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.

Quick and Easy cards created with stamps from Chocolate Baroque

Good morning. Today I am sharing three quick and easy makes using stamps from Chocolate Baroque. These are great for batch making or for creating something in a hurry.

For my first make I used the Square Bubbles background stamp and I Shall Be Your Wings stamp set.

The theme for this week’s Simon Says Stamp Blog Challenge (Wed) is ‘Frame It’ – so I have entered this one.

A black card blank (15 X 13cm) was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with white powder. The feather was embossed with aqua glitter powder onto white card, and the sentiment with white powder. The card was sprayed with water and colours dropped on (sparkle pens) and blown around by puffing through a straw. Finished with a few sparkly sequins.

My second quick make was created using the Square Bubbles background and Rose Duo stamp set along with a sentiment from I shall Be Your Wings. I used dies to cut a fancy card blank and layers in black and watercolour card.

The card blank background and sentiment were stamped with Versafine (Onyx Black). The foliage was then stamped using a multi-coloured dye based inkpad. Spritzing with water spread and softened the prints. A black alcohol marker was used to edge the card.

A strip of copy paper was then placed across the sentiment (acting as a mask) and images stamped again with Versafine, repeating the stamping without re-inking to create depth. I added a tiny die cut bird to finish the scene.

I again used the Square Bubbles background stamp and Rose Duo set to create a pretty floral card.

The image was stamped with Versafine onto watercolour card and very quickly coloured with watercolour pens. A little colour was added directly to the darker areas and colour dragged out using a damp brush to give quick shading.

I then covered my image and stamped the background with pale ink. I had already stamped the image onto copy paper and cut out to create a mask. You could also use special Masking Tissue, which has a tacky temporary adhesive back, to create masks. I often do this with a new stamp set keeping the masks in my stash for future use (I re-use these masks multiple times). If you don’t have masks prepared then obviously you will need a little more than 15 mins to make this one. Alternatively just randomly stamp around the background avoiding the floral image. I finished by edging with alcohol marker and faux stitching using a fine tipped pen before gluing to the card blank.