Friday Freebie - Altenew Poinsettias

Hi Everybody,

Today I am back to offering, over the next few weeks,  some magazines that you are sure to find informative.

The first one is  Simply Cards & Papercraft and the beautiful Altenew Poinsettia Die & Stamp set.

This is a flower that although it is always very popular at Christmas it can be used all year round.

Just swap out the colours and add it to you designs for some really lovely on trend flowers that will suit any occasion.

There is also the link for you to download some papers that can be used with the stamp and die set.

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

From those comment one name will be chosen as the winner and announced in a blog post over the weekend so be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown.

You will also get the magazine to brows at your leisure and that is always full of ideas and inspiration for you to try.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Bokeh Effect

Hi Everybody,

Todays little card is created with the Bokeh Effect on the front panel and there are many different ways to obtain this look.

It is a Japanese word often used in photography and it means blurred. 

This effect is that the back ground looks blurred, like the lighting in a photograph that is taken from a distance and it is not focused correctly.

I have created mine with Distress Oxides, and a large finger dauber and stencil but you can use anything that you have in your crafty stash.

It us another easy way to make individual and unique backgrounds for your design and is far more satisfying than buying more papers.

The sentiment is one of a set that I got from Amazon and is one I reach for often.
The top is cut in a blue to math the pattern and the base is silver.
The panel has also been mounted onto a blue mat 

This is a video I did on the technique some time ago and in that one I used water colour paints.

 I thought it appropriate to add it again here

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Trellis Card - Variation Two

 Hi Everybody,

Today I am doing a different take on the Trellis Card from yesterday by simply moving the strips to another area.

Once you have tried this why not try them in another place for even more changes to your design.

The video will show you how I got this look and I have used another handmade paper for the inside of the card. 

Such an enjoyable way to create unique papers for any thing you make

Trellis Card  - Variation Two

The butterflies are just cut from a paper pack that has been out for quite some time, but you could use ephemera packs or stamp and colour your images as you please.

The ones I had left over I added to the back of the card for more interest.

The video is not long and yet the card is so pretty and the finished size of mine is 5x7.

You can make this any size you want,  as there is not really any measuring to do, just adjust the strips to suit the size

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Trellis Cards - Variation One

 Hi Everybody,

Today I am sharing a 

Trellis Card  - Variation One 

that has been made with a handmade panel for the back. 

I really enjoy making my own background in this way and you can get so much variation in the finished card and I show you in the video how I get the look.

I got the idea for the ink smoosher from NBCards on YouTube and it is such a simple concept but so effective.

I have added this video to a Playlist called Trellis Cards and that will share with you many ways to create different looks with this simple design.

The card is easy to make and yet stands out from the crowd because of its unusual design.  

It is a style that has been around for a ling time ... I am just late getting on the bus !!

But I hope you enjoy the video and will come back for more as I have more ways to make trellis cards coming up in future videos.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Pocket Card & Variations

 Hi Everybody,

Today I am starting a new min series and I am re-visiting some old videos in the process.
I am going to make cards from one basic shape and give the old videos  a new lease of life.

Pocket Card

I have not bought anything extra, I have just used things that I already have in my crafting stash.

I have used the same die set throughout for my decorations and it was released a long time ago from my Nested Circles Collection 

The first picture is a complete pocket card and the video will show you how to get this look.

Pocket Card & Variations

You could also simply leave the flaps loose and decorate the inside with the detailed layer if you prefer. Thus giving you two variations to use 

Side Fold Card

These next two cards are with the fold at the side, and it could be on either side.

I have used the die cut as a detailed lacey layer  that you can see through...

Top Fold Card

... and this one has the fold at the top using the detailed layer at the bottom to hold the card upright.

I have used a 300 gsm card, but if yours is lower than that the you may need to glue two detailed layers together for the strength to hold the card base upright.

This gives you three more variations on the theme to add to your arsenal.

This lilac card has the two flaps going in opposite directions but the card will still stand on its own.

For this I have cut the largest die to create a base, and I have added that behind the detailed layer,  to give this layer a more solid look.

But whichever way you decide to do this it will give you a really pretty card to send to your recipient, male or female and what ever the occasion. 

I hope you enjoy the video 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs x

Michele Coffey - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

It's grey and dull here today and I don't know if it will brighten up any, but here's hoping it will.

I am having great trouble walking at present and so I doubt if Ruby will get her walk today.
 I have an appointment with the doctor best week and so I am hoping they will be able to sort things out for me. First thing in the morning is really painful and getting up stairs takes me ages ... thank the lord for banister rails is all I can say !!!!

The draw has been done for the Spellbinders Set 3 and this time I am hoping it will be claimed.
The. name today is 

Michele Coffey

so could you send me your postal address lease to

christina@card-making-magic.com

and I will get it sent off to you straight away. Please let me know that you have it safely and I hope you enjoy playing with it when it arrives.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Spellbinders Set 3

 Hi Everybody

Here is another chance to win the Spellbinders Set 3 that was not claimed the other week .and it is a lovely die and stamp set with an embossing folder.

You can make some beautiful designs with this set and make it work in your own personal collections. 

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

  FULL NAME

Then be sure to come back and check if your name is shown as the winner over the weekend. 

You will have 72 hours in which to claim the prize.

More tomorrow…

Hugs xx

Using Scraps ...

Hi Everybody,

This card has been created from left over pieces of gold card.

I used brushed gold, glitter gold and bright gold at the bottom and cut them into equal panels before adding them to another panel.

I wrapped gold twine around this and then added it to my base card,  whcih is an A6 size, with foam tape to raise it up.

I cut the butterfly from the bright gold card and some parchment and added that to the top of the twine along the bodyline.

The sentiment is also bright gold.

The panels where too big for the first card, but the bits I trimmed off I made into another card.

I also found some left over gold embossed parchment, and I tore that into a strip for the front of my card.

That sits under the small panels that have been added to some more parchment.

From the bright gold I cut one strip and several dots to add to the front for decoration.

 I also cut some leaf shapes to add to the small gold panels.   

The sentiment is from an old Card Making Magic release. 

Another great way to use up any odds and ends you may have lying about and it saves you money in the process.

Plus it is far more satisfying then tossing them into trash can

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Colouring Acetate

Hi Everybody,

Todays card has a background created on Deli Paper, as I did in yesterdays cards,  but this one has a fussy cut flower added to the front and that has been done on acetate.

I stamped the image with Versamark on to the acetate and and then heat embossed it with white powder. You will need a heat proof acetate for this as an ordinary one with shrivel in the heat,

Ink smudges very easily on acetate and it is difficult to get it to stamp properly with some inks. The Versamark worked really well for my design

Stazon is another answer as it is permanent on any non porous surface and gives a lovely clear image. It comes in many colours and has refills that you can buy at the same time 

Just be mindful that your stamp could slip on the acetate surface and needs extra care

I used alcohol inks to colour this image and I coloured them from the wrong side.
This gives you a diffused look once you view it from the correct side again.
I fussy cut the image out once the colouring was dry and I added it to my card. with glue dots in strategic places  

The butterfly was cut from silver card for the detail and parchment for the backing and I kept the wings loose sot hat they can be raised up a little to give the appearance of fluttering on the panel.
The sentiment is also cut in silver

It turned out to be a bright and petty card and once again used up things that I had made from previous crafting sessions and so wasting nothing.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Jewel Colours

Hi Everybody,

These beautiful cards are created in jewel colours from my alcohol inks but this time they are done on Deli Paper.

This is a thin kind of paper that is a greaseproof on one side and absorbent on the other.  It is what your food is  sometimes wrapped in you go to the takeaway to buy it.

I got mine from Amazon and it was really inexpensive. 

It does a lovely job and the colours are gorgeous. 

Some one asked me if tissue paper could be used instead and I find tissue paper is too thin and it tears very easily when exposed to moisture.

The Deli Paper is much stronger and yet still can be torn along the sides to add to your card. If you have greaseproof paper in your kitchen then give it a try. 

I have hand torn both of these cards and if you tear the paper towards you, with the colour facing you,  then you will get the white edge to the paper that looks pretty.

It die cuts beautiful too and can be added to your cards, scrapbook pages of journals.

On the top card I have gold heat embossed some butterflies and  I have used coloured inks to add the dots to the panel.

The bottom card has been crinkled up and then I lightly rubbed gold gilding wax added to the top of the creases.

I dressed both cards with gold butterflies and Happy Birthday sentiments, and both are 5x7 top folded card bases 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Old Idea ...old video

 Hi Everybody,

My apologies for adding this old video from seven years ago but I have not been well over the past few days and not feeling up to doing a new one to show you. So I hope this one will entertain you until I feel better.

It was done many years ago and Griff  filmed it and although I use alcohol inks in it you could use your favourite medium to create the look.

Because this is such an old video I am able to add it here on the blog and not just the link back to YouTube.

Thanks for all your lovely comments on the mini series for Parchment Ideas, it makes me really happy that you enjoyed the videos.

I will be back to normal soon with another mini series for you to enjoy and in this series I will be revisiting some of the old card shapes that have been around for a long long time.
It will also update some of my older videos too.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Ann Topp - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

I don't think this weather knows what it wants to do today , or any other day for that matter.
It has been a real mixed bag going form one season to the next in a few short days.
In fact it has been an awful summer and it is nearly over with. 

But I have done the draw and hopefully, this week, this one will be claimed.
I can never understand why people add there names to a free gift and then do not claim it as theirs.

So the winner today is 

Ann Topp

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

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Spellbinders Set 4

 Hi Everybody,

This is the last of the Spellbinders sets that I have on offer and this is set 4.

It is a matching die and stamp set along with beautiful Rosette Wall embossing folder that is sure to make some lovely backgrounds for you designs.

Last weeks offer has not been claimed and so I will add it again later on and hope that it goes next time.

But if you would like this set 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 and announced in a blog post over the weekend so it is up to you to come back and check if your name is shown as I have no way of letting you know if you are the winner.

I am happy to send this to you where ever you are and it doesn't matter if you have won before.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Parchment & Marker Pens

 Hi Everybody,

I know that not everybody has alcohol ink refills  but most of us have alcohol pens of many different brands.

But is doesn't matter whcih brand you have this look can be achieved with any of them.

I also use Isopropyl Alcohol as it is a lot ... and I mean a LOT... cheaper than blending solution and the effect is not that much different.

Try to get the higher percentage if you can as it will work much better that the lower one. I used 99.9% and it wouldn't go any lower than 91%.

I got a one litre bottle from Amazon and it is not expensive and will last you for ages.

I have shown other videos in the past where I have used it to Colour Ribbons and Flowers 

The card to the left has been done with the pens as shown in the video but I have used lots of coloured pens to produce the dots around the sentiment.

It just gives another look to the end result and I quite like it too. You can of course leave it off if you prefer. 

The video is a little longer than usual but I hope you enjoy it anyway.

Parchment & Marker Pens

Clicking the YouTube links will open  new windows in for you to view the videos listed but please come back here when you are finished.

I  have really have had a good time playing with Parchment and using it in lots of different ways.

For the card to the right I was inspired by a tortoiseshell brush that I have in my bedroom and I picked out the colours as close to it as I could.

It is the same style as the green one done in the video,  and I like both of them .

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Parchment Scraps

 Hi Everybody,

Playing with the parchment over the last few weeks has produced quite a bit of left over pieces and so this was one way to put them to good use.

I added them to some white card to give them strength and then I cut them down into banner strips, of varying widths and lengths,  with a little fish tail at the end of them. 

For this top card I layered them on to an embossed panel with foam tape in between each banner and I mixed up the colours so that each one would be on a different colour.

I dotted small dots around the front and they are created from the hole punch and gold card, and I added the video for that a few weeks ago.

They do look very effective on my card. and these strip have been added vertically on my design  

On the card to the left I followed the same process but dressed this card in silver and added these strips horizontally to the embossed panel

The butterflies have been backed on to parchment  and the wings curved up a little to give movement

Just by playing I have created some lovely cards from bits of  parchment  that would otherwise have been wasted.

And had some fun in the process.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx