Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

April 20, 2016

Water Colour Wednesday - Peony Bouquet

Hi Everybody,

Strictly speaking this is not a water colour although it has been done with water based Distress Inks. 

But in this case the stamps do all the work for you and you just get the pretty result at the end.

This is using the new  Peony Bouquet   from Altenew.  It is a layered stamp and there is a matching  die  to go with it ... aaaand it is gorgeous !!

Both products are from  Sevenhills Crafts  which is a UK company but they stock a lot of the newest stamps from the USA without the expensive postage costs.

The Distress Inks I have used are Dusty Concord, Milled Lavender, Squeezed lemonade, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Bundled Sage and Forest Moss and they have been stamped onto Neenah Classic card 

The enamel dots are from  Want2Scrap  and they blend really well with the flowers

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


April 19, 2016

Tuesday Tutorial - Asian Accents and Motifs

Hi Everybody,

Todays tutorial is one that was requested and it uses the Asian Accents and Motifs. I have made this card using both sets  in a  pretty shade of lilac and the card would suit any occasion or gender ... minus the flowers !
Spellbinders Supplies:
Other Supplies:
Instructions:
With die #7 from Matting Baiscs A cut two and Create a Hinged Card  in white
With die #7 from Matting Basics B cut another panel in the colour of your choice
With the long border die from Asian Accents cut four strips
With #5 from either set cut one panel in white and emboss with your folder
Attach the four strips to the edge of the embossed panel making sure that it will fit the front of your base card.
Trim off the corners as neatly as you can  ... but don't stress about it as we are going to cover any mistakes as we build the card ... I promise !!
Cut the square from Motifs and the circle from Accents in white and hand cut a smaller square that will sit between these two layers
Cut as many pieces of Architectural Accents and  the leaves as you need in green and white
Add the main panel to the base card with foam tape in between to give some depth and add in the Architectural Accents so that they drape over the corners and hide any mistakes.
 I promise you that if you make the front of the card beautiful NO BODY will notice the mistakes ... and you're not going to tell them ... are you ???? 
Arrange the flowers, tucking in extra leaves and accents as you go.
Dot some pearls around the flowers and sprinkle the petals with glitter
Line the inside of the card to match the front for an extra special touch
And if you are looking for a quick card then try this one by simply cutting two of the square dies from Asian Motifs. Fold one of them back a little to create a flap and add glue to the area alone. Add the other piece to marry up the pattern and then layer up with the other die shapes cut in alternating colors.  Add in a little sentiment and there you have another idea 
Next Week : Parisian Accents and Motifs 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

April 18, 2016

To My Friend ...

Hi Everybody,

Staying with the Shabby Chic theme for  this card and I have to say I really love this card in the soft and gentle pale pink and green.  It is a 6" square top folded base and I have covered this with some pretty flowery paper that has had the edges distressed.
I have used  Medallions Three   for the pink layer  and added more floral paper to the centre.

The flowers, Cameo and frame are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and they have some beautiful new items in this month that are perfect for this type of look.

The leaves are from Foliage and then I have tucked in some Romantic Vine to the display.  This is a really useful little die to have to help dress out any of your floral arrangements and is one I use quite regularly

To the side of the flowers I have dotted here and there some pink pearls and the petals have a dusting of glitter to make them sparkle.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 


April 17, 2016

Detailed Scallops on YouTube

Hi Everybody,

The latest Video Tutorial on YouTube is using the Detailed Scallops and making a really pretty floral card that is sure to delight your recipients

The white base card is Hammered white from Papermill Direct  and is usually the one I reach for to create most of my base cards

The Dotty and Striped card are from AnnaMarie Designs  and it is such good quality it is a pleasure to use

My flowers, the Dove and the Angel are all from Wild Orchid Crafts and I have used a mixture of Daisies, Roses, Tulips, Rosebuds and Gypsophilia.
The Detailed Scallops has been used to create the back panel and it fits perfectly on the 5x7 card base

The oval for the sentiment is the Classic Oval  and I have used the Scalloped oval to mat underneath it.

Border dies have been used to add the shape in the top portion of the oval but the Curved one I have ised is now retired so you can use any that you have in your own collection

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx





April 16, 2016

Todays Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

I hope you are having a good day so far and making the most of the weekend. The weather is playing nicely this morning and I am off to my Slimming World club shortly to be weighed ... But after being in Devon for a few days and enjoying a cream tea I am not very hopeful of any weight loss this week.

Two new tutorials are ready for you to view and one of them is with a  Canvas Tote Bag  that I have added to Spellbinders Blog.  It spices up an inexpensive bag and makes it something special ... perfect for taking to the Craft shows when you have lots of goodies to buy !!

The other post will be added tomorrow and is the  Detailed Scallops - Floral card. It has been on YouTube for a few days now but this it the first opportunity I have had to add it to a blog post. 
As usual it lists all the supplies I have used to make the card  and that list is permanently available in the Pretty Things page with the link in the side bar to the right.

But for now lets move on to todays winner of the black and white cards.  The name has been pulled at random from the hat and this weeks winner of both cards is 
Anne McCahill
I need you to send me your postal address to 
christina@card-making-magic.com
and the cards will be in the post to you straight away.

You have 72 hours in which to claim them and I hope you will like them when they arrive with you. 
Please let me know when you have them  
The list of winners is another page that is always available with the link in the side bar to the left.... Winners Page  and the new name is added every week so that you can always check if it is you.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

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