International Ambassadors Informal Blog Hop

Hi Everybody,


We, some of the International Ambassadors for Spellbinders,  have been doing this informal blog hop for over two years now and between us we have covered many subjects and themes.

This month we are doing Valentines Day and using some of the newer dies that are there for you to buy.

For my card I chose the  Bowlicious  die set is in three parts and one of the cutting edges can be moved to extend the depth of the bow

You can use it to add a separate bow to the edge of your card or you can layer it up to create a more full look.

Change the colour scheme and alter the sentiment and it can be used all year round

Now why not pop over to my colleagues and see what they have in store for you this month.

Linda Lucas    Australia
Yvonne van de Grijp   Netherlands
Christine Emberson    UK

Leave them a comment to say you have been.

Thank you so much for your continuing support

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Floating Cup ...

Hi Everybody,

So todays project is one of the beautiful floating cups

I really enjoyed creating this and I used quite a lot of flowers on it and they are all from Wild Orchid Crafts

I add them with a hot glue gun so that won't fall off and then I add my glue and glitter to add the sparkle

The pearls string was wound around the flowers at the end and also glued in place.

The tea cup and saucer are from an old set that hasn't been used for years. Just sat in a cupboard gathering dust

You can pick these old tea sets up really cheaply in junk shops or car boot sales

It makes such a pretty display and is a real talking point as people want to know how it is done.

If you don't know how to make these and you  would like a video then please let me know and your wish will be my command.

There is an International Ambassadors Blog Hop tomorrow so the Tuesday Tutorial will be on Wednesday instead, 

and  I may combine it with a water colour as well  ...  but it's only for this week ... back to normal next week 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Ruby Update ...

Hi Everybody,

Here I am ...  it's me Ruby again looking as cute as ever ... and I am nearly six months old now.

I am growing  very quickly and I have lots of adventures each week.

On Monday I am going to the vets so that I wont have unwanted puppies and my mum is going to pamper me and take care of me while I recuperate.

So gentle walks only as I get better and I wont be able to see my best friend Dougal for a while as we play rough and run around all over the place.

This lovely photo was taken by Sally from Tail Waggers  and I am with some of my friends from doggy day care

We have a lovely time and Sally look after us and takes us all out for a walk in the fields and parks I go every Wednesday and I love it

Dougal goes there too and he is sitting behind me in the photo and he's going for a hair cut today !!.

Do you member me telling you about my unexpected swim the other week in the lake in Stanley Park?

Well Dougals mum Vickie has bought us both a jacket that dries and keeps us warm at the same time ...  just in case we fall in the water

It keeps my long ears covered and wraps around me and over my back and legs and is quite thick and snugly

It may be warm but we are not too sure at the moment of this new fashion

More next time ...

Bye for now xx 

Card Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

It's really cold here but dry and fine at the same time so we will be taking Ruby out for her walk later.
I know that some of you in other parts of the world have got deep snow at present and although it looks really pretty it is NOT my favorite substance

So roll on spring and summer and some lovely warm weather again

We have done the draw for the card this morning and the name this week is yours 

Lynn Charman

so if you could email me please with your postal address to

christina@card-making-magic.com

the card will be on its way to you straight away.

Thanks to all of you for taking part

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie 005/17 - Hello Friend

Hi Everybody,

Todays FF is yet another card that was created on video and the title is Ombre Effect and Die Cutting

It was created using the waste pieces from a Spellbinders Grate Effect die and the look is just something a little different.

So if this is a card that you would like to have then all you need to do is leave me a comment.

From those comments a name will be chosen at random and the winner announced in tomorrows blog post.

You will need to pop back in the morning to see if it is you who has won the card

You have 72 hours to claim it and if it is not claimed then it will be offered again at a later date.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Chalkola Chalk Markers

Hi Everybody,

This is a product that is new to me and I was asked by Chalkola Chalk Pens   to try them out and tell you what I found.

These are liquid chalks and unlike the powdery chalks I have used in the past they don't need to be set with hairspray as they won't rub off on your fingers

They are designed to be used on non porous surfaces and they wash off easily with water or window cleaner or a wet wipe and leave no marks at all ... not even the red and black markers. Use them on mirrors, plastic, white boards, acetate and windows.

You could really have some fun with these at Valentines Day or Christmas. Imagine drawing red hearts on your mirrors and then being able to simply wipe them off after the day has ended.

But I thought I would try them out on a porous surface and I decided to make a card and film the process as I went along.

Chalkola Chalk Pens  are available from the Chalkola website and the link is at the top of the page or from Amazon 
and you can use this code to get 15% off from either place 15OFFSTR

They are child friendly but I wouldn't let a child under three play with them ... water based, odour free, non toxic and long lasting and BRILLIANT !! 

I have used them to label glass jars and the unit in the craft room so that I know what is in each cupboard. And when I move things around I can simply wipe it clean and re label

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Water Colour Wednesday - Floral Card

Hi Everybody,

A really simple card to make  and I have used Gansai Tambi to water colour the flowers and leaves.

It is from a set by Altenew called Peony Scrolls and it has a matching die set to help you get a neat look.

I got mine from Sevenhills Crafts and the sentiment is also Altenew ... Painted Inspiration

I have added in some sequins and they are a big bag of them from the £££ shop and they go a long long way.

The background is created with Altenew Mini Inks and the Brush Strokes stamp from Spellbinders.

Not a lot to this one but I think it turned out OK

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Gansai Tambi Water Colours	Painted Inspiration	Peony Scrolls Stamp Set	Peony Scrolls die set
Celebrations Brush Strokes Stamps

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Tuesday Tutorial - Deco Lux

Hi Everybody,

Today we have a card in silver and white that is really easy to make. 

It's just layers with foam between them and it gives a really dramatic effect . 

 The card is just over 6" and the addition of the flowers makes it suitable for a wedding card too. 

Spellbinders Supplies:

• S6-061 Deco Lux card Creator
• S4-471 Labels Forty Two
• S4-473 Labels 42 Decorative Elements
• S4-512 Border Sentiments
• Pl-001 Platinum die cutting machine

Other Supplies:

• Flowers and Dazzler from Wild Orchid Crafts
• Ribbon from Mei Flower
• Glitter from Glitter Magic
• Silver Mirror card from Craft Stash

Instructions:

With the outer edge die cut two and create a hinged card 

With both dies together cut a  patterned panel in white

Hand cut a silver mirror card layer to sit between them

Add the filigree piece to the silver mirror card with foam between and then wrap with organza and satin ribbon

Tie a layered bow using both ribbons together

With #5 from the plain Labels Forty Two cut one layer in silver

With #4 from the Decorative Elements cut one in white card

Layer these two together with foam in between for dimension

With the Border Sentiments cut two in white card and one  in silver and layer them together for extra strength

Add the smaller panel on the top of the base layers

Add the sentiments to the card and decorate with pretty flowers

Dot with glue and sprinkle with glitter for a really lovely effect

Add the bow and the shiny dazzler 

Alter the sentiment and this would make a lovely Wedding or Silver wedding card

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Time flies ...

Hi everybody,

I can't believe how quickly time goes by and I have another birthday looming next month. 

It is also nearly a year since I joined the Craft Stash Design Team

This is one from the first batch of cards that I made for them.

I seem to have come along way since then and my videos are now a regular part of their website.

They have an area named Inspiration Gallery  and that is where you will find a lot of my work along with the other designers on the team.  It has been a really good journey so far and you all seem to enjoy the magazine freebies that I now cover.

There are some wonderful free gifts coming up in the future so keep a look out for your favorite margarine ( oooops ) magazine and be sure to get it.  

The videos about the freebies always go "Live" the week before they are on sale in the shops so it gives you a sneaky peak of what is coming and you can then decide if this is one that you would like.

Thanks for watching my vidoes and for continuing to visit my blog and leave your comments both here and on YouTube 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx.

Pop Up Happy Birthday

Hi Everybody,

This card looks intricate to make but I promise you that it is not.  I even have a video that was made a long time ago showing you the basic steps to take and then you can dress it up any way you wish.
 The Easy Stepper card needs no measuring either so I hope you will give this a try. 

This is a more up to date look to my card and I really like this one

For this card I have used cream for the base and then Labels Eight to cut the filigree panel in gold glitter paper from  Craft Stash

The  Happy Birthday Pop Up  is a little die that cuts out the words and then all I have done is glue along the edges and added to one of the steps. There are other ways that you can use the die but this just suited my purpose completely

My floral arrangement is as always from Wild orchid Crafts   and into the display I have added a lovely Hatpin. The lace  and the bead flower along the bottom are also from WOC

This is a card that looks so much better in the hand

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Todays Card Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

It's a beautiful day here today and I really hope it stays this way as I have lots of things to do. Later today Vickie Griff and I are taking Isabella out to tea at her Daddy's restaurant and I am really looking forward to it.

Griff and I were also in  Jamie's  last night and I had the most amazing  meal.

 I am pleased to say that he is doing really well and if you wanted to dine in there on Saturdays you would need to book as the restaurant is full for the next two Saturdays.

Anyway ... the draw for the butterfly card has been done and the name this week is yours ...

Iris Harborne

please can you email me with your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the card will be on its way to you straight away.

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

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie 004/17 - Butterfly Parchment

Hi Everybody,

This is another card that was created on video in the film 

Butterfly Background on Parchment

It is very easy to do but gives a lovely effect that can be altered with the colour of card that you add under it

The folder that I used is from Crafters Companion but I have had it a while now and I don't know if it is still available

Would you like to own this card ? Then all you need to do is leave me a comment at then end of the post.

 From those comments a name will be chosen at random and the winner announced in tomorrows blog post 

You will have 72 hours to claim the card  and it doesn't matter if you have won one in the past.

I will send the card wherever you live and you don't need to have a blog to enter.

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

Papercraft Essentials 143 - Fairy Wishes

Hi Everybody,

The Papercrafts Essentials 143 will be on sale in selected supermarkets and craft shops on the 9th February 

With if comes the lovely free stamp set called  Fairy Wishes and the video is a sneaky peak at what you will get

   PE143-Fairy Wishes

There are two silhouette fairies in this set with 

plenty of sentiments and little items for you to personalise the card

I have given you some ideas in the video and there will be many more in the magazine.  

It also has the embossing folder and you can create some lovely effects simply using that.

You can make it as simple or as intricate as you wish.

But the free gifts that I show you from all the magazines that I cover are of good quality and if looked after will last you a long time.  All you need to do is have fun playing with them and of course enjoying the magazine of your choice at the same time

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Water Colour Wednesday - Pink Tulips

Hi Everybody,

A really simple card for todays water colour but one that I quite like.

This is an image from Just Inklined and is one I have done many times before.

 It is on the CD The Next Big Thing and I always say that it is sad that this CD is no longer available

So if you have it treasure it as there is so much on this disc. And if you do manage to find it any where snap it up.

This is just a simple coloured image layered onto some spotty card and then wrapped with ribbon.

I added a pearl flourish around the cup and some larger pearls in the top corner

You could add any sentiment to this that you liked and it would suit any occasion.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tuesday Tutorial - Oval Floral

Hi Everybody,

Another quick and easy card to make today and this uses the beautiful oval die from Spellbinders. I have chosen the lovely combination of lilac and white for my as I always think this is a fresh colour scheme that can be used for so many occasions.

Spellbinders Supplies:

• S6-001 Matting Basics A
• S6-028 Oval Floral 
• SEL-001 5x7 Maze Embossing Folder
• PL-001 Platinum Die Cutting Machine

Other Supplies:

• White/Lilac card from Papermill Direct
• Ribbon from Mei Flower
• Lace, Leaves and Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts
• Glitter from Glitter Magic
• Glitter Card and sentiment die from Craft Stash
• Pearls from Want2Scrap

Instructions:

With white card cut two pieces from die #7 Matting Basics A and Create a Hinged Card

Hand cut a slightly smaller layer in lilac card to leave a narrow border around the edge

Hand cut another white layer that is again slightly smaller than the lilac and emboss this piece to add texture to the layer

(Please remember that die =1 is always the smallest)

With Oval Floral dies #2 & 3 cut three frames and glue them all together for extra strength

Cut the sentiment twice in white and once in Silver glitter card and glue together

Add the embossed layer to the lilac card and wrap with lace and ribbon before adding to the base card

Add the frame in the position you want it and lay the sentiment across the frame.

I have used tiny pieces of foam tape on the outer letters to make it lie evenly across the frame.

Arrange the flowers as you like them and add in a little bow 

Dot the flowers with glue and sprinkle on the glitter.

Allow to dry and then the glitter will lie flat on the petals.

Arrange lilac pearls into the Ovals centre in a random pattern

A card for any occasion ... just alter the sentiment

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

5x7 Matting Basics A	Guipure Lace Trim	Nestabilities Heart & Home Oval Floral Etched Dies	Birthday Die
Seth Apter Em-bossing Fold'ers Maze 5 x 7 in Single Sided	GREEN MULBERRY LEAVES	Chameleon Glitter	Wild Orchid Crafts
Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue	Flat Backed Pearls

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