Friday Freebie - Spellbinders Set 1

 Hi Everybody,

For the next few weeks I will be giving away some stamps, dies and and embossing folder all from Spellbinders.

Each one will be different but all will have the superb quality that  Spellbinders are known for.

The dies will all match the stamps that they are with and the embossing folders are from the Celebrations range and are deeply etched.

Would you like to win one of these sets ???

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 will be chosen as the winner and announced in a blog post over the weekend so please be sure to come back and see if it is your name that is shown as the winner.

Good Luck 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Parchment Ideas - Flowers

 Hi Everybody, 

Today in the parchment series I am making some flowers to add to my cards. 

I have stamped them out and then heat embossed them with silver powder and the end result is some beautiful items to adorn my designs.

The lilac flowered card in the video is my favourite and I really enjoyed making all of them.

I will be adding more vidoes next week continuing with the same theme so I hope you will join me again then.

In the meantime here is the video to make these lovely flowers 
 Parchment Flowers

The card to the left has been coloured with different shades of alcohol markers and added to a stencilled background.

I added pink sequins to the front but I have used the same pack for my sentiments for all the cards.

I doodled around the edge and I am also going to create an envelope for each one.

I hope you are enjoying all the videos in this series  and if there is something that you would like me to cover then be sure to let me know.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Parchment Ideas - Envelopes

 Hi Everybody,

This is now day three of the videos I have added with lots of ideas to use parchment.

 I decided to do them as individual videos, rather than several techniques in one, to keep them short and more easy to watch. 

So for a really delicate look to your finished cards why not make your envelopes from Parchment.

This is one of the Split Front Cards created in yesterdays video and now it has an envelope to go with it.  And the effect is really very pretty.

It would be perfect with a wedding card and with the embossing as well it looks really special. Well worth giving this idea a try.

The video for this idea is  below and it is not long and in it I also create a card to go with the pink envelope that I make.  

Parchment Ideas - Envelopes

Please join me again tomorrow for yet another way to use your parchment and we will make some more lovely cards that you will be proud to send. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Parchment Ideas - Split Front Card

 Hi Everybody,

This is the split front technique and it has been around for a very long time and probably under another name. 

It is very easy to do and I have covered it before, but this time I am making use of the parchment that I have in my craft room.

This would also be really effective if done with Acetate and us well worth trying to see if you like the look.

The video will show you how I made the card and hopefully give you some inspiration to go ahead and make it. for yourself

The pictures do not do justice to the cards.

Parchment Ideas - Split Front Card

Once again I have used the gold and silver mirror card as this makes everything kook so rich and I am making use of the already die cut items that are on my desk.

I have not bought anything new for a long time and this is part of my new year plane to use up what I already have in my stash.

Another technique working with parchment will be along tomorrow ...

Bye for now ...

Hugs xx

Parchment Ideas - Backgrounds

Hi Everybody,   

Today I am starting a mini video series that will show you some of the ways in which I have used parchment on my cards.

I get confused with what is Parchment and what is Vellum so I looked it up and I am pleased to say that there is no difference.

Both where originally made from animal skins that where scraped and cleaned ready to be used as a writing source.

Now in modern times we have papers and parchment/vellum is now made from plants, and widely available.

It is called many things ... tracing paper, translucent paper, see though paper are some of them.

Here is the video 

  Ways To Use Parchment 

and if you click the link it will take you to a new window on YouTube for you to view the video.

Please like and subscribe and leave me a comment on the channel and here on the blog.

It comes in various weights and many colours. You can get it patterned and even foiled and it has many uses.

You will even find baking parchment in your kitchen. 

And with our cards there is a lot of ways we can use it to make them special. It is an inexpensive way to add variety to your designs.

So over the next few videos I am going to show you some of the ways in which I have added this to my designs.

I hope it will inspire you to make more use of any that you may have in your collections.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winifred Kennedy - Winner

HI Everybody,

It's not quite as bright here to day but it is still warm and Ruby and I will be going out later in the day ... as long as it doesn't rain.

 I am definitely a fair weather walker and I don't like to get wet or cold. Ruby on the other hand doesn't care and she loves it when she gets home and is towel dried. Its just one big game to her.

I got the draw done earlier and the name this week is

Winifred Kennedy

Could you please email me your postal address to
christina@card-making-magic.com
and I will get it sent to you straight away.

I hope you enjoy playing with the gift and be sure to let me know that you have  received it ok/

Tomorrow sees the start of a new series of videos that are dealing with parchment in your card making, and showing some of the ways in which I make use of it. I hope you enjoy them and to keep them short I have only covered one idea in each video.

And oh dear .... it's raining !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Glass House and Feathered Friends

Hi Everybody, 
 

This week I am offering you the chance to win the Glass House and Feathered Friends die sets from Paper Discovery by Olga Direktorenko.

These will work really well together and the finished glass house makes a really impressive statement.

Use some acetate inside the framework to create a beautiful centre peice for your table, and use a small battery tea light inside it to highlight the flowers that could be added to the inside of it. 

If you would like to have this  then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your FULL NAME 

The name will be announced in a blog post over the weekend so be sure to come back and see if you are the winner.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Tile Effect Cards

 Hi Everybody,

Many years ago ... more than I care to remember ... I did a  video for YouTube and called it the
                        Faux Tile Effect 

It is still there but I have decided it is time to bring old videos up to date and so this is one that has now been
 re-filmed and here it is for you to view.

It is using Distress Inks and stencils, as well as some flowers  on some of the cards, but the overall effect is just as pretty as it was back then.

Here is the more up to date video 
Tile Effect 

The top card shows the tile panel  with just the sentiment added and that way you can see what the effect is on the card.

But the pink one has all the bells and whistles added in with the flowers and the silver die cut frame around the edges.

The tile background is visible along the sided and this is a really elegant card ... much better in the hand than the picture shows.

Please leave  me a comment here and on YouTube to let me know that you have visited, and any of these pictures can be added to Pinterest as well..

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Mixture of Techniques

 Hi Everybody,  

These are some of the cards I have made over the past few weeks and they have been filmed and added to the blog pages.

This one is using the Tile Effect for the die cut panel and I have embellished it with silver.

The finished card is a 5x7 and the die cut is one from the original "Christina Collection" brought out many years ago now by Craft Stash.

The alphabet letters are also an old Card Making Magic die set and I don't know if  any of the are still available.

The butterfly was free with a magazine many years ago

The card to the left is using the weaving technique and both videos that were added just days ago.

This is also a 5x7 card as I fine that size suits me the best, not too big and not too small.

It is the circle in the centre of this card that is the
Woven Panel Card 

and it is a very pretty effect what ever size you make the panel or shape.

This card is a mixture of two techniques and has a woven panel  done with the Fractured Card look.

I love the colours in this panel and they are

 Antique Linen and Speckled Egg Distress Oxides. 

 I have splattered the whole lot with gold paint before cutting it into strips to be woven.

I have edged it with gold mirror card leaving a small gap between the panel and the strip for a different kook to the fracture.

All these cards are now in my charity shop box and waiting to be taken to the store.

More tomorrow ...

 Hugs xx

Playing with inks ...

Hi Everybody,

These cards are made from the other colour way mentioned in the Three Panel Card video   that I added last week.

Experiment and see which colour combinations you like the most and make your cards with those, it is a process you will enjoy as you play.

You could also try cutting your card at a different angel to vary the look. and use any stamps that you may have in your own collections to personalise the backing.

I really enjoyed making these papers for my cards and it is something I will be doing again soon. 

You could add in some gold or silver card to enrich the design and also add in any little die cuts that you have.

It is an excellent way to use up your scraps and odd pieces that you have lying around.

But it is very addictive and I made loads ... far more than I needed, and so now I have a small box ready to use in the future.

So try really hard to restrict your self to just making what you need for the project in hand ....
 and that is easier said than done !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Everyday Items - Hole Punch Dots

Hi Everybody,

It is no secret that I love to add embellishments to my cards, whatever it is ... Flowers, Ribbons or Pearls !!

This is something that I have enjoyed doing for a long time and I know that to some people I add too much, but to me more is more.

I like the look of small pearls or enamel dots but they can get a little expensive and so I make my own.

I have in the past made them from coloured glues or the little jars of Nuvo Drops and allowed them to dry before transferring them to my cards.

And I did  a video called Create Your Own Pearls and flourishes about twelve years ago, and boy have I come a long way since that video.

It looks so old now and my cards are much better than they where back then 

I have even made the dots from wax seals in the past and left them to dry, and then added them to my designs.

But this one is so easy and uses up scraps of any kind of card that you have left over. 

You could use a die if you have one that cuts out the holes for you but the hole punch is so cheap to buy and is something that some people already have in their home office. 

Here is the video so please click the link and go to YouTube to view.
Hole Punch Dots

Please leave me a comment both here on the blog so that I know you have visited me, and on YouTube so that they know you enjoy the videos I upload. Thank you xxx

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Ethne Gloss - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

I hope you are enjoying this lovely weather at long last … we have waited so patiently for it and now the sunshine is here.  It makes such a difference when the sun is out and everything feels much more pleasant. Let’s hope it last a good while now that it is finally shining for us.

I have done the draw for the gift on offer on Friday and the name today is

Ethne Gloss

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

More tomorrow…

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Glass House & Nativity Scene

Hi Everybody,

Today offering is from Olga Direktorenko and is part of her paper Discovery Range. 

It features a large glass house die that can be filled with flowers or birds but  this set it comes with the Nativity Scene.

The large glass house is 14.6 x 20.8cms so you can see how impressive this die set is.

That Nativity set can also be used alone to build up a beautiful creation for any of your Christmas projects.

If you would like to have these sets then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your FULL NAME

Be sure to come back and check if your name is shown as the winner in a blog post over the weekend as I have no way to contact you should you win. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Day Four Video

Hi Everybody,

I hope you have been popping over to YouTube and enjoying the videos  that I have added all this week.

They started with creating your own really pretty backgrounds and then using them in various ways to make your cards.

Far more satisfying than buying papers or card especially when there are shades and colours in that pack that you will never use.

This makes far more sense and it uses any of the inks that you have too, as well as embossing powders that can sit there for years.

So here is another idea that you may like to try.

Woven Panel Cards

This is weaving the paper that has been cut into strips. 

I used some strip dies that I have and I got mine from Amazon for a really good price point. 

I have added the link at the bottom in case you wanted to look at them.

You could use your trimmer if you preferred or simply a ruler and craft knife.

The mirror card and parchment are also from Amazon and is excellent quality. 

The video is not long as I try to keep them as short as I can but you will need to click the link to open a new window in YouTube to watch it.

Please leave me a comment here and on YT and subscribe and "Like" the video as that will help my channel to grow.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Day Three Video

Hi Everybody,

Todays cards are using another of the papers to make some lovely flowers that can be added to your designs and this colour way is Chipped Sapphire and Worn Lipstick.

I have tried to come up with an unusual way to add them to this card and created a channel to suspend them across the  centre.

I have used a heavy weight acetate for the back if this panel and that will add stability to the front. 

So this video is titled

Distress Flower Cards
and it will show you three ways in which I have used them on my designs.

Again I have used the same silver Mirror card and parchment for the butterfly.

The vertical sentiment is from an old Card Making Magic set and just makes a change from using horizontal ones.

I am adding the links at the bottom simply to show you what I have used and f you have them too then that is fine.

But if you don't then simply substitute what I have  used for something that you do have and have fun creating your own unique backgrounds.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx