Trick or Treat Chalkboard with Cathy

Hi and welcome to the Samantha Walker Creative Team Blog!  I have a project to share today with you that didn't go quite according to plan but still turned out cute and I learned a few things along the way!

My plan was to create a stencil with Silhouette's stencil material, but for some reason my transfer paper just wouldn't hold the design....Grrr.

So I used the positive design instead of the negative like you normally do for a stencil!

I adhered my Trick or Treat phrase to the chalkboard with some light tack tape.

Then I traced the design with a white chalk marker!

Not the crispest of lines, but it worked and all I had left to do was color it in with the chalk marker.  

I think it turned out pretty cute...like I said it wasn't my original plan and I think creating a stencil would give you a crisper, cleaner look.  But you could do this with card stock or vinyl, and simply trace your design!

And it looks pretty dang cute here with my adorable monster all set to go Trick or Treating!

Thanks for joining us today and have a 

Happy Halloween!

~Cathy

Samantha Walker Trick or Treat Phrase

Creating a Chalkboard Home Decor Piece

Hi Samantha Walker fans!  Christine joining you today with a simple weekend project to try!  The chalkboard trend is still going strong and today I thought I'd share with you how I created a chalkboard home decor piece using Samantha's files!  To do this you will need one piece of black cardstock - even a faded or uneven tone will work here!  You will also need a Silhouette Sketch Pen in white.

To begin you will want to use the 12 X 12 Doily Set Large Open Scallop Edge #60394 set and eliminate all but one of them on your screen

Then add the sentiment (Home is' 43898) to the middle stretching it to a size that you are happy with!

Insert your white sketch pen and let it do it's work on the design.  Once it is done remove the sketch pen and the now sort of chalkboard looking piece.  Use your white sketch pen to add some chalky-ness to the design!

I filled in spots throughout the letters and swirls.  I also just kind of scribbled to create a smudged look in several places.  That's the cool thing about chalk - it has a messy-ness to it that makes it unique!  I then attached the whole thing to a square canvas so I can hang it up on my wall.  

Best of all you don't actually have to deal with chalk!  You get the effect without the real mess!

Thanks for joining us today and enjoy the rest of your weekend!