Easel Card - three ways ...

Hi Everybody, 

Easel Cards
are such an easy style to make and yet can give some beautiful results.

It was one of the first things I tried when I was new to card making and I did videos on all the variations over the years.

But I thought would be good to re-visit as there are always new people starting this hobby and they don't know how to do it.

I am also staying with my  personal challenge of using old stuff and so saving money on buying stuff I won't use.

All of these card have used a 300 gsm smooth white card and I have coloured it my self with Distress Oxides that I already have.

You can try this with anything that you already have too and some of the things I use are so old they may no longer be available to purchase. 

In the video there are three styles for you to try and over the next few videos I will be covering others.

They will be getting a little more intricate each time, though none of them are difficult

I have used shaped nesting dies and do if you have some of those then you are on your way.

Click the link above to the video and it will open a new window for you to view on YouTube.

It is a little longer then normal but I do cover three styles and the creating of the background too so I hope you will enjoy it just the same

The backgrounds are all created the same way just different colour schemes and this is such an enjoyable process that I will never buy coloured paper again

Experiment with your inks to see which colours look good together.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Denise Bryant - Winner

Hi Everybody,

I hope you are all staying well and not suffering too much from the weather.  
We are so lucky here in Blackpool as we have not had floods ... at least not in the part I live in.  
And when it snows elsewhere it doesn't stick around for ling.
We do suffer from the high winds on occasions though and that can knock you off your feet.
Those are the days I stay in and keep warm with Ruby and Ella.

This norming I have done the draw for the beautiful Christmas Tree die from Crafters Companion and the name today is ...

Denise Bryant

so would you email me your postal address please to
christina@card-making-magic.com
and I will get it posted off to you straight away.

Be sure to let me know that you have it safely and I hope you enjoy playing with it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Christmas Tree

Hi Everybody,

Today we are touching on Christmas again as the season is fast approaching and this week we have a beautiful Christmas Tree from Crafters Companion for you to win.

It is a two part die and in the same pack there are papers and sentiments for you to add to your designs.

The magazine is full of ideas and inspiration for this set and other ideas that you may like to try.

It will give you a good read as you brose the pages with your favourite cuppa.

So if you would like this then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME

From those comments one name will be chosen at random as the winner and announced in a blog post over the weekend so be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown.

It doesn't matter if you have won before just have a go and see where you get .

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

 

Trellis Card & Acetate

 Hi Everybody.

Todays card is yet another variation of the Trellis card and this time I have used Acetate to make the front of the card.

It is still easy to do and just as effective as the other styles and yet uses another product that we probably already have in our crafty stash.

I have use old stuff that I already have and nothing new has been bought at all. 

The embossing folder is an old one from Spellbinders that I got when I was on their Ambassadors design team, many years ago when Stacey Caron was still the owner. 

The other old die is the Altenew Craft Your Life Kit and I used to get their kit monthly ... until the postage became too much.

The embossing folder that I have used is from my own range  ... Card Making Magic ... but Craft Stash do not restock my products anymore now that I  am no longer with them.

The vidoe is a little longer than normal but I hope you enjoy it any way.  Click the link to view it on YouTube

Trellis Card & Acetate -Variation Six

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Using old stamps

Hi Everybody,

Both of these cards have been created using the same stamps and dies but with different colour schemes to ring the changes.

For the back ground I have used a really old Spellbinders stamp that adds distressed stripes. Each is a separate panel that is added to the card base with the inked stripes on the front.

I have chosen colours that will blend well together and not make a muddy brown, and at the bottom of the pink one there is a wax seal in the shape of a flower.

Both backgrounds have been splattered with inks and some of the colours used in the stripes.

The leaves have been cut from my favourite Rose Flourish die set but I don't think this will be available any more at Craft Stash.

I have used silver card for the leaves and added them with small foam pads underneath to give a little height.

The sentiment is different on both but you could add any that you preferred 

Two pretty cards made very quickly and easily using old products that I already have.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Roses & Die Cuts

 Hi Everybody,  

All three of these cards have been produced in the same way. They are all 5x7 with the fold at the top. They have all had an aperture cut with a die and they all have the same handmade background behind each aperture

The flowers are all cut from the same red card and the leaves from two shades of green, though the flowers have been decorated in a different way.

They are all Christmas Cards but with different sentiments on them. One is stamped and two are wooden plaques

So to start the process I created the background panel by ink smooshing in reds and silver inks and trimmed it down to fit the front  on my my card below the aperture

The aperture panel is cut in white and added with foam pads to the base card.

The flowers are all cut from the same die and this top card has had the petals inked with white and white stamens added.

They have been layered onto the top left corner of the card with leaves arranged beneath them, and the red bow added for an extra effect..

This next card has used a snowflake aperture die with the red panel underneath.

These two flowers have been stamped in white with a snowflake stamp on all the layers, and tiny diamante gems added to the centres of the flowers and the bow.

The same gemstone has been added to all the bow centres

They have been arranged to the lower left, on top of the leaves, and the bow placed to the bottom of the card.

Seasons Greetings has been stamped in Candied Apple

The last card has used a lot of the background panel to cover the card, the Grid die has been cut in silver to blend with the red and silver panel.

Theses flowers have been inked with silver and silver stamens in the middle. They have been arranged along the right side of the grid with the leaves tucked in under them. 

The bow has been edged with a white gel pen and added to the flowers.

Three cards now all ready to send for Christmas and all three, although made with the same ingredients, look different and I am happy with all of them.

All they need now are boxes to put them in.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Trellis Card - Variation Five

 Hi Everybody,

Here is another variation on the Trellis card theme that will stretch your skills just a  little further.

It is another easy to do style and you can add the stirps in any way you would like,

I added an ink smooshed panel to the inside of mine, just to jazz it up a bit, and it has made a lot of difference to the end result.

One of the butterflies camouflaged a finger print on the inside of the card and now no one will ever know that it was there.

Trellis Card - Variation Five

Another things you could do, to make it look different again, is to add some parchment to the back of the trellis.

That way the inside would be diffused and yet it would look lovely from the front.

Lots of choices with this design and they are all there for you to make.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Janet Boyne - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

At least it is not raining here, though I don't know if it will stay that way all day, but we live in hopes.
Ruby and I will go out later for a short walk. I didn't take her out yesterday as walking was far too painful but I will see how it goes later.

In the meantime the draw has been done for the Spellbinders Ampersand.
This is such a useful die and can be used to link many different words for your designs.

The name today is

Janet Boyne

so would you email me please with your postal address and I will get it sent out to you straight away.

Be sure to let me know that you have it safely and I hope you will enjoy playing with it.

More tomorrow

Hugs xx  

Friday Freebie - Spellbinders Ampersand

 Hi Everybody,

This week it is the turn of another much loved company that produces beautiful dies for us to use.

Last week it was the  Altenew Poinsettia and this week we have the Spellbinders Sentimental Ampersand.

Look carefully at any word dies that you already have and see what can be teamed together for the look that you are aiming for.

Inside the magazine you will find ideas to help you and it is always a good read with your favourite cuppa. 

In the pack there are sentiments and small flowers that you can use to dress the ampersand up.

Would you like to have this in your collection???

Then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your

  FULL NAME

Then be sure to come back and check over the weekend if your name is shown as the winner.
I am happy to send this wherever you live and it doesn't matter if you have won before.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Trellis Card Variation Four

 HI Everybody.

Another quick and easy variation of the Trellis Card and this one is crated to look like a gate or fence panel.

I have used some card that looks wooden to make things easier and I have inked the edges to make it blend.

This video is not long  but I hope you enjoy it just the same.

Trellis Card - Variation Four

Click the link to open a new window in YouTube to view the video and be sure to leave me a comment. "Like" and subscribe if you haven't already.

It all helps to let YT know that you would like more videos from me. 

And a comment here on the blog would be very much appreciated too.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Altenew Flowers

Hi Everybody,

All the flowers for these cards are created from the Hello Beautiful Craft Your Life Kit from Altenew that I have had for a long time.

The woodgrain panel is also from a really old Altenew Stamp and I thought it would be good to bring them out of retirement and put them to use again.

All the flowers have been coloured with the layered stencil in the kit and all mounted to the cards with foam pads to give them some height. 

And all are A6 sized cards with sentiments from my own stash.

This was yet another playtime session to use up items that are already on my desk and I was not disappointed with any of them.

There is no pint in me linking to any of the product as they are old and probably not renewed by the company involved.

So unless you already have them then the best thing to do is look at your own collections and use the nearest thing that you have.

Shopping your own stash is a real eye opener and can save you a ton of money in the process, and it is always a pleasant surprise when you come across something you may have forgotten about.

Items that you bought years ago, meaning to try, and then tucked in the drawer, and left. 

And then when they re-surface you can't remember how to use them

Who is guilty of that ??? 

I know I am but it is a habit I am overcoming and I haven't bought anything new for quite some time.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Creating with Altenew Flowers

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is created with flowers made from the Craft A Flower kit from Altenew. It is the Sulfer Cosmos flower and it is lovely.

I have cut my layers for the flowers in blue and then once they are assembled I gave gone over the petals with the Wink Of Stella pen.

The flowers have been added to a handmade inky background and an aperture cut into the card for effect. 

The finished card is a 5x7 with the fold at the top, and it is much prettier in the hand as the flowers sparkle when turned in the light.

This was a playtime session and for the yellow flowers I used the Layered Rose, again from Altenew, and this die was free with a magazine a long time ago.

These have also been added to a handmade background and the white net added to the top, but this card is only an A6 size.

I had fun making these flowers and the time spent was very relaxing.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Trellis Card - Variation Three

 Hi Everybody,

Here is another version of the popular Trellis Card and this one is so very easy to make. 

The video is not long and so won't up take too much of your time to view.

This is the second time I have done a similar type of card and the first one was about ten years ago. So well over due for a refresh.

It is easy to do and the width of the strips can be altered to give you yet another look.

You could also add them in a different pattern, for instance a sunray effect on the card and this would look lovely. 

In the first video I added them as a weave on the card with lots of flowers too.

But you can have fun doing them any way you wish. Click the link to view the video and I hope you enjoy it.

Trellis Card Variation Three

Please leave me a comment and "Like" the video and be sure to subscribe if you aren't already.

Thank you 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Gail Knapton - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

It was very pleasant here yesterday and although I am still having trouble walking I did manage to take Ruby for a little walk with Vickie and Dougal.  We didn't go far and we didn't go fast just a leisurely stroll and then home.

The draw for the magazine has been done and the name today is 

Gail Knapton

so if you would email  me your postal address please  to
christina@card-making-magic.com

I will get it sent off to you straight away. 

I hope you find it a good read and please be sure to let me know that you have it safely 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Altenew Poinsettias

Hi Everybody,

Today I am back to offering, over the next few weeks,  some magazines that you are sure to find informative.

The first one is  Simply Cards & Papercraft and the beautiful Altenew Poinsettia Die & Stamp set.

This is a flower that although it is always very popular at Christmas it can be used all year round.

Just swap out the colours and add it to you designs for some really lovely on trend flowers that will suit any occasion.

There is also the link for you to download some papers that can be used with the stamp and die set.

If this is something that you would like to have then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your FULL NAME

From those comment one name will be chosen as the winner and announced in a blog post over the weekend so be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown.

You will also get the magazine to brows at your leisure and that is always full of ideas and inspiration for you to try.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Bokeh Effect

Hi Everybody,

Todays little card is created with the Bokeh Effect on the front panel and there are many different ways to obtain this look.

It is a Japanese word often used in photography and it means blurred. 

This effect is that the back ground looks blurred, like the lighting in a photograph that is taken from a distance and it is not focused correctly.

I have created mine with Distress Oxides, and a large finger dauber and stencil but you can use anything that you have in your crafty stash.

It us another easy way to make individual and unique backgrounds for your design and is far more satisfying than buying more papers.

The sentiment is one of a set that I got from Amazon and is one I reach for often.
The top is cut in a blue to math the pattern and the base is silver.
The panel has also been mounted onto a blue mat 

This is a video I did on the technique some time ago and in that one I used water colour paints.

 I thought it appropriate to add it again here

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Trellis Card - Variation Two

 Hi Everybody,

Today I am doing a different take on the Trellis Card from yesterday by simply moving the strips to another area.

Once you have tried this why not try them in another place for even more changes to your design.

The video will show you how I got this look and I have used another handmade paper for the inside of the card. 

Such an enjoyable way to create unique papers for any thing you make

Trellis Card  - Variation Two

The butterflies are just cut from a paper pack that has been out for quite some time, but you could use ephemera packs or stamp and colour your images as you please.

The ones I had left over I added to the back of the card for more interest.

The video is not long and yet the card is so pretty and the finished size of mine is 5x7.

You can make this any size you want,  as there is not really any measuring to do, just adjust the strips to suit the size

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Trellis Cards - Variation One

 Hi Everybody,

Today I am sharing a 

Trellis Card  - Variation One 

that has been made with a handmade panel for the back. 

I really enjoy making my own background in this way and you can get so much variation in the finished card and I show you in the video how I get the look.

I got the idea for the ink smoosher from NBCards on YouTube and it is such a simple concept but so effective.

I have added this video to a Playlist called Trellis Cards and that will share with you many ways to create different looks with this simple design.

The card is easy to make and yet stands out from the crowd because of its unusual design.  

It is a style that has been around for a ling time ... I am just late getting on the bus !!

But I hope you enjoy the video and will come back for more as I have more ways to make trellis cards coming up in future videos.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Pocket Card & Variations

 Hi Everybody,

Today I am starting a new min series and I am re-visiting some old videos in the process.
I am going to make cards from one basic shape and give the old videos  a new lease of life.

Pocket Card

I have not bought anything extra, I have just used things that I already have in my crafting stash.

I have used the same die set throughout for my decorations and it was released a long time ago from my Nested Circles Collection 

The first picture is a complete pocket card and the video will show you how to get this look.

Pocket Card & Variations

You could also simply leave the flaps loose and decorate the inside with the detailed layer if you prefer. Thus giving you two variations to use 

Side Fold Card

These next two cards are with the fold at the side, and it could be on either side.

I have used the die cut as a detailed lacey layer  that you can see through...

Top Fold Card

... and this one has the fold at the top using the detailed layer at the bottom to hold the card upright.

I have used a 300 gsm card, but if yours is lower than that the you may need to glue two detailed layers together for the strength to hold the card base upright.

This gives you three more variations on the theme to add to your arsenal.

This lilac card has the two flaps going in opposite directions but the card will still stand on its own.

For this I have cut the largest die to create a base, and I have added that behind the detailed layer,  to give this layer a more solid look.

But whichever way you decide to do this it will give you a really pretty card to send to your recipient, male or female and what ever the occasion. 

I hope you enjoy the video 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs x

Michele Coffey - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

It's grey and dull here today and I don't know if it will brighten up any, but here's hoping it will.

I am having great trouble walking at present and so I doubt if Ruby will get her walk today.
 I have an appointment with the doctor best week and so I am hoping they will be able to sort things out for me. First thing in the morning is really painful and getting up stairs takes me ages ... thank the lord for banister rails is all I can say !!!!

The draw has been done for the Spellbinders Set 3 and this time I am hoping it will be claimed.
The. name today is 

Michele Coffey

so could you send me your postal address lease to

christina@card-making-magic.com

and I will get it sent off to you straight away. Please let me know that you have it safely and I hope you enjoy playing with it when it arrives.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Friday Freebie - Spellbinders Set 3

 Hi Everybody

Here is another chance to win the Spellbinders Set 3 that was not claimed the other week .and it is a lovely die and stamp set with an embossing folder.

You can make some beautiful designs with this set and make it work in your own personal collections. 

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

  FULL NAME

Then be sure to come back and check if your name is shown as the winner over the weekend. 

You will have 72 hours in which to claim the prize.

More tomorrow…

Hugs xx

Using Scraps ...

Hi Everybody,

This card has been created from left over pieces of gold card.

I used brushed gold, glitter gold and bright gold at the bottom and cut them into equal panels before adding them to another panel.

I wrapped gold twine around this and then added it to my base card,  whcih is an A6 size, with foam tape to raise it up.

I cut the butterfly from the bright gold card and some parchment and added that to the top of the twine along the bodyline.

The sentiment is also bright gold.

The panels where too big for the first card, but the bits I trimmed off I made into another card.

I also found some left over gold embossed parchment, and I tore that into a strip for the front of my card.

That sits under the small panels that have been added to some more parchment.

From the bright gold I cut one strip and several dots to add to the front for decoration.

 I also cut some leaf shapes to add to the small gold panels.   

The sentiment is from an old Card Making Magic release. 

Another great way to use up any odds and ends you may have lying about and it saves you money in the process.

Plus it is far more satisfying then tossing them into trash can

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Colouring Acetate

Hi Everybody,

Todays card has a background created on Deli Paper, as I did in yesterdays cards,  but this one has a fussy cut flower added to the front and that has been done on acetate.

I stamped the image with Versamark on to the acetate and and then heat embossed it with white powder. You will need a heat proof acetate for this as an ordinary one with shrivel in the heat,

Ink smudges very easily on acetate and it is difficult to get it to stamp properly with some inks. The Versamark worked really well for my design

Stazon is another answer as it is permanent on any non porous surface and gives a lovely clear image. It comes in many colours and has refills that you can buy at the same time 

Just be mindful that your stamp could slip on the acetate surface and needs extra care

I used alcohol inks to colour this image and I coloured them from the wrong side.
This gives you a diffused look once you view it from the correct side again.
I fussy cut the image out once the colouring was dry and I added it to my card. with glue dots in strategic places  

The butterfly was cut from silver card for the detail and parchment for the backing and I kept the wings loose sot hat they can be raised up a little to give the appearance of fluttering on the panel.
The sentiment is also cut in silver

It turned out to be a bright and petty card and once again used up things that I had made from previous crafting sessions and so wasting nothing.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

Jewel Colours

Hi Everybody,

These beautiful cards are created in jewel colours from my alcohol inks but this time they are done on Deli Paper.

This is a thin kind of paper that is a greaseproof on one side and absorbent on the other.  It is what your food is  sometimes wrapped in you go to the takeaway to buy it.

I got mine from Amazon and it was really inexpensive. 

It does a lovely job and the colours are gorgeous. 

Some one asked me if tissue paper could be used instead and I find tissue paper is too thin and it tears very easily when exposed to moisture.

The Deli Paper is much stronger and yet still can be torn along the sides to add to your card. If you have greaseproof paper in your kitchen then give it a try. 

I have hand torn both of these cards and if you tear the paper towards you, with the colour facing you,  then you will get the white edge to the paper that looks pretty.

It die cuts beautiful too and can be added to your cards, scrapbook pages of journals.

On the top card I have gold heat embossed some butterflies and  I have used coloured inks to add the dots to the panel.

The bottom card has been crinkled up and then I lightly rubbed gold gilding wax added to the top of the creases.

I dressed both cards with gold butterflies and Happy Birthday sentiments, and both are 5x7 top folded card bases 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Old Idea ...old video

 Hi Everybody,

My apologies for adding this old video from seven years ago but I have not been well over the past few days and not feeling up to doing a new one to show you. So I hope this one will entertain you until I feel better.

It was done many years ago and Griff  filmed it and although I use alcohol inks in it you could use your favourite medium to create the look.

Because this is such an old video I am able to add it here on the blog and not just the link back to YouTube.

Thanks for all your lovely comments on the mini series for Parchment Ideas, it makes me really happy that you enjoyed the videos.

I will be back to normal soon with another mini series for you to enjoy and in this series I will be revisiting some of the old card shapes that have been around for a long long time.
It will also update some of my older videos too.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Ann Topp - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

I don't think this weather knows what it wants to do today , or any other day for that matter.
It has been a real mixed bag going form one season to the next in a few short days.
In fact it has been an awful summer and it is nearly over with. 

But I have done the draw and hopefully, this week, this one will be claimed.
I can never understand why people add there names to a free gift and then do not claim it as theirs.

So the winner today is 

Ann Topp

Would you email me with your postal address please to
christina@card-making-magic.com
and  will get it in the post to your straight away.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx