Floral Collection

 Hello everyone, I have some floral projects to share with you today, that were featured on last month's TV shows on Hochanda. These cards were made using the individual floral stamps from the shows, and I used a range of techniques to create the cards.

For my first card, I coloured the background with Squeezed Lemonade Distress Ink, using the wrinkle free distress technique. I then stamped over the top using a stamp from the Harlequin Fragments stamp set, using Distress Oxide Inks. I stamped the Harlequin Bouquet individual stamp onto a die cut oval, using Archival Deep Purple Ink, and coloured the image using Distress Inks and a water brush. I added a sentiment to the background from the Loving Sentiments stamp set. I edged the background with the Archival Ink to create a border, before adhering it to a large white card blank.

For my second card, I created a background using red, orange and lime green Brushos and kraft card. I stamped the Floribunda Net individual image onto another piece of kraft card, and embossed it using white embossing powder. I coloured the image using Brushos and a water brush. I stamped the sentiment from the Loving Sentiments stamp set onto a smaller piece of kraft card, again using white embossing powder. I have inked the edges of each piece of card using red ink.

For my third card, I coloured the background again using Squeezed Lemonade Distress Ink, and used the Large Crackle Background for added texture, stamping with Shabby Shutters Distress Ink. I cut a postcard sized piece of card, and stamped the Crackling Rose individual stamp, adding images from the Mail Art stamp set, to create a postcard effect. I created a small sentiment strip using words from the Loving Sentiments stamp set once again. I edged each piece of card with Shabby Shutters Distress Ink.

Long term viewers of the blog will have seen a rendition of this final project, which I remade for the TV show. I hope that you will not mind seeing it again, using the Flora Musica stamp set. I used a piece of old music paper, colouring the edges with Distress Ink and then adding a border by stamping an image from the Decadent Brocade stamp set, but any scroll type stamp would do, there are lots to choose from in the Chocolate Baroque range.

I will be back later in the month to share some projects from the Christmas show that took place during the second part of August. Thanks for stopping by, xx

A Colourful Collection

Hello everyone, I have more projects to share with you using the fabulous new stamps featured on last month's shows on Hochanda.

I was very taken with the Floral Harmony stamp, and love the flower head image part of the design in particular. I decided to use this as the focal point for a couple of my projects.

I applied texture paste through the Useful Leaves Stencil onto a large Tando Tag, and allowed this to dry completely. I covered the tag with gesso, and once this was dry, applied a combination of pale pink and turquoise chalk paints from Momenta to the background.

I stamped the leafy spray stamps from the Take It or Leaf It stamp set, using Memento Teal Zeal Ink onto the background. I stamped several of the floral images onto to some spare white card, and coloured them using water based markers. I added a bit of Stickles to the centres for added bling. I coloured a piece of white card with water based marker that I had scribbled onto an acrylic block and spritzed with water. I then die cut a small rectangle and stamped a sentiment from the Amazing Mackintosh Words stamp set. I edged the rectangle using Picked Raspberry Distress Ink.

I added the flowers and sentiment to the tag, and finally coloured some ribbon using the same paints as I had used for the background, to give a coordinated feel to the project.

For my next project, I rummaged through my stash, and found some brightly coloured backgrounds, and cut out some squares of orange card, I then inked up the flower head part of the stamp, using Orange Blossom Archival Ink, and pressed the squares of card onto the stamp to obtain the image. I also stampd several of the large leaves from the Take it or Leaf It stamp set, using Olive Archival Ink, and then cut all of the images out. I arranged them onto a large black card blank, to create a wreath shape. Once again, I added Stickles to the centres of the flowers for some sparkle.

I die cut a circle from another piece of the orange card, and stamped a sentiment from the Amazing Mackintosh Words stamp set.

For my final project, I decided to work within my favourite colour palette, and created a soft background of turquoise and purple, using Distress Oxide Ink. I stamped the Baroque Corners using Cobalt Archival Ink, and added a sentiment from the Amazing Words stamp set. I edged the background with a Seedless Preserves Distress Ink.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Butterfly Wreath

Hello everyone, I am sharing a card that I have created as part of the monthly Fifteen MInute blog post over on the Design Team blog today. This card was made as a Birthday card for a special friend, but it doubled up as a quick card for this blog post as well.


I created a wreath by using the leafy sprays from the Take It or Leaf It stamp set. I stamped the images around a pencil drawn circle, using first and second generation stamping, and Memento Pistachio ink. Once the ink was dry, I rubbed out the pencil line. I then die cut several butterflies from book paper which had been stuck onto card, which I found  in my box of scraps. The dies are a set from Crealies, and are a firm favourite of mine. I inked around the edges of the butterflies with Abandoned Coral Distress Ink and stuck them around the circle.This is not a colour that I use much, but it goes so well with the Pistachio. Finally I added a sentiment from the Birthday Words stamp set.

After looking at several options, I decided that kraft suited this card best, and so I matted the background onto a large kraft card blank.

Pop over to the Design Team Blog to see the rest of the creations in this month's Fifteen Minute blog post.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Leafy Florals

Hello everyone, I have three projects to share with you today showcasing new stamps recently featured on Hochanda. These floral stamps are really fabulous, suitable for all sorts of occasions, and styles.

For my first card, I used a favourite technique, stamping on a piece of book paper, and colouring the image with pencils. I stamped the Hanging Flowers image using Versafine Onyx Black Ink, and then edged the book paper with Distress Ink. The larger background was from my stash created with Twisted Citron Distress Ink, and I used the same stamp to stamp around the edges with Library Green Archival Ink to create a frame. I used kraft card to mat and layer the edges, giving a more natural feel.

For my second card, I used some background card from my stash created using Twisted Citron Distress Ink, and simply stamped and embossed the main image using Versafine Onyx Black Ink and clear embossing powder. I stamped the two leaves randomly over the background to create a very quick design. Black matting layers give a very bold feel to this monochrome card.

For my final card, I used masking to combine an image from the Take It or Leaf It stamp set with the Chequered Flowers image, and coloured the images with Coloursoft pencils.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Two Tone Teasels

Hello everyone, it's not often that I find the time to make something other than Design Team projects these days, but I needed to make my lovely Dad a Birthday card recently, and decided to make him a card using a fabulous set of stamps from Woodware that have been languishing unused in my stash.

I created a blended background using a combination of Scattered Straw and Salty Ocean Distress Oxide Inks, and then using a favourite stencil, I added a patch of stenciling at two opposite corners. I used a baby wipe in the middle of the card to take away colour using the same stencil.

Using the Clear Magic Teasel stamps, I first stamped the images in Potting Shed Archival Ink, and then in Black, creating a depth to the images. I added a lovely large sentiment from Inkylicious to complete the card. My Dad's eyesight is not so good, following two strokes this year, and this visual card was perfect for him.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Brand New Colouring Pages from Chocolate Baroque

Hello everyone, I am sharing some of my colouring pages from the A4 Colouring Pages Kit with you today, two of which you may have caught on the recent TV shows on Hochanda. These fabulous pages are so relaxing to colour in a vast range of mediums, and Sue's designs will really capture your imagination. The beautiful floral designs are absolutely stunning, and having the practice pages included in your pack of pages gives you the confidence to try out any colour combinations before you make a start on the main designs themselves.

I used colouring pencils on all three of my designs, as I love to use pencils, but I have used different types of pencils on each design, as I will explain as I go along.

For my first design, I used Inktense pencils, choosing vibrant shades of blues and plums for the flowers. I coloured the design in full, and then went over the images with a water brush, to blend the colours, adding more shading with the pencils again afterwards, if necessary. These fabulous pencils create a really intense hit of colour once water is added, and the picture really comes alive.

For my second design I used Polychromos pencils, blending the colours together for a natural effect in Autumnal tones. These are my favourite pencils for colouring, as they blend so well together, and the shading possibilities are wonderful with such a large choice of colours to choose from.

Finally, I wanted to create a project using a colouring page in a more versatile way. As a cardmaker, using these pages to make cards and tag, really stretches their use. I will certainly use them more if I can use some of them in this way, and will use one for colouring, and the duplicate page for something else.

I cut the top of one of the pages down to size, and coloured this with Coloursoft pencils, using a much smaller colour palette, to tone in with the background card that I had chosen. I only have a smaller set of the pencils, as they were what I started out with, but I have always loved these pencils. I really enjoyed creating this project as a way of revisiting this set of pencils. I have blended reds and greens together, and different shades of greens on leaves and branches, just as you would find in Nature, because nothing is just a flat colour if you look at it closely.

 I added a row of faux stitching around the edge, and matted the page and background card onto a large black card blank.

I had a small section of colouring page left, and so I coloured part of the foliage, which I cut out, and added to a strip of the same background card, die cut into a tag shape. I matted this onto black card, and added a sentiment from the Amazing Mackintosh Words stamp set, which had been stamped onto a scrap of card left from another project. I also added faux stitching around the sentiment. Some green ribbon was added to complete the tag:

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Flowers in Her Hair

Hello everyone, I have a colourful card to share with you today, featuring the Summer Fayre stamp that was part of the recent Chocolate Baroque TV shows on Hochanda.

I have stamped the image onto a square topper, and then masked the image. I coloured the background with Peeled Paint Distress Oxide Ink, and then loosely coloured the image with Zig Clean Colour markers, sometimes using a water brush to dilute the colours.

I created a larger background using matching colours of  Distress Oxide Ink, (Peeled Paint, Worn Lipstick, Fossilized Amber), and spritzed the background with water, to blend the colours a little. Once the background was dry, I stamped an image from the Poppy Edges stamp set, to frame the central image, using Barn Door Distress Ink. I added a large red bow before I assembled the card, choosing a toning olive green card to finish.

I hope you like her pink hair and green eyeshadow. She reminds me of a festival goer, with her bright accessories!

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Spring Things!

Hello everyone, I have a couple of projects to share with you today, featuring the newest batch of stencils from Chocolate Baroque.

For my first project, I used a piece of background watercolour paper from my stash, already coloured with green Distress Inks, and added some stencilling, using the Useful Leaves Stencil and two different colours of green ink. I coloured some texture paste with Twisted Citron Distress re-inker, and spread it through the Seasonal Journey Stencil, choosing the word 'Spring'. Once the paste was dry, I added some green gilding wax to darken the colour slightly, and add some shimmer.

I stamped two butterflies from the Just Butterflies stamp set onto acetate using Versafine Onyx Black Ink, and embossed them with clear embossing powder. I coloured the reverse of the images with Copic markers, and cut the images out, before attaching them to the background. I chose a bright green card to mat the background.

For my second card, I stamped the Spring Awakening image onto a piece of smooth watercolour paper, and masked the image. I coloured the background with Scattered Straw Distress Ink, and added some stencilling with a honeycomb stencil in two opposite corners. I used Wild Honey Distress Ink to add the stencilling.

I drew through the twig section of the Seasonal Elements Stencil, using a Distress Marker, and then added some leaves, using a bright green Zig Clean Colour marker. I used the same green to add the word Spring from the Seasonal Journey Stencil. I added some detail to the leaves with a darker green pencil.

I stamped a bee and butterfly from the Patchwotk Butterfly and The Rose Tree stamp sets onto acetate, embossing and colouring them exactly as I did in my first card. I removed the mask, and coloured the main image with Polychromos pencils. I added some deeper shading around the edge of the card, using Seedless Preserves Distress Ink, and matted the background onto some purple card.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Another Butterfly Canvas

Hello everyone, I have a second butterfly canvas to share with you today, made just for fun, and I wanted to use some new products that I bought from Chocolate Baroque recently.

I have used a long thin canvas to create this project, and added some pretty rice paper by Stamperia, using matte medium. I had a strip left over from the A4 sheet, which I stuck to a piece of stone paper, again using matte medium. Once the glue was dry, I stamped two butterflies from the Patchwork Butterfly stamp set onto the strip, and cut them out. I coloured the images lightly with Polychromos pencils, just to add a bit more colour.

I stamped the sentiment from the same stamp set onto a piece of plain tissue paper, and added it to the canvas, using matte medium. I die cut some leaf shapes, and adhered those to the canvas, and added the butterflies. Finally, I stuck some lace rolled roses to the leaves.

I have added a touch of green ink here and there on the canvas, as I felt that the background was a bit too pink. I feel that the extra green gives the whole project more balance.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Butterfly Canvas

Hello everyone, I have a canvas to share with you today, using some of the products from last month's Kaleidoscope of Butterflies TV Shows on Hochanda.

I took a small canvas, and added a couple of die cut corners from Tim Holtz. Using the Kaleidoscope of Butterflies Mask, I scraped some texture paste through one of the butterfly shapes several times, creating a flurry of butterflies up the canvas. Once the paste was dry, I painted the canvas with blue and purple acrylic paint, and added some highlights to the textured butterflies and die cut corners with silver gilding wax.

I stamped and embossed two butterflies from the Just Butterflies stamp set onto a piece of Crafty Individuals paper, using silver embossing powder and Versamark Ink, and cut them out, before adhering them to the canvas. I added a sentiment from the Words to Dazzle and Sparkle stamp set.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Vellum Butterflies

Hello everyone, we are sharing our monthly bumper post filled with quick and inspirational tips and ideas over on the Design Team Blog today. All of the cards made by the Design Team have taken fifteen minutes or less to make, and using fabulous stamps from Chocolate Baroque show that great cards can be made in next to no time.

I have made a card as part of the post, and would like to share a few more details with you.

I used purple and green Distress Oxide ink, and covered a circular gelli plate, blending the inks where they met. I used a large flourish from the Patchwork Butterfly stamp set to stamp onto the gelli plate, not cleaning it in between each stamping. This meant that the colour from each stamping transferred to the gelli plate, adding colour or taking colour away, depending on how much ink was picked up on the stamp each time. It creates a very random effect, but I love how it turns out. I pressed the gelli plate onto a large white card blank to take a print.

I stamped and embossed two butterflies from the same stamp set onto coloured vellum, using Versamark and Wow white embossing powder, before cutting them out. I adhered the butterflies onto the background, and then stamped a sentiment from the Birthday Words stamp set.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Patchwork Butterflies

Hello everyone, I have some projects to share with you today that featured on the One Day Special shows on Hochanda last month. I always love working with butterflies, they are amongst my favourite images. The large Patchwork Butterfly is such a beautiful image. You may have heard Lesley say on the show that I had suggested that we have a stencil to match the stamps, and it has been great fun using the stencil with the stamps, creating some of these projects, and the ones that I will share with you later in the month.

For my first project, I stamped the large butterfly from the Patchwork Butterfly stamp set onto a piece of smooth watercolour paper, and masked the image with Masking Tissue, before moving onto creating the background. I drew one of the butterflies onto the Masking Tissue, using the stencil, six or seven times, and cut these out. I then inked through the stencil, using a Dried Marigold Distress Ink randomly over the background, keeping to the same butterfly shape each time. Ensuring that the ink was dry, I then used the sentiment from the stamp plate, and stamped through the same shape over the previously inked areas. Once the ink was dry, I covered each image with a mask.

I added background colour, choosing warm reds and yellows, blending the colours where they met, and spritzing the background with water once I had finished. I blotted the background with some kitchen tissue to take away some of the ink. I added some swirls using brown ink. Finally, I removed the masks and coloured the large butterfly with Distress Inks, (keeping to the same tones as the background), and a water brush.

For my second project, I created a wrinkle free distress background using Distress Oxide Inks. I stamped a swirl around the edge of the background to create a frame, and added the sentiment. I stamped the butterfly antennae onto the card directly, and stamped the entire image again onto a separate piece of card. I coloured the image with Zig Clean Colour markers, before adhering it to the background.

Finally, a remake of an old card that I made several years ago. It has had a bit of an update, so I hope you will forgive me for showing it in my post.

I created a background using paper masks and inked the sky and hills. I added a sentiment from the Words to Dazzle and Sparkle stamp set. The foliage is from the Spring Foliage and Spring is in the Air stamp sets, and I used a mixture of greens and purples to tone in with the colours that I had used for the background. I added a bit of colour to the flowers with pencil. I stamped the antennae from the large butterfly directly onto the card, and then stamped the butterfly and a fairy from the Spring Fairy Collection onto a spare piece of card. I coloured them using Distress markers.

Thanks for stopping by, xx