Cardmaker® Magazine and ClearSnap® "All About Chalk" Blog Hop

Hello, Crafty Peeps!

It truly does not get any better than this! 

"All About Chalk" 

I knew my time as a Guest Blogger with ClearSnap® would be exciting but this is an excitement extra!   I love stationery, I love Chalk Inks, I love Africa and Kenya is one of my favorite countries! Just imagine my delight when I learned I would have the opportunity to combine these three passions in a design for this hop!  

KENYA
A CHALK INK TRIBAL STATIONERY SET

  Africa is rich in natural resources and beautiful, engaging people.  I drew inspiration from the rich colors used in tribal clothing, particularly among the Maasai, a pastoral tribe famous for their authentic culture.  They defied modern culture to retain their traditional way of life.

The vibrant colors of the ColorBox® Chalk Ink Pads made it easy to bring the essence of the Maasai Tribe and the country of Kenya to my stationery design. I wanted to create an organic project that would bring my three loves together in an elegant presentation.

Tutorial Supplies 

• ColorBox® Chalk Paintbox® - Mercantile
• ColorBox® Chalk-Full Size Pads:  Pumpkin Spice, Splash, Cheeky, Blackbird
• ColorBox® Art Daubers
• ColorBox® Stylus and Tips
• ColorBox® Color Blender
• ColorBox® Art Screen-Cobblestone
• Stencils: Stencil Girl "Tribal Men" and TCW Julie Belzer's "Mini Mod Checkerboard"
• BQLZR Vintage Desk Edge Box Corner  Protectors - Antique 
• Chipboard Letters
• Metallic Wax
• Aileen's Acrylic Spray Sealer

STEP TUTORIAL

• Start with an empty Stationery box (or create one.)   Link: DIY A2 BOX

• Cover the interior and exterior of the lid and tray with either white gesso or a white chalk paint. For my project, I used an off-white chalk paint.  You can make your own chalk paint. Link: DIY Chalk Paint 

Use a ColorBox® Stylus tool to apply the desired ink colors to the box top and tray.

• Use a ColorBox® Stylus tool to apply the desired ink colors  to the box top and tray.

• To achieve reddish-orange color so favored by the Maasai, use ColorBox® Chalk inks: Pumpkin Spice (full-size pad) and Candied Yam (PaintBox® -fourth color from the left.)Apply painters tape to the finished edges of the box top.
• Using the direct to surface method, apply ColorBox® Chalk paint (Blackbird.) Use the Stylus Tool to even out any streaks.  Since you will be stenciling over this area the underlying paint does not have to be perfect.

• Apply your stencil design.  For my "woven" design, I used ink colors: Alabaster, Red Barn, and Guacamole from the PaintBox® "Mercantile." The Alabaster ink is actually an off white, but when stenciled on the black background it looks almost silver.  This was an unintended consequence but I like it.   
• Depending on the intricacy of your stencils, you will need to use daubers, blenders, and the Stylus tool to apply your inks.

• Embellish your project as desired.  I cut my letters from heavy weight chipboard and applied a coat of gesso prior to applying my chalk ink.
• seal the box with two applications of an acrylic spray sealant.

• The box corner protectors add an elegant note to the design project.  Instead of the screws that came with the corner protectors, I used small black brads.  The  (green) chalk ink used for the box tray is Guacamole and is in the ColorBox® Paintbox® "Mercantile."

• Use your stencils to create the desired number of stationery sheets.  I created four of each (notecards, Full Sheets (6"x6"),  Short Sheets (4"x6") in each stencil design.  I used an Antique Laid Paper for the stationery.  The texture communicates the strength and resolve of the Maasai!  The Zebra design was created using the ColorBox® Art Screen - Cobblestone

ENJOY THE HOP!  IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROJECT, CONTACT ME AT:

cmalkah@hotmail.com .

HUGZ!

Disclosure Statement

EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 1, 2009, FTC GUIDELINES REQUIRE BLOGGERS TO DISCLOSE ANY TIME THEY ARE COMPENSATED FOR ENDORSING OR REVIEWING PRODUCTS OR SERVICES.

The Project that is demonstrated below contains components I received for free from ClearSnap® in return for my services as a Guest Designer and for posts on my blog. I affirm that I have not made, nor would I ever make or endorse, misleading statements regarding any product or service used in the operation of this blog.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE USED ON MY BLOG, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT CMALKAH@YAHOO.COM.