Concertina Journal (by Christine)

It's my turn again on the blog and this time I am sharing the first three pages in a watercolour paper concertina journal. The Chocolate Baroque items used are listed at the end.

On the opening page, I stamped a number of images and then coloured them with watercolour paints. I then used gold metallic paint to fill the negative space, a technique I really like.

Mackintosh Windows stamp set

Rose and Thistle stamp set

Rose Set stamp set

On the second page, I chose a few Distress Oxide inks and blended them together. I then stamped the images using toning metallic paints (I seem to be in to metallic paints at the moment!?!)

Woodland, Orchard, Glade & Spinney Design A Tree Multibuy

On the final page, I used Distress Oxide Sprays through a stencil and then stamped the images using Versafine Clair in black. I coloured the images using glitter paints and then added some of my own doodles with a black fine liner pen.

Steampunk Birds

 

I am planning my final blog for January as I write this and it will involve a black tag and possibly some embossing powder- still to be decided.

Happy crafting!

Christine

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

Pan Pastel Postbox (by Gerrina)

Hello everyone, today Gerrina is sharing the second of her posts for this month. She has created a pretty mixed media piece to inspire you.

Gerrina writes:

My second Guest Designer post at Chocolate Baroque! Three times this month you can see here at Chocolate Baroque, and also on my blog some of my creations... this time here is the second one:
Something practical to use and be inspired by every time I see it; a postbox made into an inspirational box to keep some of my hobby stash in:

Used Materials:

Stamps: Mackintosh Beauty, Mackintosh Windows, Sketchy Doodle Landscape and Sketchy Doodle Flowers
Inkpads: Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black, Distress Ink: Wilted Violet, Picked Raspberry, Barn Door, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, and Tattered Rose.
Other: Postbox, Pan Pastels in several colours, fixative and watercolour paper

Instructions:

Fold the box open/flat. Put a layer of gesso over the total surface and let dry. Stamp all of the images on the box with Versamark. Colour them with Pan Pastels and make a background with Pan Pastels. Fix the Pan Pastels with fixative and let dry. Stamp the 'beauty' image again with the black ink on a piece of stamping paper and colour her with a water brush and Distress Ink. Cut her out, and glue her to the box. Fold the box back up so that you can use it to put hobby materials in it.

Creatieve groetjes,

Gerrina

(Gerrinascreatievewereld.blogspot.com)


Gerrina will be back with her final project of the month next week.

Beauty Blooms With Grace (by Asha)

Hello again, friends. I come bearing an Art Journal featuring stamps from two utterly gorgeous sheets: Mackintosh Beauty and Mackintosh Windows.

I created the floral arrangements in the corners by cutting up the various images from both sets and adhering them together to form a bouquet. I framed the page with a lace stamp from the Texture Fragments sheet, stamped with light grey ink.

The background is a blend of soft shades of pale pink and lavender acrylic paints.

As always, I have details of the tools and products used on my blog. Thank you for stopping by and drop in soon for more designs by the team.

Beijinhos,
Asha

Poppies in her hair (by Brenda)

Good morning Peeps, I am back with some more shares using the Mackintosh and Seasonal Lady stamps that featured on Lesley's June shows on Hochanda.

Kraft card is something I am always buying but rarely use so I though I would try and remedy that and quite like how well it works with white and red, a combo that I will be trying again. Using the new masks which match the Seasonal Ladies I used the leaves from one of them and white Dylusions, masking section of the cardstock as I went along so the spray could be directed through the mask. Then using red Distress Ink I sponged the word repeatedly at different angles.

The lovely Summer Fayre image was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with detail white powder and coloured in the flowers and Butterfly with the same red Distress Ink. I stamped the Butterfly again and cut out and also one of the flowers, coloured both with the same ink, cut out and decoupaged.

Taking the stem Rose from Machintosh Beauty stamp set I repeat stamped with Black Archival to create a circle and coloured in with sparkle pens. The sentiment is from Amazing Mackintosh Words, stamped with the same black ink and cut out using dies and matted into the centre of the Roses.

The background of this card is Distress Inks and repeat stamped with flowers from Mackintosh Windows and Mackintosh Beauty. A strip of vellum placed across the middle and an image from Mackintosh Windows stamped with Versafine Black and heat embossed with detail clear powder, cut out, coloured with Distress Inks and placed over the vellum.

My final card has the lovely Winter Dawn which I stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with detail silver, cut out with an oval die and went round the edges with a thick silver pen before mounting onto a base stamped with the same ink and powder and Large Crackle Background stamp. A silver bow to finish.

Mackintosh Roses (by Julie)

Hello, Julie here and I have two Mackintosh style cards to show you, so I will start by showing this DL card.

I have used both Mackintosh Windows and Mackintosh Beauty . I started by taking the Mackintosh Windows set and inking up the decorative face stamp with black Archival ink and stamping onto glossy card. I coloured with alcohol pens and then cut it out. The base card was stamped with the border from Mackintosh Beauty using a purple dye based ink and coloured with pink and purple Pan Pastel. Next I threaded some beads onto elastic cord and secured by tying a knot at the bottom so that the beads do not fall off. You may want to add a blob of clear drying glue for extra security. I then attached to the back of the stamped image with 3d foam pads before applying to the base card. The card was finished off with a sentiment from Amazing Mackintosh Words.

My second card has been created with two stamps from Mackintosh Windows. I started the card by colouring some stamping card with Antique Linen and Old Paper Distress inks and then stamped the decorative rose in a circle. No measuring was used so you may want to start with a bigger piece of card and then cutting to size after you have stamped. I filled around the circle with the large rose and then coloured with brush markers. Acrylic paint pens were dotted around the outside and the card was finished off with sentiments from Amazing Mackintosh Words.

Thank you for taking a peek and please call back tomorrow for some more design team inspiration.

Julie xx

Mackintosh Lantern (by Penny)

Hello everyone, today sees the first of three posts this month from Penny Butler, one of our regular Guest Design Team members. Penny has designed a very pretty luminary for her first project this month.

Penny writes:

Hello everyone, I hope that you are all enjoying some sunshine. It is my pleasure to bring you three projects this month, and the first is one of my samples from the recent TV shows.

I have used the Mackintosh Windows stamp set, black card, parchment paper, alcohol pens, silver embossing powder, gilding wax, and an embossing folder from my stash. I embossed the black card in the folder, and added the gilding wax. I stamped and embossed the four window images onto the parchment paper and coloured them on the reverse. I cut the parchment into four panels, created a box from the black card, and cut apertures into each side, to make a lantern. I then attached the stamped panels to the inside of the lantern, created a small platform to fit inside the lantern, and added a battery operated tealight.

Thank you for a truly inspirational design Penny. We look forward to seeing another project from Penny next week,

Just about the little things (by Anne)

Good morning. Today I am sharing another of my show samples with the lovely Mackintosh stamps recently shown on Hochanda.

I used a stamping platform to help with placement of the stamps around the card border. This made it quick and easy but it is not essential. A craft mat and acrylic block with a grid will be helpful to get precise placement but it can be done ‘by eye’. Practice on a piece of cheap copy paper.
 
Materials:

• Mackintosh Beauty, Mackintosh Windows and Amazing Mackintosh Words stamp sets
• 8 X 8 inch card blank (smooth inkable card), stamping card, black card
• Versafine (Onyx Black)
• WOW embossing powder (Clear Gloss)
• Water based inks (yellow, purple, teal, deep pinkish red)
• Sparkle pen (clear overlay)

 
How to make it:

1. Mount the corner and border stamps onto a gridded acrylic block. Test their placement on a scrap piece of 8 X 8 copy paper. Stamp onto one corner and edge, turn the card 90 degrees and stamp again. Repeat to build the border. Heat emboss with clear powder. Colour with inks and sparkle pen. The embossing resists the ink so makes colouring fairly quick and easy.
2. Stamp the lady onto stamping card. Heat emboss with clear powder. Cut out and colour with inks and sparkle pen. Don’t worry about cutting out the fiddly ‘land locked’ area under the bouquet. When mounted onto the uncoloured background panel it will blend in and not be noticeable.
3. Stamp the panel and sentiment, cut out and mount onto black card, glue to the card front.
4. Glue the lady to the card front with 3D glue gel or foam pads.

Mackintosh Bookmarks (by Asha)

Good morning, friends. I have 2 easy bookmark projects to share with you, both featuring Chocolate Baroque's Mackintosh inspired designs.

For my first project, I started by inking a piece of watercolour paper with  Distress Inks: Salty Ocean and Chipped Sapphire for the top blue section; Mustard Seed for the yellow; Mowed Lawn and Pine Needles for the bottom green. Then I gave it a light misting of water, dabbed off the excess with a paper towel and dried it with a heat tool.

Then I stamped window panel from Mackintosh Windows with Versafine Onyx Black ink and heat embossed the sentiment from Amazing Mackintosh Words with WOW Gold Rich EP.

The second project features the water colouring technique. I started by heat embossing the window panel from Mackintosh Beauty with WOW Vanilla White EP. Then I did a little simple water colouring. When completely dry, I inked the edges with Cracked Pistachio and finished the project with a sentiment from Amazing Mackintosh Words stamped with Ranger Archival Plum ink.

As always, I have details of the tools and products used on my blog. Thank you for stopping by and drop in soon for more designs by the team ... and don't forget to watch our Lesley on the telly!

Beijinhos,
Asha

Stained glass window (by Brenda)

Good morning, I hope you are all enjoying the Summer weather and as it's 4th July a Happy Independence Day to all our American friends.

This month myself and the Design Team are sharing some of our creations made for the June shows on Hochanda when Lesley shared the most beautiful Machintosh inspired stamp sets during the first batch of shows and on the second the lovely Seasonal Ladies, all of which were a joy to work with.

My card at the top uses two of the images from Mackintosh Window stamp set, stamped with Versafine Black and heat embossed with Detail Clear powder, coloured in using Distress Inks, added some Liquid Pearls to the flower centres and matted and layered onto a landscape card.

For this card I stamped three of the words from Amazing Mackintosh Words onto a square of white card and then flicked some watered down Distress Ink and then stamped the large swirl from Patchwork Butterfly set using Blue Versafine ink.

Next I stamped Large Crackle Background around the edges of a small chipboard frame using the same blue ink and lightly inked the edges. I made a template of the inside of the frame and drew around the shape on a craft mat, heated some clear and blue UTEE and poured onto the shape on my craft mat and quickly stamped the image from Mackintosh Windows using white ink. I cut away the excess from the edges whist still warm, fixed inside the frame and then onto my card and added some twine and flowers.

Here I used Brushos, stamped abound the edges using Distress Ink and two of the individual roses from Mackintosh Windows, a sentiment from Amazing Mackintosh Words and then the beautiful Spring Awakening image. I coloured the flowers in her hair with pencils and added some pearls to the centres.

The background for this card was made with watered down blue Distress Ink and mopped with a piece of kitchen towel to keep it as pastel as possible. Next Winter Dawn was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with white detail clear powder and the colour bleached out before colouring with Distress Inks........a good tip when bleaching away colour is to allow the bleach to dry properly and leave for half an hour or so, otherwise added colour can fade.

Using the new stencils that match the Seasonal Ladies I added some snowflakes and the words using Distress inks.

Many thanks for popping in to have a peek today.

Hello Love - Gift Box (by Magda)

As you may be aware one of our longstanding Design Team members, Miranda, stood down as a regular part of our stamping gang. And although she will be popping up once in a while it left us searching for another international stamper to join us.  I am pleased to announce that today Magda Chehayeb, who hails from Italy, makes her first appearance as one of our new international designers.  On her next post Magda will be telling you more about herself but for today please welcome her on board.

Hi everybody,

For this first post as DT Member of Chocolate Baroque Team, I want to use the MackintoshWindow set.

I love these stamps, they are simple and intricate at the same time.

Materials :

Mackintosh Window set

Box 8x8 cm aprox. 3 1/8” x 3 1/8”

White Gesso

White Cardstock not too heavy,

Versamark

Clear Gloss Wow Embossing Powder

Heat gun

Distress Inkpads : Abandoned Coral, Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Mowed Lawn,  Pine Needles, Tumbled Glass, Black Soot

Distress Paint : Broken China

White Acrylic Paint

Brush

Embellishments (wood)

Ribbon (self adhesive)

Glossy Accents

1. Cover the box inside and outside with white Gesso and let it dry.
2. Stamp 3 times the chosen stamp with Versamark and emboss with Clear Gloss WOW Embossing Powder.  One piece must be a little bigger than the top of the box.
3. Colour base inside of the box with White Acrylic Paint,  then the sides inside and all the outside of the box with Broken China Distress Paint.
4. Cut from one of the two smaller embossed cardstock, the flowers and the leaves all together and use this mask to cover the top of the box. 
5. Colour the background of the lid with Distress Inkpad. Remove the mask and colour the leaves, the roses and the middle of the roses with the brush using the different colours of Distress Inkpads.
6. Glue the cardstock on the top of the box and trim the excess if neccessary.
7. Colour the flowers and the leaves from the third embossed piece, cut all round the shape (flowersa nd leaves)  and glue it inside the box on the white base.
8. Apply the self adhesive Ribbon  round the lid side of the box and glue the Embellishments with Glossy Accentts

I like the little gift box, and what about you ?

Magda 

Yes Magda I am sure eveyone will love your little gift box.  What a great way to start, we look foward to seeing  your Italian creativity over the coming months. Please pop back in for more brilliant designs from our talented ladies.