Tranquility in a Garden of Meditation

Hello everyone,  I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

It's still a busy season so maybe you can use a little break in a tranquil garden.    I created this card using Chocolate Baroque's new gorgeous Tranquility set.    It's one of two new A5 sets, Serenity is the other and they compliment each other very well.  

Also thought I would let you know, Chocolate Baroque's January 2014 sale started on Dec 27th,  there's at least 20% off most items and up to 50% on selected products.   A great sale!

The background was created with Seedless Preserves and Shaded Lilac Distress Inks using an Acrylic block.   I stamped over the background with five different images from Tranquility mainly with Cobalt Archival ink.   The blossoms were stamped with Seedless Preserves Distress Ink.    I coloured over it all with Prisma Pencils and added glitter to highlight which you can see in the photo at the bottom of this post.

Here is a look at both new A5 sets Serenity and Tanquility which are available individually or as a multi-set.  

Thanks for your visit and I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year !
Shirley

Merry Christmas

Hello everyone and for those of you that celebrate - I wish you a very Merry Christmas .  Thank you for all your wonderful visits and comments, I appreciate each and every one.

We've been through a challenging few days here in Ontario, Canada with freezing rain for more than 48 hours.   Driving has been dangerous, we have a thick coating of ice over everything.  Unfortunately older trees suffered and have broken limbs or are completely down.   Hydro has been out all over the province, but we were lucky to have to have it working for periods but then leave us again.  Each time it comes back we are hopeful it will stay.    We took a careful walk and were amazed at the magical ice land that is around us.   Because it was so dark the photos didn't turn out well.  If the sun comes out, I'll try again.

I'm showing the last two Christmas designs for this year which feature Chocolate Baroque's beautiful Big Bold Background - Holly.

The Holly background was stamped with Pine Needles and Evergreen Bough Distress inks.    The sweet robin is from Chocolate Baroque's Christmas Song.   I stamped the bird with red dye ink and the rest with Evergreen Bough DI.  I spritzed a little water before stamping. 

I used the same Holly background below:

I stamped the Holly background with several shades of green memento inks.    Merry Christmas is from the Warm Christmas Greetings clear set.   The poinsettia die is by Spellbinder and the Holly Flourish is by Cheery Lynn.    I used white card stock to create the flower which I coloured with Distress Inks and added lots of glitter.  The center is a button with glitter around the edge and a large rhinestone in the center.

Season's Greetings !
Shirley

Colourful Steampunk Birds (plus Design Team Call)

Hello everyone,  I hope you are doing well, we are dealing with ice rain (all weekend) it's making us nervous. 

Another break from Christmas designs today as I have a couple more cards to show using stamps from the fun Steampunk Birds set by Chocolate Baroque.  The first one features the super cool Rooster, love him !

Also exciting news - Glenda the owner of Chocolate Baroque has an open Design Team call:   If you are interested please visit the Design Team Blog here which provides a link to more information.

The background above started with Seedless Preserves Distress Ink using the Acrylic Block technique.   Next I stamped the cog fragment from Steampunk Butterfly with Dusty Concord DI.   I stamped the grasses from Floral Edges with Seedless Preserves DI.   The Rooster was embossed with copper powder on separate card stock, coloured with Inktense pencils, cut out and attached.    The sentiment is from Birthday Words.

I used the quirky bouncing birds and birdhouse from Steampunk Birds to create the design below.

 

I started by stamping cogs from Punky Flowers with white Colorbox Pigment ink.    I blended green and blue pigment inks over top and then rubbed ink off the cogs for the ghost effect.   Next I blended a little Broken China Distress Ink with TCW Gears stencil at the top for the 'clouds'   The birdhouse, bouncing birds and sentiment from Steampunk Birds were stamped with Cocoa Memento Dye ink and coloured with Prisma pencils.   

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the Season,

Shirley

Gelli Plate Prints, Ornaments and Stars

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well during this busy Season.

I used a Gelli plate print to create the following two Christmas cards.  It's great having them in my stash to use for backgrounds.   I was inspired by Karin's use of Design by Ryn's Patio Stone to create a Christmas Design that you can see here at her blog.    I thought it would be fun to create ornaments for Christmas with it.   I added stars which are also inspired by Karin's design.  

The Gelli plate print actually has star images from a stencil but it's hard to see.   I also used a self made flower stamp when making the print.   I embossed Patio Stone with a blue/silver glitter embossing power on separate card stock, cut them out with a Spellbinder die and sponged with Seedless Preserves Distress Ink.  I added stars painted with alcohol ink and a rhinestone in the center to finish it off.   'Christmas Magic' is from Impression Obsession.  The ornament hangers are also from Impression Obsession's Vintage Ornament die set.

The stars are from a 'cheapo' silver tone garland strand from a Dollar store that I cut apart and was pleased that alcohol ink will cover them. I managed to get 20 stars for a dollar.  It's great fun to get a bargain :)

I had a piece of left-over background so I added a lovely die cut candle from Memory Box to create this quick card below.

 
Can you see stars, a snow covered hill, falling snow and trees in the background above?    I coloured the die cut a little with glitter pens, mica paint, highlighted with a white Gelly Roll pen and added glitter.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the Season!
Shirley

More Beautiful Florals

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well and enjoying this busy time of year. 

I have two more floral designs using the new beautiful Floral clear stamps by Chocolate Baroque.

For the card above, I stamped the Big Bold Background - Wildflower on an orange/yellow sheet of designer paper with brown dye ink.  I also stamped the Peony with the brown ink and coloured both the background and main image with my Prisma pencils.  Joy is from Artistic Expressions.

And below is another design using the gorgeous Magnolia in a different colour combo.

The background was created with Seedless Preserves Distress Inks using the Acrylic Block technique.    All stamping was done with black Versafine Ink.   I coloured the Magnolia with Prisma pencils.  The corner flourishes are from the beautiful Fancy Flourishes clear set which I highlighted with a Gelly Roll pen and turquoise Pencil.

Thanks for your visit and enjoy the Season !
Shirley

Love with a Steampunk Owl

Hello everyone,

I have a card today featuring the fun Owl from Chocolate Baroque's new Steampunk Birds set.  I plan to give this to my husband on his next birthday as he really likes the steampunk designs. 

 

The background is Turquoise Dylusions Ink which I stenciled over with TCW Gear stencil.    I stamped the cog fragment from Steampunk Butterfly with Peacock and Walnut Distress Inks.    Love is from Artistic Expressions.   The Owl was embossed with copper powder and coloured with Tombow markers.  I carefully cut him out and popped him up on the background. 

Thanks for visiting and have a great day,
Shirley

Spiral Branch with a Hummingbird

Hello everyone,  I hope you are doing well.

I have a card today using Designs by Ryn stamps that makes me think about summer instead of the winter that is upon us and will probably be here for while.   

The background was created using the green Dylusions inks along with a little white linen and Turquoise.    I blended a little Mowed Lawn Distress Ink using TCW Cell Theory stencil.

I stamped Sea Bubbles with Mowed Lawn Distress Ink around the background and then stamped the beautiful Spiral Branch with Cobalt Archival ink.  I coloured the leaves with a white Prisma pencil.  

Flying Hummingbird 3 was stamped on watercolour paper and coloured with my Inktense pencils.   I added lots of holograph glitter with a glue pen.

Let the Adventure Begin is from Chocolate Baroque and available as a single clear stamp or in a complete collection of Fairyland Words.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend,
Shirley

Abstract Light and Dark

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.

I have something different to share today and again it's not a card and it's not for Christmas.     I took an Acrylic painting workshop with Karen Ellis in the summer and finally showing the result - an abstract painting :)   We were free to paint what we wanted and not following a design but learning techniques.  However I was inspired by a painting of Karen's that hangs in her studio.   I continued to paint on this piece after I got home, as I could not finish it in the afternoon.

I'm joining in at Art Journal Journey's Light and Dark challenge.    I hope this is OK as it's not my Art Journal, but it matches the theme.  I see the light shining on the 'trees' with dark in the background.

This is a large canvas, I used Acrylic paints, molding paste and stencils.  

Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Shirley

Mixed Media with Butterflies

Hello everyone, I hope all is well.   Our snow melted two days ago and now it's back !  

I have a Mixed Media Collage (on canvas) to show you today. 

 

I started with a 10 x 10 inch stretched canvas.  I covered it with a sheet of Tim Holtz Tissue Wrap - Melange using Matt Gel Medium.   When dry, I added lots of greens & blues with Neocolor II (water colour) crayons, spritzed with water, let it run and then let it dry.   Next I added texture using TCW - Solace stencil with light molding paste and let it dry.   I added the diamond pattern with TCW Harlequin stencil and black acrylic paint.   Next I painted with Silks Acrylic Glazes.

I stamped the large Butterfly from Chocolate Baroque's Tangled Garden set with black on 140lb mixed media paper.   I cut it out & adhered with Glossy Gel Medium, added wires for the antennae and then painted with the Acrylic Glazes. I added lots of stickles to the body.  

I covered everything with clear Distress Crackle paint.   The final step was to add the metal centers to the 'flowers' and the 3 metal butterflies which I also painted a little and added liquid pearls to the center.

Here is a close up where you can see the 'crackle' in the finish.

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your day !
Shirley

Bliss with gorgeous Floral Stamps

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.

Chocolate Baroque also announced four new gorgeous Floral clear stamps which are on special for the month of December.   I love flowers and thoroughly enjoy working with these. I used the new beautiful Snake's Head Fritillary on this card:

   
The background was created with Vibrant Turquoise and Cut Grass Dylusions spray inks.   I added a little sea salt while the inks were still wet.   I stamped branches from Spring Foliage with Mowed Lawn Distress Ink and the rest of the stamping was done with Cobalt Blue Archival ink.   The foliage at the top is also from Spring Foliage and the bottom edge is from Floral Edges.   I highlighted the Fritillary and branches at the top with Prisma Pencils.   Bliss is from Artistic Affirmations, another word stamp set that I use frequently.  I also added glitter on the top branch and on the leaves of the Fritillary.

Here is a look at all four new beautiful clear floral stamps available individually or as a multi-buy.  These stamps are on special for the month of December.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend,
Shirley

Snowflake Ornaments

Hello everyone,

I have a card today that I'm entering into Impression Obsession's - Think Snow challenge which closes Tuesday, December 17th.  Click on the link for more details.  I've used favourite stamps, the two Damask Snowflakes, to create ornaments.

IO Stamps used:   Cover a Card - Flourishes CC027, SM Damask Snowflake D2259 and Damask Snowflake F2258, Christmas Magic B3585

IO Die used:  The bow hanger is from DIE032-J Vintage Ornament

I started with a sheet of coloured and lightly patterned paper from Basic Grey.   I stamped over top with Platinum Planet Brilliance Ink using the CC027 Flourishes.  (you can see it in the close up below).    Christmas Magic was stamped with Blue Memento Dye Ink.  I edged the background with a silver leaf pen.

I embossed the two Damask Snowflakes in Gold, coloured with Inktense Pencils, cut them out and attached.  I added stickles, liquid pearls and large pearls to each.     I added the 'hangers' from the Ornament Die set.

 
Thanks for your visit and have a great day!
Shirley

Christmas cards with beautiful Chocolate Baroque stamps

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.   It's getting a little milder here and the sun is shining, it feels so good :)   I have several Christmas Cards to show you today.

I recently ordered the beautiful Steampunk Christmas set from Chocolate Baroque which had been on my wish list for a long time.   My husband likes the Steampunk designs a lot, so I made this card for him.

The background is Dylusions Inks mopped up from my craft mat.    The cog trees were stamped with Mowed Lawn DI.   I stamped the bottom of the smaller tree around the edge.   The larger tree in the centre was stamped with Cobalt Ink over another Dylusions inked piece of cardstock.    I cut it out and then embossed the entire image with a Kaleidoscope powder.  I coloured the cogs over top of the embossing with purple Smooch Ink.

Die- Spellbinder Sprightly Sprockets

You can see the sparkle better below but the photos are not doing it justice.

I used the gorgeous flowers also from the Steampunk Christmas set for the card below.     This set has a lot to offer, for non-steampunk as well.

 

The background on the above card was created using Festive Berries and Mahogany Distress Inks using the acrylic block technique.    I stamped the Holly edge from Christmas Edges and Joy with Seedless Preserves DI.   The Holly Flourish is by Cheery Lyn. 

The flowers were embossed with Bronze Metallic power, I blended Seedless Preserves and Mahogany Distress Inks to colour them.  I cut them out, popped them up and added a large bling piece to the centers (which covered up the cog center as this card is not steampunk theme).   I didn't have purple bling in this size but found that I could colour them with Alcohol ink.   

Here is a look at the beautiful Steampunk Christmas A4 set. 

I have one more card that I created recently with the beautiful New England Winter A5 set that I've had for a while, also by Chocolate Baroque.  I love this house and enjoyed colouring it. 

The background is Broken China, Tumbled Glass and Evergreen Bough Distress Inks using the Acrylic block technique.   I picked up drops of ink after drying.  I stamped the corners from the New England Set with Evergreen Bough ink.   The house, star and sentiment from Warm Christmas Greetings were stamped with Black Versafine Ink.   I coloured the image with my Prisma Pencils, added red glitter to the ornaments on the tree and a little clear glitter here & there (hard to see in the photo). 

Thanks for visiting and have a great day,
Shirley

Steampunk Tropical Garden

Hello everyone I hope you are having a great weekend.

Chocolate Baroque has just launched a fabulous and fun new rubber stamp set,  Steampunk Birds.   As soon as I saw the 'punky' Parrot I wanted to create a tropical garden for him to hang out in:)     It's been colder than normal here in Ontario, Canada so it would be great to feel warm tropical sunshine.   

I started by stamping cog plants from Punky Flowers on the background with white Colorbox Pigment ink.   I blended a few colours of green pigment ink over top and then rubbed off ink over the images (ghost stamping), but they are hidden into the 'garden'.   Next I stenciled with Distress Inks and TCW Gears (at the top) and TCW Ferns in the centre.

I embossed the Parrot from Steampunk Birds and the flowers from Punky Flowers with copper on watercolour paper, coloured with Tombow markers and cut them out to attach.    I added die cut leaves and a small metal cog.    Imagine is from Artistic Expressions.

Here is a look at Steampunk Birds A4 set, which is on sale until the end of December.  

If you have a chance please visit Chocolate Baroque's Design Team blog to see what my talented teammates are showing.

Note:  The photo that I used for my new blog header was taken right after snow storm in February.  We have some snow right now, but not this much ! (thanks again to Donna for teaching me how to create these).

Thanks for visiting and have a great day,
Shirleyx

Gelli Plate Prints for Christmas

Hello everyone,  I hope you are all doing well.

I got together recently with a friend to 'play' with our Gelli plates creating mono prints.    It's amazing how quickly you can create a pile of prints with Acrylic paints, stencils, self-made stamps and anything else that will make impressions.  

I created two cards for Christmas using mono prints in the background.  This first print doesn't have too much pattern which made it easier for over stamping.  I used Design by Ryn's beautiful Seaweed Set to create the 'icy branches' and the large Merry Christmas is from Chocolate Baroque's fabulous Bold Christmas Words set. 

I'm joining in at Crafts 4 Eternity's current challenge as the theme is Non Traditional Christmas design.

I started by stamping over the print several times with a seaweed branch using white pigment ink, which I embossed with clear.   Then I embossed the branch a couple of times with pink glitter and then with a blue/purple glitter powder.     Merry Christmas was stamped with dark blue and embossed with clear.

Stamps:  Designs by Ryn - Seaweed Set.  Chocolate Baroque - Bold Christmas Words.
Spellbinder Die:  Labels 4

The background on the card below is much busier, but I decided to use it for a non-traditional Christmas design.  

I stamped over the background with Ryn's spiral branch with Dark Cobalt Archival Ink.  I coloured the leaves with a green Gelly Roll pen.    I added glitter to the stars that were in the background.

Stamps - Design by Ryn - Spiral Branch Set.   Penny Black - Christmas Cheer clear sentiment set
Dies - Heartfelt Creations - Sweet Juliet,  Spellbinder - Fancy Tags

Thanks for visiting and have a fabulous day!
Shirley

Winter Fairy and Snow

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.  We woke up this morning to a winter wonderland -  we have lots of snow, it's very pretty, but quite early in the season!  

I have another fairy design today from Chocolate Baroque's new Winter Fairy Collection and it's starting to snow on her.   I guess fairies don't need warm clothing :)  

The beautiful fairy is from January Fairy and the tree is from February Fairy.   I also used the snowflake edge from Winter Edges.  I love how Chocolate Baroque's beautiful stamp sets work so well together.   The designer is very talented. 

I used blue design paper from my stash that actually has a wood grain pattern, but I liked the colour for the sky.   I did all the stamping with Rich Cocoa Memento Dye Ink and colouring with Prisma Pencils.  I masked the fairy before stamping the trees and 'ground'.    I stamped the bottom part of the snowflake edge on the ground and coloured it in.   I used puff paint for the snow.

Thanks for visiting and have a great day
Shirley

Christmas Spiral Branch and Tutorial

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.  I would like to welcome the new followers and again thank everyone for your visits and kind comments.  You make blogging very enjoyable :)

I had the thought that Designs by Ryn's new beautiful Spiral Branch would make a nice background for a Christmas design.  And then I saw Bianca created a beautiful Christmas card using it, which you can see here at this post.   She inspired me to almost immediately create this card :)  I've also included a tutorial on how I created the background.

Click for a larger photo

The background was created with Broken China, Mowed Lawn and Peacock Feathers Distress Ink using the Acrylic Block Technique (but I used a small plexi glass sheet).    I did all the stamping with Cobalt Blue Archival Ink.   I coloured the leaves with several Gelly Roll pens, two are sparkly.  I used Sapphire DI around the edges.   I die cut the flowers that have a snowflake shape from white cardstock and coloured by blending Distress Inks over them. 

Stamps:    Designs by Ryn, Spiral Branch
                Chocolate Baroque, Bold Christmas Words
Dies:        Crealies, CL CF 18

I promised to create a tutorial using Distress Inks with an Acrylic Block, so I've taken photos of the steps.   I apologize for the quality of the pictures, it's hard to work with one hand and photograph with the other.  I don't have a tripod and probably a video would be better.

Here are the steps I took to create the background:

You need:  Distress Inks -  Broken China, Mowed Lawn and Peacock Feathers, Spray Bottle & Water (with a light mist), Card stock - I used 140lb Mixed Media paper with Vellum Coating, Acrylic Block or Plexi Glass plate.   I always work over a Craft Mat and mine has pit marks from a table that is not smooth, but it still works fine.

I use the plexi glass plate as it gives me a bit more room for ink

Add ink direct from ink pad to the glass plate (or acrylic block)

I've placed a large sheet of white cardstock under the glass just for photograph purposes so you can see the ink  (NOTE:  I am NOT using a Gelli plate here)

Here you can see I've misted the ink

I've placed my cardstock on the glass with the wet ink and I move it around a little

I've turned it over so I can see the ink (but you don't have to, if you like a surprise)

Again I move the glass sheet around a little to spread the ink

I've removed the glass plate

Dry with a heat gun (or air dry)

When dry, I added the remaining ink that was left on the plate which will give a splatter look (similar to the wrinkle free technique using your craft mat).  If you don't want splatters or drip marks, skip this step.

I've used all the ink that I had on the plate, I could have added more at the start.   I want more ink around the parameter and decide to add more Broken China Distress Ink with the glass plate

I add the ink to the plate and mist again

I've placed the cardstock onto the plate and move around the parameter

I've turned it over to see what I'm doing :)

I remove the plate, dry and trim to the size I want to work with

I enjoy using this technique, the results are never the same.   If this is new to you and want to give it a try, just play and have fun to see what results you get.  

Glenda, the owner of Chocolate Baroque has posted informative tutorials at their website.    She included a great lesson using the acrylic block with various inks and you can see it here.

Below is a close up of the finished card.   

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your weekend,
Shirley