Kaleidascope Heart

Hello and welcome to my blog  :)  I am sharing a golden oldie with you today, one of my Chocolate Baroque samples from last year.  I have used stamps from the Patchwork Butterfly, Just Butterflies, Large Crackle and Words of Inspiration sets; white gesso, cream emulsion paint, Pebeo Mixtion Paste, gold leaf, Distress Inks, clear Sparkle pen, gold embossing powder, gold gilding wax, sepia and grey Versafine ink, and a large wooden heart from my stash.

I began this project by giving the wooden heart a coat of white gesso and letting it dry.  I then painted it with a coat of cream emulsion left over from decorating the house.  When all the paint was dry I stamped around the edges of the heart with the large Crackle stamp, using first and second generation ink, to age the artwork.  I then stamped some swirl images randomly over the heart, and when the ink was dry I traced over the images with the mixtion paste and left it to go 'tacky'.  

I used gold leaf sheets on the paste to add a bit of sparkle.

The next step was to stamp some butterflies of various sizes on white card and emboss them in gold.  I also stamped and embossed a sentiment in gold onto another piece of white card, painted a wash of DI over it and tore the edges of the card.  I then blended the DI around the torn edges and stamped the crackle image.  
  

I used DIs to paint the butterflies and added some Sparkle pen before cutting them out and using a spray varnish to seal them.  I attached the sentiment panel to the heart then sprayed the whole thing with the varnish.   When everything was dry I attached the butterflies to the heart.  I then added gold gilding wax around the edges.

This project was so delightful to create, I really enjoyed it.  I love creating home decor, and I enjoy creating artwork that I would have in my own home.  I think this project would make a great 'New Home' present, or a present for any occasion.
Thank you very much for visiting my blog today, I hope you've enjoyed this post and will pop in again soon  :)   

Cacti in the Sunset

Hi there and a warm welcome to my blog  :)  And for a change it really IS a warm one lol!  We are still enjoying a beautiful summer - hot and sunny - which suits this card very well.  This is one of my samples for the Chocolate Baroque shows in June which featured the beautiful Cacti and Succulents stamps.  For this project I have used stamps from the Scrumptious Succulents set; Distress Oxide inks, Versamark ink, gold embossing powder, gold gilding wax, acetate and an embossing folder from my stash.

I took a piece of CB Cartridge paper and stamped the two 'low' succulent images with Versamark ink, and embossed them in gold.  I then masked those images, stamped and embossed two other images and masked them too.  I then blended DOs all over the panel in pinks, yellows and oranges to create a sunset background.  I drew round a circle die to create a large setting sun before colouring.  My inspiration for this came from sunsets I have seen on past holidays.  I blended ink around the edges of the panel.

When the background was finished I removed the masks ready for colouring the images.

I used DOs to paint the images, mixing and blending colours to shade and highlight them.

Next I took some acetate and cut it to size slightly larger than the focal images.  I tend to do everything by eye so I have no measurements to give you I'm afraid.  I then took some strips of black card, cut to size so that they create a border around the acetate.  I embossed the strips using a border folder from my stash, then added gold gilding wax to them to bring out the pattern.  I attached the strips around the edges of the acetate using red liner tape.  

I matted the background panel onto dark brown card and attached it to a white base card.  I blended ink around the edges of the base card before attaching the acetate.  I cut the acetate larger than the focal image area so that I could create a 'dome' over the plants, and the border strips resemble the metal frame of a Terrarium.

On a small piece of card I blended DOs as before then stamped and embossed a sentiment in gold.  I matted the sentiment panel onto the same dark card and attached the panel to the front of the card.  

I really enjoyed making this card, I love creating something a bit different!  This is a great 'worker' card which would suit any recipient for lots of occasions.  It could also be adapted to create a piece of home decor.
Thank you so much for dropping by today, I hope you have enjoyed this post - feel free to leave me a comment - I hope you'll pop in again soon  :)

Inspire and Create

Hello peeps and welcome to my blog  :)  I have a piece of mixed media to share with you today, another of my samples from the CB shows last month featuring the gorgeous Cacti and Succulent stamps.  For this project I have used the Captivating Cacti stamp and words from the Bird of Joy set; Pearlex paints, gold pen, gold gilding wax, gold embossing powder, Versamark ink, clear texture paste and a stencil from my stash.

I took a greyboard substrate and painted it with black gesso.  When it was dry I stamped the cacti image in Versafine ink and embossed it with gold EP.  I then painted the image with pearlescent paints which really pop on a black background.  

I took a stencil from my stash and added clear texture paste through it.  I let the paste dry naturally then rubbed some gold gilding wax over it to accentuate the pattern and add even more bling!  I added gold pen around the edges of the panel, punched a couple of holes at the top and threaded some Bakers Twine through to hang it by.    

I stamped the words in black ink onto white card and embossed them with clear powder.  I die cut the word panels and ran a black fine liner around the inside edge of the die with the card still in situe.  I then removed the card and used the gold pen around the outer edges.  I attached the word panels in 3D.

This is a lovely little wall hanging, quick and easy to create it would cheer up any room or make a great present.

Thank you very much for popping in today, I hope you've enjoyed this post and you'll visit again soon  :)

The Happiness Within

Hello and welcome to my blog  :)  Today I have a sample from the Chocolate Baroque shows in June featuring the beautiful Cacti and Succulents.  I have used stamps from the Blossom and Grow, Captivating Cacti, Scrumptious Succulents, and Large Crackle sets; Distress Oxide inks, Versamark ink, and gold embossing powder.

On a piece of CB drawing cartridge I stamped and embossed a couple of images in gold before covering them with masking tissue.  I then blended several colours of DOs all over the card, using colours that would give a hot, dry feel to the artwork.  To complete the arrid look I stamped the Large Crackle randomly around the edges of the panel.

  

I painted the images with DO inks.  The chalky finish and variety of colour when the inks dry were ideal for these images, and really complemented the shine of the embossing powder.  

I stamped a sentiment in the same brown ink that I stamped the Large Crackle in.   

I matted the focal panel onto dark card, then stamped and coloured a single flower in each corner of a white base card.  When the flowers were dry I attached the focal panel to the base card.
  

This is quite a simple card but the stamps are so beautiful that they don't need any more embelishing.  This card would suit a number of occasions and recipients, a great worker card.
Thank you very much for popping in today, I hope you've enjoyed this post and that you'll drop by again soon  :)  

Feather Bookmark

Hello and welcome to my blog  :)  This is another of my Chocolate Baroque samples from last month, a quick and easy little project.  I have used stamps from the I Shall Be Your Wings set; Neenah Desert Storm Kraft card, colouring pencils, Versamark ink, white embossing powder, white pen and some ribbons from my stash.

I chose one of the feather images and stamped it onto an off-cut of Desert Storm card, using Versamark ink, and embossed it with white EP.  I stamped and embossed the sentiment below the feather then coloured them both with pencils.  I added a shadow line around both images, and edged the panel with white pen. 

Next I took a piece of coloured card, another off-cut, and made sure that it was slightly wider than the focal panel and about an inch longer.  I then cut some fringing at one end.  

I found some ribbon and ric-rac in co-ordinating colours to the cardstock and attached them to the coloured card above the fringing.  

I then attached the focal panel to the coloured card above the ribbons.  

I then attached some tiny pearls to complete the design.

This is a lovely quick little project, perfect as a gift or just as a treat for yourself.  It's a great way to use up your off-cuts of card too!
Thank you very much for dropping in today, I hope you have enjoyed this post and that you'll visit again soon  :)  

Colours of Nature

Hi and welcome to my blog  :)  Today I am sharing one of my recent samples that I created for Chocolate Baroque's tv shows last month.  I have used stamps from the Lords and Ladies, Square Bubbles, Artistic Affirmations and The Rose Tree sets; Distress crayons, Versamark ink, white embossing powder, white marker pen, and a Distress Oxide ink.

I began by taking a piece of cartridge paper and scribbling three colours of crayons randomly over it, then blending the colours with water on my finger.  

I stamped the Square Bubbles all over the card using Versamark ink, and embossed it with white powder.  I then added white pen around the edges.

I next took a couple of pieces of Neenah Dessert Storm card and stamped the floral image, sentiment and a Bee in Versamark ink and embossed them in white as before.  I then cut  the images into panels and edged them with white pen.  

I then matted the background panel onto Kraft card.  I took a white base card and stamped the floral image repeatedly up the sides in DO ink.  I attached the background panel to the card, then arranged the focal panels and attached them to the card.

   This design really showcases these beautiful stamps and the lovely fresh colours of the inks.  I think this is another good worker card, suitable for lots of occassions  and recipients.
Thank you very much for popping by today, I hope you've enjoyed this post and will drop in again soon  :)

Hearts and Honey

Hi and welcome to my blog  :)  I have a piece of home decor to share with you today, one of my samples from the Chocolate Baroque 'Bee' shows on tv.  I have used stamps from the Honey Bee and The Rose Tree sets; Distress Oxide ink, gold Soft Form paste, Pearl acrylic paint, black Versafine ink, clear embossing powder, gold gilding wax, metal embellishments from my stash.
  

I started by taking two wooden hearts, one slightly smaller than the other, and painted them with white Gesso.  When dry I painted them in Pearl acylic. 




I took the larger heart and stamped a silhouette floral image in DO ink and embossed it with clear powder.  I repeated this again on the other side of the heart.   I then added gold gilding wax around the edges.  I did the same on the other heart using the Dandylion image.

Next I spread gold Soft Form paste onto the sunflower,  Bee Hive and Honeycombe stamps and left it to dry naturally.  Afterwards I peeled the paste off the stamps and trimmed any excess off with scissors.  I then attached the Sunflower and Bee Hive to the larger heart, and the Honeycombe to the small heart.  On some white card I stamped several bees in black ink and embossed them with clear powder.  I then cut them out, coloured them and attached them to the hearts.

 I added a couple of metal embellishments from my stash that echoed the honeycombe pattern.

I attached some printed paper to the backs of the hearts, put some holes in the hearts and threaded ribbon through.

I enjoyed creating this wall hanging, I love mixed media and I love creating home decor so this piece ticks both boxes!  It would make a lovely present, and the colours could be changed to complement any colour scheme. 
Thank you very much for popping in today, I hope you have enjoyed this post and will drop in again soon  :)