Beautiful Collage Stamps (by Sandra)

Hello, I am sharing some more of my cards from the March shows on Create and Craft.

All of my cards are made using Out of the Trees Slim Strip Stamp Set

I stamped the A4 stamp strip, which has some fabulous collage, detail onto some drawing cartridge.  I used my heat gun to dry the ink - Black Archival, and then sprinkled Black Brushos over the top. I then spritzed very lightly with water. I left it to dry naturally overnight and then blended Black Soot Distress Ink around the edges. I then mat and layered onto some white cardstock and then onto a black card base.

For my next card I made a Z card base. I cut some smaller pieces for the background layers and used Distress Inks to colour these. I stamped the Out of the Trees stamp onto some white card and coloured with watercolour markers. I added some extra dots from  Numerology  stamp set and the word Nature from Sow the Seeds set.

For my last card today I stamped the Out of the Trees stamp onto white card with black Archival ink and then die cut 3 pieces.  I then used an Accordion Die and cut 3 panels. I glued the stamped images to each panel and then glued the base together..... a bit fiddly, but it does look good on the mantlepiece!

 Thanks for looking

Sandra x

A Pretty Journal Page (by Judith)

Hello everyone, I hope that you are keeping well. I have a few projects to share with you today showcasing stamps from last month's TV shows from Create and Craft.

My first project is an 8" x 8" journal page, using one of the beautiful patterned papers that were available on the show. I stamped the large Floral Paraphernalia Slim Strip rubber stamp down one side using black Archival Ink. I added images from Floral Paraphernalia Elements over the background using Archival Ink in first and second generation stamping. I coloured the main image with Koh-I-Noor pencils, and added a bit of a splatter from the Numerology stamp set.

For my next set of cards, I wanted to create a clean and simple look in three different ways. I die cut three circles from the papers, and inked up the same strip stamp. I pressed the circles onto various areas of the stamp, reinking it each time. For the first card, I used the large and small circle from the corresponding Elements stamp set and made a background on a 6" x 6" card blank, using red, blue and yellow dye based inkpads.

For the second card, I used the splatter stamp from the Numerolgy stamp set as before, and also a mathematical image from Floral Paraphernalia Elements, both of which I stamped using black ink.

For my final card, I simply mounted the circle onto a piece of linen effect black card, and added a little button as an embellishment. All of the images were coloured with pencil.

These die cut circles are a great way of using up your small offcuts of papers that you might have left over from another project. I love getting the most use out my patterned papers and try not to throw any pieces away.

I thoroughly enjoyed creating all of these projects, and hope that I have given you a few ideas. Thanks so much for stopping by,

Judith xx

Having Fun with Backgrounds (by Judith)

Hello everyone, I hope that you are all keeping well. I have a couple of projects to share with you today on an 'Anything Goes' theme. There are so many stamps to choose from in the Chocolate Baroque stamp collection that I had a hard time narrowing down my choices for my final blog post this month!

For my first card, I decided to make a useful Birthday card to add to my stash box, handy for when I need a card in a hurry. I took a piece of fabric and frayed the edges. I painted the fabric using watered down acrylic paint. Using Archival ink, I stamped an image from the Brocade Backgrounds stamp set. I stamped a sentiment from Loving Sentiments onto an inked die cut rectangle. To complete the card, I added some pretty pleated ribbon and some metallic card as a mount.

 For my second card, I had a left over background from a previous project created using Brushos. I stamped the large butterfly from Patchwork Butterfly in one corner. I masked the butterfly using masking tissue, and stamped images from Make your Mark and Numerology over the background, plus the sentiment from Patchwork Butterfly. 

Once I had built up the background sufficiently, I removed the Masking Tissue, and coloured the image with pencils. I added a couple of grey pencils around the edges of the butterfly to give a shadow and to create the feeling of depth.

I have really had fun dipping into my library of stamps this month, and hope that you have enjoyed my posts. Thanks for stopping by, take care,

Judith xx

Kraft Magnolia and A Harmony Notelet Set (By Tracy Thompson)

 

This is my final post for this month and this year here on the Chocolate Baroque blog.  So the last of my creations from the Novembers shows, I love using Kraft card especially to colour on.  I stamped the Magnolia's from the Happy flower's day stamp set,   I coloured with Aqua Pencils, directly on to the Kraft card, but I didn't apply the water to the pencils as I liked leaving the strokes in there.  It was just that simple, but I love it!

Unlike the card above this notelet set isn't quite so simple.  I always start by creating the folder first, with a pocket on the inside to house the notelets and the envelopes..  I created the front using the Harmony Tree stamp set, distress oxide inks and the splatters from the  Numerology stamp set.  I coloured the tree with pencils, and added a ribbon.  I like to decorate the inside flap too, and I did that using the Remembrance Tree stamp set,  then as you can see using a selection of the stamps I have already mentioned I inked, stamped and created notelets and matching envelopes, all using the same method.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at my creations

Happy Crafting

Tracy x

Happy Christmas Eve (by Sandra)

Hello and Happy Christmas Eve!

I'm sharing the last of my cards from the November show on the Craft Store.

These cards all use stamps from Frosty Trees set.

For my first card I made a background using Distress Inks and a stencil. I blended the inks off the stencil onto the card each time using a darker colour and not quite covering the previous colour ink. I also blended some ink for the sky which I spritzed with water and blotted to make it look snowy. I stamped the swirly tree in Versamark and embossed in silver. I stamped some background trees from Trees a Crowd using my background colours. I stamped a sentiment onto a die cut. I mat and layered my piece onto a 8x8 card base.

For my next card I used Brushos on a piece of  water colour card. When it was dry I stamped the trees with Versamark and embossed in white. I trimmed the image and layered onto a 7x5 card base. I added a sentiment from the stamp set.

For my last card I made an aperture easel card. I stamped "snow" using the splatter stamp from Numerology. I stamped the Swirly tree onto a piece of vellum and embossed in white. I added a sentiment as a stopper. The second picture shows it lit up.

I hope you all have a happy and healthy Christmas and I'll be back next year.

Sandra x

Hearts and Flowers (by Sandra)

Hello, I'm sharing some of my cards from the November show on The Craft Store.

My first card uses the beautiful Magnolia stamp from Happy Flower's Day. I stamped the magnolia in Memento ink onto smooth white cardstock and coloured with alcohol markers. I added a sentiment from the same set and some splatters from Numerology. 

My next card uses the Artist Trading Heart stamp set.  I stamped the heart with archival ink and carefully cut it out. I then stamped the butterfly from Happy Flower's Day into the heart and coloured with pencils. I blended some Distress Ink around the edges of the heart, going lighter towards the centre. I made a few light pencil marks on the card base where the heart would be placed and used the small leafy stamps from Filigree Trading Hearts to create a border around the heart. I added the number stamp and sentiment and then adhered the heart to the card with foam pads.

My next card uses A Heart Full of Love stamp set. I stamped this pretty image in Memento Ink and coloured with alcohol markers. I added a sentiment from Artist Trading Heart as I thought it very apt.

My last card to share today. I stamped this corner stamp from A Heart Full of Love using my stamping platform and Archival Ink. I then coloured with water colour pencils. I stamped the sentiment onto a die cut and mat and layered all pieces onto a 8x8 card base.

Thanks for looking

Sandra x

Autumn Leaves (Tracy Thompson)

 I'm here with my third post for this month, using From Nature and Numerology from Octobers shows.

For the background on this I used four different coloured inks blended together.  I then used the splatter from Numerology to stamp over the inking.  The leaves were inked with sprays before being  fussy cut and adhered to look like falling leaves.  then all that was left to do was add a sentiment.  I stamped the word Autumn and a mini bulldog clip to the top.

Another inky background done in a couple of colours,  I then stamped leaves to one side of the card and the numerology stamp down the opposite side, then some smaller leaves floating down the centre.  I layered up a couple of sentiments from the same set and added to the card.

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Grungy Numbers (by Judith)

Hello everyone, I have two projects to share with you today, showcasing the stamps that we brought to you in last month's TV shows.

To create my first project, I made a quick background by inking up the gelli plate with Distress Ink, and pulled a print using smooth white card. I stamped Floral Grunge in the middle of the card using black ink, and added some leaves from the From Nature 1 stamp set around the flower head and up the 'stalk'. I added the numbers from Numerolgy to the background, and also the splatter, using colours that would match the colours I chose for the flower.

I stamped the flower head again onto a piece of separate card and coloured it with pencils, before cutting it out. I also coloured the leaves that I had stamped onto the background with pencils, to give them extra definition. I attached the coloured flower head to the background.

My second card is a much brighter affair than my first card, and shows how the Numerology stamp set can be used to create a card. I created a Distress Ink background, using shades of green, blue and yellow. I then added the various stamps from the set, and a couple of leaves from the From Nature 1 stamp set, stamped in second generation stamping in the background. I like the subtle effect that the leaves give underneath the numerals. I stamped them with the same black ink for a monochchrome effect.

I hope that you are enjoying the inspiration from the Design Team this month, thanks so much for stopping by,

Judith xx

Intense watercolour by Natalie Ballard

 

One of my favourite samples from October is this bookmark card featuring Numerology and Beauty is in the Eyes. You might think this card looks complicated, but its actually really simple and there is no masking involved.

The bookmark panel

Start by working onto a piece of watercolour or mixed media cardstock. Remember, the smoother the stock, the more crisp your outline will be. Stamp your main image from Beauty is in the eyes using a water resistant ink pad. Next, you are going to line up the vertical numbers stamp from Numerology over the bubbles; ink it up with a combination of Wild Honey and Crackling Campfire Distress inks and spritz the stamp with water, stamp the image.

You can then watercolour your background using a nice strong magenta colour around the figure bubbles and numbers. Then, using a slightly watered down version of the colour, fill your bubbles also going around the numbers.

You can then paint the figure adding shading to the face using watered down Crackling Campfire or your watercolours.

Mount this panel onto a piece of contrasting cardstock in warm yellow to pull out the colour in your numbers. This can then be adhered to your card base along the open edge. Use a dashed line blade/trimmer to cut in the edge for tearing off the bookmark. Punch a hole in the top of the bookmark using a Cropadile or similar strong hole punch.

Finally, stamp your sentiment and you have a quick and easy card.

Bubbles Everywhere (by Tracy Thompson)

 This is my second post this month showing creations I made for the October shows, using stamp sets Beauty Is In The Eyes and Numerology

I created this card in three layers, the bottom layer and second layer I did first, using a stencil I inked on some circles diagonally across,  then used a white gel pen to make them look like bubbles.  I stamped the image from the set Beauty Is In The Eyes on a third piece of card and coloured it using inks.  

My background on this one was created with inks and then splatters stamped on from the Numerology set.  I made another layer with ink and on to that I added a frame with the image stamped on and coloured.  I cut out some circles to add along the base of the frame.

There will be another post from me near the end of the month.

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Numero Uno by Sandra

Hello, I'm sharing some more cards from the October show on The Craft Store.

These cards use the Numerology stamp set, a really useful set for main images and backgrounds.

For my first card I made an inky background with Distress Inks and water. When it was dry I stamped over the background using the 2 larger number stamps with Archival Ink. I realised that I had picked up an old ink pad which was a bit dry, but I carried on and quite liked the distressed look! I stamped  and embossed the fern from Wild Meadow as a focal point and added the Numero Uno onto a piece of card to finish. I layered onto some black card and then onto a 7x5 card.

For my second card I made an inky background again and cut out a tag shape. I  stamped the numbers randomly over the background and then stamped some splatters. I added the man with his umbrella from Eccentric Edwardian stamp set.  I then layered the tag onto some black card and onto a DL card. I added a sentiment from  Punky Expressions.

Thanks for looking

Sandra x

http://isthatthetime.blogspot.com/
 

Autumn Colour (by Judith)

Hello everyone, I have some leafy projects to share with you today. I thoroughly enjoyed using the new From Nature 1 stamp set that Lesley created and showcased last month on the TV shows. This set is so versatile, and will be a 'go to' set for me when I need to create cards for so many different occasions.

For my first project, I chose a piece of patterned paper, and stamped the large tag from Tagtastic using black ink. I added a bit of shading using Distress Ink around the edges. I stamped two of the flower heads from Floral Grunge onto book paper, and coloured them using pencil, in colours that matched the tag. I worked out where I wanted the flowers to go and stamped some little leaves from the From Nature 1 stamp set so that they would be peeking out from behind the flower heads. I used Versafine Clair ink. I also added the fabulous splatter stamp from Numerology, before adhering the flower heads, and trimming them to fit the tag shape. I then edged the tag again with black ink.

I created a background on a piece of Drawing Cartridge using Distress Ink, using colours to match the tag. I used a larger leaf and Versafine Clair ink as before to stamp all over the background, to echo the design on the tag.

For my second design, I inked up my gelli plate with a shade of green Distress Ink, and stamped one of the leaves from the stamp plate randomly over the plate. I pulled a print with smooth white card, and cut the card to the size that I wanted. I then chose a shade of green Versafine Clair, and stamped a smaller leaf stamp over the background, and added one of the sentiments. This was a really quick card, but great fun to create.

You could vary the colours, and each card would turn out differently.

My final card is a variation of a card from my previous post. I inked up a background using Distress Ink, and then just stamped lots of leaves in first and second generation stamping using Versafine Clair and Archival Inks. I love this riot of Autumn colour.

I will be back later in the month with more projects to share. Thanks so much for stopping by,

Judith xx

Multi-coloured Stamping using Chocolate Baroque stamps by Natalie Ballard

Multi-coloured stamping

An easy way of colouring your cards quickly is multi-colour stamping. To do this accurately, you need a good quality stamp platform so you can stamp in exactly the same place. I also keep a cotton bud handy to clean up any excess ink.

Simple multi-colour stamping

To start with, we will begin with practicing with text stamps. We can use multi-colour stamping to highlight individual words, highlight a point or just for visual interest. Here, I used a sentiment from "From Nature 1" as its ideal to pull out the top line in a complimentary colour for your design.

You will need: a stamp platform, cotton bud and 2 or more colours of ink.

1.     Place your card into your stamp platform. Align your stamp onto your card and close the lid to pick up your stamp. As we are working with rubber stamps, you may need to remove an inner shim in your platform or swap the lid around (each platform varies). 

2.     Next, tap your first colour of ink into your chosen area. Use the cotton bud to mop up any excess to other areas of your stamp. Stamp this first impression and reink and stamp again if required.

3.     With the second colour, apply colour to the other areas of your stamp. Again, use the cotton bud if required. Stamp your sentiment and repeat if required.

 

You can then decorate the rest of the card as required.

Distress Oxide Blending

Once you have practiced the above technique, we can move onto image stamps. Bolder designs will work better for this technique so you can see the colour blending. The "Numerology" number stamps are ideal for showcasing this technique due to their bold appearance and larger stamping area.

You will need: a stamp platform, blending tool (such as sponge or blending brush), cotton bud and 2 or more Distress Oxide pads. You can also add a water spray for use with these inks; otherwise, you could also do this technique with other wet pigment pads.

1.     Place your card into your stamp platform. Align your stamp onto your card and close the lid to pick up your stamp. As we are working with rubber stamps, you may need to remove an inner shim in your platform or swap the lid around (each platform varies). 

2.     Next, tap your first colour of ink into your chosen area. Use the cotton bud to mop up any excess to other areas of your stamp, but this time we are going to create a fade off with our ink. Using your blending tool, tap at the edges of the applied ink to soften the transition from ink to no ink. Stamp this first impression and reink, blend and stamp again if required.

3.     Clean your stamp with a damp cloth carefully so the stamp doesn’t shift.

4.     With the second colour, apply colour to the next area of your stamp. Again, use the cotton bud if required, but this time we are going to create a fade off to both ends of the ink. Using your blending tool, tap at the edges of the applied ink to soften the transition from ink to no ink. This fade should overlap the previous blended area of your image. Stamp your sentiment and repeat if required.

5.     Repeat for each colour you wish to use in your blend.

Optional: With Distress Oxides, you can lightly mist your stamp before stamping with colour to activate the oxidisation. This particularly pops on coloured card and especially on kraft card.

Distress Oxide Resist

Distress Oxide has a particularly cool effect when dye ink is applied over the top as it acts as a resist to the dye. I use this technique a lot for giving a distressed look to my stamping using shades of brown, oranges and teals. It works even with detailed stamps, making it a great technique to use with the intricate detail of Chocolate Baroque stamps.

In the sample below, you can see both bold and detailed designs from Punky Romance. They both use the same colours but notice how the detailed image looks lighter. You can vary your ink colours between images if you wish to compensate for this.

You will need: a stamp platform, cotton bud and 1 or more colours of Distress Oxide and a dye based pad.

1.     Place your card into your stamp platform. Align your stamp onto your card and close the lid to pick up your stamp. As we are working with rubber stamps, you may need to remove an inner shim in your platform or swap the lid around (each platform varies). 

2.     Next, lightly tap your first colour of Distress Oxide loosely into your chosen area. You want areas where the ink doesn’t hit to make the resist effect more obvious. Use the cotton bud to mop up any excess to other areas of your stamp. Stamp this first impression. Do not be tempted to reapply at this stage.

3.     Use this same technique for other Distress Oxide colours you wish to include, applying colour lightly to the other areas of your stamp. Again, use the cotton bud if required. Stamp your image.

4.     When your Distress Oxide stamping is complete (you should have a light all over image), clean your stamp and ink it up with your dye ink. Stamp and reapply if required. The Distress Oxide will then reveal itself through your ink.

There are many more multi-coloured stamping techniques I look forward to introducing you to over the coming blog pieces.

 

Wreaths And Notelets (by Tracy Thompson)

 Today I am sharing some projects I created for the October shows, using From Nature and Numerology

I created this Wreath by spraying card with spray inks in Autumnal colours, then I stamped the leaves from the set called From Nature and fussy cut them out.  I inked a background and then arranged my leaves to form a wreath.  I added a banner across the centre saying Autumn.

For my next project I created a Notelet set, 

This is the front of the folder for the notelet set, I did a background piece with Distress inks, then on another piece of card I stamped some leaves and the word Autumn.  I used the splatter from Numerology to add in between.

Inside the notelet folder on the left hand side I did some more stamping and then on the right side I made a pocket.

I made four notelets with matching envelopes, all with different designs, using autumnal coloured inks.  

I will be back later in the month with another post with more of my creations 

Happy crafting

Tracy x