While crafting with 9 year old Ryan, he asked if I ever made a background with chalk. The closest thing I have to chalk is Pan Pastels and he has zero supplies so no clue what he was thinking. He said he made one and would go get it. He brought over a tiny scrap of paper, maybe 4 by 2 ½ and torn on one edge. He had no supplies and Lord help him if he touched his sister’s stuff. So he headed to the garage and found an old bag of sidewalk chalk. He put one in a sandwich bag and jumped up and down on it. He sprinkled the crumbled chalk on the scrap. He had no spray bottle so he used a hose (and to think we all ran out and bought a mister). This piece of cardstock was pretty wrinkly after the hose hit it but by golly, he got color on it. He then said how good he thought this would work with mixed media paper and would I like to do it with him. Well heck, who am I to turn down a brand new technique!
We took the chalk and took a hammer to it. He didnÂ’t have enough weight to break it up finer by jumping on it and my old bones are not into jumping. His left 1/8 clumps on the card. We took it outside and repeated the process on mixed media paper but I caved and got the spray bottle. (I should have tried the hose). After it dried, we robbed JohnÂ’s garage of sandpaper and sanded it smooth. It sat here a while and he hasnÂ’t been back to finish so I stamped and embossed this fun stamp, used a white gel pen to white out the petals. At this point I sprayed with a fixative since the chalk kept rubbing off. Zigs certainly behave differently on a fixative but thankfully I didnÂ’t have much to color. Drew a wonky pencil line with intentions of stitching. Even pencil does not erase on a fixative. Instead it smeared and is evident in one corner. Hand stitched which took forever. But it was fun to do. Typically I give a kid a technique and they have to design. How fun for a kid to give me one!
Thanks for stopping by.
Date: Thursday, July 14, 2016 GMT Views: 1845
Favorited:7
Registered: September 12, 2007 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 61357
Thu, Jul 14, 2016 @ 6:58 PM
Those were precious moments you and Ryan had with card making. I love the story. Out of the mouths of babes can come some great techniques taught by their art teachers. He'll love his bg embellished by your flowers and sewing. I think it's positively wonderful.
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Art Neko and Prickley Pear DTs
Former DT Dolce Designs, Rubbernecker, StampItCrazy,
I Brake For Stamps
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"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there
is no path and leave a trail." ... Ralph Waldo Emerson
Registered: January 19, 2011 Location: SC Posts: 2
Thu, Jul 14, 2016 @ 7:35 PM
This is quite marvelous, and hats off to Ryan for coming up with this idea. YOu took his technique a step further with the marvelous daisies & yellow centers. I do like the doodling on the edges and that is such a nice effect on the pink. Good for Ryan and good for you! Bet this kid is going to be an artist! TFS
Registered: May 23, 2009 Location: sunny california Posts: 9825
Thu, Jul 14, 2016 @ 9:07 PM
I am grinning from ear to ear, Nancy, from your write up and from your beautiful card. The bg is just gorgeous...who would believe that sidewalk chalk could look so good. The daisies and stitching look fantastic. You are inspiring a whole new generation of young artists.
Registered: January 20, 2010 Location: Brampton, Ontario Posts: 26121
Fri, Jul 15, 2016 @ 5:05 AM
Love your story Nancy! I envy your interactions with the next generation of artists. When I think about it though I'm not sure I would have the patience ...hmmm. My hat's off to you for sure! :-) Lovely card. The clean design and stitching are wonderful! Hope Ryan gets to see it soon.
Registered: February 3, 2005 Location: Delray Beach, FL Posts: 34769
Fri, Jul 15, 2016 @ 8:35 AM
Oh, Nancy, what a giggle to read your story of how Ryan went about creating this mixed media background! LOL! A hose, eh? Love it! Well, in the end, it's amazing and beautiful! I love the flowers, and I am in awe that you hand stitched this - what patience, my friend -- true patience! You and Ryan are a great team! Love it all! Hugs!
------------------------------ Cheryl
Proverbs 3:5-6 My blog
Registered: February 5, 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 92403
Fri, Jul 15, 2016 @ 9:01 AM
Nancy, I enjoyed reading your account of the creation of this card as much I did admiring how wonderful it is in design, texture, and color! You are inspiring young children to get off those electronic devices and use their own imagination to CREATE! What a gift you are giving them...you are to be applauded. (Clapping my hands)
Registered: February 22, 2012 Location: Cape Cod Posts: 43340
Fri, Jul 15, 2016 @ 4:00 PM
Ryan's background came out great. You should have used the hose - so funny. Ryan is very inventive - that will serve him well. He's going to be so pleased and surprised at the beautiful finished product.
------------------------------ Priscilla (aka - PJ)
QFTD187 My Gallery