Often I hear paper crafters differentiate themselves by what the end result of their efforts ususally are.  In other words, so many of you are either a stamper OR a scrapper.  Card-making seems to be the one area you both have in common.  Most stampers are generating cards in their stamping efforts, and scrappers are learning quickly that card making is a natural off-shoot of scrapping!  The bits and pieces left over from a page are perfect for creating a card!

So if we use the greeting card as a common ground for everyone, what are the techniques that we can share from stampers to scrappers to help make those cards better?  (In the process of this, I'm sure we'll learn that these same techniques can be taken back to the pages and other projects we love to create!) 

Chalking is one technique that all papercrafters can use and enjoy.  I have a few tips to share, but I'd love to know what else you guys have learned! 

In general, use chalks designed for paper crafting as they will be acid free.  Chalk is somewhat forgiving, you can erase overstrikes!  Chalk does set to permanent in a matter of a few hours, so finishing sprays usually are not necessary. 

Use cotton balls to apply a light soft coating of chalk, and Q-tips or applicators for deeper, more defined application of colors.  On a slightly weird note, I read that Creating Keepsakes recommends the use of tampons as applicator, because you get a wider application of deep color than Q-tips or the applicators provide.  Also with this technique you just cut off the end and you have a fresh applicator to use the next time.  Sounds reasonable, however I'm just waiting see how many of you decide to whip one of these out at the next crop...

Chalk loves Versamark!  Stamp with Versamark and apply chalk....the Versamark grabs the color and it's really easy to get beautiful blends of color using this technique.

Chalk is great for outlining or adding detail to die cuts.  It's also great for highlighting important words in your journaling.  I've seen some of you add chalk to your torn pages, which is beautiful!

What do you like to use chalk for?  Have you got any other ideas you can share?  Let's pool our resources and see what we can learn from each other!