Hi everyone, Claire here!

Well the countdown is on… Christmas is coming! And let’s face it - if you like to take your time making your handmade cards, then Christmas really is one of the busiest times of year. And if you’re like me, you still want to send out Christmas cards that have that ‘WOW factor’. Why should we scrimp on style because we have less time?

And speaking of style, how about ‘Cute’ with a capital C?

The ‘cute’ Christmas look is a very big trend at the moment. And our own cute Christmas card making eKits have gone down a storm in the past. So…

We’ve come to the rescue with the fabulous Volume TWO of the Christmas Bundle Of Goodies! And this particular volume is all about cutey-cutey-cuteness! Hurrah!

I’m so excited about this new Bundle configuration as it includes some of the most popular designs in the range.

And because they’re in a Bundle, you get amazing value (in comparison to buying each of them seperately).  And let’s face it, saving money is always a bonus eh?

The Vintage Christmas Bundle

You get three eKits in this gorgeous Bundle:

• Christmas Color Doodles eKit
• Original Christmas eKit
• Christmas Pets eKit

There’s lots to see in the Bundle but today I thought I’d show you a little of the Original Christmas eKit (which comes in the bundle), and some of the gorgeous cards you can make with it…

The Original Christmas eKit

The Original Christmas eKit will help you make truly stunning cards. In fact, if you want a variety of printable Christmas crafting goodies at your fingertips then this eKit is perfect!

Fancy watching a video that tells you more (and shows you some fab card ideas)? You can watch a video demo of this Original Christmas eKit here…

You get a selection of cute framed images, ranging from a quirky fairy sitting on a pile of gifts, to Christmas trees, holly, a snowflake and even a christmas pudding. And you get blank verions of the versatile, pastel, snow-powdered Christmas frames so that you can add your own images and embellishments to them.

You also get the wonderful backing papers! From grungy music sheets to glassy snowflake papers, and sheets covered in Christmas sentiments. You’re bound to find something to inspire you to make some gorgeous Christmas cards.

You can watch a video that tells you more about this eKit here…

And you can even get started straight away…

Just head over here to find out more and to get Volume Two of the Christmas Bundle Of Goodies…

Don’t forget, if you’re a Club member, grab your discount code in the Club portal and enter it when checking out, to get your special Club discount.

Well, that’s it from me!

You can grab the ultra-cute Volume Two of the Christmas Bundle Of Goodies and get started within minutes here…

Or you can just order the ‘Original Christmas’ eKit seperately here …

And don’t forget to leave your comments, feedback, questions below… it’s always great to hear from you!

Happy Christmas card making everyone! :0)

Claire

Making-Handmade-Cards.com

Hi everyone, Claire here!

Well the countdown truly begins… Christmas is coming! And let’s face it - while Christmas can be one of the best times of the year, it’s also one of the busiest! All of a sudden you have so much to do, and so little time!

But if you’re like me, you still want to send out Christmas cards that have that ‘WOW factor’. Why should we scrimp on style because we have less time?

But fear not! We have the answer!

We’ve come to the rescue with a fabulous Vintage Christmas Bundle, that will get you making sophisticated Christmas cards, whether you have hours to create or only a minute to spare. Hurrah!

I’m so excited about this new Bundle configuration as it includes one of my fave designs in the range… the Vintage Christmas.

And because they’re in a Bundle, you get amazing value (in comparison to buying each of them seperately).  And let’s face it, saving money is always a bonus eh?

The Vintage Christmas Bundle

You get two eKits and one eBook in this gorgeous Bundle:

• Vintage Christmas Quick & Easy Cards eKit
• Vintage Christmas (Printable Card Making Papers) eKit
• Vintage Christmas Card Making eBook

There’s lots to see in the Bundle but today I thought I’d show you a little of the Quick & Easy Cards eKit (which comes in the bundle), to some of its gorgeous cards…

This eKit is a huge eKit that will help you make truly stunning cards… in seconds. Literally.

Fancy watching a video that tells you more (and shows you some fab card ideas)? You can watch a video demo of this ‘Quick & Easy Cards’ kit here…

Bottom line: All you need to do is choose the card you want, print it out, cut it out, and fold it.

Done.

Yep, that’s it! You now have a stunning Christmas card. It’s so easy that you can make all your Christmas cards within a few minutes.

What’s more, there are three sizes that you can choose from - large, medium and tag sizes (yep, you can even make matching gift tags).

And there’s a huge variety of colors to choose from too. So you’re truly spoiled for choice!

But it doesn’t stop there… if you have more time, you can embellish your cards too.

Once you’ve printed your card, you could add a few gems, glitter, brads or ribbon for example. Or you could print out the card’s ‘decoupage’ sheet (also included in the kit), cut out a decoupage element or two, and stick it to your card to add a little depth. And if you really want to go for it, why not add the decoupage elements and add some glitter or gems too?

No matter how much time you have, you’ll find a solution in this ‘Quick & Easy Cards’ eKit. Whether it’s a quick ‘print out, cut ‘n’ fold’ or more of a labour of love by adding the extra decoupage elements, glitter, gems or ribbon, this beautiful (and huge) eKit will make your Christmas card making a snap!

You can watch a video that tells you more about this eKit here…

And you can even get started straight away…

Just head over here to find out more and to get your Vintage Bundle…

Don’t forget, if you’re a Club member, grab your discount code in the Club portal and enter it when checking out, to get your special Club discount.

Well, that’s it from me!

You can grab the fabulous Vintage Christmas Bundle and get started within minutes here…

Or you can just order the ‘Quick & Easy Cards’ eKit seperately here …

And don’t forget to leave your comments, feedback, questions below… it’s always great to hear from you!

Happy Christmas card making everyone! :0)

Claire

Making-Handmade-Cards.com

Earlier this year we had our first ever Art Competition. And wow the response was amazing. There are some truly talented artists out there and I’m over the moon that so many of you entered and shared your beautiful creations with us.

Before I announce the winners , I’d like to say a big  THANK YOU to everyone who entered the competition. We received so many gorgeous entries that it truly was difficult to choose a winner. In fact, the level of talent was so high that I’ve also included some ‘Honorable And Worthy Mentions’ (in no particular order), so that everyone can see the true talent that’s out there…

So without further ado, announcing the fabulous winners of our first ever Art Competition (and worthy mentions)!

Drum roll pleeeeease……

Congraulations everybody! And thanks for making our first Art Competition such an exciting one!

Please do join me to congratulate the winners. Leave your comments below!

All the best

Claire

Making-Handmade-Cards.com

Hi everyone!

Have you noticed that there are two rather big up ‘n’ coming events that are somewhat geared towards the male species? ;0)

Yep! Father’s Day is on 20th June, and the Football World Cup‘ kicks off’ on the 11th!

And as avid card makers, that gives us a brilliant chance to make some handmade cards for men!

Now, let’s face it - making cards for men is not easy. I mean, why are men so difficult to make cards for? Well that age-old card making gripe got me thinking. For me, one of the biggest challenges is finding suitable designs - patterns and images that I’d be proud to make a card with.  Call me fussy, but I don’t want to make a ‘good’ card…

… I want to make a stunning one, right?

If I want to make a sporty card, I want to make a trendy sporty card. If I want to make a masculine, vintage card, I want to make a sophisticated one.

One thing’s for sure: Just because a card has a picture of some DIY tools or of a sporty man on it, doesn’t mean it’s a stunning card.  In fact, nine times out of ten, I dare say it probably doesn’t have that ‘WOW’ factor.

So that’s why I went on a mission to design some more ‘masculine’ eKits that would generate that ‘WOW’ reaction. (Call me a show off, but that’s the reaction I want when someone opens one of my cards… don’t you)?

So in celebration of the coming weeks of ‘manly’ fun and mayhem, I’m releasing a bundle of some of my fave eKits to help you make some stunning cards for men!

1. New Perfect Gentleman eKit!

I’m perhaps most excited about the launch of our brand new ‘Perfect Gentleman’ eKit.  I’m a sucker for anything ‘vintage’ and this eKit is perfect for making a sophisticated and witty, masculine vintage card.  Gentlemen in top hats and posh sayings galore in this eKit.

I hope you’ll love it as much as I do!

2. Soccer ‘n’ Tech eKit!

The super-trendy ‘Soccer ‘n’ Tech’ eKit is next in this amazing bundle. It’s perfect for this football season and,more importantly, I think it will make creating trendy, sporty cards for men, easy and fun for you!

3. And Accompanying Card Making eBook!

But what if the inspiration just isn’t there?  Ahhh… well I’ve thought of that too!

In the bundle you’lll also get the accompanying ‘Soccer ‘n’ Tech’ eBook. Now this little gem has only ever been released to Club members, so you’re really in for a treat!

You get 20 easy card making projects in this eBook. It’s great for beginners because most of the cards are quick and easy to do, and all you need is some basic card making suppplies!

4. Bonus eKit - Retro Kitsch!

And if that wasn’t enough I’ve gone and thrown in the ‘Retro Kitsch’ eKit as an added bonus!

You can find out more about this bundle here…

Hey, I know - some people call me mad for doing these kind of deals but I just think that this is great time to celebrate and hone our skills on making cards for men!

Speaking of which though…

========================================

Warning! This Is A Limited Offer…

========================================

I should also point out that this bundle deal is only on for a limited time. Alas, all good things must come to an end eventually so this is just a ‘heads up’ for you…

… if you like the look of this bundle, grab it now because I will be pulling this deal down soon. It will not be around forever!

You can order this special bundle deal here…

I hope you enjoy the bundle, everyone! Happy card making!

Claire

Making-Handmade-Cards.com

Hi everyone

Well it’s been a while since I launched the art competition and I must apologise for being so quiet since it opened. I’ve not been able to send you reminders or to make sure that all your questions were answered. So to make amends, I’m extending the closing date of the art competition.

Yep!

It’s great news if you have yet to enter the art competition, or if you know someone who might wish to.

So here’s the new closing date for entries…

New Closing Date For Entries

Entries must be submitted online via the ticket system by 10th May 2010 at 23:59 (GMT+1).

So you have an extra week to get create something from scratch, or dig up some old artwork, or tell your artistic friends and family to enter!

You can find out more (including the prize) watch the video here…

Answers To Your Questions…

Many of you had questions about entering the art competition:

Suzanne Fernandes Says:

What is the cost for entering this competition?
Your video has truly got my creative juices flowing and this competition is extremely unique - very outside the square thinking! Well done Claire.

Suzanne

Suzanne - It’s FREE to enter this competition. No cost.

Michelle Says:

To enter the competition do our works have to be scanned into the computer then sent as an attachment via this ticket system?

Yes please do scan your entries and submit them via the ticket system. When submitting them, please make sure they are in JPG format and that they are as large as possible but no larger than 3MB.

debbie bee Says:

Hi there

if I have previously displayed my work on the web can I still enter it?

You sure can - so long as you own the rights to your work, that’s fine. :0)

Jean Burke Says:

I love making cards but have no artistic talent, but I have a neighbor who paints lovely pictures, she is not on the internet nor will she do so, could she enter your competition using my email ? I would like to know if she is eligible before I tell her about your competition
I have seen some lovely pictures of puppies & cats that she has done and they are adorable.

Oh yes, Jean, your neighbor sounds like a perfect candidate to enter! If she’s ok with that, she’s welcome to enter via your email address but please do ask her to let us know about this arrangement when she makes her entry via the ticket system.

She will need to either scan her artwork or (more likely) take photos of them using a digital camera (so that she can upload them to our ticket system). If she takes photos, please do make sure that the photos are clear and taken in good lighting (so that we can see the artwork clearly).

Barbara Szijarto Says:

I have been working on a complete gnome alphabet where each letter shows a gnome in a different pose. Also done a set of numbers. Would that count as one entry?

Barbara - yes that would be perfect and can count as one entry (since they’re alphas). Sounds interesting!

Sam Says:

Hi Claire,

Is this competition for cards only or any art is ok?

thnx

Sam

Sam - any artwork is fine, so long as you think it would look good on a greeting card.

Devangi Says:

HI, Claire..
thanks 4 this great opportunity…
hey i want to ask that i m good in Quilling art…
i m making quilling cards & photo frames & also wall pices
can i take part in this competition?

Devangi - wow your artwork sounds lovely! Alas, I’m afraid that quilling art isn’t really what we’re looking for in this competition. We’re looking for talented people who can produce the type of artwork that can be printed out and stuck onto paper craft projects (greeting cards in particular). So 3D art isn’t what we’re looking for here.

Shirley Says:

Hi Claire,
I know a few who are fantastic artists maybe they’ll enter when I show them this video/competition.
I’m not so sure about myself have to wait and see. A lovelly idea this competition.

Shirley — Oh go on! Enter! I’d love to see what you come up with! And thanks so much for letting your artistic friends know. We want as many artistic people to enter as possible - amateurs and professionals alike.

Another thing I’d like to mention is that if you’re a professional you’re very welcome to enter too - this competition is for amateurs and professionals alike.

So what are you waiting for? Tell your friends and family! Dig up your old artwork! Create something new! And go ahead and enter via our ticket system by 10th May 2010 at 23:59 (GMT+1). You never know…

And to refresh your memory, find out what you win, and to look at our terms of conditions, check out the art competition post here…

I do hope I’ve answered all your questions. Feel free to post your questions and comments via the comments box below if there’s anything else you’d like to know.

Good luck everyone! Get creating!

Claire
Making-Handmade-Cards.com

Ye-hay! How exciting! Here’s my video update that tells you allllll about it…

Click the arrow below, to begin watching the video…

The Competition Guidelines

(Terms And Conditions)

Okay, okay we all know that nobody likes reading the ’small print’ - so we’ve tried to keep our terms and conditions as short as possible. Here are the rules and guidelines for entering our amazing and most fabulous art competition…

You …

1. Number Of Entries: You can enter anything up to a maximum of 6 pieces of artwork.
2. Author: You must be the original creator of the artwork you submit and hold the moral and intelluctual property rights in that work.
3. Location: This is an international competition - you can live anywhere in the world to be eligible to enter!
4. Age: You must be over 18 years old.

Your Artwork

1. You can create your original piece of artwork manually or digitally.
2. The artwork must be your own - you must be its original creator.
3. Digital artists: If you create your artwork digitally, then any fonts, brushes, textures, patterns and so forth that you use in the artwork must have been created by yourself. If you’re unsure how to create them yourself, you can type in the name of the software you use, ‘brush’ (for example) and then the word ‘tutorial’ into Google. Lots of tutorials will show up that you can refer to.

Your Image

1. Number Of Images: Only one image of the artwork is permitted, per entry. You can submit up to a maximum of 6 entries.
2. All entries must be submitted as a digital image. If your artwork is not digital, you can take a photo or scan your artwork. If you take a photo of your artwork, please make sure that your photo is high resolution, clear (not blurry) and taken in good lighting.
3. Format Of Entries: Your entry must be submitted in digital format.
4. Format: All images of works must be saved in a JPEG format.
5. File Size: All images must be saved as large as possible but must be no bigger than 3MB per image.
6. Filename: The filename of your image (entry) must contain your full name and the number of your submission. For example, ‘joe-bloggs-1.jpg’.
7. No watermarks: The image should show the artwork in its original state i.e. no watermark should be added.

Submitting Your Entries

1. You can submit up to 6 entries.
2. Submit your entries via the ticket system here. Entries that are not submitted via the ticket system will be deemed invalid and will not be considered.
3. Open one ticket per entry.
4. When opening the ticket, please select the category ‘Art Competition’.
5. What to write in your ticket: Your name, email address, country, and that your submission is for the Art Competition. Don’t forget to attach your image!

Miscellaneous

1. By entering the competition, entrants agree to be bound by these official terms and conditions and by the decisions of Making-Handmade-Cards.com which are final and binding in all respects.
2. By entering the competition, entrants also give Making-Handmade-Cards.com permission to post their artwork on the site (in recognition of their winning position), in the event that the entrant wins or is a runner up.
3. Making-Handmade-Cards.com reserves the right to change these terms and conditions or cancel the competition at any time, at its sole discretion.
4. Choosing The Winners: Winners will be chosen based on the criteria set out in the video above. The decision for choosing the winners will be at Making-Handmade-Cards.com’s sole discretion and the disclosure of the reasons for choosing the winners will not be required.
5. Entries Must Be Submitted According To The Rules: Artwork must be submitted according to these terms and conditions. Any entries that do not adhere to these terms and conditions will be considered invalid and will not be considered.
6. All taxes associated with the receipt of any prizes are the sole responsibility of the winner.
7. Closing date for entries: Entries must be submitted online via the ticket system by 3rd 10th May 2010 at 23:59 GMT+1. Entries received after this will be invalid.

Phew! That’s the competition guidelines out of the way!

So get creating everyone! I’m reeeeally excited about this art competition and I really hope you’ll help to spread the word about it. Go check out those guidelines and good luck! I really look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Claire
Making-Handmade-Cards.com