Christi Neal - Winner

Hi Everybody,

Well tomorrow will be another year. And time has simply flown  by for the last few years and more birthdays loom on the horizon. My fingers are healing so thank you all for your concern, but memories of the Christmas Break have not faded, and the more I think about it the angrier I become.

Still onto more pleasant things and that is the draw for the beautiful Snowdrop die and stamp set.
It  has been done, at random, and the name this week is ...

Christi Neal

Would you email me your postal address please to
christina@card-making-magic.com 
and I will get it in the post to you as soon as I can.

I hope you like it and enjoy playing with it and please be sure to let me know that you have it OK.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Sweet Snowdrops

Hi Everybody,

The offer this week is from Hunkydory and it is a beautiful die and stamp set called 
Sweet Snowdrops

Just in time to herald in those spring days we are all looking forward too.

You will also get the magazine which is a good read and full of ideas on how to use your gift, as well as other things you may like to try,

All you need to do to win this gift is to leave me a comment at the end of the post with your 
FULL NAME 
and from those comments one name will be chosen as the winner and added to a blog post over the weekend.

Please be sure to come back over the weekend and check if it is your name that is shown as the winner and you will have 72 hours to claim it. And please be sure to let me know that you have received it safely

My Christmas Break

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and that Santa Claus brought you what ever you wished for.

My plan was to go away for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and return home on Boxing Day and Vickie and I had looked forward to it since we booked it in September.

We took the dogs with us and planned on some long walks even if it was cold and wet.

The day before we left, the wind blew my car door shut and trapped two fingers on my right hand. It wasn't until I got inside and turned on the light that I saw that they had been cut quite badly and I was bleeding ...  but at least they were not broken.

Still off we went and arrived at 2pm, in time for a glass of mulled wine and homemade cream tea, which was lovely. Then we where shown to our room which on the face of it also looked lovely.

We took the dogs for a walk and then returned to get ready for our evening meal at 7pm. 

The next day we  walked again getting back in time to get ready.

We had family coming to join us for Christmas Dinner, for what we hoped would be a lovely day. 

 I won't go into details but it all went  very badly downhill.

 Altogether we where very disappointed with the place, the service and the food and we will not be going back again.

Jamie, who is a chef, was really annoyed at the quality of the lukewarm food, and many of our guests left what was presented to them over the three courses. I don't think Isabella ate much at all

On Boxing Day before we left to come home, Vickie asked to speak to the manager. He asked " Is there an issue ?" she said "Yes... several"

  She was very calm and polite, but by then the whole break had been ruined for us. 

And believe me it was not a cheap break and so not worth it. I would not recommend it to anybody.

I hope yours was better !!!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a really

 Merry Christmas 

and a 

Happy New Year

 from

Christina & Ruby & Ella

XXXXXXXXXX 

Maria Muller - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

It's a bit miserable here to day .... dull and damp. I hope it is better where you are and that you are enjoying the start of the Christmas break. 

 I am staring to pack up things to take with me for our weekend away tomorrow  and it will be a nice change  to just get away for a short while. 

 I am taking Ruby with me but I don't think she cares where she is as long as there is food !! Ella is being looked after by my neighbour until I get back home again on Boxing day.

In the meantime the draw has been done for the Cascading Card Kit that is on offer and the name picked at random this week is

Maria Muller

so would you please email me with your postal address to
chrisrina@card-making-magic.com
and I will send it to you as soon as I get back home again.

Have a good Christmas

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie Cascading Card Kit

 Hi Everybody,

Todays offering is something a bit special in the form of thus complete card kit. 

It has card blanks, die cut toppers, patterned papers and a little embossing folder to help with the creation of some beautiful cards.

You will also get the magazine which is full of ideas and inspiration for you, and also the chance to down load some digital sentiments

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

FULL NAME

Then you will need to be sure to come back and see if it is your name that is shown as the winner.

I am going away over Christmas so I will add the name in tomorrows blog post and then I won't be back until Tuesday.  

It doesn't matter if you have won before or where you live I will send the prize to you at my expense, so be sure to add your comment and leave your name then I can notify the correct person of their win.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Adding Faux Bows

 Hi Everybody,

Tus pretty card is really small and is created using the Bow Die Set from Card Making Magic.

Once again it is an older die but having a set like this in your own personal stash is always useful for embellishing your design, especially if you don't have and real ribbon on hand.

In the links below I have added in the sentiment and butterflies stamp set but the circular die that cut the pattern into my card was free with a magazine many moons ago.

For this card I have just used the plain version

I have used it for this card to the left also but this time I have added in the detailed layer.

That gives it a more feminine look and for this I have added it to the Ivy leaves from the Trailing Floral die set

I also used some patterned card in blue and white for my centre strip, added it to a white layer and then embossed both in a folder.

I think both are pretty cards and could be adapted to suit any occasion you are making the card for.

For this card I have cut the smaller bow and made the ribbon banner for it to sit on, and then used pens to colour it in to give some shape.

The bow and ribbon have then been dotted with white pen to give a spotty effect.

This one has the bow separating the two different textures to the background , and again coloured in with alcohol markers. 

Whatever your design a little bow can make all the difference to your  outcome and I am sure that you won't be disappointed with the result.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

From Our House ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is created with a die that I have wanted since it was first introduced a while ago from Katie Skilton. 

This is the Macrame Detail Die Set and I love it.
It is unusual and you can decorate this any way you wish.

I chose to add Poinsettias to mine as a Christmas Card and I have added glitter to the centre of the flowers, and a Large pearl to the top.

There is another set that I liked as well and that was the Homespun Hoop Die Set.

There is a special offer going on at Craft Stash so I decided to get both die sets, and with my VIP discount I got the two for the original price of one. 

I will be adding more cards made with these die sets and I will be sure to add them here when I do. 

More tomorrow ..

Hugs xx

Glitter Snowflakes

Hi Everybody,

This was a Christmas Card I made a long time ago using glitter card and snowflake dies and I thought the result was lovely.

It is just an idea that you may have tried for yourself using up any of the snowflakes that you have in your crafting stash. 

It looks amazing with any size snowflakes and at the time that I made this I added a video to show you what I had done.

So as a refresher I am adding it again here for any new people that come to my blog in the hope that you will give it a try.

        

It is such a pretty effect and it can be used for other occasions like winter birthdays also.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Barbara Kelley - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Only two more weeks to go and we will be in a new year and I hope it will be a good one for all of you. I wish there to be world peace and a lot more happiness than all the doom and gloom that is around today.
 And that children can one again play with their friends without fear of war.

The world is wonderful ... it is the people in it that screw it up.

But for now I have done the draw for the beautiful snowflakes that are on offer and this is a really pretty die and stamp set so I don't think you will be disappointed with it. The name this week is ...

Barbara Kelley

Would you email me please with your postal address to 
christina@card-making-magic.com
and I will get it in the post to you straight away.

I hope you enjoy playing with it and please be sure to let me know that you have it OK

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Snowflake Sparkle

 Hi Everybody,

These beautiful snowflakes can adorn any of your Christmas projects for years to come.

The smaller set has four stamps with matching dies from Pink Fresh Studios,  and the larger set has snowflake stamps and sentiments.

They would create lovely backgrounds for your cards or you could die cut the smaller ones and add them separately to the design .

The magazine is sure to give you sone ideas that you may like to try and it will be a really good read anyway. Just grab a cuppa and relax.

Is this something that you think you would like in your own personal stash??

Then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME

From those comments one name will be chosen at random and announced on the blog so be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown.

As an added extra gift there will be a handmade Pokey Tool from me, added to the pack and I hope you enjoy using it when ever you craft

Good Luck everybody

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Designer Card Front - Half Scallop

Hi Everybody,

This die set is also part if the Designer Card front Collection and it will help you to make a really pretty card.

In the links below I have included all the A5 dies that are made to match these Designer Card Front Die Sets

This is just one idea and this is the Half Scallop, you will find videos on my YouTube Chanel in the Playlist section for Designer Card Fronts

The boxes are made from the Complete Card and Box Dies set and will add the perfect finishing touch to any of your creations.

The one to the left is using the  Teardrop Shape and this was a video I added not that long ago.

So there you have two different cards that are just as pretty as each other, an maybe they will inspire you to try one of these die sets for your self. 

Neither video is too long and I hope you will enjoy them as you relax with your favourite beverage.

All of these dies will make larger cards for you  and so if you prefer the A5 sized cards then these dies will be right up your street.

But although they create larger cards you can also cut them down to make them smaller or even DL or Slimline.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Designer Card Front - Triangles.

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is featuring the Inverted Triangle from the Designer Card Front Collection  and for this I have made  an envelope to put money, or a store card inside as a gift for your recipient.

This is a much better way to give these items at Christmas or Birthdays  and will be a lot more pleasing for both of you.

There are 15 dies in the set and at the moment this set us on offer with Craft Stash.

They are al designed to work with the A5 size of card. So now is the time to treat yourself for Christmas if this is a set that you would like to have in your collection.

I have included the Triangle shapes in the list below  and also the others in the collection for you to see. 

VIP Members will get their 10% off too so an extra bargain for you.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

  

Gloria Lamb - Winner

Hi Everybody, 

Not long now until the big day and I for one am not ready for it ... but then I never am,  every year.!

I have sort of put it off for the last few years and it is not my favourite time of year. I sound like an old grouch and I don't mean too but I will be glad once it is all over  with.

And it is pouring down to boot and that kind of spoils my plans for this afternoon.

But the draw has been done for the magazine ad die set and I hope the winner will  enjoy playing with it, either for late cards this year or some ready for next year.

The name chosen at random this week is ...

Gloria Lamb
so would you please email me with your postal address to

christina@card-making-magic.com

and I will get it posted to you as soon as I can.

I will pop one of the Glue Pins in the pack for you and hope that you will like it.

Thanks to those who enter and add their full names. That makes it easy to identify the winner and get the prize to the correct person.

 How on earth can someone leave me a comment ... with no name, that comes up as anonymous and expect to win ????? 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Friday Freebie - Winter Wreath

Hi Everybody,

 
Todays offering is on a Christmas theme and it is the really pretty Winter Wreath.

This gift is  from Memory Box and it comes complete with the Die Cutting Essentials magazine.

There are also some sentiment stamps and they will help you to make some lovely cards.

If not for this year then it will come in handy for the next one.

The magazine is full of ideas and inspiration that you may like to try for yourself.

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

FULL NAME

from those comments one name will be chosen as the winner and so you will need to come back and see if it is your name that is shown.

Then you will have 72 hours in which to notify me by email of your postal address.

Tucked inside the pack I have included a Pokey Tool for you and I hope you will like it and find it useful when you are making your cards.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Mix & Match Older Dies with New

 Hi Everybody,

I have been on a mission to use up some of the older dies that I have in my collection and mixing them with newer ones to see what I can come up with.

It was an interesting challenge and I looked for old dies that maybe you have too ... but I don't think some of them are available anymore. 

As new dies come out the older ones are removed and often when we have them in our own stash they are simply forgotten about. 

And that is a shame as they have cost us money and they need to be put to good sure to make sure we get our monies worth from the purchase. 

So here I have done a vidoe and created five cards all using the same dies but each with a different look to them.

When you have things out ready to use you may as well make the most of it and make many cards at the same time.

It saves you getting all your card and glues, die cutting machines and stamp platforms out again as you can make them all in one go and save some for another day.

You may want to keep your craft stuff to hand all the time but batch making can save you some time if you are in a rush as you will have some cards ready to be used.

I hope you enjoy the video ...

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Layered Flowers & Butterflies

Hi Everybody,

This pretty cards is created with the Layered Flowers but in the links below I have added in a few different stamps and die sets that will cover the flowers and the butterflies.

I have used the 5x7 Complete Card & Box Die Set to create the base and the box to put it in and I have used water colours for the design.

The faux stitching around the edges of the weaved panels is done with a fine liner pen and I also added it around the edge of each flower.

The centre of the flowers has the added pearl embellishment to them and smaller pearls have been placed in the bodyline of the butterflies.

The card was made some time ago and some of the items may no longer be available ... Time marches on !!

Maybe you already have some of them but if not then you can adapt it with any dies that you do have in your own stash.

More tomorrow ... 

Hugs xx

Creating a Bookmark

Hi Everybody,

Some days you may not feel like cardmaking but still want to craft something that is useful or your self or others.

So in this video I have used the Warm Florals Paper pack to create little book marks that I can give away to people who like to read or even to children for them to use in their books.

Each one takes just one sheet of paper and they are so quick and easy to do. There's no gluing and no dies used  and they can be made for any occasion. 

I chose to line mine, and you can use up any scraps of paper that you have left over. 

They can make a really pretty little gift that is quick and easy to do.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Linda Massey - Festive Bells

 Hi Everybody,

Sorry to be so late but I have had a busy morning. Weatherwise it's not too clever here but Ruby and I will be going out once I have done this post. We walked down  the promenade yesterday with Vickie and Dougal and it was very cold with a light dusting of snow everywhere, but it was sunny and still very pleasant to walk in 

So the winner today is 

Linda Massey

and you have won the lovely panel die from Crafters Companion called Festive Bells.
Please email ne with your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and I will get it sent off to your as soon as I can. Please be sure to let me know that you have it safely and I hie you enjoy playing with it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Festive Bells

 Hi Everybody,

This week sees a beautiful panel die being offered as the Give Away and this is from Crafters Companion.

As you can see from the photo that it is quite a large die and the magazine will give you some ideas on how you can use it on your own designs. 

There are lots of inspiration in the pages and so make yourself a cuppa and have a good browse through the pages. You won't be disappointed.

So would you like this to be on it's way to you ???

Then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post to be in with the chance.

You must add the comment with your FULL NAME or it will not be entered into the draw. You will also need to come back over the weekend to see if you are the listed winner and then you have 72 hours in which to claim it. If it is not claimed it will be re offered at a later date.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx