My Mind's Eye Chalkboard Christmas Cards and Stamplistic Envelope Dress-Ups for Operation Write Home

When Operation Write Home sent out an emergency call for Christmas cards for the troops I decided to help. They asked for 5 cards from each supporter. I decided to make chalkboard style cards. Here's what I came up with.

The boxed cards by My Mind's Eye came embellished with a frame on the card front. Using one large stamp I completed this card by heat embossing and adding hot-fix bling.

This would not have been possible if I didn't use the mini mount from Impression Obsession to hold this large clear stamp. The clear block has a handle and is curved to allow for fool proof stamping of any image but especially larger ones.

In this version, I used the other sentiment stamp in the set to create a layer using the same techniques. The layer was then trimmed and added to the front of Recollections 100 lb. cardstock.

On all three cards I applied chalk dust to give it that true chalkboard look. I colored with a large piece of chalk on my palm and rubbed it on the cards as not to disturb the embossing. This version started with a different base card design but using the same stamp. There were 5 cards in all.

Supplies:

• My Mind's Eye - Chalk Studio boxed card set - 5.5 x 4.25" - 3 different patterns
• Impression Obsession - Mini Mount
• Stampin' Up! - Embossing buddy
• Versamark
• Stampendous - detail opaque white embossing powder
• Nicole heat tool
• Recollections - Christmas sentiment stamps
• Glamour Glitz Iron on Crystals
• Kandi - Glitz 'n Go (to heat set the bling)
• White Chalk
• Zig: Wink of Stella - brown, pink, green, silver, gold, orange
• Uniball sign white opaque pen
• Memento Tuxedo black ink
• Stamplistic Collection - envelope dress ups - holiday

The fun doesn't stop there!! I decided to embellish the envelopes since the cards were rather simple in their design. It took the situation from nice to spectacular (in my mind at least)! Using the 2 stamp set by Stamplistic Collection - envelope dress ups - holiday I added some festive stamping to all 5 envelopes.

The quickest way to add color and shine is to use Zig Wink of Stella brush tip markers. The key with these is to remove the black ring and throw it away once you get your pen, close it up, shake it well and then squeeze it a tiny bit until a tiny amount of the fluid gets into the pen reservoir. Then let gravity bring the solution down to the tip. If you over squeeze you'll end up with a blog on your project. Ask me how I know.....

In this closeup you can really see the subtle glittery finish of these colored markers.

And here's the group shot! It took me about a half hour to color all 5 since the areas were so tiny. Luckily the Wink of Stella have a really fine brush tip.

I hope you will be inspired to donate handmade cards to charity and to dress up those envelopes! Thanks for stopping by!


La-Vie