Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

March 24, 2015

Tuesday Tutorial - Captivating Squares

Hi Everybody,

Todays beautiful card is created with the Captivating Squares from Spellbinders

This could be a die that you already have in your crafting "Stash" as it has been around for quite some time.

There are many ways to use this die and this is just one of them.
I have cut two 6" squares and created the base card with a hinge

Then from some plain pink I have cut a smaller layer and repeated the process with some pink spotty card
From #3 and #4 Captivating Squares I have cut four frames   (and remember that #1 is always the smallest die in any set)

Keep the centre parts as you will need one of them later.


Layer these together in sets of two off setting them with each other as shown in the photo

Just a spot of glue in strategic places will hold these together for you

Then with some foam tape between the layers lay the top two on the bottom two and off set them again

Now you should have a very pretty lacey centre for your card.

Place more foam pads under these layers so that it cannot be seen from the front

Add these to the base card and decorate as you wish.  I have used flowers from   Wild Orchid Crafts and some pearls from Want2Scrap  around the edge of the frame


With the pieces that are left over stamp  and emboss your sentiment on one of them

The rest can be used on another project so keep them safe

Add a double layer  of foam tape underneath to raise it up over the level of the frame

And there you will have another very pretty card to add to your collection.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

March 23, 2015

Negative Effect ...

Click to enlarge
Hi Everybody,

When we make cards there is such a lot of card that we discard.

But with just a little thought and some planning ahead we can put it to good use and make some pretty cards.

I needed some butterflies for another card that I was making and I used the Spellbinders Les Papillions Two 

I used the solid base to the die and rather than just cut it out randomly I carefully positioned one on some card that I would use for my top layer

Once cut and embossed this negative piece was the piece I used for this card.  I also cut another piece in pink and used it underneath as a shadow but the butterflies have been kept safely for the next card

The pink card in the negative space says "Happy Birthday"  and is from  AnnaMarie Designs

The embossing folder is from Crafters Companion

I used a large flourish from Want2Scrap for the butterfly trail

And there is my free sentiment again  from  Simply Cards and Papercrafts   Magazine stamped and embossed at the bottom of the card.

It really was that simple to make this card and yet the result is very pretty

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


March 22, 2015

Pretty in Green

Click to Enlarge
Hi Everybody,

Now this is a color I don't use very often but I was asked the other day to give some ideas for cards  using green

The card I have used here is from the Celebrations Range with Spellbinders and this shade is called Pixie Play

There are lots of items in this range from the card to embossing folders,  stamps and dies that match them

The floral paper underneath was very bright and so I have subdued it with Parchment and added it with eyelets in each corner.

I used an embossing folder on the parchment before adding it to the card

The diamante around the edge  and the flourish are from Want2Scrap

The white and green flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and they have been sparkled with Glitter Magic  Chameleon glitter.  The little white dove is also from WOC

The ribbon was in my "Stash" and the dazzler over the knot is part of a Primark bracelet that I took apart.  I am happy with the result and as the card I used is 12 x 12 I have managed to get two cards from the one sheet

This sentiment was free with   Simply Cards and Papercrafts   and it is one of the most useful phrases in my collection and it is one I have used often since I got it.  I love the script it's in too

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

March 21, 2015

Winner is ...

Hi Everybody,

Isn't this a beautiful day .... I know it's on the cold side but the sun is shining and it feels really pleasant.

After a lovely relaxing morning I now have a winner for the yellow card that was offered yesterday and the name drawn from the hat is ...


Bill Ali 
would you email me your postal address please to 
christina@card-making-magic.com
and I will get the card in the post to you straight away.
I hope that you will like it and please let me know when it arrives with you.

So now I have a lovely casserole cooking in the slow cooker and I am off to have coffee with my youngest daughter 

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

March 20, 2015

Friday Freebie 051

Hi Everybody,

This pretty yellow card is the one up for grabs today and this uses the Quatrefoil Background

It is one of those dies that I don't know where you will get it from now. I have tried to find it for you but no luck.

But obviously as new items come onto the market the old ones are replaced and then it becomes difficult to find the dies you want

If this is a card that you would like to win then all you need to do is join the group of followers.

Just leave your name in the "Join This Site" box to your left and then leave me a comment

A name will be chosen in the morning and the winner announced during the day.

Then you have 48 hours to claim the card by sending me your postal address to 
 christina@card-making-magic.com

The flowers on this card are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and the satin ribbon is from Mei Flower  making a really pretty card

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx