Card Class ...

Hi Everybody,

In last Wednesdays Card Class my ladies had a go at Letterpress Technique   using some Spellbinders 3-D folders

The link above  will take you to a tutorial on this technique

The pink one was Brendas' card and her design was created with European Tapestry, Labels Four and Picked Raspberry Distress Inks

This gives a really lace feel to the background and the shade of pink is very vibrant.

Brenda stamped the verse in the same ink and then heat embossed it with clear powder.

Marys card was created with Labels 34 Medallions and the matching Labels 34 dies and for this she used the Evergreen Bough Distress Ink

The verse again was stamped in the colored ink and clear embossed.

Both cards have the addition of flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts   glittered with fine glitter from Glitter Magic

The finishing touch to both cards is to add some Diamanté flourish around the flowers


Once again two lovely happy ladies took home two lovely cards

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spellbinders E3D-018 3D M-Bossabilities 'European Tapestry' Scrapbooking Template

Spellbinders S5-159 Decorative Elements Imperial Gold Labels 4-Die Templates

Spellbinders Nestabilities Dies, Labels 4

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad, Picked Raspberry

Spellbinders E3D-016 3D M-Bossabilities 'Labels 34 Medallion' Scrapbooking Template

Spellbinders S4-427 Nestabilities 'Decorative Labels Thirty-Four' Scrapbooking Template

Spellbinders S4-416 Nestabilities 'Labels Thirty-Four' Scrapbooking Template

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad, Evergreen Bough

InLinkz.com

It's Yours ...

Hi Everybody,

I thought I would leave the draw until Saturday mornings so that those at the other side of the world have the chance to leave me a comment if they would like to own the card.

This morning over some toast and coffee a name was chosen.  The winner of the turquoise and white card is ....

Foxyg

You have 48 hours to claim the card so if can you email me please 

christina@card-making-magic.com

with your address and the card will be in the post to you.  I hope you will like it and please let me know when it arrives with you.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

In all the excitement of my appointment as Spellbinders International Ambassador  the request for Christmas cards was sort of sidelined.   And  in case you missed it  I am repeating that request.

A young woman called Philippa has asked me if I would donate some  Christmas cards  that she and her charity  Festive Friends   are going to send out to elderly people over that period. 

I said Yes and I volunteered all of you at the same time .... as I knew you would be willing to help ...   Please click the link to  Festive Friends  and all the information about what you need to do is on that page

A huge thank you to all of you who have responded so far and Philippa tells me that she has had emails of the promise of cards in time for her to send.  The address of where to send them is in the link above so please do not send them to me.

I will let you know how many cards we raised between us once all the calculations are done and the aim is 350 - 500 cards.  

And on a final note Please please do not think that your cards are not good enough to send in.   To a lonely elderly person your card could be just the thing that brightens up their whole day and they certainly will not be comparing it to another.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie 030

Hi Everybody,

Another deep turquoise card to give away this week and it is teamed with white.

The edge of the card is covered in pearls from Want2Scrap  and adds that touch of luxury

The verse is from Crafters Companion and I have embossed it in silver.

The single flower is from Wild Orchid Crafts  and I have added a pearls spray to the ribbon

The organza ribbon is from Mei Flower  and it is tied in a double bow

If you would like to have this card then all you have to do is leave me a comment and if you joined the group of followers that would be an added bonus.

A name will be drawn from the hat by my "Film Crew" and the winner will be announced in tomorrows blog post.

You will then have 48  hours in which to claim the card and send me your address so that I can get the card in the post to you.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

It's Official ...

Hi Everybody,

Here is a piece of news that I have been wanting to share with you and I am so happy about it.

It has been announced today on the Spellbinders Blog about my appointment to their team and my official title is ..... (Drum roll please ...)

  Spellbinders International Ambassador

I am over the moon at the moment and busy creating samples for up coming Create and Craft shows

As soon as I have dates and times of scheduled shows I will let you know. 

 But in the meantime please click the Ambassador link  to the blog post.

More when I have finished the happy dance 

Hugs xx 

Will You Help please ...

Hi Everybody,

A few days ago I was asked by a young woman via Facebook if I would be willing to contribute some Christmas cards to her charity.

Philippa is trying to raise 500 handmade cards that she can send to elderly people who have no one to share Christmas with.

These are lonely people and the card may be the only contact that they have with others over the festive period.

The only commitment from you is to make a few cards and write inside the card a little about yourself for the recipient to read

It is not a lot to ask.  Just a card with a bit of chat inside ... in an envelope and a bit of postage from you can make someone smile

The charity is called  Festive Friends  and if you would like to know more then click the link to read about  it.

Now I told Phillippa that I would send her some of my cards and ....  I also said that all you lovely people out there would help too .... because I know how warm and generous you all are

So please help me to live up to my promise and send her some of the cards that  you have extra and are sitting in your craft room doing nothing.

The cards need to be sent soon so that they can then be sent out to the people that need them by Philippa at the appropraite time ...  and the link will give you all the information and the address to send the cards to and  tell you what you need to do

Would you please also tell Phillippa ... in a little added note that you are from Flowers Ribbons and Pearls and then she can tell  us how many cards we have contributed between us.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Blue Centura Pearl

Hi Everybody,

Some "Thank Yous"  I need to do before I tell you about the card.

Firstly a thank you to all of you who responded to my running out of the silver butterflies and offered to send me some or go and but them for me.

It was very kind of all of you to offer and my extra "Thanks" go to Jan Daly and Lyn Charman who are very generously sharing some of their own with me.

I will let you both know when they arrive and I look forward to adding them to my cards again.

So the card for today is in blue Centura Pearl and white and I apologise for the bad photo.

But the daylight had gone when I took it and so it is electric light and the colors don't look true

The verse is from the   Good Friend   set from JustRite Stampers and it matches the Labels Twenty Nine die from Spellbinders.  Very useful combination to have in your crafting  "Stash"

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and if only want a small amount of flowers then don't forget that they now do starter packs just for us crafters.

The satin ribbon is from Mei Flower  and is tied in a single small bow with a Dazzler centre.

It is a pretty card but I will make sure that I take my photos earlier in the day in future while the good light is still with me.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Die Cutting Tips ...

Hi Everybody,

Over the last few weeks I have had several emails asking me about die cutting

The problem seems to be with the more intricate dies that are on the market and they can be from any company that make dies

Most people want to know how to get their card out of the die without tearing it in the process and  wasting your precious supplies

And  what better way to explain some of my tips than to make  .... a video!!

So this morning my "Film Crew" went back up his ladder with his camera to film what I wanted to share with you about die cutting

The card I use most of the time is the Hammered White  from the  Papermill Direct  and it is really good quality  255 gsm card and ideal for your card base.

It is a UK company ...  which is great if you are in the UK but if you live abroad then  you will need to check if they will ship to your country

It is the one I use in the tutorial and on Create and Craft TV and it cuts really well in the Grand Calibur.





The die  used is  Spellbinders 5x7 Detailed Scallops   and the wax paper is a Cornflakes packet !!

The beautiful flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  with the addition of Glitter Magic to add the sparkle

The organza ribbon is from MeiFlower  and it is tied in a double bow  using a bow maker

Give these tips a try if you are having problems with any of your dies but whether you use wax paper or not  then turning the die and shimming only the areas that won't cut are sure to work for you.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Happy Retirement ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is one that has been colored with Spectrum Noir pens and pencils.

This lovely rabbit is from the CD The Next Big Thing by Just Inklined

It is one that I have colored many times and I love this image.

But this card is for all those that have recently retired from going out to work and this is the first day  of a new working week that you don't have to get up and rush to get to work on time.

It  is especially for you  ROS   as I know you have been counting down the weeks to yours.   Even down to the last number of shifts that you had to work before walking off into the sunset.

I hope you all have a happy retirement and I speak from experience when I say it is the best time of your life.   It beats going out to work any day.  Time is now yours to spend it as you please.

If you end up doing some other thing that you love ...  as I did  ... then you will wonder how you ever found the time to go to work in the first place.   Enjoy the freedom and have fun

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Cream Wedding Card

Hi Everybody,

This is another wedding card and this one is in gold and cream.   I sold this card from my Etsy shop.

Many people  have bought from me in the past but I have not added  any new ones  to Etsy for awhile now as I have been so busy making samples for up coming C&C shows.

This card has the addition of some very pretty gold foiled acetate behind the window and also the Quatrefoil pattern

The embossing is the  Bricks and Bark folder and I love this very useful folder.

The white roses are from Wild Orchid Crafts   as is the centre to the bow.

The lovely cream satin ribbon is from Mei Flower  and it ties
nicely into a big bow.

The pearl flourish is from Want2Scrap  and fills the gap behind the sentiment which is stamped and embossed in gold.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spellbinders S5-178 Nestabilities Arched Windows Die Templates

Spellbinders S6-002 Nestabilities Matting Basics B Die Templates, 5 by 7-Inch

Spellbinders S6-001 Nestabilities Matting Basics A Die Templates, 5 by 7-Inch

Spellbinders EL-015 M-Bossabilities Bricks and Bark Die Templates

InLinkz.com

FF Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

Now I seem to have got my schedules all mixed up as the post that went out earlier today which was the  "Tone on Tone" card was not supposed to go out until tomorrow ... so that I could do this post for the winner of the  Friday Freebie card

But such is life and you have it a day earlier than I planned

We have a new winner for the Friday Freebie and this week it is you ....

Cathie Weary

Could you send me your postal address please so that I can get the card in the post to you

christina@card-making-magic.com

You have 48 hours to claim it and  I hope you will like it when it arrives with you. 

Please let me know once you have it

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx