Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

August 21, 2024

Parchment Ideas - Butterflies

 Hi Everybody,.

Today I am adding a video from the Parchment Ideas Playlist in YouTube and this one is six years old.

It shows how I made the butterflies and added them to a card then created the matching box.

It uses the 5x7 Complete Card & Box set from the original Christina Collection so if you have this set then you are good to go, but I don't think it is available any more.

 You can use use any butterfly dies that you have and make beautiful embellishments for your designs.

Parchment Butterflies

My apologies for adding an older video but I have been out most of the day with Pauline Hickey who was visiting me from her home town. 

It has been a lovely day and we went out to Lytham Hall and looked around the garden centre then we had a tasty lunch and a good natter.

So that is my excuse for no new video today ....

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

August 20, 2024

Parchment & Gelli Plate

 Hi Everybody,     

I am still with the parchment theme and this time I have dragged out my Gelli Plate. 

I haven't used this much and so I am relatively new to it but I thought I would give it a go with some of my parchment and I am quite happy with the results.

The top card has had some stripes torn from the coloured parchment and I used a large silver flourish that I had on my desktop.

The video 
Parchment & Gelli Plate  
will show you how I got the look and maybe you would like to try it also.
I always use a heavier weight parchment as it stands up better to being used as a card base or a shaker pocket and it can be heat embossed too as I have shown in previous videos.

I have used lots of silver mirror card to highlight my designs and it adds richness to the card.

I hope you enjoy the video and please leave me a comment and subscribe to my channel for lots more videos in the future.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

August 19, 2024

Parchment & Foiling

 Hi Everybody,   

This pretty card is created using the parchment from the past few videos along with some foil in a Bright Gold colour for the Leaves of the design.

I used the bright gold from Deco Foil as it is designed to work with the Deco Foil Transfer Duo Gel.

The gel is amazing and it can be used with or without a hot foil machine. I know they are an expensive item to buy and not everybody wants one.

So I chose to use it with something that I already have and that is my die cutting machine. The Duo Gel means the foil is added with either heat or pressure and so the die cutter is perfect. 

The Deco foil comes in many many colours and will do exactly what you want it to do. 

There are variegated foils, rainbow foils, holographic foils, pastel shades, jewel shades. opal foil as well as black, white, several shades of gold, including rose gold and silver

 But be careful  when you buy as not all foils are the same and work in different ways.

Should you think that you have done something wrong or your not getting the result you expect then check the foil you are using as it may be the wrong one for the job you are doing.

The video 

Will show you how I made thee cards and the result is  lovely with a touch if luxury to them.

The foiled parchment can be die cut to any shape you want.  or torn to suit your creations .

Have a play and see what you can come up with I am sure you will be surprised

Both the gel and the foils look expensive but there is such a lot in the pot of gel or the pack of foils that they go along way and are well worth trying if you like foiling your projects and don't want the expense of buying a hot foil machine

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

August 18, 2024

Linda Massey - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

I have loads to do today and no inclination to do any of it ….. I am dog sitting Dougal this morning while Vickie has an appointment to go to and then I really need to go shopping.

But I have done the draw for the Spellbinders set on offer and the name today is

Linda Massey

Would you please email me your postal address to

christina@card-making-magic.com 

and I will get the pack in the post to you straight away. I hope you enjoy playing with it and be sure to let me know that you have it safely.

More tomorrow…

Hugs xx

August 16, 2024

Friday Freebie - Spellbinders Set 2

Hi Everybody,

Here we are again with another Friday and they seem to come round so fast I barely have time to breathe.

Today we have another Spellbinders offering and this one has a cut and emboss folder with it to make some lovely cards.

Would you like to have this one ?????

Then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post with your 
FULL NAME
I say this every week about leaving your full name and if it is not shown then your comment will  NOT be entered into the draw. I ask for it simony because it s easier to identify you if you are the winner.

On one occasion and I had three people, all with the same first name, claiming the prize I was offering and it made it quite difficult to find the correct winner. 

And if you don't leave your full name, and the comment comes up a anonymous, then I have no chance of finding you at all.

Come back over the weekend and see if it is your name that is shown in a blog post 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

August 15, 2024

Parchment & Stencils - Wedding Cards

 Hi Everybody,

Someone has asked if I would do a card for a special occasion using the parchment and what could be more special than a wedding.

So here are two ideas that I have created and both are much better in the hand than the photograph shows.

The video will show you how I made the one to the right but you could do yours any colour you wished and to match the theme of the wedding itself.

Parchment & Stencils 

This takes me into my comfort zone again adding the flowers and ribbon onto the design.

And the embossing is an added bonus as it really enhances the card for this special time 

Click the link above and it will take you to YouTube to view the video but please be sure to come back later.

There is a whole playlist on YT with lots of ideas with Parchment ... some old ... some new ... and I will be adding more in the future.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

August 14, 2024

Parchment Ideas - Gift Pocket

 Hi Everybody,

This is a much prettier way to give a gift card, or even money, to your recipient, better than just handing it over or using one of the envelopes that the shop provides.

And it doesn't take a lot of  products or time to make one, and I know some of you have told me that you  have lots of parchment/vellum stuck in a cupboard in your homes .

It's time to get it out and make it work for you 

The video is available on YouTube and if you click the link it will open the window for you to view it.


It started off as a plain peice of parchment but ended up as something completely different.

The little Velcro dots I got from my local supermarket and they were not expensive. 

There are lots in the pack and so I have many left for other projects. 

The parchment series has grown over the last two weeks and there is still more to come  and I hope you are enjoying some of the ideas that I have shared with you.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

August 13, 2024

Parchment Ideas - Shaker Card

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is a shaker using parchment instead of acetate to create the shaker element. 

It seems to be easier to me and doesn't need all that shaker tape to make it. I have enjoyed making these and will definitely be making some more 

Children especially seem to love them and if they have their name on them they are even more special

The name of the video is 
Parchment Shaker Card

 and it is part of the playlist I have created on YouTube to incorporate all the videos using parchment in one way or another.

I really hope you are enjoying them all and there is still ore to come in this mini series.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

August 12, 2024

Parchment Ideas - Making A Wrap

 Hi Everybody,  

Todays idea is using a parchment wrap around the card to hold it closed and I have also created a matching envelope for this 5x7 card.

I have used my 5x7 Complete Card and Box Die Set so if you have this set also then you are set to go. 

If you don't then you can use anything that helps you to create your own envelopes,  and I know there are many systems around that do that.

Again I have used the heavy weight parchment as this will stand up to use far better than the lighter one. And this really is the only one I use in my cardmaking. 

Here is the video ... Parchment Wrap  ... and if you click the link it opens a new window in YouTube.  Please leave me a comment and be sure to come back to the blog for more ideas, I will be adding some more ideas on ways with parchment.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

August 11, 2024

Christi Neal - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

According to the weather forecast we are in for a few really hot days. So while it is still cool as yet I am going to take Ruby out for a walk just as soon as tis blog post is done. She is sitting here waiting patiently for me to finish.

Without further delay the draw has now been done and the name today is

Christi Neal

would you email me your postal address please to
christina@card-making-magic.com
and it will be on its way to you. 

I hope you enjoy playing with the set and please be sure to let me know that you have it safely.

Right I am off now for walkies !!!

More tomorrow 

Hugs xx