From Gold To Bold

I'm back with some more of my creations that I made for the shows on The Craft Store for Chocolate Baroque in December, we had so many stamps to work with and they were all very inspirational.  My first card I created using Ophelia, I did the background first with rich bold colours in Distress Oxides, which I carried over into the collar and the flowers in Ophelia's hair, the flowers were decoupaged and a pearl added to the centre of each one.  The sentiment I got from the stamp set also on the shows The Folk Art Garden..

Now to create this next one I kept it simple to get an elegant effect.  I stamped my image Song Thrush and coloured it with just a gold gel pen, which just left the matting and layering to do in gold and black card.  That's it, it really was an easy creation but I love the finished look.

Recipe:-
Stamps -  Chocolate Baroque - Ophelia,  The Folk Art Garden.. Song Thrush

Colouring Mediums -  Distress Oxides, Faber-Castell pencils, 
Tools -  posca pen, Signo gel pen gold, 
Embellishments - peals, 

Thank you for popping by
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Teeny Weeny Meadow Arrangements

  

Hello again, I'm here to share with you some more creations made for the December's shows at The Craft Store for Chocolate Baroque.  

For the first one using Teeny Weeny Meadow stamp set, I created a circle of subtle colour as a base for the stamps.  I stamped different leaves/foliage stamps in different colours creating a Wreath.  I added red berries with a Gelly Glaze pen.  I stamped a sentiment from the Holly Script set, into the centre of the wreath.  Then I matted and layered in contrasting colours.

I thought a nice snowy, frosty scene for my second creation to show the stamps versatility and that they can be used foe all seasons.  So I started by stamping the house from Patchwork Landscape, and colouring it in blue tones, I then stamped the Teeny Weeny Meadow stamps in the foreground in blues and white embossing powder for that frosty and snowy effect. Using a hill mask I created some snowy hills, and with embossing powder I created snow on the house and trees.  I added glitter for some frosty sparkle to finish off.

Recipe:-

Stamps - Chocolate Baroque - Teeny Weeny Meadow, Patchwork Landscape, Holly Script, 

Colouring Mediums -  Distress Oxides, Distress Inks, Versafine Clair, 

Tools - embossing powder, Versafine Mark, Hill mask, 

Embellishments -  Gelly glaze pen, glitter, 

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Reflections & Meadows

 

Hello and Happy New Year, this is my first post for this year, and I'm bringing you some creations I did for the December's shows at The Craft Store for Chocolate Baroque.  We had some fabulous stamps to work with as you can see.  My first is using the stamp The Folk Art Garden, it is a very big and detailed stamp and fantastic to colour.  After I had stamped the image I coloured with Distress Inks, keeping the tones in Vintage shades.  I then stamped the image again, only colouring the butterflies and flowers.  I fussy cut them and decoupaged on to my image, I inked around the edge with Distress ink and then layered onto contrasting card.

For my second creation I used the Teeny Weeny Meadow stamps,  so I started this one by putting some colour down on to my card with Distress inks in blues, greens and browns.  I stamped my trees in Versafine Clair and as I did the main image I did the reflective image using a Gel Plate.  I mixed and blended my colours for the trees to give some dimension.  It just needed to be matted on some dark green card and it was done.

Recipe:-
Stamps -  Teeny Weeny Meadow, The Folk Art Garden
Colouring Medium - Distress Oxide inks, Versafine Clair, Distress inks, 
Tools -  Gel Plate, 
 

I will be back around the middle of the month to share some more of my creations from the shows.

Thank you for popping by

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Revamp A Planner Lavinia Style

 Hello lovely people,  I made several Diaries and Notebooks for Christmas pressies for family members and thought I would share one of my creations with you!  This is a Planner/Diary my sister asked me to make for her.  She had quite a  brief such as locked in sparkle so it didn't shed in her bag, a colour palette of her preferred colours, a pocket in the back and a matching back cover.  She did provide me with the planner she wanted altering, so there is photo's below of what I did.

So using the planner below, as you can see I painted the spine in metallic Acrylic paint before covering the front and back cover.

I started by doing some backgrounds using sprays (see recipe below for a full list of products), I made sure the front and back covers matched with the same colours.  So then doing the front I created a moon using some Gesso, I stamped my main images in Versafine Clair ink, once they were in place I started adding the hills by using a mask and the foliage and trees.  Once my scene was set I added highlights and then lots of sparkle.  The back cover was created pretty much the same way.  To seal in the glitters I sprayed each one in Crafters Companions Spray and Shine.  Here's the back cover:-

I hope you all have a nice relaxing day, I've got to get my son ready to go back to school tomorrow, starting with a haircut.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:
1. Simon says Stamp Monday challenge - Something New - (new Distress Mica Sprays, Lavinia stamps)

2. We Love 2 Create - #1 - Anything Goes

3. A Perfect Time To Craft - #1 - Anything Goes

4. The Fairy & The Unicorn -  # January - Anything Goes

Recipe:-
Stamps - Lavinia - mini maple leaf, tree branch, bluebells, fairy bugs, mini berry, meadow mushroom, Jaylar, toadstool, fairy fir tree, thistle, bramble, skeleton tree scene, silhouette foliage set, meadow grass, star blossom, Aurora,
Colouring Medium - Cadence metallic paint, Dylusions sprays, Distress mica sprays, Versafine Clair, posca pens, gesso, Distress oxide sprays, 
Tools -  signo gel pens, sakura glaze pen, Lavinia hill and moon masks, Crafters Companion spray & shine, 
Embellishments - Lavinia Eco glitter, glamour dust,  

Thanks for popping by.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Kraft Magnolia & A Harmony Notelet Set

This is my final post for this month and this year here for the Chocolate Baroque blog.  So the last of my creations from the Novembers shows, I love using Kraft card especially to colour on.  I stamped the Magnolia's from the Happy flower's day stamp set,   I coloured with Aqua Pencils, directly on to the Kraft card, but I didn't apply the water to the pencils as I liked leaving the strokes in there.  It was just that simple, but I love it!

Unlike the card above this notelet set isn't quite so simple.  I always start by creating the folder first, with a pocket on the inside to house the notelets and the envelopes..  I created the front using the Harmony Tree stamp set, distress oxide inks and the splatters from the  Numerology stamp set.  I coloured the tree with pencils, and added a ribbon.  I like to decorate the inside flap too, and I did that using the Remembrance Tree stamp set,  then as you can see using a selection of the stamps I have already mentioned I inked, stamped and created notelets and matching envelopes, all using the same method.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at my creations

Happy Crafting

Tracy x

Autumn Time & A Subtle Butterfly

Today I am sharing some more creations made for the November's shows for Chocolate Baroque.  For my first card I used Distress Oxides to make my background, simply by applying the ink to my glass mat, spraying with water and smooching my card into it.  I left the top right hand corner white to break it up a bit, and for a place to add my sentiment which is from the Harmony Tree set.  I stamped the large tree from the stamp set Trees A crowd, using some oxide I coloured in some grass around the base of the tree.

For this creation I did something a little different to my normal style, I really enjoyed playing with this technique which I was inspired to do after watching Lesley's workshop on shading with pencil.  So I started by stamping the Butterfly from the stamp set Happy Flower's Day  I shaded the butterfly using just normal HB pencils, then using a stencil and Distress Oxide inks in several colours created a background.  It's a very clean and simple card, but effective.

Thank you for allowing me to show you my cards, I will be back towards the end of the month with some more.

Thank you

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Have A Merry Vintage Christmas

 Hello everyone,  I found some time to create some Christmas cards  with some images from Crafty Individuals that I've wanted to use for ages, they just sing Vintage to me so that was the path I went down.  And I love Kraft card with Vintage so I thought that I would stamp on it.

So I started by stamping CI-327 Waiting For Santa on Kraft card and colouring with Faber-Castell pencils,  I set it onto a die cut frame which I had inked.  The background card was blended with Distress Oxide inks.  I cut some Poinsettia's in Kraft and used pencils to add colour, I embellished my card with gingham ribbon and a little gold stickles.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

1. The Cutie Pie Challenge - #165 - Anything Cute

2. Crafty Calendar Challenge - December - Christmas

I enjoyed making the above card so did another with a different image, I used CI-399 Winter Wonderland from Crafty Individuals this time

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:
1. Dream Valley Challenges - #260 - Christmas


Recipe:-
Stamps - Crafty Individuals - CI399 - Winter Wonderland, CI-327 - Waiting For Santa, Sentiment - Flonz, 
Colouring Medium - Distress Oxide inks, Faber-Castell pencils, 
Tools s- Spellbinder Dies - Timeless Rectangle, Layered Poinsettia, 
Embellishments - Stickles, Gingham ribbon, 

Thanks for popping by.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Rainbows & Reflections

  I would like to share a couple of creations I did for the November Craft Store shows for Chocolate Baroque

My first creation is all about reflection. I took the Trees A Crowd stamp set and selected some of the trees, I did a waterline so I could line my trees up, I used a gel plate to make the reflections, then I just built up the colouring creating the scene.  I die cut some frames to put around my images in contrasting colours.

I loved creating this card, now I know it's not for everyone but I have to say I find fussy cutting relaxing.  So to start I chose five colours of Distress inks and then applied them with stencil brushes in  rainbow stripes.  I stamped five butterflies from the stamp set Happy flower's day, and cut them out.  Always cut your image before colouring it as the ink weakens the card and you don't get as crisper cut.  For each butterfly I took the colour from the background so for instance for the pink one I used Kitsch Flamingo, I then picked two other co-ordinating colours, Spun Sugar and Picked Raspberry to shade and colour the butterfly.  I then proceeded to do the other butterflies in the same way.

I stamped the butterfly image on the background where I wanted the butterflies positioned, then glued the cut out butterflies over the top with the wings free and shaped.  All I did then was added a sentiment from the set.

This is for the following challenges:-

1. Colour Crazy Challenge - #48 - Anything Goes

2. Critter Crazy Challenges -#57 - Anything Goes

I hope to see you later in the month for some more of my samples from the shows.

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Autumn Leaves

  I'm here with my third post for this month from Chocolate Baroque, using From Nature and Numerology from Octobers shows.

For the background on this I used four different coloured inks blended together.  I then used the splatter from Numerology to stamp over the inking.  The leaves were inked with sprays before being  fussy cut and adhered to look like falling leaves.  then all that was left to do was add a sentiment.  I stamped the word Autumn and a mini bulldog clip to the top.

Another inky background done in a couple of colours,  I then stamped leaves to one side of the card and the numerology stamp down the opposite side, then some smaller leaves floating down the centre.  I layered up a couple of sentiments from the same set and added to the card.

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Bubbles Everywhere

 This is my second post this month showing creations I made for the October shows for Chocolate Baroque, using stamp sets Beauty Is In The Eyes and Numerology

I created this card in three layers, the bottom layer and second layer I did first, using a stencil I inked on some circles diagonally across,  then used a white gel pen to make them look like bubbles.  I stamped the image from the set Beauty Is In The Eyes on a third piece of card and coloured it using inks.  

My background on this one was created with inks and then splatters stamped on from the Numerology set.  I made another layer with ink and on to that I added a frame with the image stamped on and coloured.  I cut out some circles to add along the base of the frame.

There will be another post from me near the end of the month.

Happy crafting

Tracy x

A Butterfly Heart

 

Hello everyone, happy Monday to you all. This is a rare post for me as I found a little extra time to have a play this week, and hopefully will be sharing some projects soon that I will be making for Christmas gifts.

I had a fabulous time creating for the Chocolate Baroque TV show on  The Craft Store, this is one of my creations featuring the following stamps Artist Trading Heart, Happy flowers Day and Numerology.   So I started by stamping the heart in the centre, I stamped the butterfly and the sentiment on to the heart.  Using Spiced marigold Distress Oxide I blended the ink around the outside of the heart. I stamped another butterfly, fussy cut it and coloured with Distress inks.  To finish this off I stamped with the splatter stamp from Numerology. I went around the heart with some Glamour dust. Easy but effective I think.

I hope you all have a nice relaxing day, I've got samples to do for the next show.


I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:-
1. Crafty Calendar Challenge - #November - Anything Goes

2. Crafty Catz - #572 - Anything Goes with sparkle

Recipe:-
Stamps - Chocolate Baroque's -  Artist Trading Heart, Happy Flowers Day, Numerology
Colouring Medium - Distress Oxides, Distress Inks, Versafine Clair, 
Embellishments - Glamour dust, 

Thanks for popping by.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

It's A Very Micey Christmas

Welcome, it's a new month for Stamping Sensations and We Love Stamping challenges, you might see we have had a name change,  we are all about the stamping and great prizes.

If you didn't get the chance to join in last month's challenges these could be the ones for you.

At Stamping Sensations this month the theme is 'Christmas'  and I just had to use some mice, I love these Pink Ink Designs mice, they are so joyful.  So I stamped my image first and coloured it with Aqua pencils.  The background is made using Distress inks, I covered the mice and using white acrylic paint I flicked some snow.  For the snow across the bottom I used Distress Grit paste and whilst wet sprinkled some Glamour Dust on to it for some real sparkle, which you obviously can't see.

Our Prizes and Sponsor this month:-

'be Creative!' 

And there will be a second prize of a surprise goody bag which will contain a stamp, stencil or other crafting items.

And of course, the Design Team have created some stunners to inspire you. Please do pay them a visit to their individual blogs - it means a lot to know you appreciate their efforts.



And now onto my second challenge creation for We Love Stamping, where the theme is 'Christmas'  So after thinking for a bout 10 seconds what I should use for this challenge these little critters jumped out at me.  I adore this Gingerbread House, it's one of my Favourite House Mouse Christmas stamps.  I thought I would use it in a different way this time and stamped direct on to Kraft card.  I coloured it with Aqua Pencils and used a white charcoal pencil around the outside.

Our prize:-

Each month a Guest Designer will be selected from all entries and also a Top 3. We have some great prizes lined up and this month is no exception as we have four from one of our most generous new sponsors to be announced in 2022.   

                          

  

     

Are you wanting some inspiration, pop on over to the challenge blog and then you can see all the wonderful creations from the rest of the talented team.


Recipe:-
Stamps -  Pink Ink Designs - A Christmas Carol,  House Mouse - HMOR1049 - Christmas Cottage, 
Colouring Mediums - Faber-Castell Aqua Pencils, Distress Ink, Versafine Clair,  Dylusions Acrlic Paint,  Charcoal Pencil, 
Tools - Distress Grit Paste, Signo Gel Pen
Embellishments - Glamour Dust, 

Thank you for popping by my blog.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Have A Mice Christmas

 Good Morning bloggers, it's Saturday morning so It's time for a new challenge today at Allsorts.

This week it is my turn to host and I would like to see 'From Boys To Men' so it just needs to be suitable for a Boy or a Man.
I decided to make my Dad a Gift Voucher card, for the last couple of years he's asked for a Morrisons gift card as he saves them then buys plants in the spring/summer to fill his garden.  So on the front I stamped my Pink Ink mouse then coloured with Aqua pencils, I then put in some snowy hills.  I stamped a fir tree, then with a posca pen I added snow to the sky and tree.  Then to finish it had to be Glamour Dust.

For the inside I did some snowy hills, added some fir trees then the snow.  I made some slits to house the gift card.  My final touch was to decorate the envelope by stenciling some blue circles then stamping the fir tree.

Don't forget to head over to Allsorts for all the details of this challenge, and to check out all the fabulous inspiration from my very talented team mates.

Here are the prizes on offer:-

 

Woodware stamp and sentiment set

 From

Craft Stash is the fastest growing online craft store that specialises in papercraft for card making, journaling, mixed media and much more! We have over 10,000 products to choose from and we’re constantly adding new brands and new products from around the globe.

And also 3 images of winners choice from Ruth Hamilton Design

Ruth Hamilton Design: I have enjoyed crafting all my life and have been involved in the craft industry for several years. I started drawing images to use on cards for my own use and then went on to design some stamps for a well known craft company.I am an avid lover of nature so most of my drawings are of flowers, birds and animals. Even when I can’t travel I love spending time in the garden, growing plants and looking after them. I hope you enjoy colouring my digi images, I have several YouTube vidoes here.

Recipe:-
Stamps -  Pink Ink Designs - A Christmas Carol,  Lavinia - Fir Tree, 
Colouring Mediums - Faber-Castell Aqua pencils,  Distress inks, versafine clair, Posca pen, 
Tools - Lavinnia stencil - white orbs,  Lavinia hill mask,
Embellishments - Glamour dust, 


Thanks for popping by my blog.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Autumnal Wreath And Notelets

 Today I am sharing some projects I created for the October shows for Chocolate Baroque, using From Nature and Numerolog  stamp sets

 

I created this Wreath by spraying card with spray inks in Autumnal colours, then I stamped the leaves from the set called From Nature and fussy cut them out.  I inked a background and then arranged my leaves to form a wreath.  I added a banner across the centre saying Autumn.

For my next project I created a Notelet set, 

This is the front of the folder for the notelet set, I did a background piece with Distress inks, then on another piece of card I stamped some leaves and the word Autumn.  I used the splatter from Numerology to add in between.

Inside the notelet folder on the left hand side I did some more stamping and then on the right side I made a pocket.

I made four notelets with matching envelopes, all with different designs, using autumnal coloured inks.  

I will be back later in the month with another post with more of my creations 

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Little Things

 

Good Morning bloggers, it's Saturday morning so It's time for a new challenge today at Allsorts.

This week is our lovely Lorraine's turn to host and she would like to see 'Include A Sentiment'

I chose this image as it came with the sentiment which I really like.  I stamped my image and then coloured it with Distress Inks, I inked around the edge with ink and went around with a pink metallic Posca pen.  I added so spots of glitter for some sparkle.

Don't forget to head over to Allsorts for all the details of this challenge, and to check out all the fabulous inspiration from my very talented team mates.

Here are the prizes on offer:-

Two dies, two prizes, one Tattered Lace and one Tonic

Recipe:-
Stamps - AALL & CREATE - #232 - Friendship, 
Colouring Mediums - Distress Inks, 
Tools - Posca Pen, 
Embellishments - Lavinia glitter - moondust - roseglow, 


Thanks for popping by my blog.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

A Lightbulb Moment

 Hello again, I'm here with my final post of the month for the Chocolate Baroque Blog, with creations I made for September;s show on The Craft Store.

For this creation I created a background piece by randomly stamping the bulb and the lupin, I coloured the Lupins with inks and glittered the highlights in the bulb.  I then took the main image from the stamp set Lupin Blueprint and coloured it with inks, I took the sentiment from the set and layered it up and placed it on the main image in the corner.

Now for this next card I tried something a little bit different, instead of colouring with markers or inks I coloured with glitters.  So To start I took a piece of card so use as a base to adhere to the card blank, using a glue pen I drew a line around the edge then glittered in purple.  I did the same again and glittered in green.  I stamped my main image from the Allium Blueprint set, and on the blueprint drawing part I shaded it in grey.  I then using a glue pen again coloured in the Allium, stems and leaves and in the same glitters as used around the edge coloured the image.  I'm just sorry all the sparkle doesn't show on the picture.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my post

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Vintage Poppy

 Good Morning bloggers, it's Saturday morning so It's time for a new challenge today at Allsorts.

This week is our lovely Mervi's turn to host and she would like to see 'Vintage with Anything Goes option'
I love vintage so this wasn't hard to do.  I started doing the background with oxides then stamping some small postage stamp marks on.  I stamped the main image and coloured with distress inks, I then stamped out, coloured and fussy cut a butterfly from Crafty Individuals small stamps . I assembled my card added some computer generated wordsI did myself, then to finish I splattered with a posca pen.  Finally some doodlng around the edge.

Don't forget to head over to Allsorts for all the details of this challenge, and to check out all the fabulous inspiration from my very talented team mates.

Here are the prizes on offer:-

Indigo Blu Rose Blush stamp

And 3 images of winners choice from Ruth Hamilton Design

Ruth Hamilton Design

Recipe:-
Stamps - Crafty Individuals - CI-210 Pretty Poppy, a selection of small stamps from Crafty Individuals sets, 
Colouring Mediums - Distress Inks, Distress Oxides, 
Tools - Embossing Powder, fine Liner, Posca pen, 

Thanks for popping by my blog.
Happy crafting
Tracy x