Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

March 29, 2023

Sneaky Peak ...

Hi Everybody,

Today I have a sneaky peak of a new collection that is coming in May, and it features beautiful butterflies that can be used in a number of different ways. 

I have been busy making samples for the launch and I will be doing videos to accompany it as well. So I hope they will inspire you when they are released.

These can be added to any sized card you are making and I will show you much more when we get nearer to the launch.

For this card I have used some of the bargain papers and card from Lidl that I told you about earlier this week.

The word is gold mirror card from my stash as is the diamante flourish for the butterfly trial.

Be sure to look out for this collection when it is released at the beginning of May

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

March 27, 2023

Bargain Find

 Hi Everybody,  

If you have been with me for some time then you will know how much I like to fill a charity box up with my cards, and take it to the shop for my chosen charity to sell them.

Last week I took them 200 cards, and I always have each card with an envelope and I put them into a cellophane bag to keep them clean.

From the look on the managers face I know she appreciates my efforts and this is my way of supporting them as they sell them for whatever price they want.

So my bargain find was in Lidl as I was doing some shopping, and there tucked away at the back of a shelf was this fabulous card and paper.

The colours in both packs match and it is really good quality.  Not cheap and glossy which I hate.

The card is 270gsm and has 25 sheets in it, and from each sheet I can make two cards.

The paper pack is 135gsm and and there are 50 sheets, two of each colour, making me two envelopes, to go with the cards.


It was inexpensive too so I bought two packs of each and took my lucky find home.

I got busy and made some cards,  and then I thought I would film it, to share with you my find, and then hopefully if you wanted some too you would find it in your nearest Lidl.

The video is not long but I share with you the dies I have used  from other sets to decorate my designs.

The main one is the A6 Flat Fronted Envelope Die that is part of the A6 Collection introduced last month



                                     

Now I can make lots of cards with envelopes to match, and I could always make plain white envelopes for everyday use from a 100gsm copier paper. Another idea would be to add a wax seal to the back of each envelope made from another die set that is from Pretty Book collection.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

March 26, 2023

Winner

Hi Everybody,

What a beautiful day and the sun is shining, so as soon as this post is done I am taking Ruby out for a walk. It has forecast some rain for later so might as well take advantage now when its still sunny. It's a pity Ella can't come too but I may just have to get her used to being in a harness and then she can. Strange sight seeing a cat being walked .

In the meantime the draw has been done for that wonderful Lavender kit that is on offer.
There are 138 elements on offer in this kit from Papers to toppers and you even get the foam pads inside as well.

Inside the magazine pages you will find hints and tips to help you get the most from the kit and for making other cards too. So as soon as you get the kit you will be able to start on your cardmaking adventure.

The name of the winner this week is ...

Kathy Butler

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

Please let me know that you have it safely.
This is the only one I have so should it get lost in the post we are both snookered !!!

Special Offer

And over on Craft Stash for today only there is a special offer of three for the price of two on my beautiful collections.

Now is the time to pick your favourites and grab a bargain at the same time

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

March 24, 2023

Friday Freebie - Lovely Lavender

Hi Everybody,

This weeks offering is an absolute bumper gift and it comprises of the magazine which is full of ideas, and a fabulous card kit that has everything you need to make some cards.

There are foiled toppers, papers, die cuts, foam pads and there is even some twine in the pack as decoration.

It makes a beautiful starter kit for those new to card making, as everything you need is there.  Just add your card base and a bit of glue and away you go. 

If this is something that you would like then all you need to do is leave me a comment.
 Or maybe you know of a friend, who is starting out with cards, that you would like to gift this too.

The usual drill applies ... leave me your comment with your FULL NAME to be in with the chance and then be sure to come back and see if you are the winner.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx
 

March 23, 2023

Using Older Dies

Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is one that I created for a neighbour and I filmed the whole process .... and then stupidly erased it from my camera before downloading it to be edited. 

I could have kicked my self when I realised what I had done but of course it was far too late as there was no way I could get it back.

Or so I thought ...

Until today when I searched my computer, and lo and behold there it was. 

I was so pleased about that and now that it is edited I am adding it to the blog pages and I hope you enjoy it.

                 
And when it is her birthday I hope that my neighbour will like her card too.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

March 22, 2023

Craft Stash VIP Offer

Hi Everybody,

This is another special offer at Craft Stash exclusive to VIP members and this is one of my favourite embossing folders.

This is  a folder that I use a lot as it makes beautiful backgrounds for any of my designs. It is the Perfect Roses Bundle and on the VIP page at Craft Stash I have added an video using this die set  that will be available soon.

Cards always look so much better to me if they have some sort of texture to the back ground and embossing folders are perfect for that. 
This card has got Kitchen Paper Roll that has been embossed in the folder to give a unique kind of look and I add the video to show you how I did that technique. 

You can do a lot more to enhance this pattern but here I have simply left it plain to show off the flower, which is made from felt.

As a VIP member you will get 10% off any order that you make but you will need to join as a VIP first. 

Then when you sign back in and make your orders the deduction will be there.

That is just one of the perks you will get and you can make the joining fee, of £9.99 for the year, back in your first purchase.

Well worth joining 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



 

 

March 21, 2023

Deal Of The Day

Hi Everybody,

Are you a Craft Stash VIP member where you will get superb deals for a member ship fee of only £9.99 for the year.

Well at Craft Stash there is a beautiful bundle on offer, with 50% off, and it is the Lace Borders Bundle exclusive to VIP members

There are lots of ways to use these sets to produce some really pretty cards for all occasions.

This is just one of them and I am including the video that went with the dies when they were first launched.

And with such a good offer then if you didn't get them first time around then maybe now is the right time for you. 

                 


Pop over and if you want to take advantage of this offer then you will need to join the VIP list first.

Then you will get special deals, priority shipping, exclusive previews of new launches and 10% off your orders.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

March 20, 2023

Old Technique ...

Hi everybody,

This technique was something that I tried years ago and I really liked the end result. You need Yupo paper, which is a synthetic paper that does not tear of pill, and some alcohol inks.

Craft Stash have lots on offer Yupo Paper

For this card I cut the Yupo paper with dies and added the flowers and leaves to a splattered background. It looks so pretty and although the Yupo doesn't tear it can be cut very easily with the dies.

From the paper I made lots of flowers and this is just one of the cards that came from that session. 

I added a video to YouTube about this easy, but messy, technique and here it is in case you wanted to give it a try .....

            

I will be using this techniques again to see what other ideas I come up with and I hope you like the end result.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

March 19, 2023

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

So the second of the Tulips set has now been claimed, but do not despair as I have yet one more set to give away in the next couple of weeks. If this is really a set that you would like to have then keep a look out  for it and add your comment to that post when it appears.

But for now this pack of dies and stamps is going to

Heatheranne Whitman

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

I would be obliged if you could ley me know that you have it safely please and I hope you enjoy playing with it when it arrives. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


March 17, 2023

Friday Freebie - More Tulips

 Hi Everybody,

Today I have more Tulips to give away and so here is another chance for you to win them.

They will be a beautiful addition to your cards and you can colour them in your favourite medium or leave them monochrome as you please.

There is a matching die to the stamp which adds even more to your creations.

You will also get the magazine that is full of ideas and inspiration for you to try.

So would you like this in your collection????

If you would then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the blog post with your FULL NAME

Then be sure to come back and check on Sunday to see if your a name is listed as the winner, as you have till then to enter.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

March 16, 2023

Parchment Butterflies

Hi Everybody,

This is another older dies set and the video that goes with it but I don't think it does any harm to re visit some of our older creations to refresh the mind of what we did.

And so today I am sharing this card with you from five years ago when this die set first came onto the market.

You may have bought some of this and not used it for a while and so this could be a timely reminder now that spring is on the way.

Most of this set will have all gone by now but you may have bought some of it and if you did then it is time to get it out again !!!

                   

At the end of the video I also make the box to put the card in and this then makes a lovely gift for you to give to someone.

I hope you enjoy it 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

March 15, 2023

More Older Dies

Hi Everybody,

Today I thought I would share an older video, that is now five years old, but the dies and the ideas in them are timeless. In this I have used Transfer Gel

And this was me playing with hot foil years ago and sadly I am no better at it now. The principal behind this video was to get five cards into one box.

The dies are from the original Christina Collection and these are the sets that started the whole thing off.  

And don't forget that ALL Card Making Magic Collections are designed to work together ... old and new !!

The Layered Flowers has become one of my favourite sets to use and I have used it on lots of different sized card and boxes for all occasions.

                    

I have enjoyed looking at these older dies and videos as it is always good to remember what we have and to dig them out again and re use them.

 And that applies to any crafting goodies that we have bought in the past that now languishes in a drawer somewhere.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

March 14, 2023

Plaited with Love - Masculine Cards

 Hi Everybody,

Staying with the new collection I have made lots of cards using more masculine colours, and not a flower in sight.

But although they are for the men in your life they still don't need to be boring and so I have dressed my cards with leaves and sentiments.

You want the recipient to enjoy the card they get and to feel that you have still made some effort to hand make something really special just for them.

You will know what their favourite colours are and don't forget that some men do like flowers on their cards

In the video I have ended up making ten cards  and I hope you will like them, and enjoy the video. 



I have used all the elements in the collection to create my cards, but please remember there are many more different combinations that you can use with these die sets, and never get bored with the cards that you make.

Some ideas would be shaker cards, split cards, arrow cards and twisted cards to name but a few. 

And there are lots of different parts to each die set to help you be creative using them.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


March 13, 2023

Plaited with Love - Squares

Hi Everybody,

This card uses the smaller dies from the Square set in a different way to give an unusual look to your cards.

The vidoe will show you how I created this centrepiece for my design and it is easy to do. 

Try this with any dies that you may have in your collection and see what you can come up with. 

The flowers is also handmade but I have not covered that in the video. It is done from Flower Forming Foam and the result is quite a large bloom for my card.

             


This Poinsettia is also made from foam and this time I have inlaid the die to cut the pattern into the card
 
I really hope you are enjoying these videos, and if you bought the dies, or any part of this collection, then I hope you have had your imagination working to create your own individual makes.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx
 



March 12, 2023

Winner

Hi Everybody,

It is a beautiful day here today and the snow didn't last for long. It never does really in Blackpool I suppose it is because of the sea air.  So later on Ruby and I will be going for a walk to the park so she can have a good sniff in the sunshine.

The draw has now been done  randomly, for the Bee die and stamps set and the name today is ...

Barbara Youngs

could you send your postal address please to 
christina@card-making-magic.com
and I will get it in the post to you straight away.

Please let me know that you have it safely and it hasn't got lost in the post and I hope you will enjoy playing with it when it arrives with you.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx