Winner

Hi Everybody,

It's a beautiful day here and Ruby and I are going to go for a walk after this post is done.

At present she is barking at the postman and anybody else who dares to walk past her house.!!

Ella (cat) as always is zooming round like an idiot going up and down her cat tree.
I am the only one who is chilled in this house.

But the draw has been done and the name this week is

Valerie Steele

so if you could email me your postal address please to

christina@card-making-magic.com

I will get the pack in the post to you straight away.

Please let me know that you have it safely and I do know that if you are overseas then it will take a while to get to you. But at least I will know that you have it safely.

I hope you enjoy playing with it and make some lovely projects.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Trellis Stamp & Stencil set.

Hi Everybody,

Todays gift is the lovely stamp and stencil set from Card Making Magic called Trellis.

This is an A4 stamp collection with many designs and sentiment on it to suit all occasions and a DL stencil to add pattern to your backgrounds.

It comes with the magazine Creative Stamping and you will find lots of ideas that you may like to try inside the pages.

So grab your favourite drink as you browse the pages for a little bit of "me" time,

So if this is something that you would like to have join your own personal collections then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME

From those comments one will be chosen at random as the winner and added to a blog post over the weekend, so be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown.

I am happy to send this to you wherever you live at my expense.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Elegant Nestables Collection - DL + Octagons

Hi Everybody,

For this card I have used the small dies from the Octagon die set which is part of the Elegant Nestables Collection.

I have linked them all together with ribbon woven through the centre and I like the look of this card with the glitter card in the background

It is a DL size,  which is coming back into fashion again, and this is effective yet easy to do. 

I have really enjoyed playing with this new die set and there are lots of videos to showcase the different sizes in the collection. I have used every style there is now and in many cases I have mixed and matched sets as well.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

                     

Elegant Nestables Collection - 5x7 + Octagons

Hi Everybody,

Today I am featuring another one of the dies from the Elegant Nestables Collection and this time it is my favourite 5x7 teamed with the Octagons.

This style of card was one I saw Marta Debicka making in her tutorial last week and I really liked the design. I asked Marta if I could copy it and so here is my version.

For mine I have used the dies from the set and I am more than happy with the finished look. I can't wait to se what Marta thinks of it too. 

The video is not long but is another that will be added to the Elegant Nestables Playlist on my YouTube channel.

Enjoy the video ...

The links at the bottom of the screen are mostly affiliate ones which means if you purchase through them I will get a small commission at not extra cost to you.

I have added in the Wild Orchid Crafts link but sadly they do not ship to the UK at present .. lets hope that changes soon. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Elegant Nestables - 5x7 Rectangles + Circles

 Hi Everybody,

This is my favourite size of card to make and I like to keep the fold at the top as it helps the card to stand better.

For this one I have used Autumn colours and they have all been coloured by me using Alcohol Inks and Isopropyl and I have a video showing how I did that a long time ago.

Colouring Ribbons and Flowers

I have also used Kraft Card, and this is not something I use often, and it is a very useful addition to any stash. It is a cheap and cheerful card that can suit make of female designs.

So this is the video that I added to Facebook Live last Friday and I am adding it here to compliment the Elegant Nestables series that I have done and just in case you missed it 

                     

Whichever set you purchase you are sure to be delighted with it as it will make the most beautiful cards for you, and should you buy two ... or more ... then remember that they will work alone or combined to get even more for your money.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Elegant Nestables, Box Kits & Display Stands

Hi Everybody,

I am so happy that everyone seems to be enjoying the new Elegant Nestables Collection and the beautiful cards that they can make.

But don't forget that they will work extremely well with any of the other dies, from previous collections, that you may have in your stash.

They are also designed to compliment the Complete Card & Box Die Sets that have been brought out over the years and can extend your card making with many possibilities.

And there are also the card stands that can hold your card for display in a lovely way.

I have added below the links to all the Elegant Nestables and shown them alongside the relevant box collections that they will go with, complete with the stands 

These will create the basic card shape and some layers and then the box that will hold your finished card, and allow for any depth you may have added to your design,
and if you are like me it will be a lot !!!

I am loving this collection but there is a lot more to come for the future so I thank you for you support in the past and your continuing support in my endeavours.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Facebook Colour Schemes

 Hi Everybody,

Thanks you to everyone for joining in with Friday Facebook Live and it makes me so happy that many of you like the new collection. Lou gave away some fabulous prizes and one of the questions she asked was "What is your favourite colour scheme?"

There were lots of ideas and some of the colours are fantastic and so I thought it would a good idea to add a card as often as I can using some of the ideas that came in

Please forgive me if I don't add the name of the person who suggested it but I had to write them down quickly, as the show went on, and I only managed to get the choices.

This is the first one and the colours used are 
Red & Gold.
I have used the Oval Elegant Nestables and the Merry Christmas sentiment.

I used the technique of colouring the white card with the ink pad and that has been done in Festive Berries but I also found some parchment that had a gold pattern on it and so I added that to the top also.

I have used the bight gold card as the mat and for the centre of the card and the flowers are from my stash.

I added small pearls to the parchment pattern and glittered up the flowers and words.

In the show I was asked some questions and I didn't get round to answering them so I will do that here

Where do I get my flowers from?   

I got lots of flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, as the choice was amazing, but then it was sold to another company and now they will not ship to the UK. I am adding the link just in case you are not in the UK and can get a shipment from them   Wild Orchid Crafts  but the price has gone up a lot !!

Another outlet I have used in the past is one I contacted through Facebook and here is the link so you can check that out ...  Samaflora

There is also a small collection of different types and colours at Craft Stash 

What colour is the glitter and where is it from ?

I get my glitter from Glitter Magic   and I usually buy it at the craft shows I visit. This is by far my favourite glitter and I buy the loose packs and tip it all into a container, as that is the best way to buy it. I use it a lot and you an see from the size of my box that I have a lot left. I have added this link to the colour I use and it is called Chameleon

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

HI Everybody,

What a lovely day it is today and later Ruby and I are meeting up with the rest of our family to remember my lovely husband Griff.

 It is four years today since he died and this has been a difficult four years. I smile and laugh and when people say "How are you"  I nod and say " I am fine" but in truth it has had some very trying moments in it. 

But today we are all meeting up and going for a lovely walk and then coffee and cake in a Lytham Hall café. The dogs will be able to run free and sniff all the wonderful things in the woods and we will all have a good natter about the things we have ben up to.

But in the meantime the winner has been chosen for yesterdays offering and the name this week is

Christine Cloutier 

would you email me your postal address please to 
christina@card-making-magic.com
and I will get it in the post to you straight away.

I hope you enjoy playing with it and be sure to let me know that you have it safely.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Fabulous Foliage

Hi Everybody,

It’s another Friday and this one is the launch of the beautiful Elegant Nestables. So be sure to join me on the Craft Stash Facebook Live page at 12.30 to see what we have.

Here is another chance to win this beautiful 8 piece die set called Fabulous Foliage that comes with the Die Cutting Essentials magazine.

You will find lots of ideas and inspiration in the pages and they will cover birthdays as well as Christmas for you to try.

So if this is something that you would like to win then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your FULL NAME.

From those comments one name will be chosen at random as the winner and announced in a blog post over the weekend ... so be sure to come back and see if it is your name that is listed. You will have 72 hours in which to claim and if it is not claimed then it will be offered again at a later date.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Another Way To Use Slimline ...

Hi Everybody,

This brand new collection will be launched on Craft Stash Facebook Live this Friday (Tomorrow 11th Nov) so make a note in your calendar to join myself and Lou Collins then at 12.30.

So for todays card I have used the small slimline die cut to produce the two panels that I have added to my card.

I have cut the layers twice in white and turquoise and added them together. Then they have been cut so that they can be added to the card front and leave a gap in the centre. 

I have added them to an embossed background and then added the Best Wishes words in the gap. 

The card has then been decorated with a pearl flourish and some Mulberry flowers at the bottom.

These flowers have been glittered up and I used a hot glue gun to hold them in place.

These are flowers that I got from Wild orchid Crafts many years ago and I have loads of them left yet to use. 

But they no longer ship to the UK and so if you know of somewhere else where they can be purchased then be sure to let us all know.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Waste Not - Want Not ...

Hi Everybody,

So after a week of intricate cards in many colours I thought I would add this one to show you how the Elegant Nestables can work as a clean and simple design.

This is an A2 sized card and the background has been embossed in the Perfect Roses embossing folder.

The word Friend is from another die set but the larger word HI is using the smaller centre part that fell out of the A2 collection.

I used the positive piece on another card but this is the bit that was left and so I formed my word and added it to the card front.

It is cut from bright gold mirror card and it seemed a shame to put it in the bin and if formed the word so well.

I like to look for other ways to use the dies and using the waste bits is one of them. That way all your precious card is used up.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Elegant Nestables - DL & Slimline

 Hi Everybody,

Todays video is to show you the difference between the DL and the Slimline version of this new Elegant Nestables Die set. 

The card shown is the Slimline version and I know that the colour scheme is perhaps a little unusual  for some people.

 But I have been using white and silver just lately and so I thought ... try a complete change of colour and see how it looks.

And although it is black based with blue mirror card I have to say I am quite happy with it. 

Both of these cards could also be used for a winter birthday too and probably other occasions with a bit of tweaking

The flowers are some that I have had in my crafty boxes for quite some time and it is about time they got used. And the die cut leaves and sprigs help to complete the look.

                                 

The video is not too long and I have covered most of the dies that are in this new collection in other videos that I have now added to the blog pages and on YouTube. 

The rest of them will follow shortly
You will find them all in a playlist named Elegant Nestables Collection.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Elegant Nestables - A5 + DL

 Hi Everybody,

Todays video uses the A5 and the DL sets from the new Elegant Nestables Collection and in this one I have used the sets separately and then combined the two for another look.

Each one is a petty card in it's own right and I have used a lovely grey and white colour scheme for all three.

                   

I have shown you a way to always have the colour card you need by using inks direct to white card and I have used the Distress Oxides to get my card. Now I know I can always have the card I want whatever I do on my designs.

In one of the cards I have used a pop of colour also to add a difference to the the look and I am really pleased with all the cards.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Elegant Nestables Collection - US A2

 Hi Everybody,

This A2 card is from the new collection and it creates an American A2 sized card. This is their preferred size as it keeps the postage down.

For the one shown I have added the die cut to an A2 base but in the video I have also added one to a 5x7 card as that is my favourite size to make.

All the cards are created in turquoise and a mat gold card that I got from Craft Stash. The little piece of gingham card shown here is some that I have had for a long time 

The ribbon I have also had for some time but it fitted into the slots just right and so that is why I used it on this card.

                     

Once again I hope you enjoy the video and I will be adding more using this collection.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

Hi Everybody,

Another Saturday rolls up and they seem to come round so quickly I can't keep up. It's not very bright here today, but it is not cold. 

I had a bad migraine yesterday and Ruby was taken care of by Vickie, who she took her to sleep at her house. I went to bed at 7.30 but I am glad to say that I feel much better today. I have not had a migraine head headache for a while now but I know when one is on its way as my vision goes wavy and I feel really sick. They are not pleasant things to have.

Anyway the draw has been done this morning and the name this week is

Ursula Longworth

would you email me your postal address please to
christina@card-making-magic.com
and I will get it in the post to you straight away.

I hope you enjoy the magazine and the gift and please let me know that you have it safely.

REMINDER

Don't forget to join Lou Collins at 5pm and 8pm today on The Craft Store for the launch of the new Elegant Nestables. I have some good videos coming up this week using this collection.

 More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx