LIM DT: Chalkboard Technique

Over on the Less is More challenge blog this week is a lucky dip and from the pot came the chalkboard technique. In essence, this uses white pigment ink on black card, with the option of adding white heat embossing for even more contrast. An example video is available at the end of this post.

Three cards for you today in reverse order…

This was the third card I made and the one I chose as my design team example. I built up the fern and flower spray first, with Picket Fence Distress Ink, using ghost prints and full inked stamping to get some depth. Then I rubbed over with an antistatic pad to add the ‘chalk dust’ effect as well as de-sticking the pigment ink before I heat embossed the sentiment in white. Quickly mounted on a woodgrain effect paper as my chalkboard frame to complete the card.

This stamp choice reminded me of old black and white movie scene titles. I wasn’t entirely happy with this card as the white ink isn’t nearly opaque enough for a good white-black contrast.

And this was the first card I attempted… I used a stamp positioner to stamp the background smudge which was low contrast as it’s a dotty wash finish rather than a solid block. I then positioned the sentiment and kept overstamping with more and more layers of Picket Fence Distress Ink, drying briefly after a few stamps, until I got a better contrast. I edged with more distress ink, blending with a sponge, before matting onto black card and adding enamel dots on the corners.