Ruby Update - First Birthday ...

Hello Everyone,

I had to stop by today to tell you that I am ONE year old  today... and simply beautiful. 

Well that's what my mum tells me every day and I believe her. I think she has good taste !!

We have had some lovely adventures in the last few months and I am so glad I found my human mum and dad.

 They love me very much ... and spoil me too 

 I went to Dougals birthday on the 4th when he was one and we shared his doggy birthday cake 

Here I am watching him and hoping that he saves me a bit

We had a lovely walk in Lytham on Sunday and I had a little bit of ice cream.

And you know your dog can have some too if they are lactose happy ... which I am.

It was really warm that day and it was a pleasant walk.

But once we got home I got in my basket and had a little sleep. 

A girl needs her beauty sleep you know to look as good as me 

More next time ...

Love from Ruby xx 

Creative Stamping 47

Hi Everybody,

Today I am adding a Christmas card but not in traditional colours.

I have used the stamps that are the free gift with Creative Stamping this month and I really like the muted look of this card.

The magazine will be on sale tomorrow in selected supermarkets and craft stores

The video will give you some other ideas that you may like to try and you can fine it here ...

CS47 - Colours of the Season 

The size of the stamps sets with this magazine are amazing as there are so many different images on one sheet.

It is good quality material and really good value as there is so much information inside the pages.

Always a good read with a cuppa to make you feel refreshed and raring to go with some new technique or instructions on a card idea.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tuesday Tutorial - Ornamental Crest

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is a mixture of old and new and there are several lovely layers in the making.

It also incorporates my beautiful flowers, ribbons and pearls to make a classic white and silver design for any occasion.

Spellbinders Supplies:

• S6-001 5x7 Matting Basics A
• S6-002 5x7 Matting Basics B
• S6-081 Ornamental Crest
• S5-298 Classic label 33 Deco Elements
• S4-110 Classic Ovals 
• SEL-006 Horsehair Embossing Folder

Other Supplies:

• Sentiment from JustRite Stampers
• White card
• Silver Card
• White Ribbon
• White Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts
• Diamante
• Glitter
• Foam pads

Instructions:

With die #7 Matting Basic A cut two pieces in white to create the base card

With die #7 Matting basics B cut another layer in white and emboss in the folder

From silver card cut the largest die in Ornamental Crest

From white card cut the largest die from Classic Labels 33 and from the second largest cut another silver layer

Add foam pads to the back of all these layers

Add these three layers together and stick to the embossed layer

Wrap with white ribbon before adding to the  base card

Stamp in black and clear emboss the sentiment of your choice and cut out with the oval

and add with foam pads underneath

Selection of white flowers from the left:

Gypsophillia, Tulips,  Rosebuds, Cosmos Daisies, Lilies, Cherry Blossom, 

Arrange the flowers down the left side and dot with glue then sprinkle with glitter.
Add in the bow and glue the diamante centre in place

And there you have a silver and white card you will be happy to send 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Buying Spree ...

Hi Everybody,

I have been visiting Amazon a lot lately and taking a look at some of the crafting goodies on there. And so I decided to treat my self to a few of them and they arrived over the weekend. They have been super quick as some things I only ordered Friday and yesterday, Sunday they where delivered.

So here is a picture of some of the items that I have bought.

I already have the Gansai Tambi Water Colours which I love using and you will have seen them often in my videos. And I have bought now the Starry Colours which are a beautiful collection of golds 

I also ordered the case of finger daubers which are really useful in applying small areas with paint, inks or chalks. There are 40 daubers in a case and they are items I use a lot. 

The tub is Transfer Gel which is used with foils and I am going to be doing some videos with them in the next few weeks.

But the special treats that I thought I deserved are the Teflon Bone Folder and the Crystal Katana pick up tool for pearls and gemstones.

I am sure that they will be seen regularly in my videos and I know that I am going to enjoy working and playing with both in the future. I have more items still to come and I will share them with you once they arrive

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Today's Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

Sorry for the late post but I have had a busy day in the sunshine, and very pleasant it was too. But the draw for yesterdays Shabby Chic card has been done and the winner is you ...

Marjorie Bates ...

Can you email me your postal address please to

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the card will be on its way to you.

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

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie 31 - Shabby Chic

Hi Everybody,

Here is another Shabby Chic card on offer and this one is a delicate pink and green colour scheme

It is done as  a birthday card but the wooden sentiment can always be removed if you wished.

The flowers cascade down the card and are around a little picture frame at the top.

The flowers have been glittered and are a mixture from
Wild Orchid Crafts

If this is a card that you would like to have then all you need to do is leave me a comment ... and then pop back over the weekend to see if it is your name listed as the winner

You will have 72 hours to claim the card so you will need to check as I have no way of chasing you up if you don't

Good luck everybody and you can enter whenever you like even if you have won one before.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Fuzzy Lemon Collection

Hi Everybody,

This has been a busy week for me and in it I have added five new videos to the blog pages. 

 Yesterday saw the addition of  Lavish Label Layers and today I have four more featuring the new dies from the Fuzzy Lemon Collection at Craft Stash

For the first video I thought I would stick with a male theme as this is one I am often asked about.

 I know that many of  us can make ladies flowery cards all day long ... but when it comes to men we scratch our heads.

So here is one that is easy to do and the idea can be adapted to produce any style of jacket for your recipient

Fuzzy Lemon - Fancy Bow Tie 

 The next one is using the

 Fuzzy Lemon -  Cocktail Glass

This can be used any way you like. Either as a single glass of adding several to your card as I have here.

The video will give you more ideas that you may like to try for yourself

This one is prefect for any engagement or wedding celebrations you have coming up and for my card I have kept to gold and white.

This card was really easy to make and yet is very effective.

The video shows the making of this one

Fuzzy Lemon - Ring Duo

Then last but not least is this really pretty card.

This was my favorite from the cards in that set and I  used pearls on the dress of the 

Fuzzy Lemon - Ballerina

It was added to a simple stencilled background and coloured as if the dancer is facing away from us.

I hope you will enjoy all four of these videos and of course the one from yesterday too.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Magazine Freebie ...

Hi Everybody,

So tomorrow, 10th August, sees the sale of
 Simply Cards and Papercraft 166
 and this is a magazine that I have been subscribed to for years.

There are some fantastic articles in it each month and it is the relaxation that I need each time it pops through my door

The gift this month is 

 Lavish Label Layers
 and the video shows you how I made this card using the Labels as a frame 

It was designed to co-ordinate with the gift 

Die Cutting Essentials 27 - Finest Vintage

That magazine was on sale last week, 3rd August,  and it was a wine bottle and glass.

Here you can see that I have added the Label to the wine bottle and stamped a sentiment into it

Two free gifts that work really well with each other ... but in case you missed that wine bottle there is a template on the back of the Labels package  for you to hand cut your own

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tuesday Tutorial - Spellbinders Ooh La La !!

Hi Everybody,

These are some new dies coming to Spellbinders and they make really feminine cards with a French feel to them.

Spellbinders Supplies:

• S4-803 Paris Skyline
• S4-801 Eau de Perfume
• PL-001 Platinum Die Cutting Machine

Other Supplies:

• Distress Inks
• Sponges
• Sequins
• Black Card

Instructions:

Create the card base with the largest Matting Basics A 

Cut another piece with layer with the largest B die from water colour card

With Distress inks create a splatter background with your inks to look like a night sky

Cut the Paris Skyline in black card

Add this to the inked sky effect and then add to the base

Cut and colour with Distress Inks the perfume bottles of your choice and add foam pads to the backs

Position on your card front as you like them and add the words from the die set Ooh La La

Go over the bottles with a clear glitter pen

Dot with sequins

Add a tiny red bow to one of the bottles

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Big Thoughts ...

Hi Everybody,

Every so often there is a card that turns out to be one of the favorites and this card is one of those cards.

I really loved this once it was made and the parchment background was the touch that made it special for me

I liked it so much that I made several in different colours and gave them to family for birthdays

And I even did a  Tuesday Tutorial  on how to make it for your self

The soft Lemon goes beautifully with the white and green and the flowers just seemed to fall into place without any help from me.

I added some diamante flourish behind the display 

The finished card was 5x7" and obviously it will not fit easily into an envelope and so a box had to be made for the cards I gave to family

They were all very well received and I was really happy with the result.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Ruby Update ...

Hello Everyone,

I have been having fun again with my mum and dad and of course my best friend Dougal and his mum Vickie

I am an English Cocker Spaniel and I am eleven months old

Here I am caught in the act of stealing socks and trying to look innocent !!

Dougal and I  went to a lovely park with our  mums last weekend and as usual I went swimming as Dougal looked on.

I wanted to get the ball that was in the river and I came out very muddy ... but I got the ball.

On Sunday morning  I like helping my mum make the bed before we get ready to go out

I love to roll myself up in the sheets and bark ...just so that everybody knows where I am.

I love to bark and play, it's so much fun to make a noise.  

But I don't bark at Oliver the postman when he delivers the mail.

My mum has bought me a new bed of my own too with little pink spots on it and it's all soft and comfy.

But Isabella came to stay and she took a fancy to it as well  and we both tried to get in at the same time.

But I can bark louder than she can though so I won the bed ... Yaaay!

She gave me big cuddle and I kissed her back then we got out to play outside for a bit.

I went to a Birthday party on Friday when Dougal the Cockapoo was ONE year old.  

We had a doggy cake and a lovely time running around in the garden and it wouldn't have been half as much fun without a lot of barking ... as usual !

Bye for now 

Ruby xx

Card Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

We have just spent a pleasant morning on the beach with Ruby and now she is all played out and ready for a little nap.  It's a beautiful day here and the sun is shining.

So now the draw has been done for yesterday's Shabby Chic card and the winner this week is

Isabel Gunter
Would you please email me with your postal address to
christina@card-making-magic.com
and the card will be on its way to you straight away.

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

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Friday Freebie 30 - Shabby Chic

Hi Everybody,

Thank you for entering each week to have one of my cards ... it is quite an honour that so many of you would like to get them and I wish I could send everybody one. 

The cards on offer over the last few weeks have all been Shabby Chic and have been shown in the Inspiration videos  #8 and #9 and those that have got one seem to like them 

So here is another that you may like to have to send on or keep for yourself. I know that some of you have framed them to hang in your own crafting space

All you need to do is leave me a comment and then pop back tomorrow to see if your name is shown as the winner.

I am happy to send the card anywhere you live ... and they have gone all over the world so far.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Finest Vintage from Die Cutting Essentials

Hi Everybody,

Tomorrow sees the new Die Cutting Essentials magazine on sale and this is issue 27.

The free gift this month is a beautiful die to create a wine bottle and glass that would suit both male and female cards

The card to the right uses the filigree part of the die as a stencil and I really like the look of this little card

The video to show you the making of a wine bottle shaped card is here ... 

Die Cutting Essentials 27 - Finest Vintage

Next week 10th August Simply Cards and Papercraft will be on sale and the free gift with that is Lavish Labels and that set perfectly compliments the bottle with this gift.

One of the die cut labels can be seen on the bottle on this card and there are several stamps to help you personalise the card also

So look out for the magazines on the shelves in selected supermarkets and crafts stores

And have fun playing with the gofts to make cards for the wine lovers in your family

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tuesday Tutorial - Spellbinders Trailing Hearts

Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is created with only two dies from Spellbinders and a little bit of glitter to add some sparkle. Very quick and easy to do and with a few flowers I think it is very effective

Spellbinders Supplies:

• S5-314 Trailing Hearts
• S5-131 A2 Matting Basics A
• PL-001 Platinum Die Cutting Machine

Other Supplies:

• Diamante Flourish from Want2Scrap
• Tonic Nuvo Glitter
• Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts
• Dymo Label Maker

Instructions:

With the largest die from Matting Basics A cut two panels in white to create the base card

Add double sided sticky sheet to another piece and cut this to the same size

With Trailing Hearts cut one piece in pink 

And add this to the sticky sheet pressing down to adhere it all

With the silver glitter sprinkle some to the double sided sheet making sure to press it into all the open spaces in the die cut

Add foam pads to the back and add it to the base card

Trim to leave a small border around the edge

 Cut three Hearts from the smaller filigree piece and stack them together for thickness

Add to the centre part of the pink die cut

Dress with flowers as you like 

From the Diamante Flourish cut several pieces to add behind the flowers.

(I kept them attached to the carrier sheet and simply glued that in place)

Create a sentiment with the Label Maker and add to the  stacked Hearts

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx