My little corner of Blogland where I can share my creations with you. There are many video tutorials as well as links to good quality websites for all your crafting needs.
I hope you are having a good weekend and the weather is being kind to you. Once again the prize from last week has not been claimed and so it will be offered again at a later date.
But I ask you …. What is the point of adding your name if you don’t come back and check. You may have to scroll back through a few days if you are late coming back but at least you will see your name if you do. Still somebody else will gain later.
So this week the name has been chosen at random and the name this week is
Sue Pollock
Would you email me please with your postal address to
christina@card-making-magic.com
and I will get it in the post to you straight away and would be happy if you would let me know that you have it safely. I really hope you enjoy playing with it.
I know that many of you liked the Terrific Tulips that was on offer a while ago and so I have yet another one to offer you.
This comprises of a set of stamps and the matching dies to create some really pretty bouquets to add to your designs.
You will also get the magazine Die Cutting Essentials to go with them and this is full of ideas and inspiration that you may like to try for yourself.
So if you would like to have another crack at winning this gift 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 at random as the winner and it will be added to a blog post on Sunday. I have kept the post open for two days to give overseas readers the chance to enter.
But be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown as the winner as I have no way to contact you, and if the prize is not claimed then it will be offered again, at a later date for someone else to win.
For this card I have been using one of the Craft Your Life kits from Altenew that I have collected over the years.
It has been coloured in using the layered stencil and then added to an embossed background done with a 3-D folder. I used pale blue card and a leafy folder to get the look
One it was embossed I ran over the raised areas with white ink pad to bring them out even more and that panel has been layered onto some glitter card.
I used a wet glue for this, as sticking things to glitter card can sometimes cause problems, as it doesn't stick very well.
The flowers have been added with foam pads to give dimension and one single pearl placed in the centre of the flower.
I made an envelope from the Lidl paper to go with it and I am quite pleased with the result.
This lovely card was created using the plaid background and on this one I have added in some fine hand drawn lines in a slightly darker shade.
I think the end result is lovely and because it is for a baby girl I added in some flowers.
Mind you, you can always add flowers to a baby boys card as I have never heard a baby complain about flowers on a male card !!!!
I have added the oval to an embossed panel as I think that pattern in the background stops the card from looking too plain.
The oval itself has been added with foam pads to give some depth and you would need to make a box for this style of cards. But if you have the 5x7 Complete Card & Box Die Set then that would be no problem.
I enjoyed making the plaid backgrounds so much yesterday hat I thought I would continue the theme but make it softer and add it to some baby cards.
Always a pleasure to make and the softness of this one I really like.
The colours for this are Squeezed Lemonade and Broken China but of course once the blue and yellow mix it crates a lovely shade of green.
I used a really old die set for this and made the duck, bear and baby suit for the bottom of the card but I don't think they are available anymore. So if you have them well done.
I hope you enjoy the video and I hope you will give this really easy technique a try.
I am sure that you will be delighted and surprised with your own result.
I always like to get the most from any dies that I already have in my collections and with the special offer that was on Craft Stash of 50% off the Clever Cuts I thought that this was a good time to make my video as another way to use them.
So for this video I decided to show how I created the Plaid Background and I think it makes a real statement on the card.
For this one I have simply added a text stamp over the top of the ink blending for a really pretty look.
There are other designs in the video and you can play about with colours and the way you lay the stencils down and of course the way you choose to decorate the finished card.
I have chosen different shapes to cut my panels out and the flowers makes them all really special.
But with darker colours and no flowers they would make excellent masculine cards too.
I have added this to a playlist on YouTube to show you how I created some other backgrounds and they may inspire you to have a go for yourself.
Enjoy the video with your favourite cuppa and maybe a biscuit or three to go with it.
Another idea added recently using the same die set from the Clever Cuts Collection was this one and I hope you enjoy this as well.
It is much cooler here today but at least it is not raining. Ruby will get to go for her walk just as soon as I have done this post. I have also got a video to add tomorrow and that is using the Clever Cuts die that was offered at half price by Craft Stash. So this is a way to use it to produce a lovely background for your cards and I hope you will enjoy it.
But for now the winner of the Eucalyptus Dies has been chosen at random and the name today is ...
Maureen Wood
would you email me please with your postal address to:
christina@card-making-magic.com
and I will get it in the post to you straight away.
Don't forget that if you live a long way off from the UK where I am based, then you will need to give the post man time to get your parcel to you.
So here we are into the middle of April already and time is simply flying past. It doesn't seem like a week has gone past since Christmas.
This weeks offering is for this pretty leaf set with six different shapes and stamps to go with it.
The magazine will give you some ideas on how to get the most from the set, as well as other ideas to inspire you.
If you would like to have this set in your collection then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your FULL NAME. Not nicknames or initials but your full name please.
From those comments one will be drawn at random and the winner listed in a blog post over the weekend so be sure to come back and check.
I have no way to chase you up and you will have 72 hours in which to claim the prize then if it is not claimed it will be offered again at a later date.
There is also a special offer going on at Crafts Stash for the Deal Of The Day, saving you 50% on the Clever Cuts Collection, and next week I have a video coming up to show you yet another way to use the 6x6 Off set Background dies
It is taking me a little while to get back to normal after being ill but I have made some card and matching envelopes from my Lidl Paper and card packs and I am happy with the results.
These will go to restock my charity box, and when it is full again I will take it to the shop.
So this one is suing the turquoise card and paper. I covered the front Washi Tape to it before embossing it in my folder.
It is an A6 size and I used my flat fronted envelope die set to make it.
The flower is from the Altenew Craft A Flower Sulfer Cosmos and they are beautiful once made up. This die set is easy to layer as there are symbols on each numbered piece to help you.
To the centre of the flower I have added in some glue and then sprinkled it with gold glitter to make it shine.
My apologies for the absence this week but I have been really sick. The last thing I could have done was a blog post or faced making a card but I am glad to say that I now feel so much better. It has taken me a week to get over what ever it was and I hope it doesn't return in a hurry.
Fortunately I had the Friday Freebie scheduled well in advance and so that went ahead as planned and this morning I have done the draw for the winner of that Terrific Tulips pack of dies and stamps. So the name today is ....
Carmen Ciubotariu
would you email me your postal address please to christina@card-making-magic.com and I will get it in the post to you straight away.
Be sure to let me know that you have it safely and I hope you get lots of pleasure from using it.
If you wanted this die set and missed out on being the winner last time it was offered , then despair not as here is another chance to get his combination of dies and stamps in your hands.
It comes with the Die Cutting Essential magazine that is full of ideas for using this set as well as inspiration for other things you may like to try.
Always a good read so get your favourite tipple and spend some "Me" time as you browse the pages.
If this is one that you would like to have then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the blog post with your FULL NAME to be in with the chance of winning.
The last one was claimed successfully, and if you don't win this time I have still more of this set to give away over the next few weeks.
Be sure to come back and check if your name is listed as the winner and this draw is open until Sunday, when the winner will be announced.
Todays card has again used older dies to create this really pretty look and the finished card is a 5x7", but flat enough to fit into a standard envelope.
It is a technique I watched Ann Melvin do on her YouTube Channel but she used stamps. I have used my own collection of dies and papers.
This is the Decoupage Delight Trellis 5x7" Die. I have also used the Butterfly Trails Paper Pack and I needed two matching sheets.
They are both cut to the exact same size using the same area of the pattern and the top sheet has been cut with the middle Trellis die.
I have cut my foam sheet into thin strips and laid it all along the wrong side of the trellis and then married it up to other piece of the paper.
This raises it up and once added to the other sheet it leaves a beautiful effect of a shadow on the paper underneath.
This photo shows you what it looks like from the side with the addition of the foam.
It is an easy look to achieve and the results look so good, and I will certainly be trying this again in the future.
It is always good to get more use from older dies after all they cost you money and they are sitting in your personal stash just waiting to be used again to make many more beautiful designs.
Todays post is only a short one, because since Thursday afternoon I have not been well. I don't know what is wrong with me but I have been really sick all night. I have not eaten since Thursday and I feel really bad. I am aching everywhere and it is not a nice feeling.
I have got the draw done for the beautiful Butterfly and Florals set and the name today is
Benedict Hjalting
would you email your postal address please to christina@card-making-magic.com and I will get it in the post to you straight away. Be sure to let me know that you have it safely and I hope you enjoy playing with it.
I am sad to say the Lovely Lavender Kit from two weeks ago has not been claimed and that is so sad as I know that many of you would have liked that kit.
I will offer it again at a later date so you can have another chance to win it.
I have a blog post scheduled for tomorrow and I am hoping that by Tuesdy I will be feeling much better.
Another sign the spring is around the corner are butterflies. I have a shrub in my garden commonly called a Butterfly Bush and it gets full of them.
This die and stamp set are really pretty and there is a lovely text stamp that can add such detail to your designs.
The butterfly is quite large too and will make a real statement to the font of a card and then of course there is the magazine that is full of ideas and inspiration for this and other projects that you may like to try.
If this is something that you would like to have then leave me a comment at the end of the post, but you must leave your FULL NAME
It is far easier to identify the winner with a full name so please comply. No name ... no win !!
I am happy to send you the package wherever you live so go ahead and leave your comment.
Today I have made a card using a really pretty embossing folder and I have inked over the background once it is embossed.
That highlights the design but keeps the raised areas in the original card colour which in this case was pink.
I cut the middle from this layer and added in an extra white one to create the framed portion. I also used a white oval that was lying on my desk.
The words sentiment is from a really old Tonic die and I think the flowers are from Altenew ... but I am not sure.
Once they have been made I have added some of Sam Calcott's Accent Glaze to the top and that has made the flower shiny, with an enamelled look to it. This is a useful product to have in your crafty stash as it can add a beautiful look to any of your projects.
Highlight the flowers as I have done here or just certain areas of them, such as a nose or eyes on your images. Maybe accent a heart or stars on your creations to give them another look.
This finished card is a 5x7 and it looks much prettier in the hand.
Today I have a sneaky peak of a new collection that is coming in May, and it features beautiful butterflies that can be used in a number of different ways.
I have been busy making samples for the launch and I will be doing videos to accompany it as well. So I hope they will inspire you when they are released.
These can be added to any sized card you are making and I will show you much more when we get nearer to the launch.
For this card I have used some of the bargain papers and card from Lidl that I told you about earlier this week.
The word is gold mirror card from my stash as is the diamante flourish for the butterfly trial.
Be sure to look out for this collection when it is released at the beginning of May
If you have been with me for some time then you will know how much I like to fill a charity box up with my cards, and take it to the shop for my chosen charity to sell them.
Last week I took them 200 cards, and I always have each card with an envelope and I put them into a cellophane bag to keep them clean.
From the look on the managers face I know she appreciates my efforts and this is my way of supporting them as they sell them for whatever price they want.
So my bargain find was in Lidl as I was doing some shopping, and there tucked away at the back of a shelf was this fabulous card and paper.
The colours in both packs match and it is really good quality. Not cheap and glossy which I hate.
The card is 270gsm and has 25 sheets in it, and from each sheet I can make two cards.
The paper pack is 135gsm and and there are 50 sheets, two of each colour, making me two envelopes, to go with the cards.
It was inexpensive too so I bought two packs of each and took my lucky find home.
I got busy and made some cards, and then I thought I would film it, to share with you my find, and then hopefully if you wanted some too you would find it in your nearest Lidl.
The video is not long but I share with you the dies I have used from other sets to decorate my designs.
The main one is the A6 Flat Fronted Envelope Die that is part of the A6 Collection introduced last month
Now I can make lots of cards with envelopes to match, and I could always make plain white envelopes for everyday use from a 100gsm copier paper. Another idea would be to add a wax seal to the back of each envelope made from another die set that is from Pretty Book collection.
What a beautiful day and the sun is shining, so as soon as this post is done I am taking Ruby out for a walk. It has forecast some rain for later so might as well take advantage now when its still sunny. It's a pity Ella can't come too but I may just have to get her used to being in a harness and then she can. Strange sight seeing a cat being walked .
In the meantime the draw has been done for that wonderful Lavender kit that is on offer. There are 138 elements on offer in this kit from Papers to toppers and you even get the foam pads inside as well.
Inside the magazine pages you will find hints and tips to help you get the most from the kit and for making other cards too. So as soon as you get the kit you will be able to start on your cardmaking adventure.
The name of the winner this week is ...
Kathy Butler
so would you email me your postal address please to christina@card-making-magic.com and I will get it in the post to your straight away.
Please let me know that you have it safely. This is the only one I have so should it get lost in the post we are both snookered !!!
Special Offer
And over on Craft Stash for today only there is a special offer of three for the price of two on my beautiful collections.
Now is the time to pick your favourites and grab a bargain at the same time
This weeks offering is an absolute bumper gift and it comprises of the magazine which is full of ideas, and a fabulous card kit that has everything you need to make some cards.
There are foiled toppers, papers, die cuts, foam pads and there is even some twine in the pack as decoration.
It makes a beautiful starter kit for those new to card making, as everything you need is there. Just add your card base and a bit of glue and away you go.
If this is something that you would like then all you need to do is leave me a comment. Or maybe you know of a friend, who is starting out with cards, that you would like to gift this too.
The usual drill applies ... leave me your comment with your FULL NAME to be in with the chance and then be sure to come back and see if you are the winner.
This pretty card is one that I created for a neighbour and I filmed the whole process .... and then stupidly erased it from my camera before downloading it to be edited.
I could have kicked my self when I realised what I had done but of course it was far too late as there was no way I could get it back.
Or so I thought ...
Until today when I searched my computer, and lo and behold there it was.
I was so pleased about that and now that it is edited I am adding it to the blog pages and I hope you enjoy it.
And when it is her birthday I hope that my neighbour will like her card too.
This is another special offer at Craft Stash exclusive to VIP members and this is one of my favourite embossing folders.
This is a folder that I use a lot as it makes beautiful backgrounds for any of my designs. It is the Perfect Roses Bundle and on the VIP page at Craft Stash I have added an video using this die set that will be available soon.
Cards always look so much better to me if they have some sort of texture to the back ground and embossing folders are perfect for that.
This card has got Kitchen Paper Roll that has been embossed in the folder to give a unique kind of look and I add the video to show you how I did that technique.
You can do a lot more to enhance this pattern but here I have simply left it plain to show off the flower, which is made from felt.
As a VIP member you will get 10% off any order that you make but you will need to join as a VIP first.
Then when you sign back in and make your orders the deduction will be there.
That is just one of the perks you will get and you can make the joining fee, of £9.99 for the year, back in your first purchase.
This technique was something that I tried years ago and I really liked the end result. You need Yupo paper, which is a synthetic paper that does not tear of pill, and some alcohol inks.
For this card I cut the Yupo paper with dies and added the flowers and leaves to a splattered background. It looks so pretty and although the Yupo doesn't tear it can be cut very easily with the dies.
From the paper I made lots of flowers and this is just one of the cards that came from that session.
I added a video to YouTube about this easy, but messy, technique and here it is in case you wanted to give it a try .....
I will be using this techniques again to see what other ideas I come up with and I hope you like the end result.
So the second of the Tulips set has now been claimed, but do not despair as I have yet one more set to give away in the next couple of weeks. If this is really a set that you would like to have then keep a look out for it and add your comment to that post when it appears.
But for now this pack of dies and stamps is going to
Heatheranne Whitman
would you email your postal address please to christina@card-making-magic.com and I will get it in the post to you straight away.
I would be obliged if you could ley me know that you have it safely please and I hope you enjoy playing with it when it arrives.
This is another older dies set and the video that goes with it but I don't think it does any harm to re visit some of our older creations to refresh the mind of what we did.
And so today I am sharing this card with you from five years ago when this die set first came onto the market.
You may have bought some of this and not used it for a while and so this could be a timely reminder now that spring is on the way.
Most of this set will have all gone by now but you may have bought some of it and if you did then it is time to get it out again !!!
At the end of the video I also make the box to put the card in and this then makes a lovely gift for you to give to someone.
Today I thought I would share an older video, that is now five years old, but the dies and the ideas in them are timeless. In this I have used Transfer Gel
And this was me playing with hot foil years ago and sadly I am no better at it now. The principal behind this video was to get five cards into one box.
The dies are from the original Christina Collection and these are the sets that started the whole thing off.
And don't forget that ALL Card Making Magic Collections are designed to work together ... old and new !!
The Layered Flowers has become one of my favourite sets to use and I have used it on lots of different sized card and boxes for all occasions.
I have enjoyed looking at these older dies and videos as it is always good to remember what we have and to dig them out again and re use them.
And that applies to any crafting goodies that we have bought in the past that now languishes in a drawer somewhere.
Staying with the new collection I have made lots of cards using more masculine colours, and not a flower in sight.
But although they are for the men in your life they still don't need to be boring and so I have dressed my cards with leaves and sentiments.
You want the recipient to enjoy the card they get and to feel that you have still made some effort to hand make something really special just for them.
You will know what their favourite colours are and don't forget that some men do like flowers on their cards
In the video I have ended up making ten cards and I hope you will like them, and enjoy the video.
I have used all the elements in the collection to create my cards, but please remember there are many more different combinations that you can use with these die sets, and never get bored with the cards that you make.
Some ideas would be shaker cards, split cards, arrow cards and twisted cards to name but a few.
And there are lots of different parts to each die set to help you be creative using them.
This card uses the smaller dies from the Square set in a different way to give an unusual look to your cards.
The vidoe will show you how I created this centrepiece for my design and it is easy to do.
Try this with any dies that you may have in your collection and see what you can come up with.
The flowers is also handmade but I have not covered that in the video. It is done from Flower Forming Foam and the result is quite a large bloom for my card.
This Poinsettia is also made from foam and this time I have inlaid the die to cut the pattern into the card
I really hope you are enjoying these videos, and if you bought the dies, or any part of this collection, then I hope you have had your imagination working to create your own individual makes.
It is a beautiful day here today and the snow didn't last for long. It never does really in Blackpool I suppose it is because of the sea air. So later on Ruby and I will be going for a walk to the park so she can have a good sniff in the sunshine.
The draw has now been done randomly, for the Bee die and stamps set and the name today is ...
Barbara Youngs
could you send your postal address please 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 it hasn't got lost in the post and I hope you will enjoy playing with it when it arrives with you.
This pack contains some stamps and a circular die that will cut out an aperture and another die to fill it with a beautiful design for your cards.
The magazine is Die Cutting Essentials and it is full of ideas and inspiration for you to try. Grab a cuppa and simply relax for a while as you browse the pages.
You could really have some fun playing with this set and so if you would like this one then all you need to do is leave me a comment with your
FULL NAME
I am happy so send the package to you wherever you live an it doesn't matter if you have won before.
Just add your comment and one will be chosen at random and added to a blog post over he weekend so be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown
