More stamping delights from Chocolate Baroque

Good morning. This is the last of my guest posts for Chocolate Baroque this month. I had planned a completely different set of projects but just had designer block! Horrible when that happens, especially when working to a deadline. This happens to us all at times, particularly this year with all the added stresses.

After several days of wasted effort I just stopped working on my original plan, went away from my desk and tried to clear my head. I then went back and decided to just ‘go for it’ – no plan, no nothing. I just picked up stamps and got started. Finally ideas started to flow – phew. I find that this usually works for me, although it is not always easy to do – ha ha.

I hope that you enjoy my offerings. Everyone take care and enjoy Christmas as best you can. Spring will soon be here and I am hopeful for far better times to come soon. Big hugs Anne xxx.

Blue and White Mandala

This one is a quick and easy make using the lovely mandala style stamp.

Materials Used:

• 15cm square white card blank, decorative die cut circle in blue card and scrap white stamping card
• Palm Fan Silhouette stamp (Chocolate Baroque)
• Versamark Inkpad
• Dark blue embossing powder (WOW Earthtone Blueberry)
• White pen

How it was done

1. Faux stitching was added around the die cut circle to frame it. It was glued to the card front with 3D foam for added depth.
2. The Mandala was stamped and embossed with blue powder, cut out and glued to the card front with 3D foam.

Dazzling Butterfly

 

Chocolate Baroque have so many wonderful butterfly stamps – love this one.

Materials used

• 15cm square scalloped card blank, decorative die cut circle (light blue), scrap of white stamping card
• Stamp sets: Gerbera and Friends, Words to Dazzle and Sparkle, Butterfly Poppy Collage (Chocolate Baroque)
• Inkpads: Versamark, Distress Inks (Tumbled Glass and Stormy Sky) and Memento Dye Ink (Grape Jelly)
• Detail white embossing powder (WOW), and clear sparkle with extra fine glitter
• Alcohol ink pens (greens, turquoise, pink)
• Pink PVA pearls and Stickles glitter glue (Diamond)

How it was done

1. A mix of the Distress Inks were used to blend the outer edges of the card blank (this mix closely matched my blue die cut circle).
2. The blue card topper was stamped with Versamark and embossed with white powder.
3. The butterfly was stamped with Memento, coloured with alcohol pens. It was then heat embossed with a layer of clear sparkly powder and cut out.
4. Everything was stuck down and the card was finally finished with glitter glue and PVA pearls.

Hydrangea Card

 

When pushed for time I will often use some ready printed papers in the background. They can also help with inspiration at times too.

Materials used

• 15cm square white card blank, Crafty Individuals 6 X 6 inch background paper (Book 3 Springtime), white stamping card
• Stamp sets: Hydrangea Tag, Gerbera and Friends
• Inkpads: Versafine (Majestic Blue and Onyx Black)
• Brusho powders (Leaf Green and Purple)
• Alcohol marker and fine drawing pen (black)

How it was done

1. The background paper was trimmed and edged with black marker. The base texture was stamped with black Versafine.
2. The main image was stamped with blue Versafine, the card trimmed to approx. 9 X 13cm and edged with black marker. The floral section was stamped again with black Versafine. The stem was extended by drawing with black pen and the image cut out.
3. The topper was then spritzed with water and Brusho powder dropped onto the wet card. When dry the monochrome Hydrangea was glued on top, curling the edges up slightly for dimension.

Floral Thank You Card

This one was a super quick make. Ideal if you have a last minute card to do.

Materials used

• 10.5cm square watercolour card blank
• Stamps from Chocolate Baroque: Gerbera and Friends, Spring Bird Daffodil (sentiment)
• Inkpads: Versafine (Vintage Sepia), Distress Inks (Carved Pumpkin, Mustard Seed)
• Note: I used a stamping platform for this project. Not essential but it helps to realign when over stamping.

How it was done

1. The watercolour card was spritzed with water and stamped using a mix of the Distress Inks. These bled out giving a lovely watercolour effect.
2. When dry the image was overstamped with Versafine. Versafine was also used to stamp the border and sentiment.

Dreamy Elephant Card

I love the Indian themed stamps from Chocolate Baroque – definitely amongst my faves. To save a bit of time I again used a pre-printed background paper.

Materials used

• 15cm square white card blank, Crafty Individuals 6 X 6 inch background paper (Book 8 A Weekend in Seville), and scrap white stamping card
• Stamps: Artistic Affirmations, Indian Textiles, Indian Elephant, Gerbera and Friends
• Inkpads: Versamark and Versafine (Vintage Sepia)
• Versamark embossing pen
• Embossing powders: Metallic copper and detail gold
• Watercolour pencil (greys), sparkle pens (green, pink, purple, turquoise)

How it was done

1. The sentiment and base texture was stamped and embossed with copper powder.
2. The flowers were stamped with Versafine. The background was then edged and embossed using the embossing pen and copper powder.
3. The elephant was stamped onto white card with Versamark and embossed with gold powder. The image was then coloured with pencils and pens and cut out. The elephant was lightly shaped and glued down with 3D glue gel for dimension.

 

 

Indian Delights created with stamps from Chocolate Baroque

Good morning, today I am sharing a couple of projects created with the lovely Indian themed stamps from Chocolate Baroque.

My first is a shabby chic style card. Think vintage block printed sari silk and old documents.

Materials:

• Paisley Elephant and Nature’s Paisley stamp sets
• A5 shaped card blank (14.5 X 20.5cm cream), cartridge paper (off white)
• Inkpads: Rainbow dye ink (Kaleidacolor Country), Versafine (Vintage Sepia)
• Ink sprays: Mr Huey’s (Classic Tan), Lindy’s Stamp Gang Starburst (Opal Sea Oats)
• Alcohol marker (brown), Sakura Glaze pens (black and dark blue)
• Soft Form Relief Paste (Copper)
• Gilding Wax (Pebeo Empire Gold) and PVA pearls (Cosmic Shimmer Dark Bronze)
• Textured velvet ribbon (brown),

How it was done:

1. Soft Form Relief Paste was spread over the stamp and left to dry overnight before peeling away. Extra colour was added with glaze pens and gilding wax.
2. The card blank was repeat stamped with the paisley background and rainbow ink. Alcohol marker was used to emphasise the edges. Textured ribbon was glued down to create a border.
3. The cartridge paper was stamped using Versafine and trimmed to fit the card front. The edges were distressed and curled using scissors then coloured with alcohol marker. The paper was then spritzed with inks before gluing to the card front.
4. The embellishment was glued to the card front with 3D glue gel for added depth. Finished with PVA pearls.

 

 

My second project is a bright and cheery elephant scene. You know how I love colour and bling. I had a lot of fun with this one.

Materials:

• Paisley Elephant, Nature’s Paisley, Indian Elephant stamp sets
• 8inch square card blank, watercolour card
• Inkpads: Versafine (Onyx Black), Versamark
• WOW Embossing Powder (Halloween)
• Opaque metallic ink pen (orange with metallic yellow)
• Metallic paints (Starlights pink and gold), acrylic paint (black)
• Brusho Powders (Lime Green, Turquoise), Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical Powders (Poppin Pink, Luminous Lemon, Urban Amethyst)
• 3D Puff Paint (yellow)
• Holographic glitter glue and PVA pearls (Cosmic Shimmer Dark Bronze)
• Soft Form Relief Paste (Copper)

How it was done:

1. Soft Form Relief Paste was spread over the stamps and left to dry overnight before peeling away. Extra colour was added using pink and gold metallic plus black paints. Glitter glue and PVA pearls were added for extra bling (you know me!).
2. Watercolour card was spritzed with water and coloured by dropping on pigment powders. Images were stamped with Versafine (third generation stamping was used to faintly stamp the buildings in the background). The flowers were coloured with metallic pen (taking care not to obliterate the stamp detail – the ink was very opaque).
3. The card was edged with Versamark and embossed with sparkly powder (Yay, more bling).
4. The embellishments were glued to the card front with 3D glue gel for added depth. Yellow puff paint was applied to the foreground and heated to puff up and add texture.

Sad News

I hope that you like my latest projects. This will be my last regular post for Chocolate Baroque for a while. I have been working with this wonderful Design Team for over 3 years now and I am very sad to be leaving. Nothing to worry about, I just have to give extra priority to other things at the moment. However, you will still see the odd post from me in the guest blogger spot and in the Facebook Group. I simply cannot tear myself away completely.

Thank you all for your support and lovely feedback over the years. Big huggles, Anne xxxx.

Chocolate Baroque are on Hochanda TV Today

Good morning. Chocolate Baroque are on Hochanda TV today with some gorgeous Indian themed stamps with Paisley designs and Elephants too.

 

Show times 8am and 2pm (Freeview Channel 85 – or watch online live or catch up via their website www.hochanda.com).

 

Here is a sneaky peek of my samples xxx.

Mini Indian Canvas created for Chocolate Baroque

Good morning. Today I am sharing a mini canvas for this month’s texture theme.

Materials:

• Gothics Fragments, Texture Fragments, Indian Elephant, Words of Inspiration stamp sets
• Mandala Stencil (Martha Stewart) and fossil stencil (Andy Skinner)
• Mini stretched canvas (21 X 14.5cm), watercolour card (20 X 14cm), scrap stamping card
• Mod Podge (Matte)
• WOW embossing powder (Gold detail)
• Ink sprays with mica – archival type, waterproof when dry (teal, pale pink)
• Inkpads: archival dye (teal), Versamark
• Sakura Starlite pens – archival glitter (green, blue, pink, purple)
• Coloured pencils (greys)
• Viva Décor Glitter Paste (603 teal)
• Microbeads (pink multi)
• Alcohol marker (teal) and fine tipped marker (cerise)
• Acrylic paint (cerise pearl)
• Decorative corner punch
• 3D glue gel

How it was done:

1. Spritzed the watercolour card with water, teal and pale pink inks. Laid down the fossil stencil while wet and left to dry overnight. The ink gets pulled under the stencil by capillary action giving a negative image.
2. Randomly stamped the background with the texture stamp and teal archival ink.
3. Stamped the gothic arch and sentiment with Versamark and heat embossed with the gold powder. Coloured with the glitter pens and fine tipped pink marker.
4. Applied glitter paste with a palette knife through the mandala stencil. Whilst wet dropped on some microbeads – pressed lightly into surface. Dried overnight.
5. Stamped elephant with Versamark onto scrap stamping card and heat embossed with gold powder. Coloured with glitter pens and grey pencils, Cut out and shaped slightly. Glued to card with 3D glue gel.
6. Punched corners and outlined with teal marker.
7. Coloured outer edges of canvas with acrylic paint.
8. Glued the card to the canvas with Mod Podge. Also applied over the top to seal the image. Note: I thought that my pink fine liner was archival but it was water soluble! Hence it bled and smeared across the canvas when I applied the Mod Podge – eeeek! However it did add to the texture effect – tee hee.

Baroque Ornament Palm Fan Silhouette and Teardrop cards created for Chocolate Baroque

Good morning. Today I have 2 cards to share with you using the lovely Baroque Ornament stamps.

Project 1 – Palm Fan Silhouette

Materials:

• Baroque Ornament Palm Fan Silhouette and Indian Elephant stamp set
• 7 X 7 inch card blank and approx. 6 inch circle plus a scarp of stamping card
• Inkpads: dye based (violet), multi-coloured (blue and violet), Versamark
• Alcohol ink marker (violet)
• Glitter pens (pink, purple, blue)
• WOW embossing powder (Blueberry)
• Glue pen and fine crystal glitter
• 3D glue gel and foam pads

How to make it:

1. Stamp the ornament and emboss with blue powder. Colour with glitter pens. Cut out the ornament. Snip into the petals and lift and shape. Using the glue pen ‘colour’ the outer sections and sprinkle with the glitter.
2. Place the cut out ornament onto the circular mat and mark the outer positions of the image by dotting lightly with a soft pencil. Next draw in lightly cross sections of the circle to create 12 segments in total. This is to help you align for stamping. Stamp the small motif 12 times around the circle using the multi-coloured inkpad. Also stamp in the corners of the card blank.
3. Edge the circular mat with a little dye based ink. Edge the card blank and circle with the alcohol marker to create a frame.
4. Mount the ornament onto the circle using 3D glue gel for added dimension. Mount this onto the card blank using 3D foam.
5. Finish with a little more glitter for extra sparkle.

Project 2 – Teardrop

Materials:

The materials used were as above except using the Baroque Ornament Teardrop stamp, and with the addition of turquoise PVA pearls.

How to make it:

This one was made in a similar way to the first card. In this case the ornament was stamped twice and the central section cut, offset and layered onto the base one. Turquoise PVA pearls were used to finish.

MDF Bookstand Decorated for Chocolate Baroque Challenge 20

I had so much fun using this month’s hot colours to decorate this book stand for my desk. The colours just said ‘Indian Theme’ to me. I used acrylic paints and mixed and matched stamps from several different stamp sets. The design could easily be adapted to create a wall hanging or small canvas.

 

Good luck everyone with the Challenge – some wonderful projects on there already this month.

Anne xxx.

Materials:

· Words of Inspiration, Indian Elephant, Exquisite Edges, Punky Flowers, and Gothic Fragments stamp sets

· MDF book stand (Creative Expressions Kit)

· White gesso and acrylic paints (pink, pearl pink, dark red, orange and yellow)

· StazOn Inkpad (Jet Black)

· Zig 2 Way Glue Pen

· Fine tipped alcohol markers (black, pink, dark red and orange)

· Polychromos pencils (pink, dark red, orange and yellow)

· Cut-N-Dry Foam

· Gold gilding wax (Pebeo Renaissance Gold)

· Iridescent spray varnish (Crafters Companion Pearl Diamond)

· Scrap paper for planning and masking plus dye based black inkpad

Step By Step:

I first sealed and primed the MDF stand with white gesso. Tip: When painting MDF items it is often best to paint them after constructing as the MDF can expand slightly making it difficult to fit the joints together afterwards.

The sides were painted with pink acrylic. The back and front panels were painted using orange and yellow acrylics. I painted from the outside edges working inward and blending the orange into the yellow in the centre.

The sides were randomly stamped with the paisley motif (Indian Elephant set) using StazOn. A bit of colouring was added using pencils.

I cut a piece of scrap paper the same size as the front panel in order to plan out the stamping. I have included a picture of my sketchbook page. I then worked out the order of stamping and which images needed masking. You will need to protect (mask) the foreground stamped images while building up the scene.

I stamped the lettering, elephants and border (Exquisite Edges set) with dye ink onto copy paper and cut around them to create masks. I added a few dots of Zig 2 Way Glue to the back and left to fully dry. This then acts as a temporary tacky adhesive to hold the masks in place while stamping.

It is tricky to stamp some areas on a ready-made item. The stamps need to be positioned on the stamping block to enable stamping into corners etc. It is also easy to slip when you are stamping at an angle on a 3D item. Tip: You could paint a piece of card to fit the area, stamp onto that instead, and then glue this onto your project afterwards.

I first stamped the sentiment, elephants and lower border with StazOn Ink. I then covered with the masks as shown in the picture.

Next I stamped the background arches (Gothic Fragments set) with a mix of pearl pink and red acrylic paints using Cut-N-Dry Foam to apply the paint to the stamps. Tip: Squeeze some acrylic paint directly onto the sponge and work it into the surface using a palette knife. This saves washing up of palettes and it wastes less paint. Place the coloured sponges face down on a craft mat and the paint stays workable without drying out for ages. Apply to your stamp with a dabbing motion. Clean your stamps quickly after use with warm water. A soft toothbrush can be useful to remove paint from the stamp crevices.

Next the tall stylised flower (Punky Flowers set) was stamped with dark red acrylic. The top of the stamp was then stamped with StazOn along the base. Masks were then removed.

A bit of colouring was added using marker pens and pencils. The pencils gave a nice textured effect to the elephants. I then outlined elements of the tall floral stamp using a fine tipped black marker. This brought the images further forward and created a nice frame up the sides of the scene.

I then sprayed with pearlescent varnish to protect and finished by adding gold gilding wax to the edges.