Eeeeek! Like everyone else who has posted on the blogs I've just been catching up with, I'm not sure what I'm doing now Mr Blogger has decided to change everything without a by your leave. I'm almost dreading trying to add my pics but here goes .............
I normally wait until the recipient of my Alphatags for the Chocolate Baroque Guild Swap has received them but as I didn't post last months at all ............ forgot to take any pics, Doh!!!!!! ............ I thought I'd post April's a bit early and of course, no one knows what they are going to get until they drop through the letterbox. It's the first time I've taken part in a swap involving so many people (er, to be truthful I've only ever joined one other swap for 5 peeps) and I have to say it's getting quite exciting waiting to see which ones I receive each month. We have a lovely lady called Margaret who keeps us all in order (and that takes some doing sometimes, lol) and organises the swap itself. I think she has the patience of a saint so thanks a lot Margaret.
H for Hyacinth
I used Pan Pastels for the background, enhanced slightly with Distress Inks on the edges. I've only just acquired the Pastels and wanted to see how soft and light I could apply them. It was actually quite easy but one little tip ....... I now keep a piece of paper or kitchen roll between my fingers holding my work and the work itself because the slightest trace of oil from your skin or anything else on your hands will attract the Pastels and it really shows up ............. hence the strategically placed flower and small tag, lol! Actually they were part of the original plan but it turned out to be a necessity, Ha! Ha! The design in the background is made by applying DIs through a pretty Viva border stencil/mask and for the first time ever I coloured with H2Os and was actually pleased with the result. I also painted the vellum flower with H2Os too.
I is for Iris
Once again I used the gorgeous Pan Pastels for my background covering the whole tag with the paler shade and then using a deeper shade round the edges. I stamped the image in Onyx Black Versafine and coloured with Derwent Coloursoft Pencils. I finished off with a light spritz of Dewdrop Glimmer Mist but of course you can't see it in the photos as it's so subtle.The fancy corners are from a Spellbinders set of dies.
Once again I really enjoyed making the tags and although I want to experiment more with the Pan Pastels (which you can get from Snazzys together with any inks and the Viva border stencil) my initial reaction is that I like them .............. a lot! They are a tad messier than working with my beloved Distress Inks but they wash off your hands a lot easier, lol, and they are definitely not as messy as pastels I've tried in the past, leaving only a small amount of powder on your work surface which is easily wiped up. I also found that if I buffed them slightly with a piece of kitchen towel nothing came off afterwards and they are also very quick to cover a large area. I definitely need to collect more of the luscious colours available. As always for this particular swap the lovely stamped images are all from Chocolate Baroque.
Next month's letter are J and K and I'm really struggling for an idea for J. It's finding a subject for which I have a suitable CB stamp that is proving to be the greatest challenge so I'd best get my thinking cap on, lol!
As always, thank you for your visit which is very much appreciated.
Hugs
Lesley Xx
