Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

December 24, 2013

Just a little video .....

Hi Everybody,

Now if you have been good girls and boys over the past year you could get a little present from  Father Christmas

And if he doesn't bring you something then you may  have to buy your own !!

I have bought my self some "Crafting Goodies"  and I am going to be soooo surprised when I open them tomorrow morning.

Todays card is another one that has no flowers on it ... though I have added in the flourish from  Want2Scrap

The background flourish is a stamp from  Indigo Blu  which I have stamped in black and embossed in clear.

The two sentiment on the card are both from  Crafters Companion   and are in the Sentimentals  Range

But I really wanted to add this  short video to explain the difference between UK  and  US  card size A2 ... and it is a big difference ... as I know that when I said I was making cards in A2 some of you thought I was mad ...  let the video do the talking




I hope it goes some way into explaining the confusion that the makers of card give to use mere mortals who are cardmakers....

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

December 23, 2013

Only Two more sleeps ....

Hi Everybody,

My posts for the next few days are all scheduled ones as I have family coming for the holidays and I won't have time to write a new one.

The house is all ready and looks really pretty,  with twinkling lights on the tree and along the  mantlepiece.   I have my shopping all done and my menus planned.

Christmas Day will be for eight of us and then on the 28th we are treating all our girls and their other halves ... along with the Grand children ... out for a meal at mine and Griffs'  favorite restaurant.

There will be eighteen of us all together and it should be a really good night out.

So to the card ... this one is very simply made with Matting Basics and  Labels Eighteen and the border is created with the Edgeabilities.

There are three parts to these dies ... one cutting edge and two different inserts for you to ring the changes.

The ribbon is from my "Stash" and I have added   Want2Scrap   Diamante along it.  The centre of the ribbon has a  pearl brad inside a large spacer and both  where bought at the GNPE craft show ... but they  are both from   The Hobby House

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


December 22, 2013

Stamping Tips

Hi Everybody,

If you are a seasoned crafter then please just skip the next post  as I don't mean to talk down to any of you at all.

But I have been asked for help  by some ladies that are new to  all things card making ...  and especially about stamping.

They want to know how to get a clean finish to their work as some of them are left with speckles and a bit of  mess on what is otherwise a good piece.

So I have put together  a short video to explain some of the things I do when I want to stamp my sentiments, characters or scenes,  in the hope that  it may help some of the lovely ladies who take the trouble to write to me and ask my advice.




The video is not long and I hope it helps to answer some of the questions I have been asked and thank you for sending me your queries ... it is my pleasure to help wherever I am able.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

December 21, 2013

Labels Four Collection

Hi Everybody,

A couple of days ago I used the Gold Labels Four.

Todays card stays with Labels Four but this time using the Nesting Labels Four and the 5x7 Elegant Labels.

The blue card is Centura Pearl and it has been layered with white and it makes for a very fresh look.







The sentiment is from the Sentimentals Range by  Crafters Companion   and it has been embossed in silver.

The flowers are from  Wild Orchid Crafts   and the pearls as always are from  Want2Scrap

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



December 20, 2013

A2 Cards ...

Hi Everybody,

Yesterday someone sent me a plea to make some videos with cards in a smaller size ... namely A2 as she had bought this size Spellbinders and was not very happy about it.

Please don't be despondent about your purchase  Fizz as there is so much you can do with this size die and hope fully I can give you some ideas.

I also had emails from several  other people this week with the same request.

So I am going to do some tutorials to show you what you can achieve with the smaller dies.

Fizz  you also asked me about sizes and weights and so this video will explain some of the basics ... because as a new card maker it can be confusing.



Both of the cards on todays post are also using the Matting Basics A and B sets in the A2 size.    Just because the card is small doesn't mean it can't be dressed up as the larger ones.

The list at the bottom of the page will show you what some of the other A2 Card Creator dies look like ... and these are the ones I will be using in the next few videos.

I am   NOT  for one minute suggesting that you go and buy all these dies ... only that I will be giving some ideas with them

The videos will be with you soon and I hope they will help.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx





December 19, 2013

We are Special ....

Hi Everybody,

Cream is the order of the day for this little card but it has lots of layers to it.

I have teamed it with a really pale shade of green with paler cream flowers on it and it works quite well together ... though the green is not really showing on the photo.

The verse is from the Every day sentiments from   Lili of the Valley  and is just one of a set of lovely verses on one sheet

The dies have  been layered with foam tape, and with  Satin edged Organza ribbon wrapped around the bottom.

The single rose is from  Wild Orchid Crafts  and I have sparkled it with fine glitter from  Glitter Magic

The beautiful pears are from  Want2Scrap  and I have added tiny ones all around the Scalloped edge

Please Note ...

I have been using the older Spellbinders in many of the latest cards that I have been showing as they are such a considered purchase,  and they are some I have had for a long time.

We all need to get as much use out of the SB's that we buy,  after all  you don't buy a set of dies for a one time use only. 

But I must stress to you that you can get them cheaper if you shop around .... Ebay, Amazon, Save on Hobbies, Sunrise Crafts, Once Upon a Stamp and many many more discount places.

The list of the dies that I add at the end of each post is there for information  purposes only to show you the dies available ... so that you know what to look for when you go shopping.

Do your research and find the best possible  price for your self ... you owe it to yourself to get the bargains.


More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx





December 18, 2013

Spellbinders Flower dies

Hi Everybody,

Thank you for your comments on the flowers added yesterday ... it seems I am not the only one to like flowers.

So here is another tutorial on using Spellbinders dies to create some very pretty ones for your cards.

There are lots more videos on the website using different materials to create even more ...  and  not just with Spellbinders.

If you have the time pop over there for a browse around.

Here are some links for you ...
Organza Flowers ...  Felt Flowers with SB  ...  Ribbon Rose  ...  Paper Roses  ...  Enameled Roses




Below you will find a list of some of the dies that I have used to create flowers on some of my cards over the years.
  Many of these dies are available at a very good price from   Save On Hobbies   

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx



December 17, 2013

Flower Power ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is using a die that has been around for quite some time.

But having said that it does make some really pretty flowers.

I have just created a single flower and added it to the Bella Rose flourish and I am pleased with the look of the card.

The sentiment is from the Sentimentals range from Crafters Companion  and there are lots of lovely words in the sets.

It has been heat embossed in silver.

The Aster Flower die is available from  Save On Hobbies  and is on a sale price at present.

The making of the card has been filmed to show you what I did and I hope you will enjoy the short tutorial






The only die I have used that I couldn't list for you was the little corner one that was used for the pocket and in the sentiment frame.... and it was the Filigree Corners from JustRite.

More tomorrow ...

December 16, 2013

Smile ...

Etsy Shop
Hi Everybody,

This lovely card is created with lilac Centura pearl and white card and is one I have added to my Etsy Shop.

It really is very pretty with all the embossing which is created from the Ornate Butterflies folder from  Crafters Companion

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and they are a mixture of Roses, Carnation, Chrysanthemum and Aster.

They have been sparkled with fine glitter from Glitter Magic  and I have added in Diamante from Want2Scrap

But the touch of luxury is the ribbon and Diamante buckle along the bottom of the card that is my finishing piece.

The swirl ribbon is from Reasonable Ribbon and is part of their monthly ribbon club.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx