Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas everyone.
It's so long since I last posted I'd almost forgotten how!
I have been busy making cards, but my hands have ached so much. I'm hoping the surgery I had for Carpal Tunnel will start to show some benefits soon! I am having a better nights sleep, but they ache all day!

Just a few of the cards I have made...............All stamps are Chocolate Baroque.
See you next year,
Sandra

Washi Tape

Another challenge at Less is More

 

 

"For our recipe this week we want you to use or make

WASHI TAPE

You can use the shop bought type or you can make your own one way or another. We know you will be inventive if you don't have any in your stash..."

 

I have never used Washi Tape, but did have some free with a magazine a while ago. So, after I finally found where I had put it  I came up with this! Flowers are from stash and sentiment is from Chocolate Baroque.

 

 

Thanks for looking,

Sandra

Quotation

Hi all

Country View Crafts have their 6th challenge this month.



                                       'Quotations & Sayings'
 

You can design whatever kind of project you want, card, scrapbook page, journal, art, altered art, even a knitting or sewing project - anything as long as you made it yourself and it complies with the rules. What we need to see is a quotation or a saying - it might be a famous quotation from a book or it might be a saying from a stamp (there are so many out there) but it has to be attributable to someone or a url reference to a web page where you found it AND we need to see the source of whatever you've used mentioned in your blog.

For my card I have blended DI Shabby Shutters, Antique Linen and Broken China onto the back of some Centura Pearl card, stamped the bird from Chocolate Baroque Swirly Birds and used the tail only to make swirls around the edges.

I have then stamped the quote and Bird squares from Chocolate Baroque Fly Away with Me stamp set.

Quote is by Oprah Winfrey and can also be found here.

Thanks for looking,
Sandra

Quintiles - August

Chocolate Baroque has a Quintile Swap (5" tile) each month, and this month the theme is our choice.

For my tiles I have chosen the Big Bold Background stamps from Chocolate Baroque.

These stamps are  HUGE - almost 6" square and they are beautiful. They have just released their Christmas ones also.

I have stamped with Memento London Fog and coloured with ProMarkers.


Thanks for looking
Sandra

Less is More - One Layer

Thia week's challenge at Less is More

For our 

ONE LAYER

 challenge this week, we would like to see 

NUMBERS!

Just one would do, but you may have as many as you wish!

 

 

 

For my card I have used stamps from Tim Holtz Road Trip set.  Stamped in Archival and aged the road sign with Antique Linen and Tea Dye markers.

Bye for now,

Sandra

 

Passion for ProMarkers - Theme

Card made for Passion for ProMarkers

Onto this week’s challenge which has been set by Jen from Team 2 and she has chosen “clean and simple cards”.  As you know Jen loves her CAS style cards and she proves that you don’t need lots of papers and embellishments to make a gorgeous card.  So let’s focus on the images this week and let them be the star on your cards.  

For my card I have used the Morning Glory stamp from Chocolate Baroque Flora and Fauna set. Coloured with ProMarkers. Matted and layered with coordinating papers, added some embellishments from Spellbinders Venetian Motifs and some gems.

This will be for one of the many family birthdays I have in August!

Sandra

CAS(E) this Sketch!

A card made for CAS(E) this sketch.....

Time for a new sketch.  Here is it:

 

 

For my card I have used The Majestic Oak set by Sheena Douglass.

Stamped in Memories Chalk Ink (Faded Vintage Rainbow), sentiment stamped onto vellum.

 

Thanks for looking

Sandra

Steampunk

 I ♥ ProMarkers have a new challenge.......

 The theme for this one is

Steam Punk or Mechanical

For my card I have used an 8x8 card blank.

I stamped around the edges with the Cogs stamp from Chocolate Baroque Steampunk Butterfly set.

I then tore a pice of card and aged it with DI Antique Linen, Old Paper and Pumice Stone. I added a crackle stamp and tear from Sheena's Ageing Beautifully set.

I then stamped the main image from the Punky Romance set, again from Chocolate Baroque and coloured with Promarkers.

I then had a scrap piece of card that I embossed with a cogs stencil from That Special Touch,applied DI Walnut Stain and sprayed with Copper Cosmic Shimmer, added a ribbon, key charm and ticket.

 

And here is the finished card!

 

Thanks for looking,

Sandra

Here's a card made for this week's challenge at Less is More

For our Theme this week we have chosen something this is very prevalent in Blogland at present... and that is

HEXAGONS.

There seem to be all sorts in evidence at the moment from dies and stamps to embossing folders and even hexagonal shaped cards.

 

 

 

Made  from Chocolate Baroque Honey Bee set. Stamped with StazOn, coloured with Distress Marker, Wild Honey of course, and a little Stickles.  The large bee is decoupaged.

Thanks for looking

Sandra

Less is More - Need for Speed

It's challenge number 123 at Less is More and a one layer week.

 

 

Our theme for your cards this week is 

Need for Speed

Don't forget that white space and do have fun!

 

For my card I have used the Tim Holtz Air Travel set. I stamped the plane and compass in black archival then masked them. I then stamped the map over with sepia archival. I've not put a sentiment on as I have Father's Day and birthdays coming up and not decided who to give this to yet!

Sandra

 

A bit of me time..........

Every Monday, Glenda from Chocolate Baroque, sends out a Monday Mojo Newsletter.  This week, as it was a Bank Holiday, she challenged us to take time out and play with our crafty stash!
Well, it was a week off work for me but I had loads of paperwork to get through and then I wasn't feeling too good (about usual for me when on holiday!), but I finally got round to unwrapping a canvas that had been on my shelf since ..........well forever!
I gessoed it, I painted it, I messed it up, I threw it in the bin, I rescued it and decided to just throw everything at it and I quite like the end result!

There is also a "hand challenge" going on at the Chocolate Baroque Community Blog so take a look!

Sandra

Quintiles - May

This month the Chocolate Baroque Quintile's Challenge is Chelsea Flower Show.

For my first tile I used the Butterfly Tree from the Essence of Nature stamp set.
I stamped with Archival, coloured with watercolour pencils and covered the butterflies with Glossy Accents.

For my second tile I used the Honey Bee set, again I stamped in Archival and coloured with watercolour pencils.


See you soon
Sandra

Quintiles - April

Well, my last lot of Quintiles went missing, ggrrrr Royal Mail.


What was really annoying though, was that I had my April ones in the same envelope and two lots of large stamps. It was too late to submit another lot for March (and I missed out on receiving a set back), but I have done a second lot of April.

The theme for April was "April Fool". We have to use Chocolate Baroque stamps so it was a bit of a challenge to say the least.

I was looking through an old Gardening Catalogue, from 1934, and  thought the names of some of the plants were really interesting and wondered if there was a plant named April Fool - and there was! It was a snowdrop and Chocolate Baroque recently bought out a lovely set of spring stamps so I was OK!
So I have redone my tile and in my haste posted it without taking a picture, so this is the original one which is similar!

Looking forward to receiving my swap (fingers crossed)
Sandra

For Paula!

My lovely friend Paula has had a bit of a sort out and gave me lots of stash, some of it is going to Nursery, some to Craft Club and some to a friends daughter who is into crafting - but a little bit I've saved for myself!
I fell in love with some Sugar Nellie stamps and thought I'd make a "cute" card - totally different to my normal crafting, but loved it!

Thank you Paula for opening another avenue to me and will see you soon.
Sandra

Entered in
Sugar Bowl - Anything Goes
Pile it On - Dots

Quintile Swap

It seems ages since I blogged.

Last week I went in for a small op which has had a major impact on my crafting!
I had my right wrist operated on for Carpal Tunnel, very quick op under local anaesthetic, but quite sore afterwards. Most of my crafting has had to be done with my left hand as not able to grip acrylic block, etc. Never mind stitches out tomorrow and maybe I can even start ironing again ......in a few months!

The theme for our March Quintile Swap on the Chocolate Baroque group is Springtime.

For my tiles I used the new stamps from Chocolate Baroque - Spring is in the Air and Spring Foliage.
The sentiments are from Breath of Spring set.

Coloured with Distress Markers and Distress Ink.
Coloured the Snowdrops with Sakura clear glaze to protect from ink. Added some WOW glitter to the catkins on the crocus tile.

Hopefully I will feel better tomorrow when the dressings are removed!

Sandra

ATC Swap

I recently joined in with the Chocolate Baroque ATC swap.
Up until now I've been a bit daunted by how small they are!

January's theme was 

No 13.

 I used Tim Holtz Artful Dwellings Dies with the Mini Openings.
I then embossed with Brick effect folder.  Aded Distress Inks and stamped flourishes and flowers from Butterfly Flourish Swirls and Pretty Poppies. Black cat is from Howling Moon set. Stamped trees in the background from Clear Treescapes and text from Home Sweet Home.

The theme for February is 

Keys and Locks.

I blended different Distress inks for the background and used Archival Sepia for the text.
Stamped and embossed key and lock from Key to My Dreams set and coloured with Distress Markers.


Looking forward to receiving my swap!
Sandra

February Quintiles - Valentines Day

It's time for me to send off this months Quintiles.
Over at Chocolate Baroque we have a monthly swap and this month the theme is Valentines Day.

For my first tile I blended Tattered Rose and Victorian Velvet Distress Inks and spritzed with water/mica.
I then stamped the flourishes from Curly Birds in Victorian Velvet. (Covered my joins with some Candi!)
Stamped and embossed Hearts - not sure which set these are from as I got the stamp in a goody bag.
Stamped "Beauty" from Artistics Expressions

For my second tile I blended Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick Distress Inks. I then stamped one of the background stamps from Dusky Damask in Aged Mahogany DI.
I die cut a heart and blended inks again, stamped with Curly Birds (their tails are lovely flourishes!).
Sentiment is from Weekend in Venice stamps (discontinued?)
Added a heart charm.



Sorry for quality of photos, light is quite poor. Should have taken them earlier when it was beautiful and sunny!


Would also like to enter this into Sincerely Yours Creations Valentine / Love

Bye for now
Sandra

Less is More Friends

Here is my card for the Less is More Challenge "Friends"

Made from Chocolate Baroque Pretty Poppies set and coloured with Distress Markers.
Short and sweet, got to dash!
Bye
Sandra

Snow!

Just a few pictures of the snow we have had near Abergavenny!
Keep warm
Sandra

Quintiles - Winter Wonderland

The Alpha Tag challenge has finished over on Chocolate Baroque, so we are onto a new challenge for 2013 - Quintiles. These are pieces of artwork measuring 5" square.
The challenge for January is Winter Wonderland.


We make two Quintiles to send off and then receive two back!

My first tile was made by using Distress Stains and water for the background. I stamped the trees (Christmas Flourish) and deer (Damask Reindeer) with "glue" and then  covered with silver leaf.
Added some silver embossing powder and chunky glitter around the edge.

For this tile I made the sky with Aqua Markers - great deal at local craft shop 6 for £3.99, bought 2 packs!
I then added trees from Treescape Clear stamp set. Added some Stickles for a bit of sparkle.

Look forward to receiving my swap,
Sandra

Less is More 101

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and I wish you all a Happy New Year.

 Just time to enter one challenge before getting ready to go back to work tomorrow!

 

The beginning of a new year and the beginning of a new month means one thing at "Less is More" and that is a colour challenge and for this time we have chosen 

BLACK and WHITE 

with a touch or a splash, a hint or suggestion, a dab or a  patch of 

a colour of your choice!

The idea being that the black and white are predominant and the added colour is subtle.

 

For this card I have used the Hat image from Chocolate Baroque's Steampunkery and the Sentiment from Steampunk Travel. I stamped with Versafine and colored in with Distress Markers.

Thanks for looking,

Sandra