Imagine triptych by Brenda

Hello Peeps, time to share some more samples from the March Hochanda shows. I recently purchased this new die which lends itself to the shape of these stamp panels perfectly. I started with with a background of oxides in shades of green then stamped Arched Landscape, Garden Lace Scene and a quote from Words of Inspiration, once the ink was dry I covered all three with clear embossing ink and Speckled Egg Distress Glaze which gives a lovely gloss finish but leaves the detail of stamping perfectly clear and sharp.

For this one I have used (again) Floribunda Net stamped on to an acrylic background which had some random stamping in white using Just Useful and then the focal images stamped and heat embossed with detail gold EP. Some colouring of the blooms using Distress Markers and a die cut sentiment.

I hope I have given you a little inspiration this month.

All things bright and beautiful (by rachel)

 Hello there! Rachel here today with some more makes from Lesley's March shows. 

In this first sample I really wanted to use colour - the background of the tag was paint brayered onto to a gessoed greyboard piece - the topper was simply stamped Garden Lace scene onto smooth card) in black and coloured in using watercolour brush pens.

For this simple card I stamped the arched landscape image in black ink then set with colourless embossing powder before again colouring using watercolour brush pens. 

For this third make I used the landscape collage image and stamped it on smooth card and set with clear embossing powder. Next I coloured it in more subtley using translucent paints. I then fussy cut the image. I used the same translucent paints to create the colour in the background, drying between colours to prevent muddying. I also added background stamping in orange ink.

I hope I have given you a few more ideas of ways to use your stamps.

Big hugs

Rachel x

A Day Out

Hello everyone, I'm sharing some of the cards I made for the March show on Hochanda.

These are some beautiful stamps, all with a landscape theme. I want to show how versatile the stamps are by sharing two examples of each stamp set. 

My first cards use the Landscape Collage stamp set. 

For this card I used pink Distress Inks for the background.  I then spritzed with some water and blotted with paper towel to give some interest. I stamped the image in black onto the background. I stamped again in black onto some white card, coloured the flowers, the background and the moon. I cut away the frame and the cut the remaining image into "tiles" which I placed onto the pink card at different heights with foam pads. I added a sentiment from Life is so Much Better. 

This is the same stamp, but coloured with shades of blues and purple Distress Markers.

The background is Distress inks. This time I lifted the ink by spraying a stamp from Abstract Fragments with water, stamped and then blotted the card dry. This leaves a lovely reverse image. I also added stamping in the corners from Butterfly Daisy Collage.

My next cards use the Arched Landscape stamp set.

I started with a 8x8 card base, I added slightly smaller mats in black, purple and white.  On the white mat I die cut the corner and added some stamping from Make Your Mark.

I then used a 6x4 piece of photo paper. Unfortunately, this technique does not work on all photo papers so it is trial and error! On my craft sheet I pressed my lightest Distress Oxide pad down a couple of times and then spayed with water. I then dipped the photo paper into the ink and gently dried it. (I say gently as the paper is thin and could easily scorch.)  I repeated this with a few colours starting with the lightest to darkest, using less ink each time. When the final layer was dry I used some damp paper towel and wiped off the chalky "oxide" leaving the vibrant colours behind. I then stamped with VersaMark and embossed in white. I added a black mat to complete my card.

This card uses the same stamp, but a totally different look by using alcohol markers. I used Memento Ink to stamp the image. I finished by making a white frame and layers.

My last two today use the Garden Lace Scene stamps

First I made a tag, stamping in Archival ink and coloured with watercolour pens. I then gave it a coating of shimmer spray and some pretty ribbons.

For my last card I stamped the image 4 times onto white card in Memento ink. I have  cut  away parts of the image to decoupage the layers. I coloured in each of the areas that would be showing with alcohol markers. I then layered the pieces with foam pads.

 I love how I can use any colouring medium with these stamps and get great results.

Thanks for looking

Sandra x

Bright Landscapes (by Judith)

Hello everyone, I hope that you are all keeping well. I have a couple of vibrant projects to share with you today, showcasing stamps that Lesley brought to you on last month's TV shows on Hochanda. 

 My first project is an accordian book, and I have used lots of stamps from the shows. These little books are a great way of experimenting with stamps and colour, you can let your imagination go wild. I started by colouring a piece of drawing cartridge with some ink, and let this dry completely. I then stamped and embossed the Klimt Panel twice with gold embossing powder, and cut the panel out. I mounted the panel onto black card. 

 

I cut some strips of drawing cartridge just a little bit smaller than the pieces of black card, and coloured these with Distress Ink, before scoring them into sections. I stamped the Arched Landscape and Landscape Collage twice onto the panels on one side, and coloured these with pencils. I stamped the Klimt Panel using second generation stamping in between the panels as an infill with pink and blue Distress Ink.

On the reverse, I used the Klimt Panel once again, using the same colours of ink to build up the background. I also stamped fragments of the Floribunda Net stamp on each page and coloured this with pencils. I constructed the book, adding ribbon to enable me to close the book.

My second project is equally colourful! I chose to stamp the Garden Lace Scene onto kraft card using white embossing powder, and used inks to colour the scene. I matted the image onto a piece of Lesley's A5 Double Sided Designer Papers Roll Up. I also stamped and embossed onto this background using white embossing powder, and chose to use an image from the Lace Fragments stamp set. There is a strip of lace on this set that matches the border on the main image exactly, and I stamped this onto kraft card to use as a strip behind the main image instead of a piece of ribbon. I stamped and embossed one of the new Say It Vertically sentiments onto kraft card to finish my project.

These images are such fun to work with, and I have lots more to show you this month. Keep checking back to see what my Team mates have to share with you as well. Thanks for stopping by, stay safe,

Judith xx

Guest Post - Designer Penpot by Rachel Fisher

Sadly this is the last post from Rachel this time round and what a fabulous project she has lined up. So without further ado I shall hand you over to the lady herself.

Hello again!  This is my final piece for my guest design team stint here at Chocolate Baroque in December. 

I created this penpot using the Arched Landscape cling single stamp. The penpot is made from MDF and I used black gesso on it first to prime it. Then I stamped the image 4 times and coloured it with distress pens.

 

Full details can be found on my blog – Fishers Cards andCrafts.

I hope you have enjoyed what I have done with this beautiful stamp!

Big Hugs

Rachel

Thank you for giving us three wonderful projects Rachel, we look forward to welcoming you back next year.  Our very gifted Design Team girls still have loads more inspiration for you so please call back again soon.

Song Thrush and Arched Landscape (by Asha)

Happy New Year, friends and welcome to a brand new year of more crafty goodness from Chocolate Baroque. You've seen the new January release stamps and must agree that they are just LOVELY.

Today I want to share with you a couple of cards featuring the new Cling Mounted Individual Stamps which were released when the new Chocolate Baroque website was launched on December 18th. You can see Glenda's original post here.

My first creation is a fresh and vibrant card showcasing the beautiful Song Thrush Silhouette stamp which I coloured it with watercolours. For the background, I stamped the small leaf from Butterfly Dreams A5 sheet on to a piece of yellow card stock. The sentiment is also from Butterfly Dreams.

The spotlight on my second card falls on the Arched Landscape stamp. This time I coloured the image with alcohol markers. I also did some background stamping using a little stamp from the Fleurs Nouveau A5 sheet. The sentiment is from the Patchwork Landscape A4 sheet.

There are a total of 10 new Cling Mounted Individual Stamps, each one a thing of beauty. I hope you've been inspired to play with yours. As always, swing by regularly for more crafty ideas from the rest of the DT. Details of inks and colours are available on my blog.

Beijinhos,
Asha