Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

February 12, 2014

How Charming ...

Hi Everybody,

Sometime ago I was asked to do a video on how I add charms to my cards.

I am sorry Ann that it has taken me so long to do it ... but here at last is little tutorial.

There are lots of ways to add them but I have shown you the quickest and easiest ways.

You will also notice on the mat with the charms that there is a mobile phone loop and these can also be used to attach small charms.

They can be looped over the flowers or threaded in with the ribbon and look just as good ... the only problem is they are a bit flimsy and the charm can fall off and get lost so that is why they are not included on the video.





The large key on this card is the one added in the video and I also add a small heart charm to the back of the card that says "Handmade with love"

The little hearts come in gold color as well as silver and there are many in a pack and they are quite reasonably priced.

But they do add a nice touch to your cards ... especially if you sell them .

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

February 11, 2014

Craft Show Ribbon

Hi Everybody,

Here is the first card with my craft show goodies on it and it is the pretty gingham ribbon  from  Mei Flower 

It is so soft and easy to tie and there are 25 yds on each roll.  I bought it in pink pale blue and turquoise  ...  so lots to keep me going.

The panel is once again using the Tied Together embossing folder.

I have been asked where I got mine from and it was Sunrise Crafts 

But this is an embossing folder that sells out rapidly each time it is featured and so at the moment it is out of stock.   As soon as it is available again I will let you know.

The sentiment is from Crafters Companion

Another of my buys is the fine glitter on the flowers.  It is a lot more subtle than the one I usually use but both are from   Glitter Magic   and the flowers are from  Wild Orchid Crafts

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


February 10, 2014

A2 Curved Borders One

Hi Everybody,

Over the last few days I have added videos on the Borders dies from Spellbinders.

They are in response to several emails asking me how they are used.

And so we have had  ...
Scalloped Borders One
Bracket Borders One

In those videos I  have tried to give some different ideas and I will add more as I make the cards but todays card is something a little different.

In this video I have made a Gate-fold card using the Curved Borders and I hope that you will enjoy it.



The flowers are a mixture of Chrysanthemums, Roses and Cosmos Daisies  from   Wild Orchid Crafts

They have the addition of fine glitter from   Glitter Magic 

I bought a new one  from their stand at the craft show.  It is a pure clear glitter with no color in it at all and the sparkle is lovely on  the petals.

The pearls add something extra to the flowers and they are from Want2Scrap  and if you cut the flourish into smaller pieces then a little goes a long way and is not expensive to add to your cards.

The ribbon that I have wrapped around the card in the video is from Mei Flower and is a soft satin that is easy to tie into a bow.

I bought some new ribbons from them at the craft show and I will  highlight  it for  you on some cards this week.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx






February 09, 2014

A2 Bracket Borders One ..

Hi Everybody,

First of all   an apology  about the information that there was a craft show  this weekend at the Reebok Stadium.

Don't ask me where I got the information from coz I  don't  remember .... but there wasn't  .... it's not until the 31st May

I have smacked my legs and made myself stand in the corner with the dunces hat on for misinforming you all  ... I  am  suitably chastised !!

So we went to the one in Manchester instead and I bought some really lovely items that I will show you over the next few posts.

As we drove past the Bolton turn off on the motorway  Griff said ....  "Will you just look at all those people going to the Reebok ...  for a craft show that some body told them was on this weekend"  ... and I had to laugh  ... stupid girl !!  Soreeee xx

Well onto the card for today ....the other day when I added the  Sunshine Yellow Card   there was a comment that it would look nice in another color ... so here it is and it comes with a little video to show the die used.



My flowers are from  Wild Orchid Crafts   and they are given the sparkly treatment with a  fine glitter  from Glitter Magic   as it always enhances the look of my corsages.

The sentiment and the Centura Pearl card are  from   Crafters Companion   and the ribbon was some in my ribbon box.

The pearly "Bling" is from  Want2Scrap  and matches the Spellbinders Fancy Tags Three  and combined they all make  for a very pretty  card.



The inside is lined with the filigree pocket to add another label where the sender can add a signature  if desired.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx




February 08, 2014

Tied Together in Pink ...

Hi Everybody,

Here is a very pretty card in Pink Centura Pearl embossed with the Tied Together folder once more.

I enjoy using this folder as you can dress it up as you wish ... either plain or fancy.

I like to add pearls on to the cross sections but there are lots of ways to make it even prettier.

The flowers are from  Wild Orchid Crafts and I have added punched leaves into  the corsage.

I have been asked many times which punch is this.  It is the Ash Branch  from  L-Em  and this is the link to the item.

It is one I use quite regularly on my flowers and it is very delicate in the display.

I have added in some glitter to the petals and it is from Glitter Magic  that little bit of sparkle makes all the difference to your display.

The flower trim is from Wild Orchid and the ribbon was in my "Stash"   The verse is from Crafters Companion and is from the Sentimentals Range.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



February 07, 2014

Tied Together in Teal ...

 Hi Everybody,

It is time for the craft shows to start again this year and I am torn between two on the same weekend.

There is the big one in Manchester at Event City but there is also one at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton ... now which one shall I go to ????

Why not both ... Bolton on the way to Manchester ... oh my I am so clever !!

Todays card is very similar to the yellow card from a couple of days ago  but this time I have used Teal.

The lovely sentiment verse is from the Sentimentals Range from Crafters Companion

The  Tied Together  embossing folder has been used along the bottom and each cross section has the pearls added.

The Bracket die has been used to create the raised pattern along the top and  bottom, and the pattern along each side is using the  Stitches  Die from  Tattered Lace

The flowers are from  Wild Orchid Crafts  and as always they are sparkled up with glitter from   Glitter Magic 

Got to go and get ready now .. going out to dinner with my "Film Crew" ... and we have two cards ready to film over the next few days for you to see.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


February 06, 2014

SB Labels Thirty Four

Hi Everybody,

I have used the 5x7 matting basics for this card and the Labels Thirty Four ... and I can't show you the picture of these yet.

The background is the 3-D M-Bossabilities folder for Labels Thirty Four and I have simply layered the labels shapes on top.

The lovely white satin ribbon is from Mei Flower  with a Diamante heart sparkler in the centre, and a couple of small pins pushed into the knot.

The ric-rac braid is from a pack that I bought from TKMaxx.

I love this turquoise  shade nearly  as much as  I love pink, and the pretty flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and the little organza butterfly is from my "Stash"

The flowers have been sprinkled with a fine glitter from Glitter Magic  for an added effect to the corsage.

Some of you seemed to enjoy the yellow card yesterday and thank you for your comments. And some would like to see that card  in another color ... so away I go to make the card ....

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx






February 05, 2014

Sunshine Yellow ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is created with yellow Centura Pearl from Crafters Companion   and I have used it with some yellow ribbon that I found in my ribbon box.

The sentiment is also from Crafters Companion and is another from the Sentimentals.

The flowers are white and from Wild Orchid Crafts  and they have the usual sparkle from Glitter Magic

The pattern at the bottom of the card is the embossing folder called Tied Together and in the cross sections I have used Mother of Pearl pearls from Want2Scrap

I have used another of the border sets and this one is the Bracket Borders One

It has been added to a Hinged Card  and lots of layers have been added.

Yellow is not really a color I use much but this card  is much prettier in real life than the photo shows.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx




February 04, 2014

Free Digi for you ...

Hi Everybody,

Here is your chance to grab a freebie from Crafters Companion that you can color any way you want to.

Click the link for the   FREE BEAR   and color it as you like.

You will need to like and share the page and then you can download the bear to print off and color as you wish.

This one is colored with short hair and the colors used are ...
GB8 GB10 EB6 PP1 PP3 PP5 DG4

 And this one is made to look scruffy with long hair.
Colors used ...

Bear TN2 TN7 TN8 using brush and fine nibs to give impression of long hair

Paws PP1 PL1 BP2 DR1
Shawl TB1 TB3 TB4
Flowers GB5 CT4 CT2 PL1 PP1 PP2 BP2 CR5 CR11 DR1DG2 CG1 DG4



More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

February 03, 2014

A2 Scalloped Borders One ...

Hi Everybody,

These two cards have been made  using the A2 Border dies.  It is a requested video from someone who has them and is not sure how to use them ... and as always a video is better than mere words.

So this Sheri in Arizona is for you ... hope it helps you if only a little.


The photo is to illustrate the difference between the US A2 and the 5x7 card sizes.

And I have shown both because although  the dies say A2 they are not just for that size card.

They can be used on the bigger ones with no trouble at all.




I really like both of these cards although I would have to say that my favorite is the larger one with the flowers.

The flowers are from  Wild Orchid Crafts   and they have the addition of glitter from Glitter Magic

My pearls are from Want2Scrap   and the pretty ribbon on both of the cards is from Mei Flower 

In the listed dies below ... the three  to the left have been used on the A2 card and the  three to the right are for the 5x7 card....   and  the centre Scalloped Border die has been used on both

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



February 02, 2014

Spectrum Noir DVD

Hi Everybody,

This beautiful image is taken from the new DVD by Spectrum Noir and it is one of the digital images that are  available to you on the disc.

Just download it and print if off and you too will be able to color it in to your hearts content.

The colors I have used are....
Skin FS4 FS7 FS9
Hair TN2 TN7 TN8 EB8
Flowers LV1 LV2 LV3 CR6 CR9 CR11 GB1 GB5 CT4 CT2
TB1 TB2 TB4 PL1 BP2 BP6 
Leaves DG2 DG4 CG1


I did this when it was pouring down one afternoon ... and it took me hours to get all the parts to the image completed... but I was so pleased with it when it was done.

Most of it was done with the fine nib ... but I do have some of  the  brush nibs and they are wonderful to work with.  Her hair was done with brush nibs but the lilac flower in the bottom right was done with the fine nibs.

Griff was amazed at it.  I printed it off to A4 size and it would look beautiful framed  and hung on the wall.  I have to say that I am very pleased with he way it looks and I will be coloring this again but in the smaller version and turning it into a card ... or two ...

You can get the DVD  from Crafters Companion and it has lots of good tips for perfect coloring every time.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

February 01, 2014

Mothers Day Card

Hi Everybody,

This pretty card is the subject of a video and is created from the  dies listed below.

I have added in my usual  embellishments of flowers, ribbons  and pearls.

The only other die I have used is to make the stand and that is  made using a  Joy Craft Card Stand.

This link is to  Amazon UK but if you  Google the description  you should  still find the card stands... and maybe  a lot cheaper.

The same thing  applies to the stamped sentiment.  It is from a stamp set by JustRite Stampers but you can get it cheaper if you shop around.

The video is just over 10 minutes long so just enough time to grab a brew and relax as you watch .....




This is the alternative way to use your card and make it into a larger version.

The flowers on the top card are from Wild Orchid Crafts

The pretty pastel flowers on the pink card are from   Petal Lu

And the pearl shape to match the sentiment in both cards is from  Want2Scrap 


More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx