Attention...Please look up at the Blackboard Stampers!

Welcome to Tuesday at Viva Las Vegastamps!!! Susan here with a technique the you definitely want to try... the BLACKBOARD technique. It seems to be the hottest thing in the past week in my email inbox...so I wanted to give this a try and it's SUPER EASY and really INKY!

A little known secret... I am a rubber hoarder and I have acquired a significant stash of rubber from VLVS! in the past year. I just can't resist their Pound O'Rubber and I always look to see if they have "Delinquent Dies" {these are my secret gems - a grab bag of slightly defective rubber dies that have some defects from pressing}. So in my recent order I received a new class of little delinquents... I received this Mary Vogel Lozinak stamp #18366. You can see in the stamped image that the image is mottled and with interesting imperfections. So I'm going to use this to make an interesting background. 

OK - I had a sheet of Kromecote that got wrinkled so I put it to good use also - because the Chalkboard Technique is DISTRESSED. I cut two pieces two  4" x 6" and stamped all the new Washi borders on one and stamped my delinquent sun #18366 onto the other - all using Ranger Resist Ink. Then I heat set and applied Black Soot Distress ink directly to paper on both. I rubbed the color in with a makeup sponge and buffed excess away with a paper towel. These are the results...

For the background on the left using the delinquent stamp - I stamped it 4 times on the sheet.

Now for a variation...that has more contrast! I stamped using Ranger Embossing ink and applied VLVS! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder, then hit it with the heat gun. I rubbed it with the black soot as previous and rubbed in and buffed away and this is the result! Love it!!!

*USE CAUTION with Kromecote*... your fingerprints will act as a resist. See my thumbprint?

I trimmed out my pieces and added some dusty concord Distress Ink. This had to be heat set to stay put on the Kromecote. The high gloss coating soaks up the ink like a sponge, then the rest is buffed away. Drying the ink with the heat gun helped the purple soak in on top of the black. I used my Miracle Tape to adhere everything down and 3-d adhesive lines to pop up the stripes, arrow and phrase. I'm ready to fill up this blank journal that I found when dusting my bookshelves. I've chosen the word "INSPIRE" for this year and I'm ready to doodle in...

my new "Inspire" Art Journal

Supplies used: STAMPS - Sun Background #18366 {a DELINQUENT DIE}; several stamps from Plate #917: Six Hexagon Background #19076, Washi Chevron Background #19072, Washi Reverse Grid Background #19075, Washi Lines Background #19073, Washi Grid Background #19074 and quote "Writing Arrow #19078" and "Inspire" #18888; Also used Kromecote Cardstock, VLVS! Ultra High Gloss Embossing Powder, Miracle Tape; 3-D Foam tape; Ranger Black Soot and Dusty Concord Distress Inks; Ranger Resist ink and Ranger Embossing Ink.

I hope you give this technique a try. It would be great in traditional green like an "old school" chalkboard. Thanks so much for dropping by. If you have a little time... check out what the rest of the Viva Las Vegastamps! Design Team has been up to. Or if you have a VLVS! gift certificate in your hands - head on over to the Viva Las Vegastamps! store - for all your stamping needs and for every occasion...and MIRACLE TAPE, too!

If you would like to see more of my creations please visit my blog, sbartist : painting in the dark HERE. I'll be back with another stamping adventure real soon! Hope you have an inky day! Sb