Snowflakes Oval Filigree Frame

Hi Everybody,

Today I am using the Snowflakes Oval die set and this is also a new one that is available at Craft Stash. 

This die set will work beautifully with the Complete Oval Box and Card Die Set so that you can vary our creations.

This video is not long so I hope you will enjoy it. 

It gives you tow ideas using the same colour card and the same die sets.

All my collections are available at Craft Stash.

 

There is a vast amount of items for you to choose from at Craft Stash for everything to do with any kind of crafting, you just need to have a good old mooch about the website to find what you want.

If your MoJo has gone walkabouts you will find inspiring ideas that you may like to try and if you are busy getting ready for Christmas then there is sure to be something that you would like 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Rose Filigree Frame

 Hi Everybody,

I feel like I am making a comeback and I am sorry for my absence. But many of you know why I have been away.

At long last I have a new video for you and this one features the Rose Filigree Frame from the new Festive Frames Collection.

I feel really out of touch with everything and I wish I could say that I am now sorted and fit.

 I am back with the consultant this week and so maybe I will have something to report once I have spoken to him. Wish me luck !!

For now here is the card that I have created with the new dies and I have used a very inexpensive Kraft Card.  

This is not something that I use often but it can produce some lovely designs is coupled with other colours.  The video will show you how I made it and I think it is very effective. 

 I hope you enjoy the video and it's not very long.

Thank you for your patience with me over the last few months.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

Hi Everybody,

Oh my goodness I can hear the rain pounding down on my pergola roof and this is definitely a day to stay warm and cosy.  So! sorry Ruby but there won't be "walkies" today and I shall light the log burner shortly to warm the house., and maybe watch a good film on TV.

 I hope you are all doing the same if you have the rain and cold weather with you..

But for a little bit of sunshine I have already done the draw and the name this week is 

Debbie Bastian

would you email me your postal address please to :
christina@card-making-magic.com
and I will get the pack in the post to you as soon as I can.
Please let me know when you get it safely in your hands and I really hope you get a lot of fun playing with all the different ways you can use the kit.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Hunkydory

Hi Everybody,

Hunkydory is the Star for this weeks Boxed Kit and this one is a real treasure for you to win.

Even more so if you like the idea of ready made cards with no planning from you.

Inside this box you will find TWO complete foiled card collections and all you need to do is pop them from the backing card and add them to the card base.

One is Tranquil Days and that is the one you can make out in the photo.
The other is Country Retreats and this could be suitable for any male cards you may be making.

There is also an embossing folder, stamps and dies as well as the informative magazine that is sure to  inspire you.

Would you like to win this one ?? Then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your FULL NAME. Please be sure to come back and check for your name over the weekend so that you don't miss out if you are shown as the winner.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Sorry !!

 Hi Everybody,

So sorry about the dreadful screen and I am trying to sort it all out 

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Hope you are all well and making the most of the weekend. If you managed to join us yesterday on Craft World Live then thank you. I am sorry it was short notice on my part.

I am really hoping to get busy again and doing more videos for you to view and hoping that my legs will hold me up. 

I have done the draw good and early so that I can add the name to today’s blog post.                                The name today is ...

Dawn Easter 

Please can you email me your postal address to

christina@card-making-magic.com 

The pack will be you soon And I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know when you have it.

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Tonic

Hi Everybody,

Another beautiful kit on offer this week and this one is from Tonic.

It is yet again another boxed kit that is full of lovely items for you to play with.

The magazine has tons of inspiration from the Tonic Team and you will be able to get crafting the minute your kit arrives with you.

Inside you will find lots of stunning papers and ten sentiments and image stamps for your designs

There is also an embossing folder and a 7 in 1 die set named Floral Cuff that you can see in the orange colour. Perfect for any cards or projects that you are making and suitable all year round.

Is this is a set that you would like then just leave me a comment at the end of the post and don't forget to add your FULL NAME to be in with a chance to win this. No full name then no entry !!
As this blog is public please DO NOT enter any personal details such as phone numbers or addresses as they will be clearly visible to anybody that looks.

The winner will be announced in a blog post over the weekend so be sure to come back and see if it is your name that is shown.

And a late reminder is to join Craft World Live at 1pm today and I will be making a little visit via Skype

More tomorrow …

Hugs xx

 

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

I have had a lazy start to my day because Ruby and I didn’t get up till 9.30 ish !! But at least it’s not raining at present so that’s a bonus point.  I really hope you are all staying safe wherever in the world you are and that this horrible virus will find a vaccine soon. My personal thought is that we will never be rid of it now that it is here but that we will be able to control it. How that will affect life in the future is anybodies guess.

I have done the draw for the lovely boxed kit by Joanna Sheen, that is on offer from yesterday and the name today is ...

Isabel Thompson 

Would you email me please your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the kit will be on its way to to you straight away. Please let me know that you have got it safely and I really hope you enjoy playing with it.

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Joanna Sheen

Hi Everybody,

This weeks lovely boxed kit is from Joanna Sheen and it has delicate lacy effects inside for you to use.

The papers to this kit are inside the actual magazine and there are lots of toppers with them too.

You will also get a die set, an embossing folder  and some all occasion stamps that can be used all year round

The magazine will give you  inspiration from other designers that you may like to try, as well as ideas from Joanna herself.

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

No other details need to be added just your name and then I can add your name to the post that will go out over the weekend ... so be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

How are you doing in this wet and windy weather. And according to the weather forecast it is set to get worse.  So wrap up warm and stay safe until it eases off a little.

I have already done the draw for yesterday’s Victoria & Albert Collection and I really hope that this week it will be claimed. The name is ...

Sandra Smith

If you could email me your postal address please to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the prize will be on its way to you straight away. 

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - V&A Collection

Hi Everybody,

Next week I will be continuing with the boxed kits as I have several more to give away. They are all quality kits filled with lots of "goodies" for you to play with. Sadly some of them are own and do not get claimed though I must admit it's not many.

But for now this is another chance to win the Victoria & Albert Papercraft Collection that was offered a few weeks ago and never claimed. Some ones loss then will be some one else's gain this week.

If you add your comment be sure to come back and check over the weekend if your name is shown in the blog post

Inside this kit you will find 83 paper and toppers for your designs, along with stamps, dies and an A6 embossing folder.

Plus the magazine will give you lots of information and inspiration that you may like to try for yourself .

Now if this is something that you would like then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post. The winner will announced over the weekend so be sure to come back and check if your name is shown

Some things to remember … 
1/  You will need to leave your FULL NAME
2/  Your comment will not show up until it has been moderated
3/  Come back and check if you are the winner

What more can I … say Good Luck everybody 

More tomorrow …

Hugs xx

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Thank you for taking part in this weeks draw and I hope the winner comes forward to claim it this time. There may be many reasons why some one doesn’t come back but it is sad whatever the  reason.
I just hope that you are all staying safe as this virus continues to be with us.
We in Blackpool or on a full lockdown  again as the numbers rise.

I have noticed that some of you are saying that your comments are not showing up, and you are leaving the same message three or four times. If you read the notice when you add the comment it does tell you that comments will not be added until they have been moderated by me … and so of course there is nothing there for you to see.  I delete the extra messages as I see them

Please be patient as your comments will be there once I have been through all those that have been added.                 
This just ensures that naughty messages, like the ones that where being added a while ago don’t show up on my blog to offend someone. They offended me I can assure you and they needed to be eliminated from the section.

So onto this weeks winner and the name this week …

Colleen Bohn

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

More tomorrow …

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Card Makers Collection

Hi Everybody,

This weeks sees the return of a previous offer  that was not claimed and this the beautiful kit called the Floral Special.

It consists of the magazine, & layered floral dies, 6x6 embossing folder, 5 mixed stamps and 16 quality papers to get you started straight away.

Just add some base card, foam tape and glue  and you are ready to go. There are lots of inspiring ideas in the magazine for you to read with your cuppa

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

Please do not add your address or any other personal details here as this is a public page and anyone can view it. Once you have been back to check,  over the weekend , if  it is your name that is shown then you can email me with all your details and the gift will be sent to you straight away.

All three of my winners  from last week got back to me straight away and each one has notified me since that they have  all got their prizes. Thanks ladies it is a big help to me and I hope you will enjoy them 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner,

 Hi Everybody,

I hope you are all keeping well and staying safe as this virus now opens up for a second round. It is probably something we are never going to be free from but hopefully a way to control it will be found in the not too distant future.

I have done the draw for the three Card Making Magic kits that were on offer yesterday and I thank you all for a really good response. However I am sad to say that for the last two weeks the prizes have not been claimed..

 I always add the winners name to a blog post just like this week and I also add it to the Winners page that can be reached in the side bar to the left. You need to come back and check for your self if it is your name that is shown as I have no way of letting you know if you are a winner.

Now onto the winners of each of the kits....

1/ Donella Garwood

2/ Hilary Bunker

3/ Janet Boyne

Could each of you please email me your postal address to
christina@card-making-magic.com
and I will get the kits in the post to you as soon as I can.

I hope you will enjoy playing with them and please let me know that you have got them safely.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Card Making Magic Christmas Collection

 Hi Everybody,

This week the box kit is from Card Making Magic (Me) and this is based on a Christmas Theme, though having said that it can be used all year round to make delightful designs

The candles in the kit will make lovely birthday cards at any time of year, and what's more I have 

three of these this week to "Give Away"

Once again there are papers on quality paper, dies, stamps , an embossing folder and some wonderful ideas inside the magazine too, from the talented design team.

Over the last six weeks I have been offering box kits, and if you won one then Well Done and I hope you have enjoyed your prizes. If you don't come back and check for your name then you will lose the prize and it will be offered to someone else at a later date

then why not leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME. 

There are still people entering without leaving their full name and if you are wondering why you are not winning that is the reason why. 
Your comment will not be entered into the draw if you do not leave your name 

You will need to come back and check if your name has been selected at random,  as you only have 72 hours in which to claim it. 

Good Luck 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Thank You

Hi Everybody,

I just wanted to pop in and say a big "Thank You" to all of you who have sent me well wishes, prayers and cards while I have been out of action for the past few weeks.  It is very much appreciated and I really do hope to be back soon. I miss blogging and videoing and all of YOU too

Now yesterday I received these beautiful flowers in a glass vase with a box of chocolates and a card from Elaine Prendergast.

She was one of the winners of my Friday Freebies and she wrote to tell me that she was a teacher in Ireland.

She had shown my blog to her class and apparently I made a big hit with them

I duly sent her the prize she had won and I asked her if she would like "Goodies" for the children to craft with.

So I sent off the box with all kinds of things in it and I ended up with my 
 Irish Fan Club

This is the link to the post about them and the card they all made and signed for me.

Thank you Elaine for still remembering me and for the flowers. I know by now you will be teaching another class of children as that group will have moved on.

But their card and the pleasure I gave by sending the crafting stuff really made my day.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

It's a bit windy here today but not cold and Ruby has just gone out for a walk with Vickie and Dougal.

She has taken them both to Witch Wood and they will have a lovely time sniffing about and looking for squirrels. They don't chase them so no harm comes to the little creatures,

I have not had a particularly good week with walking  but I have gone back to my doctor for stronger pain relief in the hope that it will help if only a little.

Now lets move on to something more cheerful, and that is the draw for the fabulous 

Victoria and Albert  Collection that was on offer yesterday 

The papers in this set are really lovely and some one will have a good time playing with this one. along with the dies, stamps and embossing folder.

The name this week is 

Shelley Yalden

and so if you would email me your postal address please to

christina@card-making-magic.com

the gift will be on its way to you.

It helps me a lot if you can let me know that you have it safe and sound and I am sure that you will not be disappointed with it

I am sad to say the last weeks Friday Freebie of the Floral Special Collection has not been claimed and I will offer that again at a later date.

I am happy to offer the prizes, and pay the postage to wherever you live, and I don't mind if you have won before ...  you can still enter again. The only thing I ask is that you leave me your name to save confusion. And still people are not complying with this small request and obviously not reading the whole post each week when I ask that you leave your FULL NAME

NO FULL NAME --- NO ENTRY TO THE DRAW

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - V&A Paper Collection

Hi Everybody,

Well this extra special pack is on offer this week and the papers inside are really lovely .

 The magazine is full of inspiration and there are dies, stamps and an embossing folder to help you create.

The papers are quality and not the cheap slippery stuff that is neither use  nor ornament and the embossing folder is full of leaves to create beautiful backgrounds for you designs. I am sure you will have loads of fun with this pack.

Now if you would like to win this one then leave me a comment and be sure to add your FULL NAME to the entry. One name will be chosen as the winner and announced over the weekend so be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

More Patterned Panels

 Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is created with the Rectangle Patterned Panels and this is one of my favourites. 

It has such versatility for cards all year round and will suit any occasion or gender too.

Here I have made it into an Anniversary Card and added just a handful of  mulberry flowers that have been sprinkled with glitter.

Flowers are always a winner for feminine cards and I don't know anybody that wouldn't like these on her card.

I like to add mine with hot glue from a glue gun and that way I am sure that they won't fall off.

But of course you would need to add this type of card to a box to be sure it doesn't get crushed. For my card and box I have used the 5x7 Complete card and box die set and everything else is designed to fit neatly with it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

Hi Everybody,

Another Friday Freebie has come round and they seem to get quicker each week

 I still have several box kits to be won so please keep on trying if you haven't won one yet. 

I promise you they are well worth trying for and you will not be disappointed in any of them

The draw has been done for yesterdays offering and the name this week is ...

Lynne Lapish

would you email me please with your postal address to

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the kit ill be on its way to you straight away.

If you could let me know that you have it safely that would be great and I hope you enjoy playing with it when it arrives with you.

Every week I ask you to leave your FULL NAME at the end of your comment and the reason for that is to be fair to everybody else. I have on occasions had several people with the same first name  and then it gets confusing. 

But there are still people leaving entries and not adding their full names

 and I cannot enter those with only nick names into the draw. So if you are not winning then at least you  know why. 

NO FULL NAME .. NO ENTRY

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Floral Special Collection

 Hi Everybody,

This beautiful kit is designed for all your flowery makes and the magazine will give you some lovely ideas that you may like to try. It consist of the magazine, some lovely paper to compliment your designs, stamps and matching dies and a 6x6 embossing folder. 

Just get the pack, add in some glue and foam pads,  and away you go making your cards and projects to send to family and friends all year round.

The pictures of any of these kits does not do them the full justice they deserve and so if you have been the winner of one I am sure you have not been disappointed when you got them in your hands. 

The papers in each one are printed onto quality paper and there is so much inside the packs to keep you busy.

So if you would like to win this one then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME.
From those comments one name will be chosen as the winner so be sure to come back and check if it is your name shown and be sure to claim it quickly.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Perfect Panels & Lovely Layers - Circles

Hi Everybody,

For today's card I have gone back to a previous collection and this is the Perfect Panels & Lovely Layers sets.

There are several shapes in these die sets ... circles, rectangles, squares and  triangles so I thought I would remind you of what is in them.

Each set has a matching embossing folder and stamps that will fir into the spaces on your cards.

This one obviously uses the circle die set and I have teamed it with a verse from the Wonderful Words stamp set.

As usual I have added in the flowers and leaves and they are from the Filigree Flowers Die set  and they can of course be used on any card or project you like to make.

The card will stand straight if you level off the back piece slightly along the bottom edge.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

New Video

Hi Everybody,

Well as promised the video is done and ready for you to view. I hope you will like the result !!

I have used the Round Bauble Easel Die Set to show you two ways in which I have used it for cards.

The third way is to create this really pretty Bauble that can be hung on your tree at Christmas.

You can of course use any of the other dies in this new collection in a similar way for your cards and they would look really good.

But these are an easy way to create shaped cards  that are not too big to fit into a standard envelope, which keeps down the cost of postage.

Make them in your favourite colours or stick to traditional red and greens 

I hope you enjoy playing with any of the dies that you have from any of my collections and there is more to come in the next few months.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Bauble Easel

 HI Everybody,

This pretty card features two of the new Easel Card dies that are available now on the 
Craft Stash website

The Traditional Bauble and the Round Bauble have both been used to decorate the front of this card.

And I have used extra snowflakes from the Round Bauble to add interest to it also.

It is not in typical Christmas colours but it is very effective, and the back ground has been created with the
 Trellis embossing folder

I am going to try making a video today and see if my legs will keep me upright long enough and in this I will show you how to use the round bauble on its own.

So please join me tomorrow when hopefully it will be there for you to see.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Is it me or is it colder today ? I am seriously thinking o putting the heating on coz my toes are freezing.

Or maybe it would just be quicker to put some socks on !!
Ruby doesn't care ... she has her fur to keep her warm.

This morning I have been busy with mundane household chores that needed to be done out of the way , but no more climbing on chairs for me as I don't want another damaged cartilage. 
I have to say that the injection of steroids into the knee I had don't seem to have made a lot of difference.

I started off hopeful that they would but now I seem to be back to square one again.

I have done the draw for yesterdays lovely Tonic Box Kit and this is such a lovely gift to win.

The name drawn is ...

Maggie Gardner

so would you email me please 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 enjoy playing with the goodies when they arrive with you.

It's a Bank Holiday Weekend here in the UK so I will be back with you next Tuesday.

Try to have a good weekend and please stay safe

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Tonic Box Kit

 Hi Everybody,

Today's box kit comes from the wonderful Tonic and you will not be disappointed with this kit because it is full of wonderful goodies for you to play with.  The magazine will give you lots of ideas on how to create other projects too and you are sure to enjoy playing with it all.

This kit is based on a Christmas Theme and will give you endless fun in time for the season.

Add glitter to sequins to the Christmas Tree, create some crackers for your table and send out delightful cards to your family and friends.

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

You need to add your FULL NAME or your entry will not be added, and then you need to come back and see if it is your name that is listed as the winner.

It doesn't matter where you live or even if you have won before you can still try for this kit.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Pentagon Easel for Christmas

Hi Everybody,                           

This card is created from another of the new easel dies and on some of the packages it is called the Hexagon Bauble Easel.

And I know it only has five sides so it's not a hexagon,  and we will have to blame that one on the Gremlins !!

Nevertheless it is a pretty Pentagon Easel Card once made up and just the same as the others in this collection it can be added to a full sized card if you wished.

The deer is part of the set and I have added some shading to mine and then mounted it with foam pads  to the leaves.

Another quick and easy way to create a shaped card without any measuring for you to do. Just run the dies through your machine and away you go.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Triple Star Easel Card

Hi Everybody,                   

Today's card is created using the new Triple Star Easel Card from Card Making Magic and I am sorry that this is a rubbish picture.

The light was going and my battery was also on it's last legs but you get the idea anyway.

This is a pretty die set and can be used in several ways, and would look particularly good as individual stars on a card.

You could create ornaments to dress your tree, or make a garland by gluing several of them together.

This card has just been made from pink and silver card to give it some sparkle.

It is not a big card and will fit easily into a standard envelope and so save you money on postage, but it is very impressive once opened out for your recipient to add to their mantle shelf.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Matching Dies & Stamps

Hi Everybody,

In the new collection you will find these  beautiful flowers for you to stamp out and colour with your favourite medium,.

And then use the matching dies to give you the flowers that you need for your project.

These are named Christmas Roses but can be used all year round as you can see from the sentiment on this card.

I have used water colours on water colour paper to make my flowers and then shaped the petals with the shaping tool.

The inside of the card is decorated the same and for that I have used the new Inserts and a Verse from the Birthday Verses  A5 stamp set.

These will give you a complete co-ordinated look for your cards and of course adding them to a matching box will also make them extra special too.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

 Hi Everybody                                                                                    

It's very windy here this morning and Ruby has just gone out for a walk with Vickie and her best friend Dougal.

This evening Vickie and I are going out for a meal to my Grandsons restaurant as he has opened again this week for the first time since Lock-down and I am really looking forward to that.

So I got busy this morning and tidied around and I have now done the draw for yesterdays box kit.

These kits are such good value and have everything you need to get started.
 And they seem to be popular with all of you too.

There are several more on offer yet so please do come back and see if you can win one of those coming up over the next few weeks

The winner today is ...

Betty McAllister

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

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

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Creative Stamping

 Hi Everybody,

Another fabulous box kit is on offer this week and this one is from Creative Stamping and is full of goodies for you to create wonderful cards.
 It consist of Magazine, Papers, Stamps, Dies and an Embossing Folder, everything you need to start making cards the minute you get the pack

This was also a Special Edition Box Kit and is centred around a Christmas theme.
 But having said that it can be used all year round to create some lovely spring or summer designs.
It will be yours to use however you wish if  you are the lucky winner.

All you have 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 as the winner.
 Be sure to come back and check over the weekend if your name is the one shown

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Bell Bauble Easel Card

Hi Everybody

Making Easel Cards can be a lot of fun as long as you don't let the making of them cause you stress. They really are easy to do and this die set makes them even easier as all the cutting and measuring is done for you.

In the new collection there are several designs for you to try but this Bell Bauble has to be my favourite.

I think it is so pretty and the ivy in the set can be used on any project that you want to try

I coloured my Ivy with two shades of green ink  and I used blue and white card to create the card itself  

This pretty bell can be added to larger cards if you wanted. Here I have cut two to add to the front of the card and added them to an embossed panel.

The ivy trials down the shape and I have dotted the bell with small pearls. They have been raised with foam tape underneath

The inside to this card has been decorated the same with a bell and ivy and I have used the new paper inserts in the collection to cover front and inside, and the Verses to add a lovely greeting.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Beautiful Easel Cards

Hi Everybody,

In the time that I have been away from crafting there has been a release of new dies from Card making Magic featuring Easel Cards and I was in no position to do them justice

The new release consisted of dies, stamps and embossing folders and the cards that they can create are really lovely

I have made very few cards to show case this collection but I hope to rectify that now that I am feeling a little better.

These two I did to show on the Craft World Live that I did with Lou Collins

The panel from the Poinsettias folder has been cut in half and each one coloured in differently.

For the top one I used Arteza Water Real Brush Pens and left the background white. Then I added it to another panel that I have embossed with the second folder  and silver card.

For the bottom card I have used alcohol markers to colour the flowers and a black one to colour the background separately.

Each gives a totally different look and the black background is so dramatic.

The verses on both are from the Christmas Verse Stamp Set 

Both have been decorated extra with Diamante from Card Making Magic  flourishes

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Ruby and Christina Update

 Hi Everybody,

First of all I want to wish  a really special greeting to my beautiful Cocker Spaniel Ruby who is celebrating being four years old today. She has been wonderful while I have been out of action

She has willingly gone for walks with Vickie and Dougal and been such a good girl. I would be lost without her especially since Griff died

Happy Birthday Ruby !!!
My little furry treasure

Thank you for staying with me during the past few weeks when I have been unable to blog every day. It has been very difficult to get up to the craft room to work.

To bring you up to date with what has been happening to me and where I am up to now. As you know I have had problems with right knee and left hip.

I had X-ray on left hip and my doctors surgery told me there was nothing that they could find.

I also had scan on right knee. I went through a private scheme, that I have been with since I went out to work, and they sent me to see a consultant, who had the scan pictures there in front of him.

He took the time to explain to me exactly what was wrong with my knee and he told me that I had arthritis and that I had also damaged the cartilage.
(That's what you get when you climb on chairs)

When I told him about the hip he sent me straight away for another X-ray and then told me what he had found in that picture too.  That too has arthritis in it and is causing the pain when I walk.

He said that before diving in to surgery he wanted to try injecting steroids into the joint of my knee and see if that helped, and he did that straight away. That was well over a week ago and now that it has had time to settle down it does feel less painful. I still hurts to weight bear  when I stand still for any length of time but at least I can walk around better

If this is OK then when I go back to see  him again he will discuss the same procedure into the hip, but that is more invasive. Then if the injections don't work, we can discuss surgery.

At the moment I am feeling more cheerful and positive about the outcome.
I am having a "Perching Stool" delivered which, will allows you to sort of perch on the edge, to help with support while standing, and will be very helpful if I have pain in the knee. And with this I am hoping to get back to work and doing some videos again.

Fingers Crossed Everybody 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Thank you so much for all your support over what is proving to be a difficult time for me. But hopefully the changes I have made to the comments page will make a difference to the people who are leaving the rude comments.  If I say they are usually women looking for men that should give you some idea of what they are like and as I said they are not aimed at me personally.

 We will get through this challenge together, what with Pandemics and rude people, bad legs and hips !! But I have done the Friday Freebie for the next six weeks so some really beautiful box kits will be on offer. As I have said before it doesn’t matter if you have won in the past you can still enter each week and try again for whatever is on offer. 

I am happy to send the pack to you wherever in the world you are at my expense and all I want you to do is enjoy the prize that you have won.  

The draw for this week has been done and the name is ...

 Carmen Ciubotariu

Please would you send me your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com 

and your prize will be on its way to you

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Die Cutting Essentials Box Kit

Hi Everybody,

I have had to change the settings on my blog for comments and there is very little choice with Blogger. This is to stop the dirty comments that are being left and at the moment it seems to be working. I have had to make the comments accessible to people with Google Accounts.

As I said before these messages are not aimed at me personally but they are not very pleasant to read and so that was the only way I could do it. It may cause some inconvenience to some of you though and for that I am very sorry. If you know of another way I can stop the rude messages but allow genuine people to comment then please, please let me know.

For the next few weeks I am going to be giving away complete box kits that will consist of a magazine, beautiful papers to compliment your designs, stamps, dies and embossing folders.
 So the whole works in one box to help you make some lovely projects.

To start the ball rolling I have the Die Cutting Essential Box  and this was the Special Edition that was released. It is a lovely set to make cards for all occasions and the magazine will give you lots of ideas on how to use the items inside.

So if you think that you would like this box kit then all you have to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your FULL NAME.
 I say this nearly every week but still people are leaving comments with just their nick names and if that is the case then your entry will not be included.

Good Luck everybody 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

I am having a spate of very rude messages being left  in the comments section on the blog.
In fact they are dirty messages that are being left, sometimes thirty a day and they would be very offensive if someone was to read them. 

They are not aimed at me specifically and  the writer is “Anonymous “  so the only way to counteract this is to moderate every single comment that is left. Which means that your comments will not show up until I have read them. I know it is a pain but there is no need to add the same message three or four times

I will get round to reading them all and then they will show up for everybody to read.

I apologise if this affects you adversely but there is nothing else I can do. 

If anyone knows how to stop these messages please let me know as I am always afraid that I may miss one and it shows up on the comments section of a blog post. 

My deepest apologies to everyone should that happen and if you notice something amiss then please let me know immediately so that it can be removed. Thank you for your patience and help in solving this enormous and very offensive problem

In the meantime I have done the draw for the offering this week and the name today is ....

Karen Holmes 

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

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

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Friday Freebie - Butterfly Kisses

Hi Everybody,

I hope you are all still safe and enjoying card making.  

I know that a few MoJo's have gone walkabouts but i am sure that they will return soon and you will be raring to go again.

To help that process I am giving away this week a beautiful Embossing Folder, Stamp and Die Set called Butterfly Kisses ... and who doesn't like a pretty butterfly???

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

From those comments one name will be drawn as the winner so be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is listed.

I am happy to send the prize wherever you live and it doesn't matter if you have won before you an still enter again for this prize.

So what are you waiting for ... add your name

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx