Rainbow Butterflies

Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is a 5x7 and it is created with one of the dies from the original Card Making Magic Collections

It is the Butterfly Border Die Set and it comes in three separate pieces. The main butterfly section and the other two will help you to create the border to whatever width you would like and whichever side of the card too.

For my creation I have just used the main section and I have cut it four times in white card and layered them together. 

The final layer has been inked with Distress Oxides  in rainbow colours and then cut out with the same die and added to the top of the other layers. 

I have added them to the top of an embossed panel and then glued all of it to my base card. The embossed panel doesn't show up very well in the photo but it is there. 

I have dotted some rainbow sequins around the butterflies as  a finishing touch. 
They came in a box with separate compartments for each colour ... that is until I dropped it on the floor and now they are all mixed up.!!! 

 I don't have the patience to stand and sort them all out again and so they can just stay mixed up. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Wonderful Shabby Chic...

Hi Everybody,

In my daily work I have to make many different styles of cards. Some to fit the magazine cover mounts using dies, stamps or embossing folders.

But this remains one of my favourite styles to make and I can add all kinds of embellishments to the shabby chic look.

For this one I have used some of the original dies that were in the "Christina Collection" from Card Making Magic and all my collections are available with Craft Stash

The flowers are beautiful and to add more shabbiness to them I have used a fine paint bush and gone over the edge of the petals with white Gesso

Once that was dry I did the same thing with some glue and then sprinkled them with glitter and that gives them a lovely twinkle in the light.  I used alcohol pens to colour the leaves.

Into the display I have tucked some cheesecloth that I had in my stash but if you don't have any of that ...  then cheat by simply unravelling  a piece of  2" bandage ... because that has the same kind of look. 

But whatever you do have fun creating and you are sure to be pleased with whatever you make.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Introducing Christmas Collection 2018

Hi Everybody,

The launch of my new Christmas dies is with us and I really hope you are going to like them. This extends the ranges of Dies, Stamps and Folders for both 5x7 and 6x6 and will build an overall collection to suit all ages and genders. All of my collections are available at Craft Stash

I am going to be adding lost of videos to share with you my makes using these sets and combining them with other portions of the collections.

Don't forget to join me on Craft Stash Facebook Live at 1 pm tomorrow for the chance to win the whole collection

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Sneaky Peek ...

Hi Everybody,

Here is just a little sneaky peak of my Christmas Collection that will be launched this week on Craft Stash.

I will be showing it all to you this coming Friday at 1 pm on Craft Stash Facebook Live 

We will be giving away a complete set of Christmas Dies, Stamps and Folders to one lucky winner so I hope you can join me then 

I am really excited to be sharing this collection with you and there are some lovely items in it that will mix and match with all the other dies in both the 6x6 and the 5x7 collections

I am going to make some really pretty cards in plenty of time for the Christmas Season and I will be adding lots of videos to share with you

The 5x7 and the 6x6 complete card and box sets are designed to be built up and each die that comes out will be usable with everything else to give you all the things that you could need to make cards boxes and decorations to enhance your designs

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Fancy Nesting Rectangles

Hi Everybody,

Today's card is created in soft green and lemon and I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but it is really pretty in the hand

I added in lace, flowers and ribbons and some lovely  rainbow gems from Crafti Potential for added sparkle

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and I have added a mixture of  Roses, Daffodils and Tulips in yellow and white

I always add them with a hot glue gun for extra security but you need to be careful if you try a hot gun as the glue gets very hot and it will burn your fingers if you don't take care
 .....  How do I know this ????   Ouch !!!!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

5x7 Card and Box - Turquoise Floral Card

Hi Everybody,

Today's cards is created with the 5x7 original "Christina Collection" and the card stand from the new 6x6 sets.

But for this card I have used the card stand in a totally different way and the result is lovely.

The video will show you how I used it and if you bought the die set then this is another way to get more use from it.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and are a mixture of Gypsophillia, Roses, Tulips, Cherry Blossom and Asters

So I hope you enjoy the video and there is another tomorrow with the 6x6 collection.

And if you have that set then you could always add the stand as frame to that size also.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card for Bill ...

Hi Everybody,

A little while ago I was asked by a Canadian man if I could make a special card for him to give to his wife on their anniversary as she is a big fan of my work and follows my blog and YouTube channels

The remit was for Flowers, Ribbons and Pearls with a pink colour scheme.

Right up my street ... so I couldn't  refuse ...

I had an email from him after the date to say that his wife was delighted with the card 

I asked him if I could show you all the card once the date had passed and he and his wife agreed that I could

And so here they are the card and box that I made with my 5x7 Christina Collection and posted to Bill in time for their day.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Competition for 6x6 Collection

Hi Everybody,

Tomorrow sees the launch of my brand new collection of 6x6 dies and embossing folders and I can't wait to show you what there is.

Craft Stash have set up a competition for one lucky person to win 

The Complete  New Collection 

Click the link to go to their page and see all the details on how to win and good luck to everybody. 

This is some of the collection but if you click the link you can see the rest of it and it is beautiful.

Did you notice the card stand !!! 

And if you join me tomorrow 4th May at 12.30 on the 

Craft Stash Facebook Live  

you will also have the chance to win a voucher for £15 to spend as you like.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Crafti - Magic - Shabby Chic

Hi Everybody,

Today I have joined forces with Christine Smith and created a really pretty card with the new Crafti Potential dies and stamps.

Both of our collections will work really well together and we have more ideas combining the two for the future.

I have created my flowers using the three dies from the Stitched Rectangles Floral set.

They are really easy to do and look so pretty on the card.  And I love the pink and yellow mix for the water colouring

I hope you enjoy the video as you relax with a cuppa and watch for a little while.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Layered Florals Background

Hi Everybody,

Both of today's cards are created with the stamps from the Layered Florals set  in the
 "Christina Collection"
and they have made really easy backgrounds

Use any inks that you have in your own stash but you will need a light and a darker one for the layered flower

I show you an easy way to make card bases  and no dies are needed for either style

Both cards are stamped in a random way and choose your favourite colours to get the look

Change the look with silver embossing powder.


Both cards are handy to keep on one side for that unexpected occasion

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

More Water Colouring

Hi Everybody,

This pretty cards has an ink smooshed background in Squeezed Lemonade and Picked Raspberry background

I have added in some left over flowers from the Messy Water Colouring that I created with the Layered Florals last week and I just had to use them up 

The die and stamp set is called Sending Wishing Hoping from WPlus9 and I bought mine from Sevenhills Crafts

Ink smooshing is a lovely technique and no two cards will ever look the same. Play around with your inks to see which colour combination you like. I used Distress Oxides because they have a chalky look to them when activated with water. 

They also layer with each other much better than ordinary Distress Ink and they are my "GoTo" choice for all kinds of techniques 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Papercraft Essentials 158 - Make a Splash

Hi Everybody,

Today's fun cards are all made with the free gift that comes with Papercraft Essentials 158.

This stencilled rainbow background has to be my favourite and I used the sentiment from a previous free gift to complete the look.

In the past I have done colouring with pens and water colours but for today's cards I used pencils and blending solution to remove the pencil strokes

I have had so much fun playing with "Make A Splash" and it is brought to you by Crafti Potential.

It will be on sale tomorrow and I would get there early if you want to grab your copy.

There are lots of ideas in the video as well as making the two cards shown. 

And your options are plentiful once you get your gift. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

White Vellum Flowers ...

Hi Everybody,

Today's  card is a little more muted then usual as I have kept to more neutral colours with Neenah Desert Storm card stock

It still has lots of texture in it and is still a very pretty card for any occasion.

The vellum flowers are delicate and I have kept them white to enhance the card.

It is very easy to make and so I hope you will enjoy the video and then try them for your self

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Messy Water Colouring

Hi Everybody,

Today's card is so lovely and yet easy to do and you don't need any painting skills to achieve it.

And because the dies are going to cut out the flowers you don't even need to stay within the lines.

This is pink and yellow and the two mix for a lovely peach shade

Let the video show you how to create this card and experiment with the colour blends that you like 

There is nothing neat and tidy about this and yet it looks really pretty and I am sure that you will be so pleased with yourself once you have tried it.

The colours in the video are blue and lilac and I love that combination especially with the green.
The addition of the sequins is the finishing touch and they are a lucky and very inexpensive find on Amazon.

I have used the dies and stamps from my very own "Christina Collection" that is available with Craft Stash

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Butterfly Rainbow

Hi Everybody,

Here again today with more beautiful butterflies done in rainbow colours.

I have used Distress Oxides because they are so vibrant and they dry to a lovely chalky finish.

This is another easy to make card with the "Christina Collection"  and one that I hope you will try for yourself.

I love the look of it against the white card and the base and stitched mat are done with a 300 gsm super smooth card 

The butterflies are created with 160 gsm card both from Papermill Direct, and I have used my bargain brushes from Aldi

Most of my supplies are from Craft Stash and the links are at the bottom of the page for you to see.

You could make this card for any occasion simply by swapping out the sentiment and the verse inside.

I hope you enjoy the video and like the new style introduction that I have done to show you what it is we are making 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Pretty in Pink ...

Hi Everybody,

This card is another of the ones created with the Water Bleaching Technique  

I added a video on the process last week in different colours and they are really lovely cards and oh so easy to do. Click the link to refresh your memory 

For this one I used Fired Brick, Picked Raspberry and Worn Lipstick and blended them well together.

Then with Wilted Violet I painted in the bleached butterflies again

I used clean water to splatter the front to the card and blotted it off with kitchen towel.

This card has used a Spellbinders stamp and Mermaid Lagoon, Blue Print Sketch, and Broken China.

Then the flowers painted back with Twisted Citron

Both are lovely vibrant cards and well worth adding the technique to your repertoire of card making skills

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Crafti Potential with Card Making Magic

Hi Everybody,

Today Card Making Magic has come out to play with Crafti Potential to create a really pretty card for any occasion

Once again I have used Distress Oxides and they are so easy to blend together

For this card I have used the 

Damask A6 Background Stamp

 from Crafti Potential and the link will take you to Christine's Blog 

There are seven other background stamps in the collection and they are all available at Craft Stash

The video will show you how I made this card and I hope you enjoy it ...

Keep blending with Distress Oxides to get the look you want and where the two colours meet it will create a third that will diminish any harsh lines.

The sentiment is from Tonic Studios and there are 12 different ones for you to choose from.
Each one is in two parts so that you can create a coloured backdrop to your words and they look really special with a vellum layer

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Stencilled Rainbow Butterflies

Hi Everybody,

Today I have another really pretty card for you using the "Christina Collection"

This one is using the stencil to create some rainbow coloured butterflies.

I have used other elements from the collection too and I am really pleased with the result

The video will take you through the steps to create this card for your self and it's not too long.

I have used Distress Oxides as I like the chalky look they give once they are dry and they dry lighter than you think.

I hope you enjoy this technique and will give it a try 

Because the card is relatively flat I have stencilled onto an envelope to bring them together.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Water Bleaching ...

Hi Everybody,

This fabulous card is created with a Water Bleaching Technique that is very easy to do.

For the blue card I have used the Layered Florals from the
"Christina Collection" 

For this one I used the Layered Butterflies stamps and I decorated an envelope to go with it

The technique needs lots of ink and I find that Distress Oxides give me a better result than the regular inks

Try different colour blends and see which you prefer.

 And write them down in a notebook so that you can always refer back to your favourites 

The trick with this is to use lots of ink and to keep blending to get a really smooth look with no harsh lines, and remember that it will dry lighter.

The Video will show you step by step how to make the card and I love both of these.
It is a technique I have used many times in the past and will use over and over again in the future.

Don't forget that there is a special offer until the 17th March at Craft Stash with the
  Christina Collection 
and if you add the code CMM15 at the checkout you will get a 15% discount

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

See Through Trellis Card & Envelope

Hi Everybody,

Today I am using the "Christina Collection" to create this really pretty card that is just the right depth to fit into an envelope.

It is very easy to make but you will need some sturdy card so that it will stand by itself

I used  a Super Smooth 300 gsm white card from Papermill Direct and it is really good for all your base cards

But because of the thickness of the card you may need to pass it through your machine more than once to cut it ... but well worth it once you have done so

I also decorated the envelope with butterflies to match and the card fits in perfectly so saving postage costs for you.  

I added the Birthday Verse from the Verses Stamp Set to the inside of the card as I know that some people prefer that.

I hope you will give this style a try as it's not hard to do and the card is so pretty once you have it in the hand

Craft Stash are having a really good sale of my "Christina Collection" 
at present and it will run until the 17th March.

Quote the code CMM15 at the checkout and you will get 15% off items that you buy even if they are on Pre Order ... bargain!! 

More tomorrow ..

Hugs xx