Beach Lady

Hi everyone, I hope you are doing well.    We experienced tons more snow this week, but at least it's not as cold and it's already starting to melt.    It's hard to imagine that Spring will be here in 3 weeks, but I'm looking forward to it !  Can't wait to get out into the gardens again. 

I was also honored once again with the Liebster Blog award from Wendy at Wendy's Card Craft.  My gosh, this is the sixth time, thank you Wendy!   If you have a chance, please visit her blog, she creates beautiful designs and has just joined the new DT for Lavinia (beautiful) stamps.  

During the snowstorm I worked on a couple of things and one was this textured mixed media collage which I matted for display.   It probably should be on a board or canvas but I started out thinking I was going to create a background for a card.

I'm going to join in the Out of Hat Creations Challenge as the theme is "Hanging About".  This lady could be 'hanging about' at a beach, but it was sometime in the 1920's I think:)  

I started by painting Gesso over a collage piece of designer paper which I glued to heavy water colour paper.  Next I added colour with Neocolor Water Crayons, added water and spread it around.    I added some texture using a stencil (TCW Circle Explosions) & Viva molding paste.

I was going to stamp an image but then thought about the beach lady on a left-over piece of Graphic 45 (Traveloque) as she would suit the background colour.   Next thing I knew I was adding molding paste, acrylic glaze, metal flowers and chunky gold embossing.

The colours are more vibrant & sparkly than the photo shows.

Thanks for stopping by & have a great day!
Shirley

Fantasy Trees & Award

Hello everyone, I hope your week is going well.

I was honoured this week by Zoe at Zoeblingcards with the Liebster Blog Award.   If you have a chance, please visit Zoe's Blog to check out her beautiful creations.      This is the fifth time I've received this award & I'm thrilled that fellow bloggers have chosen me.    The idea behind this award to pass it on to 5 other blogs that you enjoy visiting & who have less than 200 followers.      I've already passed it on so I cannot chose again, it's too difficult. 

I would like to welcome the new followers and visitors that stop by.   Blogging would not be so much fun without you, thank you for your support.

I have several cards today using stamps from the Fantasy Woodland set by Chocolate Baroque.    I used different images & techniques for each one.   There are so many wonderful images in this set and I've had fun 'playing' with them.

This first card is a mixed media design and I've joined into the "Use Stamps" Challenge over at Addicted to Stamps & More.

  

I used Dylusions Inks (red & purple) to create the background on the  card above.  I also used Acrylic paints, Modelling Creme & Stickles with TCW Circle Explosion & Dylusions Luscious Leaves Stencils.  The tree is from Fantasy Woodland which I stamped with black Stazon. 



I got my Pan Pastels out which blend so beautifully for this next card.  

I  blended the Pan Pastels to create the 'mood' behind the trees.   I also added a little design with TCW's Mini Solace stencil and Distress Ink.     I stamped the delicate trees from the Fantasy Woodland set along with the quote from  Words of Inspiration (an awesome little set) with black Versafine Ink.



And for the card below I've changed up the colour combination and used Smooch Inks.

The background was created using Pool, Lime & Ocean Smooch Inks.    For a description of the technique please see my blog post here.     I embossed one of the small trees from Fantasy Woodland with gold to create leaves in the background.   The main tree image was also embossed with gold & I blended Smooch ink to colour.    I embossed a 2nd one to decoupage.   The die cut is Spellbinder S5-062 and the small piece under the Owl charm is S5-063.

The photo does not do the Owl charm justice, he has lots of bling that it hard to see. 

Well that's all for today !
Thanks again for stopping by,
Shirley

A Moth named Luna

Hello everyone, I hope you had a great weekend.

I have another card design using stamps by Designs by Ryn.  This Moth, Luna, is another beauty from her Moth collection. 

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I blended Peacock Feathers, Mowed Lawn & Picked Raspberry Distress Inks over watercolour paper & flicked water over it to create the water marks.   I over stamped Leafy Branch with Mowed Lawn DI & added a little white with a Neocolour Crayon.  I stamped Luna the Moth with black Stazon Ink, coloured with my Tombow markers & highlighted a little with a white Gelly Roll pen.

Happy Birthday is from Chocolate Baroque's Birthday Words set.

If you get a chance please stop by my teammate's - Miranda's and Eileen's Blogs.   Also Ryn's Facebook page is updated regularly with creations using her stamps.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,
Shirley

Fiesta Flower

Hello everyone, I hope you are having a great week.

The current challenge theme over at Impression Obsession is "What's Your Hobby".     One of my hobbies is flower gardening which I chose for this card.    Of course stamping, painting & cutting were required and they are another hobby as well.    

Impression Obsession stamps:   CC014 CAC Fluff, H2330 Fiesta Flower & C3671 Earth Laughs 

Die:  CL CS 02 Crealies (flourishes)

The blue background is a piece of 6x6 Basic Grey paper (blue) that had a bit of colour.   I stamped CAC Fluff with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink and also blended a little around the edges along with Ripe Persimmon Distress Ink.  

I embossed the Fiesta Flower 2x on green paper and 2x on orange paper with brown powder.    I added colour & shine with my Micacolor paints.  I layered as shown, highlighted the doodles and dots with a white Gelly Roll pen and added accent to the leaves with a Distress Marker. 

You can see the layers in the photo below:

 

Thanks for your visit and have a great day!

Shirley

Yellow Snowdrops?

Hello everyone,  I hope you are having a great week. 

I have two cards today created using stamps by Chocolate Baroque and again using images from the Spring is in the Air set.   I love the delicate flowers of these Snowdrops which are normally white.

I used my Prisma Pencils to colour the two snowdrop images which were stamped on Kraft Paper.     The background is designer paper with very little design which I over stamped with a fragment from the Textured Fragment set using Shabby Shutters Distress Ink.  I blended a little of the same ink around the outside edges.   The die cut is from Spellbinder S5-090.

The is next card below features one of Snowdrop images from the Spring is in the Air set.

I used similar background paper and over stamped it with another fragment from the Textured Fragment set with Shabby Shutters Distress Ink.   The die cut is from Nellie's Multiframe MFD006.  The sentiment is from Bold Blooms.

Thanks for stopping by & have a great day,
Shirley

Dragonfly Faerie by Ryn

Hello everyone !

I recently received Designs by Ryn's beautiful Dragonfly Faerie to work with.   She is a beauty, love her wings, delicate dress and sweet face.

I have these photos on the XLarge option so that you can see the detail on her. 

 

I created the background with Dylusions Inks and over stamped with part of Ryn's beautiful Flower Lace 2 stamp with Salty Ocean DI.     I stamped the Dragonfly Faerie with black Stazon Ink and coloured with my Prisma Pencils.    I added glitter on areas of her wings, blended a little Peacock Feathers DI around the edge.  I used Spellbinder S4-366 around the image.  It was the largest die in the set, so I traced around the outside of the die & hand cut the mauve mat behind it.


 
If you have a chance, please drop by Miranda's and Eileen's Blogs who are also on Ryn's Design Team.     Also Ryn's Facebook page is full of ideas using her stamps.

Thanks for your visit and have a great day!
Shirley

The Miracle of Spring Flowers

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well !

I have a couple of cards today featuring stamp designs by Chocolate Baroque.   The pretty flower, Winter Aconite (normally yellow), is another stamp from the new Spring is in the Air set.

I've used a quote from the Loving Sentiments set -  it is a miracle to see flowers & plants come back to life each Spring.  

I started with water colour paper and Dylusions Inks (blue, turquoise, green & purple), sprayed with water, blotted with a paper towel roll and dried with my heat gun.  I blotted the ink away using water on the flowers & ground then coloured using Dylusions Inks with a small water barrel brush. 

I stamped the delicate Flourish Tree from the new Fantasy Woodland Set to add the flourish design around the border with Peacock Feathers DI.   Designs by my talented team mates at the Chocolate Baroque DT inspired me to use the tree as a Flourish.  

I used Picked Raspberry & Salty Ocean Distress Inks around the sentiment.  The die is Spellbinder S4-143. 

 

I used the pretty Tulip from the Spring is in the Air set to create these simple note cards below:

I coloured the Tulips with my Tombows and the lacy frame is from Spellbinder S5-090. 

I'm looking forward to Spring and flowers coming up, but we still have a lot of snow and freezing temperatures here.

Thanks for your visit & have a great day!

Shirley

With Love on Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day ! 

I have a card today featuring designs from Chocolate Baroque.   And for all of you 'Chocolate Baroque Lovers' you may spy a new design here !  To read about this new design & more, please keep checking the What's New page for information :)    But shhhhhhhhhhhh I didn't tell you anything right? wink wink

I just learned about a new Challenge site Sincerely Yours Creations as one of my very talented teamies over at CB, Judith, has joined their DT.  The current theme starting today is "Valentine/Love" so I'm joining in with this design.  

I started with a piece of 6x6 designer paper from My Mind's Eye that's been in my stash for a while.  The background design actually mimics the design on the beautiful Poppy Baroque Heart which I didn't realize until I started working with it.  I used my Prismas for all the colouring & added some lime stickles and clear glitter.  With Love is from the Loving Sentiments set. 

UPDATE at 11:30 AM Ontario Time:  The new clear stamps are now available on line at Chocolate Baroque.  I used a design at the top of my card from the gorgeous Decorative Edge stamp set:)  We don't have to keep it a secret any longer :)
 
Thank you for all your visits and kind words, they are appreciated.  Without all of you, blogging would not be so enjoyable.

Enjoy this special day with Love !
Shirley

Wanda & a School of Fish

Hi everyone !

I have a card today created for Designs by Ryn featuring another 'Sea Scene'.   Ryn has a variety of awesome Sea Creatures to choose from !

  

The background was created using watercolour paints (wet on wet) and adding sea salt that absorbs some of the colour.   I followed the steps that I showed at my blog post here but then added sea salt and let it dry.  

I stamped with Ryn's Sea Bubbles (using the small one in the set) with Salty Ocean Distress Ink.  I stamped off the ink on a scrap sheet first for a more subtle look.   I wanted them to blend with the sea salt marks so that it all appeared as sea bubbles.    The School of Fish was stamped with Midnight Colorbox Ink and embossed with blue over top.   Just a note B3552 is from Impression Obsession. 

I embossed Wanda the Angelfish with silver and colours with my Tombows, cut out and attached as shown.

If you have a chance, please drop by Miranda's and Eileen's Blogs, both with lots of inspiration,  who are also on Ryn's Design Team.   Also Ryn's Facebook page is full of ideas using her stamps.

Thanks for your visit & have a great day !
Shirley

Fantasy Trees

Hello everyone, I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.  We've been shoveling out from under a ton of snow, it's very pretty now that it isn't storming and blowing.     

I have a card today featuring one of the many tree designs from Chocolate Baroque's beautiful new Fantasy Woodland set.    The number of stamps included in this set provides so many possibilities for designing, I've had a great time 'playing' with them.

I used Dylusions Inks to create the background & stamped the pretty flourish from CB's New England Winter in two of the corners.  'Thanks' is from CB's Pretty Poppies.

I used Pan Pastels (which are not as pale as the photo shows) to colour the flowering trees & the image background.   I added half pearls and rhinestones in the flower centers.   The die used around the image is Spellbinder S5-015.

Here is a look a the fabulous Fantasy Woodland set - the tree designs are whimsical, they are a fantasy!

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,
Shirley

Zentangle Butterfly

Hello everyone,  I hope you are doing well.    We are having a 'snow day' as it's snowing so heavy that I can hardly see out our windows.  It started yesterday, we are expecting a foot or more.  Lots of digging later but for now, it's a great day for crafting while we are cozy & warm inside! 

I ordered the Tangled Garden set from Chocolate Baroque when it was first introduced last Fall and only recently had a chance to take it out for a 'play'.    This set is again very beautiful featuring Zentangled butterflies & more.   I know I'm repeating myself but I can't help it as every design from Chocolate Baroque is gorgeous.      I love this butterfly, the talented designer for Chocolate Baroque included lots of detail in this large stamp.

The background was created with Dylusions inks.  Next I added Silver Smooch Ink randomly using an acrylic block with a little water mixed into it and then rubbed it on.  

I embossed the butterfly with black, sprayed it with the purple Dylusions, misted with water and blotted.   I removed the ink in some areas & then added blue & purple with a brush.    I drew in the antennae with a black pigment pen as they were cut off when decoupaging the butterfly. 

The quote is from Chocolate Baroque's Pretty Poppies set.   

Here is a look at the Tangled Garden (A4 full sheet ) stamp set, so many design possibilities using it:

Thanks for your visit and have a great day !
Shirley

Art with Everything

Hello everyone !    I hope you are doing well and enjoying time for creating.    I have a card today that started with 'play' using a piece of water colour paper that I had used for 'mopping' up Dylusions inks from other projects. 

I sprayed the 'mop up' piece with a bit Peacock Dylusions.  Next I blended Peacock Feathers & Picked Raspberry Distress inks over top using Dylusions - Dotted Flowers Stencil.      I stamped Design by Ryn's amazing Water Droplets in a couple of areas and the quote is from Chocolate Baroque's wonderful Artistic Affirmations set.

I looked through my bling stash for something else to add.  I came across a large butterfly charm that I removed from an inexpensive necklace.   I adhered it with super glossy medium and then painted over it using Silks Acrylic Glaze.   Painting the metal was an experiment and I'm happy with how it turned out.    You can see it better on the close up below.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day !
Shirley

Think Spring !

Hello everyone, I hope you are having a great weekend & are keeping warm.   Welcome to all the new followers & visitors to my blog,  I'm very happy to 'see' all of you here ! 

I'm looking forward to Spring, especially when I started 'working' with the gorgeous new stamps launched this month at Chocolate Baroque.   There are several new sets & all so beautiful !

I love to garden & get excited when the first flowers from the Spring bulbs pop up.   My card features the two Crocus designs from the new Spring is in the Air set.  This A5 (half page) set includes a variety of beautiful & detailed designs that are wonderful for colouring.  

I used some Basic Grey paper that has very little design and stamped the Crocus over top and coloured using my Prisma Pencils.  I also blended a little Distress Ink around the outside of the sheet.

The narrow purple strip is a piece of Dylusions painted paper that was cut off another design (which you will see later).     The pretty Crocus with the writing behind was also coloured with my Prisma Pencils.   I added a little glitter, blended a little Distress ink around the edges & used a die cut from Spellbinder (S4-202) behind it.    "Beauty" is from the wonderful Artistic Expressions set.

And here is a look at the new  Spring is in the Air set.  

I hope you have enjoyed this little taste of Spring!   If you have a chance, please hop over to Chocolate Baroque's Design Team Blog to see what my talented team mates are up to !  If you leave a comment at Glenda's post here you could win a set of the new stamps ! 

Thanks for your visit,
Shirley

Created by Saakje

Hello everyone !

I received this gorgeous card from my talented Tante Saakje recently and wanted to share it here with you.    My Tante (Aunt) got me started creating cards 7 years ago (how time flies) and I haven't looked back since.      Saakje loves to use lots of colour in her designs as you can see here.   

 
I love this design !   I can see she used Greenery CAC018 stamp by Impression Obsession for the backgrounds (one of my favorite Cover A Card stamps) .  The gold embossed flower in the middle is from the beautiful Brocade Backgrounds by Chocolate Baroque (it's on my 'wishlist') and the pretty flowers I'm guessing are from Hero Art, but I'm not sure.   I did not ask her as this post is a surprise!

Here is a different view:

Thank you Saakje & thank you for your visit !
Have a great day,
Shirley