Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

May 18, 2021

Old Images

Hi Everybody,

So over the weekend I have been doing some spring cleaning of my computer  and I found lots of old images that I bought or downloaded for free years ago … and I mean absolute years ago. 

I used them at the time of purchase and then, as you do with everything, I forgot all about them.

But is this not something that we are all guilty of doing and then when you have a clean up it comes as a nice  surprise to find things again.

This first one is called Bath tub and I bought this image, and many many others, from the wonderful childrens author and illustrator Maurie Manning 

Her images are delightful and available from the website ...  Mo's Digital Pencil  and of course once you have them they are yours forever. And should you forget about them over the years,  then it will be a lovely surprise for you to when you rediscover them on your PC.

This second image is called Tug Of War and this was a freebie from Kenny K again many years ago.  

His website has developed so much that I don't know if he still does digital images, and many of them are now under license. 

So just in case I am breaking some rule that I am not aware of I will not add any more KennK images to my pages.

The words on both of these cards are from different sets from Card Making Magic and I have mixed and matched them to suit the designs.

Both images have been coloured with Arteza Coloured Pencils 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

May 17, 2021

Card Layout

Hi Everybody,

So this is a card layout that I was trying before going ahead and making it completely.

I had tried the flowers in various positions to see how I liked them and this is something I always advise you to do before gluing.

A dry run will save you any remorse if you don't like the look because you can always move things around  until you are happy and then glue them in place 

This was a card I was asked to make for a special occasion and the buyer was very happy with it.

It also had a matching box to go with it and I wrapped the finished card in pink tissue paper before adding  it to the box.

I usually add any of my embellishments with a hot glue gun, which makes it even more important to try the look out first.

Because once they are fixed with hot glue there's not much chance of moving them again without causing damage to the rest of the card

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

May 16, 2021

Spikey Flowers & Stencils

 Hi Everybody,

Todays card is created suing the new Spikey Flowers stamp and die set and I have teamed this with texture paste and a stencilled background.

I though I would try something a little different by combining the texture paste with some Gilding wax and I am happy to say that the technique turned out ok. 

The flowers can be done in two sizes if you wished but I have simply made one large one for the front of my card.

The effect is lovely and once it is completed you cannot see the mistake I caused by smudging the texture paste. So I hope you will give this a try and experiment with mixing other things into your texture paste for a different kind of look to your designs.

More tomorrow …

Hugs xx

May 15, 2021

Winner

 Hi Everybody,                   

Having got all my chores done for the morning I was settling down to do the draw for yesterdays Freebie Offering

But just as I got started I got the "Guilt Trip" from Ruby.

Now the guilt trip consists of her looking at me from a distance, non stop, and if that doesn't elicit the necessary response she wants then she will jump onto the sofa and put her paws onto my chest and look me straight in the eye.

The look says "Get your shoes on Mum and take me out" …  So what can I do but take her out for a walk. We set off to walk down the promenade and it started to rain and then there is another look that says
"Are you mad bringing me out in this ?????

By the time we got home again both of us are wet and once she is dried off with her towel I put her Ruff & Tumble jacket on and then she settles down for a sleep. 

She is now snoring in her bed at the side of my desk and I have peace to carry on with the draw

Ever onward and upward … the draw has been done and the name today is 

Elly Booij
Would you email me please with your postal address and the pack will be in the post to you straight away. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

May 14, 2021

Friday Freebie - Hydrangea Set

Hi Everybody,

This pretty flower can grace any of your projects and you can colour it any way you wish.

I love Hydrangeas and I have them in tubs on either side of my front door. They are now starting to form Lace cap flowers on them and I an few weeks they will be in full bloom.

The video The Hydrangea Set  will give you an idea using the stencil in the pack and there are stamps and a little embossing folder in there too.

So if this is a combination that you would like to have then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of this post. with your FULL NAME

From those comments one will be chosen as the winner and named over the weekend, so be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown in the Blog Post.

It doesn't matter if you have won before or where you live I am happy to send the pack to you anywhere but I would be pleased if you are the winner that you could let me know you have it safely.

It is a lovely set and I don't think that you will be disappointed with it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

May 11, 2021

Designer Card Front - Inverted Triangle

 Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is created with one of the new Designer Card Front Sets from Card Making Magic..

This whole collection is such a versatile set to have to create all kinds of projects and there is a beautiful paper pack that can be used with it.

For this card I have used the Inverted Triangle in the Landscape view and added in the flowers from the set too.

I love the flowers that are in the set, they make the prettiest spiky petals that you can layer to be as thick and fluffy as you would like.

I have added a small yellow gemstone to the centre of each flower and arranged the leaves around them. The verse is also from the new collection and there are many to suit all occasions .

I have used two shades of blue and Neenah Classic Desert Storm card to create the layers for a more masculine colour scheme although the flowers do soften the look for the ladies.

I have used the long border die from the set to finish the back off neatly so this card looks good from any angle

Take a look at the new collection there is sure to be something in there that please you.

And if you were lucky enough to win the whole bundle at Fridays Birthday Launch with Craft Stash then you are very lucky indeed.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

May 10, 2021

Designer Card Front - Half Scallop

 Hi Everybody,

If you watched  last Fridays 6th Birthday Party for Craft Stash then you would have seen this video from me where I made this lovely Gatefold Card.

And if you missed it then here is the video for you to see.

For this card I have added in the card stand so that the finished result can be displayed by your recipient and both card and stand will fit neatly into the box.



It makes a very impressive card and one that is sure to be appreciated and saved for a long time and it is not difficult to make.

So why not give this a try and see what you can create. Change the colours to suit the occasion you are sending it for and as lots of people have suggested it would make a beautiful Wedding Card.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx
 

May 08, 2021

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Thank you if you managed to join us on Friday for the 6th Birthday Celebration with Craft Stash. It’s amazing how quickly those years have gone by and I have been with them right from the start. It’s been a wonderful journey and I hope to be with them for many more birthdays yet.

There was a lot of brilliant prizes won during the show so if you won then congratulations to,you. I am sure you are going to enjoy your prizes.

So the draw has been done for the offering that I had on my blog on Friday for the Time for Tea set and the name picked at random is 

Sharon Casey

Would you please email me your postal address to

christina@card-making-magic.com

and the prize will be on its way to you. Be sure to let me know that you receive it safely and I really hope  you enjoy playing with it.

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

May 07, 2021

Friday Freebie - Time for Tea

Hi Everybody,

This weeks offering is a really cute stamps and die set that would make you some really lovely cards or even invitations for afternoon tea.

There is a video to accompany this set that you may find interesting and help you see if you would like this to join your collection at home.

Time For Tea  

 If you would like this then all you have to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post with your FULL NAME

From those comments one name will be chosen at random and announced in a blog post over the weekend so be sure to come back and check if it is your name that is shown.

Now I hope you will join me tomorrow on Craft Stash Facebook Live as I show you some of the new dies that are in the latest collection. I have a little demo to show you also, and Pauline Hickey will be with Lou Collins and myself at 12.30 See you then

Friday 7th May @ 12.30 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



 

May 06, 2021

The New Circular Box

Hi Everybody,

One of the die sets in the new collection is the Circular Box and the end result is beautiful.

No more measuring and no more worrying that it will all fit together as you want it too, to suit your recipient

Just die and cut and stick and then decorate to your hearts content to suit your recipient.

For my box I have used the flowers in the dies for a truly feminine look but you can also create a more masculine feel by using the Tapis Builder Die Set that I showed you the other day.

The flowers are full and easy to make and in the video I show you how to get this look for your own designs. You could stop at the bud stage and add these to your display as well.

Enjoy the video and your box making as well .

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tapis Builder Die Set

 Hi Everybody,

Today I am using the new Tapis Builder Die Set to create this circular card and it is very effective in black with the turquoise.
I think this is such an unusual design and why don't you try adding the shapes back to your creations in a different format for effect.

I will do a video in the next few days showing what I mean and how you can make this look nothing like the one shown here. 
 
Once again I have teamed this up with the gorgeous Tall Flowers and I quite like the result. It would be suitable as a male card despite the fact that there are flowers on it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

May 05, 2021

More Tall Flowers

 Hi Everybody,

I have really enjoyed playing with these new dies and matching stamps and the Tall Flowers is a joy to experiment with.

You can change the theme of your design simply by how you use the stamps and dies. For this card I have cut the flowers in spare card and then embossed them all with gold embossing powder. 

The background is an old stamp that I have added gold glitter to in sections and the sentiment is from the new collection.

For this one I have cut the flowers in black card and then stamped the images with Versamark and embossed them in gold powder

I have partially dry embossed the panel under the flowers for interest, and dotted gold hearts and black pearls around them 

The sentiment is again from the Verses set.  

The flowers on both cards have been raised with foam pads.

And last but not least another cute character is surrounded this time by the daisies.

The words are from the new Mindful Words Die Set and will compliment all the other word sets in the Card Making Magic collections.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

May 04, 2021

Grumpy Lady

Hi Everybody,

What a fabulous card to send to a friend ... but one that has been chosen carefully so as not to offend.

I have used the Tall Flowers Stamps & Die Set to add some interest around her and the sentiment stamp is from the verses set 

The image is from the CD that I have had for years called The Next Big Thing and I wouldn't part with it for the world.

It is by La Pashe and is called Just Inklined but I don't think the CD is available anymore.  

They have their own blog which may be worth a look at and they have freebie stamps for you to try also 

There are lots of characters on the CD just like this, both male and female, and they are absolutely brilliant for water colours or pencils. A good alternative choice would be the Wrinklies and the characters on that are of a similar vein and make me laugh at some of their expressions. 

Should you find this for sale in Thrift shops or online then the CD you are looking for is the one with the dog on the front.

I found one on eBay for £2.99 which is a steal and well worth every penny. I think I paid £10 for mine years ago.

The images on there cover everything you could possibly think of, and although CD crafting has gone way out of fashion jut now this is a CD OI go back to time and time again.

Moe tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

May 03, 2021

Tall Flowers Stamps & Dies

Hi Everybody,

Did you manage to watch the new dies being shown on The Craft Store (Formerly Hochanda)  today and demoed by Pauline Hickey.  

One of my favourite parts to this new collection is the tall flowers and the matching stamps. 

There is so much that can be done with this set from backgrounds to cards for any occasion.

To show you the versatility I have several cards styles to show you and I hope you will like them. 

This one has a gold foiled background to it and the poppies grouped with other flowers from the set.

This one is a shaker style with an embossed panel and a display of flowers arranged around the window.
I rounded off the corners to this card and used Tonic Nuvo drops dotted around the sides

The banner is stamped from one of the stamps in the collection and added with foam pads 

There is no end of things to create with your imagination fired up, and lots of sentiments in the stamp sets to suit what it is you want to say.

This cute little Teddy Bear I have water coloured from a stamp that I have had for a long, long time.

And every so often he sees the light of day again. 

This time I have added a bouquet of the daisies to his hand and scattered other flowers from the collection around his feet

I think he is adorable and if you added an age and a Birthday Greeting he would be perfect for a child's special day.

I will be adding more cards  and videos to showcase this new collection  and Pauline and I will be on Facebook Live this coming Friday at 12.30

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

May 01, 2021

Winner

 Hi Everybody,

Another weekend is here and I hope you all enjoy this Bank Holiday one for MayDay. It’s sunny here at present but wether it stays that way remains to be seen.  But even though the sun is shining I am frozen and have just put my heating back on to warm me and the house back up.

Ruby is going out today with  Griffs youngest daughter and her husband to day and their dog Wilbur, who it a pug. She enjoys going out with them and they walk her much further than I can at present. 

The draw for yesterday’s offering has been done and the name this week is 

Sandra Keighley

Would you email me please with your plastic address to 

christina@card-making-magic.com 

and the pack will be in the post to you just as soon as I can get to the post office. Please let me know when you have it safely and I hope you will enjoy playing with it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx