Stampin Blends ESAD BLOG HOP

Welcome to Stamping Joy !
As you hop around the list of Blogs today, you will see lots of different ways to use the new Stampin' Blends.
I've chosen to show you the simplest method of colouring with the blends on Designer Series paper.
This "Just add Colour" patterned paper is perfectly designed for colouring.

I love how One sheet of paper can make 6 cards or more.
I cut the paper into pieces of 10cm x 14.5cm card fronts, and a few 2 cm x 14 cm strips.

The "Just add colour" paper has large and small flowers drawn with wide watercolour-like brushstrokes.
On my first card I mainly used Pool party, Cherry cobbler and Daffodil Delight with Old Olive for the leaves. It really is quick to colour as the pens are dual tipped with a wide brush for large areas and fine tipped ends for detail.

You can use them just like textas or coloured markers except they are so much more. When you add the lighter tone to the dark they blend and give you a smooth graduation from one colour to another. This second card I went a little over the top on the embellishments lol!

Take a look at this gorgeous Rich razzleberry "purpleness" !
I started by colouring in with the light shade, then coloured in the shadows with the darker shade.
I blended them together with the lighter shade and finished off on the centre petals with the colour lifter.

With a few of the 2" strips that I cut out of the "just add colour" page, I made book marks.
Then to add some depth I coloured in the background with the Slate Grey Stampin blend.
I think it makes the colours pop just that little bit more!

Out of one single piece of DSP I have made 3 full card fronts, 3 half panel cards and a book mark.

Thanks for stopping by, now hop on over to the next blog and dont forget to leave some comment love along the way.

Stampin' Up! Conference #onstage2017

How exciting !!!! 3 days on the Gold Coast with friends and a full day conference learning about and experiencing a ton of new products, tools, stamps and ideas with new techniques.

The first thing i have to show you are my swaps that i took to onstage!
Swaps are a tradition in crafting circles, everyone brings a sample of their work to share, with any and everyone else at the beginning of the conference. Its a lovely way to meet people, share what you love and introduce yourself to people you wouldn't normally do.
My swaps this year were stamped samples that I practiced my blend pens on. This one is the magnolia stamp coloured with pink pirouette and two shades of rich razzleberry. The patterned paper is Colour theory paper stack and a strip of dazzling diamond glimmer paper. Love that stuff!
Then I silver embossed the happy birthday on to a stitched shape framelit circle.

Other swaps used the "Just Add Colour" specialty papers with assorted teapots, cups and succulents on them.
Another gorgeous tradition in Stampin' up! circles is pillow gifts!
These are the two types of pillow gift I made for Team Stamping Joy and friends.
This Big Shot framelit makes a mini treat bag that I put a coffee or teabag and mints into.
This gorgeous stampset is. "Season to Sparkle" it makes me want to start swinging from the chandelier... With a christmas cocktail! But more of that later.

Saturday morning arrived with a sprinkle of rain, but that didn't bother us as we were inside sharing and getting inspired by the lovely Sara and Shelli.

This years theme was Love it! Live it! Share it!
We are stronger together - We help each other succeed and we celebrate!
Stampin up! Are constantly evolving their business and their brand which is all about sincerity, fun and the making a difference through friendship and helping others. Stamping up celebrates 30 years in the US next year, so they've got a few years experience at this customer relations thing!

After a few hours of conference presentations, new product spotlights, secret attendee information sharing and free gifts we spent the afternoon making some gorgeous new projects.
Ill be showing those a little bit later, too!
We met up with Central Coast friends ...

These are the swaps and pillow gifts I brought home.
Did I mention we had a great view from our apartment, when it wasn't raining, and of course the sun did come out on the afternoon before we went home.

See you back here soon for more updates ...

Stampin' Up! Blend pens are here!

They're back...
Do we need another option to colour with? Oh Yes, we absolutely do!
We've got pencils, we've got ink, water based markers and now...
the beautiful blend pens!
I am a tad excited because they only arrived today. I've just had a quick chance to try them out and I love them!

They come in bundles of two per colour. So each colour comes in light and dark.
Rich Razzleberry, Old olive, Night of Navy, Daffodil Delight, Pool party and Bermuda bay ... All available both in pairs or individually.
I can't wait to blend some flower images, but what's not to love about a dual tipped alcohol based marker that comes in all these beautiful colours?
There's Cherry Cobbler, crumb cake, smoky slate, Pumpkin pie and Calypso Coral aswell...

This is my first attempt and as you can see this is an easy way to get a smooth blend from dark to light and there's no trick to it, just colour with slightly overlapping strokes and the colours mix beautifully.
Can't wait for you to get your hands on these and tell me what you think.
They're reasonably priced at $7.75 each.
Questions? or are you ready to order? Send me an order through to nerida_carter@hotmail.com
or go to the online store www.stampinup.com and select your demonstrator Nerida from NSW.