Commissioned Art Work

Hi Everybody,

I haven't shown any of my paintings with Acrylic Pouring  for a while, but this is the latest one I have done.

This one is a very big canvas, about 3 foot  square.

I was asked by my neighbour to create a picture in red, black, white with silver leaf  to match the décor in their lounge and that is white I have done.

The pieces in it that look like a brighter white are actually silver leaf and it looks wonderful in the sunshine.

The place where it will be hung is all ready and waiting for it and once I have finished the edges neatly I will take it to my neighbour.

They liked the one that I did shown here on the left.

That one was for my daughter last year and  she wanted Lilac, white and Green with gold leaf and that is what I did for her. 

It has taken me some time to do the new painting though, because of the problems I have had with knees and then my operation.

But I have promised that it will be ready for them by the weekend.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Half Teardrop Card

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is using the Half Teardrop Die Set to show you another way to use this set, and this is a Gatefold card

On the way is the Vase that I am creating from the same set  and at present I am waiting for the Plaster Of Paris to set.

But this card is so easy to make and I have layered several of the die cuts to add interest to the design

I have decorated the inside of the card with the Trellis to compliment the front and added a stamped greeting in there too.

The flowers are from the same set and I again have layered them up and scattered the ;eaves underneath each one.

It is created with two shades of pink and a pale lemon that go really well with the white

The Belly Band holds everything closed and is created from the long border die in the set.

The flowers can be spiked up after they have been layered and you could always add more decoration to the card with adhesive pearls if you wished.

I have added one flower to the Belly Band and the other three to the bottom of the card.

That way the Belly Band can be slid off to the top of the card so reveal the inside.

 

Change the colour scheme to suit your recipient and dress it even more for a wedding card

And you could always add in a card stand and a box to make it even more special.

When you discover the delights of die cutting the world is your oyster so they say 

More tomorrow …

Hugs xx

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Sorry for my lateness with the winner but it’s just been a busy weekend.
 At long last I am here with the name of the winner for the beautiful Dragonfly Stamp and die set that was on offer last Friday.

The winner this week is ...

Thelma Welch

so if you could email me your postal address please to 
christina@card-making-magic.com
I will get it into the post for you as soon as I can and I hope you will enjoy playing with your win once you get it.

Please let me know when it arrives with you.

Now you may have noticed that I have removed the button form the left side bar that says
 "Follow by Email"
and that is because this service has been removed by Google as from this year. 
You can still follow me on Facebook but the notifications of new pages that are added will cease to drop into your inbox from Google.
The only other alternative is just to come to the blog daily and see what is happening.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Friday Freebie - Dragonfly Dreams

Hi Everybody,

Todays offering is a beautiful Dragonfly stamp and matching die. and that comes with the excellent Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine for you to read.

There is also a video to accompany this

 Dragonfly Dreams

that will show you several ways in which I have used this little decorative set.

Now if you would like this to join your own collections then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post.

From those comments one will be chosen as the winner and the name announced in a blog post over the weekend so be sure to come and see if it is your name that is shown.

You will have 72 hours in which to claim the set, and then it is removed and offered again at a later date.

You can enter wherever you live and even if you have won before. So what are you waiting for ???

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Trial and error

Hi Everybody,

Here is another card where I have tried out the layout before sticking everything in place. This card can be used in either Portrait or Landscape depending on your mood .

It was ordered by the same lady who bought the other one  I shoed you earlier this week  … so I must be doing something right as she seems to like my designs..

The colour scheme is pale lemon and lilac and this is one that I really think is very feminine.

Now in the background this week I have been making up the vase that I promised you using the Half Teardrop die set that has just been released.

The process needs to dry and it is all the time needed that slows things up. But the video will be with you  just as soon as one step is dry and I can move onto the next..

Apart from the die set you will need some Plaster Of Paris Bandage Wrap , some really cheap glue to mix with water and some form of tissue,  magazines OR newspaper to cut up into strips.

All will become clear once the video is posted so please be patient as I wait for things to dry at each stage. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Old Images

Hi Everybody,

So over the weekend I have been doing some spring cleaning of my computer  and I found lots of old images that I bought or downloaded for free years ago … and I mean absolute years ago. 

I used them at the time of purchase and then, as you do with everything, I forgot all about them.

But is this not something that we are all guilty of doing and then when you have a clean up it comes as a nice  surprise to find things again.

This first one is called Bath tub and I bought this image, and many many others, from the wonderful childrens author and illustrator Maurie Manning 

Her images are delightful and available from the website ...  Mo's Digital Pencil  and of course once you have them they are yours forever. And should you forget about them over the years,  then it will be a lovely surprise for you to when you rediscover them on your PC.

This second image is called Tug Of War and this was a freebie from Kenny K again many years ago.  

His website has developed so much that I don't know if he still does digital images, and many of them are now under license. 

So just in case I am breaking some rule that I am not aware of I will not add any more KennK images to my pages.

The words on both of these cards are from different sets from Card Making Magic and I have mixed and matched them to suit the designs.

Both images have been coloured with Arteza Coloured Pencils 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card Layout

Hi Everybody,

So this is a card layout that I was trying before going ahead and making it completely.

I had tried the flowers in various positions to see how I liked them and this is something I always advise you to do before gluing.

A dry run will save you any remorse if you don't like the look because you can always move things around  until you are happy and then glue them in place 

This was a card I was asked to make for a special occasion and the buyer was very happy with it.

It also had a matching box to go with it and I wrapped the finished card in pink tissue paper before adding  it to the box.

I usually add any of my embellishments with a hot glue gun, which makes it even more important to try the look out first.

Because once they are fixed with hot glue there's not much chance of moving them again without causing damage to the rest of the card

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spikey Flowers & Stencils

 Hi Everybody,

Todays card is created suing the new Spikey Flowers stamp and die set and I have teamed this with texture paste and a stencilled background.

I though I would try something a little different by combining the texture paste with some Gilding wax and I am happy to say that the technique turned out ok. 

The flowers can be done in two sizes if you wished but I have simply made one large one for the front of my card.

The effect is lovely and once it is completed you cannot see the mistake I caused by smudging the texture paste. So I hope you will give this a try and experiment with mixing other things into your texture paste for a different kind of look to your designs.

More tomorrow …

Hugs xx

Winner

 Hi Everybody,                   

Having got all my chores done for the morning I was settling down to do the draw for yesterdays Freebie Offering

But just as I got started I got the "Guilt Trip" from Ruby.

Now the guilt trip consists of her looking at me from a distance, non stop, and if that doesn't elicit the necessary response she wants then she will jump onto the sofa and put her paws onto my chest and look me straight in the eye.

The look says "Get your shoes on Mum and take me out" …  So what can I do but take her out for a walk. We set off to walk down the promenade and it started to rain and then there is another look that says

"Are you mad bringing me out in this ?????

By the time we got home again both of us are wet and once she is dried off with her towel I put her Ruff & Tumble jacket on and then she settles down for a sleep. 

She is now snoring in her bed at the side of my desk and I have peace to carry on with the draw

Ever onward and upward … the draw has been done and the name today is 

Elly Booij

Would you email me please with your postal address and the pack will be in the post to you straight away. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Hydrangea Set

Hi Everybody,

This pretty flower can grace any of your projects and you can colour it any way you wish.

I love Hydrangeas and I have them in tubs on either side of my front door. They are now starting to form Lace cap flowers on them and I an few weeks they will be in full bloom.

The video The Hydrangea Set  will give you an idea using the stencil in the pack and there are stamps and a little embossing folder in there too.

So if this is a combination 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 will be chosen as the winner and named over the weekend, so be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown in the Blog Post.

It doesn't matter if you have won before or where you live I am happy to send the pack to you anywhere but I would be pleased if you are the winner that you could let me know you have it safely.

It is a lovely set and I don't think that you will be disappointed with it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Designer Card Front - Inverted Triangle

 Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is created with one of the new Designer Card Front Sets from Card Making Magic..

This whole collection is such a versatile set to have to create all kinds of projects and there is a beautiful paper pack that can be used with it.

For this card I have used the Inverted Triangle in the Landscape view and added in the flowers from the set too.

I love the flowers that are in the set, they make the prettiest spiky petals that you can layer to be as thick and fluffy as you would like.

I have added a small yellow gemstone to the centre of each flower and arranged the leaves around them. The verse is also from the new collection and there are many to suit all occasions .

I have used two shades of blue and Neenah Classic Desert Storm card to create the layers for a more masculine colour scheme although the flowers do soften the look for the ladies.

I have used the long border die from the set to finish the back off neatly so this card looks good from any angle

Take a look at the new collection there is sure to be something in there that please you.

And if you were lucky enough to win the whole bundle at Fridays Birthday Launch with Craft Stash then you are very lucky indeed.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Designer Card Front - Half Scallop

 Hi Everybody,

If you watched  last Fridays 6th Birthday Party for Craft Stash then you would have seen this video from me where I made this lovely Gatefold Card.

And if you missed it then here is the video for you to see.

For this card I have added in the card stand so that the finished result can be displayed by your recipient and both card and stand will fit neatly into the box.

It makes a very impressive card and one that is sure to be appreciated and saved for a long time and it is not difficult to make.

So why not give this a try and see what you can create. Change the colours to suit the occasion you are sending it for and as lots of people have suggested it would make a beautiful Wedding Card.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Thank you if you managed to join us on Friday for the 6th Birthday Celebration with Craft Stash. It’s amazing how quickly those years have gone by and I have been with them right from the start. It’s been a wonderful journey and I hope to be with them for many more birthdays yet.

There was a lot of brilliant prizes won during the show so if you won then congratulations to,you. I am sure you are going to enjoy your prizes.

So the draw has been done for the offering that I had on my blog on Friday for the Time for Tea set and the name picked at random is 

Sharon Casey

Would you please email me your postal address to

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the prize will be on its way to you. Be sure to let me know that you receive it safely and I really hope  you enjoy playing with it.

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Time for Tea

Hi Everybody,

This weeks offering is a really cute stamps and die set that would make you some really lovely cards or even invitations for afternoon tea.

There is a video to accompany this set that you may find interesting and help you see if you would like this to join your collection at home.

Time For Tea  

 If you would like this then all you have 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 at random and announced in a blog post over the weekend so be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown.

Now I hope you will join me tomorrow on Craft Stash Facebook Live as I show you some of the new dies that are in the latest collection. I have a little demo to show you also, and Pauline Hickey will be with Lou Collins and myself at 12.30 See you then

Friday 7th May @ 12.30 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

The New Circular Box

 

Hi Everybody,

One of the die sets in the new collection is the Circular Box and the end result is beautiful.

No more measuring and no more worrying that it will all fit together as you want it too, to suit your recipient

Just die and cut and stick and then decorate to your hearts content to suit your recipient.

For my box I have used the flowers in the dies for a truly feminine look but you can also create a more masculine feel by using the Tapis Builder Die Set that I showed you the other day.

The flowers are full and easy to make and in the video I show you how to get this look for your own designs. You could stop at the bud stage and add these to your display as well.

Enjoy the video and your box making as well .

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tapis Builder Die Set

 Hi Everybody,

Today I am using the new Tapis Builder Die Set to create this circular card and it is very effective in black with the turquoise.

I think this is such an unusual design and why don't you try adding the shapes back to your creations in a different format for effect.

I will do a video in the next few days showing what I mean and how you can make this look nothing like the one shown here. 

 

Once again I have teamed this up with the gorgeous Tall Flowers and I quite like the result. It would be suitable as a male card despite the fact that there are flowers on it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

More Tall Flowers

 Hi Everybody,

I have really enjoyed playing with these new dies and matching stamps and the Tall Flowers is a joy to experiment with.

You can change the theme of your design simply by how you use the stamps and dies. For this card I have cut the flowers in spare card and then embossed them all with gold embossing powder. 

The background is an old stamp that I have added gold glitter to in sections and the sentiment is from the new collection.

For this one I have cut the flowers in black card and then stamped the images with Versamark and embossed them in gold powder

I have partially dry embossed the panel under the flowers for interest, and dotted gold hearts and black pearls around them 

The sentiment is again from the Verses set.  

The flowers on both cards have been raised with foam pads.

And last but not least another cute character is surrounded this time by the daisies.

The words are from the new Mindful Words Die Set and will compliment all the other word sets in the Card Making Magic collections.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Grumpy Lady

Hi Everybody,

What a fabulous card to send to a friend ... but one that has been chosen carefully so as not to offend.

I have used the Tall Flowers Stamps & Die Set to add some interest around her and the sentiment stamp is from the verses set 

The image is from the CD that I have had for years called The Next Big Thing and I wouldn't part with it for the world.

It is by La Pashe and is called Just Inklined but I don't think the CD is available anymore.  

They have their own blog which may be worth a look at and they have freebie stamps for you to try also 

There are lots of characters on the CD just like this, both male and female, and they are absolutely brilliant for water colours or pencils. A good alternative choice would be the Wrinklies and the characters on that are of a similar vein and make me laugh at some of their expressions. 

Should you find this for sale in Thrift shops or online then the CD you are looking for is the one with the dog on the front.

I found one on eBay for £2.99 which is a steal and well worth every penny. I think I paid £10 for mine years ago.

The images on there cover everything you could possibly think of, and although CD crafting has gone way out of fashion jut now this is a CD OI go back to time and time again.

Moe tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tall Flowers Stamps & Dies

Hi Everybody,

Did you manage to watch the new dies being shown on The Craft Store (Formerly Hochanda)  today and demoed by Pauline Hickey.  

One of my favourite parts to this new collection is the tall flowers and the matching stamps. 

There is so much that can be done with this set from backgrounds to cards for any occasion.

To show you the versatility I have several cards styles to show you and I hope you will like them. 

This one has a gold foiled background to it and the poppies grouped with other flowers from the set.

This one is a shaker style with an embossed panel and a display of flowers arranged around the window.

I rounded off the corners to this card and used Tonic Nuvo drops dotted around the sides

The banner is stamped from one of the stamps in the collection and added with foam pads 

There is no end of things to create with your imagination fired up, and lots of sentiments in the stamp sets to suit what it is you want to say.

This cute little Teddy Bear I have water coloured from a stamp that I have had for a long, long time.

And every so often he sees the light of day again. 

This time I have added a bouquet of the daisies to his hand and scattered other flowers from the collection around his feet

I think he is adorable and if you added an age and a Birthday Greeting he would be perfect for a child's special day.

I will be adding more cards  and videos to showcase this new collection  and Pauline and I will be on Facebook Live this coming Friday at 12.30

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Another weekend is here and I hope you all enjoy this Bank Holiday one for MayDay. It’s sunny here at present but wether it stays that way remains to be seen.  But even though the sun is shining I am frozen and have just put my heating back on to warm me and the house back up.

Ruby is going out today with  Griffs youngest daughter and her husband to day and their dog Wilbur, who it a pug. She enjoys going out with them and they walk her much further than I can at present. 

The draw for yesterday’s offering has been done and the name this week is 

Sandra Keighley

Would you email me please with your plastic address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com 

and the pack will be in the post to you just as soon as I can get to the post office. Please let me know when you have it safely and I hope you will enjoy playing with it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday freebie - Hunkydory Bauble

Hi Everybody,

This really pretty die and stamp set is the offering this week and this will give you a lovely bauble to decorate your projects.

There is no video to go with this set but the magazine will give you lots of ideas on how to use your new gift and I am sure you will be able to come up with many more.

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

Over the weekend the winner will be announced in a blog post so be sure to come back and see if your name is the one shown. You will have 72 hours in which to claim it and I am happy to send it to you where ever you are.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Winners

 Hi Everybody,

What a beautiful day it is here in the North West, lots of sunshine. My knee is responding really well to the antibiotics and I feel like I could walk a long way. I have also stopped using the elbow crutches and that is a relief too. I am really pleased with the way it is all going and to celebrate I will take Ruby for a little walk down the promenade.  It is not far from my house to the sea front and it is a lovely bracing walk, for both of us.

In the meantime I have done the draw for yesterday’s offering. I am surprised at how many people like to make Christmas cards well in advance of the occasion. I am always on  the last minute with cards and shopping. It catches me out every year. And every year I say it will be different.... but it never is.

So the name this week is 

Jane McGill

Would you email me your postal address please to 

christina@card-making-magic.com 

and the gift will be on its way to you just as soon as I can. I really hope you will enjoy playing with it and please let me know that you have it safely.

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Christmas Scene

Hi Everybody,

The theme this week is still with Christmas and this offering was with Die-cutting Essentials.

There is a lot of inspiration inside the magazine to show you how to build this die up and it will give you some lovely cards 

So if you win this then it will be time to grab a cuppa and have a little browse through the pages as you relax for a while

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

From those names one will be chosen as the winner of this super die set,  so you will need to come back and check if it is your name that is shown.

Good Luck

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Birthday Card

Hi Everybody,

This Birthday Card is for no particular person it's just one I made ... in case !!

I have water coloured the background and then used the Nesting Ovals to cut the shape.

It has been added to a stamped and embossed panel and surrounded with glittered flowers. The butterfly has been added to the corner and this has a top layer of parchment

The leaves are an assortment of dies that have been cut in green and added to the floral display.

The sequins are dotted about and they are iridescent to take on the colour of the card behind them.

Quite a pretty card and is now waiting for a recipient to send to 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Thanks ...

Hi Everybody,

This week I have had to visit the doctor again because it I have an infection in my surgery wound. 

Don't ask me how this has happened coz I have no idea all I know is that it is very hot, red and painful

I have started on antibiotics to see if that helps and fingers crossed everything will be ok in a week or so.

So this card is to say thank you for all your kind wishes and lovely messages and the many cards that you have sent to me.

The card shown has been created with the 5x7 Card and Box die set and I have used a really old stamp from Indigo Blu stamped onto a white panel. 

I have then embossed it in CMM flourish folder and added it to the card front. The "Thanks" die is another older one from Spellbinders.

The roses are from the Layered Roses Die Set and the leaves are a mixture from several sets to add variation. I have added some sequins dotted around the card for sparkle.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Commissioned Card

Hi Everybody,

This is a card I was asked to create for a Birthday earlier in March . The brief was flowers, ribbons and pearls in red complete with matching box.

Swap out the pearls for Diamante and there is the finished request.

I am happy to say that both the buyer and the  recipient loved it and that of course makes me happy too. 

I lined the inside of the card to match and wrapped it all in red tissue paper before placing it in the box.

This is the type of card I enjoy making in any colour really but I have to admit to being a pink girl with lots of flowers and "Bling"

For this card I used my A5 complete card and box die set along with the Rectangles Perfect Panels
The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and are a mixture of mulberry flowers and leaves

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx