How To Separate Your New Dies

Hi Everybody,

I have had several emails from people who may be new to card making and using dies, and they don't know how to get the joined dies in the new die and stamp sets apart.

And as it is always better to show you than to tell you and I have made a short video that will do just that.

Many dies these days are "Bridged" to unable the manufacturers to get more from the metal they use.  And so here is the video to show you how I do it

I hope you find it useful and you may have to buy some small snips, but it is better than ruining a good pair of scissors in the process, as the metal is probably too hard for scissors to cut through .

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card & Gift Winner

Hi Everybody,

Late start for me to today as Ruby and I didn't get up till 10 am and then we had leisurely toast and marmalade for breakfast. Now she has gone back to sleep and I am here typing with her at my feet. 

But later she is going for a walk with Dougal and Vickie ... so she is just gathering her energy for a good run around the park.

The draw has been done for yesterday Make A Splash gift and the name is ....

Elaine Prendergast

would you email me your postal address please to

christina@card-making-magic.com

and they will be on their way to you straight away.

Tomorrow I am adding an information video to show you how to separate your new dies from Card Making Magic so please pop back then if you have had a problem or you don't know how to get them apart.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Make A Splash!

Hi Everybody,

I had a lot of fun with this stamp set when it was offered as a gift with a magazine earlier last year.

It came from Crafti Potential and it has stamps, dies and a stencil in the offer

The video will show some ideas using this set and I am sure that you can come up with many more of your own.

  So if you would like this Make A Splash set 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 and announced in tomorrows blog post. Be sure to come back and see if it is you as you only have 72 hours in which to claim the gift.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Blue & White Easel Card

Hi Everybody,

Today I have been busy creating this pretty Easel card and showing you how I did the water colour flowers for the front and inside of the card.

I have used Distress Oxides to do the colouring but you can use any water based inks you may have in your own stash.

I used the Ribbon Threaders as the stop for the easel and raised it up with foam tape underneath.

The shade of blue is really fresh and I have used this a lot in my designs 

The video will take you step by step through the making of this card and if you are new to this hobby then trust me ... it's really easy

I used the left over flower and leaves for the back of the easel to give 

a finished look all round 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Simply Cards & Papercraft - British Garden Birds

Hi Everybody,

This months magazine Simply Cards & Papercraft will be on sale on the 24th January and it has this beautiful stamp and die set of birds common in British gardens

You can create the most intricate cards building scenes as you stamp or you can keep them quite simple

The one shown here has just used one bird and stamped it several times in different orientations and then coloured them all with Copics in pastel colours.

You need to use a water based ink to stamp your images if you wish to use alcohol inks to colour.

The clouds stencil is from My Favourite Things but you could just as easily make your own from Copy paper ... and save money in the process

I have used the Aldi brushes to add my clouds but many other types will do the same job ... brushes,

blending tools or sponges. Whichever you prefer to work with 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx