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

Tone on Tone ...

Hi Everybody,

This lovely card is one I was asked to make for a special occasion  complete with a matching box and I was very pleased with the finished product.

And I am happy to say so was the buyer.  I have created it all in white and used lots of flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts

They have the added sparkle of fine  iridescent glitter from Glitter Magic

The white satin ribbon is from Mei Flower  and it ties into a beautiful bow with a diamanté and pearl centre

The little butterflies are some that I bought on a roll from a craft show and I don't know who makes them ... and worse still I have run out of them and can't replace them ....

The  embossing folder and the sentiment are from Crafters Companion  and stamped in clear and embossed in silver powder.

And just a little footnote .... Isabella loved here name plaque and asked if I had made and said "Wow" when I said that I had.  Quite a compliment from a three year old .

Then she asked if she could put it in her bedroom at Nanas' house and it now sits by her bed so that she can see it easily whenever she goes to visit.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spellbinders Nestabilities Mega Dies, Labels 8

Spellbinders S5-148 Nestabilities Decorative Labels Eight Die Templates

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

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

InLinkz.com

Friday Freebie 029

Hi Everybody,

Todays Friday Freebie is a Birthday Card in blue and white.

I have listed the dies used at the end of the post ...  but the birthday tag was a freebie with a magazine I subscribe to.

It is such a useful little die ... especially if your writing is as scruffy as mine

I have layered up several pieces with foam tape between the layers to give height to the card, and the blue ribbon is wrapped around them before adding them to the base

It may not have flowers on it but it is such a pretty card and it could be on its way to you.  

All you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post and a name will be drawn from the hat by my "Film Crew" to select a winner.

The new owner will be announced in tomorrows blog post so if you do leave a comment then please come back to check if you are the winner.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

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

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

Spellbinders S6-005 Nestabilities Elegant Labels 4-Die Templates, 5 by 7-Inch

Spellbinders S4-409 Nestabilities Gold Majesty Circles Die Templates

InLinkz.com

Isabella is 3 years old ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays offering is nothing to do with cards ... it is a little gift that I have made for my
Great Grand-daughter.

Today is Isabellas' birthday and she is three years old

I don't know where those three years have gone but she gets more beautiful every time I see her

This is her name decorated by me with flowers and gemstones, butterflies and ribbon.

I have added it to a little easel to hold it upright and it is going to sit in her bedroom at her Nanna's house (my daughter)

I am very pleased with the end result but at three years old I don't imagine that Isabella will give it a second glance.  Ah such is life !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Best wishes ...

Hi Everybody,


Todays card is a million miles away from a Christmas card and is created in a very pretty turquoise and white.

The little splash of yellow just livens it up a little more and it a really lovely combination to use.

The card is made with Grand Labels One and topped with the Decorative labels and is quite a large card

The list of dies is at the bottom of the post so that you can see which they are.

I have used two different ovals to create a frame and add to the top of the card with the sentiment inside.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts with some glitter to make them sparkle and it is from Glitter Magic    I like to use the Iridescent one called Chameleon as it matches with any color that you use for your cards.

The Diamante flourish is from Want2Scrap  and gives that touch of luxury.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spellbinders Grand Calibur Nestabilities Dies, Labels 1

Spellbinders LF-018 Nestabilities Grand Decorative Labels Die Templates

Spellbinders S5-160 Majestic Elements Nestabilities Opulent Ovals Die Templates

Spellbinders S4-356 Nestabilities Decorative Elements Floral Ovals Die Templates

InLinkz.com

Blue Christmas ...

Hi Everybody,

I am not staying with the Christmas theme for long ... but it is only 10 weeks away and so if you have lots of cards to make then you will have to get your skates on

This one uses the same die sets as yesterday and they are the Alphabets   in both upper and lower case and the Heirloom Ornament from 2010

Yesterday I showed you the versatility of this die and today I am showing you how different it looks again with a change of color.

The addition of the white roses from Wild Orchid Crafts make it even prettier

I have added in some pearl flourish  from Want2Scrap for the finishing touch and I think this is a lovely card that will sit in my stash until I send it to someone for Christmas.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Flowers ... for me??

Hi Everybody,

I just wanted to show you these beautiful flowers that have just been delivered  to my house  ten minutes ago ...  and aren't they gorgeous

They are a mixture of Roses and  Gerber Daisies with Carnations and green foliage and they are all sitting in a cream and white spotty cup.

They are from my friend Kim who very kindly allowed us to stay with her and her husband when I did the workshop in Sutton in Ashfield

I was very surprised when the delivery man asked my name and he said somebody wants to thank you ....

I sent Kim a little gift to say thank you for their company and now I have these lovely flowers from Kim and now I have shown them to you I am going to put them in pride of place in my sitting room

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Christmas Red ...

Hi Everybody,

Red and green are the traditional colors a lot of us use for Christmas and this one is created with Mirror card behind the frame.

I have created a frame from the Heirloom Ornament 2010 and backed it with the   Quatrefoil Pattern 

It always pays to get out older dies and re use them over and over again and these two cards are showing a variation on a theme.

I have simply turned the die cut up side down to give another  look and it looks just as pretty this way round.

I have used a glue pen in some of the cut outs from the patterned die cut and then filled it with glitter.

The addition of tiny pearls at all the cross sections adds an extra little touch.

The  letters on both cards are from the Spellbinders Alphabets in Upper Case  and the Lower Case  and with these two sets you can produce any name or phrase that you wish

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Dark and broody ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is a long long way from pink and frilly ... but it does you good to change tack once in while to see what you can come up with.

So this card is using black script paper for the base and over the top I have layered in the Spellbinders Reflective Moments

This is quite a large die and will fit a 5x7 card easily.

I have topped it with a verse from JustRite Stampers which matches the Labels Twenty Nine

There are several lovely verses on this stamp sheet all about Friendship

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and I have stayed with black and white ... but they are glittered up with Glitter Magic.

Into the corsage I have added in a silver Hat Pin and a small white bow with a silver heart charm attached to it.

Behind the die cut I have added in two silver fans for extra effect.

So OK it's in black but it is still a pretty card and some one is sure to like it somewhere..... I think .... I hope

If you live in Arizona and are near to the Spellbinders warehouse then you are going to love this piece of news

They are having their first ever "Warehouse Sale" in November and you are sure to pick up some fantastic bargains if you pop along and visit

For all the information just click this link ... Warehouse Sale  and be sure to tell us what you buy

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

The Card is Yours ....

Hi Everybody,

Sorry for the late start today but here I am with a winners name.  We had a bit of a lie in and then we drew the name and without any more preamble here it is ....

The winner is ...

Raineys Craft Room

Could you let me have your postal address as soon as you can so that I can get the card in the post to you and I hope you will like it when you get it.

More  later ...

Hugs xx