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

Winner

Hi Everybody,

Thanks for joining us yesterday on the Facebook Live and the launch of the new dies Festive Portals from Card Making Magic.  There where some lovely prizes to be win so congratulations  to you if you are one of them. Enjoy your prize.

 

The draw for yesterday’s “Give Away” has been done here as well.

 Now it’s not that the gifts have not been claimed it is because I have several of one magazine to offer you and rather than do it all in one week with five winners I would prefer to do the offer over five weeks and have one winner each week. 

So if it is not your name being shown today then have no fear I have more of this die set to give away, so keep adding your comments and your FULL NAME and it could be you next time.

Thank you for complying with this request but if you have t added your full name then maybe that is why your comment has not been added to the hat.

Today the name drawn from the hat is ….

Margaret Wilkie

Please would you email me your postal address to

christina@card-making-magic.com

and I will get it in the post to you straight away.

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

More tomorrow …

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Peony Perfect

Hi Everybody,

Here as promised is another chance for you to win  the Perfect Peony 2 piece Die Sets that was on offer a few weeks ago. 

It is a lovely set and many of you would have liked to win this.
 Well here's your chance again.

All you have to do is leave me your comment with your 

FULL NAME

and from those comments one name will be chosen as the winner.

Why do I need your full name ??? Because it saves any confusion when two or three people have the same first name.

So if your are not winning then maybe it's because you haven't added your full proper name . Not your nick name, or your initials , or your name and where you live ... no! no! Your FULL  PROPER NAME and then your comment will be entered into the draw. and maybe you will win

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx  

Leafy Decorative Corner

 Hi Everybody,

Here is the video that I promised you yesterday and I think this card is really special, and elegantly fits the wedding I have made it for.

The dies are available at Craft Stash and they make everything so easy to do as they do all the work for you. 

The video will show you how I made this and I hope you will enjoy watching the process. Get the kettle on before you view and relax as you watch.

It's not hard to make and you can dress it up as much or as little as you prefer. But if you have followed me for a while then you will know that there is no such things as "Less is More"

I like to dress my cards to the nines with flowers, ribbons and pearls ... though I must admit to not using ribbon on this occasion.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Come Along ....

 Hi Everybody,

Just a little reminder to join Lou and I , along with Pauline Hickey, this coming Friday for the launch of the new

 Festive Portals

die and stamps combinations.  

There are six different ones for you to choose from and each has it's own set of stamps tucked inside the pack.

So lots of choice

There will be a host of prizes for you to win  but you have to be in it to win it  so be sure to come along and see what's happening this Friday at 12.30pm

And tomorrow I have a lovely new video for you using the
Leafy Decorative Corner Die Set

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Sneaky Peak

Hi Everybody,

Thank you all for your comments on Ruby's Update and I really love how you   respond to her.

 It's amazing.

Today I am giving you a sneaky peak at one of the cards that I have created for Fridays Facebook Live and I have more to show you at 12-20 this coming Friday. 

This is one of the new die sets and this particular one is my favourite. As with all the new sets there are lots of dies and so you will have plenty to choose from when making your cards.

I hope you will be able to join me on Friday 9th July for some fun and lots of prizes to be won 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Ruby Update

 Hello every one,

It's me today Ruby and I thought I would pop in and let you know how I am doing. I have been having some lovely walks with my mum in the sunshine and we have been going to different places.
The other day we went with Vickie and Dougal to Cuerden Park which is heaven for dogs.

It is a long walk, up and down hills and through wooded areas too and through the middle is a stream which is deep enough for a small dog like me to swim in.

 I love it but Dougal is such a wimp he just stands on the rocks and watches.

Now the other day we went to somewhere that my mum calls the Stepping Stones in St Annes 

We went early in the morning when it was cooler and I really enjoyed the walk.

I especially liked it under the water fall where I tried to catch the water as it came tumbling down.

Because it was so early it was very quiet  and not many people around but  ... 

...  on the little lake I spotted something moving about.

My mum told me to be vey quiet and not too bark and then we saw swimming past us this lovely family of mum and six babies.

I have never seen Ducks before, and as much as I wanted to go and swim with them I was very quiet.

Then later on we went home again and had some breakfast and I had some of my mums toast Mmmm!!

See you again soon

Love Ruby XX

 

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Have you been watching the Craft Store and looking at the new collection?
There are some fabulous die and stamp sets on offer and there are six to choose from.
Each set if dies has the stamps already inside the pack so you will not lose them  and they can be used alone of with the dies to make some lovely cards or backgrounds.

I will be showing you more idea on Friday the 9th July at 12/30 on Facebook Live with Lou and Pauline so I hope you can join us.  Make a note in your diary 

Here we are with another Saturday and the name of the winner for this weeks offering which is the Fabulous Foliage stamp and stencil set.  There are two sets of stamps along with the magazine in the collection, and they are from Chloe Endean

The name of the winner this week is ...

Valerie Steele

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

I would be happy if you could let me know when it arrives with you, and I hope you enjoy playing with it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Fabulous Foliage

Hi Everybody,

Here is another chance for you to win this beautiful double stamp and stencil set by Chloe from Simply Cards & Papercraft.

There are endless possibilities for wonderful designs from this set and you will get lots of inspiration inside the pages of the magazine that comes with it. 

So would you like to win this one ?? 

If you would then leave me a comment at the end of the post with your
FULL NAME.

One name will be chosen at random from those comments and announced over the weekend as the winner so be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown.

I am happy to post it to you wherever you are in the world, at my expense and it doesn't matter if you have won before in the past. 

And don’t forget that you need to add your email address into the box on the left to subscribe and then be notified of any new blog posts 

Sets More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Parcels Filigree Frame

Hi Everybody,

This lovely die set can create many things

that you may need for your projects from frames to toppers  

In this video I have made two cards and one of them is a shaped card cut out with the largest die, and then layered with the others in the set.

I have done one as a Birthday Card and the other is just a general "For My Friend " card..

I have used a Happy Birthday embossing folder and I don't know if it is on the Craft Stash website at present. But if you don't have this particular one then any folder will add the texture to the back ground and make it much more interesting.

The video is not long but will show you how I made the two cards and both will fit inside an ordinary envelope of you could make a box if you preferred. 

I hope you enjoy the video and I hope you will give some of my ideas a try.

The dies and others items are all at Craft Stash just waiting for you to play

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Leafy Decorative Corner

 Hi Everybody,

A bright and cheerful card for today that could be suitable for many occasions. I know that red is not everybody's cup of tea but if certainly cheers you up.

This card has used several of the dies sets from Card Making Magic ... some old, some new but they all work together which was always my intention.

The video will be long enough for you to relax with a cuppa, but not long enough to put you to sleep. I hope you enjoy it and will come back for more.

It is not a difficult card to make and yet the results are quite striking.. It would be just as good in any other colour and really pretty with more flowers added too if you preferred.  

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Please Read ...

Hi Everybody,

Over the past week I have been busy altering some vidoes that were done in 2015. 

The reason being YouTube have changed the way they do things and it would mean losing all this work if I didn't do something about it. 

I have added a new page to my website 
Card Making Magic
that will explain fully what has happened and what I have done about it and you will find the page here ...

Die Cutting

As I explained on that page these videos were originally made as classes that were sold on the website. 

As such they were UNLISTED and PASSWORD PROTECTED and not on public view.

 But as YouTube has changed the rules on unlisted videos I had to do something else with them.
Publishers had several choices - allow YouTube to make them private, which means no one would see them - take them off YouTube, and again no one would see them, or make them public

 I thought they were too  good to let disappear for ever, as many of the tips in them can be applied to any number of dies from any number of brands and they are still relevant today in 2021. 
So my choice was to make them all public for any one to view.

I have watched every one of them again, and had a little tear in my eye, as they were all filmed and edited by Griff. That was in the days when he would stand on a ladder and film over my shoulder and pull my hair if my head got in the way. 

We had many a good laugh doing those videos... and many a good argument too.

Anyway I have renamed all the videos  and I have moved them all to one playlist, so they can be identified and enjoyed,  they are all there now for you to view. 

There are fourteen videos altogether, with as many cards ideas shown in them.
 And even if I do say so myself the cards are lovely and well worth having a go at. 

They originally covered five separate classes and most have three videos in each section, so here are the links to all of them, and if you watch them in order as they are linked,  you will start with cards 123 and end up with cards 12, 13, and 14

 I hope you will enjoy seeing these vidoes and the cards that are made in them 

Spellbinders 123       (Cards 1/2/3)
Spellbinders Extra    (Cards 4/5/6)
Combining Dies   (Cards 7/8)
Floral Cards       (Cards 9/10/11)
Background Dies    (Cards 12/13/14)

The YouTube Playlist is here Spellbinders Tuition

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

I had the most dreadful nights sleep ever as I had something going round my head, and it was really bugging me. So at 3am I got up and did the blog post for tomorrow that was keeping me awake. I just had something to tell you, and some of you may have already seen the vidoes on YouTube, but the page tomorrow will explain all.

For now the draw has been done for yesterdays offering. It is a lovely die set and many of you seem to see it's worth in making beautiful cards.

 But if you haven't won this one then you will have the chance again as I have more of these to give away. 

All I ask is that you leave your FULL NAME to be in with the chance.

  No Full Name, No Entry ... Simples
So look back at your entry and see how you have done it. If it is your nick name or just the first name then that could be why you haven't won this prize.

On wards and upwards, the winner this week is ...

Denise Bryant

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

Be sure to let me know that you have it safely and I hope you enjoy playing with it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Peony Perfect

Hi Everybody, 

Today I have a beautiful large Peony Perfect die set, that comes in two parts, for you to play with, plus the opportunity for you to download some paper and sentiments to go with it.

There is so much inspiration in the Die Cutting Essentials magazine  that you will be spoilt for choice.

So grab your cuppa and relax for a while as you browse the pages of this wonderful magazine.

If you think you would like to have this set to join your personal stash then please leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME

You will need to come back over the weekend to see if it is your name that is listed as the winner and you will have 72 hours to claim it if it is.

I don't think you will be disappointed with this offer and your cards will be beautiful once you have added your own magic touch to the design. 

I have several of these same magazine and die sets to give away so try again next time if you miss out this time

Please don’t forget to add your email address to the box on the left to continue being notified of all new posts. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Another Half Teardrop Vase

 Hi Everybody,

So here is another of the vases I created with the Half Teardrop  die cuts but this time I have made the top of the vase taller.

I followed the same process as I did for the silver coloured vase using the Plaster Of Paris bandages. 

Once everything was dry I painted it in a Denim Blue, by mixing some white and blue Arteza Acrylic Paint together, to the shade I wanted and allowed it to dry again

I have used DAS air dry clay to create the leaves for the side of the vase and they have just been formed by hand

I added them to the vase, with wood glue, while they are still soft so that they can mould to the curve in the side of the vase and not fall off.

Don't wait until they are dry or the leaves will simply crack 

I rolled some of the clay into small balls and added them to the sides and top of the vase too. 

I painted them all with white acrylic paint to make them stand out from the blue base.

Once I placed some faux flowers into the vase it took on a whole new life, and this now sits on a shelf unit in my hall way.

I got all my flowers from Dunelm or Amazon and they both have a really good selection for you to choose from

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Pretty in Pink

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is one I made many moons ago and I have just found it in some old stash that I found in my craft room. 

It is amazing what you find when you are rummaging around.

I quite liked this card when it was made and the little flowers just finish it off..

 I can't remember what they are from but the card was made in 2016 so it's understandable

The gingham background is some card that I bought at a craft show and I haven't been to one of those since Griff died.

It is good to look back on cards that you made years ago if only to see how your style has evolved over that time, and hopefully improved as you have learned different techniques

Do you ever look back at older stuff you made and if you do how does it make you feel.?? I would completely dis own some of the cards  I made when I first started.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Rose Decorative Corner

Hi Everybody,

This very simple card was created with the Rose Decorative Corner that was introduced a short time ago. 

I have used some of the paper that I have had for a long time ... in  fact I think I brought this back from Phoenix with me when I went over there as a Spellbinders Ambassador. Many moons ago !!

I have added the filigree die to the patterned paper and cut it out and this piece stays in the card unless you add the outer frame to it 

It has been added to the top of some Rose Gold  metallic card, with foam tape in strategic areas, and that gives a very subtle shadow to the effect.

The other flowers from the pack have been cut with black card and added to the front, but rather than paper piece the drops outs back in, I have simply coloured the spaces with a black pen.

It gives a very dramatic look to the card and the black glossy sentiment finishes it off. There is no other embellishment to this 5x7 top folded card. 

x Thank You x

A few days ago I sent out a newsletter from Card Making Magic, and I haven't done one of those for a long time. I thought it was only right that I explain my long absence to my readers of what has been happening to me over the past year.

I asked my readers there, as well as on here to add their email addresses again to the new  box I have added if they wished to keep on following my posts.

I can tell you that the response has been over whelming and I have had some wonderful emails from all over the world from my lovely readers saying how they have missed me and that they do wish to stay with me in the future.

THANK YOU so much to everybody who has now re signed their email addresses and I promise i will be more regular with newsletters and blog posts both here on this blog and on Card Making Magic.

The Biggest of Hugs  

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

I hope you are all well on this lovely Saturday morning. 

Ruby and I have already been for our morning walk along the promenade and there wasn't a soul around just us

It was lovely and sunny and fresh and we really enjoyed it. 

There are many good walks nearby but this one is more or less at the end of my road. Just a five minute walk and we are there.

So now I have done the draw for yesterdays offering and the winner this week is ....

Kathryn Olsen

would you email me please your postal address to 
christina@card-making-magic,com
and the pack will be on its way to straight away.

Now if this was something that you really fancied winning then do not despair as I have several more of the same magazine and gift to give away.
Be sure to enter again and who knows you could win the next one.
To those who are still not doing it please be aware that you must add your
  FULL NAME
to be in with the chance.

Friday Freebie - Fabulous Foliage

 Hi Everybody,

This week I have a beautiful Stamp and Stencil set on offer this week that was created by 

Chloe Endean.

 There are two different stamp sets in this offer.

It comes with the Simply Cards & Papercraft  magazine and will make excellent cards for all occasions for you all year round

The magazine is full of lovely ideas for you to copy and I am sure that you will come up with many more for yourself once you start to play.

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

Then you need to be sure to come back over the weekend and check that it is your name that is shown as the winner and then email me at
christina@card-making-magic.com

If you are not the winner this week then you will get another chance to win the same item as I have several of these to give away over the next few weeks 

So be sure to add your email address to subscribe to  my blog and be notified of each new blog post

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

New Way to "Follow"

 Hi Everybody,

I am adding this blog post to give you a new way to follow me.

I mentioned earlier in the week that Google are removing their button as an option to follow this Blog by email notifications and I have had to find a new way to offer this service to you, my regular readers, and any new subscribers in the future, that wish to read my pages when they are published.

I have decided to go with  Follow It and I have added the new green button in the left hand side bar 

To be Notified by Email of new posts

Please would you add your email address to this button to subscribe, and then you will always be notified of new pages. I know it is a pain to ask this of you when you are already subscribed, but if you have add my emails dropping into your inbox in the past then you will miss them in the future once these changes come into force.

I don't want to lose any of my followers and there is so much from the Card Making Magic Collections for the coming months and I don't want you to miss out.

 Plus there is always the Friday Freebie to come back for each week and the chance to win a fabulous prize.

Thank you in advance

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx