Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

September 09, 2013

Blue on Blue ...


Hi Everybody,

What a mixed reaction to the Black card I showed you yesterday.  I didn't like it either  and many of you agreed with me about it  ...  but others did.

Having said that I do have a couple more dark cards to show you this week.

Personally I much prefer the lighter colours ...even for a sympathy card  ...soooooooo I won't be doing that again ... but thanks for the feedback.


In one of the comments on Fridays post for the  Crisscross Pattern,   Janice mentioned that she had read about the die bieng threaded with ribbon.

And I thought Ooooh!!  got to try that ...  and this is my take on the card.   I have used blue gingham ribbon and threaded it through all the slots.

So "Thank you" Janice for the comment ... I hope you like the end result.
I have added tiny pearls to each of the cross sections and the matching "Bling"  from  Want2Scrap   for the Fancy Tags Three

The ribbon was in my "Stash" and I have used the Bow maker to create a double bow  and I have added a larger petal to the centre to cover the knot.

In the close up photo you can see the weaving of the ribbon and I used super sticky double sided tape to hold it in place along the sides.

I created a double frame to go around it and added the layers with foam pads
The inside has been decorated to match the front and the card is a 6 x 8 1/2 " when finished ... and although it is a large card it will fit into an envelope for posting.

The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley  and is one of a group that are all on one sheet.

And once again there are no flowers on this card .... and that will have to change soon !!



More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


September 08, 2013

Black Card ...

Hi Everybody,

It's a well known fact that we all like white on white cards and even the cream variation .... but what about black on black ??

This is a card I have made with the new Crisscross Pattern die from Spellbinders that I showed you yesterday ... but I have to say I don't know if I like it really.

 What do you think?

The card has been made following the video tutorial for
Creating  A  Frame  with  Spellbinders    and the Crisscross has been layered onto a dull silver card.

The black pearls are some from Want2Scrap  and I have jsut added them to the cross sections of the die

The sentiment has been heat embossed in silver and double layered onto some of the silver card.

I added a large double bow using the  Bow Maker  from the black ribbon that I already had in my "Stash"

The question is ... do I like it  ... or not ??  Er!  I think NOT ....

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx
  

September 07, 2013

Crisscross Pattern ...

Hi Everybody,

This is one of the newest  patterns from Spellbinders and it is the Crisscross Pattern.

It makes really neat backgrounds and I bought mine from Sunrise Crafts

This is a  UK company  but they have the most up to date Spellbinders and the delivery is quick.

Mine arrived this week and so I had to play and see what it looked like and this is the card I came up with ....
I have created the design as a Hinged Card  and used lots of layers.

The pattern  has been layered with Mirror card and created in the same way as the instructions in the Creating A Frame with Spellbinders.

The other dies I have used are listed below.

The sentiment is from Clarity Stamp and it has been heat embossed in silver

The single flower is from Wild Orchid Crafts

 The inside of the card has been decorated to match the front and the ribbon is from Reasonable Ribbon and is part of their ribbon club.

Now I know that the list of dies below says Pre Order ... but these dies are all available now .. and have been for some time.

So please shop around and find them at the best price in your part of the world.  

The list below is there simply to show you what I have used and what  the dies  look like so that you know what you are looking for should you wish to get them.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx








September 06, 2013

The Jus Cutz

Hi Everybody,

No card today but I waned to tell you about the new Jus Cutz die cutting machine that I have bought from Once Upon A Stamp

It is relatively new to the market and the mechanics of it are made from all metal ... so not much to break on this one.


It makes a lot of claims and only time will tell if it lives up to those claims but I have been working with mine for a few weeks now and it is really good.

 It comes in a number of trendy colours and I chose this Retro look for mine

The white knob underneath turns clockwise to suction the machine to your work top
 The cutting is performed by pressure from the rollers and the pressure is set by the slider on the machine.

You will need to move the slider depending on what it is you want to do ... cut, emboss the die or use an embossing folder.

Because the pressure is evenly distributed along the roller it is claimed to cut evenly every time ... but a little bit of advice ... buy the separate Metal Plate 

It is not supplied in the box but you will need it to cut the more intricate dies that you may have.

It  has the A4 cutting platform and that means all the Grand dies can be used.

And because of the larger mouth it will also take the thicker dies that you may have.

It will sit comfortably on your work top and looks very neat when closed,  and it opens out easily when you need to use it.

If you have one and would like to leave your own comment then please do.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx




September 05, 2013

Medallions Seven

Hi Everybody,

The Medallions are one of the smaller dies from Spellbinders. There are several patterns in these dies and the ones I have used are the Medallions Seven.

This card is a 5" square that is created from the smallest of the Grand dies.

It is also the card that is featured in the video ...
Spellbinders Medallions Tutorial  which is not a long tutorial.

The beautiful embossing on the white layer is from the Regency Swirls from Crafters Companion and it leaves a lovely deep etched design in the card.

The pearls are self adhesive and they are from Want2Scrap.   .... and  were added at the suggestion of my "Film Crew" 


More  tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



September 04, 2013

Spellbinders Card ...

Hi Everybody,

This lovely card is a 8" square card and it has been matted and layered with cream Centura Pearl from Crafters Companion

To create the centre panel I have used the same principle used in the Creating A Frame with Spellbinders  .... just different dies.


The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and are a beautiful mixture of cream Roses, Lilies, Tulips and Carnations.

The flowers have been sparkled with Glamour Dust and the pearl  flourish is from Want2Scrap to add the elegant touch

The inside of the card has been decorated to match the front.

All the panels have been embossed with an 8 x 8 folder from Crafters Companion called Elegance.

The folder adds two different patterns with a plain strip in between.  I have heat embossed the sentiment in silver  directly onto that strip...  which is not something I usually do.

I prefer to stamp and emboss on a tag and then add that to the card ... just in case I make a mess !!  And "YES" ... I do make mistakes ... but it is surprising what a flower can cover up ... if you know what I mean ... and I bet you do !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

I did it .......

Hi Everybody,

Last night was the time for me to go to University  and talk to some of the students .... but only via Skype. (Sigh!)

I offered to just pop over to Kansas but they didn't take me up on it ... (Sigh again!!)   I met Melinda who had invited me to speak to her class,  and six of her young students.

The class went down very well and lasted for about 45 minutes and I think they all stayed interested ....  well no body fell asleep anyway

We covered  various aspects of creating a website/blog and the differences between the two.  One of the things they wanted to know was how to get your website/blog noticed so that people will visit.

My "Film Crew" was on hand with his trusty camera to film the event.  Although I have their permission to blog about the meeting .... the video will remain private.

I have had an email from Melinda this morning and she wrote ....

Christina, 

You did a fantastic job! 

My students loved getting the chance to talk to you. They thought you were really knowledgeable and were excited to put to use all of the good information you gave them.

You may need to consider going on the lecture circuit. :) You are a natural.

Thank you so much for taking the time to join us. And, of course, thank you to your film crew.

 I was greeted in a very friendly manner and once I got started the nerves just fell away. 

Thank you to all in the class for your welcome it was so nice to meet you ... Josiah keep that diary on hand ... and Rachel if you make a card then add it to the Gallery on Card Making Magic. 

Melinda .... well what can I say about Melinda except she is beautiful and that hair is to die for ....

More later .... and that Spellbinders Card 

Hugs xx



September 03, 2013

Spectrum Noir Class ...

Hi Everybody,

The second  Spectrum Noir Class    is now available to purchase from   The Art Studio  and the subject covered is how to create a beautiful effect for dark skin and curly hair.

This gorgeous lady is Lala and she is from Saturated Canary  and she is an absolute pleasure to color in.

The class will show you how to blend the correct colours to get a smooth look to your images and to create the perfect curls every time.

The different shades that you use will alter the look but you will be able to achieve the correct technique very quickly.

The classes will always be there for you 24/7 and there is a permanent link to The Art Studio in the side bar which gives you access to my classes.

They are not expensive but they do cover a lot in each one so I hope you will consider joining me.  Each class  will help you to build up your confidence with Spectrum Noir and a different technique will be covered in each one

Later today I will be joining  a class in Kansas,   via Skype,  who want to pick my brain about blogging ... now there's not much brain there so I hope they won't be disappointed.

But I will tell you about it tomorrow.....and I have a lovely Spellbinder Card to show you too

Hugs xx 






September 02, 2013

Shaving Foam ...

Hi Everybody,

I really like this card and it uses a technique that is ancient.

It is one I am sure that you have tried many times as you make your cards ... and every time it will be different.

I have used the cheapest shaving foam I could and  two of my Spectrum Noir refills.

I have used organza ribbon from   Mei Flower   in a shade that matched the inks

The matting layers have been cut in Centura Pearl in a cream colour.

 The panel has been embossed and  cut into a fancy shape and  then I rubbed over it with some Gilding Cream.

I have added some pearls at the bottom as the finishing touch.

The sentiment is from JustRite Stampers  and if you look on Amazon for the same stamp you can get it for a really good price.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx







September 01, 2013

How stupid can you get ???

Hi Everybody,

This new Heartfelt Creations die arrived on my doormat  this morning from Sunrise Crafts  and so I thought I would give it a try out  to make a very quick card for a neighbour.

It cuts out all those flowers in one go and then you can curve and curl them to suit your needs and add them to a card.

Now the card turned out very pretty and both I  and my neighbour liked the end result.

And of course it is pink and flowery

I wanted one large flower to sit in the centre of a large bow, and the beautiful trail from the flower is a  Tattered Lace   die called Fuchsia.

I cut this twice ... once in green and again in pink, then cut off the flowers in pink and layered them onto the green and added pearls.

I added my die to a magnetic sheet to hold everything in place while I cut it .... BUT ....

 I put the die onto it the wrong way round .... and cut out the magnetic sheet instead of my card !!

So in answer to my own question of how stupid can you get .... well not much more stupid than that.

And let me tell you it's not the first time I have done it either ... you'd think I would learn a lesson wouldn't you.

More tomorrow ....

Hugs xx