Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

July 31, 2012

Bumble Bug

This is another line drawing from Naomi  and as yet she is free. She is  part of a collection that will be available to purchase on  Creative Bug on the Loose .... but for  now she is  .... FREE.

So if you would like to colour her in for your own use then head on over there and get her while you can.

This is Bumble Bug  and she is the third one  in the series ...  and this is my favorite one.

I have added her to a shaped card and the flowers are paper roses.

The largest one is from Spellbinders Blossom 3 and has a pink pearl centre.

The Butterfly is from my "Stash" and the diamante Swirl is from Want2Scrap  which makes her very special.

The image has been coloured with Spectrum Noir pens and they are available from Crafters Companion

You will find the videos on colouring with this system here in the Tutorials.

Hugs xx

July 30, 2012

Naomis' Freebie ....

This lovely little drawing is one of a collection of four and she can be found on Naomis' Blog  Creative Bug on the Loose 

Naomi  invited me to colour her in  and make her into a card for you to see and so here she is.

This is the first one in the collection and I think she is adorable.

She has been coloured with Spectrum Noir Pens.

For the time being she is  FREE  so head on over to Naomis' Blog and get her while you can.

Once the collection is complete they will added to the blogs online shop for you to buy.

They are line drawings and ready for you to colour in any way you want.

I have added the Lady Bug to some Rafia Lace and added  small paper Doilys behind her.

The Belle Rose Swirl is from Spellbinders.

The ribbon is tied in a bow and has the addition of a Vintage button to cover the knot. 

The flowers are tiny paper roses and I have sparkled them up with Glamour Dust. I hope you like her and will take advantage of the freebie that is on offer.


Hugs xx

July 29, 2012

Blue Jeans

Most teenagers these days like to chill about in jeans and a T-shirt  and although I am not a teenager I have lately started to wear these my self.

It is such a comfortable outfit and of course many images now also feature the same kind of outfits

And so staying with the Spectrum Noir pens I thought I would add a video that covered the colouring of Jeans.

This young man is from the magical pen of KennyK Downloads  and you will find some wonderful images there if you browse around.

And if colouring is not your thing then you can also buy them ready coloured for you just to add to a card.

I have added this Tutorial to the series on these pens and I hope you will find it useful.

Spectrum Noir Jeans  will also show you some variations in the colour scheme so that you can vary the jeans that your character is wearing.

The finished card is an 8" square and the sentiment is from the "Pretty Tuff" CD from Polkadoodles

There no flowers to tell you about on this card (Sigh!)  But there will be again soon !!

Hugs xx 

July 28, 2012

Part 2 of Dark Skin ...

Thank you so much for all the lovely comment s and emails that I have had about this series.

Both Parts 1 and 2  to this video have now been added to the website and they are on the page Spectrum Noir Dark Skin 

I have really enjoyed doing this particular card and I am very pleased with the result.

But of course the pens make it a real pleasure to blend and having the correct paper to work on makes all the diference too.

The sentiment on this card is from the "Pretty Tuff" CD from PolkaDoodles

You can buy the pen sets from Crafters Companion along with the refills and replacement nibs.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the lace was a lovely piece I found in my "Stash"

The Pearly Swirl is from Want2Scrap  and I have added them to both of these cards.

I have stayed away from the flowers for the boys card but the addition of the pearls just makes it that little bit more special.

Hugs xx

July 27, 2012

Spectrum Noir Dark Skin ...

Earlier this month I added the video for Pale Skin  and the response was very much appreciated.

But it triggered off some emails asking me to cover darker skin tones too. 

I have used another baby image from Mo's Digital Pencil and this is "Boy On the Pot"

The photo shows how the same image can take on a different look with the use of these alcohol pens.

And so Spectrum Noir Dark Skin  has been added to the series and already has several comments on YouTube.

I am really pleased with this new tutorial but agian because of the length it has had to be edited into two parts.

Part 2 will complete the card using this and the "Girl on the Pot" image as well.  I hope you will find the ideas useful and then maybe add your pictures to the Gallery Page on the Card Making Magic website.

The pens are available from Crafters Companion  and if you are in America try this link instead Crafters Companion USA    Happy Crafting ...

Hugs xx

July 26, 2012

A card for any reason ...

This is a card that is for any reason you can think of or just to tell some one that you care.

It is created with the aid of  Spellbinders  and some "Bling" from   Want2Scrap

The ribbon was from the wrapping from a new pair of PJ's  and the backing  paper was  free from a  magazine subscription.

So all  together a really  inexpensive card ....  I  just need someone to send it to now.

I have  had a  lovely day out for lunch with my friend Pat and so this card is quickie that was made earlier today and for no particular person.

But I enjoyed making it and it can go into the reseve box for whenever it is needed.

Hugs xx

July 25, 2012

I'm having a rant.....

Ooooh! I am so mad .... let me explain. I have not used my credit card for ages and so when we went to Canada I paid for the flights using it.

I emailed the credit card company to tell them that I would be out of the country until the 7th July and they acknowledged that email.

Then once the fights had been added to the card I paid the bulk of it off early and emailed them again explaining that I had done this to save any fees. That was also acknowledged.

Then when I got back I had a bill for the rest of the money so I rang them ... and I asked the woman for the exact figure to clear the card back to zero again and she gave it to me.

So I instantly paid it over the phone and asked was that the account now cleared and she said ... "Yes it was now back to zero". I wrote on the statement ... "Paid in Full" .... and patted myself on the back.

Today I have had a statement telling me that there is an interest charge .... so I have been back on the phone again very, very angry.

I asked how could there be an interest charge on a zero balance????

Apparently the interest is calculated in advance on the next statement and because I had paid it early the interest had been reduced but still added to the zero balance..... Er what!!!

I was not a happy bunny... I was being penalised for having paid off my account early.

Off she went to see what she could do ... and came back telling me that the sum had been removed and that the acount WAS now cleared.

And the moral to this story is ... don't be good and pay your cards off early .... wait for the bill and make them wait till the last week ... but avoiding any late fees ... before you settle it.

Rant over .... back to cards tomorrow

Hugs xx

July 24, 2012

Creating a Spectrum Noir background ...

Now having completed the baby image from Mo's Digital Pencil  that  I have been using over the last few videos it is now time to add the beautiful baby to a special background.

For this card I have stayed with the  BLUE  set of  Spectrum Noir  pens from  Crafters Companion   and added in some of the darker ones to get my backgound.

Click to Enlarge

If you enlarge the photo take a look at the background piece.

You will be able to see just how pretty it is...
and the   Spectrum Noir Background  video will show you how to replicate the look.

As always if these techniques are known to you then please don't think that I am talking down to you.

But many new people visit these pages and the Card Making Magic website and it is my intention to help them get a good start with their cardmaking hobby.

I know there are people in their 80's,  and some as young as 10,  that visit and make use of  the tutorials and that makes me very happy. 

And if they are happy with what they come up with then so am I.
Each of these cards has the addition of flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts  and the  beautiful "Bling" is from Want2Scrap 

The deorative pins are hand made .... by me .... and the supplies are from the  Sparkles Group

They are created with a blank 3" hatpin and they come complete with end protectors.

You will find them in the Specialist Findings and don't forget to add  CGDIS5  at the checkout This will tell them where you have come from and will allow you to get your discount.

Hugs xx





July 23, 2012

Busy weekend ...

I didn't get to add a post over the weekend but I have not been idle.  Oh No !!!

Click to Enlarge
My "Film Crew" and I have done two more videos. 

As I told you yesterday the Spectrum Noir Clothes video had to be edited into two parts  and that was because YouTube will only allow videos up to 15 minutes long.

Longer  than that  and you get chopped off ... in your prime so to speak !!

And so here is Spectrum Noir Clothes Part 2


This one centres on using the blender pen for the first time and it creates a different look for the fabric on the babys'  dress.

It is very easy to do and the video shows you how ...  but there are lots of ways to make this blender work for you ...  and hopefully I will cover them as I go through the series.

Here is a finished card with the Blender Pen used to create the Polka dots and I have also used one of the  pens I used for the background to colour some white  ribbon and the Pearly Swirls,  which are also white to start with and from  Want2Scrap

But if you enlarge the picture take a look at the background because that is the fetaured item in the next video.... and I hope you will like it.

Hugs xx

July 20, 2012

Spectrum Noir - Clothes

Because of the restrictions about the length of a video with YouTube this tutorial has had to be edited into two seperate parts.

So the first part will cover creating folds and shadows in a white dress.

Part two will be added tomorrow  and I will show you some effects that can be achieved with a Blender pen.

Here is the first one and it is Spectrum Noir Clothes Part 1

I have really enjoyed putting together these tutorials and there are lots of ideas emerging as I make them. 

But for now it is time for me  to go and put my feet up with a glass of white wine and watch some TV for awhile.

Another video tomorrow ....

Hugs xx

July 19, 2012

More tutorials on the way ...

In the pipe line there is a tutorial on colouring clothes with Spectrum Noir ...  but I have been asked about other skin tones  .... and that is on the way too.

But they all take time and  I am happy that the response to these  vidoes has been so well accepted.

So thank you for all the lovely emails and comments that I have had.

Darker skin tones are something that many people are afraid to try and so I thought  it needed a tutorial  all by itself.    I have tried to stay with the colours that are available in the six pen sets to save some  expense ...  and I will of course give you the list of the pens used.

I have been colouring for a long time and it is only the product that is new. So if you have bought the pens then hopefully you too will have got something out of these tutorials that can be of help.

This is another image from Mo's Digital Pencil and the "Bling" is a Diamante Swirl from Want2scrap

Hugs xx

July 18, 2012

Copyright Infringement ...


This a quick post and no pictures and is to get out the message from Maurie J Manning.  

This is the wonderful artist whose magical pencil creates the beautiful images that I have been using for my videos.

It would appear that someone has been stealing some of her drawings and altering them. Maybe changing them fro boys to girls or vice versa, or altering the clothes that some of the characters are wearing.

She has also been adding her own name to the images to sell.

Can I urge you please that if you should wish to purchase any of Mo's drawings to colour them for yourself then you only buy them direct from her website ... Mo's Digital Pencil  and this link will take you to all the wonderful characters that Mo has on offer.

I have such respect for any one that can create such beautiful drawings and my personal view is that to steal them and claim them as your own is despicable.

Hugs xx

July 17, 2012

Pearly Baby

I hope you are not getting tired of these babies  ... though with such a lovely image I don't see how you can.

The next video in this series will be about clothes and I will show you some tricks with the pens to get the different looks.  It will be added later in this week  because at the moment my "Film Crew" is rather busy.

Around the edge of this card I have added the look of pearls ... but to use the real thing would cost too much

And so I have used glue to produce the look and the video   Create Your Own Pearls   will show you how to get the look and save money in the process.

Clicking the picture will  enlarge the photo  for a better view and I have varied the size of the pearls for greater effect.

 The charm on the left of the card is a silver baby shoe and I have added it to the  tag  with a silver mobile phone cord.

The number is fabric and raised on foam pads.

I have made the card to an 8" square as that gives lots of room to add the border, and I embossed a square onto it first.

I have added an "A" frame to the back to enable the card to stand ... and I don't need to add an insert to the card doing this.

The   Spellbinders Fancy Tags 3   has the addition of Nestabling around it and that is from Want2Scrap

I am pleased to tell you that my Spellbinder and Nestabling videos are featured on the Want2Scrap Blog page and I thank them for the compliment


Earlier this week I mentioned Micro Glass Beads and I have had several emails asking me about this product as it is quite new. The link will take you to a more detailed explanation and how to use them on your cards.

Hugs xx



July 16, 2012

Spectrum Noir and Hair ...

Continuing with the series on the Spectrum Noir Marker Pens ... and still using the same baby image that I started this series with ...  today I have added the next one  ... for colouring her hair.

Click to Enlarge
The only thing extra that I have used is a fine liner pen to get the wispy strands in the babys' fine hair.

I have really enjoyed colouring this image and you can get your own from Mo's Digital Pencil  and this link will take you to her website.

The video was added to the website this morning and here is the link if you would like to see it.

Spectrum Noir Hair  is one way to get the fine hair look for this particular baby

Of course not all hair is done this way and hope fully over the next few videos I will be able to cover  a lot more.

I really hope that they are helping those of you that are new to this colouring system, and they are available online from  Crafters Companion.

That  link will take you to the UK based website and if you are in the USA try this one instead  .... Crafters Companion USA   

And if you live somewhere else then you can try either address and see if they ship to your part of the world.... or maybe your local craft shop will have them in stock.

And if you know the pens already and have worked with them a lot ...  and know or have your own way of working with them ... then just ignore my ramblings !!

Hugs xx




July 15, 2012

Tip for pen tops...

Since the videos have been added for the Spectrum Noir pens I have had many emails about them.

But one of the things I said in the video was about my disapointment with the numbers wearing off the pen tops very quickly, and so making it awkward to identify the pen at a later time.

Well the problems has been solved by a lady who watches my videos  and she sent in this very simple tip to stop that from happening.
She suggested that when you buy the pens ... and before you start to use them ... coat the top of each one with some kind of laquer.  And so I raided my cosmetics and found some clear nail polish and set to work doing just what she had said.

I covered both ends to every pen that I had ... and then I did the same thing along the barrel of  some pencils that I needed to keep the colour groups on. 

It took a little whitle to dry but once it was I then had the perfect preservation for all my Spectrum Noir Pens.

So thank you to Miriam for this wonderful tip and it is one that I am sure many many people will follow as well. 

Hugs xx