Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

January 11, 2024

Paisley Dreams - DL Card

Hi Everybody,

This collection is  lot of fun to work with and can be coloured any way that you prefer.

I have made cards in various styles and sizes using this, from A6 to Gatefold and all are easy to achieve.

This is the video that was shown with the launch but I am adding it here in case you missed that or would like a refresher on the card itself.

You can stamp any combination for the background or simply cut the Paisley out of the papers and use that for your background instead. 

I have added pearls to some of my cards but you can ad any embellishment that you prefer. Some ribbon would look particularly good with some of the styles.

Whatever you decide to do just enjoy the process and have fun while you make. I hope you enjoy the short video

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



January 10, 2024

Paisley Dreams Collection - Split Front Card

 Hi Everybody,

This style of card I have created before and done a vidoe to show you how it is done. In this video I am using the Paisley Dreams Collection that was launched last week.

For this I have used two of the paper from the pack that will blend together and I coloured the images in with pencils.

You could use your favourite medium and take your time as you colour but I used pencils for the quickness so that the video is not too long.

The paper pack is really good quality and is abut 270 gsm so quite substantial for all your die cutting.

The pattern is one that has been around for many many years and it will suit any age group or gender or style of card.

So have a go and make some really lovely cards for any of your friends and family.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx  

                       

January 09, 2024

Hoop Frame Die Set

Hi Everybody,

Two cards today using the same dies and the same colour scheme of Orange, Cream and Kraft card with the odd bit of parchment thrown in to back the sentiments.

The card to the left is a DL size and the one on the right is a 5x7. Both have the folds at the top and stand in tent fold. Both have been lined on the inside to make them stronger.

The die I have used is the Hoop Frame Set from Katie Skiltons My Creative Life and is one that I fell in love with as soon as I saw it.

I have also stencilled the background on both cards with a different pattern and ink colour and some small stencil brushes from Craft Stash

The sentiments on each are from my own word die sets and I have cut them twice for depth and added them to parchment so that they stand out a little more.

But the cards look different just by altering the size and the way the colours are used and the sentiment, and  am happy with both of them.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 08, 2024

New Launch - Paisley Dreams

Hi Everybody,

Last Friday saw the launch of a brand new collection from Card Making Magic called Paisley Dreams and this is just one of the cards created from that bundle.

There are Many ways that you can use it and it gives you a fresh approach to designs for your cards.

Here I have added the papers and the stamped and coloured images to a stepper card.

You can use your favourite medium to colour the stamped images and the use the matching dies to cut them out.
For this card I have added the backing papers to the 6x6 card base.

Then I used two of the larger Paisley dies to cut out frames of the design to add under the large floral image

I coloured all the images for both cards with pencils.

The sentiment is also from the stamp set and I edged this with a black pen and then added it to the base with foam pads underneath to give height.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

January 07, 2024

Gaynor Elder - Winner

Hi Everybody,

So today I can tell you who the new and first winner is for 2024 and thus isa really pretty gift that I hope you will like. The magazine is a good read and full of ideas and inspiration for you. I will also include one of the Pokey Tools that  I have made.

So the winner is 

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

Please be sure to let me know that you have it safely

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

January 05, 2024

Friday Freebie - Pretty Bow Set

Hi Everybody,

Sorry for my absence this week but today I am back with a beautiful mix and match die in the shape of a bow that will make a lovely addition to your cards.

Inside the magazine you will find lots of idea on how to make the most of this die as well as other ideas you may like to try.

So if this is something that you would like to have in your collection then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post.

You must add your FULL NAME to be in with a chance of winning it and then be sure to come back to see if it is your name that is shown as the winning one.

You will have 72 hours in which to claim it.

More tomorrow…

Hugs xx

December 31, 2023

Christi Neal - Winner

Hi Everybody,

Well tomorrow will be another year. And time has simply flown  by for the last few years and more birthdays loom on the horizon. My fingers are healing so thank you all for your concern, but memories of the Christmas Break have not faded, and the more I think about it the angrier I become.

Still onto more pleasant things and that is the draw for the beautiful Snowdrop die and stamp set.
It  has been done, at random, and the name this week is ...

Christi Neal

Would you email me your postal address please to
christina@card-making-magic.com 
and I will get it in the post to you as soon as I can.

I hope you like it and enjoy playing with it and please be sure to let me know that you have it OK.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

December 29, 2023

Friday Freebie - Sweet Snowdrops

Hi Everybody,

The offer this week is from Hunkydory and it is a beautiful die and stamp set called 
Sweet Snowdrops

Just in time to herald in those spring days we are all looking forward too.

You will also get the magazine which is a good read and full of ideas on how to use your gift, as well as other things you may like to try,

All you need to do to win this gift is to leave me a comment at the end of the post with your 
FULL NAME 
and from those comments one name will be chosen as the winner and added to a blog post over the weekend.

Please be sure to come back over the weekend and check if it is your name that is shown as the winner and you will have 72 hours to claim it. And please be sure to let me know that you have received it safely

My Christmas Break


I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and that Santa Claus brought you what ever you wished for.

My plan was to go away for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and return home on Boxing Day and Vickie and I had looked forward to it since we booked it in September.

We took the dogs with us and planned on some long walks even if it was cold and wet.

The day before we left, the wind blew my car door shut and trapped two fingers on my right hand. It wasn't until I got inside and turned on the light that I saw that they had been cut quite badly and I was bleeding ...  but at least they were not broken.

Still off we went and arrived at 2pm, in time for a glass of mulled wine and homemade cream tea, which was lovely. Then we where shown to our room which on the face of it also looked lovely.

We took the dogs for a walk and then returned to get ready for our evening meal at 7pm. 

The next day we  walked again getting back in time to get ready.
We had family coming to join us for Christmas Dinner, for what we hoped would be a lovely day. 
 I won't go into details but it all went  very badly downhill.

 Altogether we where very disappointed with the place, the service and the food and we will not be going back again.

Jamie, who is a chef, was really annoyed at the quality of the lukewarm food, and many of our guests left what was presented to them over the three courses. I don't think Isabella ate much at all

On Boxing Day before we left to come home, Vickie asked to speak to the manager. He asked " Is there an issue ?" she said "Yes... several"

  She was very calm and polite, but by then the whole break had been ruined for us. 
And believe me it was not a cheap break and so not worth it. I would not recommend it to anybody.
I hope yours was better !!!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

December 25, 2023

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a really

 Merry Christmas 

and a 

Happy New Year



 from

Christina & Ruby & Ella

XXXXXXXXXX 

December 23, 2023

Maria Muller - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

It's a bit miserable here to day .... dull and damp. I hope it is better where you are and that you are enjoying the start of the Christmas break. 

 I am staring to pack up things to take with me for our weekend away tomorrow  and it will be a nice change  to just get away for a short while. 

 I am taking Ruby with me but I don't think she cares where she is as long as there is food !! Ella is being looked after by my neighbour until I get back home again on Boxing day.

In the meantime the draw has been done for the Cascading Card Kit that is on offer and the name picked at random this week is

Maria Muller

so would you please email me with your postal address to
chrisrina@card-making-magic.com
and I will send it to you as soon as I get back home again.

Have a good Christmas

Hugs xx

December 22, 2023

Friday Freebie Cascading Card Kit

 Hi Everybody,

Todays offering is something a bit special in the form of thus complete card kit. 

It has card blanks, die cut toppers, patterned papers and a little embossing folder to help with the creation of some beautiful cards.

You will also get the magazine which is full of ideas and inspiration for you, and also the chance to down load some digital sentiments

So if this is something that you would like to have in your own collection then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post with your
FULL NAME

Then you will need to be sure to come back and see if it is your name that is shown as the winner.

I am going away over Christmas so I will add the name in tomorrows blog post and then I won't be back until Tuesday.  

It doesn't matter if you have won before or where you live I will send the prize to you at my expense, so be sure to add your comment and leave your name then I can notify the correct person of their win.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx




December 21, 2023

Adding Faux Bows

 Hi Everybody,

Tus pretty card is really small and is created using the Bow Die Set from Card Making Magic.

Once again it is an older die but having a set like this in your own personal stash is always useful for embellishing your design, especially if you don't have and real ribbon on hand.

In the links below I have added in the sentiment and butterflies stamp set but the circular die that cut the pattern into my card was free with a magazine many moons ago.

For this card I have just used the plain version

I have used it for this card to the left also but this time I have added in the detailed layer.

That gives it a more feminine look and for this I have added it to the Ivy leaves from the Trailing Floral die set

I also used some patterned card in blue and white for my centre strip, added it to a white layer and then embossed both in a folder.

I think both are pretty cards and could be adapted to suit any occasion you are making the card for.



For this card I have cut the smaller bow and made the ribbon banner for it to sit on, and then used pens to colour it in to give some shape.

The bow and ribbon have then been dotted with white pen to give a spotty effect.




This one has the bow separating the two different textures to the background , and again coloured in with alcohol markers. 

Whatever your design a little bow can make all the difference to your  outcome and I am sure that you won't be disappointed with the result.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

December 20, 2023

From Our House ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is created with a die that I have wanted since it was first introduced a while ago from Katie Skilton. 

This is the Macrame Detail Die Set and I love it.
It is unusual and you can decorate this any way you wish.

I chose to add Poinsettias to mine as a Christmas Card and I have added glitter to the centre of the flowers, and a Large pearl to the top.

There is another set that I liked as well and that was the Homespun Hoop Die Set.

There is a special offer going on at Craft Stash so I decided to get both die sets, and with my VIP discount I got the two for the original price of one. 

I will be adding more cards made with these die sets and I will be sure to add them here when I do. 

More tomorrow ..

Hugs xx


December 19, 2023

Glitter Snowflakes

Hi Everybody,

This was a Christmas Card I made a long time ago using glitter card and snowflake dies and I thought the result was lovely.

It is just an idea that you may have tried for yourself using up any of the snowflakes that you have in your crafting stash. 

It looks amazing with any size snowflakes and at the time that I made this I added a video to show you what I had done.

So as a refresher I am adding it again here for any new people that come to my blog in the hope that you will give it a try.

        

It is such a pretty effect and it can be used for other occasions like winter birthdays also.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

December 17, 2023

Barbara Kelley - Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Only two more weeks to go and we will be in a new year and I hope it will be a good one for all of you. I wish there to be world peace and a lot more happiness than all the doom and gloom that is around today.
 And that children can one again play with their friends without fear of war.

The world is wonderful ... it is the people in it that screw it up.

But for now I have done the draw for the beautiful snowflakes that are on offer and this is a really pretty die and stamp set so I don't think you will be disappointed with it. The name this week is ...

Barbara Kelley

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

I hope you enjoy playing with it and please be sure to let me know that you have it OK

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx