Downsizing

FPBA Convention Starts Monday!

For those of you who don't know, I'm going to FPBA Convention next week. This is a big learning and fun opportunity for face painters and I'm beyond excited. But now is the time to do my rather least favorite part of getting ready to go anywhere. Packing. And part of that is having some face painting products to carry around all day for practice in classes, jams, etc. For those of you who do not know me, my face painting kit is in a big Stanley toolbox and is hard for me to lift and carry any distance. I'm what fellow face painters call a "tackle tart" - put simply, I buy tons of products and carry them around everywhere - even if they're only occasionally used. Fun things for specific designs. Everything has a use, but it doesn't get used a ton. And I can't carry a 30lb kit around with me all day, LOL. Besides I need to practice downsizing for walk-around events (which I don't do - for a reason) and the like.

A Backpack


Target had this really fun Keroppi backpack on sale for $4. Perfect. That was my case for my cut back face painting kit. Kiddish - fun, attracts attention, and appeals to boys and girls alike. How on earth was I going to get my face painting kit downsized to a kids' backpack?

I normally carry two brands of makeup - Kryolan Aqua Color and Mehron Paradise - for most common colors I use. They're different both in texture and in shade. Kryolan is more powdery, but brighter colors. Both have a purpose and get used a lot. With the exception of two Kryolan colors (my day-glow rainbow cake, and Interfrenze Bronze) I packed only Paradise colors (and Wolfe white) - because the containers are smaller and lighter and I have a case that holds 12 of them.

I grabbed a couple blushes, a blush brush, my brush case, sponges, a lingerie wash bag (used for dirty sponges), some business cards, a single spray bottle of water, white glitter (the main glitter I use - by a lot - it works well and looks great on anything), half Q-tips, and my Silly Farm "Wonder Palette" (little Kryolan split cakes). That's it.

Wow, it's light. And portable. I'm going to like it. I'll still want my full kit for events. But I'm thinking birthday parties and the like - I may be able to get off with a limited, scaled back kit. My back feels the appeal.

Are you a tackle tart? Even if you don't need to, try seeing what you don't really need for smaller events... you may be quite surprised!