Inspiring Inkin Challenge #18

First a big, big “Thank You” to the lovely Vannessa for her time and effort in setting these challenges for us and I’m hoping that in 2010, more people will take the time to participate in it. Our first challenge this year is to use the chalkboard technique and the side twist was to use hardware of some kind – brads, eyelets or hodgepodge. I chose the Greenhouse Garden stamp set which uses the two-step stamping method for this challenge. First I stamped three floral images in Whisper White Craft ink on to Chocolate Chip card stock and using a sponge dauber with a pouncing action applied Yoyo Yellow chalk from Stampin’ Pastels until I got the desired depth of colour. On a piece of scrap Chocolate Chip, I stamped the same image a further 3 times with the white craft ink. Two of the flowers were chalked with Yoyo Yellow, and the third with a mixture of Yoyo Yellow and Creamy Caramel. Next I stamped the floral centre image stamp on to the imaging sheet of the stampamajig, then overlay the image centrally over each flower and stamped again with a darker shade in More Mustard for the Yoyo Yellow flowers, and Creamy Caramel for the Yoyo Yellow and Creamy Caramel mixed colour flower. The flowers that I had stamped on to scrap card stock were cut out along the contours for layering with later. I eyeballed and cut three Certainly Celery coloured leaves free hand, taking little slivers out of each leaf. I used a fine embossing tool to make marks on each leaf then set them aside. Next I punched a large oval using Barely Banana textured card stock and snipped off both ends so it resembled a barrel shape which was adhered below the first 3 stamped flowers to resemble a vase. The remaining flowers were layered and secured with dimensionals and the leaves were then positioned at random in between the flowers and vase. A further 3 smaller flowers and stems were stamped and given the same chalk treatment. These were then adhered to the bottom of the vase. I tucked the ribbon underneath the layers of card stock and DSP before adhering it to the card base ready for embellishing. The sentiment from Whimsical Words was stamped on a scrap piece of Very Vanilla in Chocolate Chip. I centred it in the window of the hodgepodge metal label and used it as a template to cut the same shape round its contour. I applied dimensionals to the lower half of the label and adhered it to the bottom right hand corner. The reason for adding the dimensionals is because part of it sits on the matted layers and in order to keep it level, you need to add dimensionals on the bottom part of the metal label. For the finishing touch, I added tiny little drops of Crystal Effects in the centre of each flower and using the mat pack and pricking tool, made 3 holes in the top left and top right corners of the card. I hope this technique will inspire you to take part in the challenge – have a go and link your work with the Mr Linky gadget found just below Vannessa’s post after each challenge on the Inspiring Inkin ‘s Challenges blog. To return to the Inspiring Inkin’s Challenges blog click here Recipe: Stamp: Greenhouse Garden, Whimsical Words (SAB free set!) Ink: Whisper White Craft Ink, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Creamy Caramel, Stampin’ Pastels Papers: Barely Banana A4 and Barely Banana textured, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Old Olive DSP, Very Vanilla card stock scrap Accessories: Large oval punch, hodgepodge label and brads, snips, crystal effects, Very Vanilla 5/8″ grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, adhesive, stampamajig, embossing tool, mat pack and pricking tool