Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

April 15, 2016

Friday Freebie 114

Hi Everybody,

Two more black and white cards on offer this week and both created as per the video Black and White Cards

One is for a birthday and the other is just a general greeting but both are floral so you can adapt them to anything you wanted
They are on offer to one winner and so if you would like to win these then leave me a comment at the end of the post

From those comments a name will be drawn and announced in tomorrows blog post.

The winner will also be added to the Winners Page and the link is always in the side bar to your left so that you can always check if it is you.

You will have 72 hours in which to claim the cards by sending me your postal address by email to ... christina@card-making-magic.com

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

April 14, 2016

International Ambassadors Informal Blog Hop

Hi Everybody,

Time for another informal blog hop with some of the International Ambassadors and another chance for you to see each of us as you go around the world.  We decided for our theme this month to us some of the beautiful Boxes  that have been released by Spellbinders in the past few months
For mine I chose to use the Steel Rule SR-48 Keeping Tabs to make this simple little box, and give you some idea of how you can dress it up. You will need a die cutting machine that will take the deeper format but with these dies you can cut several layers in one pass. 
Ideal if you are making lots of them as Wedding Favor Boxes

I have used the Platinum Die Cutting Machine and some patterned card to show you how it looks once cut and all you need to do is fill it with goodies and then curl it up into the closures.

I had some fun turning one of them into a Rabbit with big googly eyes and stand up ears..

The other has flowers that blend with the scheme and it would be lovely to hold that special gift.

I hope you will take the time to visit my talented friends and see what delights  they have to show you this month.

Linda Lucas  Australia
Yvonne van de Grijp  Netherlands
Christine Emberson  UK

We would be so happy if you would please leave us your comments to let us know that you have visited and I hope you will enjoy your trip.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

April 13, 2016

Water Color Wednesday - Wild Thing ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is using stamps from Clearly Besotted and this one  is called Wild Thing  has matching dies to it and hey are sold separately.

It has been colored with Gansai Tambi Water Colors flat onto the card front.

The tiger has been cut out with the dies and raised to sit in front of the other two animals and the back ground is hand drawn.

The sentiment is also from the stamp set

Sun and clouds are created with the Day Dream die set from Spellbinders

Cute little card that would be ideal for children ... and maybe a few adults as well

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

April 12, 2016

Tuesday Tutorial - Labels 48 Decorative Elements

Hi Everybody,

Todays tutorial features a die set that we have used before when we created the
  Labels 48 - Photo Frame  but for today I have made it in to a simple floral card  with all the layers that can be used for any occasion
Spellbinders Supplies:
Other Supplies:
Instructions:
Cut die #4 twice from white card and with a bone folder score down on piece by about half an inch and crease
Glue the two together along this fold to create a base card
Cut all the other pieces of the die in alternating colors and layer them on to the base card with foam pads in between each layer.
Have a practise run with your flowers before you add in any glue and see how you like them.
When you are happy then you can glue them in place and add in any other embellishments that you may like.

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

























April 11, 2016

Don't Give Up ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is back to pink again ... and this one uses the Victorian Medallions Three cut in Kraft card

I have cut the shape twice and glued them together for a thicker panel.

On top of that I have layered Victorian Medallions One  cut twice in white.

Both panels have been added with foam tape underneath them for dimension

Lace  and ribbon have been wrapped around the layers.

With the pearl flourishes from Want2Scrap I have kept them attached to the carrier sheet and simply cut around it and tucked them in tot the floral display so that they are free

The flowers, lace  and acrylic flowers are all from Wild Orchid Crafts and I have added white Gesso and glitter to the petals.  I have tied a net bow and pushed it in to the flowers as a little extra.  Tiny pink pearls have been added to the net

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

April 10, 2016

Christmas ???

Hi Everybody,

I know, I know ... I am either too early or far too late but I wanted to make this card while there was no pressure to make Christmas cards.  And I have to say I enjoyed the process. 
 I have stayed with the Shabby Chic look and used lots of different techniques on the card.
It is a 7" square which is a size I don't usually make. My preference would be 5x7. I have used a red base card and kept the fold at the top because it stands better that way with all the embellishments.

I created the leaves  from Spellbinders Romantic Vines  and the tree is the Holiday Tree from 2012
The silver charms are from my "Stash" and I thought they would blend will with the white and sage green

The flowers, white leaves, lace and the Angel head are all from Wild Orchid Crafts  and the Snowballs are from AnnaMarie Designs

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx












April 09, 2016

Card Winner Today ...

Hi Everybody,

So at present I am on holiday in Devon taking a short and well earned break. 
All the blog posts over the last few days have been scheduled so hopefully there have been no mishaps on them going out on time.

But the winner has still been drawn and the name this week is you ...

Gingernuts 
please email me 
christina@card-making-magic.com
with your postal address and as soon as I get home the cards will be posted to you

You have 72 hours in which to claim them and I hope that you will like them when they arrive with you

I have a request for you ... Everyone seems to be happy with the cards that have been shown lately using the older Spellbinders dies simply because you have some of them yourselves and the blog posts are encouraging you to get them out and use them again.

My request is that if you have older dies and would like me to do a video on them then would you please let me know and IF I have them too then I will be happy to oblige.
 One that has already been asked for is Asian Accents and Motifs and that is in the pipeline for the 19th April

Today we are going on Round Robin trip that takes a road, boat and train trip around the Devon coastline and back here to Torquay. The weather has been kind to us so far with no rain but it is cold.

 Yesterday I had to pop into a shop and buy myself a new sweater and some socks as I was so cold and the assistant let me put them on in the changing room before we left the shop .... Aaaaah much warmer!!!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

April 08, 2016

Friday Freebie 113

Hi Everybody,

Two more cards to give away this week and these are both floral cards that are 4x6"  in size

They are really pretty cards and would suit many occasions or simply to cheer someone up

Both will go to one winner so if you would like these then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the bottom of the post.

The winners name will be in tomorrows blog post and will also be added to the  Winners Page  in the side bar to the left.  You have 72 hours in which to claim the cards by emailing me with your postal address. Instructions are on the winners page.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

April 07, 2016

Got any hair gel ??

Hi Everybody,


Over on my YouTube Channel today is a fun card using some hair gel to create an underwater scene and it is sure to delight children.

This is the Hair Gel Pocket Card  and I have used the cheapest tube of hair gel that I could find.

I specifically bought the one with bubbles in it as this will help with the effect.

Once you have watched the video you will understand what I mean when I tell you that the gel settles towards the bottom of the pocket once the card is stood up so be sure not to overfill it.

And seal it carefully so that the gel doesn't escape when you have finished.

The stamp and die set  that I have used is Make A Splash  from Clearly Besotted ... and they are a UK company with wonderful items for you to buy

The card is from AnnaMarie Design and I have used Spellbinders 5x7 Matting Basics  to create the card and frame.   Make sure that the pocket you use will fit inside the frame work  you create.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


April 06, 2016

Water Color Wednesday - Video Boy

Hi Everybody,

Here is a digital image that  is from   Mos'Digital Pencil and it is one I have had on my PC for quite some time and this is Video Boy

It has been colored with a mixture of Gansai Tambi Water Colors and Spectrum Noir Pens pencils

I have die cut it out with Spellbinders Pierced Rectangles and added in faux stitches to make it stand out.

I have added it to the front of my card with foam tape and then printed of a little sentiment and added it to the bottom .. and in keeping with the sentiment I have made his face look dirty

I thought that some buttons and string would be a good way to finish the card and keep it "boy" like

The background is a simple stripe that is also digital and I can print these off whenever I need some fresh ones

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


April 05, 2016

Tuesday Tutorial - Damask Accents & Motifs

Hi Everybody,

When I first started to collect Spellbinders,  the Accents and Motifs dies where very popular and I bought most of the sets that where available.  Now most of them have been retired from SB website but I still have them in my collection.

And so I need to use them and I am sure that many of you will also have these beautiful dies in your own collections.  Maybe they languish at the back of your cupboard unused and un loved because you have forgotten about them. 
Spellbinders Supplies:
  • S5-080 Damask Accents
  • S5-081 Damask Motifs
  • SEL-001 Maze   Embossing Folder
Other Supplies:
Instructions:
I have chosen white card for my base and three shades of pink to create the Ombre effect.
Fold one piece of  white card in half along the long side and keep the fold at the top
From Damask Motifs take the square one (die # 5) and cut  and emboss four of each shade of pink 
Arrange these on to a panel of white card so that they fit four of one shade along the top and continue until the card has them all with the four darkest at the bottom. Trim if needed.
Layer this onto a slightly bigger piece of pink card and then add to the white base card and trim this so that this is slightly bigger again. Leave small borders around each edge.
With the darker pink and the largest die (#7) in  Damask Motifs  cut three shapes. 
Stamp and heat emboss your sentiment and cut it out with the tag shape from  Damask Accents.
Cut as many leaf shapes from the same set as you will  need. I have double layered my leaves to give them extra strength
With the large petal shapes I have pinched them at the bottom and added some glue and then glued three of them together as shown in the photo.
Arrange them on the back ground panel in a position that pleases you and glue in place
Add flowers to the centre petal and ribbon bow at the bottom. Dress the flowers with leaves
With double sided foam tape place the sentiment tag under the bow and add more flowers
I have added in a hat pin to the display for extra effect


 Now it's time to go through your dies and see just what you have and maybe it's also time to brush them off and make them work again.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

April 04, 2016

Labels 20 on YouTube

Hi Everybody,

Another video out on YouTube for you today is this one
and it is using an older die from Spellbinders.

Labels Twenty is one of my all time favorites as it mixes will with lots of other shapes ...but sadly is now retired from Spellbinders website.

The Diamante "Bling" that matches this set is from Want2Scrap  They also sell this shape in Nestaboard which is a thicker alternative to the die cut to use on your designs

The other dies used in the making of this card are the Grate Effect   inside the frame and also the intricate  Mystical Embrace for the background

The little Architectural Accents have been multi cut and glued together for strength and then added in specific places to enhance the flowers.  The Leaves are from the older Foliage set. 

You could find these retired dies on Ebay or Amazon and you may need to search for them,  but I am using them because I have these older dies in my "stash"  and I don't want to waste my purchase 

My flowers are as always from Wild Orchid Crafts  and I have sparkled them with Gesso and Glitter 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



April 03, 2016

Cherish ...

Hi Everybody,

All the flowers and the dark green leaves on todays card are from Wild Orchid Crafts

I have added in a little resin Angel  (also from WOC)  just under the sentiment.

The flowers are in pretty shades of pink and of course they have been sparkled with Glitter.

But I achieved the delicate shade of pink by brushing on some pink Acrylic paint lightly on to the white flowers and leaving it to dry


At the bottom section I have used some Punchinella ... the sequin waste that can be bought in rolls  ... and I hot glued it in place under some torn paper

I cut ivy leaves and added them around the flowers and then tucked in some silver metal leaves to the display.

The dies used are 5x7  Matting Basics    to create my base card and then Classic Ovals has been used to cut a piece of card that has embossing paste pattern on it.

This is layered with the Scalloped Oval and then added to the card

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


April 02, 2016

Card Winner today ...

Hi Everybody,

So here we are with another Saturday and this afternoon Griff and I are going to see one of our Granddaughters at the Lowther Pavillion.  She is "Annie" in the musical of that name and we are going to the matinee to watch her perform.

But first things first and that is the draw for the winner of the Black and White card. A name has been pulled from the hat and it is you ...

Linda Batson 

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

Please let me know when you get it and I hope you will like it.

The winners names are all posted in the  Winners Page  each week so that you can check the list. Click the link to go to that page, and it will always be in the side bar to your left for you to check any time 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


April 01, 2016

Friday Freebie 112

Hi Everybody,

This striking black and white card is on offer as todays Freebie and would really suit a teenage girl with it's modern style

It is the card that was featured in the video tutorial for Black and White Cards  and you can see it being made if you click the link.

If you would like to own this card  (plus one more in the pack)  then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the bottom of the post.

Under my signature you will see "Comments" and all you need to do is click that link and it will open another window for you to add yours   From those comments a name will be chosen at random and the winners announced in tomorrows blog post.

I will also add it to the Winners Page   and that is always in the side bar to the left so that you can go back and check the names listed.  You will then have 72 hours in which to email me your postal address and the card will be yours.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx