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.

 

 

Floral Thank You card created for Chocolate Baroque

Good afternoon. Today I am sharing one of my samples for the recent shows from Chocolate Baroque on Hochanda using the lovely Floral Harmony stamp. I love creating these blue and white designs.

 

Materials:

• Floral Harmony and sentiment from Spring Bird Daffodil stamp set
• White card blank and stamping card
• Inkpad: Distress Ink (Chipped Sapphire)
• Glycerine (from chemist)
• Fine tipped pen (blue)
• PVA pearls
• Strip of net ribbon (coloured blue with alcohol marker)
• Decorative die to cut stamping plate (Tonic)

How it was made:

1. I coloured the card blank blending colour onto the card using a sponge and Distress Ink. The card was not designed for blending ink so I used the trick from Sheen Douglass adding a little glycerine to my sponge before adding ink. This enabled it to blend out much more easily.
2. I cut out the stamping plate and blended ink in from the edges. I also added faux stitching around the topper and card blank with the fine pen.
3. The image and sentiment were stamped with Distress Ink. I then used a damp brush to drag out the colour. Where needed I added further colour picking up ink from my craft mat.
4. The topper was added to the card blank with 3D foam for added depth and dimension. Finished with ribbon and PVA pearls.

Easter Bunting created for Chocolate Baroque

 

Good evening. The recent shows on Hochanda featuring the Russian themed stamps and stencils from Chocolate Baroque were simply brill – great demos and such a lovely range of samples from my Teamies. If you missed the shows they do remain available online for a while so you can catch up on the FAB demos from Lesley Wharton.

I am sharing one of my show samples today created with the lovely Russian Floral egg. These stamps are exclusive to Hochanda until the end of the month. After that they will be available directly from Chocolate Baroque.

This stamp would also make lovely bunting for a summer garden party or wedding, stamped onto flag or triangular card or fabric joined with ribbon.

 

Materials:

• Russian Floral Egg (sold out individually on Hochanda) and Spring Bird Daffodil stamp sets
• Coloured pastel card (blues, pinks, purples, lemon)
• Detail heat embossing powder (opaque white)
• Sparkle pens (clear and gold)
• Versamark Inkpad
• Pinflair Craft Glaze
• Alphabet dies (Create & Craft Couture)
• Mini wooden pegs
• Florists ribbon (white) and embroidery thread (variegated sparkly metallic)

 

How to make it:

1. Stamp the eggs 6 times with Versamark onto coloured card and heat emboss with white powder. Colour with clear sparkle pen and cut out. Paint over some areas with clear glaze (darkens the background colour and enhances the glitter effect).
2. Die cut the letters and coat with glaze. Glue to the wooden pegs. Glue the pegs to the easter eggs catching in the thread for hanging.
3. Stamp and emboss the large daffodil bunch onto lemon card 10 times. You only need the area with the large flower head. Colour with gold sparkle pen blending out the colour with water. Cut out the daffodil head. Glue the daffodils back to back along the thread between the eggs. Note: the daffodils do tend to flip along the strand which is why I backed them with another flower head.
4. Finish by tying on small strips of florist ribbon (curl with the edge of your scissors).

Daffodil Fold Back Card created for Chocolate Baroque

 

Good morning. Here is another of my blue & white monochrome show samples using the Spring Bird Daffodil and Breath of Spring stamp sets. Cannot stop making these – they are just so effective.

Materials:

• Spring Bird Daffodil and Breath of Spring stamp sets
• 6 X 6 inch scalloped card blank, white stamping card
• Distress Ink (Chipped Sapphire)
• Velvet embossed ribbon (blue)
• Square die or trimmer (for toppers)

How to make it:

1. Open out the card blank and randomly stamp the inside with the leafy swirl. Edge with Distress ink to frame.
2. Score the front of the card vertically in half and fold back the front. Glue down ribbon.
3. Cut two squares. Stamp one with the sentiment and decorative corners. Edge with Distress Ink and glue to the card inside.
4. Stamp the second square with the Daffodil and sentiment. Using a damp brush drag out some of the colour. Add more colour by picking up ink from your craft mat using a watercolour brush. Paint in extra shadows – use the stamp detail as a guide. Glue to the card front overhanging the folded back edge.