Mixture of Techniques

 Hi Everybody,  

These are some of the cards I have made over the past few weeks and they have been filmed and added to the blog pages.

This one is using the Tile Effect for the die cut panel and I have embellished it with silver.

The finished card is a 5x7 and the die cut is one from the original "Christina Collection" brought out many years ago now by Craft Stash.

The alphabet letters are also an old Card Making Magic die set and I don't know if  any of the are still available.

The butterfly was free with a magazine many years ago

The card to the left is using the weaving technique and both videos that were added just days ago.

This is also a 5x7 card as I fine that size suits me the best, not too big and not too small.

It is the circle in the centre of this card that is the
Woven Panel Card 

and it is a very pretty effect what ever size you make the panel or shape.

This card is a mixture of two techniques and has a woven panel  done with the Fractured Card look.

I love the colours in this panel and they are

 Antique Linen and Speckled Egg Distress Oxides. 

 I have splattered the whole lot with gold paint before cutting it into strips to be woven.

I have edged it with gold mirror card leaving a small gap between the panel and the strip for a different kook to the fracture.

All these cards are now in my charity shop box and waiting to be taken to the store.

More tomorrow ...

 Hugs xx

Playing with inks ...

Hi Everybody,

These cards are made from the other colour way mentioned in the Three Panel Card video   that I added last week.

Experiment and see which colour combinations you like the most and make your cards with those, it is a process you will enjoy as you play.

You could also try cutting your card at a different angel to vary the look. and use any stamps that you may have in your own collections to personalise the backing.

I really enjoyed making these papers for my cards and it is something I will be doing again soon. 

You could add in some gold or silver card to enrich the design and also add in any little die cuts that you have.

It is an excellent way to use up your scraps and odd pieces that you have lying around.

But it is very addictive and I made loads ... far more than I needed, and so now I have a small box ready to use in the future.

So try really hard to restrict your self to just making what you need for the project in hand ....
 and that is easier said than done !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Everyday Items - Hole Punch Dots

Hi Everybody,

It is no secret that I love to add embellishments to my cards, whatever it is ... Flowers, Ribbons or Pearls !!

This is something that I have enjoyed doing for a long time and I know that to some people I add too much, but to me more is more.

I like the look of small pearls or enamel dots but they can get a little expensive and so I make my own.

I have in the past made them from coloured glues or the little jars of Nuvo Drops and allowed them to dry before transferring them to my cards.

And I did  a video called Create Your Own Pearls and flourishes about twelve years ago, and boy have I come a long way since that video.

It looks so old now and my cards are much better than they where back then 

I have even made the dots from wax seals in the past and left them to dry, and then added them to my designs.

But this one is so easy and uses up scraps of any kind of card that you have left over. 

You could use a die if you have one that cuts out the holes for you but the hole punch is so cheap to buy and is something that some people already have in their home office. 

Here is the video so please click the link and go to YouTube to view.
Hole Punch Dots

Please leave me a comment both here on the blog so that I know you have visited me, and on YouTube so that they know you enjoy the videos I upload. Thank you xxx

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Ethne Gloss - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

I hope you are enjoying this lovely weather at long last … we have waited so patiently for it and now the sunshine is here.  It makes such a difference when the sun is out and everything feels much more pleasant. Let’s hope it last a good while now that it is finally shining for us.

I have done the draw for the gift on offer on Friday and the name today is

Ethne Gloss

Would you email your postal address please to

christina@card-making-magic.com

and I will get it in the post to you straight away. I hope you enjoy it and please be sure to let me know that you have it safely 

More tomorrow…

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Glass House & Nativity Scene

Hi Everybody,

Today offering is from Olga Direktorenko and is part of her paper Discovery Range. 

It features a large glass house die that can be filled with flowers or birds but  this set it comes with the Nativity Scene.

The large glass house is 14.6 x 20.8cms so you can see how impressive this die set is.

That Nativity set can also be used alone to build up a beautiful creation for any of your Christmas projects.

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

Be sure to come back and check if your name is shown as the winner in a blog post over the weekend as I have no way to contact you should you win. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Day Four Video

Hi Everybody,

I hope you have been popping over to YouTube and enjoying the videos  that I have added all this week.

They started with creating your own really pretty backgrounds and then using them in various ways to make your cards.

Far more satisfying than buying papers or card especially when there are shades and colours in that pack that you will never use.

This makes far more sense and it uses any of the inks that you have too, as well as embossing powders that can sit there for years.

So here is another idea that you may like to try.

Woven Panel Cards

This is weaving the paper that has been cut into strips. 

I used some strip dies that I have and I got mine from Amazon for a really good price point. 

I have added the link at the bottom in case you wanted to look at them.

You could use your trimmer if you preferred or simply a ruler and craft knife.

The mirror card and parchment are also from Amazon and is excellent quality. 

The video is not long as I try to keep them as short as I can but you will need to click the link to open a new window in YouTube to watch it.

Please leave me a comment here and on YT and subscribe and "Like" the video as that will help my channel to grow.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Day Three Video

Hi Everybody,

Todays cards are using another of the papers to make some lovely flowers that can be added to your designs and this colour way is Chipped Sapphire and Worn Lipstick.

I have tried to come up with an unusual way to add them to this card and created a channel to suspend them across the  centre.

I have used a heavy weight acetate for the back if this panel and that will add stability to the front. 

So this video is titled

Distress Flower Cards
and it will show you three ways in which I have used them on my designs.

Again I have used the same silver Mirror card and parchment for the butterfly.

The vertical sentiment is from an old Card Making Magic set and just makes a change from using horizontal ones.

I am adding the links at the bottom simply to show you what I have used and f you have them too then that is fine.

But if you don't then simply substitute what I have  used for something that you do have and have fun creating your own unique backgrounds.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Day Two Video

Hi Everybody,

Today I am using another of the papers created yesterday and this is the Seedless Preserves and Chipped Sapphire.

It has been teamed with the same silver card and butterfly as the others but for this I have added it to some heavy weight Acetate.

I have also used parchment behind the sentiment and butterfly wings as well as for  for the leaves.

The weight of Parchment and Acetate is not all the same so choose carefully when you buy. and make sure that they will die cut too.

This card is done with Worn Lipstick and Blue print sketch and gives you another look for the card. 

This has not been added to acetate first and it is done with gold mirror card.

The sentiment has a dropped shadow of gold under the white words.

The video is called the 

Torn Edge Card 

and is produced by tearing the paper towards your self to get the white edges which can be inked or not  ... as suits you. 

Clicking the link opens a new window for you to view the video on YouTube as this is the wat YT now want it to be. 

So please watch it all and if you would  "like and subscribe"  to my channel that would be wonderful

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Day One Video

Hi Everybody,   

This week I am adding a video everyday to show you how I created some beautiful papers and ways in which I have used them on my designs.

I have called this video the 
Three Panel Card
and you will see why in the video.

It is not too long and I hope you will enjoy the process and maybe try it our for yourself.

 It can give you some beautiful backgrounds and you can vary the colours for your own favourites.

Don't go buying anything new either just search through your own sash and use what you have

You don't need the same stamps, inks or embossing folders that I have used to make beautiful cards.

I have teamed these cards with the same silver mirror card for a really rich look and the butterfly is the same on them all. 

I have added the links at the bottom to the mirror card and dies I have used that I have and some of them are from Amazon and they where not expensive.

Most of the die cuts have been backed with a heavy weight parchment.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Stacey Kowbel - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

It is really lovely here today and Ruby and I will be out for a walk later either before it gets too hot or when it has cooled down a little.  I have a tower fan in my bedroom and I have had that going for most of the night to keep me more comfortable ... it didn't work !!

So we got up early and now it's coffee time.

The draw has been done and the name this week is

Stacey Kowbel

would you please email me your postal address to 
christina@card-making-magic.com
and the pack will be on its way to you.

I hope you enjoy playing with it once it arrives and be sure to let me know that you have it safely.

Next week I have a series of videos coming up .... one every day ... and I announced this too early.
I took the post down straight away but an eagle eyed reader spotted it and said she was looking forward to seeing them. 

Of course it was a  week early and they didn't show up then but they will be with you next week for certain. Please "Like" , subscribe and leave me comments here and on YouTube and enjoy all of them.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - More Sheena ...

 Hi Everybody,

Today is a bumper offer of goodies from Sheena Douglas,

They consist of two A5 stamp and die sets called Still Waters and Down the Track and both will build scenes for your cards.

They are suitable for any of your male cards and they have sentiment in the packs as well.

To top this off there is also an A5 stencil that will create the backdrop for either of the stamp sets.

Now if you would like to have this  bundle 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 at random and then announced in a blog post over the weekend so please be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown as the winner.

You will have 72 hours in which to claim it and then it is gone, and will be offered again at a later date in another blog post.

Good Luck 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Inked Embossing Folder

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is created by inking and embossing folder and running the card through the machine.

It has a very mottled look because of the way the ink was added  and I have a video to show you how I did it.

If you click the link it will open another window for you to view it on YouTube but be sure to come back here once you are finished.

Inked Embossing Folders

The parchment that I have added over the inking just diffuses the colour a little and creates a lovely backdrop for the flowers.

The whole technique is very pleasing to do and in the video you will see even more examples of cards that I have done this way.

I hope that this may be something that you will try for yourself and if you already have then let me know how it went for you.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

6x6 Paper Pack

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is using a paper pack that I have had in my craft room for absolute years. 

I have used some of it but I still have quite a bit left over and so that is why I made the card.

I don't remember exactly where it is from but I think it is a Daisy Mae paper pack.

 I have teamed it with white, parchment and silver card in the shapes of leaves and flowers, with the silver heart added to the front.

I have used one of my Card Making Magic Decorative Corners dies to create the panel for the front.

The flowers dies are from the Tall Flowers die set that was brought out a long time ago now, and they are cut in silver.

The finished card is an A6 and will fit into a standard envelope.

You could add any sentiment you needed to the front of this creation and it would suit any time of year.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

More Fractured Cards.

 Hi Everybody,

Today I have more ideas on the Fractured Card design thar I featured last week.

This video dress up the cards a little bitt more and the one shown is my favourite.

I used some paper using Distress Oxides and gold splattering for this one and I think it kooks really pretty against the black strips.

Here is the video link and if you click it you will open a new window for you to view it.

More Fractured Card Ideas

I am trying really hard to increase my following on YouTube and any help you can give me by watching the videos on there will be a big help.

You may need to watch the adverts but they are not long and it all shows up in the YouTube algorithms that are applied. It helps YT to know that you enjoy the videos and they then support me by recommending my videos to other like minded people.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Fractured card

 Hi Everybody,

Todays card used to be known by another name, years ago, but I cannot remember what it was. 

Today it is called the Fractured Card Technique and so that is  the name I have used to describe it.

I have a video on YouTube that will show you how I made this  one and if you would click this link it will take you straight to the channel.

Fractured Card with Frame

Clicking the link will open a new window for you to view the video but don't forget to come back here when you are done.

And please leave me a comment, like and subscribe to my YouTube channel while you are there.

I have another video coming that will show you even more ideas with this style of card and I hope you will  give it a try.

It is not hard to do and you can dress it up anyway you wish to suit you and your recipient,  or the occasion. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Christine Cloutier - Winner

Hi Everybody,

This is a bright and cheerful day which certainly makes a change as the weather here has been rubbish lately. Where has summer gone with some warm sunshine ??  it is not a but like July.

I have nothing planned for the rest of the day just going to take it easy and relax with Ruby and Ella.
Ruby and I may go for a short walk later perhaps a little trek through the woods as she loves that.

In the meantime the draw has been done for the two brands on offer this week and the name toady is...

Christine Cloutier

so if you would email me your postal address please to
christina@card-making-magic.com
I will get it sent off to you straight away.

Please be sure to let me know that you have it safely and I hope you enjoy playing with the items when they arrive.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Two Brands

 Hi Everybody,

Today I have two brands on offer that will be instantly known by many of you, and they are from Sam Calcott and Lou Collins

I have a die and stamp set from Made to Surprise and this will coordinate with her Simple Pop Ups Collection.

So if you already have some of that then this will be an extra set for you to use.

The other is a paper pack from Textures called Peacock Plume and this is 24 sheets of 190gsm designer paper.

If you would like to have both of these 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 at random and announced in a blog post over the weekend so be sure to come back and check if it is you.

I am happy to send the pack to you wherever you are and it doesn't matter if you have won before.
Good luck everybody

More tomorrow ...

Hugs x

Birthday Cards

Hi Everybody,

Birthday Cards are my most regular makes for family, friends or simply to donate to the charity shop. And I make loads of them in the course of a month.

These are just some that I have made over the past few months and all these feature apertures in them with a bright and beautiful background.

They have all been teamed with a bright gold mirror card and butterflies are used on all of them. The season of butterflies is upon us and so why not use them in your designs.

They are something I use a lot ... along with leaves, flowers, hearts and feathers ... all of which make a beautiful additions to your creations

This card has a really delicate sentiment stamped onto the front of it with my favourite Rose Flourish leaves added behind.

For this card I have used a vertical sentiment to compliment the vertical aperture.

Again I have used gold mirror card to cut the leaves and the butterfly,  plus I have added them all to parchment.

Then I backed the sentiment onto a gold panel as well.

These cards are all 5x7 with the fold at the top,  to create a tent fold card that will stand better on it's own.

And despite having the butterflies that are reasonable flat and will fir into  standard sized envelope for posting.

This card has been created using desktop finds of the gold card and added to the design.

This sentiment is cut from a die, but the others are stamped from older Card Making Magic sets that you may have as well.

I particularly like the vertical stamps as they make a change to the way I add my greetings.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Desk top finds ...

Hi Everybody,

So this is another card using up all the left over bits that are lying about on my desktop.

 It is amazing what can be created with the bits you can find from a previous crafting session. So keep them all in one box and have a rummage when you next need something.

The background to this card is one I had left over from making my own Distress Oxide papers and using a stencil.

The smaller panel is  cut in white and added to a really old Spellbinders die and that has also been added to an inked piece of paper hat was left over.

The leaves are from my favourite die set,  the Rose Flourish, along with smaller leaf dies tucked into the mix, and they have been cut in white and gold.

The flowers are more odd bits and they have been layered together and added to the card with small peach coloured resin centres.

The sentiment is also in gold on a parchment shadow and that is an old Card Making Magic die set.

I have used the antique type of gold card for this rather than the bright gold mirror card as it seemed to fit in better with the overall look.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Gelli Plate Background

Hi Everybody,

The little panel to this card is created with the use of a Gelli Plate,  Distress Oxide Inks and a stencil.

I was having a playtime with the plate and I produced quite a few backgrounds that I can use on my cards ... but I didn't film the process.

So I will get it all out again and make some more using the plates and the Distress Oxides and this time I will actually get on film what I use.

And make some cards in the process using the panels that I create.

I have had the Gelli Plate for a long time and I got mine from Amazon, but you can get an equivalent one cheaper elsewhere, and they come un lots of different sizes.

I have used it very little and I always feel a little intimidated by it, but having said that I do like the card that is shown here.

 I have used acrylic paints in the past and they I am not comfortable with as they are far too messy for me. I am not the cleanest of crafters and they are too much even for me. 

I will get lots more practice in over the next few weeks and then I will feel more confident with it to film what I am doing. 

To thus card I added a frame around the panel and then added it to some gold card for the mat.

I topped it with some feathers cut from white, gold card and parchment. 
The self adhesive  pearls I have had for a long time and they need a little extra blob of glue to help them stick.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Make the most of Acetate

Hi Everybody,

Over the years I have used Acetate in many different ways and it makes whatever you add to the card appear as if it is floating. 

It is an excellent materials for adding to boxes either as a complete lid or simply to line the top of the lid to display the beautiful card inside. 

I have even made complete small boxes and filled them with sweets for children.

Or you could make the ever popular shaker cards too.

But  I really like the look of card bases made from the thicker acetate that can be bought, and it can be frosted, embossed or left clear which ever you please

Here is the link to the video on YouTube for you to view ... Make The Most Of Acetate

I am now adding the links direct to YouTube as that will increase my viewing on that channel and I would appreciate it if you would click the link to go there and leave a comment,

The top card is left clear but the pink one has a frosted back to it and it does make such a difference.

But if you do use acetate don't make the same mistake I did.       Stupid me !!!!

 I did not remove the protective covering from the sheet and I was not happy with the look at all.

Then I realised what I had done and had a good laugh at myself,  and once that layer was peeled off I had a lovely bright acetate base to adorn and I was very relieved.

It is a very versatile product to work with and try some of the patterned or coloured sheets that are on the market for yet more ways to make your cards look different.

For the card to the right I have used an embossing folder.

I simply ran the folded card base though the machine and then removed the protective layer after.

You could also achieve another look by sanding the embossing 

More tomorrow ..,

Hugs xx< 

Maggie Coleman - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

So today dawns bright and dry and will be a good day to take Ruby for a short walk. I feel so guilty not taking her further but she gets tired and sticks to my heels like glue when she has had enough.
Then I know it is time to head for home again. 

I hope you are enjoying the videos I have added lately and I have been doing two every week for a few weeks now. They are all on YouTube so if you could leave a comment at the end of the videos on YT that would be great. It lets YT know that you like that kind of video and then they will promote it even more.

Tre draw has been done for the offering on Friday and the name this week is

Maggie Coleman

would you send me your postal address please to
christina@card-making-magic.com
and I will get it sent to you straight away.

Please be sure to let me know that you have it safely and I hope you enjoy playing with the gift.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Textures

Hi Everybody,

Today I have more dies and a paper pack to give away and this one is from Textures by Lou Collins.

The die is one piece with lots of words written onto it and this will fit the whole front of a card. 

You could just cut into it if you wanted the words for your project.

The paper pack is  from the Art Deco Collection and there are some lovely patterns in this set that can be used to decorate your card front or die cut into it.

So if this is something that you think you would like to have 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 drawn as the winner and shown in a blog post over the weekend so please be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is there.  

I have no way to contact you so you will need to let me know your email address, if you are the winner, and you will have 72 hours to let me know where you are

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Floral Tag Card

 Hi Everybody,

Todays card is in really pretty colours of Saltwater Taffy and Shaded Lilac. 

I blended them over some white card and then added some heat embossing to the top. 

The video will show you how I got the look and I am very pleased with the result. Blending my own colours onto the paper always gives a lovely effect.

The flowers are created from the same coloured card and topped with gold mirror card and the finished card is a 5x7.

I didn't want to waste any of the card that was left and so I made another DL card using the bits I had left over.

The butterfly was cut from the back panel before is was added to the base and no one will ever know that there is a hole in this panel.

The background for this card was created with a Ribbler and it is something that I have had for absolute years ad not used for a long time,

If you are seasoned card maker then you will probably know what one is.

It is just a peice of equipment that the card is run through and it produces the rippled effect. 

Very simple but very effective and I should use it more seeing as how I  have it in my stash.

I hope you enjoy the video and you may have noticed that I am trying to remain consistent with my YouTube Channel and I  have been adding two videos every week, on Monday and Thursday, for the last few weeks.

If you  would watch them in there entirety. including the short adverts ,  it is really big help so that YouTube will promote my channel on a regular basis and it gives me a little money so that I can continue to make more videos for you to enjoy. 

Thank you for your support

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Inked Background

Hi Everybody,

For today's card I have used a background that I have created with inks and then cut into a smaller panel that has been framed with a stitched white card.

I have added this to an embossed panel and the finished card is an A6 size and is reasonable thin to go into an envelope for posting.

The blue gemstones have been added in random areas and the sentiment has been cut from the same inky background.

I used silver mirror card to cut the leaves and added them to a white base layer.

Looking back at the card now I would do the butterfly differently because I have cut it from the same inked card and it does not show up in the design.

So I decided to swap it out for one that would stand out more on the card .

Everything else is the same just the central focal point and I think this looks much better than with the blue one that was there before.

This is fast becoming my most favourite butterfly die and it is one I am using such a lot just lately.

What do you think ??? Was I right to swap it out ??

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 
 

Blended Backdrop

 Hi Everybody,

This is another card from yesterdays video and the background for this card is ink blending. 

I started lightly in the middle and worked my way outwards fading the colour out even more as I went.

I have used Shaded Lilac in the Distress Oxides and then splattered the panel with gold.

It is a separate panel that has then been added to 5x7 card with foam tape to raise it up, and to leave a wide border around the edges.

The leaves have been cut in white, gold and some left over ink smooshed card using an assortment of leaf dies that I already have.

They have been arranged behind the ink blended  and gold detailed butterfly. The wings have been left loose to give the appearance of fluttering on the card.

And again no sentiment has been added as yet because this card would suit many different occasions.

I am deliberately using older dies and products to see just how many ways I can make my cards look interesting without buying more items to swell out my already extensive stash.

I hope you like some of my creations.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Use Your White Scraps

Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is created using some of my white scraps and an inked background that has been cut into heart shapes. 

I have used the same background for the gold detailed butterflies too.

They have all been added to some gold card and then layered onto an embossed panel that has gold splatters on it.

The finished card is an A6 and I have not added a sentiment as yet because it can be for any occasion .

I like to keep some cards on one side that are ready to send, for any that I am asked for, and  all I need to do is just add a sentiment  for the occasion the person wants

This is the other portion of the inked panel and this has been used to cover this card.

I also created the flowers and some of the leaves to go on this and I added them to the gold netting.

Some of the leaves are white and others are gold as are the flowers centres.

Both are very pretty colours and just need an A6 envelope to send them

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx