Using Ink Dusters

Hi Everybody,

Do you sometimes find it difficult to blend inks and get a good result?

I know many people struggle with blending tools or the Cut 'n Dry pads as they sometimes make the ink blotchy on your cards

Ink Dusters could be your answer and they have been around for a long time and they are really useful at getting that water based ink to mix

Hopefully this video will show you how easy they are to use ... Distress Inks and Stencils

I have used Distress Inks here and in the video I tell you the colours that I used. My stencil is from AnnaMarie Designs

There is also a product list at the bottom of the post.

These are very easy to use and I would advise you to start off very lightly and build up the colours as you need

I bought mine from Inkylicous and they are  a UK company.

The bristles very soft to help blend easily. The inks may stain the bristles but as long as you clean them on a paper towel then the ink shouldn't transfer.

You can wash them in warm soapy water but allow them to dry completely and naturally before you use them again

Try to keep one end for each colour group and that should help a lot.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Stencils Archives - Anna Marie Designs	Painted Inspiration	Ink Dusters	Ranger DIS-27133 Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad, Forest Moss
Ranger DIS-27195 Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad, Victorian Velvet	Ranger DIS-27102 Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad, Bundled Sage

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Water Colour Wednesday - Brusho Crystals

Hi Everybody,

For todays card I got out the Burshos again to make a really simple purple background for my design

Once the card was dry I just cut out the circle ... and kept it for another project

Behind the aperture I added in some embossed parchment and then placed foam tape around the sides of the card

I also put some around the aperture to support it then added it to a white top folded card base.

The diamante flourish is from  Want2Scrap  and I cut in two and added it so that it looks as if it runs through the sentiment.

The finished card is 5x7 and it really is a simple card ... with no flowers anywhere to be seen.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tuesday Tutorial - A2 sized card

Hi Everybody,

For todays card I am going to make use of those A2 Matting Basics that you may have in your "Stash"  I am also incorporating some of the Distressed Edges that I must admit to not having used for a long time. I am keeping this as a clean and simple card.

Spellbinders Supplies:

• S5-131 A2 Matting Basics A
• S5-132 A2 Matting Basics B
• S5-174  A2 Distressed Edges (Retired)
• E3DS-006 Need a Rope (Embossing  Folder)
• SES-006 Circles and Diamonds (Embossing Folder)
• S4-642 Twisted Floral Tags
• S2-187 Happy Birthday Garland
• PL-001 Platinum Die Cutting Machine

Other Supplies:

• Card from Papermill Direct
• Bakers Twine from Wild Orchid Crafts
• Charm from "Stash"

Instructions:

With die #8 from the A set cut two in cream and Create a Hinged card

With #7 from Distressed Edges cut one in turquoise

With #7 from Matting Basics A cut a layer in cream

With #8 from Matting Basics B cut a layer in turquoise

With #6 from Distressed Edges cut the last layer in cream.

(Die #1 is always the smallest)

Emboss the last two layers that you have cut and  use a different pattern on each one.

Layer together with foam tape in between 

With the double ended tag I have cut this twice and glued them together for strength

Add to the previous layers with foam tape and wrap all these layers with Bakers Twine splaying out the strands as you go.

Tie a knot where they cross over and add in your charm, tying in another knot to keep the charm in place.  

Finish by tying a small bow in the twine. 

Dot with a little glue to stop the bow untying 

Flat glue the cream and turquoise middle layers together and add to the base card with foam tape.

Add the embossed panel to the top of these and then add all to the base card ... making sure that you have everything the correct way round

Cut the sentiment three times and glue together for strength and then with your scissors divide the words and add to the front panel of your card

I have added in no other embellishments to this card and although there is depth to it you will still be able to get it into a standard sized envelope

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

A-2 Matting Basics A Card Creator Etched Dies	A-2 Matting Basics B Card Creator Etched Dies	Platinum Die Cutting and Embossing Machine	Need a Rope? Embossing Folders
Em-bossing Fold'ers Circles and Diamonds 4.25 x 5.5 in Single Sided	Shapeabilities Stacey Caron Botanical Bliss Twisted Floral Tags Etched Dies	Die D-Lites Let's Party Happy Birthday Garland Etched Dies	Bakers Twine
PICK & MIX

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Circle Card - Shabby Chic

Hi Everybody,

This card is a little bigger as I have used die #2 from the Grand Circle to create the base.

The background is some Digital paper that I have stored on my PC and can print off whenever I need some fresh ones

I have teamed the lilac with large cream organza roses and cut one of them in half and used it to fill the distressed edges to the paper.

The flower display compliments the card and the metal pieces give it an antique look

I dotted around the edges and the petals with Gold Stickles and I am quite pleased with the end result.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Antique Embellishments	Nestabilities Royal Circle Etched Dies	Flat Backed Pearls	Mulberry Paper Flowers
PICK & MIX	Platinum Die Cutting and Embossing Machine

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Todays Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

What a good response for the card and die this week so Thank You if you have left your comment. It is nice to know that you are out there and if you haven't won this week please pop by next Friday for another chance to win a card and die set.

This afternoon my "Film Crew" will be setting up the cameras as we have a lot of videos to get ready so after this post is done it will be ".... Camera ... Action ... Roll ..."

Tomorrow I will be having a well earned day off and maybe some roast beef out somewhere for Sunday Lunch

So the draw has been done and the winner this week is you ...

Betty McAlister

please send me your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the card will be on its way to you straight away.

I hope you like it and I hope you will let me know when you have it with you

Another offer next week

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Card & Die 1

Hi Everybody,

Every Friday I have given away one of the cards that I make and this week is no exception

The difference is that for the whole of July I will will be giving away a Celebrations die with each card

You will be able to add some pretty embellishments to your cards with any of the dies that will be on offer.

This first one is the Rosette Blooms and there are two dies in this set. The card has been water coloured with Distress Inks in one of my favorite colour combinations of yellow and pink.

So that is five Fridays with the chance to win a card and a Spellbinders die each week and all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post.

Don't forget to come back in the morning and check if it is YOU

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Create a Rainbow

Hi Everybody,

I really had some fun making this little card and I used my Circles dies from Spellbinders to get the look.

The card is created with Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics A and B

I used my Spectrum Noir pens for the vibrant rainbow and it is so easy to do.

You could use any pens that you have or even water colour the rainbow instead

Create A Rainbow is on YouTube today so please pop over and take a look.

I only used white card for everything and we all probably have some white card in our crafting "Stash"

The sentiment is stamped and embossed in white onto parchment that I bought form AnnaMarie Designs

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

A-2 Matting Basics B Card Creator Etched Dies	A-2 Matting Basics A Card Creator Etched Dies	Nestabilities Standard Circles LG Etched Dies	Shapeabilities Inspire Rainy Day Etched Dies
Clouds embossing folder	Spectrum Noir Pens	Sentimentals stamps	PICK & MIX

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Water Colour Wednesday - Delivering Parcels !!

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is created with a Christmas stamp but I didn't want it to look overly wintry

So I decided to paint it with brighter colours

I used Gansai Tambi water colours and I added in some lace from Wild Orchid Crafts  and a die cut shape just sitting in my bit box.

Waste not, want not ... as the saying goes so I used up what was there.

I also added in the stripes to the scarf by hand with a black fine liner pen. It just adds a little interest to the stamp.

Information

Over the last few weeks I have added several cards to YouTube and said that they are A2 size and from a comment that has been left on my channel somebody has disagreed with me. 

Now a few years ago I added a video about our UK A2 size and the US A2 size and the difference is enormous and I thought it was worth explaining just how much

More About Card Sizes  was added for that purpose and so if you haven't seen the video and are a little confused about the sizes then here is the link again with the explanation. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tuesday Tutorial - Matting Basics

Hi Everybody,

The main feature of todays card is layers and frames and to show you how easy it is to get the double frame around the sentiment.  You could add in any flourish die that you have to surround your flowers to make a really pretty display

Spellbinders Supplies:

• S6-001 5x7 Matting Basics A
• S6-002 5x7 Matting Basics B
• S4-430 Foliage Flourish
• SEL-007 Blistered embossing folder
• PL-001 Platinum Machine

Other Supplies:

•  Flowers/Lace/Dove from WOC
• Chameleon Glitter from Glitter Magic
• Woodware Stamp
• La Creme pearls from Want2Scrap
• Cream card from Papermill Direct
• Kraft Card from AnnaMarie Designs

Instructions:

With die #7 from Matting Basics A cut two from Kraft card and Create a Hinged Card

With #7 from the Matting Basics B cut one layer in cream

Flat glue this to the base card

=========

With #6 from the A set cut another layer in Kraft card

With #6 from the B set cut another layer in cream and emboss with the folder.

Flat glue these two together and then wrap with lace or ribbon

Add foam tape to the back of these and add to the base layers

(Please remember that die #1 is always the smallest)

From Matting Basics A take dies #1 and 2 and 3 and lay them all together on some Kraft card and tape in place and just EMBOSS ... this is an important step

Once embossed carefully remove the centre die, without disturbing the others, and now you can CUT

This will give you the impression that the frame is double layered.

Add foam pads to the back of the frame

Stamp and heat emboss the sentiment of your choice and cut it out with die #3

Add the frame to the top and press down

Add more foam pads to the back of this panel

Layer  the sentiment panel to the front of the card off setting it as you do. 

Arrange the flourish, flowers, pearls and the dove as you would like them 

Sprinkle the petals with some glitter for effect

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

5x7 Matting Basics A	5x7 Matting Basics B	Shapeabilities Foliage Flourish Etched Dies	Guipure Lace Trim
Wild Orchid Crafts	Doves	Chameleon Glitter	PICK & MIX

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