Tuesday, January 15, 2013

School Days

I hope this week has started off nicely for you.  Me?  well, I think I will always be busy until I retire from my paying job.  So, until then, the lovely ladies over @ Nacho Average Challenge, have a great sketch for you to play with this week!  Here is the sketch:


Now, don't let this bold, plain sketch deflate your creativity.  Let's take a closer look.  The rectangle shape of the main piece can easily be changed into a shape.  The thick matt can easily be changed to a thinner matt.  The space on the main panel can easily showcase a large stamp, show-off a background stamp, or allow you to wow us with a technique.  
Here is what I did:


If you have searched the internet recently, you have seen alot of paper crafts with this faux chalkboard technique.  I think this look is 'old school', since most public classrooms have dry eraser boards than chalkboards.  A crime I say!  Anyways, I saw this fabulous tutorial, and decided to use the open space on this sketch to illustrate my take on the faux chalkboard technique.

I used one of my favorite 'thank you' stamps from the From My Heart stamp set.  I first stamped the image in Versa Mark ink and used white embossing powder.  Heat embossed this fabulous image.  I then sponged basic black classic ink along the edges.  I then sponged whisper white craft ink over the embossed image to represent chalk dust.  I then stamped over the image with the same image again with the stamp inked in whisper white craft ink.  I love how this turned out.  I used the top note die to create this fabulous shape.  I wanted to add something to the corner of this piece, so I did another layering.  I stamped the double-line heart from the Hearts a Flutter stamp set onto very vanilla card stock and fussy cut it out.  I added a multi-loop bow made from pool party seam binding.  I attached the bow to the front of the heart with a vintage trinket brad.  I added a blossom from the Flower Trim and a tiny tag, that says, 'Thanks'.  The school line paper is from a DSP pack.
I hope that you have found some inspiration, and join us this week with this fun sketch @ NAC!
Happy Crafting!  hugs, Sharon W.
(love this card? you can purchase it, here)

1 comment:

Jenny Engelke said...

I like the color combo you chose. The black, red, and pool look fab together. The chalkboard technique is wonderful, but that little layered bow is terrific!