Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

January 16, 2018

Water Coloured Leafy Embossing Folder

Hi Everybody,

Yesterday I showed you some cards made with the new embossing folders that have been added to the "Christina Collection"

Today I am adding the video to the first one and for this I have used water colours and gilding flakes for a really pretty look to the card.

Because it is not too flowery it would be suitable for the male members we need to make cards for.

But you can always dress it up anyway you like with flowers, ribbons and pearls !!


I have given you a couple of tips in the video about Gilding Flakes and the main one is that they are very fly away.  Don't use them near open widows or a fan or you will be finding them everywhere.

It is easier once opened to put them into a larger container because they do swell up quite a lot once they air gets to them. It only looks a small amount in the pots they come in but there is really a lot and it will go along way. There are many different mixes as well as the plain gold or silver so have a look and see what you like 

I hope you enjoy the video and will give the flakes a try. They will give you a luxury look to any of your designs.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 15, 2018

New Embossing Folders

Hi Everybody,

I have been playing with the new embossing folders to the Christina Collection and I wanted to share some new photos with you before I add them as videos. 
 Each one has been a pleasure to work with and I have enjoyed seeing what I can come up with

The first photo is using the Leaf folder and on this I have embossed it and then water coloured the leaves.

Once it was dry I added glue pen to outline some of the leaves and I added Gilding Flakes to them.

I  matted the panel on to some green card and surrounded the edge with diamante.

The verse has been stamped and foiled and added to a silver label with foam tape between the layers.

This one has been Letterpressed  and I used the Happy Birthday folder.

I trimmed it down and added it with foam tape to another Quatrefoil embossed layer. 

I dotted it with pearls to highlight the pattern and ran pearl strips down each side.

The ribbon, bow and dazzler just add that little bit extra to an easy to create birthday card

This one is a little more elaborate and for this I have used the Flourish folder which I Letterpressed with Versamark and then heat embossed with sparkly powder

The Autumn coloured flowers are added around the foiled sentiment and the lace, ribbon and pearls are a luxury touch to the card. 

Very pretty and feminine and sure to please.

Make a box to match this and give it with love

So each of these cards will be added as a tutorial  to the Blog pages as they are done

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx  

January 14, 2018

Letterpress Birthday Card

Hi Everybody,

Today I am using the new embossing folders available in the Christina Collection and I have made a card for the men in your life.

With the stamps in  the Masculine Additions you can swap out dad for son or brother if you preferred.

I used Blue Print Sketch ink because it blends nicely with the card that I have used and that is Marine Blue from Papermill Direct

The video is not long but I hope you enjoy it and will try out some of these ideas in your own cardmaking




The finished card is still a 5x7 but is flat enough to fit into an envelope and so save on postage

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 13, 2018

Embossing Folders & Stamps

Hi Everybody,

The launch for these new additions to my collection went very well yesterday on Facebook Live and if you joined in then I would like to thank you.

But I realise that many of you don't have FB or you live at the other end of the world and can't watch.

So I am adding a video to introduce to you the new pieces that make up the third wave and I hope you enjoy it.

The die element of this wave was shown a few days ago but here is the link to that video in case you missed it .... Introducing Nesting Dies 


The embossing folders are a new line and I am so delighted with them. 
They are going to enhance any of my backgrounds so quickly.
The collection is available exclusively through Craft Stash who will ship world wide and accept PayPal 

Please join me for lots of videos that will be added with these new items as well as the other two waves that have already been released. They will all work so well together

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 12, 2018

Launch Day of Nesting Dies ...

Hi Everybody,

I am so happy to announce that the third wave of
  Dies, Stamps and now Embossing Folders
from Card Making Magic is being launched today on the Craft Stash website and you can find me on their Facebook Live page at 10 am

I am really excited about this release as they will make such a difference to any designs especially the romantic floral cards that I love to make

And so I have the first video featuring the Nesting Ovals to share with you today and the card is really lovely and I am so pleased with the result

I will be making many more using my collection and there's still lots more to come in further waves

So I hope you will stay with me to share the wonderful news as it happens and watch my collection continue to grow 



The list below will link you to the new wave but be sure to check out the rest as it is growing into a large complete collection to cover all your 5x7" card and box needs.
They are available on the Craft Stash website now.

 The embossing folders are a new line of  5x7" designs and they are lovely.
 I am absolutely delighted with everything and I hope you will be too.
Come and join us at 10 am Craft Stash Facebook Live

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 11, 2018

New Dies to "Christina Collection"

Hi Everybody,

Tomorrow sees the launch of the third wave of dies to my collection and this one is some really beautiful nesting dies. I am so excited about these as they are going to add some wonderful dimension to any of your creations

These are Nesting Rectangles. Pennants and Ovals and I have some lovely videos to share with you using each one of these sets, combined with the rest of the collection.

I am going to be on the Craft Stash Facebook Live  page tomorrow (12th Jan)  to show you some of the samples I have made with these dies so please join us for an hour of fun and chat

I have so many ideas for these dies and the possibilities are endless.
From beautiful romantic floral cards to the ever popular shaker cards.

So I really hope you will join me on this new stage of my collection with these nesting dies.
There is a lot more to  come and I don't think you will be disappointed with any of them

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 10, 2018

Papercraft Essentials 155 - Fairy Die

Hi Everybody,

This months Papercraft Essentials 155 features this little die from the Signature Collection by Joanna Sheen.

Here I have simply cut it in black as a silhouette and sat her  on the toadstool.

The door to her fairy home is behind  and I have hand drawn the scene around her and coloured it with marker Pens

But whilst I was making another card I made several mistakes.

One was using card to make a stamp for the fairies wings and the other was not using anti static on my card to remove any grease marks.

Another one was pressing too hard on the old mouse mat when I stamped and so making my block touch the card.

Once I had added the silver powder and saw the result I was really disappointed but I just couldn't throw it away without trying to salvage if first.

So I pressed on regardless and the card on the left is the end result

So I thought I would show you the mistake in the video and what I did to rectify the mess. I was really happy at the end and nothing was wasted ... Here's the video



Crafters don't make mistakes ... they have Happy Accidents
(That's my exscuse and I am sticking to it )

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 09, 2018

Tuesday Tutorial - Layered Flowers & Butterflies

Hi Everybody,

Today I am creating a card and box in the video using my own  "Christina Collection" of dies, stamps and stencils that are available from Craft Stash
This one is easy to create and so I hope you will give this a go.
The supply list is at the end of the post for you to view the products that I have used.
Supplies Used:
  • Complete Card & Box Dies Set
  • Petal Trellis 
  • Layered Flowers
  • Layered Butterflies
  • Fancy Flourish Stencil
  • Distress Oxide inks ... Broken China, Worn Lipstick, Wilted Violet
  • Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear glue
  • White ribbon
  • Pearl Flower Centres

The video is not too long but it will take you step by step through the process to complete both card and box.  I hope you enjoy it

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 08, 2018

Make A Splash ...

Hi Everybody,

So here I am again with some more Copic Colouring and this one is using a really cute stamp from Clearly Besotted

I created a top folded card and then rounded off the corners.

I layered the coloured panel onto an embossed panel with foam tape between the layers.

I took my time colouring this and then I added a vignette effect around it with paler shades of blue.

I added the water effect with white and a darker blue in various sized dots.

The stamp set has matching dies with it but for this card I only stamped the Dolphins onto smooth white stamping card.

I am quite pleased with the look and with a birthday sentiment added it would make a neat card for younger people.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 06, 2018

Two Winners Today ....

Hi Everybody,

Hope you are all enjoying the weekend and whatever the weather holds for you. It's bright and cheerful here today even if it is cold. Thanks to all for participating in the two "Give Aways" that have been on the blog this week.

The names of winners each week will be added to the "Winners Page" that is a permanent fixture in the side bar to the left and I will be starting a new list with todays winners and erasing the names form 2017.

So a clean slate for the New Year and to save confusion over which gift is yours I have added the photos of each prize

The first prize winner for the Friday Freebie has been drawn and this card and gift are going to you ...

NukeWidow
please email me your postal address to 
christina@card-making-magic.com


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

The second winner for the New Year 2018  parcel is you ...

Elsebeth
I also need you to email me your postal address please
as above

Both gifts will be in the post to you ladies straight away. 
I hope you will both like them and please let me know when they arrive safely.



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

There will be no Friday Freebie next week as I have some exciting news to bring you plus I will be on Craft Stash Facebook Live at 10 am  on the 12th January

And can I also explain please that although I ask you to let me know that you get the FF safely by the very nature of the gift I only have one to give away. So in the sad instance that one FF goes missing it is with much regret that I cannot send another as I don't have one.
I hope you understand

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 05, 2018

Friday Freebie - Lavish Labels

Hi Everybody,

For the New Year I am continuing with the Card and Gift give away each Friday.

And so today is the beautiful die and stamp set that was free with Simply Cards & Papercrafts 

The video ...   Lavish Labels   will give you some ideas on how I have used this set.

The card shown is the one that I am giving away with the dies and stamps and so if this is set that you would like to have then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post

One name will be drawn from the hat at random and the winner announced in tomorrows blog post.
You will have 72 hours in which to claim the prize by emailing me with your postal address.

Good luck everybody 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


January 04, 2018

Tonic Studios - Moroccan Orchard

Hi Everybody,

Well as I promised I am now going to be doing adding more videos to the blog pages.

Thank you for letting me know that you enjoy them and that you would prefer this type of tutorial

The links to the products will be at the bottom of the post for you to view 

For this beautiful card I have used the Tonic Studios Moroccan Orchard Corner and it is quite a large die in two sections.


The Pink and White card is from Papermill Direct and most of the card I use is from them and weighs between 255 - 300 gsm

This is a good solid base for any of my designs


The video will show you in detail how I made this card and it is really lovely in the hand. So I hope you will enjoy the tutorial and will continue to join me as I make more for you to view.

And don't forget the  "Give Away"  is running until Friday so add your comment if you want to be in with a chance

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 03, 2018

Creative Stamping 52 Music & Dance Collection

Hi Everybody,

The first magazine that I am showing you for the New Year is Creative Stamping Issue 52.

This has to be such a good value magazine as every month there is an A4 stamp sheet.

I just love this Dancing Feet stamp and I couldn't resist extending the ladies skirt and putting some folds in it.

I used sparkle pen on the shoes and decoupaged the flowers at the bottom of the card.
Another one I liked was the drum kit and some of the sentiments will fit inside the largest drum

There are two examples of cards ... one for the ladies in your family and the other for the men.



Such a versatile stamp set and for any age group too. and what a way to collect some quality stamps
It is on sale 4th January and is sure to sell out quickly.  

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 02, 2018

Tuesday Tutorial - Inked Background & Layered Butterflies

Hi Everybody,

Here is the first Tuesday Tutorial video for the New Year and I hope to bring you many many more.
I have topped 50,000 followers on YouTube in 2017 and I am hoping it will grow even more this year
Thank you so much for all your kind wishes and for being with me again in 2018
Supplies Used:
  • Complete Card & Box Die Set
  • Layered Butterflies Die Set
  • Cube Trellis Die Set
  • Fancy Flourish Stencil
  • Distress Inks
  • Blending sponges
  • Black Sequins
  • Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue
I am aiming to keep the videos quite short so as not to take up too much of your time but I hope you enjoy them anyway.  
 The list to the products is at the end of the blog post and some of them are affiliate links which means if you buy them I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you  



You could use Distress Oxides if you have those and the look will be slightly different. 
But try any inks that you have in your own collection and see which blends you like.
 Write down the combinations and then you will always know which ink works with another 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 01, 2018

Happy New Year 2018

Hi Everybody,

This is to wish you ALL a very Happy New year and to Thank You for all your support throughout the last one. 

I have enjoyed bringing you the videos and there will be lots more in the coming year

You may have noticed that I have added a permanent link to videos using my own collection in the side bar to your right  --->

Plus there are more additions planned for the "Christina Collection" 

So to start the New Year I have two items planned one is the video on the making of this card ...
And the second one is this bumper "Give Away" to say Thank You.

In this package there are:


Pack of Metal Embellishments
Pack of mixed flowers
Pack of Apple Blossom Dies, Stamps, Stencil and Embossing Folder
Five packs of  self adhesive pearls & gemstones
Five rolls of ribbon/lace
Pack of five hatpins
Pack of satin Rosebuds
Pack of brads
Two packs of Guipure Lace
One pack of glitter

All together a prize well worth winning so if you would like to win this then simply leave me a comment at the end of the post to be in with the chance.

The winner will be announced on Saturday along with the
Friday Freebie Winner
Happy New Year

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx