Using the Left Overs

 Hi Everybody,

Yesterday I used the full panel that I had altered with the embossing powder and today I am using up the scraps that were cut off the panels.

These scraps have each been added to a dry embossed layer and I used snowflakes from another project that I did ages ago and these are the left overs from that.

I do keep a lot of bits and pieces as they can always be adapted to fit another card,  and it is much more satisfying then throwing them in the bin.

The cards are A6 size and the strips fit on them with a little trimming here and there

I am adding the video in again to share with you what I did to get the look

You can try this effect on any papers that you have that doesn't quite fit with your requirements.

No matter what the pattern is in the paper you can alter it to suit your design and the embossing powder makes it look lovely .

I hope you  will look at any of your papers in a new light and see what possibilities open up to you.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Embossing Paper

 Hi Everybody,

Sometimes we have papers in out stash that don't quite fit the bill and these are some that I have in mine.

They are really pretty foiled papers that I have had for a long time and used often, but the foiling was the wrong colour for what I wanted. 

It was a rose gold and would have been completely wrong for the idea I had in mind.

So with some wet glue and some embossing powder I changed them in to something that I did want and it worked out really well .

I have had them so long I don't remember where they are from.

I selected the papers from the pad and I traced the pattern that I wanted to use with the glue.

 I allowed it to become tacky and then I sprinkled it with the embossing powder of my choice

The top card was done with gold and the bottom one in silver.

Both are then heated to melt the powder and allowed to cool.  The shine and the raised effect are lovely.

The twine is some that I got ages ago from Amazon and it lasts for ages as there is so much on the spool.

I filmed the process to share with you and I will add the other cards using the left over pieces and the glitter papers  from the video in another post.

 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Stencilled Wall

Hi Everybody

For this little card I used a wall stencil and blended in Distress Oxides over the brickwork in three  different shades.

I used Gathered Twigs, Forest Moss and Frayed Burlap to give the shaded look to my wall.

The flower is cut from white card several times and stacked together for strength, and this is an old die that I have had for years.

My apologies if the dies I am using are no longer available but this is part of the challenge to myself to use older stock of anything that I already have rather than buying new stuff.

And that includes things like card, paper packs, dies, stamps and many other things that I have bought over time and often never used, or used very little

And that is because I see some new die, stamp technique and I think " OOOOH got to try that " and purchase everything shown to make that card. 

Then I make it once and never again ... that makes what I have bought so expensive just to be put on one side and never used again. 

I have heard this described as the FOMO syndrome ....  and if you don't know what that is it is the  Fear Of  Missing Out ....

I also suffer from the Full Set Syndrome and that makes me utterly pathetic and I need to stop.

So older products will be introduced more into my card making and maybe you have them too. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Christine Wilson - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

It is a glorious day here today and we are going on a family walk later today. Yesterday  Vickie and I went to Preston for a little shopping and on the way home we took the dogs into a very large  park that we passed. 

It was lovely and the dogs had a good run around. And although it was a little drizzly we didn’t mind. But towards the end Ruby disappeared. I called her and called her but she wouldn’t come back. 

Eventually she did and had obviously been eating something and where food is concerned Ruby is a dustbin.

Vickie was horrified when she went to see what it was and it turned out it was ……. Fox Poo !!!!!!!!

Apparently dogs are so enticed by it and to them it is irresistible. Some dogs like to roll in it and it absolutely stinks.

We cleaned her up as best we could with tissues and headed for home and before she was allowed in the house I gave her a bath on the patio.  Dirty little creature ….. Any way she is fine and clean now and none the worse.

Well the draw for the Spellbinders die and stamp set has been done and the name today is

Christine Wilson

Please email me at 

 christina@card-making-magic.com

and I will post it off to you straight away, and include the Pokey Toll too.

More tomorrow …..

Hugs xx

Spellbinders Die & Stamp Set 5

 Hi  Everybody, 

Here is the chance to win yet another collection of quality dies and stamps from Spellbinders that can be used to grace any of your designs beautifully.

In this set there are two stamps and matching dies so that they can be added any way you like to your own designs

You can also team each individual portion with other dies and stamps that you may have for another complete and unique look.

Playtime is on the cards once you get this stamp set to see what you can come up with and surprise your self in the process 

The package shows you that the hands have been used to make the whole background to the card but you can of course use it any way you desire

It is sure to make a stunning card whichever way you choose to use it.

So if this is something that you would like then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post with your 

FULL NAME

Then be sure to come back and see if your name is listed as the winner over the weekend.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Pinterest Inspired

 Hi Everybody,

Browsing in Pinterest the other night I spotted a card that I really liked.

 I didn't have the dies that were used for the card that I could see so I went to take a look at those that I have and see what I could substitute for my own card.

This is what I came up with and the background was created with just a scoreboard and a stylus but sadly it doesn't show up very well on the photograph.

The flowers are created from a paper pack that has foiling on the teal and lilac colours and that was what I decided to use.

I also used some gold glitter card to act as a mat for the panel to blend with the gold foiling in the paper.

I used the same glitter card to cut the flower centres, the sentiment, hearts and the flourish behind the flowers.

Each flower centre has a pearl in the middle and I added smaller pearls to two of the corners.

The butterfly is cut from the same foiled paper pack and adhered to the panel along the body line only to allow the wings some movement..

The finished card is a 5x7 and it is much prettier in the hand than the photo shows.

Hope you like 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Hand drawn flowers

 Hi Everybody,

Both of these cards have hand drawn flowers on them that I have found on my desktop. They have also been  water coloured.

Both have been added to a stencilled background and both are A6 size

I used water coloured card and they where part of larger panel but I fussy cut out the flowers to add in smaller sections to these cards

It made better use of them and I am much happier with the outcome. 

I also found some bits of diamante that I could add to the top card and one of the little butterflies that I have had for many years.

But there are so many on the roll that I still have loads left over for future cards.

For this bottom card I added a squiggly pen drawn line around the edges, and to the front of the display I glued in the yellow stamped flower with a large pearl to the centre of it.

The flowers for both have been added with foam pads to give varying heights to them and that adds more interest to the card

I like both cards and they have been created from bits and pieces I have on my work top.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Inked Cards

 Hi Everybody,

These are some more of the cards inspired by the 3-D Embossing Folder I mentioned yesterday. 

The pattern is much deeper on  3-D folders than it is on  ordinary ones as it gives you other layers to the embossing.

Burt if you don't have this type of folder then try it with others that you do have in your own collection and see what works for you. 

Floral folders always give a really pretty look and using coloured inks will make them even prettier. 

This one is created with white ink on the raised areas and then I used the gold wax to highlight them even more.

The panel was wrapped several times with gold twine before adding it to a gold layer to lave a small border around the edge and  then I added it to the brown card base. 

The sentiment is from another collection and I am using them up on other cards as there are so many in the pack.

This was added to the same gold card and  adhered with foam pads to the card front.

Try embossing parchment for another look or even acetate.

And if you make a mistake then why not fussy cut the flowers out and add them separately to another card base  so as not to waste them or your time.

This has been etched with the black ink and added to a black and white  Dottie card.

The sentiment is from yet another collection that has many in it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

3-D Inspiration

 Hi Everybody,

Using a 3-D embossing folders gives you a really deep impression on the card and it is lovely when inked over to bring out the detail.

This folder from Crafters Companion is called Dahlias and it is beautiful, and it inspired me to make some Sympathy Cards ... of all things.

So I thought I would have a play with it and film it at the same time and that will be added tomorrow to show you what I have done.

They all have the addition of a handmade envelope with them, and that was also filmed and has already been added to the blog.

These are all 5x7 and they have all been inked over.

The left hand card has been inked over with gold and the right hand one has had a white ink pad swiped over it. 

The middle one has been swiped in white and then had the gold added to the top.

The card shown with the folder has been swiped with a silver ink pad and they are all really pretty cards. The sentiments say "Thinking of You" or "Sending Comfort" so I suppose they could be for other occasions too.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Marilyn Coombs - Winner

Hi Everybody,

Before I go on and announce the winner I would like to clarify my position in the coming months/ years.

The blog is not going anywhere it stays right here and I will add posts most days. the Friday Freebie will still be here each week  so I hope you will continue to participate,

My YouTube channel will remain the same and all the videos are still there for you to view. I will be adding new ones as I go along. YouTube Channel

 The only thing that is different is the website Card Making Magic, as that I am closing down, and that I will not be designing for Practical Publishing any more. The brand will continue but the design will no longer be mine.  

But I am still here and posting on the blog so nothing for you really changes. People have said that they will miss me ...  but I am not going anywhere. 

Now for the draw for the Spellbinders die set on offer and the winner is 

Marilyn Coombs

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

I will also include a handmade Pokey tool for you to use in your craft room, and please let me know when you have them safely

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spellbinders Die & Stamps Set 4

 Hi Everybody,

Thank you so much for your understanding of my decision to "Retire" .
Although I will still be doing the blog, and the Friday Freebies will continue,  I will be doing  more of what I want to do and in my own time. 

   The pretty offering for this Friday is from Spellbinders and is a three piece die set and a three pie stamp set to match it. 

These can create the whole background for you or simply be added in portions which ever you prefer. 

Vary the colours for another look and use the designs with other sentiments that you may already have.

Spellbinders offer absolute quality to all their products and although these sets are quite old they are still the very best.

You can bring them bang up to date with whatever you team them with.

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

You will still need to add your  

FULL NAME
to help me identify the winner when the draw is done. 

Be sure to come back over the weekend and see if it is your name that is listed as the winner and you then have 72 hours in which to claim it as yours

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Old Spellbinders Dies

Hi Everybody,

Staying with the challenge to myself,  to use only older dies to make my cards these are dies that I have had for a long time from Spellbinders.

It is fact two dies, one was called Lovely Lilac and the larger one is Rosy Summer Flowers. I have had them for so long they are probably no longer available.

But I am going with the mantra of  .... "use what you have" !!

For both of these flowers I inked some white card with Distress Oxides making the centres of  flowers a little darker. 

I also added a little clear glue to these centres and sprinkled them with glitter. 

The top layer has been cut in gold mirror cards and added to the top of the white panel which has been dry embossed in a folder.

I cut an orange frame from my own Torn Edges Nesting Dies and added it with foam tape around the edge, then dotted it with orange Nuvo Drops in two different shades.

The sentiment is from Tonic and is another that I have had for many years.

The finished card is 5x7 with the fold at the top.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Some Important News ...

 Hi Everybody,

This is a really difficult blog post to write and I have been putting it off for a long time but here goes and I hope you will understand my position. I have just had another birthday making me well into my seventies, and I need to do something with my time that doesn't involve  concepts, deadlines and schedules, and there by remove the pressure.
I have decided to retire and so my time will be more my own,  rather than concentrating on work and the stress involved. 

I am making some big changes in my life at present and they will also reflect in my work load as the months go on. I have started to make some of these changes to the blog already. I have removed a lot of old videos from both the blog and YouTube as they are out of date, and the items that they refer to are probably no longer available.

At the end of April I will no longer have the website Card Making Magic. and as a result of this my email address will change ... should you wish to contact me.
It takes a lot of time to keep it going and I have other things that I want to do. 
I will no longer be designing for Practical Publishing. 
The brand will be still around but I will no longer be a part of it. 

I will be continuing to write my BLOG and be adding new cards and inspiration every day so I hope you will continue to visit me.
I will still be doing the Friday Freebie on the blog as I have lots of things to give way.
I will add my new email address so that you can still claim your prize in the Friday Freebie draw.
I will still be adding videos to YOUTUBE and hopefully replacing the older videos that I have removed with newer stuff. And this will be stuff that I want to do.
I will be using all the Card Making Magic dies that I have in my collection and showing you the cards that I make with them, though as time goes on they will be changed by newer stuff. 
 I can also use other items/brands too.
I will still link to Craft Stash as this is one of the best places to get any of your crafting supplies at a good price and the links will be at the end of the posts.
I will still be filling my charity box and taking it to the shop as it fills up with cards.

and most importantly

I will need some time to sort all these changes out on the blog.
 The Friday Freebie is scheduled for the next few weeks already and that will stay as it is but the blog posts may be a bit hit and miss for while as I get everything sorted out to help me work smarter and not harder.

So as things stand you will probably not  notice much difference in the running of the blog.
I do hope that you will continue to visit the blog and participate in what ever I have going on. 
Thank you for all your support in the past and here's to new beginnings ...

Big Hugs

Christina xx

Altenew Magnolia Blooms

 Hi Everybody,

Todays card is created from another Altnew kit that I have collected a long time ago. This kit is the Magnolia Blooms kit from August 2022.

I have stamped and coloured the arrangement with the layered stencils and die cut it out using the matching die but then I have cut the flowers down even more to fit onto the front of my DL card.

It gives the display a totally different look and I am very happy with the finished card.

The sentiment is also from the stamp set and there are lots to choose from.

The flowers have been added to an embossed panel with foam pads underneath to give them height.

I have added some small black pearls to the front as a little extra embellishment,

These kits are beautiful but the cost of the postage has prevented me from continuing to collect them each month.

But I still have the ones I did collect to play with and I really enjoy them all very much.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Michele Coffey - Winner

 Hi  Everybody,

Another weekend is almost over with and they seem to come round very quickly.  They say it's a sign of age when time goes so quickly and at my age it fairly whizzes past.

 Still I got some gardening done yesterday, on my little postage stamp sized garden, and it didn't take me long. Most of my plants are in pots and that saves a lot of work ... no lawn to mow !!

The draw for the Spellbinders set has been done bright and early and the winner this week is 

Michele Coffey

So if you would like to email me please with your postal address to ...
christina@card-makig-magic.com
then I will get it in the post to you straight away..

I will also include a little Pokey tool for you in the hope that you will use it when you craft.

Please be sure to let me know that you have it safely.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx