Beautiful Ladies (by Carole)

Hello everyone, we are joined today by Guest Design Team member Carole Cann for the second of her posts this month. Carole is sharing two delightful projects featuring two very feminine designs to inspire you. Here is what Carole has to say:

Good morning everyone.
This is my second project for the Guest Design Team slot and I have used one of my favourite stamp sets, Mackintosh Beauty. I really like the Mackintosh style and also Art Nouveau.

Products used: Mackintosh Beauty stamp set
Baroque Orchid- background
Versafine inkpads- Onyx Black, Satin Red
Versamark inkpad
Grey/blue, pink chalk inkpads
Embossing powder- clear, white
Brushos
Die cut
Light silver grey and red card
Clear mica pen

The background is repeat stamped onto an 18cms x 13 cms (7 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch) piece of white card, with the Baroque Orchid image and red ink.
I swiped over the background with a grey/blue inkpad.
When dry, I went over the whole background with a Versamark inkpad and clear embossed the whole piece. I then die cut the centre.
The die could be positioned further to the left to hide the join too, and then there would be more room on the right hand side for a message.
The large flowers were embossed with white embossing powder, and the small corners stamped with red Versafine.
Both of these elements were coloured with Brushos to give the lovely vibrant colours.
The lady is stamped with Onyx Black Versafine and coloured with the pink inkpad.
The message was stamped with red ink onto grey card.
The elements were layered onto red and grey card.

Judith also asked if I would post my next project too, showing a different lady who is equally lovely.

Stamps used: Summer Fayre, Exquisite Edges, Patchwork Butterfly
Wooden 15cm heart
Versafine Onyx Black ink
Watercolour pencils
Clear mica pen
Blue/grey chalk inkpad
Archival black inkpad
Black card or felt
Small silver bead trim
Permanent inkpad suitable for drying on metal
Silver metal
Border punch
Square wooden base 25.5cms x 25.5 cms (10 1/4 x 10 1/4 inch), painted black
Alcohol ink or markers

Background:
I stamped the border frame first with Versafine and cut it down to a square 24cms x 24cms, (9 1/2 x 9 1/2 inch).
The flowers were then coloured and a damp brush used to pull the colour out.
The corners were cut from a strip which was punched with a border punch.
This was then mounted onto the base board.

Heart:
I stamped the main image onto the heart with an archival type black inkpad, you can use any black inkpad that will not bleed into the wood.
Make sure this is dry before colouring with watercolour pencils. Pull the colour out with the mica pen, but do not put too much moisture on the heart or it will bleed.
Ink around the edge of the heart with the blue/grey chalk inkpad and stamp tiny butterflies with the same colour ink onto the background.
Mount the heart onto a piece of black card or felt and cut around the edge, leaving a thin border.
The bead string was stuck onto the border and around the edge of the heart with a good quality, clear drying glue.

Butterfly Embellishment:
My butterfly was made with silver metal sheet, but it could be made with a piece of card.
I stamped the metal with a permanent inkpad and when it was dry it was embossed and cut out.
A little colour was added with alcohol ink.
Everything was then assembled.

I hope that you have enjoyed my projects. I will be back next week with my final contribution for this month.
Thanks for your visit, and happy crafting.

Carole.