Altered Art ...

Hi Everybody,

A few years ago now I did a tutorial on how to alter a cheap notebook and make it some thing special

With Christmas on the way this is another project that would make a pretty gift

It and can be filled with all sorts of stuff by the recipient ... address book, To Do lists etc.

The example shows a notebook altered with Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms  and the video tutorial will show you the steps

I have added in some flourishes from Want2Scrap and some toning ribbon

But if you prefer to work without dies then  click this link  ... Altered Notebook  ... and have a go

It's not hard to do and you will have some lovely results with any pretty papers that you may have in your one personal "Stash"

But choose the booklet carefully as it needs to be the right kind of spiral along the spine for you to open up and be able to remove the covers

Don't forget to add your name to the  Give Away  for this month and be in with a chance to win some wonderful new Spellbinders

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

November "Give Away"

Hi Everybody,


What with one thing an another I have been so busy and unable to do a "Give Away"

But today we are going to rectify that problem and seeing as how Christmas is looming then I thought that some lovely seasonal dies would be appropriate and I have  THREE  sets to "Give Away"

So in this little collection I am giving you ... with the full approval of Spellbinders ...  three die sets.

All of these dies were demonstrated by me on the Holiday shows on Create and Craft back in August.

Included is the Heirloom Ornament which is featured on this card and is such a versatile  die that it can be used in many ways ... and not just for Christmas

I am also adding in Holiday Greetings which is more of a Snowflake set then actual words.  But this can be used in layers or as it is with the individual dies

And last but not least there is the large Snowflakes View  which I used in lots of ways in the demos.

Altered Art ...

Hi Everybody,

As we all know Christmas is on the way and if you are like me then you will be buying the little lovelies in a round tub.

I am sure that you all know what I mean and I find I develop a real addiction to Pringles every year.

So what do you do with the tubes when you have eaten them all ???? Throw them away ???

Oh not this year ... keep them and decorate them as storage for lots of different items.






The video tutorial is easy to follow and you will love these once they are completed ... after you have enjoyed the contents of course !!!

I have added Wild Orchid Flowers   to mine  along with some glitter to make them sparkle.

And all the pearl flourishes are from Want2Srap   You can use any Spellbinders that you have in your crafting "Stash"  just have some fun as you make these for your self and your friends

More tomorrow ...

Hugxx

Back Home ....

Hi Everybody,

Thank you for all your lovely comments to wish me well on my travels and now here I am back at home after the most wonderful trip to Spellbinders Ambassadors Retreat in Phoenix  and spending time with some amazing women.

We travelled to Phoenix airport on Sunday morning at 8.30 am and I arrived home at 10.30 am this morning after the overnight flight.  I don't know about you but I cannot sleep on an airplane and so now I am very tired.... but determined to stay awake until later tonight to try and get my body clock back to UK times

I will share some of the photos with you here but first of all lets deal with the Friday Freebie and the name that has been drawn is you ....

Jan Moss

If you would email me please 

christina@card-making-magic.com

I will get the card sent to you straight away.  Thank you all for your patience with this draw but we should soon be back to normal 

So on to the trip ...

Stacey greeted us all warmly and she has put an incredible amount of work to make  the  Retreat really special and we have been treated like royalty

We had workshops with both Stacey and Kim and made some really neat projects and lots of laughing in the process too

 

These two projects are using products from the new A Gilded Life range and this was such fun to work with

And of course I have brought some of the Bezels on the right of the picture back with me and will be using them on some cards as well as stand alone pieces of jewellery.

Both are much prettier than they look on the photo

This was a journal I made  and it has about 12 pages inside to record the interesting things that we learned

And again one of the Bezels has been used on the front of the book along with some ribbon and lace

Stacey did a  class with a mixed media canvas which is an area that was new to me but it is one that I will be trying again

And although it was messing about with paint it is yet another way to use your dies.

One of the things we did was take a day trip out to the beautiful red rock mountains in Sedona.

A magical and spiritual place.

It was a really warm day and we had lunch in fabulous lodge overlooking the most spectacular landscape

Then on the way back we stopped off to visit the art work and sculptures in another magical  red rock  place

We all had a try at pronouncing the name of this place ... can you ?

Inside this village there was a Pandora shop and I bought myself a little charm called Arizona Sunshine

I added it to my silver bracelet and now I have permanent reminder of my trip to Phoenix which is in Arizona

Of course no trip could go without a visit to the craft shop and this was the Spellbinders display in the Joanne's shop in Phoenix.

The stand was full and all with the new look packaging and very smart it looks too

There are lots of wonderful collections coming up and Spellbinders and Stacey are working hard in the background to bring you the very best.

The Victorian Collection  ... which was designed by Stacey  ...was just a taster of the wonderful things to come

Stay with me on this new journey with Spellbinders working with new designs ... new ideas ... and new ways to work those die templates.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie 033

Hi Everybody,

Todays card in the Friday Freebie range is one using the Striplet dies from Sue Wilson.

I got my set from JGD Crafts  and there are many of Sues' dies for you to choose from

I have teamed the teal color with white and a touch of yellow for effect.

The beautiful flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and into them I have added one of my   pearl sprays   (video tutorial)

The ribbon is from Mei Flower  and I have tied it in a double bow.

The sentiment is from Crafters Companion    Sentimental range

So if you would like to win this card then all you have to do is become a follower and then leave me a comment

From the comments  a name will be drawn from the hat and the winner will be notified in tomorrows post.

Then you have to send me your postal address and I will send the card to you wherever you live

More tomorrow ...  

Hugs xx