Exciting News ...

Hi Everybody,

On the 23rd October I was introduced as the new

  International Ambassador  

for Spellbinders and many of you kindly left me comments on Spellbinders Blog Post.

Part of my new job is to show you how to get the very best from any Spellbinders  that you buy and to demonstrate them on Create and Craft TV

It has been a whirlwind for me and I have never been so busy ... and I am truly loving every minute of it

But one of the really exciting things that has happened is an invitation to attend the Ambassadors Retreat in Phoenix Arizona.

And so bright and early on Monday morning I shall be boarding an air plane and heading off to the USA for a week of work, fun and adventure.

I shall be meeting lots of new people and learning lots of new things .... and I can't wait ... especially to be meeting Stacey Caron who is the owner of Spellbinders

I will be taking my camera and  blogging about my trip so I hope you will pop back to read what I have been up to.

Only six more sleeps to go and then I will be ....   leaving on a Jet plane .... wish me luck

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Video Tutorial ...

HI Everybody,

Here as promised is the video tutorial to show you how to get this look using the Glass Effects  from Spellbinders  and it is such an easy idea to recreate.

Choose the colors that you would like your card to be in and a separate color for the frame. I have used Silver Mirror Card for mine

Keep the colors pastel for all your female cards and go for the dark and dramatic for the male ones

Over the last couple of days I have shown you some color ways and ideas.

You can make your base card to fit the panel or you can add another to add to the top as I have done here.

On this card I have used the A2 Filigree Delight  in silver mirror card to frame the colored panel

And I have chosen one of the colors in the card to match the ribbon.

The sentiment on any of these cards can say exactly what you want it to say.

Add your colored panel to a larger base and it will look just as good.

Ring the changes by using Gold Mirror Card or even glitter card for another look.

Enjoy the tutorial for this fun technique.... it's not long

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Diagonal Chevron ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is using the same techniques that was used in last Wednesdays Card Class and I showed you the photo of the card that Mary made yesterday.

So for this card I have used the  Diagonal Chevron   and stayed with pastel colors to make this a feminine card.

Dressed up with flowers from  Wild Orchid Crafts, ribbons and pearls from Want2Scrap    and there you have one very pretty and easy to make card.

But the same die,  and the same technique in other colors, could make this a card that is suitable for the men in your life.

Apart from a little ribbon with a dazzler in the centre there is nothing else that is frilly on this card at all.

Change the sentiment on either of the cards and it would be perfect for any occasion

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card Class ...

Hi Everybody,

Last Wednesday was Card Class day and I thought we would try something a little different.  Brenda couldn't be with us so Mary and I worked alone

This is using the  Glass Effects   from Spellbinders and we had such fun making this card.

Many of you have said that this is not a die that you would have first thought about buying  but having seen it in use you have now changed your mind.

The little technique is one I am going to get Griff to film so that you too can enjoy the look that it creates... and of course there are other ways to use it

Mary was really pleased with her card and it is much prettier in real life than the photo shows you.

The Card Class has been running now since May and each week I try to do something different.  And each week the ladies go home happy with their makes.

Some  weeks they have a recipient in mind for their cards and others they just keep for them selves.

But I think they have come on in leaps and bounds and we always have a good time which is what crafting is all about

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx  

Card winner today ...

Hi Everybody,

We are getting very lazy on Saturday mornings in my house as we lie in till about 8 ish and then laze around with breakfast and TV before getting into the spirit of doing something.

But that is the benefits of being retired and not having to get ready to go out to work on any day of the week.  So to all you newly retired people and those who have been retired for some time .... Count your blessings and enjoy your free time

Once we eventually got our selves into gear we did the draw for a winner of the Cerise pink card and the name this week is you ...

Jean Bullock 

and so if you can email me 

christina@card-making-magic.com

your postal address please then I will 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.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie 031

Friday Freebie 031

Hi Everybody,

The card on offer in this weeks  Friday Freebie is created in Cerise pink and white.

For this one I have used the Californian Background and created a frame around it with  Cordoba from the Spanish Collection.

Both of these dies are available from   JGD Crafts

The sentiment is  Good Friends   from JustRite Stampers stamped onto Spellbinders   Labels Thirty Three   

It is a very pretty and very bright card with the addition of matching flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts

The little gemstones are from Want2Scrap

If you would like to win it then all you need to do is  join the group of followers in the sidebar to your left  and then leave me a comment at the bottom of this post to let me know you have been to visit.

Then tomorrow morning I will pick a name from the hat and the winner will be announced in that days blog post.  I am happy to send you the card wherever you are in the world

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Orange Pumpkin

Hi Everybody,

This is another card for Halloween and this just features the pumpkin.

The image is from Just Inklined CD "The Next Big Thing" and I printed it off in draft and allowed the printer ink to dry thoroughly before coloring.

The bats in the picture are simply colored with True Black and then cut out and decoupaged onto the card.

The ribbon is tied around the spine with a knot.

The pumpkin has been colored with Spectrum Noir  Pens and the colors I used are ...

OR1 OR2 OR3 TN4 TN7 GB5 GB6 DG2 DG4

It took me some time to complete as there was  a lot of careful shading to get the shape in the pumpkin

But I was pleased with the effect once it was finished.

I cut it out and added it to my card with deep foam pads to raise it up.

So tomorrow is Friday Freebie Day and I have a lovely card to give away in the morning

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Haunted House ...

Hi Everybody,

Here is another card for the Spectrum Noir colorists out there and this is one that I did for the Spectrum Noir Design team last year.

I made a short video to go with it and I will add it here also

The colors used to get the look will be listed on the tutorial.

In this one I use the chisel end of the pens and hopefully you will give this a try as the chisel end covers a lot more area in one sweep of the nib.

The image is from the Just Inklined CD "The Next Big Thing" and the fence is drawn freehand.

The card is completed by matting and layering with a black base

It's just a fun technique for you to try and I hope you will enjoy the tutorial.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Halloween

Hi Everybody,

Are you ready for Halloween? Or do you hide behind the settee to avoid all the kids that come knocking on your door

This little image was colored with Spectrum Noir and the colors used are ...

Skin   FS2 FS3 FS6
Robes  TB2 TB3 IG2
Hats  IG2 IG3 IG4
Pumpkins  OR1 OR3 CR7

The backing papers  and tags are digital papers that I printed off my PC and the images of the children are from the Just Inklined CD "The Next Big Thing "

The ribbon is from my "Stash" and there's no  flowers or "Bling"  in site .... Must remedy that later !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Waste Not ... Want Not ...

Hi Everybody,

The pretty card is created from Spellbinders Trendy & Simple Collection

It is called   Glass Effects   and it is a design that would suit any occasion or gender, color or style

Dress it up or leave it plan and either way the card will work for you.

And the simple words are from  Sentiments Three  and are very handy if your handwriting is not neat or you don't enjoy stamping.

This card features the part that the die cuts ....

... but if you are a careful with the removal of the positive part of the die then you can make another card.

You will need some double sided adhesive sheets to add to the  bits that you would normally poke out of the die and just throw away

I have made a video to show you two ways to use it and there is no waste of card with this at all.

The video is not long but it shows you the fun way to get more for your money with one simple die.

And if you make the card in another color then it would be suitable for the men in your life too.

I have used a Silver ultra fine glitter on mine but you could also use Gilding Flakes with this technique for another look to your design

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Sunny Yellow ...

Hi Everybody,


Thank you so much to all of you who have responded to the call for Christmas Cards from Festive Friends. 

Some of you have written to me to tell me that you have already sent some cards to Phillippa and if you too want to join in then please click the link above.

As  all the cards will need to be sent out to the elderly people for Christmas ...  then the sooner you send them the better.

Todays card is created with yellow and white and once again the picture quality is not too clever.

The light was fading the day I took this and it was pouring down too.  Still you get the general idea of the layout and style.

I have used the Quatrefoil Pattern  for the background and surrounded it with a double cut frame from the Grand Large Labels  and this is a die set that is being discontinued from the Spellbinders range

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and the satin ribbon is from Mei Flower

The beautiful Diamanté  flourish is from Want2Scrap  and I have used it behind the flowers and have you noticed that the butterfly is back in flight ???

Thank you to all the ladies who have sent me some of these lovely silver effect butterflies from your own collections .... it is much appreciated

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

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