Making Boxes ..

Hi Everybody,

I have had an email from a lady who has bought the Complete Card & Box Die Set and is disappointed that the box will not go through her smaller die cutting machine

By virtue of the size of the finished BOX you will need an A4 cutting platform to use them.

The box may be a 5x7 but it has one inch sides to be able to make into a box, and the tuck in fold at the top, and so the die is almost 7½ x 10 ½ and is never going to fit through a 6" gap.

The 6" box in 8x8¾ and again will not fit through  the smaller machines.

But there is a way around this and I have done a video to show you how to overcome this minor problem without going to the expense of buying a larger machine.

 Every other die and folder CAN be used with the 6" platform

I hope it goes some way to answering any questions you may have and will not stop you from buying any of the other beautiful dies in either of these collections

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Clean and Simple

Hi Everybody,

This little card is created very simply in shades of grey and peach.

I did the ink smooshing technique on some water coloured card with Distress Oxide Inks and then cut both layers of the butterfly from it

I have die cut the words in black three times and stacked them for depth and used a black mat to tie the layers all together

The stripes are made with a stencil and some grey ink very lightly for the background and tiny hearts added in the same grey

The butterfly is from the Layered Butterflies die set from Card Making Magic.

The flourish along the body line and for the trail is from Want2Scrap  

Very easy and very simply but really pretty in the hand and would be suitable for a male card too. Swap out the sentiment to match the occasion 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Ruby Update ...

Hi Everybody,

I haven't been to visit you for a little while but I have been having lots of fun with my Mum and Dad.

I will be two years old in August and I am really beautiful now. 

Here  I am with my summer cut and it is much cooler when I run around and play.

My best friend Dougal is coming to play today and we had fun in Witch Wood last weekend  chasing balls and sticks ... but I am not allowed to chase squirrels.

Here is a little video of us playing and I am the one making all the noise ... just to let Dougal know who is the boss !!

I like to go to the beach too and especially if I can go in the sea and have a splash about

My mum has got a paddling pool in the back garden for me and I like to go in there to cool my paws down when its a hot day.

More tomorrow ...

 Bye for now xx

Card & Gift Winner

Hi Everybody,

A beautiful day here and I hope it is the same in your part of the world. 

 Can you believe that July is with us already ?? 

Could somebody tell me what happened to May and June.

The draw for yesterdays prize has been done and the name this week is ...

Carole Eaton

would you email me your postal address please to :

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the gift will be on its way to you.

Sadly last weeks prize of the Sparkling Snowflake  has not been claimed and so it will be offered again at a later date

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie -Hearts & Flowers Stamps and Embossing Folder

Hi Everybody,

Today's gift is part of the All Occasions  Collection and the original folder took the craft world by storm.

It proved so popular that it sells out every time it is back on the Craft Stash website. 

It has a video to show you how I used it and it is  called Hearts & Flowers 

So here is your chance to get this for free and all you need to do is leave me a comment and your FULL name.

I will select one name from those comments to be the winner and the name will be in tomorrows blog post.

I am happy to send them wherever you live and you can still enter even if you have won something before. Good Luck everybody 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Glazed Distress Oxides

Hi Everybody,

This techniques is a lot of fun and no two will ever look the same no matter how hard you try.

Let the inks build up the layers and don't worry about it as you work, but choose the colours that will compliment your image or colour scheme.

The Oxides will dry with a chalky look but once you add the glaze all the under colours will come out and the effect is really lovely.

Have fun as you play ... that is what crafting is all about and you will be amazed at the different effects you will get from other colours

When you make them into cards add embellishments to enhance the colours. Die cut them or make them into strips and weave them. Add other die cuts to them ... especially a large sentiment or simply add flowers as I did with one of mine.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Creative Stamping 59 - Summer Holiday

Hi Everybody,

A fabulous A4 stamp set with a summer theme to help you build your collection. Perfect for invitations.

If you make cards for Girl Guides or Scouts then this is going to be the answer to your makes.

There are lots of images to scene build if you enjoy masking when you stamp ... or simply stamp, colour and cut out if you prefer.

The images above have been fussy cut and added with with pads

You can have lots of fun with this free gift and it will be in the shops tomorrow the 5th July.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Fancy Nesting Rectangles

Hi Everybody,

Today's card is created in soft green and lemon and I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but it is really pretty in the hand

I added in lace, flowers and ribbons and some lovely  rainbow gems from Crafti Potential for added sparkle

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and I have added a mixture of  Roses, Daffodils and Tulips in yellow and white

I always add them with a hot glue gun for extra security but you need to be careful if you try a hot gun as the glue gets very hot and it will burn your fingers if you don't take care
 .....  How do I know this ????   Ouch !!!!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spellbinders Floral Oval

Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is created with one of the new dies from Spellbinders and it is the Floral Oval designed by Marisa Job

The finished card is an A2 size and I have backed the trellis with parchment. I have also added it to a silver oval but I can't remember the name of the die

The flowers and leaves have been coloured with Copics and the whole effect is very pleasing

Add in a different sentiment and it would be suitable for any occasion.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tonic Craft Kit 11 - Festive Wishes

Hi Everybody,

I am late with this months video for Tonic and I am really sorry for the delay. 

But here it is and for this I have used the

 Craft Kit 11 - Festive Wishes.

It has lots of dies that can be used for a Christmas theme but you can also use it all year round for other types of card too.

 In the video I have used several techniques that have been covered in other videos to show the versatility of the kit.

This card has been turned into a birthday card and I used a stencil to add the Glimmer Paste

The kits are available from Tonic Studios at the links below ...

UK & Europe

US & North America 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card & Gift Winner

Hi Everybody,

I have been offering the magazine freebies now for quite some time and just to make things clear I am offering one of the cards made in the video along with the gift itself.  So yesterdays freebie with the Sparkling Snowflake will also come with the card shown in the photo.

I include a link to the video to refresh your memory of other ideas that you can do with this die set and I send it out as soon as I can to the winner. 

You don't need to have your own blog, and I am not concerned with where in the world you are ... I am happy to send the prize to you anywhere at MY expense. And it doesn't matter if you have won before you can still enter.  

But I do need your Full name  added to the comment that you leave so that there will be no confusion over the winner.  One week I had three people all claiming the one prize so please help me with this request and leave your full name or it will not be added to the draw.

The winner this week is ....

Monica Mueller

please would you email me your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and they will be sent to you straight away.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Sparkling Snowflake

Hi Everybody,

Back to the Christmas Theme again for today's card and gift offer. 

This one is a 2 piece die set that you can cut into to alter the look and the video that accompanied it is here 

 Sparkling Snowflake 

If you would like to have this gift then all you need to do is leave me your comment and FULL name at the end of the blog post.

From those comments one name will be drawn and announced in tomorrows blog so be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown as you will have 72 hours in which to claim your prize

More tomorrow ...

Hugsxx 

Letterpress with Embossing Folders from Card Making Magic

Hi Everybody,

Today I have done some Letter pressing with the folders from my 6x6 Collection, Sunburst and Leafy Frame

In the video I show you the two different looks you can achieve by inking opposite sides to the folder.

You can try this with any embossing folder that you may already have in your crafting goodies

Different colour schemes and the flowers that you add will  alter the look for you and you can make it for any occasion that you need.

I am really pleased with both but my favorite one is the Turquoise and white combination as I think it is so vibrant.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Simply Cards & Papercraft 179 - Botanical Border

Hi Everybody,

There is a lovely die and stamp set with this months Simply Cards & Papercraft magazine and I had a lot of fun playing with it.

I made some really pretty cards all in the same colour scheme and they are shown in the video.

There are more ideas in the pages of the magazine and so grab a cuppa and settle down for a little relaxing "Me Time" 

I like the chosen colours too as they go so well together and I used Distress Oxides in Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet, Fossilised Amber and Peeled Paint with the odd touch of Picked Raspberry on a couple of the cards. 

There is so much you can do with the stamp set and it will suit many many occasions. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Quick & Easy "Thank You" card

Hi Everybody,

There are certain kinds of cards that it is always good to keep a supply of them ready to use.

Thank You ... Birthdays ... Congratulations etc .... you just never know when one will be needed in a hurry for your self or someone in your family needs one.

This was so easy to do and the dies made the card for me with very little effort on my part

Both of my collection are available at Craft Stash with a Christmas Collection coming soon

The video is not long so have a coffee break while you watch

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx