Pretty Gift ...

Hi Everybody,

This gift started life as a really inexpensive ring bound notebook

It is ideal to be kept by the side of the phone for any messages you may need to take

I opened the ring binder very carefully and decorated it with some really pretty paper.

And what's more there is a video tutorial ... that was done some years ago by me ...  to show you the process.

I have used Spellbinders on mine simply because I have them but you  can use punched shapes or hand cut ones to create this look ... Altered Notebook

The die I used is the  A2 Floral Ribbon Threader  and added pink ribbon to the slots

The flowers are from  Wild Orchid Crafts  along with the dazzler on the bow

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Freebie Card Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

The sun is shining here in the North West even though it is cold and later today I am going to play with Isabella at making cakes at her Nanas' (my daughter) house

Isabella is my three year old Great grand-daughter and I bought her a cup cake  maker a few weeks ago ... and she loves it and makes cakes for everybody.  I have also got all the little sprinkles, stars and hearts that she can add to the top to make them pretty.

And so onto the Freebie card ...  a name has been picked at random for the winner of the White, Gray and Silver card from yesterday ... and this one is coming to live with you ....

Anne Owens 

please email me ...

christina@card-making-magic.com

your postal address and the card will be on its way to you.

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

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie 047

Hi Everybody,

Todays Friday Freebie is much prettier in real life than the photo shows and I don't think the winner will be disappointed with it.

It is in silver and white and has the addition of ribbons, lace and some soft gray pearls

It has many layers  created using Sue Wilsons dies and these are from the  California Collection

The inside is lined too and the finished card is 5x7

So maybe this is a color scheme that appeals to you and if it is then all you need to do to win it is leave me a comment at the bottom of the post.

Click the word Comment and it will open another box for you to type into.  Then submit ...

But please remember your comment will only be visible once it has  been moderated ... so please don't add it two or three times

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Rosette Blooms ...

Hi Everybody

This simple card is created  as a smaller sized card using  A2 Matting Basics 

I have embossed the top layer with the  Bricks and Bark  embossing folder from Spellbinders just to add more texture to my design

I have been asked how I join the two base card pieces together ... there is a video to show you what I do and I always use a wet glue for a stronger bond

Double sided tape tends to dry out after a while and the card will start to come apart

And although in the tutorial I am using the 5x7 the principal is the same  ...  Hinged Card Style   whichever of the matting basics that you use

And if you are wondering why you would need two sets of dies that look identical  ... here is another tutorial which explains that they are not the same at all ... Spellbinders Matting Basics

I have hand cut the banner shape and topped it with the Rosette Blooms   from the  Celebrations Collection from Spellbinders

The pink ribbon has just been tied into a bow behind the bloom and some pearls added around the tag

A quick and easy card to make or keep in your "Ready To Go " box for any of those unexpected occasions when somebody needs a card in a hurry.  Add any sentiment you have to suit and there you go ...

Just A Note ...

I was due to be on Create and Craft next week but I will not be there.  It is Pats' funeral on Tuesday and I will be attending to say my final Goodbyes to my very dear friend.  

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spellbinders Labels Eight

Hi Everybody,

This card is created in my favorite style of   Hinged Card  as this works for me every time and stabilises all the embellishments that I add to the front.

I have used a deep purple for this one and I have used  Labels Eight   and the matching  Majestic Labels Eight

At the top and bottom of the Labels I have added in the pretty little Flourish Trim  as an extra

I used a lovely pearl flourish from  Want2Scrap   and I found some matching feathers in my "Stash" so they were added too.

The single flower is from Wild Orchid Crafts  and it sits on top of a lace bow.

The inside is lined and the finished card is created with  5x7 Matting Basics A & B

Buying the Labels of your choice and the Matching Accents or Elements that go with it will always give you lots of choice when you start to make your cards.

And to me it is better to have those dies that match rather than buy random ones to swell your collection.  Look after your dies and make them work ... for a lifetimes pleasure of making beautiful cards

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tuesday Tutorial - Border Dies

Hi Everybody,

Border dies are a useful addition to your crafty "Stash" as they can give you some really pleasing effects very quickly

For this card I have used the Scalloped Borders Three  but although there are different patterns and styles to each of the sets  they all work in basically the same way

I have also used Sentiments Three for this card but take a look at some of the others as you are sure to find some that will suit your needs

For the base cut two #7  5x7 Matting Basics A  in white

With a color of your choice  cut one #7 5x7 Matting Basics B

I have embossed this colored layer with the double sided  Garden Lattice A4 folder

Cut two more layers in white with the  #7 from 5x7 Matting Basics B

With  your choice of  Border Dies  ... add one cutting edge and one patterned piece from the set to one of these white layers

Tape securely in place so that the dies will not cross over and run it through the machine

And at the other side you will have two pieces of card with the pattern in one of them

Emboss the second white piece  of card with an embossing folder and then tape just the cutting edge to this layer

This will give you another layer that is now divided into two and this will be embossed also but will not have the cut out pattern in it

Now you need to layer them altogether so that you have a staggered look.

I have used foam tape and placed the embossed layer on the top of the lacy layer so that the pattern can be seen.

Trim the card at the top and bottom as you need to give you a neat finish and make all the card level.

Once you have wrapped ribbon around these layers add them to the base card and embellish as you would like.

I have added a simple sentiment, a bow and some pearls and that's it

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Do You Remember ??

Hi Everybody,

Do you remember last year that in October last year I told you that I had been contacted via Facebook by a young woman,  Phillipa Griffin,  who asked me if  I would be willing to  help her Charity ... Festive Friends ... and make some Christmas cards for isolated and lonely elderly  people in the Northwest UK

I volunteered all of you in the blog post ...  "Will you help please ?"   ... and I was so happy with the response you  gave me as many of you said that you would.

Well today I have had a lovely message from Philippa and she has asked me to pass on her heartfelt thanks to all of you who sent her cards and here is the message ...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Christina,

I wanted  to thank you so very much for promoting my Christmas pilot project Festive Friends. I am incredibly grateful as your support proved very fruitful, helping us to receive over 270 cards for guests of Contact The Elderly in the Northwest UK

I was overwhelmed by the generosity and creative talent of so many of your readers who took the time and energy to produce simply beautiful handmade cards, and also to write such thoughtful messages inside. Cards also came from ten different countries, so a special thank you to those who sent cards from overseas!

I wonder whether you would be so good as to promote these words on your blog/website/Facebook group to communicate my heartfelt thanks to your readers? I wrote personally to volunteers who enclosed their address, but this was a minority so there are many that I cannot thank personally.

I am awaiting a decision from Contact The Elderly as to whether they wish to expand the project in 2015, and I hope very much that the answer will be Yes. If you would still be interested in supporting Festive Friends this Christmas (although it seems like last Christmas has only just finished!) please do let me know and I will keep closely in touch.

I would also welcome any feedback, comments or suggestions from readers. There are many things that I would try to improve for 2015, but many heads are always better than one!

With many, many thanks once again for helping to cheer the Christmasses of some of Britain’s most isolated elderly citizens.

Warm wishes,
Philippa

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Can I also add my Thank You to Philippas'  message and I know you are all wonderful and so very good to me in the way you support me in my endeavors.  And I am up for the challenge again this year and I hope you will be when I add the call again for Christmas cards this year

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

In Memory of Pat ..

Hi Everybody,

They say that if you go through life and can count the number of true friends that you have on one hand then you are very blessed and rich to have these friends in your life.

And I mean true friends that are always there for you when you need someone to talk to and they love you for what you are ... with all your faults. Some one to share your laughter and tears along the way.

Throughout my life I have made two two truly special female friends to whom  I am not ashamed to say "I Love You ...."

I may not meet up with them every week but the next conversation will always follow on naturally from the last one and both have been steadfast and loyal to me in my life time friendship with them.

One of them is Christine Kilvington a friend for 47 years and the other is Pat Boyce a friend for 27 years.

But sadly in the early hours of this morning my dear friend Pat lost her battle with Cancer and I will never see her again.  I will never hear her laugh, or see her  twinkling eyes.  Never be able to share another meal with her or go for a drive in the car.

Never stay at each others house again for a fun weekend and get tiddly on sweet white wine and giggle till the early hours of the morning.  I love you Pat and I am going to miss you so much

Sleep tight my friend ...