Brusho Poppy

I recently bought some Brushos from Chocolate Baroque after admiring some of the lovely artwork on the .ning site and Face Book page. I've had a few trial and errors, and less is definitely more.

 I love how the crystals are multi coloured and a little spritz of water  makes it come alive, and also you can mix with water to be able to paint with.

This card is for the Chocolate Baroque Colour Challenge Blog.

Thanks for looking
Sandra

Less is More - Newsprint

Here is a card made for the Less is More challenge

There's just one vital ingredient in our recipe this week, which is

NEWSPRINT

There can be a lot or a little, but as ever, the card MUST be Clean and Simple. Please remember that we like to see areas of white space, few layers and minimal embellishments.

 

Dove is Penny Black Christmas Tidings and letters are from Chocolate Baroque clear stamps range Newsprint Alphabet. Coloured with Promarkers.

Thanks for looking

Sandra

Another Christmas card made!
Stamped with Chocolate Baroque New England Winter stamps, coloured with Promarkers.

 

Entered in - 

 Chocolate Baroque Challenge Blog 

Sandra xx

Chocolate Baroque Challenge Blog Week 3

Another challenge at Chocolate Baroque Challenge Blog! Some lovely autumn shades to work with this month.

 

"Now on to this month's challenge which has been

 inspired by an original piece of artwork created by Lesley"

 

I have made two cards this time.

The first card I made was with the Filigree Fusion stamp set which I can't find on the web site so presume it is one they have discontinued.

I have stamped with DI Pumice Stone and embossed with clear powder, coloured with Tea Dye using water to dilute the colour in places and then a wash of Scattered Straw.

For my second card I used the large swirl stamp from Nature Swirls and stamped with Pumice Stone, Scattered Straw and Tea Dye again. The sentiment is from Words of Inspiration stamp set.

Thanks for looking
Sandra x

Indian Summer

The challenge on IndigoBlu this month is "Indian Summer".

For my card I have used some hot, summery Distress Stains - Barn Door, Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey and Scattered Straw. Spritzed with water to blend colours.
I have stamped with the IndigoBlu stamps that came free with a magazine a while ago, added Stickles and Glossy Accents and used the word stamp down the edge.

Thanks for looking
Sandra x

With a Flourish

A new challenge over at A Vintage Journey

                                                              WITH A FLOURISH

Have you ever noticed that much of Tim's packaging includes that fabulous flourish? It has always been one of my favourite Tim images, so for this challenge let's see what you can do with your flourishes! You might not have the "actual" Tim flourish but I am sure everyone has a flourish die or stamp in their stash which can get the shabby/vintage treatment.


 I have made a tag for the challenge using tumbled glass, milled lavender and tattered rose for the background. I then stamped the butterflies at slightly different places and then stamped in vintage photo. I added a flourish and embossed in gold, added gold to the edge and finally a butterfly and leaves.

 

A close up of some of the details.

Thanks for looking
Sandra

Here Be Dragons!

I needed a card for my nephew's birthday so thought I would combine it with the second   Chocolate Baroque Challenge Blog.

I used the "Here Be Dragons" stamp set, coloured with Distress Markers Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo and Faded Jeans.  The background has been sponged with Distress Inks Broken China, Frayed Burlap, Bundled Sage and Old Paper.

Hope he likes it!
Sandra

***I was very lucky to win the £15 voucher  for the first challenge***

This was my entry here.

A Little Touch of Tim

Over at A Vintage Journey this fortnight the theme is "A Little Touch of Tim"
The challenge is to use Tim's products and/or inspiration to create ATCs (Artists Trading Cards), so they must be 3.5 x 2.5 inches in size.

For this ATC I used the Wrinkle Free technique for the background, I then stamped the car, road sign  and the sentiment  from the "Getting There" set of stamps. I coloured the windows of the car with Markers and the headlights were coloured and given a touch of Glossy Accents. The road sign and arrow were given the Rusted Enamel treatment and I finished with a Trading Stamp from the Ephemera pack.
Thanks for looking
Sandra

Chocolate Baroque Challenge Blog 2

This is the second challenge on the new Chocolate Baroque Challenge Blog

Lovely artwork from Doreen for inspiration and four colors to play with.

I started making my background first using Rusty Hinge, Frayed Burlap, Weathered Wood  and Picket Fence Distress Stains.

I loved the rusted look I got from the stains and so chose the Key to my Dreams stamps.

I die cut a key and applied the Rusted Enamel technique (Compendium of Curiosities).

Hope to do a few more cards before it's back to work after the summer holidays!

Thanks for looking
Sandra

Moon Shadow

The challenge on Sunday Stampers this week is Backgrounds.

I used Distress Stains for the background - Bundled Sage, Pumice Stone and Broken China. Edged with Vintage Photo.
I then stamped the Fancy Flourish in Pumice Stone, added butterflies from Papillon, coloured with Distress Markers and covered with Glossy Accents. Added a bit of trellis, a flower and a leaf. (My leaf looked a bit bare, so I drew in the veins and then used a crackle stamp for the finer detail.)

Thanks for looking
Sandra x

Chocolate Baroque Technique Tags

There is a monthly Technique Tag Swap on the Chocolate Baroque community site.
Each month Margaret sets us a new technique to try and although I have taken part each month I keep forgetting to post them on here, so here are the tags for August, September and October (I'm ahead for once!).

August - Masterboard Take 2

In the first Masterboard Month I made tags by adding things to an inked background. This time I had to use layers of paint and take things away while the top coat is wet.

My first layer was a deep red, followed by a mustard yellow which I removed with kitchen towel and then I finished with dark green, again removing with kitchen roll.

 September - Cracked Ice

For this technique I stamped the mini tag, coloured it with Distress Markers and then covered with UTEE. Popped it in the freezer for 20 minutes and then cracked it! Blended a bit of Distress Vintage Photo to age it, fun technique!

October - Zentangle

Not sure why this has come out pink........
Anyway, my feeble attempt at Zentangle - enough said.










Only two more to go,
Thanks for looking
Sandra

Chocolate Baroque Challenge

Here's another one for the challenge!

There are only a few days left if you want to take part this month and to be in with a chance to win a £15 voucher.

Sandra x

Less is More - Foliage

It seems ages since I took part in the LIM challenges, so this week was an ideal opportunity to try out my new Tim Holtz blueprint stamps.

It's time for another One Layer Challenge and this time the focus is

FOLIAGE

foliage

   [fō′lē ij]

noun

1. Foliage is defined as plant or tree leaves.

    

   

    I stamped the Pine Branch with Distress Pine Needles,( of course!) and the sentiment is from Simple Sayings.
   

   

    Added a little touch of Patina Stickles.

    

   Thanks for looking

   Sandra

   
   

   
   

    

    

Chocolate Baroque Challenge Blog Week 2

The Design Team have produced some Christmas themed cards this week on the Challenge blog and as I needed to make something for the Christmas Card Group on the community site I thought  I would combine the two.

I used the same colours as my last post and used the stamps from "Woodland Dreams" stamped in Archival and lifted the colour from the berries with water.

Thanks for looking
Sandra

Stamp Play Create!

Chocolate Baroque have a new Challenge Blog!

It is a monthly challenge with a photo and colour swatch for inspiration.

This is this months challenge............

..........and here is my card.

I used Distress Inks - Broken China, Mowed Lawn, Barn Door and Scattered Straw.

Stamps are from Chocolate Baroque Punky Flowers.

Thanks for looking,

Sandra xx

Abergavenny!

Just had to say I am loving the car parks and roundabouts in Abergavenny at the moment, full of wild flowers and vegetable boxes. Well done Monmouthshire County Council!

Sorry about poor quality photos - off my phone.

A Recipe for Inkyness!

Hels has put a "recipe" on her blog for those of us that need a crafty nudge! Well, I am suffering with post holiday blues, or should that be greys - it is so dreary. To think I was in Montenegro this time last week, wall to wall sunshine and 28 degrees C.............(A few pictures here).

So the challenge was to make a tag with three DI's - Spiced Marmalade, Broken China and Pine Needles. I have to say my Pine Needles is like new, I usually find it too dark, but I love it with Broken China!

Next, three stamps - all from an Elusive Images set (now Chocolate Baroque). Sorry I can't remember the name and I think it may have been discontinued as I can't see it on the website.
Stamp 1 - butterfly
Stamp 2 - foliage around the tag
stamp 3 - sentiment

Then some die cuts - Mini cabinet die by Tim Holtz and leaves, and some ribbon. I also added a couple of flowers and some Stickles!

Thanks for looking
Sandra

A few holiday pictures!

Hi
Just got back from a weeks cruise around the Adriatic, stunning scenery and fabulous weather.

Corfu, Greece

Corfu, Greece

Predjama Castle - Slovenia

St Mark's Square - Venice, Italy

Gondolas in Venice, Italy

Bridge of Sighs - Venice, Italy

Sea Organ - Zadar, Croatia

Church of St Donatus - Zadar, Croatia

Harbour at Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik, Croatia

View from top of Cable Car Station Dubrovnik, Croatia

Early morning sail in to Kotor - Montenegro

Sail in to Kotor, Montenegro

Lovely calm seas! Montenegro

Ship docked at Kotor, Montenegro

Oh well, laundry calls!
Will be back to crafting ASAP
See you soon,
Sandra

CC3C Week 1 Paint Marbling

I'm joining in with Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge over on Linda Ledbetters Blog here.

The first challenge is Distress Paint Marbling.

Lots of prizes are on offer throughout the challenge, the first one being a $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE from..Inspiration Emporium 


Off to look at the fab makes from the Curiosity Crew!

Sandra x

Chocolate Baroque Technique Tags - May

Hi All
For once I am early with my tags!
The technique this month was to use embossing folders.

For my first tag I inked up the inside of the folder to use like a faux letterpress.  I used Victorian Velvet Distress Ink. I then stamped from  the Rose Stem Script set and coloured with Distress Markers.

 For my second tag I used Core'dinations Whitewash card and embossed with a brick embossing folder and sanded back the detail. I then added Tim Holtz Trellis Frameworks die, some Chocolate Baroque Butterflies and some flowers.

Thanks for looking
Sandra x

Spring Flowers

Hi All

Here's a tag I've made.

Distressed the background using wrinkle free method with Mustard Seed and Peeled Paint, stamped with  Chocolate Baroque Spring Foliage.
Added flower made with Tattered Florals and Tattered Leaves overstamped with text stamp from Stampers Anonymous Papillon.

Entering into "A Vintage Journey - Spring Flowers Challenge"

Thanks for looking,
Sandra x

April Tags - Stencil

This month we are challenged to use Stencils for our tags in the Chocolate Baroque Technique Tag Swap.


For my first tag I made a distressed background and used the Ledger stencil.  I then used the Cornflower stencil with Flitterglu and Gilding Flakes.

For my second tag I used a Gelli plate print and, using the Branches stencil, I covered with Chipped Sapphire DI. I then overstamped with elements from Howling Moon stamp set.

Thanks for looking
Sandra x