Christmas Candlelight and Sparkling Trees By Florence

Morning everyone

I hope your week is going well.

Although it seems quite strange thinking about Christmas in August, the silly season will be upon us in a blink of an eye.  I am determined this year to get ahead and make one or two cards each week.

Who is organised and making Christmas cards now or who leaves them until the last minute?
Mmm....  I wonder!

I would love to hear from you.

Today I would like to share with you two cards made using
Christmas Candlelight and Sparkling Trees.

please click on the image to enlarge

To make this card

Using a piece of Cut-n-Dry and Distress Ink color a piece of white card stock.
Stamp the candle images using black ink.
Stamp the lace boarder using blue ink.

Using a paint brush and water remove some of the ink from parts of the candle images ie the glow of the light and the candles.
Color the images.
Take a mask or stencil and using a sponge and Distress Ink create patterns just on areas of the background.
Stamp the Yuletide sentiment.

Attach the stamped piece to a white blank card.

My second card today is a simple CAS card.

The deer stamp is fabulous.
There are so many possibilities with it and it mixes and matches so well with the other stamps.

Please click on the image to enlarge.

To make this card

Trim to size a piece of coated card stock.
Using pieces of paper or post-it notes mask off the top and bottom of the card stock leaving a 4 cm strip across the top part of the card.
Using a piece of Cut-n-Dry apply some light blue Distress Ink to the whole unmasked area.
Using Distress Ink and a mask/stencil, create the pattern on the boarder.
Move the stencil/mask slightly and apply more ink.
Repeat until you are happy with the pattern.
Remove the paper masks from the card stock.
Stamp the snow flakes and the deers using Archival Ink.
Add some gems to the centers of the snowflakes.
On a separate piece of white card stock, stamp the sentiment, trim the piece to size and edge it with a gold pen.

Make up the card as seen.

That's all from me today.
Thank you for looking

Florence x

A supporting role (posted by Judith)

Hello everyone, I have a couple of cards to show you today using the sewing stamps in a supporting role, stretching their uses and hopefully letting you see how versatile they can be.

My first card uses one of the lacy borders on a wrinkle free distress background. I added some background stamping using a stamp from the Harlequin Fragments stamp set. I stamped a heart image from the Punky Hearts stamp set onto a piece of scrapbook paper, colouring in some of the details with watercolour pencils, and finally added a sentiment from the Sweet Nothings stamp set onto a die cut.

My second card uses another one of the borders to create a masculine romantic card using the Key to my Dreams stamp set. I stamped one of the locks onto the background before adding the border on either side. I coloured the background with an acrylic wash, and added some shading with Distress Ink around the edges. I coloured the images with pencils and added some background detail with a stamp from the Lace Fragments stamp set.

Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Ladys Slipper Orchid with Lace (by Shirley)

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.

I have a design today featuring the gorgeous new cling single - Ladys Slipper Orchid.

 

The larger background was created with Evergreen and Pistachio Distress Stain Sprays.   I over stamped using a fragment from Lace Fragments with Evergreen Distress Ink.  When dry I embossed a lace stamp with white across the top and bottom, also from Lace Fragments.    I coloured the Orchid with pencils.   The ribbon is purple which looks very dark in the photo.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,

Shirleyx

Spooky Halloween Sky (by Shirley)

Hello everyone,

I have another Halloween Design using the wonderful new set - Bewitched Moonlight.     I experimented with using Acrylic paints in the background.

I started with red, orange & cream Acrylic Paints on my craft mat.  I spritzed with water and dragged my sheet through.  When dry, I stamped the fence with the tree image & sentiment from Bewitched Moonlight and the spider web looking fragment from Lace Fragments with black Stazon Ink.   I also embossed the fragment with Wow-Glamour Green powder (which has glitter and is much more vibrant in 'real').  I coloured the image a little with Inktense Pencils.

I hope you come back often as my teammates have lots of beautiful designs to share this month.

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day,
Shirley

CAS for Halloween (posted by Judith)

Hi Folks, I have a sample for you today using the Bewitched Moonlight stamp sheet. My sample was created by masking off the top and bottom of the card with a Post it note, using a ruler, to get a nice straight edge.

To begin, I stamped a small castle from the Howling Moon stamp sheet onto the background, and used a small piece of Post it note to mask off the moon. I then coloured the background with Distress Inks by blending them in a sideways motion, to create a streaky sky. I ensured that I used some yellow around the moon. I added some pieces of branch along the bottom, the witch and a sentiment. I then peeled away the Post it notes, and added a lace stamp from the Lace Fragments stamp sheet at the top and bottom of the background.

To finish, I added white highlights to represent the moonlight. This technique is called the bandana technique, and on a more complicated pattern, would look like a bandana scarf.

Please keep checking back for lots of inspiration from my Team mates over the coming days. Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Fancy Flower and Mixed Media (by Shirley)

Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying the summer. 

I have a design today using a little mixed media along with another flower from the beautiful Fancy Flower set along with a fragment from Lace Fragments. .

I started with a sheet from the Leafy Brocade Printable set and glued it to water colour paper with Modge Podge.   I love the printable sheets, the designs are beautiful and you don't have to store paper, just simply print when you would like one.

Next I added a thin layer of Gesso and when dry I coloured in blotches with Neocolour II crayons (water soluble).   I spritzed water over top and let the colours run together.   I stamped the images with Teal Blue Stazon Ink (permanent water proof ink)  I coloured the flower with Tombow markers and blended with a brush & water.  I outlined with a water based Sharpie paint pen.   I added stickles to the center of the flower.    The sentiment is from Words of Gratitude. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,
Shirley

Poppies in Pastels and Brights (by Shirley)

Happy Weekend everyone, I hope you are enjoying the summer. 

I have contrasting card designs today using the beautiful new Poppy Meadow set.    I took some of my dies & an embossing folder out for play as well.

For the card above I stared by creating a little scene using Distress Inks, ripped card stock and a mask created with a circle negative.     Next I stamped one the gorgeous poppies from the Poppy Meadow set with Cocoa Memento Dye Ink and coloured them with my Prisma Pencils.

The white background was embossed with Acanthus Cuttlebug folder.   I used Crealies CL CF 20 & CL CS 23 for the flowers & leaves which I punched from a light blue sheet of solid designer paper which I added colour by blending Distress Inks over top.   I stamped with a fragment from the Lace Fragment set on some of the flowers.   I used a little brad from my stash to hold them together.

This next card below is quite bright with Dylusions inks, maybe you'll need sunglasses for this one !

The card above started out different but that happens a lot.  When I stamped the Poppy image onto the background I realized it was lost with the busy background.   So I decided to outline it with a Spellbinder die, using a pigment pen, and bleached the area inside the outline. I painted with Pink, Blue & Green Dylusions (I just add a little ink to my craft mat with the end of the sprayer and paint with a brush & water).    I stamped the corners with Salty Ocean Distress Ink and also used TCW Harlequin stencil with Salty Ocean DI.   Love is from Artistic Expressions.    This design is different, but I thought I would show a contrast to the first design.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,
Shirley

A little gift box (posted by Elaine)

I love heart images, so the new CB clear heart images are right up my street! For this project I used the Elegant Baroque heart which is so beautiful and crying out to be embossed. I decided to make a little heart shaped gift box.

 

I used a sturdy purple card as my base and cut four heart die cuts, two scalloped in the same size and two smaller hearts of slightly different sizes to allow me to construct a box where the lid fitted over the base. I used WOW Metallic Brass EP for the image and the edging on the lid and base, using a Versamark pen to work around the edge of the scalloped top and base to add that embossing.

 

 

I wanted to add some pattern to the sides of the box and I used one of the lovely Lace Fragment stamps that also has a heart motif in the design.

 

Glenda suggested this style of box would make a nice wedding favour box filled with sugared almonds. I really like this idea, although I am not sure I would want to make too many of them! Maybe ideal for a wedding with a small, but select guest list!

 

Elaine



Altered Dress Form (posted by Judith)

I'm always excited to receive new stamps to work with from Chocolate Baroque, and the latest release have been an absolute pleasure to work with. I'd like to show you a project today that I made, using a mixture of old and new stamps, which is something that I really like to do.

I have painted a dress form with acrylic paint, and then covered areas with images stamped onto tissue paper taken from the Lace Fragments set Punky Romance set and the new Steampunk Butterfly set I have coloured areas in with pencil, and then covered the whole thing with beeswax.

I then made some handmade flowers using metal and fabric in coppery colours to contrast with the soft aqua tone of the dress form, and stamped a couple of butterflies, using copper embossing powder. I used rusty keys for their bodies.

I added copper wire around the stem of the piece, to finish.

Keep checking back to see more projects from my Design Team Mates over the coming days. Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Christmas Joy

Hello!  I know that this set, Ivy Trails, was released a few weeks ago, but I wanted to share this card that I made using it.  The set, Lace Fragments, was released a few months ago.

       

The red card base is a textured cardstock from DCWV and the card is a standard 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I stamped the poinsettia image from the above stamp set in dark green on white cardstock, and colored it in with Copic markers.  I used some Crystal Effects from Stampin' Up to make the leaves, berries and flower shiny.  I stamped the word Joy in black, and sponged a little around the edges of the oval with Tim Holtz Antique Linen ink.  The dry embossing was done with a brass embossing plate and my Cuttlebug.  The lace edge at the bottom was a stamp from the Lace Fragments set, which is a must-have set!  It was stamped in black on white and adhered to the back of the red panel.  I used a piece of white Vintage ribbon/lace to edge the border.  Everything was mounted on a piece of white cardstock. 

 

A damask gift box (posted by Elaine)

The large panel on the Dusy Damask plate lends itself perfectly to being a side panel on an exploding box style project and this is what I did.

I embossed the four panels in teal metallic EP. Cut them out and coloured them all with Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers and Chipped Sapphire distress inks. I embossed the lace edging from the lace fragments set and four damask squares for the lid. These were also coloured ith DIs. I mounted all the panels onto black card to make the box and lid. The finishing touch was some of my most favourite May Arts ribbon from Chocolate Baroque.

Elaine

The Haberdashery

I love little shops like this, that are so cozy and warm when you walk in.  There's a little dog to greet you, whose favorite place to chew on his bone is under the Elephant Ear Philadendron.  Everything is in it's place, and there's always a "Special" going on.  Today it's scissor sharpening!  Only $5 per pair!

The stucco on the front of the building even has a "lacey" look and feel to it . 
This effect was made by using a lace stamp from the Chocolate Baroque set Lace Fragments.

The Store Front - complete with pins in the
pin cushion!  With thimble flower pots,
and a scissor easel, tape measure
for a hours of operation sign, lace
wallpaper, and buttons for flower centers.

The hours of operation sign is hanging on the door, and at
closing time, the proprietor will turn the sign around.  Here's the
"Special of the day!"  I love that blue striped wainscoat wallpaper.

  

For the window and door, I used one of the
Spellbinders plastic containers that
some dies came in.  The door knob is a brad.
There's a stool right there by the window,
if you'd like a seat. 
Please note the wallpaper border,
and be aware of the exit, just in case...

Bone-chewing in the shade,
but still wary and on guard.



A place to write your note to the recipient



He Is Risen!

I'm sorry to be so late in blogging about this, but maybe I was saving the "best for last"? lol The shoulder I had fixed three times has been a bit achy, and I haven't been on the computer for a few days.   A lot's been happening around here - too much to mention!   Here is a card I had so much enjoyment in making.

Add caption

 Chocolate Baroque has outdone themselves with the Lace Fragments and Easter Traditions stamp sets! They are "must-haves"!!! I thoroughly enjoyed using these stamps, and the detail is extremely fine and delicate - just like the real thing! The complete directions follow the photos.

A closeup of the dimension the elements have in this card, and the detail of the roses.

This shows the intricate detail of this fan lace stamp. It looks so realistic!

He Is Risen

Supplies –

Chocolate Baroque stamp sets –

         Artistic Expressions – “Joy”
         Lace Fragments
         Easter Traditions – small cross,“He is risen”
       
Embossing folder
White cardstock, cut to 5” x 11”
Gray cardstock, scrap for cross
Purple inkpad, I used Stampin’ Ups Baroque Burgundy
Gray inkpad, I used Stampin’ Ups Going Gray
Scoring board
Small & medium white pearls
3 – ¾” purple roses from stash
Diecut leaves from a friend, unknown die
5” white gimp trim, with ends sealed with glue
Dimensionals
Scissors
Spellbinders Cross Collection dies
Diecutter (I used a Cuttlebug)
EK Success “Daisy Scallop” edge punch
Copic marker BV08 Blue Violet

Directions –

Score and fold the white cardstock piece, at the 5 ½” mark lengthwise. Position the embossing folder at the center of one side of the cardstock, towards the fold; run through die cutter to emboss. On a scrap piece of 3 ½” white cardstock, stamp the 1” wide lace that looks like fans, from the Lace Fragments set. Use the gray inkpad. On the front of the card base, below the embossed emblem, about 1 1/4” above the opening edge, stamp using this same stamp and inkpad, across the 5” width, with the straight side of the “lace” on the bottom (fans up). At the top of the card, above the embossing, stamp the open lace in gray. Across the bottom front of the card base, below the stamped lace strip, use the border punch to create the flower pattern. Adhere the white gimp onto the card base between the stamped lace image and the punched border. Use the purple inkpad and the word “joy” from the Artistic Expressions set, and stamp it in the top left corner of the embossed image in square. Use dimensionals to adhere the 3 ½” long piece of “fan lace” parallel to the same on the bottom, about ½ way up card. Trace around the cross die from the Spellbinders die set, Cross Collection, on the gray cardstock and cut out with scissors. Sponge edges with gray ink. Use a piece of white scrap paper, and die cut a cross using this same die. Use dimensional to adhere the white cross centered in the gray cross. On white scrap paper, stamp in purple, the small cross stamp from the Chocolate Baroque set, Easter Traditions. Fussy cut cross out with scissors. Use dimensional to attached this cross in the center of the white cross. Double-up the dimensional on the back of the gray cross and position in the top right corner of the card, with part of the cross’ circle over the end of the stamped lace strip. Use the Copic marker BV08 Blue Violet to color five of the medium-sized pearls. Place on the ends of each cross beam, and in the center of the small cross. Using the smaller pearls, place one in each cross section of the stamped lace on top and bottom, across the bottom of the fan with “He is risen” across it, and the punched border.

Imagine a Butterfly Cage

Hello, everyone!  These two new stamp sets have really inspired me, and they're right up my alley, too!  I love the old fashionedness of the dressform shown here - it reminds me of the old hoopskirts from, as they say here in the USA, "back in the day."  Originally, I had thought, and did, put a little yellow bird in the cage, but then I happened to find some printed butterfly images that were 3-D, and I thought it looked better than the birdie.  I love to sew, and I love birds, so this was so apropos. 

The original with a yellow bird.

My husband has told me many times that I should have been born in the Victorian era, because I love the jewelry and clothing from that era.  I've never actually used a dressform to make a dress, but maybe I should. 

I've put the directions on how to make this card below.  I've used Chocolate Baroque's newest stamp sets, Haberdashery and Lace Fragments.  I also added the word 'Imagine' from the Chocolate Baroque stamp set Artistic Expressions, which is what you have to do on this card! :)  The background was stamped with the large lace flower in the Lace Fragments set, and colored in with Prismacolor pencils, and I love the way they came out, subtly in the background.  The flowers were made from scraps from different punches, and I used Flower Soft in the center of the yellow ones.  Two dressmaker pins, a green button, and some eyelash trim finished off the embellishments.  The complete directions are below.

Silver embossing powder was used on the scissors stamped with Versamark ink.

Dress Form Birdcage

Supplies –

Stamps from Chocolate Baroque Haberdashery, Baroque Lace, and Artistic Expressions

     Coloring medium of choice (I used Prismacolor Pencils)
     Versafine Onyx and Versamark inkpads, gray and peach inkpads
     Silver embossing powder and heat gun
     Hobby knife
     Printed butterflies from purchased sheet
     White, Silver, yellow, peach and green cardstock
     Dry embossing strip, your choice
     One green button

With butterfly instead of yellow bird

     Eyelash string
     2 dressmaker straight pins
     Fiskars 'Stitch' border punch
     1/8” high pop-up dots
     3-D flowers of choice

     Directions –

Cut white cardstock to 6” high by 9” wide, then score in half to make base card 6” high by 4 ½” wide.  Dry emboss decorative strip on right side of front of card (opening from the right).  Stamp the lacy flower from the Baroque Lace stamp set in various places on front of card, but not over embossing, using the gray inkpad.  Color images in with pencils, using peach, yellow and green.

Stamp the word “Imagine,” from the Artistic Expressions set onto white cardstock, using the black inkpad.  Cut word out leaving a 1 ½” border all around, then use the stitch border punch to make border.  Using a small sponge dauber, dab or rub peach ink onto word piece below the word and on the edges.  Glue to card as shown.  Thread the eyelash string through the holes in the green button and tie into a small bow, then glue to the bottom left corner of the sentiment piece.  While glue is still tacky, push two dressmaker pins, crossed, under the button with ball tips on top.

Scissors – Stamp scissors from the Haberdashery stamp set, using Versamark inkpad onto silver cardstock, and sprinkle with silver embossing powder.  Heat set.  Fussy-cut around outline of scissors, and apply pop-up dots to back.  Set aside.

Dress form birdcage – Using the dress form stamp from the Haberdashery stamp set, stamp it twice on white cardstock using the Versafine Onyx inkpad.  Cut one out on just the very outside lines, and adhere in the center on lacy flower stamped area.  Shade the second one with gray pencil, and fussy-cut out completely, including between the bars of the cage, using hobby knife.  Apply small pieces of pop-up dots to the back.

Cut printed butterflies from sheet, and arrange a larger one along with some flowers to the center of the “birdcage” part of the first image that was adhered to the card.  Apply scissors horizontally on top of card, having points towards the left, to make it appear that the cage is hanging from the shears.  Place the second birdcage over the first, matching all edges, and the scissors should appear to come out of the armholes of the dress form.  The butterfly should “appear” to be hovering in the center of the birdcage.  Apply flowers with glue, and the small butterflies with pop dots. 

Lace Scrapbook page (posted by Judith)

Hi folks, I thought I'd show you another use for these lovely Lace Fragment stamps recently released by Glenda. I decided to make an 8" x 8" scrapbook page, as this is a size that I am very comfortable working with. My Design Team mate Debbie is a keen quilter, and has been making some lovely quilts lately, and that is what inspired me to make this sample.

I cut four 8" x 2" strips, and embossed each one with a different stamp, three from this stamp set, and one from the Texture fragment set, using white embossing powder. I then cut the strips into 2" squares. I arranged them into a pleasing pattern, and stuck them together with double sided tape on the back. I sewed them together, using zig zag stitch on my sewing machine. I stuck the cotton ends to the double sided tape on the back, and covered the back with another piece of 8" x 8" card.

I stamped and embossed some of the buttons from the Haberdashery stamp plate, and cut these out. I used a suitable Nestability die to create a frame for my photograph, this is my Daughter and my niece. I then stamped the word 'Love' onto a Nestie shape.

This is such a simple page, but the lace background is so pretty, and makes the page really tactile. The buttons are a great little addition, they are going to be such useful stamps.

Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Another Lace Rose by Miranda

Hello there,

Today I have combined the Lace Rose with the beautiful Foxglove of the Honeybee sheet. And again I stamped on Basic Grey paper and gave some accents with Derwent colour pencils.

I've used the swirl from the Artistic Expressions sheet and if you take a closer look you can see the lace fragment on the pink Basic Grey paper background. The Rose is embossed with Wow Black glint embossing powder. It has that lovely subtle sparkle.....

Have a nice day and see you next time!

French Dressing Room (posted by Judith)

Hi folks, here's a cheery project combining the Lace Fragments stamp plate and the Haberdashery stamp plate. I used a colour palette of Spun Sugar Distress Ink and Paris Dusk Memento Ink, a very unusual combination for me!

First of all, I used Post it Notes to create stripes on the bottom half of the background, masking areas, and inking inbetween those areas. I dried everything thoroughly, and then I went back and masked everything again, and inked the white areas inbetween with one of the large lace stamps with Spun Sugar Distress Ink. For the top half of the card, I simply coloured the background with Spun Sugar Distress Ink, then stamped the large lace flower with Paris Dusk Memento Ink. I put a piece of dark blue ribbon across the middle. This is from one of the ribbon sets that Glenda sells on the website.

I then stamped the three mannequins with Memento Ink, and coloured them with Distress Stains before cutting them out. I added a simple sentiment from the 'Paris Postcard' stamp plate.

Don't forget to keep popping back to see what the other Design Team members have been making with these fabulous stamp sets, I'll be back in a few days. Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

'Lacey' moments by Miranda

Hello there,

Today another one with the new Lace Fragments. This is a bit of a scrap card with different stamped pieces and use of some Nestabilities. I also stamped the Tim Holtz flower die with the Lace fragment. I really like that effect. I kept the colours in warm browns and that gave it a sort of vintage look. I've used Brilliance Chocolate brown and black.

I also used the Elegant Iris sheet as you can see on the main image. I over stamped that on the lace pattern and coloured with Derwent Soft Colour. The word 'Dream' is from the Artistic Expressions sheet.

Well that's my inspiration for today!

Have a nice day and till next time,

Steampunk mannequin (posted by Judith)

Hi Folks, here's another offering combining the new Haberdashery stamp plate, and the Lace Fragments stamp plate. I've thrown some old favourites in there as well, and I'll tell you about those as I go along.

I wanted to give a steampunk feel to one of the mannequins, and set about gathering some of the other stamps that I love to use to add to the background. I created a wrinkle free distress background, using Distress Stains in Tumbled Glass and Antique Linen. Then I stamped one of the Lace Fragment stamps all over the background. I added a cog stamp from Steampunk Christmas using Perfect Medium and bronze mica powder, and a script stamp from Eccentric Edwardian. I edged the background with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I stamped, coloured and cut out the mannequin, and part of the heart with wings from Punky Romance, it was a perfect fit behind the mannequin.  I stamped the word 'imagine' onto shrink plastic, cut it out with a Nestie shape, and shrunk it down, before sticking it onto a piece of spare coloured background card. I added a cog with some jump rings. I stuck some mini cogs onto the mannequin's skirt. I embossed and coloured a mannequin using an embossing folder, then cut this out.

To finish, I added another metal cog for balance, and matted my background onto brown card. In real life, the wings are very dimensional, and the cogs shine, as the mica really reflects the light.

Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Lace Rose by Miranda

Hello there,

Today I will show you two cards made with that lovely elegant lace Rose from the new Lace fragments sheet. This sheet is really versatile to use and not only with vintage cards. On the first one I've embossed the flower and border with Wow Bright White. At first the background was a mess, but when I progressed it seems to work out well. I stamped the lace fragment with versamark and added perfect pearls silver pearl. After that I stamped the fragment with black. The paper itself is dark brown from Basic Grey.
Only added some ribbon and lace and pearls for the finishing touch.

The 2nd card has been made also with stamping on Basic Grey paper. I stamped the flower corner with blue and coloured with Derwent soft colour. The lace border is stamped and decoupaged. The lace rose is embossed with  Wow Vanilla White a warmer colour than the bright white. Just simple stamping but these stamps don't need much more I think........

Hope to have inspired you and happy crafting!

Till next time,