Chalkboard card share

Even though I make cards all of the time, I love getting ones from others in the mail (just like everybody else!). This card was created by SU! demo Chris Ezekiel, who sent me this card with a payment for a bunch of stamps and stuff she purchased from me. She created a lovely chalkboard effect with white ink smudged on the Basic Black card stock, and a white pencil with ruler for the lines. The little flower is from the Bordering on Romance stamp set, which retires at the end of May. The main sentiment is from a Sale-a-Bration 2013 set called Vintage Verses.

Sharing a special day of love

 

This is just the ticket for somebody you love! Or two tickets with a heart clip!

 



 

Achievers on my American Ink team came to my studio yesterday to make four special projects - this is one of them. It's a Pretty in Pink card with a Basic Black layer that has been stamped and heat embossed in white with smudges and lines to look like a chalkboard. I add two stamps from That's the Ticket (Spring Catalog Item 128075 clear for $16.95) on a knot of 1/8" Whisper White taffeta, then finished it with a Cute Clip from the Elements pack (Item 129939, $4.95). The lines were made using a white crayon, though my gals got to use a white pencil I had at the studio. It worked much better! I used stamps from Animal Talk, Field Flowers, Word Play, Hearts a Flutter and Itty Bitty Banners. I'll share the other projects this week.

 

Here's one of the things I made for our lunch - a Spinach Strawberry Bacon Salad I found on Pinterest. It also had walnuts and red onions with a dressing that's included in the recipe. I got the photo and recipe here. It tastes SO good! My hubby and kids enjoyed the leftovers, though my son didn't care so much for the dressing.

I also made Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken and a Pink Lemonade Pie. Those recipes are also on Pinterest under my Favorite Recipes board.

 

 

Here in the United States, we have the day off to celebrate the observed birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (His birthday was January 15.) My kids are happy to have an extra long weekend. I went to Atlanta in 1985 and visited MLK, Jr's Ebenezer Baptist Church where he was a co-pastor with his father during the civil rights era of the 1960s. It's an historic site. He truly was a great man whose words mean something even today. I bought a soft metal keychain with part of his "I have a dream" speech on it and used it till all of the letters rubbed off. MLK, Jr. Day is a day of service. Plant a tree, lend a hand to someone in need... just make a difference, share the love, and have a fabulous day. :-)

 

Making chalkboard tags ala Stampin' Up!

I'm going to start this post by showing you the finished project - reusable chalkboard tags that clip on items with a clothespin. Brilliant! I saw this idea on Pinterest and gave it a Stampin' Up! spin - instead of using chalkboard paint and painter's tape, I used Chalkboard Decor Elements Sheets (Item 118815 on page 216 of the big SU! catalog. You get two sheets measuring 14" x 24" for $14.95).

I love how decor elements can transform a room. In fact, I have many on the walls and side of the fridge at my studio. Also on the side of my fridge is a big chalkboard decor element sign that I use all the time to post info for my next class! It's wonderful. Note: The decor elements will NOT be in the next SU! catalog, coming out in June. They and the Simply Adorned line (jewelry) are being discontinued. So if you want any of these items, order them NOW!

I had a 10-card class at my mother-in-law's in the Big City yesterday, so I went to a couple of craft stores and found two 3" x 24" thin pieces of wood. Ideally, there would be wooden rectangles available to purchase for cheap. I had no such luck, so my loving hubby cut the larger pieces into 22 pieces that measure 2" x 3" this morning.

I used my rotary cutter and acrylic grid and mat to cut off a 6-inch piece of one decor elements sheet. Then it was a manageable size for my SU! tabletop cutter, where I cut the chalkboard sheets to measure 1-13/16" x 2-13/16" each, since I wanted a little wooden edge showing all the way around. Peel off the backing and stick. Easy!

To finish, I hot-glued clothespins to the middle back of each little chalkboard. I have some chalk ink pens (white). They work really well because if someone or something brushes up against them, the chalk ink stays put. It's easy to remove with a wet paper towel too!

I made some of these tags for my studio, as well as for my younger sister. She's going to have a booth at the Ruffles & Rust Vintage Market to Inspire in Monroe, WA, in May. Be sure you go if you live anywhere near. There are some fabulous finds!!!