Chocolate Baroque Colour Challenge #10.

Hello friends! I have two project for you today, both with a floral theme. Well why not? We survived the March winds, endured the April showers... and finally we get to enjoy the May flowers. I'm thinking a head, but only by a couple of days.

First let's take a look at my make for the Chocolate Baroque Colour Challenge #10. It's a monthly excuse to get inky and have fun with classy colours.  If you haven't played yet, now's the time to do so. These colours are super elegant and will work for any occasion.

You can use any medium to create your projects: paints, inks, pencils, pens, stains, etc., as long as you keep to the colours from the colour swatch. 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 winner's badge on their blog.

Here's my card for the challenge. You will also find it over that the Chocolate Baroque Colour Challenge blog with a Step-by-Step tutorial on how I made the card, along with some lovely makes by my CB team-mates.

The card is frightfully simple to make! I embossed the background with X-Cut Hearts and Kisses folder and very lightly ran Worn Lipstick Distress Ink pad over it. Then I coloured the image from Chocolate Baroque's Pretty Poppies A5 stamp sheet with Graph'It Markers, fussy cut it. I made a lacy border by cutting some vellum with Clearly Besotted's Scalloped Edge die and wrapped some sheer ribbon around. Finally plopped the fussy cut image over it and voila!

Well, almost. I added Glossy Accents, a few tiny pink bling and voila!

Nope, not yet. I went back in armed with my Wink of Stella Clear Brush Tip Glitter Marker and gave the flowers a once over. Now I say VOILA! Check out the Chocolate Baroque Colour Challenge blog where I've pretended to write a more professional version of the tutorial. :-)

Here's a close-up of the focal image. After all that effort the glitter is not showing. It's there in real life. Fault of the camera, for sure. Everyone knows my photography skills are beyond reproach! :-P

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: AG
Word Art Wednesday #181: AG / Family Friendly
Wonderful Wednesday #29: AG
Addicted To Stamps #142:Make Your Mark
Retro Rubber #13: AG Using Old Stamp - Pretty Poppies from a couple of years ago

Supplies:

For my second card project, I heat embossed the lovely Chocolate Baroque's Auricula Script image with WOW Silver Embossing Powder and sponged it with Distress Inks. After a little fussy cutting, I adhered the image to a piece of red card stock and secured it to a couple of pieces of green card stock with little green brads. The sentiment is from Pretty Poppies, heat embossed in Stampendous Detail White Embossing Powder.

I finished the card with a little green twine and tiny yellow bling in the middle of the flowers. You can see the details in the close-up. I've used the following Distress Inks: Barn Boor, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed, Squeezed Lemonade, Peeled Paint and Bundled Sage.

Challenges:
Fattastic Tuesday #83: AG With String / Twine
Through The Craft Room Door: AG
Retarte #45: Spring Inspiration


So there you have it - 2 floral cards - both made with Chocolate Baroque stamps. Challenge #10 will close at 12.00 p.m. (UK) on Tuesday 19th May 2015, and the winner will be announced on Wednesday 27th May 2015. I hope you'll play along and run the risk of winning £15 to spend on Chocolate Baroque stamps.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to do some visiting later this evening. One week today.... and counting :(

Beijnhos!

Tuesday Throwdown #242: Get Well

It's Tuesday again, friends! And that means another week of crafting fun with the Tuesday Throwdown gang. The theme of our challenge this week is "Get Well". Our sponsor is Karleigh Sue Digis but you can use any stamps from your stash as long as you follow the theme.

For my get well card, I'm using the naughty little Love Sick Nurse, available form Karleigh Sue's etsy store. I'm keeping it simple with a few sequins and a some twine tied into a bow. Truth betold, the bow is there to cover an ink smudge! The sentiment is from Lawn Fawn's On the Mend clear stamps set.

Here's a close-up of the naughty nurse. I coloured her with Graph'It markers and, after a little fussy cutting, adhered her to the card.

