20 December 2017

MFT WEEKLY SKETCH CHALLENGE - WSC 364

Anyone still making Christmas cards?

Well, here is a clean and simple design using this weeks sketch for inspiration:


The Bitty Bears were stamped with Hybrid Grout Gray and coloured with pale blue and grey Copic markers on Copic suitable card.

COPIC COLOURS:
B0000, C00, C0, C1, C2, C3, C4, C6

The A2 card was made with MFT Smooth White cardstock.  It was then dry embossed using a Stitched Square die on a die cutting machine.  The lower band was manually drawn with a ruler and embossing tool.  This area was then coloured with Copics to create faux ribbon.  Once dry, the sentiment was stamped with Versamark ink and heat embossed with White Embossing power.  For a final touch, snow-like pattern was created using a white gel pen.

To add a little dimension and interest to an otherwise plain card the bears were mounted on to the card with foam squares.

Here is the sketch so that you can play along and maybe you will be the lucky winner of the $50 MFT voucher.


Thanks for dropping by and good luck to all who enter.


SUPPLIES:

SQUIRREL IN WINTER - CHRISTMAS CARD 2017

Hello there, did you manage to get all your Christmas cards made?

I had a brainwave last year when I realised that it was going to be impossible for me to make individual cards for everyone.  So I hit on the idea of drawing and colouring my own design, which I could then replicate.  OK, that meant stretching myself to do my first ever fine art piece of Copic work, but I did it and saved myself from, heaven forbid......buying cards!

This year, I just had to decide on the subject matter and it was whilst I was pondering that my Westie, Pip went tearing down the garden chasing after our local squirrel.........lightbulb moment!

Last year I didn't dare take photo's as I worked for fear of goofing, but this year I managed to tear myself away long enough to take a couple:


Having sketched out the squirrel, I started with the greenery in the background before turning my attention to that rather fiddly log the squirrel is perching on.  Oh, not to mention snow, which as I discovered last year is not white.  The knack is to colour the shadows, to give the impression of depth, rather than leaving areas of blank white space.


His fur was a challenge too, its made up of so many shades of red and grey, but as I built up the layers  the little guy started to take shape.  He looked so much better when I gave him two eyes, I almost felt him watching me as I continued, steadily to add his fur.

And, now for the final photograph - for my Christmas card prints, I used a scanned image as I did last year.  But in honesty my new Canon camera did a fab job, so next year I may skip the scan.  Anyway, enough waffle, I'm sure some of you have already moved on to the final picture...............


His bushy tail was wispy and I hope I've managed to capture that.  I opted for a simple background, lets face it, it's the squirrel that should have centre stage after all.

I have actually entered this little chap into the Copicaward.com competition, but he is up against some awesome competition.............whatever the outcome, I am chuffed to bits with my tufty little boy!

Happy Christmas everyone and I wish each and every one of you all the best for 2018


6 December 2017

MFT RELEASE DAY - DECEMBER 2017

It's that day so many of you have been waiting for.......
MFT December 2017 Release Day!!

You should know me by now, faces are my favourite thing to colour, so I could not resist making another card using the re-released Birdie Brown "You're Super" stamp.



The background was created by masking off the bottom portion of a piece of card with post it tape, allowing for the top section to be inked with Distress Oxides.  Have you tried these yet?  They blend beautifully, but be prepared to get inky fingers........or was that just me being messy.
The water section was done in the same way, ensuring that this was a little greener than the sky. It was then spritzed with water to give it texture.  By adding Frayed Burlap ink at the very bottom, an area on which the little girl could stand was created.

Once dry, the cityscape from the You're Super stamp set was stamped on to the cardstock with MFT Hybrid ink and highlights and shadows were added with Caran D'Ache Luminance pencils.  They were used to create the reflections in the water too.  The background was then cut out using a die from the A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax and mounted on to a piece of Milk Chocolate card cut from the A2 Rectangle Stax........these are definitely my go to dies for card making!

Supergirl was stamped with MFT Hybrid Cement Gray ink on Copic suitable card and coloured with Copics.

COPIC COLOURS:
Skin: E0000, E000, E00, E40, E41, E42, W1, R20
Eyes: B93, B97
Cape: R24, R29, R39, RV69, RV99
Suit: B24, B26, B29, B37, B39, Y35, Y26, Y28, W2, W3, W4, W6
Boots: R24, R29, R39, RV69, RV99, W4
Hair: E11, E13, E15, E17, W4, W6

As for the sentiment, the wording was stamped with Versamark ink on heat resistant vellum and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  It was then cut out with a Stitched Fishtail Sentiment Strip.

Having glued the background to the A2 card base, foam squares were used to adhere Supergirl to the scene - it was only fair she should stand out on her card!

at 

Thanks for dropping by and don't forget to leave a comment for your chance of winning a $100 MFT Store Voucher.......just think how many extra crafting goodies you could buy!


SUPPLIES

3 December 2017

MFT DECEMBER RELEASE - COUNTDOWN DAY 3

Today is Day 3 of the December MFT Countdown and I have a bee-utiful card for you: 


Firstly, I made a shaped card with Smooth White cardstock using the soon to be released Stitched Tag-Corner Square Stax die set. The face of the card base was stamped with the new Honeycomb Background stamp using MFT Hybrid Natural ink.  To give the card a "honey" tone, sorry couldn't resist, the edge of the card was inked with Antique Linen Distress ink.

The next layer was cut with the Stitched Hexagon Stax from more Smooth White card with the centre inked using Tumbled Glass Distress ink.

Then the bee hive from the new release was stamped on a piece of Copic suitable card with Gravel Gray Hybrid ink and coloured with Copic markers.  It was then cut out using the co-ordinating Die-Namics die.

COPIC COLOURS:
Beehive: E41, E42, E43, E44, E47, E50, E51

As for the sentiment, that was stamped with Versamark ink and heat embossed with Black embossing powder and cut out using a Stitched Sentiment Strip.

The miniature bees were created using white shrink plastic.  They were stamped with grey ink and coloured with Caran D'Ache Luminance pencils.  Once coloured, a quick blast of a heat gun shrunk them down to size, perfect for the beehive image.

Then the hexagon was glued to the card base.  The beehive and sentiment were adhered with foam squares for added dimension and the tiny bees were finally glued in to place.  As a final touch, I added small dots of Nuvo crystal drops in Buttermilk and White.

Thanks for dropping by


SUPPLIES
(NB some links will not work until day of release)

2 December 2017

MFT DECEMBER RELEASE - COUNTDOWN DAY 4

So what do you think of the new release so far?

Today I am sharing an awesome stamp that has been re-released.........
yes, You're Super is back!!

This was my chance to get inky...... Distress Oxide refills with added water and a splatter brush were used to create the splattered background.  Additional dots were made with Nuvo Buttermilk Crystal drops and die cut stars were cut from a piece of card that had been pre-coloured with coloured pencil.

The sentiment was stamped firstly with Cornflower Premium Dye ink and then Versamark, enabling the lettering to be heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Once dry, the sentiment was cut out of Kraft and also Brown Paper cardstock, along with a small star from Blueprint 24.

As for Supergirl, she was stamped with Hybrid Cement Gray ink and coloured with Caran D'Ache Luminance pencils.

The background was adhered to an A2 Kraft card base, with an additional mount cut from Gravel Gray card.  The sentiment was glued directly to the spattered background, with foam squares used on Supergirl.


Many thanks for visiting my blog
I will be back again tomorrow with another card from our December release.


SUPPLIES
(NB some links will not work until day of release)

1 December 2017

MFT DECEMBER RELEASE - COUNTDOWN DAY 5

I guess most of us are counting down the days until Christmas, which is why I have created a special Christmas Menu card using our soon to be released Stitched Tag Corner Rectangle Stax.

I opted for white on white, so that it would fit in with everyones Christmas decor.  The card was made with an A2 top folding card made from MFT Smooth White, then with the largest die in the set I created a shaped card base.
A second, smaller Stitched Tag Corner Rectangle was cut, again from Smooth White card, but this time it was dry embossed with the next die in the set.  This gave the illusion of another layer without the excess weight.

With the aid of a piece of Post-it tape to mask off the base of the top piece of card a spritzed delicate blue background was created with Copic B000 and a Distress Marker Spritzer Tool.

Both the chef and holly were stamped on to Copic suitable card with MFT Hybrid Cement Gray ink and coloured with Copic markers.  Highlights were added with dots of White Gel pen.

COPIC COLOURS:
Holly: YG61, YG63, R24, R29, W4
Chef: B0000, C00, C0, C1, C2, W2, W4, E70, E71, YG61, YG63, E0000, E000, E40, YR30, E81, E31, R20
Background: B000

The Menu wording was cut from Smooth White card using our Stitched Alphabet, with Copic B0000 and C00 giving an hombre look to the letters.

The lettering was glued on but both Chef and holly were adhered with foam squares, to give added depth to the overall card.
As it's nearly Christmas, a touch of glitter was in order, so dots of Nuvo White Blizzard Glitter Drops were added around the Chef.


Many thanks for dropping by, 
I'll be back tomorrow with more from our imminent release.


SUPPLIES
(NB some links will not work until day of release)

24 November 2017

ARTISTIC EXPRESSION FEATURE - NOVEMBER 2017

Hello there, and how are we all doing today?

Did you know there is a new Artistic Expression feature by yours truly over on the My Favorite Things Blog.  
Today, however, I have something a little different for you all.  I'm not sharing the whole card making process, instead I am focusing on one small section, detailing how I approach and execute the colouring............



............if you want to find out more, click HERE to read the full article.

I hope you find it informative and thanks for dropping by today.

15 November 2017

MFT WEEKLY SKETCH CHALLENGE - WSC359

Hi there, I'm back with another Sketch Challenge.  
I don't know about you but the colouring part is the easy bit, it's the card design I sometimes find more of a challenge, so the sketches really help.


Todays sketch is a very simple one, so I kept the whole design clean and simple.  I chose a leaping Santa from Jingle all the Way, stamping him with Hybrid Cement Gray ink and colouring the image with Copics.
The Frame element was created using Stitched Mini Scallop Square Die-Namics and Stitched Square with MFT Smooth White.  I added a touch of colour behind Santa with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink and dots of Nuvo Gloss Simply White to finish.

As for the sentiment, I stamped Happy Christmas from Snow Globe Sentiments with Versamark ink on vellum, heat embossing it with White Embossing Powder.  It was then cut out using an Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strip.

To add a little dimension to the card I adhered Santa with foam squares.


Now it's your turn, use the sketch above, create a masterpiece and post it on the MFT Challenge Blog. You could be the lucky winner of a $50 Voucher from mftstamps.com.

Happy Colouring
COPIC:
Skin: E30, E41, E42, E43, R20, W8
Hat: B0000, C0, C1, C2, C4, R22, R27, R39, R89
Suit: R22, R27, R39, R89
Gloves: B0000, C0, C1, C2, C4
Belt: YR23, YR27, W4, W6, W8
Boots: W4, W6, W8
Beard: W0, W1, W2, W3

8 November 2017

MFT WEEKLY SKETCH CHALLENGE 358

It's Wednesday, so that means it's time for another Sketch Challenge on the MFT Challenge Blog,
who wants to play along with me?

I decided to get a little Yeti from Beast Friends inky and have some fun with Copics, Caran D'Ache pencils and a white gel pen to create his fur.

The hombré background was created using Tumbled Glass and Broken China Distress ink.


The little guy is not remotely worried about sitting on the ice as he's enjoying a mug of hot chocolate, whilst wrapped in a lovely warm scarf, no wonder he's looking pleased with himself.

I stamped a sentiment from the Hug in a Mug set, with Milk Chocolate and Blue Yonder Premium ink, adding highlights to "Hot Chocolate" with a white pencil.


Now it's your turn!

Use the above sketch and create a crafty project for your chance to win
a $50 voucher at mftstamps.com

I look forward to seeing what you create.
Happy Colouring

COPIC COLOURS:
Face: E0000, E000, C00, C0, C1, C2, R20, YG61, YG67, W8
Scarf: G40, G12, G21, G46, C1, C3
Fur: B0000, B000, W0, W1, W2, W4
Mug: R22, R27, R29, R39, W5
Background: C00, C0, C1, C2, B0000

MFT RELEASE DAY - NOVEMBER 2017

Well, the day you have all been waiting for has finally arrived.
To celebrate the launch I created this fun scene with a Ski-Jumping Bear!


The adorable little bear is from the new Ski-sons Greetings stamp set and Die-Namics.  I opted to stamp him in Hybrid Cement Grey ink, enabling me to use the no-lines technique, giving a softer look to the image.  As you can see, I gave him a stripy scarf and added texture to his sweater as well as giving him fuzzy fur (my students will recognise these techniques)

Colouring the background was so much fun.  I first cut out a piece of Copic suitable card with a Stitched Square die.  Then, having Googled for images of snow scenes, I picked one that inspired me to draw and colour my own upon which to have my bear flying down the slopes.  I used a Picket Fence Distress Marker to add the snow to the pine trees, ensuring that I had finished my Copic colouring first.  

To add dimension and a little comedy to my card I attached my die cut bear to the card with a mini wobble spring.

in store at MFTstamps.com

Happy Shopping!

COPIC COLOURS:
Fur: E40, E41, E42, E43, E44, E47, W1, E11
Nose/Snout: E40, E41, E43, W1, W5, W7
Eyes: E97, E99, W8
Scarf: YG61, YG63, YG67, C0, C2, C3, C5
Sweater: BG72, BG75, BG78
Skis: W1, W2, W3, W4, W5
Trees: BG90, BG93, BG95, BG99, C1, C2
Snow/Mountains: BG0000, C00, C0, C1, C2, C3, BV0000, B41, V20
Sky: B000, B91, B32

5 November 2017

MFT NOVEMBER RELEASE - COUNTDOWN DAY 3

Anyone for coffee?


I had fun with this particular card, teaming up the older Coffee Cup die with our soon to be released Coffee Break and Coffee Date stamps.

The die cut pieces were initially cut from Sweet Tooth, Primitive Cream and Kraft card.  Then, to add a little depth to the die cuts I used my trusty Copic markers to colour some shading on to the cardstock pieces.  The wording on the cup was stamped in Premium Natural ink, only after I had added all the Copic shading.  However, I used Hybrid Cement Grey to stamp the little coffee cup from Coffee Date, colouring it with a combination of Copics and Caran D'Ache Pablo coloured pencils.

The background was created using Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap Distress Oxide inks on Sweet Tooth cardstock which I then cut with a die from the  A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax 1 and mounted on to a Kraft card base.  I stamped a sentiment from Coffee Date with Versamark ink and heat embossed it with White Embossing Powder.

To create more dimension, I adhered the cup to the background with foam pads.

(please note some of the links for the new products above will not work until release day)

I'll be back on Launch day with another creation from this month's new release.
Until then, happy colouring

SUPPLIES:
Copics used -
B0000, C0, C1, YR30, E40, E41, E42, E43, E11



4 November 2017

MFT NOVEMBER RELEASE - COUNTDOWN DAY 4

As the owner of a cheeky little Westie this New Best Friend set certainly appeals to me!


I stamped the New Best Friend image on to Copic suitable card with Hybrid Cement Grey ink and coloured it with Copic markers.

A shout out to the students from my recent class......who recognises the skin tones, hair colour and texture on the sweater?

Once coloured, I cut the image out using the new Stitched Mod Square Stax, mounting it on to a slightly larger die from the Mod Square Stax.  I opted for a delicate blue from the Watercolour Wash paper pad for the background.

(please remember some of the links above will not go live until release day)

Thanks for dropping by, I will be back with a another project from the upcoming release tomorrow!
Until then, happy colouring.

COPIC COLOURS:
Skin: E30, E41, E42, E43, R20
Sweater: W0, W1, W2, W3, W4
Jeans: B91, B93, B95, C5
Boots: YR30, E40, E41, E42, W1, W2, W3, V20
Hair: YR23, E97, YR27, E37, W3, W5
Dog: E11, E13, E15, W2, W5, YG61, YG67. RV34, B91, B93, B95, C5
Ground: W00, W0, W1, W2

3 November 2017

MFT NOVEMBER RELEASE - COUNTDOWN DAY 5

Well hello there, it's time for me to share some new goodies that will soon be available at mftstamps.com.

I decided to make some seasonal tags:


The largest tag was created using the Cross-Stitch Tag and MFT Kraft card.  I then cut the new Mesmerising Mandala out of Sweet Tooth cardstock and heat embossed it with Versamark ink and Metallic Copper embossing powder.  The embossed Mandala was then adhered to the tag with Multi Medium Matte and trimmed to fit.


For the second tag, again cut from Kraft card, but this time with a Stitched Traditional Tag.  I then stamped an adorable skating owl from the new You Make My Heart Melt with Hybrid Cement Grey ink and coloured it with a combination of Copics and Caran D'Ache Pablo pencils.


The final, tiny tag was created using a Stitched Tiny Tag cut again from Kraft card stock and stamped with tiny snowflakes from You Make My Heart Melt with Hybrid Cement Grey ink, Sweet Tooth Pigment ink and Versamark ink which I heat embossed with White Embossing Powder.  A touch of Clear Wink of Stella, added a little sparkle to the largest snowflake.




I will be back again soon with another project.

Happy Colouring
(Please note some of the new product links above will not be available until release day)

COPICS:
Body: E70, E71, E74, E77, E40, E41 E43
Eyes: E97, W8
Scarf: E11, E13, E15, E04
Boots: W0

26 October 2017

MFT COLOUR CHALLENGE #80

It is time for a new Colour Challenge at My favorite Things.......

Have you played along with us before?
If not, here is your chance to have some fun and perhaps win the $50 Gift Voucher that is on offer!


I decided to turn one of our new Tall Tag Duo dies in to a bookmark, an ideal gift for your favourite bookworm!


Oh and before I forget you don't have to use these exact colours, they are there to guide/inspire you.

I look forward to seeing your entries
SUPPLIES
Stamp: Our Story
Chair: YG61, YG63, YG67, Y32, C5, C7
Lamp: Y11, Y32, YR21, W1, W2, Y28, W4, W7
Skin: E30, E41, E42, E43, Y32
Eyes: YG61, YG67, W8
Hair: Y32, E21, E23, E25, E27
Dress: RV32, RV34, R56, W1, W4, W6
Socks: YR30, E41, E43, E81, W1, W5, RV32, RV34
Book: B000, C0, C1, C2, C3, E41, Y32
Background: B000, C00, C0, C1, C2, C3, YR30, Y32, Y11