There are new stamps recently released over at Chocolate Baroque on a Christmas theme, and I've used one of the new sets to make a sample that I've also posted on the Design Team Blog today.

My project uses a large gate stamp from the Christmas Creatures stamp plate, which I have stamped onto a 5" x 7" card. I masked the image, using Eclipse masking tape, and created a background using Pan Pastels. I used a second card the same size, and stamped a house from the New England Winter stamp plate onto the opposite side of this card, so that it would face the first image. I also masked this image, as before, and created a background with Pan Pastels. I then watercoloured both images with Distress markers and a waterbrush, adding more colour to the images directly with the pens for shading, and drawing it out with the waterbrush, until I was happy with the finish.

I cut the aperture out of the centre of the gate, added some gems to the large tree and some glitter to represent some snow.

I added some smaller gems to the tree on the second picture and more glitter.

I had quite a limited colour selection of blue Pan Pastels, so I put white Pan Pastel over my card first, so that the blue did not appear too dark. It gives quite a Wintery feel to the sky as well, I think.

I then trimmed a little piece from the inner edges of each card, and stuck the two cards together.

So now you can see the house through the arch of the gateway. I haven't added a sentiment to the card yet, but I will add one later once I have decided who I will send the card to at Christmas time. These new stamps are very versatile, because they mix in with a lot of the older sets that I already have, as you can see from this sample. I have several more projects planned using some of the new stamps and blending them with my older sets, I really like to do this. I'll be back in a few days with another sample for you, thanks for stopping by, xx