Basic Chalking: Color Your World!
Use this techinique to fill your pages with color …
If you’ve never tried chalking, then you are missing out on the versatility of a very basic and inexpensive tool! Chalking is a great way to add depth to your work by creating shadows, highlighting borders or accenting certain features. When shopping for chalk you’ll find that there are various brands, sizes and color pallets to choose from. The chalk that I use in this tutorial is made by Craf-T. You’ll also need your choice of an applicator. Q-tips, cotton balls, make-up sponges and even your own fingertip are among the most common, along with the alligator clip, shown in the first image. You use little puffballs with the alligator clip by simply grasping the ball with the pinchers on the end. If desired, a spray-on fixative can be applied after chalking creating a seal for more durability.
The actual process of chalking is very simple. You dip your applicator, whether it is a puffball, sponge or your finger and apply to your paper in a swirling motion. The intensity of the color depends on how liberally you apply it. It is always best to start with a light amount of chalk, as you can always add more. It is also very helpful to test colors on a scrap piece of paper in order to decide the right shade and intensity you desire.
First, I’ll be showing some examples of how chalking can transform ordinary die cuts (figure 1) into something with a little more pizzazz. (figure 2) By rubbing different shades of brown chalk with my finger, I was able to give the sand dollar a varied and almost texture-like appearance. I then outlined the edges with a puff in dark brown to really make it stand out. The word beach was fairly simple to create. I wanted to mimic the look of water lapping a sandy beach so I used a puff with a heavier swirling motion to apply various blues and greens, yellows and browns. Again, outlining the edges in a darker shade. The ice cream cone was a fun one. With die cuts like this, you can get really creative! I used a slightly textured paper (like Bazzill) to punch the die cut. When rubbing in the chalk, it settles into the grooves, really accentuating the papers natural texture. For the larger pink scoop, I used the fingertip method, smearing more or less color for varied intensity. For the darker spots (it’s cherries jubilee ice cream of course) I wet a q-tip and worked it into the chalk palate, then daubed it in spots on the die cut. This provides a much more intense color.
Chalks and Stamps: a perfect duo
Chalks are a perfect medium for even the most basic stamper! Chalks are perfect, in that you don’t need to collect ink pads in an array of colors, you’ve got a palate right there at your finger tips. The following steps walk you through using chalks with stamping. In addition to your chalks and applicator tools, you’ll need a VarsaMark or Embossing inkpad and a waterproof ink such a StazOn. A water brush or blender pen is also useful for added detail. I use a water brush made by Stampin Up!
(figure 3)
Step 1: Using the VersaMark or Embossing ink, stamp your image on a piece of paper.
Step 2: Generously work the desired color chalk onto your applicator. Briskly pounce the chalk onto the stamped image. You don’t want to plunk it too heavily or you’ll have impact marks on your paper. The more chalk you add, the darker the image will appear. (figure 4)
Step 3: Repeat for additional colors if need be. Gently blow and brush the loose powder from your image. (figure 5)
Step 4: This effect is one of my favorites because it results in such a natural, airy appearance. (figure 6)
Step 5: Chalking a papers edge is a great way to add depth, especially to a torn edge. Tear around your stamped image leaving a rough edge. Rub a coordinating color of chalk into the torn edge with your favorite application method. See how the added color really makes the stamped image pop! (figure 7)
Step 6: You can also apply a light coverage of chalk to a papers straight edge. Notice how the pale green helps the tag stand out from the solid background. Using chalks like this, to distress an edge, really helps a piece blend into the final product. (figure 8)
Step 7: This time use a waterproof ink, such as StazOn, to stamp the image. (figure 9)
Step 8: Now use the pouncing method to apply a few spots of chalk inside of the stamped image. (figure 10)
Step 9: At this point you can either blend the pounced colors with your desired applicator into your image or you can use a water brush. The water brush is a fascinating tool, giving the image a soft, almost watercolor appearance once blended. (figure 11)
Step 10: You can even dip the water brush directly into the chalks, much like you would a paintbrush. This is best for finer detailing, as I did by slightly highlighting the flowers leaves. (figure 12)
Watercolor Pencils: an added bonus
A close cousin, I like to think, to chalks is the watercolor pencil. A most versatile medium as it can be used just as you would a colored pencil or taken a step further and blended with a water brush like you would chalks. Watercolor pencils can be found in the art section of your local craft store.
(figure 13)
Step 1: Begin with stamping your image using waterproof ink, such as StazOn.
Step 2: Use your desired color to trace an outline of the image, adding a heavier or wider line of color where you’d like darker shading. (figure 14)
Step 3: Now use the water brush to gently blend the colors toward the bare areas of the stamped image. (figure 15)
Step 4: You can also use the direct method and take the color straight from the pencil with the water brush. Rubbing the tip of the water brush onto the tip of the pencil will transfer a rich color that you can then apply to your image. (figure 16)
About Kristianne Swanson (MamaK321) …
Kristianne’s scrapbooking obsession is supported by her husband, Eric and two daughters: Rebecca and Samantha. She comes from a big family where spending time together has always been important. Kristianne is a stay at home mom (SAHM) and has been scrapping for over six years. Scrapbooking has allowed her to express her creativity while she makes long lasting friendships with other scrappers. Kristianne loves every aspect of scrapbooking and has a weakness for trying new techniques and products. She especially enjoys sharing her ideas with others.
