Chalk It Up

Well, I tried to make some cute chalkboard cards. It turned out to be more of a challenge than I thought. I started by trying to use plain chalkboard paper and white pens. You will see those at the bottom. I just did not like the way they looked. I got out some My Mind's Eye Chalk Studio and not only fixed my first 2 cards but also came up with these 2 cards that I was very happy with.

The sayings on the front of the cards where printed on the papers in the Chalk Studio line. I adhered them on three sides and left a little pocket for some chalkboard labels where I added some scriptures.

















I stamped with white ink then went over that with a Marvy pen and a gel pen. Then I wanted a little pop pf color so I added a little bit of Distress paint and some flowers.

These flowers were quick and easy. I just took a few petals I had left over from other projects, inked and stamped them and layered the together. They are not my typical flowers but they were easy, used up my stash, and will lay flat to go through the normal mail.

If you look closely at the picture below you will see where I wrote on the black cardstock with a white pen the first time around. It looked a little small on the card. I then went over it with a larger marker. That did not look great either. I ended up using labels from the Chalk Studio line to place over my writing and add some letter stickers from my stash. (the final versions are pictured above.)

Combining the Old with the New

I have been playing with my Inca Gold pastes that I got for Christmas while trying to use up some of the stuff in my ever growing pile of "stash". One of the downfalls of being able to think of cool crafty things to do with most everything I see it that I want to collect it ALL. Then life happens and I never get around to using half of it. Well, I am trying to destash. To make it a bit more fun, I am also using some of my new products along with the way.

Here are a few cards I made using old papers, die cuts, and glitter along with my new Inca Gold Turquoise and a new embossing folder from Spellbinder's. 

I cut these butterfly pieces out of some self adhesive paper that I bought on sale last year and have barely used. I tired a new twist on glittering them. 
Here is a video.

Take a look at some of the other versions of this card.
  

I used Liquid Pearls instead of a die cut here.
The background is embossed with the same Mbossabilities folder. 

Here you see the same types of butterflies on a leaf die cut and old patterned paper.

I hope you give this little glitter trick a try and have fun using up some of your own stash. :)

Built Upon The Rock

We all scramble when it comes to making masculine cards. Let's face it, one of the reasons we do papercrafts is because we love the pretty papers, flowers, and bling. Those things do not always translate into a masculine look. Kaisercraft's Basecoat paper line offers a solution. The papers are very nice but look a little more rugged.

I cut fluer de lis crosses out of "wooden" sheets and placed them on the rock sheets. 

This one uses a wooden background panel and a litte burlap.