Throwback Thursday Technique - Chalking & Color blocking

 Time for another issue of Throwback Thursday Technique!  This week we will be looking at chalking and color blocking.  Color blocking was (maybe still is?) popular with scrapbooking however, we are going to see it used to create cards!  Most crafters I know seem to grow a collection of scraps of leftover papers from projects. We hang onto the because we know that 'one day' we will use them!  If you read my blog post on Masculine Cards, then you would know that I am the type of crafter that likes to use up as much paper scrap as she can. That being said, it's not always possible on every project and thus, we have scraps!

For a color blocking technique I find this to be one of the best ways to use up scrap paper, both solids and patterns.  Start with a theme, usually directed by your color choices, for this installment I'm going with fall colors, after all it's still October!  Grab a nice array of papers, it's important to use scraps but occasionally you'll need to bring in other papers like a card base and possibly a card front. I created 6 cards, 4 of those cards I used all scrap pieces with the exception of the card base. For the last 2 cards I used pre-cut 4"x5.25" white card fronts. Regardless which way you go, start with any piece of scrap and place it on your card front, the important step in the process is to try and not alter that scrap to much. You will need to adjust to size as necessary and maybe even trim an edge or two to even it up, but the whole point to color blocking is just that, blocks of color!

For my first two cards it was simple, the scraps I had barely needed any adjustment and they fit side by side giving this card a solid along a piece pattern paper, easy peasy really!  

For my next two cards the process was just about the same with the exception of the second card, I trimmed two pieces of solid cardstock to give it a block look and then added a strip of the pattern paper that was already a perfect size and match, I only needed to trim it down to fit the card front.

For my last two cards I decided to use that white card front and build upon it. Using the same technique for that last card above, again I barely needed to cut my cardstock, just a few trims here and there. For the last card, it was almost magical! I grabbed the pattern paper and thought it would look perfect down the middle, there was an golden color strip already ready to go, the width was perfect for one side. I had a nice green cardstock that all I needed to do was trim the width as the length was the perfect fit, a trim for them all to fit the card front and there was my sixth card front.  

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Before mounting these down I used my Pebbles Classic Chalks to chalk all the edges of each piece of paper and then glued them down to the card front and then onto their respective card bases.  Because I choose to use all colored card bases, I then used 4"x5x25" white Neenah 80 lbs cardstock for the inside that I chalked with these Metallic Cream Chalks, they are dreamy and pearlescent, I love the look they made!

And there you have it, 6 cards ready to go for anything you need, just add your sentiments and decoration!  Color blocking is fun, easy and a great way to use up that scrap paper!  For a video tutorial on this please visit my You Tube Channel, Throwback Thursday Technique, Chalking and Color Blocking.

Give Thanks

 Years ago when I started making cards I would participate in card swaps, long before the birth of the internet as we know it. Each month there would be theme and we would create as many cards as there were people that were participating in the swap (sometimes up to 12)! I have many fond memories of doing those card swaps and that was the beginning to the hundreds of swaps I would come to do once the internet for home use came into play! 

When my kids were younger I seemed to have more time to craft, make cards, scrapbook and make A WHOLE LOT of stuff for swaps. I participated in scrapbooking swaps 10 fold to my card swaps. If you have been around for awhile maybe you remember Yahoo Groups? That was the birth of swapping online groups (I believe anyway). We had a lot of fun and I STILL have A LOT of scrapbook swaps from way back then.  

Seasons come and seasons go and just like that, so did the online swap groups, my time became less for doing anything crafty and then it would be months before I would craft or scrapbook. Just this year (2020), what a strange year indeed, I reconnected with a lot of crafters on Facebook Groups. I was so happy to be a part of that actually participated in card swaps!  Needless to say I signed up and have been doing it for a few months now. Today's card was inspired for one of these swaps.  

To create the background I used watercolor paper from Arteza *and watercolor paints*, also from Arteza. I gently sprayed the paper and then used an Arteza watercolor flat brush* and brushed on my first color, took a heat tool to it then added a second color, heated it and then my third color.  After drying it for a final time I then dropped on Brutus Monoe's surface spray, Cabbage* and Jack-O-Lantern*. I made my own homemade shimmer spray (using Gum Arabic* and Pearl White Mica Powder*, also from Arteza.  I allowed this to dry overnight just to  be sure nothing would smear.

To create the words "Give Thanks" I chose an image from Design Space for my Cricut, cut that out three times on white cardstock and once on a beautiful copper matte foil vinyl from Cricut (no longer available).  I stacked the words to give it dimension with the last layer being the vinyl. I mounted the background to my Neenah 80# solar crest white paper*, added some fabric leaves as well as some old 3D embellishments I've had for quite awhile (source unknown). And that was the card I sent to 5 of my card swappers!  What do you think?

 

*Products are inked for your convenience I do not have any affiliation with these companies at this time.