Simply Cards & Papercraft 180 - Songbird Blossoms

Hi Everybody,

Today's card is created with the free gift with this months SC&P 180.

I have done a video to show you how I used the gift and it makes some really pretty cards.

I have used the same colour scheme for all the cards as I think it shows just how different you can make the cards look.

The gift itself is an Embossing Folder, stamps and three small dies for you to create your own arrangement. Make sure you don't lose the small dies by adding them to a piece of magnetic sheet and store everything together in one larger plastic pocket

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Sneaky Peek ...

Hi Everybody,

Here is just a little sneaky peak of my Christmas Collection that will be launched this week on Craft Stash.

I will be showing it all to you this coming Friday at 1 pm on Craft Stash Facebook Live 

We will be giving away a complete set of Christmas Dies, Stamps and Folders to one lucky winner so I hope you can join me then 

I am really excited to be sharing this collection with you and there are some lovely items in it that will mix and match with all the other dies in both the 6x6 and the 5x7 collections

I am going to make some really pretty cards in plenty of time for the Christmas Season and I will be adding lots of videos to share with you

The 5x7 and the 6x6 complete card and box sets are designed to be built up and each die that comes out will be usable with everything else to give you all the things that you could need to make cards boxes and decorations to enhance your designs

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Cards for Girls

Hi Everybody,

The other day I spent a very pleasant couple of hours simply colouring and I was really pleased with the images.

I made them all into cards and they will be sent to a charity when I have enough to fill the box.

I used Copics and just enjoyed the time it took me to complete them all.

The images are all from Lily of the Valley

I do find it very relaxing to colour and then I alter things around a bit with a white gel pen.

On the top one I added white ribbon through her skirt and for this one I added spots to the skirt to make it look a little different.

You can make any of your designs personal to you with the addition of a bit of white if only to highlight some areas on their clothing or shoes.

And sometimes adding a tiny white spot to the cheeks or eyes can bring them to life.

Hope you like them all but I am sure that some little girl will be delighted with any of them on her birthday.

Take a look at the Craft Stash website for the products that I have used

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Ruby Update ...

Hello Everyone,

It's me Ruby and this is me and my best friend Dougal playing in the sea.

We have a lovely time when we go to the beach and it's really cool in the water when it is hot.

Today I wanted to show you a little video of when we went to Lytham and how clever I am at walking on a log with  Dougal.

All I wanted was the treat that Vickie had in her hand and I got it in the end. We had such fun jumping over the log.

When we got home I had time for a snooze before it was tea time and I had some delicious chicken for mine.

And tomorrow I can play all over again

See you again later ...

Hugs Ruby xx

Card & Gift Winner

Hi Everybody,

I would like to thank all of you who made it to the Craft Stash Facebook Live yesterday and congratulations to the three people who won the "Give Away"  prizes of my box and card sets that were offered on the show.

That was surely an awesome prize to win and I hope you enjoy playing with them when they arrive.

My Christmas Collection will launch next week and I will be showing you some cards that I have made using the sets. So I hope you can join me at the same place .. same time ... next Friday to be in with the chance to win the whole collection from Craft Stash

Now today's winner of the Fairy die from yesterday is ...

Sabine Matagne ...

please email me your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and they will be on their way to you straight away

The prize on offer last week was not claimed and so will be offered again at a later date

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Fairy Die Set

Hi Everybody,

Do you like fairies? Then you will enjoy adding this one to your cards.

It is from the Signature Dies buy Joanna Sheen and was featured in the video Fairy Die 

If you would like to win this prize then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post.

One name will be drawn at random and then announced in tomorrows blog post.

Please leave your FULL name and be sure to come back and check if it yours that is shown and you will have 72 hours in which to claim the gift

Remember ...

To join me on Craft Stash Facebook Live at 1 pm today

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

6x6 Floral Trellis See Through Card

Hi Everybody,

Today's card is a lovely see through lace effect created with the Floral trellis die set.

It is free standing but I decided to make the stand for added impact when it is displayed

In the video I have given you several options on how you can use the die cuts and each one will give a different look to your designs

The Christina Collection is only available at
Craft Stash 

It is not difficult to do but looks as if it is and is sure to please the person you decide to send it too.

The card I have used throughout is a 300 gsm super smooth card from Papermill Direct and is my go to card at present. I use it for everything ... cards, layers, boxes and the card stand and I have never been disappointed with it

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Die Cutting Essentials 40 - Scenic Swallow

Hi Everybody,

The next issue of Die Cutting Essentials will be on sale tomorrow the 19th July and it is a two piece die set

You can also get the stamp set on offer for just the cost of the P&P and the sentiments will compliment the die set

The card on the right is one of those shown in the video but I made one that is much more intricate and I hope you will give it a try.

There is such a lot that you can do with this set and the magazine will show you many more ideas that you ma like to try.

Please don't forget that I am on Craft Stash Facebook Live this coming Friday and I hope you can join me

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Some News ....

Hi Everybody,

I have some news for you regarding the new Christmas Collection from Card Making Magic.

I will be on the Craft Stash Facebook Live this coming Friday 20th July

 and also the week after 27th July too. It will start at 1pm 

The link I am adding is so that you can register your interest if you would like to join us on those dates.

Craft Stash Facebook Event

The new collection will be with you really soon and I am busy making samples to show you 

I hope you can join Janette and myself on either ... or both ... of those dates so see you soon

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Fleur de Lis

Hi Everybody,

This card has a mixture of techniques on it and the Fleur de Lis die is from Crafti Potential and is the Stitched Rectangle set

I added some Stick It sheet to my card and die cut the word and then removed the "S" from thanks and added Gilding Flakes to it.

The "YOU" is from another set and all I did with that was stamp and emboss it in gold powder.

So the background has been ink blended with dark colours and then splattered with clean water and dry with a paper towel to prooduce the blotchy look.

I used a stencil and bronze Nuvo wax to get the pattern down the sides of the panel and then cut out the Fleur de Lis.
 I added the panel with foam tape to raise it up onto a white base card.
Dotted it with some green sequins and there is the card finished and ready to send .

Quick and easy and looks much better in the hand 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Here's my kitchen ...

Hi Everybody,

Well at long last the kitchen is completely finished and here is the video to show you the result.

I am really pleased with everything and it is a lovely fresh room to be in. 

Griff has worked hard from stripping out the old one and then transforming it into this beautiful space and it surely is a credit to him.

The further differences in the above photo are the doors at each end of the room are now white and we had some blinds fitted yesterday. 

Now we can sit back and enjoy it 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Today's Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

Another beautiful day here and I have lots of things to do over the weekend.

 One of the things I want to do is film my kitchen now that it is completely finished. 

I had new window blinds fitted yesterday and so now it is ready to show you. 

I love it and it is completely different to how it used to be. Well and truly up to date 

The draw for yesterdays card and gift has been done and the name this week is ...

Luz Berenguer

would you email me please with your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the gift will be on its way to you straight away.

I hope you will enjoy playing with the set and please let me know when it arrives safely with you.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Woodland Friends

Hi Everybody,

Today's card & gift is a pretty circular die that can build a lovely scene for you to add to your cards

The video will how you some of my ideas and it is called Woodland Friends

The outer edge to the die set can be used on its own as an addition to other cards you may make and gives you the beautiful scalloped edge

So would you like to own this gift??

Then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post and one name will be chosen at random as the winner.  It will be in tomorrows blog post so be sure to come back and see if it is you ... but please leave your FULL name if you enter

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Papercraft Essentials 162 - Ring Of Roses

Hi Everybody,

This months Papercraft Essentials is giving away for free a lovely die and stamp combination.

And the opportunity to download some backing papers, inserts, toppers and sentiments to complete your cards

I enjoyed playing with it and it makes some lovely feminine designs for all occasions.

For this card I used just the stamps to create the background and then coloured the flowers with Copics

There are so many variations you can use with this set and you are sure to enjoy playing with it too.

It will be in the supermarkets and shops tomorrow the 12th July 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Making Boxes ..

Hi Everybody,

I have had an email from a lady who has bought the Complete Card & Box Die Set and is disappointed that the box will not go through her smaller die cutting machine

By virtue of the size of the finished BOX you will need an A4 cutting platform to use them.

The box may be a 5x7 but it has one inch sides to be able to make into a box, and the tuck in fold at the top, and so the die is almost 7½ x 10 ½ and is never going to fit through a 6" gap.

The 6" box in 8x8¾ and again will not fit through  the smaller machines.

But there is a way around this and I have done a video to show you how to overcome this minor problem without going to the expense of buying a larger machine.

 Every other die and folder CAN be used with the 6" platform

I hope it goes some way to answering any questions you may have and will not stop you from buying any of the other beautiful dies in either of these collections

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Clean and Simple

Hi Everybody,

This little card is created very simply in shades of grey and peach.

I did the ink smooshing technique on some water coloured card with Distress Oxide Inks and then cut both layers of the butterfly from it

I have die cut the words in black three times and stacked them for depth and used a black mat to tie the layers all together

The stripes are made with a stencil and some grey ink very lightly for the background and tiny hearts added in the same grey

The butterfly is from the Layered Butterflies die set from Card Making Magic.

The flourish along the body line and for the trail is from Want2Scrap  

Very easy and very simply but really pretty in the hand and would be suitable for a male card too. Swap out the sentiment to match the occasion 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Ruby Update ...

Hi Everybody,

I haven't been to visit you for a little while but I have been having lots of fun with my Mum and Dad.

I will be two years old in August and I am really beautiful now. 

Here  I am with my summer cut and it is much cooler when I run around and play.

My best friend Dougal is coming to play today and we had fun in Witch Wood last weekend  chasing balls and sticks ... but I am not allowed to chase squirrels.

Here is a little video of us playing and I am the one making all the noise ... just to let Dougal know who is the boss !!

I like to go to the beach too and especially if I can go in the sea and have a splash about

My mum has got a paddling pool in the back garden for me and I like to go in there to cool my paws down when its a hot day.

More tomorrow ...

 Bye for now xx

Card & Gift Winner

Hi Everybody,

A beautiful day here and I hope it is the same in your part of the world. 

 Can you believe that July is with us already ?? 

Could somebody tell me what happened to May and June.

The draw for yesterdays prize has been done and the name this week is ...

Carole Eaton

would you email me your postal address please to :

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the gift will be on its way to you.

Sadly last weeks prize of the Sparkling Snowflake  has not been claimed and so it will be offered again at a later date

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie -Hearts & Flowers Stamps and Embossing Folder

Hi Everybody,

Today's gift is part of the All Occasions  Collection and the original folder took the craft world by storm.

It proved so popular that it sells out every time it is back on the Craft Stash website. 

It has a video to show you how I used it and it is  called Hearts & Flowers 

So here is your chance to get this for free and all you need to do is leave me a comment and your FULL name.

I will select one name from those comments to be the winner and the name will be in tomorrows blog post.

I am happy to send them wherever you live and you can still enter even if you have won something before. Good Luck everybody 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Glazed Distress Oxides

Hi Everybody,

This techniques is a lot of fun and no two will ever look the same no matter how hard you try.

Let the inks build up the layers and don't worry about it as you work, but choose the colours that will compliment your image or colour scheme.

The Oxides will dry with a chalky look but once you add the glaze all the under colours will come out and the effect is really lovely.

Have fun as you play ... that is what crafting is all about and you will be amazed at the different effects you will get from other colours

When you make them into cards add embellishments to enhance the colours. Die cut them or make them into strips and weave them. Add other die cuts to them ... especially a large sentiment or simply add flowers as I did with one of mine.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Creative Stamping 59 - Summer Holiday

Hi Everybody,

A fabulous A4 stamp set with a summer theme to help you build your collection. Perfect for invitations.

If you make cards for Girl Guides or Scouts then this is going to be the answer to your makes.

There are lots of images to scene build if you enjoy masking when you stamp ... or simply stamp, colour and cut out if you prefer.

The images above have been fussy cut and added with with pads

You can have lots of fun with this free gift and it will be in the shops tomorrow the 5th July.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Fancy Nesting Rectangles

Hi Everybody,

Today's card is created in soft green and lemon and I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but it is really pretty in the hand

I added in lace, flowers and ribbons and some lovely  rainbow gems from Crafti Potential for added sparkle

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and I have added a mixture of  Roses, Daffodils and Tulips in yellow and white

I always add them with a hot glue gun for extra security but you need to be careful if you try a hot gun as the glue gets very hot and it will burn your fingers if you don't take care
 .....  How do I know this ????   Ouch !!!!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spellbinders Floral Oval

Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is created with one of the new dies from Spellbinders and it is the Floral Oval designed by Marisa Job

The finished card is an A2 size and I have backed the trellis with parchment. I have also added it to a silver oval but I can't remember the name of the die

The flowers and leaves have been coloured with Copics and the whole effect is very pleasing

Add in a different sentiment and it would be suitable for any occasion.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tonic Craft Kit 11 - Festive Wishes

Hi Everybody,

I am late with this months video for Tonic and I am really sorry for the delay. 

But here it is and for this I have used the

 Craft Kit 11 - Festive Wishes.

It has lots of dies that can be used for a Christmas theme but you can also use it all year round for other types of card too.

 In the video I have used several techniques that have been covered in other videos to show the versatility of the kit.

This card has been turned into a birthday card and I used a stencil to add the Glimmer Paste

The kits are available from Tonic Studios at the links below ...

UK & Europe

US & North America 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx