FELIZ NATAL

From our home to yours, 

a Blessed Christmas to all our friends.

Abraços e Beijinhos Natalícios, 

Carlos, Asha, André, Rosie, Peanut & Richard Parker

Christmas Card Club #26: Non-traditional Colours

Good morning, friends! It's the eve of Christmas Eve! Are you ready? I'm  not. In fact, I cannot remember being this disorganised for Christmas... totally unprepared...in utter chaos and, for the first time, I'm afraid.... very afraid that on Christmas Day we'll have a house full of people sitting down for a "Beans On Toast" lunch.

Here are a couple of projects, which I had the good sense to make in advance, for last minute gifts. They are also project I should have posted last week but didn't because misplaced my head in amongst the pile of unwrapped gifts currently cluttering our bedroom! (Please tell me I'm not the only one!)

Here's are a couple of gift card envelopes I made earlier. The first is for the Christmas Card Club's "Non-Traditional Colours" theme. The theme was picked by Margaret. I went for purples, pinks and turquoise with Clearly Besotted's Signature Christmas Additions stamps.

This second batch of cards is for my BioDanza buddies. I'll be giving these to them later today after class. Hopefully they are all too busy and will miss this post...and the surprise will remain intact!  Oh well, at this late stage does it really matter, I wonder?! :)

Again I'm using Clearly Besotted stamps from the Set The Scene collection... this time with more traditional colours.

Challenges:

Christmas Card Challenge #3: Photo Inspiration / AG Christmas
CHNC #208: Urgently Needed For Christmas (my sanity, for starters! lol)
Inkspirational #72: Photo Inspiration

I have to rush now... so sorry. A gazillion things to do and ... I could do with a dozen elves to help me! LOL. Hope all is merry and bright over at your end. Thank you for stopping by and see you soon, my friends!

Beijinhos!

God Jul!

God Jul, indeed!

No... I'm not learning a new language! Haven't got time for that this year. Plus... I'm still learning English, not to mention being sooo behind on everything, it's scary! In fact, I just realised I haven't posted my Christmas Card Club project! Eeeek!

Enough idle chit chat, here's a card I made for the House of Cards blog hop. A couple of friends -Mynette and Monika - suggested I play along.... a couple of weeks ago. And with just a few hours before closing time I'm screeching in with my card. Here it is... a little late!

There's a mix of stamps on this card - the stag is from Chocolate Baroque's Snowy Scenes and the greeting is from Waltzing Mouse's Nutcracker Sweet.

For the background I did some embossing with LifeStyle's Whimsy folder and added a couple of silver eyelets. The greeting is stamped on a piece of vellum and to finish I tied a bow with some sheer iridescent ribbon.

I coloured the stag with Graph'It alcohol markers. I layered with blues and silver Spellbinder die cuts. There's some sparkly Stickles Stardust on the bell and several dots of Silver Liquid Pearls for a wintery feel. And it's done!

Challenges:
House of Cards: Photo Inspiration
Waltzing Mouse Fanatics #33: AG (last challenge... sad!)

Better get back to work... it's a busy Monday! Thanks for stopping by and I'll catch up with you later with my long overdue Christmas Card Club project! (Sorry, girls!)

Beijinhos!

Chocolate Baroque: Gifts For Christmas

Good morning, everyone. We are now a fortnight away from Christmas. Ideally all your cards should be in the mail and it's time to look at finalising the gifts. I've got 3 projects to help you make those pressies extra special.

1. Gift Card Holder

Gift cards make perfect presents ... when you run out of ideas! It can be a special gift when housed in a beautiful box. And you can't beat the wow factor of heat embossing.

Red and Gold - always a striking combo. That magnificent tree is from the Turtle Doves A5 sheet, heat embossed in gold and matted on gold card stock. I also did some tone-on-tone stamping in the background with the little snowflake from the Snowy Scenes A5 sheet with Versamark. To help secure the box I used some gold ribbon, tied in a bow.

This is a top opening box, revealing a pocket for the gift card in a slide-up mechanism. The sentiment is from the Christmas Magic clear stamp set, heat embossed in gold. Here's a video tutorial  by Dawn of Dawn's Stampin Thought.

Challenges:
Inkspirational Challenges #71: Anything Goes With Gold
Sweet Stampin: Oh Christmas Tree
Winter Wonderland:Christmas Presents


2. Gift bag

If you're super organised and have all your gifts ready for giving, how about making gift bags to house them. The WRMK Gift Bag Punch Board, available from the Chocolate Baroque store, makes light work of it. Here's one I prepared earlier:

After the rich opulence of the first project, I like the light fresh look of this one. This medium bag came together quickly. I used Spellbinders Oval and Lacey Oval dies to make a handle and tied it with some sheer grey ribbon.

 

The main star is the jolly man from the Santa Baby A5 sheet. He is coloured with water-colour pencils, fussy cut and popped up with foam tape in front of heat embossed snowflakes from the Snowy Scenes A5 sheet.

Here's the behind of the box. I stamped the snowflakes all around using TH Tumbled Glass Distress Ink. 

Now, about water colouring. It definitely is my go to colouring medium when I'm in a hurry. Not only is it easy but is very forgiving. Trust me, it really is so simple. Just lay down the colour as shown below and, using a fine brush, let the water do all the work. No fancy blending or shading.

I used Caran d'Ache Supracolor Soft Aquarelle Pencils: Carmine (Santa's suit); Prussian Blue (Santa's belt); Salmon and Pink (face), Charcoal Grey and Burnt Umber (sack); Light Grey, Silver Grey and White (beard and trimming of suit); Black (boots); Grass Green, Ochre, Scarlet (drum, present, candy cane)

Challenges:
We Do Doobadoo #21: Festive Spirit
Addicted To Stamps #93: Snowflakes
Fussy & Fancy #129: Snowflakes & Ribbon


3. Gift Card and Treat Box

And when you want to spoil someone - go for the double whammy: Gift Card and a treat  - all in one box.

I decorated the top of the box with the wreath from Hearth and Home A4 sheet, coloured with alcohol markers. Keeping it simple with just some ribbon.

Here's closer look at the top of the box. I also added Liquid Pearls to the wreath, which I fussy cut and matted on pearlescent cream CS cut with Spellbinders Labels 4 die. I inked the edges with TH Vintage Photo.

The box opens revealing the gift card in a pop-up mechanism with room for a few golden nuggets! The idea is from Brenda Quintana and she has a fab video tutorial here.

Challenges:
CHNC #207: Urgently Needed Christmas Creation
Sugar Creek #101: Not a CARD
Avenue 613 #102: AG + Optional Gift Packaging

There you have it - three project ideas to help you with your festive preps: Elegant, Playful and Extravagant. There's something for everyone and I hope these projects inspire you to play with your Chocolate Baroque Christmas stamps.

Thanks for stopping by. I'm painfully behind on my commenting. So sorry for that - things have been crazy here. The plan is to pop in for a few visits today... wish me luck! Stay safe and warm, friends!

Beijinhos!

Tuesday Throwdown #224: Family Christmas

Hello, friends. Well what d'you know! It's time for another Tuesday Throwdown. Christmas is just over a fortnight away and if you're looking for some last minute makes, you've come to the right place. The girls have some projects to inspire the hurried and harried amongst us.

And to help us with our goal, the fabulous folks at Stamping Boutique have generously provided the design team with a few gorgeous digis. I'm playing with this super cute Mail Girl.

The paper is from BoBunny and I heat embossed the greeting with
Stampendous Fine White EP. This is a super quick card - so
NO stitching ... and let me tell you that was NOT easy for me! LOL

Here's a close-up of the little Main Girl. I coloured her with
Graph'It markers and added little dots in Baby Blue Liquid Pearls
in the bg to add interest to the falling snow. Then I layered her
on SB die cut.

Told you it was a quick make - I made FOUR and even managed to ring
the changes in her outfit: green, pink, red and purple. 

A few challenges for this card:

Squigglefly #49: Emboss or Die Cut
Scrapbook Stamp Society #56: AG, Optional Christmas
Fitztown Challenge #56: Christmas
Eureka Stampede #118: Let It Snow
Digi Sketch: Waiting For Christmas / Sketch
Crafty Card Makers: Christmas

Now it's your turn to create a project based on this week's theme: "Family Christmas". 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 Monday, December 15th. And the most important requirement: Have Fun! It's almost Christmas after all.

Thank you so much for stopping by. Good luck with all your festive preps. I'll leave you with a picture of the "partridge" in our "pear tree"!  :)

Beijinhos!

Richard Parker - pretending to be an ornament!

Polkadoodles #49: Secret Santa

Hello, Polka Doodlers! It's happy Friday again but this fortnight we're taking our challenges to the next level. Blame it on too much egg nog, mulled wine AND sangria because the DT on Polka Doodles Challenges have all gone bonkers and become "Secret Santa" to each other.

We each received a cryptic message from Santa and the Jolly Man wanted me to make a project for .... whoops, can't tell you but see if you can guess from these clues:

Clue #1: She lives across the pond and is into crafting, cooking and cats.

Clue #2: She trains her kitties to be therapy animals at catteries ... how cool is that?!

Clue #3: She's new to Poolkadoodles, so new that you'll only be seeing her PD projects next year.

If you think you know the identity of my "Secret Santa", leave her name in the comments section of my post. One lucky winner will receive a digi image over and above the normal challenge prize. A random DT blog will be chosen and a commentator from that blog will then be picked as the winner of a fab Polka Doodles digi image. 

Don't forget to visit all the DT and see if you can guess who has made for whom to be in with a chance to win.  All the details you need are on the main Polka Doodles challenge blog. You have up to Thursday 18th December (midnight GMT) to enter and the winners will be announced on Friday 19th December (GMT).

Now let me show you what I made for my Secret Santa:

The background paper is from Angelberry Christmas, the cosy houses and trees are from A Home For Christmas and the greeting is from Festive Hollybobs. To accentuate the snow I used Texture Paste by Ranger and glitter. 

Here are a couple of close-ups.  For extra sparkle and shimmer I used Liquid Pearls, Stardust Stickles and Distress Glitter Clear Rock Candy.

Don't forget to leave a comment with the name of the DT member. A full list of all members can be found on the Polka Doodles Challenge blog. If in doubt.... GUESS and you risk winning an extra digi image. You have up to Thursday 18th December (midnight GMT) to enter and the winners will be announced on Friday 19th December (GMT).

Thank you for stopping by today. I'm sure you are looking forward to the weekend... so am I!

Beijinhos!

Chocolate Baroque: Quick Christmas Cards

Good morning, crafty comrades! With the deadline to post Christmas cards fast approaching, I've got a few quick and easy festive cards to show you for those last minute makes. Join me as I flip through Chocolate Baroque's holiday archives and ink up stamps from Christmases past.

*********************

First up is this colourful number showcasing an intricate image from the Peace On Earth A5 sheet released in September 2011. After heat embossing it in black with Stampendous Detail Black EP, I blended Distress Inks in Chipped Sapphire, Picked Raspberry, Worn Lipstick, Evergreen Bough and Pine Needles for the background. To finish, I added Stickles for some starry sparkle and gold ribbon for a regal touch.. The greeting is from the Warm Christmas Greetings clear sheet, heat embossed in white. I rounded the bottom corners with WRMK's 1/2" Corner Chomper.

Challenges:
Crafting By Design: All Things Christmas
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Christmas
Word Art Wednesday #161: AG Uplifting

********************

Next up is a super simple card, perfect for mass producing. This time I'm playing with the Pears and Baubles A4 sheet released in 2012.  The bauble is stamped in VersaFine Satin Red, fussy cut and adhered to the background which I dry embossed using the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. I dressed the bauble with Gold Liquid Pearls and Stardust Stickles. The greeting is from the same sheet, stamped with VersaFine Black Onyx and cut with Spellbinders Ribbon die. The red, cream and black colour combo is effortlessly dramatic.

Products used to make this card:

Challenges:

Kylie Is Addicted To Stamps: Christmas
Delightful Sketches: Twinkle Twinkle
Addicted To Stamps #124: CAS

********************

Our trip down memory lane ends with this enchanting A4 set called The Gift Of Christmas which was released in August 2012. It also happens to be my personal favourite and my very first set from Chocolate Baroque. The silhouette of the cat and dog looking up at the tree sums up Christmas at our home.

I've kept it simple by heat embossing the image in black, lightly inking the background with Antique Linen stamping the snowflakes from Holly Bells A5 sheet with Memento Desert Sand. For the tree I blended with Distress Inks in shades of green: Pine Needles, Peeled Paint and Bundles Sage. To finish I dressed, the tree with Red Liquid Pearls and Icicle Stickles, added a gold star and a red bow. The greeting from A Child Is Born A4 sheet is stamped with VersaFine Black Onyx.

I rounded corners with WRMK's 1/2" Corner Chomper and  I adhered the image using foam tape on to brown pearlescent cardstock.

Challenges:
CCEE Stampers 1449: Christmas Tic Tac Toe - Pine, Glitter, Animal
4 Crafty Chicks #223: Animals
Stamping Royalty #257: Favourite Stamp Set - The Gift Of Christmas by Chocolate Baroque

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There you have it - 3 surprisingly quick cards made extra special with embossing, Distress Inks and a little sparkle ... couldn't be simpler! I hope you'll some useful ideas from these for your own Christmas projects.

Enjoy your Advent experience, friends, as you prepare for the big day. The days are passing so quickly and it'll be Christmas before you know it. Thank you for making time to drop in today. I'm a little behind on my visiting ... it's been a hectic couple of week. But I'll be stopping by soon, promise! Stay warm and happy!

Beijinhos

Eclectic Ellapu December: Vintage Christmas

Well hello, December! And that means there's new challenge starting over at  Eclectic Ellapu. We've got more talented ladies in the group now and MORE crafty inspiration for you.

Let's get down to business. As always the 2 teams - Pinks and Purples - are playing together, but they have own themes. The Pinkies are feeling nostalgic with "A Vintage Christmas" and the Purplies would like you to make a project that is "Christmas But Not A Card".

Here's my vintage creation... I think it's vintage ... I hope it is.

The background paper is from Dovecraft's Back To Basics Christmas Vintage Collection. The images are by Chocolate Baroque. The mantle piece is from Santa Baby.  The bookshelf and greeting are from The Gift of Christmas. Incidentally, you'll find that bookshelf on my very first DT make for Eclectic Ellapu way back in Oct 2012. I've taken something old and paired it with a new stamp that was released this year. Talk about timeless versatility ... and value for money to boot!

I used Distress Inks in Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo and Antique Linen to age the cardstock.

Here's close-up of the image. I used Graph'It markers to colour and to finish some Glossy Accents on the baubles, Stickles for sparkle and Liquid Pearls for subtle dimension.

The sentiment inside is from Chocolate Baroque's Warm Christmas Greetings, stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa.

Here are the stamp sets used and you can get them over at the Christmas section of Chocolate Baroque's online store.

Challenges for this oldie:

Kylie's Christmas Card Challenge: AG Christmas

Christmas Card Challenges #53: AG Christmas

Amusing Challenge: AG 

613 Avenue #100: AG With Optioal Twist- Calendar

Now it's your turn to create and link up your labour of love over at the Eclectic Ellapu Challenge Blog. Remember, we have 2 concurrent challenges: "Vintage Christmas" for the Pink Team and "Anything But A Card" for the Purple Team. You can enter one or both challenges as many times as you wish, but make sure you link up your projects by 11:59pm GMT on 31 Januray 2015.

That's right. You have 2 whole months to play. This will be our last challenge for the year. We're taking a break in January and will be back a brand new challenge on 1 February 2015.

Have a beautiful day, friends. Enjoy the run-up to Christmas.

Beijinhos!