Sentimental Card ...

Hi Everybody,

I just love these JustRite Stamps as they are a mix and match set that can create a multitude of different sentiments.

I have four sets that are in the same scripted hand and they all work together ... and I bought mine from Amazon

I line them up on a grided acrylic block ... so the the words are straight  ... and then I add them to a label

I very rarely add them directly to a card because if I do I can guarantee they will not be level and I will have to add the label to cover it up.

So I add the label in the first place to save me all that wasted time .... makes sense  ... Yeh??

This card is created with  the Crisscross Pattern which I have extended to fit the frame and I have added the pearls to the cross sections.

The inside has been layered to match the front and the card is a large one at 8" square and there are lots of layers to the end result.

The Ivy Leaf is from Crafters Companion  and is one of their Christmas release dies.  But it could be used all year round very effectively.

The flower is created from the  Sun Kissed Fleur die and I have stacked up several layers and added a pearl to the centre.

I got the die from Sunrise Crafts  which is a UK based company.

Very simple card and so much prettier in real life than the photo.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Featured Card ...

Hi Everybody,

Spectrum Noir  have added a new video I have made to their Blog page and you will find it here ...  Shaving Foam Technique

It is not a long video but it shows you what I have done to create the card and the end result ... and it is part of my commitment to being a Design Team Member.

There are many ways and many kits that you can buy that will create the marbling on your cards but they can be expensive.

This is a cheap way and it gives you the same result.  It is a simple idea and one that as been around for a long time and the whole thing is messy but fun.

 My tin of shaving foam cost me a whole 29 pence .... so it's not going to break the bank then ... and I can get a lot of use from the one can.

Once you have the foam on your card .... and any card will do... there are other things that you can do to it.

This panel has been embossed and then rubbed over with Gilding Cream and I have edged it with a black liner pen ... and it is not supposed to be a straight line !! ....

This one has been heat embossed and edged with the Spectrum Noir pen that matched the ink used in the background.

I think the whole effect is very striking and when other embellishment are added it will be a card that not even you can replicate.

Which is all part of the fun .... no two will ever be the same.

I hope you enjoy the short tutorial



Before I go I have been asked about the GNPE show in Harogate

It is on the 5th and 6th of October this year, at the showground, and you can buy your tickets from Craftwork Cards  ...

There is also a craft show on  12th 13th 14th September at Event City in Manchester 

The  "Sincerely Yours" Craft Fair  will be at  the Sports Village in Leigh, Lancashire is on the 12th and 13th October... some good dates for your diary and  if you go then enjoy yourself and don't spend too much

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Opposites attract ...

Hi Everybody

These two cards are created following the Create a Frame with Spellbinders   tutorial.   I have used the same black and white card, the same embossing folder,  the same sentiment,   the same backing paper under the filigree pattern.

They are made using the same die and I have added the same flowers along the bottom ..... BUT .... wherever one is white the other is black.

The top one is my favorite ... it seems to stand out more.

The die used is the new Tapestry from Spellbinders and I bought mine  from Sunrise Crafts

I haven't added the usual list at the bottom of the page today because the only other die used is the Grand Labels for the base and  to create the frames for the card.

 So start with the base and work your way through them.... one has a black base ...  the other is white.

One has the black centre ...  and the other is white.  One has black ribbon with white spots ... and the other is white with black spots.

The insides have been decorated the same and I have  added a label for a verse, a sentiment or a signature.

Even the pearly swirls are apposite on each card  and they are from Want2Scrap

The card did not look finished until the flowers were in place and sparkled with Glamour Dust and they are from Wild Orchid Crafts

Which ... if any ... do you like the best ??

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

Griffs' Birthday ....

Hi Everybody,

This is just a short and scheduled post because today is Griffs' Birthday and we are taking the day off.

This evening  to celebrate we are going out to our favorite restaurant for dinner just the two of us and we know it will be special.

This is the card I have for him and the verse says it all.

It is one I made a while ago and put away for today ... and now it has pride of place on top of the cabinet for everybody to see.

He keeps all the cards I make for him and this one will also be kept with the others in his memory box.

So that's it for today ... more tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Blue on Blue ...

Hi Everybody,

What a mixed reaction to the Black card I showed you yesterday.  I didn't like it either  and many of you agreed with me about it  ...  but others did.

Having said that I do have a couple more dark cards to show you this week.

Personally I much prefer the lighter colours ...even for a sympathy card  ...soooooooo I won't be doing that again ... but thanks for the feedback.

In one of the comments on Fridays post for the  Crisscross Pattern,   Janice mentioned that she had read about the die bieng threaded with ribbon.

And I thought Ooooh!!  got to try that ...  and this is my take on the card.   I have used blue gingham ribbon and threaded it through all the slots.

So "Thank you" Janice for the comment ... I hope you like the end result.

I have added tiny pearls to each of the cross sections and the matching "Bling"  from  Want2Scrap   for the Fancy Tags Three

The ribbon was in my "Stash" and I have used the Bow maker to create a double bow  and I have added a larger petal to the centre to cover the knot.

In the close up photo you can see the weaving of the ribbon and I used super sticky double sided tape to hold it in place along the sides.

I created a double frame to go around it and added the layers with foam pads

The inside has been decorated to match the front and the card is a 6 x 8 1/2 " when finished ... and although it is a large card it will fit into an envelope for posting.

The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley  and is one of a group that are all on one sheet.

And once again there are no flowers on this card .... and that will have to change soon !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Black Card ...

Hi Everybody,

It's a well known fact that we all like white on white cards and even the cream variation .... but what about black on black ??

This is a card I have made with the new Crisscross Pattern die from Spellbinders that I showed you yesterday ... but I have to say I don't know if I like it really.

 What do you think?

The card has been made following the video tutorial for

Creating  A  Frame  with  Spellbinders    and the Crisscross has been layered onto a dull silver card.

The black pearls are some from Want2Scrap  and I have jsut added them to the cross sections of the die

The sentiment has been heat embossed in silver and double layered onto some of the silver card.

I added a large double bow using the  Bow Maker  from the black ribbon that I already had in my "Stash"

The question is ... do I like it  ... or not ??  Er!  I think NOT ....

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

  

Crisscross Pattern ...

Hi Everybody,

This is one of the newest  patterns from Spellbinders and it is the Crisscross Pattern.

It makes really neat backgrounds and I bought mine from Sunrise Crafts

This is a  UK company  but they have the most up to date Spellbinders and the delivery is quick.

Mine arrived this week and so I had to play and see what it looked like and this is the card I came up with ....

I have created the design as a Hinged Card  and used lots of layers.

The pattern  has been layered with Mirror card and created in the same way as the instructions in the Creating A Frame with Spellbinders.

The other dies I have used are listed below.

The sentiment is from Clarity Stamp and it has been heat embossed in silver

The single flower is from Wild Orchid Crafts

 The inside of the card has been decorated to match the front and the ribbon is from Reasonable Ribbon and is part of their ribbon club.

Now I know that the list of dies below says Pre Order ... but these dies are all available now .. and have been for some time.

So please shop around and find them at the best price in your part of the world.  

The list below is there simply to show you what I have used and what  the dies  look like so that you know what you are looking for should you wish to get them.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

The Jus Cutz

Hi Everybody,

No card today but I waned to tell you about the new Jus Cutz die cutting machine that I have bought from Once Upon A Stamp

It is relatively new to the market and the mechanics of it are made from all metal ... so not much to break on this one.

It makes a lot of claims and only time will tell if it lives up to those claims but I have been working with mine for a few weeks now and it is really good.

 It comes in a number of trendy colours and I chose this Retro look for mine

The white knob underneath turns clockwise to suction the machine to your work top

 The cutting is performed by pressure from the rollers and the pressure is set by the slider on the machine.

You will need to move the slider depending on what it is you want to do ... cut, emboss the die or use an embossing folder.

Because the pressure is evenly distributed along the roller it is claimed to cut evenly every time ... but a little bit of advice ... buy the separate Metal Plate 

It is not supplied in the box but you will need it to cut the more intricate dies that you may have.

It  has the A4 cutting platform and that means all the Grand dies can be used.

And because of the larger mouth it will also take the thicker dies that you may have.

It will sit comfortably on your work top and looks very neat when closed,  and it opens out easily when you need to use it.

If you have one and would like to leave your own comment then please do.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Medallions Seven

Hi Everybody,

The Medallions are one of the smaller dies from Spellbinders. There are several patterns in these dies and the ones I have used are the Medallions Seven.

This card is a 5" square that is created from the smallest of the Grand dies.

It is also the card that is featured in the video ...
Spellbinders Medallions Tutorial  which is not a long tutorial.

The beautiful embossing on the white layer is from the Regency Swirls from Crafters Companion and it leaves a lovely deep etched design in the card.

The pearls are self adhesive and they are from Want2Scrap.   .... and  were added at the suggestion of my "Film Crew" 

More  tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spellbinders Card ...

Hi Everybody,

This lovely card is a 8" square card and it has been matted and layered with cream Centura Pearl from Crafters Companion

To create the centre panel I have used the same principle used in the Creating A Frame with Spellbinders  .... just different dies.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and are a beautiful mixture of cream Roses, Lilies, Tulips and Carnations.

The flowers have been sparkled with Glamour Dust and the pearl  flourish is from Want2Scrap to add the elegant touch

The inside of the card has been decorated to match the front.

All the panels have been embossed with an 8 x 8 folder from Crafters Companion called Elegance.

The folder adds two different patterns with a plain strip in between.  I have heat embossed the sentiment in silver  directly onto that strip...  which is not something I usually do.

I prefer to stamp and emboss on a tag and then add that to the card ... just in case I make a mess !!  And "YES" ... I do make mistakes ... but it is surprising what a flower can cover up ... if you know what I mean ... and I bet you do !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

I did it .......

Hi Everybody,

Last night was the time for me to go to University  and talk to some of the students .... but only via Skype. (Sigh!)

I offered to just pop over to Kansas but they didn't take me up on it ... (Sigh again!!)   I met Melinda who had invited me to speak to her class,  and six of her young students.

The class went down very well and lasted for about 45 minutes and I think they all stayed interested ....  well no body fell asleep anyway

We covered  various aspects of creating a website/blog and the differences between the two.  One of the things they wanted to know was how to get your website/blog noticed so that people will visit.

My "Film Crew" was on hand with his trusty camera to film the event.  Although I have their permission to blog about the meeting .... the video will remain private.

I have had an email from Melinda this morning and she wrote ....

Christina, 

You did a fantastic job! 

My students loved getting the chance to talk to you. They thought you were really knowledgeable and were excited to put to use all of the good information you gave them.

You may need to consider going on the lecture circuit. :) You are a natural.

Thank you so much for taking the time to join us. And, of course, thank you to your film crew.

 I was greeted in a very friendly manner and once I got started the nerves just fell away. 

Thank you to all in the class for your welcome it was so nice to meet you ... Josiah keep that diary on hand ... and Rachel if you make a card then add it to the Gallery on Card Making Magic. 

Melinda .... well what can I say about Melinda except she is beautiful and that hair is to die for ....

More later .... and that Spellbinders Card 

Hugs xx