The hardest part about making our chalk paint is picking out the colors you love the most. Of course if you are like us it depends on what you are making and what kind of mood you are in! Pretty Pastels or Bold and Brights? A few drops of Artisan Ink mixed with white gesso will make very pretty pastel chalk paint. Add more ink to the gesso for bright and bold chalk paint.
Chris picked Sunset, Peony and Blue Wave for her Mixed Media Shadow Boxes.
The tags above give you a good idea of how beautiful the ink colors mix with the gesso for soft matte chalk paint. The pastel chalk paints at the top of the tags are 1 drop of ink to 1 teaspoon of white gesso. The middle chalk paint is 5 drops of ink to 1 teaspoon of white gesso and the bottom chalk paint is 10 drops of ink to 1 teaspoon of white gesso. That may sound like a lot of ink and not much gesso but you will be surprised at how much coverage you get with 4-5 teaspoons of chalk paint.
I guess most of you know what gesso is but just in case you don't it is basically a white acrylic primer for canvas that can be applied heavy for texture or lightly brushed on and sanded smooth.
Beautiful matte color.
So now on to the Mixed Media Shadow Box Tutorial
Step One
Make a few teaspoons of chalk paint with the Sunset Artisan Ink and white gesso.
Chris used 1 tsp + 5 drops of ink = middle value chalk paint.
Brush the paint on the wood shadow box frame and let it dry for about an hour, then lightly sand with fine sand paper.
Step Two
Make your chalk paint.
Peony Artisan Ink + White Gesso = beautiful rose color!
Lay your stencil on top of the painted wood frame. In an earlier post I talked about securing your stencil with removable tape - I would for sure do that on this project because if your stencil slips you are going to mess up your beautiful chalk painted frame. Stencil with the rose chalk paint. Leave the stencil in place while the paint drys a little bit - then carefully remove the stencil.
Step Three
Make your Chalk Paint
Blue Wave Artisan Ink + White Gesso = Deep Teal
Lay your stencil on top of the wood frame and secure the stencil with removable tape. Chris used the Lots of Dots stencil and let the frame completely dry before she began stamping and doodling.
Here is the finished Mixed Media Shadow Box
Chris stamped with our Mixed Media and Journal Rubber Stamps, sketched and doodled with our favorite white pens and black pens. And here are the New Wood Shadow Boxes. And last but not least here are the Artisan Inks and Art Stencils.
xo
Comments