Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

August 10, 2019

Card & Gift Winner

Hi Everybody,

Thank you all for your good wishes to me and the new design team I have put together and I am sure that we between us we will bring you some lovely projects that you may like to try with the new dis that are on the way.

We had a lovely night out and the food at Jamie's 90 Highfield Road was to die for. It was delicious and it made a real hit with both my guests.

On to the Card & Gift from yesterday and the name has been drawn from the hat.
The winner of the Christmas Tree die and card is ...

Sue Pollock
would you email your postal address please to 
christina@card-making-magic.com
and the gift will be on it's way to you

I hope you enjoy playing with it and please let me know that you have it safely

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

August 09, 2019

Friday Freebie - Pretty Quick Christmas tree


Hi Everybody,

Today's card is a really pretty Christmas Tree that you can either paper piece yourself or colour in the different objects that are shown

I chose to colour mine so that it blended with the background and then I dotted it with gemstones

It makes for a very modern look to my card and I am happy with the result.

You will find other ideas on the actual package to the die and I am sue that you will come up with many more as you play. And of course the video that was done about the die will give you some more

O Christmas Tree   is not a long video but I hope you enjoy it all the same, and if you have seen it before then maybe it will just jog your memory.

Now if this is a gift that you would like to have then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME please.

From those comments one name will be chosen and the winner announced in a blog post over the weekend.

You will have 72 hours in which to claim the prize by emailing me. If it is not claimed it will be offered again at a later date. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

August 08, 2019

Let me Introduce ...

Hi Everybody,

As my collections continue to grow,  and more are to be added soon,  I find it a push sometimes to keep up  with my normal work load,  the deadlines that are set for commissions and to make samples for the Hochanda shows at the same time. As well as all the other commitments that I have in everyday life.

And so to help me I have recruited two of my favourite card makers to be a part of my Design Team.
They are on the right my very good friend Kim and on the left is Joanna. It sounds really grand to have Design team but I am truly grateful that these ladies have agreed to help me get ready for the shows especially when deadlines are tight.

Kim lives in Nottingham and she was the special guest that I told you about the other day that has come up this week to stay with me for a few days. Joanna lives a few corners away from me and so it will be easier to meet her when ever we like.

But last night I took them both out to dinner at Jamie's 90 Highfield Rd and we had wonderful meal
The food, the red wine and the company where just great and the two ladies got on like a house on fire.


So all together we are going to make formidable Card Making Magic Design Team and bring some beautiful samples to the shows that are planned in the future.

Wish us Luck 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

August 04, 2019

Card & Gift Winner

Hi Everybody,

I am late again but yesterday I spent most of the day doing some housework. I have a special visitor coming to stay with me on Tuesday and I needed to get the guest room ready. Time was getting on when I had finished and then I made a pasta for Vickie and myself and it was lovely 

In the process of cleaning up I found a HUGE spider in the bath.It was like a helicopter sitting there with its legs all spread out. I don't like spiders but I didn't want to murder it so I removed the plug cover and washed it down with cold water.

Once it had gone down I replaced the plug cover really tight so that it couldn't get back out. 
But this morning it was sat in the bath again staring at me defiantly,  daring me to wash it down again.

So I grabbed a big handful of toilet roll and scrunched it up and tried to pick it up with that.
 I swear it laughed gleefully at me as it ran to the other side of the bath.
After a few more tries of chasing it around the bath I eventually caught it and it just wiggled all it's legs at me. I opened the bathroom window and flung it through and so far it's not returned.
Spider nil ... Christina 1 

The winner of Fridays card & gift is 

Jenny Hurley

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

If you could let me know that you have received it that would be great and I hope you like it when you do.

Got to get ready now to go out for Sunday lunch with my family at pm. 
I need the sustenance to chase spiders !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

August 02, 2019

Friday Freebie - Sweet Pea Floral Die Set

Hi Everybody,

Today's gift is nothing to do with Christmas but instead is a very pretty floral die set called 
Sweet Pea

The die is in two parts and can be used to cut the design into or out of the card so there are quite a few ways in which to use it

So if this is a die set that you would like to have then all you need to do is leave me a comment with your FULL NAME at the end of the post.

From those comments one name will be chosen as the winner and announced in tomorrows blog post so please be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

August 01, 2019

Poinsettia Wrap

Hi Everybody,

Another pretty new Christmas Die Set from Card Making Magic and this one is the 

The background has been inked with Blueprint Sketch and Shaded Lilac to give a soft blush to the card.

The Poinsettia Wrap has been cut in shiny gold and added to the card with foam tape underneath.

I wrapped all these panels with ribbon before I added them to the base card.

A very quick and easy card to make when you are short of time and it could be for many occasions throughout the year.

After all who is going to know that this is a poinsettia ??? It could be any flower !

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

July 31, 2019

Christmas Wreath Builder

Hi Everybody,

Today's card is created with the new Wreath Builder Die Set from Card Making Magic.
 It is part of the Christmas Collection for 2019.

I have used traditional colours for mine and teamed them with gold but you could make yours in contemporary colours for another look.

I really enjoyed putting all these pieces together and it is very easy to do. 

You can make yours as thick and as decorated as you like.

And because Holly is an evergreen plant and available all year round then why not add some summer flowers and make your wreath into a garland instead ... just leave off the Holly Berries

There are some lovely dies available from Card Making Magic and they are all at Craft Stash and of course they will work really well with the dies from last Christmas too.

I have inked the edges with Candied Peel and the finished card is made with the 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

July 29, 2019

Rose Petal Card Stand

Hi Everybody,

When the card stands were first introduced to the Card Making Magic Collection they were very popular.

This one will hold the 6x6 the 5x7 any of the round or oval shapes and the A2 and makes the display look really pretty.

But the new size is a lot bigger and will hold the A5 as well as any of the other sizes and your recipient will have the perfect way to show off their card

This Christmas Card has been created in the same colours as the stand and the gold looks really elegant on both sides of the stand.

But look more closely at the card itself and you will see that I have cut one of the stands in half and used it as a corner on the front.

It makes lovely addition to the design on the front but another way it can be used is by adding glue to the long straight side and just along the bottom then placing it inside the card to act as a pocket to add your tag greeting to.

I am sure that you can think of many more ways in which to make the Card Stand  work for you.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

July 27, 2019

Card & Gift Winner

Hi Everybody,

How does all this really hot weather sit you ?? I can remember sitting out in for hours to get a suntan when I was younger but not any more. It is far too hot for me and I simply melt. I like it to be warm enough not to need a coat but cool enough to feel comfortable.

It is even too hot for Ruby and she seeks all the shade she can find. We now go walking early in the day and again later in the evening when it is cooler, and that seems to suit her much better ... and me 

The draw for yesterdays gift has been done and the name this week is ...

Elizabeth van Asch

if you could email me your postal address please to 
christina@card-making-magic.com
the gift will be on its way to you.

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

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

July 26, 2019

Friday Freebie - Winter Wonderland

Hi Everybody,

Today's gift is from Crafters Companion and it is an embossing folder with a three piece die set for the top.

It was with Papercraft Essential towards the end of  2018

You will find some ideas on how to use this gift in the video Winter Wonderland and not just for Christmas either. 

It can be used all year round to make really pretty cards for you

So if this is a gift that you would like then all you have to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME and then come back tomorrow to see if it is your name that is listed as the winner.

I cannot stress enough that it needs to be your FULL NAME as I will not be entering those that aren't so please check before you submit your entry. 

And don't forget that your comment will not show up until they have been moderated by me.So please don't add it two or three times it will be shown eventually.

The list of past winners is in the side bar to the left for you to check whenever you want and I list who has won and claimed their gift along with those that haven't claimed as past winners. 

The gifts are quality stamps or dies or embossing folders so well worth trying for.  


More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



July 24, 2019

Simply Cards & Papercraft 194 - Altenew Layered Poppy

Hi Everybody,

This months SC&P has a lovely layered Poppy as the exclusive git and this is from Altenew.

It will be on sale on the 25th July and Altenew stamps are always worth collecting and there is also a stencil with this one too.

The difference in stencil and stamp is quite noticeable and I think that the stencil gives a softer look to my card.

The video is not too long and I have sped things up a little in the middle.

 I hope you enjoy it and this set is sure to disappear quickly so be sure to look tomorrow if this is one that you would like to have .


Moe tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



July 21, 2019

The Octagon Box - Short & Tall Versions

Hi Everybody

As promised I have now got the video completed to add to this page  and it is quite a long one  ...so my apologies.

But there was no way to get all the information into it and make it any shorter. I hope it doesn't spoil your enjoyment of it.

It is done in sections so you can always pause it and come back to it later if need be.

In the video I have shown you how to make the original box and frame and how they will work together.
 In the second part I have shown you how to extend the sides to create the taller box and I have added several frames as trays to add various items to depending on who you make it for.
If you are adding things like little Fairy Cakes then they would be deeper than the chocolates and you wouldn't need as many. 

But you will need to play around with yours and see how it goes
.The main thing is to have fun with it and decorate it to suit the contents
I hope you enjoy

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

July 20, 2019

Card & Gift Winner

Hi Everybody,

Thanks for all your support over the past week when I have been on Hochanda and Facebook Live.

 It is very much appreciated and now I am back home safe and sound.

 But I promised on Hochanda that I would do a video to show you how I turned the short sided Octagon Box in to the tall sided version. 

So as soon as I have finished this post that is what I am going to do and then tomorrow it is 
chill ... chill ... chill ... day with Ruby and my family.

Lets move onto the winner of yesterdays FF Gift and card winner and the name chosen this week is ...

Karen Roit
would you send your postal address to me at
christina@card-making-magic.com
and the gift will be on its way to you straight away.

Please let me know when you get it and I hope you have fun playing with it .


More ... and the Video tomorrow ,,,

Hugs xx

July 19, 2019

Friday Freebie - Pop Up Box

Hi Everybody,

Today's gift is the Pop Up Box that was with
Die Cutting Essentials 51 and the link will take you to the video

This is one that you can have a lot of fun with when you dress it for male or female and you can also use it to make a card.

The video will show you some of the ways in which I have used this gift 

With the gift I am giving you the box card that was made for the males in your family 

This little boxes are not hard to make and now even easier with the dies to do all the work for you.

So if this a gift that you would like then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the bottom of the post with your FULL NAME and from those comments one name will be drawn as the winner.

Be sure to come back tomorrow and check if your name is shown and it doesn't matter where you live or even if you have won before you can still enter.

So good luck everybody

More tomorrow  ...

Hugs xx

July 18, 2019

Ice Cream Colours

Hi Everybody,

Today's card is from one of the last Hochanda shows and it is created in soft pastel shades.

I highlighted it in black using the Pearly Swirls die set and I stamped the sentiment in black on to some vellum and clear heat embossed it

The flowers are all made form the same shades Daisy Flourish Flowers   and each one has a gemstone centre.

But today I am back on Hochanda again with another One Day Special and I have some more beautiful new dies to show you. 

And the Sneaky Peak from the other day will be revealed to hopefully delight you.

So join me  today at 9am  1pm and 5pm and if you can't make it then try Craft Stash Facebook Live tomorrow at 1pm

More tomorrow ... 

Hugs xx

July 17, 2019

Die Cutting Essentials 54 - Piece by Piece Jigsaw Die Set

Hi Everybody,

This fun little jigsaw can make some really pretty cards if you cut the die from different coloured card stock

And because there are so many pieces to each cut you can make several cards as I have in the video.

I really enjoyed playing with this and although the pieces are small the overall effect is very eye catching.


The magazine is going to be on sale tomorrow the 18th July and there are lots of ideas inside for you to try both with the gift and other projects.

You also have the opportunity to down load some papers to help make your cards, for both male and female. So take a look and the link is on page three.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

July 16, 2019

Sneaky Peak

Hi Everybody,

Thanks to everybody for your concern over me feeling really poorly and I am happy to say that I feel much better now thanks and I will be with you on Hochanda tomorrow for the One Day Special.

I have lots of exciting new things to share with you and this is a sneaky peak of one of the die sets that will be on the show.

So I hope you can join me at 6pm and 8pm on the 17th July and at 9am 1pm and 5pm on the 18th July

If you can't make the shows then maybe you will be there for Craft Stash Facebook Live on the Friday and try to win one of their wonderful "Give Aways"

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

July 13, 2019

Card & Gift Winner

Hi Everybody,

Today's post is going to be just announcing the winners because I feel really sick and have done for the last two days. I am on Hochanda next Wednesday and Thursday and Craft Stash Facebook  Live on Friday and I have not been able to do any prep so far because I feel so poorly. 

So you will need to excuse the lack of sample on all shows until I start to feel better.

The two winners of the Dream Catcher that was on offer yesterday are ...
Kim Cranson
and
Christine Cloutier
please can you email me your postal addresses to
christina@card-making-magic.com
and the gifts will be on their way to you

Bye for now

Hugs xx

July 12, 2019

Friday Freebie - Dream Catcher

Hi Everybody,

This fabulous little Dream Catcher was the exclusive gift from Card Making Magic

It was very popular when it was offered with Simply Cards & Papercraft

I have  two to "Give Away" today but only the first winner will get the card that is with it.

Sorreeee ! but it's the only one I have.  but the gift more than makes up for no card.

You will get an A4 stamp set and some matching dies to create your own  Dream Catcher and the stamps are not flimsy. Look after them and they will last you a long time and they are fun to work with.

Would you like to o win this gift ??? Then leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME. Then be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown as the winner.

I will add the names to tomorrows blog post and the winners list is always in the NavBar to your left.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


July 11, 2019

Silver Frame

Hi Everybody,

Today's card has a silver frame on the front which means it would be prefect to add a small photo to.

For my card I have added one of the verses from the #2 stamp set and then decorated it with Daisies and silver leaves.

It is not a big card and because of the layers it would need a box.

I have used the  A5 Nesting Rectangles but the smaller dies in the set to make the whole base  and then layered with a silver card.

This would look just as good created in gold too. And there is a shinier version of both at Craft Stash 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


July 10, 2019

Cream & Gold Birthday Wishes

Hi Everybody,

Today's card is created with the Lacey Nested Oval and I have used cream and gold to make it.

It would make a lovely wedding card with an appropriate sentiment or change the colours for any other occasion.

It is 5x7 when finished and so will fit neatly into the 5x7 Card & Box Set

I have blended the flowers into the colour scheme ... but a little tip I learned a long time ago is to buy mostly white flowers and colour them your self to match your designs.


You can but Isopropyl from the pharmacy and is sometimes referred to as Rubbing Alcohol and it is not expensive. A little goes a long way

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

July 08, 2019

Blue and Lemon

Hi Everybody,

Today's combination is pale lemon and a beautiful blue and I think they look wonderful together.

It is such a refreshing colour scheme that looks elegant at the same time.

I have used the 5x7 Card and Box set and topped it with some layers from the Ornate Nesting rectangles.

Snuggled in behind the flowers are the Delicate Pearly Swirls dotted with blue pearls  and the leaves are from the Daisy Flourish Flowers

And they all sit on top of the Flourish Embossing Folder panel

I would be more than happy to receive a card like this and it would sit on display for everybody to see.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

July 06, 2019

Card & Gift Winner

Hi Everybody,

It's a beautiful day here to day and there is so much that I need to do to get ready for the next Hochanda One day Special on the 17/18th July
 I wish I could squeeze a few more hours into each day or perhaps an extra day in the week ... now that would really help !!

Looking at the list of names for the Give Away I have noticed quite a lot of new names and so welcome to you and I hope you enjoy my pages and my ramblings. 

The draw for this weeks prize has been done and the winner today is ....

Sheron Egolf

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

As always I ask you to let me know that you have received it safely.
And I hope you will like it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

July 05, 2019

Friday Freebie - Butterfly Rose

Hi Everybody,

Today's offer is for this lovely cut and emboss folder and stamp set.

It is something with the butterfly that I know a lot of you will like and enjoy adding to your designs 

I only have one of these to give away and so if you would like this then leave me a comment at the end of the post.

Don't forget to add your full name and be sure to come back sometime over the weekend  and check if you are the winner.

I have no way of contacting you if you don't claim the prize and you need to leave your FULL NAME with your comment. No Name -- no win !!

Butterfly Rose is well worth winning so what are you waiting for ... add your name and comment

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx