Blue & White Shaker Card

Hi Everybody,

Here is another video for you to view this week using the same 6x6 Card and Box die set as yesterday

This is a shaker card and if you are new to card making then please don't be intimidated as they are really easy to create

I will show you step by step how I made this one and then you can ad your own artistic flare to it and make beautiful designs

I have used only elements from the die set and a few sequins from my stash and I am more than happy with the result.

The little Easel card Stand just adds that little bit extra for your recipient to display it on their mantle shelf for everybody to see the wonderful card that you made especially for them

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Teal & Pink Floral Card

Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is created with the 6x6 Card and Box Die Set

 I have added in the flowers, ribbons and pearls from my Embellishments to make it really feminine, and combined them with others from Wild Orchid Crafts

It is in teal and pink on a white card base and it looks really special in the hand. 

I haven't made the box for this one but the flowers are deep as so you would need one to give or send the card

There are lots of layers to this card and the inside is also lined so make sure you have enough matching card before you start.

And of course extra if you wanted the box to match too.

But I am sure you will agree that is it a very pretty creation and I would be more than happy to get a card like this for my birthday 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card & Gift Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

No lazing in bed today Ruby and I are up early and raring to go .... well sort of !!

It's icy cold out there so we won't be going far today, there's even ice on the beach.

The draw has been done early to and then name this week is ...

Anne Owens

please send your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the gift will be on it's way to you straight away

Please let me know that you have it safely

Now it's heating on and time to go and play with Ruby to stop her being bored until the ice goes a little and we can go out for a walk.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie- Teacup Garden

Hi Everybody,

Another fun stamp and die set on offer this week and this again was one I enjoyed playing with.

You can create your garden with the stamps and you will find lots of ideas on the back of the package and of course the video

Teacup Garden 

If this is a set that you would like to have then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post.

One name will be chosen as the winner and announced in tomorrows post so be sure to come back and check if it is you.

If you haven't claimed it after 72 hours it will be withdrawn and offered again at a later date.

So don't miss your chance.  The names of the winners each week are added to the Winners page in the side bar to your left.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Rainbow of Happiness

Hi Everybody,

Today's card is created with one of the new border dies from Card Making Magic and it was shown on the Hochanda show a few weeks ago.

It is really simple card to make and is bright and cheerful on a wt rainy day.

You can use different colours of cards or colour the card with inks or markers to get the colours you need for the rainbow.

I cut each colour with the die once in rainbow colours and then glued them onto my card layer leaving the bottom ends free.

I added a tiny gemstone to each scallop for an added touch and I really liked the result.

So why not give it a try if you like rainbows too and I promise you it is is very easy to create.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Creative Stamping 67 - Vintage Collage

Hi Everybody,

This months Creative Stamping has a beautiful A4 stamp set that is full of images to help you create beautiful cards and it will be on sale on the 31 st January

There are 36 stamps on the sheet and so you can mix and match for any vintage look you would like to create.

I had a lot of fun playing with this and I stayed with the Vintage theme for most of them.

I did try to show you how you can get a super modern floral look with a water coloured one and it is super bright.

I have no magazine to show how it will look on the shelves but don't let that stop you.

If you would like this set then have a  good look for

 Creative Stamping 67 

on the 31 st January in a supermarket near you

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

Floral Card from Card making Magic

Hi Everybody,

Today's card is another sample from the ones I made for Hochanda and once again I have used the Spring-Summer Stamp and Die set.

I have stamped all my images onto white card and then coloured them and the die cuts with Copics

This is such a bright and cheerful card and could be for any occasion.

I have used the Sentiments Stamp & Die Set for mine.

The background has been created with  stencil made from the Trellis die in the set and coloured in a very pale pink.

The flowers, bee and butterflies have been added with foam pads to give different heights 

Tiny gemstones have been used to add the sparkle to the flower centres and I would be more than happy to get a card like this for my birthday

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spring-Summer Stamp & Die Set

Hi Everybody,

This pretty layered card has used lots of dies from different sets and it shows you how well they all work together.

I love adding depth to my cards with layers and of course my trademark is flowers ribbons and pearls.

So for the card shown I have used the Card Making Magic Collection and I am very happy with the result.

Now with the new dies and stamps sets there is a lot of choice on how you put your card together

I stamped and coloured the flowers with Copics and then I did partial die cutting with the Nesting ovals, and layered them with foam tape for height.

Partial die cutting leaves part of the image outside the cut edge and gives a really pretty look to the card

The card layers are wrapped with ribbon and lace before adding them to the base and everything I used is listed below for you to view

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

How To Separate Your New Dies

Hi Everybody,

I have had several emails from people who may be new to card making and using dies, and they don't know how to get the joined dies in the new die and stamp sets apart.

And as it is always better to show you than to tell you and I have made a short video that will do just that.

Many dies these days are "Bridged" to unable the manufacturers to get more from the metal they use.  And so here is the video to show you how I do it

I hope you find it useful and you may have to buy some small snips, but it is better than ruining a good pair of scissors in the process, as the metal is probably too hard for scissors to cut through .

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card & Gift Winner

Hi Everybody,

Late start for me to today as Ruby and I didn't get up till 10 am and then we had leisurely toast and marmalade for breakfast. Now she has gone back to sleep and I am here typing with her at my feet. 

But later she is going for a walk with Dougal and Vickie ... so she is just gathering her energy for a good run around the park.

The draw has been done for yesterday Make A Splash gift and the name is ....

Elaine Prendergast

would you email me your postal address please to

christina@card-making-magic.com

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

Tomorrow I am adding an information video to show you how to separate your new dies from Card Making Magic so please pop back then if you have had a problem or you don't know how to get them apart.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Make A Splash!

Hi Everybody,

I had a lot of fun with this stamp set when it was offered as a gift with a magazine earlier last year.

It came from Crafti Potential and it has stamps, dies and a stencil in the offer

The video will show some ideas using this set and I am sure that you can come up with many more of your own.

  So if you would like this Make A Splash set then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME

From those comments one name will be chosen as the winner and announced in tomorrows blog post. Be sure to come back and see if it is you as you only have 72 hours in which to claim the gift.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Blue & White Easel Card

Hi Everybody,

Today I have been busy creating this pretty Easel card and showing you how I did the water colour flowers for the front and inside of the card.

I have used Distress Oxides to do the colouring but you can use any water based inks you may have in your own stash.

I used the Ribbon Threaders as the stop for the easel and raised it up with foam tape underneath.

The shade of blue is really fresh and I have used this a lot in my designs 

The video will take you step by step through the making of this card and if you are new to this hobby then trust me ... it's really easy

I used the left over flower and leaves for the back of the easel to give 

a finished look all round 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Simply Cards & Papercraft - British Garden Birds

Hi Everybody,

This months magazine Simply Cards & Papercraft will be on sale on the 24th January and it has this beautiful stamp and die set of birds common in British gardens

You can create the most intricate cards building scenes as you stamp or you can keep them quite simple

The one shown here has just used one bird and stamped it several times in different orientations and then coloured them all with Copics in pastel colours.

You need to use a water based ink to stamp your images if you wish to use alcohol inks to colour.

The clouds stencil is from My Favourite Things but you could just as easily make your own from Copy paper ... and save money in the process

I have used the Aldi brushes to add my clouds but many other types will do the same job ... brushes,

blending tools or sponges. Whichever you prefer to work with 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Adult Colouring Books

Hi Everybody,

Travelling down to Peterborough on Friday to do the "LIVE" shows on Hochanda I decided to pass the time by colouring in some items from and adult colouring book that I have.

I took some Alcohol markers along with me and got busy colouring these two sets. Then once I was home I very quickly made them up into cards

This one clearly shows some Dahlias and I partially die cut them from the book.

The other flowers are added with foam to give more depth to the card and the big yellow ribbon is from Card Making Magic Decorative Collection

This one was some little flowers that I coloured pink and added white spots to the petals with a gel pen

The Happy Birthday sentiment is cut from Glitter card and I have wrapped the card in ribbon and lace

One way to pass a train journey and productive at the same time

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Carter and Bobby

Hi Everybody,

I just had to share this photo with you all as it really made me smile.

These two little cuties are my Great Grandsons watching me on Hochanda on Saturday morning.

Carter is two and a half and Bobby coming up to be one year old... notice Bobby has his hand in Carters pocket.

They apparently where enthralled and every time I was off the screen Carter said to his mum "Gran gone" and when he could see me it was "Grans back" 

So these two are members of my fan club and how good to be able to impress a two year old ... what an achievement

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx