorite is  Limetree Craft  card stock as this is excellent quality and such a good deal at 12 packs for £10

I got lots of beautiful colours from both along with Acetate and silver mirror card that can now go to refill my stocks for when I need it.

I also bought some of the new distress Ink colors from Ranger and they are always a main stay for any crafting "Stash" as there are so many ways that they can be used.

One of the new things that I bought are some of the Brusho Water Crystals and I will do some videos on these as we go along.  The backgrounds and effects that these crystals can produce will really make your cards different.

Then on the way home we simply had to stop at our favorite restaurant for Sunday Lunch and then home to settle in and watch the next part of X Factor

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

12 Card Winners ...

Hi Everybody,

Well good morning to you all on this bright and sunny Saturday.  We have had a busy morning here picking out the winners of the twelve cards on offer yesterday.

If you left me a comment then I would like to thank you very much for taking part. And if you didn't ... well you missed out !!

So without any more chat here are the names of those who will get one of the character cards and I really hope you will like them when they arrive with you.

The winners are ....      

  Tammy J

Cathie Weary

Jenny Cottam

Jennifer Smith-Kirk

Liz Turnbull

Bernie

Littlelamb

Nannapat

Guido Machado

Val Jones

Bejay Roles

Pearl Hudson

Please can all of you email me  ... christina@card-making-magic.com  ... with your postal addresses and the cards will be sent to you as soon as I can.   I am happy to send them wherever you live and please let me know when they get there.  

So tomorrow I am having a day off and going to the craft show in Leigh  ...  There,  I have no doubt, I will be buying some crafting "Goodies"  and I will be sure to show you what I buy.

In the meantime I have another  Bank Holiday "Give Away" for you on Monday with lots of crafting items to keep you busy

I am also preparing for the 

  Pick of the Day on the 1st/2nd of September 

Flitting between Ideal World and Create & Craft and I hope you will join me if you can.

Hugs xx 

Friday Freebie - Character cards

Hi Everybody,

For todays FF I thought I would give away some of the cards that I have sat and colored over the past few months. Most of them are done with Spectrum Noir pens and others have had the pencils used with them also. All are decorated and wrapped in a cellophane bag

I cannot guarantee which card you will get and you can use them as you wish. They are all different characters and you are sure to find a recipient that they will suit. Or maybe you just want to keep it for yourself.

There are twelve on offer and so if you would like to win ONE of them  then you know what to do.

Join the group of followers if you are not one already and then leave me a comment at the bottom of the post.

The winners will be chosen from the comment that are left and please enter your name carefully.  I may have two or three Marys or Jeans  ... so if you would please add your full name and then there will be no mix up.

The winning names will be listed in tomorrows blog post so please pop back to check if it's you if you add your name.

Good luck everybody

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Flower Power

Hi Everybody,

Just a simple little card for today and this one has been colored with Spectrum Noir Pencils.

I used some green stripe paper for my background and stamped Sheens Douglass'  Flower Power from her Little Bit Sketchy range.

I stamped the leaves and flourish in black and heat embossed and then colored them with the pencils.

I stamped and embossed the sentiment at the bottom of the page and one of the flowers behind it.

The rest of the flowers have been stamped heat embossed and colored then cut out and added to the card with foam pads to raise them up.

Into the flower centres I have added an acrylic flower head with a centre diamante then matted it all onto two shades of green and mounted it onto a dark green card base

Very simple .. very quick ... and pretty

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Pre Loved Items ...

Hi Everybody,

Not all crafters have a die cutting machine and dies and many crafters don't want one. But they do like to add the pretty shapes to their cards that make them stand out from the crowd.  If this is you and you are new to crafting then maybe you are looking for another way to get those shapes ... and this could be the answer.

These are embossing boards that you lay your card onto and then by running a stylus into the channels  on the board you can create the pattern on your card. Once you have cut it out you layer the shapes onto your base card for a really pretty effect

You don't need a light box and it is another way to get pretty shapes and patterns into the card if you don't have a die cutting machine and dies.

I have several Glitter Girls Embossing broads that are looking for somewhere new to live and they are complete with an ideas book for you to read.

This one is Celebration and the Ideas Book shows the steps you need to take to re create the look for your self.

The Majestic board can create some lovely flowers for you and beautiful shapes to add them to as the focal point for your cards.

There are Scalloped Ovals and a scalloped border along with a pretty bow to add to the top of the oval frame and the Ideas Book will show you more

The Ultimate  has some lovely candles and Christmas baubles along with delicate corners to make your cards look different

There are mats for to layer up or even create the whole base card shape from them.

You will never be short of ideas with the Ideas Book that is with the board as it is full of things for you to create

Elegance Fantasy  can create a lovely butterfly shaped card and decorate the wings any way you wish

There are borders and petals and on the other side there is a really large fan that would make a beautiful wedding card.

The  Ideas book  will show you even more that you can do with this one

This one is the Bookatrix and the Ideas Book will give you lots of ways to dress up this card.

It is the first one I bought and I have used it many many times with beautiful results.

Sold

And this board Dress To Impress comes with the DVD and it will create the most fantastic characters for you.

You choose the character  you want as they appear on the catwalk,  and the clothes you want him/her to wear and then print it off.

Then with the board you create the outfit and add it to your character and there are many  cute ones to choose from.

Children will love this and they can choose everything for the clothing them selves, as well as the texture of the animals fur.

Each of these boards,  complete with the book or DVD  is  £12.00 + P&P 
(The cost will depend on where you live and I have just sent one of these boards to Australia and the cost of postage was £10.75)

Please email me christina@card-making-magic.com if there is something that you are interested in.

But I only have one of each so first come first served.

Once you have emailed me I will invoice you through PayPal and the board will be on its way to you once payment has cleared.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Tuesday Tutorial - Scalloped Pop Up Box

Hi Everybody,

Todays tutorial is a request for the beautiful Pop Up Box from Spellbinders  The page is photo heavy as I take you through the steps you need. So make yourself a cuppa and sit enjoy the photos as I show you how to make this pretty gift for yourself

Spellbinders Supplies: 

• S5-233 Scalloped Pop Up Box
• S4-371 Les Papillions
• S4-328 Foliage
• S6-032 Flower Play
• GC-200 Grand Calibur
• T-001 Tool in One
• T-003 Stylus 

Other Supplies:

• Want2Scrap pearls
• White/pale pink/pale yellow/deep pink/green card
• Lace
• Forest Moss/ Picked Raspberry/Wild Honey Distress Inks

Instructions:

With the largest die cut four panels from white card.

Cut three or four strips to fix into the centre of the box.

Cut  as many of the Lattice elements as you need to decorate your box.

For mine I used ten of the largest and six of the smallest

Cut the butterflies out of white card and ink through the die with Picked Raspberry before removing the card. 

Cut as many leaves as you wish to add to your card and ink with Forest Moss.

Using all the flower and leaf  sizes from Flower Play die set cut as many flowers as you wish to add to your card.

Keep any flowers and foliage that you don't use for another project. 

Ink the flower centres and the edges of these leaves  with a co responding ink. 

Build the flowers up into complete layered blooms and attach two leaves behind each flower.

You can stagger the sizes of the petals as you build ... and also create some smaller and medium sized blooms to add to your box.

Using the same card as the leaves to create some stems  means that they will not be prominent once added to the box.     So Now lets build the box !!

Fold three of the panels by folding the tab one way and the top score line the opposite way as shown in the photo.

On the panel you are using for the back of your box just fold the tab.

Glue the tabs and attach the panels together to form the box by layering one panel on top of the glued tab.

The unfolded panel will be the back of the box.

Fold each of the centre strips on each end and add these to the middle of the box just slightly down from the rim.

I added four strips to mine as I am going to fill it with lots of flowers.

Once you have these strips in place you can decorate the outside.

I have cut patterned card to add to the sides and the flaps so that it leaves a small border around the edge.

I have also cut two long panels for the back of the box and glued one inside and the other outside to reinforce it

Add in the lattice panels as you wish. I have put the larger ones around the top of the three flaps and four around all sides of the base

 I have added one at the top of the back panel and two on the other side to decorate the back making ten altogether

I have used the smaller ones to add as uprights and glued three to the edges of the top rim.  I have used three more around the bottom edge of the flaps

I have also added some lace around the bottom section.

Start to decorate the inside of the box working, from the back to the front.

Adding lots of leaves will disguise the inside and make a pretty frame for the flowers.

Add the flowers into the centre as pleases you.

Place the butterflies where you want them and add a sentiment of your choice.

Adding the long panel and some of the Lattice work makes the back of the box as pretty as the front and can be viewed from all angles.


Designers Tip:

Pushing the side of the box will make it lie flat and it will go into an oversized envelope.

But if you add as much depth as I have then you will need to make a separate box to send it through the post.

Once it is received by your recipient it will then open out into the beautiful free standing box you have created.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Clean Craft Room ...

Hi Everybody,

Yesterday was Formula One Day and Griff was glued to the telly, so I thought it would be an ideal opportunity to have a clear out in my craft room.  You would be amazed at the the things I came across up here and now that I have banished some to the trash can there is more room.

But I have several items that are excellent and I will be offering them at a good price as pre loved crafting goodies. I only have one of each item though so it's first come first served.

Today I am offering for sale some of the Glitter Girls embossing boards.  Some are the boards ... others have the book that tells you how to make the cards pictured and one has the DVD that creates the characters to fit the clothes on the board.


The first one is called  Framey  and this will help you to create frames and apertures on dark card as well as light.

You can create mats to layer onto your base and there are borders as well as a star that can be added once cut out.

The instruction sheet is with the board

This one is called Illusion and this one will help you to make boxes for your cards.

There are letters and numbers on one side so that you can monogram your projects. And there is a scroll that you can add the monograms too if you wish.

Add the bow to make the card extra pretty.  And this also comes with the instruction sheet.

Here we have Celebrations and on this board there are Champagne flutes and several borders for you to create.

There are entwined hearts with scalloped edges and  two horseshoes... and a really large centrepiece that can be embossed and layered onto your card base with places for you to add pearls or gemstones if you wish.

 This is the board called  Embellisher 

With this one you can create beautiful Ovals and Hearts that you can add flowers too as a centrepiece for your cards.

Or create an aperture, borders and a Christmas tree and the instruction leaflet will give you some extra ideas

These are an excellent way to start if you are new to cardmaking as they are ready to use straight away ... and a perfect alternative to die cutting.

You don't need anything extra other that a stylus and a craft knife to get busy making those lovely shapes to add to your designs.

All the boards are cellophane wrapped and are offered to you for £7.50 each + P&P  and that depends on where you live   (I would estimate about £3.50 for UK)

If there is one of these that you would like then please email me christina@card-making-magic.com  and the board will go to the first one.  I will then invoice you and once the payment is received the board will be on it's way to you.

Tomorrow is Tuesday Tutorial and so the next sale will be Wednesday when I will be showing you the boards that are for sale complete with the booklets .

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Holiday Day Ten - Bruges

Hi Everybody,

On the 11th August we had our last port to visit and this is Bruges.

Another really pretty city with trees and canals running through it.

Yesterday was a day at sea and after all the excitement of St Petersburg it was nice to just relax

This was a lovely day and a real pleasure to wander the streets and look at the gardens and the water.

Once again the weather was  kind to us and it was very warm.

We walked towards a park where the request was for silence ... but of course the hum of voices could still be heard.

In the park there are tree houses way up above us  and there are lots of them. Children are not allowed to climb the trees.

Below is the explanation of the tree houses ...

 Little cafes dot the streets inviting you in for lunch or coffee and cake and later on in the day they got very busy.

There are also lots of horse drawn caragies and our guide told us they are very well cared for.

They work for eight hours in one day and then have four days off to rest.

This tower is open to the public and all the people waiting at the bottom are going to climb the 300 or so steps to the top.

I wouldn't have the energy to do all that climbing ... plus my knees won't let me any more, but I bet the view from the top is wonderful.

This is a small selection of the lace that Belgium is famous for and it is very beautiful.

There where tablecloths, cushions, clothing in fact all sorts of things that had lace added to them.

And of course no trip to Belgium would be complete without some Belgium chocolate.

We went in to buy some and samples where being offered so it would have been rude to refuse ...and it was delicious.

This lady was coating fresh strawberries in chocolate and we managed to resist these delicacies.

But we did buy some to bring home.

So today we set sail for home, sailing overnight to reach Southampton at 6am.

It has been a wonderful two week holiday and we have enjoyed every city that we have been to, but it seems to have gone by so quickly

I hope you have enjoyed my Travel Tales over the last few days ... but next week it is back to normal and back to card making.

I have managed to keep the Tuesday Tutorial going while I have been away and  there will be a Friday Freebie added again so keep a look out for that.

Thank you for all your lovely comments

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Holiday Day Nine - Warnemunde

Hi Everybody,

Germany is the port of call for this day and this was the view from our balcony as we sailed into the port of Warnemunde

The port is right beside the town and you can see how close it is.

We walked to the Ferris wheel in the picture and from there we went on a boat trip to Rostock.

This is how it is written but it is pronounced Varnemunday ... mind you we heard lots of different ways that people were saying it and some were quite amusing.

Thank goodness we are going to Rostock ... it's much easier to pronounce !!

For four days there had been a sailing regatta going on and this was the last day.

The ships that were in port were beautiful and there where hundreds of them ... some with the sails unfurled as they floated past

There was a fairground at the side of the river and that was very loud and very busy

 This lovely fountain was in the centre of town and has figures around it that are playing in the water.

These brick built boots caught my eye outside a shop and they are huge.

The whole place was lovely to visit but because it was Sunday most of the places are closed, and that kept it reasonably quiet.

This was another hot and sunny day

In fact the only cloudy day we have had was the day we where at sea and there is so much to do on the ship that it didn't matter.

I hope you have enjoyed Rostock with me and at about 5.30pm we sailed again for Belgium

This will be our last port and we visit Bruges which we have been told is very pretty.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Holiday Day Eight - Helsinki

Hi Everybody,

On the eighth day we are off to Helsinki and this beautiful building is in Senate Square. It sits atop wide steps and overlooks the large square

There was an older man singing at the top of his voice as the tourists passed by and it was quite hot today

It was bustling with activity because there are four ships visiting Helsinki today and we all seem to be visiting the same places at the same time.

This photo taken at one of the ports looks like a parking lot for cruise ships and they are all different sizes.

Our guide took us around the city telling us the history of the place and then it was time to hop onto the coach and head off to a woodland village.

This village is now a museum piece and covers a lot of woodland. It was so peaceful to walk through here.

There are several houses that you can go inside and take photographs and we took full advantage of that opportunity.

This is the inside of one and have you noticed the wood burner in the corner.

Not quite the same as those in the palaces but necessary none the less.

The walls look as if they have columns but they are totally flat. The effect is created with paint and is very realistic

We wandered into an old church and saw a beautiful windmill in the forest.

Then we stopped at the cafe in the centre and had a Cinnamon bun and some Finish coffee which was very nice and very welcome.

Heading back into the city we stopped at the monument to the composer Sibelius

 To me this monument looks like a tree ... to others it looks like organ pipes

Every one of the tubes is engraves and it is really very lovely as it glitters silver in the sunlight.

Many many people where there all taking their snap shots and it was a very warm day.

This is also near the Sibelius tree and lots of us wanted a photo of this mask and it is quite large.

 But a woman was sat on the top of it for a long time ... until somebody shouted to her to "Get off" ... which she did promptly

We had some free time in the afternoon and we wandered around Helsinki on our own for a few hours

Then it was time to find the shuttle bus to take us back to the ship and get ready to sail away at 5.30pm

Tomorrow is a sea day and the chance to relax for the day. It has been a hectic few days ashore but we have some wonderful memories of the places we have seen.

The next stop is Germany and we are going on a tour around Rostock ... I hope you will join me

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx