Beautiful Butterflies

Hi Everybody,

While searching through some old self adhesive "bling" I found these diamante butterflies that  have had for years. 

They are originally from Want2Scrap but they are a US company and the postage costs stopped me from using them 

Never the less I decided to use the diamante on my cards to add extra sparkle to the silver butterflies that I had already cut.

I also found some flourishes that I could use as butterfly trails and I added them to the bottom of each butterfly  

I splattered this card with some silver paint and it is just visible on the card base

Even thought the diamante doesn't fit each butterfly perfectly it is a close enough match to make them look really pretty.

I used a brick wall die to cut out of Kraft Card my background and that gave me a  two for one die cut.

I added the Kraft card to some double sided sticky sheet and then used each little brick on the top card and the complete frame on the bottom one.

I used some oval dies to cut a frame and and then a panel die to cut out the centre portion and added it to the oval with parchment behind.

Both are pretty cards and look much better in the hand, and this close up gives you a rough idea of how the diamante looks on the card.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs x

Christmas Ideas

 Hi Everybody,

I made a card with red candy canes on it for my Great Grandson Bobby to give to his friends at school for Christmas, but while the die was out I decided to elaborate a little more with the canes.

And this us where the rainbow canes card came from.

Rainbow Candy Canes Card

This card could be kept as a Christmas card or used as a birthday card and children would love it with their name on it too.

The idea to video it was a last minute decision as well and it is not long, but the card is quite pretty once completed

It could be used as an adult card too and not just for children. 

It could be dressed u with real ribbons and flowers if you wanted to and adding glitter would make it sparkle 

The ideas care endless once your imagination is working and you could make this card as fancy as you liked.

Have a look through all your old dies that haven't had an airing for some time and I bet you will be pleasantly surprised with what you find.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Sharon Brand - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Counting down the weeks now to Christmas and if you haven't made a start on your cards by now then you need to get a move on. This beautiful  layered stencil will help you to do just that. 

You could use them as a background, or make the large snowflake the main focal point to your design.
Whatever you do your are sure to have some lovely cards made very easily that will please both you and the recipient.

A name has been chosen from the comments that where left and this week it is 
Sharon Brand

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

Be sure to let me know that you have it safely and I hope you enjoy playing with it

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Stunning Snowflakes

 Hi Everybody, 

Today the offering is on a Christmas theme and it features snowflakes which are always useful for the season.

The set features a layering stencil and a small stencil brush to add the colours and also sentiments to complete your designs. 

The magazine is Simply Cards & papercrafts and it is full of excellent ideas and tips for you to get the most from the gift and of course other ideas too. 

Would you like to have tis in your crafting stash ????

Then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your Full Name

From those comments one name will be chosen as the winner and announced in a blog post over the weekend so be sure to come back and see if t is you.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Christmas Cards for Bobby

 Hi Everybody,

Sometime ago I added some
Birthday Cards
that my great grandson Bobby, asked me to make for him to give to his friends for birthdays.

Well here are some more only this time these are for him to give out at  Christmas.

I need to make many more yet but this is the start of what I intend to do for him.

Some of these are really old stamps from Crafti Potential, and some where free with magazines.

Some of the dies are those I have had for years from Spellbinders.

The reindeers are from Tonic and again very old now,  the cracker die was free with a magazine and they have all have been put to good use.

I have also used items that are left over from other projects like the Poinsettia and the Christmas lights in the deer's antlers

I spent  a morning making these and I have other stamps and dies that are suitable for children that I am going to use. 

Hopefully I can build up a good supply of cards for him to give to his friends and I hope that he likes them

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Still Available at Craft Stash

Hi Everybody,

There is no new video today but I do have a list of older ones that are using dies that are still available at Craft Stash. 

 These are the Elegant Nestables Collection and they are some of my favourite sets to wok with and they all work with each other to make you some beautiful cards.

Elegant Nestables DL & Slimline

I have been asked what does the DL stand for and it simply means Double Length ... so the card is 4" wide by 8" length

Each card is created with two different sets to showcase the versatility of them and the videos show you the possibilities of how you can mix and match them which are limitless

Elegant Nestables 5x7 + Circles

This beautiful pink card is a 6x6 size and  has been teamed with cream and some mulberry flowers.

You can add any stamped or die cut sentiment to the card to suit the occasion and your recipient.

It will certainly be playtime in your craft room with these lovely dies to work with and if you got them when they were first released then you will be aware of what they can do.

If you didn't  then here is your chance while they are still available . 

I have used a matt silver card for this base and added the Octagons to the top. 

Elegant Nestables 5x7 + Octagon 

  

I hope you enjoy these older videos and die sets and if you have them in your collections then maybe it is time to get them out again for another airing. 

I am on a mission to buy nothing new and so I am also looking at what I already have and making it work for me

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Christmas Easel Card

Hi Everybody,     

I made this card many years ago and I though that with Christmas coming round soon that now would be a good idea to add it again;

It also stays within the Easel Card theme that I gave been covering for the past few weeks.

 I have no photo to show you but because it is an old video at least I have been able to add the complete video from YouTube, and you can see the end result there. .

It is a lovely card created in red and gold and yet it was easy to make.

 It will be a real show stopper card for the special people you send cards to and one I am sure you will be very proud of.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Quad Easel Card

Hi Everybody,  

Today I am creating a Quad Easel Card and this is a style I added to YouTube about 13years ago.

 It has been covered many times since by other people but I thought it was time for me to do an updated version of this card.

The video will show you how I got this look and it is a 6x6" card which will fit into an envelope or why not make a box for it to make it even more special.

Quad Easel Card

The top photo is the card with all the easels open but it will fold up neatly for you to send.

I have made some of my own paper to go with it and I have all sorts of bits of inked papers left over so maybe I will do a video on how to use up all these scraps.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Sue Pollock - Winner

Hi Everybody,

Today it is dull damp and windy, and not the weather to go walking but if it brightens up later then Ruby will be in for a treat.  I am a fair weather walker and would much rather stay in by the log burner and keep warm, just toasting my toes.

Can I ask you all please to leave me comments when you visit the blog and check if you are still subscribed. And also check to see if you are subscribed on YouTube as YT seems to be unsubscribing people without their knowledge.

I am not the only one noticing this as other publishers have noticed that their numbers are falling even though they are adding regular content to their channel. It is very worrying and really disheartening too to see numbers going down.

 Please help wherever you can by giving the video a thumbs up, leaving a comment and subscribing ... or checking that you are still subscribed.
 Every little helps to grow the channel . Thank you xxx

In the meantime the draw has been done and the name this week is

Sue Pollock

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

I hope you enoy the gift and please be sure to let me know that you have it safely.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Winter Wonderland

Hi Everybody, 

Todays offering is some lovely skating boots  from Spellbinders and they come with the Die Cutting Essentials magazine.

The pages are full of inspiration and ideas for you to try and there is also the chance for you to download some papers and toppers to go with the die set

 

This gift is also in time for Christmas so if you have not made all your cards yet then here are some more ideas you may like to try.

This magazine has not been out long so if you would like to win it then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your

FULL NAME

It is always worth having a try to win these gifts as they are always good quality and will fill out your own crafting stash, but you need to be in it to win it !!!

You will need to come back and check if your name is shown as the winner in a blog post over the weekend. You have 72 hours in whcih to claim it and if it is not claimed then it will be offered again at a later date.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx  

Easel Card Dies

Hi Everybody.

I have been covering how to make and alter easel cards in the last few videos and  hopefully shown you ways in which you can personalise it to suit you.

There are lots of dies around that can make this style of card with just a pass through your die cutting machine.

I brought out several of these type of dies while I was with Craft Stash ... but I do not know if there are any available.

I also made a video on using these dies and how you can adapt them to suit your needs. and this Snowflake die was one of my favourites.

Snowflake Easel Card

It is a lovely die to work with and the end results are quite pretty and different., and here you can see just how different it can be,

 Did you get this die set ???

Or maybe you got one of the other styles that I brought out at the time as there where quite a few to choose from.

More tomorrow 

Hugs xx

I'm still Playing

Hi Everybody,

Going through my worktop I have found papers that I have created and never used.

The same goes for other die cuts that have been sitting waiting to be picked up again.

Well now is the time to use them and these have all been made from one session. 

I have cut the paper up into various shapes and used gold mirror card to add the decoration.

They all look different and I have used some old Card Making Magic sentiments on them all.

 

The dies I have used for these cards are all from CMM but there is no point in me adding the links as a lot of my designs are now not being stocked by Craft Stash.

If you have them all well and good but if you don't then just use any butterfly, flower, leaf or sentiment dies that you do have. 

Your card will look just as good simply because you have made it. 

The colours I have used have been Distress Oxides in Squeezed Lemonade, Peacock Feathers and a touch of Spun Sugar and they have been Smooshed onto the paper. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Playtime Cards

 Hi Everybody,

These cards have been made from one sheet of handmade inked paper and the same die using both the negatives and positive pieces from the die cut.

I have got two for one and nothing is wasted and they all look different. Each of the square pieces have been added with a foam pad underneath

I have used gold and silver mirror card on them to make the sentiments stand out and other little die cuts for decoration.

But they have all been leftovers from other projects and I think they have created some really pretty cards.

I always cut extras when I am die cutting for the times when I have no inspiration.

I go through the extras and see what can be produced to make cards, and once I get going the inspiration comes back.

It saves me money, there is no waste and it helps to fill my charity box at the same time. So nothing is lost.

Here are two more, with different colours for the paper but the same die and silver mirror card for the sentiment.

I have more that I won't add just yet but here there are six cards to go to the charity shop and make the manageress happy in the process

Hope you like them too

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

YouTube Collaboration

 Hi Everybody,

Today I am so excited to be doing a collaboration with another YouTuber and I am sure that many of you will already know about her channel. We got together and decided to do our individual ideas on a Christmas card.

We have completely different styles, in fact at total opposite ends to each other. I am a more is more type of crafter and I love to add flowers, ribbons and pearls to my designs. 

Whereas Christine is a Clean & Simple style and she makes some beautiful cards .
I am adding the links here to both our channels for you to view each video and we would be delighted if you would  "Like" comment and subscribe to each of us.

Christina's Video ...  https://youtu.be/6idnJlRbKuk
Christine's Video ...   https://youtu.be/VgFRjELSm2U?si=DTjSDtRPQjkB5uGY

Enjoy

Christina Griffiths

Christine Stokes

  &

Anne Owens - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Another week closer to Christmas and I am fed up of making Christmas Cards already. It is not my favourite time of year and it seems to go on for ever.
 I went to the supermarket a week ago and in one aisle there was Halloween stuff and as soon as I turned the corner there was Christmas and it was still only October      

Christmas is fine for children but it comes in December not September, October or November.

I had a lovely email from Kathy Olsen.  She is a lady who lost her home a couple of years ago in Hurricane Ian She has since suffered through two more hurricanes and after two years she is still not back in her home. She lost everything and all her craft stuff was looted.

She contacted me via her smart phone but she no longer has a computer.
She explained that this is why she cannot leave me a comment any more. 
I asked you all to pray for her two years ago and I am asking you again.

Keep Kathy in your thoughts as she struggle on to get her home back

I have done the draw for the lovely butterflies  and this week the name is

Anne Owens

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

Be sure t et me know that you have it safely.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

           

Friday Freebie - Mariposa

Hi Everybody,

We all make mistakes on our cards and we all know the blessing of a suitably placed butterfly or flower to hide that fingerprint or ink  splodge !!.

But butterflies also make beautiful card focal points in their own right and this die set is no exception, and it comes with the magazine Die Cutting Essentials, so you will never be short of ideas.

There is also the opportunity for you to down load papers and toppers, and they will work really well with the die set for you to create some lovely cards for any occasion.

If you would like this die set then all you ned to do is leaves me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME

Then you will need to come back and check if your name as show as the winner and then contact 
me within 72 hours to claim the prize. If it is not claimed then it will be offered again at a later date.

You can enter wherever you live,  and it doesn't matter if you have won before

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Water Coloured Parchment Flowers

 HI Everybody

Both of these cards have been created with water coloured flowers  made from parchment and the effect in real life is very pretty.

I have added glue pen to the striations on the flowers and then sprinkled it with glitter but it doesn't show up very well in the photo.

They have both been added to a panel, that is deeply embossed, and very old , from  a Spellbinders embossing folder .

They have then been added to the base card with foam pads underneath  .

The flowers look veery delicate and glittery 

The gold butterflies are there for effect and they have been added to parchment also. 

Both cards are 5x7 top folded smooth white 300gsm cardstock

I am really pleased with the look of these cards and I was quite surprised.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Block Easel Card

Hi Everybody,

Here is another way to make an Easel Card and this is also one that is easy to do, that looks a little different.

I have added quite a few variations over the past few days  all with  a new way to make them and yet all looking fresh from the others. 

I am adding the link to the video here  and if you click the link it will open a new window for you to view on YouTube

Block Easel Card

I am doing my best to increase my subscribers both here on the blog and on YouTube but I need you to add your comments and likes in both places.

YouTube respond well when people like the video and they then promote it to other like minded crafters. So it is very important to me and the future of my channel.

Just as important is the blog and I have noticed that there is a distinct lack of comments from visitors to my pages.

I may consider not blogging in the future if the numbers don't increase as it is very disheartening when the response is not forthcoming .

I will see how it goes for a little longer before I decide what to do.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Triple Twist Easel Card - Design 5

 Hi Everybody,

Here is yet another way that you can add that twist to your triple easel cards and make them completely personal to you.

Add them to an envelope or make them a box and they are so very different for your recipient to enjoy.

The video will show you how to create this one and it is very easy to do. 

I have used my own handmade papers again and I tell you the colours I have used so that you can try it as well. 

Play with some of your inks to see what colour blends you like the look of and don't be afraid to go for it.

It is only paper and a little ink so if you don't like it then try again until you find something that you do like. 

Click the link to watch the video on YouTube and please leave me a comment, Like and subscribe

Triple Twist Easel - Design 5 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Betty McAlister - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

It is getting colder now and the nights are drawing in again. It is time to turn the clocks back again and enter into our winter. I am still waiting for summer to arrive as it seems to have been a really dismal one this year.

But on a good note another Friday Freebie has been drawn and the lucky winner of the fabulous sentiments dies on offer this week is ...

Betty McAlister

This is such a good addition to anyone's crafting stash  and will come in very handy as it covers many occasions for you. 

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

Please let me know when you get it and I hope you have fun playing with it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Stylish Sentiments

Hi Everybody,

Todays offering is all about the sentiments that we like to add to our cards and in this set you will find many mix and match words.

You will also get the copy of the magazine
 Die Cutting Essentials
that is full of tips and information for you to browse at your leisure

There is also a download of papers and toppers that can be used on your creations.

Is this something that you would like to have, or maybe it is even something that you need to finish off your cards.

To be in with the chance to win this then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your FULL NAME

Then be sure to come back and check over the weekend to see if your name is listed as the winner.

Please check your comments too because if your full name is not added then you will not be entered into the draw.

I am happy to send this to you wherever you live and it doesn't matter if you have won before you can still enter again. Good Luck.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Bob's Cards ...

Hi Everybody,

I was asked by my six year old Great Grandson if I would make him some cards that he could send to his school friends for their birthdays.

I want through all my old stamps and found those that were suitable for children and got busy making him some.

I coloured the stamped images in and added googly eyes, or glossy accents, to some of them.

I put them all, with an envelope, into a cellophane bag and gave them to him yesterday.

He has 24 cards and I enjoyed making them, and I think he will enjoy giving them to his friends. 

The next request is some cards for him to send to his friends for Christmas and of course I will oblige.  

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx  

Corner Easel Card

 Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is a Corner Easel Card and is one that is really easy to make. It is just a few score lines and one cut using an 8x8 peice of card.

The video will show you how I made a beautiful lilac Corner Easel Card
and there are several other colours for you to see.

I used an old paper pack that I have and it came in very handy as the correct size, but you could make these any size you preferred.

This size would fit into a normal envelope but it would make a lovely gift if added to a small box.

And of course if your embellishments are deeper than mine then it would need that box to hold it so that things don't get crushed.

The cards are all very pretty but I have to admit that this lilac one is my favourite.

I think it turned out especially well

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Star Easel Card

 Hi Everybody,

Here is another design in the Easel Card series and just as easy to make.

I am showing you two sizes 5x7 and the A6 but both cards are made using the same inks, flowers and way of making.

I have added the flowers in different areas on the cards and the sentiment in opposite corners but otherwise they are the same.

I cannot lay claim to being the originator of any of these designs as Easel Cards have been around for many years, these are simply my take on things that I am more than happy to share with you.

So this is the

Star Easel Card

It is a design that you can have some fun with and there are lots of tutorials on YouTube for more ideas on how to decorate the card.

I have another design for easels coming tomorrow so I hope you will join me then.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Alternating Panel Easel- Design 4

 Hi Everybody,

In the last Easel Card video we made a card with all the panels facing the same way. In this one we are going to make them face opposite ways.

It is just as easy to do and we have used a 5x7 base. 

But to simply the twisted panels I have cut the full card down to 6 3/4 x 4 3/4 and that makes life easier to divide the pieces.

The video will make things clearer for you and I am sure you will like the finished cards.

It will fit into a 5x7 box to make it easier to give to your recipient. 

Here is the link to the video and I hope you enjoy it and will give this easel card a try.

Alternating Panel Easel Card
Design 4

I haven't made the paper for this card in the video as I have covered that process in others.

The colours I have used have been Dried Marigold,

Scattered Straw and Crackling Campfire with some copper embossing powder that  I already have.

So just use what you have in your own personal crafting stash, without going to the expense of buying more.

More tomorrow  ...

Hugs xx

Mags Wilkie - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Ruby and I have been out for a good walk yesterday because of the  predicted storm Ashley that was due to hit the UK Saturday and Sunday. We have got some logs in as well to get the burner going and we will be all warm and cosy while the winds howl away outside.
Ella will curl up in front of the fire as she loves the warmth of it.
I hope you are have battened down your hatches as the wind is predicted to be quite rough.

In the meantime the draw has been done for the beautiful flower dies from Lisa Horton and there are some papers and toppers that you can download to go with the dies.
So you should have some fun playing with these.

The name today is...

Mags Wilkie

and  if you would send me your postal address I will send them to you straight away.
I hope you enjoy the gift and please be sure to let me know that you have it ok.

Have fun 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Fabulous Florals

Hi Everybody,

Some beautiful flowers are the order of the day and they will make a gorgeous accompaniment on your cards.

It is a four peice die set from Lisa Horton and it comes with the Die Cutting Essentials magazine.

This is always a good read and is full of tips and information for you to browse at your leisure.

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

Then be sure to come back and check if your name is listed as the winner in a blog post over the weekend,

I am happy to send it to you wherever you are and it doesn't matter if you have won before.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

 

The other card ...

Hi Everybody,

In the video I shared yesterday, for the Easel Card Design 3,  I showed you the same design in another colour way. 

This one also has handmade coloured inked paper used on it and I used some left over flowers from the parchment ones that I made when I did that series on using parchment in your cards.

This is the card as it looks when it is raised up and each of the  easels is decorated with the flowers and I added in a floating butterfly as well. 

The next picture is how the card looks when closed up and to give my card I have made it a box.

I used the DL Card & Box maker set and there is plenty of room to fold the panels down and add it inside.

It is a much nicer way to give a card with so much dimension on it and nothing is compromised on the design.

I decided to make a navy blue box for this particular card and it looks lovely, and blends well with the stripey card on the .back portion of the panels

This picture shows how the panels look from the top when they are opened up, and clearly show all three kept open by the small wooden buttons I have used for the easel stops.

Nest week I will have some more Easel Card design to share with you and so I hope you will come back for those.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Triple Twisted Panel Easel - Design 3

 Hi Everybody,

Todays card is another of those easel cards that are always popular and yet seem so difficult to make to new card makers.

Believe me they are not and once you have made one you will be happy  to try other variations.

This one is a little different and it has been around for years.

You will find many many tutorials on YouTube showing you how to make Easel Cards and all the variations

This is my version of the card

Triple Twisted Panel Easel  - Design 3

 and how I put my own personal mark on the card.

I really enjoyed making it and it is really special  and creating my own background papers helps to make it even more personal as no one else will have that paper.

Not even you will be able to make the exact same background twice  ...no matter how hard you try.

I hope you will give some of these cards a try for yourself and there are now lots of videos with all the different ways that you can make easel cards

There is sure to be one that takes your fancy, and I have more variations to come yet 

I have used my own DL box die set to make the box and if you have it all well and good but if you don't then you may find that it is no longer available for you to purchase.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx