Todays Card Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

Gosh the weather is wild here today and I am in the best place now where it's warm and cozy. I ventured out the morning to Slimming World and I have got my two stone award this morning. Guess who is a happy bunny today then ???

Last week after SW class I went to Morrisons for some shopping and I was really good adding fresh fruit and veg to my basket. And then just as I picked up,  not one but two packs of some sweet Chorley cakes for Griff,  my group leader was stood right in front of me ... shaking her head !!

I promised her that they were not for me, but I don't think she believed me. I was definitely caught in the act.  But they are for Griff ... honest.

So todays winner has been chosen at random and the name drawn from the hat this week is you ...

Haze T 

please would you email me your postal address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the card will be on it's way to you.

You have 48 hours from now to claim it and I hope that you will like it when it arrives.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie 103

Hi Everybody,

This pretty blue card is one that will suit all occasions if you swapped out the sentiment

The soft blue shade is created with Spotty card from AnnaMarie Designs

The dies I have used are Decorative Labels Eight  and it is one of my favorite sets

The flowers are a lovely selection from Wild Orchid Crafts  

I have sparkled them as I usually do with glitter from Glitter Magic

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

One name will be drawn from the hat at the name announced in tomorrows blog post.  PLEASE come back and check if it is you if you leave the comment.  You will have 48 hours to claim the card from when your name goes live.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Blue Bouquet

Hi Everybody,

This pretty floral display is made up from a mixture of Roses, Chrysanthemums, Rose buds, Gypsophila, and Apple Blossom

They have all been given the sparkly effect with fine glitter from Glitter Magic

Into the centre of the largest flower I have added a pearl embellishment  and that and the flowers are all from Wild Orchid Crafts

The background card has Happy Birthday printed all over it and this is from AnnaMarie Designs  and it comes in many colours to suit your theme

This was made for Craft Stash and it features there  Apple Blossom Mini Tags 

The beautiful pearl and diamante strip that I have added to the ribbon is from Want2Scrap  and there are two strips in each pack

It is a  very pretty card and I know lots of people who would love to have this for their birthdays.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Water Colour Wednesday - The girl in Pink

Hi Everybody,

It's water colour time again and this one has been done with a digital image from Make It Crafty

There are eight images in the  Carefree Women Collection  and you can colour them to suit any occasion that you want.

(There are also some excellent tutorials on their website to teach you how to get the most from these or any other images you may have either  digital or stamped)

They are a lot of fun to colour and I am really enjoying all the practise that I am putting in to make myself better with water colours.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and I have used the mini glitter ball in the centre of the largest flower.

All of them have been sparkled with Glitter Magic

The rectangle shapes that I have cut the image out with are some of the oldest and very first Spellbinders I ever bought and they are now retired from their website.

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

Tuesday Tutorial - Small dies

Hi Everybody,

In the die sets that you have in your personal collections do you often come across the small ones and don't know what to do with them ? Maybe this is something that you could try with any of them. I have used different shapes on my cards to show you some of the ideas I came up with

Spellbinders Supplies:

• S5-131 A2 Matting Basics A
• S5-132 A2 Matting Basics B
• S4-136 Classic Hearts
• SCD-024 Pierced Stars
• Classic Diamonds (Retired)
• Octagons (Retired)
• Grduated Dots embossing folder (Retired)

Other Supplies:

• Papermill Direct white card
• Brusho Crystal Colours
• Baked Ikea dots

Instructions:

Create a Hinged Card   for your base by cutting two white panels from die #9 Matting Basics A

Cut another layer of white card from die #8 Matting Basics B and emboss to add texture and interest to the layer

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

Create some coloured card with the  Brusho Crystal Colours  by sprinkling the card with crystals from the pot and spritzing with water. Leave to dry.

You can use any other form of water colours or simply used some patterned and coloured card that you have in your "Stash"

From the smallest dies in the sets that you have cut as many of the shapes as you would like to add to your card front. I have used hearts, stars, diamonds and octagons  ... which I have had for a long time.

But you can use any that you have ... circles, squares, flower shapes etc. 

I have stamped the sentiments onto strips of white that will fit around the  embossed layer and then placed a thin strip of the coloured card long each side.

Add your chosen shapes in a pleasing display then add the whole lot to the base card with foam in between to raise the panels up and your done 

I added in some of the baked Ikea dots that I told you about last year

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Birthday Cards (Video)

Hi Everybody,

It is just as easy to make several cards in one session,  and while you have all the equipment out and on hand then that  is the time to do it.

These cards are all made exactly the same way ... same card, same stamp, same embossing powder, same design, same size

The only thing that has changed is the colours and all these pretty colours are from Papemill Direct 

The stamp that I have used is  Patterned Triangle Background  and it is a large mounted stamp from My Favorite Things.


I have used Bright White  embossing powder from WOW and it is really white when heated.

The script stamp is one of the  Large Fancy Sentiments from JustRite Stampers.

The verse sentiment on the inside of the card is from Crafters Companion and is one of their Sentimentals Range 

The enamel dots are from Want2Scrap

An easy set to make and can be used throughout the year ... and they would be suitable for male cards too

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Today's card winner ...

Hi Everybody,

A little late in the day to be adding this post ... but better late than never. The reason for my tardiness is that Saturday mornings are spent going to Sliming World group. My goal was to lose two stone for Christmas and I was two pounds short of that goal.

But no worries the week after I had lost another pound and last week I stayed the same. But today I have ..... Gained one pound and I am not a happy bunny. So double the effort this coming week and see how we do. I want to lose another stone before my birthday at the beginning of March, and I am determined to do it.

Anyway the draw has been done and the name chosen this week will win the card on offer. So the card will be on its way to you ...

 Joyce MacPherson

Would you email me please

christina@card-making-magic.com

with your postal address and the card will be on its way to you

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

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie 102

Hi Everybody,

Another card up for grabs today and this one is a really vibrant one.

This colour scheme is not to every bodies taste but it is a really pretty card once it is in the hand.

I have used  Bracket Borders Two   to create the top panel and layered it over an embossed piece.

Sadly this A4 Garden Lattice folder is now retired from Spellbinders but it is one I use a lot.

Now is this a card you would like to have???  Then you need to leave me a comment at the end of the post.

I have said it before but I will say it again ... please come back and check if it  is your name that shows up in Saturdays blog post as you only have 48 hours to claim it as yours.

Last weeks card has not been claimed  ... because the pages have not been checked by the winner ... and so it will be offered again at a later date to some one else.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

True Friend Card

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is in a lovely shade of ginger and white and is one of those far prettier in real life than in a photo.

I have used the Tied Together die and this is a die that you will have to search for as it sells out very quickly whenever it is on sale.

It matches the Tied Together embossing folder and it is one  I use often.

The background has been raised up on foam pads and they are hidden beneath the verse label.

Each of the cross sections of the background has a tiny pearl from Want2Scrap  added

The finished card is 5x7 and has been made with the Matting Basics A and B 

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and into the display I have tucked one of my hat pins.

For a long time now the website that I buy my pins from has been out of action due to Gabby being ill but it is now back on the scene.

It is the Sparkles Group  and you will need to look in findings for hatpins.  They are in gold or silver colour and come complete with the end protectors and I love them.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Water Colour Wednesday - Make a Splash!

Hi Everybody,

This fun card uses elements that are my two favorite things to play with ... die cutting and water colouring,

Because I have been doing quite a lot of water colouring lately I thought I would show you a card each Wednesday

I have also been buying lots of stamps and matching die sets that produce the sweetest of cards very easily

The featured set here is from Clearly Besotted and it is called Make A Splash!.

There are four dolphins for you to colour and I have used the Gansai Tambi water colours for mine and cut them out with the dies

I used the colour smooshing technique  with Distress Inks onto some parchment and card,  to get the sea effect

I layered the panels up with foam pads to give the height.

This side view shows you how the layers are raised up from the card and I cut the wave effect with my border dies ... yet another way to use a border !!


I think this is a lovely card to give to a child and if you added in a birthday sentiment it would be spot on.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tuesday Tutorial - Vines of Passion

Hi Everybody,

The title of todays tutorial sounds very intriguing but it simply refers to the heart die that I have used for the centre piece. It is very lacey and I think if makes a really lovely choice for the card just in time for Valentines Day.

Spellbinders Supplies:

• S6-001 5x7 Matting Basics A 
• S6-002 5x7 Matting Basics B
• S2-022 Vines of Passion
• S4-475 Fleur de Elegance
• E3D-017 Oval Accent

Other Supplies:

• White and red card from Papermill Direct
• Organza Ribbon from Mei Flower
• Red rose from Wild Orchid Crafts
• Decorative Metal Corners from WOC

Instructions:

With #7 from matting basics A cut two panels and create a hinged card

With #7 from matting basics B cut one panel in red

With #6 from matting basics A cut another white panel and dry emboss with any folder that you have 

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

From #3 of the Fleur de Elegance set cut one large shape in red

With Vines of Passion cut two base hearts in red and then cut both dies together and create two more shapes in white.

 Layer them together with small pieces of foam tape.

Layer the large shape onto the embossed white layer with foam tape, and then place this on top of the red panel. Wrap all these with red ribbon 

Add the two hearts in place on the front so that they overlap each other a little and hang just over the ribbon, and glue the single rose over the knot in the double tied bow

Stamp the sentiment onto a length of parchment that is wide enough to wrap around the layers and heat emboss in silver.

Fold the parchment around the layers so that the sentiment is where you want it to be.

Glue in place so that the all the workings are hidden at the back. 

Add all this to the base card

In opposite corners of the parchment strip place the metal corners and they will tie in the silver embossed word

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Majestic Labels Eight (Video)

Hi Everybody,

This  pretty blue card is one  that uses all the dies from  Labels Eight   from Spellbinders. Once again these are older dies but some that I enjoy working with.

They can all be worked together to give some really lovely cards.

There is a video to show other ways that you can use this die too and I hope you will enjoy it.





I did this tutorial a while ago but I can't remember if I ever add it to a blog post and the white and silver card was last weeks Friday Freebie.

If I did  show it my apologies for showing it once more ... and if I didn't then here it is and you will find I have also added it to the Video Tutorials section at the top of the page ... in case you need it for future reference.

The spotty blue ribbon is added to the bottom of the card but if you fancy the idea of something really special then please take a look John Taylors new website and have some  Personalised Ribbon  made especially for you

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card Winner Today ...

Hi Everybody,

Thanks to all of you who took part in yesterdays Blog Hop I hoped you enjoyed your little trip around the world.  But now it's back to the Uk and today we actually had some white stuff and it is very cold.

We have done the draw for the white and silver card and the name pulled from the hat was yours ...

Ann Morris

would you email me your postal address please to 

christina@card-making-magic.com

and I will pop it in the post for you first thing in the morning.

Enjoy the rest of your day everybody and stay warm

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

International Ambassadors Informal Blog Hop

Hi Everybody,

Once a month some of the International Ambassadors have a blog hop and for this month we have chosen our favorite season as our theme.

If you are a regular follower of my blog then you will know that I love to make cards that are summery and full of flowers, ribbon and pearls and so this is the perfect theme for me.

I have also chosen to use my favorite dies for the card and the Victorian Collection was one that I really fell in love with when it was launched..

The beautiful flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and I love the arrangement for my summer display.

The blog hop is the way for you to get to know our individual styles and we would love it if you would visit each of us and leave us your comments.

The others are ...

Christine Emberson  - UK 
Linda Lucas  - Australia
Yvonne van de Grijp - Netherlands
Christina Griffiths - that's me

Thank you for visiting and for all your support. I hope you enjoy the hop

Tomorrow I will announce the winner of the Friday Freebie so please pop back then to see if it is you

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie 101

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is in white with a touch of silver and that beautiful fabric rose.

It is a 5x7 card and could be for any occasion that deserves a celebration.

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

Then pop back in the morning to see if yours is the name chosen as the winner

I am happy to send the card to anywhere that you live  and I would appreciate it if you would let me know when it arrives with you.

So add your comment and keep your finger crossed.... but if you don't win this one there will be another card on offer next week.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx