Jul 07 2008
Coloring Today — Three Step Poppin’ Chocolate Roses
I’m thinking ahead to my September anniversary for today’s coloring tutorial. I may change my mind later…there’s lots of stamping to be done between now and then. You know how anniversaries are named — golden, silver, etc… Shouldn’t there be a chocolate anniversary? Why was that option overlooked?
My card uses Kitchen Sink Stamps’ Hearts & Roses set. This set, which I’m sure you’ve seen before, features exquisitely detailed multiple step roses, both in bud and full bloom. It’s the multiple steps that make it perfect for this coloring technique. Why bother with chalks when you could just stamp it in ink? Well…because it gives it a whole other look — sort of soft and velvety and rather romantic. There’s also the fact that it’s just plain fun to do something different once in a while when you’re playing around with your art. That’s really what stamping is all about — enjoying the pastime.
This is the same rose stamped in ink:
- So Saffron
- Creamy Caramel
- Close to Cocoa
They’re the same colors I used in chalks but the results are very different. The details of the ink rose are quite distinct. It’s an amazing image and will make a beautiful card — another time. Today I wanted something a little more dreamy.
Here’s the supplies required:
- Stamps (stem and sentiment not pictured)
- Soft chalks
- Foam applicators
- Versamark ink
- Spray matte sealer
- Acrylic blocks and craft foam pad for cushion under stamping (not pictured)
Please pardon me for showing these first few images in a horizontal orientation. I decided to go vertical when the image was half finished but didn’t have time to start over with the stamping and photographs.
Stamp the first step rose buds with Versamark ink on vanilla cardstock. The Versamark is nearly invisible but apparent enough for our purposes. Using a foam applicator (make up brush) pat saffron chalk onto image. As the chalk is applied, the image will take shape and it will be easier to see where you’re going. At this stage the rose buds look like funny little heads with big kissy lips, don’t they?
Stamp the second step rose buds with Versamark ink over the first images. The Versamark will lift some of the chalk from the first image so be sure to clean between stampings so you don’t get chalk in your Versamark pad. Apply caramel chalk to the areas of the second stamping. Go easy until you see the image emerge and its lines become more clear. Blow away the chalk powder once in a while. Keep applying the caramel chalk until you have a good contrast between the saffron and the caramel. The chalk will stick more to the fresh Versamark stamping than it will to the first image. In an image this detailed, some of the finer lines will become obscured — that’s okay. We’ll still have a beautiful image.
Stamp the third step and color with cocoa chalk. Again, remember to clean between stampings.
Stamp both stems and color with olive chalk. It’s okay to go outside the lines because we’ll be shading around the image next.
Shade around the entire image with mustard chalk. Press the tip of the applicator onto the paper to get a more distinct line close to the image. Apply cocoa chalk in the areas where you want deeper shading, such as directly under the buds and on inner curves.
Once the outline has been established, use a light circular motion to spread a hazy glow of mustard chalk outward from the image. Blend and smooth the lines with your finger. Stamp sentiment with Rose Red ink.
Compare these chalk roses to the ink rose I showed at the beginning. Deep, rich and velvety.
The final and essential step is to spray with a sealer. I use matte most frequently because it’s more appropriate for the soft look of chalks. The brand I find at Wal-Mart is Plaid. Follow the directions on the can, applying three coats. The can directions tell you to wait 15 minutes between coats but it dries pretty fast on paper and I usually give it about 5 minutes. Maybe it depends on humidity? It’s not very humid here on the Oregon coast.
Why the sealer? Just as you were able to blend the chalk with your finger, the chalk will wear off the image with handling. The Versamark with chalk has a tacky feel to it and a chance of smearing when handled. The spray not only seals the image and makes it touchable, it pops the colors and gives your card an extra special quality with a professional-looking finish.
Thank you so much for dropping in on me today. Perhaps you know how much I love my chalks and all the things that can be done with them. Using the Poppin’ Pastels technique for two or three step stamping is just one of their many uses. I hope there’s at least a little bit of information here that was helpful. Have a wonderful day!
WOW, Leslie!
This is wonderful!! Thanks for taking the time to do all of the steps (and photo them)!!!
Beautiful card!!!
Where do I begin to thank you for the chalk tutorial? Your tutorials are by far the best I’ve found and I’m grateful beyond words. Can’t wait to get home to try your techniques!
Leslie, this is such a pretty card and your coloring w/chalks on these KS stamps is amazing. Love the tutorial as well!
Pinky
Ooh! Thank you for the great tutorial. When I get home to my chalks I’ll have to try this…………………………..!
Dina @ mamadinis
Love the card. It’s beautiful. Thank you so much for the tutorial. I can’t wait to try it. Guess I’ll have to get that set - I’ve been looking and looking at it!!!
I was zipping through my Google Reader list and was stopped DEAD by how beautiful this card is. When I opened the blog and saw there was a tutorial I was even more impressed. Thanks so much for showing how it was done.
Great tutorial and beautiful card! Thanks for sharing!
Oh my goodness this is stunning! Thank you for taking the time to show us step by step. I think the chalk on a rose is so totally perfect for the texture they really have.
Thank you, Leslie, for the great tutorial! I’ve never tried Poppin’ Pastels before - this tutorial certainly gives me the incentive to give it a go:) Your card is indeed romantic and dreamy! It’s just gorgeous!!! TFS
I love your tutorials because they are so easy to understand!! And I want to place the first vote for a chocolate anniversary!
Wow thanks for this great tutorial - I never thought to use chalks on my 3 step flower sets that I have. It really does give a totally different look from the inks!
A beautiful work of art! Thanks so much for the step-by-step; you always give me something fun that I need to try!
Geez Leslie…this is a wonderful tutorial…TFS…You are so very talented…One of these days, I wanna be just like you
This is fabulously gorgeous! Thank you for the step by step instructions.
Oh my, Leslie, I do love your coloring with Stampin’ Pastels! What a beautiful card! It is so fun to watch an image emerge using chalks - and I imagine even more so with three and four step stamping. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful evening.
I am so excited to see you share your wonderful chalk techniques. I can’t wait to try it soon
Your rose image is just so gorgeous and I just love your shading and soft highlights around your roses. A real beauty ! TFS
thank you Leslie for the turtorial, i also love coloring with chalks. love the technique. never considered using chalks with two or three step stamping. such a beautiful card. i will give this a try. thank you for sharing
blessings!!!
Thank you for the excellent tutorial! I’m new at this but I am definitely going to try this technique. I hope mine turns out 1/2 as good as yours!! Please keep your tutorials coming!!
wow, what a wonderful effect that chalking has! I think I need to invest in some chalk…lol
Thanks for the inspiration!!
Just beautiful…..I can’t wait to try this technique. I’ll be watching for more of your tutorials. Many thanks.
Thank you for the tutorial; so easy to follow with great pictures to use when referencing. Am looking forward to using the technique with some retired SU flowers; hope the card does you proud
I can’t say mine would turn out as lovely but it was very clear and great instructions, just love what you can do with chalk!
Leslie you work magic with those chalks. This is so gorgeous! And such a wonderful tutorial. TFS!!!
Wonderful tutorial and a beautiful card — thank you!!!!
beautiful!!
KSS Design Team
This is so beautiful Leslie - WOW!!!! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex
Beautiful card and great tutorial, thank you! I have a few of the three step flowers from Kitchen Sink, but of course, I don’t have this one — maybe I need to get it! Great work and a wonderful idea that I am not sure that I would have come up with on my own.
This is just so pretty!
You got a shout out for tutorial of the week over at Card of the Week.com. You can check out the post at http://www.cardoftheweek.com/2008/07/tutorial-tues-1.html
New feature: as a featured artist, you can have a badge for your blog. Please email me at barefootstamper@gmail.com if you would like the code.
Wow, what a difference!! I never think of chalk and it is soft and deamy looking! I’ll have to give it a try! Your card is just beautiful! Great tutorial!!
This is so gorgeous, Leslie!! You certainly know how to work those chalks, and I appreciate your fabulous tutorial as well!!
You bring so much to the party! (wink)! Your fabulous tutorial and love of the soft chalks is so evident with this stunning card! TFS! Take care, Deb
Very cool! I’m going to have to give this a try. thanks for the tutorial.
Wow!!! This is totally gorgeous!! I love to color with chalk, however I haven’t mastered your technique using the 3-step stamps. I’m thrilled you showed us step by step how it’s done:) Those roses are gorgeous!!
Very, very nice card.
You are such a genious!! I never would have thought to do chalking over Versamark with these stamps, but the results are amazing! I’ll definitely have to try this technique!
My soft and pretty Roses in Winter Poppin’ Pastels card……Inspired by you Leslie and my roses
TFS another awesome Tutorial!!!!
Roses in Winter: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/978322?nocache=1
Beautiful, romantic roses!! Thanks for the great tutorial!
That is chalks done right! Wow, so beautiful! I really appreciate that you showed an ink version of this for comparison too.
[…] colored this flower with the 3-Step Poppin’ Pastels technique per my tutorial here. The layered shades of chalk are one of the best ways I’ve found to achieve a deep, rich, […]
I, too, love your tutorial! Thanks so much.
[…] - bookmarked by 1 members originally found by farierep on July 13, 2008 Coloring Today — Three Step Poppin’ Chocolate Roses […]
I am sooo glad I found this tutorial. Gorgeous. I had to read it 3 times to get that you were stamping over the chalked image. I’m a little slow in the middle of the night!!
The card itself is incredible, but the tutorial!!! Oh Leslie, it’s just fantastic!!! As in everything you do, well done! Thank you so much for all the wonderful details and photos. You want to try this so you can see and feel first hand the richness and soft texture of this technique. And I’m still chuckling about “the funny little heads with big kissy lips.” Tee hee! Linda
[…] For information on shading a background with chalks, please refer to this tutorial. […]