Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

August 16, 2012

More cards for Christmas ...

I seem to be in the swing of making Christmas cards at the moment and over the last few days I have made several.

This one started off as something else but ended up as a Christmas card .... don't ask me why coz I haven't a clue.

But I had the verse in my folder and I thought it was very nice  ... so here it is.

It has the  obligatory  Want2Scrap    embellishments   on it and two different types of ribbon.

But I think it looks very pretty and will be going to somebody when the time comes.

This white one doesn't look as good in the photo but the embossed tree really stands out in the flesh.

And the Diamante is also from Want2Scrap.

I have matted the white card onto some silver mirror card and the base panel is embossed too.

So now I have eight cards made .... just need to do the insides now with a neat verse and then decide who gets what ...

And the dress form card that I made for my friends birthday yesterday ..... she loved it.

Hugs xx

August 15, 2012

Birthday Special ... for my friend

Today I am going out to lunch with a very special friend and it is her birthday.

We have been friends for 25 years and so I thought I would make her this very pretty card in her favorite colours.

I have added feathers, lace  and ribbon to the Dress form and the Want2Scrap "Bling"  is along the form itself and for the butterfly trail.

The  Decorative Hatpin   is added as a small gift and can be removed from the card for her to wear in her lapel.

They are complete with end stops from the Sparkles Group  and by adding in the code  CGDIS5  at the checkout you will get a discount from me.

They do make a very lovely addition to all your Girly cards.
And of course every special card needs  a special box ...and so here it is decorated up to match the card.

I have added Diamante strips around the aperture and I really hope she likes it ... tell you tomorrow !

Hugs xx

August 14, 2012

Playtime again ...


Over the weekend I have had chance to play with Spellbinders and this is another Fun Card that I have made.

I love the girly look of this card and it was so easy to make using the Heart shape and an Oval to get the curves in the form.

The stand to the dress form was made from two of the shapes Elegant Posts and I have just glued them to the back of the dress form.

I think it makes a lovely card and so here is the link to the Spellbinder Dress Form Tutorial.

I have added in flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and the little bit of lace was a piece I found in my "Stash"

The pink Curlecues  are formed from some pink  coated wire and the Decorative Hatpin is one I made a while ago and added in to the flower.

The Hatpins are  available to buy complete with the end stops from the Sparkles Group  and you will find  many sizes in gold and silver in the  Specialist Findings  section.

Don't forget  to add in the code ...  CGDIS5 ...  and you will get an automatic discount  at the checkout because you have come  from me.

And saving some money has to be good.

The flowers on this card  are formed from the Bauble Blossoms  and some of the  Doodle Parts are tucked in behind.

The wings are from the  Fallen Angel set and I have added lace  along the bottom of the dress form.

I like these cards .... do you ??

Hugs xx


August 13, 2012

New Spellbinder Video...


This is one of the  Fun Cards  that I have been playing with over the weekend and on Saturday we filmed it ....just to keep my film crew busy you understand.


So today this has been added to the website and I hope you will enjoy this Spellbinder Door Card Tutorial

I have also added it in the  written format ... as a lot of people prefer to read rather than watch and some even enjoy combining the two.

The ages on the door can be any that you want but I have kept mine to "Coming Of Age" with the key to the door.

Old fashioned idea I know but I can still remember mine and I got a lucky black cat card off my mum.
I have used Antique Linen and Walnut Stain Distress Inks to colour the steps and the wall but the doors have been coloured using a different colour  and that will be your choice.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and they look very pretty around all the doors.

The Spellbinders are the Antiquities   
and they are some of the ones that where available from

But because of the growing popularity of this website and the prices that the dies are sold for they are running low on some stock.

Please be patient and pop back regularly to check on what they have as new dies are coming in every week.

But remember that they are "Close out" dies which means that once they are gone there is no more.

And at the price they are on offer for it won't take long for your favorite one to sell out... and I would hate you to miss out on a bargain.



Hugs xx

August 10, 2012

Banner Basics 3


This  card is  created  using a  digital  image  from  the magic  pen of   KennyK Downloads    and is  this one is "Goldfish Boy"

He has been coloured with Spectrum Noir and the background papers are from the CD "The Next Big Thing" from Just Inklined

The boys name has been added to Banner Basics 3  which is one of the amazingly inexpensive dies available from
Save on Hobbies which sells "Close Out" dies

There is a choice of  different Tassels in this set and you just need to cut out the ones you want to use on your project. 

I have added  twine around the  panel and a used  a  small gold  coloured  star charm in the  top right corner.

The name and the age are small  self  adhesive  bubble stickers to just finish the card off.  Job done ...

The video  Spectrum Noir Jeans will help you if you are new to colouring in the jeans ... and they don't have to be blue either.




Hugs xx


August 09, 2012

More time to win ...

You still have time to enter the  Want2Scrap  draw to win $100 worth of glorious  "Bling"  for all you card and  scrapbook  projects as it is on until the..... 15th of August.

All you need to do is click the above link ... click  Want2Scrap "Like" button and leave a comment saying that Christina sent you ... and your name will be entered into the draw for this fabulous prize.

Just the addition of the Swirl along the right hand side can make all the difference to a card and make it look really special.... which is something that we all strive for.

These flowers are created from the smallest part to the Anemone Flower set from Spellbinders and I have studded each of  the centres with a little gemstone.

The Diamante along the right hand side is from     Want2Scrap  and it comes in many colours and styles.


I have cut mine up to give me the effect I wanted on my card and I think that the finished result is lovely.  

The verse on the front of the card is from  Clarity Stamp and is a very sincere verse.  The background is a faux letterpress effect using an embossing folder.

I hope you will have a go at winning the "Bling" it is well worth it and will go a long long way.

Hugs xx





August 08, 2012

Crowned Baby

This is one  of the images from  the wonderful  Mo's Digital Pencil   and  I have coloured it with the   Spectrum Noir  pens from Crafters Companion 

The  addition  to this pretty baby is the  Crown on her head and  I have added pearls to the rim of the crown.

It is from the  Antiquities  set  from  Spellbinders.

It is one of the dies  available from Save on Hobbies  and the prices are  amazing.

The background  to this card is from  an embossing folder ... but there is  no name on it so  I can't tell you what  it is called.

And thank you to  Sarah for  reminding me that the   Spellbinders Christmas Ornament from yesterday is the  Hierloom.

 Hugs xx



August 07, 2012

Another card for Christmas

Now I like this Christmas Card more than the one featured the other day.

This is using a Spellbinder Christmas die ...  but for the life of me I can not remember which one ... and I seem to have discarded the package when I added the die to my wall.

The centre aperture has  been cut with the largest die in the main  card panel.

A  frame has been  created from the largest and third size and then run through an embossing folder.

The stripy paper insert has been covered with Micro Glass Beads for texture.

The sentiment and the smaller  bauble have been decorated with "Bling" from Want2Scrap  and the long flourish is from the Finesse set of Diamante.

And don't forget  you can add your name to the  Want2Scrap  draw to win $100 worth of this beautiful  embellishment  by clicking this link..... Want2Scrap - Facebook Page 

Click the "Like" button and leave them a comment saying  that  Christina sent you  and you will be included for the chance to win.

Hugs xx

August 06, 2012

Spider conspiracy ...

I am sure that the spiders in my house are conspiring against me and getting me into trouble.

I think they  wait until my  youngest  daughter comes to visit  and then word gets around  them  all    quickly ...."Vickie is here ... quick get busy..."

Then while we have a chat and a brew they set about making their spiders web,   and in a fairly obvious place,  so that when she visits the  bathroom she couldn't possibly miss it.

Then I hear "Oh Mother ...." in a disdainful voice  "Come and see this"  and I think  "Uh Uuuuh! I don't want too" ... and there it is a ...  huge cobweb hanging from my light fitting  ... as if it has been there for years.

And when I say that it wasn't there yesterday she says "Yeah! yeah!" and we erupt into giggles.

This card is one that I showed,  just as an example,  on the video   Spellbinder Bargains   and it has created some interest in how it was done.

Several people have emailed me asking for the instructions ... in a video ... and so I will get to work on it shortly.

And in case you  missed the link  to some  really good Spellbinder  bargains here it is again ...Save On Hobbies ...   click the  link that takes you  through  to their shop  and have a look for what you  would like to use.

But remember that they are  dies that will no longer be made so grab them quick.

The red roses  around the  door frame are from  Wild Orchid Crafts  with a little pearly  brad for the door knob.

Hugs xx

August 05, 2012

Spellbinder Bargains ...

This is something I just have to share as I could not believe the prices on these Spellbinders when I saw them.

I was pointed in the  direction of this  wesbite by a follower on YouTube and she urged me to go check it out for my self.

So thank you Nery for the tip.

I have made a  short video  ..Spellbinder Bargains   that will  show how I have used some of the dies that I have got from them.

And I am always happy to share a really good find to all my fellow crafters... and this is no exception.

Save On Hobbies   is the website and at the moment they are updating their site so when you get there click the link to be redirected to their Shopify site and have a good browse at what they have.

There are new dies being added each week so pop back regularly to see the bargains.

This little card is using the Banner Basic 3
and I have stamped in the "Baby" letters in Victiorian Velvet Distress Ink.

I have added feathers and ribbons and a large flower from Wild Orchid Crafts

The Card Candi along the right hand side is   Craftwork Cards and is a very simple but pretty addition.



And last but by no means least I want to share with you that today I have reached the   ONE MILLION VIEWS  to my videos on YouTube.



Hugs xx

August 04, 2012

My first Christmas Card ...

Now how sad is this .... it's only the begining of August and I have already made a Christmas Card.... and probably by the time December arrives I will be all Christmas Carded out .... 
But I thought I would make an early start.  This is  a large card but it will fit inside an  A4 envelope because  it has been kept  flat.

 I have used a   Spectrum Noir Background   in the aperture,  and added   Micro Glass Beads  to the snowflakes to give them  more texture.

The pearls around the edge of the card are created with Cosmic Shimmer Glue  and the addition of the  Pierced Edges  gives  a little more interest to the  card.

The Spellbinders Labels 20 has the additon of Nestabling from Want2Scrap  ...

and to all those of you who popped over to the Want2Scrap Facebook page and clicked their like button I want to say "Thank You" and good luck in the draw to win the $100 worth of "Bling"

If you would like to be in with a chance to win then take your self over there by clicking the Want2Scrap link ... click their "Like" button and leave a comment saying that Christina sent you.... then sit back and keep your fingers crossed that you can win.

Any way now that the card  is done I don't think I like it really and it probably won't be sent to any one ... oh well back to the drawing board to make a better job of the next one.

August 03, 2012

Different style dies ...

Some time  ago I was  asked if  I would like to try out  some different  style  dies and see what I came up with.

Of course I agreed and so I was sent some all the way from the Netherlands.

So thank you Annelies for these useful additions to any craft "Stash" and today I have put them to work.

Now about the dies .... they can be used in any die cutting machine... read the  manufacturers  instructions  to adjust  the cutting  plates for your machine

The card I used to cut my shapes was a  270 gsm card ... so quite a good weight.

Because  the dies are flat they can be stored just about anywhere.

But they are metal  so make sure that you  don't bend  them or they won't cut properly for you.

You can buy them from   Crealies   and  the link will take you to the  flower shapes ... but once there have  a look around for  many many more.

In the picture you can see one of the Flowers and Doily Elements dies, with the border die on the left of the photo.

They  made  a  very clean cut in my  card and then I used a ball tool and a  mouse mat to give the flowers  some shape.

The edges to the petals have been inked with Victorian Velvet and sparkled with Glamour Dust, and a  Pearl added to the centres.

The second shape I used to edge a panel that had been embossed for the front of the card,  and two more around the edge of the sentiment.

The leaves are also dies  and there is a  good mix on the one  die plate,  and they have  been  inked with  Sage Green  and  Forest Moss  then tucked behind the flowers.

A large pink organza bow is the finishing touch and that has another pearl in the centre to hide the knot.

I think this is  a pretty card and these dies are well worth your consideration.  They are easy to use and the results are very good.

Hugs xx

August 02, 2012

Win Some "Bling"

Here is an exciting piece of news  and one I hope you will take advantage of .... Want2Scrap  are offering  you the chance to win  $100 worth of beautiful "Bling"  for you  to add to all your crafty creations.

All you need to do is  click the link  above which will take you to their FaceBook page and then click the "Like" button... and the competition is open until the 7th August.

Leave a comment saying that you have been sent by Christina  and that's it your done. You will be entered into the draw to win the Goodies ... and if enough of you enter ... then I  will win some too.

You can see many examples of their beautiful pearls and Diamante on my cards and it really is the finishing touch for all your special cards.

So why not give this a try and you can even send your non crafting friends along too.

There are many many ways in which you can use these embellishments.

Decorate your phone, glasses cases. Glass vases and ornaments.  Add it to mirrors or picture frames.  Scrapbook pages and photo albums can all be "Blinged up"

Just get the imagination going and the possibilities are endless.

These lovely images from Crafters Companion  are the  Humphreys Corner Collection   and both  cards have  the added "Bling"

So please click the link to Want2Scrap above ... and then we can both win this fabulous prize.

And believe me there is a  so much in this  $100 prize it will last you for ages on your designs.

Good Luck

Hugs xx

Kindness ...

I have  made this card for no  particular reason and the sentiment  in the  centre could be any.  I have made it with  Gold Mirror card and  layered all my white card onto it.

The background has again been embossed with a folder and the aperture has been cut with Spellbinders Labels 20


The centre piece of the card is one of the smaller Labels 20 dies and I have used a glue and gilding flake technique on this.

I took this photo in the sun and although it shows the embossing it does not show the mirror card  very clearly and so .....
...I took another one  from a different angle and now you can see the shine on the card.... but the photo  does  not  show  how lovely  the  Gilding flakes are. 
The ribbon is a mix of white and gold Organza and I have added the pearl string under the gold vintage button. 

The Pearls attached to the ribbon are from Want2Scrap  and the button is one of many that Naomi gave to me on my trip to Canada.

Hugs xx


August 01, 2012

Loved You ....

For todays card I have had a return to Spellbinders and the colour scheme is a lovely sage green and white with a green and white Polka dot ribbon around the centre.

The backgound has been embossed with a folder and this one is called  "Seedling Nouveau" from Couture Creations.   It is available from   Country View Crafts  and there are lots of different patterns for you to choose.
The Spellbinders used will be BOLD so that you will know what has been used to create the card

I have used an A4 card and the cutting edge from Classic Triple Scallop with the insert from Classic Scallop and together this gives the detail to the bottom of the card.

The centre panel is the largest die in the  Layered Scallop Posy and has been cut twice.

The centre strip is made from the Postage Stamp cutting edge and  Insert B and the ribbon has been threaded through the holes. 

The sentiment is from Clarity Stamp and it has been stamped onto the largest Persian Motifs die with the edges inked very lightly in Antique Linen.

As a finishing touch I have added a silver metal corner and an antique button to the bow.

Hugs xx