Challenges:
2 Cute Ink Challenge #128: AG
Crafting From The Heart #57: AG
Simon Says Stamp Monday: AG
Craft Your Passion #259: AG
The Pink Elephant #296: AG

Supplies:

Now it's your turn to create a project based on this week's theme: "Get Well". 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,  4th May 2015. And the most important requirement: Have Fun!

Before I sign off, I just want to say that I am deeply moved by all your beautiful comments on my Farewell Rosie post yesterday. Thank you all so very much.

Beijinhos!

Farewell Rosie

Friends, I knew this day would come. My sweet, adorable fur-babe Rosie crossed over the Rainbow Bridge last week. She slipped away peacefully in my arms on 22 April 2015 at 23h30. Stoic until the very end, she went unassisted, in her own time and surrounded by love.

Rosie lived a beautiful and robust life. She was one of a kind: loyal, devoted, fearless, mischievous, clumsy, greedy, playful, gentle, friendly, protective, and, above all, unconditionally loving. She moved with the grace of a bull in a china shop and I miss her terribly.

Rosie
April 2002 - 22 April 2015

Since her passing, I have received so many e-mails, cards, messages and calls from friends, near and far. Many of you have been part of Rosie's journey in life - the good and the not so good. Words cannot express my heartfelt gratitude.

Thank you for all your love and support. As difficult as it is, I must take comfort in knowing that Rosie is in a better place now, waging her tail and waiting for me.

I had to take a few days away from blogging and crafting. Could not face any of it without my constant companion. To my Design Team members, I am very grateful for your patience and understanding. Tomorrow is a new day (I say that everyday!) and I'll be back with a new project.


Beijinhos

Chocolate Baroque: All Tiled Up

Good morning fellow crafters! Inspired by tiles, I made 2 cards, both featuring the Awesome Orchids stamp set by Chocolate Baroque.

My first card is influenced by the Dutch Delftware - the distinguished blue on white pottery renowned for its simple elegance.  I started by scoring a piece of Archers Natural White Cold Press 300gsm Watercolour paper into equal rectangles before stamping the flower heads with Paris Dusk Memento Ink. With a fine brush and a little water and a hint of Tumbled Glass Distress Ink, I pushed the colours into the flowers, taking care not to blur the outlines. I inked the edges of each tile with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink and drew a line through the score lines with a Uniball White Gel Pen for a grouted finish.

I stamped the sentiment with Memento Paris Dusk and finished the card with 3 tiny pale blue bling.

Here's another fun way to incorporate tiles into your card project. This time I'm using bright bold mosaic inspired background to showcase the Awesome Orchid stamp. I started by colouring a piece of Canson Coldpress 300gsm Watercolour paper with Gelatos and cutting in up into quarter inch squares. Then I put them back together on a piece of white card stock, with a little gap between each piece for that tiled effect. I coloured the orchid with Graph'It Markers, fussy cut and adhered it on the finished background with some foam tape. With a little Glossy Accent on each tile we get the perfect finish for these tiles.

This time I stamped the sentiment onto a piece of vellum with Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy and adhered it to the card with tiny dots of Glossy Accent.

Challenges:
All Sorts #307: Quick and Simple Does It
Hiding In My Craft Room #196: Freestyle
Graph'It Colour Challenge #16: Flower Power
Wags and Whiskers #152: Flowers
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Make Your Own Background
Lil' Patch Of Crafty Friends #8: AG

Supplies:

Thank you so much for stopping by and for the emails and sweet comments about Rosie. She is hanging in there and is able to go about her business, albeit very slowly. She spends most of her time in her cot which we bought for André over 14 years ago. When Rosie came along the following year, she slept in that cot until she decided she was a big girl and claimed her spot on the sofa. Now she's back in the same cot. The circle of life. Every day, every hour with Rosie is more precious than the last.

Rosie - 14 April 2015

Have blessed Sunday, everyone!

Beijinhos

CASE-ing Christmas #16: Donna

Welcome to CASE-ing Christmas! This is a weekly challenge devoted to the holiday season all year 'round and today we're starting Challenge #16.

Here's how you play along. Each week you'll be given you a card to CASE and ... you CASE it! It's as easy as that. If you've never CASEd a card before, here's how you do it:

• Look at the photo of the card to CASE; 
• Be inspired by some elements of the card - the colours, layout, image, embellishments, etc 
• Make a card based on that inspiration and link it up at CASE-ing Christmas Challenge Blog by Noon (Central) / 6pm (UK) on Thursday,  23rd April 2015. 

And that's all there is to it. Our CASE card this week is this gorgeous creation by Donna Nuce - the Crafty Colonel. Lots of ideas here and I can't wait to see how this project inspires you.

Here's my card. I pretty much plagiarised Donna's work. This card came together easily and quickly... an uncommon, near impossible feat for me. And yet, here it is. What can I say but believe in the magic of Christmas!

No patterned papers, just plain card stock in cream, red and black. The focal image is a non Christmas stamp by Chocolate Baroque from the Fluttering Hearts A5 sheet and the sentiment is from the Christmas Magic clear stamp set. The gold ribbon is from my stash.

In the close-up you can see how I've embossed the heart onto red CS with WOW Rich Gold embossing powder and coloured in the middle of each pattern with dark green pencil.

Challenges:
C.R.A.F.T. #307: Christmas
Scrap & Craft #7: Tie It Up with Ribbon / Twine
Inspiration Destination #29: AG
Wonderful Wednesday #15: AG
Word Art Wednesday #179: AG
Christmas Stamping All Year Long #17: Any Shape Card
Winter Wonderland: Stitch It Up
Christmas Card Challenge #19: Optional Extra - Travel Theme / AG Christmas

Supplies:

Now it's your turn to make a Christmas card by CASE-ing Donna's creation. You'll find more ideas over at the DT's blogs: Mynn ... Donna ... Ellen ... Pat ... Steph.

Thanks for dropping by and Happy CASE-ing. I'm looking forward to seeing your take on Donna's card. Have a fabulous Friday, friends.

Beijinhos!

Tuesday Throwdown #240: All Clear

Happy Tuesday, friends! Hope you are ready for another week of crafting fun with the Tuesday Throwdown gang. Our challenge theme this week is "All Clear". All you have to do is incorporate some clear material on your project - such as acetate, vellum, anything see-though.   Our sponsor is Stamping Boutique but you can use any stamps from your stash as long as you follow the theme.

For our challenge, I made a shaker card using the Twirling Fairy digi. My clear element is a sheet of acetate used on the window. The paper is form an old My Mind's Eye 6x6 pad and the greeting is from Clearly Besotted's Mini Basic Banners, stamped with VersaFine Majestic Blue. I'm sorry about the angle of the photo. It's not easy getting a decent shot without seeing my ugly mug in the reflection! :)

I coloured the fairy with Graph'It markers and gave her a generous coat of Wink of Stella Clear Clear Brush Tip Glitter marker. Didn't forget the shakes - these are a mix of various sequins form Pretty Pink Posh and Doodlebug.

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday: In The Middle
Crafting From The Heart #55: AG
Craftin' Desert Diva: Shaker Cards
Crafty Cardmakers #136: Wings
Crafty Sentiments: AG
Scribble & Scrap #42: AG

Supplies:

Now it's your turn to create a project based on this week's theme: "All Clear". 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,  20th April 2015. And the most important requirement: Have Fun!

And speaking of fun... here's a shot of Mr Parker caught smooching the Twirling Fairly! Oh ... to be young and always in love! :)

Rosie is pretty much the same. Her appetite is very poor, which makes meal times especially challenging. She's not complaining... never has, never will. Peanut and Richard are treating Rosie with utmost respect by keeping their boisterous revelry toned down while she rests.

Thank you for all your kind words and thoughts on my last post.

Beijinhos!

Chocolate Baroque: Come Fly With Me

Hello friends! Before I talk about my card project, let me just apologise for the late post. This card should have been published a couple of days ago but I didn't get around to doing it.  There's a very good reason. More on that at the end of this post.

This card features the new individual cling stamp by Chocolate Baroque called Butterfly Dress. It is gorgeous, dreamy and so versatile.

I stamped the image onto a piece of bleed-proof paper using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and coloured it with Graph 'It alcohol markers. The extra sunflowers are from the July Fairy DL stamp sheet, also stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black. Then I masked the images to get the flowers to overlap. The sentiment is from the Butterfly Dreams A4 sheet, stamped with VersaFine Deep Lagoon. I also, very lightly, inked the edges with Salty Ocean Distress Ink for a softer finish.

Here's a close up of the Butterfly Dress project. With a sharp craft knife I cut around the wings of the butterflies to expose the blue layering card stock below. The butterflies look like they are about to take flight...

For shimmer and shine, I used Stickles Stardust and Wink of Stella Clear brush tip pen on the butterflies and flowers respectively. And to finish, a few teeny weeny bling on the middle of the orange sunflowers.

Butterfly Dress is undeniably a gorgeous image, which can be worked in so many different ways. Cutting around the wings adds dimension without unnecessary bulk and the wings can be flattened down for mailing.

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Spring Flowers / April Showers
Amusing Challenge: Butterflies
Glitter & Sparkle #132: Add Butterflies
House of Cards April: Butterfly and / or Colours - butterfly
Craft Your Passion #257: AG
Simon Says Stamp Monday: In The Middle

Supplies:

Thank you so much for stopping by today and for all your lovely comments in my previous posts. I haven't done much visiting or commenting this weekend - so sorry about that. Regular readers know that Rosie, our furbabe, has cancer. She is such a valiant trooper and fought back courageously for the past two years. Last Friday, we were told by the vet that Rosie's latest X-Rays are not encouraging. It could be days or weeks... no one knows. For now she appears to be ok and coping well with her meds. I want to spend as much time as I can with Rosie. Whatever time she can spare, I'll take it. It was a sad weekend... and sadder days lay ahead.

Hug your pets. Hold them, cuddle them and snuggle up close. These moments are precious. Treasure them. Have a beautiful week, friends!

Beijinhos   

Polka Doodles #15: Pink & Pretty

Where has the week gone? Still, there's comfort in knowing that ahead of the weekend a brand new challenge is starting over at the Polka Doodles Challenge Blog. The theme: "Pink & Pretty". The design team is putting up quite a show. Don't forget to swing by the Polka Doodles blog to check them out.

My card project for the challenge features Miss Constance. I have to confess, pink is NOT my colour. But when tempered with some pale blue and violet... let's just say, Constance turned out to be a babe! The papers and image are from the Rose Bud CD. The flowers and bling are from my stash. The entire Rose Bud Collection is also available as a digital download. And you can get Miss Constance  as a clear stamp.

Here's a close-up of Miss Constance. She's coloured with Graph'It markers.

Challenges:
Sister Act Card Challenge #101: AG Cards Only
4 Crafty Chicks #241: Die Cuts
As You Like It: Favourite Alcohol Markers / Distress Inks-Graph'It - the colours are rich and vibrant
Scrap & Craft #6: Frame It
Little Red Wagon #284: Spring Is In The Air
Penny's Paper Crafty #222: Anything Goes

Supplies:

Rose Budd Collection

Now it's over to you, my friends. Create any project - card, tag, lay-out, box, bag, etc. You have until Noon (UK Time) on Friday, 24 April 2015, to link up your entries over at the Polka Doodles Challenge Blog. You don't have to use Polka Doodles products to enter, but if you have it, by all means, flaunt it! One randomly selected winner will receive a generous gift from the Polka Doodles store. Now that's a prize draw you don't want to miss.

Here's another thing you don't want to miss: the brand new Work & Play 10 Country Life by Polka Doodles. It is available as a CD or downloadable files.

Time for y'all to get creative. Thanks for stopping by and I can't wait to see your projects. Have a fabulously crafty weekend, friends!

Beijinhos