Stamping Techniques 101 Blog Hop - Chalkboard Technique

Hello! I hope you're enjoying this month's Stamping Techniques Blog Hop - so many wonderful projects with the Chalkboard technique, a classic!

Here is a photo of my project:

The Chalkboard technique is one of my favorites - I adore projects done with this eye-catching, yet simple style. This time, I'm thinking ahead to Christmas time and went with a more contemporary style. 

My Basic Black card base is cut at 4 1/4" x 8 1/2", folded in half to make a 4 1/4" square card. 

I trimmed 1/2" off the front right edge so I could add the strip of Silver Glimmer Paper at the end. 

There are several different ways to do this technique, I opted for the simplest - rubbing the Embossing Buddy across the black cardstock. 

Seriously, it's that simple. 

Before I do any stamping, I drop the Embossing Buddy onto the cardstock which produces a small dust cloud of white 'stuff' - whatever it is that's in that little sack. 

Then, I rub the Embossing Buddy around on the card front, tapping at times to produce more dust. It gives a look just like a schoolroom chalkboard. 

I stamped my images in Whisper White Craft Ink and embossed with White Embossing Powder. (Full confession here - my white embossing powder is a little old and isn't as brilliant as I'd prefer - you may have different results depending on the white level of your powder.)

Tip #1 - Don't be shy about adding more dust from the Embossing Buddy once the images are embossed. Sometimes it takes a few applications to produce the chalky finish you are looking for. 

Tip #2 - Be sure to have clean, oil free hands when doing this technique. Any oil or grease (hand cream for example) on your hands will come off on the cardstock and you WILL see the spots. 

I completed my card today with a greeting stamped in Versamark and embossed with Silver. I layered it onto a piece of Silver Foil Paper, using Stampin' Dimensionals under each layer. The layers were cut out with the Stitched Shapes Framelits and my Big Shot.

The ribbon side tie is the Pool Party 3/8" Shimmer Ribbon simply wrapped around the card front and tied off in a knot. I added some Clear Rhinestone Jewels for a sparkly finishing touch. 

I really hope you give this fun and easy technique a try for yourself! 

Here's a few of the products I've used for today's card: 

#142110 - Star of Light Photopolymer Stamp Set

#142049 - Christmas Pines Photopolymer Stamp Set

#103083 - Embossing Buddy

#109132 - White Embossing Powder

#147277 - Whisper White Craft Pad

#144152 - Pool Party Shimmer Ribbon

#145372 - Stitched Shapes Framelits

To purchase any of these supplies and more, you can visit my Online Store at this link:

www.trinitydesignstudio.stampinup.net

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to visit the other hoppers blogs and see the fun projects they've created for you! 

Paper Pumpkin Meets Memories and More

So, I've made a few discoveries since I've gotten back to blogging. Such as discovering some creative projects that I'd uploaded into blog posts and never shared! 

I've got about 5 or 6 projects just hanging out in 'draft' status, and even though some of the products I used may not be available anymore, I figured a good idea is always a good idea, right? 

First up is a scrapbook page I created from my daughter's 2nd Senior Portrait session. 

Like I said, it's been awhile - she's a sophomore in college now. Lol!

This page was created obviously when SU! still was in partnership with Becky Higgins and Project Life, but happily, we still carry a solid Variety Pack of 12" x 12" Photo Pocket Pages for the Memories and More line. And I 💖  the Black Faux Leather Album that we carry! 

Even better news is that there are still some of the Pocketful of Cheer Refill Kits available to any of you that are Paper Pumpkin subscribers. 😃 I've linked the photo to my website for you. 

Here are a few close up photos of different parts of the page: 

I love the little pockets, perfect for some sweet fillers and embellishments. 

Even though we did the photo shoot on the outdoor ice rink in our town - on a FREEZING cold day in February, the colors of this kit were perfect for the photos. Bright and cheery like her sweater and the beautiful Winter sky. 

Even though Emma has retired from skating (knee injuries don't mesh well with collegiate skating...) she still has her skates and her love of the sport. 

Oh, and so far, she's kept the boyfriend too. LOL! 2 years and counting...

I wanted to point out the green pearl embellishments. I actually colored those with a sharpie marker to make them match, but it was a pain to get the right color depth. Now that we have Stampin' Blends, it'll be much easier to customize your pearls and rhinestones. 

I know you're wondering what stamp set I used for the stamped pieces - and I honestly don't remember. I'm old and that was a LONG time ago! It was probably the stamp set that came with the Pocketful of Cheer Paper Pumpkin kit, but you can use whatever stamp set you like on your page, right? 

There you have it - Paper Pumpkin meets Memories and More. 

Just a year or so later than I'd planned. 😉

You can shop the entire Memories and More line on my website, just click the icon below: 

I'd love to hear from you so leave a comment to say "Hi!". 

Happy Monday everyone! 

Stamping Techniques 101 Blog Hop - Stampin' Blends

Hello and welcome! 

I'm happy to share the news that I've been invited to join a fun blog hop comprised of some stellar Stampin' Up! demonstrators from across the globe. The first Wednesday of each month, we'll be bringing you creative ideas that focus on simple, basic techniques; how-to's and design basics. 

Creativity is for everyone - no matter how seasoned a crafter you may be! 

If you are taking the January 2018 hop in order, you will have arrived here from the talented Pam Jorgensen's blog. 

This month, we are focusing on the use of the Stampin' Blends alcohol markers. These markers are really wonderful coloring tools. They make it easy to achieve realistic looking images with rich depth of color

Here's my card project for this month:

You should know first of all that coloring is NOT my specialty! 

I've always said I am a lazy stamper, and I've always gotten frustrated when it came to coloring - lets just say I didn't think too highly of coloring books when I was growing up. :)

BUT...I've had a blast playing and coloring with the new Stampin' Blends! Being able to add layers of color without making a big, blotchy mess is awesome and the Blends make it super easy. 

For this card project, I stamped the image using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, the recommended ink for use with the Stampin' Blends. 

Tip #1 - allow to dry completely before coloring in the image to help prevent bleeding OR do what I did and heat set the ink using your Heat Tool. (I'm lazy AND impatient! Ha!)

Then, I just chose my colors and began to color in the images! 

For the little piggies on the background piece, I colored their bodies with the Ivory Skin Tone blend, mainly because I couldn't find my Crumb Cake ones - grrr....

I deliberately added more color on their bellies and in a few splotches on their bodies -they are pigs after all. Ears and noses and tails and hooves were colored in with the light Pink Pirouette marker.

Tip #2 - I learned pretty quickly to NOT color all the way up to the inside edge of the image. If you do, you risk the ink color spreading beyond the edge. If you look really closely at my card, you can see evidence of that, but it wasn't awful and I was like "It's handmade, might as well look like it!"

For the wings, I colored even further back from the edge, but this was to leave more of the white showing on purpose. I did add some Clear Wink of Stella to the wings for some shimmer, but it's hard to photograph well - it's there though, promise!

The focal piggy is colored in entirely with the Light Pink Pirouette blend adding more color where you see darker patches. 

Honestly friends, I'm never gonna be a master watercolorer, but the Stampin' Blends helped me create a sweet card with some pretty realistic colored images - and if I can do it, anyone can!

Plus, it made me smile, which is the most important thing anyway, right? :)

One more thing:

Tip #3 - I cut my stamp apart into two images, separating the greeting from the piggy image. That made it easier for me to stamp the piggy randomly. Don't be afraid to customize your stamp images - they're yours! Make them work for YOU!

Well, you made it this far - thanks! 

Next up is the lovely and talented Tamra Davis - click on the 'next blog' picture below to visit her blog. 

Here's the entire line up for the Blog Hop:

Stamping Techniques 101 – January Blog Hop – Stampin Blends 

• Amanda Fowler
• Ann Craig
• Carmen Sahadat-Morris
• Delys Cram
• Heike Vass
• Leonie Schroder
• Libby Dyson
• Pam Jorgensen
• Robin Merriman
• Tamra Davis

Here are a few of the supplies I used to create this card - 

This Little Piggy - 143922

Thick Whisper White Cardstock - 140272

Pink Pirouette Light Stampin' Blend - 144593

Ivory Stampin' Blend - 144606

Smoky Slate Light Stampin' Blend - 145054

Cookie Cutter Builder Punch - 140396 (used for the iridescent glimmer paper embellishments!)

Bunch of Banners Framelits - 141488

Layering Circles Framelits - 141705

You can shop online 24/7 in my Online Store - just click the icon below!