My little corner of Blogland where I can share my creations with you. There are many video tutorials as well as links to good quality websites for all your crafting needs.
It is much cooler here today but at least it is not raining. Ruby will get to go for her walk just as soon as I have done this post. I have also got a video to add tomorrow and that is using the Clever Cuts die that was offered at half price by Craft Stash. So this is a way to use it to produce a lovely background for your cards and I hope you will enjoy it.
But for now the winner of the Eucalyptus Dies has been chosen at random and the name today is ...
Maureen Wood
would you email me please with your postal address to:
christina@card-making-magic.com
and I will get it in the post to you straight away.
Don't forget that if you live a long way off from the UK where I am based, then you will need to give the post man time to get your parcel to you.
So here we are into the middle of April already and time is simply flying past. It doesn't seem like a week has gone past since Christmas.
This weeks offering is for this pretty leaf set with six different shapes and stamps to go with it.
The magazine will give you some ideas on how to get the most from the set, as well as other ideas to inspire you.
If you would like to have this set in your collection then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your FULL NAME. Not nicknames or initials but your full name please.
From those comments one will be drawn at random and the winner listed in a blog post over the weekend so be sure to come back and check.
I have no way to chase you up and you will have 72 hours in which to claim the prize then if it is not claimed it will be offered again at a later date.
There is also a special offer going on at Crafts Stash for the Deal Of The Day, saving you 50% on the Clever Cuts Collection, and next week I have a video coming up to show you yet another way to use the 6x6 Off set Background dies
It is taking me a little while to get back to normal after being ill but I have made some card and matching envelopes from my Lidl Paper and card packs and I am happy with the results.
These will go to restock my charity box, and when it is full again I will take it to the shop.
So this one is suing the turquoise card and paper. I covered the front Washi Tape to it before embossing it in my folder.
It is an A6 size and I used my flat fronted envelope die set to make it.
The flower is from the Altenew Craft A Flower Sulfer Cosmos and they are beautiful once made up. This die set is easy to layer as there are symbols on each numbered piece to help you.
To the centre of the flower I have added in some glue and then sprinkled it with gold glitter to make it shine.
My apologies for the absence this week but I have been really sick. The last thing I could have done was a blog post or faced making a card but I am glad to say that I now feel so much better. It has taken me a week to get over what ever it was and I hope it doesn't return in a hurry.
Fortunately I had the Friday Freebie scheduled well in advance and so that went ahead as planned and this morning I have done the draw for the winner of that Terrific Tulips pack of dies and stamps. So the name today is ....
Carmen Ciubotariu
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.
Be sure to let me know that you have it safely and I hope you get lots of pleasure from using it.
If you wanted this die set and missed out on being the winner last time it was offered , then despair not as here is another chance to get his combination of dies and stamps in your hands.
It comes with the Die Cutting Essential magazine that is full of ideas for using this set as well as inspiration for other things you may like to try.
Always a good read so get your favourite tipple and spend some "Me" time as you browse the pages.
If this is one that you would like to have then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the blog post with your FULL NAME to be in with the chance of winning.
The last one was claimed successfully, and if you don't win this time I have still more of this set to give away over the next few weeks.
Be sure to come back and check if your name is listed as the winner and this draw is open until Sunday, when the winner will be announced.
Todays card has again used older dies to create this really pretty look and the finished card is a 5x7", but flat enough to fit into a standard envelope.
It is a technique I watched Ann Melvin do on her YouTube Channel but she used stamps. I have used my own collection of dies and papers.
This is the Decoupage Delight Trellis 5x7" Die. I have also used the Butterfly Trails Paper Pack and I needed two matching sheets.
They are both cut to the exact same size using the same area of the pattern and the top sheet has been cut with the middle Trellis die.
I have cut my foam sheet into thin strips and laid it all along the wrong side of the trellis and then married it up to other piece of the paper.
This raises it up and once added to the other sheet it leaves a beautiful effect of a shadow on the paper underneath.
This photo shows you what it looks like from the side with the addition of the foam.
It is an easy look to achieve and the results look so good, and I will certainly be trying this again in the future.
It is always good to get more use from older dies after all they cost you money and they are sitting in your personal stash just waiting to be used again to make many more beautiful designs.
Todays post is only a short one, because since Thursday afternoon I have not been well. I don't know what is wrong with me but I have been really sick all night. I have not eaten since Thursday and I feel really bad. I am aching everywhere and it is not a nice feeling.
I have got the draw done for the beautiful Butterfly and Florals set and the name today is
Benedict Hjalting
would you email your postal address please to christina@card-making-magic.com and I will get it in the post to you straight away. Be sure to let me know that you have it safely and I hope you enjoy playing with it.
I am sad to say the Lovely Lavender Kit from two weeks ago has not been claimed and that is so sad as I know that many of you would have liked that kit.
I will offer it again at a later date so you can have another chance to win it.
I have a blog post scheduled for tomorrow and I am hoping that by Tuesdy I will be feeling much better.
Another sign the spring is around the corner are butterflies. I have a shrub in my garden commonly called a Butterfly Bush and it gets full of them.
This die and stamp set are really pretty and there is a lovely text stamp that can add such detail to your designs.
The butterfly is quite large too and will make a real statement to the font of a card and then of course there is the magazine that is full of ideas and inspiration for this and other projects that you may like to try.
If this is something that you would like to have then leave me a comment at the end of the post, but you must leave your FULL NAME
It is far easier to identify the winner with a full name so please comply. No name ... no win !!
I am happy to send you the package wherever you live so go ahead and leave your comment.
Today I have made a card using a really pretty embossing folder and I have inked over the background once it is embossed.
That highlights the design but keeps the raised areas in the original card colour which in this case was pink.
I cut the middle from this layer and added in an extra white one to create the framed portion. I also used a white oval that was lying on my desk.
The words sentiment is from a really old Tonic die and I think the flowers are from Altenew ... but I am not sure.
Once they have been made I have added some of Sam Calcott's Accent Glaze to the top and that has made the flower shiny, with an enamelled look to it. This is a useful product to have in your crafty stash as it can add a beautiful look to any of your projects.
Highlight the flowers as I have done here or just certain areas of them, such as a nose or eyes on your images. Maybe accent a heart or stars on your creations to give them another look.
This finished card is a 5x7 and it looks much prettier in the hand.
Today I have a sneaky peak of a new collection that is coming in May, and it features beautiful butterflies that can be used in a number of different ways.
I have been busy making samples for the launch and I will be doing videos to accompany it as well. So I hope they will inspire you when they are released.
These can be added to any sized card you are making and I will show you much more when we get nearer to the launch.
For this card I have used some of the bargain papers and card from Lidl that I told you about earlier this week.
The word is gold mirror card from my stash as is the diamante flourish for the butterfly trial.
Be sure to look out for this collection when it is released at the beginning of May
If you have been with me for some time then you will know how much I like to fill a charity box up with my cards, and take it to the shop for my chosen charity to sell them.
Last week I took them 200 cards, and I always have each card with an envelope and I put them into a cellophane bag to keep them clean.
From the look on the managers face I know she appreciates my efforts and this is my way of supporting them as they sell them for whatever price they want.
So my bargain find was in Lidl as I was doing some shopping, and there tucked away at the back of a shelf was this fabulous card and paper.
The colours in both packs match and it is really good quality. Not cheap and glossy which I hate.
The card is 270gsm and has 25 sheets in it, and from each sheet I can make two cards.
The paper pack is 135gsm and and there are 50 sheets, two of each colour, making me two envelopes, to go with the cards.
It was inexpensive too so I bought two packs of each and took my lucky find home.
I got busy and made some cards, and then I thought I would film it, to share with you my find, and then hopefully if you wanted some too you would find it in your nearest Lidl.
The video is not long but I share with you the dies I have used from other sets to decorate my designs.
The main one is the A6 Flat Fronted Envelope Die that is part of the A6 Collection introduced last month
Now I can make lots of cards with envelopes to match, and I could always make plain white envelopes for everyday use from a 100gsm copier paper. Another idea would be to add a wax seal to the back of each envelope made from another die set that is from Pretty Book collection.
What a beautiful day and the sun is shining, so as soon as this post is done I am taking Ruby out for a walk. It has forecast some rain for later so might as well take advantage now when its still sunny. It's a pity Ella can't come too but I may just have to get her used to being in a harness and then she can. Strange sight seeing a cat being walked .
In the meantime the draw has been done for that wonderful Lavender kit that is on offer. There are 138 elements on offer in this kit from Papers to toppers and you even get the foam pads inside as well.
Inside the magazine pages you will find hints and tips to help you get the most from the kit and for making other cards too. So as soon as you get the kit you will be able to start on your cardmaking adventure.
The name of the winner this week is ...
Kathy Butler
so would you email me your postal address please to christina@card-making-magic.com and I will get it in the post to your straight away.
Please let me know that you have it safely. This is the only one I have so should it get lost in the post we are both snookered !!!
Special Offer
And over on Craft Stash for today only there is a special offer of three for the price of two on my beautiful collections.
Now is the time to pick your favourites and grab a bargain at the same time
This weeks offering is an absolute bumper gift and it comprises of the magazine which is full of ideas, and a fabulous card kit that has everything you need to make some cards.
There are foiled toppers, papers, die cuts, foam pads and there is even some twine in the pack as decoration.
It makes a beautiful starter kit for those new to card making, as everything you need is there. Just add your card base and a bit of glue and away you go.
If this is something that you would like then all you need to do is leave me a comment. Or maybe you know of a friend, who is starting out with cards, that you would like to gift this too.
The usual drill applies ... leave me your comment with your FULL NAME to be in with the chance and then be sure to come back and see if you are the winner.
This pretty card is one that I created for a neighbour and I filmed the whole process .... and then stupidly erased it from my camera before downloading it to be edited.
I could have kicked my self when I realised what I had done but of course it was far too late as there was no way I could get it back.
Or so I thought ...
Until today when I searched my computer, and lo and behold there it was.
I was so pleased about that and now that it is edited I am adding it to the blog pages and I hope you enjoy it.
And when it is her birthday I hope that my neighbour will like her card too.
