Friday Freebie - Terrific Tulips

 Hi Everybody,

I know that many of you liked the Terrific Tulips that was on offer a while ago and so I have yet another one to offer you.

This comprises of a set of stamps and the matching dies to create some really pretty bouquets to add to your designs.

You will also get the magazine Die Cutting Essentials to go with them and this is full of ideas and inspiration that you may like to try for yourself.

So if you would like to have another crack at winning this gift 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 name will be chosen at random as the winner and it will be added to a blog post on Sunday. I have kept the post open for two days to give overseas readers the chance to enter.

 But be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown as the winner as I have no way to contact you, and if the prize is not claimed then it will be offered again, at a later date for someone else to win.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Altenew Flower

Hi Everybody,

For this card I have been using one of the Craft Your Life kits from Altenew that I have collected over the years.

It has been coloured in using the layered stencil and then added to an embossed background done with a 3-D folder. I used pale blue card and a leafy folder to get the look

One it was embossed I ran over the raised areas with white ink pad to bring them out even more and that panel has been layered onto some glitter card.

I used a wet glue for this, as sticking things to glitter card can sometimes cause problems, as it doesn't stick very well.

The flowers have been added with foam pads to give dimension and one single pearl placed in the centre of the flower.  

I made an envelope from the Lidl paper to go with it and I am quite pleased with the result.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Baby Girl Card

Hi Everybody,

This lovely card was created using the plaid background and on this one I have added in some fine hand drawn lines in a slightly darker shade.

I think the end result is lovely and because it is for a baby girl I added in some flowers.

Mind you, you can always add flowers to a baby boys card as I have never heard a baby complain about flowers on a male card !!!!

I have added the oval to an embossed panel as I think that pattern in the background stops the card from looking too plain.

The oval itself has been added with foam pads to give some depth and you would need to make a box for this style of cards. But if you have the 5x7 Complete Card & Box Die Set then that would be no problem.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Baby Plaid

 Hi Everybody,

I enjoyed making the plaid backgrounds so much yesterday hat I thought I would continue the theme but make it softer and add it to some baby cards.

Always a pleasure to make and the softness of this one I really like. 

The colours for this are Squeezed Lemonade and Broken China but of course once the blue and yellow mix it crates a lovely shade of green.

I used a really old die set for this and made the duck, bear and baby suit for the bottom of the card but I don't think they are available anymore. So if you have them well done.

I hope you enjoy the video and I hope you will give this really easy technique a try.

I am sure that you will be delighted and surprised with your own result.

More tomorrow  ...

Hugs xx

Creating a Plaid Background

,

Hi Everybody,

I always like to get the most from any dies that I already have in my collections and with the special offer that was on Craft Stash of 50% off the Clever Cuts I thought that this was a good time to make my video as another way to use them.  

So for this video I decided to show how I created the Plaid Background and I think it makes a real statement on the card.

For this one I have simply added a text stamp over the top of the ink blending for a really pretty look.

There are other designs in the video and you can play about with colours and the way you lay the stencils down and of course the way you choose to decorate the finished card.

I have chosen different shapes to cut my panels out and the flowers makes them all really special. 

But with darker colours and no flowers they would make excellent masculine cards too.

I have added this to a playlist on YouTube to show you how I created some other backgrounds and they may inspire you to have a go for yourself.

Enjoy the video with your favourite cuppa and maybe a biscuit or three to go with it.

 

Another idea added recently using the same die set from the Clever Cuts Collection was this one and I hope you enjoy this as well.

Two videos for the price of one .....

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

                  

Winner

Hi Everybody,

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.

Moe tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Eucalyptus Wishes

 Hi Everybody,

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

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Charity Box Donations

 Hi Everybody,

Here is another of my Card & Matching Envelope sets and for this one I have chosen the pale yellow.

The envelope has been embossed to match the added layer to the card front.

I used a really old A4 folder from Spellbinders as that took the whole size of the paper inside it

 

The flowers are stamped, coloured and die cut from Altenew and I have added them to the card with foam pads.

The tiny pearls are self adhesive and they just add the finishing touch to my creation.

This Cerise pink card has got the addition of panels to it and I have edged the pink ones with faux stitching

The pearl flourish has been cut to extend on both sides of the flower and this one is the Sulfer Cosmos again from Altenew

All these cards are A6 and the flat fronted envelope die has been put to some good use to create all the envelopes.

It makes me happy to refill the Charity box and the ladies face in the shop is a sight to behold whenever I take some in for her to sell.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Card & Envelope

 Hi Everybody,

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.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

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.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Terrific Tulips

Hi Everybody,

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.

Good Luck

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Trellis Die Set

 Hi Everybody,

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.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

Everybody,

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.

More tomorrow ...

Hugsxx

Friday Freebie - Butterfly Florals

 Hi Everybody,

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.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Embossing Folder & Accents Glaze

Hi Everybody,

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. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx