Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

November 08, 2016

Tuesday Tutorial - Botanical Heart Pair

Hi Everybody,

Today we have another quick and easy card to make in soft blue and white and all I have used is the Botanical Heart Pair die and one embossing folder. 
The card is so pretty and could be for any occasion.
Spellbinders Supplies:

Other supplies:
Instructions:
This is the most simple way to create your card base ....
Simply fold it in half along the long side and then cut in half to create two card bases with the fold at the top. 
Then mark the blue card leaving a small border around each edge and create the mat.
 Repeat with more white card and then emboss this piece
From each piece of the Botanical heart Pair die cut one in blue one in white of the largest and glue these together with the blue layer on top.
Cut the solid die in blue and the filigree die in white and layer together

Add the mats and layers to the base card and then with foam pads under the largest heart add this to the top. Add the smaller heart on this again with foam pads.
Stamp onto black card the sentiment of your choice and heat emboss with white powder.
 Cut it out and add to the card with foampads
Dress the card with flowers as you like and add some pearls around the hearts and some glitter to the flowers

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

November 07, 2016

New Craft Stash Products

Hi Everybody,

Are you like me and love to mat and layer up your cards? I enjoy adding in that extra layer to give depth and colour to my cards. Some of the ways I like to do this is with Glitter and Mirror card

The Glitter packs are in two different types ... one is card for adding the mats to your projects and the other is self adhesive paper that will cut beautifully for sentiments and intricate dies.

Here I have used the lovely pink card and paper from the Brights collection and the video will show you how this card was made.

Glitter Card and Paper  is always a useful standby in your craft room and there are three choices in each of the Glitter card and papers for you .. Brights, Metallics and Christmas and each pack works well  with the other
The  Mirror Card  is bright and shiny but my favorite is the Brushed Metallics as it gives a really soft finish to your designs.

I know you will enjoy these packs and there are countless ways in which they can enhance your own way of working.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx







November 06, 2016

Ruby Update ...

Hi Everybody,

My name is Ruby and I thought I would pop in to tell you all about my fun day yesterday.

 I made a new friend called Dougal. He is only two weeks older than me but he is a lot bigger and bouncier.

We had some good fun racing around the garden and we even got to dig a big hole in Vickies lawn.

Then we tramped all the mud into her kitchen and it was so much fun to hear her squeal as we made a mess.
Here we are having a doggy chew when we were getting a little tired.

We had a lovely time and Dougal is so friendly.

I like to bite his ears as they are nearly as long as mine



We did a lot of barking and growling .... well I did a lot of barking and growling and I didn't know I could make that much noise.

Barking is fun though and I liked doing that bit !! I even barked at the postman yesterday too.

And after this I needed a good nap to get my beauty sleep ... well  I am only eleven weeks old

My mum loves my eyelashes and I know how to flutter them at her to get what I want.

This morning I have had my breakfast and later today I am being taken for a little walk on a lead but I don't really know what to do with that yet ... except chew it.

I have found a new toy at home too and this was fun to chew after I had had a good sniff at it.

I have a lot more adventures to come as I grow up and there is so much to learn.

But I like my new home and I have been here now for two weeks.

I will be back with more things to tell you

Bye for now xx






November 05, 2016

Card Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

Ruby is now fully vaccinated and able to go out so this morning we have been to visit my daughter for breakfast.
She has a puppy Cockapoo that is just two weeks older than Ruby. 
I am so pleased to say that they both got on really well with each other and played in the garden.

Vickies puppy is called Dougal and he is twice the size of Ruby even though there's so little difference in their ages ... but Ruby held her own and did not let Dougal get the better of her.
 And out of the two she is the most vocal and did all the barking and growling while they played.

But now back home she is shattered and has gone to sleep on the sofa as I write this post. She is setting in really well and we are going to take her for her first walk out over the weekend and see how she adapts to a lead.

The winner for yesterday's card has been chosen and the name today is yours .....
Linda Weingart 

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

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

November 04, 2016

Friday Freebie 143

Hi Everybody,

My apologies for the poor quality of the photo but don't let that out you off because the card is really pretty.

It is in shades of pale pink and lemon teamed with white and I have added a hatpin into the floral display.

The finished size is A2 and I have used the Labels Eight for the layers.

Do you think you would like this card? Well if you do all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post

From those comments a name will be chosen and announced in the blog post tomorrow.  So you will need to come back and see if you are the winner

You will have till Wednesday to claim the card and then it will be gone to someone else.

Good luck to all and I am happy to send the card wherever you are in the world.  And boy have my cards gone to some far away places over the years.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


November 03, 2016

Magazine Freebies ...

Hi Everybody,

This week I have been really busy getting the vidoes to show you the new "Freebies" that are with this months magazines. There are some excellent choices for you and if you subscribe then you will never miss your favorite one as it will be delivered to your door .

So here they are ...

Simply Cards and Papercrafts 156     is a stamp set,/stencil and a snow flake die that you will be able make some really pretty cards with for your Christmas cards this year. The video will give you some more ideas


Creative Stamping 36 - Winter Wonderland   This is a large A4 stamp set with some lovely images and sentiments on so you can be really creative with this one

Mix and match them to your hearts content and remember that it is not just for Christmas

Use it for winter birthdays or anniversaries and some of the images are really good for male cards.

I am sure that you will think of lots of ways to put this fabulous free gift to good use

Die Cutting Essentials 17 - Stardust

This is a die set that I really enjoyed working with and there are some really useful sentiments to go with this design

This is prefect for using with any mirror card that you may have in your crafting goodies

There are a lot things that you can do with this ... turn it round to different directions. Cut it up and decoupage the stars.

Stack it up to make it really strong and this is something that I show you in the video.

I hope you will enjoy them all and also any of the magazines that you may already be buying

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

November 02, 2016

Water Colour Wednesday - Botanical Flutters

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is created with Distress Inks and water and the result is quite a pretty card.

I created a stamp with craft foam from the Hummingbird die that is in the  Botanical Flutters   from Spellbinders

I stamped it several times over the card with Versamark and used white embossing powder on them

Then with a blending tool I used Twisted Citron and Stormy Sky over the top and blended it well. The white birds show through once this is done.

Spritz with clean water and blot off again for a more mottled look

The Hummingbird I have cut twice in white card and then a top layer in silver and glued them all together for dimension

The base card is white and on top of that I have added in a sun-ray panel and I will cover that in another video

So lyricist speaking not water colours but done with water based inks so I am cheating a little here ... but still a good card to send to some one on their birthday.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx




November 01, 2016

Tuesday Tutorial - Labels Forty

Hi Everybody,

This is a colour that I don't use very much but each time I do I like the card and say to my self ... "Use this more often...." So here we have a 5x7 sized card in pale lemon and white and it is really easy to create.
Spellbinders Supplies:
Other Supplies:
Instructions:
With die #7 from Matting Basics A cut two pieces in white and create a base card. Leave to one side
With #7 from Matting Basics B cut another layer in yellow
With #6 from Matting Basics A cut one more layer in white and emboss this piece and add these two layers together
(Please remember that die #1 is always the smallest)
With dies #4 and =5 from Labels Forty cut the layers in yellow
With dies #3 and #4 cut these layers in white and emboss with a different pattern 
Layer each size onto the corresponding plain layer with foam pads between 
 and add them all together on top of the larger layers from the previous step
Wrap all layers with ribbon and add a double bow
Add them all to the base card 
Glue the pretty centre piece onto the knot in the bow

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

October 31, 2016

With Love in Pink ...

Hi Everybody,

These pretty papers are from the Blissful Paper Pads from AnnaMarie Designs 

This is obviously the pink but there are other colours for you to choose from and sentiment tags to match also

I have used Circular dies to create an aperture and then filled the gap with Floral Trellis

Each of the petal shapes has been dotted with tiny pink pearl from Want2Scrap

The flowers are a mixture of stamped images, die cut flowers and leaves from the  Quite Contrary stamp and die set  by Spellbinders with paper flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

October 29, 2016

Card Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

Mild but dull and cloudy here today and I have lots to do. There are some really pretty magazine freebies coming up in November and I am in the process of preparing the cards and videos to share them with you. There is sure to be something that you will like.

So before I really get down to some work the draw fro the card has been done and the name this week is yours ....

Kricket ...

so I need you to send me your postal address please to 
christina@card-making-magic.com
and the card will be on its way to you

Please let me know when it arrives with you and I really hope you will like it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

October 28, 2016

Friday Freebie 141

Hi Everybody,

This pretty card  was made earlier this year and it is Letterpressed in Lilac and is a 5x7 size.

The flowers compliment the scheme

I have added in one of my hatpins to the display after the photo was taken so you won't see it here.

I have added lace and ribbon to the bottom of the card and lace leaves in with the flowers.

The inside is finished on this one

So if you would like to have this card then all you need to do is leave me a comment.

From those comments a name will be chosen as the winner.

I will add that name to tomorrows blog post so you need to come back and check if it is yours that is listed.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


October 27, 2016

Autumn Colours

Hi Everybody,

I used to be a real sun fan at one time but as I got older the heat bothers me more and I can no longer sit in it for long.

So these cards are reflecting my love of  Autumn and the beuatiful colours that go with this season

The leaves turning to golds and browns and there seems to be a softness about everything before the winter takes hold.

The first two cards are using the Woodland Leaves and the Acorns  both of which are from the Woodland Collection from Spellbinders

For the top card I have used the Brick pattern and the card to the left I have used the Bark and both these patterns are in one folder.

They both make for an unusual type of backdrop and are especially useful for male cards.

Then with a more feminine touch I have created the card base with Cascading Grace and layered up with some portions of the die cut with foam pads

The flowers and leaves on this card are from Wild Orchid Crafts and there is a hatpin pushed into the display.

The petals have been sparkled with glitter. Then either pearls or enamel dots finish off the cards

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx






October 26, 2016

Water Colour Wednesday-Counting Sheep !

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is a mixture of Distress ink used in two different ways.

I have used smooth stamping card and blended the ink on to the centre of it with an ink blender.

I started for lightly in the middle with Tumbled Glass and then worked my way out going lighter and lighter as I went towards the edges.

The stamp set is from Clearly Besotted but until the New Year they are taking a break and so the stamp set is not available at present.

I used Mowed Lawn  as a watercolour to create the grass along the bottom and some Hickory Smoke to add shading to the sheep

If you are going to use your Distress inks as water colours then dab the ink from the pad onto a glass mat or tile and then add the water with your brush.

Don't add the wet brush direct to the ink pad or you will dilute the ink in the pad and spoil it

I used the matching die to cut the sheep out and added them to my card with foam pads underneath for dimension.

Cute eh ??

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

October 25, 2016

Tuesday Tutorial - Labels 56 Decorative Accents

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is a really easy simple layered card and I have used some white cream and red spotty card for mine. I have separated the layers with foam pads and for those of you who are asking where I get my foam tape and pads from they are £££ shop buys and I buy loads for them every time I go in to the shop
Spellbinders Supplies:
Other Supplies:

With Matting Basic A die #7 cut two panels in white and create a hinged card
With #7 from Matting Basics B cut another panel in cream
With #6 from Matting Basics A cut a patterned panel
From Labels 56 cut each piece in cream and add foam pads to the back of them
Stamp and emboss your sentiment and layer it on to some matching cream card and add the foam pads to this also
Add the red dotty card to the cream layer and wrap with red ribbon
Layer all the Labels 56 together  and add on top of the other layers
Glue a bow in place and add the bows cetnre piece
Decorate with flowers and pearls as you like and sprinkle the petals with fine glitter.

More tomorrow ....

Hugs xx


October 24, 2016

Ruby Update ...

Hello Everybody,

It's me  Ruby again and I am settling into my new home really well.

I am a nine week old English Cocker Spaniel and my colouring is Blue Roan Sable.

Now I might look like butter wouldn't melt but I can be very loud when I want to.

Here my new mum is trying to take some  close up pictures of me but the strap looks really inviting to chew

I went up to the craft room and helped my mum pick out some things that she wanted to work with

I am too little to climb the stairs on my own yet so I was carried up but there are lots of new things up here to sniff

Then when she was busy I took myself off to chill in my comfy bed

OoooooH !! this is the life

See you again soon.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx