The Tricky Tuesday blog usually has a video tutorial to show you how to use your Inspiration and the Inspiration Studio software. Sometimes I might show you how to make a project from start to finish. However, today I am going to take you down memory lane to the earliest days of Pazzles. Today, I am going to show you how to chalk your cut pieces. Not only am I going to show you how to chalk but I am going to introduce you to one of Pazzles earliest products: the Chalking Tool.
Pazzles originally sold paper piecing patterns. As I traveled around the country doing scrapbooking conventions, I would do make and takes. I would teach how to cut and assemble a paper piecing. (Yes, with scissors!) I would also show how to make the paper piecings look more realistic by using chalk, pencils and pens. We came up with the idea of attaching an alligator clip to a stick and using poms poms instead of a cotton ball or cotton swab. It worked so well that eventually we were selling the tools to major companies. My husband used to make them by the thousands in our garage. Of course, we were soon imitated and my husband (gratefully) gave up his manufacturing setup in the garage.
We still get requests for the Chalking Tool. I will admit that I will not use anything else. I have yet to find a better way to apply chalk. I use the tool to apply ink as well. And guess what I saw on a beauty website? A nifty tool to remove toe polish without ruining your manicure. Yup, a Chalking Tool—who knew? (It works great by the way!)
My sweet husband offered to set up shop again to make some of the Chalking Tools for the Pazzles retreat. He kept going until we have enough to sell in the Craft Room store and he has promised that he will continue to make as many as we need. Yippee! The application of chalk with the tool is smooth and precise. Buff the chalk into your paper with the large pom pom and you will not need to set the chalk with any kind of fixative. Pom Poms are in every craft store in the kid craft section. If you watch for sales, you can pick them up for very little expense.
Watch the video to see how I apply chalk to my projects. I don’t profess to be an artist but I do love what the chalks can do for a cut piece of paper.
Oh, and watch for the Pumpkin Pop Up Card project coming in a few days. 🙂
thank you, I found this very helpful and will try chalking
I remember requesting a lesson like this when you were still the Pazzles.com…thank you so much!! Now, I have another request for another video lesson: Facial features with inks and chalks. You are so talented! Thank you for sharing!
Just watched the repair video and will note it. But, do you know if there is a way to clean up chalks that have fallen out of the box? It can create a real mess. I actually pitched a box of chalk as a result. I attempted to clean each piece up…but the black left residue on everything. Just wondering.
LOL, Vicki, I didn’t forget your request! I did have to wait until I convinced my husband to make the chalking tools. Apparently they are getting harder to find and I won’t teach chalking any other way.
Vicki, I clean my chalks by rubbing a tissue over them to pick up the dirty residue. Since you can get chalk wet, if I had dropped my chalks and black was over every color, I might try rinsing the chalk squares under water and gently rubbing with my finger. (I just tried it and it worked great.) Pat the pieces with a paper towel to absorb the water and leave them on a paper towel until dry. If you put them back in the plastic holder while wet, they will take longer to dry.
Before the retreat, I looked all over for a chalking tool. I had lost mine and NEEDED another. My most favorite “present” at the retreat was to receive this tool.
(I am so easily pleased)
Too bad the shipping costs as much as the tool 🙁 would like to order a few but $10 in shipping is more than I care to spend.
Thanks for reminding me about chalking as I haven’t used it in awhile. I have to get some alligator clips and attach them to a stick. I agree with Tracie about the shipping cost.
Thankfully, you always can use more blades and mats. That way you can spread the shipping cost around. 🙂
It was so great to learn this, i will be doing more of this,Thank you so much
Loved the tutorial. Can’t wait to try chalking!
Thank you for the reminder about chalks–I used them in my stamping days and LOVED them. Going to dust them off and put them in my Pazzle desk. Great demo and the poms are much better than the Q-tips. Thanks again.
Thank you for the video, just bought some chalks but haven’t used them yet, guess I will have to make something…I don’t have the tool, I will have to order mine. Hope he continues to make them. 🙂
Thank you Christine for this!!! Chalking is STILL my number one go to for dressing up the die cuts I make on my beloved PI!!! You are so smart to start making the chalking tools again! They are getting SO HARD to find and I still teach this method too!!! YEAH!!! I still have my very first chalking tool and it is a Pazzles one! I know as it has Pazzles on the side of it 🙂 Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU!!!!
Thank you so much for the chalking tips. My pictures always look a little bit like pre-school art. I love the dimensional look a god chalk job gives to a picture. I have thrown out lots of chalk too! Wish I new the ‘reassemble’ trick long time ago.
I discovered a chalking set from one of my favourite stores (purchased my Pazzels there!) A company that makes the chalk sets can be found @ http://www.pebblesinc.com. They really have a super range with the balls and aligator clips. They even have a special eraser. Hope this helps!