three kings (by Veronica)

 I don't know about you, but Christmas in a heatwave just didn't seem right!

This is a big stamp, so for my first card I opted for simple - red and yellow brusho powders sprinkled over a square of white card and spritzed with water to create my background.
the stamp was then inked with black versafine and stamped into the centre. I used a black fineline pen to extend the stonework either side of the archway before mounting onto a white card blank.





My second card started off with a white card blank randomly stamped using a window from the gothic fragments stamp set using a light brown ink, which was also brushed round the edges.
I stamped the kings three times onto white card. The kings themselves were coloured and fussy cut out from one image and the archway from another - the third was used as the base and just the gap through the archway and the floor coloured with grey brusho. The archway was coloured using sandstone brusho and a waterbrush. I used glue to add the kings in the background and foam pads for the leading king and the archway.

Stencils and scenes (posted by Claire)

Good morning, Claire here with a couple of very different projects using some of this months new stamps. I've created a large tag using Bearing Gifts and stamps from Sparkling Trees and some stencilling for the background. My card features stamps from Christmas Candlelight and Sparkling Trees used to make Christmas scene.

I've used one of the Ranger Giant Manila tags for this project. I began by splodging some Distress Stains (Gold, Picket Fence, Tea Dye and Broken China) onto my craft sheet and misting with a little water. I dragged the tag through the colour several time and while it was drying I splashed on a little water. I stamped the stars from Christmas Candlelight with Versamark ink and embossed with Gold embossing powder and then applied texture paste through a star stencil. Once the texture paste was dry I added gilding wax in shades of gold, silver and copper to the stars.

I stamped 'Bearing Gifts' and coloured with Derwent pencils, cut the image out and layered it up over some hessian, gold mesh and a little green ribbon. I added a sentiment from Christmas Magic, stamped on a little kraft tag and embossed with Gold EP.

I love to create scenic cards so I really enjoyed making this one. The stamps from the two A5 stamp sheets work beautifully together. I began by stamping the images using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I used PanPastels to add colour to the background so I didn't need to mask the stamped images as PanPastels are erasable. The only thing I had to mask was the moon.

I used shades of Blue and Grey PanPastel to Create the sky and the snowy hills and I added some silver to the moon for a little shimmer. I used a black fineliner pen to extend the post under the lantern. Next I coloured the trees, reindeer and lantern with coloured pencils. It was looking a little bare in the top left corner so I used one of the tree stamps as a branch, again colouring with pencils. Once I'd finished colouring I applied lots of glitter but the photo hasn't picked the sparkle up at all.

I've matted on white and red card and added pearls, ribbon topped with buttons and a little charm to finish the card off. The sentiment is from Christmas Magic, stamped with Rhubarb Stalk Memento Ink.

I hope you're enjoying all the inspiration from my talented teamies, they're sure to give you a kick start with your Christmas card making.

Claire xx

It's Christmas! (by Lesley)

No don't worry, you haven't woken up in another world, it is still only the end of July but for us here at Chocolate Baroque Christmas has arrived. And by that I mean I am thrilled to bits to be launching the first of our Christmas stamps for this year.

This is also my first official Christmas release as owner of Chocolate Baroque so I'm doubly excited and I hope you are going to be as delighted with these new stamps as I am; I have to say Sue has really done us proud.  So without further ado here we go.

To begin with we have two A5 sets, Christmas Candlelight

followed by Sparkling Trees

and of course both are available as a money saving multi-buy

We have a wonderful mix of traditional and contemporary here, so whatever style you prefer I am sure there is something here to help make your Christmas projects special.

In addition to these sets, we are also releasing five individual cling mounted rubber stamps that are truly beautiful.

First we have Serena, Bearing Gifts and In Her Arms

and finally Rejoice! and Welcome Home.

If you would really like to treat yourself these are available as a brilliant money saving multi-buy

There are so many possibilities with these and, of course, they complement many of our other Christmas designs. I haven't had time to play with them much myself yet, but as a colourist I can't wait to try these images with my pencils and paints.

However, there are a few ladies who have been flexing their crafting muscles and over the course of the next month there will be some fabulous projects and ideas from our Design Team, so please keep tuned. In fact if you are not yet a follower please click on the 'Follow this Blog' link located in the right hand column and then you will never miss another inspirational post.

Is it too soon to say 'Merry Christmas'?