Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

December 31, 2013

In Response ...

Hi Everybody,

I have been  asked why I do two particular things to my cards when I make them ...

  1. Why do you add in the extra hinge to your cards
  2. Why do you add the lining to the inside
I explained to my enquirer why I did these things but it occurred to me that if one person was wondering about this then so may others.

And so in true Christina style I decided to do a  video and explain why to everybody.

It was one of those videos that I asked my self should I really be doing and would people think I was being to trivial.

But after just two hours on YouTube it had had 105 views and five comments from crafters saying it had helped them .. so maybe not so trivial after all.




Thank you to all those who have viewed the video and taken the time to let me know that you enjoyed it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx
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December 30, 2013

A2 Locking Loops

Hi Everybody,

This is another A2 card  that has been made into a tutorial and the pretty pattern  is called Locking Loops.

It is designed by Cindi Echtinaw and I was  delighted yesterday when the lady herself  left me a comment on YouTube saying she liked the card.

What an honor to be noticed by the person who created the die.

So here for you is the short tutorial on how I made this card and it is another one to add to your A2 collection of dies.




The flowers are from  Wild Orchid Crafts  and as always they have been sparkled with fine glitter from Glitter Magic    The Diamante is from Want2Scrap  and the sentiment is one of the Inspirational Sentiments from  Lili of the Valley

Some one asked me which glitter it is that I buy and to be honest I buy loads of it from Glitter Magic when they are at the Craft Shows.

All I asked the assistant for was the one that is like Glamour Dust and she said   "You will need this one ...."  and handed me a pack so I really don't know which one it is  ... I just know I bought five packs and got one free for a fiver ... always a bargain at the craft shows.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial ...  and I have several more in the pipe line with A2 Card Creator dies ... but don't forget to shop around for the best prices to buy your dies.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



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December 29, 2013

A2 Card Video ...

Hi Everybody,

What a fantastic night out we had last night with our families.  It was so good for us  to get together and we all enjoyed it.

After the meal we all came back to our house and ended the night playing  games with all the children.

The restaurant was very busy but the atmosphere was really welcoming and now we know why it is our favorite place.

So onto the card that is featured today...

 It is created using the A2 dies from Spellbinders and as promised it has been filmed.




The card that is produced is 4 1/4 x 5 1/4 inches ...  but I have given you an alternative idea to make a bigger card so that you are not restricted to just the small size.

I have also had several emails from my friends across the water who tell me that they cut  their Letter size in half to produce two cards and that is also called A2 size.

But this card is making the most of the A2 Spellbinders.  The sentiment is from the Sentimentals Range from Crafters Companion

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and they have been sparkled with fine glitter from Glitter Magic.

The  pearls are from Want2Scrap

The large card that I showed Griff holding from his daughter was NOT made by me .... but shop bought in the UK ... and given to him by hand NOT posted.

I hope you will enjoy the short  video  and have fun making  your own  smaller cards.

More tomorrow ...


Hugs xx



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December 28, 2013

A2 Card ?????

Hi Everybody,

The other day I showed you the size of a  UK A2  card in a video and explained the size of them compared to US ones.

Well here is a UK A2 card that Griffs' daughter gave to him for Christmas and it's nearly bigger than him.

The inscription she wrote  inside was that this card was to make up for all the cards she had not sent over the years.

But he needed to keep it safe as it would have to be last for the next  ten years and be re-used every year until 2013.

We had such a laugh over this card especially as I had just done the video  ... and said that your postman would really struggle to deliver a card this size.

Thankfully she just gave it to him by hand.

Well tonight is our dinner out with both our families at our favorite restaurant and I am really looking forward to it.

Tomorrow I will take the tree down and then it is back to normal and back to some work

I have some videos on smaller cards to do and  I can't sit about here watching telly and eating chocolates all day ...  there is work to be done

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 


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December 27, 2013

An Early Resolution .....

Hi Everybody,

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you are now looking forward to the New Year.

Thank you so much for all the good wishes sent to Griff and me.

They came from as far apart as Canada and the US, India, Sweden, Italy, New Zealand and Australia and every where else and I am so grateful for each and every one.

We had a lovely  family Christmas Dinner and Boxing Day was my relaxing day and really peaceful.

This image is just how I feel after all that turkey and Christmas pudding and mince pies and chocolates and .... need I go on ???

But I  am going to make a conscious effort in 2014 to lose some weight so that I can get back into my clothes again before the warmer weather  is with us once more.

So come the 1st January out go the things that are left over from the Christmas binge and the new regime of eating less will begin.

My first goal will be my birthday in March ... which is only nine weeks away.

I am really going to have to work hard if I want to make some improvement in the way I look for that day.... and I will of course keep you posted on my progress as I go along.   Wish me luck 'oz I am sure going to need it

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx
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December 25, 2013

xx Merry Christmas to Everyone xx


A big thank you to everyone for all your good wishes, kind comments and support throughout the last year ... I hope you will stay with me for the next one ....




There are lots of exciting things to come 
Lots of hugs from 
Christina and Griff xxx
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December 24, 2013

Just a little video .....

Hi Everybody,

Now if you have been good girls and boys over the past year you could get a little present from  Father Christmas

And if he doesn't bring you something then you may  have to buy your own !!

I have bought my self some "Crafting Goodies"  and I am going to be soooo surprised when I open them tomorrow morning.

Todays card is another one that has no flowers on it ... though I have added in the flourish from  Want2Scrap

The background flourish is a stamp from  Indigo Blu  which I have stamped in black and embossed in clear.

The two sentiment on the card are both from  Crafters Companion   and are in the Sentimentals  Range

But I really wanted to add this  short video to explain the difference between UK  and  US  card size A2 ... and it is a big difference ... as I know that when I said I was making cards in A2 some of you thought I was mad ...  let the video do the talking




I hope it goes some way into explaining the confusion that the makers of card give to use mere mortals who are cardmakers....

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

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December 23, 2013

Only Two more sleeps ....

Hi Everybody,

My posts for the next few days are all scheduled ones as I have family coming for the holidays and I won't have time to write a new one.

The house is all ready and looks really pretty,  with twinkling lights on the tree and along the  mantlepiece.   I have my shopping all done and my menus planned.

Christmas Day will be for eight of us and then on the 28th we are treating all our girls and their other halves ... along with the Grand children ... out for a meal at mine and Griffs'  favorite restaurant.

There will be eighteen of us all together and it should be a really good night out.

So to the card ... this one is very simply made with Matting Basics and  Labels Eighteen and the border is created with the Edgeabilities.

There are three parts to these dies ... one cutting edge and two different inserts for you to ring the changes.

The ribbon is from my "Stash" and I have added   Want2Scrap   Diamante along it.  The centre of the ribbon has a  pearl brad inside a large spacer and both  where bought at the GNPE craft show ... but they  are both from   The Hobby House

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


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December 22, 2013

Stamping Tips

Hi Everybody,

If you are a seasoned crafter then please just skip the next post  as I don't mean to talk down to any of you at all.

But I have been asked for help  by some ladies that are new to  all things card making ...  and especially about stamping.

They want to know how to get a clean finish to their work as some of them are left with speckles and a bit of  mess on what is otherwise a good piece.

So I have put together  a short video to explain some of the things I do when I want to stamp my sentiments, characters or scenes,  in the hope that  it may help some of the lovely ladies who take the trouble to write to me and ask my advice.




The video is not long and I hope it helps to answer some of the questions I have been asked and thank you for sending me your queries ... it is my pleasure to help wherever I am able.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx
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December 21, 2013

Labels Four Collection

Hi Everybody,

A couple of days ago I used the Gold Labels Four.

Todays card stays with Labels Four but this time using the Nesting Labels Four and the 5x7 Elegant Labels.

The blue card is Centura Pearl and it has been layered with white and it makes for a very fresh look.







The sentiment is from the Sentimentals Range by  Crafters Companion   and it has been embossed in silver.

The flowers are from  Wild Orchid Crafts   and the pearls as always are from  Want2Scrap

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



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December 20, 2013

A2 Cards ...

Hi Everybody,

Yesterday someone sent me a plea to make some videos with cards in a smaller size ... namely A2 as she had bought this size Spellbinders and was not very happy about it.

Please don't be despondent about your purchase  Fizz as there is so much you can do with this size die and hope fully I can give you some ideas.

I also had emails from several  other people this week with the same request.

So I am going to do some tutorials to show you what you can achieve with the smaller dies.

Fizz  you also asked me about sizes and weights and so this video will explain some of the basics ... because as a new card maker it can be confusing.



Both of the cards on todays post are also using the Matting Basics A and B sets in the A2 size.    Just because the card is small doesn't mean it can't be dressed up as the larger ones.

The list at the bottom of the page will show you what some of the other A2 Card Creator dies look like ... and these are the ones I will be using in the next few videos.

I am   NOT  for one minute suggesting that you go and buy all these dies ... only that I will be giving some ideas with them

The videos will be with you soon and I hope they will help.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx





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December 19, 2013

We are Special ....

Hi Everybody,

Cream is the order of the day for this little card but it has lots of layers to it.

I have teamed it with a really pale shade of green with paler cream flowers on it and it works quite well together ... though the green is not really showing on the photo.

The verse is from the Every day sentiments from   Lili of the Valley  and is just one of a set of lovely verses on one sheet

The dies have  been layered with foam tape, and with  Satin edged Organza ribbon wrapped around the bottom.

The single rose is from  Wild Orchid Crafts  and I have sparkled it with fine glitter from  Glitter Magic

The beautiful pears are from  Want2Scrap  and I have added tiny ones all around the Scalloped edge

Please Note ...

I have been using the older Spellbinders in many of the latest cards that I have been showing as they are such a considered purchase,  and they are some I have had for a long time.

 We all need to get as much use out of the SB's that we buy,  after all  you don't buy a set of dies for a one time use only. 

 But I must stress to you that you can get them cheaper if you shop around .... Ebay, Amazon, Save on Hobbies, Sunrise Crafts, Once Upon a Stamp and many many more discount places.

 The list of the dies that I add at the end of each post is there for information  purposes only to show you the dies available ... so that you know what to look for when you go shopping.

 Do your research and find the best possible  price for your self ... you owe it to yourself to get the bargains.


More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx





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December 18, 2013

Spellbinders Flower dies

Hi Everybody,

Thank you for your comments on the flowers added yesterday ... it seems I am not the only one to like flowers.

So here is another tutorial on using Spellbinders dies to create some very pretty ones for your cards.

There are lots more videos on the website using different materials to create even more ...  and  not just with Spellbinders.

If you have the time pop over there for a browse around.

Here are some links for you ...
Organza Flowers ...  Felt Flowers with SB  ...  Ribbon Rose  ...  Paper Roses  ...  Enameled Roses




Below you will find a list of some of the dies that I have used to create flowers on some of my cards over the years.
  Many of these dies are available at a very good price from   Save On Hobbies   

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx



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December 17, 2013

Flower Power ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is using a die that has been around for quite some time.

But having said that it does make some really pretty flowers.

I have just created a single flower and added it to the Bella Rose flourish and I am pleased with the look of the card.

The sentiment is from the Sentimentals range from Crafters Companion  and there are lots of lovely words in the sets.

It has been heat embossed in silver.

The Aster Flower die is available from  Save On Hobbies  and is on a sale price at present.

The making of the card has been filmed to show you what I did and I hope you will enjoy the short tutorial






The only die I have used that I couldn't list for you was the little corner one that was used for the pocket and in the sentiment frame.... and it was the Filigree Corners from JustRite.

More tomorrow ...

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