Love, Peace and Joy

 Hi crafters!  It's Christmas, chalkboard style!  I absolutely love this latest trend that  is all about now.  It's really fun to do too.  One of the things that I enjoy about it is that there are so many ways to achieve this look, you need not rely on having exactly the same products that I have used, but still can achieve similar looks.  I started by creating a background using Rich Red card and stamping the Holiday Magic stamp from Justrite all over the background.  I used an Adirondack pigment pad called Snowcap to do this and just heat set it (no embossing powder).  I matted it on a thin black and a thin white mat then proceeded to work on the focal element.  For that, I used the Justrite Holly Striped Background.  I stamped it on black card using the Snow Cap ink pad again.  Heat set it then added some "chalk" dust marks by swiping the card with a foam piece that I had tapped on the Snow cap pad.  I distressed the edges of the card with my scissors.  I wrapped a piece of white seam binding around the card and added a thin black mat to it.  I used a white pencil to draw a line around the edge of the mat.  Next I stamped the Christmas Vintage Labels Four stamp on black card using a clear perfect medium pad.  I heat embossed the design with white powder.  I rubbed this piece with some Snow Cap ink as well then cut it out with the coordinating die.  One of the things that you can also do is stamp the image again, just slightly offset to give it a shadow and that also adds to the chalkboard look.  I didn't do it with this one as the overall design was so busy as it was.  I stamped the sentiment from the set on black card and heat embossed it with white powder.  I cut it out with a circle die, then added a small scalloped red circle behind it.  I mounted the sentiment on foam pieces for dimension.  When I was last visiting my Mom in the States, I came across these small poinsettias at one of the craft stores, so I have added them around the focal element after adding a bit of Iced snow to the edges of the flowers.  I tied a messy bow out of white seam binding, added a small red and white Bakers Twine bow and seated the largest flower in the centre.  I finished the card with a double black mat with my signature pierced inner mat layer.  A great card for anyone who loves the more non traditional Christmas cards (or a teacher! LOL)   Finished dimensions are 8" x 8" in size.  All for now, Sue x