Chalkboard Special

This is for Challenge #2 of Splitcoaststampers' Fall CAS DT search. The challenge, called Fashion Statement, required us to use designer paper but not too much. When I saw the dp requirement, I started to panic. I haven't used dp in a very long time! I don't know why I stopped using it. I guess I just wasn't inspired by it. I love when others use it but it no longer interests me. Gasp. What was I to do? I went through every single stamp I had to determine which one would be most suited for paper piecing. Finally, I decided that I would use one of my new monsters, Sprat, from Starving Artistamps.

I'd had enough of flimsy black cardstock so I decided to try Gina K's and, boy, do I ever love it. I love it as much as her 120lb white for Copic colouring. The black is so saturated and matte that it actually looks like a chalkboard. That's what inspired me to create this little scene. In high school, I had a super skinny music teacher with bleach blonde hair. She wore four-inch stilettos every day which only accented her horrible posture. Most students despised her because she was so hard on us but I really enjoyed her classes and practice sessions. She really made me feel special even if her personal style was a little odd!

I stamped Sprat three times, cut him out and pieced him together. I thought the hearts would look cute on the centre belly since he really does look like he loves you! I cut out the same pink for his tongue which was added after I cut out his mouth, eyes and horns from white cardstock. Sprat's tail curled naturally during cutting so I decided to leave it. I think it looks cute that way, plus it gives Sprat some added personality. I heat embossed the sentiment to make it to look like chalk and added faux stitching. Then I used a new stamp set with alphabets, numbers and calendar months to add to the whole school scene. I made sure that Sprat and the chalkboard were centred as a unit and popped Sprat with dimensionals. This is probably one of the whackiest cards I've ever made! My son loves it. Do you? ;)

Sources: SU Kraft cardstock; GinaK 120lb pure luxury white cardstock; GinaK pure luxury black onyx cardstock; Imaginisce Fancy Hearts & Frilly Floral dps; Doodle Factory Creatures II; Hampton Art {foot·longs} Number Border; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; SU Whisper White craft ink; SU Crumb Cake; Copics; PTI Mat Stack 1 die; QuicKutz Epic Six; PSX Snowflake embossing tinsel; Hobby Hot Boss; Uniball Signo Broad White gel pen; Forever in Time pop dots