Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

August 08, 2013

Creating a Background ...

Hi Everybody,

One of my commitments as part of the Spectrum Noir Design Team is to do short tutorials on ways to get the most from the pens.

Today  Spectrum Noir  have added my short video to their website and this is the card that I have created for the post.

Colors used ...
Hair          TN2, TN5, TN7
Skin          FS2, FS3, EB2, CR1
Eyes          DG2
Clothes      PP1, PP3, Blender  Symbol BP5

The image is from Saturated Canary and is a digital download so once you have paid for it you have it instantly .... no waiting for the postman to deliver it.

Te main purpose of the video is to show a simple way to create a background with the same pens you used to color the image.  The colors I have chosen are the BP5 and DG2  from the symbol on the T-shirt and her eyes.

There are many many more tutorials on the SN website and they cover many different techniques to give you the best result ever.

The embellishments to this card are Card Candi from Craftwork Cards   and the tiny flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts  and I popped one rose in her hair.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



August 07, 2013

Please Read ....

Hi Everybody,

I am publishing this comment received yesterday  on it's own page because I feel it warrants a complete reply.  I do not mind criticism but when it is un-warranted  then I need to respond.  Here is the comment ...

Dear Christina, I love your stuff but am disappointed that you use so much stuff from the States. Your stamps and bling and dies are all only available in the US when you show them and therefore only available to us, mere mortals, if we pay a lot of money in postage on top of the cost of the items. We have recently seen Kanban crafts disappear because Hunkdory gets so much publicity that the British company could not compete and the British cardmaking industry is now the poorer. AS a UK crafter can you possible demonstrate some loyalty to UK markets and show us what e can make using UK designed and produced products. If there are any left! I am pleased that you promote Meiflower and Wild Orchid Crafts, but there are so many good UK companies out there who need all the promotion they can get.

My reply is ....

Thanks for your comment and I am sorry to disappoint you ... but you need to do your research a little more carefully before adding this type of comment.   I will go though all the points you make in the order that you have made them.

Firstly the stamps you mention are usually off a CD or they are Digital downloads and so only cost you the charge for the Digi and it is yours ...no extra postage involved and available worldwide.  The dies I use are Spellbinders and they are available everywhere.  The last ones I bought where from Create and Craft TV which is very UK based.

The "Bling" I use is available in UK and I tell you whenever I have used it and give you the link to the companies involved.  I buy mine from Want2Scrap but that is my choice. I tell you about it on the blog because it is good quality ... but I don't say that you have to buy it from there.  That would be your choice and you would have to pay postage for many items wherever you get them from.

Not quite sure what you mean by Mere Mortals ..... I am the same as you with the same kind of outgoings and  a limited income and I am retired.  But I don't smoke, buy designer clothes, drink a lot or waste money and it is my choice  to spend on my hobby and my website/blog.

You mention both Kanban and Hunkydory in the same sentence and you seem to suggest that Hunkydory has put Kanban out of business.   Both of these are UK companies .... Hunkydory has their own shop in Preston and they supply many Kanban products on their website.  So how is British card making the poorer?

As a UK crafter I think I MORE then show my loyalty to the UK market ...and all you need to do is look back through some of my older posts.  I give links to many many  UK companies in my posts ......

Crafters Companion .. based in Newcastle ... and the makers of Spectrum Noir
Polkadoodles .... based in York
Funky Hand  .... based in Newcastle
Lili of the Valley ... based in Bradford
Sunrise crafts .... based in Wolverhampton
Hunkydory ..... based in Preston  ....
Tattered Lace, Creative Studios, Pink Petticoat, Clintseed Crafts, Just Inklined ... to name but a few .... need I go on?

Some of these I have featured for a whole week to showcase their products.   And many of their products have been used in the "Give Aways" that I have done regularly all this year.... and much of that at my own expense.

 How much more supportive of UK products can I be?  I can only support the company ... if I know about the company in the first place,  and I have limited time ... the same as you  ...and so I can't spend all day on a PC looking for them.

The companies I mention are companies whose products I use and I know that the quality and the service is excellent.  This is why I pass the inks onto the people who visit my website/blog  in the hope that I am doing them a good service

So once again I am sorry to disappoint you  ... but please get your facts correct before you write to me again.    And last but not least I have not added your name to save you any embarrassment.


One for Christmas ...

Hi  Everybody,

This is such a simple card to create and used very few dies.

The base is a Hinged Card that has been matted and layered with silver Mirror Card.

The top white layer has been created with an  embossing folder.

The centre piece has been stamped with Versmark using the one that matches Labels 29.

I have embossed it with Silver Bells from the Wow embossing powder range and it looks fabulous in real life.

The Fancy Tags Three has the matching "Bling"  attached and that makes my focal point.

I have cut several Poinsettias from the Tattered Lace   Festive Range and the edges have been inked with Antique Linen.... the sentiment is from the Word set also from the same company.

So this is another card in my stock of cards to send out when the Jolly Season comes around.   

If you would like to learn more about Spellbinders then please consider buying my new class with The Art Studio.   Create Beautiful Cards with Spellbinders Class 2   is available to buy now.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx




August 06, 2013

New Spellbinders Class ...

Hi Everybody,

I have been busy behind the scenes getting a
 ready for The Art Studio and it is now available  for you to buy. 

In the first class ... which will always be available to you ... I showed you how to create three different cards but I did it all on one complete video. 

This time I have changed the format  and given you three cards ...  in three separate parts. 

Which means you will have one complete card on one video that you can stop and start as you wish.  More bite sized chunks that will be easier for you to follow at your own pace.

The cost is the same for all my  individual  classes ... and there are now 2 Spellbinders classes and 1 Spectrum Noir class.

Please note that the cost is per class and that the second Spellbinders class is in three parts ... but it is still just ONE Class... with one price for all three parts. 


The classes are  now listed on The Art Studio website.  Once you have joined the classes are accessible 24/7 and there is a permanent link to them in the side bar  which will give you access to all the classes.

If you experience any problems please go back to The Art Studio as they are always happy to help you sort things out until you are completely happy with your purchase.

So please come and join me for this easy to follow class and learn how to   

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

With you in Mind ...

Hi Everybody,

For this all white card I have used several Spellbinders and layered them all together with foam pads for a lovely effect.

The top layer has been embossed and the lower part removed with the Scalloped border.

 The  part that was removed has been added to the top of the card with foam pads so as not to waste it ....

The pearly "Bling" is from  Want2Scrap  and matches  Labels 23

Many of  the die sets  have the complimentary matching bling  and that can really make a feature of the die itself.

Some have the matching stamps that go with them too.... and tomorrows card will show you the stamp that matched Labels 29

The sentiment is from JustRite Stampers and it has been stamped and embossed in silver.

The beautiful ribbon is wrapped around the bottom of the card and adds the finishing touch to this pretty card that would suit many occasions.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx