Relax With Blendabilities

Since I can remember, nothing is as relaxing and meditative to me than colouring in a picture. I still own crayons and colouring books and now thanks to Stampin' Up!, I have Blendabilities. I bought the Stampin' Write markers right away so I could colour, but being an artist and a specialty with colours and shading, they made it hard to get things just right. The paper would start getting mushy and tearing and nothing really blended smoothly.

Enter Blendabilities! They are an alcohol based marker and you can go over and over and over colour to get it just right and your paper stays beautifully smooth. They do require some special care like putting the caps on as soon as you're done using them, and using Memento Ink so you don't have to worry about your black outline getting fuzzy and seeping into your yellow marker...that drives me crazy since I was little...yup...I'm a bit OCD about my crayons and markers ;) Always use lightest to darkest to keep your colours cleaner...in my opinion. 

The other thing about these special markers is they do show through the other side of your paper...so make sure you have a proper blotter etc. Also, our caps have a little click to them and double sided...fine point and a brush point. They lay and should be stored horizontal to keep colour even for either tip. 

Currently we have some beautiful colours and in January there will be even more to choose from and earn FREE! Each colour comes in a set of 3 - light, medium, and dark - so you can shade and create light and depth where you need it. I find I like working with different colours to create the best finished colour. And I believe the real magic lies in the Colour Lifter...it's like an eraser but it allows you to blend and highlight where natural light would occur in your picture without a hard line. I love it! 

So here is a project I made tonight just trying to relax and chill out. I used The Curvy Keepsake Die as my canvas. 

 

 

Here are the products I used: 

Whisper White Cardstock

Soft Suede Cardstock

Curvy Keepsake Die

Blended Bloom Stamp

Project Life Remember This Stamp Set

Flower Patch Stamp Set

Early Espresso Cotton Ribbon

Versamark 

Clear Embossing Powder

White Uni-Ball Gel Pen

Cherry Cobbler Blendabilities

Calypso Coral Blendabilities

Colour Lifter

Mossy Meadow Ink Pad

Old Olive Ink. Pad

Black Memento Inkpad

Tangerine Tango Inkpad

Hello Honey Inkpad

3/4 Circle Punch

1/2 Circle Punch

Decorative Label Punch

Be Kind To One Another - Ellen Degeneres :)

I really wanted to sit down and play with my Blendabilities and so after cleaning and reorganising my stamping space, I relaxed and did just that! It was stress relieving and I was happy with the results. Can't wait to get the rest of the colours!

Here was a quick card I made with lots of new things you haven't seen yet! 

Products I used: 

Old Olive Cardstock

Crisp Cantaloupe Cardstock

Moonlight DSP Stack (NEW)

From My Heart Stamp Set

Blended Bloom Stamp (NEW) 

Calypso Coral Blendability Pack (NEW)

Old Olive Blendability Pack (NEW) 

Hello Honey Stampin' Write Marker (NEW)

Tangelo Twist Stampin' Write Marker (NEW)

Mossy Meadow Stampin' Write Marker (NEW)

Blendability Lifter (NEW)

Memento Ink Pad (NEW)

Pistachio Pudding Twine (NEW)

Baked Brown Sugar Twine (NEW) 

Special Touch

Once you open your mind to the fact that EVERYTHING you touch can be enhanced with Stampin' Up! Products and a special personal touch, you really start seeing the possibilities and getting excited! This was a Pandora Bead... As you know they come in a cute cardboard box and then a nice gift bag...that EVERY single person receives. I thought my friend deserved a little more (because I can) so here was the end result:

And she was almost more excited by the wrapping than the gift! She said "I have to frame this somehow!"  :) 

And then if you're like me, and you buy boxes of Postage Paid envelopes, they are boring and blah... Soooo why not make them more fun?! I love colored envelopes in my letterbox! They get looked at first! How 'bout you? So here's some quick stamped plain white business envelopes! 

Now... Look around... What can you add an extra special touch too when you have a couple minutes of spare time!?!? It doesn't take long to make a difference! 

I'm Going On an Adventure - Bilbo Baggins Convention Swap 2014

 

I made the decision last time I went to Convention that I'd try and make something "New Zealand Inspired"...last time it had Sheep and Mountains and even some NZ Breakfast Tea and Paua shell accents! This time...I decided to embrace The Hobbit and I came up with a couple ideas...but several I did not want to make 150-200 of! It would be insanity! Lol

Here was my first completed idea...this one is a bit wonky as it's the model one...but from this is how I will create the 150+ beautiful ones to swap with my fellow demonstrators!

Here are some of the step by step photos I've been taking...

Everything is cut... Now to score, emboss, fold, stamp, etc! 

150+ Origami Shirts folded - sore fingers, wrists and hands! Probably about 12 hours of folding - including finger stretching exercises :) the Natural Cardstock made it more difficult than regular DSP would be. 

Then came work on the Cherry Cobbler vest. Embossing... Now just some dauber work, tweaking, and pocket and Collar.

While I finished folding, I had my boyfriend's 14 year old daughter score the ribbon banner and punch the ends with a square punch to make the ribbon-like ends... They need dauber work, embossing, and folding now. 

So.... That is the journey so far!!! Hopefully to be completed by next Monday night?!?! Stay tuned! I will update when I'm done! 

19 May 2014 - the swaps are finished and in my suitcase. I changed them a little as well...kept them a bit cleaner. It was a lot of hard work, and I like them...I hope the people I swap with do as well. 

And here is the finished pic :) 

And here's the recipe for it! 

I am so excited...just 2 more sleeps! More like 1 1/2 as I have to check in at the airport at 4 AM! 

I will report back with pics of swaps, new products, projects and memories when I get back! 

Have a great week! 

Masculine Tag Team Swap!

One of the beautiful things about this amazing company Stampin' Up! is that you get to get together with some really fun, talented, and sometimes silly fellow demonstrators and share and inspire!
The 1st Kiwi Stampers Meeting....we're trying to come up with a new word for it...meeting sounds so formal and un-fun...was held once again and this swap challenge was a masculine tag...here is what I made:

I really wanted to do something younger, more modern and a bit hipper than boats and ties if ya' catch my drift.  I love this stamp set.  It's called "Making A Point" and you can only get it as a Hostess.  It's marketed as a pretty "Girly" set with lipstick and nail polish but I loved using something like ear buds as a male item too. I think we could use some more TEEN or Young Adult stamp sets....sometimes I feel like it's either babies, mothers, or mature selections...but ya' never know what will pop up in that new catalogue later this year!

Here are the products I used to make this cool tag:

Making a Point Stamp Set

Summer Starfruit Cardstock

Island Indigo Cardstock

Early Expresso Core’dinations

Chevron Embossing Folder

Argyle Embossing Folder

Basic Black Inkpad

Soft Suede Inkpad

Stampin’ Sanding System

Gold Bakers Twine

1 ¾ Circle Punch

Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

Island Indigo Stampin’ Write Marker

Where Did March Go?! Holy Cow!

Wow. March came and left and I'm still scratching my noggin :)

I know I had 4 Fantastic Ladies share their home with me and some friends and family members and create some cool things and get started on their own creations. I also welcomed a new Team Member to my team of Wunder Women! Welcome To Aileen who is a very busy and crafty lady who I am hoping to have a stampin' Day with Shortly! 

Welcome to Amazing April! 

Here are a couple things I've made to get into the Easter spirit, spread the word about my business and make some extra money (since I lost my J.O.B - that stands for Just Over Broke when you work for someone else). 

These cute Bunny Treat Sleeves are $3 each. They have Cadbury Drops in them which look a little like mini eggs :)  Here is the list of products I used to make them:

1"x 8" Cellophane Bags 

Whisper White, Basic Grey, Early Expresso, Basic Black, Very Vanilla and Soft Suede Cardstock (also discontinued Pretty in Pink)

Punches:

1" circle punch

1/2 " circle punch

1 3/4" x 7/8 oval punch

Small heart punch

Small circle punch 

Scalloped Oval Punch

Scalloped Circle Punch (1 3/4")

White Uni-ball pen 

Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker

These Bunny Pe-Treat Totes are so dang cute! :) you can put treats or gifts inside and make everyone smile :) I sell them for $6 each with a lil chocolate inside.

Here are the products I used:

Petite Purse Sizzix

Whisper White, Basic Grey, Early Expresso, Basic Black, Very Vanilla and Soft Suede Cardstock (also discontinued Pretty in Pink)

Punches:

1" circle punch

1/2 " circle punch

1 3/4" x 7/8 oval punch

Small heart punch

Cupcake Maker Punch

Large Oval Punch

White Uni-ball pen 

Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker

Cotton Balls (for their butts on the back :) 

I have had a request for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Treat Sleeve for a boy who wouldn't want a bunny lol so I'll be attempting that today. I also did a Mickey and Minnie Mouse with some scraps I had:

So....that's what I've been up to lately. I'm also getting ready for Stampin' Up!'s Annual Convention at the end of May in Melbourne Australia! I can't wait! But I'm working on my SWAPs Idea ....Hobbit Inspired :) once that's sorted I'll feel all relaxed :) 

Have an amazing April and keep creating....it's such yumminess for your soul.

Xo

Patty

Nacho Average Challenge #62

 

I have to tell you..after 2 wins in a row I felt a surge of pressure and excitement to create something I loved and I thought others would too! When I make things, I try to think "would someone display this in their space proudly and enjoy seeing it everyday...or enjoy receiving it and maybe feel a little bad about throwing it away when the time comes" ;)

Now I seriously LOVED these colours together! Here is the challenge that was issued ...you can still play along - click HERE to join in the fun!

And here are some pics of my entry: 

 

 

Here are the products I used: 

Whisper White Cardstock

Early Expresso Cardstock

Marina Mist Stamp Pad and Marker

Melon Mambo Stamp Pad

Early Expresson Stamp Pad

Betsy's Blossoms Stamp Set

Bootiful Occasions Stamp Set

White Bakers Twine

Silver Glimmer Paper

Jewels Basic Rhinestone

Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack

Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons