auricula

 Two versions today using the auricula script stamp from Chocolate Baroque - I have never been a fan of this particular flower, but a lot of gardeners seem to be, though I do like the script background.
The background card blank was randomly stamped using the unmounted stamp and just inking up the flowers.
Image was stamped onto white card using versamark and gold embossing powder, then coloured using brusho powders.
I ran the red ink pad used for the background stmaping round the edges of the trimmed card before adding a bit of spotty ribbon and mounting onto the background.




For the second card the image was stamped with black versafine and embossed with clear powder, and this time I used watercolour paints to colour the leaves and flowers, aiming for a more masculine feel.

quick cards with brusho

 Both my quick cards use brusho powders - no surprises there then!Seriously, though, they are a great way to add colour quickly, especially if you like the random effect.
For the first card I stamped the birdcage collage stamp onto white card using versamark ink and white embossing powder. The embossed image will resist the brusho powders, and also helps to tame the spread when they are sprayed with water. I used lime green, turquoise and ost red powders, sprinkling the colours carefully over the stamped image, with the red over the flowers and the blue over the bird, green over the leaves and the background.
Using plenty of water spray over  the background helped the blue and green to spread. Once everything was dry, I painted the birdcages and tassels with a gold mica paint, trimmed the image, added mats of  gold and deep turquoise and mounted onto a square white card blank.

The second card is rather more dramatic, using the butterfly dress stamp and grey brusho powder. The image was stamped in black versafine and clear embossed onto white card. Grey brusho powder scattered round the edges and spritzed with water, leaving the image area clear. When dry, the butterflies were painted with pearlescent paints using the colours in the brusho. Trimmed down toa  squarte, mounted onto black card and then onto a square white card blank.

lady's slipper orchid

For my second post this month featuring stamps from the Chocolate Baroque
 September TV show I have gone back to form and used brusho powders.
I created a pile of backgrounds with the brusho first - they take a bit to dry, so I like to do several at a time,( and I often blot them using another sheet of card if they come out too dark, so you get two for one)  and the ones I don't use always come in handy later on....

For both cards I stamped the lady's slipper orchid using versamark and embosssed with white embossing powder.
The first card has a darker background, and I used more brusho as a watercolour to colour the leaves and the flower. I added a purple card mat the same size as the trimmed image, and glued both at an angle onto a square white card blank.

The second was a much more delicate image, and I again coloured the flower and some of the  leaves, but this time with very watered down brusho.
The card blank was randomly stamped with the flower head using an almost-dried out purple ink pad before adding a mat of purple card

butterfly lady

 I can't believe how quickly this year is going, October already!
To remind us of the lovely summer, I have chosen the lovely butterfly lady stamp from Chocolate Baroque, though I haven't seen many butterflies this year.
The dusky background was created using iced spruce distress ink, blending sponge and a leaf from the garden - a very effective technique learnt from Elaine, one of the original CB DT members, if I've got it right, the link should take you to her how-to post.
The lady was stamped with black versafine ink, and her hair coloured with watercolours.
I stamped the bottom half of image again on to scraps of left-over brusho card , cut the flowers and butterflies out and decoupaged them onto the original image.
I added clear wink of stella to the butterflies, though it doesn't show up on the scan.