Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Coloring the Perfect Peacock


I am seriously addicted to coloring with the Stampin' Blendabilities markers! Is there a 12 step program to help marker addicts? If so, please don't tell me about it, because I'm having too much fun!

I hadn't planned on getting the Perfect Peacock stamp, because I figured I had plenty of images that I could color already. But then I got to looking at those stamp sets, and mostly they're floral images, which is perfectly okay, except sometimes I don't WANT to color just flowers. Sooooo, onto the order it went, and woohoo I'm glad I caved!

After coloring the bird, I used the Color Lifter Marker to add highlights to its wing and breast, so it looked more like shiny plumage. If you try that, be sure to go back with whatever color you used originally and blend the edges a bit. That's what makes BLENDabilities so great!

You may have noticed this isn't a standard A2 (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") size. I went with an A6 (4 1/2" x 6 1/4") because the image is so large, and I wanted more of a border around it. It would have fit an A2 card, of course, but for this use I wanted it larger.

I discovered something cool, too! We all know the Blendabilities will color embellishments, but did you know the Stampin' Dazzle Markers will, too? I wanted gold accents on the Antique Brad embellishment I used, and that marker did the trick. When it was dry, the ink didn't rub off, either! Now I want to try it on other embellishments (1/8" Mini Brads and Essentials Hardware Clips perhaps?).

STAMPS: Perfect Peacock, Flower Patch (greeting), Gorgeous Grunge
CARDSTOCK: Shimmery White, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Basic Black
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Early Espresso, Coastal Cabana, plus Coastal Cabana, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake, and Calypso Coral Stampin' Blendabilities Markers, Gold Stampin' Dazzle Marker
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Fancy Fan TIEF, Antique Brads, Venetian Crochet Trim, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch

Monday, July 28, 2014

Another Swap


Here's another card I made for convention swaps.This was for another Stampin' Addicts organized swap, but in the New Catalog category this time. I sure do love coloring with the Stampin' Blendabilities markers, can you tell?
From Millan.Net
In fact, I love them so much, I've scheduled a free coloring class to show how they are different from our Stampin' Write Markers, and the different uses of all our coloring products! If you are interested, be sure to RSVP soon, because space is limited.

Notice the floral background paper? I stamped a different flower image from the I like You set in VersaMark ink on the cardstock to make my own patterned paper. It's a great way to make your own patterned paper, using supplies you have on hand, if you don't have just what you need in your Designer Series Paper!

Saturday, July 26, 2014

A Swap Card

For the Stampin' Up! convention this year, I didn't go overboard on making swap cards, like I did last year. Thank goodness, because I had much less stress, which made the whole experience much more enjoyable! This is a card I made for on of the Stampin' Addicts organized swaps. I just love swapping with that group of stampers, because I know I will get amazing swaps back!


This was a "Something old, something new" swap. We were to use a stamp set that is current, but not new this year, and combine it with something that IS new, like DSP, or embellishments. I chose Papillon Potpourri for my something old, and the fabulously awesomely glimmery Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper. You just can't appreciate how beautiful this is unless you see it for yourself!

The greeting is from the hostess set called Let Your Hair Down.

I have more swaps to share over the next week or so. One of which I can't share yet because it's a Control Freaks swap, and my Freaky peeps haven't received it yet. Don't want to spoil the surprise! But I will say that Glimmer Paper was involved, and leave it at that.

STAMPS: Let Your Hair Down, Papillon Potpourri
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper
INK: Jet Black StazOn
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Perfect Polka-Dots embossing folder, Elegant Butterfly Punch

Saturday, July 19, 2014

We Be Swappin' FREAKS!


Well, we ARE the Control Freaks Stampers, after all, and 3-4 times per year we have swaps. This month the Tour de Freaks theme is the swaps we made each other for convention. Swapping is a big FUN part of any Stampin' Up! gathering, and swapping with the Control Freaks is extra fun! I'm the first stop on the tour this time, but you may have landed here from Connie Babbert's blog. Either way, just click on the link at the bottom of each blog, and you'll make the rounds of all (lucky) 13 of us.

To me, the very best part of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is the friends I've made, that I never would have known otherwise. With that in mind, my swap cards are gratitude and friendship-themed. Up first is the Thank You card. It's hard to see in this photo, but the colors look kind of peacockish. (Is that a word? LOL) The Coastal Cabana and Blackberry Bliss just work wonderfully together! The image was colored with Stampin' Blendabilities Markers. It's so easy to blend the colors! And the shadow added with the Smoky Slate marker makes it look like the image was fussy-cut and popped up on dimensionals, but it wasn't!

STAMPS: I Like You (hostess), Itty Bitty Banners   CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Blackberry Bliss, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper   INK: Blackberry Bliss, plus Coastal Cabana, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Smoky Slate, and Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blendabilities Markers   ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Deco Labels Framelits, Circles Collection Framelits, Bitty Banners Framelits, Perfect Polka-Dots TIEF, Delicate Designs TIEF, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, 1/8" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

The second card is my friendship card. My friends all have a sparkle to them, so I wanted to make a card that encourages their "shine"! I just love this scribbled sentiment (from Good Greetings, a 19 pc. hostess set coming in the Holiday catalog, woohoo!).

STAMPS: Beautiful Bunch, Good Greetings (avail. later this year)   CARDSTOCK: Mossy Meadow, Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Park Lane DSP, Gold Glimmer Paper   INK: Crushed Curry, Mossy Meadow, Early Espresso   ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Flower Fair Framelits, Fun Flower Punch, Tangelo Twist 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, Gold 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Just so you know, some of the people on this month's tour weren't able to attend convention this year, so their theme was "free for all".....that should make things interesting!  Up next is the ever fabulous Wendy Weixler's blog. Since she lives practically next door to the convention center, she WILL be attending! Be sure to stop by ALL the blogs; you don't want to miss any of it!

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwickedlywonderfulcreations.blogspot.com%2F2014%2F07%2Ffreakin-swappin-convention-2014.html&h=QAQGLXUXN

Friday, July 11, 2014

Stampin' Addicts DSP Blog Hop

Hello, and welcome to the Stampin' Addicts blog hop, where we are showcasing the wonderful new Designer Series Papers from the new Stampin' Up! catalog. You may have just landed here from Holly's blog where she featured the cheery Confetti Celebration DSP, or are starting your tour here. There are seven stops on the hop, so just click the link at the bottom of each blog, and you'll loop through them all!

I chose the Park Lane Designer Series Paper, because not only do I love the colors and patterns, I love that it can be used for feminine or masculine cards!

Up first is a pretty floral card, which went together in an absolute jiffy! The DSP carries the card and the stamped, punched blossom (layered) makes a great focal point!


Next is more of a masculine, or neutral, card. I love the bright colors. The pattern of the Daffodil Delight DSP is so subtle, you really have to look to see it!


For my last card, I wanted to show the gorgeous Blackberry Bliss patterned papers. The contrast between the two made it easy to pull the card together.


If you liked this DSP, or any of the other DSP packs on pages 186-187, they are on sale this month - Buy three, get one free!

That's all for me today. Up next is Paula Wright's blog, and she's going to wow you with the Back to Black Designer Series Paper. It will go with anything!

http://www.stampinaddicts.com/forums/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fpaulastamps.blogspot.com%2F2014%2F07%2Fstampin-addicts-blog-hop-designer.html
http://www.stampinaddicts.com/forums/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Frubberredneck.typepad.com%2Frubber-redneck%2F2014%2F07%2Fstampin-addicts-designer-series-paper-hop.html

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Traveler Sympathy

It's been kind of a rough month, with a couple of deaths in the family, so I apologize for my lack of posts. I've been just a little unfocused. This is one of the cards I've made recently, and now I'm working on swaps for the Stampin' Up! convention (in less than two weeks, EEK!). Now that is something to look forward to!


I love how easy it is to add a just dash of color with the Work of Art stamp set, without having to painstakingly color the image. The hint of Lost Lagoon was stamped off twice before stamping over the train. And it was a snap to choose the coordinated color palette based on the Designer Series Paper! The card came together very quickly, so this would be a good design if you needed to make a bunch in a hurry. Just substitute an image of your choice and whatever greeting you choose. Easy-peasy!

STAMPS: Traveler, Work of Art, Teeny Tiny Wishes
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Lost Lagoon, Basic Gray, Moonlight DSP Stack
INK: Lost Lagoon, StazOn Jet Black
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, On Film Framelits, Small Oval Punch (retired), Lost Lagoon Stitched Satin Ribbon