Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

March 24, 2020

Card Making Magic 6x6 Card and Matching Envelope

Hi Everybody,

Thank you for all the lovely comments from Sundays blog post and I wish there was more that I could do. I will try my very best to keep morale ... yours and mine ... lifted by doing my videos and blog posts.


Today I have created a 6x6 Card complete with matching envelope using the Complete Card & Box Die Set.

It was very easy and quick to make and what could be better in these troubling times than to send a card "Just Because" or simply to say "I am thinking of you"

And then once this is all behind us we can give each other a big hug again.

Stay Calm and Craft ...


Ruby and I went for walk yesterday along the promenade. She was so happy to be outside it was lovely to see her running around sniffing at everything again.

We stayed well isolated from other people but I smiled and called hello to those that I passed, and I got many greetings back from them too.

As a side note for those who have asked about my hair ... I have now been doing the Curly Girl Method for almost a year. There is no artificial colour in it at all now it's all my own .
I bought the Curly Girl Handbook and I follow the rules 80% of the time.
My hair has changed over the year and it is now healthy and curlier than it has ever been and I am more than happy with it especially now it is getting longer again

 More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

March 22, 2020

Happy Mothers Day .. to everybody

Hi Everybody,

I do hope this post finds you all well and escaping the effects of Coronavirus. 
It is a very worrying time for all of us and can be very upsetting for those who have to isolate them selves from society.
I sympathise with you and I too, at 72 am, one of those who has to stay in doors.

We have to find things to occupy our time and keep our hands working.
 I have started to do my spring cleaning early

Make use of Facebook, if you are on it, to keep up with family and friends.
 Go back to writing letters or making phone calls to them. 
We may be in an imposed social distancing situation, but we can keep close emotionally and tell people you love that you do love them and are missing their company.

Also think about the people out there who have to face everyday wondering if someone they meet will infect them. People on the front line like NHS staff, shopkeepers, transport drivers, school staff who have to stay open for some children and many many other workers that are too many to mention.

Think also about small businesses who are struggling in a different way. If the supermarkets don't have fresh fruit and veg then try the small green groceries who will also be struggling to keep going

 This hits home to me personally as my Grandson has his own restaurant and has now had to close. He had a full house for Mothers day and now he has none.
 He is operating a Take Away service and I will be taking advantage of that as this situation worsens.

As for me well I will try to give you all something to look forward to each week with the
 Friday Freebie that will include the magazine and the gift that came with it.
I will cover the postage so that it is completely free to you and I am happy to send it wherever you are.

As crafters we can keep ourselves busy with the things we love to do, and remember that you don't need to go to the shops , Craft Stash is always there for items you may need.
 They are still operating a full service though many staff are working from home.

Subscribe to your favourite magazine to make sure you have the inspiration you need, and get it delivered direct to your door, keeping you safe.

And don't forget the NEW online community that has been started for us all
Craft World will be the place to keep in touch with other crafters and enjoy a little fun in the process.  And you will get exclusive videos on a regular basis.

So it's not the end of the world, and many of those who have had Coronavirus have now made a full recovery and  can move forward . 
We will all move forward eventually and things will get back to normal. 
The sun will still shine tomorrow and the rain will still come down, but spring is on the way and so is change.
 Keep smiling and be kind to others and we will all be better for it.

Much love and big hugs to you all

March 21, 2020

Winner

Hi Everybody,

I hope you are all well and not too lonely with all this isolation. My blog is always open to you if you need to chat about anything and you all know my email address is 
christina@card-making-magic.com.
 Now is the time for us all to bolster each other up until we get through these troubling times

The winner of the prize from yesterday has been drawn from the hat and the name this week ...

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

I hope you enjoy the set when you get it and please let me know that you have it safely.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

March 20, 2020

Friday Freebie - Altenew Modern Anemone

Hi Everybody,

Today's offering is the beautiful Altenew Die and Stamp set called Modern Anemone and it will make these lovely blooms for you to add to your projects.

In the video I showed you how I made this pretty blue floral card as a birthday Card for someone.

Modern Anemone  is not a long video but I hope you enjoy it just as much.

Then you can decide if this is a set that you would like to win, and if it is then leave me a comment at the end of this post with your FULL NAME 

From those comments one name will be chosen and announced in a blog post over the weekend. 
So be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown.

Please remember NO FULL NAME --- NO ENTRY

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

March 19, 2020

Beautiful Birdcage

Hi Everybody,

Next week will see the new Provence Collection on Hochanda and sadly I won't be there to show you. Because of the Corona-virus and being in one of the "At Risk" groups I am taking the precaution of staying at home.

However the lovely Lou Collins will be showing you my collection next Tuesday and I hope you enjoy the shows.

These are some of the items that will be on the show and this is the Beautiful Birdcage die along with the stamp set that matches it.

I used the outer die from the birdcage to cut the aperture in the card front and then I added all the branches and flowers from the set to decorate the edges.

I stamped some branches on the inside of the card too and then stamped, coloured and fussy cut the parrots.

I added faux clouds to the background and both parrots are sat on golden swings.
But this same die set can create the most beautiful 3-D Birdcage and I have filled mine with flowers, ribbons and pearls 

Such a romantic look and this would be a real eye catcher on some ones mantle for a special occasion.

So there you have two ways to use this die and stamp set.
But you can always add the birdcage to a card front if you needed a different look .

For this one I have inked the background in soft colours and the added the flowers in the same colours for a blended look to my card. Gemstones have been added to the flower centres

The birdcage has been cut in a vibrant turquoise and added to a white background.

Both birds are die cut from the set and one is sat on the swing while the other is waiting in the door way to enter the cage

I think all three projects are really special and I am sure that Lou will have many more to show you next week

Stay safe

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx