Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

January 31, 2017

Tuesday Tutorial - Oval Floral

Hi Everybody,

Another quick and easy card to make today and this uses the beautiful oval die from Spellbinders. I have chosen the lovely combination of lilac and white for my as I always think this is a fresh colour scheme that can be used for so many occasions.
Spellbinders Supplies:
Other Supplies:
With white card cut two pieces from die #7 Matting Basics A and Create a Hinged Card
Hand cut a slightly smaller layer in lilac card to leave a narrow border around the edge
Hand cut another white layer that is again slightly smaller than the lilac and emboss this piece to add texture to the layer
(Please remember that die =1 is always the smallest)
With Oval Floral dies #2 & 3 cut three frames and glue them all together for extra strength
Cut the sentiment twice in white and once in Silver glitter card and glue together


Add the embossed layer to the lilac card and wrap with lace and ribbon before adding to the base card
Add the frame in the position you want it and lay the sentiment across the frame.
I have used tiny pieces of foam tape on the outer letters to make it lie evenly across the frame.
Arrange the flowers as you like them and add in a little bow 
Dot the flowers with glue and sprinkle on the glitter.
Allow to dry and then the glitter will lie flat on the petals.
Arrange lilac pearls into the Ovals centre in a random pattern

A card for any occasion ... just alter the sentiment

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



January 30, 2017

Coffee and Cream

Hi Everybody

Todays card is using some really pretty card in cream from  PMD  and then using inks to colour the rest as a highlight to bring out the features in the lace.

The card is a 5x7 top folded card as this is my favorite way to make any cards that I do.

Having the fold at the top helps the card to stand better especially if you add as many embellishments to it as I do

So I have mixed old dies with new ones here and I really love the new Graceful Floral Lace from Becca Feeken.

For this card I have used Distress Ink Ground Espresso and inked through the die before removing the card and it gives you this lovely pattern on your lace.

It is so pretty and a wonderful addition to any feminine cards.

The other is the Botanical Heart Pair  and this I have cut three times and glued them together.

This is another favorite trick of mine as it gives strength and depth to the die cut and makes it stand out on the card. Try it ... it works wonders

The card has been wrapped in ribbon and the layered with a pearl strip and then the bow added to the top.

The Happy Birthday Sentiment has also been cut several times and glued together for effect, and is also a new die from Spellbinders.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



January 29, 2017

Ruby Update ...

Hi Everyone,

Well here I am again and I am now five months old and I still look like butter wouldn't melt in my mouth.

I am waiting here for a treat that my mum has in her hand and it's sausages and I looove sausages !

I have had quite a few adventures since I was last here and one of them is that I now go to Puppy Training classes every week

I am learning to be a good puppy but sometimes it is hard especially because Dougal ... my very best friend ... is also there and all we want to do is play.
We have so much fun together and the other day my mum and Dougals mum Vickie, took us in Stanley Park.

We ran around and played in all the leaves and mud we could find and we were both really dirty

But I stood on something that I though was grass and it wasn't

It was what my mum called the algae on the lake and I fell in ....  I soon found out that I could swim

I had my lovely blue jacket on and my mum thought it might drag me under and she was calling my name from the side.

I tried to swim towards her but there was some wood in my way and when I touched the wood it moved so I had to take the long route and swim around it.

My mum was hopping about on the waters side and Dougals mum kept calling "Don't panic Mum ... Don't panic... " to my mum.

Coz of course my human mum is Vickies mum too.

As soon as I got close to my mum she scooped me out of the water and hugged me really close.. I had to take the jacket off and she put me in her coat to keep me  warm.

I was praised for swimming so I might just have to try that again some day ... but when the weather is warmer.  And I was really clean of all the mud when she got me out.

Once I warmed up I wanted to go and play with Dougal again and after the panic my mum and Vickie ended up laughing about her trying to get me out the water ... she can't swim as well as me !!

More next time ...

Hugs xx








January 28, 2017

Card Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

Late post today as I was busy this morning taking my daughter to collect her new car and she is one happy girl. I took Ruby with me of course and we had a lovely ride out, and she is so good in a car.
She has a story to tell you tomorrow so I hope you will join me again then.

Anyway on to the winner of the pink chalk card. The name drawn this week is you

Linda Batson
So if you could email me please
christina@card-making-magic.com
I will get the card in the post to you straight away

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


January 27, 2017

Friday Freebie 003/17 - Pink Chalk

Hi Everybody,

Todays card was featured in a video a little while ago using chalks and the effect is a soft and gentle look

The video ... Create a Chalk Background  .. uses some pastel chalks that I have in my stash and they are something that was really popular a few years ago.

It seems to have gone out of favor and so I thought it time that I got mine out again and use them.

I bet you are like me in buying things,  using them for a while and then something else takes your eye and you move on,  and forget about the other stuff you have

Well if you have chalks then give them an airing and you are sure to like the effect.

But don't forget that can of cheap hairspray to spritz the card as that will set the chalks and stop them rubbing off the card again and spoiling the look.

Now if this is a card that you would like then all you have to do is leave me a comment and come back tomorrow and check if it is your name that is listed as the winner. You have 72 hours in which to claim the card and then you will be too late

I am happy to send the card anywhere you live and you don't need to have a blog of your own either
I add a card every Friday so just add your name and you never know YOU could be the winner

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 26, 2017

New Collection from Craft Stash

Hi Everybody,

Today sees the launch of more new dies from Craft Stash and this is the Daisy Chain Collection. I have four new videos showing how I have used this set and they are all ready for you to view.

The first one is to create a background with the stamp set

I have used a favourite trick of muting the background with parchment for a subtle look

The video is Daisy Stamped Background  and will show you how I made this card.

This circular card is created with the dies cutting white card and some colour added for effect.

I love the sentiment on this and it is part of the stamp set .."Goodbye Tension - Hello Pension " a good one to send to many of your retiring friends

For this card I have used the Daisy Chain Border   which gives a really pretty look to the edges of the card.

I have used the glitter card that I featured in a video a few weeks ago and it is available from Craft Stash

And with this card I used the embossing folder to create a Letterpress look for the background to my card

Altogether this is really versatile collection and you will be bale to make so many different looks for any occasion.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 25, 2017

Water Colour Wednesday-Tropical Blooms

Hi Everybody,

This little stamp set was free with a magazine and it was featured in the video

It is a really versatile stamp set and as a free gift it was such a bonus as there are so many on the A4 sheet

For this card I stamped the flower and then masked it off and add the image again.

I used other parts from the set to add more interest around my flowers and then I painted them with Gansai Tambi watercolours.

I added some white dots to the flowers and that brought them more to the forefront of my picture

Dotted with sequins as a finishing touch and the card is ready to send. Vary the sentiment to suit the occasion  and the recipient

You will find more of my ideas using this stamp set in this months
Die Cutting Essentials 20 magazine on sale on the 26th january 17.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 24, 2017

Tuesday Tutorial - Flowers & Lace

Hi Everybody,

For todays card I am using some old and new dies together and creating a really pretty design with only card elements on it. I like to add lace and flowers to my creations and with these dies I can add both and it doesnt cost the earth. 
And with dies I can re create the whole look time after time just altering the colours in the card or the inks I use.
Spellbinders Supplies:
Other Supplies:
Instructions:

With die #7 from the matting basics cut two pieces in cream and create a hinged card
Hand cut a slightly smaller layer in pink to leave a narrow border around the edge
Hand cut another slightly smaller layer in cream and emboss this in the folder
Glue the two hand cut layers together
Cut one layer in cream and hand cut a layer in pink to fit beneath the die cut
Glue these two together just around the edges then add foam tape at the back
Select the florals that you wish to use and cut them in cream
Ink through the die before you remove the card. Abandoned Coral for the flowers and Mowed Lawn for the leaves
Cut one strip of the Graceful Floral Lace and use small foam pads in strategic places to the back of the die cut so that they cannot be seen from the front
(I love this die and it looks really pretty if you ink through it before removing the card)
Add the Two Way Street panel to the embossed layers and wrap the lace strip around them all.
Add small foam pads to the florals that you cut and arrange them and the leaves onto your card as you like.
Cut the sentiment of your choice form the Phrases several times and glue them together for strength.
Add to the card front as you like .
I then added Glossy Accents and Glitter to my die cuts 
Vary the florals, sentiments, arrangement and the colours for another look to your card 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 23, 2017

Creative Stamping free gift ...

Hi Everybody,

Today I have yet another video for you to view and this one features another free gift.

The video is called Creative Stamping 39 - Truly Scrumptious  and there are so many images for you to play with.
I had so much fun with this as you will see from the samples in the video and there are ,many many more ways for you to use it

You can mix and match to your hearts content with this gift.

It will be on sale on the 26th January so keep a look out for it in your local shops ans supermarkets

Or you can get it direct from Moremags 

Most of the images have been coloured with pencils but they would look equally as good with paints or markers whichever you prefer to work with.

Just have fun with your creations and see what you can come up with.

This Jelly Baby has simply been stacked one on the other to create a fun card that would be prefect for a childs birthday.

You can change the items that are arranged on the cart too and alter the sentiments to go with each one you stamp.

The free gifts in these magazines just seem to get better and better and are the perfect way to build up your own crafting supplies.

There are more idea in the magazine too as well as tips and information to help you create cards that you will enjoy making

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 21, 2017

Die Cutting Essentials 20

Hi Everybody,

Another fantastic freebie is on offer with this months Die Cutting Essentials and the video to show you the gift is called Butterfly Wishes

The gift consists of two dies  ... a fligree butterfly and the solid layer that can be used with the filigree or create a stand alone shape but both look good used independently

There is also a stamp set that can be used to compliment your design and there are lots of ways to use them. Stamp the butterfly and then use the die to cut it out

In the video I have tried to show you some variations that you may like to try but I am sure that you will come up with many more once you start to play

Here I have stamped and water coloured the butterfly and then once I have cut it out I have curved the wings and added them to my card front.

The sentiment is die cut that is available from Craft Stash

Todays video makes ten that I have added this week and I really hope you have enjoyed them all,

If you left your comment on YouTube then thank you so much it is much appreciated.

In the magazine you will find some more of my ideas an page 25 featuring the Tropical Blooms stamp set that I videoed a little while ago. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 20, 2017

Simply Cards & Papercrafts 159

Hi Everybody,

The gift this month with my favorite magazine  is really useful and can help you to make some really pretty cards.

The video to show this set is called  SC&P 159 - Time for tea  and I have had some fun working with this stamp and the teacup die.
There are so many ways that this can be used for you to change things up with every card that you make.

In the stamp set there is a bird, flowers, a macaroon and a little teabag that you can add tiny sentiments too There are lots of other sentiments that you can create your own greeting with

The flowers can be used in either the tea pot or ta cup and the little bird perched on either as well and the tea cups can be stacked together as you wish

The video will give you some ideas that you may like to try and I hope you enjoy the ideas and the video
This little card is very soft and gentle and I really liked the finished effect.

I stamped the flowers in Antique Linen Distress Inks and then used the palest pencils in peach and light browns, pale sage green and a really pale pink to get the look

I splattered the card with another pale colour and wrapped the peach ribbon around the layers

I cut a circle of parchment and stamped and heat embossed the sentiment

The sequins add that little extra to the card and I perched the bird onto the parchment circle with foam pads underneath the raise it up

So because of all the video releases  there is no Friday Freebie card give away for this week  ...  but it will be back soon 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx