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.

Earth Laughs in Flowers Card

A birthday card that I made for a friend that loves pink and flowers.

The theme for this week’s Simon Says Stamp Challenge (Mon) is ‘Flower Power’ – so I have entered this one.

Materials:

• Big Bold Backgrounds – Belle Flower, Harlequin Rose and Rose Stem Script stamps (Chocolate Baroque); Flowering Dogwood Branches and Flowering Dogwood stamp sets(Heartfelt Creations)
• 6 X 6 inch card blank, white stamping card
• Versamark Inkpad, Versafine (Vintage Sepia)
• Embossing powders: Pale green with mica (Lindy’ Stamp Gang) and bright pink with glitter (WOW)
• Watercolour pens and water based sparkle pens (Spectrum Noir – yellow, greens and pinks)
• Fine tipped glitter pen (pink) and alcohol markers (deep pink and pale grey)
• Glossy Accents and Stickles glitter glue (Crystal)
• Large floral shaped die or template (I used Essential Flowers from Tattered Lace), Flowering Dogwood Branches and Flowering Dogwood Dies (Heartfelt Creations)

How it was done:

1. I stamped the background with Versamark ink and heat embossed with green powder.
2. The sentiment and border were stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with the pink powder.
3. I used a large floral die as a template to draw around using a fine tipped glitter pen. The background image was coloured with watercolour and glitter pens, using a damp brush to blend out colours.
4. Grey alcohol marker was used to add a little shading under the sentiment plate to make it appear more 3D.
5. Pink alcohol pen was used to edge the card blank and background panel before gluing down.
6. Next I stamped the flowers and leaves with Versafine Ink. These were cut out with dies and coloured with watercolour pens. I used balls tools and a spongy mat to shape and add dimension to the embellishments.
7. I finished by applying Glossy Accents over the sentiment plate plus extra sparkle with clear glitter glue.

Mandala patterns created with stamps from Chocolate Baroque

Good afternoon. I often love to play and create something different with my stamps. Here I have created 2 mandalas using elements from scene building stamp sets from Chocolate Baroque.

I have a circular stamping gear from Inkadinkadoo, but these can be created by drawing a circle and dividing it up into segments, then repeat stamping around the pencilled template. With the stamping gear it is so much quicker.

I first had a play by stamping images onto waste copy paper using the monument stamp (from English Cottages) and rose tree stamp (from Townhouses). I stamped 16 repeats around the circle.

The first pattern inspired me to make something with an industrial feel. In the second image I could see a definite secondary pattern of a large flower in the centre. So I thought something bright and floral would be fitting.

 

I stamped the image with Versamark onto black card and embossed in gold powder. The image was cut out and mounted onto a 6 X 6 inch card blank. The corners were stamped with black ink.

A die cut circle was stamped and embossed with a sentiment from Punky Expressions. I used a die cut cog (Sizzix) to finish, cut in black card and coated with gold gilding wax.

I had a lot of fun with this one and went a bit crazy with sparkle pens. The trees were stamped and embossed in fine gold powder. The image was flooded with plenty of colour, then spritzed with lots of water to make the colours bleed. I also puffed through a straw to spread the colour further. Finished with a few sparkly sequins and PVA pearls. Edged with pink alcohol marker and mounted onto and 8 X 8 inch card blank.

The theme for this weeks Simon Says Stamp Challenge (Wed) is ‘sparkle and shine’ – so I have entered this one.

Imagination Meets Reality scene card created for Chocolate Baroque

Good afternoon. I have had a bit of a play with Chocolate Baroque scene building stamps. I hope that you like my imaginary scene.

Materials:

• Punky Expressions, Townhouses and Landscape Edges stamp sets
• 10cm square card blank, white stamping card, black card, scrap copy paper
• Inkpads: Versamark and Versafine (Onyx Black)
• Heat embossing powder (silver)
• Sparkle pens (pink, orange, burgundy)
• Fine tipped pen (black)
• Glitter Glue (silver)
• Gilding wax (silver)
• Zig 2 way glue
• Organza ribbon (pink)
• Header and Strip Dies (Tonic and Crafters Companion)

How it was done:

The tree and building were stamped onto scrap paper and cut out to create masks. A few dots of zig glue were applied to the backs and left to dry (to create a tacky removable surface to hold masks in place while stamping). These masks can be re-used so I keep them in my stash for future projects.

The images were stamped with Versamark and embossed with silver powder. Silver powder was also applied around the edges. The images were then roughly coloured with sparkle pens.

The image was then spritzed with water and wet ink blown around using a straw. Some shading was added with the burgundy pen.

Masks were applied over the tree and building, then the tree line stamped with Versafine ink. The sentiment was also stamped with Versafine, cut out and coloured.

The fine tipped pen was used to draw in extra detail.

Black card was die cut and embossed to give texture. This was trimmed to create the frame. Gilding wax was lightly rubbed over the surface to pick up the texture. Die cuts and scene topper were then glued to the card front. Finished with ribbons and glitter glue.

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.

Village Street Scene Tutorial created with Chocolate Baroque Stamps

Good morning. Today I am sharing a village street scene created with various scene building stamps from Chocolate Baroque. I have included a step by step of how I stamped and masked to build up the scene from the various stamped elements.

Materials:

• Landscape Edges (silhouette background trees), Country Views (sun & hill), Village Life (houses & tree), Townhouses (house & tree), English Cottages (tree, bushes, sign post) stamp sets
• DL card blank (9.5 X 21cm), white stamping card, waste copy paper (or masking tissue)
• Versafine Inkpad (Onyx Black)
• Fine tipped pen (black)
• Temporary glue adhesive (Zig 2 way glue)
• Watercolour pens and brush
• Wax crayons (just cheapy crayons)

 

How to build the scene:

The first thing that I do with scene building stamps is to stamp them all out onto copy paper, trim around and lay them out to decide on placement of the elements.

Once I have chosen which elements I want to use I then carefully trim around the images to create masks. I add just a couple of dots of temporary adhesive onto the back and leave to dry to give a tacky surface to hold down the elements while masking and stamping. If you have masking tissue this is already self-cling/tacky so you don’t need glue.

Next the foreground images are stamped.

Next the foreground images are covered up with the masks and the images that you want to sit behind are stamped.

Further masks are added to cover the stamped images while working backwards through the scene.

Here I left the foreground tree and bush masks in place while stamping the houses. Then I covered the houses while stamping the background. It is not necessary to mask the background silhouette trees as they are solid stamps.

The masks were then removed and a fine tipped marker used to draw in extra elements such as texture on the street and to fill in and extend the solid background trees (i.e. coloured in between the houses).

Extra trees were stamped onto spare card to decoupage onto the foreground.

Wax crayons were used to add a little texture to the roof tops and brickwork. The wax will resist subsequent watercolour.

The scene was then coloured with watercolour pens and a damp brush used to drag out colour and add shading. Extra colour was also painted on by picking up pen colour scribbled onto a craft mat or palette.

The additional trees stamped onto spare card were trimmed and lightly shaped with a ball tool to create foreground bushes and more depth to the scene.

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)

Sea World Tag Card created with stamps from Chocolate Baroque

Good afternoon. This mini tag card was created with Gothic Fragments (background), Mermaid Queen and Underwater stamps from Chocolate Baroque.

The Simon Says Stamp Challenge (Monday) this week is tags – so I have entered it into the challenge too.

Materials:

• Mermaid Queen, Underwater and Gothic Fragments (on background paper) stamps
• 7.5 X 10.5cm card blank, inked background paper from my stash (overstamped with Gothic Fragments texture stamp), scrap and white stamping card
• Inkpads: Versamark, Versafine (Onyx Black)
• WOW Embossing Powder (Gold Rich, Clear Gloss)
• Watercolour and Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens
• Alcohol marker (black)
• Pebeo Texture Paste (Cement)
• Glitter glue (aqua)
• The shell embellishments were made from paper clay and moulds from my stash (coloured with water based inks)
• Texture Stencil (Texturised – Crafters Workshop)
• Recycled fruit bag netting and satin ribbon (red)
• Die to cut tag (Tattered Lace)

How it was done:

1. The background panel was an inked paper from my stash overstamped with the Gothic Fragments stamp. A tag die was used to cut the paper plus a background panel from scrap card (to support the paper), glued together and edged with black marker to frame.
2. Texture paste was applied through the stencil with a palette knife to add a little texture – coloured over the top with sparkle pen when dry (the Pebeo Cement dries very quickly). The shell and weeds were stamped with Versamark and embossed with gold powder. Ribbon and the netting were attached before gluing to the card front.
3. The seahorse and weed was stamped with Versafine and embossed with clear powder. The image was then cut out and coloured with watercolour and sparkle pens.
4. The embellishments were glued down using 3D glue gel. A little glitter glue was added to finish.

Nautical Seahorse card created with stamps from Chocolate Baroque

Good morning. I created this nautical tag card using Underwater, Ammonite and Seaside Dreams (sentiment) stamps from Chocolate Baroque.

The Simon Says Stamp Challenge (Monday) this week is tags – so I have entered it into the challenge too.

Materials:

• Underwater, Ammonite and Seaside Dreams stamp sets
• A5 Kraft card blank, card scraps in blue, white and Kraft card
• Versamark
• WOW Embossing Powders (Clear Gloss and Detail White)
• Sparkle brush pens (clear and blue)
• Fine tipped pen (opaque white)
• Bakers twine (red & white)
• Starfish and seahorse embellishments – made from paper clay and moulds from my stash
• Die to cut tags (Tattered Lace)

How it was done:

1. The card background was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with clear powder. Clear sparkle pen was brushed over the shells and ammonite.
2. A strip of white card was overlaid with small strips of blue and glued to the background to give the striped panel.
3. The starfish was stamped with Versamark, embossed with white powder and cut out.
4. The tags were cut from blue and Kraft card. The images and text were stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with white powder. The seahorse was coloured with blue sparkle pen. Faux stitching and edging were made with the fine tipped white pen.
5. The tags were tied with the bakers twine and embellishments glued to the card front. Foam pads were used to add dimension.

Harlequin Bouquet With Love card created for Chocolate Baroque

 

Good evening. Just catching up with blogging a few more of my recent show samples created for Chocolate Baroque on Hochanda. This one was created with the Harlequin Bouquet stamp.

Materials:

• Harlequin Bouquet and Loving Sentiments stamps
• A5 hammered card blank, Kraft card, white stamping card
• Inkpads: Archival Ink (Jet Black), Distress Ink (Antique Linen), pigment ink (gold)
• WOW embossing Powder (Clear Gloss)
• Spectrum Aqua Watercolour Pens, Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens and coloured pencils (turquoise, purple, red, yellow, green, tan)
• Pebeo Gilding Wax (Empire Gold)
• Decorative oval frame die

How to make it:

1. Ink up the harlequin part of the stamp with Distress Ink and stamp over the card blank to create background texture.
2. Repeat stamp the sentiment with gold pigment ink and heat emboss with the clear powder.
3. Stamp the image with Archival Ink and colour with watercolour and sparkle pens. Add some pencil shading for added texture.
4. Cut the oval frame from Kraft card and rub over with a little gilding wax.
5. Trim the topper and glue behind the frame. Attach to the card front with 3D foam for added depth.