Marbled Rose

Hi there and welcome to my blog  :)  I'm sharing another Chocolate Baroque sample today that I made for their debut show on Hochanda.  I have used stamps from CB sets Rose Stem Script, Harlequin Rose and Words of Love; Alcohol inks; Distress Inks - Wilted Violet and Picked Rasberry; white embossing powder; glossy card.

I started by creating the background panel using glossy card.  I blended three colours of Alcohol inks onto the card using a blending tool and felt.  The inks react with each other to give a lovely marbled effect.  

I then cut the background into two panels, and used a silver marker pen around the edges.  I matted the panels onto black card.  
  

Next I stamped the Rose Stem Script image in Versamark ink onto acetate and embossed it with white powder.  I repeated with one of the Words of Love stamps, then cut the images out.

On a white base card I stamped the border image in DI across the middle, coloured the little flowers and added silver marker pen to the centres.  

I added the stamped acetate images to the background panels with 'Invisidots', then added the panels to the base card with dimensional glue.  

I haven't used my alcohol inks for years so it was great fun to play with them again!  Again, I think this design would suit various occasions including Valentines day, birthday, anniversary.  I hope you've enjoyed this post and will visit again soon  :)

Take Time to Smell the Roses

Hello again and welcome to my blog  :)  This is another sample that I created for Chocolate Baroque's debut on Hochanda, using their Rose Stem Script and Belle Flowers stamp sets.  I have also used Distress Inks - Mowed Lawn, Squeezed Lemonade, Candied Apple, Vintage Photo; Stickles - Fruit Punch; white embossing powder and Versafine inks - black and grey.  

I began by creating the background panel with a piece of white card.  I stamped the large background image in grey ink and coloured it with  DI's, then blended ink around the edges.   I added stickles to the berries and left to dry.  I blended green ink around the edges of another piece of white card cut slightly larger than the background panel to create a border, matted the panel onto it then layered the whole thing onto a white base card.   On another piece of white card I stamped the Rose Stem Script and embossed in white powder.  I used masking fluid to mask the rose then blended yellow ink over the whole panel.  The embossing acts as a resist and shows through the ink.  I removed the masking fluid and painted the rose with DI's.  I tore the edges of the panel and blended ink around them.  

I attached the panel to the card with dimensional glue.  I stamped and embossed a sentiment onto a piece of white card and blended ink over it.  I then die cut the sentiment and blended ink around the edges, and attached it to the card with dimensional glue.

These lovely stamps can be used in a variety of ways for a variety of occasions.  I think this design would make a lovely birthday or retirement card, but with different colours and another sentiment it could be adapted to suit the recipient.
Thank you for stopping by today, I hope you will visit my blog again soon  :)

Shabby-Chic Hearts

Hello and welcome  :)  I have a piece of home decor for you today.  It is another of my samples for Chocolate Baroque using the beautiful stamps they are featuring on t.v. today.  I have used stamps from CB sets Harlequin Rose and Words of Love; white gesso, acrylic paint and emulsion paint; PVA glue; gold embossing powder and two wooden hearts.

I wanted to give this project a shabby distressed look with cracked paint, as if it was old wood.
I started by giving both hearts a coat of gesso.  When that was dry I painted them with a blue acrylic, it can be any colour as long as it's dark.  When that was dry I gave them a coat of PVA, the thicker the  glue the bigger the cracks in the paint.  I left that to dry naturally and when it was nearly dry (the glue starts to form a skin and to crack) I painted over it with a neutral emulsion paint (tester pots from DIY stores are great!)

I then used a heat tool to dry the whole thing.  As it dries the heat causes the glue to react with the paint and cause the cracked paint effect.  The dark colour of the acrylic shows through the cracks just like old wood.  When dry and cool I stamped various images in Versamark ink and heat embossed in gold powder.  I painted some of the images with a liquid acrylic.  I punched some holes with a Cropadile and threaded the hearts together with gold cord and added gold ribbon bows to complete.

I love creating home decor projects and upcycling.  These beautiful stamps cried out to be partnered with some hearts and I'm really pleased with the result.  A simple home decor piece that would make a lovely addition to any home, or a great gift as you could use any stamps and colours of your choice.  I hope you have enjoyed this post, thanks for visiting my blog today and I hope to see you again soon  :)

Rose Pink

Hi there and welcome to my blog  :)  I have another of my Chocolate Baroque samples for you today. I have used stamps from CB set Harlequin Rose; a clock stencil; Distress Inks - Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick and Picked Raspberry; gold embossing powder and gold marker pen.

I began with creating the background panel from a piece of white card onto which I blended the DI's.  I sprinkled water over to faux bleach it.  I stencilled a clock face randomly and stamped a swirly heart as well.  To complete the panel I used a gold pen around the edges.  I then matted it onto black card and layered onto a white base card.  

On another piece of black card I stamped a rose and script image and heat embossed in gold.  I then repeated that onto white card, cut the rose out and used DI's to paint the rose.  I tore the edges around the image on black card and added gold pen, then attached the painted rose with dimensional glue.  

Next I stamped  the sentiment onto white card and embossed in gold.  I then die cut it, added ink through the die as a stencil and edged it in gold pen.  I matted it onto a piece of black card and cut it to shape.  I attached the rose panel to the card, then attached the sentiment with dimensional glue.  

These stamps are so beautiful I've had a ball creating samples with them!  I love making my own backgrounds too, using several techniques and colours or tones.  I hope you have enjoyed this post, thanks for popping by  :) 

Beautiful Soul

Hello and welcome to my blog  :)  Today I am sharing  one of my samples for Chocolate Baroque as a member of their GDT.  The stamps I have used are all from the CB Harlequin Rose set; I have also used Brushos; black Versafine ink; acetate; black and white embossing powders.  

I started by stamping the rose collage  image in black onto a piece of white card.  I added a little water to a few Brusho crystals to make some red and green paint, then coloured the rose.  I edged the panel with a little red DI,added some ribbon, matted it onto black card and tore the edges.  

I stamped the border image onto acetate in black ink, and heat embossed in black.  I then cut around the pattern.  I took a white base card and spritzed it with water, then sprinkled red Brusho over the wet card and let them run.  When dry I attached the focal panel and the acetate border to the base card.  

I stamped and embossed a sentiment in white onto white card.  I painted the image with red Brusho, the embossing acts as a resist.  I cut around the image and attached it to the card with dimensional glue.  
  

I loved creating this card with these beautiful stamps.  This would make a lovely Valentine or anniversary card, and it could be made in different colours to suit the recipient.  Thank you for stopping by today, I hope you've enjoyed this post and that you'll come back soon  :)

DOTD Festival Mask

Hi there welcome to my blog - and Happy New Year!  I'm still catching up with blogging the projects I created in 2016!  I am sharing a mask that I made for the launch of Sheena Douglass' Day of the Dead embossing folders.  I have used a papier mache mask; Pebeo Dyna paints; black gesso; Pebeo Metallic markers; DOTD stamps and embossing folders.

I painted the mask with black Gesso and let it dry.  I then took some stamps, without any blocks, and stamped around the eyes and on one side of the face in Versamark ink and heat embossed with white powder.  I just pressed the stamps onto the mask with my hands.  I added further decoration to the eyes with a gold marker pen and Dyna paints.
  


The rest of the mask was embellished with Black card that had been embossed in the folders, painted with Dyna paints and gold marker pens then cut to fit.  I completed the mask by painting the lips.

I really enjoyed creating this mask, I'd never used any DOTD products before and this enabled me to create a very different piece of artwork than my usual.  I discovered that I REALLY love decorating masks!  Thank you for popping in today, Hopefully I'll see you next time  :)  

The Inventor

Hi and welcome to my blog  :)  This is a canvass I created several months ago as one of my samples for Sheena Douglass, to launch her Time Traveller Perfect Partners collection.  I love Steampunk and mixed media so this project was right up my street!  I used stamps and dies from the collection; Pebeo Dyna paints; Pebeo Texture Pastes, gilding waxes; SN Aquablend Markers and various inks. 

    

I took a large stretched canvass and painted it with black Gesso.  I used the waste from die cutting the cogs for later use as a stencil, and applied some black texture paste.    

While that was drying I stamped the Steampunk Gentleman onto white card in grey Versafine ink, it looked more like a sketch in grey.  I coloured it with Aquablend Markers.  Then I embossed a piece of black card in a frame folder and used gilding waxes to make it look like a vintage metal photo frame.  I added acetate as glass and glued them all together.

I die cut lots of cogs, pipes and clocks.  I cut them from black card and Kraft card, then coloured them with gilding waxes for a metallic finish.  I then stamped all the die cuts with black Stazon.

I die cut a balloon ship from Kraft card and coloured it with Aquablend markers and Dyna paints, then stamped over it in grey Versafine ink.  

Back to the canvass.  I sponged Dyna acrylic paints all over it to highlight the textures of the paste cogs and the canvass itself.  These paints look amazing on a black background. 

I dribbled copper paint from the top of the canvass and let it run freely, to add more texture and a distressed look.  I like to create layers of background, especially on mixed media pieces.  

Now that I was happy with the background I started adding the embellishments and focal pieces.  I placed all the die cuts  where I wanted them on the canvass and attached them with dimensional glue.  I even used the waste circles from die cutting the cogs as screws and rivets.  

I really loved making this piece, using two of my favourites - Steampunk and Mixed Media  :)  Thanks for popping by today, I hope to see you here again soon!