Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

November 17, 2015

Tuesday Tutorial - One Word Wonder

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is just a little bit of fun and shows you that you don't need a lot of dies to be creative. This one uses just one word but the effect is quite good and the sentiment says it all.

Spellbinders Supplies:
Other Supplies:
  • Distress Inks - Salty Ocean, Victorian Velvet, Milled Lavender
  • Black/ White Card from Papermill Direct
  • Baked Ikea Dots
Instructions:
Cut a panel of smooth white card to about 4 1/4 x 5 1/2" and create your blended effect with Blenders to get a pretty finish.   Other colors will give you another look so use any Distress Inks that are in your "Stash"
With the die "Hello" from the phrases set cut it as many times as you need in white to fill the front of your inked panel. 
I added mine at an angle and cut  up the words as I needed to fill the gaps along the sides. When you are happy with the position glue them in place and trim off the overhang to neaten the edges
With the same die cut the word again in black card and I have also cut it in craft foam and glued the two together for a thicker look
Stamp any appropriate sentiment onto black card and heat emboss in white.
Trim the end into a little banner shape
Add your word panel to some black card and leave the tiniest of borders around the edge. Add it to a white  Hinged Style  base card
Add in the banner,  with foam pads underneath to raise it up, where you want it to sit on your card and  glue in place the black Hello over one of the white ones
Highlight with some black dots for a really simple card.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

November 16, 2015

International Ambassadors Informal Blog Hop - Woodland Collection

Hi Everybody,

It's that time of the month  for the International Ambassadors to host another informal Blog Hop and we hope you will hop along with us again this month.

We have chosen Spellbinders  Woodland Collection 
this month and there are some really cute dies in this set to help you make some beautiful cards.

I have used several dies from the whole collection and worked them all together to build up the scene for my card

First I have used the Woodland Owl   and added large Googly Eyes to the shape, and I have him sitting on the Wreath

At the bottom of the card I have added in some of the Mushrooms  and added in some of the Grass

I  placed a couple of large Leaves  behind after inking them through the die. And the embossing folder behind the scene is Bricks and Bark folder also from Spellbinders

Start here in the UK with me and then pop over to visit

Linda Lucas  in Australia
Yvonne van der Grijp   in the Netherlands
Christine Emberson   back in the UK

All these ladies are so talented and they will have some wonderful designs to share with you. They will be happy to see you and please leave them a comment to let them know that you visited.

And if you have come to visit from one of the others then a big Hello and Welcome to you I hope you will pop back regularly

Happy Hopping !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



November 15, 2015

Spellbinders Lonely Hearts Strip Box (Video Tutorial)

Hi Everybody,

The following video is one I was asked to do by a lady who saw me make it on Create and Craft last year and so always happy to oblige here is the tutorial.

I have used the Spellbinders  Lonely Hearts Strip  die to inlay the pattern into the box sides and the video will take you step by step on how I did it.

But you can use this idea with any strip die in your "Stash" that has a separate cutting edge

It is just the right size to add perfume, cookies or a pretty scarf too ... or chocolates ...  well anything is the right size for chocolates !!

For mine I have used scented candles and wrapped them in red tissue paper and I must admit it smells lovely.

They are really cheap from Ikea but you can get them anywhere


The card I have used to make the box is White Hammered 255 gsm from Papermill Direct and it is plenty strong enough for the job.

The Acetate that I lined the box with is from Crafters Companion

Decorate the box any way you wish and be happy to give this small and inexpensive gift to some one you know.

The die is in two parts so that you can create a solid separate layer and  once layered with the two cut together and glued on top  it is perfect for making Book marks to give as another small gift.
Hope you enjoy the video 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

November 14, 2015

Another Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

I hope you have had a really good day today. It has been cold and windy here in the North West but now we are snuggled up at home with the central heating on and waiting for X Factor to be on a little later.

In the meantime the draw has been done for the winner of the mint green card and the name drawn from the hat is you ...

Marion ...
can you email me please 
christina@card-making-magic.com 
with your postal address and the card will be on its way to you straight away
I hope you will like it when you get it and please let me know when it arrives with you.

I have a video tutorial planned for you in the morning so please pop in to take a look 

More tomorrow 

Hugs xx

November 13, 2015

Friday Freebie 093

Hi Everybody,

The  photo does not do the card any justice as it is much prettier in real life

It is in a lovely shade of mint green and the white sets it off nicely.

I have used the Mary Border Strip   and this die is in two parts.

The satin ribbon is from Mei Flower  and is tied into a large single bow.

The flowers are some that I had in my "Stash" and I really don't know where these flowers are from.  The pearls are self adhesive ones from Want2Scrap

The sentiment is stamped and embossed in silver and it is one I bought at the craft shows.

So if you would like to own this card then all you need to do is leave me a comment and a name will be chosen in the morning and announced in the days Blog post.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx




November 12, 2015

Pink Floral

Hi Everybody,

Todays card used more digital paper but these are some that I have had stored on my PC for years and I cannot remember where I got them from.

But there are spots, stripes and flourishes in many many colours and they all work together. I use them time and time again as they go so well with lots of things.

Here I have used spots and stripes and covered the join with ribbon and lace.  The card topper is from the Floriography CD that I showed you a few days ago.

It seems that many of you also have this CD and are frantically digging it out again to use it.

The die  I have used is Spellbinders  Lotus  and it has been around for years

Sadly this pretty die is no longer available to buy,  but you may find one that someone no longer uses and is selling it on.

The sentiment is from Phrases Two  by Spellbinders and the pretty flourish is the Flourish Trim and this is a really useful piece to add that little extra to your cards ... for about a fiver !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

November 11, 2015

Thanks ...

Hi Everybody,

The background to this card is created from a two part stamp made by My Favorite Things

It is the Candy Stripe Background 

One stamp is the thicker stripes which I have done in pink and the other is the thinner triple stripes in black

It would look really good in other colours too, and it is the perfect  way to create your own backgrounds, to match your designs, when you don't have a suitable paper on hand.

Play with the stamp ...  use just one part of it for a simple look.

Stamp it one way and then turn it around to create some checks. Try it diagonally too for another look. I am sure that you can come up with many more ideas as you play.

The "Thanks"  word is a small die from  AlteNew  and it has the  matching stamp set  to go with it, and from that set I used the other part to the sentiment.

I cut the word twice from black card and black craft foam and layered the two together

Another that is not my usual style and I don't profess to be a stamper ... but never the less I enjoyed making this card and playing with some of the new and different items I have been buying

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


November 10, 2015

Tuesday Tutorial - 6x6 Matting Basics

Hi Everybody,

For this card I have stayed with a simple design that is easy to do and is ideal for those occasion when a quick card is needed. 
 Have an evening where you sit and die cut lots of different shapes or embellishments so that you always have some on hand for such a time.
Spellbinders Supplies:
Other Supplies:
Instructions:

With die #8 from Matting basics A cut two panels and Create a Hinged Card for your base 
With die #8 from Matting Basics B cut one panel from Silver 
With die #7 from Matting Basics A cut another panel in patterned card
( Please remember that die #1 is always the smallest)
Stamp and emboss your sentiment and layer it with Lacey Circles cut in Silver for a pretty edge
Cut the butterflies from any butterfly die that you have in your collection and layer the two shapes together with glue along the body line only.
Curl the wings upwards slightly 
I have hand cut another smaller layer in purple to go between the patterned card and the Silver and wrapped all the layers together with my cord.
I splayed the cord out along the card for another look and glued the ends on the back.
Add all these layers to your base card with foam tape to add dimension.
Add your sentiment also with foam tape to the centre of the card and arrange the butterflies around it just gluing along the body line so that the wings can still curl upwards
Add in the butterfly trail with Diamanté 

I added in some Diamanté Teardrops and the card is ready to send with your love 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 








November 09, 2015

Gorgeous in Green ...

Hi Everybody,

Another offering with digital papers from the Floriography CD  and this one has large daisies on the paper.

For this card I have matted and layered it with a paler shade of green but cut the sentiment in a darker shade so that it stands out more.

Along the bottom I have used a pretty technique with ribbon and there is a video tutorial to show you what I did.

Ruffled Ribbon is a really old video tutorial that I did so my apologies if it looks a little dated ... but the effect is still a pretty addition to your cards.

To the ribbon I have added in a row or pearls and used one of the Mother of Pearl Buttons from Spellbinders called Grandmothers Buttons.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx





November 08, 2015

Card Winner ....

Hi Everybody,

This is very late post for me and it's now 11pm and I have just watched the last episode of Downton Abbey.  It was happy and sad all in one go and I am sorry it has ended. It was undoubtedly the best series on TV.

What am I going to watch on Sunday nights now ???

We arrived home from the NEC safe and sound this afternoon and I must admit I enjoyed my day there. It was lovely to meet those who stopped by to say hello and I hope I get the chance to do it again in the future.

 The draw for the card that was offered last Friday has been done and the name selected is ....
 
  Jean Bullock ...
Can you email me please with you postal address to
christina@card-making-magic.com
and the card will be in the post to you straight away
I hope you will like it and please let me know when it arrives with you

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx