Ruby Update ...

Hi Everybody,

This has been a very stressful week for me and Ruby who has been very poorly for most of it. I took her to the vets as I was very worried when she was being sick, and they kept her in to run some tests.

 

Yesterday I got the results back from blood tests and her scan. The blood test shows that her thyroid is working correctly but the scan has shown that she has Cushing Disease

I had never heard of this complaint but I sure have done some research since. It is a condition where her body cannot regulate the amount of Cortisol it produces. 

Some of the symptoms are lethargy, vomiting, excessive panting, muscle weakness, extended belly, eye/ear/skin infections  and skin problems too.

Over the last few months she has had her fair share of them and been treated for them, and I added it to the blog post when she was having problems with her eye just a few months ago.

But it wasn't until this week that we have had a definite diagnosis. She has been really poorly, and sadly the disease is incurable. She is not in danger but she will be on medication for the rest of her life.

 I am hoping that the medication will give her some quality of life back again and give her the strength to run around and bark at everything again with her pal Dougal.  Please keep your fingers crossed for a good recovery for her and I will of course keep you posted as to her progress.

Thank you all so much for the personal messages that have come to me and for your comments on the blog.

Hugs xx

Ruby Update

Hi Everybody,

My poor Ruby has been admitted to doggy hospital this morning and she is having different tests ,
more blood taken and a scan done. 
She is not well and is so lethargic.

 She doesn't want to eat, go for walks, bark at the postman or growl at the cat. She looks really miserable and can't get comfortable at all. 

The scan they are doing is to check her pancreas and  hopefully they will find out what is making her so poorly. 

The blood tests will check her thyroid and liver again. I am not a vet and I don't know what is wrong but I know my dog and I do know that she is not well, and none of the treatment that she has had has made her any better.

Please keep her in your thoughts and hope she gets better soon.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Circle Frames

Hi Everybody,

This was a card I made from the Nested Fancy Frames Circle dies and I have used it to partially cover the front of my card.

I embossed the largest circles in to another panel of white card for really elegant look  and then used the smaller one to cut the pattern out.

It was then backed with some of the pretty papers that I have been using in the cards that I made last week. Foam pads are used to raise it up from the base card

The Congratulations die is from the Thoughtful Words die set and I have cut it in pink and simply added it to my card.

It is a DL sized card that I have used in Landscape and because the card is flat it will fit into a standard sized envelope.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Winner

Hi Everybody,

This is a very sad weekend for many people around the world as we have lost our Queen this week at the age of 96. She has ruled over us for 70 years and I for one do not remember any other monarch in my lifetime as I was only four when she ascended to the throne.

 I remember my dad taking me to see her when she visited Bolton, on her tour of the UK, just after she came to the throne. And sadly he died in January the year after when I was five. 

On another sad note it would have been my Griffs 75 birthday today and this evening we are all having a  get together at Griffs youngest daughters house to remember him. I can't believe how quickly those years have gone by since he died and it will be four this coming November.  

Life changes but it does go on, and sometimes it can be very hard, as those of you who have lost someone will surely know.

To cheer things up a little I have done the draw for yesterdays Poinsettia and the name today is ...

Christi Neal

would you email me your postal address please to
christina@card-making-magic.com
and it will be on its way to you.

I hope you enjoy the gift when it arrives with you and please let me know that you have it safely.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Perfect Poinsettia

 Hi Everybody,

Another Christmas themed "Give Away" today and this one is from me Card Making Magic.

It is the large die that will create a beautiful Poinsettia for your designs, whatever they are.

In the magazine I have an article that shows you how I made some tags for your gift parcels and a banner to decorate your home.

All are easy to do and there is a paper pack download that you can get also to enhance your designs. 

If you would like this in your crafting stash then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME and from those comments one will be chosen at random as the winner.

Be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown as the winner.

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

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Altenew

Hi Everybody,

For todays card I have used the same stamp, from the Craft Your Life Project Kit for last November, to add the ghost impression for the background panel.

Then I stamped the flowers again onto some more card and coloured them in with the layered stencils and this adds the shading to the flowers very easily.

The matching dies cut them out perfectly and they have been added to my card front with foam tape to raise them up.

The sequins dotted around highlight the green in the leaves and the sentiment is from another Altenew stamp set that I have had for a long time.

I enjoy using these kits as they are such good value. They include the dies, stamps, stencils and a 3-D embossing folder in each kit, and this kit is called Elegant Motifs

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Nested Fancy Circles

Hi Everybody,

Both of todays cards are using the beautiful paper pack from Simply Made Crafts by Helen Griffin. 

The papers in it are gorgeous and make really feminine cards. 

It is the Summer Fun Paper Pack and there are 24, 12x12 sheets each at 250gsm so a good weight to add to your designs.

For this first card I have laid the detailed die from the circles into the 6x6 white card front and run it through the machine. This keeps the pattern in the card. 

From the paper pack I have used the pink stripy one to add the centre to my design and I have fussy cut a lot of the flowers from the large floral paper

The flowers have been added at varying heights using foam pads, and with leaves pushed into the display as they are added. The LOVE YOU sentiment has been cut in gold mirror card and stacked several times onto some more of the word,  cut in white card

This card has used the same paper to cut the large

shaped centre piece, with the smallest detailed die cut in white for the middle.

I used the pink stripy paper as the background and added large pink roses from the Card Making Magic Embellishment collection. 

The base card is cream and so I continued that theme to the front of the design with flourishes that have been added to the flowers.

I think both are very pretty cards and I have lots of the papers left for other projects 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Altenew Project Life Kit

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is using the new kit from Altenew for August 2022, and this is Magnolia and Blooms 

I have stamped the image with Versamark onto Parchment and then heat embossed it in gold powder.

The image has then been lightly coloured on the wrong side to add shading to the flowers.

The result is very delicate. I have then added it to a panel that has been run through the embossing folder in the kit and ink splattered with black and gold.

I  cut some of the design off the main image and repositioned it on the card, then carefully placed foam tape under the flowers so that it cannot be seen from the front of the card and added it to the embossed panel.

The sentiment is from the same stamp set and the grey pearls are my finishing touch.  

This little A2 card is using the same set but I have added it an embossed panel using a folder from my own collection.

The stamped image is again gold heat embossed and by cutting up the larger portion I ended up with two cards.

Getting a 2fer is always a good deal and uses up all the extra bits that you may have on your desk.

The little butterfly on this card is something that has been in my bit box for a while and I thought that this was a prefect place to add it in.

The sentiment is also from my own collection and I have add all the links at the bottom of the post.

Some of them are affiliate links which means I will get a small commission if you buy through the links.

And this is the other card created from the larger portion of the stamped image.

The image has been coloured using the matching stencil in the kit and this is an easy way to colour them, especially if you don't like colouring.

I am happy with all of these cards made from one kit and I really love the Altenew Craft Your Life kits which come out monthly.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Ink Smooshed panels

Hi Everybody,

The little panels on this card are the left overs from the one I used on Tuesdays card. 

The only difference is that these have not been edged in the gold embossing powder.

But I have cut them with the Torn Edges die set and used another die cut to enhance them. 

They have then been added to another panel that has been in an embossing folder.

The finished card is an A2 size and has been layered with pink card under the embossed folder layer.

The flowers are some from a previous project and the pearl flourish is from my stash but is part of the embellishments collection from Card making Magic.

I have simply cut it up to fit my card. The sentiment is part of the new Special Words Collection that the Torn Edges are in.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Here we are at the end of another week and it is still hot. I for one will be so glad when it cools down and better still when it rains. What is the weather like in your part of the world ? Ruby is much better agin today and is eating normally. She is a very food orientated dog so when she is off her food I know she is not well.

So for now, the draw for yesterdays offering has been done and the winner this week is 

Ann Topp

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

I woild be happy if you could let me know that you have received it ok and I hope you enjoy playing with it once it arrives.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Beautiful Baubles by Chloe

Hi Everybody,

What a difference one week can make ... last week my Ruby was not well and this week after responding well to her treatment she is much better.

We have been for a lovely walk in Witch Wood earlier today and then it was home for lunch and she ate that with relish.

I am so glad that she is OK again, and very relieved too.

So todays offering is from Simply Cards & Papercraft and it has the lovely die and stamp set from Chloe Endean. I will also send the magazine for you to browse at your leisure, and it is full of ideas and inspiration for you to try for yourself.

So if you would like this to join your personal crafting stash then all you need to do is leave me a comment with your FULL NAME.
From those comments one name will be chosen as the winner and announced in a blog post over the weekend.

Be sure to add your full name and come back to see if it is your name that is listed.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Mixing Things Up ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is a mixture of dies from the new collection and for this one I have used the Rounded Edges and the Oval Nested Fancy Frames.

The edges give a touch of elegance to the design and because they are also nested you can create frames of various sizes using them. 

Here I have simply created the base layers in alternating colours of blue and white and used foam pads to raise the layers up.

They all work so well together and it is fun to experiment and see what designs you can create for yourself. 

This card has used the Torn Edges  and I have created fames for my creation.

Again the layers have been cut in alternate colours.

Both have the addition of sentiments from the Special/Thoughtful Words Die Sets and they are large enough to make a really good focal point on your card fronts.

The flowers are always a special touch for me and as you know I like to add glitter to mine to sparkle them up.

Both cards are 5x7 as that is my favourite size to create cards.

 They are not too big and yet there is room to add embellishments to the card front that are not lost in the design.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Ink Smoosh and Gold Edging

Hi Everybody,

I have been doing some ink smooshing using Distress Oxides. 

The one on the left is with Picked Raspberry and Squeezed Lemonade and the one on the right is with Kitsch Flamingo and Mermaid Lagoon.

I have some videos on my YouTube Channel showing this Ink Smooshing Technique if it is new to you. And this one includes Ink Smooshing & Die Cutting also

But for these two cards I have cut out both the panels with the Torn Edges Die Set and then inked up the edges with Embossing Ink and added Gold Embossing Powder. I also added some of the embossing ink using a finger dauber and a stencil on one, and in a random fashion on the other and embossed them the same way.

The other layers for the cards have also been cut
with the same die set making them to fit around the main panel.

I found lots of items on my desk top left over from other projects and I used them to complete both of my cards.

The sentiments are from Special Words, cut in Gold mirror card and backed onto parchment.

I used some pearl flourish to finish off the look on both and I have had this flourish for years in my bit box, but by cutting it up into pieces I made it fit both of my cards.

Both cards have used bits that might otherwise have been thrown away or lost, but now they have been put to good use instead.

I can't choose a favourite as I like them both equally and both will go in my donate box ready to go to the Charity Shop to be sold.

Do you have many bits left at the end of a crafting session? And if you do how do you use them up?

Let me know and maybe some of your ideas can be shared amongst us

I hope you enjoy the two videos I have added, just click the links and it will take to a new page to watch them. They are not long so you won't get bored.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Ruby Update

Hi Everybody,

Thank you all so much for your messages and concern for Ruby and here is an update on her progress.

She has had a blood test and it has shown that her liver is not working properly. It is not cleaning the toxins from her body and it is this that is making her sick. She has an infection in the folds in her lips and it is not getting any better because of this problem. So now she is on antibiotics and other stuff to help her and she seems to be responding to the treatment. She is not back to her old self yet and I will let you know how we go on over the next few weeks.

Thank you again for your kindness

More tomorrow …

Hugs xx

No Friday Freebie ...

Hi Everybody,

I am so sorry but there will not be a Friday Freebie this week. 

My Ruby is not well and has been sick all night.  

She is very lethargic and did not come to greet me this morning .

At present she is lying outside in the cool air but shortly I will try to get her into the vets. 

 I will keep you posted as to how she is 

Love 

Christina xx

Nested Fancy Frames - Squares

 Hi Everybody,

Today I am featuring the Nested Squares from the new collection of Nested Fancy Frames.  I  have already added videos for the other shapes in the collection and they are all in a playlist on YouTube for you to view.

In this video I show you how I have created eight cards from this set and once you start to play the list goes on.

I have really enjoyed playing with all these new dies and the cards they can help you to create can be decorated as much or as little as you wish

I always go to town once I start to add stuff and I never know when to stop.

Some of the cards are planned out and put together as the plan but others where spur of the moment ideas inspired as I played with the dies.

This card is a little A6 style and was done as a quick idea to use up the extras.

I liked the outcome though and placing the die cuts the other way round to put the pattern in the centre of the card instead of at the sides. 

And don't forget whatever styles I have demonstrated here can also be achieved with any of the other shapes in the collection.

Just play and have fun as you die cut and see what they can make

This is one of my favourites and I haven't made this style for such a long time, but I will be using this idea again as it looks really elegant once made up.

I hope you enjoyed the video, and the others in this 

Nested Fancy Frames & Special Words playlist on YouTube

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Rainbow Butterfly Card

Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is a slimline version and I have used older die sets to get the look. Make the most of what you already have and that way you will get your monies worth from the product.

I have used the Trellis embossing folder to add texture to the panel and then added it to the card base.

From white card I have blended the inks in a rainbow order and used the Butterfly Border die to cut them out. 

This die set comes in three sections that will cut the butterflies and the outer sections separately.  That way you can create a background for your butterflies any width you prefer.

I kept the outer dies the same width and removed the butterflies die before cutting again to give me the back drop in white. I layered the two portions together.

I cut two of the Single Sided Border strip in white and glued them in place to the back of the butterflies and then added all to the card with foam tape underneath to raise them up. 

I dotted the panel with corresponding sequins and the sentiment is cut from Blue Holographic card, and I like the effect of it all.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Playtime ...

 Hi Everybody,

For these two cards I used the Crackling Campfire Distress Oxide Ink and a blending brush to create an Ombre Effect on my cards.

Once I had done that I ran the panels through my embossing folders, this one is the Perfect Rose folder, and I used a different one for each card. 

With the raised side of the card uppermost I then used the same brush and ink to go over it again but this time with a heavier hand.

That picks up all the raised areas and makes them stand out more on the card front.

I used items left over from other cards that had been cut in white and with foam tape I added them to the card panel.

The orange sequins have been added for effect, and the card bases are both from one A4 piece that has been folded and then cut in half.

For this one I did the same technique with the ink for the background and then used the Trellis folder for this card.

I again brushed over the raised side with my blending brush and it made the pattern stand out on the panel.

The sentiment is from the large Decorative Words die set which I cut three times and stacked together for a really sturdy stand out look. 

Again I have dotted sequins on the front and I am really happy with both of the cards. 

Quick and easy, clean and simple ... for me any way !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Nested Fancy Frames - Circles

Hi Everybody,

Today the star of the show is the
Nested Fancy Frames - Circles
and in this video I have shared how I made a Gatefold Card.

The picture shows a circular card using the largest outer die to create the shape but there are lots of ways to use any of these sets.

In the video I shared the other day using the Nested Fancy Frames Rectangles I have shown you how to alter the shape to the die cuts. 

And you can do the same thing to any of the shapes in this new collection to give you even more possibilities for your designs.

I have created a playlist on YouTube to feature all these new dies and here is the video for the Circles

        

I have also created an Easel Card and that was really easy to do

The papers I have used on this card are from the Simply Made Crafts Summer Fun Pack 

by Helen Griffin.

There are lots of 12x12 paper with lovely designs to them and I have used several of them on my cards.

I hope you enjoy the video and it is just the right length for a brew at the same time !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Ruby & Ella ...

Hi Everybody, 

This lovely photo is Ruby lying on my bed in the sunshine and Ella trying so hard to sneak up to her for a cuddle.

Ella follows Ruby around wherever she goes and sometimes it gets bit too much for Ruby. 

Shortly after this was taken Ruby realised what was happening, got up and not only jumped off the bed but she left the room.

But we are making progress bit by bit and when I put food down for Ella,  Ruby will share the same dish. But when I put Ruby's food down she chases Ella off it.

Both are happy and healthy and getting on OK.

The weather has been too hot for Ruby who chooses to lie in the shade but Ella loves being outside.

Here she is sitting on a log trying to catch butterflies.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

Hi Everybody,

It is much cooler here today and there is quite a wind on the go as well. Ruby and I will be going out later but at present I am not allowed to drive since my cataract surgery. But it will be two weeks since the op on Tuesday and I will be back in my car again.  So for now it is walking to the nearest park or the beach which is about a five minute walk away.

In the meantime I have done the draw for yesterdays beautiful leaves and the name is ...

Donna Walls

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

Be sure to let me know when it arrives with you and I hope you will enjoy playing with it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Fabulous Foliage

 Hi Everybody,

Todays offering is a fun foliage set that has lost of different shaped leaves in it.

You can use the leaves as they are or you can add them to a floral display for even more interest. 

Inside the magazine you will find lots of ideas for using these dies and other projects that you may like to try.

All you need to do to be in with the chance of winning is leave me a comment at the end of this post and be sure to add your 

FULL NAME

It doesn't matter if you have won before and I am happy to send the prize to you wherever you are.
But if you do not add your full name then your comment will not even be entered into the draw. 

Be sure to come back over the weekend to see if your name is listed as the winner, and it you are then I know you will love this gift

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Nested Fancy Frames - Rectangles

 Hi Everybody,

Today it is the turn of the Nested Fancy Frames Rectangle Die Set.

In this video I have shown you how you can change the shape from rectangle to slimline, and others too.

I want you to get as much enjoyment from any of my collections as you can as I know they can be a considered purchase.

But they will last you a lifetime if you take care of them which means you can be making beautiful cards for years to come.

Ringing the changes with the way you use the die cuts is what will keep the interest alive and make card making much more fun for you.

This is the exact same set of dies but with just a little trimming it can be made to fit a slimline card. I have added this to an embossed panel to fill the background and I really like the end result.

I hope you will give these ideas a try and look at any of your other dies too to see if they can be adapted to alter  their shapes for your cards.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Torn Edges

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is sharing another from the new collection of dies and this one is the modern Torn Edges. I love this look and it makes lovely base layers as well as frames.

This style also works well with the Rounded Edges and also any other 5x7 dies that you may have in your own collection.

The pink background with the white flowers to this card is a piece of acetate that I have had for absolute years in my cupboard.

I cut it up and used it on several cards and I am really quite pleased with the result.

 I will never be able to replace it because I don't know where I got it from. I just know it was at a craft show a long time ago.

The flowers are paper ones from Wild Orchid Crafts but they no longer ship to the UK.

 Craft Stash have a good selection on their website, or you could always make your own and there are lots of tutorials to show you how to get a realistic look for your blooms.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Nested fancy Frames - Ovals

 Hi Everybody,

This is the vidoe that will share with you how I made the Nested Cards using the Oval shape in a different way to yesterdays card.

There are lots of possibilities with this new die set and I would encourage you to play with them once you have them. 

This is using them to create a base card that I have used in portrait style and if you like lacy cards then these will suit you perfectly.

I hope you enjoy this video, and the collection is now available at Craft Stash.

The links below are affiliated which means if you buy through those links I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Nested Fancy Frames

Hi Everybody,

The new collection is now launched and I am hoping you enjoyed the video that was shown on Facebook Live on the 12th August.

 I will be adding the video to the blog in the next few days in case you missed it last Friday. 

In that video I shared the making of two cards using the ovals die set and I flipped the design around to create two different orientations.

But this picture shows you another way in which the dies can be used and for this I have added it to a 5x7 card front. 

The card base for this is from another new set of dies called Rounded Corners.

This will create the rounded shapes that look so pretty, and because they are Nested dies you can get this look on frames as well as base layers.

The sentiment is from the new Special Words die set and it makes quite a statement on the card front.

There are several Fancy Frames shapes to choose from so I hope you enjoy any that you decide to use.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

I am too hot !! I used to be a fan of wall to wall sunshine but not anymore. I am permanently melting and Ruby doesn't like it either. The only one enjoying this is Ella, the kitten, who finds the sunniest spot in the garden to sit in and just lies soaking it all up. I just want it to cool down ... a lot !!

But the draw has been done and thank you so much for adding your full names it is much appreciated.

So the name this week is 

Peggy Spencer

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

Please be sure to let me know that you have it safely and I really hope you will enjoy playing with this lovely kit.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Boxed Kit

Hi Everybody,

Todays offering is quite special as it is a full boxed kit from Craft World. 

In it you will find dies, stamps and an embossing folder, as well as papers, for you to create some lovely projects.

In the paper pack you will find sentiments banners ready to use and the stamps will cover enough occasions for you to add to your designs.

Inside the magazine there are lots of ideas on how to make the most of the kit as well as other ideas that you may like to try.

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

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

So be sure to come back and see if it is your name that is shown ... but it must be your full name. Not nicknames or initials but your full name.

Don't forget to join me today for a brand new launch

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Gold Embossing Powder

 Hi Everybody,

Todays card is using gold embossing powder  on pink card with a stamp set from the Altenew Monthly kits that I subscribe to.

It is a black base card and I have  added in another black layer that has been splattered with gold paint. I have die cut the image out with the matching dies and then added it to the card with foam tape.

It had been dotted with gold sequins and it is a DL size card that will fit into a standard sized envelope. So no extra expense there. 

And now on a completely different subject I am having the cataract removed from my left eye this morning and at least this time I know what to expect from the procedure.

I will be glad once it is all over with though and as I said before, if you are waiting to have this done then it really is worth it. It does not hurt but  I didn't think it was a pleasant experience.

I will try to get done what I can for the rest of the week but please think about joining Lou Collins and me on Facebook Live this coming Friday 12th August, to see the new collection that is being launched, and to try your hand at winning some prizes.

Talking of which .... don't forget to check back and see if your are the winner of last weeks give away as it has not yet been claimed, and it wont be there forever.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx