Poppies in Purple

Hi there and welcome to my blog  :)  I'm sharing another of my tv samples for this week's Chocolate Baroque shows with Lesley.  One of my more recent crafty passions is colouring, using alcohol markers or pencils, I love both and I got the bug about a year ago. So for this design I combined stamping - another passion - with colouring.  I have used stamps from CB's Poppy Meadow, Pretty Poppies and Birthday Words sets; CB Kaleidoscope of Butterflies stencil, Alcohol Markers, Distress Inks, Distress Oxide ink - Wilted Violet, black Versafine ink, Clear and black embossing powder, a die from my stash.  

On a piece of Neena solar white card I stamped and embossed two Poppy images, masking a couple of flowers on the first image before adding the second.  After removing the masks I coloured the images, blending and shading where appropriate.  




I added a grey outline around the images, to make them pop off the card.  I then stamped a corner pattern in each corner of the focal panel with DO ink, then blended the matching DI around the edges of the panel.   

On a white base card I used the stencil to add butterflies as a border, then blended ink around the edges.  

I added a couple of small butterflies to the focal panel then I matted it onto black card and attached it to the base card. 

I stamped a sentiment onto white card with DO ink and embossed it with clear powder.  I then die cut it, used the die as a stencil and added ink around the sentiment, and added it to the card.

I'm so pleased with this design, it's so bright and fresh looking.  Poppies are my favourite flower and stamps allow me to colour them any colour I want.  I have made this a birthday card, but it could just as easily be an anniversary card, a retirement card, a new home card or whatever.  This design could also be adapted as a piece of home decor too  
Thanks for popping by today, I hope you've enjoyed this post and will drop in again soon  :)

Mixed Media Harlequin

Hi and welcome to my blog  :)  I have one of my DT samples from the Chocolate Baroque tv shows this week on Hochanda, featuring some of their gorgeous Autumnal stamps, to share with you today.  I love Autumn, the colours, the late sunshine and frosty mornings - not too keen on the rain though lol!  So this call out was DEFINATELY a dream for me.  I have used stamps from the CB  Butterfly Collage and Nature's Peace sets; Distress inks,  Distress Oxide inks, Aqua pens, Aztec paints, black and Sepia Versafine, clear embossing powder, CB Butterfly stencil, silver glitter texture paste, acetate, cardboard.  

I began by creating the focal panel.  I stamped the Poppy Harlequin image onto white card with sepia Versafine ink, then masked the Poppies and seed heads.  I then colour washed the card with DOs and let it dry.  I blended DI around the edges of the panel then removed the masks.  I used Aztec pearlescent paints to colour the Poppies and seed heads to make them pop. As the paints are transluscent non of the fine detail of the stamps is lost.  
  

I stamped a collage butterfly in black ink onto a spare piece of white card and embossed it.  I painted it and cut it out.  I then stamped and embossed a couple more butterflies on acetate then cut them out. 

I wanted to 'ground' the Poppies so I used a brown fine tipped marker pen to draw some ground lines, then added some dots to shade it and to compliment the stamps.  I used texture paste through the stencil to add silver butterflies to the piece and left them to set overnight.  When everything was dry I tied some twine around the panel.   

I added the acetate butterflies as an overlay for the silver textured ones and to give them detail.  The silver glitter paste shines through the acetate beautifully.  I attached them by glueing on the bodies only leaving the wings free.  I attached the painted butterfly in the same way. 

On a white base card I stamped the top of the tree image around the edges with DI then blended the ink as well.  I took a piece of corrugated cardboard, peeled the top layer off and painted it silver.  When dry I added it at a jaunty angle to the base card.  I then attached the focal panel.

I have to admit that I LOVE this card!  I adore mixed media and messy crafting, and this design enabled me to include both so it was a win win!  I think that all the elements, textures and colours come together nicely.  Most of my samples for this call out were traditional Autumn colours but I tried a few different combinations as well.  This cool colour scheme represents the bright but frosty Autumn mornings to come - brrrr!
Thank you for popping by today, I hope you have enjoyed this post and will visit here again soon  :) 

Autumn Magic

Hello there and welcome to my blog  :)  Today I am sharing a bit of Home Decor with you that I have created for the Lavinia Stamps September Challenge:   http://laviniastamps.com/lavinia-stamps-monthly-creative-challenge the theme is Autumn Equinox.  I have used Lavinia Stamp sets - Felicity, Fir Tree, Tree Roots, and a pine branch; Sparkle pens, Distress Oxide ink - Fossilised Amber, Distress inks - Wilted Violet, Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo, Versafine ink - sepia and black, clear and black embossing powder, Angelina fibres and film,  Chocolate Baroque Seasonal Journey stencil and die cuts from my stash.

I started by stamping the tree in Sepia ink and embossing it with clear powder.  I then stamped the fairy 'sitting' on the tree roots in black and embossed her in black powder, then did the same with the fir tree and pine branches.  I used 2nd generation ink to add more trees.  I coloured the tree with a brown Sparkle pen, then added a landscape with other Sparkle pens.  I used a circular mask to create a setting or rising sun behind the trees then made a colour wash of Fossilised Amber DO ink and painted a base for my Autumn Sky.  I then stencilled clouds onto the sky with DI's.  I removed the mask and coloured the sun with Sparkle pen and added more clouds.  To add a little more magic I faux bleached a small circle  and added some clear Sparkle pen, as though the fairy is holding a magical orb.

  

I colour washed some spare card using the sparkle pens, and die cut some leaves and acorns when dry.  I added some DI's to make them look like they were turning colour.  I then used the fibres and film with a craft iron to create some fairy wings.

I stencilled the word 'Autumn' in the bottom third of the scene using DI and added Vintage Photo ink around the edges.  

I matted the panel onto some orange card then attached that to some greyboard.  I then started to assemble the border of 3D leaves and acorns, using dimensional glue.   I also attached the fairy wings in the same way.
   

Well I absolutely loved creating this plaque, I had LOADS of inky messy fun and did lots of lovely embossing!  This design would make an excellent card for an Autumn birthday or a retirement card, or as a present for any occasion.
Thank you so much for visiting my blog today, I hope you like this post and will pop in again soon  :)  

Frosty Forest

Hello and welcome to my blog  :)  Today I am sharing my FIRST Christmas card of 2017 with you!   I wanted to create something special with my new Chocolate Baroque Christmas stamps, they are so beautiful and different from any of my other Christmas stamps and I have SO many ideas for them!
I have used stamps from the Reindeer Landscape, New England Winter, and Winter Birds sets; dies from Crafters Companion and Sheena Douglass; Chocolate Baroque Seasonal Journey stencil, Designs by Ryn Floral Spirals stencil; Distress Oxide inks, white Gesso paint, Brilliance ink - Ice Blue, Silver Aztec paint, clear EP and Opal EP.

I began with a piece of white stamping card then applied DOs straight onto my glass mat.  I spritzed the inks with water then dragged the card through the inks in a circular movement to give a distressed, textured and blended look.  I then stencilled silver paint with a sponge randomly all over the background panel to represent an icy wind blowing.   I stamped some snowflakes randomly over the top third of the card with white gesso to complete the background.

Next I stamped the Reindeer scene image onto the panel with Versamark ink and embossed it with Opal powder.  I wanted to extend the scene as the BG panel is square, so I removed the ink from one edge of the image before stamping and embossing, then re-inked, stamped and embossed the image again.  A faint line was left but I was using a die over the whole panel so it didn't matter too much.    

I took another piece of white card and die cut a stag scene, embossed it then blended DI  over it to accentuate the embossing.

On a white base card I stamped and embossed the snowflake corner and some of the snowflake images, then stamped other worker images around the edges of the card to create a border.  I added two types of 'snowy' glitter on the background panel and the front panel.  I attached the BG panel to some mirror card, then attached that to the base card.  I used 3D foam to attach the front panel as I wanted to create some depth to this piece.  

I stencilled the word 'Winter'  in one of the bottom corners of the card which is where I would put a sentiment.  I wanted to create a card that would be suitable for a winter birthday as well as Christmas.

I added some gems to the stamped snow flakes then die cut several snowflakes, attached them to the card and added some gems.  

I really enjoyed creating this card!  It's quite technique heavy - like a lot of my designs - but it was loads of fun to do and the finished piece is just as I wanted it to be!  The whole design has a peaceful, frosty fun feel to it.  Definately a special Christmas card.  
Thank you very much for dropping by today, I hope you've enjoyed this post and will pop in again soon  :)  

Metal and Sparkle

Hi there and welcome to my blog  :)  I have a piece of mixed media to share with you today, something I created for the Country View Crafts Challenge blog;  http://countryviewchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/   Their theme for September is 'Metal' and I decided to create my take on a set of steel tool drawers, like the ones found in many garages.  I have used an MDF set of drawers, black card, embossing folders,die cuts, paper clay and moulds, skeleton leaves, gilding waxes, Dyna paints and Sparkle pens.
  

I started with a small MDF set of drawers with wooden handles.  I painted the whole thing with black gesso,taking the drawers out, painting each one and letting it dry.

While the paint was drying I embossed several pieces of black card in folders, one with a grid pattern and one with cogs.  I then added gilding waxes to give an effect of aged metal.  

I covered the drawer handles with each of the gilding waxes, then cut the embossed card into panels to cover the drawer fronts.  I used strong glue to attach the panels then blended waxes around the edges. 

I then attached panels to all sides of the chest.  I didn't cut the card to fit each side exactly, I used several smaller pieces on a couple of sides to give the appearance of patched sheet metal.

 I left the front of the chest black so that the drawer fronts really pop.

Next I made all the embellishments; some out of black paper clay, some out of die cut card, and a frame that I made by attaching two thin wooden frames together then painting it with black gesso and gold paint.  I painted the little face in the same way, the cogs and flowers were painted with Dyna paints.  I then used Sparkle pens on the flowers to enhance the textures.  I gilded the die cuts, but I left the skeleton leaves as they were already a lovely colour of blue.  

 

I used the gold paint to accentuate the features of the face.

I attached a small panel of mirror card to the back of the frame , then attached the face inside the frame.  I added a tiny flower to the frame and some tiny cogs to the face.  I then arranged and attached the other embellishments.

To complete this project I used the waste from die cutting cogs to create faux rivets  for the 'sheet metal' panels.  

I had an absolute blast creating this project and I'm really pleased with the result!  I love the combination of the hard metal effect with the softness of the flowers and the delicate skeleton leaves.  Thank you so much for visiting my blog today, I hope you've enjoyed this post - I'd love it if you'd leave me a comment - and I hope to see you here again soon  :)