Keeping Busy

Although its very busy at the moment, I've managed to make time to make a couple of cards. The first is a birthday card for a friend from card club.

Its an easel card made using the Honey Bee themeplate by Chocolate Baroque. 


The images are all coloured using pro markers and the honeycomb on the bottom is gold embossed and then coloured. 


The flowers and bee wings have added glitter - a necessity!!


I've use a little circular sentiment from craft works. I was quite pleased with this one and the stamps are truly gorgeous.

My next card is a real departure from anything I've done before. It is for a colleague's wedding.


Its quite large - 18 x 24cm as it has to be signed by all of the department.


Its worked out quite well - the bow is well over the top - but I kind of like how it looks.


The paper was purchased pre embossed as the size is just too big for my little cuttlebug... Do I really need the grand calibur?


I'm currently working on another card using the bee stamps which has to be finished in the next couple of days, so I'll post that at the weekend.


Gina x

Alpha Tag Swap

I can't believe how fast the time is flying by. Late last year, I signed up for the Chocolate Baroque Guild Alphabet Tag Swap.
The idea is that over the course of the year, we make 2 or 3 tags per month and swap them between members of the guild. By the end of the year, we should have 26 tags made by other members, showcasing a variety of techniques and Chocolate Baroque products.
So far, we have completed 9 tags and have reached as far as I in the alphabet.
I've been intending to blog my tags for some time, but have only now got around to it. So here are my first 9 tags.

 January's letters were A and B, I choose the lovely Crafty Individuals stamps and vintage fringing to make my 'A is for Abbey' tag. The 'B is for Butterflies' features a classic Chocolate Baroque stamp and a selection of die cuts by Marianne, Tim Holtz and Crealies.

February brought with it C and D. Again, Crafty Individuals and Chocolate Baroque were my stamps of choice in 'C is for Chic' and 'D is for Darling'. Both February tags had a vintage feel.

March was a challenge to get three tags completed in a month when I was really busy with work. I managed it but must have been one of the last to submit my tags.

I chose Chocolate Baroque stamps for all of my projects this month. 'E is for Elegant' uses 'Belle' 'F is for Fan' uses repeated stamping and embossing of the fan element from 'Peacock Fan' and I used stamps from 'Wild Meadow' to complete 'G is for gilding'.

If I thought March was tough to meet the deadline, then April was something else. Madness at work, Easter holidays, multiple family birthdays and occasions as well as a week away in the sun meant I was really up to the wire on this one. My H and I tags were completed with just a few days to spare. They arrived at their destination on Saturday 21st April for a deadline of 23rd April. Eek.

Again, classic Chocolate Baroque stamps were used in my 'H is for Hidden' and 'I is for Insects'.

I have to say though, that the new TH Tattered Floral Garland Die is delightful and sure to be a firm favourite in the future.

I really am loving this swap and its great waiting for the postman to arrive each month to see what surprise tags I'm sent. It isn't too late to join in, though you won't end up with a full alphabet now. If you are interested, go on over to Chocolate Baroque , join the guild and join in.

Bye for now,

Gina x