Mum ! Can you make me ....

Hi Everybody,

This must be a  plea that most of us have heard on a regular basis ... and this one came from my youngest daughter two days before we were going away on our train adventure.

She wanted a wedding card in rose pink with flowers, glitter and a matching box ... so not much there then !!

So here is what I created for her to give to her friends on their wedding day and I hope they liked it.

The ribbon is wired and makes beautiful bows

The dies I have used are from the Californian Collection by Sue Wilson

I got all mine from  JGDCrafts   They are a UK company but they will ship around the world

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and they have a wonderful selection to choose from

They have been sparkled with Glitter Magic

I made the box to compliment the card and added the ribbon around it ... both bows have a diamante and pearls sparkler in the centres

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

New Digi Stamps ...

Hi Everybody,

Yesterday I bought some new digital stamps from Mo's Digital Pencil  and this image is called Joanie.

Spectrum Noir Colors used ...
Skin             FS2 FS3 TN2
Hair             GB5 GB8 EB8
Dungarees   TB1 TB3 TB4
T Shirt          PP1 PP3

I shall have fun coloring up the rest of my purchases and adding them to Blog posts  as I make them into cards.

The card itself is created in the hinged card style   and I have used the 5x7 Matting basics sets A & B

The only decoration on the card is ribbon from Mei Flower  with a little dazzler in the centre from Wild Orchid Crafts  .... not a flower in sight.

The prize for the June "Give Away" has not been claimed yet so if you don't get a move on

Gill Mc  .....    it will be going to someone else 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

June Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

The Friday Freebie cards has been claimed and will be on its way in the morning.  It is always good when they are claimed straight away as it saves any problems.

So today the draw has been done at random,  by InLinkz,   for the winner of all the "Goodies" on offer for June and she will have been notified by them of her win.  The name that was chosen was ...

Gill Mc

I need you to send me your postal address I will get the prize in the post to you straight away.  You have 48 hours to claim it and then it will be offered to someone else.  Email me ... christina@card-making-magic.com

---------------------------------

This card is created in cream and gold and  I have used the frame from Spellbinders and backed it with some acetate to make the church window.

White roses from Wild Orchid Crafts sit along the window ledge and the sparkler in the centre of the bow is also from WOC

The wide satin ribbon is soft and easy to tie and from Mei Flower 

The fine glitter to add that special touch to the flowers is from Glitter Magic

The beautiful pearl flourish is added as a finishing touch and it is from Want2Scrap

A pretty card that could be for any occasion.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spellbinders S5-178 Nestabilities Arched Windows Die Templates

Spellbinders S6-001 Nestabilities Matting Basics A Die Templates, 5 by 7-Inch

Spellbinders S6-002 Nestabilities Matting Basics B Die Templates, 5 by 7-Inch

InLinkz.com

Number thirteen ...

Hi Everybody,

Number thirteen may be a number that some people are superstitious about but it is a number that has never bothered me ... I  lived at a number thirteen and it was the prettiest bungalow we bought when we lived in Cornwall.

And so the winner of Card 013 is you .....

Sue Dunn

I need you to email me ... christina@card-making-magic.com ... with your postal address and the card will be on its way to you ... and I hope you will like it when it arrives with you.

And don't forget that there is still time to enter for the  "June Give Away"   as that is running for the rest of today and the winner for that prize will be announced tomorrow

So add your name while you can.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie Card 013

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is the 13th card I have offered as a freebie and it is Friday 13th too

But there is no need to be superstitious about winning this card as it is really a very pretty one to have.

It has all my favorite items added to it in the shape of flowers, ribbons and pearls ... and it's pink

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and I have used some punched leaves to frame them.

They are sparkled up with fine glitter from Glitter Magic

The verse is from Crafters Companion and is from their Sentimentals Range

The embossing is from the Tied Together folder and I have used tiny pearls on all the cross sections and they are from Want2Scrap.

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

At the end of the day my "Film Crew" will draw a name from the hat and the winner will be announced in the mornings Blog post

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

*LF-168 Spellbinders GRAND LARGE LABELS Nestabilities Calibur Dies

*S4-246 Spellbinders LABELS ELEVEN 11 Nestabilities

*Spellbinders NESTABLING LABELS ELEVEN BLACK 11145

InLinkz.com

Aren't they clever ??

Hi Everybody,

Yesterday was week 8 of the card class that I run in my home and this is what my two ladies have produced this week.

They are taken step by step  through each stage  but they decide ... with a little guidance ... where they want to place each piece

Along the way they can choose the color scheme for card, ribbons and flowers.

I provide the items that they need for each card and they are so pleased with what they are doing.  It is a lovely way to spend an afternoon

But not once have we finished on time ... we manage to over run each week as we all seem to get lost in the project ... and chatting too.

I think that these cards are beautiful and the ladies are fun to be with. They are enthusiastic and they seem to love the cards that they are making.  So there will be another class next week.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spectrum Noir

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is using the Spectrum Noir Pens and pencils on an image from Saturated Canary

Colors used ...
Pens
Skin     FS2 FS3 TN2 CR1
Hair     TN2 TN7 TN8  Pencils 97  98  002
Dress    LV1 LV2 LV3  Pencils  70  81

And the pencils really do make such a difference when used to accentuate areas of the image.

They are very easy to blend  ... with or without blending solution  ... and they have a soft waxy consistency to them

I have left the sentiment off as it could be for any occasion and can be added later ... but it is a pretty card that would suit many age groups.

How you dress up the card is a matter of choice but get out those pens and keep practising and if you can afford the pencils then they are well worth collecting.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Faux Quilled Blooms and Leaves

Hi Everybody,

Another in blue and I promise I will use another color after this one.

But this blue card has caused many emails as a lot of you seem to like this shade as well.

It is from Limetree Crafts.  I buy their card from the craft shows and it is always good value for money...but the link to their website is not working at present

So there are more new dies used on this card and they are all from the Finishing Touches by Sue Wilson.

I have used  Faux  Quilled  Leaves,  Faux  Quilled Blooms  and  the  Fern  Trio and   I got all of these dies from   JGD Crafts

The ribbon is from   Mei Flower   and I have added ribbon loops with a large pearl and diamante centre which is from Wild Orchid Crafts

The pearls in the centre of each bloom are from Want2Scrap  and it makes for a very pretty card.

Book a Workshop 

Now  something I want to share with you ...  and that  is that  I have had  two  invitations  to run workshops using the  Spectrum Noir  Coloring System.

One is 13th September for JGD Crafts and they are based in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottingham  and that class is already fully booked.

The other is 4th October for Crafting 4pleasure and they are based in Bristol ... so if you live in the area and would like to attend the workshop then email  Bev at  craftypleasures@hotmail.co.uk   

There are some places still available so email now  to secure your place, bring your pens along  and I'll see you there

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tied Together Die ...

Hi Everybody,

There are two new dies used on this card. One is the Tied Together Ornamental die and the other is the Faux Quilled Leaves by Sue Wilson.

Both are gorgeous dies and both are from JGD Crafts   and although this is a UK based company they are happy to ship abroad.

So well worth a visit if you are having trouble buying craft items in your part of the world.

Here I have used it with the beautiful shade of blue that I really have grown to like and I have created a frame around the pattern.

I have used foam pads in between all the layers to give some depth to the card and wrapped the gingham ribbon around it all.  Tiny blue pearls sit at all the cross sections.

The ribbon is from MeiFlower  and there is a pearl and diamnate centre from Wild Orchid Crafts  in the centre of the double bow

The flowers are also from WOC and as usual they are sparkled with fine glitter from Glitter Magic ... these two products go hand in hand for me.

The stamp was a freebie with Simply Cards and Papercrafts Magazine and it will come in very useful

You have the opportunity to win some flowers and glitter along with a lovely Sheen Douglass stamp and all you need to do is become a follower and  add your name to the list ... but only once please as duplicates will be removed .... June Give Away

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

*PREORDER S6-001 Spellbinders 5 X 7 MATTING BASICS A Nestabilities Card Creator Dies NEW 2013

*PREORDER S6-002 Spellbinders 5 X 7 MATTING BASICS B Nestabilities Card Creator Dies NEW 2013

*s4-116 Nestabilities STANDARD CIRCLE SMALL Spellbinders

*s4-115 Spellbinders Nestabilities SCALLOPED CIRCLE LARGE

InLinkz.com

Shall We Have A "GiveAway" ???

Hi Everybody,

Thank you to Thelma for claiming the FF card so quickly ... it will be in the post to you first thing tomorrow and I hope you like it

Would you like to win these gifts?  I am sure you will not be disappointed with what is on offer and I am happy to send the parcel anywhere in the world.

So in this prize there is ...

 A5  Sheena Douglass Sea Shells stamps
2 packs of Wild Orchid Crafts Flowers
1 pack of Glitter Magic
1 pack of five assorted hatpins

There is a video to show you how to mount these stamps   so that you can use them in any way you wish.

Add your name to the list and if a red cross appears at the side of your name it only means that you can delete it if you so wish.

I ask that you only leave your name once please to keep it fair for everybody and any duplicates will be removed.

And the winner is .....

Hi Everybody,

Thank you for all your lovely comments both about the holiday snaps and the new FF card.  It seems that many of you like blue.

But there can only be one winner of this particular card and that is you .....  

Thelma Welch 

I need you to send me your postal address as soon as you can so that I can get the card in the post to you straight away.  Email me  ...   christina@card-making-magic.com 

You will have  48 hours to claim it so please do so as the last card was not claimed,  and it is such a shame when other people would like to win it too.    
                      

Some Answers ...

In the comments was one  from  Ann  Lauzon and she  asked me about a tutorial that I did  on how to make your images look as if  part of it is outside the die that you have used.

It is on the Spectrum Noir Blog page and here is the link for you  ... Thinking Outside the Box   the video is further down the page so scroll and you will find it.  I hope that is the one you meant.

To Marilyn who travels two hours to go to a card class at JGD Crafts each week   ... I will be there on September 13th as Janet has invited me down to do a Spectrum Noir workshop for her ladies and maybe you will be there too.

To the lady who wanted to know how to make the pearl sprays that I have in some of my cards ... there is a video on the way to show you and it will be with you soon.

And to someone else who asked me how do I emboss card  using a die without it cutting out the whole card ... again  a video is on the way to show that technique too.

I was hoping to get them done this week but to be honest although my blog posts have been going out regularly I have been quite poorly this week with a really bad chest infection.

But once I get back to speed all these things will be with you and I will of course add them to the blog once they are done

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie Card 012

Hi Everybody,

So here we are back to normal after a wonderful holiday and the start of the Friday Freebie  again.

This one is created in the hinged card style and has lots of embossed layers, and the lovely  Quatrefoil pattern   in the panel.

I bought mine from Sunrise Crafts and the link will take you to the die

The pretty flowers are   from Wild Orchid Crafts and they have been sparkled with Glitter Magic.

Glitter Magic were at the Craft Show at the Bolton Arena that I went to on Sunday and I asked Sharon which of the glitters it is that I always use and it is called ... Chameleon 

It gives a lovely sparkly effect to the petals and is something I like to do to most of my flowers.

The ribbon was in a pack from TKMaxx and the lace is from my "Stash"

But on top of the lace I have added in some Diamante for added luxury and that is from Want2Scrap

So if you would like to win this card then all you have to do join the growing list of followers  and leave me a comment at the end of the post.

Then later this evening Griff will choose a name from the hat and the winner will be announced in the morning on this Blog and also on Facebook.

Please come back and check for your name as if you have won you will only have 48 hours in which to claim it. I am happy to send the card anywhere.

But don't add your name if you are not going to be able to check it as the last card Card 011 was won by Millie Thomson and it was not claimed

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spellbinders S6-001 Nestabilities Matting Basics A Die Templates, 5 by 7-Inch

Spellbinders S6-002 Nestabilities Matting Basics B Die Templates, 5 by 7-Inch

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Dies Fancy Tags 3

InLinkz.com

Mulhouse and home (Day 7/8 )

Hi Everybody,

Today it is time to say Goodbye to beautiful Italy and head back over the border to France.

We have to leave all the wonderful sunshine behind us and once again on another holiday the weather has been really kind.

This view is  from the train window as we are passing Lake Maggiore and heading for Switzerland.

There is not a lot of time to take photos as we change trains in Milan and again in  Basel but this one is just outside the station entrance in Basel and was taken quickly.

From here we go to Mulhouse (Pronounced Mulloose)  for our last nights stay.

The hotel is lovely and the bed so very comfortable  and there are a lot of people staying here ... one of the parties just happens to be another group of Treyn holidaymakers the same as us.

The other party is a coach holiday and both of these groups are leaving before us the next day.  So down we go to breakfast only to find  ... that there is nothing left.

All the food plates are empty ... there is no cutlery... no crockery... no milk ... no coffee ... no tea ... no jams ... in fact nothing.

But we  have a secret weapon in the form of  Louise ...   and  she is not impressed.

She rattles their cage and it takes them a good twenty minutes to get their act together... but eventually we have breakfast.  Another medal for the formidable Louise !!

So now on Day 8 we get the TGV back to Paris and this is the super fast train and this is the fastest speed I could record on camera.

We cross Paris to the Gare du Nord to catch the Eurostar back to UK

This has been a wonderful holiday with beautiful scenery and glorious sunshine and there has not been one place that we have visited that I disliked.

And maybe one day return too ...

We  decided to stay overnight in London both at the start and end of our holiday and it is only a short walk from the station that we are leaving from tomorrow.

So after  a meal  we  walked to the theatre to see if there was maybe the chance to get in to see one of the shows ...  and we were very lucky to get two seats to see Lion King.... and it was wonderful.

Thank you for allowing me to share this holiday with you and for the lovely emails and comments about the memories the pictures have evoked in some of you.

Now it is time to get back to work and make some cards, videos and start my card class at my home again.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Venice, Italy (Day 6)

Hi Everybody,

Today is another coach trip and this time we are off to Venice famous for its many waterways

For this tour we had a guide who told us facts about the canals  and where to go for a pleasant lunch with out being charged the earth.

This is the approach to the city as we entered by boat.

The level of this city has diminished over the years and the water level is now much higher than it used to be

You can see the damage that it is doing to the houses as the brick line disappears beneath the water

We were told that Venice is a little smelly but we did not find that at all and it was a hot day.

But I have to say that it is somewhat neglected in many parts and some of  the buildings look quiet scruffy.

Now of course Venice is famous for its Gondolas.

They are quite pricey to hire ... about 80/90 Euros for 45 minutes ... but they will seat six so if you share the ride with others then it is not too bad

This is St Marks square and it is a very large area

Around the edge of the square are cafe bars with a quartet playing at some of them, which was very pleasant but our guide told us not to sit down.

As soon as you park your bottom on the chairs you will be charged and it is very expensive.

Our guide took us inside and it was beautiful but there is some restoration work going on outside and part of the front elevation was covered in scaffolding and plastic sheeting

This is looking up at the ceiling and it is not painted gold ... it is gold leaf ... and it shimmers in the filtered light.

There was a service going on in one of the side areas and so we wandered round away from them to maintain the privacy.

We sat at the far end of the square on the steps and listened to the music in the lovely sunshine and passed a very pleasant half hour

You can get some idea of the size of the square from this photo and it was very busy.

This is the famous Rialto Bridge  and of course the best way to get the photo is to wander further down the canal and look back.

You can see the amount of people stood on it and there was actually a Bride and Groom in the middle somewhere trying to have photos taken.

This is looking along the Grand Canal at the cafes and restaurants that line both sides.

We are stood on one of the many bridges that cross the canals in many places.

Tomorrow I will combine two days in one post as we start our home ward bound journey.

We go back to France via Switzerland for this part of the journey but there won't be many opportunities to take photos ... though I will do my best

The last part of my holiday will be posted later today and then I will add a Friday Freebie this week as I get slowly back into work mode

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Peschiari Market (Day 5)

Hi Everybody,

This morning was a trip to the  market and we took the local bus to Peschiari.

There was a lot of leather goods and I bought myself a belt and a credit card wallet.

But right at the end of the market ... as we made our way back to the bus ... I spotted this fabulous leather bag.

It is quite large and the smaller one fits inside the larger one as liner to hold purse,  phone and personal items.  On the way home I used the larger one to carry tickets, passports and a magazine as well as water for the journey.  So it was a really good buy at 20 Euros ... and it is reversible too.    Another  medal for Louise our tour manager 

Now the rest of the day was supposed to be free but things kind of escalated in the bar last night ...  Let me explain ...

Griff and I took a walk into town before dinner and on the way back he said  "I would love to hire one of those speed boats for a couple of hours"    so we asked the prices ... which were very good and no license was needed ...  so we said we would think about it some more.

We mentioned it over dinner and Louise and Christine ... that we shared a table with  ... seemed very taken with the idea and said "Count us in too"

The next day we were telling  other people  about the plan and two more wanted to come with us ... so Griff was boasting that he was going out in a boat with  "five birds"   and here we are.

We hired the boat for two hours and we  had a ball and got wet as the lake was very choppy that day as you can tell from the photo.

So the two at the front ... Louise and Debbie ... did most of the steering and we didn't really have a plan ... but the direction we went depended on who was steering.

If Louise was in control then we went round in a big figure eight .... and if it was Debbie we went in a zig-zag line.

The boat is fitted with radar so that if we broke down they would be able to find us on the lake but if they had been charting our progress on that lake they would be saying 

"Where on earth are they going now"  and we giggled the whole time we were out there.

Griff sat up front like the lord of the manor and did not get wet once !!!!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx