It's Time to Stretch

Sometimes I just need something to nudge me out of the norm. It seems lately I've needed that even more than usual. Perhaps it's because I'm not traveling - at all! - and I'm used to being on the go a lot. My trips are usually to meetings and such (I love meetings!) but I often find time for shopping, too. 

i. miss. shopping.

Am I the only one?

Well, I decided to try a blind box kind of thing - thinking it would be fun to stretch myself with that experience. I've heard GREAT things about the Marker Universe Blind Boxes so I ordered it.

I'm not sure what the story is behind the space ship, but this is the box the goodies arrived in and here are the goodies...

Obviously, it is markers. After all, it's from Marker Universe. I was expecting that. Here is what was in the box (I looked on their site for the regular prices of the items, they don't tell you that in the box)...

Graph-it Alcohol Markers (3) - $5.29

Kirarina 2win Oil Based Marker (2) - $1.25

Perma-paque Opaque Permanent Marker - not available in their store

Pigma Micron Pen (1) - $2.52

Zig Lettering Set Basics (5 markers) - not available in their store

Zig Posterman Marker - not available in their store

Truthfully, I think the Blind Box is a little pricey for what you get, but maybe that's just me. (I did search for prices of the items not in their store - other places - and when I added all the prices up, I ended up paying almost full price for the items in the box. I guess I think if it's a Blind Box kind of thing, it will be at a greater discount than that.)

Onward. 

The idea with the Blind Box is to create with just the items in the box. I figured that wasn't literal - that I could also use papers and stamps, and even a few embellishments. I hope that's right.

Here's the card I created:

I created my background by drawing a line with one of the markers in the kit and then blending it out with an Aqua Pen. Once that color had dried, I added another color and repeated. I continued with this technique until I'd completed the look I wanted.

I colored the dog in the image with one of the Alcohol Markers that was in the Blind Box. There wasn't a color that I liked for the cat, so I left it uncolored. I then colored a line completely around the image, using the yellow marker included and again blended it with my Aqua Pen.

After that it was just a matter of assembling my silly card. It was fun to make and I'm glad I gave the Marker Universe Blind Box a try, but for me it is a One and Done. 

It will be interesting to see what I discover for my next stretching exercise in creativity.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Special Item: Marker Universe Blind Box

Stamp Set: Your Next Stamp Photo Booth stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black and SU Pineapple Punch CS

Embellishments: Brads from unknown vendors