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Somewhat like the chalks your children use on the sidewalk, or that of the teacher on her blackboard, scrapbooking chalks are powder-like and fragile. But there is where the similarity ends. Contrary to those more basic versions, scrapbooking chalk is formulated to be acid-free and to become permanent on any project. Furthermore, there is quite a variety available, from dry chalks to rub-on metallic chalks.
Let’s begin with regular dry chalks. Available in several palettes and offered by a few manufacturers, it is applied using a make-up style applicator or a special “claw” handle and cotton pompoms. It gives a soft color effect, perfect for baby or feminine pages. However, some of the color palettes are more intense and vibrant to multiply the possibilities
To illustrate (a little) the applications of scrapbooking chalks, here are a few examples.
On the page above, I used chalks to color the title and the big flowers (originally white) and to add some depth to the overall design.
Here, I used chalks with a teddy bear stencils for a custom-made embellishment.
On this greeting card, I stamped an image (Magenta Deco Flowers C 40.280.O) and a greeting (Bonne Fête C 07.201.H) in VersaMark clear ink and colored the design with chalks to make it pop. It also gives the whole card somewhat of a soft halo.
These three ATC’s were cut from an old greeting card which was simply embossed. I colored in the designs with dry chalks, mixing and adding as much as I wanted to achieve the desired effect.
You could also add a little extra depth to paper flowers or stickers, or even make your own background with chalks and Crafter’s Workshop stencils. The only limit is your imagination!
Now, let’s talk about metallic rub-on chalks. Not to be mistaken for pastels, they are also acid-free and designed to play nice with your photos. They are applied with your fingers and their effect is slightly metallic and a little darker than the dry chalks.
To make this page, I simply cut out some pieces of cardstock in purple, dark blue and white, and I embossed them in the Cuttlebug. I used D’vine Swirls (37-1142); Polka Dot (2000207) and Spots & Dots (37-1145). Once embossed, I simply rubbed the embossed design with rub-on metallic chalks using my fingers. This tones down the cardstock colors while making the photo pop off the page and giving it a classy look.
Finally, here are some examples of the effects the various rub-on metallic chalks palettes have on white or black cardstock.
