Black Fingers ....

Hi Everybody,

In several videos lately I have had to apologise for black fingers, and this is why they where black.

I have been creating some painted bottles and the base layer was black paint and it would not wash off.

It was just an ordinary matt black wall paint that I used and it as not expensive.

I made some of these for my daughter as she really loved the look of them and three of them now sit on her shelves in her lounge.

I get my unusual shaped empty bottle from my grandsons restaurant  and then once they are washed and any label soaked off them I start.

I cover them with items of old clothing and glue and leave them to dry. So these are covered in old tights that is ruched around the bottle in random areas

Then I add the bits and pieces to them, anything I have in my stash, and once the glue is dry again I paint them black all over.

These have pearls, keys, gemstones, glass pebbles and metal pieces all stuck in place

Then comes the fun part and I have used

  Arteza Metallic Acrylic Paint 

and a dry brush to add the iridescent look

This is my favourite one and I have kept this one for myself.

I used a mould to create the faces for this and surrounded them with flowers.

It has been painted in Arteza Metallic Pearl Green,

Pearl Electric Blue, Pearl White for the highlights and Gold to catch the tops of the beads

The flowers have been skimmed with Pearl Royal Purple and a little glitter and then I dotted gemstones around the bottle.

They look super effective and are an inexpensive way to decorate your home and recycle at the same time.

If you would like me to do some videos of some of my new projects then let me know.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

New Oval Box

Hi Everybody,

I wanted to show you the new Oval Box shape which is very pretty and quite a good size.

I have used the Landmark Collection with it for the flowers. 

The numbers and sentiment have been added to the card and it is all in a lovely shade of yellow and white.

Altogether a pleasing way to send some one a greeting whatever the occasion throughout the year.

Never be without dates and anniversaries to mark those special times again. 

And don't forget that some of those months in the set are actually people names too .... June, May, April and July.

This is a set that you can have fun with for any gender and add a gift to the box to make it even more special.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Landmark Collection

Hi Everybody,

On Friday I will be showing you my latest collection on Craft Stash Facebook Live and I hope you will join me at 1pm

The dies are named the Landmark Collection and in the particular set you will get these beautiful numbers with all the months of the year.

Also are the special anniversaries that you may want to make cards for and the featured card shows you the Sapphire wedding anniversary for 45 years 

I have added them to another part of the new collection and that is the new shaped
Oval Card and Box Set.

This is such a pretty shaped box and can be used for any number of gifts that you may wish to add to it and I will show you more about it on Friday.

So don't forget to join me on the Craft Stash page at 1-o-clock ... See you then 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

So the first Friday Freebie has been done successfully and 72 of you want the box kit. And believe me if I had 72 of them I would happily send them out to you. But I only have two. 

Thank you for obliging me by adding your full name as that makes it much easier, especially if there are two, three or even four people with the same first name.

The draw has been done for the two prizes that I have and the names are ...

Gilly Hubbard

Sheila Price

Would you both email me your postal address please to

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the prize will be on its way to you.

If you could let me know when you have it safety that would be great

Enjoy

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - CMM Box Kit 3

Hi Everybody,

Happy New Year and Welcome to my blog.

If you are new then I hope you will come back and visit again and don't forget to leave your comments please so that I know you have been. 

If you are a regular visitor then it's good to have you here today and I hope that you too will be back to visit again.

To start the New Year off I have, not one but TWO copies of the box kit from 

Card Making Magic and this is Issue 3. 

 Inside you will find the magazine with lots of ideas for you to try. 

There are stamps, dies, embossing folder and a lovely paper pack for you to get crafting straight away.

You don't need to have a blog of your own.

It doesn't matter where you live I am happy to send the prize to you at my expense.

Even if you have won one before you can still enter every week.

If you want to participate in trying to win one of these packs then the rules are quite simple ...

1. Leave me your comment  and add your FULL NAME

2. Come back and check if your name is shown as the winner

From those comments one will be chosen as the winner and it will be added to a blog post over the weekend. You need to leave your full name because there maybe several people with the same first name and the full name is the only way to get the correct winner. 

Those are the only rules so no full name, then no entry, and if you don't come back and check for your name then after 72 hours the prize is gone.

Please don't add your personal details to the blog as anyone can see them. if you are the winner then you will need to email me christina@card-making-magic.com.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Boring Cream Lamp ...

Hi Everybody,

This is a lamp that sits in my hall way and it was one that I have had for years. 

It was just a plain cream one with gold calligraphy on a cream shade. 

So I decided to give it a new lease of life with a can of gold spray paint, some glitter and a little bit of  gold flower wrap.

I was very pleased that the gold writing showed up on the shade and it makes for a very pleasing result.

I sprayed the gold flowers wrap with the same can and that just blended all the shades of gold together and looked much better.

It now sits back in the hall and it is on a timer so that it lights up the room and I don't come in to a dark house ... which I hate doing.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Happy New Year 2020

Hi Everybody,

I wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year and my you get all the things you want for yourself and your family, and those dear to you.  

Time is going by so quickly for all of us and we need to make the most of what we have, so be happy and Laugh, Live and Love as much as you can. 

I also wanted to thank you for your continuing support over the past year and I know that some of you have been with me a long time.

I really am grateful that you stay with me and I hope you will be with me next year and the one after.

I couldn't do what I do without all of you.

I will be continuing with the Friday Freebie each week so I hope you will add your comments to that page each week.

I am going to be back on the Craft Stash Facebook Live channel,  and Hochanda, in the not to distant future and I have some beautiful die designs to share with you all

Thanks again for everything

Big big hugs xx

Sweater Story ...

Hello Everyone,

It's me Ruby and I just wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year for 2020.

I am wearing my new Christmas sweater here and it keeps me really cozy when I go out.

My mum was mad at me the other day when we went for a walk because I decided to go for an unexpected swim in ... my new sweater.

The water wasn't the cleanest and I came out covered in mud and ... my new sweater

And I didn't smell the nicest either ... nor did ... my new sweater.

My mum was not best pleased with me but I, and my sweater, scrubbed up well, so nothing was lost in the end. She said the water was that dirty when she bathed me it was like  mud soup and it took ages to get me clean again.

But after  my mum had given me a nice warm bath,  dried me with the hair dryer and I had eaten my dinner I got the biggest cuddle while we sat on the sofa and I fell asleep on my mums lap.

So until my next adventure take care everyone and have a Good New Year

Much Love

Ruby xxx

Christmas Presents

Hi Everybody,

These are some more of my handmade presents and the recipients liked these too.

It is amazing what you can put together with some glass bought from the charity shops and it always surprises me what people discard.

This set has been spray painted silver and an upside down bell added to the top of the smallest dish. 

It looks like a pear and I have used flower wrap around all the pieces

Inside the bell interior, and to the wine glass on the tallest one, I have added crystals and sealed them in well onto a votive dish.

It is stood on a silver decorated tray with door knob feet on the bottom

And this one was the smallest one because of limited space on the dressing table.

I had to make the base myself from wooden blocks and spray it silver then decorate with mirrors and diamond wrap and door knob feet

I also added crystals to the empty cavities on the tallest and middle pieces

I am really pleased with all these items and I filled each one with cotton wool, ear buds and make up pads for my recipients to use.

And even if they don't use the contents the pieces will still make lovely ornaments

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

Here I am and the draw for the Friday Freebie Shaker Kit prize has been done ... at long last !!

So without keeping you waiting any longer the name this week is 

Donna Johnstone

would you please email me your postal address to

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the gift will be on its way to you.

I hope you enjoy making up the kit and there are eight card blanks in there for you to make.

Please let me know that you have it safely and be sure to give it time to get to you until the Christmas post is back to normal.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Luxury Shaker Kit

Hi Everybody,

I hope you all had a lovely and relaxing Christmas Day and are ready for the New Year.

This weeks gift to see 2019 out is another bumper gift pack of a beautiful shaker kit from

Simply Made Crafts.

It is a kit that can be used all year round and you ill find some wonderful ideas in the magazine from Helen Griffin, the designer of the kit, herself.

So if this is a pack that you would like to have then you know the drill ... leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME.   

From those comments one name will be chosen and notified in a blog post over the weekend . 

No full name ... no entry into the draw !! Simples!

It doesn't matter if you have won before or where you live I am happy to send the gift to you and you will have 72 hours in which to claim it. Good Luck 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Christmas Gifts ...

Hi Everybody,

I hope you all had a good day over the Christmas Holiday and not feeling too full of food and drink. 

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my glass ware and as I promised I have more to show you now that the day has gone by and my recipients have been given their gifts.

Depending on the space they had available on dressing tables I made these lovely sets for each of my daughters and granddaughters

In them I added cotton wool balls, cleansing pads and  ear buds and I am really pleased with the way they turned out.

Each of these also has a candle holder with it and they have been sprayed silver

The glitter on them has been sealed with Mod Podge and extra bling added to all pieces.

I have added small feet to each one to raise them up and they really do sparkle in the sunshine

I just hope that my recipients do like them and didn't say they did just to be polite

This one is on a very large mirror base that I made from wooden blocks  and then glued 5" mirrors to the top.

It has been decorated on top and on the sides and the jars are covered with crushed glass which again was sealed with Mod Podge to stop it flaking off.

These are some and I will show you more next week.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

I am late as usual but I had a busy day yesterday and this morning has been a family get together for breakfast and a dog walk. But I am home again now and I can't wait to play with my brand new collection that arrived yesterday. And what's more I can't wait to bring it to you on Hochanda on the 16th and 17th January. I love it all and I think you will too.

For now though lets get to the prize winner from Friday and the name this week is ...

Annie Dunn

would you email me please with your postal address and the prize will be on it's way.

I hope you will like it when it arrives and please let me know that you have it safely.

Now before I go I will show you some of the glass pieces that I have made from items I picked up in the charity shop. 

This one has been decorated with crystals and diamante and it consists of an upside down dish on the bottom with a round vase on the top. 

Then I have added a glass saucer, dish, votive holder and crystal door knob for the lid which lifts off.

It has all been sprayed silver before decorating and then I added the flourish down the side

I have added string lights to the inside and it is really pretty. One or two in my family have their eye on this piece 

The next on is this hurricane vase that has been added to an upside down dish and decorated with tiny mirror tiles. 

On the top is another glass saucer with an upturned dish, a glass candle holder and then the red crystal knob with a silver bead end.

Inside this I have added a narrow cylinder vase and used diamond wrap around it.

I have stood it in some table crystals and this will hold an LED candle light

And then last but not least this set is a fluted vase with a glass bell on the top and this has yet to be decorated.

But I am really pleased with the way all my creations have turned out and I will show you more after Christmas ... as some of them are gifts.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Sending Christmas Wishes

 Hi Everybody,

I know this package is a little late for Christmas but it will be a good one to use for cards for next year and all the year through.

It is a bumper pack that consists of an embossing folder, stamps, dies and a big paper pack so well worth having

If you would like to have this one then all you need to do is leave me your comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME. And although I say this every week there are still folks who do not add their FULL NAME

The video to accompany this offer is here ... Papercraft Essentials 151 and it will show you some of my ideas.

It doesn't matter if you have won before and I am happy to send the pack to you wherever you are at my expense so get entering if you would like the huge pack

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Gluey fingers...

Hi Everybody,

I have done some videos lately and my hands look dreadful in them.  I have explained that my fingers have black paint and glue on them and it is very stubborn when I try to get it off.

 I have promised to show you why they have been in this state but it will be mostly after Christmas as I have been making my own gifts this year.

Some of the things I have already shown you, in the form of my wall art with mirrors, spoons and plates, and you can scroll back if you wanted another look at them 

But this vase is one of the things I have done, not for anyone but me and it is made from cardboard, paper mache and silver paint. 

Then I added mirror tiles to it. So I hope you like it

It is really glitzy and I love it and it is in my guest bedroom.

It's quite big but because it is cardboard it can't be used for real flowers.

Artificial flowers don't bother me as I think they look really pretty and so that is what this one will be having added to it.

Though I must say it looks good enough with nothing in it.

So there you have it from all angles and it may not be up your street but it is certainly an eye catcher especially when the sun shines in through the window

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx