Chalk Talk! Top Tips for Using Your Chalks in Cardmaking & Papercrafts

Hi friends! There are so many cool supplies coming out every day that we can easily be distracted from the gems we already have in our stash. Today I am going to share my top tips and techniques for using chalk. When I say “chalks” I am talking about soft chalky pastels, decorator chalks or even eyeshadow. I bet you have something in your house that will work for these techniques!

I will share techniques using inexpensive supplies from pencils, to pastels to eyeshadow and the neat thing is that for many techniques you can use any of them. I hope this helps you get more use out of what you have or choose the right product if you are looking to add chalk to your stash.  Please note that colored chalkboard chalk is not pigmented enough for good results.

I love the “photo tinting” feeling I get using chalk to color these vintage stamped images from our sponsor Top Flight Stamps (Use coupon code thefrugalcrafter10 to save 10% on your order, also USA orders over $50 ship free!) Speaking of photo tinting you can print out photos in grayscale and use the dry techniques to tint them with chalks. It was one of my favorite Scrapbook techniques…I really need to do that again!

So, Are you ready to rock your chalk? Watch the video and get started!

Stamps from our sponsor Top Flight Stamps: Rememer save 10% with coupon code thefrugalcrafter10 at top Flight Stamps and USA orders over $50 ship free!

• Jolly Holly Robins
• Christmas Postage Stamps
• Snowflake Rudolph Reindeer
• Santa’s Sleigh Ride
• Creative Expressions Holly Jolly Sentiments

Pastel/Chalk Supplies:

• Pastel Pencils
• Square chalk pastels set of 48: These are what I used in the video. I also have these and they are just as good but cheaper
• Pebbles shimmer chalk set
• Individual square decorator chalks
• Jane davenport mini pastel pans in tin
• Eyeshadow palette
• Pearl-Ex metallic powder or Perfect pearls (perfect pearls have the clear inkpad included)

Blenders *Note: Cosmetic sponges and pointed cotton swabs are way cheaper at Dollar Tree

• Foam daubers
• Cotton swabs 
• Make up wedges
• Waterbased blending pen

Other:

• Versamark pad
• Ranger Archival (waterproof ink for stamping)
• Instead of cardstock Smooth Bristol will allow more blending because it has a more robust surface.

In praise of vegetable glycerin! As you know from this very silly video I love to make my own supplies using glycerin. I use it to re-ink my embossing ink pads and to make homemade pigment ink. I also use it with water to rejuice my waterbased blending pens. It is useful in cake decorating and candy making as well as DIY beauty products. Also a little goes a long way and it is so useful! I had a viewer on YouTube ask if they could use a waterbrush instead of a waterbased blending pen for the brush technique. You can, however I recommend working on watercolor paper if you do as a waterbrush is going to give you more of a watercolor look at the extra water will pill ordinary cardstock. It is the glycerin in the blender marker that lubricates the tip of the marker and lets the media glide across the cardstock and that is why I recommend that method. If you don’t want to get a waterbased blending marker simply dip a pointed q-tip in the water/glycerin mix and use that, it will work the same. 😀

I hope you enjoyed this video. I worked really hard on it and I’d like to make more overlooked supply focus videos in the future so if you have any ideas on what supply to feature next let me know in the comments below. If you like this video I’d love it if you shared it on social media using one of the handy sharing links below. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

PS Want more chalk ideas? Here is a DIY chalk ink made from chalk pastels and how to ink up your stamps with chalk pastels. Man, are chalks useful or what?

 

FUN! Inky techniques for Distress Oxide inks (OR whatever you have!)

Hello friends! I hope you are having a good weekend! The sun is shining here in Maine and I have a list of home projects that I want to tackle but I think I will sneak down to my studio to get a bit of crafting in before the house wakes up:) There is no “perfect” time to create. You need to grab that time when you can get it so I hope you carve out a bit of creative play time today and if you need some inspiration try this tutorial and get a  batch of Christmas cards done while you are at it!

You can use this design for any occasion though so make the kind of cards you want! What I like about this project is that it only uses 3 ink pads so if you have been on the fence about trying Distress oxide you can pick these three colors and see what you think. If you love them you can get more and if they are not your favorite you can use them up and move on. BTW this will also look very pretty with original distress ink too or you can use any dye ink and I have a tutorial here on how to make it look like distress oxide.

Video!

 

This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry. Use coupon code: FRUGALNOVEMBER17 – 20% off ALL STAMPS! Coupon expires November 30, 2017. Become a Peg Stamp VIP here, & get the deepest weekly discounts available

Supplies from Rubber Stamp Tapestry:

• Diamond Sky peg stamp set, Winter Night Sky
• Distress Oxide inks (Lucky Clover, Candied Apple, Fossilized Amber)  *Reinkers available too!
• Wet glue (if using sequins)
• Blending sponges
• Fine mist bottle

Other Supplies

• 2″ masking tape (or large sticky notes)
• Metallic watercolors
• Stencils
• Christmas sentiment stamp
• Light grey marker (I used a zig real brush pen (from 24 set) but you can use any light gray marker or watercolor and a fine brush)
• Star shaped sequins
• Heavyweight white cardstock 

Follow along with the video to make these fun cards! Try this technique in other projects too. It’s fun and the more time you spend working with ink the better you get at it! Happy crafting!

Yes Virginia, There IS a Live Show Today!!!

Edit 10pm 10/27/17: If you are experiencing problems with the video quality please try again in the morning. I am having issues with YouTube processing but it should be fixed soon. When it reverts back to the original stream you may have to scroll in about 5 minutes to the tutorial but the picture will be clear. Thank you for your patience:)

Howdy friends! I am so happy to let you know we will paint live on YouTube at 12:30pm today! Here is the sample I whipped up this morning!

EDIT: Here is the live show painting:

This is a beginner friendly tutorial so don’t be shy, hey why not call a friend and paint along together! Let’s spread the love of painting!! I love that you can begin painting at ANY age, you can progress at 60 just as quickly as you can at 18 and learning new skills keeps your mind quick and supple. Heck, even if it didn’t keep your brain sharp at least you’ll know how to paint:)  You can watch the live stream or the replay in the player below but if you want to chat live with other painters or ask questions to me or the moderators then you want to watch the broadcast at 12:30pm ET on the YouTube watch page.

I decided to use Sennelier watercolors today, but you can use any brand you like. I recommend if you are trying a new brand of paints to start with a small set (the 12-14 sets are the most affordable per color) or a couple of tubes in colors you need anyway as you can intermix brands with no trouble. The benefit of Sennelier, for me, is the ability to layer without mud. They are my favorite plein air colors (and my palette is very beat up and has sand embedded in some of the pans to prove it!) because I can splash the paint around quickly, but also build up layers of translucent paint without making mud. This painting is done pretty much in one layer so it really doesn’t matter what watercolor you use though, just have fun! Also, about the paper, I did my sample on Aquabee #140 100% cotton 6″x9″ watercolor paper. This is my “practise” paper and it is much cheaper than Arches, you get 50 sheets for under $14. If you are starting out or on a budget give it a try! It is acid free so if you make a masterpeice on the Aquabee it will last too! 😀 I will do my live painting on the Arches paper so if you want I can show them side by side at the end of the live stream and you can see the comparison. Use whatever watercolor paper you have. You can do this!

Supplies:

• Sennelier watercolors: Pthalo Blue, Ultramarine, Carmine (or any pinky red), Light Red (or English red or any PR101 reddish-brown), New Gamboge (or any warm bright yellow), Sennelier Olive Green (or Sap Green from any other brand) and Naples Yellow (optional)
• Mimik watercolor brushes (a variety of rounds)
• Arches watercolor paper 9″x12″
• Reference photo by Terry Dekker on Paint my Photo

We will sketch and paint together today so there is no pattern available. I will also talk about composition and adapting a painting to suit your style, you are the king or queen of your painted scene!

Want more watercolor instruction?

Save 20% on any of my watercolor classes with coupon code: TRYME

Essential Tools and Techniques for Watercolor is a beginner course aimed at packing all the info you need to know to start your watercolor journey off on the right foot. You get 5 hours of video instruction and will compete 3 beautiful paintings during your class!

Texture Toolbox: Feathers & Fowl is the first in an intermediate series exploring specific subjects and textures and how to render them in watercolor. As a bonus we work on fixing mistakes in watercolor and I show you many ways to use reference photos to enhance your painting experience.

Make sure to use the coupon code TRYME if the discount doesn’t show up automatically to save 20%! I hope to see you in the free live painting lesson today and til next time happy crafting!

Oh, I almost forgot! The winners of the Jerry’s Artarama gift cards are:

Jean Arizona

Jaycee

Laurel Evelyn Hall

*Check your email for confirmation:) I replied to winners in the comment thread of the giveaway post too! Have a great weekend!

Sketching Desserts and New Supplies! {Inktober}

Hi friends! After falling off the Inktober bandwagon I finally did a sketch!

Watch the video to see the process!

This was my take on yesterday’s #inktober2017 prompt “Juicy” and I had fun rendering this sweet treat in inks. I began drawing with india ink in my fountain pen and coloring with inks. I did use some watercolor to expand my colors. They both worked fine so use what you have. Supplies below.

• Fountain pen safe india ink: (this is the exact ink I use, I can’t believe I found it!)
• Fountain pen: Jane Davenort Inkredible pen, load the cartridge with fountain pen safe india ink as the inks that come with the pen are not waterproof)  *note, this is the old style pen, you can get the white and gold one from janedavenport.com
• Bleed proof white opaque watercolor (I love this thinned with water for gauzy colors with ink of for sharp opaque highlights used straight from the bottle)
• This is the watercolor paper I did my swatch on
• And the art journal I worked in
• First edition mermaid markers (from comparison at end of video)
• All of the new Jane davenport products are available on her website (watercolors, inkcredible inks, new style pen etc)  *And will be in Michael’s stores across us and Canada after November 10th
• Reference photo

I snapped a photo of the mermaid marker in comparison. The colors are not perfect matches but some will do in a pinch. I have not run out of any ink in my mermaid markers yet but I have refilled my Beinfang Watercolor brush pens with these liquid watercolors and they worked perfectly (you can even mix these colors to get just the right shade) so that is another option.

If you want to see more of the new Jane Davenport products that will be out next month you can see my unboxings on my YouTube channel. The first box contained the inks I used today and more art journal/papercrafting stuff and the second box was more of the mixed media product stuff. I plan on doing a review of the new art media stuff so you can see what would add value to your stash and what just duplicates what you already have (and I think that this will be different for different people.) Let me know in the comments if there is anything in particular you would like to see me use first. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Giveaway! Jerry’s Artarama Gift Cards!

Edited to add winner’s names: Jean Arizona, Jaycee, Laurel Evelyn Hall. Thanks for playing. Contest is closed.

Hi friends! I totally forgot to mention in yesterday’s blog post that Jerry’s Artarama is giving away $10 gift cards to 3 lucky viewers! All you have to do for a chance to win is visit Jerry’s Artarama to see what they have, then, come back here and leave a comment on this post and tell me what you would buy if you won a gift card! I will randomly pick 3 winners from the comments section on Friday and notify the winners via email (and probably on the live stream too:)

 

Good luck and happy crafting!

Real Time Painting Lesson: Raspberry & Mint Macarons in Oils!

Hi friends! I hope you have a bit of time this Sunday to paint along with this fun beginner project (I think it would look darling hanging in your kitchen!)

You can follow along with acrylics or gouache if you don’t want to use oils. You could use pastels as well as they are opaque mediums. Use what you have and enjoy!

Video!

Supplies can be purchased from our sponsor Jerry’s Artarama! Use coupon code: frugal20FS49 for 20% off $49 + Free Shipping (Excludes: Sale, Super Sale, Egift Cards, Buy It Try It’s and Vendor restricted items. Look for the green coupon eligible icon on the product listing.

• Lukas 1862 Oil Paints (Aliz Crimson, Perm. Yellow Light, Viridian, Cobalt Blue, White, Burnt sienna the colors and mediums I used were from this set which includes a table easel storage box: V19545)
• Mimik Hog Brushes (and random small synthetic ones for details) *I have the value set: 88991
• 9″x12″ Canvas
• Brush soap (use this AFTER you rinse the brushes in thinner as a final washing at the end of the day, then let them dry completely before using again so you don’t introduce water into your oils)
• Oil pastels (for sketching)
• Reference photo

I don’t think I ever get tired of painting desserts! I don’t have the patience to bake them (and they never stay made LOL!) but I do love to paint them. It’s kinda like flowers, I have a black thumb but at least I can capture one on paper and they won’t die. That is one of the most gratifying thing about spending time painting or crafting. You get to enjoy the fruits of your labor for a long time unlike the mundane chores of the day that will need to be redone tomorrow. Take some time to pursue your creativity this weekend (the dust will wait for you.) 🙂 Happy crafting!

Loaded Bags for Crafty Friends on Halloween!

Howdy friends! The best thing about having crafty friends in sharing ideas. When my friends Tracey and Cindy started making cute decorated bags with crafty bits and bobs stuck in here and there I was intrigued and I asked them to tell me what they were up to. They said they were called loaded bags and loaded envelopes and today I will try my hand at making one!

Watch the video to see how and then try it yourself with your supplies! These are great fun to give to crafty palls because they can recycle them on scrapbook layouts, art journals or cards!

Video!

This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry, use coupon code: FRUGALOCTOBER17 – 20% off ALL STAMPS!. Coupon expires October 31, 2017. Become a Peg Stamp VIP here & get the deepest weekly discounts available

Supplies:

• Peg Stamp Sets: Autumn Elegance, Itty Bitty Pumpkin’ Patch, Dancing Dragonflies, Spookytown, Muscari and Hyacinth Border
• Memento inks
• Sponge Blender

Other Supplies: (These are what I used but this project is great for raiding your stash and using up leftovers! That’s why many of the things I used are retired-they are old:)

• Pattern paper & Buttons: AC Moore
• Banner/Gothic Arch Dies: Spellbinders (retired)
• Creepy Cuttlebug Die & Embossing folder combo
• Glassine flat bags
• Gusseted paper bags
• Zip Dry Glue
• Tassels
• Spiderweb doily (retired-stampin up)
• Double sided tape
• Foam squares

Directions:
1. Fold up the bottom of a paper lunch bag to make a pocket and tape, staple or glue the edges to secure.

2. To make the gatefold insert take any die you like and center on a piece of cardstock. Mark the inner walls of the die and fold in the paper wings (made sure the blades of the die won’t cut the folds) then die cut the folded paper for a shaped gate fold card.

3. Fill and decorate the bag as desired! Slip into a flat glassene bag or envelope to deliver.

Have fun with this project and make it your own. Happy crafting!

Cool Crisp Days Means Thanksgiving is on the Way!

Hi friends! This week I had the pleasure to play with some beautiful new products from our sponsor A.C. Moore and make a Thanksgiving (or Friendsgiving) papercraft project!

I am a big believer of my projects being pretty and practical so today I am going to show you how to make an easy shaker card invitation and a favor bag that doubles as a place card.

These are the easiest shaker cards ever!

These projects feature the new Love Nicole™ line exclusively at A.C. Moore. The products are affordable, high quality and on trend and can be found at your local A.C. Moore store. Don’t worry if you don’t have a store near you, you can use the ideas in this video to come up with projects using the supplies you already own! Watch the video to see how!

Supplies are from the Love Nicole™ line of products exclusively at A.C. Moore unless otherwise noted.

• Love Nicole™ Die Cut/Embossing Machine
• Love Nicole™ Stamps/Dies,
• Love Nicole™ Embossing folders
• Love Nicole™ Embellishments: Buttons, Clothespins, Shaker kits, Washi tape
• Love Nicole™ Maple leaf punch
• Love Nicole™ Autumn Splendor Paper pack

Other Supplies: Zip Dry Glue, Foam Tape, Envelope and Gift Bag Punch Boards (We R Memory Keepers), Double sided Tape, Light blue marker, Brown Archival Ink, Kraft Cardstock, Calligraphy pen (2.0 Elegant Writer)

Project tips!

1. Save your scraps! You can die cut or punch embellishments from small paper scraps.
2. Make paper goods ahead of time for a stress free holiday!
3. Fill goodie bags with crayons and activity pads for kids or fresh-baked goods for adults! (pre-wrapped candy is a fun & easy option too!)
4. Stick to one paper pack and a few embellishments/tools to keep crafting simple, coordinated and fun!

I hope you liked today’s project. It was a lot of fun to partner up with A.C. Moore to bring you this fun craft you can share with your friends and family this fall. Happy crafting!

Couch Art?

Hi friends! When I hear the term “couch art” it is usually referring to pretty paintings that you would hang above the couch but today I am going to share a sketch created from the couch.

Sometimes you just need to let go of perfection, take away the pressure to produce and just draw with no expectation. I think that is why adult coloring books are so popular nowadays.  We just need some quiet time to create. Coloring, drawing and painting can be very meditative and soothing, in fact you might be hard pressed to worry about anything when you are being creative. 🙂 So, if you are feeling restless, anxious, tired or down have a rest on the sofa, make a nice hot cup of tea, grab your supplies and create some beautiful couch art. Take care of yourself and happy crafting!