Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

Showing posts with label Sparkles Group. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sparkles Group. Show all posts

June 06, 2016

Beautiful Hatpins ...

Hi Everybody,

Over the weekend I have been busy making some more of the Hat pins that I like to add to my more feminine cards

I love making these and end up with quite a lot because I get carried away with the designs

I think they make a really lovely touch to a card
Because they have end caps over the sharp point they can be removed from the card and worn on the recipients lapel

I buy 3" silver pins and create the designs myself but the basic hat pin is from the Sparkles Group 





You will find them in the FINDINGS section on their website along with beads and charms too if you need them

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx




January 21, 2016

True Friend Card

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is in a lovely shade of ginger and white and is one of those far prettier in real life than in a photo.

I have used the Tied Together die and this is a die that you will have to search for as it sells out very quickly whenever it is on sale.

It matches the Tied Together embossing folder and it is one  I use often.

The background has been raised up on foam pads and they are hidden beneath the verse label.

Each of the cross sections of the background has a tiny pearl from Want2Scrap  added

The finished card is 5x7 and has been made with the Matting Basics A and B 

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and into the display I have tucked one of my hat pins.

For a long time now the website that I buy my pins from has been out of action due to Gabby being ill but it is now back on the scene.

It is the Sparkles Group  and you will need to look in findings for hatpins.  They are in gold or silver colour and come complete with the end protectors and I love them.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx






October 07, 2015

Peach and White

Hi Everybody,

I love the deep shade of peach with this card and it goes so well with the white. of the ribbon.

I chose lovely peach, white  and orange flowers to go with it and they are a mixture of Roses, Rose buds,  Carnations and Lilies and they are from Wild Orchid Crafts

I have used a fine glitter on all the petals to sparkle them up and I use the Iridescent Chameleon from Glitter Magic

The white satin ribbon is from Mei Flower and it is tied into a single bow. The diamante centre is from WOC

I have made a peach pearl Hat pin to push into the bow and they are from the Sparkles Group and come complete with end protector

The dies I have used are from Spellbinders and the white panel is #3 from  Labels 47 Decorative Elements

I have layered this with Oval Majesty  and used dies #3 and 4 and the card I have used is from  Papermill Direct  and is about 240 gsm

All the layers are separated with foam pads to give dimension to the card. The verse is from Clarity Stamp

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


March 18, 2015

Friendship Card in Turquoise ...

Hi Everybody,

Here is the last of the group of Friendship Cards I made for Vickie to give to her friends

This was a special request from my daughter so that she can show her friends that she appreciates them.

Over the last few weeks I have shown you each one.

Although they are all the same  Hinged style with flowers, ribbons and pearls on them I have used different dies so that they are not the same.

For this one I have used Gold Labels Four  and I like the effect of the layering on this card

It just goes to show that not many dies are needed to create a lovely card.

This is just one die but the result is one that you can be really pleased with.

And just to remind you of the boxes each card was in here they are.

They all make a good gift and not just a card and the boxes make them extra special.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


March 16, 2015

Friendship Card in Rose...

Hi Everybody,

As promised here is another of the "Friendship" cards that I made for my daughter to give on her friends' Birthday.

If you remember I made four of them all complete with matching boxes and so far I have shown you two of them

This is the third one and it is a lovely deep shade of rose pink.

All the cards were made the same style, they all have flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts  in lovely displays on them

The wide Satin ribbon on them all is from Mei Flower  and I have tied it in a double bow.

I made  each one  a Hatpin  and I buy mine from the Sparkles Group complete with end protectors

But I used different dies on each one to ring the change

This one has 5x7 Reflective Moment  for the white layer and this is a really pretty die.

On top of that I hand cut another pink rectangle layer and then I added the verse to Labels Forty Four

My daughter was very pleased with the cards and so far the friends who have received them have been delighted too.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

March 13, 2015

Friday Freebie 050

Hi Everybody,

Todays card to be given away is in Teal just for a change !! And can you believe that this is week 50 of the Friday Freebies

This card has all the usual accoutrements on it that I like to add and it is another that looks better in the hand than the photograph shows.

For this card I have used  Spellbinders  Tapestry   and this a very intricate die. I have layered it up with black for a more dramatic look

It has flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and a neat little Hatpin pushed into the bow.

So if you would like to own this card then all you need to do is  become a follower and then leave me a comment  at the end of the post.

From those comments one will be selected by my "Film Crew" and this week I will have to do the draw this evening as tomorrow I am off to the GNPE craft fair in Harogate. Please come over and say "Hello" if you are there

The blog post for tomorrow will be scheduled to go out bright and early and the winner will be announced then.

Please can I ask that if you take the time to add your name that you also take the time to come back and check if it is you who has won.  I allow 48 hours for the card to be claimed and then it will go to some one else if you don't come forward.

If you are the winner then you will need to email me ....
christina@card-making-magic.com 
with your postal address 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



March 11, 2015

Yellow again ...

HI Everybody,

This card is another that is predominantly yellow but it also has a splash of pink.

As long as the shades of the colors that you use are subtle then this is a color combination that works really well.

The background paper to this card is from Anna Griffin and it is so pretty.

The yellow card is from the Craft shows I went to the other week.

 I have used  the Heirloom Oval  and layered it with   Elegant Ovals  then topped it with Sentiment One

There is lace and ribbon around the bottom with a triple bow added.

The centre of the bow is Gray pearl and diamanté and into the centre I have added a yellow pearl Hatpin

The flowers and the silver corner piece are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and this is another card that I am happy with in these colors

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


March 05, 2015

Friendship Card in Teal

Hi Everybody,

Have you added your name to the  Birthday Give Away  yet ?? If not ... why not??  You need to be quick as this will close in a few days and you will have missed the chance to win some really pretty Goodies. Just become a follower, leave me a comment and add your name and email to the list

Here is another of the Friendship cards that Vickie asked me to make.

She is delighted with them and I hope her friends will also be pleased when they get these cards from her for their birthdays.

This one is created in Teal and white and  comes complete with a matching box

I have used the  Grateful Lattice  and created a frame to sit on top of the patterned card.

I used foam tape to raise it up added pearl flourishes  from  Want2Scrap to sit behind the sentiment

The sentiment has been added to  Labels Eighteen  with a  Faux Nestie  cut to sit behind it

The flowers, the dove  and the buckle are from Wild Orchid Crafts   and they have been sparkled up with  Glitter Magic

The ribbon is from  Mei Flower  and to this I have added a beautiful Hatpin.

I buy my hatpins complete with end protectors from the  Sparkles Goup  and I use 3" silver ones and decorate them myself ... and I have a video that was done a few years ago now but  will show you what I do ... Decorating Hatpins

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



March 04, 2015

Friendship Card in Pink

Hi Everybody,

If you took part in the Sale over Sunday and Monday then ... Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, I am really glad that it went down so well. I hope that you got the dies that you wanted.  I offered them at a very fair price and I really hope you enjoy them as much as I did


This is a card my daughter asked me to make

She wanted four cards for her friends who have birthdays coming up in the next few weeks

This was her way of showing them how much she cares for them and appreciates their friendship

So I set too and made the cards complete with matching boxes and over the next few days she has given me her permission to show them to you.

They are all created in the  Hinged Style  which is truly my favorite way to make

They all have flowers, ribbons and pearls on them and they all have a Hatpin added too

They are all 5x7 cards and each one has a box

This is the first one in a pretty shade of pink and for this I have used 5x7 Detailed Scallops

I hand cut a smaller central patterned panel and on top of this I added Classic Scalloped Ovals

The sentiment has been written by PC onto Classic Ovals  and added with foam tape to raise it up

And here is a sneaky peak of the boxes that hold the other cards and I will show you the delights inside them

And please don't forget that there is a Birthday Give Away  open and if you would like to win the Goodies on offer then you need to become a follower and leave me a comment  and add your name to the list

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



December 05, 2014

Friday Freebie 036

Hi Everybody,

Todays Friday Freebie is a card with a background created with   Shaving Foam 

This is an old video tutorial that I did and I have added it before but for those that are new to the idea I have added it again

The Card is in a lovely deep purple with a flower corsage to match and the flowers are from   Wild Orchid Crafts

I have sparkled them up with fine iridescent glitter from Glitter Magic

The hat pin is a very feminine addition and it is removable from the card.  I use 3" hat pins with end protectors from the Sparkles Group

The sentiment is from   Lili of the Valley   and is one of a set on an A5 sheet of verses

Now if this is a card that you would like to win then all you need to do is add a comment at the bottom of the page.

Scroll down to just under my signature and there you will see the word Comments and if you click that word it will open another window for you.

A name will be chosen at random and the winner will be announced tomorrow morning in the blog post.

This is the last day of the  Spellbinders Sneak Peak and Give Away 

Click the link to see the  Imperial Square  that I featured on Monday ... the links on each designers pages are open for 48 hours for your chance to win the featured die set

 And for other die templates on offer visit the other designers blogs and enter there for more chances to win.  A winner will be drawn each day with a grand prize to be won on the last day



More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



December 02, 2014

Laced with Love

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is another from the recent Create and Craft shows and features the "Laced with Love" Collection.

These  beautiful  Spellbinders die templates will help you to create the most elegant cards

For the next three weeks they are exclusive to Create and Craft 

This one is the Lonely Hearts and I have glittered it up for extra effect

I have dressed this up with organza ribbon and pretty flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts

Into the flowers I have added in a pretty hatpin that I have made and you can also make your own and the Decorative Hatpins Tutorial  will show you how I did them

I buy 3" silver hatpins with end protectors from the Sparkles Group  and if you add the code CGDIS5 at the checkout then you will get a discount on your purchase.

Don't forget the  Spellbinders Sneak Peak  contest that is running until the 5th December for the chance to win the featured die template.

The entry form is HERE  click the link to fill out the form and submit it for your chance to win

Please visit the other Design Team members blogs for more chances to win


More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

June 24, 2014

Fun Card ...

Hi Everybody,

This is not a new technique it has been around for many many years.

It is one way of adding a marble effect to your card but a lot cheaper than the marbling kits that are on the market

I have done tutorials on using it in the past but this is bringing it up to date with some added extras

I have not used any special card either just the  White Linen effect one I use all the time for my bases from the Papermill Direct






It looks very effective and is one way to get your background to match the rest of your card ... ideal when you are searching for a paper that will go with your design


I have added in a pearly hat pin to this card and the diamanté "Bling" is from Want2Scrap

So this is the shaving foam technique in a short video format and I hope you will enjoy it as much as you have told me you are enjoying the others that I have added.

Thank you for the many comments,  emails and Facebook messages I get it is much appreciated and I hope you will give this fun technique a try ... even if it is messy

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx





April 29, 2014

Scheduled Post ...

Hi Everybody,


Todays post is a scheduled one because as you read this I will be doing the Coronation Street Tour in Manchester  and having a fabulous time with my "Film Crew"

I have wanted to do this for so long because this  street set  is closing down now that it has moved to new premises.

I will take some photos to show you for those who love to watch the programme.

But in the meantime here is todays card.... and it is a white on white theme.
The background is created using the 3D M-Bossabilities folder Framed Labels Eighteen  which has been Letterpressed with cream embossing powder

The pearls are from Want2Scrap  and match the Fancy Tags Three with the sentiment in it

The flowers and the  sparkly centre to the bow  are from   Wild Orchid Crafts

And once again I have added in a beautiful Hatpin ... and there is a tutorial to show you how I made some of this style pin  a few years ago ...  Decorative Hatpins 

So another card will be added tomorrow on my return from a lovely day out .... just hope it doesn't rain

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx





March 17, 2014

Card and Hatpin ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is another pretty in pink creation but this one has the Hatpin pushed into the corsage.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and have the added glitter  from Glitter Magic.

The diamante teardrops are from Want2Scrap and they blend with the diamnate in the hatpin.

The hatpins and end protectors are from the Sparkles Group  ... they are in gold and silver, different sizes and if you add the code CG05 you will get a discount at the checkout.

I have left the protector on the pin for the recipient to remove and wear.

This is the finished card and I have used the butterflies from the Les Papillion set.

The ribbon is from my "Stash"

The pink lace under the ribbon is from a bouquet of flowers that I got for my birthday  ... frugal crafter wastes nothing !!

The verse is from a set by Crafters Companion and there are lots of lovely sentiments in the sets.

The papers I have used are free with the March magazine from Tattered Lace 


More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx




March 09, 2014

New Hatpins

Hi Everybody,

So this is what I have been doing over the weekend.

 I ordered some new beads, diamante roundels, glass beads and other items to create some new designs for the Hatpins

They are very pretty and they have been added to Etsy  in packs of five assorted designs.
I have more stuff on the way and will get busy making other designs  when it arrives.

I have bough the items from various places ... mainly China and so will need to wait now for the  postman to deliver them all.




But the Hatpins and end protectors are from the  Sparkles Group   

They can be found on Ebay at the moment until their website is up and running again.

If you add the code CG05  at the checkout then a discount will be applied automatically for you.

Here are just a couple of close up ideas and I will show more next week.

Back to cards soon and some new videos too.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 02, 2014

More with Acetate ...

Hi Everybody,

Here is another pretty card that uses Acetate for the front and it is very easy to make.

The flowers are a mixture using Spellbinders and some from Wild Orchid Crafts

The list is at the end of the post for the dies used to create the handmade flowers.

The embossing is from a folder called Cracked Ice but I have had it so long I can't remember where I got it from.

The page on the website is Acetate Front Card Tutorial  if you should care to read it.





The tutorial is not long but it has been around for a couple of years and it has had over 46,000 views and some lovely comments too.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



February 25, 2013

Flowers Everywhere...


Hi Everybody,

Click to Enlarge
Here is the start to another busy and exciting week.

I added the Flower Corsages to the "My Shop" last week and at  first  nothing happened and I thought "Oooops"  that was a mistake.

But I got up on Saturday morning and there where lots of orders for them in all colours ... which was amazing.

I made and packed up several of them and they are  going to  Australia,  New Zealand , Canada and  Sweden  as well as UK.

I  have also included in the pack a length of ribbon and a bow  to match your chosen colour scheme ...  as well as the extra panel for you to add a sentiment... and the backing card will also match and can be used on your designs.

So now you can make both sides to your card the same and the ribbon will add the finishing touch and a really big   Thank You   to all of you who bought them.

On Friday I had a visit form this gorgeous  little girl.

This is my Great Granddaughter Isabella  at 17 months old, and we spent a happy hour playing with two old buttons and an empty paper packet.

So much fun from simple objects and she was a real delight to play with.

Just look at those big brown eyes  ....

The winner of the last "Give Away" has claimed her prize and it is on it's way to the Netherlands.

But watch out for the next one ... it is one you will all want to win.  (Nudge, nudge, wink, wink know what I mean .... )

Hugs xx



January 28, 2013

Another Altered Art Project

Hi Everybody,

This is another Altered Art project and this is for my daughter ...(the one throwing away the jewel box ... how could she???)

Click to Enlarge the photos
She has an empty box that had some hair straighteners in it and because it was quite a large  she wants it  for storage in her bedroom.


This is what I have done to it and I hope she will like it when she gets it back.

I have kept it pink as the box itself  was in good condition.

But I have got the Spellbinders to work on the top of it in several layers.

The Spellbinders used will be  BOLD so that you will know what has been used.


I have added a base of Snow White Centura Pearl from Crafters Companion  to the lid.

I cut it with a fancy edge to be just a little smaller than the pink lid ... so that  it leaves a narrow border.

Then I have cut two of the Romantic Ovals in a matching pink card and laid them to cover the top.


I cut the Second smallest of the Grand  Decorative Ovals  in  the white and added it with foam pads.

Then a layer of  a plain oval in pink with the largest die from the Floral Ovals layered on top of that.

The Fancy Tags 3 has been cut in pink and white and layered to give a shadow effect and then the matching Pearls from Want2Scrap  are added.

I have used some beautiful pink flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts  and added Glamour Dust to the petals for extra sparkle.


The Decorative Hatpin  and the pins are from the Sparkles Group and if you add in the code CGDIS5  you will get an automatic discount at the checkout.

On the right hand side I have made a butterfly and used some more pearls to create the butterfly trail.

Small pearls have been added to the corners  and I think that this is a very pretty  addition to any bodies dressing table.

Hugs xx