Christmas In July Blog Hop with Sam Calcott

Hi Everybody,

Today it is the talented Sam Calcott here to share her video with you and you will not be disappointed  with what she has to show you. Don't forget to visit the others as the week moves on as there is the opportunity for you to win some wonderful prizes. 

Welcome to the CraftStash Christmas in July Blog Hop and Giveaway! Find all the details on the CraftStash Blog www.craftstash.co.uk/inspiration

Each day we will release a new video featuring a Christmas themed tutorial from the Exclusive brands and designers at CraftStash! You can shop all the exclusive ranges here

UK - https://www.craftstash.co.uk/exclusive-brands

US - https://www.craftstash.co.uk/exclusive-brands

Friday 1st July Lou Collins 

Saturday 2nd July Sam Calcott  (You are here)

Sunday 3rd July Marta Debicka

Monday 4th July Sasha Reade

Tuesday 5th July Helen Griffin

Wednesday 6th July Sandi Nagel

Thursday 7th July  Sam Calcott

Friday 8th July Christina Griffiths

Saturday 9th July Sheena Douglass

How to Enter

Simply subscribe to this channel and to the CraftStash channel https://www.youtube.com/c/CraftStashCoUktv , watch, like and add a comment on all of the videos before the closing date of July 15th!

There will be prizes everyday including a grand prize of CraftStash vouchers worth £100!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Christmas In July Blog Hop with Lou Collins

Hi Everybody,

Today sees the start of a fabulous week long blog hop and there are prizes to be won everyday to tempt you to join in.  The Friday Freebie has been postponed until later this month so don't worry it will be back soon, but for now enjoy the hop and all the videos the designers have created for you.

Welcome to the CraftStash Christmas in July Blog Hop and Giveaway! Find all the details on the CraftStash Blog www.craftstash.co.uk/inspiration

Each day we will release a new video featuring a Christmas themed tutorial from the Exclusive brands and designers at CraftStash! You can shop all the exclusive ranges here

UK - https://www.craftstash.co.uk/exclusive-brands

US - https://www.craftstash.co.uk/exclusive-brands

       Friday 1st July Lou Collins        (you are here) 

Saturday 2nd July Sam Calcott

Sunday 3rd July Marta Debicka

Monday 4th July Sasha Reade

Tuesday 5th July Helen Griffin

Wednesday 6th July Sandi Nagel

Thursday 7th July Sam Calcott

Friday 8th July Christina Griffiths

Saturday 9th July Sheena Douglass

How to Enter

Simply subscribe to this channel and to the CraftStash channel https://www.youtube.com/c/CraftStashCoUktv , watch, like and add a comment on all of the videos before the closing date of July 15th!

There will be prizes everyday including a grand prize of CraftStash vouchers worth £100!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

International Ambassadors Informal Blog Hop

Hi Everybody,

Once a month some of the International Ambassadors have a blog hop and for this month we have chosen our favorite season as our theme.

If you are a regular follower of my blog then you will know that I love to make cards that are summery and full of flowers, ribbon and pearls and so this is the perfect theme for me.

I have also chosen to use my favorite dies for the card and the Victorian Collection was one that I really fell in love with when it was launched..

The beautiful flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and I love the arrangement for my summer display.

The blog hop is the way for you to get to know our individual styles and we would love it if you would visit each of us and leave us your comments.

The others are ...

Christine Emberson  - UK 
Linda Lucas  - Australia
Yvonne van de Grijp - Netherlands
Christina Griffiths - that's me

Thank you for visiting and for all your support. I hope you enjoy the hop

Tomorrow I will announce the winner of the Friday Freebie so please pop back then to see if it is you

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

International Ambassadors Informal Blog Hop - Woodland Collection

Hi Everybody,

It's that time of the month  for the International Ambassadors to host another informal Blog Hop and we hope you will hop along with us again this month.

We have chosen Spellbinders  Woodland Collection 
this month and there are some really cute dies in this set to help you make some beautiful cards.

I have used several dies from the whole collection and worked them all together to build up the scene for my card

First I have used the Woodland Owl   and added large Googly Eyes to the shape, and I have him sitting on the Wreath

At the bottom of the card I have added in some of the Mushrooms  and added in some of the Grass

I  placed a couple of large Leaves  behind after inking them through the die. And the embossing folder behind the scene is Bricks and Bark folder also from Spellbinders

Start here in the UK with me and then pop over to visit

Linda Lucas  in Australia
Yvonne van der Grijp   in the Netherlands
Christine Emberson   back in the UK

All these ladies are so talented and they will have some wonderful designs to share with you. They will be happy to see you and please leave them a comment to let them know that you visited.

And if you have come to visit from one of the others then a big Hello and Welcome to you I hope you will pop back regularly

Happy Hopping !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

International Ambassadors Informal Blog Hop

Hi Everybody,

Well this is the tenth blog hop  the International Ambassadors have done and it's amazing how time flies past.

We really appreciate that you hop along with us and leave us your wonderful comments and we really hope you will join in this month too.

The theme for this month was the Party Collection from Spellbinders
 and I have chosen to use the Fun On A String

I have used bright colours as this would be ideal for a teenagers card. The die comes with an extra backing piece that can be added to the balloons. And there are small hearts and stars for added decoration if you want to use them.

I have teamed it with the Happy Birthday Garland which I have cut three times in black and layered them together.  The tiny hearts have just been dotted around the card.

Please pop along to see what the others have come up with  and you won't be disappointed as they are very talented ladies.  Leave them a comment to let them know you visited.

Linda Lucas - Australia
Yvonne van der Grijp - Netherlands
Christina Emberson - UK
Christina Griffiths - that's me !!

I hope you enjoy your trip around the world 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

International Ambassadors Informal Blog Hop

Hi Everybody,

Here we are again with another IA informal Blog Hop and this is the ninth one that we have done.

The International Ambassadors are based around the world and we thought it would a good idea for you to get to know each of us and our individual styles.

Please pop along and visit the others as I know they would love to get comments from you all.

And I hope you enjoy your journey around the globe to see ...

Linda Lucas - Australia
Yvonne van der Grijp - Netherlands
Christine Emberson - UK

Our theme for this month is to recycle/upcycle an item and for my project I chose to alter an inexpensive notebook from a local stationery store

I covered the book in dark blue paper and then add a patterned layer to the top and rounder the corners.

I added in the Petite Monarch border strip and then covered the edge with ribbon and pearls.

I cut the Interlocking Love  three times in blue, with the two pieces to the die set ,and backed them onto white with the solid die

One of them I punched a hole at the top and threaded it with ribbon for a bookmark.

The other two I staggered onto the front of the card and added  Just A Note ... across the panels.  For my floral touch I used Pretty Petals B  and combined it with Foliage

The ribbon is from Mei Flower and the pearl centres to my flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

International Ambassadors Informal Blog Hop

Hi Everybody,

This is the seventh International Ambassadors Blog Hop and for this month we have chosen Christmas in August as our theme.

It's never too early to start making cards for the jolly season especially if you have lots to make.

So we thought that we would share some of our ideas from around the world so that you can see our different styles.

We love that you hop along with us and it is even better when you leave us a comment.

Take a look at some of the other Ambassadors designs ...

Linda Lucas Australia
Christine Emberson UK 
Yvonne van de Grijp Netherlands
Christina Griffiths (You are here)

For my card I have used the Lattice Ornaments  from the 2015 Christmas Collection and cut them in gold and wine red.

I have added in gold ribbon and twisted some gold wire to sit behind the ornaments.The pearls flourish is called Finesse from Want2Scrap  and I have cut it up into the pieces that I needed.

I hope you enjoy this hop and please look out for the next one.  Thanks for joining in and also for the support you show to me and my blog

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

International Ambassadors Informal Blog Hop

Hi Everybody,

Welcome to the sixth Informal Blog Hop from the International Ambassadors.

We have really been enjoying these Hops and it's lovely to see new people joining all the time.

For this one we decided to use the Victorian Garden Collection  and this is my card for this Hop

I chose to work with the Decorative Fancy Diamonds  and the matching plain set  Fancy Diamonds from Spellbinders as they are so pretty

I also dressed my card with flowers from the same collection and they are Flower Bundle which makes lots of pretty blooms for you to use.

Each of the other Ambassadors has made a card for you to see in our own individual styles ...  so why don't you pop along and visit each one of them.

Here are the links to the wonderful team for you to visit

Christine Emberson
Christina Griffiths  (You are here)
Linda Lucas 
Yvonne van der Grijp 

We are so happy if you  leave us a comment so that we know you have been and please join us again the next time we go hopping  around the world !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Blog Hop Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

Thank you so much for all your support over the Create and Craft shows and the Sapphire die cutting machine sold out in the first show I did ... and so with nothing else to sell the rest of the shows were cancelled.

If you managed to get yours well done .. you will not be disappointed with it.  It is truly a fantastic little machine that will stay on your work top for ever.  It is so useful for smaller dies and especially for sentiments that you wish to add to your cards.

For everybody else don't worry it will be back in stock again ... and soon and then you will be able to get one for yourself.

Thanks also to those who took part in the blog hop yesterday. We love having you visit and we love all your comments.  All the Ambassadress have offered the featured card as a "Give Away" and mine is no exception.

 I also said that there would be other additions to the prize and so here is what is what you will get ...

The card
One spool  (25 yards) of white satin ribbon
5 packs of Want2Scrap pearl Bling
I packet of Glitter

And so now you are wondering who has won this prize and so here is the announcement ....

Olus Tee 

Would you contact me please at 

christina@card-making-magic.com

with your postal address and the prize will be in the post to you straight away

You have 48 hours to claim your prize so don't wait 

The TEN winners of the TEN pink cards will be announced tomorrow so please pop back then to see if your name is on that list.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

International Ambassadors - Informal Blog Hop 5

Hi Everybody,

Welcome to this the fifth International Ambassadors Informal Blog Hop.  We started these hops as a way to introduce ourselves to you and show you our individual styles from around the world. There are four Ambassadors who participate in these hops and I hope you will take the time to visit each one

The theme for this months hop is Pastels and Flowers and  we wanted to do something special.

And so we are all giving away the cards that we make and all you need to do is join the group of followers and then leave us a comment to say that you have been.  

My card is created using the Fleur de Elegance  in pink and white and the background is from the Grateful Lattice

The flowers on this card are created with the Bitty Blossoms   and I have tucked the Foliage behind the blooms.

Into the mix I have added some of the Foliage Flourish for added decoration and placed pearls into each of the flowers.

The ribbon and lace at the top of the card are my finishing touch.

Please visit the other Ambassadors ... they would love to see you

Linda Lucas
Yvonne van der Grijp
Christine Emberson
Christina Griffiths (You are here)

So if you would like to win this card ... and some other little "Goodies" in the pack then leave me a comment at the bottom of the page.  Please also take the time to "Pin" the card and "Like" the Facebook page so that we can make the blog grow

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

International Ambassadors Blog Hop

Hi Everybody,

International Ambassadors Informal In'spire Blog Hop

Welcome to the third  International Ambassadors Informal In'spire Blog Hop - we have been having so much fun with these Blog Hops and we are all so pleased that you come and play along and leave us such lovely comments

I hope you are getting to know us and and seeing our different styles, each one of us is very unique in our creative styles - so there is something for everyone! 

For this hop we have decided to use the  In'spire  Dies 

They are such fun to create with - and can be used singularly or combined with others as you will see along the way!

My choice was the  KOI  and I tried to re-create an under water scene for my golden fish.

I have used  Alcohol markers in blue and green to color the background and cut two of the Koi and added them to the card.

I used Glossy Accents to produce some realistic bubbles around the fish and then added some of the  Ivy   stems ... minus the leaves for the sea grass.

Then over the top I have added in an Acetate dome and colored that with the same blue and green  and onto the acetate I added some more bubbles

I used orange card for my Koi and to make the fish swim opposite I simply used the die on the correct side of the card for one and the wrong side of the card for the other

The words I have cut in black and added to the acetate and I have used  Sentiments Three

Just a fun idea and makes a change from my usual style, but I hope you will like the idea and you will get more along the way.

The next stop is  Linda   and the list of International Ambassadors is below, in case you get lost along the way.

Linda Lucas 

Yvonne van de Grijp

Ursula Langhammer  *on a break

Christine Emberson

Christina Griffiths  (You are here)

Thanks so much for stopping by - we hope you enjoy your time with us - we will be back with more!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

International Ambassadors Blog Hop

Hi Everybody,

The International Ambassadors are hopping again and we hope you will join us on another informal trip to see what is going on this time in other parts of the world. It is a great way for you to get to know us and see our individual styles


Our roles as Ambassadors are to introduce you  to some of the beuatiful new designs that are coming onto the market

And to show you what you can do with the dies that you buy and help you to get the most from each and every one.

There are only five of us but we are based all over the world with Christine Emberson and I based here in the UK.

I hope you will vista Linda in Australia, Yvonne in The Netherlands and Ursula in Germany.

Leave them a comm-net to let them know that you popped by and maybe you will visit regularly once you get to know them

We had so much fun last time  with the Victorian Collection that we thought  we would like to inspire you again.

This time around we are featuring the Spellbinders Laced with Love Collection
and as it is Valentines Weekend we thought it a very appropriate  set of dies to use

So this time I have the honour of starting off the Blog Hop and here are the other stops along the way ...

Christina Griffiths ... you are here
Linda Lucas  ... your next stop
Yvonne Van De Grijp
Ursula Langhammer ... not participating this time
Christine Emberson

My choice for this blog hop is  Lonely Hearts  as I just love the versatility of this die

I have a couple of photos to show you of the cards I have made and there will be more as the year goes on.

Have fun 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Freebie Winner ...

HI Everybody,

So once again the draw has been done and a winner chosen to receive the card on offer.  

And as long as you add your name before the draw is done it will be entered ... there is no cut off point

Sometimes I am late on a Saturday morning so that is an added bonus to you if you are also running late.

The name chosen today is ...

Janelle Winchcole

would you please email me your postal address

christina@card-making-magic.com

so that I can get the card in the post to you straight away

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

I hope you are enjoying this weekends blog hop and getting to know some of the other International Ambassadors. 

We are using the Laced With Love Collection for this hop and the cards are really beautiful from all my colleagues based around the world.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Seasons Giving Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

I have left this post going for as long as I could to be fair to everybody here and abroad.  But there comes a time when a winner has to be chosen from the many comments that have been left for me.

Welcome to the new followers and please pop over and visit my Website too ... 

Card Making Magic

You will find lots of information there and many many tutorials on lots of different aspects to cardmaking

If you took part in the Blog Hop I really hope you enjoyed it all and found lots more blogs that you will continue to visit.  Thank you for your participation and I am sure that there will be another Blog hop soon.

So the name of the winner of the wonderful prize I am giving has at long last been chosen and it is YOU ....

Cindy Wilson

Please can you email me your full postal address to

christina@card-making-magic.com

and I will get the prize in the post to you straight away and I hope you will like it

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Seasons Giving Blog Hop: Year 3

Hi Everybody Happy New Year .... and welcome to the Seasons Giving Blog Hop: year 3
This is the first time I have taken part in this and I hope you will enjoy it all

As a wonderful start to 2015 I  wanted to say a big THANK YOU to each and every one of  my loyal blog readers who have been so supportive of me over the last year.
This is my way of showing my appreciation to YOU and you can find me in other places too ...
Card Making Magic  ...   Facebook  ...   Pinterest  ...   Twitter 

I have joined forces with lots of other blogs and suppliers and every one listed below is hosting a giveaway.  All you need to do is leave  a comment  at the blogs to say you have visited.

I hope you will enjoy my Blog and come back to visit me often and join the growing group of wonderful  followers too.  Every week I give away one of my cards as a Friday Freebie and we have regular prizes to give away but you will need to be a follower for the chance to win

This is the prize I am giving away ...

Spellbinders Mix n Match Ornaments

Sheena Douglass Sea Shells A5 Stamp sheet
Pack of Wild Orchid Crafts Flowers

Lavinia  Fairy Stamps

Bo Bunny Christmas stamps

Ladybug Crafts - Nikki and Friends stamp

3 packs of Want2Scrap pearl bling

Crafters Companion Glue Runner

The winner will be announced on January 5th 2015

Everyone of the Blogs listed below will be  joining in this  give-away  so be sure to visit them all and leave your comments for a chance to win the offered prizes from each participant.
Happy New Year Everybody 

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

Lawn Fawn

Spellbinders Paper Arts

Reverse Confetti

Clearsnap 

Ice Resin

My Favorite Things

Paper Smooches

Sweet & Sassy Stamps

Stamp Simply Ribbon Store

Avocado Arts 

A Jillian Vance Design

Latina Crafter

 Die-Versions 

 Unity Stamp Company

 Splitcoaststampers

Verve Stamps

 Latisha Yoast

 AJ Otto

Vera Yates

Julia Stainton

Judy Hayes

Kim Watson

Yana Smakula

Chari Moss

Taheerah Atchia

Shemaine Smith

Emily Spahn

Kimberly Crawford

Lee Murphy

Lovely Linda

Laura Williams

Lori Tecler

Chaitali Narla

Darsie Bruno

Lydia Fiedler

Giovana Smith 

Teri Anderson

Beth Pingry

Dina Kowal

Daniela Dobson

Lisa Adametz

Piali Biswas

Kelli Green

Keri Lee Sereika

Jocelyn Olson

Julee Tilman

Michelle Woerner

Lori McAree

Theresa Momber

Anita Autore

Melody Rupple

Sean Fetterman

Bunny Vance

Tricia Traxler

Lisa Arana

Lorena Cantó

Amy Tsuruta

Jodi Collins

Tenia Nelson

Kelly Klapstein

Jill Cornell

Emily Leiphart

Becky Williams

Margie Higuchi

Lee Ann Barrett

Lisa Hoel

Heather Campbell

Lisa Henke

Sheri Holt

Michele Kovack

Ashley Harris

Sharon Harnist

Lori Craig

Nicole Nowosad

Laurel Beard

Michele Boyer

Christiana Reuling

Laurie Schmidlin

Jennifer Priest

Stacey Schafer

Heidi Blankenship

Heather Pulvirenti

Anita Madden

Gloria Stengel

Sarah Gough

Rachel Kleinman

Natalie Dever

Lorine Mason

Loretta Lock

Meihsia Liu

Sarah Martina Parker

Angeline Choo

Christine Emberson

Karen Hightower

Sabrina Alery

Debbie Seyer

Dana Joy

Cat Tidwell

Deborah Saaranen

Ceal Pritchett

Lisa Lara

Colleen Schaan

Anabelle O'Malley

Megan Hoeppner

Monika Davis

Marisa Ritzen

Wanda Guess

Jenny Peterson

Annette Allen

Gracie Chavez

Christina Griffiths     You Are Here

Niki G

Kristi Schurr

Jennifer Ingle

Karolyn Loncon

Camille Robinson

Lindsey M-P

Kathy Clement

Maria Levine

Savitri Wilder

Savannah O'Gwynn

Teresa Horner

Laurel Seabrook

Libby Hickson

Yvonne Van de Grijp

Alice Wertz

Leigh Penner

Lisa Lee

Tina McDonald

Nina Yang

Angel Johns

Happy Birthday Michele ....

Hi Everybody,

We all like to celebrate a Special  birthday and this is one that is very special to lots of people.

The owner of  the wonderful website Want2Scrap ... Michele Parish ...  is celebrating her 50th Birthday today and many of us wanted to make it one she is going to remember.

A group of us all thought that we would get together and have Blog Hop to celebrate this event and to introduce YOU to some more wonderful designers that you may like to visit in the process.

If you would like to take a look at the others in the Blog Hop    ... click the link and you can leave your comments if you wish.

Micheles' favorite colours are pink and black and this is the theme we have stuck to for the cards and projects that have been made just for her.

This is the card that I have sent to the US for her big day.

I hope you will join in and visit as many of the other Blogs as you can to see what some of the others have come up with too.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Amy Jo's Birthday Blog Hop Day 2

It's day two of Amy Jo's Birthday Blog Hop and I hope you have enjoyed it so far. There are some "Goodies" to be won along the way.

Just become a follower of the Blogs you visit and leave them a lovely comment if you like what you see.

We don't have to make any special project ... just use Amys' favorite colours of Pink, White and Black or any character from Alice in Wonderland and it can be anything you like.

We only needed to make one thing over the two days so there was plenty of time to go hopping.

But I am adding another birthday project here in pink and white as they are my favorite colours too

This little gift incorporates some tealight candles and they smell gorgeous. 

 If you want to make one of these for yoursefl you will find the written instructions  and a  short  Video Tutorial  on the website.

The flowers are from  Wild Orchid Crafts and the candles are from Ikea... lots of them in a box .

The Pink Polka dot ribbon is from  Fantastic Ribbons and they have a lovely selection for you.

If you landed here from Anita  then you are in the right place and your next stop is at Naomis'

But if you just happened on my Blog today... or you got lost along the way then start again at Amy Jo's so that you don't miss any of the fun.

I have some "Goodies" up for grabs too and all you have to do is join the followers and leave me a comment and I will draw a name at random to win  these three sets of clear stamps after the Blog Hop is done.

Hugs Christina xx

Amy Jo's Birthday Blog Hop

Welcome to Amy Jo's Birthday Bash and Blog Hop! We are so excited you could join us today to help celebrate Amy's birthday!

This is a very special unique hop and we don't have to just stick with one particular subject or theme, and we can use any of Amys' favorite things to create a card or project with that in mind.

Some examples of Amy's favorite things are the colors black, white, and hot pink, along with anything Alice in Wonderland.  Here is my card (inspired by Sue Wilson) to wish a Happy Birthday Amy Jo

If you arrived here from   Anita   then you are in the right place!

If you just happened upon my blog today, please start at the beginning with Amy Jo at Scrapping, Card Making and Living with Fibro  because you don't want to miss out on the fabulous prizes that are being sponsored!

This is a two-day hop,  however, we are only making one project. That should give you two full days to go through the entire hop and leave comments and become followers of each blog, if you are not already, to be entered to win some of our sponsored prizes!

Some of the blogs may be offering blog candy as well so this is a hop you're going to want to finish.

I am offering three sets of clear stamps to followers of my Blog so to be in with a chance to win join the gang and  leave me a comment.   The winner will be chosen at random on the 1st March.

Thank you so much for joining us and helping us celebrate along with Amy! Your next stop is the talented Naomi and I hope you are enjoying the hop.


Hugs Christina xx