Whatever Wednesday - APPLYING CHALK

I have had a few blog posts relating to chalking. Stampin’ Up’s chalks are called Stampin’ Pastels. The best thing about them is that the colors in the palette will match the card stock, inks, ribbons, and anything else you own from Stampin’ Up. Today I will cover the two most basic chalking techniques.  If Stampin' Pastels and chalking techniques appeal to you, hop on over to my prior blog posts for additional ideas:

Chalkboard technique, Chalk Grid Technique, Chalk a Dry Embossed Image.

The basic technique for applying chalk to a project is simple and fun:

1)   Stamp an image onto card stock.

2)   Apply pastel color to card stock or paper with a blender pen, sponge-tip applicator, cotton swab, sponge dauber, or stiff paintbrush.  When using blender pens, just touch the pen directly to the corner of the chalk to pick up color.

3) Continue coloring in the stamped image, scribbling onto scrap paper in between color choices to clear the blender pen tip. 

4) Blend the colors as desired with the applicators or blender pen.

The flowers on this card were chalked with a blender pen with mostly shades of pink, red, and coral. I applied shades of color to different areas.  I also varied the color with the blender pen by either applying a slightly different  color to specific areas of my flower directly on top of the original layer of chalked color, or blending several colors on the chalk cakes themselves before applying the blender pen to the flower.

TIPS:

• To avoid smearing, gently dab the chalk rather than rubbing.
• Don't worry if Stampin' Pastels break.  That is normal & makes it actually easier to draw color up onto your applicator.
• I find that a blender pen is the easiest tool if you want varied shades of color. 
• Optional:  Use a matte fixative to seal chalked images.

Poppin' Pastels  is yet another fun chalking technique.  It can offer a softer, chalkier look, rather than blended colors.  Why not give this one a try?......

1) Stamp the image with a Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad or VersaMark^® ink pad.

2) Use sponge daubers to apply the pastel color directly to the ink.  To avoid smearing, gently dab the chalk rather than rubbing it across the image.

3) Blow off any excess powder.   If I have any unwanted smears, I try to erase them carefully with a good art eraser.

By the way, what do you think of the colors on this card using the Wings of Friendship stamp set?  Several of these colors are a SNEAK PEEK for you at a few of the new Stampin' Up colors!  Hmmmmmm. 

Just in case you were wondering, the first card is stamped using the Itty Bitty Buds stamp set.

Linda