Craf-T Product Review
Chalk Applicators
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| Randi's Review |
Sarah's Review |
Rachel's Review |
Cathy's Review |
Kathleen's Review |
Review by RandiThis was another of those products that I really wondered about when it arrived. I have used chalks for quite some time, but why an enhancer? This is WONDERFUL stuff! It is like making water color paints out of your chalks! I was concerned about applying a substance with the consistency of water to my paper, but it dried very quickly. One thing I did discover, paper that appeared dry to the touch shortly after using the enhancer was still a bit damp and prone to tear in the paper cutter. This is easily overcome by either allowing adequate drying time (ten to fifteen minutes seemed to be sufficient) or cutting your paper to size BEFORE you use the enhancer.
It seems that the really beautiful products often are poisonous. Not so with this enhancer. While it is labled "Keep out of the reach of children" it is also labled NON-TOXIC. That is a big plus for my busy household. I do have a locking drawer where I keep products like this, but it is one less thing to worry about.
This started as a plain, white envelope. I enjoyed "painting" the ENTIRE envelope with the Classic Glimmer Decorating Chalks and the EZ Chalk Enhancer. This is to go with a fall card that I made.
Title: Envelope with chalk only
Title: Same envelope with enhancer. Note how it smoothed out the chalking.
Another thing I liked is the double protection their caps offer. A liquid spill in my scrapping bag would be a disaster, even with an enhancer. Not only does Craf-T provide a cap on the top of the nozzle, but there is also a removeable one underneath the screw-on cap. This virtually assures that you will have no accidents if you replace both caps.
Review by SarahIt doesn’t look like much, but E-Z Chalk Enhancer is the one thing that will take your chalking projects from beautiful to WOW!!
I was pretty skeptical that this little bottle of rubbing-alcohol-scented clear liquid would really live up to the claims of “intensified color” advertised in the instructions. I was also afraid that putting any kind of liquid onto the chalks would ruin them. I gave them a fair try though, and I was amazed at the results.
E-Z Chalk Enhancer is simple to use – just put a few drops of the enhancer into the provided miniature cups, dip your applicator into the enhancer, and wet the chalk with it. E-Z Chalk Enhancer makes the chalk come off easier and thicker, and applying enhanced chalk is kind of like working with paint. The difference is that if the chalk seems too “runny,” you can just dab some of the liquid enhancer onto a paper towel and go on applying the chalk just like you would dry chalk.
Craf-T was completely right about the “intensified color” claims. I was thrilled with the results of my first experiment comparing a dry chalked stamped image with a stamped image colored with enhanced chalks. Below you will see two applications of the same stamp, colored with the exact same chalks in the exact same order and style – except with the 2nd rose, I used E-Z Chalk Enhancer. You may also be able to see the sparkle of the Glimmer Chalks.
Products used: Left rose: dry chalk. Right rose: chalk with enhancer.
Rose: Base coat Pink, shaded with Red; blended with Glimmer Rosie Gold.
Foliage: Base coat Moss Green, shaded with Forest Green; blended with Glimmer Emerald.
Filler flowers: Base coat Pale Yellow, shaded with Glimmer Gold
I was so happy with the results, I had to give it a try with another detailed stamp. This time I tried shading with two colors before blending over with a Glimmer Chalk. I found that I got virtually the same results with the enhancer, a base color and two colors of shading that I got with dry chalk in a base color, two colors of shading and a Glimmer Chalk blended over the top. In other words, similar results with the enhancer in less coats of chalk. When I used all 4 coats with enhancer, it was almost too much. It is easy to go overboard with the enhancer and shade the chalks too dark!
Products used: Dry chalk: Base coat Yellow-Orange, shaded with Butterscotch and Brick; blended with Glimmer Gold. (4 coats enhanced)
Products used: Enhanced chalk: Base coat Yellow-Orange, shaded with Butterscotch and Brick; blended with Glimmer Gold. (4 coats dry)
Products used: Enhanced chalk: Base coat Yellow-Orange, shaded with Butterscotch and Brick; no blending.(3 coats enhanced)
I never, ever would have tried out the enhancer on my own. The packaging is not flashy and I couldn’t picture just how “intensified and deepening of color” would or could work where chalks are concerned. Now that I have tried it, E-Z Chalk Enhancer is going to become an important “personality” in my scrapbooking supplies. I have been collecting supplies for my wedding album for over three years and even started work on the book this summer. However, my detailed stamps (both the rose and the leaf are intended to embellish the album for my fall-themed wedding), were really lacking “something.” I’m so thrilled to have found these options in stamp coloring.
In summary: E-Z Chalk Enhancer is a wonderful addition to the chalk artist’s supplies. It provides the means to great expansion of chalk color use.
P.S. The chalks do not seem to be suffering any ill affects from the liquid enhancer.
Review by RachelThis is a very nice product. It makes the chalks much more intense and brighter. It gives the chalks the look of watercolors. You can use it several different ways. You can use a paint brush, dip it into the chalk, and paint with it. You can also put your chalk on your project and then dip your applicator into the enhancer. If you had a large area to color, you could also just pour the enhancer right onto your project. This liquid dries very quickly and does not leave a wet look when dry. I think this product is great if you like bold and vibrant colors.
Before:
After:
Review by CathyE-Z CHALK ENHANCER is a liquid that is acid free and when added to Decorating Chalk and Decorating Chalk Classic Glimmers results in a more intense color. The E-Z Chalk Enhancer also can be used to change the chalks into a paint for a water-color-like effect. The liquid comes in a package with 2 mini containers and several chalk applicators.
To use the E-Z Enhancer, pour a small amount of the liquid into the yellow cup and dip the applicator into the liquid. (I used the moistened applicator right on the Decorating Chalks.) Another method that works equally as well is to apply E-Z Chalk Enhancer to the applicator and then to chalks that have already been applied to your project.
This photo shows how easy it is to use the Chalk Enhancer. The sample is dry embossed on vellum.
Notice the difference from the first photo...the colors are richer and are blended nice. The results were fantastic.
Dancing Girl is a layout that has the title embossed on vellum, painted with the Decorating Chalk Glimmers and E-Z Chalk Enhancer. The flowers are punched out of white paper and colored with Decorating Chalk and E-Z Chalk Enhancer. The beautiful tags are made with off-white paper and the Craf-T Metallic Rub-ons.
I am recommending E-Z Chalk Enhancer, it is a great product.
Review by KathleenThe E-Z Chalk Enhancer from Craf-T is a great way to enhance your chalking projects and make the color more vibrant and outstanding. The chalk enhancer deepens the color of your pastel chalks and actually expands your color palette.
The following picture shows an example of using chalks without the enhancer. The colors are subtle and appear soft.
Title: Balloon (non-enhanced)
Products used: Craf-T – Decorating chalk kit 24 color palette
Bazzill Basics – Lace cardstock
Other – Micron 05 – Black
For more intensity, see how the following image, where I used the E-Z Chalk Enhancer, creates a more powerful look. The colors, which are the same colors used in the previous example, are more exciting and bright.
Title: Balloon (enhanced)
Products used: Craf-T – Decorating chalk kit 24 color palette, E-Z Chalk Enhancer
Bazzill Basics – Lace cardstock
Other – Micron 05 – Black
Both methods have their uses, but it is exciting to know that you can kick up the excitement level with just one simple tool.
Using the E-Z Chalk Enhancer is easy and requires only a few steps which I have outlined below:
- 1. Select the item you would like to chalk and the color.
- 2. Apply the chalk to your applicator.
- 3. After having put a small amount of the E-Z Chalk Enhancer in the receptacle provided, dip your chalked applicator into the solution.
- 4. Apply to your project the same as if you were only applying chalk.
Do not be afraid to experiment with this tool. You will find that it is a great way to create custom backgrounds and embellishments for you scrapbook layouts.
