Card Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

Another week gone by so quickly and it has been a really busy week for me. I hope you have all had a good week and managed to get done all the things you wanted to do

The winner has been drawn from the hat for the oval peach card and the name this week is you ...

Tami Grant

can you email me please with your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

please do not leave your personal details here in the comments .. email me and then you know  they are private. 

The card will be on it's way to you straight away

You have 48 hours in which to claim the card and please let me know when it arrives with you.

I hope you will like it.

There will be no post from me on Sunday as I am going to have that day off completely to simply do as I please so I will be back bright and early Monday morning with another new card to start the week .

There is a really pretty Tuesday Tutorial this coming week and I hope you will try it for yourself

More on Monday ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie 091

Hi Everybody,

Another pretty peach card is on offer this week and it is is a free standing oval shape.

The dies I have used for this card are Heirloom Oval from Spellbinders

This is a shape that can be used in many different ways and I have added in Butterflies from Les Papillions two  set

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and they have been sparkled with Glitter Magic and the lovely pearl flourish is from Want2Scrap and is the Finesse Swirls

If this is a card that you would like to own then all you need to do is leave me a comment. From those comments a name will be drawn in the morning and the winner announced in that days Blog post.

Please come back and check if it is your name as you will only have 48 hours in which to claim it.

You will need to email me ...   christina@card-making-magic.com  ... with your postal address, and NOT here on the blog.

That is the way to contact me for anything you may wish to know as any comments on the Blog are all "No Follow" which simply means that I cannot email you back if you ask me a question.

Plus I moderate each comment so that no personal information from you is added to the pages ...  to keep you safe.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Floriography CD

Hi Everybody,

I am often asked where I get the pretty papers that I use on my  cards and many of them are digital papers that I simply print off from my PC whenever I need them.

The papers on this card are from the  Floriography Twin CD  available from My Craft Studio.

It is a CD that I have had for a few years now so although it is still around it may not be for much longer.

There are some lovely backing papers on the disc as well as lots of other items ... such as envelopes, stationery boxes, matting and layering panels etc. etc.

The black and gold papers here are from the elements section and this has given me an A5 panel, the topper, some ribbon borders, and a sentiment.

The A5 will give you a complete backing sheet for a 5x7" card  and I have used the 160 GSM smooth white paper for Text and Graphics from Staples

I used gold card to may and layer and gold card for the sentiment which is a die from Spellbinders and is Phrase set Two 

It has several interesting and useful phrases on both of the sets and they are some that I will use time and time again.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Dreamer ...

Hi Everybody,

The sentiment on this card has been stamped onto parchment and embossed in white ... and then curved around the panel to raise it from the base

The verse is from Sheena Douglass and is one of several on her  Little Bit Sketchy  range

The background has been done in Purple, Emerald Green and Ultra marine Brusho Crystal Colours.

These Crystals are so much fun to play with and no two panels will ever be the same.

Over the top of the background I have stamped with Versamark and heat embossed the butterflies with white powder

I have added in some of my baked Ikea dots and layered the coloured panel with lilac card onto a white base.

The finished effect is very vibrant and I am quite pleased with the way this card has turned out.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tuesday Tutorial - Contemporary Diamonds

Hi Everybody,

This is a card that is a little different and it uses the Contemporary Diamonds from Spellbinders.
There are three other shapes in this new style ... one is squares and the other is circles 

 I chose the Diamonds as it is a lovely shape.

So follow the steps and make this design for yourself with the pretty card colours that you have in your own "Stash" 

Spellbinders Supplies:

• S5-131 A2 Matting Basics A
• S5-132 A2 Matting Basics B 
• A2 Modern Stationery
• S4-499 Contemporary Diamonds
• S4-563 Phrases One
• GC-200 Grand Calibur Die Cutting and Embossing Machine

Other Supplies:

• AnnaMarie Designs striped card

Instructions:

With die #9 from  A2 Matting Basics A cut two pieces in blue and  hinge together  to form your base card

I have placed mine at the top of the card to use in Landscape

With die #9 from A2 Matting Basics B cut one layer in white and emboss to add texture to the card

(Please remember that die number one #1 is always the smallest)

With #7 from A2 Modern Stationery cut one layer in a patterned card

With the Contemporary Diamonds cut the shape four times from card of blending colours. 

I chose white, lilac, turquoise and pink for mine

Decide where on the card you would like the shape to go and paper piece the other colours into the frame

I paper piece from the back and then tape them in place so that they can't fall out again but make sure you get them the correct way with all the "right" sides facing down

I have added foam pads to the back of mine to keep the paper pieces in place and to raise the shape up from my card

Cut the word of your choice in black card and black craft foam and glue the two together.

Assemble the card by adding all the layers together with foam tape between for dimension.

Add to the base card and trim the edges of the Diamond shape that my overhang neatly
Add in some enamel dots, or gemstones if you prefer,  as the finishing touch and there you have a card for any occasion if you swap out the sentiment

Keep the other pieces that you cut to make another card with different combinations of paper piecing

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Brusho and embossing ...

Hi Everybody,

This bright and cheerful card has used several techniques in its making.

The first thing I did was to create my background with the Brusho Crystal Colours and I used Orange and Red

Then I added in the flourish with Versamark and white embossing powder and heated it till it was raised

The gold dots are created with a mask and some embossing paste that was sprinkled while wet with gold glitter

I left that on one side for a few hours to dry completely and then I shaped the card with a corner rounder

It has been matted onto gold mirror card and layered onto the card base with foam tape to give dimension

Spellbinders have lots of word sentiments and this is Hello from Phrases Set Two

It was cut in black card several times and layered together to make it stand out from the card.

There is a very simple, quick and easy card to do and the colours are what make it stand out from the crowd.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

It's cold and wet and windy here in the North West and it's time to put the central heating on and warm up.  I hope it is better where you are but at least if it's too wet to go out then maybe a little crafting time is in order.

The draw has been done and the winner of the woven card is ...

Win Mayes

can you send me your postal address please to

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the card will be on it's way to you straight away.

You have 48 hours to claim the card and I hope you will like it.

Please let me know when it arrives with you

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie 090

Hi Everybody,

Another of the woven cards for todays offering as the Friday Freebie

The card shape is created with Grand Labels from Spellbinders but this shape is now retired from their website

The pattern is created with the Weaving Dies from Sue Wilson and there are two sets to get the woven look.

They can be used independently but obviously the look will be complete with both sets

I have decorated my card with flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts  and added in some diamante gemstones from Want2Scrap

If this is a card that you would like to have then all you need to do is leave me a comment and join the regular group of followers

You will need to come back tomorrow to see if your name is the one that has been chosen to have the card and then you have 48 hours to claim the card

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx.

Autumn Leaves

Hi Everybody,

Well here I am back at home and sorry to have missed the blog post yesterday.

The show at 7am  was cancelled and so after breakfast we set off back up the motorway.

I was really angry with myself because I made some lovely samples to show you ... and left them all on my desk at home !!

I only realised what I had done when I walked into the studio on Monday morning to set everything up.

My stomach did somersaults when it dawned on me.

Fortunately I had sent some samples ahead of time but  they where all I had to dress the set.

This is one of the cards that was shown and this one has used the Bricks and Bark EL-015  folder from Spellbinders

The dies I have used are from the  Woodland Collection  and they the large leaves Leaves S4-571 and I have inked them with Distress Inks.  The smaller leaves and the acorns are from Acorns S2-191

So now I am back home I can get back to normal and tomorrow there is a really pretty card up for grabs in the Friday Freebie

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tuesday Tutorial - Font One Uppercase

Hi Everybody,

This "Thanks" card is created with the  Font One - Uppercase  set of dies and it is very easy to do. The pictures  will take you through the  steps you can follow to get this look for your self.

Spellbinders Supplies:

•  S6-009 Font One Uppercase
• PL-001 Platinum Die Cutting and Embossing machine

Other Supplies:

• Brusho Crystal Colours
• Ribbon from my "stash"
• Acrylic Flower Wild Orchid Crafts 
• Altenew Halftone Thanks stamp

Instructions:

 Fold an A4 piece of  white card in half to create your base and keep  the fold at the top. 

 Use a brightly coloured background and trim it slightly smaller than the base. 

Cut another white layer slightly smaller than the coloured layer and this is the one we will work with

Select the letters that spell out "Thanks" and lay them on the edge of the ruler so that they are level.
 I have the cutting edge facing downwards and I add tape to the back to keep them all together.
This also makes it easier to pick up all the letters at the same time

Place all the taped letter onto the last white layer that you cut... but don't press them down
Make a very feint pencil line where  you would like your word to sit on the card front.

Remove the taped dies  and place the rest of the sentiment  under the line ... where you would like it to sit on your card.

Once you have it stamped in black and clear heat embossed,  add the letters back again to the card and this time press them down and run through your die cutter

Keep the die cut letters for another project but remember to save the little triangle from the die that sits in the letter "A"

I have then erased the pencil line and dry embossed my card with a folder from my "Stash"

Flip the card over and place the foam pads on the back  so that they support the outer edge and also the letters. That will stop them collapsing on the card. 

Then add it to the brightly coloured background leaving that  little border around the edge.
Replace the little triangle to form the letter "A" correctly

Add in some ribbon and a bow and place some enamel dots or gemstones around the card front to finish the look.

Try this idea with other words ... maybe someones name and as long as the word fits on the card front it will look really good.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Flourish Frame

Hi Everybody,

Today I am back on Create and Craft and this is one of the new dies that will be in the show.

I hope you will be able to join me at 8am and again at 1pm

I love this type of die as it is big and gives a really dramatic finish to any card.

The  Flourish Frame is really beautiful and the card is a 5x7 finished size

I have layered it with foam tape to give dimension and this shows in the picture because it looks as  if you can see through the layers

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and they have been sparkled with fine glitter

The bows centre is also from WOC and the ribbon is tied in a triple bow.

The pink pearls are from Want2Scrap and I have dotted them around the framework

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Trumpet Vine

Hi Everybody,

This pretty die is from Memory Box and is called Trumpet Vine.

It is a sample that I made for  Craft Stash  and I have cut the vine in pink card and added pink pearls to the flower centres

It has then been added to the top of some embossed parchment  which I stamped with the verse before embossing.

I have added my glue so that it is positioned under the ribbon and the die cut shape so that it wont show trough the parchment

The satin ribbon is from Mei Flower  and the centre to the bow is from Wild Orchid Crafts

The gingham card is from AnnaMarie Designs   and the plain pink card has been embossed with an A4 folder

All have been layered with foam pads to give dimension to the card.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

And the Winner is ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays  late start is not because I have been having a lie in but because I have joined Slimming World and Saturday morning is class day.

I go along like a good girl each week to be weighed to see what I have lost during the week.

So far I have been very good and I have shed almost a stone in four weeks so guess who is a happy bunny. There are eleven weeks now till Christmas and I hope to have lost another stone and then I am going to treat myself to a lovely new dress.

I go with my youngest daughter and she is also doing well. We are both enjoying the Food Optiming concept that is Slimming Worlds way and not once have we been hungry.  So watch this space and I will keep you up to date with my progress.

Yesterday was Isabella's fourth Birthhday and this afternoon we are going to her party. I can't believe where those four years have gone. She is growing so quickly

Any way the name has been drawn for the mint green card yesterday and the winner is ....

Marietta ...

Would you send me your postal address please to

christina@card-making-magic.com

And the card will be on the way to you.

You have 48 hours in which to claim it and I hope you will like it when it arrives

So on Monday I will be on Create & Craft TV with Spellbinders Members Deal

The shows are  Monday at 8am and 1pm
Tuesday at 8am and 3pm
Wednesday at 7am for the breakfast show .... Which should be good for a laugh so early in the day

I hope you will join me and many drop me an email it will be lovely to know that you are there

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie 089

Hi Everybody,

Mint green is the flavour of the day for this weeks Friday Freebie and the inside is lined to match the front

I have used the Bracket Borders Two for this design and there is a video to show you how to use this type of die

The video shows Bracket Borders One  but the principal is the same

The bottom panel is cut with Lonely Hearts  and this die is in two pieces that will cut the pattern either separately or leave it in the card

If this is a card that you would like then simply leave me a comment and from those comments a name will be chosen and the winner announced in tomorrows blog post.

Please come back to check if you are the winner as you only have 48 hours in which to claim the card

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

International Ambassadors Informal Blog Hop

Hi Everybody,

Well this is the tenth blog hop  the International Ambassadors have done and it's amazing how time flies past.

We really appreciate that you hop along with us and leave us your wonderful comments and we really hope you will join in this month too.

The theme for this month was the Party Collection from Spellbinders
 and I have chosen to use the Fun On A String

I have used bright colours as this would be ideal for a teenagers card. The die comes with an extra backing piece that can be added to the balloons. And there are small hearts and stars for added decoration if you want to use them.

I have teamed it with the Happy Birthday Garland which I have cut three times in black and layered them together.  The tiny hearts have just been dotted around the card.

Please pop along to see what the others have come up with  and you won't be disappointed as they are very talented ladies.  Leave them a comment to let them know you visited.

Linda Lucas - Australia
Yvonne van der Grijp - Netherlands
Christina Emberson - UK
Christina Griffiths - that's me !!

I hope you enjoy your trip around the world 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

You Are My Sunshine ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays cards are some of the samples I will be showing you next week on Create and Craft.

It is one of the new die from the Simply Said Collection from Spellbinders.

There are several in the collection that all say different things and  this one is You Are My Sunshine 

These dies are designed to create a full card front for you in one easy pass.

I have chosen to do mine in black card and add it to a Brusho Background for a dramatic look.

The pink one is with Centura pearl card and I have inked through the die before removing the card

Very plain very simple ... no flowers no ribbons and no pearls on either of these

I hope you will join me for the 4 Day Deal  next week from the 19 th October on Create and Craft

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tuesday Tutorial - Happy Days

Hi Everybody,

Todays tutorial is using one of the newest die templates that Spellbinders have produced and this is one of several that will create the whole card for you in one pass.  The card will be 4 3/8  x 5 1/2 "  which is a nice sized card

I have chosen some spotty blue card for mine and I think the effect is very fresh.

 Spellbinders Supplies:

• S7-201 Happy Days
• Pl - 001 Platinum Die Cutting and Embossing Machine

Other Supplies:

• Wild Orchid Crafts flowers
• Glitter Magic glitter
• Spotty Card from AnnaMarie Designs

Instructions:

With the large outer frame cut one piece in white. 

This will now be scored for you in the places you will need to fold the card ... but not just yet !!

From the inner step die cut two pieces in the colour of your choice. 

I chose the blue spotty one for mine

With the same card and the square dies cut four pieces. 

They are all the same size even though there are two dies.

Cut one of the border strips twice and and as many leaves and flowers as you wish to add to your card. 

Cut the words and Ink through the die before removing the card from it.

Glue the step panels in place onto the base card and add the four squares to the centre step parts. 

Add the borders along any edges that you prefer.

Press the card base into shape by mountain folding the front score lines on the left, and valley folding the back ones on the right to create the steps.

 And your card should look like the picture once you have done that. 

I added in the inked words to the top right of my card and I chose to add the mulberry flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts to make it glamorous.  The petals have all been sparkled with Glitter Magic and I have tucked in the die cut leaves to the display

You can add in any sentiment that you have as a change and make it for any occasion.

And even with the flowers added this will fit into an envelope so no need to make a box this time !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Thinking Of You ...

Hi Everybody,

This is one of the sample cards that I made using the sentiment dies from  Craft Stash 

There are lots in the  Creative Dies - Sentiment Collection   for you to choose from and they will say just about everything that you want them to do and all at a really good price

I have used  Oval Florals  from Spellbinders for the centrepiece
and added the words cut from Craft foam to the top.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and so is the lace

The card is made from white card that has been embossed and cut with Scalloped Borders One

I have chosen a pale shade of green as my accent colour using satin ribbon from Mei Flower

The top layers have been added to the base card with a really soft gold layer in between and it just adds that little extra to the card.

The gold card is some that I bought from the craft show and the White Hammered Card is from   Papermill Direct  scroll down their page to see all the beautiful colours they produce

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Easy Fold Card (Video Tutorial)

Hi Everybody,

Over the years I have done several videos on how to create a base card that you can use to decorate any way you wish  Some have been using plain smooth edged card and others have used the fancy die cuts that will make a patterned edge for your designs. 

There is even one to show you how to simply make a stand for the back of the card

Making Cards My Style

Create a Hinged Card

Filigree Hinged Cards

Creating Card Stands

I know that sometimes it is hard to get the die to cut through two layers of card to make the filigree hinges and so  today I am adding a quick video to show you an easier way to create the base.

 I thought that this may be the best way to show you exactly what it is I am doing to make two equal sized pieces of card fit together to make a solid base and it applies to any size or shape of card that you wish to make. 

        

I hope that this helps you to make some different shaped bases and gives you another way to use any of the fancy dies that you may have in your collection

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card Winner this week ...

Hi Everybody,

My Saturdays seem to get more full each week and so this is another late post for me.  But none the less the draw has finally been completed and the card winners name has been chosen.

The lovely turquoise card is coming to live with you ....

Bente Sorflaten

could you send your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the card will be on it's way to you straight away.

You have 48 hours to claim the card and I hope that you will like it when it arrives. Please let me know when you get it.

More tomorrow ..

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - 088

Hi Everybody,

I have another card to give away today and this one is another Weaving Dies  by Sue Wilson and in a a lovely shade of turquoise.

The flowers around the sentiment are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and I have curved them around the shape.

The pearl flourish is from Want2Scrap  and I have tucked it behind the flowers

So would you like to be the owner of this card ? then all you need to do is leave me a comment and join the group of regular followers to see other goodies that are on offer

A winner will be drawn from the comments and  the name announced in tomorrows blog post so please, please come back and check to see if it is you.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Step Card ...

Hi Everybody,

A card with a difference and this is a really easy stepper card that requires no measuring and no dies to get the basic shape

I did this in a video almost six years ago and if you watch it you will see how  I have progressed since it was done.

I should maybe do a newer version of this card but the idea is so simple and easy that the video still says it all

For the newer card I have created it in the same way but I have added in dies to decorate it and for this I used the   Interlocking Love    from Spellbinders.   This is a die that I have used many many times and I really like the effect that it gives.

The flowers are white Roses from   Wild Orchid Crafts  and they have been glittered up with  Glitter Magic  The white satin ribbon is from  Mei Flower  and it is tied into a double bow

The card I have used for the base of  this is silver foiled pale blue from  Cardcraft Plus  and they
have many other colours and patterns.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Peach and White

Hi Everybody,

I love the deep shade of peach with this card and it goes so well with the white. of the ribbon.

I chose lovely peach, white  and orange flowers to go with it and they are a mixture of Roses, Rose buds,  Carnations and Lilies and they are from Wild Orchid Crafts

I have used a fine glitter on all the petals to sparkle them up and I use the Iridescent Chameleon from Glitter Magic

The white satin ribbon is from Mei Flower and it is tied into a single bow. The diamante centre is from WOC

I have made a peach pearl Hat pin to push into the bow and they are from the Sparkles Group and come complete with end protector

The dies I have used are from Spellbinders and the white panel is #3 from  Labels 47 Decorative Elements

I have layered this with Oval Majesty  and used dies #3 and 4 and the card I have used is from  Papermill Direct  and is about 240 gsm

All the layers are separated with foam pads to give dimension to the card. The verse is from Clarity Stamp

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tuesday Tutorial - Romantic Rose

Hi Everybody,

Todays pretty blue card is created with the romantic Rose from Spellbinders and it makes the loveliest of cards for all your female friends. I have created mine in two shades of pastel blue but it would look good in any colour that you choose.

It is a simple layered card ... quick and easy to put together for any occasion.

Spellbinders Supplies:

• S5-230 Romantic Rose
• S4-112 Classic Ovals (small)
• GC-200 Grand Calibur

Other Supplies:

• Want2Scrap - pearls
• Mei Flower - ribbon
• Glitter Magic - fine glitter
• Wild Orchid Crafts  - Flowers
• JustRite Stampers - Family Sentiments
• Papermill Direct for 240 gsm Card

Instructions:

From die  #3 cut two panels to make the base card from pale blue card (die #1 is always the smallest)

Take one of these panels and score and fold  it  on the short side by about an inch. Add glue to the folded edge and glue the two together along this edge only. 

This will create an  "A"  frame leaving the rest of the card open for it to stand  ... as your base card. 

Make sure that the correct side of the card is on the outside

From #2 and some darker blue card I have cut one panel and from the same base card and die #1 I have cut another smaller panel

Layer the two together with foam pads between the layers and wrap with ribbon before adding to the base card

Have a dry run with flowers and bows to see where you like them and when you are happy with the arrangement glue them in place.

 I use a hot glue gun but be careful as they get very hot and will burn your skin if you drop the glue onto it ... How do I know this ????

Heat emboss your sentiment and cut with the oval and add with foam pads to the front of the card.

Glitter the flowers and decorate with pearls for a really pretty effect to your designs.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Especially For You ...

Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is created from the Sapphire Collection of dies by  Spellbinders  and I used the Squares from Basic Set A to make the frames

I simply added the two largest squares together to form the frames and then topped them onto some lovely rose patterned paper.

Each of the frames was edged with pearls from Want2Scrap  and I had to cut down foam pads into thin strips to sit behind each edge to give it some height.

They have been layered diamond pattern onto the card and the bottom part wrapped with ribbon and pearls

Very simple but very effective and with a change of colour and sentiment it could be for any occasion

And although these are Sapphire dies they will go through any die cutting machine that you have.

The  Sapphire Machine  and the dies is available to buy from Create and Craft

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card Winner for Today ....

Hi Everybody,

Sorry for the late post but this is the first chance I have had to get it done. I was out and about early and although a little colder it was still very pleasant to be out shopping.  Later today it will be playtime with Isabella and I am really looking forward to that.

So without any more preamble we will get straight to the point about the winner of yesterdays blue card.

The draw has been done and the name drawn from the hat is ...

Kazzie Ice 

and if you would like to send me your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com
then I will get the card in the post to you straight away.

You have 48 hours in which to claim the card and I hope that you will like it once it arrives with you.

Thanks to everybody for adding your names and there will be another card on offer next week

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie -087

Hi Everybody,

Todays freebie card is in blue and uses the Interlocking Love die from Spellbinders

It is one that was featured in the past and was a FF card that was won and never claimed ... and so here it is again.

It is an 8x8" card and there is an envelope with it should you wish to use it.

If you would like to own this card then all you need to do is join the followers and leave me a comment.

From those comments a name will be drawn and the winner announced tomorrow.  Please come back and check if it is you as you only have 48 hours in which to claim the card.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Emerald card

Hi Everybody,

For this card I have used the Emerald Green from Brusho Crystal Colours and teamed it with Black and White

The Octagon die that I have used along with the Scalloped Octagons are now retired from the Spellbinders website.

To this I have added the "Hello" which is a matching die and stamp set from  Altenew.

I bought mine from Make The Day Special  and they have all the latest stamps and dies from many many companies.

I thought that this turned out to be quite a striking card and is just another way to use up all these playtime sheets I made with the Brushos and using dies that I already have in my "Stash"

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx