Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

January 13, 2015

Mix & Match your Spellbinders ...

Hi Everybody,


Todays card is a real mixture of dies all put together to make one design, and the only point I am trying to make is that any Spellbinders will go with any other.

The dies in your sets are in various sizes and Spellbinders number them with number one (#1) being the smallest and using that numbering these are the dies I have used.

So for the base I started with #7 from each set of 5x7 Matting Basics  A & B  and #6 from A and layered up the pink patterned card and I have also lined the inside of the card with some cream

Then I used  #3  Heirloom Rectangle  for the next layer in pink.

The lovely Gold layer  is #5 Gold Labels Four and then topped again in pink with the next size #4  in the same set.

From the patterned  paper I cut the largest  #7 from Opulent Ovals   and then  topped that with  #2 from Elegant Ovals

The central sentiment circle is simply a bought topper that I stuck in the middle.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts   and if you are new to cardmaking then WOC do a fabulous line in starter packs  to get you going

I have used Roses, Rosebuds, Tulips, Sweetheart Blossoms, Cosmos Daisies and white leaves.

I like to add some sparkle to my flowers and I use the Iridescent Glitter from Glitter Magic  ... it is the one called Chameleon that is my favorite as it blends with any color scheme you are using.

Now I was in  a hurry to take this photo and so I did not allow the glue to dry on the flowers once I had sprinkled on the glitter ... but it does dry  clear and flat and all you are left with is the sparkle on the blooms ... Promise !!

All being well I should be back on yout TV screens tomorrow with three shows on Create and Craft. They are scheduled for 8am 12 noon and 5pm so I hope you will join me and maybe send in your emails 

And finally a little reminder to Pearl Hudson ... Can you email me your address please so that I can send you the card ... christina@card-making-magic.com

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


January 12, 2015

Pringle Tub ...

Hi Everybody,

As promised earlier this week here is the tutorial to alter those Pringles tubs you have all been collecting

This is the one I made for Isabella and I filled it with chocolate coins for her ... and she loved it.

So here are the instructions for the
Altered Art Treasure Box

In the video I decided to go for a different color scheme and decided on Lilac.

And I lined the box too for an extra special touch.

You may notice some differences between the finished box in the video and the one pictured here.

That is because I couldn't leave things alone and had to add in more finishing touches before I was happy.

So now it is time for you to get out all those tubs you have been saving and start making them really pretty.  The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts

I have added the video to a  page on my website ...  Card Making Magic so you will need to click the link at the top of the page to view the tutorial

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 11, 2015

Hearts and Flowers

Hi Everybody,

Now that the jolly season is finished with it will soon be time to start thinking of Valentines Day

Will you be making a card for the special person in your life or maybe you make them to sell.

This card is in a lovely shade of pink ... no surprises there then !!  But it just goes to show that Valentines cards don't have to be in the traditional red.

This one has used the Classic Heart  and the Classic Scalloped Heart 

I have used the matching Bling from Want2Scrap  in pink pearls.

The smaller heart layered on top is Vines of Passion and is one of the smaller Die D-Lites collection

The flowers are a selection from Wild Orchid Crafts and I have added in some of the small leaves from  Foliage

This is such a pretty card and just ready for that special day.  I will add more Valentines ideas as we go along.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 10, 2015

Another Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

One of the questions I have been asked this week is ...  "If I was the winner of a Friday Freebie card before will that exclude me from entering again to win another"

And the answer is "No it won't ... "  You can enter as many Friday Freebies as you wish and I am happy to send the card to you wherever you are.

The same thing goes for any "Give Aways"  that I do.  I have so many pretty things in my craft room that I am happy to share some of them with all of you.

But obviously I can't share them with ALL of you and so this is why I do my little prizes every so often and choose one winner  ... to show you how much I appreciate your support

So please feel free to enter the "Give Aways"  wherever you are ... you don't need your own blog ... I don't require any postage from you (As somebody very kindly offered) ... and you can enter even if you have won before.

The only thing I ask is that you become a   REGULAR  FOLLOWER .... and not one who appears just for the prize being offered ... and leave me a comment.   I don't think that is too much to ask

This morning the draw for the Blue Card was done as usual by my "Film Crew"  and a name has been chosen.  This pretty card is coming to live with you ....

PEARL HUDSON
so if you could send me your postal address please to
christina@card-making-magic.com 
I will get the card in the post to you straight away.

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

Please also bear in mind that because the card is  wrapped in a cellophane packet and then packed into an envelope and sent through the post ... on what could be a long journey if you live abroad ... that it may be a little flattened.   But all you need to do is fluff up the ribbon and/or flowers again and it will be fine 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 09, 2015

Friday Freebie Card 041

Hi Everybody,

My favorite shade of blue for todays card and it has several layers to it.

I have used Sue Wilson dies for this design and there is a good selection of Sues dies with   JGD Crafts  

The sentiment is from Crafters Companion  and it has been stamped in blue and clear embossed

The ribbon is from Mei Flower and is tied in a double bow with a large pearl and Diamanté centre

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and the beuatiful pearl flourish is from Want2Scrap

If this is a card that you would like to win then all you need to do is leave me a comment and if you were to become a follower too that would be very nice.

A name will be chosen in the morning and the winner announced in Saturdays blog post.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


January 07, 2015

Spellbinders Labels Forty Tutorial

Hi Everybody,


As part of my commitment to Spellbinders as their UK Ambassador I write a short tutorial for their blog once a month.

It was my turn at the end of December and I created a pretty card in yellow  titled   Labels Forty - Happy Birthday Card

But I thought it would be a good idea to show another way to use the same set of dies and so ensuring that you get your monies worth from the dies that you buy.

For this card we are going to use the largest die from Labels Forty to create the base
You will need to cut two of the largest #5 and fold one of them over by about half an inch, glue them together and that creates your base.


Then with the same large die I added in the #3 from the Decorative Elements  and this made a frame in white

Using some low tack tape will stop the dies from slipping as you put them through your die cutting machine

The next step is to create the decorative frame the will sit on top of the white one you have just made.

I used the largest decorative one and added in the next size down #3 and cut this in turquoise.

Glue them both together for a really pretty frame

Both of these can then be added to the base card with foam pads and the pads  won't show through because of the white layer to the frame.

Create more layers using #2 from the Decorative Elements in turquoise and another layer in white using #2 from Labels forty.

Using foam pads between these layers will give dimension to your card and make it much more interesting

The pearl flourish is from Want2Scrap

I used flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts  and for those new to my blog they are a UK company but they will ship abroad

I hope you enjoy this tutorial and will visit again,  and it will be my turn  again to be add another to tutorial to the  Spellbinders Blog  towards the end of this month

I will be sure to let you know when it is due.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


January 06, 2015

Those Crisp Tubs Again ...

Hi Everybody,

Have you had those delicious crisps again this year and have you thrown away all the empty tubs ???

Oh No you are going to be so sorry about that when you see what I have done with one.

And you can do it too ....  aaaaand if you give me a little time I will do a tutorial on how I did it !!

Over Christmas Day I promised Isabella a little treasure box for her bedroom.

I asked her if she would let me have the tub once she had eaten all the crisps in it and I would dress it with flowers for her.

She very willingly ate what was left of the crisps and gave me the tub and although I had made a start on it I hadn't finished it.
So when I went to see her yesterday she asked me ... "Have you got my crispie box with flowers ??

Oh my ... How a three year old can make you feel so guilty !!

So today I have finished it off and I will take it for her the next time I see her.

I have lined it with white felt and dressed it with flowers, ribbons and pearls

It is quite sturdy but obviously it is not a toy and she can add some little trinkets that she calls her treasure.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx





January 05, 2015

Seasons Giving Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

I have left this post going for as long as I could to be fair to everybody here and abroad.  But there comes a time when a winner has to be chosen from the many comments that have been left for me.

Welcome to the new followers and please pop over and visit my Website too ... 
You will find lots of information there and many many tutorials on lots of different aspects to cardmaking

If you took part in the Blog Hop I really hope you enjoyed it all and found lots more blogs that you will continue to visit.  Thank you for your participation and I am sure that there will be another Blog hop soon.

So the name of the winner of the wonderful prize I am giving has at long last been chosen and it is YOU ....

Cindy Wilson

Please can you email me your full postal address to
christina@card-making-magic.com
and I will get the prize in the post to you straight away and I hope you will like it

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 04, 2015

Special Birthday ..

Hi Everybody,

Click this link 
if you would like to participate ... and wins some fabulous prizes too The Hop is open until the 5th January and then a winner will be announced later in the day

In the meantime I am showing you a card that I was asked to make for a special birthday and I was given a lovely verse to add to the inside

I used a  Debbie Moore  CD for the image and although I have added the link to her website I cannot find the CD.

It is from the Glitter and Glitz Magic Moments CD if you are looking it

But I have had it for a long time and so maybe it is not now  available to purchase.

The die  is the   French Collection - Background    and it is one of my favorites from Sue Wilson


The flowers are from  Wild Orchid Crafts  and are a lovely selection of Daisies, Roses, Tulips, Chrysanthemums and Sweetheart Blossoms ... with white leaves added to the mix.

I have added fine glitter from  Glitter Magic   to strategic areas on the ladies dress and that gives added sparkle to the design.

So tomorrow is the end of the big Blog Hop for me and so I hope you will be back later in the day to  check to see if you are the winner of my prize

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


January 03, 2015

Card Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

Well I am so late today it's almost another day ... but better late than never.

I hope you are adding your name to the  Seasons Giving Blog Hop   and visiting the other Blogs along the way. I am sure that you will find some really lovely ones that appeal to your individual style of cardmaking and you can add them to your favorites .... but please come back to me as I don't want to lose any of you 

Should you leave a comment on any of the blogs don't forget to make a note of it and then pop back to see if you are one of the winners.  And please make sure that they will ship to UK as some of the US ones are only for US addresses.

I have gained lots of new followers  because of this hop and I would like to welcome all of you... and thank you for the comments that you have left me.  If you are new I need to let you know that each week on a Friday I give away one of the cards that I have made.

To win the card you need to leave me a comment and a winner is chosen ... by the man affectionately known as my "Film Crew"  ...  my husband Griff.  Then you will have 48 hours in which to claim it and let me know where you are

And so the draw for the green card has been completed and a name chosen by my "Film Crew" and this weeks winner is ....

Jennifer Smith-Kirk
Can you email me please
christina@card-making-magic.com
and the card will be in the post to you straight away

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx