Personal Challenge

Hi Everybody,

Over the past few days I have been rummaging around in my craft room and I have found several paper packs that I have not used for quite a while.

So I have set for myself the personal challenge to use them on as many cards as I can.

The papers shown here are from the Card Making Magic Pretty Book Collection and it is one of my favourite packs.

I made lots of videos with this set of dies, but I also enjoyed using the papers in the Butterfly Collection set too. 

The flowers seemed to fit just perfectly into the butterfly wings

I have also used up some of the surplus die cuts on my desk at the same time and the cards are all really feminine and cute.

And the gold and silver mirror card that I have used also came in very handy to use as mats for the papers, and the sentiments that I have cut.

Oh! the things you find when you start to rummage ... and they where the Nuvo drops in lots of different colours.

 I squeezed them onto my cards in the place or pearls and they really made such a difference to the designs
 

Here are two of the cards. What do your think, is it worth using up the papers pads to make these ??

I know the Charity shop will be delighted with them once my box is full again and I take them in to the shop.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Carole Eaton - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

I hope you are all well on this beautiful Bank Holiday weekend. Ruby and I were out and about bright and early this morning while it was still quiet and then home again for breakfast. Hopefully the weather will stay well tomorrow also.

The draw for the Border set has been done and the name today is 

Carole Eaton 

Would you send me your postal address please to

christina@card-making-magic.com

and I will get it in the post to you straight away. Please be sure to let me know when you get it and I hope you enjoy playing with it.

More tomorrow …

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Border & Panel Dies

 Hi Everybody,    

Todays offering is a border and panel set of dies from Hunkydory. These are sure to add interest to any of your projects from cards to scrapbook pages.

You will find lots of ideas in the magazine for this and others that you may like to try so once you get it make a brew and sit and relax for a little "Me Time"

If you think that this would be handy for your style of crafting then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post.

Be sure to leave your FULL NAME so that it is easier to identify you as the winner and most importantly be sure to come back and see if your name is shown in the blog post on Sunday.

The offer remains open until then to give my overseas readers the chance to add their name and comments to the list.

I am happy to send the pack to you wherever you are.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Altenew Flower Cards

Hi Everybody,

All three of these cards featured today are using a die and  layering stencil from Altenew. It is the Bitterroot Flower die set 

I have altered the look by colouring them in different colours and adding them to a different background each time.

This first one has simply been coloured with the stencil direct to card and then that has been layered onto oink mats and a base card of a deeper shade of pink. 

I used the Card Making Magic Torn Edges die set for the layers.

The gingham ribbon has been wrapped around the top two layers before adding it to the base card, and the sentiment is from another Altenew stamp set that has also been added direct to the card.

This card has been coloured with purple and lilac inks and added with foam pads to a die cut shape.

The dotty card background has been trimmed to fit an A6 base with just a small border around the edge. 

The card itself is from Anna Marie Designs  and can be seen in this pack from their website. The white die cut is a really old Spellbinders die

You could of course stencil extra flowers or leaves and add them to your card as well to fill out our display even further.

When doing this colouring I find it easier to die cut the shape out first and then stencil the die cut turning the stencil as I need it.

For the card to the right I have created one of my Plaid backgrounds, and the video for that is here

I also used an Alcohol marker and a ruler to highlight the edges which gives the appearance of the card being layered.

This way of giving the layered look saves on postage costs if that is something that you ned to consider.

I thing all three look really pretty whichever colourway you use but the plaid one has to be my favourite

And they have all been dressed up with either pearls or sequins 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Flower card

Hi Everybody,

Todays card has used a paper pad that I bought from Home Bargains and it is a beautiful double sided pad that is foiled on one side.

But I wanted to dress it up a little more so on the foiled side I added in a text stamp in a random way and allowed it to dry.

The foiling on this piece is bronze coloured dots scattered over the paper.

Once it was dry I trimmed the panel down and matted it onto black card.

 I used the other side of the paper to layer onto some smaller shaped panels and added them to my base card in the top right and bottom left of the white 5x7 card 

The text piece has been added with foam pads and the Happy Birthday is cut from parchment and  Bronze glitter card for the bottom of the card.

I selected the flowers in different sizes, and I used roses and tulips and the long Gypsophillia stem, and I cut lots of leaves, in two shades of green, from the Rose Flourish die set. I also used the Eucalyptus die set that was free with a magazine, some time ago, to fill out my bouquet.

The last thing for me to do is add my glitter to the flowers and the finished card is much prettier than the photo shows and I am happy with the end result. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Paper Napkin Cards

Hi Everybody,

As promised today I am adding the video showing how I made these cards with paper napkins.

There are so many designs to choose from that you never need to be stuck. Lots of beautiful florals and lacey designs for any of your feminine cards.

For the men you could choose  a geometric pattern or maybe something with animals or boats on them and then add the sentiment to suit the occasion.

.

I was limited to what I could find in the shop I went to and I didn't have the time to look elsewhere but the patterns are out there if you have the time to search for them.

But I will be on the look out now for more to use in this way.

And don't throw away the layers that you peel off the napkins as they can always be used in a previous technique that I showed in a previous video that I have linked below

                      Everyday Items ....

Here is the video on how I made these featured cards and I hope you enjoy watching it

     

Make use of any dies or embellishments that you already have to add more to the card and I have added links to the Nesting Dies that I used in my creative process.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Bejay Roles - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

What a glorious weekend this has been and the weather is fantastic. I hope it has been the same for you all too. Ruby and I have just come in from a long walk and we are both tired now. After a little sit down it will be time for tea and I am sure we will both enjoy it today ..

Mine with a glass of red wine !!!

I have done the draw for the beautiful butterfly that is on offer and the name this week is 

Bejay Roles

And if you would send me your postal address please to

christina@card-making-magic.com

I will get it in the post to you straight away.  Please do not add any personal details here on the blog send them privately to the email address shown. Be sure to let me know when you have it please.

I am sorry to say that the Lavender Kit has not been claimed again, and that now makes twice I have offered that kit … twice somebody has been chosen and named on the blog and twice the named person has not come forward to claim it. It seems I can’t give that kit away no matter how I try. And it is such a pretty kit to have too, with everything you need in the box. 

So I will try one more time and if it is not claimed again it will go to the charity shop as I am sure there is somebody that will love it.

More tomorrow…

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Beautiful Butterfly

 Hi Everybody, 

Today I have a beautiful die set designed by Chloe Endean on offer and this will add a large butterfly to your designs.  

There are also some sentiment dies to go with it, and the magazine to give you even more ideas on how to use them all.

Is this something that you would like ?
After all butterflies are always very popular for any time of the year and any occasion too,

If you would like to win this then all you need to do is leave me your comment at the end of this post with your FULL NAME

But as I always say .... be sure to come back and check on Sunday to see if it is your name that is shown as the winner.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Floral Napkin Cards

 Hi Everybody,

The other day I showed you three of the cards that I created using the Napkin technique and so here are  the other three that I made

These all use the red flower part of the Napkin and once again I have added them using foam pads to an embossed panel to give some definition to the cards.

My fussy cutting is far from prefect but the flowers seem to blend in with the background regardless.

The little red hearts on this A6 card are some that I had left over from another project that are just sitting on my desk.

For this card I have used a home made stencil and some Antique Linen Distress Oxide to create the stripes, and then I backed it onto some Kraft Card.

 The sentiments are from my own Essential Verses stamp set, and they have just been stamped with black ink.

This card is a DL card used in Landscape

The card to the right is a 6x6 and I have added the layers in red and white to alternate on the background and blend with the flowers

Both white panels have been embossed in the Perfect Roses Folder, and again I have added in the small red hearts.

I hope you like these cards and will maybe give this idea a try if you haven't already.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Butterfly Cards

 Hi Everybody,

Todays card is using the Butterflies & Lace Collection and this one is the A6 Butterfly Die Set.

These dies can cut the butterfly out of the card or leave it in for another look and there are five different sized butterflies for you to use.

This whole set will mix and match with each other as well as any other dies in any of my previous collections.

The card shown here is a 6x6 square but these butterflies will fit on any size you make.

Both cards shown here are featured in the video and the one to the left is a DL

I hope you enjoy it and please consider subscribing to my channel.

 Click the little bell icon and YouTube will let you know whenever I upload something new

Here is the video ...

               

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Napkin Cards ...

Hi Everybody,

This is a technique that is not new and there are many video tutorials on YouTube that can show you. I have done no stamping, stencilling or colouring for any of these cards.

It is simply using a floral Napkin to produce the cards and I am very happy with the results. Is this something you have tried??

I will be doing it again but when I went to get another napkin, so that I could film the process,  I was saddened to find that this had been the last one.

The ones I have used are from Ikea but I will be going to the shops to look for other patterns that can be also be used for this idea.

So what did I do ?? Well I am going to cover this in a video of my own, so I won't be too explicit here but I will show you three of the cards that I got from one napkin.

The top card is a 5x7 and I have backed it onto some dark green card and then embossed the top white layer.

The card to the left is a long DL card and the background has also been embossed in my Flourish Folder and added to another coloured panel leaving a small border

The sentiment is from a pack of strip sentiments and the flowers have been fussy cut out and added to the panel with foam pads behind them

Nothing else has been added, as the flowers offer enough decoration on their own but the embossed background to all the cards just stops it from being too flat.

This card is an A6 and I have added my raised flowers to a silver foiled back panel and it looks very rich.

From this one Napkin I managed to get six cards and the occasions are mixed so they can cover anything really.

But this was a quick and easy way to get some lovely cards and, apart from a bit of gluing and fussy cutting it, took very little effort on my part.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Butterflies & Lace

Hi Everybody,

This card features items from the new Butterflies & Lace Collection.

I have used the stencil to colour in the butterflies that have been created with the embossing folder. 

 I used two shades of pink to add the details and then splattered the background with the ink that was left on my mat.

The Butterfly is cut from some pink card and I have added a pearl flourish along the body line and continuing as the trail.

I have used some cream coloured card for my base just to be a little different this time and the finished size is A6 whcih means it will fit into a standard sized envelope.

Change the colours and this is a card that could be used for any male members of your family.

The sentiments are strips that are from a set that I bought at the craft show a few months ago.

I will be doing a video using this set of dies as you can either cut the Butterfly from the card or leave it in as another way to enhance your design.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Kim Cranson - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Another beautiful day here in the North West and I have the doors open to my patio sot hat my Ruby and Ella can come and go as they please. My back garden has a high wall around it so neither of them an get tout and I know that  they are safe. 

I have been up early too and so the draw for the gorgeous Lavender Kit has been done and the winner this week is ...

Kim Cranson

would you please email me with your postal address to
christina@card-making-magic.com
and I will get the pack in the post to you straight away.
Please let me know that you have it safely and I hope you enjoy playing with this really pretty kit.

I ask you to email me, rather than add your details here, so that they remain private and seen only by myself and not the world. Once the parcel has been sent to you, your details are then removed from my computer and nothing is stored electronically.
So even if you have won before I will still need your postal address to send your prize.

I also need your full name ... not nicknames or initials, especially if you are signing in as Anonymous ... and that way I can be sure that the correct winner is named.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Lovely Lavender

Hi Everybody,

This is the second time this kit has been offered and last time it was not claimed, so someone's loss is somebody else's gain.

It is a bumper pack of magazine, foiled toppers, patterned, papers, some twin to add to the decoration and you even get the foam pads to give your creation some definition. 

All you need to do add is some glue and card bases and you are ready to go. And I am sure that the cards that you make will delight you once you are done.

Please leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME and be sure to come back and see if you are the winner. 

The offer is open until Sunday and then I will add the winners name to a blog post but I have no way to chase you up if you don't come back and check for yourself.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Butterflies & Lace Embossing Folders

HI Everybody, 

In this video I show you some of the ways in which the embossing folder can be used to produce a different look to each of our cards.

For the card shown here I have embossed the panel and used the debossed side, and then added white ink to the raised areas.  

The sunken butterflies have been filled with glue and then sprinkled with glitter and allowed to dry fully.

The  "Thank You" has been cut from silver mirror card and stacked onto white to give a raised look.

I have added diamante to each of the bodylines for effect and dotted red pearls around as a little extra.  

          

This card has used the same embossing folder but used in the embossed way and then each butterfly has had the layered stencils used to bring out the shape.

Having an embossing folder in your own stash is very useful if only to add to a pattern to the background. 

It always stop the card from looking too plain and is an inexpensive way to do it, as embossing folders are a really good option.

With this collection you can add as much or as little as you like to your designs and know that you are making a card that will suit all ages and genders with beautiful results.

So just with these three cards you have three different techniques that you can try on your own creations.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Butterflies & Lace Panel Die

Hi Everybody,

In this video I am using the new Butterflies and Lace Collection. I have used the panel die to make a stencil and I am really happy with the result. 

You can make your butterflies any colour you want, to suit your recipient, especially if it is for a male card.

I have added diamante to each of the larger butterflies body lines and just a simple banner sentiment in the middle of the card.

It has been layered with co-ordinating colours and the white panel has been embossed in a flourish folder.

The top layers have been added with foam pads to give height.

I hope you enjoy the video and I will be adding more using other parts to the new collection.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Butterflies & Lace - A6 card front

 Hi Everybody,

Todays card is featuring the new Butterflies & Lace Collection that was launched last Friday and it is a lovely set that can be used for any occasion, any gender and all year round.

There are many ways in which to use this collection and in the vidoes I have tried to show you some of the not too obvious ones.

For the card shown I have used gold gilding flakes for the background and I have only use two of the panels to crate the look. 

They have ben added to an embossed panel with foam pads for height and the larger butterfly is in three layers. The top layer, which is the smaller butterfly, has been covered in Versamark and then covered with gold embossing powder and heated.
 I repeated that process three times to give an almost enamel look to the insect.

I have added a pearl trail from the bodyline and this would make a lovely male card with a change of sentiment.
I hope you enjoy the video

                     

MESSAGE FOR Marilyn Coombs ….

I have deleted your comment as it contains your address. I ask you to email me with postal addresses so that they remain private. Can you please do that ASAP

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Marilyn Coombs - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Sorry to be so late at posting but it has been such a beautiful day that we have been outside all day in the sunshine. Ruby and I went for a long walk with my family along the promenade and it was very busy. The sun really brought the people. We had a lovely ice cream and I ended up wearing most of mine as it melted.

I have however now done the draw and without any more chat I will add the name.

So the winner of the Christmas Scene is ….

 Marilynn Coombs

Please would you email me with your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and I can get the parcel sent to you straight away.

I hope you will enjoy it when you get it and please be sure to let me know that you have it safely. 

More tomorrow …

Hugs xx

Ruby and Ella Update

Hi Everybody,

It's me Ruby, the Cocker Spaniel, and it has been a while since I was here.

This is a picture of me with my sister Ella, the cat, waiting at the bathroom door for our mum.

Ella was one a little while ago and I am getting used to her now and do you know she is not that bad.

She rubs up against me and wafts her tail under my nose. That tickles me and I walk away from her, but she follows me everywhere.

Mum says she does that because she loves me .... me I'm not so sure.

 We have actually shared the same dog bed that is in mums craft room. Can you see her tucked in on the right hand side.

I wouldn't mind but her own bed is right alongside mine and she still wants to get in with me,

I draw the line when she comes near my food bowl and then I growl at her. But she got the message very quickly and now eats her own dinner and leaves me in peace.

She likes to come outside in the back garden with me, and she hides under the bushes to jump out at me, and then I chase her and she runs inside.

It's not that bad having a little sister and we do get closer each day.

Don’t forget to scroll back and leave your comment for the Friday Freebie

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Seasonal Scene

Hi Everybody,

This pretty die set will create a lovely scene for any of your projects and it comes complete with some stamps to finish your cards off perfectly.

The magazine will give you lots of ideas on how to use this gift and as you play I am sure that you will come up with many many more.

So if this is something that you would like to have in your home then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your

FULL NAME 

I will add the winner to a blog post on Sunday so be sure to come back and check if it your name that is shown.

If the prize is not claimed then it will be offered again at a later date for someone else to win.

And today on Craft Stash Facebook Live I will be launching the brand new Butterflies & Lace Collection with Lou Collins so I hope you can join us then. There will be prizes to win and don't forget if you are a VIP Member then you will get 10% off your order

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Deal Of The Day

Hi Everybody,

Just to let you know that the special

Deal Of The Day 

over at Craft Stash  is for the Additions sets to the Pretty Book Collection.

This was always one of my favourite collections and I di lots of videos on how I used them

So if you got the full collection and you now want the additions, of dies and stamps to it, then now is the time to get it to fill your stash.

It will suit many many occasions other than the obvious ones and it is such a pretty gift to give to anyone.

Plus there is a lot that can be done with the individual dies

Have fun playing with whatever dies and stamps you have.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Playtime !!!

Hi Everybody,

I readily admit that I am not very practiced with foiling and I can never seem to get a good result. I may be using the wrong foil but something goes wrong.

However with this card I was quite happy even though the card is a little plain by my style. 

I used some really old Spellbinders dies that I have to make the frame and sentiment and they are from the Gold range that they used to make.

I wouldn't think that any of them are still available as I have had them for years and years.

For me this card needs more colour and embellishment but as it was just to try the foiling I thought I would leave it alone.

I must try to get more practice with it and then maybe I will get it to work properly for me.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx