Spooky Dream Journey created for Chocolate Baroque

This was one of my samples for the recent shows on Hochanda featuring the lovely Fantasy Woodland stamps from Chocolate Baroque. I couldn’t help seeing the pattern for half an eye in one of the tree tops, and so couldn’t resist making something a little dark and spooky. I had a bit of fun with this one.

 
Materials:

• Fantasy Woodland and Birthday Words stamp sets
• Seasonal Elements and Seasonal Journey stencils, plus a texture stencil for ‘scales’
• 14cm card blank, black card, white stamping card
• Ink sprays with mica (teal, copper)
• Texture pastes: Viva Décor Kristall Gel (Hologram glitter and clear gel) and opaque acrylic texture paste (Pebeo Concrete)
• Gilding wax (copper gold)
• Acrylic paint (metallic gold and light metallic teal)
• Alcohol marker (black)
• Water based inks (red, yellow, teal green)
• Inkpads: Versafine (Onyx Black), Distress Ink (Scattered Straw), Versamark
• WOW heat embossing powder (Clear Gloss)

How it was made:

1. I spritzed the black card with mica sprays.
2. Background texture was created by applying clear and glitter gel, plus acrylic paint, through the stencil. When dry I applied gilding wax over the scaly texture.
3. Lettering was created by applying opaque paste through the stencil. I made a bit of a mess as I got some paste seeping under the stencil. When dry I tidied and sharpened up the letter edging by using a black alcohol marker (mess saved).
4. The edges were stamped and rubbed over with gold acrylic paint.
5. The text was stamped with Versafine and trimmed away from the full stamp sentiment. Edged with Distress Ink and applied with 3D glue gel.
6. The eye was created by stamping the tree top twice (turning the stamp 180 degrees) with Versafine. Note the centre needs to be overlapped slightly to create a circle shape. I then cut out using a circle die and used a black marker to colour around the edge and to draw the pointed pupil shape.
7. The eye was coloured with water based inks and then heat embossed with clear gloss powder. I added several repeat layers of embossing until I got a smooth shiny glass eye effect. Glue to the card with 3D gel.

Ethereal Winter card created for Chocolate Baroque

Good morning. Here is another of my recent show samples using the lovely Winter Dawn stamp from Chocolate Baroque. This time I tried a bit of parchment craft. I am still a learner at this technique. I would of liked more time to get the embossing and highlights a little better (it’s always a rush for the posting deadline when making TV show samples). I also ran out of time to snip out the frame so simply straight trimmed around it. However, I was reasonably pleased with the results. I added some subtle sparkle too with fine glitter – difficult to see in the photo.

Materials:

• Winter Dawn stamp
• Seasonal Journey and Seasonal Elements stencils
• A5 card blank, black card, parchment
• StazOn Inkpad (Opaque White)
• Pergamano sticky ink, mapping pen and extra fine glitter (crystal)
• Ribbon and small brads (black)
• Groovi plate (Claritystamp) to create scalloped frame
• Embossing tools and foam mat

How it was done:

1. The image was stamped onto the parchment with white ink.
2. Working from the back I used an embossing tool and the Seasonal Elements stencil to emboss the twiggy branches. I also used the crescent moon shape, turning the stencil to create a full circle outline for the moon. On a separate piece of parchment I embossed the outline of the sentiment using the Seasonal Journey stencil.
3. Again working on the back, I added white highlights with embossing tools. Working slowly, gradually stretching the parchment and building up the intensity of the white embossing. It can get a little confusing when doing this as usually you are adding darker shading to images on white paper. Here you are adding the white highlights – the deepest ‘shaded’ areas are left untouched.
4. I used the Clarity Groovi system to emboss the banner outlines and create a frame around the image. This could be done manually but it is simply so easy using the Groovi plates.
5. The image and sentiment were mounted onto black card using small brads, then this was glued to the card front. I added a ribbon and bow to ‘anchor’ the design.
6. Finally …. I just had to do it …. I added some sparkle using sticky ink and extra fine glitter. Parchment doesn’t like getting wet. The Sticky Ink works really well and you can get extra fine detail using a mapping pen – so it doesn’t overpower and spoil the delicate parchment effect.

Winter Shaker Card created for Chocolate Baroque

Good morning. Today I am sharing another of my recent show samples using one of the lovely seasonal ladies – Winter Dawn. I just had to go over the top with sparkle and bling for this one – tee hee.

This one does make a nice Christmas card (sorry to use the ‘C’ word) - but it could just as equally make a nice winter birthday card too.

Materials:

• Winter Dawn stamp
• Seasonal Elements and Seasonal Journey stencils
• 16 X 13cm card blank, smooth blue card, holographic mirror card, blue glitter card, heavy acetate (recycled packaging)
• Versamark Inkpad
• WOW embossing Powder (Metallic Silver Superfine)
• Colouring pencils (white, blue and grey)
• Fine tipped markers (black and opaque white)
• Glitter glue (pale aqua) and loose glitter (extra fine pale blue)
• Crystal glitter (Pinflair Iced Diamond - for inside shaker)
• Acrylic texture paste (Pebeo concrete relief paste)
• Viva Décor Kristall Gell (Hologram)
• Snowflake dies (various suppliers)
• Foam tape and strong double sided tape (red liner)

How to make it:

1. Stamp the image with Versamark and emboss with the silver powder. Colour with pencils and use fine tipped black pen to darken eyes. Use the white pen to enhance highlights. Add glitter glue to snowflakes. You could stop at this stage and simply mat and layer onto the card front.
2. Cut a frame from holographic card. Using texture paste add the lettering through the stencil. Quickly coat with loose glitter. When dry enhance the lettering by drawing on a drop shadow with black pen.
3. Trim the acetate to fit behind the frame. Add snowflakes using Kristall and applying through the stencil. When dry glue to the back of the frame with strong tape. Apply the framed window to the card with 3D foam tape ensuring that there are no gaps. Before sticking down add a pile of crystal glitter to the middle of the card.
4. Finish with die cut snowflakes.