Chalk It Up! at Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome. It's Week Two of the latest Frilly and Funkie challenge 'Chalk It Up!' and our host, Shelly, says "I thought it would be fun to experiment with chalk techniques - whether it's stamping with chalk inks, using a faux chalkboard technique, coloring with chalks, or even dabbling in your art journal with sticks of chalk - we want to see what you can create using chalk as a theme!" With the chance of a Guest DT spot at Frilly and Funkie, three Top 3 badges, and a draw for a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique, there are plenty of reasons to join in the fun.

It's a rare joy when a fully formed idea pops into my head (and incredibly helpful when you are more than a little busy!) Thankfully it happened for me this time. Having already swiped black embossing paste and black gesso roughly over a small canvas, I had the perfect uneven base on which to create a rustic chalkboard piece (with more than a hint of French country charm)...

For that chalkboard feel I reached for my Snow Cap pigment ink (alternative listed below) and used it with Wendy Vecchi's Vintage Mesh background stamp for the middle portion of the canvas. To top and tail it properly the ornate border from her Art and You set worked perfectly and they were finished with an Industrial border strip. Having rubbed plain white chalk along the edges of the canvas I attached some thin Venise lace on top.

The centre was created using an idea from Wendy's fabulous August 2015 London course with her faux enamelled technique used on the little cup and saucer. That gave me yet another opportunity to use the pigment ink for the splatters on that gorgeous Sky Blue embossed base. I love the Hydrangea SiSi set and used it in combination with Newsprint paper and Blackout Clearly for Art to add dimension and rigidity. The colours used included Leaf Green, Fern Green, Potting Soil, Peony Pink, Violet and of course Hydrangea! Little dots of Pewter Liquid Pearls added a little finesse to the blooms and my favourite Small Talk Chit Chat Stickers and Remnant Rubs provided just the right words again.

I am so pleased that Shelly suggested this theme as it was such fun to work to and helped to create a piece which should by now be sat in its new home. Isn't it wonderful when your most favourite projects are the ones you end up giving as gifts to special friends.

That's it from me for now. I look forward to see how you choose to 'Chalk It Up!' for the challenge over at Frilly and Funkie, and for lots more incredible inspiration please make sure you check out the projects created by my uber-talented Funkie team mates, including our latest addition Zoe!

Whatever you're up to take care of yourselves, Jenny xxx