Wednesday 16 December 2015

Chocolate Baroque Challenge 18 entry .......and last Christmas card for this year.......

..................I think!

Morning All,

Today sees the start of the final Chocolate Baroque Challenge for this year and by coincidence last night I made what is hopefully my last Christmas card for this year.  The challenge colours are the gorgeous dramatic combination of red, black and white which are exactly what I had used on my card so I'm sure this is my quickest every entry to a challenge, lol!

After writing out all my cards over the past couple of days I felt that none of my bought cards which I usually send to none crafters were suitable to send to a lovely neighbour who sadly lost her hubby a month or so ago.  They all glaring shouted 'MERRY CHRISTMAS' and I somehow didn't think they were appropriate so I decided to make her one.


I used the lovely trio of trees from Sparkling Trees set simply stamped in black Archival ink together with the word 'Peace' from the Crafty Individuals set of Christmas words (available from Chocolate Baroque).


It's a little difficult to see (but click on the pick for more clarity) I stamped the star from a discontinued CB set using Versamark ink and Sticky Stuff ep over which I sprinkled Distress Stickles Dry Glitter.  I added touches of Diamond Stickles to the trees ....my favourite way of adding sparkle .....no mess, lol!

Finally I edged the card with a red marker and added it to the slightly larger card base with double sided tape.  I like this method of giving the impression of matting and layering because it eliminates the possibility of scew-whiff layers ;-).

A fairly quick card but still quite pretty I think and the red border stops it from being too stark.  Off to do the link up to the Challenge now.  Wonder if I'll be first off the blocks, lol!

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Saturday 12 December 2015

A Sparkly Christmas Angel!

Hello again,

As promised here's my second Christmas card for today.  Very different for me in that I rarely use glitter (unless it's Stickles) ..... and having made this card I don't think I'll be using it again for a while, lol!  Everytime I pick the card up everything sparkles with Glamour Dust fine glitter.  The results are so pretty though!

Last weekend I spent a fabulous Sunday with long standing PATwit friends and lots of new ones too at an amazing workshop with the lovely and very talented Tracy Scott.  The workshops were quite intense and fast paced and anyone who knows me is well aware I don't do 'fast paced' lol, so needless to say neither of my projects is finished yet but I loved them so much (especially the 2nd one) that I will definitely finish them probably after Christmas.  I didn't feel too bad though as several of the 'experts' didn't get finished either ;-).

Anyway, Leandra and Mark, who very generously arranged this fabulous day for our group of PaperArtsy addicts also set up a 'shop' for us and one of my purchases was a lovely simple JOFY mini stamp of an angel.  I rashly decided she deserved lots of sparkle and this is the result.


I started by using a poinsettia stencil and applying clear texture paste through it.  I then sprinkled Glamour Dust very fine crystal glitter over the paste and the effect is really beautiful but ......... inspite of much dusting with a soft brush I am still getting glitter everywhere each time I touch it.  If the recipient is like me they will be blessing me good and proper, lol!
 

The angel and the sentiment were stamped with Versamark and embossed with blue sparkly ep.  I then dusted blue ink using a brush around the image before assembling the card.

Well, I'm happy with the simple, pretty design but I don't think I'll be using glitter again for quite some time.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Chocolate Baroque Challenge #17

Morning All....

....on this very wet and dreary Saturday :-(.  I mustn't grumble though as I feel so sad for all the people who have been flooded, some not once but twice, over the past week or so and while the rain continues to fall I am thinking of them.

I've managed to squeeze in a bit of Christmas card making last night.....I am so behind with Christmas prep this year.......  A couple of weeks ago I made two masterboards and still have lots of bits to use up.  I realised the colours fitted the current colour challenge on the Chocolate Baroque Challenge so I added a little flourish with part of a CB stamp and then stamped & embossed in gold, one of my favourite CB flowers from Steampunk Christmas


I love this poinsettia layered up and using the masterboard to give me a matching band across the front made this a nice quick card when time is very much at a premium.  The sentiment is also from a CB set.


Have a good Saturday everyone and I'll be back later with another Christmas card.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx

Saturday 5 December 2015

PaperArtsy Blog Challenge - Masterboard entry.

Good morning ...... on this extremely windy Saturday!

This post is going to be mainly pics as I have been away for a few days at my Daughter's and after a quick one night turnaround at home I'm driving south on the A1 later today.  I can honestly say after the scary drive home last night I am not looking forward to my drive today.  I certainly won't be at risk of getting picked up for speeding I don't think!

Anyway, the last blog challenge of 2015 over on the PaperArtsy Blog comes to an end tomorrow and I didn't think I was going to be able to complete an entry between trips but I have so I'll show you my effort mainly by pics.  The theme of the challenge is Masterboards and as always the inspiration over the two weeks has been gorgeous.  For mine I took inspiration from Leandra's introduction video using a brayer and stamping with the Fresco Finish paints.  All the stamps are PaperArtsy, mainly from JOFY40 set plus a couple from the new Christmas Hot Picks, except from some snowflakes.

 
I actually made two masterboards using more or less the same colours but forgot to take pics of the first one.  I did use that original one for the decoupaged tree so there was a slight contrast in the colours.








I curved the garland stamp on my acrylic block to make it fit round the cut out and added some bling.



Righty Ho!  Off to link up to the Challenge then get ready for the off mid afternoon.  If I weren't driving I think I'd be partaking of a little Dutch courage, lol, but at least the forecast is better for the drive back tomorrow evening.

Have a good weekend all!

Hugs
Lesley  Xx