Chocolate Baroque: Beauty Blooms

Good morning, friends! I want to share an Art Journal inspired by a wedding I recently attended. The bride more pale lavender and cream. She carried a bouquet of pale pink roses.  The sparkly bits in her hair caught the light every time she moved.  Very ethereal. And an Art Journal page was born!

The stamps used on this page are Mackintosh Beauty, Mackintosh Windows and Texture Fragments by Chocolate Baroque.

As always, I started by priming the page with Dina Wakley's Media White Gesso. Next came the colours: Folk Art Acrylic Paint in 438 Ballet Pink, 516 Light Lavender, 632 Rose Pink, 708 Dove Grey and 901 Wicker White. These were applied with a baby wipe.

I framed the page with a lace stamp from the Texture Fragments A4 sheet, stamped with Ranger Archival Shadow Grey ink. For the floral arrangements in the corners, I cut up the various images from both Mackintosh Beauty and Mackintosh Windows and adhered them together. Liquid Pearls and Lawn Fawn Orchid twine brought texture and movement to the bouquet.

Here comes the bride all dressed in ... ivory! I coloured her with Copics and adhered her to the page with Ranger Multi Medium Matte.

To add interest to the page, I applied Ranger Texture Paste over MFT Snowfall stencil. But first I added a hint of colour to the paste with the tiniest drop of 438 Ballet Pink and Faber-Castell Metallic Icing Gelato. Just enough to knock back the white of the Texture Paste. I also sprinkled some sparkly frosting and threw in a few bling for good measure. Did you seriously think I'd forget my beloved bling?! :)

I stamped the quote using Claire Brenan's Victorian Alphabet and Ranger Archival Plum ink.

Challenges:
Crafty Friends #62: Floral
Creative Artistes #28: Anything Mixed Media Goes
Emerald City #1: AG
Daisy Chain Challenge #10: Floral

And there you have it - a bridal AJ page. I wasn't sure about it in the beginning. But I have to admit, she is growing on me!

Thank you so much for stopping by and have an amazing day!

Beijinhos

Tuesday Throwdown #352: Tic Tac Toe

Good morning, friends! Time for another new challenge over at Tuesday Throwdown. This week we want you to make a project based on the " Tic Tac Toe " grid below. Our sponsor for this challenge is Sparkle N Sprinkle. Check out their online store for some delightfully adorable stamps.

Using the middle column of the grid < Flower - Sparkle - Embossing >, I made a Christmas card featuring a digital image called  Christmas Candles by Fred She Said.

I coloured the image with Faber-Castell Polychromos. I heat embossed the swirly design in the background with Clear Sparkle EP.

Challenges:
TTCRD July 18: AG
A Snowflakes Promise #42: AG Christmas

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, July 24th. And the most important requirement: Have Fun!

Thank you so much for stopping by and have a beautiful day.

Beijinhos!

ATSM #250: Photo Inspiration

Hello again, friends! Time for another challenge over at Addicted To Stamps and More. This week the theme is Photo Inspiration. All you have to do is create a project inspired by the photo above. You can pick the colours, elements, textures etc. There's no right or wrong answer.

Here's my interpretation of the photo above. I've picked the colours to create a simple birthday card using Diagonal Stripes stamp by Clearly Besotted and Cause For Celebration dies by MFT. The inks arew Bubblegum, Sugarplum and Jalapenõ by Lawn Fawn and Ranger Archival Manganese Blue.

Now it's your turn to link up your project for the Photo Inspiration challenge. Don't forget to let us know what elements from the photo inspired you.

Thanks for stopping by and have fun with this challenge. 

Beijinhos!

Art Journal: Only You And Me

Hello, friends! It's time for my monthly ART JOURNAL collaboration with a very dear and special blog friend - VICKI PARSON of Stamp Smiles. We are both passionate about art journalling and we have a monthly show and tell. Vicki took a short blog break but now she's back - yay!And once again we are getting inky, messy,  inspire and encourage each other while having fun.

I have to confess that my project is an overnight effort. Vicki sent me a reminder email yesterday and I shrieked - "Oh my gosh! I completely forgot!!!" I had to think fast and, since we are in July, a summer theme seemed appropriate. The sentiment was inspired by something I had said to Vicki. She asked me if we had anyone else playing with us and I said "Nope, just you and me!"

Here's to you, my friend!  I've used stamps from Chocolate Baroque's Sunny Sunflowers A4 sheet to create my AJ page.

Let's take a closer look. I started by using a brayer to apply the colours for the sky: Folk Art 901 Wicker White, 481 Aqua, 524 Calypso Sky and 484 Brilliant Ultramarine. The letters for the sentiment are from Lawn Fawn's Harold's ABC and Clearly Besotted's Basic Alphabet, stamped with Versafine Onyx Black onto a page from an old notebook. For the die-cut word, I used Large Script Alphabet - Lower Case by X-Cut and glitter foam.  In hindsight, I should have cut out the "u" and "me" in red instead. Oh well... The Sun is created by layering 2 fussy cut sunflowers and lots of Glossy Accent for some dimension.

Moving on to the field of sunflowers. For this, I started by applying shades of green, also with a brayer, onto a piece of cardstock: Folk Art 724 Evergreen, 923 Clover and 954 Fresh Foliage. Then I cut the top edge with Lawn Fawn's Grassy Border die. The sunflowers and leaves are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, coloured with Copics, fussy cut and adhered to the green field. I also added some Clear Wink Of Stella, Stickles Icicles and Hot Cocoa Liquid Pearls to some interest to the flowers.

And here it is - my overnight field of summer sunflowers! I did not fuss with it like I usually do and I am mighty glad I did not let the side down!

Challenges:
Come and Get It: Make Your Own Background
International Art & Soul #12: Elements of Nature
Mustard Seed Faith #10: Anything Depicting Summer
Stamping Sensations - July: AG With Flowers
We Love 2 Create #14: AG Mixed Media 
TTCRD July 11: AG

Please head on over to VICKI PARSON of Stamp Smiles and check out what she has made. Vicki never ceases to amaze me with her creativity.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope your week is a sea of sunflowers too1

Beijinhos!

Chocolate Baroque: Mackintosh Bookmarks

Good morning, friends. I have 2 easy bookmark projects to share with you, both featuring Chocolate Baroque's Mackintosh inspired designs.

For my first project, I started by inking a piece of watercolour paper with  Distress Inks: Salty Ocean and Chipped Sapphire for the top blue section; Mustard Seed for the yellow; Mowed Lawn and Pine Needles for the bottom green. Then I gave it a light misting of water, dabbed off the excess with a paper towel and dried it with a heat tool.

Then I stamped window panel from Mackintosh Windows with Versafine Onyx Black ink and heat embossed the sentiment from Amazing Mackintosh Words with WOW Gold Rich EP.

To finish the project, I layered it wth yellow and black cardstock, added a small yellow eyelet, Lawn Fawn Candy Corn cord and little drops of Daffodil Liquid Pearls.

The second project features the water colouring technique. I started by heat embossing the window panel from Mackintosh Beauty with WOW Vanilla White EP and did a little simple water colouring with Gansai Tambi. When completely dry, I inked the edges with Cracked Pistachio and stamped a sentiment from Amazing Mackintosh Words with Ranger Archival Plum ink.

To finish the project, I layered it wth plum and turquoise cardstock, added a small plum eyelet, Lawn Fawn Liberty cord and 3 pink bling.

And here they are together. I think they make lovely little gifts to give friends. These bookmarks are easy and fun to make too!

Thank you so much for stopping by and have an amazing day!

Beijinhos

Card Chain Challenge: June 2017

Good day, friends. This is a long overdue post from me. It's been a hectic couple of weeks for all sorts of reasons. The wacky weather isn't helping either. Enough moaning and groaning.

This is a card I made for the Card Chain Challenge which is now hosted by Gail in Norway. For the June 2017 Card Chain Challenge I made a card for Lorraine in the UK using Altenew Stamps based on this colour swatch and product:

+

GLITTER

The stamps for this card came from Altenew's Garden Treasure set and the inks are by Lawn Fawn. I background is a piece of watercolour paper splattered with watered down Distress Inks. The colours are not a precise match to the swatch but they are sort of, almost in the general ballpark. The sentiment is cut on black card using MFT Die-namics Thanks which I smothered with Black Stickles.

I fussy cut the flowers and leaves before adhering them to the background panel with foam tape. The no card of mine would be complete without some glitter!

I really have to dash. Thank you so very much for stopping by and for your support. Have a beautiful day, friends.

Beijinhos!

MHKDesigns: July Challenge

Welcome to MHKDesigns July Challenge. Our monthly challenge begins on the 1st of each month and will end on the last day of the month. Winners will be announced on the 15th of the following month.

We want to keep our challenges fun and simple, so each month you will get a photo prompt to inspire you. You are free to make whatever paper project you fancy - a card, scrapbook layout, a tag, a box, art journal page etc. You don't have to use MHKD products participate but if you do the theme is ANYTHING GOES.  Here is the Prompt for this challenge:

I made a simple little bookmark using the Hollyhock Happiness set which was released last month. Copics, Liquid Pearls and Stickles - and it's done. Easy peasy!

The winner of this Challenge stands to win some fabulous products by MHKDesigns. So make sure you follow the challenge rules and you'll be eligible for the prize. And if you need a little creative boost, you'll find more inspiration by the rest of the Design Team over at the Challenge Blog.

Thank you for stopping by today and I'm looking forward to seeing what you create for us this month.

Beijinhos,

ATSM #248: Holiday

Hello again, friends! Time for another challenge over at Addicted To Stamps and More. This week the theme is my favourite - Holiday.

I made a Christmas tag using stamps and dies by Clearly Besotted.

So now it's your turn to link up your project for the Holiday challenge. It can be any holiday - Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day etc.

Thanks for stopping by and have fun with this challenge. 

Beijinhos!

Chocolate Baroque: Beautiful Butterfly

Hello, friends. Sorry I haven't been around much. Life has been hectic... really really hectic. Haven't had much time to get inky and, as a result, my craft room in a suspended state of disarray!

But I managed to create a quickie: a notecard featuring a gorgeous butterfly from Chocolate Baroque's Patchwork Butterfly A4 sheet. It's a simple card, not time-consuming and perfect to accompany a gift for a special person. The finished project measures 2 1/2" x 4 1/2".

I stamped the butterfly on the edge of the card, coloured him with Polychromos and cut around his wing. And every butterfly deserves a garden, so I stencilled one for him using TCW Daisy stencil and Spun Sugar Distress Ink. The sentiment is from the Words to Dazzle and Sparkle A5 sheet, stamped with Archival Jet Black. And yes, I've added 3 little blings on his wings.

I continued with the stencilled background on the inside of the card.

Challenges:
Artistic Impressions #182: AG
Crafting From The Heart #165: AG

Can you believe half the year is over? That's scary. And I can hear the ol' familiar jingle bells not too far away! Eeeeek!

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

Beijinhos!

MHKD June Release: Sit A Bit

Hello, friends! Welcome to Day 5 of MHKDesigns' June 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. These are available for purchase NOW at the MHK Designs ETSY Store. 

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

Today, we have another scripture inspired set called Sit A Bit.

I made a simple bookmark - for myself, for a change! I coloured the image with Copics, little droplets of Liquid Pearls in the corners and finished it with some twine.

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!

MHKD June Release: Season's Greetings

Hello, friends! Welcome to Day 4 of MHKDesigns' June 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. These are available for purchase NOW at the MHK Designs ETSY Store. 

As a special treat to celebrate the June 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 vintage Christmas set called Season's Greetings.

Here's my card. I used the greeting to frame Santa and coloured him with Copics. And to finish the card - some twine.

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!

Tuesday Throwdown #348: Party Time

Good morning, friends! Time for another new challenge over at Tuesday Throwdown. This week we have a sweet theme for you: "Party Time". Our sponsor for this challenge is Di Digistamps and they have lots of fabulous images. You should check it out.

This week I made a party favour box, complete with balloons and a sentiment screaming out just what to expect.

Now it's your turn to create a project based on this week's theme: "Party Time". 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, June 26th. And the most important requirement: Have Fun!

Thank you so much for stopping by and have an amazing day!

Beijinhos!

MHKD June Release: Hollyhock Happiness

Hello, friends! Welcome to Day 3 of MHKDesigns' June 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. These are available for purchase NOW at the MHK Designs ETSY Store. 

As a special treat to celebrate the June 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 lovely floral set called Hollyhock Happiness.

I made a girly card with ribbons and gems to wish a dear friend a very happy birthday.

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!

ATSM #246: Anything Goes

Hello again and welcome to another challenge over at Addicted To Stamps and More. This week the theme is an easy one - Anything Goes. Absolutely no excuse not to play along!

I made a card for a friend's birthday using stamps from Altnew's Dahlia Blossoms sheet. The ink stains in Salty Ocean Distress Ink makes the blossoms pop. I heat embossed the greeting with WOW Gold Rich EP and finished the project with droplets of Mint Liquid Pearls.

Here is a closer look at the dahlias.

Now it's your turn to link up your project for the Anything Goes challenge. You can make anything you like. I looking forward to seeing your projects.

Thank you so much for stopping by and have fun with this challenge.

Beijinhos!


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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 June Release: Flutter and Fly

Hello, friends! Welcome to Day 2 of MHKDesigns' June 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. These are available for purchase NOW at the MHK Designs ETSY Store. 

As a special treat to celebrate the June 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 lovely scripture inspired set called Flutter and Fly. 

I made a simple card for a friend in need of a pick-me-up. The birds are fussy cut and adhered around the frame. And of course, there's glitter!

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!