Backgrounds - Leaf Print Stamp

Hi Everybody,

Creating backgrounds to suit your designs is always something that I like to do. You can always be sure that it matches

And  getting value for money by using the same stamp in various ways is an added bonus too.

So when I made this card to the right with the new background stamps from Craft Stash my mind was thinking how else I could make use of these lovely stamps.effect

I really liked the Autumn look and the video will show you how I made both of these  with Distress Oxide Inks

I created them with the same technique but cutting the leaves away with scissors in one gave me another look. Both very effective and bright coloured cards that could be ideal for  the men in your family

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card & Gift Winner

Hi Everybody,

These Saturdays are coming round too fast and it's almost February already. And once again it is raining. I am really looking forward to some nice warm weather and I am hoping we have a good summer this year.

The draw for the Freshwater friends die set and card from yesterday has been done and the name picked at random this week is YOU ...

Diana Lawton

please would you send me your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and they will be on their way to you straight away.

I hope you will join me next week for some really pretty cards all created in videos for you to view, and of course another card and gift offered next Friday.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Friday Freebie - Freshwater Friends

Hi Everybody,

Today's Friday Freebie is called Freshwater Friends and the card in the video is not the same one being offered with the gift ... simply because I cannot find it.

But the gift is a useful addition to any collection and you can build your own scenes as you go along.

The video Freshwater Friends is here for you to view and may give you some other ideas on how to use this set

If you would like to win this one then leave me a comment at the end of the blog post and a name will be drawn from them and announced in tomorrows blog post.

Good luck to everybody and don't forget to come back and check if it is your name that is listed

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tonic Craft Kit 06

Hi Everybody,

The new Craft Kit from Tonic will be with you in February and here is my take on the beautiful Butterfly die that inside.

The papers and card are gorgeous and the quality is second to none.

And there is so much in the kit that you will be able to make lots of cards using it.

In the pack there are some glass jars of glitter along with glitter pens that will co-ordinate with the papers

The large die makes a beautiful Easel Card and there are smaller butterflies to decorate with and they will work well with the stamps too to create backgrounds to match your designs

The kits are available from Tonic Studios
 UK & Europe  
 US & North America  

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Simply Cards & Papercraft 173 - Butterfly Dreams

Hi Everybody,

The gift that is free with SC&P 173 this month is perfect for adding detail to any of your cards and I have had such a lot of fun playing with it.

I am more than happy with all the cards I created and I kept the colours bright and vibrant.

It will make both male and female cards ... depending on the way you dress it, but as usual I enjoy making the girly ones the most.

The embossing folder is just the right size for A2 cards and I have used it to Letterpress several of my designs with really good results

The flowers in the die set are not big but they are really pretty and you can colour them anyway you wish, or simply cut them from Coloured card


The video will show you how to get another 2 fer 1 card by thinking about placement before you die cut

So I hope you have a cuppa and the biscuits ready while you relax and view

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Aperture Card & Envelope

Hi Everybody,

Today's card is a blue "Thank You" card and because it is relatively flat it doesn't need a box

And so in this video I have used the Happy Mail stamp set to add interest to an envelope

I created a stencil from the Petal Trellis and used Blue Print Sketch to colour the back and front of it

I also used the same ink to add the label on the back of the card from the Happy Mail stamps

Both of these items make the card a little more personal for your recipient

Here is the video ...

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

2 fer 1- Negative & Positive

Hi Everybody,

Today's featured cards are another of the two for one cards that you can get by simply using the negative piece as well as the positive one.

For the first card I have used the Wonky Stitches die from Craft Stash and added Brusho Crystal Colours to some plain white card

The Hexagon shapes have been cut and added to an embossed background with foam pads beneath to raise them up.

Then with the piece that was left I have added in  ....

... some of the monsters that are available from Craft stash.

These cute characters are just perfect for children's birthdays and I had a lot of fun playing with them.

They are stamps and matching dies to make things a little easier.

And there is no waste at all from this piece of card and that has to be a satisfying feeling when you save money

I added two videos using the Wonky Stitches Collection and one with the Monsters to give you ideas.

And in case you missed them they are the Hexagons  and the Ovals   and  Magic Meets the Monsters  and here they are again for you to view

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Shabby Chic with Card Making Magic

Hi Everybody,

Every part of my Christina Collection has been so very well received and if you bought some of it then I hope you are enjoying playing with it. 

 Over the last few months I have tried to show you just how versatile this collection of dies, stamps, stencils and folders can be.

And many of you have said that the videos help a lot in showing you new techniques or putting things together.

I have included the clean and simple cards ...

... to those with all the bells and whistles attached and both of these have been covered in videos and added to the blog.

Don't forget that there is now a dedicated page that is permanently displayed for you with all the Christina Collection Videos in one place and you will find that in the side bar to your right.

But today I wanted to share a card picture that takes the dies to another style that I really love making.

The Shabby Chic card featured below is one of my favourite ways to make a truly feminine card and on this I can add all the beautiful things I like to include on my designs Flowers, Ribbons and Pearls !!

I didn't film the making of this card but that can easily be rectified if you would like one. Just let me know in the comments underneath the post and your wish will be done

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card and Gift Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

It's raining .... It's pouring and poor Ruby wants to go out in it for her walk ... no chance !!

Here she is being groomed instead and not looking too happy about it .

The draw for the Gnomes offered yesterday has been done and the name chosen at random is YOU ...

CraftyCoffey

Please email me your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the little fellas will be on their way to you.

But if you really love them and would like some for yourself then don't forget that you can purchase the larger set from Craft Stash and they are not expensive but they are a whole lot of fun

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Enchanted Corner

Hi Everybody,

This has to be one of my most favourite free gifts ever and I had so much fun with these Gnomes.

I did a video on colouring these little fellas with Alcohol Markers and varied the look in each one

Colouring Gnomes 

The video with the magazine is Enchanted Corner 

So now I am offering this set as a give away and if you would like to have it then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post.

From those comments one name will be chosen at random and the winner announced in tomorrows blog post.

But if you are not lucky enough to win this gift and you love these Gnomes then you can buy your own set of stamps and dies from Craft Stash and there are more features on the bought ones.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Silver Embossed Wedding Card

Hi Everybody,

This very special wedding card is created with items from the Christina Collection 

I made the box to match it. 

 I used Versamark to Letterpress and I know that this is a new technique to some of you.

But it is quite easy to do and so I hope the video gives you a little bit of confidence to give it a try.

I did the same technique with Gold powder and that turned out beautiful also.

Uisng the stencil on the embossing sandwich in your machine will give a very pretty effect.

Not as deep as the embossing folders but just as effective

Both of the ribbons are  from Deco Fun Bowmaker

and they are a lovely quality satin 

I hope you enjoy the short video and will come back to watch more as they are added.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Die Cutting Essentials 33 Cherry Tree Die Set

Hi Everybody,

Die Cutting essentials will be on sale on the 18th January and has a two piece die set with it this month.

Plus the opportunity for you to get a large sentiments stamp set for half price which covers lots of occasions that you may need.

I really enjoyed playing with this die as it produces a lovely filigree panel for you to use in may ways.

There are lots more idea in the magazine for you to try with this free gift as well as other ideas

I kept my colours to shade of pink for these cards and I am not unhappy with the way they have turned out.

I hope as always that you enjoy the video and this one is not long. I am trying to keep them short so as not to take up too much of your precious time

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Water Coloured Leafy Embossing Folder

Hi Everybody,

Yesterday I showed you some cards made with the new embossing folders that have been added to the "Christina Collection"

Today I am adding the video to the first one and for this I have used water colours and gilding flakes for a really pretty look to the card.

Because it is not too flowery it would be suitable for the male members we need to make cards for.

But you can always dress it up anyway you like with flowers, ribbons and pearls !!

I have given you a couple of tips in the video about Gilding Flakes and the main one is that they are very fly away.  Don't use them near open widows or a fan or you will be finding them everywhere.

It is easier once opened to put them into a larger container because they do swell up quite a lot once they air gets to them. It only looks a small amount in the pots they come in but there is really a lot and it will go along way. There are many different mixes as well as the plain gold or silver so have a look and see what you like 

I hope you enjoy the video and will give the flakes a try. They will give you a luxury look to any of your designs.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

New Embossing Folders

Hi Everybody,

I have been playing with the new embossing folders to the Christina Collection and I wanted to share some new photos with you before I add them as videos. 

 Each one has been a pleasure to work with and I have enjoyed seeing what I can come up with

The first photo is using the Leaf folder and on this I have embossed it and then water coloured the leaves.

Once it was dry I added glue pen to outline some of the leaves and I added Gilding Flakes to them.

I  matted the panel on to some green card and surrounded the edge with diamante.

The verse has been stamped and foiled and added to a silver label with foam tape between the layers.

This one has been Letterpressed  and I used the Happy Birthday folder.

I trimmed it down and added it with foam tape to another Quatrefoil embossed layer. 

I dotted it with pearls to highlight the pattern and ran pearl strips down each side.

The ribbon, bow and dazzler just add that little bit extra to an easy to create birthday card

This one is a little more elaborate and for this I have used the Flourish folder which I Letterpressed with Versamark and then heat embossed with sparkly powder

The Autumn coloured flowers are added around the foiled sentiment and the lace, ribbon and pearls are a luxury touch to the card. 

Very pretty and feminine and sure to please.

Make a box to match this and give it with love

So each of these cards will be added as a tutorial  to the Blog pages as they are done

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx  

Letterpress Birthday Card

Hi Everybody,

Today I am using the new embossing folders available in the Christina Collection and I have made a card for the men in your life.

With the stamps in  the Masculine Additions you can swap out dad for son or brother if you preferred.

I used Blue Print Sketch ink because it blends nicely with the card that I have used and that is Marine Blue from Papermill Direct

The video is not long but I hope you enjoy it and will try out some of these ideas in your own cardmaking

The finished card is still a 5x7 but is flat enough to fit into an envelope and so save on postage

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx