Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

October 08, 2016

Card Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

It's a lovely day here in the North West and I have been up and about early.  Griff is working at my Grandsons restaurant as they are still in the process of doing it all up and it will be a few weeks yet before it is opened.

Then later on it will be chill time and we will be free to do what ever we want.  But in the meantime the draw has been done for the green card from yesterday and the name this week is you ...

Anna
please email me your postal address to 
christina@card-making-magic.com
and the card will be on it's way to you.

One of the cards from last week was not claimed and so it will be offered again at a later date. 
 I need to say it again ... if you add your name to win then you need to come back and check if it is your name that is listed as the winner as I have no way of chasing you up and you will lose the card if you leave it too ling

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

October 07, 2016

Friday Freebie 139

Hi Everybody,

Pretty in green is todays card and for this one I have used one of the Cut Fold Tuck dies from Spellbinders

This one is the Floral Burst and I have added a really pretty diamante cetnre to it for effect.

The layers are created with Detailed Scallops and  Decorative Labels Eight which is one of my favorite dies

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

A name will be drawn from those comments and the winner notified in tomorrows blog post. So please come back and see if it is your name that is there.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


October 06, 2016

Nativity Scene Magazine Freebie ...

Hi Everybody,

Many of you are now starting to think about your Christmas cards and as much as we are reluctant we need to start somewhere.

It is well and truly on the way and this year I don't intend to be on the last minute for everything.

So another free gift that you may like to collect is this Nativity Scene that is free with
  Die Cutting Essentials 16

It will be on sale on the 13th  October in selected supermarkets, craft shops, WHSmith and direct from Moremags.com

It can be used in many ways and I am sure that you will come up with some really innovative ways once you start to play.

For my card I have paper pieced it and then backed it onto mirror card. This one is done in gold but in the video I used some silver.

So please pop over to YouTube and view the making of the card in   Nativity Scene  

In the magaizn you are offered some free papers that you can download and it is these that I have used in the card 

You also have the chance to buy  DCE 10  at half price  and that has a die and embossing folder that match the ones on this mag and so the two of them will mix and match together giving you the chance to make cards not just for Christmas but all year round

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

October 05, 2016

Water Colour Wednesday - Chubby Chums

Hi Everybody,

How cute is this card? I love it and had so much fun creating it.  I have used a stamp from Paper Smooches that is called Chubby Chums and with masking paper I have stacked them all together on water colour card.

 There is a set of dies that match this stamp set and if these products are sold out when you get there then add your name to the list to be notified when they are back in stock


I  have used Zig Clean Colour Real Brush Markers and they are so easy to work with. The background is done with Distress Inks and I have used a white Sharpie pen to do the snowflakes over the it.

The Googly eyes just add to the expressions on their faces as they sing their Christmas carol to you.

Under the characters I have added some snow with Snowtex. It dries really hard and looks just like .. Snow !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

October 04, 2016

Tuesday Tutorial . Jubilee Tags

Hi Everybody,

Tags are always useful to have on hand as they can personalise your designs and make them stand out. Today I am using the Jubilee Tags from Spellbinders and we are going to make them look really pretty on a small card.

Spellbinders Supplies:

Other Supplies:
Instructions:


With die #7 from Matting Basics A cut two and Create a hinged card
With #7 from Matting Basics b cut another in some patterned card and emboss
(Please remember that die #1 is always the smallest)
There are three tag designs in this set so choose the one you prefer and cut it twice from the largest piece
Stamp and emboss a sentiment that will fit onto the smaller die and cut this label piece separately
Then add the two dies together to create the frame and cut twice more
Add the smaller piece to the  basic tag with foam pads in between.
Glue the two frames together for extra strength
 When ever you are adding things in threes it is easier to add the two outside pieces first and then centralise the middle one.. That way you will get an even distribution of the shapes
Ring the change by swapping out the sentiment ... or the flowers ... or the colour ...or the tag shapes ... or rounding the corners.
But whatever you do have fun with your crafting 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

October 03, 2016

October Magazine Freebies ...

Hi Everybody,

It's that time of the month again when the magazine freebies will be on the shelves for October.
 I have been very busy over the weekend putting together some really good ideas for the lovely gifts that will come with the mags.


There are stamps and dies as well as embossing folders and all will help you with your seasonal cards and the links direct to the magazines are there for you


The first one is from 
and this will be in the shops and supermarkets on the 6th October.

The gift is called "Santa Claus is coming to Town" and I have done a video to go with it to show you some of the ideas that I have come up with 

You can view it now  on YouTube and here is the link for you .... Santa Claus is coming to Town
Another one that will be on sale on the 6th  is
This has  an A4 stamp set  which is full of all the things to make that perfect card

On the video I have given you some traditional ideas in traditional colours but you can experiment and try all different schemes to suit your needs

This little card pictured on the left is the fun technique that I have shared with you in  the video Traditional Christmas



I hope you will enjoy the videos as much as I enjoyed playing with these fabulous gifts that are FREE ...

And if you like the look of the Misti for your own stamping then you will find that at Craft Stash  

 It sells out very quickly so leave them your email and they will let you know when it is back in stock

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx





October 02, 2016

Musical Christmas ...

Hi Everybody,

October is here and before we know it Christmas will be here too. People will be starting in earnest on their cards and Craft Stash are in the mood for the season already.

They have brought us a whole new set of dies and stamps and the theme is a
  Musical Christmas
And to help you with some ideas I have got my "Film Crew" working really hard to produce these three videos that you may like to view.

 They first video is using the dies for the  Carol Singers & Lamppost  that you can add individually or in groups and then dress the card any way you want

I have used Distress Inks to create the backgrounds on both cards and all can be bought individually from the Craft Stash website

The next two die and stamp sets are the Musical Border and Musical Instruments

On my card I have turned the instruments into stamps using  Craft Foam to make the background and the video will show you how

And this set is not just for Christmas, I have turned mine in to a Birthday card for a musical friend

And then last but not least in this collection are the embossing folders which I love to use to add texture and depth to any of my cards

The video Musical Christmas Embossing Folders will show you how I created this card and nothing could be easier.

So three videos for you today and I hope you will enjoy them all

And here is the link to all the Apple Blossom dies and stamps in the  Musical Christmas Collection 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



October 01, 2016

Card Winners ...

Hi Everybody,

Such a late post from me today and the reason is ... I went to see my daughters new puppy and I fell in love. He is an eight week old cream Cockerpoo and his name is Dougal and he is adorable. I got lots of puppy kisses and we played for ages until he fell asleep.  I can't wait until Isabella comes to see him she will adore him

So todays draw has eventually been done and the winners this week of the last two Distress Ink cards are you two ....

Jan and Cathie Weary
so as always ladies can you send me your postal addresses to 
christina@card-making-magic.com
and the cards will be on their way to both of you straight away

Please let me know when they arrive with you and I hope you will like them 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

September 30, 2016

Friday Freebie 138

Hi Everybody,

Here are the last two cards with the Distress Ink Backgrounds that I am giving away to two winners

All of them have been very vibrant colours with a floral display to compliment the scheme

Each has a decorative hatpin that I have made in the petals and each one is an A2 size with the fold at the top.
The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  with sparkly petals with Glitter Magic

So this is the last chance to win one of these and all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post.



You will need to come back tomorrow to see if it is your name that is shown and then email me with your postal address so that I can post the card to you.

It doesn't matter if you have won one before or where you live, and you don't need to have a blog to enter

So what are you waiting for ... get wring that comment . It wont show up until it has been moderated so please don't add it two or three times

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

September 29, 2016

Using Banners ...

Hi Everybody,

At first glance this looks nothing like a banner ... but that is exactly what I have used to create this background.

The die set is part of  the Apple Blossom Collection named Banners and it is available to purchase from Craft Stash

There is also a matching stamp set Banner Sentiments that can be used with the die that will give you lots of ways to customise this for your self.

But once you have used it as banners you may like to try something more and the video will show how I have made this work for me.

Apple Blossom - Banner and Sentiments   is now waiting for you on YouTube  and I hope you enjoy the video.

The papers that I have used are all from the same stack and so are sure to match and they are from  AnnaMarie Designs

The one that I have used is from the Teal pack and I have used all the straight edged  Banners to cut my shapes

The  Gilding Flakes  can be bought from Craft Stash  along with the  Double Sided Adhesive Sheets  that I used to stick them on to

If you are new to my blog ...  all the coloured words are links and are there for you to see the products that I have used

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


September 28, 2016

Water Colour Wednesday . Ribbon Bows

Hi Everybody,

Today I am killing two birds with one stone and showing you a new video that features a new product from  Craft Stash

This is their new Ribbon Bows Collection and it consists of several stamps and matching dies that you can purchase separately

Here I have added the bows to some water colour card and used the Gansai Tambi to paint them in bright and cheerful colours.

The video will show you how I created this card  and give you some other ideas that you may like to try and it is not hard to do ...even if you can't draw or colour.

Apple Blossom - Ribbon Bows Stamps & Die Set  is now waiting for you on YouTube and I hope you will enjoy the ideas that it shows you.

Grab a cuppa and a biscuit or two ... or three and relax for a little while as you watch

The dies and stamps are now ready for you to buy at Craft Stash 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

September 27, 2016

Tuesday Tutorial - Swirling Grace

Hi Everybody,

This beautiful die is from the designs by Becca Feeken and is available with Spellbinders.
 It is part of a collection that Becca created to cover the wedding themes and they are all beautiful graceful swirling  dies. 

Spellbinders Supplies:
Other Supplies:
Instructions:

With die #7 from Matting Basics A cut two pieces in cream and create a hinged card
Please remember that with Spellbinders die #1 is always the smallest
Hand cut another layer in turquoise slightly smaller than the base
Hand cut another layer in parchment that is the same size as the turquoise one and emboss this layer
Cut one panel in turquoise using the outer frame of Swirling Grace
Then with the two dies together cut another panel in cream and glue these two together.
Add foam pads to the back of the turquoise card
With the other two parts to the die set cut one of each and I decided to use the cream card for both of these.
With the border sentiment cut your chosen word four times and glue them together for extra strength

Assemble the card and add in some flowers along the bottom.
I used a decorative hatpin in the display and sparkled my flowers with glitter.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



September 26, 2016

Apple Blossom - Embroidery Collection

Hi Everybody,

Craft Stash have another new collection going in to their online shop tomorrow and here is a sneaky peek of what is on offer.

This is going to be an exciting week as I will be adding not one but 
six new videos 
and they will showcase even more new products for you to view

There are some really cute stamps in this Embroidery Collection  as well as sentiments and little fillers for you to use on your own designs

The die that matches this set is an embroidery hoop and you can use that as you like ...just let your imagination do the work

So here is the first video on YouTube showcasing the  
and you will find some cool ideas that you may like to try.

I have had fun playing with these stamps and I am sure that you will too.

They are available to purchase from tomorrow at Craft Stash

And while you are there have a look around for some of the other goodies that they have in their shop.


More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

  

September 25, 2016

Colouring with Spectrum Noir

Hi Everybody,

I had a whole load of fun colouring these umbrellas and adding the extra decoration to them with a white pen.

The stamp is part of an A4 collection called Summer In The Garden.

Some of you may have this already as it was a free gift with a magazine some time ago.

So to make this card I used Spectrum Noir for the colours and masked off the umbrella in stages

Masking makes them overlap so that each one looks to be sitting behind another.

With hindsight though the sentiment would have been better stamped in Black to make it show up more but I think the finished effect is good fun

From the same stamp  I coloured in the brollies in Gray keeping just one of them brightly coloured and added the raindrops from the same set over the top

The Die and sentiment are from a set by Avery Elle and I just  thought that they fitted this scene perfectly.

So two interpretations of the same stamp and a whole lot of enjoyment in the process

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



September 24, 2016

Two More Winners ...

Hi Everybody,

It's a bit cloudy here today and I am going to go shopping later. 
Do you remember me telling you that my Grandson has bought his own restaurant? 
Well at the moment it is being torn apart from top to bottom and Griff is doing a lot in there with the building work. It looks like a disaster area at present.
Last weekend they put a new false ceiling in from back to front and it looks a whole lot better for it

Once things start to go back in it will move pretty quickly and I cannot wait to have a delicious meal in there with the rest of my family. I will keep you posted as to the progress. 
Me ... well I go there in my capacity as chief nosey parker !! Just to see what has been done

Anyway on to todays winners and of course the draw has been done. 
The two names chosen this week are 

Joyce MacPherson  and   Karen Dakyns

and if you could both email me please to
christina@card-making-magic.com
then I will get the cards in the post straight away.

Please let me know when they arrive with you and I hope that you will like them 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx