Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

April 16, 2013

Turquoise and Cream

Hi Everybody,

Wild Orchid Crafts   flowers are again featured  on todays card.

The chance to
for yourself is open until Sunday so if you would like to add them to your creations then add your name to the list.

Click the link but only add your name once ... duplicates will be removed to keep it  fair for everyone.  Join the gang of followers and leave me a comment please... then I know you have visited.  

And if you wanted to tell folks on your Blog then please send them over and tell them to join.

This bouquet is a mixture of Roses in different colours and sizes and the leaves are from the Foliage set by Spellbinders.

The embossed panel has been surrounded by the largest die from the Parisian Motifs and it has been cut up and linked around the panel for effect.

This is another of my favorite colour combinations and one I use a lot ... after the pink that is.  I just love using pink  .... and flowers, ribbons and pearls ... what a good name for a Blog !!

Hugs xx

April 15, 2013

Pink and Yellow ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card features more of the beautiful flowers that  Wild Orchid Crafts  have very generously sent me to "Give Away"

This little cluster is a mixture of Roses and Cherry Blossoms.

The leaves are from a punch called the Ash Branch and it is from  L- Em Punches

I really like the pink and yellow colour scheme ... it makes for a very unusual combination.

The stamp is from Crafters Companion and is part of the  Humphreys Corner collection.

The Spellbinders used are Classic Ovals and Classic Scalloped Ovals ... but I can't remember the name of the fancy one at the very back.

I have added a little shoe charm to this card and it has been coloured by me with Spectrum Noir Pens.

If you would like to  win some of these flowers  then ...  here is the link ... ... for you to add your name to the growing list.

If you don't have a Blog it doesn't matter ... just leave the URL box blank ... but leave me your name and email so that you can be notified if you win.   Become a follower ... if you aren't already and leave me a comment please.  I am more than happy to send them to you wherever you live. 

Only leave your name once and if you add it twice by mistake ... then the little red cross that comes up alongside your name means that you can delete it.... any duplicate entries will be removed.

Good Luck 

Hugs xx

April 14, 2013

April Give Away ...

Hi Everybody,

I have another "Give Away"  for you this month and this one is a collection of Beautiful Flowers from  Wild Orchid Crafts  ... andif you click the picture you will get a better view of what is on offer.

It consists of six assorted packs of flowers in various sizes, in shades of peach, orange and yellow.

Also two packs of small  white self adhesive pearls and  some larger  loose pearls to add to your cards.

There is also a metre length of gorgeous cream lace that can be threaded with a  ribbon to match your colour scheme. 

Then into that mix  I have added some  wonderful  Want2Scrap  Bling and  a reel of  Organza ribbon that will compliment the flowers.

Altogether a really good prize that can be added to your crafting "Stash" and keep you going for quite some time.

So if you would like to win this months  "Give Away"  then add your name to the list.  You don't need to have a Blog just leave the URL box Blank ... but add your email address so that you can be notified if you are the lucky winner.

You will need to be a follower and please leave me a comment to let me know that you have entered the draw.  And as always to keep it fair for everybody I ask you not to make duplicate entries.

If your name is there twice it will be removed.... and the red cross at the side of your name just means that YOU can delete it if you wish. So if you add your name twice by mistake then please remove one of them.

Good luck everybody ... you will not be disappointed with the prize.

Hugs xx


April 13, 2013

Red Roses ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is once again showcasing the beautiful flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts  and these have been made into a small flower corsage.

There is a vast selection of flowers and leaves on their website for you to choose from and they are all  gorgeous.

But if you would like  to WIN some then tomorrow you will have the chance to add your name to the draw.

It will run for one week and at the end of it one name will be picked at random as the lucky winner.

This card is created with the Grand Decorative Labels 1 ...which has been altered to fit the back of the card and then the layers added to it.

The centre piece is cut from Venetian Motifs and Fleur Di Lis Squares  to which I have added some Diamante from Want2Scrap and a Decorative Hatpin

Both the Flower Corsages and the Decorative Hatpins are for sale in    My Shop 

The red background to this card has been created from alcohol pens and there is a tutorial to show you what I did ...  Spectrum Noir Background   for a really different look.

See you tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

April 12, 2013

Flowers Make the Difference ...

Hi Everybody,

The other day I added a card in Lilac that had the addition of some beautiful flowers and I just wanted to show you the difference that this simple embellishment can make to any of your cards.

Here is that same card without the flowers.

Although it is pretty with all the layers in the soft lilac and white colour scheme for me it is too plain.

The trim and the trellis make it a little more elaborate but the flowers ... well what can I say ...

.... the flowers make it really special and this is the bit I love doing.

The extras added to this card are obviously the flowers ...  from   Wild Orchid Crafts  ... and they  have been sparkled with Glamour Dust.

But the others are the Diamante ... from Want2Scrap  ... around the Labels 20.

The extra Bow to the trim has the addition of  the Diamante buckle from The Hobby House

Now I know not everybody likes my additions because I had an email from someone yesterday who told me ...  very forcefully ... that she did not like my cards as she thought they were too fussy ... and so would not be coming to visit Card Making Magic any more.

But if you are like me and like to add flowers to your creations then pop back on Sunday for the chance to win some of the gorgeous Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts in the April "Give Away"

Hugs xx




April 11, 2013

Enchanted Labels

Hi Everybody,

This lovely cards is created from the 5 x 7 Enchanted Labels 28 and I love, love,  love this die.
Click to Enlarge

It is so intricate and yet easy to cut and the shapes it produces are simply gorgeous.

I have cut the largest die twice and hinged them together and the cut the middle shape from pink Polka dot card.

This has been added to the card front with foam pads and then layered with Labels 20.

The matching "Bling" is from Want2Scrap  and the sentiment if from the Good Friends Labels 29 set by JustRite

The large pink satin bow is from my stash and to the centre I have added a silver spacer and a pink pearl brad then glued them in place over the knot.

Into the mix I have added one of my Decorative Hatpins and these you can either make for your self or buy directly from
  "MY SHOP"

Hugs xx

April 10, 2013

Made For Me...

Hi Everybody,

Usually I show you cards that I have made but this one is an exception as this is a card that was made for me.

Let me tell you the story ...

When I started Card Making Magic four years ago one of the options was for me to add a Gallery  and ask people to add their designs to the page.

That way they could showcase  their own designs and so create a page for themselves on my website that they could add to as they made more cards.

I was understandably nervous about this process .... Why would anybody want to add cards to my website in the first place ? Would anybody take advantage  and  create their own page ?Would they want to show off what they can do ?


But within hours of that invitation going live I had my first submission.

It was from a lady in Ireland who told me her name was Cepta and she added her project which was the Ordination of a Catholic Priest.

From that first submission we have grown an online friendship that continues to this day.  So over the Easter break Cepta made this very pretty blue card for me. It has been decoupaged with fabric flowers at the bottom and it has a lovely verse written inside.

And I thought that you would like to see what she made  and although Easter is now finished the card still sits on top of my cabinet and I will add it to my treasures box later.  Thank you Cepta for a beautiful card.

Hugs xx

April 09, 2013

Lovely in Lilac ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is the style I really enjoy making and I could do this all day given the chance.  It measures almost 8 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches and will just about fit on the card stand.

I have started the base card in white then added a layer of lilac.  The next layer of white has been embossed and all the corners have been rounded.

The panel on the left has been made with the Fancy  Lattice and then cut down to the size I wanted and matted to the lilac card.... then glued in place.

The next layers are from the 5 x 7 Matting Basics and the Detailed Scallops which is turning out to be one of my favorites dies.

I then cut the second die from the Scalloped set in white and added it with foam pads to the centre of the front.  The sentiment has been stamped and embossed and then placed behind a frame made from Labels 20.

I have added in the matching Diamante frame from  Want2Scrap  and this has been added with foam pads.

The lilac trim has been added under the sentiment and I have created a a bow and used a Diamante buckle from The Hobby House

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and are a mixture of Tulips, Roses, and Carnations ... and they have all been glittered with Glamour Dust ... and this one I like

Hugs xx

April 08, 2013

Cream Card

Hi Everybody,

With this card I thought I would stay away from the pink .... just for a change  .... and not for long either I might add !!!

Click to Enlarge
We all like to see the white on white cards that are so popular and this one is created using just cream on cream with a hint of gold.

The very base card has been embossed with the Dainty Dots A4 folder from Spellbinders and the corners rounded.  It also has the A Frame back for the card to be displayed.

This has then been layered with Gold Mirror card.

Then from the third layer I have used the largest  5 x 7 Matting Basics B and cut it in cream

Now I hear many people saying that to buy dies that just create a plain square or rectangles is a waste of money .... but not so.

Using the Spellbinder gives  the distinctive embossed edge around  the  card to give them that classy look that I really like.

So layered onto these base layers I have used all three of the dies in the 5 x 7 Detailed Scallops and the sentiment has been stamped and then embossed in gold to the smallest panel.

The sentiment is from the Good Friends Labels 29 from JustRite  and I bought both of these from the craft show.

Around the edge I have added in some La Creme pearls from Want2Scrap as a finishing touch.

The only other adornment is a little ribbon from The Ribbon Room    and a button from my jar and that is the card completed.

Simple, quick and easy and would suit any occasion.

April 07, 2013

OooH Look ... Pink !

Hi Everybody,

Well would you believe it .... pink again !!  I don't know how it keeps creeping back in ... but I like it.

This card is using some backing paper from the Floriography CD layered onto white card and into the corner I have used Gold Elements One for effect.

The centre panel is largest Radiant Rectangles with the next size down cut from white card.

Onto this I have cut a pink panel that I created for myself using white embossing powder and Distress ink.

The sentiment has been stamped and embossed  onto one of the Fancy Tags Three along with the matching "Bling" from Want2Scrap 

A big Pink Satin Bow has been added and there is now a tutorial on  Tying A Bow 

Here is another card and this one has Micro Beads on the backing paper for a different texture.

The centre panel is Timeless Rectangles with the sentiment added to the small label from Locking Loops

The sentiment itself is one that came in a box full of wood mounted ones from Keepsake Card Craft. .. but I don't know if they are still available as I bought them  many years ago.

This card uses   Asters and Poppies  from Spellbinders and is one of the new Die D-Lites

This pack has two dies  that can be cut and used separately and here I have cut them in Black card.

The centre panel is the 5 x 7 Enchanted Labels 28

The Decorative Oval Window has been cut  in half and twined around Labels 30  which has been embossed.

One of the Fancy Tags Three with matching Diamante has been stamped with the sentiment and added to this panel.

The bow has been added around the stem of the flowers and they have been embossed.

Maybe ... just maybe... I will try another colour tomorrow ... who knows !!

Hugs xx

April 06, 2013

More Kraft Card ...

Hi Everybody,

The Kraft Card that I am using is from  Papermill  Direct and can now only be bought online.  I used to love going to their shop in Freeport and buying all the lovely colours they make. When the shops closed down well over a year ago now ... well that little trip out was gone.

But once they announced that the shops were to close ...  and had their sale to get rid of all the card ... I had a field day and bought absolutely tons of the stuff.   The Kraft card was not in the shops though so I ordered some online and it arrived yesterday.
Click to Enlarge

This card has again used the neutral palette of Ivory and Kraft and I have cut the base of Ivory from the Grand Decorative Ovals

The second size down is the right size to fit on the Card Stand from   Joy Crafts.

I  cut a plain oval from some lovely caramel coloured foiled card form Cardcraft Plus

The book has been cut from old book pages using the largest die from  Labels 23 and I have add the matching pearly "Bling" from Want2Scrap

The pages have all been glued along the spine only and foam pads used to separate each page.

The top page is cut from some "Happy Birthday" Vellum and decorative cord has been added to the centre.

The Butterflies are Les Papillion  and they have pearls along the body line.

A rather masculine card but one I like never the less.

I can feel an urge for pink coming on ... so watch this space ....

Hugs xx


April 05, 2013

Kraft Card ...

Hi Everybody,

Here is a card that stay away from the usual pinks and blues and this time I have been playing around with some Kraft Card.

On it's own it can be pretty uninspiring .... but used with another colour the result is quite pleasing. Here I have kept it neutral and teamed it with Ivory and there are lots of layers to this design.

It is an 8" card and I have added the "A"frame to the back which gives you a lot of space on the back for you to add your greeting and signature.... but saves you the pain of finding a suitable insert.
Click to Enlarge

Starting from the base of Ivory card I have layered another panel of Ivory and then added the Grand Decorative Labels 1

It was a wee bit too small so I cut it onto quarters and added them to each corner of Kraft Card which has had the corners rounded.

I made a slit in these panels and then each corner of the Kraft Card has been tucked under the edge of the Grand Labels 1

The next layer has been embossed and again rounded and I have used lots of foam tape to separate every other layer.

The centre panel is Timeless Rectangles and layered with the next size down, and tucked behind that is the large die from Venetian Motifs which has been cut in half and added to each side.

I have used my favorite Labels 20 which has been stamped and embossed in Gold and then decorated with the matching "Bling" from Want2Scrap

I have used leaves form the Foliage set ...  Swirls are Venetian Motifs ... flowers from Daisy Heads  

The butterfly was free with a magazine and is complete with a pearly trial.  A pearl to the centre of the flower and this is a card that I really like.

Hugs xx

April 04, 2013

Do I Like It ???

Hi Everybody,

This is a card that I am not too sure about as I really am not partial to yellow.

For this I have created a background from stamps and embossed it.

It has then been matted and layered it onto plain yellow card. The next white layer has also been embossed and again matted to yellow.

The stain ribbon has been wrapped around the middle before adding the whole lot to the white base card.

I have cut two of the Gilded Gate and laid them on their sides to make the filigree background to the sentiment.

The centre panel and the two corner pieces  has been cut from the Lattice Accents and Motifs and then layered with Scalloped Ovals and the Floral Ovals and I have used foam pads to give them some height.

The sentiment is from a set that I bought at the GNPE and there is no brand name to it so I can't tell you who made it.  I have stamped it in yellow and then em,bossed it with clear powder.

The Diamante "Bling" is from Want2Scrap  and completes the look of a card I don't think I like very much now that it is done.

Hugs xx

April 03, 2013

3D Embossabilities Folder

Hi Everybody,

Spellbinders have recently brought out these new 3D embossing folders and this one is the Framed Labels 18 

It is the one I have used to produce many of the Letterpress Cards that I have shown you over the last few days... and it has raised a number of questions about the folders themselves.

The  effect from inking up this folder is very pretty and makes a whole card all by itself.

In the video I used the Big 'n Juicy Ink pad but you can use any water based inks that you have.

Distress Inks work really well.

The reason for water based inks is that they will wash off the folder with a little water, or a baby wipe, and leave the folder ready to use again.

But if you use a permanent ink then the plastic that the folder is made from will stain and discolour and although you wash it the stain will probably remain on the folder.

The folders are very deeply etched and so will  give you  a really good impression on your card.


The  pattern inside the inked folder can be seen on the left  in these photos and the printed card is on the right ... . and as I showed you in the video for the Letterpress Technique   the look  can be achieved with any embossing folder so there is no need to rush out and buy more.

In the photographs you can see the difference between the two sides.

But remember  that the raised side you ink up then that is the side that will be coloured.

When the ink is dry you can trim the panel neatly around the edges.

Then mat and layer it onto some matching or contrasting card to add to your designs.

And here again is the finished card... and I have used the inked card just above.

I used a glue pen to pick out the Fleur Di Lis pattern at the bottom of the card and then sprinkled it with Glamour Dust.

The sentiment is from a pack that I bought at the GNPE and there isn't a manufacturers name on it so I can't tell you who made them.  Soreeee !!

It has been stamped onto the Labels 20 and edged with the matching "Bling"  from Want2Scrap.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  .... and if you like adding flowers to your cards then watch out for the next  "Give Away" ..... coming soon

I think that covers most of the questions and I hope you will give this technique a try ... you won't be disappointed with it.

Hugs xx


April 02, 2013

Wedding Card

Hi Everybody,

This is another  Letterpress  Card and this one is made  for a  Wedding.

I have kept the colour to a soft cream and added in Gold metal corners to opposite ends.

I lightly rubbed the Antique Linen Distress Ink over the raised areas to enhance them a little more.

The sentiment has been stamped onto the largest of the Scalloped Ovals and then matted onto the Floral Ovals.

It has been embossed in gold and trimmed with a gold peel off.

The flowers are shades of cream and they are from Wild Orchid Crafts.  and the petals on each has been sparkled with Glamour Dust.

The trim around the middle of the card is pearl tear drops and is also from WOC and it is very pretty.

Tomorrow I will add cards with other items on them as I am sure you must be getting fed up of all the Letterpress cards.

Hugs xx