Chocolate Baroque: Bold Butterfly

Good morning, friends. I made a one-layer birthday card. Oh yes, I did! Trust me, I'm surprised myself but stranger things have happened!

I started by heat embossing the largest butterfly from the Patchwork Butterfly A4 sheet with WOW Gold Rich EP directly onto the card base.

Next, I worked on the background by blending Distress Inks in shades of green: Crushed Olive, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint and Pine Needles. Then I sprinkled some watered down Dina Wakley White Gesso to add interest to the background. I also added random blobs of Icicle Stickles for a touch of magic.

And finally, the greeting from Words To Dazzle and Sparkle stamped with Versafine Onyx Black.

I added colour to the gold embossed butterfly using Distress Inks: Barn Door, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey and Squeezed Lemonade.

Challenges:
Artistic Inspiration #181: AG
Crafting From The Heart #163: AG
Dragonfly Dreams -June: Add Sparkle
Mustard Seed Faith: Birds, Butterflies & Nature Scenes
Pause Dream Enjoy #176: Cards + Optional Theme (One-layer Card)

That's all from me today. Thank you so much for stopping by and I'll see you soon!

Beijinhos

MHKD April Release: And Many More

Hello, friends! Welcome to Day 1 of MHKDesigns' April Release Party. Head on over to the MHK Designs ETSY Store for lots of lovely vintage designs that suit all crafting styles.

This month, MHKDesigns is releasing FIVE new digital stamp sets. Mynn has also added more Digital Paper Bundles that coordinate perfectly with her digi stamps. These are available for purchase NOW at the MHK Designs ETSY Store. 

As a special treat to celebrate the April 2017 Release, Mynn is giving away sets from this release. More on how to win at the end of this post.

Today we have this adorable retro set called And Many More.

Here's a card I made featuring the image from this set. Copics for colouring and some twine to finish the card - that's all it needs.

Let's take a closer look at that image. It reminds me of something out of the old Enid Blyton books I used to devour back in the '70s. Seems like a lifetime ago!

GIVEAWAY!

In order to get this new set OR the entire release for FREE, here's what you'll need to do:

1. Leave a comment on the MHKDesigns blog. 
2. Leave a comment on each DT member's blog (see list on MHKDesigns blog). 
3. Join our MHKDesigners and Friends Facebook group and leave a comment there.

Mynn will randomly choose the winning comments from all these places after the release is over. The best way to win is to comment every day.

Beijinhos!

Chocolate Baroque: Spring Birthday

Hello, friends! It's finally here ... Spring, I mean. or is it? The past few days have been cold, wet and icy. I'm not so sure about packing away my winter woollies. Not just yet, anyway.

In an effort to embrace the vernal joy, I made a cheerful Birthday card using bright, zippy colours and stamps by Chocolate Baroque. My card features the silhouette tall plant from Spring Foliage. The greeting is from Words To Dazzle and Sparkle and the butterflies are from Baroque Meadow.

I started by blending Distress Inks on a piece of watercolour paper. Here are the colours I used:
Grass: Mowed Lawn and Cracked Pistachio
Sun: Mustard Seed and Fossilized Amber. With the Tie Dye stencil by TCW, I applied Wild Honey to suggest rays of the sun.
Sky: Mermaid Lagoon and Peacock Feathers

Then I splashed some water to get that splodgy effect. Next came the images and greeting  - all stamped with VersaFine Onyx Black. Final touches - little drops of Mint Liquid Pearls and some Stickles Black Diamond over the silhouette leaves.

Challenges:
Brown Sugar #243: AG
Colour Crazy #12: AG

Thank you for stopping by today. Hopefully, the sun is shining in your neck of the woods. We are down to 6ºC where we are... which isn't very springy! :) Have a great day, everyone.

Beijinhos!

Chocolate Baroque Colour Challenge #33

Welcome to Week 1 of Chocolate Baroque Colour Challenge #33. We have a lovely colour swatch for you to use in your projects. If you haven't played yet, now's the time to do so.

You can use any medium to create your projects: paints, inks, pencils, pens, stains, etc., as long as you stick to the colours from the colour swatch, using as much or as little of each colour as you wish. You don't have to use Chocolate Baroque stamps to play along but if you do you will be entered into a random draw to win £15 to spend on Chocolate Baroque stamps. All participants will have a chance to be on the Design Team's Top Three list and proudly display the winner's badge on their blog.

Here's my offering for this challenge - a floral birthday card. It turned out more "earthy" than I intended but hopefully, the lovely lotuses (or should the plural form be loti?) stand out against the background.

The focal image is from the Floral Notes A5 stamp sheet and the sentiment is from Words To Dazzle.  First I stamped the image with Ranger Dye Ink Cool Graphite. Then, I masked the flowers before inking the edges with Vintage Photo, Scattered Straw and Antique Linen Distress Inks. For the sentiment, I used VersaFine Crimson Red and finished the project with little drops of Hydrangea Liquid Pearls.

Here's a closer look at the flowers. I coloured them with Caran d'Ache Suprasoft Aquarelle Pencils.

Challenges:
Word Art Wednesday 274 & 275: AG Inspirational
Crafty Creations #337: AG
Inspiration Destination #124: AG

Chocolate Baroque Colour Challenge #33 will close at 12.00 p.m. (UK) on Tuesday 18th April 2017, and the winner will be announced on Wednesday 26 April 2017. I hope you'll play along and run the risk of winning £15 to spend on Chocolate Baroque stamps.

Thank you for stopping by and have a magical day!

Beijinhos!

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Purple Posy

Hello! Dropping in very quickly today to show you a card I made yesterday for a friend's birthday tomorrow. Inspiration did not come easily for this card. And because I am a sucker for punishment, I decided to take an obvious Halloween colour combo for my project.

Lawnscaping Challenge #140 is suggesting Black, Purple and one other colour. I added Green to the mix and made this card:

I've used LF Penelope's Blossoms and coordinating dies for the floral arrangement. I cut out the greeting with LF Happy Birthday Border die and purple glitter foam. The little strip of patterned paper above the black glitter panel is from Polka In The Dark. Inks I've used LF Freshly Cut Grass, LF Noble Fir, LF Sugarplum, LF Fresh Lavender, VersaFine Imperial Purple and VersaColor Heliotrope. And to finish a few itty bitty green bling.

Challenge:
Lawnscaping #140: Black, Purple + One Other (Green)
Seize The Birthday: Birthday + Leaves
Craft Rocket #26: Happy Birthday

Must dash. Thank you so much for stopping by today. I'll be back tomorrow with a festive card. Until then... have a beautiful Monday.

Beijinhos!

MHKD October Release: Various Vehicles

Hello, friends! Welcome to Day 2 of MHKDesigns' October Release Party. Head on over to the MHK Designs ETSY Store for lots of lovely vintage designs that suit all crafting styles.

This month, MHKDesigns is releasing FIVE new digital stamp sets. Mynn has also added more Digital Paper Bundles that coordinate perfectly with her digi stamps. These are available for purchase NOW at the MHK Designs ETSY Store. 

As a special treat to celebrate the MHK Designs October 2016 Release, Mynn is giving away sets from this release. More on how to win at the end of this post.

Next up in this release is a masculine set called Various Vehicles.

I made an ol' fashioned birthday card featuring the retro struck from this set.

I finished the card with some brown twine - oh yes... very manly, indeed! :)

How To Win

In order to get this new set OR the entire release for FREE, here's what you'll need to do:

1. Leave a comment on the MHKDesigns blog. 
2. Leave a comment on each DT member's blog (see list below) 
3. Join our MHKDesigners and Friends Facebook group and leave a comment there.

Asha (me!) | Donna | Katie | Judy | Jerrie | Jessica |  Julie | Lilian  

Lorie | Mynn | NanaConnie | Rocky | Sathya | Shawna

Mynn will randomly choose the winning comments from all these places after the release is over. The best way to win is to comment every day.

Thank you for stopping by and come back tomorrow for another new digi set AND more prizes!

Beijinhos!

Beautiful Day

Helloo, friends! Hope you're enjoying the weekend. It's been a hectic week for me. Here's a card I made last weekend for a friend's birthday but did get around to blogging it. Truth be told, I didn't manage mail it in time for her birthday either! Ooops ... big time, I know!

I've used Altenew's Beautiful Day stamp set for this card. To stamp the flowers and leaves I used Lawn Fawn inks. I wanted a soft background, decided a light inking of Cracked Pistachio.

I added some shimmer to the flower with Wink Of Stella Clear Glitter and randomly dropped a few blobs of Opal White Liquid Pearls.

Challenges: 
Altenew September Challenge: Photo Inspiration
Seize The Birthday: Soft and Simple
Altenew Ultimate Blog Hop

That's all from me today. Thank you so much for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend, friends!

Beijinhos!

Tuesday Throwdown #311: Sketch

Good morning, friends! Time for a new challenge over at Tuesday Throwdown and we have a Sketch for you. You can rotate or flip the sketch and interpret it your way but make sure that the key elements of the sketch is obvious.

Our sponsor is Lacy Sunshine  and I picked this groovy girl called Lizabeth Wild Daisies for my card. Everything about her screams the 70s so I used bright and fun patterned papers from my stash in keeping with the hippy vibe of this project.

I coloured Lizabeth Wild Daisies with Faber Castell Polychromos and added the grass with Copics.

Challenges:
TTCRD Sept 13: AG
Artistic Inspiration #163: AG

Now it's your turn to create a project based on this week's Sketch. For ideas and inspiration, take a peek at what the rest of the DT members have made. Remember to link up your project at the Tuesday Throwdown Challenge Blog by 3pm Pacific / 11pm UK on Monday, September 19th. And the most important requirement: Have Fun!

Thank you so much for stopping by and have a beautiful day, friends!

Beijinhos!

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Birthday Hugs

Happy Monday, friends! This is a quick post from me as I've been juggling chainsaws all day! And I have a paper cut to prove it!

I made this card over the weekend for a special friend who is celebrating her birthday this month. We have a common love for a few crafty companies and I am sure she will appreciate this card ... I think... I hope ... fingers crossed!

My affair with CAS continues, although it takes me hours to complete a project and leaves me shattered with a headache! I was inspired by Altenew's September Challenge and picked the colours and washi tape elements from the photo to create this floral number featuring Vintage Roses stamps. The inks are a combination of Ranger Archival, Ranger Dye, Lawn Fawn and Memento. The washi tape is by WRMK.

Here is a closer look at the roses. I stamped the leaves directly on the cardstock and added the roses, adhering a few on foam tape. For added sparkle: sequins and Wink Of Stella Clear Brush.  The sentiment is from MFT Label Maker Sentiment.

Challenges:
Altenew September Challenge: Photo Inspiration
Simon Says Stamp Monday: Stamp It
Love To Scrap #85: Flower Power

It's been a long day! Mondays seem to drag on mercilessly, don't you think? LOL. Thank you for stopping by and have a fun day.

Beijinhos!

Roses and Mice

Good morning, all. A quick Sunday morning post from me before I dash off to church. Here are two cards I made yesterday.

First up - a thank you card for a friend. I'm using Vintage Flowers set by Altenew.

I added droplets of Glossy Accents for morning dew. I stamped the sentiment in LF Lobster and then again in Memento London Fog to create a shadow effect.

Challenges: 
Altenew August: Flamingo Inspiration
Dragonfly Journeys #70: A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose

Next, is a birthday card for a friend who plays in our local marching band. I'm using Strike Up The Band by MFT - so perfect! Keeping it simple in the hope that it will look masculine enough for a bearded man drum major! I inked up the clouds in the background using Tumbled Glass DI.

Here's a closer look at those adorable mice. The greeting is from the same set. Notice the little drummer? It's an inside joke. We all know someone who marches to his own beat ... and sometimes, the wrong way! :)

Challenges:
MFT Colour Challenge #51
CAS(E) This Sketch #185
Seize The Birthday Aug 11: AG Birthday

That's all from me today. Thank you for stopping by...... must dash! See you on my rounds later today. 

Stay cool!

Beijinhos!

Tuesday Throwdown #305: Tic-Tac-Toe

Good morning, friends! Time for a new challenge over at Tuesday Throwdown. This week we are playing "Tic Tac Toe". Our sponsor for this challenge is Robyn's Fetish. All you have to do is look at the grid below and choose a vertical, horizontal or diagonal list of items to include in your project.

Here's my card featuring the adorable An Elephant Never Forgets image by Robyn's Fetish. I'm using items from the middle column: Patterned Paper + Marker + Monochromatic. I'm keeping it simple and masculine with twine and black bling as embellishments.

I fussy cut an extra head for the elephant and adhered it to the image with foam tape. Now jumbo has flappy ears!

Challenges:
Craft DeeBowz August: AG + Handmade Bow
House Of Cards August: Twine and /or Colours - twine
Simon Says Stamp Monday: Celebrate
TTCRD Aug 2: AG

House of Cards

Now it's your turn to create a project based on this week's theme: "Tic Tac Toe". For ideas and inspiration, take a peek at what the rest of the DT members have made. Remember to link up your project at the Tuesday Throwdown Challenge Blog by 3pm Pacific / 11pm UK on Monday, August 8th. And the most important requirement: Have Fun!

I'm sorry I haven't been visiting much. These past few weeks have been hectic at work and I have a wedding at the end of the month that is keeping me so very busy too. Thank you so much for stopping by and for your patience! Have a beautiful day, friends!

Beijinhos!

Piggy Birthday

Hello, friends! It's the last day of July and let's close the month with a squeal! I've been holding back on these cards until after the birthdays of two equally adorable people. They are pretty much the same design with a a few little variations. Both cards feature MFT's super cute Hog Heaven stamps.

Card #1: I used LF's Spring Showers and Simple Stitched Hillside Borders dies to cut out the sun, clouds and hill to set the scene. For a bit of colour, I inked the panel with Tumbled Glass DI and mounted it on a pink card base.

I coloured the images with Copics and added Glossy Accents to the cupcakes.

Card #2 is for a little girl named Charlie (no relation to my little boy - see below) and I made a banner of her name with the help of the Mini Bunting and Banner dies by Clearly Besotted and LF's Riley's ABC, held together by LF's Orchid Lawn Trimming.

Here is the little piggy with 4 cupcakes... yes, because Charlie just turned 4! I gave the little piggy a little birthday glitter with the Clear Wink Of Stella.

Challenges:
AAA Cards #70: Stitching (Faux or Real)
Allsorts #374: A Touch Of Sparkle
Just Us Girls #353: Let's Hear It For The Girls
Seize The Birthday: Pink & Brown / AG Birthday
Amusing Challenge: AG

That's all from me today. I hope July treated you well and let's hope August brings lots more wonderful crafty goodness... and rain, please. It's waaaay too hot.

Thank you for stopping and enjoy the rest of your Sunday. See you soon!

Beijinhos!

My boy, Charlie and his sidekick, Peanut. 

Something Old Something New

Hello again. I've got two projects to show you today. First up is a card featuring one of my earliest LF acquisitions called Lunar Lights. I bought it way back in early 2012 to make Chinese New Year cards.  This set has been neglected and forgotten for far too long and it's about time it saw the light of day! (sorry, couldn't help it! lol) The perfect comeback would be a spot in the Lawnscaping Challenge #133: Mood Board.

I'm keeping this card really simple by picking the colours from the mood board to create a light and  fresh card.

I paper pieced the lanterns and added lots of Clear Wink Of Stella for some shimmer.

Challenges:
Lawnscaping #133: Mood Board

My second project is for Tag You're It #51. The inspiration for this challenge is a lovely tag by Donna Mikasa. Here's my tag, featuring stamps from the Dahlia Blossoms by Altenew. I'm also going with Donna's colour palette.

I've used Lawn Fawn Inks: Wild Rose, Guava and Lobster for the Dahlia; Celery Stick, Jalapeño and Freshly Cut Grass; and Butter and Sunflower for the yellow flower.And of course tons of Clear Wink of Stella.

Challenges:
Tag You're It #51: Donna Mikasa
AAA Cards #68: Tags

That's all for today, friends. Thank you so much for stopping by and I wish you a fabulous week ahead. It's going to be an amazing one for us here in Portugal because we WON the Euro 2016 Soccer!!! I confess I am a little excited. Well done, boys!

Beijinhos!

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