Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

May 12, 2017

Friday Freebie 18 - Shabby Chic

Hi Everybody,

As promised this is the start of the Shabby Chic cards and this is no:1 that is on offer. This is one of my favorites and I love the soft lilac and lemon colour scheme to it and I really enjoyed making this one.
The flowers are all from Wild Orchid Crafts and there are lots of them. 
The cameo and the lace are also from WOC and the card is a truly feminine creation

So if you would like to win this card then all you need to do is leave me a comment at the end of the blog post and from those comments a name will be drawn at random.  I will announce the winner in tomorrows blog post  and then you will have 72 hours to claim it

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx







May 10, 2017

Creative Stamping 43 - Sea View Collection.

Hi Everybody,

Tomorrow sees the sale of the new  Creative Stamping 43   magazine and with it is a fabulous collection of stamps. The link will take you to the order page

Each month a different designer will be featured and this month it is Sheena Douglass with the Mermaid and the Message in a Bottle 
I have kept all my cards to sea and sand water colours with Gansai Tambi and had a lot of fun creating them. 

In the video ... 
 I give you some ideas of how I used this set and show another way using one stamp as a background

They will make cards for any age group ... male or female and there are some lovely sentiments in the collection also

So get out your colours and have a little play time for yourself as you create some really lovely cards.

And look out for Creative Stamping next month when another designer will be featured 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

May 09, 2017

Tuesday Tutorial - Floral Swirls Strip

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is using one of the strip dies from Spellbinders and this die comes in two parts to make it a very versatile addition to your collection.
 I have used it in two different ways to create the beautiful backdrop for my flowers.
 I have added in all the links at the bottom of the page
Spellbinders Supplies:
  • S4-659 Floral Swirls Strip
  • S6-001 5x7 Matting Basics A
  • S6-002 5x7 Matting Basics B
  • PL-001 Platinum Die cutting machine
Other Supplies:
  • Card from Papermill Direct
  • Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts
  • Glitter from Glitter Magic
  • Patterned Card from the £££Shop
  • Cosmic Shimmer Glue from Craft Stash
  • Distress Inks from Craft Stash
Instructions:
With die #7 from Matting Basics A cut two panels in white to create the base card
With die #7 from Matting Basics B cut another layer in patterned card
(Please remember that die #1 is always the smallest)
With die #6 from Matting Baiscs A cut another panel in white
Place the centre part of the Floral Swirls Strip onto one side of the card and tape in place ... die cut
Then move it over to the other side of the card and repeat the process
With the outer part of the die cut a panel in patterned paper.
Then with the two dies together cut another panel in white
Ink through this piece before removing it from the die. (I used Dusty Concord & Bundled Sage)
Flat glue the patterned paper to the base card
Add foam pads in strategic places to the filigree panels so that they cannot be seen from the front
Add this to the base layers
With foam pads between these two layer add the filigree to the solid layer and add these two to the centre of the card front.

And this is what it will look like once you have done those steps, and if you wanted to leave it at this stage it is a lovely card and not too fussy for the men in your life.
But I wanted to dress mine up a little more and add in the flowers that I like to use...
From left to right:
Tulips in two different shades of purple ... Rosebuds in two shades 
Roses in 10mm and 20mm ... Lily and one Anemone
Stamp the sentiment onto white card and layered it onto left over piece of patterned paper
Arrange the flowers as you like them and tuck the sentiment into the display
Dot with glue and sprinkle with glitter for a sparkly effect.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


May 08, 2017

Little Boxes with Tonic .. In two styles !!

Hi Everybody,

Little boxes are always handy for those small gifts we like to give  Or as favor boxes at Weddings or Christenings. Fill them with sugared almonds for each guest. Decorate them with flowers, ribbons and pearls.in the colours to suit the wedding.

This comes to you as a kit from Craft Stash and it is the Tonic Cardmaking Collection Issue 2

It consists of the Tonic die,  an embossing folder and some stamps for you to decorate the boxes that you make

In the video I show you two different ways to make the boxes

This four panel box is big enough to hold perfume, jewellery or maybe some tea lights.

You could even fill it with confetti for your guests to throw ... the confetti not the box !!

I have lined this two panel box with gold and added a  pearl string handle and some flowers

Perfect for adding a bridesmaid gift too, of maybe a little necklace to celebrate the wedding.

So many different way to use these and so many ways to decorate them
This two panel box has been decorated with the stamps in the kit and would be perfect for a childs party.

Fill them with sweets or a small toy for each child

Add their names to really make them feel special

This one has had some of the embossed panels added to it and they have been enhanced with the stamps

The video
will show you how to create both of these styles 


And once you have the die then you can make these any time you need them for any occasion.

And that  has to be less expensive than going out to buy them

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

May 06, 2017

Three Winners Today ...

Hi Everybody,

Good morning to you all on this bright and cheerful morning and I am up with the lark today and the draw has been done already.  Three names have been chosen at random to win the cards on offer from yesterday and they are ....

June Horrocks 
Kricket
Annamieke
I need each of you to email me your postal address please to 
christina@card-making-magic.com
and the cards will be on their way to you.

I don't know which one you will get so I hope you will like the one that you get.

Shabby Chic ...

This is a video that I added some time ago and it features some of the Shabby Chic cards that I made. I added it into the section Cards to Inspire You and this was part eight.
The reason I am adding it again is to encourage you to watch because all the cards that are in this video I will be giving away over the next few weeks.



The only thing I don't have from that film is the tag as that was given away in another FF but I am sure that there will be something there to catch your eye and there will be eleven cards on offer over eleven weeks 

I will add the pictures individually and then you can leave your comments.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx 

May 05, 2017

Friday Freebie 017 - Three to go ...

Hi Everybody,

This week I am giving away the three cards pictured here to three winners, but I can't guarantee which one you will get

They are all really pretty with flowers and one of them has a hatpin tucked into the display.

The petals are all sparkled with glitter and they are a small US A2 size.

They look much better in the hand so I don't think you will be disappointed with any of them

If you would like one of these cards than all you have to do is leave me a comment at the end of the post.

Please come back to see if you are the winner when the name is announced in tomorrows blog post.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

May 04, 2017

Papercraft Essentials 146 - Floral Wishes

Hi Everybody,

May is now with us and the days are getting warmer and this months Papercraft Essentials 146 will be in the shops today.

The free gift is Floral Wishes and consists of an embossing folder, stamp set and three small dies

On this card I have created a background with the flowers and leaves and enclosed them in an oval frame

This idea and others can be seen on the video Papercraft Essentials 146 - Floral Wishes

This is the card created in the video with a bow background in bright colours

Very easy to do and relaxing at the same time. Card making should be fun and this free gift will help you to enjoy the process.

The magazine itself is full of useful information and ideas on getting the look that you want.

There are lots more photos of cards created with the free gift so you will never be stuck for ways to use it

So get a cuppa and enjoy the read.



More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



May 03, 2017

I Know .. I Know ...

Hi Everybody,

I know it's not Christmas but this image is one that has been sitting on my desk and so I thought I would add a little water colour to her and make her into a card.

I have used some of the card stack that I bought from the £££shop as a layer on both of the base cards

The background to my image is created with a light water colour wash and then the stars added with a stencil and embossing paste
The bears have been coloured with Gansai Tambi water colours and then I added glue pen and glitter to the hats and stocking tops

The one on the left is slightly different colours for bear, mouse and background but the stars are done the same way.

On both of the card bases I rounded two opposite corners.

Both panels are cut with a stitched border die from the Stitched and Pierced Collection  from Craft Stash and there are lots of shapes for you to choose from



More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

May 02, 2017

Tuesday Tutorial - Arched Diamonds

Hi Everybody,

As you build your collection of dies it is good idea to add one large statement piece, and with that one die there is so much variation that can be done
For todays card I have used such a die to show you different ways to alter your design.  
I have used the Arched Diamonds from Spellbinders along with the Border Sentiments for both cards and varied them in colour and style one for men and the other for women 
It is quite a large die and will make a perfect focal point for your creations
Spellbinders Supplies:
Other Supplies:
  • Card
  • Flowers
  • Ribbons
  • Pearls
  • Glitter
  • Distress Ink
Instructions:
With white card create a top folded base that measures 5x7" in landscape
Cut a smaller mat in deep turquoise and another smaller one in white to leave narrow borders around each edge
Layer these panels onto the base
With the die cut the white card twice and ink through the die before removing the card.
Add foam pads to the back in strategic places so that they can not be seen from the front
Layer these two panel onto the base layers
Die cut the Happy Birthday from the border sentiments three times and glue together for strength
Add to the card front where you would like them
I have kept this version clear of flowers for a more masculine card.
For this version I have used the 5x7 in portrait and made the layers in pink and white and embossed the smallest white panel
I have used just one die cut and added it across the card with pink ribbon around it.
The triple bow has flowers in the centre and a pearl flourish adds the extra touch.
The addition of the flowers, ribbons and pearls give it a more feminine look

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx