blendabilities techniques – Northwest Stamper

A Simple Hello with Blended Blooms with a NEW Blendabilities Basics Video Tutorial

Are you ready for another Blendabilities card? I have another one for you today…. this was another card that I made using up the bits and pieces I had lying around my craft room. From a stamped Blended Bloom image that needed to be colored to the Striped Scallop thinlit and the cut out pieces from a Dazzling Diamond Glimmer paper die cut. A little bit of this and a little bit of that can come together for something new and fun like this:

And if you are interested, I finally got my Blendabilties Basics video up to share the basics about these markers along with tips and techniques for coloring your images along with a few other fun ways to use your markers that DON’T involve stamping! Smile I have the video below for you to check out!

Tips for making this card:

Use the 2-way Glue Pen for an easy and mess-free way to adhere your Striped Scallop die cut to your project – like the Early Espresso die cut I have on my card.
You can put your die cut over cardstock for a simple accent, or step it up a notch by using the leftover cutouts from a prior project to fill in the gaps! In this case I had previously cut out a Striped Scallop piece from the Dazzling Diamond glimmer paper. I used the outline on a different card and kept the teardrop pieces that had been left behind to use later. So when I was making this card, I just started gluing them the the holes on this card!
For a different take on leaves, use the Scalloped Tag Topper punch to create two scalloped pieces. Let them peek out from behind your flower for a hint of green.
When coloring your flower, it is a big enough image that you will want to color it a few petals at a time. I recommend finishing up 2-4 petals at a time instead of trying to do all of them at once, which would cause the ink to dry too much and keep them from blending well.

I actually walk through coloring a few petals of this flower along with other flowers and projects in this Blendabilities Basics video:

(note- if you are reading this post in email, you will want to click here to view the video)

Get Blendabilities for FREE!

Just a reminder you can get many of the Blendablities for free during Sale-a-Bration! For every $50 you order you can pick one set of the original 12 colors (found in the Annual Catalog) to get included in your order free. Smile Shop online and use Hostess Code EGR29JBV to receive a free gift from me when you place your order!

NOTE – due to the dock workers strike on the west coast, some of the colors of blendabilities are unavailable while inventory is being replenished in the warehouse. Those colors are Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie. If you want to be notified when those become available, you can email me at jennifer@nwstamper.com and I’ll keep you posted!

Project Supplies Used:
Easy shopping anytime! Click the images below to see the item in the online store.
Use Hostess Code EGR29JBV to receive a free gift from me when you place your order!

Blended Bloom Wood-Mount Stamp Set

Price: $11.95

A Dozen Thoughts Clear Stamp Set

Price: $18.95

Stampin’ Blendabilities™ Markers Cherry Cobbler Assortment

Price: $11.95

Stampin’ Blendabilities™ Markers Daffodil Delight Assortment

Price: $11.95

Tag Topper Scalloped Punch

Price: $22.95

Striped Scallop Thinlits Die

Price: $24.95

Big Shot

Price: $99.95

Big Shot Magnetic Platform

Price: $39.95

Whisper White 5/8″ Satin Ribbon

Price: $6.95

Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper

Price: $4.95

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock

Price: $8.50

Early Espresso 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock

Price: $6.95

Mossy Meadow 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock

Price: $6.95

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Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

February 26, 2015

Fun Ideas with Blendabilities – Creating a Spectrum background and Coloring on Non-White Cardstock

Tonight is my next Blendabilities technique night and I always relish the chance to play more and differently with my Blendablities! So, today I thought I’d share a card I used as an example of different ideas for your coloring:

Tips on this card:

This stamp set is the amazing Bloom with Hope hostess set! It is a ton of stamps and great sentiments and you can get it FREE when you place your own $150 order or when you host a craft night with your friends. Email me at Jennifer@nwstamper.com for more details!
You don’t have to only color on Whisper White paper! I still wanted to stamp with my Memento Black ink as my base, but then I stamped onto Crumb Cake cardstock.
Coloring on different cardstock colors gives you slightly different looks, often a little bit darker than you would see on white, but you can still get your blending and gradients!
Speaking of gradients – try making your own on a piece of Whisper White cardstock! Color your light area and then start building out your darker colors as far as you want. You can make your own pretty and custom spectrums.
Stamp your sentiment AFTER you finish your coloring to make sure it has the best chance of standing out.
Grab your coordinating colors in accessories to finish out your card like the quick and easy Washi Tape or some Designer buttons.

New Weekly Deals!

Project Supplies Used:
Easy shopping anytime! Click the images below to see the item in the online store.
Use Hostess Code EGR29JBV to receive a free gift from me when you place your order!

Bloom With Hope Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Price: $17.00

Stampin’ Blendabilities™ Markers Daffodil Delight Assortment

Price: $11.95

Stampin’ Blendabilities™ Markers Old Olive Assortment

Price: $11.95

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

Price: $5.95

Neutrals Designer Buttons

Price: $7.95

Beach House Designer Washi Tape

Price: $4.95

Linen Thread

Price: $4.50

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock

Price: $8.50

Crumb Cake 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock

Price: $6.95

Soft Suede 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock

Price: $6.95

Old Olive 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock

Price: $6.95

Supply List

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

February 24, 2015

Kind Koala + Blendabilities = a Great Time and Pretty Thinking of You Card

What was the stamp set in the Stampin’ Up catalog that you saw and immediately went “I have to have that!”? For me, it was the Kind Koala stamp. I didn’t have a plan or a reason for it, but I just thought it was too cute not to have. So, it went on my first order and I haven’t regretted it! I still love it, especially when coloring this little guy in with my Blendabilities markers.

Tips for making this card:

The Kind Koala stamp set is perfect for quick cards. The image and sentiment are all one single stamp, so you can stamp, add some backing layers and be done! Added extra coloring or accessories as you have the time. 🙂
The skin tones Blendabilities aren’t just for skin! I used them here to color in the Koala. You get a wide range of browns and peaches to work from, some of which are lighter than the Crumb Cake markers. (Plus, this week they are 25% off with the Weekly Deals!)
Keep the rest of your card clean and simple to let the focus be on your colored Koala image. He is cute, why not let him steal the show?
Use the In Color paper and matching In Color ribbon to have a subtle way of adding texture without too much competing colors (this card uses the pretty Lost Lagoon).
Make adding a bow easy! Adhere one piece of ribbon around your card front and then tie a second piece of ribbon into a bow and adhere ON TOP of the first ribbon using a glue dot! It keeps everything tight and just how you like it!
Add your favorite complimentary color for the flower and do some subtle shading with your Blendabilities. Even the littlest bits of coloring can make a big impact!

But most of all, when coloring with Blendabilities, don’t over think it!! Your images will likely turn out darker or fussier if you overthink what you are doing when you are first starting out. Just start with your lightest color and then add touches of the medium and darker color wherever you think there would be shadows or shade and a little bit of squiggles goes a long way! 🙂

Project Supplies Used:

Kind Koala Wood-Mount Stamp Set

Stampin’ Blendabilities™ Markers Skin Tone Assortment

Stampin’ Blendabilities™ Markers Daffodil Delight Assortment

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

Lost Lagoon 3/8″ Satin Stitched Ribbon

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock

Lost Lagoon 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock

Strawberry Slush 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock

Early Espresso 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock

Glue Dots

Scallop Edge Border Punch

Supply List

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

January 22, 2015

Quick and Easy Card with Blendabilities

Today over on the Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration blog, we are sharing some quick and easy card ideas. This is one that I loved from my last Blendabilities technique class because it looks so cool and yet is so super easy to make!

I have no idea what to call this technique on the main sentiment – it always strikes me as a Neon Sign… should we call it the neon sign technique? Or is it a variation on the Chalkboard technique? Maybe I should call for a vote! Smile Either way it is so easy to do.

Tips for making this card:

Keep your card clean and simple with basic black and white cardstock and paper. This lets any colors you do add really POP off the page.
To get the Neon Sign look for your sentiment or image, stamp your image with Versamark ink on black cardstock and heat emboss with white embossing powder. Color over your embossed areas with your favorite colors of blendabiliities markers.
You don’t have to worry about being precise, since you are coloring on black cardstock, the ink won’t show!
Coordinate your ribbon by coloring your ribbon with the same Blendabilities colors as well! In this case, I used the medium Melon Mambo marker to color the center section of my white ribbon!

Die cut out your images and adhere and you are good to go! Or use this technique on your card base for a beautiful background. The possibilities are endless.

And I do get the question, does the color rub off? Nope! Not if you let it dry before trying to rub and it doesn’t take very long to dry at all. Smile

If you are in the Seattle area, join me for a blendabilities class focused on coloring on Oct 28th at 7pm at the Redmond Panera. It should be a fun night of learning and creating. RSVP here.

This is a super fun and easy technique, so give it a try and let me know how it goes for you!

Card Supplies Used:

October 22, 2014

From Scraps to Shiny Sweet

Yesterday, I was trying to finally unbury my craft table…again! I had everything piled up from the last two weeks, including all the odds & ends from my spare table that I used for prep work for my events that I took down over the weekend. I was sooooo excited to be down to just all my scrap cardstock that was sorted and just needed to be put away in my file folders, so I thought I’d get it all wrapped up.

What is it about a clean craft table that makes you want to get crafting again?!

As I was putting away scraps, I had this stamped strip of paper and the scrap strip of Gold Foil paper. I thought,” why not make a banner out of the gold paper and glue them together?” Then I grabbed the Vintage button I had colored for my Blendabilties class and stuck it on the end… grabbed some sequin trim scrap, some lace scrap, and cherry cobbler scrap… and things just started coming together! Gotta love it when that happens. Smile

Tips for making this card:

Take a regular ol’ white or vanilla button – like this Very Vintage Button – and color it with your Cherry Cobbler blendabilities! Use the PEN TIP to color so you don’t risk messing up your brush tip.
Add a single sequin to the center with a glue dot for a complimentary bit of shine.
Did you know, this sentiment is from the Happy Hour stamp set and is 25% off with the weekly deals this week! Love it!
Want to add a bit of shine to a corner of a card? Staple a string of sequins for some not-too-overdone shine! I used my Stampin’ Up mini stapler to staple the strand into a twist first and then stapled that onto my card. (yes, I’m sure that made no sense, but if you just staple it to your card front, that works great too!)

So, don’t forget to use those scraps! You never know when they will come together just right. Smile

Hostess Code: C2HYWWQM Use this Hostess Code and receive a free gift!
(Please do not use the Hostess Code if your order is $150 or more)

Card Supplies Used:

September 18, 2014

Blendabilities Technique Fun with Starburst Sayings

Last week I had my Blendabilities technique class and it was a lot of fun. As I’ve mentioned before, one of my favorite things about running a technique class is not only to I get to share some really fun ideas and tips with others, but I also spend a lot of time reminding myself and learning more about the technique and really spending a lot of time playing around. And let me tell you… playing around with Blendabilities is AWESOME!

You do have your Blendabilties already, right?

This was one of the cards everyone did and it showed off using Blendabilities 3 different ways including:

coloring in a stamped image using shading (the flower)
coloring in white space on a black stamped image (words in the starburst sentiment)
and coloring in designer paper for a really great effect (the pattern paper strip across the card front).

BAM! 3 techniques – 1 card!

Tips for this card:

When coloring with Blendabilities, I like to start with the lightest color first and color in all or almost all of the image and then start building up with the darker colors to shade in and get tone and dimension to your image.
Don’t forget you can color in stamped images – just scribble over the black ink and white spaces… the marker coloring will fade into the black image and pop out on the white spaces.
And if you have designer paper that seems a bit plain or boring to you, spice it up by grabbing your Blendabilties and start shading! I started with this black and white pattern:
Then I shaded half of the diamond shape with the lightest color of the Coastal Cabana Blendabilities and then shaded about 1/4 of the shape from the right with the medium shade. And then finally just added a dab of the darkest color.

I’m also sharing this card as part of the Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration Stamp Set Spotlight! They are sharing a number of cards using the Starburst Sayings stamp set which is what I used for that fabulous main greeting. Plus, don’t you think the starburst is just so much more fun and interesting on a card than a plain circle? Sometimes you just need those spikey bits. Smile