Christmas in July

Hi Everybody,

Today sees the exciting Christmas In July Launch with Craft Stash and this is designed to give you an early start with any of your Christmas makes. 

This card was very easy to make as all I did was cut out the letters and add them to my base. 

I have used other dies to get the flowers and the embossed background

This card took a little longer as I stamped out all the parts that I needed and then either die cut or fussy cut them out.

I used foam pads underneath areas to give them height and make them stand out on the card, and I added Accent Glaze to the lights for extra shine.

There are lots of ideas that you can try with these dies and they all work really well with last years collection too.

So no excuse to be late with cards this season, unless you are like me and cannot plan for Christmas when the sun shines. It wouldn't do for me to live in Australia.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Playtime with Altenew

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is created with a really old stamp set from Altenew and I thought it was time to dig out some of my old stamps and

re-create with them. 

This one has been stamped in shade of Pink and Lilac and the same two colours splattered onto the background.

The flowers and leaves have been cut out with the coordinating die set and added with foam tape to raise them up.

I also used an old stencil, that was free with a magazine, on the background to give the diamond pattern that you can see.

The second card is using a die, stamp and a stencil from a magazine that Altenew brought out and I don't like the colours on this one as much.

I think that the blues I used are too dark.

I again used a free stencil for the background and in the set there are some leaves to another Altenew stencil which I also added to the background.

It is good to play and experiment with items and colours and that is the way I learn what I like and what I don't like.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Trellis Die Set & Brusho Crystals

 Hi Everybody,

This card shows an older die set from the Decoupage Delight Collection and this is the 5x7 Trellis.

I made lots of cards and used the Brushos on them and the video shows how I got two cards from one die cut.

It was good fun to play with these crystals again as I haven't used them in a long time, and I was more than happy with the  cards I created.

There are several different ways to use this die and each one will give you a different look. 

The top card was using the Brusho panel as my  background layer and adding the white panel to the top.

In the video I show other ways of layering the die cuts, and the card to the left is using up the pieces that fall out ... other wise known as the waste !!

But of course in this technique there is no waste just lovely cards that you can use for any occasion. 

I hope you enjoy the video and will give this a try. 

You could try the Colour Burst Powders instead if you don't have the Brushos or maybe just water colours.

So have a play and see what you can use and have some fun with them.

                    

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Sharon Brand - Winner

Hi Everybody,

Another week has gone by and they seem to go so quickly. Already into July and I am still wondering where March and April went.

 But the weather is good here today and I have had Dougal overnight and so I will be taking him, and Ruby, out for a walk in a little while in the sunshine.

The draw has been done for the Beautiful Butterfly set from Friday and the name this week is .. 

Sharon Brand

Please email me your postal address and I will  get the pack in the post to you.
And can I ask that you add your full address, including the country ... You may know where your postcode is but the post office don't and they will not accept it without the country clearly stated in the address 
 Be sure to let me know when you get it and I hope you enjoy playing with it.

There is also a special offer going on at Craft Stash for this fabulous numbers set if you would like to add this to your collection. It is part of the Clever Cuts Collection that I have featured in many videos and they are all in a Playlist on my YouTube Channel. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Beautiful Butterfly

Hi Everybody,

Today I am offering Die Cutting Essentials magazine complete with the Beautiful Butterfly die and stamp set from Chloe Endean.

There are also some large sentiment dies that go with this set plus the opportunity for you to download papers to compliment your designs. 

So all you need to do to be in with the chance of winning this set is leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME

If you don't leave your full name then your comment will not be entered into the draw

Then be sure to come back on Sunday and check to see if your name is shown as the winner.

The draw is open until then to give overseas visitors the chance to enter, so what are you waiting for ????

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Paper Flowers

 Hi Everybody,

This is the card that I showed yesterday using paper flowers created by me and I though it would be a good idea to share the actual video with you,

It was done quite a few years ago when I started to film for my self but the idea hasn't changed and is still appropriate today.

Some of the dies may not now be available anymore but I am sure that you have dies in your personal collections that would make excellent substitutes

The ink smooshed water colour card creates beautiful flowers as the colours are all intermingled and give the effect of light and shade without you having to do anything else, and I make some of my flowers in the same way still.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Floral Cards & Older Videos

Hi Everybody,

I was looking back over some older videos that I have on YouTube and I came across many that I still like.
And adding flowers was one of them.

It is something that I am often asked about and so that was why I made these videos many years ago. 

Can you believe that it was nine and ten years ago that these were made.

They were filmed by Griff and the style is so different to how I now make them, and I am sure you will be able to see the differences for your self.

Whatever the flowers are ... mulberry, silk, flower foam, paper or parchment the same principle still applies.

             

               

             

One of these videos shows how I made the corsages that I used to add, and sell, on my website and the other how I add a flower display to my cards.

The top card has used Mulberry Flowers but this one to the right is crated with paper flowers that I made my self.

This was also a video but one that I had started to make for myself in 2018 and it was a collaboration with Christine Smith from Crafti Potential. 

If you like to add flowers then maybe there is something that could be of interest to you.

And the cards turn out really pretty in the end.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Lazy Cat ... And a floral card

Hi Everybody,

Here is Ella, sprawled across the floor, and taking advantage of the sun streaming through the loft windows in my craft room.

They say cats don't like having their bellies exposed but mine does and she loves a belly rub too.

I have bought her a harness and I am slowly getting her used to wearing it. But at present when I put it on her she just collapses on the floor. 

Drama Queen

You would think it weighs a ton, But we will persevere and then I can take her out for a walk too.

This is another of the shaving foam cards, that is not in my usual colour scheme. But never the less I like it, and the flowers add that special touch

I used a circle die to cut out my panel and added it to some silver mirror card and then onto an embossed layer that is also on silver mirror card.

It is much prettier in the hand and although a bit messy this is such an easy technique to do, and you will never get two to look the same, even if you use the same colours, so don't try.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Sandra Smith - Winner

Hi Everybody,

It's a good weekend here in Blackpool and yesterday Vickie and I, with the dogs, went up to the Lakes.
We set off early and it was really lovely. Cloudy and cool, but perfect for the dogs to walk in.
We always take lots of water with us for them and Ruby got the chance to go swimming in Tarn Hows. 

We took a wrong turn at a roundabout on our way there but we ended up finding a lovely little coffee shop and had some breakfast. We got back home after our walk at bout 3.30 and I had to shower Ruby after her swim. 

But then I had to get ready to go out as Griffs family and mine all went to the see the
Agatha Christie - Mousetrap at the Grand Theatre and it was wonderful.

We all had a meal at a restaurant up town before the show  and I think a good night was had by everyone.

So I have had a really good weekend and now I have done the draw for Fridays prize.

If you didn't add your full name then I have not added in your comment as I need the FULL NAME to keep everything fair.  

This week the winner is 
Sandra Smith
and I would be obliged if you could send me your postal address please to
christina@card-making-magic.com

I will get the pack posted off to you straight away and I hope you enjoy playing with it, but be sure to let me know that you have it safely.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Border Panel

Hi Everybody,

Here is another chance to win one of the Border Die sets. One of these was won a few weeks ago and you now have another chance for this one.

But if this is something that you would like then all you have to do is leave me your comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME

It is easier, and fairer, to get the correct winner if your full name is shown. 

And to be safe please, DO NOT to add any personal details in the blog post, as they can then be seen by the world and his wife. 

With this set you will also get the magazine that is full of idea on using your border die and other things that you may like to try.

Be sure to come back and check if your name is shown as the winner. And to make sure overseas visitors have the time to enter then the draw is open until Sunday 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Designer Card Front Dies

Hi Everybody, 

Today I am using an older die set and this was part of the Designer Card Front Collection released some time ago now.

I did several videos using these sets and thought it was time to ad another to the mix.

The colour scheme is not my usual and I must admit that I do not use orange or yellow very much. 

But I do like these cards and they look much prettier in the hand.

I used a mixture of flowers and leaves on them from foam ones that I made myself to silk ones that I bought ages ago.

This card to the left is a Gatefold created from the die set and I used the border die to produce the Belly Band just to add a little difference to the design. 

I hope you enjoy the video, it is long enough for you to have a cuppa with it ... and don't forget the biscuits too

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Cards from Ann

Hi Everybody,

A little while ago I mentioned that it was a good idea to rummage through your left overs and see what can be used on a card.

These card photos have been sent from Ann Topp and with her permission I am sharing them here. 

Ann leaves regular comments on my blog and so it is a pleasure to share her makes here, and I am so glad that she used up all her bits and pieces. 

It is far better than simply tossing them into the rubbish bin and the cards it creates can be a simple, or intricate, as you have the bits for. 

This one is my favourite and Ann makes them for the ladies in her line dancing class.

I am sure they will all be delighted with their card all made especially for them by their lovely friend Ann.

Thanks for sharing Ann.

If you would like to have some of your cards shown on the blog then send them to

christina@card-making-magic.com

But don't forget to give me your permission to share them when you do.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Summer Sale

Hi Everybody,

This is the Summer Sale that gives you lots of savings on many different sets of dies from Card Making Magic.

From the Flower Box dies that are shown here to the Alphabets that are always useful.

There are also some of my favourite words dies in the sale that can be added to a card to finish it of for many occasions.

This word die and the complete card dies are in the sale and these are the Plaited with Love Collection.

So now is the time to save your self some money and get the dies that you want to fill out your collection.

Have fun

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Shaving Foam Framed Card

Hi Everybody,

This card started life as one complete shaving foam panel but using the Torn Edge Dies I created a frame and also added the centre portion with foam pads to raise it up.

The plain blue layer is embossed and just peeps through the frame and around the edges for a really pretty look.

The flowers are Mulberry flower that I got from Wild Orchid Crafts and I have had them for ages. But sadly WOC do not ship to the UK anymore. 

They must have lost a lot of customers because of that.

I added a video showing the technique for shaving foam a while ago and here is the link again in case you missed it.   Shaving Foam Technique

It is very easy to and very cheap if you buy the least expensive shaving foam you can get. But I must admit it can be a bit messy.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Margaret Wilkie - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Since I kept the date for entry into the Friday Freebie open for longer it seems to have backfired on me.

I did it to give overseas visitors the chance to add their comments as they are not getting an email about it until a day later than the UK.

I also decided to add the winners name into the title of the page so that it would be more obvious and visible to readers. But you will need to come back and check for yourself.

But since then I have had three occasion were the prize has not been claimed, and last week was one of them. I have said in the past that I have no way to contact you as I do not store any personal information,  even if you have won in the past.

 
So if your name is listed as the winner you will need to email me with your postal address.

I also ask that you use your FULL NAME at the end of your comment, and most people do so.
However the odd one does not and I have no idea who they are.
Any of the comments left  by "Anonymous" and no name will not be entered into the draw  !!!!

The winner this week is 

Margaret Wilkie

Thank you for leaving your comment and your full name and

please would you email me your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and I will get it posted to you just as soon as I can.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Terrific Tulips

Hi Everybody,

Here is another chance for you to win this fabulous Terrific Tulips die and stamps set.

This has been a really popular set and you can make some lovely floral cards with it.

You will also get the magazine and the pages of that are always full on inspiration for you to try. 

I have offered these tulips in the past and each one has been claimed by the winner.

 So maybe this time it will be you who wins, but you will need to leave me a comment at the end of this post and include your FULL NAME

  
Be sure to come back and see if your name is listed as the winner on Sunday.

You will have 72 hours in which to claim the prize and if it is not claimed it will be offered again at a later date.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Oldie but Goodie ...

Hi Everybody,

Today I thought I would share an older video with you using a die set that was one of my favourites when it was launched a couple of years ago.

This was the Channel Card and this particular design was the Rambling Rose to make beautiful creations.

There were other design in the launch and also stamps to match but this one really caught my eye with the flowers that are in it.

It is very easy to do and you will not be disappointed with your results.

You will find all the Channel Card videos in one Playlist

The video is not long so I hope you enjoy it and if you have the dies then maybe it is time to get them out again and give them another airing.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Distress Oxide Inks

Hi Everybody,

Have you been watching the new Colour Combinations videos on YouTube that Lou Collins ahs been adding over the last few weeks using Distress Oxides. 

It is an amazing series and covers lots of combos and tips that you may not have thought of and I have added the link to the Playlist for the videos above so that you can see for your self.

You can also get free downloads of the labels from Lou Collins Blog for you to label all your Distress Inks,  be they Oxides or not.

There are 72 colours in the set and the only one I do not have is the Picket Fence. The rest are labelled and stored on my worktop.

I chose to download the coloured version and they look so pretty all stacked up together.

But you can also add the same labels to your blending brushes so that they will always match the ink you are using.

I don't have too many ordinary Distress Inks so I didn't bother with them. 

 I am enjoying the series that Lou is adding using the Distress Oxides in alphabetical order and the labels are an added bonus so thank you Lou xx

I am also adding the link to all the Distress Oxides and the Blending brushes that I bought from Amazon

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Using left overs ...

Hi Everybody,

A little while ago I made some plaid backgrounds and after trimming down the panel I had quite a few strips of left over pieces that could be used on another card.

I never throw these bits away, as you never know when they will come in handy again.

And these two card are the perfect opportunity to use them up.

This one has been layered onto some silver mirror card, spare glitter card and added to an embossed panel.

Waste Not, Want Not.

 I have used other left over die cuts that are on my desk to finish the card and I really like the result of this one.

On this card I have used a butterfly from the Butterflies and Lace collection and this has been cut in Silver mirror card.

I have used the same card to once more back the plaid strip that was left over. 

By using up the left overs and paper pads that we already have,  we can always get a lot more cards, and for me they go into my charity box.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Using Up Papers ...

Hi Everybody,

These are some cards that I made from another paper pack that I have in my stash and this one is for the RSPB.

This is part of my personal challenge to use up the  papers I have in my craft room.

 There are some really pretty papers in this pack and I made loads of cards,  plus I still have lots of paper left to make even more.

These four are all A6 size and will fit into a standard sized envelope so easy on the postage.

As well as the papers there are toppers and sentiment strips in there for you to cut up and add to the design.

It is amazing how far these paper packs will stretch and of course these cards will all go to fill up my charity box.

Just to be a little different I made this one into an easel card but it is still an A6 size.

I have lots of paper packs to use up. but eventually I will and I will show you what I make as I go through them.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Gail Knapton - Winner

Hi Everybody,

Still enjoying this beautiful weather ? Or has it got a bit too much for you. I can remember a time when I would lie in the sun for hours and get a glorious suntan ... but not any more. I get bored now and it is far too hot for me to sit still in. Ruby doesn't like it either and she prefers to stay in the cool indoors. 

Ella on the other hand finds the sunniest spot and lies in it until I call her in again.

I have done the draw for the gift on offer on Friday and the name this week is

Gail Knapton

Would you email me with your postal address please to
christina@card-making-magic.com
and I will get it in the post to you.

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

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Spring Garden

 Hi Everybody,

Todays offering is from me ... Card Making Magic ... and it is the Spring Garden set.

This consist of an A4 stamp set of images and sentiments and covers lots of occasions you may need.

There are also some blackboard papers with it that have verses or sentiment written on them and they will make a complete card front for you.

Inside the magazine there are lots of ideas on how to use the set as well as other things you may like to try.

There are two magazines with this offering so plenty for you to get stuck into if you are the winner.

So all you need to do is leave me your comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME and then be sure to come back on Sunday and see if you are the winner whose name will be shown in the blog post.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Variations ...

 Hi Everybody,

Continuing on from yesterdays Monochrome theme I wanted to show you the difference between a one colour card and one with several colours.

Both cards have used the same flower die set but look completely different.

This is the Sulfur Cosmos flowers from Altenew teamed with my Simply Dots Embossing folder.

I think this card looks elegant in a beautiful shade of grey, and with the appropriate sentiment it could be for any occasion and any gender.  

This is the same die but with various shades of pink for the flowers and of course green for the leaves.

I have added black for the flower centres and they have been covered with Glossy Accents to give shine

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Monochrome Cards

Hi Everybody,

 

This is an idea that I covered many years ago and it is the monochrome card, which simply means making the card using only one colour, or shades of it.

So I thought I would give it a go again as a revisit to old tutorials on my YouTube Channel

The card to the right is done in blue  cardstock and this has to be my favourite one out of those that I did. 

I used  any flower dies that I have in my collections and my favourite Rose Flourish for the leaves.

The background is the Simply Dots Embossing folder from Card Making Magic

This all pink one is very soft and delicate and the flowers is the Hellebore Die Set from 

Card Making Magic

I used all three of the flowers in the set and raised them up with foam pads. 

The centre flower has double pads under it to make it stand out even more.

Using all one colour means you don't have to think about which colour goes with which and if they will clash.

And all my flowers have been added to either an embossed background or a die cut to stop it looking too plain.

This white one is a little more intricate as I have created a wreath from the leaves but I show you in the video how I made this one.

The leaves and flowers are from the same set called Daisy Flourishes and it is not a million miles away from the Rose Flourish.

The background is from the 5x7 Quatrefoil die set. 

The flowers I have layered all together to make full blooms and a white pearls is added to the centre of each.

They are all really pretty cards and can be for male or female depending on the colours you use.

Still they may appeal to you as we all like different things.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Apologies ...

Hi Everybody,

Last week I added two pages to my blog and for some reason they seem to have corrupted the look of the pages, and so to save my sanity I have removed them.

But I am adding the videos here again for those who may have missed them due to the mess on the page. 

Homemade Texture Paste

The first video was how I made my own texture paste using Talcum Powder and some cheap glue and paint. It is very easy to do and gives the same effect as the more expensive shop bought item.

The second video was showing how I used some of those backgrounds to make card like the ones I have shown here.

Texture Paste Cards

There are quite a few in the video and if you click the links it will take you to my YouTube channel where you can watch it peacefully.

I am sorry about the loss of the other two pages but it is really frustrating trying to sort it all out especially when you don't know how the html code works.

So I did the only thing I could and that was to remove them.

More tomorrow ...

Hugsxx