Christmas Banner

 

The September 2014 Christmas card challenge was to incorporate the "chalkboard" technique on a card.  Instead of using black card stock I chose to use always artichoke card stock.  It is dark enough to get the chalkboard effect but is green in keeping with a traditional Christmas color.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Sidekick Sayings
Paper:  Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Silver Glimmer, Wintergreen DSP
Ink:  Craft White
Accessories:  White Embossing Powder, Various Star Punches, Banner Framelits Dies, Silver Cord, Silver Mini Brads, Dimensionals

Chalkboard Birthday Banner

 

I'm trying to build a stash of birthday cards but also try different techniques.  The chalkboard technique has become very popular and I've made a couple of cards using this technique.  This card combines the popular chalkboard technique with banners which are also very popular right now.  I didn't like that the banners didn't reach the edge so I extended them using a white gel pen.  In hindsight I'm not sure I should have done that since the lines are thicker and not exact.  But what is done is done and it doesn't look terrible.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Patterned Party
Paper:  Whisper White, Black
Ink:  Versa Mark, Craft White
Accessories:  White Embossing Powder, White Gel Pen, White Pencil, Ruler 

Chalkboard Technique Birthday Banner

The second challenge for the March AOCC was to get back to basics and create a card using black and white.  I struggled with this challenge but, I guess that's why it's called a "challenge".  I guess I took the easy way out by creating a card using the chalkboard technique.  

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Hearts a Flutter, Happiest Birthday Wishes
Paper:  Whisper White, Black
Ink:  Versa Mark, Craft White
Accessories:  White Embossing Powder, Bakers Twine, Rhinestones, Crystal Effects, White Pencil, Ruler

Chalkboard Technique

I've been seeing the chalkboard technique on various stamping blogs and sites and thought I would try it.  I kept things simple since it was the first time trying this technique.  I like the overall look of the card, but I think I need more practice with this technique.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Block Party
Paper:  Whisper White, Black, Real Red, Night & Day DSP
Ink:  Versa Mark, White Craft
Accessories:  White Embossing Powder, White Gel Pen, Bitty Banners Framelits, Dimensionals

Cone Flowers for Fall

This is for a co-workers birthday and she loves the earth tone colors. I wanted to try the chalkboard technique and this stamp was perfect for this technique as well as the colors that I wanted to use. The image was stamped using white craft ink onto the early espresso card stock that was cut using the top note die. While the ink was wet the image was colored using SU's pastels with sponge daubers. After I finished adding the pastel colors I wiped away the excess with a tissue. The pastels were sealed with a mixture of gold pearl-ex and liquid hairspray which also gives the image a shimmery effect. The early espresso card stock was mounted to a piece of pumpkin pie card stock that was also cut out using the top not die and then the entire piece was embossed with the square lattice embossing folder. The old olive card stock was embossed using the script embossing folder and the corners rounded on one side. I added the ribbon and then mounted this to another embossed piece of early espresso card stock. After adding the pumpkin pie corduroy brads the entire piece was mounted to the card base. The sentiment was stamped onto very vanilla card stock with pumpkin pie ink and punched out with the large oval punch. The sentiment was then attached to a piece of pumpkin pie card stock that was punched out using the scallop oval punch and then attached to the card front with dimensionals.

Supplies Used: Paper: Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso, Old Olive; Ink: White Craft, Pumpkin Pie; Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Upsy Daisy; Other: SU's Pastels, Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain Ribbon, Top Note Die, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Script Embossing Folder, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Gold Pearl-Ex Powder mixed w/Liquid Hairspray, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals