Beautiful Card Designs Made Easy

July 06, 2015

Distress Inks .....

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is created by playing around with Distress Inks to create this Bokeh Effect background for my card.

This is a technique that has been around for ever and it is very easy to do.

Translated Bokeh simply means Blurred and it is a photographic term.

Have you ever looked at a film,  a photo or a magazine page when they have all the lights in the background blurred and running in to each other?   Well that is Bokeh

The sentiment is stamped onto a  Classic Circle and then mounted onto  Spellbinders  Symbology Frame

I have simply turned the orientation of the frame around for a different look

Around the sentiment I have added in some faux stitching and tucked some silver twine behind it

Then I dotted sequins around the card and mounted the panel onto black card before adding to my base.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

July 05, 2015

Two techniques - One card

Hi Everybody,

On todays card I have combined two very different techniques to give a really pretty look.

The background is called Caught In Crystal and the video for this will be with you soon.

The Roses are water colored with Aqua Tints from Spectrum Noir 

The stamp is the Vintage Flowers  from Make The Day Special  website and they have some beautiful stamps to choose from

The panel is layered onto black card and added with foam behind it to raise it up.

I am playing a lot with these Aqua Tints and really liking the effect and I will get better as I learn more about water coloring ... I promise !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

July 04, 2015

This weeks Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

A rainy start here in the North West but hope fully it will brighten up later.  This is a short post today and both tomorrow and Mondays post are scheduled because once this post is done I am off to pack to go to Silverstone.

Tomorrow is the Formula One British Grand Prix  and there are two little seats with our names on them.  Griff is an avid F1 fan and I am going along just to keep him company you understand.  

We made a deal a long time ago that he supports me with cards and Harry Potter Films  and I support him with F1 and I have to go any Mission Impossible or James Bond films too
. Not a bad deal eh??

So on to todays winner and the name drawn this week is ...

Ramona Burns ...

Please email me 
christina@card-making-magic.com
with your postal address and the card will be on it's way to you
You have 48 hours to claim the card and then it is gone to someone else.

Have a good weekend wherever you are 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

July 03, 2015

Friday Freebie - 067

Hi Everybody,

Todays Friday Freebie is in a lovely shade of peach and it has self adhesive pearls from  Want2Scrap  on all the cross sections of the top panel.

The bottom detailed part is cut from the peach card and the bit that is left over has created the top panel.

Can you see where it would fit?

I have used the Petite Monarch  which is such a pretty die from Spellbinders

Both panels have been embossed using a different pattern and the peach one is raised with foam tape

The sentiment is from my "Stash"  and the pretty flowers is from Samaflora and is created from a pearly card.

Now if this is a card that you would like to win then join the group of followers and leave me a comment.

From those comments a name will be drawn in the morning and the winner announced in the blog post.

Please do not add your name if you are going to be unable to check the  Saturday Blog post as you only have 48 hours in which to claim the card. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs x

July 02, 2015

Celebrate Background ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays cards are created with the stamps from Spellbinders Celebrations Collection

These are from the "Your Day"  stamp set and I have chosen to use the Elephant and her parcels for one card and the tortoise for the other

I have used one of the text stamps stamp, set at an angle,  to create the background and then stamped and heat embossed the animals onto other smaller pieces of card.

They have been colored with Spectrum Noir pens and then the text and the animal panels mounted onto black card.

The background layers have been laid flat to the card base but the animal panels are raised with foam tape.

The little splashes of color are enamel dots from Want2Scrap  and they come in other colors. And finally the addition of Googly Eyes make the characters a little special

A stray away from flowers, ribbons and pearls ... but a novel card all the same.

I like to try different things from time to time to keep the crafters block away.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

July 01, 2015

Blue Roses ... Labels Forty

Hi Everybody,

This lovely blue card is in several different patterns but they all work nicely together.

Don't be afraid to mix stripes and ginghams with spots and florals because as long as the tones ore the same the patterns will work.

Both of these are from Lime Tree Craft and I bought them at the craft shows I go to. The card is a smooth, matt, top quality feel and it smells nice too

For this card I have created a 5x7 hinged card  and then layered it with gingham

The detailed panels are from Spellbinders Labels Forty and is the Classic Collection

I have added flowers from  Wild Orchid Crafts  threaded  blue ribbon through the white lace which is also from WOC

Altogether a pleasing little card suitable for any occasion.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


June 30, 2015

Tuesday Tutorial - Victorian Arch

Hi Everybody,

Todays tutorial use the Victorian Arch from Spellbinders and this is quite a large die and can be used in lots of different ways.

For my card I have created the design in turquoise and white and added in some really pretty flowers.


Spellbinders Supplies:

Instructions:



 Cut two pieces of white card to create the base  with #8 die from  6x6 Matting Basics A and two layers in the color of your choice from #8 from 6x6 Matting Basics B  One of these will be to line the inside      (Please remember that #1 is always the smallest die)

 Cut another layer of white card from the #7 die from Matting Basics A and this is the layer we are using first


With the centre part of the Victorian Arch add it to this white layer and keep it close to the edge ... tape it in place so it won't move and run it through the Grand Calibur 


Flip the die over and tape in place again to line it up with the first cut circle and then add foam pads to the back where they cannot be seen from the front


Attach this piece to the colored layer leaving a small border around the edges and then cover the join with some ribbon


From the Royal Circle #2 cut one shape and add foam pads to the back of this (You can use any circle die that you have )


With the chipboard word I have colored it with a deep turquoise ink pad and then covered it with clear embossing powder and heated it ... then repeated the process to deepen the color

Add in the flowers and a bow into the position you want them and add a sparkler to cover the bows knot.  Line the inside of the card with the second piece of colored card for a really pretty finish. 

 More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



June 29, 2015

We are all Special ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card uses a mixture of striped card from  AnnaMarie Designs  and some silver foiled card from  Hunkydory  and although completely different they play nicely together.

I have created the card from 5x7 Matting Basics A&B from Spellbinders  and the foiled card is Labels Twenty

I have used the matching Diamanté from Want2Scrap  to surround both layers of the label

The satin ribbon around all the layers is from  Mei Flower and the lovely sentiment is from  Lili Of The Valley  which has been stamped in black and clear embossed

The bows centrepiece and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and are a mixture of Roses, Gypsophillia, Lilies, Apple Blossom and Magnolias.

Just a couple of things I would like to say ... First is that I am going to be stuck with three blue card if the ladies whose names were added as an extra on Saturday to win them don't come forward.  Here are the names again ... and then I give up ....
 Donna Sherman ... Jayne Buckley ... Sandra Smith ...
I know we humans like to skim a page but you will miss out if you don't read the blog post completely

Secondly the link to the
Inspiration Page is at the top left of the page and it is a video card collection. Click the photo at the top and it will take you to another page.

It is NOT the  "My Designs"  which I have now moved to the bottom of the column.  That is simply a slideshow from Photobucket and there is nothing to click there and you may get an error message if you try to open that. 

And to the ladies who have already found it Thank You for the lovely comments you have left for us. We will be adding more as often as we can

And don't forget that the card photo under the heading Tuesday Tutorial is also clickable and will take you to another new page with lots of tutorials from this blog ... a new one every week ...and Spellbinders with a new one every month. 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx







June 28, 2015

Batch Card Making

Hi Everybody,

Sometimes when you have a lot of cards to make it can be a good idea to make them in a batch

Here I have four card that are created in this way and it is a quick and easy way to work.

By that I mean do all the stamping ... all the die cutting ... all the embossing ... adding all the flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts  last and arranging them as you please

The first thing I did was stamp the sentiments on each of the cards.

They are part of a collection from  Make The Day Special 

MTDS is a UK based company but they have a lot the US stamps. This is where I have bought the stamps that I have been water coloring

Here is one of the new Avery Elle stamps called  Simply Said    and there all of these and more are on one sheet.  It matches the die that says  You   which I cut from Craft Foam and again in card.  I used double sided tape between the foam and card to glue them together.

I have created my base card and layers with  Pierced Rectangles from Spellbinders  and the smallest layer has been embossed with  Framed Canvas  and both are part of the  Celebrations Collection

Making cards in this way is excellent if you are making a batch of Thank You cards or invitations. Please click the links to view the products.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx








June 27, 2015

Another Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

Before I tell you the name of this weeks winner I would like to point you in the direction of the new addition to the top of the left hand side bar.  It is called  Inspiration and if you click the photo it will take you to a new page.

On that page I have added a short video to show you ... grouped all together... just some of the cards that have been made over the last few weeks. This is Griffs' idea and we thought that it may offer some ideas if you get stuck for ways to make your cards.

I will be adding a new video every few weeks and some of the cards have actually been tutorials ... here  or on Spellbinders Blog or on Card Making Magic ...  I hope you enjoy !!


So on to the winner of the Friday Freebie  Pink card from yesterday.  
The name drawn this week is you ...     


Ann Lauzon ...
would you email me please
christina@card-making-magic.com
with your full postal address and the card will be on its way to you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please Read On

Before I go I have to tell you that three of the blue cards from the "Ten Cards For Ten Winners" have not been claimed and so I have re drawn three more winners to each get a Blue card from those offered on the 19th June. Those names are ...

Donna Sherman
Jayne Buckley
Sandra Smith 
please contact me at the email address above
You have 48 hours to claim the cards

I know I have said this before  and I don't want it to send like a rant .... but please if you are not going to come back and check for your name then please don't add it to the list.  I make the cards and I am happy to send them anywhere ... but I can't chase you for your address ... that is up to you. 

But if you don't check then you have taken away the chance for somebody else to win the offered prize. 

And last but not least ... the names are drawn at random and the winners notified in the Blog post. Some one, who has not been named as a winner, has left me her name, telephone number and address in the comments to have a card 

Please do not add personal information into the comment box contact me privately at the email address above if your name is shown as the winner.  I have deleted the comment with the personal info on it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

June 26, 2015

Friday Freebie 065

Hi Everybody,

After the ten blue cards I offered in last weeks freebie I thought I would go back to pink with flowers, ribbon and pearls for this Friday Freebie

So this one is layered up and used  Tranquil Moments from Spellbinders and  Napa Valley   from Creative Expressions dies and I have used lots of foam tape to give the card dimension.

The background is Pink Centura Pearl card from Crafters Companion  that has been embossed and the inside is lined in the same card

The flowers are as always from Wild Orchid Crafts and are a selection of Roses, Tulips, Cherry Blossom and Cosmos Daisies

If you would like to own this card then please join the group of followers and leave me a comment to let me know that you have visited.

You will need to come back in the morning to see if your name is listed and then you will have 48 hours  in which to claim the card.

I need your full postal address please,  complete with Country and Zip/Postcode,  to be able to send you the card



More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

June 25, 2015

Holiday Samples ...

Hi Everybody,

Here are a couple of my card samples that where shown on Create and Craft last week when Kim Hupke  was over from the US showing you the Holiday 2015 dies

These new dies are so pretty and can be used at any time of the year ... not just for Christmas.

This one is the Gingerbread Card front but these dies are exclusive to   C&C   for a few weeks ... and many of them sold out in the shows.

But they will be back again so keep a look out for them.

This was the Gingerbread House and I cut it twice and layered it on to Kraft card

The white card at the bottom is Glitter card and is sparkly white.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

June 24, 2015

Craft Stash ...


Hi Everybody,

A little while ago I was asked to join the on line design team for Craft Stash. 

This is a new company that are bringing crafting supplies and goodies to the UK market.

They have brought out their own brand of dies called  Apple Blossom Dies  and I added a link to them in the right hand side bar for you to see

More dies will be added as they become available.

This card features the Ornate Heart  and it is very ornate.

I made the card in white with a deep blue and added in some matching ribbon and a diamante centre for the bow.

The base to the card is created with the  6x6  Matting Basics A&B  and the A4 embossing folder from Spellbinders

The sentiment is one that was free with Simply Cards and papercrafts magazine a few months ago

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx



June 23, 2015

Tuesday Tutorial - Lace & Frills Birthday Card

Hi Everybody,

Do you have those moments when you need to make a card and you can't think what to do?  This pretty card is so easy to put together and takes no time at all.  I have used the large texture plate from Spellbinders and coupled it with an embossing folder. Very quick, very easy and very pretty too.

Spellbinders Supplies:

Other Supplies:

Wild Orchid Crafts -  Flowers, Lace
Mei Flower -  Ribbon,
Want2Scrap -  Pearls, 
Embossing powder

Instructions:

From the outer square #2 cut two panels in white for your base card and create a hinged card

Hand cut a slightly smaller panel in silver and another slightly smaller still in pink and emboss the top pink layer

Cut another piece of white card slightly smaller than the pink layer and this is the piece we are going to use.

Load a brayer  with the Cotton Candy Ink and roll it over the texture plate ensuring that it is all covered.

Lay the card flat on top of the plate and pass it though the Grand Calibur as an embossing sandwich 

Then quickly remove the card from the plate and while the ink is still wet sprinkle it with embossing powder and heat

The powder will stick to the wet ink  and give you a lovely effect. I used a sparkly powder.

With some sharp scissors,  or your craft knife, carefully trim around the pattern on one side and then trim again to fit the pink embossed panel from the previous step

Leave as much depth as you prefer to allow the embossed panel to show

Wrap these layers with ribbon and lace and place foam tape on the back to give dimension

Add to the silver card and the base card

Create your bow and add to the front in the position you like and add in flowers to the knot.  Add the sentiment of your choice and there you have a very pretty card for you to send with love.

Designers Tip:

Change the color and leave the panel complete for another look to this card.

Or if you are really pushed for time simply use the texture plate to emboss the silver card and miss out the other steps.

Your card will be just as lovely whichever you decide to do.

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial 


More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx


June 22, 2015

Having fun ...

Hi Everybody,

You will have to forgive the abundance of water colored cards but I am having so much fun with these new Aqua Tints from Spectrum Noir that I can't stop

The stamps are all new too and I bought all of them from  Make The Day Special  and they are mostly stamps from Altenew

This one is called Sketchy Rose and it is lovely.  The sentiment is from Sentiments and Quotes  and there are lots on one stamp sheet

Along the bottom I have added some ribbon and lace and tied a little bow with satin ribbon from Mei Flower

The little pink pearls from Want2Scrap are dotted around the card ... but just a few.

The bows centrepiece is from Wild Orchid Crafts and matches in with the color scheme perfectly

I think it does me good every so often to step away from the style I am  used to and try something different.

 Brings a new freshness back to my crafting and then I am ready to come up with some new ideas to share

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx