What's Cooking ?

Hi Everybody,

The other day I had a trip to Ikea  and while I was there I spotted these big tubs in the childrens department and they are filled with lots of bright plastic beads

It cot me £5 and there are literally hundreds of these beads in this tub.

So what am I going to do with them?

 I'm going to bake them !!

Pre heat your oven to 200 degrees (It needs to be hot) and while you wait you can space out the beads onto a non stick baking tray.

 They need to be separate with enough space between them because they are going to melt and you don't want them to run together.

Put them in the oven for ten minutes and then take a look at them. As they melt they sink into a doughnut shape.

 If yours are like that then they need to be left for a little longer until all the centre has run together and formed a dome.

Once they are ready take them out of your oven and allow them to cool down for a few minutes

I eased mine from the non stick baking tray with a wooden spatula

And there you have a whole bunch of flat backed dots ready to add to your cards.

There are ten different colours of beads in the tub and I think it is a bargain

If you like to add enamel dots to your cards then these are so cheap you can add loads of them

And when you eventually use up all the beads ... in the year dot ... keep the container for storage

Happy cooking !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

More Backgrounds

Hi Everybody,

While I  was playing the other weekend I made several backgrounds with either Brusho Crystals or Distress Inks

I showed you at the end of last week the ones with the Brushos and so here are the ones made with the Distress Inks

The colour combination for this one is Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed and Peacock Feathers

The flowers on all the cards are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the little velvet butterflies are from my "Stash"

The sentiment is the same on all the cards too and has been stamped in black and clear embossed

 This one is Walnut Stain,  Vintage Photo and Spiced Marmalade

Each card has a Hat Pin in the floral display and to get the size I have simply folded an A4 piece of card in half and then cut it in half

You will get two cards which ever way you fold it and the folds will be at the top so that they will stand perfectly for you

On this card I use Picked Raspberry and Peacock Feathers but I added in some gold to make the difference

Three pretty cards and added to the three "Thank You" cards from the other day, together with the envelopes to fit,  would make a really nice gift for someone to use throughout the year ... and Christmas is on the way !!    Need I say more ??

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tuesday Tutorial - Spellbinders Alphabet

Hi Everybody,

Alphabets can be used in lots of different ways apart from the obvious. We just need to think outside the box and see what else we can come up with to make sure we really get our monies worth from this ever useful die set

Spellbinders Supplies:

• S6-001 5x7 Matting Basics A
• S6-002 5x7 Matting Basics B
• S6-009 Font One Uppercase
• EL-015 Bricks and Bark 
• PL-001 Platinum Die Cutting and Embossing Machine

Other Supplies:

• Brusho Crystal Colours
• Enamel Dots from Want2Scrap
• Stamp from Make the Day Special

Instructions:

With die #7 from Matting Basics A cut two in white and create a hinged card 

 (Die #1 is always the smallest)

From a bright coloured background and #7 from Matting Basics B cut one panel 

(I used Brusho Crystals - Ultra Marine for my background)

Cut another white panel from #6 Matting Basics A and this is the one we will work on

Space out the Alphabet letters of your choice, face down in a random fashion, onto the correct side of your card and cut and emboss them though your machine

Then remove them from the card but keep the letters for another projects

Also keep the tiny pieces that are part of any of the letters that you have used  like the "O" or the triangle from the "A"

Once you have the dies removed then emboss the panel in any folder that you have available. I used the Bricks and Bark 

Place foam pads around the open spaces to support the card and also add pieces of foam to the back of the pieces that you saved from the previous step.  

Remove the backing from the pads and place it onto the bright background you have leaving a small border around the edge

Replace any of the pieces that you saved from the letters that you cut

Stamp in black and clear heat emboss the sentiment and add some strips of the background card around it then add foam pads to the back of it

I chose to use white enamel dots and I coloured them with a marker pen to match my card. 

They dried mottled which fitted in perfectly with my background. 

Add them randomly to the card

Designers Tip:

Another way to use the panel with the cut out letters is as a stencil and simply ink through the card to create another type of background for your cards

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Box for a Box ...

Hi Everybody,

If you have seen the new videos I have added recently then I am sure you have been wondering how you are going to give this to your recipient

No matter how hard you squeeze you will never get this into an envelope

So I have been busy with a ruler and pencil working out the measurements for a box to put your box into and this is the result ...  Create a Gift Box

In the video I give you the option to leave the box plain and all I have done to it is added some of the extra flowers that I had left over from  making the  Spellbinders Pop Up Box  

I think that this would make a really pretty gift for anyone and it would need to be hand given as it won't fair very well in the post.

But it must be for some one special or you wouldn't be going to these lengths to make it.

This plain variation can be used with either of the pop up boxes that I made

But being me I wanted more so on this one I  have added in  some pattern to the panels and lid

I have dressed  it up with some of the same flowers used in the making of the  Pop Up Box  and this is the version created without using any dies to make it

The flowers on this one are from Wild Orchid Crafts and I have trailed them from the lid down the side of the box.

I have used  dies in the decoration for the outer box and  I have used   Interlocking Love  for the side panels and Majesty for the lid  and then I have lined them with Acetate

Both variations are so pretty once completed and both are easy to do.

The die will save you the bother of measuring as it cuts it out perfectly each and every time but if you can't get the die for whatever reason then you can still get the look yourself without one.

So there you have several links to products I have used and there are three tutorials here also. Click the links to go to the pages and I will also add them to the Video Tutorials tab at the top of the blog

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Pop Up Box - and no dies ...

Hi Everybody,

Whenever I add something new to these pages .. be it a video or a supplier for the items or the dies that I use then it will be  underlined   and this indicates that it is a link that you can click. 

Plus I will add the same link to the Video Tutorials section that is in the title bar at the top of the page and that way you will always be able to find it in the future

Many of you seemed to like the  Spellbinders Pop Up Box that I added a few days ago but I know that many of you live in places where you cannot get the die or it is too expensive to ship

I didn't think that you should miss out on such a popular box card that everybody seems to be making right now.

And so I have made a Video Tutorial for this  Pop Up Box  and I haven't used any dies at all. (Please click the links to go to either of the pages for the Tutorials)

What I have done though is fill it full of flowers from  Wild Orchid Crafts  and wrapped it with beautiful lace from the same company.

The little baby bib that I have used at the top of the box is from Mei Flower  but there are many more baby items on their website

Now if you don't stuff yours as full as I have then you may be able to get it into an envelope ... but I have no chance with mine !!

There is another video that will show you how to create a bigger box to put this one into and it makes a really special gift and can be for any occasion and I will add that tomorrow.

So Happy Crafting and I know that you will like the gifts that you are going to make.

Please remember ...

You now have three places to visit for ideas or tutorials ... Video Tutorials at the top ... Tuesday Tutorials in the sidebar to the right ... and  Inspiration  at the top left of the pages.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Orange Card Winner ....

Hi Everybody,

I am writing this blog post in a bumpy car on my way to IKEA. I want to get some drawers that will fit into the unit that I have in my craft room. That will give me more storage space

Every time Griff goes over a bump I hit the wrong key and so it is taking me some time to write this post ..... Oh good we have just pulled up for fuel.

So the winner of the card has been chosen and it is you ...

Vicki ...
Please email me

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the card will be on its way to you. You have 48 hours to claim the card

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie 085

Hi Everybody,

This card is created with Centura Pearl that has been embossed with the Regency Swirls 8x8" Folder from Crafters Companion

The oval is from Spellbinders Heirloom Oval and I have inked through the die before removing the card.

A soft orange ribbon has been threaded through the oval and then added to the card with foam tape to raise it up.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and they have all been sparkled with fine glitter from Glitter Magic

If you would like to own this card then all you have to do is leave me a comment and join the group of followers to the blog

From those comment that are added one name will be chosen at random and the name announced in tomorrows blog post.

If you add your comment then please come back and check if it is you who has won and you will have 48 hours in which to claim the card by emailing me your full postal address with postcode and country.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Playtime ...

Hi Everybody,

So on a wet Saturday ... which turned out to be quite nice in the end ... I played with watercolours and these are some of the things I did.

I used Brusho Crystals for some and Distress Inks for the others.  I varied the colours used but I stamped them all with the same sentiment stamp.

The stamp was Grand Greetings from My Favorite Things and there are  four really useful ones on the sheet


Here are the first three that I created with the Brusho Crystals and they have all been dressed with flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts 

For this one I have used Purple Lemon and Ultra Marine

The butterfly is velvet and just adds that final touch.

All three have the addition of a  Hat pin to the flowers

This one is created with just the Scarlet crystals from the 12 colour pack

The variations in the colours are achieved simply by adding water from a spray bottle

And last but not least a card with Yellow and Turquoise

I am really pleased with the way all these have turned out and the flowers are the crowning glory in all of them




Tomorrow is FF day so I will show you the ones created with Distress Inks next week

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

International Ambassadors Informal Blog Hop

Hi Everybody,

Here we are again with another IA informal Blog Hop and this is the ninth one that we have done.

The International Ambassadors are based around the world and we thought it would a good idea for you to get to know each of us and our individual styles.

Please pop along and visit the others as I know they would love to get comments from you all.

And I hope you enjoy your journey around the globe to see ...

Linda Lucas - Australia
Yvonne van der Grijp - Netherlands
Christine Emberson - UK

Our theme for this month is to recycle/upcycle an item and for my project I chose to alter an inexpensive notebook from a local stationery store

I covered the book in dark blue paper and then add a patterned layer to the top and rounder the corners.

I added in the Petite Monarch border strip and then covered the edge with ribbon and pearls.

I cut the Interlocking Love  three times in blue, with the two pieces to the die set ,and backed them onto white with the solid die

One of them I punched a hole at the top and threaded it with ribbon for a bookmark.

The other two I staggered onto the front of the card and added  Just A Note ... across the panels.  For my floral touch I used Pretty Petals B  and combined it with Foliage

The ribbon is from Mei Flower and the pearl centres to my flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tuesday Tutorial - Up and Away

Hi Everybody,

Today I am using one of the little fun dies from Spellbinders and this one is called Up and Away. This is the only die used on the card but it is very effective for many occasions.

Spellbinders Supplies:

• IN-050 Up and Away
• GC-200 Grand Calibur

Other Supplies:

• Kraft Card
• Glossy Accents
• Atlas Paper
• Black Fine liner Pen 

Instructions:

Fold an A4 piece of Kraft card in half and then cut it in half to produce two card blanks for you to work with.  Pop the other on one side for another project. Cut a slightly smaller black layer and then another smaller layer from the Atlas paper.

Stamp and emboss your sentiment on to the front of the paper in the position you want it.

From the Kraft card cut two of the balloons, baskets, and basket trim and ink through the die before removing the balloons die. 

Layer the panels together with glue and add the balloons and baskets in the position you like and add the little top to the baskets with a thin piece of foam tape.

With your black pen draw in the string to hold the basket to the balloon. And make some small curved "V" shapes to represent flying birds in the distance.

Designers Tip:

Cut the balloons from colored card and ink through the die and add glossy accents to make them shine. Keep them flat and level until the glossy accents is dry otherwise it will run off the shapes.

Creating A Background ...

Hi Everybody,

When I used this background I had several emails asking me to show you how I did it.

So this has been the subject of another video tutorial that we did last week.

This uses Distress Inks and is very easy to do.

The card on the right is very bright, but in the video I did one in more autumnal colours and it would be ideal for any cards that you make for the men in your life.

I listed all the inks I used and showed you in which combination for the different looks in the tutorial Distress Ink Background

I dressed my card up with flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts  but this tortoiseshell look would be suitable for anybody.

The die I have used is #2 from Fleur de Elegance  and I cut it in an antique gold card

I found the gold sequins in a box that was lurking in a cupboard  when I was clearing out my craft room a few weeks ago ... and I knew they would come in handy !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Another Video ...

Hi Everybody,

This video tutorial was added to YouTube last week and takes you through the steps I made to create the   Scalloped Pop Up Box.

It is one of several that have been added to the website in the last few days and I do hope that you will enjoy it

This is a die from Spellbinders and it is a useful addition to your crafty stash.

But I do appreciate  that not everybody can get these dies and so I am going to do another tutorial to make the box without using a die.

I will post the link on this blog once it is done

It takes a little while to get all the elements cut but once they are it is the fun part of putting it al ,,together.

So make a cuppa and then click the link Spellbinders Pop Up Box   to go to the page for this pretty little box

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

And the winner is ...

Hi Everybody,

Hope you are all well on this wet Saturday morning. I am going to make the most of today and maybe play a little more with some water colors.

 I will be sure to show you what I come up with .... Aaaaaand  I have some more video tutorials to complete and add to my website  Card Making Magic

The winner of the weaved card has been chosen and it will be on its way to you ....

Dorothy Flear ...
please email me your postal address to
christina@card-making-magic.com
and the card will be on its way to you straight away

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - 084

Hi Everybody,

Today card is created from the  Weaving Dies  by Sue Wilson.

To get this look you will need to buy both sets of dies so that you can weave the two together

They are easy sets to use and  can give you some lovely effects.

Here I have teamed it with the Grand Large Labels that sadly is now retired from the Spellbinders Website.

You may still be able to get if from other suppliers so it's worth looking for as it makes lovely shaped base cards ... it remains one of my favorites still

The flowers I have used are fromWild Orchid Crafts  and are a pretty display of Tulips, Magnolia,  Roses, Cherry Blossom and Gypsophilia

Now if you would like to own this card then all you have to do is leave me a comment at the bottom of the page and join the group of followers.

Then a name will be drawn from the comments and you will be notified in tomorrows blog post.

Please come back to check if it is you as you will only have 48 hours in which to claim the card.

And I know I have said it before ... and I really don't want it to sound like a moan, but if you are not available to claim the prize then do not add your name.

It is not fair on others who would really love to win what I have on offer.

The reason I mention this again is because one of the Bank Holiday Prizes was not claimed,  and it was such a good bundle to win, and also one of the 12 character cards from a previous FF was also not claimed.

The Bank Hol package will be offered again later on and somebody will get another chance to win a super prize.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Brusho Crystal Colours

Hi Everybody,

So today is Griffs' Birthday and tonight we are going out to our favorite restaurant.

Over the last few days I have kept him busy and we have been adding new videos to the website

Altogether there have been several completed tutorials and I will add them over the next few days.

This  one was to show you how I used the Brusho Crystal Colours that I bought at the craft show the other week.

These are so much fun to play with and no two cards will ever look the same.  I did the two blue roses  above with the same colours, stamps and sentiment but they do not look the same.

And yesterday the ladies in my card class also got to play with them too. 

This is their first attempt and both seemed to enjoy the process. These two cards are what they produced.

The Brusho colours are very vibrant and need to be used sparingly. But I know you will love them if you do get some to play with

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx