Card & Gift Winner

Hi Everybody,

At long last I am here and the draw for yesterdays gift has been done. There are two winners this week and both will need to notify by email to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

to claim their gifts.

So the names are 

Wanda Bass

&

Lin Duke

you have 72 hours to let me know your postal address please and then the gift will be on its way to you along with one of the cards shown in the picture yesterday.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Tattered Lace Tea Party

Hi Everybody,

So this week I have two of these lovely Tattered Lace Tea Party Dies to give away and each one will come with a card

Its a pretty die that can very easily be snipped into to give you other designs that you can use on your cards.

You will have to take pot luck with which card you will get as I will just pack them up as they are claimed

The video Tattered Lace Tea Party will show you how I made the round card and a novel way to use the teapot to create a background

If this is a gift that you owuld like to have then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME please

From those comments two will be drawn this week and the names listed in a blog post over the weekend. Have you noticed I have stopped saying ..."in a blog post tomorrow " because sometimes I don't have time to do one. But by Sunday they are always listed so you need to come back and check if it is your name that is shown.

Good Luck Everybody 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Arteza Coloured Tilda & Edwin

Hi Everybody,

Something a little more elaborate today but still using Arteza Water Colours in the 36 Half Pan set.

The stamp is very old and I have masked it to place the trees around the couple.

I have tried to find a link to this stamp from Magnolia Stamps without success so it has probably been discontinued by now.

I used a white gel pen to add pattern to their clothes ... spots for her and stripes for him.

The tiny snowballs have been added with dots of  Dries Clear Glue and they are from AnnaMarie Designs

They are very tiny and fly away  and there are loads in a pot, so use a tray to catch them all if you use them, and they will last you a long time.

The sentiment is snipped from the new die from Card Making Magic and added to a snowflake covered with silver gilding flakes.

I have edged it all with a black Arteza fine liner to make them black stand out again, as it became a bit lost in the process of colouring

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Arteza 36 Half Pan Set Water Colours

Hi Everybody,

Today I am adding a video to share with you the beautiful water colours from Arteza that I have so been enjoying over the last few days.

This card I have created using the Spring/Summer Stamp & Die Set from

 Card Making Magic

With the card to the right I have created a background that is bright and vibrant and for the other I show you how in the video

I am adding the links at the bottom of the post so that you can see what I have used.

 Arteza are offering you a 10% discount when you add ChristinaGriffiths 1. at the checkout

My collections are available at Craft Stash and they are offering you a 20% discount on your first order with them ... so savings all round.

Both companies are affiliate links which means a small payment for me, at no extra cost to you if you use the links

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Sketched Elephants with Arteza

Hi Everybody,

Here is another card coloured with Arteza Water Colours using the Sketched Elephants from Whimsy Stamps

The water colours are so easy to work with. They blend really well and the colours are beautiful.

I used the lid as my palette to mix some of my own shades and I am more than happy with the result.

I fell in love with these really cute little characters the first time I saw them  and they have other images in the set to decorate your card, as well as sentiments too.

I have so many stamps in my personal collection that I sometimes forget what I do have and so it is time to start going through them and putting them to good use again ... especially for children's cards

Don't forget that Arteza are offering you a 10% discount if you add the code Christina Griffiths1. at the checkout  until the 25th September. They are affiliate links which means I get paid a small commission if you buy through the links at no extra cost to you 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Play Day with Arteza

Hi Everybody,

Over the weekend I have had a little bit of time to play with some water colours and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself 

I have used stamp images that I have had for a long time and I thought it would be good to get them out again

I used the new Water Colours paints that have been gifted to me by Arteza and they are lovely to work with

I have added links to the bottom of the page for you to see what I have used and some of them are affiliate links.

This just means that I get a small payment if you buy through the links, at no extra cost to you ...
but means a lot to me.

Arteza are offering you a 10% discount if you add the code
ChristinaGriffiths1.
and it is valid until the 25th September

The water colour pads from Arteza are really large with 60 sheets in each and it is good quality paper with a smooth side and rougher side.

I got all my images and more from one sheet just leave enough space around each image to be able to cut it out with the matching dies

Then all you need to do is have fun and enjoy working with your favourite medium.

More tomorrow ...

 Hugs xx

Card & Gift Winner

HI Everybody,

Last weekend was really lovely with Saturday evening watching Frankenstein at Lytham Hall with my family and then Sunday walking Ruby in the park, and then Sunday lunch of Roast Chicken

 There was a little Dog Show going on in Stanley Park and one of the stalls was about Dog Agility. 

So this afternoon Ruby and I are going on a new adventure ...  because the Agility Training School is having an open day and we are going to go and see what it is like. 

I think Ruby will love it as it is something different and she is just not interested in chasing balls.

 I throw the ball for her and she looks at me as if to say "You threw, you go and get it !!"

We will be sure to let you know how we go on.

The draw for yesterdays  "My Little Memory Book" has been done and the name this week is ...

Maureen Killen 

would you email me your postal address please to

christina@card-making-magic.com

and it will be on its way to you.

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

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - My Little Memory Book

Hi Everybody,

This fabulous Memory Book was the exclusive gift with Die Cutting Essentials a few months ago.

I made a little book with it and also some cards and added the elements to  the front. 

But you can make yours any way you wish.

The video My Little Memory Book  is not too long but it will show you how to put the pages together. I kept my colours bold and cheerful and it would be just as useful as a little book to the men in your life.

If this is a gift that you would like to win then just leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME.

You will need to pop back over the weekend to see if your name is shown as the winner and then notify me by email to claim it.

More details will be given in the post with the winners name so be sure to join in and see if it is you.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Pretty in Pink

Hi Everybody,

For today's card I have used several different sets of dies from Card Making Magic.

I have also used two embossing folders and Letterpressed with the Happy Birthday one onto the background piece

I have added some lovely pink Tulle and wrapped it around the layers along with the ribbon for a very feminine look

The flowers are a mixture and they have been dotted with glue and glittered for added sparkle.

The links are below for you to see the products that I have used and I hope you like the card.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Lilac Floral Birthday

Hi Everybody,

Another floral delight for you today and this one is not quite as elaborate as yesterdays but just as pretty.

I love the addition of the lace on them as it gives it a real luxury finish. And you only need a small piece so a metre length goes quite a long way.

I embossed the lilac card for the background in the Happy Birthday Folder and the layered the oval to the top with foam tape to give dimension

If you cut the large oval two or three times and then stack them together, you will have a lovely thick base that is almost like chipboard.

Run the top layer through the embossing folder before gluing in place for extra pattern and add with foam tape to the base card

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Wonderful Shabby Chic...

Hi Everybody,

In my daily work I have to make many different styles of cards. Some to fit the magazine cover mounts using dies, stamps or embossing folders.

But this remains one of my favourite styles to make and I can add all kinds of embellishments to the shabby chic look.

For this one I have used some of the original dies that were in the "Christina Collection" from Card Making Magic and all my collections are available with Craft Stash

The flowers are beautiful and to add more shabbiness to them I have used a fine paint bush and gone over the edge of the petals with white Gesso

Once that was dry I did the same thing with some glue and then sprinkled them with glitter and that gives them a lovely twinkle in the light.  I used alcohol pens to colour the leaves.

Into the display I have tucked some cheesecloth that I had in my stash but if you don't have any of that ...  then cheat by simply unravelling  a piece of  2" bandage ... because that has the same kind of look. 

But whatever you do have fun creating and you are sure to be pleased with whatever you make.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Birthday Wishes

Hi Everybody,

A pretty card with lots of layers for today's design and I made this into a birthday card, but you can use any words that you may have in your own collection that are in two parts.

The video will show you how I did it and it is not hard to do but quite effective once completed.

I used three toning shades of turquoise and then added in the silver glitter card for embellishment.  I used tiny little gemstones to add extra to the flower centres

The envelope just finishes it off to send the card to your recipient and matches the card front to a tee.

Make it in soft pastel pinks and add mulberry flowers to the front,  but then you would need to make a box for it as it would be too deep for the envelope.

But I am sure the ladies that you send it to would love it for their special day whatever the celebration is ... birthday, anniversary, engagement, just because. And obviously you would need to have those two part words in your craft stash to be able to do that

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card & Gift Winner

Hi Everybody,

I want you to keep all your fingers, toes and eyes crossed for no more rain today and tonight because my family and I are all going to see an outside performance of  FRANKENSTEIN  at Lytham Hall. 

 This is a lovely place where we go for many a  good dog walk and it is through trees and ponds and Ruby loves it. It's safe and very pleasant and there is a lovely cafe in the middle that makes delicious home cooked food, if you wanted to stop for breakfast or just a sticky bun. 

There are plant stalls and a little antique place inside the grounds and it is well worth a visit for dogs or children. But if your dog is a swimmer like Ruby then be warned the lakes are deep and very accessible.

On to the winner of yesterdays card and gift of Furry Friends and the name is ...

Jane Stokes 

would you email me please your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and it will be on the way to you.

Please let me know when it arrives with you and I hope you enjoy playing with both these fabulous stamp sets

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Furry Friends

Hi Everybody,

Today's gift is perfect if you have friends with pets or they are simply animal lovers because this A4 stamp set has many pets on the sheet.

There are lots of accessories to dress them up too, and a big easy chair to sit them in.

I had a lot of fun playing with this one and the video will give you some ideas on how to use it.

Furry Friends  uses the large stamp set but there was also another smaller set that came with the gift which I didn't use but I have included.

So If this is a gift that you would like to win then all you need to do is leave me a comment with your FULL NAME and then come back tomorrow to check if it is your name that is shown in the post.

You will have 72 hours in which to claim it and it is well worth winning.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx  

Card Making Magic Christmas Ornaments Card

Hi Everybody,

Quick and easy card today using the new Christmas Ornaments from Card Making Magic.

All my collections are available exclusively at Craft Stash and if something that you want is out of stock then leave your email address and they will notify you when it is back on their website

So for this card I used turquoise and white with silver and it looks really pretty in the hand.

The thin ribbon is some that I have had in my stash for years and I knew it would come in handy one day !!

The video will show you how I made both the card and the envelope, and it is strong enough to go through the post if you use good quality glue

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Die Cutting Essentials 55 - Holly & Ivy

Hi Everybody,

Die Cutting Essentials will be on sale this Thursday the 15th August and to be sure of getting this gift you will need to be there early.

Why?? Because it is another fantastic die set from Card Making Magic and it is such a useful die you wont want to miss it.

The video will show you some of the ways in which I have made it work for me and as Holly & Ivy are evergreen then it is something that can be used all year round for any occasion.

Try the Bokeh technique for the background in an easy to do way with inks and a finger dauber.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Lacey Circles Easel Card

Hi Everybody,

Today I am sharing a video with you and I have used the Lacey Circles to create an easel card in pretty shades of  Pale Blue and Lemon

I added some silver into the mix to give it a little more sophistication and created the flowers from the daisy in layered shades of yellow and white

Because there is not a lot of depth to the card I decided to add it to an envelope and this is strong enough to go through the post

The card I have used is 255 gsm from Papermill Direct and I have used Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue to hold it all together

I am very pleased with the result and would be happy to receive a card like this at any time.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Dream Catcher Gift

Hi Everybody,

Over the last year there have been many exclusive gifts, that have been given away with magazines, that have come from Card Making Magic

This one was the Dream Catcher and it was very popular. 

The background to this card was created from the stamps in the set in bright and cheerful colours for an individual look

I made a video to show you other ways in which it could be used and I had a lot of fun playing with it.

There are more gifts on the way from me and I hope you will like them just as much.

It is well worth looking out for the magazines as they become available with these quality gifts that can help you to build up your own personal collection each month.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card & Gift Winner

Hi Everybody,

Thank you all for your good wishes to me and the new design team I have put together and I am sure that we between us we will bring you some lovely projects that you may like to try with the new dis that are on the way.

We had a lovely night out and the food at Jamie's 90 Highfield Road was to die for. It was delicious and it made a real hit with both my guests.

On to the Card & Gift from yesterday and the name has been drawn from the hat.

The winner of the Christmas Tree die and card is ...

Sue Pollock

would you email your postal address please to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the gift will be on it's way to you

I hope you enjoy playing with it and please let me know that you have it safely

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Pretty Quick Christmas tree

Hi Everybody,

Today's card is a really pretty Christmas Tree that you can either paper piece yourself or colour in the different objects that are shown

I chose to colour mine so that it blended with the background and then I dotted it with gemstones

It makes for a very modern look to my card and I am happy with the result.

You will find other ideas on the actual package to the die and I am sue that you will come up with many more as you play. And of course the video that was done about the die will give you some more

O Christmas Tree   is not a long video but I hope you enjoy it all the same, and if you have seen it before then maybe it will just jog your memory.

Now if this is a gift that you would like to have then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME please.

From those comments one name will be chosen and the winner announced in a blog post over the weekend.

You will have 72 hours in which to claim the prize by emailing me. If it is not claimed it will be offered again at a later date. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Let me Introduce ...

Hi Everybody,

As my collections continue to grow,  and more are to be added soon,  I find it a push sometimes to keep up  with my normal work load,  the deadlines that are set for commissions and to make samples for the Hochanda shows at the same time. As well as all the other commitments that I have in everyday life.

And so to help me I have recruited two of my favourite card makers to be a part of my Design Team.

They are on the right my very good friend Kim and on the left is Joanna. It sounds really grand to have Design team but I am truly grateful that these ladies have agreed to help me get ready for the shows especially when deadlines are tight.

Kim lives in Nottingham and she was the special guest that I told you about the other day that has come up this week to stay with me for a few days. Joanna lives a few corners away from me and so it will be easier to meet her when ever we like.

But last night I took them both out to dinner at Jamie's 90 Highfield Rd and we had wonderful meal

The food, the red wine and the company where just great and the two ladies got on like a house on fire.

So all together we are going to make formidable Card Making Magic Design Team and bring some beautiful samples to the shows that are planned in the future.

Wish us Luck 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card & Gift Winner

Hi Everybody,

I am late again but yesterday I spent most of the day doing some housework. I have a special visitor coming to stay with me on Tuesday and I needed to get the guest room ready. Time was getting on when I had finished and then I made a pasta for Vickie and myself and it was lovely 

In the process of cleaning up I found a HUGE spider in the bath.It was like a helicopter sitting there with its legs all spread out. I don't like spiders but I didn't want to murder it so I removed the plug cover and washed it down with cold water.

Once it had gone down I replaced the plug cover really tight so that it couldn't get back out. 

But this morning it was sat in the bath again staring at me defiantly,  daring me to wash it down again.

So I grabbed a big handful of toilet roll and scrunched it up and tried to pick it up with that.

 I swear it laughed gleefully at me as it ran to the other side of the bath.

After a few more tries of chasing it around the bath I eventually caught it and it just wiggled all it's legs at me. I opened the bathroom window and flung it through and so far it's not returned.

Spider nil ... Christina 1 

The winner of Fridays card & gift is 

Jenny Hurley

please can you email me your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the gift will be on its way to you.

If you could let me know that you have received it that would be great and I hope you like it when you do.

Got to get ready now to go out for Sunday lunch with my family at pm. 

I need the sustenance to chase spiders !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Sweet Pea Floral Die Set

Hi Everybody,

Today's gift is nothing to do with Christmas but instead is a very pretty floral die set called 

Sweet Pea

The die is in two parts and can be used to cut the design into or out of the card so there are quite a few ways in which to use it

So if this is a die set that you would like to have then all you need to do is leave me a comment with your FULL NAME at the end of the post.

From those comments one name will be chosen as the winner and announced in tomorrows blog post so please be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Poinsettia Wrap

Hi Everybody,

Another pretty new Christmas Die Set from Card Making Magic and this one is the 

Poinsettia Wrap

The background has been inked with Blueprint Sketch and Shaded Lilac to give a soft blush to the card.

The Poinsettia Wrap has been cut in shiny gold and added to the card with foam tape underneath.

I wrapped all these panels with ribbon before I added them to the base card.

A very quick and easy card to make when you are short of time and it could be for many occasions throughout the year.

After all who is going to know that this is a poinsettia ??? It could be any flower !

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx