Christmas is coming

Hi everyone. I am delighted to be a guest designer for Chocolate Baroque this month. My first offerings are some Christmas makes. It’s been a tough year for us all and this Christmas is not really going to be usual. However, lets hope that time goes by quickly and that we can look forward to better times ahead with our friends and family in 2021. Lots of hugs, Anne.

CHRISTMAS LANTERN

My first project is a pretty Christmas lantern. I mixed & matched lots of stamps on this one but just had to include my absolute fave reindeer stamp.

Woohoo – all lit up.

This one is to be gifted to my 96 year old friend who I help care for. We are having Christmas together as I am in her support bubble. I think that she will love it.

Materials List

• MDF Lantern approx. 12.5cm wide and 20cm height (this one was from Mad Hatters but any similar could be used)
• Stamps from Chocolate Baroque: Winter Edges, Pears and Baubles, Robin the Spruce, Sparkling Trees, and New England Winter
• Stencil from Chocolate Baroque: Seasonal Journey
• Inkpads: Versamark and Versafine (Vintage Sepia)
• Sparkle pen (pale blue), Glaze gel pen (red)
• Watercolour pens: pale blue, green, sepia
• Stickles clear sparkly glitter glue (Icicle)
• White Gesso and acrylic paints (pale turquoise blue and white)
• Gold gilding wax and Galaxy flakes (chunky mica/glitter flakes)
• Clear sparkling glitter gel medium – Kristall Gel (Viva Décor)
• Embossing powders: detail white, white with silver glitter, and pale blue glitter
• Heat resistant acetate and smooth white stamping card
• Red liner tape (strong double sided tape)
• Wired Christmas ribbon
• String of small LED lights

Pretty 3D scene with house and trees.

A close up – oh that reindeer!

Adding the acetate baubles helps to blur and disguise the side edges of the card cut outs creating the scene.

How it was made:

1. The bare MDF lantern was coated with white Gesso (primer).

2. When dry it was painted with acrylics. Gilding wax was added around the ledges.

3. Versamark was applied through the stencil onto heat resistant acetate to create the Winter sentiment. It was heat embossed with sparkly white powder, cut out and attached to the lantern with strong tape.

4. The snowflakes border was stamped and embossed with white glitter powder 4 times, cut out and taped to the top portion of the lantern arches. Two large baubles were also stamped, embossed and cut out.

5. Extra snowflakes were stamped and embossed with white or blue glitter powders, along with a few twiggy branches, and cut out ready to use as embellishments.

6. The main images; 2 large background trees, the building scene, smaller foreground tree and reindeer were stamped with Versafine and cut out. In addition pine cones were cut out from the stamped pine branch stamp.

7. Images were coloured with watercolour, glitter and gel pens.

8. Now for the messy bit – ha ha. The glitter gel was used to coat the base and spread on top of the ledges. Some was also applied behind the acetate to help glue it in place securely. I had this heavy bodied thick glitter gel in my stash for years. It really needed using up as it had started to set in the pot. Some of the half set chunks were stuck down into the wet gel for added dimension. For added sparkle I also dropped in some of the chunky mica flakes. You could substitute heavy bodied acrylic medium and add glitter for similar results.

9. The stamped images were anchored into the wet gel to create the scene. I just had to add a little bit more sparkle over the images with clear glitter glue too.

10. Once the glitter gel medium had dried I did a bit of dry brushing with white Gesso in some areas to add more snowy effects.

11. The light string was then arranged to light up the background house and trees, and to light up the foreground tree. The wires were anchored with strong tape at the back of the images to help hold them in place. The switch was hidden behind the large background scene images.

12. The acetate bauble images were added to the sides with red tape. This helped blur the view through the sides of the lantern where just side on edges of the card elements were visible. It may have been better to stamp the sides as one complete panel but I found that I needed easy access to the inside in order to arrange the stamps and lights.

13. The ribbon bow was added to the top. The acetate snowy sprigs and pine cones were added to embellish the bow. The glitter glue gel was used to anchor everything in place. Extra snowflakes used to embellish too.

 

ROBIN SCENE CARD

Every year I end up leaving my Christmas cards until the last minute so I decided to do a couple of projects that would be fairly quick and easy for batch making. I always use my stamping press for batch making – it makes it so much easier to line everything up and repeat stamp multiple times.

I hope that you like this robin scene card.

I added extra inking around the outer edges of this one but decided that it really didn’t need it so didn’t do it on the rest. I just had to get on with that batch making! Ha ha.

Materials list

• 15cm square white linen textured card blanks
• Smooth white stamping card and Kraft card
• Stamps from Chocolate Baroque: Winter Edges, Pears and Baubles (sentiment), and Robin the Spruce
• Inkpads: Versafine (Vintage Sepia), Distress Ink (Tumbled Glass)
• Watercolour pens: red and brown
• Sparkly glitter glue (Stickles Icicle, red and gold) and Glossy Accents
• Sparkly organza ribbon

How it was done

1. Images were stamped with Versafine and cut out.

2. The main image was coloured with watercolour pens and mounted onto Kraft card. Glossy Accents was used to add shine to the Rosehips, and glitter glues added for sparkle.

3. The snowflake borders were stamped directly onto the card blank with Distress Ink.

4. The ribbon was glued down and the main topper added. The sentiment was also mounted onto Kraft card and glued in place. The branch was lightly shaped before gluing.

5. Finished with more dots of glitter glue. Hey – you can never have too much bling – tee hee.

Note: I kept these fairly flat for ease of posting. 3D foam could be used for more depth if desired.

 

CHRISTMAS TREE SHAKER CARDS

Who doesn’t like a shaker card? Scenic panel stamps make them really quick and easy for batch making. These were quite tricky to photo due to shiny acetate and all that bling. Hopefully you can see enough detail of the lovely glittery snow behind the acetate windows.

Materials list:

• Frosty Trees stamp set (Chocolate Baroque)
• 15 X 9cm white linen textured card blanks
• Heavy weight textured white card (for frames)
• Heat resistant acetate
• Versamark Inkpad
• Embossing powders: Detail white, white with silver glitter, metallic silver
• Glitter for inside shaker (I used Pinflair Ice Diamond – non static glass glitter)
• Stickles glitter glue (Icicle)
• Foam tape and red liner tape (strong double sided tape)
• Optional: Die to cut decorative aperture approx. 12 X 6cm (or cut a plain frame by hand). I used a die from Tonic (Kaleidoscope Box Panel set)

How it was done:

1. Cut a frame to fit the card front and surround the stamped scene.

2. Stamped the image onto acetate and heat embossed with choice of powder. Trimmed and attach behind the frame with strong tape.

3. Next attached foam tape ensuring that no gaps were left (to contain the glitter).

4. Laid card flat and placed glitter in the middle before placing the framed acetate scene.

5. Finished with dots of glitter glue.

 

MORE CHRISTMAS TREE CARDS

Finally I made another batch of quick and easy cards using the reverse scene image and blue ink. I do love monochrome blue & white cards.

Materials list:

• 15cm square linen textured white card blanks
• Chocolate Baroque stamps: Frosty Trees, Winter Edges, and Pears & Baubles
• Versafine Inkpad (Majestic Blue)
• Dark blue alcohol ink pen
• Stickles glitter glue (Icicle)
• Foam tape
• Optional: Die to cut decorative panel approx. 12 X 6cm (or cut a plain one by hand). I used a die from Tonic (Kaleidoscope Box Panel set)

How it was done:

1. Images were stamped with Versafine. Note: images on the textured card blanks will not be sharp. This is fine for the backgrounds.

2. Scene panels were cut out and stuck down with foam tape for added dimension.

3. Finished with glitter glue sparkles. Sorry but had to do it.

Christmas star hanging decoration created with Chocolate Baroque stamps

Good morning. Today I am sharing a fun and easy Christmas decoration created from toilet roll inner tubes. I embellished it with die cut snowflakes and stamped images from Chocolate Baroque; my favourite reindeer stamp from the Sparkling Trees set and sentiment from Christmas Candlelight.

Materials:

• Sparkling Trees and Christmas Candlelight stamp sets
• Toilet roll inner card tubes, white stamping card, pearlescent white and gold mirror card
• Hot melt glue gun
• Acrylic glitter glue and glitter (red mix and gold)
• Versafine Inkpad (Onyx Black)
• Fine tipped glitter pen (red)
• Dies: mixed snowflake and a decorative Xmas circle

How to make it:

Press the toilet roll inner tubes flat and cut into 1cm strips. Arrange into a 6 petalled flower shape and glue with hot melt glue gun. Fold remaining strips in half and glue sections around the central ‘petals’ to make a star – building outward.

Apply wet glue to all the edges and coat with red glitter. I coated the front and back as I want to hang it in the window. Build up the centre further with folded strips and coat these with gold glitter.

Glue on the die cut snowflakes.

Stamp and cut out the reindeer and sentiment. Colour with glitter pen and glue in place.

Finally tie on a bit of string or cord for hanging.

Quick and easy Christmas cards created with stamps from Chocolate Baroque

Good morning. Today I am sharing some quick and easy Christmas card makes. Great for batch making or to get some extras done quickly – make in under 15 mins each. Create them in a multitude of colours so everyone will receive something different and original.

I created these 6 X 6 inch cards using the Sparkling Trees stamp set. The images were stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with various colours of powder. The backgrounds were then quickly coloured with Distress Inks using CutNDry foam. The baubles were coloured with glitter pens. I used peel off sentiments, PVA pearls and Glossy Accents on the baubles to finish.

I created these A6 cards using the Christmas Tree Tangle stamp. The images were stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with various colours of powder. The backgrounds were then quickly coloured with Distress Inks using CutNDry foam or with ink spritzers. Some quick colouring was added to the trees with glitter pens or Distress Inks and a damp brush. I added peel off sentiments and stars to finish.

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Materials:

• Sparkling Trees stamp set or Christmas Tree Tangle stamp
• 15cm square white card blanks, 14cm square white stamping card, 14cm patterned papers (Crafty Individuals – A Weekend in Seville) or A6 (15 X 10.5cm) card blanks and 14 X 9.5cm white stamping card
• Versamark Inkpad
• Mixed heat embossing powders (white, black, sparkle silver and gold)
• Mixed Distress Inks (Peacock Feathers, Dusty Concord, Tumbled Glass, Barn Door, Mustard Seed)
• CutNDry foam
• Ink spritzers (pink, blue, opaque white and gold with mica)
• Alcohol ink pens, glitter pens (in co-ordinating colours) and opaque white gel pen
• Glossy Accents
• PVA pearls (white, silver, gold)
• Peel off sentiments and stars (white, black, gold and silver)

How to make them:

1. Stamp the images with Versamark on plain or printed paper. Heat emboss with powder.
2. Quickly colour by sponging with Distress Inks. Splash with water and dab off with tissue to add texture if desired. This lifts off the Distress Ink. Alternatively use ink spritzers to colour. Mine are permanent when dry (acrylic type) so I spritzed with opaque white to add texture.
3. Colour the baubles on the sparkle trees with glitter pens. Add little highlights with the white pen. This makes them look more 3D. Add some areas of colour onto the Tangle Trees either with darker coloured Distress Ink and a damp brush, or with glitter pens.
4. Edge the cards with alcohol ink marker to frame and glue to card front.
5. Finally stick on the peel off sentiments and stars, add PVA pearls, and Glossy Accents to the tree baubles.

Christmas Gift Tag created for Chocolate Baroque Colour Challenge 28

Good morning. I am really enjoying the Colour Challenge this month. Here I have created a pretty Christmas tag using stamps from the Sparkling Trees set. The tag was coloured and splattered with spray inks and the images stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with pearl yellow and white powders. Dark blue ink was blended in from the edges and an alcohol marker used to frame the tag. Finished with yellow and blue ribbon and of course some glitter glue for sparkle.

Materials:

• Sparkling Trees stamp set
• Watercolour card tag (approx. 6 X 12.5cm)
• Inkpads: Versamark and dye based (blue)
• Spray inks (light and dark blue, yellow and green – some with mica)
• Heat embossing powders (pearlescent yellow and detail white)
• Alcohol marker (dark blue)
• Yellow and blue organza ribbon

How to make it:

1. Spritz and splatter the tag with spray inks and dry fully.
2. Stamp the Trees with Versamark and heat emboss with the yellow powder. Stamp the snowflakes and heat emboss with white powder. Tip: to prevent the powder sticking where you don’t want it (especially if your card is still a little damp), dust the surface with a little talc.
3. Blend blue dye ink in from the edges and frame with dark blue marker.
4. Finish by adding ribbons and a little glitter glue for added sparkle.

Christmas Canvas created for Chocolate Baroque Colour Challenge 26

I couldn’t resist making something for Christmas using this month’s colours – for the golden orange I substituted metallic gold. Check out the Chocolate Baroque Challenge Blog for more lovely projects from my Teamies.

Looking forward to seeing your entries this month x.

Materials:

• Christmas Decorations stamp set. Sentiment from Words of Inspiration, reindeer from Sparkling Trees and Lantern from Christmas Candlelight stamp sets.
• 25 X 20cm primed canvas board, white stamping card, black card, and scrap acetate.
• Embossing folder with Baroque style design (EBosser Regency).
• Snowflake stencil (Claritystamp).
• Inkpads: Distress Ink (Mustard Seed), Versamark, StazOn (Jet Black).
• Embossing powder (black sparkle glitter).
• Gesso (black) and acrylic paints (black, green).
• Viva Décor Croco Crackling Colour (Teal green) and Kristall Gel (clear holographic glitter gel).
• Glitter pens (red, green, yellow, gold).
• Glitter glue (red, green, gold).
• Glossy Accents, chunky gold glitter, PVA pearls (gold).
• Pebeo Gilding Wax (Renaissance Gold).
• Purchased berries and twigs, recycled gold chain and red organza ribbon.

How it was done:

1. Embossed black card with folder and rubbed over with gilding wax. Trimmed to make background panel.
2. Brushed the canvas with black acrylic leaving some background canvas texture showing through, and dried. Sponged Distress Ink into the spaces.
3. Applied crackle paste in corners and around the edges and left to dry overnight. Brushed over the top with green acrylic (the paste was not quite the right green). I dropped on some chunky gold glitter into the wet paint.
4. Glued down the embossed background panel. Stamped the sentiment with gold acrylic and outlined with green glitter pen. Applied Glossy Accents.
5. Stamped the bauble diamond 9 times onto white card with Versamark and heat embossed with the black sparkle powder. Coloured the card with Distress Ink. Coloured the baubles with glitter pens. Cut out and glued to canvas with 3D glue gel. Added Glossy Accents to enhance the baubles.
6. Applied Kristall Gel to the canvas through the stencil. Also applied to scrap acetate, dried overnight and cut out.
7. Stamped the lantern and reindeer onto white card. Coloured with Distress Ink and glitter pens. Cut out and glued to canvas. Added Glossy Accents.
8. Stamped the gem decorations onto acetate with StazOn. Coloured the back with glitter glues. Left to fry overnight. Painted the back with black gesso, cut out and glued to canvas. Added gold hanging chains and gold glitter glue to finials.
9. Glued down the berries and twigs. They were already decorated with fake snow. Added a bit more sparkle with gold glitter glue.
10. Finally glued down the acetate snowflakes. Added PVA pearls and dropped on gold glitter.

Another Quick Christmas Make using Stamps from Chocolate Baroque

This one is a simple Christmas card – great for last minute or bulk makes.

Used an embossing folder from Sissix (Holiday Joy set) on a red card blank and sanded back to reveal the white core and enhance the texture design. Stamped and cut out the reindeer from the Sparkling Trees set, Lantern from Christmas Candlelight set, both from Chocolate Baroque. Sentiment stamped and embossed with sparkly powder (Creative Expressions Winter Trees set). A touch of glitter glue and a peel off stick to finish.