Hi, hope you are all warm and safe - the weather is not very good here in North Staffs - it's freezing what snow we have left (mainly on the paths) and walking is a tricky!

I have been very busy this week working on my new blog which I hope to open tomorrow (fingers crossed) but in the meantime thought I would post a card that I did last year for CB and was not able to show.

Materials used:


Cardstock: A4 burgandy, A6 white glossy, gold mirri, extra white card
Inkpads:
Distress inks: forest moss, peeled paint, aged mahogany, antique linen
Clear Embossing Powder
Shimmer mist:
CB Stamps:
Texture Fragments
UA4SP0339 Essence of Nature Sentiment - floral spray
Joy Craft border, butterfly dies
Ribbon, gems, foam pads glue gel

I'm not used to using texture stamps and my first few efforts ended in the bin, but in the end I was pleased with my sample.  This combination of colours works really well.

Thanks for dropping by.

Nestabilitie Label 4 - Golden Wedding Anniversary

Today is my husband's cousin's Golden Wedding anniversary and this is the card  I've sent to them....

The stamps are from Chocolate Baroque called Floral Swirls and as well as using them to embellish the base card and label, I have also put them to good use on the insert.......

I think I'll have to add this card to my Love and Marriage showcase. I love the owls sitting together side by side -  very appropriate when celebrating 50 years of marriage!

New stamps from Chocolate Baroque

Hi from a very cold North Staffs.   I know many of you  have been visiting the CBDT blog and I'm sure you've been impressed with the artwork displayed there.  Today I have another card to show you using stamps from Wisteria Lane (flower)  and The Rose Tree (butterfly)

This is a one layer card which I felt suited this silhouette stamp.  To achieve the band I used a low tack tape and a masking technique - first colouring the broader band and then replacing the tape top and bottom to get the narrow contrasting colours.  The distress inks used:   tumbled glass, crushed olive, bundled sage. I used a black pen to make the lines between the colours and this worked out well because although it's only one layer the lines added depth. The flower was also stamped in black again using a mask. 

I can see that the new stamps are going to be a firm favourite with many because they are so versatile and useful for so many occasions.

Take care and keep warm.

Christmas Cheer

Another card using the new Chocolate Baroque Christmas stamps called Christmas Cheer.....

If you would like to view these stamps check out this link or pop over to the CBDT blog and have a gander at what my teamsters have been up to  - I've some super talented crafters to work with and their art makes me think and keeps changing my outlook on crafting, but then that's how we progress!

 

New Christmas stamps from Chocolate Baroque

This week see the launch of new Christmas stamp sets from Chocolate Baroque.

The DT have been working with these stamps and have produced some stunning pieces off artwork for your inspiration and each day this week you will be able to view a new card over on the CBDT blog. 

This is one of my cards using the stamps from the Fat Robin theme plate...

If you would like to know more - pop over to the CBDT blog  (link on my sidebar) for full details.  

If you would like to view this set of stamps - click on this
link. They are a delightful set of stamps to work with! Robins, holly and christmas trees...my favourites!

Music Fanfare

Another card using the new Music Fanfare stamps from Chocolate Baroque - slightly different for me colourwise, but I did manage to use my Bug, an embossing folder, and a few dies......

I received this message,

Hello. I stumbled across your blog today whilst doing a bit of research on cutting machines. I need a machine that will cut shapes for my pendants accurately and quickly. I have 3 shapes that I use: 25mm rounded square, 25mm love heart and 25mmx18mm oval. I don't know whether the cuttlebug is for me? I can't seem to find templates that will do my shapes. Am I looking at the wrong machine? Thank you so much for reading. Your work is just beautiful

Well thank you MissRini, but unfortunately you left no contact addy and I'm not sure what you want to cut!  The Bug like many of the die cutting machines will cut paper, card, acetate, material, foil, felt, but not a thick metal.  For this I think you would need the Big Shot, but I have no experience of this machine.  As far as sizes, you can check out the ovals and squares from my sidebar, or go to the Spellbinder site and there you will find info on the sizes of all the dies they produce.   

I'm sure my readers would be interested to hear more about your pendants, so please let us have more info and I'm sure someone will have the answer for you.

Update:  Thanks PeeJay for your response to this query.  I was asked if the Bug was the machine to look at for certain size dies, but as I said I didn't have enough info to answer this question because MissRini gave only sizes and not the material she wanted to cut.  I pointed to Spellbinders on the question of sizes for dies because I know they give acurate info on the sizes of all their dies and I know that these dies do cut well in my  Bug.  The only problems with cutting in my Bug has been with some of the Nellie Snellen dies, and this was overcome by replacing my very worn B plate. 

Sorry to hear that you have probs with a heavy acetate, I have only used a medium weight and that was okay, but interesting and informative to learn that although your Bug will not cut heavy acetate with Nestie dies it will cut with Sizzix dies!  Thanks for sharing this. 

Sorry if my reply caused any confusion, I'm hoping MissRini will respond with more information, but in the meantime if anyone else has had problems with dies and cutting materials - please tell of your experiences and help others! 

. 

COLOUR MY LIFE WITH MUSIC

Hi folks, today is my birthday and I'm celebrating the event with my daughter and two grandchildren in Edinburgh.  I'll be home later in the week, but thought I remind you that Chocolate Baroque has recently released new stamps sets call Chess and Music Fanfare.  Over on the CB DT blog (link on my sidebar) you will find lots of ideas from my DT mates using these stamps.  Well worth popping over!

This is one of my design using the  Music Fanfare stamps.

I've used my trusty nesties squares and a masking technique and you will find full details of how to achieve this look over on the CBDT blog.

I'll be back home on Tuesday and will have another idea for you.

A winner!

I was really pleased to find this morning that one of my followers,  who left the first comment on my card "Home Sweet Home" has been drawn as the lucky crafter to receive a set of these lovely useful stamps as a gift from Glenda Waterworth  owner of Chocolate Baroque. 
Well done Julie W - I'm sure you will enjoy using these stamps. 

Home Sweet Home

This month Chocolate Baroque has launched a set of stamps called Home Sweet Home - the DT have created some amazing designs and you can now view them over on the CBDT blog. 

This is one from me.....

you will see I have used my scoreboard to create a sunray  -  but do please check out how my teamsters have used other ways to create this effect.  I have listed all the materials used and instructions over on the DT blog. 

Also over on the DT blog, Glenda is offering a set of these delightful stamps to one lucky crafter.  To be in with a chance of winning all you have to do is leave a comment here, and ( if you want more than one go) on any of the other DT members blogs (including the DT blog) and Glenda will do a random draw from all the comments posted (hope it's from mine!)  Good luck!

Hello

I'm back!  Thanks for your messages and for dropping by so often, I really do appreciate your support.  You have been asking where I've been so.....well, various happenings have interupted my postings - I was recently diagonized with an underactive tyroid, not too serious but explaining why I was not feeling very well.  The treatment unfortunately has also had adverse affects, like not sleeping for more than a couple of hours!  Being so tired certainly affects one's motoviation  and I found for the first time in five years that I was facing a blank canvas as far as crafting was concerned.

A holiday was needed!  So I packed our bags and off we went to Canada.  What an experience!  Beautiful country - wonderful sights and memories.  On return, guess what - yes, my sleep pattern was badly affected by jetlag!  So it was back to the sleeping pills!

If you are a regular visitor to the Cupboard you will know that I'm on the Design Team of the very exciting stamp company Chocolate Baroque, so on returning I had to dig deep and get designing!  I'm unable to show you any of this month's artwork as we have been working with new stamps yet to be released, but over on the DT blog you will be able to view some great designs on (well, only 6 months to go and we crafters have to get organized!) Christmas stamps from past EI leases.  This is one from me.....

You will find the material list over on the CBDT blog. 

My fellow DT mates have producted some fab work to get you thinking of your own Christmas cards so do pop over and join us, you will not be disappointed!

A winner!

Congratulations Jean Straw on winning the set of 4 stamp plates from Chocolate Baroque - you will be soooo pleased with them!

Unfortunately we cannot all be winners, but over the next few days on the CB DT blog you will be able to  view the artwork created with these stamps by Glenda and the Design Team .  The link is on my side bar, and you will be amazed at what these talented crafters have done with these fab stamps. 

Enjoy your day!

Teeny Weeny Meadow Stamps from Chocolate Baroque

Hi, Monday morning and time to make my post on the Chocolate Baroque DT blog. This is a sneak peek at what I've been up to.....

I've used the new miniature stamps called Teeny Weeny Meadow - teeny they may be, but they are super to work with and certainly get the old grey matter going! Hope you'll have time to pop over to the DT blog - where you will find my tutorial - just click on the logo on my sidebar and please let me know what you think.  If you have any queries about the techniques I used - you know the rules - just shout!