Chalk Enhancements
Dear Patti, What is the best way to decorate embossed cardstock with chalk? Do I wet the applicator and lightly go over the embossed area? I'm not sure how to do this, but I love the look and would like to get proficient at it. Thank you.
Dear Chalk Challenged, It *is* a great look, isn't it? Sometimes, the enhancements that pack the most punch are the easiest to achieve (we won't tell if you don't). We're going to let you in on the secret -- it's so simple! When you've finished embossing your card stock, turn your template over and lay it back down over the embossed area. This is the simple secret to easy chalk enhancement! The template acts as a stencil to keep the chalk right where it belongs -- on just the embossed portions of your paper. Grab your chalk and run your applicator or cotton swab over it until you've picked up just the right amount of color. Next, rub the raised areas of your paper through the template. That's it! No need to wet the applicator or struggle through "staying inside the lines". For a softer result, use a cotton ball, blow off the excess and rub it gently over the entire area. For a more defined embossed design, you can use rubber stamp ink instead of chalk. Don't forget to use a clean pencil eraser to remove any stray chalk before it sets into the paper. You can see this technique in action in our Father's Day Bear Card project -- it's the perfect time to test your new skills on a handmade card for a special dad in your life! For more inspiration, take a look at this neat little Birthday Place Card. If you're not sure where to start with embossing, check out a must-have starter kit for any one of our embossing systems. For versatility, I recommend the ScrapBossTM or ShapeBossTM. For portability, the Mini ShapeBossTM is a great choice. Now that you know how easy it is, I know you'll be knee deep in chalk dust before next week's letter! Keep the great questions coming! Happy Crafting! Patti Have a question for Patti? E-mail Patti@fiskars.com. By Patti
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