Pattern Building (by Christine)

Hello everyone, today sees the first of three posts written this month by our Guest Design Team member Christine. You will have seen some of her samples on the TV shows for the past few months, and she is now joining the Guest Design Team to write for the Design Team blog as well. Christine has created a fabulous selection of projects for your inspiration today.

Christine writes:

I am delighted to write my very first blog post for the wonderful Chocolate Baroque range of stamps and crafting goodness. I have long been a fan: creating samples for the Hochanda shows and now writing posts to share other ideas - well icing on the cake as the saying goes!

I have a bit of a theme for this post; pattern building. All three are 8" x 8" cards.

For my first example, I used one of the stamps from the Rose and Thistle sheet. I made three masks and then stamped on pink card, using the masks to create a full backgrpound as I moved around the card. I chose Versafine Clair Onyx Black ink since I thought that would stand out well against the pink.

I stamped again on white card, cut the image out using an oval die and then chose a larger patterned oval die from my stash as a black layer. I decided against adding a sentiment so that I could add one when the appropriate occasion arose.

Example two uses the large stamp from the Baroque Corners stamp set. I used a stamp platform to ensure that I placed the stamp accurately in the four corners. Once placed on the platform, I simply had to turn the card 90 degrees four times, and voila. That left four areas for another stamp and this time I chose one of the smaller stamps from The Folk Art Garden set.

For the central area, I turned to the Mackintosh Windows set. I used alcohol markers to ensure strong colours then added black glitter to the flower veins, leaves and stalks for added emphasis.

Card three also uses the same stamp set and a sheet from the Chic Script Designer Papers. I stamped the square window four times using Versafine Clair Smokey Grey ink. I used the same ink to stamp the little flower around the edges. I used Distress Oxides to colour the flowers.

I used the same Oxide colours blended on a whiteboard trading heart and then stamped one of the small flowers. I used a glue pen around the flower and then gold glitter for a bit of sparkle.

I stamped the 'face' image in black and then used clear embossing powder. I painted the image using the same Distress Oxide colours.

Finally I added two glass cabochons from my stash that had toning colours.

Happy crafting!

Christine.

xx