Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

November 15, 2016

Tuesday Tutorial - Labels 47 Decorative Elements

Hi Everybody,

This really pretty card is created with well established Spellbinders dies and all the intricate work is done for you by the die. All you need to do is layer it all together for a lovely effect that can be for any occasion.
Spellbinders Supplies:

Other Supplies:
Instructions:
With die #7 from Matting Basics A cut two in white and create a hinged card
With die #7 from Matting Basics B cut another layer in yellow
With die =1 from Decorative Elements cut six panels in white and add them to the yellow panel 
(Die =1 is always the smallest)
Cut #3 from the filigree die in white twice (one is for the inside)
With =5 from Labels 47 cut two panels in yellow
With #2 from the Decorative Elements cut two in white
Stamp and emboss your sentiment and cut it out with die  #4 from Labels 47
From the Bitty Blossoms create the flowers in yellow and cut the leaves in green 
Roll them up and this video  Spellbinders Blossoms   will help you if they are a new concept to you 
Layer up the other die cuts with foam pads where needed and wrap with yellow ribbon before adding it to the base card
Add in the sentiment with foam pads.
Arrange the flowers as you like them
Add a bow to the front of the card and place the centrepiece over the knot.
Line the inside with the other die cuts to compliment the front

More tomorrow ... 

Hugs xx




November 14, 2016

International Ambassadors Informal Blog Hop

Hi Everybody,

Are you ready for another blog hop with some of the International Ambassadors?  
For this month we chose for our theme the approaching holiday season to make anything but a card
My choice was to use a die by a designer that is new to Spellbinders Marisa Job.

Marisa does beautiful work and I have been a follower of her for a long time.
But this is the "Surprise Me Box"  and it is part of her Special Occasions Collection 
It makes the most adorable little Crackers for your table and not just for Christmas. 
Imagine these all set out with your own colour scheme and each with a little gift tucked inside for your guests. 
They are not very big but they do make a statement and they are very easy to make. 
You will be able to get two from one sheet of A4 card.

I stamped plain white card with a snowflake pattern and then cut them out. 
I wrapped them with matching ribbon and added one of the little tags in the set stamped with a Christmas greeting.

I added in some leaves and a glitter star and they are ready to add to my table. I made quite a few ... but I can't tell you what is inside the Surprise Me Box !!
Why don't you pop over and see what my colleagues have designed for you to see ...

Linda Lucas    Australia
Yvonne van de Grijp  Netherlands

You are sure to be delighted with their designs. and don't forget to leave us all a comment to say that you have been to visit.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

November 13, 2016

Ruby Update ...




Hello Everyone,

I thought I would pop in to tell you about my latest adventures in the big wide world

This is a new toy that my mum bought for me and it has lots of treats in it for me to sniff out.

 She said it would keep me quiet for ages ... but she was wrong ... I can clear all the treats from it in half an hour!!

Can you see my pink basket with all my toys in it?  I like to throw all the toys out and sit in it. It's just big enough for me and I can chew the handle while I am in there.

I also like to help my mum in her craft room and I get things out for her to play with coz I am really helpful !!

A new game I have discovered this week is to jump onto the drop down door of something my mum calls a dishwasher.

It's really good fun and as I hear the door opening I race across the kitchen floor  and launch my self on to it


Then on Tuesday my friend Dougal came to play and I stood on the top of the foot stool and that made me bigger than him so I barked and growled twice as much

We played till we where tired and then we both fell asleep on the rug until Dougals mum came to take him home

Bye for now ...

November 12, 2016

Card Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

So today is wet and cloudy and I have an early start and a busy day ahead. My Grandsons restaurant is coming along really well and today we are starting the job of cleaning to get things ready. The building work us almost finished and some of the decoration is done too.

Everybody has worked really hard to get it to this stage as there was an awful lot of work to do. But I have a fillet steak with my name on it once the restaurant is open.

The draw has been done for the winner of the card from yesterday and the name chosen this week is
Margaret Rogers

Please would you email me your postal address to
christina@card-making-magic.com
and the card will be on it's way to you straight away.
You have 72 hours to notify me

I hope you will like it and please let me know when it arrives with you

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

November 11, 2016

Friday Freebie 144

Hi Everybody,

So here we are with another Friday and the card this week is in peach and white

It is a 5x7 and the flower blend with the colour scheme beautifully.

What isn't shown on the photo is the hatpin that has been pushed into the flowers on the left and that really finishes the card off to perfection

I am sure that whoever wins this one will be pleased with the result.

Would you like this card to be on its way to you? Then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post and from those comments a name will be drawn and announced in tomorrows blog post.

You will need to come back and check if it is you and then email me with your postal address and the card will be on its way to you.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

November 10, 2016

Cute characters ...

Hi Everybody,

These are some of the cards that are featured using the free gift that comes with
and today the video with this set is on YouTube for you to view. Just click the link to go straight there

The cute characters on the stamp set can be used in many arrangements

And although the stamp is described as mainly for Christmas it can be used all year round.
With a little imagination you can make cards for any occasion and dress it up any way you wish.

All I did here was stack the teddy bears on top of each other and I didn't even bother to mask them off.

Then I coloured them in pastel shades and added in a neutral sentiment

It would make an excellent childrens card and there is enough space on the card to add their name
With this one I was a little more adventurous and I hand drew a circus scene behind the performing seals

I cut the number from the red
Glitter Card   that is available from Craft Stash

I added the ball and the bottle to the noses of two seals and added a bow tie to the third one that is on the circus stand

I hope you will have fun if you buy this magazine and it will be in the selected supermarkets and craft shops today.

You can also get it from WHSmiths or direct from Moremags. If you subscribe you will be sure never to miss your copy ans the super free gifts that will be coming in the future

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx











November 09, 2016

Water Colour Wednesday - Get Well Soon ...

Hi Everybody,

Here's a little card that I had some fun creating a while ago and I made it as a get well card.

The image is from the CD The Next Big Thing by Just Inklined and it is one I have used many times.

There are lots of fun images on that CD and if you have it then it's time to look at it again in case there is something that you missed.

If you don't have it then you will need to search for it as it has been discontinued for quite a few years now

To create this card I use only blues and deepened the shadows by being a little heavier with the colour.

The Get Well Soon was simply hand drawn in squiggly lines around the edge of the card and it's not supposed to be neat and tidy.

It gave the recipient a good laugh when it was given and that has to make you feel better straight away

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


November 08, 2016

Tuesday Tutorial - Botanical Heart Pair

Hi Everybody,

Today we have another quick and easy card to make in soft blue and white and all I have used is the Botanical Heart Pair die and one embossing folder. 
The card is so pretty and could be for any occasion.
Spellbinders Supplies:

Other supplies:
Instructions:
This is the most simple way to create your card base ....
Simply fold it in half along the long side and then cut in half to create two card bases with the fold at the top. 
Then mark the blue card leaving a small border around each edge and create the mat.
 Repeat with more white card and then emboss this piece
From each piece of the Botanical heart Pair die cut one in blue one in white of the largest and glue these together with the blue layer on top.
Cut the solid die in blue and the filigree die in white and layer together

Add the mats and layers to the base card and then with foam pads under the largest heart add this to the top. Add the smaller heart on this again with foam pads.
Stamp onto black card the sentiment of your choice and heat emboss with white powder.
 Cut it out and add to the card with foampads
Dress the card with flowers as you like and add some pearls around the hearts and some glitter to the flowers

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

November 07, 2016

New Craft Stash Products

Hi Everybody,

Are you like me and love to mat and layer up your cards? I enjoy adding in that extra layer to give depth and colour to my cards. Some of the ways I like to do this is with Glitter and Mirror card

The Glitter packs are in two different types ... one is card for adding the mats to your projects and the other is self adhesive paper that will cut beautifully for sentiments and intricate dies.

Here I have used the lovely pink card and paper from the Brights collection and the video will show you how this card was made.

Glitter Card and Paper  is always a useful standby in your craft room and there are three choices in each of the Glitter card and papers for you .. Brights, Metallics and Christmas and each pack works well  with the other
The  Mirror Card  is bright and shiny but my favorite is the Brushed Metallics as it gives a really soft finish to your designs.

I know you will enjoy these packs and there are countless ways in which they can enhance your own way of working.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx







November 06, 2016

Ruby Update ...

Hi Everybody,

My name is Ruby and I thought I would pop in to tell you all about my fun day yesterday.

 I made a new friend called Dougal. He is only two weeks older than me but he is a lot bigger and bouncier.

We had some good fun racing around the garden and we even got to dig a big hole in Vickies lawn.

Then we tramped all the mud into her kitchen and it was so much fun to hear her squeal as we made a mess.
Here we are having a doggy chew when we were getting a little tired.

We had a lovely time and Dougal is so friendly.

I like to bite his ears as they are nearly as long as mine



We did a lot of barking and growling .... well I did a lot of barking and growling and I didn't know I could make that much noise.

Barking is fun though and I liked doing that bit !! I even barked at the postman yesterday too.

And after this I needed a good nap to get my beauty sleep ... well  I am only eleven weeks old

My mum loves my eyelashes and I know how to flutter them at her to get what I want.

This morning I have had my breakfast and later today I am being taken for a little walk on a lead but I don't really know what to do with that yet ... except chew it.

I have found a new toy at home too and this was fun to chew after I had had a good sniff at it.

I have a lot more adventures to come as I grow up and there is so much to learn.

But I like my new home and I have been here now for two weeks.

I will be back with more things to tell you

Bye for now xx






November 05, 2016

Card Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

Ruby is now fully vaccinated and able to go out so this morning we have been to visit my daughter for breakfast.
She has a puppy Cockapoo that is just two weeks older than Ruby. 
I am so pleased to say that they both got on really well with each other and played in the garden.

Vickies puppy is called Dougal and he is twice the size of Ruby even though there's so little difference in their ages ... but Ruby held her own and did not let Dougal get the better of her.
 And out of the two she is the most vocal and did all the barking and growling while they played.

But now back home she is shattered and has gone to sleep on the sofa as I write this post. She is setting in really well and we are going to take her for her first walk out over the weekend and see how she adapts to a lead.

The winner for yesterday's card has been chosen and the name today is yours .....
Linda Weingart 

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

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

November 04, 2016

Friday Freebie 143

Hi Everybody,

My apologies for the poor quality of the photo but don't let that out you off because the card is really pretty.

It is in shades of pale pink and lemon teamed with white and I have added a hatpin into the floral display.

The finished size is A2 and I have used the Labels Eight for the layers.

Do you think you would like this card? Well if you do all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post

From those comments a name will be chosen and announced in the blog post tomorrow.  So you will need to come back and see if you are the winner

You will have till Wednesday to claim the card and then it will be gone to someone else.

Good luck to all and I am happy to send the card wherever you are in the world.  And boy have my cards gone to some far away places over the years.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


November 03, 2016

Magazine Freebies ...

Hi Everybody,

This week I have been really busy getting the vidoes to show you the new "Freebies" that are with this months magazines. There are some excellent choices for you and if you subscribe then you will never miss your favorite one as it will be delivered to your door .

So here they are ...

Simply Cards and Papercrafts 156     is a stamp set,/stencil and a snow flake die that you will be able make some really pretty cards with for your Christmas cards this year. The video will give you some more ideas


Creative Stamping 36 - Winter Wonderland   This is a large A4 stamp set with some lovely images and sentiments on so you can be really creative with this one

Mix and match them to your hearts content and remember that it is not just for Christmas

Use it for winter birthdays or anniversaries and some of the images are really good for male cards.

I am sure that you will think of lots of ways to put this fabulous free gift to good use

Die Cutting Essentials 17 - Stardust

This is a die set that I really enjoyed working with and there are some really useful sentiments to go with this design

This is prefect for using with any mirror card that you may have in your crafting goodies

There are a lot things that you can do with this ... turn it round to different directions. Cut it up and decoupage the stars.

Stack it up to make it really strong and this is something that I show you in the video.

I hope you will enjoy them all and also any of the magazines that you may already be buying

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

November 02, 2016

Water Colour Wednesday - Botanical Flutters

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is created with Distress Inks and water and the result is quite a pretty card.

I created a stamp with craft foam from the Hummingbird die that is in the  Botanical Flutters   from Spellbinders

I stamped it several times over the card with Versamark and used white embossing powder on them

Then with a blending tool I used Twisted Citron and Stormy Sky over the top and blended it well. The white birds show through once this is done.

Spritz with clean water and blot off again for a more mottled look

The Hummingbird I have cut twice in white card and then a top layer in silver and glued them all together for dimension

The base card is white and on top of that I have added in a sun-ray panel and I will cover that in another video

So lyricist speaking not water colours but done with water based inks so I am cheating a little here ... but still a good card to send to some one on their birthday.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx




November 01, 2016

Tuesday Tutorial - Labels Forty

Hi Everybody,

This is a colour that I don't use very much but each time I do I like the card and say to my self ... "Use this more often...." So here we have a 5x7 sized card in pale lemon and white and it is really easy to create.
Spellbinders Supplies:
Other Supplies:
Instructions:
With die #7 from Matting Basics A cut two pieces in white and create a base card. Leave to one side
With #7 from Matting Basics B cut another layer in yellow
With #6 from Matting Basics A cut one more layer in white and emboss this piece and add these two layers together
(Please remember that die #1 is always the smallest)
With dies #4 and =5 from Labels Forty cut the layers in yellow
With dies #3 and #4 cut these layers in white and emboss with a different pattern 
Layer each size onto the corresponding plain layer with foam pads between 
 and add them all together on top of the larger layers from the previous step
Wrap all layers with ribbon and add a double bow
Add them all to the base card 
Glue the pretty centre piece onto the knot in the bow

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx