Winner

Hi Everybody,

Fingers crossed that this will work today as I announce the winner of the Peony Panel from yesterday.
 Thank you for joining me on the Craft Stash Facebook Live page yesterday and I am happy to see that many of you love the new dies. I also hope you enjoyed the video demos too despite the rain and the sound of Ruby snoring .... Loudly !! 

 I will be adding some vidoes as soon as I can but my craft room is still upside down waiting for the new flooring to be laid. And once this is done my house will have had new floors and painted décor throughout that will last me a few years before it needs to be done again. 

Eventually I will get straight again after weeks of upheaval. 

But the draw has now been done and the name this week is

Anne Forrest  

would you email me please your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com
and I will get the pack in the post to you straight away.

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

And now Ruby and I are going to start up the log burner and settle down for the afternoon as it is pouring down here again today. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Christina 

Friday Freebie - Peony Panel

 Hi Everybody,

I really don't know what is happening to this blog as people are telling mt they are getting multiple emails about posts and other posts are disappearing. It sis nothing that I am doing I promise you ... it is more likely something I am not doing.

When all this trouble started I had a Friday Freebie for the last of the Peony Panels and because of all the problems a winner was never chosen.

So I am giving the die set another airing in the hope that somebody would like to win it and if that is you then just leave me a comment at the end of this post with your FULL NAME 

From those comments one will be chosen at random and the winner announced over the weekend in a blog post.

I am happy to send this to you wherever you live and it doesn't matter if you have won before. Just add your comment and be sure to come back and check if your name is shown as the winner.

I am truly sorry for all the problems or if you have been annoyed by all your emails. I am trying to sort it all out but technology is not my stong point.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Facebook Live

Hi Everybody,

Just a quick post to let you know that I will be on the 

Craft Stash Facebook Live this Friday 7th January 

with the new

 Decoupage Delight Collection.

There are three beautiful background dies in this set and three quite big flower's to add to your own creations

I have been busy this week making samples for he show and some for the Craft Store shows earlier this week. 

The shading is done with the colour of card you use to create them and they look really pretty once they are assembled.

The yellow flower is the Polyanthus and there are different sized flowers in this set as well as the leaves and this has been added to the Foliage background die set. 

This last card is using the Hellebore flower set and these flowers can also face different ways to add interest to your cards. I have added this to the Ironwork background which is such a pretty die set.

The pink flower is the Camelia and  its leaves and this has been added to the Trellis die background.

There are several options in the way you can use nay of these background die sets and on Friday I will show you some of the ways in which  I use them.

But they are very versatile and will create some lovely cards for you easily. Any of these background dies can be used to add the pattern to the top of your boxes too and they are all 5x7" sizes

The dies are designed to create flowers that can be added flat to your projects, which is especially good for card making as they wont take up too much room in an envelope.

This last card is using the Hellebore flower and its leaves, and this is also in different sizes and orientations for you to add interest to your designs. 

I have added this to the Ironwork background die set and this is such a pretty die. It would look good as the base card or in the top of a box, as would any of the background dies. 

Just enjoy playing with them and experiment to see what you come up with for yourself.

More tomorrow  ...

Hugs xx 

.

Happy New Year

Hi Everybody,

I hope you all had a good break over the Christmas Holidays and are now looking forward to  2022 

To start the year off well I have a new collection coming out and this is the Decoupage Delights

There are three flower dies sets and three beautiful background dies as well as some sentiment stamps to accompany them.

The featured card is complete with its own box and I have used the Hellebore flower for decoration. 

There are videos on the way about these new dies and more news in tomorrows blog post.

These dies were launched on the Craft Store with Lou Collins yesterday and they have been coupled  on the TV shows with the Emerald Card and Box die set. 

These box dies have been around for a little while and I did two videos using them when they were first introduced. I will add the videos here to show you the dies and refresh your memory if you bought them. 

I hope you enjoy the videos again or if you are new to the blog then this may be your first time seeing them. 

All my collections are available at 

Craft Stash.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Sorry for my absence this week but I have been so busy. After having a new wooden floor fitted a few weeks ago I needed to get all the downstairs decorated and I had it booked for January. 

But my painters had a cancellation and could fit me in for the three days 21st 22nd and 23rd December and so I jumped at the chance, as they promised me it would all be done for Christmas.

And true to their word they were.  They have decorated three floors, from the top of the stair way, down two the stair cases, into the hall way and also my lounge and it looks beautiful. The two girls have worked so hard and by Christmas Eve was it was all straight again. 

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

Tina Zapusek

Please email me your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and it will be on its way to you straight away.

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie .Scenic Christmas

 Hi Everybody,

Todays offering is from Simply Cards & Papercraft and it is a fabulous scene builder set consisting of a stencil and a large 25 piece stamp set.

The scenes that can be built with this are endless and the stencil will help you to create a beautiful snow globe

So if this is gift that you would like to have then all you ned to do is leave me a commend at the end of this post to be entered into the draw. 

I need your full name to add to the hat and one name will be selected at random and listed as the winner so be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown. It doesn't matter if you have won before or where you live just add your comment and see what happens.

And on this Christmas Eve of 2021 I wish you all a very 

Merry Christmas 

&

A Wonderful New Year

More tomorrow ...

Much love & Hugs xx

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Thank you all for your concern and your lovely comments. I can’t believe it is almost Christmas again and just how quickly it comes around, so I hope you all ready for it. Any die that helps with making those seasonal cards has to be a bonus even if it will be for next year.

I have done the draw for this weeks winner and I am hoping that it will be much loved in their home. The name this week is

Terrie Rodrigue

and if you could email your postal address please to

christina@card-making-magic.com

I will post it to you straight away. I hope you have fun playing with the die set and see what other faces you can create from the same set. Please let me know that you have it safely.

More tomorrow…

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie Is Back ...

Hi Everybody,

Here I am back again with the Friday Freebies and I am really hoping that this will work and all my problems are over with ... at least for now

This offering is from Die Cutting Essentials and is a Christmas theme and will be useful for any last minute cards you may have to make

It is ab easy to layer dies set of Santa's head and face along with his hat features and some holly.

Inside the magazine you will find lots of ideas and inspiration on how to use this and there is the offer of some downloadable papers and sentiments to compliment your designs.

So just in case you have forgotten what to do .. Leave me a comment at the end of the post with  your FULL NAME and then come back and check over the weekend if your name is the winner.

 And that is all you need to do to be in with a chance of winning this awesome gift ... but please remember if you don't leave me your full name then you will not be entered into the draw.  And in case you are wondering why it has to be your full name ... well it just makes it easier if two, or even three, of you have the same first name. .

I am happy to send this to you wherever you are in the world and you don't ned to have a blog to enter. Nor does it matter if you have won before.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Project Life Kit

Hi Everybody,

In the time that I have been unable to blog I cannot say I have been productive. In fact totally the opposite 

I seem to have lost my drive and been so fed up trying to sort the problems out I have just wanted to hide from the world.

And to top it all off I had my eyes tested, as my eyesight is getting so bad, and it turns out I have cataracts that need to be seen too.

But in that time my latest kit from Altenew arrived and I did attempt to make some cards with that bundle.. 

They all still need sentiments adding to them but at least I have made a start again.

The flowers in the kit are quite pretty and can be added in any way you would like for your design . 

On these cards I have coloured my flowers all in the same tone and just added the die cuts to the card front with foam pads,

I used the embossing folder for the backgrounds and lightly rubbed ink over the top to bring out the pattern in two of them.

On the last two I have also added in some Washi Tape and I will add the tape to the envelopes as well. to complete the look

For this last card I have used one of each colour of flower and added them to a plain embossed background and this and the first card are both Slimline cards used in different orientations.

I will most likely turn these into birthday cards with matching envelopes and then they will be ready to send.

On another note I want to thank you for all the lovely comments that have been sent to me, both here on the blog, by email. 

And also to those of you who noticed something was wrong with the blog and took the trouble to email me and let me know.

Thank you so very much

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

The Missing Videos.

 Hi Everybody,

I am adding in the videos from the Pretty Book Collection that I have had to remove to get things working again and hopefully there wont be  a problem this time around Fingers crossed tightly and thank you for your help in checking things out with the buttons. It is very much appreciated, but you know what I am scared to try adding stuff in again in case it all goes pear shaped again ...                         

I shall wait with bated breath to see if everything is ok again and if it is then I hope you will enjoy the videos again.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Need your help please ...

 Hi Everybody,

After a few weeks of having problems I seem to have sorted it out. It has been a very painful process for me as I am not of a technical mind at all. But hopefully now it will work again.  I have had to remove some of the pages and videos but hopefully I can can re instate them once I know it is all back to normal again.  

But this is where I need your help. Could you come onto the blog and see if the buttons are responding again. Click the home page button an the tutorials one. Try the comments button and anything else you can see and let me know in the comments box what reaction that you are getting.  

So it may look a little different but as long as it works again I don't really mind. 
Just let me know in the comments box what is happening at your end and how things are looking for you

Thank you so much

Hugs XX

Friday Freebie - Peony Panel

Hi Everybody,

Here is another chance to win one of the Peony Panel Die Sets from Card Making Magic. It comes with Die Cutting Essentials and is a four piece set.

You can create some beuatiful panels for your cards or take pur scissors to the die cut and trim out the areas that you wish to use.

You will find lots of ideas inside the magazine as as well as other projects that you may like to try.

All you need to do to be in with the chance of wining this gift is to leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME

From those comments one name will be chosen at random and the winner announced overt the weekend in anothe0 blog post. So be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown. You will habe 72 hours in which to claim the prize

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Problems

 Hi Everybody.

I am so sorry but I am having lots of technical problems at the moment and I am trying to get them all sorted out. Thank you for the emails and your concern but I am fine ... it's the blog that isn't 

Hugs xx

Christina

Pretty Book Collection - Wedding Card

Hi Everybody,

 ,

Here is the Wedding Card  that I wanted to make and I really enjoyed putting this one together.

The Centura Pearl card just adds that little bit of shine to my projects and by alternating it with the matt white side it makes for a really pretty look.

I found the Tulle/Voile in my cupboards the last time I had a clean up and so I was putting it to good use on this project. 

This time, to show a different way to display the card, instead of using the Easel stand I have made a complete card to add it too.

 I have used the dies from the set and an A4 piece of card that has been folded in half, which is perfect if you don't have the Rose Easel Stand in your stash.

For my American visitors A4 is almost the same as your letter size, just fold it in half the same way as shown in the video.

 

The video is not too long,  but you will have time to enjoy a cuppa while you watch. 

I really hope you enjoy it and, if you have the dies, that you will give this style a try. 

Some of my YouTube Visitors have been busy over the weekend  making the cards and boxes. and the next video will be along later this week.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

It’s been a lovely day here and Ruby and I went walking this morning, while the sun was out.  But once back home it was all the boring stuff like washing and housework I am still cleaning up the dust that settles every day after having my floors done.

 But I had eleven packs of flooring left over and so being a glutton for punishment I have decided to use it and get my craft room floor done. My craft room was done up in my loft a few years ago now by Griff and at the time I had a carpet fitted.

It made it really cozy up there but over the years I have regretted thar decision. I have spilt glue on it and paint. Ruby chewed a bottle of masking fluid all over it , and I have burn marks in it from dropping the hot glue on it and didn’t notice it.

So this has just made my mind up for me and so it has been arranged  and will be dome next week. It will be easier to keep clean and I am looking forward to it.

 Now onto the draw for Fridays stamp set and the name this week is …

Gloria Lamb

Would you email me your postal address please to

christina@card-making-magic.com

and I will send it to straight away. Please let me know when you have it safely and I hope you enjoy playing with it.

More tomorrow …

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - - Fabulous Foliage

 Hi Everybody,

So today I am offering you another chance to win one of these foliage stamp sets that came with Simply Cards & Papercraft.

This is a sixteen piece stamp set and a stencil to create some lovely backgrounds for your designs. Plus an extra stamp set from Chloe called Spring Foliage.

There is no end to the fun you can have with these and all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME

If all you are doing is adding your initials, or your nick name then don't be surprised if you don't win. 

I am happy to send the pack to you wherever you are but you will need to come back and check if it is your name that is shown over the weekend as the winner.

All the prizes I offer are quality products and it doesn't matter if you have won before. Just add you comment and see what happens.

Good Luck 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Pretty Book Collection - Birthday Card

 Hi Everybody,

I am happy to add a new video today featuring the brand new Pretty Books Collection and this one is all about the Birthday Card itself.

This will make a fabulous design for any occasion and it is one that can really be dressed up to your hearts content.

It would be super special for Weddings and that is going to be the subject of one of the videos that I have planned.

But the next video I have planned  will be "Live" on Monday, and in that one I will show you how I created the stand to display this beautiful card on and the matching box that will hold both items for you to give .

They look such intricate cards but they really are the easiest to make and the dies do all the work for you. The hardest part for you is to decide what occasion you are making it for and the choice of colours you would like to use. 

Then you can sit back and enjoy all the Oooohs and Aaaahs you will get from the lucky person that you give this creation too.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Box Of Sunshine 01

 Hi Everybody,

As I have had the builders here for over a week and there has been a lot of noise going on I have tucked my self away up stairs and played with the beautiful paper that are in the Box Of Sunshine from
 Marta Debicka

In that time I have made 25 lovely cards from the elements in the kit and I still have a few bits and pieces left over.

Here are some of them and they are all so pretty. I love the delicate shades in the papers. I ran out of the flowers from the pack but I made more from the papers and some flower dies. 

I also used green card and created more leaves and then added in other things I found on my desk, such as the little houses for a new home card. .

It was a good afternoon spent using the kit and created many lovely cards that cover all occasions. 

Now that it is back to being quiet and I have got most of the dust away I am going to start filming  again and I have some Pretty Book Videos to show you with the new collection launched last Friday.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Pretty Book Collection

Hi Everybody,

This Pretty Book is to celebrate someone's Birthday and I have created lots of layers and added embellishments to each one. 

There is so much in this brand new collection,  and the additions dies that match, that you can ruing the changes as often as you like. 

Here is a closer look at the layers to the pages and I have used other parts of the dies to add the extra to the pages. 

You can add as many pages to your book as you like and make them for any occasion were you need a really special card.

I used the centre book mark part to thread ribbon through it as a beautiful addition to my book pages and I am very happy with the result.

You will  need to create a box to add this design too as the depth will make it difficult to get into an envelope.

You can leave the design as a book or you can add the whole lot to a card base.  

You could  make a card stand for it and that will also fit inside the box making it the perfect way to display the card

I have lined the inside of my box using the same die sets and that strengthens the box as well as giving a lovely professional touch.

For a card as special as this one it is worth going that little extra, especially if this is for a Wedding Card or New Baby.

In fact any of those occasions where something extra is needed for your recipient

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Well my flooring is now down and the big clean up begins. The amount of dust and sawdust is amazing and although my workman cleaned up at the end of each day the mess is literally everywhere. But it looks amazing and I am very happy with it. Just need to get back to normal again.

The draw for the Peony Panel has now been done and the name this week is….

Maria Muller

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. Please let me know when it arrives with you and I hope you enjoy playing with it 

More tomorrow…

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie . Peony Panel Die Set

Hi Everybody,

I am so sorry for my lateness but it is chaos in my house this week  I am having a new wooden floor fitted throughout the downstairs and everywhere is a mess.  There is dust and debris in every room and furniture anywhere but in the room where it should be.  

 Ruby was at doggy day care for the first three days but she is a bit confused about what is going on.
It should all be finished by the weekend and so then comes the mammoth task of cleaning right the way through. It will take me weeks until the dust is all gone ... but I will have a beautiful new floor.

I have got another magazine to give away today and this is the  Die Cutting Essentials with the
Peony Panel from Card Making Magic. It is a lovely die set that will help you to create pretty cards and so if you would like to win this one then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your FULL NAME

It doesn't matter if you have won before or where you live just add your comment if you would like to be in with a chance of winning.

I will be launching a brand new die set  from Card Making Magic called
Pretty Books on the 
Craft Stash Facebook Live 12.30
so I hope you can pop along then to see these beautiful new dies.

I have not had chance to prepare a demo but Lou will be standing in for me and as soon as things are back to normal here I will be back to adding some new vidoes with these dies,  and others, for you to view
See you later and good luck with the "Give Away"

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Desk Top Finds

Hi Everybody,

Todays cards have been created in the same way, using the same products for each one. From the back ground to the finish and all could be found on my desk top from previous projects.

The backgrounds are from embossing folders, some  of them are from Altenew, that I have added ink to and then run through the machine

I have trimmed the panel, to fit onto a matching mat, and then wrapped it with lace and ribbon before adding to the top folded, white base card.

Each one has a different sentiment and die cut topper on the front.

They are all 6x6 and I created eight in total from the bits and pieces I had lying around.  

They are all different colours too.

These flowers have been glittered before adding to the card and then I have added pearl in strategic pace on them, and the butterflies.

Its surprising what can be achieved from left over die cuts that can be found on ones desk top.

For this one I have used lots of left over flowers that are in plain white. 

But once they are layered up and a pearl centre added they can look so pretty. 

The lace is the same on each card but the ribbon is different. 

It was most definitely playtime and I spent a pleasant hour or two creating these cards.  Not a lot of work was involved in creating these as most of the stuff was there  all ready to use.

Just a bit of glue and some foam pads are all it took.

On this card I used a little die cut house that was created from a magazine freebie I got a long time ago. 

But it just seemed to fit with this New Home card, and I am sure that some one moving into their own home would really appreciate this card.

I also had some Card Stands left over too and so they were added to the matching card.

I added them with an envelope and placed them inside a cellophane bag, and they are now in my Charity Shop box ready to go the the shop.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card Kits

Hi Everybody,

Card Kits are a really useful addition if you are short of time and need a card that you don't have to think about too hard.

These cards here are all created from a kit that came free with a magazine and so a double whammy there. 

Free kit with ready made ideas ... what not too love ??

I used other things that I have from my own embellishments and papers and altogether I created  ten cards.

Card Kits are also an excellent choice if you are new to card making and a bit stumped on where to start. 

All the colours and patterns are there for you ready to use, so no worries that they will work together.

I tried to keep my designs all different by using the shapes in a different way and I have to say that I am more than happy with the results. 

All of these will give somebody some pleasure as they will go to refill my charity box.

I really enjoy doing this and I know my chosen charity shop appreciate the cards that I take to them to sell.

I always keep enough to one side to last me for unexpected occasions but the rest I am happy to donate

Of course I can always create another card for a special occasion whenever I need one. 

But these are all in cellophane bags with envelopes for some one else to make use of as they need them. 

And I have done my little bit to help the charity I have chosen.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Good morning on this blustery day. Here we are agin with another winner of the last two Festive Kits to give away. This is such a good prize to win and I am sure that both winners will be delighted with it. 

So before I do anything else today the prize winners need to be announced. And they are 

Winifred Kennedy

Margaret Wilson

Would you please email me your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com 

and the packs will be on their way to you straight away.

Please let me know when it arrives with you and I hope you have fun playing with your gift 

More tomorrow…

Hugs xx