Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Not quite as hot here today but still pleasant and dry. And it will be time to go for a walk with Ruby as soon as this post is done. Thank you for coming back this week to see the new blog design and I am so happy that you seem to like it. There have been some lovely comments and for that I am truly grateful.

I have some  new videos to add next week and I am hoping that you will enjoy that too.

But for now the draw has been done from the comments added. 

Please not that if you didn't leave your FULL NAME then your comment will not have been added and so no chance for you to win.  I need your full name ... not initials or nicknames ... to be able to notify the correct person if they are the winner. And I ask this of you every week and also to come back and check if it is your name that is listed as the winner. 

Lets get down to business then with the winner this week. 
The name chosen at random is 

MaryJean Smith

so if you would email me your postal address please to
christina@card-making-magic.com
then the gift will be on its way to you just as soon as I can get to the Post Office.

I hope you will enjoy the beautiful die set and the magazine and be sure to let me know when it arrives safely with you.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Peony Perfect

 Hi Everybody,

Another chance to win this beautiful Peony perfect Die Set that is with Die Cutting Essentials magazine.

A good read at any time of the day and it is full of inspiration and information that you may find really useful.

You will find lots of ideas on how to use this die set as well as other projects that may spark your imagination.

So if you would like to win this set then all you have to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post.

It doesn't matter where you live or if you have won before you can still enter over and over again.

You must add your FULL NAME or the comment will not be counted. No nicknames or Initials just your full name and that way it is easier to identify you as the winner.  You will need to come back and check if it is your name that is shown as the winner and you have 72 hours in which to claim the prize  

Good Luck everybody

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Altenew Flowers

 Hi Everybody,

These beautiful flowers are the Bitterroot Stencil and Die Set  from Altenew and I think it is lovely. I have really enjoyed playing with this combination and the stencil is perfect if you don't like to colour the images your self.

It is a layering stencil and comes in three parts. It was a little confusing to start but I watched a tutorial on YouTube about this one and it all became clear after that.

The die cuts out  two  flowers and two buds all in one pass and additional flowers can be added if you prefer. 

You can of course alter the design of the flowers any way you wish by adding in more or leaving some out, and then adding the leaves around the display as you like. 

Experiment with the stencil and see what you can come up with and it is far quicker than getting out your pens or water colours to make your card. 

So tomorrow sees us back to the Friday Freebie again and I hope you will take part by adding your comment and leaving your FULL NAME.

It's nice to be back 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Hello, I'm Back ...

Hi Everybody,

I am so happy to say that I am back and I really hope you will enjoy using the new look blog. There may be a few glitches to iron out yet but it should be easier for you to use and see and is much more user friendly if you are on your iPad or your mobile phone.

I have to get used to how it all works again, so please bear with me while I am in this learning curve.
I should be back to normal again and this week I am reinstating the Friday Freebie so be sure to leave your comments as you did before, at the end of the post, to be in with the chance to win.

Have a browse around and make sure you know where everything is, whilst I do some housekeeping in the background until I get the pages to look how I want them too.

Thank you everybody for being so patient while all this was done and a really big thank you to 
Jamie Carter at
WeAreWeb Design  
for the hours he has put in to make these changes happen.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Important News

 Hi Everybody,

It has been sometime now since I started my Blog and in that time I have only had one major make over, and that was a few years ago. But with all the changes that are taking place in the internet world I thought that maybe it was time to take another look and see how I can improve it. 

I have found a company, based in Liverpool, that can help me with all that technical stuff and they are going to try and give me a whole new Blog look.  Which means I have had some stuff to move. from scheduled posts. until the work is all finished.

This means that I will be out of action for the next week or so, while the work is done and then I will hopefully be up and running again. 

I have moved the Friday Freebies for a few weeks but I still have some stuff to give away with the Peony Perfect and the Fabulous Foliage sets.  So please keep a look out for me to be back online and then be sure to come and join in again for the chance to win.

Please don't worry if there are no blog posts from me for the next week. I will still be working away in the background. I hope to get quite a few videos done in that down time, and have them edited and ready to upload for you to view.

See you soon ...

Hugs xx

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Not quite so hot here today and I like this a lot better. So does Ruby. I used to sun bathe for hours on end in my much younger days, but not any more. I just get too hot and very bored.  Autumn is my favourite time of year. 

I have had a lazy morning but I have got the draw done for yesterday’s offering,  and the name today is 

Tina Zapusek

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. I hope you enjoy playing with the set and please let me know that you have it safely.

More tomorrow…

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Fabulous Foliage

Hi Everybody,

Here we are again with yet another of the Fabulous Foliage Stamp Sets that is with the magazine Simply Cards & Papercraft.

If you have been trying to win one of these sets over that past few weeks then maybe today is your lucky day.

And if you don't succeed this time I still have another one to give away 

All you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your FULL NAME to be included in the draw.

From those comments a name will be chosen at random as the winner

You will need to come back and check if it is your name that is listed, and you will have 72 hours in which to claim it. 

I am happy to send this to you wherever you are and it doesn't matter if you have won before. But don't forget to add your full name or you will not be entered into the draw.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Layered Background with die cuts

Hi Everybody

I always want to get more from my dies and I look at them carefully to see what they will offer me. The more they will do for me the better the value.

If you look carefully at the background in the circle of this card you will see the pretty layered effect that has been produced. 

I have created this by simply cutting the same day several times in different colours and layering them together in an off set pattern. 

There are other looks that can be achieved with dies like this but this is the easy way to do it, and you may like to try this for yourself .

The video will show you how I made four cards using this technique and each one is different but just as effective in its look. 

One is a variation on the Panel Card and I have simply used a heart shape to span the front with the trellis pattern inside the heart.

 It looks gorgeous and is created in the same way as the other Panel Cards I showed you a few days ago. I hope you like the effect and enjoy the video.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

                                       

Spring Summer Stamp & Die Set

Hi Everybody,

These two cards have been created using the Spring Summer Stamp & Die Set and I heat embossed the flowers with clear powder.

I coloured them with alcohol markers and then used the dies to cut them out. I had to fussy cut some of them and they give a really pretty effect.

The background has been inked with Distress Oxides and then I have used a text stamp over the top in black ink and heat embossed that with clear powder

I arranged the flowers on the card front, and popped up some of them with foam tape to give height. I tucked in some of the die cut leaves behind.

The flowers centres have had some glitter sprinkled into the centres and I have added black self adhesive pearls around them as an added extra. The sentiment is a die cut glossy black card

For this card I have used a new stencil, that will be coming soon, and some texture paste to create the trellis look  It has been added to a Gelli Plate background

I used the Nesting Ovals to create my frame and I added this to the card with foam tape around the edges.

The flowers have been coloured red with markers.  

and they have been added to the frame with foam tape also 

The sentiments are some that I had lying on my desk from a previous card and I added those along the bottom of the oval again with foam tape.

The little butterfly clinging to the frame is from the stamp set and I think he adds the finishing touch.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Birthday Wishes

Hi Everybody,

Now this photo definitely does not show up the glitter card that I have used on the background and it is a beautiful bronze colour that really sparkles.

This is a 5x7 card on a white base and the die that I have used is the Rectangles Perfect Panels die set from Card Making Magic. I cut the rose filigree panel four times and layered three of them together. 

I added them to some silver mirror card and then coloured in the flowers and the leaves through the pattern in the card. The silver shines though the colour and looks very pretty. 

The fourth panel was added to the top of these to cover up any marks outside the lines and then the whole panel is layered on top of the glitter card.

I cut the sentiment four times, three in white and the fourth one in black glossy card and added that to the front also. It doesn't need any further embellishment as the glitter card says enough. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Rainbow Butterflies

Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is a 5x7 and it is created with one of the dies from the original Card Making Magic Collections

It is the Butterfly Border Die Set and it comes in three separate pieces. The main butterfly section and the other two will help you to create the border to whatever width you would like and whichever side of the card too.

For my creation I have just used the main section and I have cut it four times in white card and layered them together. 

The final layer has been inked with Distress Oxides  in rainbow colours and then cut out with the same die and added to the top of the other layers. 

I have added them to the top of an embossed panel and then glued all of it to my base card. The embossed panel doesn't show up very well in the photo but it is there. 

I have dotted some rainbow sequins around the butterflies as  a finishing touch. 
They came in a box with separate compartments for each colour ... that is until I dropped it on the floor and now they are all mixed up.!!! 

 I don't have the patience to stand and sort them all out again and so they can just stay mixed up. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Ruby Update

 Hello Everyone,

Are you enjoying all this hot weather ??  I can't say that I am, it is far too hot for me. 

But my mum takes me out early in the day or later  to avoid the heat and that is much better for me.

 We always take lots of water with us so that I can have a little drink every so often

The other week when we went to Lytham we saw a family of ducks on the water and I was really quiet so as not to frighten them. 

Well today we saw a family of  Teddy Bears in their rowing boat and they where having a lovely time cruising around on the water.

Lots of people where stood around watching them row along and every so often the little one at the back would wave. I barked to say hello, and everybody laughed at my greeting. 

I really wanted to get into the water with them,  coz you know I love to swim. But my mum wouldn't let me  jump in. There was another little black fella there and he wanted to get in as well and his mum wouldn't let him either.

Anyway once we get home I can have a snooze. I have a Cool Mat and it is lovely to lie on that for a while until tea time and then I can go for another little jaunt with my mum.

Bye for now

Love Ruby xx

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Busy day today and not one bit of crafting done. I have done what my mum used to call bottom cleaning. You know the stuff … under the beds, top of the doors and windows, all the boring stuff. But it’s done and then I took a pair of shears to my back garden and chopped down a load of over grown plants. There’s now room in my garden for me and Ruby. And after all that I took her for a long walk in Witch Wood and Lytham town centre.

But I have just done the draw for yesterdays offering and the name this week is …

Donna Rinckel

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.   Please let me know that you have it safely and I hope you will enjoy playing with it.

More tomorrow…

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Peony Perfect.

 Hi Everybody,

Here is yet another chance for you to win one of the Peony Perfect die sets that I have on offer. And there are still two more complete sets with the magazine yet to give away.

All you need to do it leave me your comment with your FULL NAME and I cannot stress enough that if you don't leave your full name then you will NOT be entered into the draw.

This really is a useful die to have and the magazine is full of inspiration and information that you are sure to find interesting.

So add your comment and then be sure to come back and see if it is your name that is shown as the winner. I have no way to contact you if you don't come back and you will have 72 hours in which to claim the prize .... but only it you add your FULL NAME.    Need I say more 

More tomorrow  ...

Hugs xx

Arrow Fold Card

 Hi Everybody,

This style of card has been around for a long time and some of the videos I have watched on how others make it are full of measurements.

Now there is nothing wrong with that but I get totally lost in sixteenths of an inch and seven eights, it leaves me completely numb.

So I came up with another way and this is the best way I can make this card, easily, and it suits me perfectly..

The finished result is so pretty and you can decorate this any way you wish. I of course had to add in the flowers and glitter, along with some pearls ... but no ribbons this time.

I hope you will give this a try and find it as easy as I did.

The video is not long but it will give you a better idea of the steps I took to make it.

It would suit any occasion and male or female, if you leave off the flowers. This is a single photo of one of the cards.

 The first picture makes it look too complicated as there are three together in that one.

But whatever you make it for  have fun in the process.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Leafy Corner Die Set

 HI Everybody,

Todays card is created using the Leafy Corners and the colour scheme for this one is simply black and white.

It is a 5x7 card base and I have embossed the front of the card. 

The top panel had been die cut from white card using the largest corner die in the set.

I have created one panel from the backing die and then another panel and used the filigree piece and both have been added together.

These have then been added to the top of the card and trimmed off along each side to fit. I found a lovely piece of corner diamante in my stash so I have added that to the panel to enhance it some more..

The flowers are a mixture of daisies, roses, and some black poppies and I have glittered them up to glitter in the sunshine.

It looks much better in the hand than on the photo

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Panel Card

Hi Everybody,

Todays cards are all easy to make and are really pretty once they are completed., and the video will show you how I created them. Just enough time for a brew and a biscuit to relax and view.

The papers I have used are some that I have had for years. They are in a pad that I got from the £££shop many moons ago and I have forgotten all about them until my recent rummage.in the craft room

I chose three from the pack that all blended together and decided where I wanted them to go.

I added the large striped one to the back panel, and the other two I have used on the front panels. The card base is a white. 300 gsm smooth card.

I am sorry but I stupidly forgot to ad the video and so there is nothing for you to see. 

But it's there now. 

In the video I make two cards, with a third one already completed, so at least you can see a variation of the design.

 I haven't used any dies, apart form the greeting one, but you could use them for the centre panel if you wished ,and I will cover that in another video coming soon.

I have added my usual display of flowers along the bottom edge and they have been sparkled with a dot of glue and some glitter.

The sentiment has been cut three times and stacked together to give extra dimension.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Just my style ...

Hi Everybody,

Out of all the cards I have added in the past week this one has to be my favourite. It's pink ... it's floral ... and it's big.

It didn't start life this big, but as I was putting it all together I came to the part where I needed to add the flowers, and I realised at that point that I had added it to the base card Upside Down .... what a plonker !!

I had to cut the back off the card and add the front to a much larger base to make it the right way round. 

So while I was doing that I added in lots more pink and white layers.

The spotty background to this card is Foiled and on top I have added the verse stamped on an oval. I also lined the inside of all last weeks cards and I forgot to mention that to you.

I added a little butterfly to the card as well and you can just make it out in this close up.

This is another card that is better in person than on a photograph and the flowers blend with it perfectly.

They have been glittered for effect and the pink pearls are dotted around the card 

Another card that I am really pleased with.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

Hi Everybody,

What a beautiful day it is here and such a good day to .... get your washing done !! Ruby is waiting patiently for me to take her out but I have things to do yet so she will have to wait. We will probably go later when it cools down a little so that she doesn't get over heated. And the beach may be the coolest place to go.

So bright and early I di the draw for yet another of the Fabulous Foliage collections and I still have two more of these sets to give away. So if you are not lucky this time then keep trying and who knows maybe the next time it will be your name that is shown.

This week the winner is 

Colleen Bohn
and if you would email me your postal address please to

christina@card-making-magic.com

I will get it in the post to you as soon as I an get to the post office.
Please let me know that you have it safely and I hope you will enjoy playing with it.

Next Friday I will be giving away yet another of the Peony Perfect Panel Sets so please come back and join me next week 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Fabulous Foliage

Hi Everybody,

Here is the chance for you to win one of the Fabulous Foliage Stamp Sets that I have been offering over the last few weeks.

I had several of these to offer and still have some left so if you haven't won one yet then keep trying and it could be your lucky day.

Now I say this every week and still people don't comply ... but I need you to leave your comment with your  FULL NAME

This just makes it easier if two people have the same first name. So if you don't leave your full name then your comment will not be entered into the draw to win the offer shown. 

They are worth winning as I am sure past winners will confirm and I am not asking a lot from you. Just a comment and your name and that's it.  I am happy to send the gift to you where ever you live at my expense so what are you waiting for ????

Be sure to come back and check if your name is the one listed as the winner and then email me to claim the prize.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

 

Gold Foil

Hi Everybody,

I must have had a bumper foiling day the day I did these as all the cards this week are using left over items found on my desk and they all have foiled pieces on them. 

This one is no different and the backdrop is gold foil that is two tone. It gives a beautiful effect and is far better in the hand than the picture shows..

Once again I have added some flowers and glittered them up for sparkle. The white flowers look really good against the gold foil

The sentiment is die cut in gold and layered onto the same word in black. Then I have added this to the top of a gold foiled oval.

Tucked underneath that I have added "You Are Amazing " and that has been printed on to some acetate.

Another really effective card that would suit any occasion if I swapped out the sentiment.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Foiled Flowers

 Hi Everybody,

Both the background and the flowers to this card have been foiled and added to a dry embossed panel with foam tape for height. 

The flowers is three layers deep with the same foiled leaves tucked underneath.

 I added  it to a Honeycomb panel and t is very glitzy.

The butterfly on the other hand is soft and gentle and made from velvet. I have just glued this along the body line so that the wings are free.

This is another pretty card and just makes me realise what I can achieve with just bits and pieces of die cuts and other left overs that are just lying around.

They are far to pretty to be thrown away and it's true what they say about crafters ... we never throw anything away !!  

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Desk Top Makes

Hi Everybody,

I have ben having another rummage around my desk and found lots of items that I can make cards with. Here is just one that I have made with my lovely desk top finds.

The back panel to this one has been foiled and then layered onto some lilac card.

I then added it to the card with foam tape underneath. for extra dimension. The little sentiment has also been foiled and backed onto lilac card and added at the bottom of the panel.

The flowers are some from my stash and they have been glittered for more sparkle.

The close up shows you how I have positioned the butterfly on top of the flowers as if it has just landed on there 

I am quite pleased with this card and it will go to someone special on their birthday. 

The back panel and sentiment are some that I foiled ages ago and kept in a pot ready to be used when the time came. 

I made more from my finds and I will show you as the week goes on.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

More from Ruby ...

 Hello Everyone,

Thank you so much for all the lovely messages I got from you on my last update. I am glad that you like to read my stories.

This is me waiting for my mum to get her shoes on .... again !! She's always running late and keeping me waiting when all I want to do is go and sniff about somewhere. 

This as s lovely morning and we are going to go to St Annes for a walk along the prom,

While we where there we met a lady and her dog sitting on a bench, in the sunshine,  and they sharing some toast. The lady gave me a little piece of it too.

My mum chatted to the lady for a while and then off we went. I looked for my duck friends but they weren't there today. 

Now here I am having a bit of a rest near one of the lakes we pass. There are no ducks on this one but there are sometimes swans.

They are very big and they frighten me  because they "Hiss" at me as I walk past. I like to do a large detour around them in case they chase me. 

I'm not frightened of water but I am frightened of swans.

It was home for breakfast after this and then later on we will go out again before we have tea. But only if it is not raining as my mum is a fair weather walker.  

Bye for now ...

Ruby xx