Here is the first card I made with my kraft pastel pieces. It uses the layout from this week's Sketch challenge, SC120.
I knew I wanted to use one of the That's Nice messages with one of these cards but the trick was getting different colors of ink on the words without markers - which I didn't think would give true enough colors on the kraft cardstock. Then I remembered a technique I haven't played with in a long time: Poppin' Pastels. The words do show up better in real life.
I stamped the message on Kraft cardstock with white craft ink (Versamark would also work). Then I picked up chalk with a cotton swab and applied it to my image. You kind of have to think in terms of rubbing the chalk onto the ink but not necessarily the cardstock . I use a tissue to remove excess chalk from the cardstock as rubbing it with your fingers would actually set the chalk into the cardstock somewhat. The oils in your skin do this. More how-to's with chalk can be found here. Here's a snapshot of a partially chalked image:
The second card took me longer to develop. I kept setting it aside and coming back to it. Then I discovered how well the striped paper from the double sided Petals and Paisley collection looked with this. No kraft color in it but it worked!
I added some scallops with my corner rounder, stitches, frayed ribbon and brads and Voila! I omitted part of the message and put it in the inside of the card so that the outside reads: "A friend like you makes a friend like me" and the inside reads "really happy to have a friend like you!" This is from the set, In My Thoughts, which is part of the Say it with Stamps promotion this month.
One extra note about stamping with craft inks. You might think they are stamping darker than your expected color at first but many colors, especially the lighter colors lighten as they dry. Use your heat tool to dry them quickly and you will see how much the drying changes the color. If you haven't seen my comparison of craft(pigment) versus classic(dye) inks check this out.
Stamps: Mixed Bouquet, In My Thoughts, That's Nice
Cardstock/Paper: Kraft, Petals and Paisley, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Inks: White, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery and Tempting Turquoise craft pads
Accessories: White gel pen, Corner rounder, grosgrain ribbon, buttons
That's all for tonight and thanks for visiting!
