Playing with backgrounds

Hi Folks, I have some more projects for you today showcasing the Thistle Butterfly/Honeysuckle Butterfly multi-buy stamp sets from Chocolate Baroque

I have really enjoyed working with these pretty stamps, as flowers and butterflies are among my favourite images to use. I have made some slightly different backgrounds for these projects, and one of them was a first time experiment for me!


My first sample was created by using Pan Pastels for my background over a mask, I wanted to create a tartan background to go with the thistle image, it seemed appropriate. (If you do not have a mask, you could just use thin strips of masking tape, it was what I was going to use until I found a mask). I used a pale yellow over my card first, then applied the mask before using a lilac PP and then a magenta toned PP over the top.

I then stamped the image with Coffee Archival Ink and coloured it with Polychromos pencils. I used the floral spray stamp from the Honeysuckle stamp set to stamp around the edges using Lulu Lavender Memento ink. The sentiment is taken from the Amazing Birthday clear stamp set.

My second project was created using water colour paper, onto which I stamped the large honeysuckle image.  I then brushed water over the paper around the image, and sprinkled Leaf Green Brusho over the water. I wanted a very pale background, so I spritzed the Brusho with water, and dabbed it with kitchen roll, to take the darkest patches away. I then dabbed between the areas of the image that were still white with the coloured kitchen roll to add some colour. This technique worked really well, and as a first time experiment, I was really pleased! I used the tiniest amount of Brusho, so these powders are going to last me a long time.

I stamped the image again onto a scrap piece of card and coloured the images with Distress markers and a water brush. I decoupaged the butterflies from the second image onto the main image. I stamped the small honeysuckle stamp from the Elegant Edges stamp set around the edge of the background.

 Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Time for another challenge!

Hello folks, it's time for another challenge on the Chocolate Baroque Challenge Blog so please pop over to take a look at the inspiration from the Design Team, read the information and make something for the challenge. If you use Chocolate Baroque stamps for your entry, you will be entered in the monthly draw for a £15 prize to spend at Chocolate Baroque so it is really worth entering the challenge.

Here is the inspirational picture for this month's challenge using artwork originally created by one of our Design Team members Doreen:

The colours are so different from last month's challenge, and Doreen's original artwork is beautiful. I was inspired to make a card reflecting a recent holiday to Tuscany, so I fished out the Echoes of Italy stamp plate which is an old favourite of mine. I created two panels of colour at the top and bottom of my background using paper masks to cover the central area. I used various shades of Distress Inks: Scattered Straw, Dried Marigold, Wild Honey and Rusty Hinge. I stamped the large crackle stamp over the top using Sepia Archival Ink.

For the central panel, I stamped the image using Bamboo Leaves Memento Ink, and added some clouds from the Magical Landscapes and Fantasy Castles stamp sets. I coloured the images in with Distress Markers and a waterbrush.

Originally that was it as far as the design was concerned, but I felt that the balance of colours was wrong. So, I added some handmade flowers using scrap paper and some die cut Crealie leaves. Italy is bursting with flowers wherever you go, and so the addition of the flowers feels just right.

Thanks for stopping by,

A Pear of Christmas Trees!

Hi Folks, I have some Christmas cards for you today, using the lovely selection of seasonal stamps currently on offer at Chocolate Baroque.

My first card uses stamps from the Snowy Scenes/Turtle Doves multibuy stamped onto green paper using white embossing powder. I added tiny red gems to the tree and snowflakes for a little bit of Christmas bling. To complete the background, I added a stamp from the Nature Fragments stamp set, stamped in Cottage Ivy Memento ink. I also stamped a sentiment from the Christmas Magic clear stamp set in the same colour onto a piece of scrap paper. I edged all of the pieces of paper with green ink and then matted them onto dark green card before assembling my project.

My second card was created by stamping a large ornate pear from the Pears and Baubles stamp set onto my background using Rich Cocoa Memento ink. I coloured the pears using a mixture of green and yellow Distress markers and a waterbrush. I filled in the background between using my Stormy Sky Distress marker pen and a waterbrush, I made the background very watery using a wide waterbrush where possible. The main image was stamped onto a die cut piece of card using gold embossing powder, and coloured in with the marker pens in the same way. I edged the background with Stormy Sky Distress Ink. I added a large flourish from the Butterfly Dreams stamp set, using gold embossing powder.

I matted the layers onto dark brown card and added a piece of dark brown organza ribbon to finish. I hope that these two cards have given you a little bit of inspiration. I always enjoy mixing the new stamps with some of the other stamp sets already available. Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Challenge Blog Freebie

Hi Folks, it's time for another post over on the Chocolate Baroque Challenge Blog and this time it's a post with a difference, as we have a free digital download for you! Lesley has created a beautiful download that you can collect, simply by visiting the blog, so please pop over to take a look.

I have created a card using the download for a very special friend, who is celebrating her Birthday today. I printed the download onto canvas, and stamped around the edges, using stamps from the Autumn Fairies stamp set from Chocolate Baroque. I added a chiffon flower that I had lurking in my stash; I have lots of these cut out ready to add to projects whenever I need them. I found a piece of sprayed background paper left over from another project, and stamped a butterfly onto this, using Coffee Archival Ink, and embossed it with clear embossing powder. I added a couple of earring findings for antennae. Finally, I die cut some leaves to place behind the flower.

There is still plenty of time to enter the challenge, so take a look at all of the information while you are there. You can find the link here

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Honeysuckle Canvas

Hi Folks, I have a project to show you today using the Thistle Butterfly/Honeysuckle Butterfly Multibuy stamp sets from Chocolate Baroque. These new sets are a lovely addition to the range of floral butterfly stamps, and great for mixing and matching with older stamps in the range, or using by themselves.

For my project, I covered a canvas with vintage music paper, and then painted it with various shades of Golden acrylic paint in greens and blues. I stamped the flourish from the set around the edges in forget-me-not and orange blossom archival ink to create a border. This is such a lovely stamp, and has become a favourite of mine. I stamped the honeysuckle image onto the background, and again onto some white card. I coloured the image on the card with pencils before cutting it out and adding it to the canvas.

I coloured some scrap card using Distress Inks in shades of blue and orange. I stamped some letters from the Newsprint Alphabet onto the card to spell the word 'Fleur', before cutting them out. I distressed and inked the edges of the little panels, and added these to my canvas.

Keep checking the Design Team Blog for lots of lovely samples from my Team mates over the coming month. xx