Nature Fragments meets the Gelli Plate (by Debbie)

Hello. The card I have today is made with Adirondack inks, Distress inks, black embossing powder and my Gelli Plate. I'm not good at tidying up painty mess so when I saw the Gelli Plate being demonstrated at Harrogate show using inks rather than paint I just had to give it a go. I have only used the plate with Adirondack and Distress and must say the Adirondack gives a better effect than the Distress. The distress inks bead even when brayered many times. After a play day on Thursday with Glenda and Lesley other dye ink pads can be used, I think it will be a trial and error technique.

I started by applying Peach Bellini to the Gelli Plate with the brayer as a base coat, it looked as if there was hardly any ink on there but it definitely is. Next, I inked the wood grain stamp from the new Nature Fragments stamp plate with Cranberry and stamped on the Gelli Plate. I repeated with my new favourite colour Stream then placed a square of white card over the plate and rubbed with my hand. I love the reveal when lifting the card away to see what's happened underneath.

The beauty of using the ink rather than paint is that you can over stamp with fine detailed stamps. For the stamping I used the Gothic Angels stamps, the Angel has been coloured with pens using similar colours to the background. I have a few more cards using this technique to post and hope that you'll give it a try. Thanks for visiting, Debbie

Fancy Flourish Winner

Just a quick note to announce the winner of the Fancy Flourish clear stamp set.

Well done to Cdteach - you don't need that lottery win today!

Cdteach18 October 2013 15:49

I just love flourish stamps and these are really fine and detailed. So it looks like another set to add to my ever increasing list... well there's always the lottery LOL

I will be doing a giveaway this month, but I'm going to do it differently.  At the end of the month I'm going to ask each DT member to nominate one comment from November and I will then pick randomly from their selection.  The winner will receive a £20 gift certificate to spend on stamps of their choice from the Chocolate Baroque stamp range (clear or rubber).

I know it means a lot to the girls to receive your kind words, so I hope this will encourage you to take that little moment to let them know you appreciate their creativity.

We don't allow anonymous commenting on the blog (sorry, but we get invaded by spammers if we do), so you will need a google account (if you're on Blogger you already have one) or an open ID (again, if you're on Wordpress or another blogging platform, you'll probably already have this).

Cdteach - I have your details already, but could you just drop me a quick email so I can confirm we have the right address to send your stamps to.

More artwork coming up soon!

Caring Wishes (posted by Judith)

Hi Folks, I have a card to show you today using the Nature Fragments stamp set. I have created a wrinkle free distress background and then stamped the positive ornate flourish in various colours across the card. I coloured a piece of glossy card with alcohol inks, and then embossed the negative version of the flourish with silver embossing powder over the top. I have used a sentiment from the Pretty Poppies stamp set to create a greeting. Finally, I die cut a butterfly from plum coloured metal which I embossed using an embossing folder with a die cutting machine. I then used some alcohol ink to lift the colour from the raised areas.

 

Some plum ribbon and teal coloured card finish off my project. Please keep checking back for more inspiration from my design Team mates over the coming days. Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

New Fragment stamps by Glenda

It's that time of the month again- yes I'm talking about palpitations and chocolate cravings ... it's new stamp time! We have two new A4 sets this month to add to our ever popular fragments range.

 Here is Nature Fragments

and here is Abstract Fragments.

Both sets are just fabulous for creating interesting backgrounds.  Try stamping over Distress or Dylusion sprayed backgrounds or go for a little embossing.  Try using them for mark making on Gelli plates and of course the paint you pick up can be used to stamp over another project.

They're great to add an extra touch to die cut shapes - think frosty snowflakes, psychedelic flowers, woodgrained trees and brick lined paths. And the abstract, pattern making nature of both of these means if you pick the right colours, you can very easily use them to make Christmas or other seasonal cards.

Because we use high quality deep etched rubber, these really come into their own when you start working with texture.  They will give super results on polymer or air dry clay, shrink plastic, friendly plastic and deep embossing.

These are the sort of stamps that are surprisingly versatile and they've been a pretty permanent feature on my studio table since we got the first prototypes to test.  I decided to use them on some chipboard baubles which I'd painted in shades of blue.

The deer trio die cut is stuck over one of the frosted crackle backgrounds and the other large bauble is simply stamped with Archival ink, but the two smaller baubles are both done with deep embossing powder.

If you've not tried stamping into deep embossing powder, here's a quick run through of the technique.

After the paint was dry, I patted Versamark over the whole bauble and covered it with a layer of clear UTEE (ultra thick embossing enamel) and heated to melt. I repeated that twice more so I had three layers of UTEE which is a good depth for creating texture.  I used two of the abstract fragments side by side on one acrylic block and inked them up with Versamark.  After heating the final layer of UTEE, I stamped gently into the warm, molten embossing powder and let it harden for 30 seconds before removing the stamp.

I then dusted a little Perfect Pearls over it and turned it over and rubbed gently on a wet wipe.  That left the pearly powder in the crevices, but removed it from the raise surfaces, letting the original painted colour show through.  (I'd started with a purple and blue pattern, so that's what the variation in colour is.)

The second bauble started out as a much more uniform turquoise colour.  I did exactly the same technique, using copper PanPastel to highlight the texture.  However this time, after wiping off the excess, I reheated the UTEE until it went smooth again, leaving the copper image looking as if it is floating on the surface - it has a look of traditional powdered glass enameling.

We couldn't choose between the two sets, so they are both our Stamp of the Month for November which you should know by now means that they are at introductory prices for one month.  And yes, there is a multi-buy deal as well so you can save even more if you want them both.

Let me know what you think of them and don't forget to come back and see what the DT have been getting up to with these stamps.

Flutterby Flourishes (posted by Claire)

Good morning folks, Claire here with a quick and easy card using the gorgeous Fancy Flourishes stamps and a little topper made from Tim Holz tissue wrap (you can find it here)

I made the background by blending Dusty Concorde and  Milled Lavender distress inks onto some white cardstock. I stamped the flourish using Imperial Purple Versafine ink, its so easy to position these clear stamps. I made the topped by wrapping a little piece of card with tissue wrap, and adding some colour with more distress inks. I coloured the butterflies with Graph'It Markers and added some tiny dots of stickles to the wings before edging the topper with a gold krylon pen. I've just added a little bow and a die cut butterfly to finish off.

Thanks for visiting today

Claire xx

Purple and Gold (posted by Judith)

Hi folks, I have another sample showcasing the Fancy Flourishes clear stamp set for you today. I have created a background by colouring a piece of glossy card with alcohol inks. I then stamped one of the flourish stamps diagonally across the card using gold embossing powder. I used two pieces of mountboard which I cut into oval shapes and coloured with Distress Inks. I stamped these with the crackle stamp from the Echoes of Italy stamp set to give them an aged feel. I stamped the large flourish onto the bigger oval, and a sentiment from the Loving Sentiments stamp set onto the smaller oval.

I punched a hole into each piece of mountboard at this point. I then added three layers of ultra thick embossing enamel to each piece, so that they looked like glazed tiles. I added some jump rings between them, and stuck some gems onto the large flourish.

Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Blue Christmas (by Shirley)

Hello everyone, I hope you had a great weekend.

I have two 'Blue' Christmas cards today featuring new stamps along with an older favourite:).   I used the new Reindeer Landscape set for the card below.

I used a favourite Dylusion ink combo (Calypso Teal, After Midnight & White Linen) on the background.  I stamped the trees from Reindeer Landscape with Deep Purple Archival Ink and added lots of glitter.    Believe also from Reindeer Landscape, was stamped with black Versafine Ink.   I used Memory Boxes Dies - Deer Trio & Snowflake Corner (they cut like a charm!) with black cardstock.    The Deer Trio is great as the bottom doesn't cut so you can cut to whatever shape you need for your design.    I added lots of glitter to the trees and snowflakes.

I used the new Fancy Flourishes clear set along with Christmas Flourish  and Bold Christmas Words for the card below.

The above background was created with the same three Dylusion Ink Sprays.    I spritzed a little water to blend, blotted with a paper towel roll and added a little sea salt before it was dry to create 'stars' in the ink.  When dry, I used TCW stencil - Star Fall with Picked Raspberry & Peacock Feathers Distress Inks and white Acrylic Paint.

I stamped the Flourish from the new Fancy Flourishes set with Salty Ocean Distress Ink around the border of the background.    The sentiment from Bold Christmas Words and the Christmas Tree from Christmas Flourish were stamped with Black ink.   I added stickles to the tree. 

Thanks for your visit and have a great day!
Shirley

Doily look alike (by Debbie)

Hello. The card I have today shows how the small stamp from the Fancy Flourish Clear stamp set can be used to make a look like doily.

I started by cutting a 14cm square and with French Ultramarine Archival ink placed the stamp on each four sides. Next, I stamped in between the first four then stamped from the centre to where the stamps meet. I stamped the sentiment from Birthday Words which is great for the inside or front of a card. The sentiment was die cut and added. I mounted on to a pale blue then attached to the card. Once I had worked out the placing of the stamps they are quick to make. Hopefully the UK weather will be kind this week as the schools are off. Have a good day. Debbie

CAS Christmas Trees (by Shirley)

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.

I have a couple of CAS designs using trees from the fabulous new Reindeer Landscape set and a sentiment from Warm Christmas Greetings.   Both of these cards are 'quick makes'.

I embossed the trees and sentiment on the above card with gold, coloured the snow and added stickles on the ornaments.   I matted as shown and it's done! 

For this 2nd card above, I embossed the trees and sentiment with silver holograph embossing powder and added stickles to the 'snow' and ornaments. 

Thanks for your visit and have a great day,
Shirley

Holly Flourishes (posted by Judith)

Hi Folks, here is a quick little Christmas card using the new Fancy Flourishes clear stamp set. I used the holly flourish to create the impression of a tree branch, by repeatedly stamping the image along one edge of a piece of kraft card. I used a white pen to add a 'shadow' to look like snow on the branches. I stamped the word 'Joy' from the Bold Christmas Words clear stamp set in the top corner, using red ink.

I made a robin by die cutting a bird from dark brown foil and colouring the stomach area with red alcohol ink. I added a little gem for the eye. Finally, I added a red and green layer of card behind the design.

Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Merry Christmas (posted by Claire)

Good morning, Claire here with a very quick and easy Christmas card using the beautiful new clear stamps, Fancy Flourishes

We always have so many cards to make for Christmas, so its nice to be able to get stamping and have a bit of a 'production line going with some simple but effective designs. The new Fancy Flourishes are fab for creating borders, backgrounds and frames so I thought they would be just the job for a a pretty Christmas design. I stamped the flourishes in Ladybug Memento Ink to create the frame, its so easy to line the clear stamps up. I added the sentiment from Bold Christmas Words and matted on some red card. To finish off I added a little red bow

Thanks for visiting today

Claire xx

Fall Flower (by Clare)

Hi, everyone!  I hope you're all doing well, and perhaps enjoying some cooler weather.  The trees have finally started to change after a few nights of cooler weather and rain.  To celebrate this wonderful and colorful time of year, I have made this card in some rich oranges, rusts, brown and green.  Very easy to make with a flower or two from Tangled Garden, and some stuff to put in the center.  The beautiful rusty pattern in the background is a new stamp from the set Fancy Flourishes.  I used some patterned fall paper from my stash.

Be sure to check back often for more beautiful creations from our talented design team gals!  Take care!

Blue & Green Fancy Flourish (by Shirley)

Hello everyone, I hope you had a great weekend.

I've used one of the large designs from the new elegant Clear Stamp set  Fancy Flourishes to create this card.

I stamped the beautiful large Flourish with brown Dye ink on green designer paper that has a slight pattern.   I coloured the image with Prisma Pencils and added lots of bling.      I die cut the paper and layered onto white card stock that I embossed and edged with a gold leaf pen.  I used the same designer paper as one of the mats.

Spellbinder:   S5-160 Opulent Ovals
Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug Acanthus

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget that Glenda is giving away a Fancy Flourishes set, please visit her Blog Post here to leave a comment for a chance to win, Good Luck!

Have a great day,
Shirley

Fairy Flourishes (posted by Judith)

Hi Folks, I have a sample to show you today using the new Fancy Flourishes clear stamp set. I created a background by colouring a piece of white card with Mustard Seed Distress Ink, and then stamped the large flourish stamp across the card with black ink. I used the feisty angel from the Gothic Angels stamp set, masking off the areas that I did not want to appear before I inked the stamp, and then peeled the masking tape away before I stamped the image. I was then just left with the head part of the image. I coloured the image with pencils, and added Glossy Accents to the ivy leaves. I added a sentiment from the Fairyland Words clear stamp set.

I made a flower using handmade paper which was sprayed with yellow ink, and cut from Nestability dies. I edged the shapes with black ink for definition. I scrunched each layer, and attached them together with a brad. I glued a cog into the centre, and dropped seed beads into the glue. Finally, I die cut some ivy leaves from green card.

The background reminds me of expensive wallpaper, it would look lovely in a living room or bedroom, wouldn't it? Keep popping back for more samples from my Team mates. Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Pink Christmas Trees (posted by Claire)

Good morning, Claire here with a card featuring the funky trees and snowflakes from Reindeer Landscape. 

I love pink and white for Christmas cards so I set to with an assortment of pink dye inkpads and a water mister and swooshed them around on my ink blending mat to create the background. Next I stamped the trees and the snowflakes with versamark and embossed with whit embossing powder. I added some colour to the trees with Sakura Glaze pens.

The sentiment is from Bold Christmas Words, again embossed with white embossing powder on pink cardstock and die cut with spellbinders dies. I added some little pearls to the snowflakes and a little white bow to the bauble sentiment. 

Thanks for visiting today

Claire xx

Introducing our Flourish clear stamp set

I'm delighted to announce we have a new set of clear stamps just out - Fancy Flourishes. Read on for details of a giveaway!

I think this is one of those very versatile sets that you can use in conjunction with many other stamps - they're great for edging die cuts and adding detail to corners behind your matting and layering.

In the card below I've used 'second generation' stamping to create a background.  That simply means I've inked my stamp and stamped onto scrap paper, then stamped onto the card without re-inking.  I vary the pressure when I stamp the fully inked stamp on the scrap paper, which means the second stamping has some areas darker and some lighter, which gives it more of an antique, faded look.

 The card below is another very simple card - I stamped the bold flourish with Versamark and rubbed PanPastel over the card to create a tone-on-tone effect.  I stamped the sentiment from Fairyland Words  in Archival (Deep Purple) over the top.

And if you thought corners were just for corners, think again.  Here I've taken the two large corners and stamped them together to make a butterfly.  I hand cut the body then overstamped that with one of the smaller flourishes too.   I stamped with Versamark and embossed with gold sparkle embossing powder then sprinkled a few purple gems around.  The wire antennae help finish off the butterfly illusion.

I have a set to give away, so if you'd like to win this set, please leave a comment below.  So that I don't forget, I've put it in the diary to pick a winner on November 1st which gives you a couple of weeks.

Butterfly framed gift (by Debbie)

Hello. Something a little different from me today. I'm sure I'm not alone when you see something and think 'I'll use that one day.' I do that a lot. I bought this frame from IKEA quite a while ago and my hubby tried to use it for a photo he'd taken so I hid it with my crafty stash. When I received my Tim Holtz tissue I immediately knew it would look fantastic in the frame.

The frame comes with a mount which I covered with matte multi medium and carefully laid the tissue on to it. When dried, I trimmed out the centre then wrapped around the edges and rubbed with Antique Linen ink. A piece of white card that has been inked around the edges was placed into the aperture. I stamped many butterflies from different sets of Chocolate Baroque sets and placed them randomly on the card. It will be difficult to part with this so I may need to buy more frames to repeat for Christmas gifts. Thanks for stopping by today. Debbie

Holly Edges with an Angel (by Shirley)

Hello, I hope everyone is doing well.

I have a design today using the beautiful Holly Edge from the new Christmas Edges and an Angel from Gothic Angels stamp sets.

The background is Seedless Preserves and Festive Berries Distress Ink using the Acrylic Block technique.   When dry I flicked a little water over it.   I stamped the Holly edge and sentiment with Seedless Preserves Distress Inks.  I embossed the pretty Angel with silver and coloured her with Inktense pencils.   I cut her out, attached to the background and added glitter to the bottom of her dress, wings & halo along with the pearls on the background.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
Shirley

Snowflake Edges (by Debbie)

Hello all visiting today. Like many card makers I'm in full on Christmas card making mode at the moment and hoping to leave time to make a few handmade gifts for friend and family.

For this trifold square card I stamped the snowflake border from the Winter Edges stamp set three times with Versamark and embossed with Nice Ice Blue embossing powder. I trimmed two of them for panels for the front of the card and the third to fit the inside. I added the sentiment May you days be merry and bright which is great for the inside and front of cards.

Here's another card I made while I had my equipment on the table.

Thanks for visiting. Debbie

Time to say goodbye (posted by Elaine)

After a lot of soul searching I have decided the time has come to resign from the Chocolate Baroque Design Team. I have been producing samples to showcase the lovely stamps produced by Glenda and Adrian for three and a half years. I recently decided that I want to allow myself more time to experiment with my crafting and learn some new techniques and this has led me to decide it is time to move on from the DT work. My last samples have now been posted for the team.
 

Over on my blog today, I am allowing myself a little self indulgence with a little retrospective review of some of my favourites among the samples I have produced during this time.

I want to thank Glenda for giving me the chance to be part of a fantastic team of crafters, artisitic spirits who have been a real pleasure to work with and who have taught me so much. I will of course be carrying on enjoying using CB stamps as a customer and I am sure the stamps will continue to feature large in the projects I post on my own blog.

Thanks for all your comments here and on my own blog on my samples showcasing the wonderful range of stamps and products from Chocolate Baroque, they have meant so much.

Elaine x