Positive Thoughts Blossom

Good morning. Today I am sharing the last of my recent Hochanda TV show samples using the Scrumptious Succulents and Blossom and Grow stamp sets from Chocolate Baroque.

The blossoms were stamped directly onto a 6 X 6 inch pink card blank using Versamark Ink and heat embossed with detail gold powder. Tip: Stamp the four corners first by stamping then turning the card and stamping again, keeping the stamp and block in the same orientation. Then repeat the process stamping the other blossom in between. I used the Tim Holtz Stamping Press (Tonic) to make this really quick and easy. It is not essential to use a stamp press but it will make it much easier.

The blossoms were coloured with Distress Oxide Ink (Carved Pumpkin), green and gold sparkle pens and a damp brush. Metallic orange/silver and gold gel pens (Pentel and Sakura) were used to add highlights to the flowers.

Next I created a stamp mask by stamping the cactus onto scrap copy paper and cutting out. I used a few dots of Zig 2 Way glue to give a tacky temporary stick to the reverse to hold the masks in place while stamping. Alternatively you could use the special Masking Tissue to create masks.

The cacti were then stamped onto white stamping card using Versafine (Vintage Sepia), covering images with masks as required so that some images appear to be behind the foreground stamped images. The sentiment was stamped onto pink card.

The cacti were coloured using watercolour pencils and a damp brush to smooth and blend the colour. The topper was then cut out and lightly shaped to give dimension before sticking to the card with foam pads.

The sentiment was cut out using a small decorative panel die. A little Distress Oxide was used to colour the edges. This was mounted with 3D glue gel along with a small die cut flower and sprigs (Tattered Lace).

 

My next sample was stamped onto a patterned paper using Versafine (Onyx Black). Again I used masks where needed to build up the scene (prepared as above). Coloured with pencils and added a little yellow glaze gel pen (Sakura) to the blossom stamens.

The panel was edged with black alcohol marker to frame before mounting onto white card and gluing to the green card blank (6 X 6 inch).

For my next sample I dug out an inky background paper from my stash. This one was created with ink sprays and Brusho powders. I thought that it would make a lovely tropical background for a scene.

A background panel was created in the same way as my first sample but using Distress Ink (Old Paper) for a subtle effect. A little clear sparkle pen was used to add petal highlights. The panel was edged with green alcohol marker to frame and mounted onto green card before gluing to the card front (6 X 6 inch).

The scene was built up, stamping with Versafine Ink (Onyx Black) onto the coloured panel, using masks where needed (made from copy paper as given above). Images were coloured with Distress Oxide Ink (Carved Pumpkin), watercolour and sparkle pens. The panel was edged with black alcohol marker to frame and glued to the card front with foam pads for added depth.

I had so much fun with these gorgeous stamp sets.

Happy stamping x.

Quick and easy monochromatic floral cards

I love to use a blue & white theme and it is a quick and easy method to create cards when you are in a hurry. I created these samples for the recent shows on Hochanda TV using the Blossom and Grow and Scrumptious Succulents stamp sets from Chocolate Baroque.

Images and sentiments were stamped with Versafine (Majestic Blue) and coloured with dark blue watercolour pen. Colour was quickly scribbled onto areas requiring darkest shading and the colour simply dragged out using a damp brush. Note: You need to use a quality stamping card or watercolour card for this technique to work. Card with a high chalk content will grab onto the ink colouring and it cannot be easily spread with water.

The panels were edged with dark blue alcohol marker to frame before gluing to the card fronts.

My first quick scene was created using the Blossom and Grow stamp set and textured watercolour card and mounted onto a 6 X 4 inch card blank. A little watercolour pen was run along the base to ground the image, spreading the ink with a little water. Clear glitter glue was added to the flowers for a bit of sparkle – I just cannot resist. Loving the sentiments in this stamp set, think that I will be using them a lot.

 

My second quick scene included the sentiment from the Scrumptious Succulents stamp set. Again I used textured watercolour card, mounting the finished scene onto a 3 X 5 inch card blank.

The scene was stamped and coloured as above. Extra colour was sponged around the edges by lifting watercolour pen scribbled onto my craft mat. A tiny drop of glycerine was blended into the sponge before lifting colour. This helps the ink to blend more easily and behave more like a Distress Ink (a Sheena Douglass tip). I then splashed the blended inked background with water and lifted off with kitchen paper to give added texture.

Blossom and Grow Cacti

Good morning. I created these samples for the recent shows on Hochanda TV using Captivating Cacti, Blossom and Grow and Scrumptious Succulents stamp sets from Chocolate Baroque.

My first sample was created using a 5 X 4.5 inch card blank. The lower third of the card blank was embossed using a lacy textured embossing folder. The background was stamped using the Square Bubbles stamp and Distress Ink (Tattered Rose). Distress Ink, purple dye based ink and pink glitter glue were applied over the embossed section to colour and highlight.

The sentiment was stamped from the Blossom and Grow stamp set using purple dye based ink. The card was edged using purple alcohol marker to frame and a ribbon glued down to create a base for the flower pot.

I used a flower pot die (Sheena Douglass Herb Garden set) to cut the pot from Kraft card. A little colouring was added using watercolour and clear sparkle pens before shaping and gluing to the card front with 3D glue gel.

Cacti from the Scrumptious Succulents set were stamped onto smooth stamping card using Versafine (Onyx Black). Images were then coloured with watercolour pens (Crafters Companion Spectrum Aqua), dragging out colour and blending using a damp brush, then cut out. The large ‘face on’ cactus image was stamped several times, cut out, shaped and layered up. Elements were shaped using a ball tool and foam mat then glued down with 3D glue gel.

 

For my second sample I used the gorgeous Captivating Cacti stamp and a sentiment from Blossom and Grow.

I prepared a decorative card blank from a 6 X 6 inch Kraft card blank, extending the edges by adding die cut borders from white pearl card (Crafters Companion Die’Sire strip die). Finished by adding faux stitching with a fine tipped pen (opaque white) and PVA pearls.

Images were stamped onto textured watercolour card using Versafine (Onyx Black). Watercolour and sparkle pens (Crafters Companion) were used for colouring. Colouring was extended at the base to give the cactus grounding.

A little gold sparkle pen was flicked across the image for added texture. I didn’t intend to do this initially but I had to cover up an accidental splodge! I liked the result, so a ‘happy accident’ as they say – tee hee. The card was edged with dark brown marker to frame before gluing to the card front.

Growing Blossoms

Good morning. Today I am sharing a couple of my samples for the recent shows on Hochanda with the Blossom and Grow and Scrumptious Succulents stamp sets.

This one was created with a 6 X 6 inch Kraft card blank. First the flowers were stamped onto scrap copy paper and cut out to create a mask. A little Zig 2 Way glue was dotted on the back to provide a temporary tac. Alternatively you could use the special masking tissue.

The images were stamped directly onto the card blank using Versamark and embossed with detail white powder. The foreground florals were stamped first, covered with masks before stamping the background foliage.

A little texture was added using a little ‘pricking wheel’ and a ruler. Just something I have in my tools, like a mini pastry crimping texture wheel. Opaque white pen was then used to add faux stitching and dots. Light colouring was brushed over with watercolour pens, using a clear sparkle pen to dilute the colour.

The flower was stamped again onto white stamping card using Versafine (Onyx Black) and coloured with watercolour and sparkle pens. The image was trimmed out and mounted with 3D foam. Finished with PVA pearls.

My second is a wreath created with one of the small flower heads. A 6.5 X 5.5 inch textured card blank was randomly stamped using the Square Bubbles stamp and Versafine (Majestic Blue). I used various dies to cut mats and layers and to build out decorative sides to the card blank (using white and blue card). Dies: Pin Dot Decorative Circles (Tattered Lace) and Florence (Crafters Companion Die’Sire).

I used the Inkadinkadoo Stamping Gear to stamp the wreath using Versafine (Majestic Blue). This can be done manually by dividing the circle into 8 segments (mark lightly with a pencil). Tip: Stamp the first image and turn the card before stamping the next, keeping the stamp orientation the same as you go. It’s easiest to stamp the 4 quadrants first then go around again and fill in between. Practice on some copy paper.

The flowers were coloured with watercolour pens and clear sparkle pen to dilute out colour and give shading. 3D foam was used to add depth and dimension to layers.

Tranquil Meditation and a Happy Place

Good morning. Today I am sharing some of my recent show samples using Tranquility, Wisteria Lane and Artistic Affirmations stamp sets from Chocolate Baroque.

I created 3 different scene cards, one using vibrant happy colours, one in blue & white monochrome and my third was an attempt at Parchment. I hope that you like them.

The theme for this weeks Simon Says Stamp Challenge (Mon) is ‘a trio of something’ – so I thought that these would fit perfectly.

Happy Place

I love colour so I created this ‘Happy Place’ using a bright cheery colourway.

Materials:

• Tranquility, Wisteria Lane and Artistic Affirmations stamp sets
• 8 X 8 inch card blank, white stamping card, scrap copy paper
• Inkpads: Versamark, Versafine (Vintage Sepia), Distress Ink (Wild Honey, Dusty Concord)
• Pigment powders (Lindy’s Stamp Gang – Urban Amethyst, Poppin Pink, Luminous Lemon)
• Embossing powder (purple and pink mix)
• Watercolour, sparkle and glitter pens (Spectrum Noir and Sakura – yellow, green, purple, pink, orange, brown, clear sparkle) and coloured pencils
• Fine tipped marker (waterproof brown, opaque white) and alcohol marker (dark purple)
• Zig 2 way glue
• Cosmic Shimmer PVA pearls (Vintage Pink), Stickles Glitter Glue (Star Dust) and Glossy Accents

How it was done:

1. The lanterns were stamped onto copy paper and cut out to create masks. I dotted a little zig glue on the back and left to dry. This glue then gives a temporary tac to hold the masks in place while stamping.
2. The scene was stamped with Versafine, stamping the foreground images first then covering with masks while stamping the images set behind. The scene was extended by drawing with the fine tipped pen (i.e. water swirls).
3. The foliage across the top was stamped with Versamark and pigment powders were applied with a soft brush. Further foliage was stamped with Wild Honey Distress Ink. The sentiment was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with powder.
4. The image was coloured with watercolour pens, dissolved pigments, sparkle overlay and glitter pens. Highlights were added with white pen and additional shading added with pencils.
5. The image was edged with alcohol marker and by blending with Dusty Concord Distress Ink.
6. Extra sparkle was added with glitter glue and Glossy Accents. PVA pearls were applied to the border.

Tranquility

I have been trying to have a go at Parchment craft as I love the delicate result. I thought that it would make a lovely tranquil version. No picot cutting as I am hopeless, so I cheated with a die. I tried to hide the glue but still ended up with a blob of showing through the parchment – eek! I was fairly pleased with the results but have a lot to learn and more practice needed yet.

Materials:

• Tranquility stamp set
• 6 X 6 inch scalloped card blank, parchment, gold satin board
• 6 X 6 inch decorative stencil
• Pergamano tools (embossing mat, embossing tools, mapping pen, Sticky Ink and Perga Glue)
• Inkpads: StazOn (Opaque White), Distress Ink (Tattered Rose)
• Scalloped circle dies (Pin Dot Scalloped Circle – Tattered Lace)
• PVA pearls (tangerine), extra fine glitter and sequins
• Used tumble dryer sheet

How it was done:

1. The gold card and parchment were cut out using dies. The background was created using Distress Ink through the stencil (using a blending brush).
2. The image was stamped onto the front of the parchment using white StazOn. I then embossed the outlines on the back of the parchment using a fine embossing tool, tracing the stamped image. To help aid the embossing tool to glide on the parchment I rubbed over the surface using the tumble drier sheet first.
3. Larger embossing tools were then used to add shading. Although it is generally called ‘shading’ it is actually ‘highlighting’ as embossing stretches the parchment and makes it whiter. You need to work gently and slowly, leaving the parchment to rest between layers of further whitening. I did tear her cloak (eeeeek) but managed to disguise it with a little Perga Glue which was later covered with glitter.
4. Sparkly highlights were then added to the front using a mapping pen (dip pen), sticky ink and extra fine glitter.

Meditation

I love creating monochromatic blue & white cards. Perfect for a tranquil meditation.

Materials:

• Tranquility and Wisteria Lane stamp sets
• 15cm square card blank, blue card for die cut panel, white stamping card
• Versafine Inkpad (Majestic Blue)
• Water based sparkle pens (Spectrum Noir – blue and clear)
• Alcohol marker (dark blue)
• PVA peals
• Decorative square and arched panel dies (Tonic)

How it was done:

1. The images were stamped with Versafine ink and were coloured with sparkle pens and a damp brush to create shading. Decorative stamped elements were positioned to frame the central image.
2. The panels were cut using dies and edged with blue marker to frame. 3D foam was used to mount the central image and give it more depth.
3. Finished with PVA pearls.

Country Cottage Scene Building Tutorial

Good morning. This was one of my recent show samples with the scene building stamps from Chocolate Baroque. I have created a step by step for you, ‘warts & all’ as I made a bit of a mistake with masking! I think that I disguised it reasonably well – tee hee.

The theme on Simon Says Blog Challenge (Mon) is ‘whatever the weather’. The bright colouring and moody sky gives a slightly eerie feel and maybe the threat of a storm.

Yay – my project has been picked for the Designer Spotlight on the Simon Says Blog Challenge – FAB xxx

Materials:

• Stamps: Landscape edges (wall and background skyline), Village Life (trees), Townhouses (trees & bushes), English Cottages (cottage, trees & bushes, post box)
• 8 X 8 inch card blank and stamping card (smooth white)
• Scrap copy paper (needs to be thin) and temporary glue adhesive (such as zig 2 way glue) or masking tissue
• Watercolour pens and inks (yellow, orange, brown, turquoise, bright green, olive green, red, pink, grey and black)
• Fine tipped water resistant pen (black and opaque white)
• Alcohol marker (black)
• Versafine (Onyx Black)
• Pebeo Drawing Gum (masking fluid)

Step by Step:

Planning a rough layout.

The first thing that I do with a set of scene building stamps is to stamp all the elements onto scrap copy paper and roughly cut them out. I then use these to plan a scene, laying them out onto my project to decide on placement. Individual elements that may be needed to create masks (e.g. buildings, trees, bushes etc.) I cut around carefully. Any elements that are silhouette stamps (e.g. solid black trees, branches and foliage) don’t need to be masked so I just cut around roughly. I keep all these cut out elements to use again for future projects.

Stamp the post box and cover with the mask before stamping the wall. Using masking you work progressively from foreground to background. Masking ensures that element sits in front of the one behind. Don’t worry too much if you get a few gaps in the image around the masked elements, these are easily corrected with a fine tipped pen.

I put a couple of dots of zig glue onto the back of my masking pieces. It goes on blue and dries clear, and is then a tacky temporary adhesive for holding elements in place while stamping. If you are using masking tissue this already has a tacky backing.

Next stamp foreground trees and bushes. The foreground bush on the left was masked before stamping the ones behind. Cover the trees with masks.

Continue stamping and masking trees and bushes as you work backwards through the scene.

Continue stamping and masking as you work backwards through the scene.

Continue building the scene using masks as needed. Now can you see where I went wrong? I forgot to mask the bushes on the right hand side of the cottage! You can see the base of the house through the bushes. Eeek! I decided to leave it and try and cover up the mistake with the colouring.

Stamp the clouds along the top and the birds into the sky. Mask the foreground tree and stamp the silhouette tree on the right.

Use the fine tipped pen to draw in elements and extend the background. Try to ‘go with the flow’ and just quickly draw. Rather than solid lines try and be a bit sketchy with light touches, dots & dashes. To give the illusion of perspective draw the path wider as it gets nearer the front of the scene. Draw a letterbox and scribble text onto the post box.

Next cover the cottage and trees using the Drawing Gum. This masking fluid is brilliant. I had always been used to the older stinky rubbery style masking fluid that ruins your brushes. This fluid is fabulous, it paints on easily and washes out instantly with water (treat it as you would an acrylic paint and wash brushes immediately – it will ruin your brush if you let it dry on).

It is not essential to mask before colouring but this makes it much easier to slap colour across the background and leave the elements protected.

Apply ink colours (or watercolour washes) across the background. Work freely working ‘wet in wet’. I used intense coloured inks to create a vibrant scene.

When the background is fully dry rub away the masking fluid.

Now colour the rest of the scene. I used watercolour pens and a damp brush, picking up colour scribbled onto my palette.

Use the fine tipped pen to draw in a few extra details, adding grasses and texture to the path. To keep perspective draw them slightly larger towards the front and reducing in size as you go back. Use the opaque white pen to add a few highlights.

Finally edge the scene with black marker to frame and mount onto the card front.

Medici Flower Card

Good morning. This one was created with the lovely Medici Flower stamp from Chocolate Baroque.

The challenge this week on the Simon Says Stamp Blog (Wed Challenge) is ‘Make your own background’ so I have entered this one.

 

1. The collage flower was stamped with Versafine and the image masked with Pebeo Drawing Gum to protect.
2. The background was painted with inks and texture added by dropping on water and blotting off with tissue. Highlights were enhanced with white pen.
3. The masking was removed and the flower coloured with watercolour pens.
4. The panel was mat and layered onto blue card to frame. Alcohol marker was added to the edges to further define the layers.

Materials:

• Medici Flower stamp (Chocolate Baroque)
• 6 X 6 inch white card blank, blue card (for layering) and watercolour card
• Versafine Inkpad (Onyx Black)
• Pebeo Drawing Gum (masking fluid)
• Water based inks (Spectrum Noir Aquatints – red and purple)
• Watercolour pens (Spectrum Aqua – blue, yellow, green)
• Fine tipped pen (opaque white)
• Alcohol marker (black)

Mini Landscape ATC

I thought that I would give a mini artwork a try and make an ATC (Artist Trading Card). Generally I work much bigger than this so it was actually a challenge for me. I tried to be less planned and to free myself up a bit too and just ‘go for it’. I was quite pleased with my bright and cheery landscape.

The Simon Says Stamp Challenge (Wed) for this week is ‘anything goes’ – so I have entered this one.

How it was done:

1. I cut the ATC from a scrap of mount board and covered with white gesso to prime.
2. I cut the flowers from recycled packaging and a punch and edged them with black pen to enhance. I layered up the flowers and then dunked them into molten UTEE to create the glossy flower embellishments. Finished with a sparkly sequin.
3. I stamped the sun with StazOn and drew the abstract landscape with a marker. I coloured using watercolour pens and a damp brush.
4. I added some texture using paste through the stencil and plus a bit of acrylic paint. When dry I rubbed over some of the areas with Gilding Wax.
5. I edged the ATC with black marker to frame and added some sparkle over the sun and clouds.
6. I finished with some Glossy Accents over the sun and rays.

Materials:

• Country Views stamp set from Chocolate Baroque
• Texturised Stencil (Crafters Workshop)
• Scrap mount board, recycled multi-coloured card packaging
• StazOn Inkpad (Jet Black)
• Acrylic paint (turquoise)
• Gesso (White)
• Acrylic texture paste (Pebeo)
• Fine tipped marker (black)
• Spectrum Aqua Watercolour Pens
• Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen (Clear Overlay)
• Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE)
• Melt pot (or small foil food dish and heat gun to melt UTEE)
• Pebeo Gilding Wax (Silver)
• Glossy Accents
• Tonic Petal Pairs Punch
• Sequins
• Sizzix BigZ die to cut ATC (Artist Trading Card 2.5 X 3.5 inch)

Because I Care Poppy Card created for Chocolate Baroque

Good morning. This was another of my recent show samples for Hochanda using the lovely poppy themed stamps from Chocolate Baroque. I used Brushos on this one to create a loose watercolour background.

 

Materials:

• Pretty Poppies and Poppy Meadow stamp sets
• 14.5 X 16 cm card blank, white hammered card, pink card, watercolour card
• Versamark and Versafine (Vintage Sepia, Onyx Black)
• WOW embossing powder (detail white)
• Fine tipped pens (opaque white, black)
• Watercolour pens (pink, purple, green)
• Brusho Powders (Purple, Leaf Green)
• Cosmic Shimmer PVA Pearls (pink, pearl)
• Glitter glue (clear)
• Decorative border die (Crafters Companion Die’sire)

How it was made:

1. The border panel was cut from hammered card and glued to the card front.
2. The pink card was trimmed to fit and the sentiment stamped with Versamark and embossed with white powder. Faux stitching and little dots in the background were added with white pen.
3. The poppies were stamped onto watercolour card, ‘inking’ the stamp with the pink and green watercolour pens. To get the lovely watercolour effect the card was spritzed with water to get the stamping colours to bleed slightly. Brusho crystals were then dropped onto the background.
4. After drying the image was overstamped using Versafine (Vintage Sepia) to bring back some definition. I used a black pen to enhance some of the stamped outlines. More colour was added using watercolour pens and a damp brush. The sentiment was stamped with black ink.
5. The image was trimmed and glue to the card front. Finished the card with a few PVA pearls and yes …. obligatory glitter glue. Just cannot help myself x.

Autumnal Heart Hanger created for Chocolate Baroque

Good morning. This was another of my recent show samples featuring the Autumn Hedgerow and Nature Table stamps from Chocolate Baroque.

 

Materials:

• Autumn Hedgerow, Nature Table, Nature’s Peace stamp sets
• White board heart (approx. 4 inches across), patterned background paper, pale orange and copper pearl card
• Inkpads: Versamark, Versafine (Vintage Sepia)
• Mica spray (pale blue)
• WOW Embossing Powder (Olive and Clear Gloss)
• Watercolour pens (moss green, yellow and brown)
• Cosmic Shimmer Glitter Jewels (Iced Snow) and glitter glue (clear)
• Glossy Accents
• Organza ribbon (gold) and flower stamens (yellow)
• Decorative heart die (Tattered Lace – Pearl Pin Dot Hearts), and floral quilling die (Debbie Shore)

How it was made:

1. The patterned paper was glued to the heart front, a sandpaper block was used to neaten the edges.
2. The tree was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with Olive powder.
3. The sentiment was stamped using the moss green watercolour pen. Note: I used only parts of the larger sentiment stamp, colouring just those areas with the pen.
4. The leaves were stamped around the edge using green and brown watercolour pen.
5. A little blue mica spray was added to the right hand side. The left hand side was covered with Versamark and embossed with clear powder.
6. The leaves and autumnal embellishments were stamped onto pale orange card. A little more colour was added with watercolour pens. The images were cut out and shaping was added with a ball tool. Glossy accents added to the fruits. The Autumnal embellishments were attached with 3D glue gel.
7. Lose glitter and glitter glue were added for extra sparkle.
8. The quilling flower was cut from pale orange card and rolled up the create the flower. It was embellished with ready made stamens and a bit of glitter glue.
9. The background decorative heart was cut from copper pearl card and glued to the back. The hanging ribbon was glued between the front and back layers.