ARTISTIC EXPRESSION JANUARY 2018

As I am sure many of you know by now, each much I write a feature for MFT explaining how I create certain elements on my cards.

This month I have had the assistance of a little man that had been hiding in the flower border..............to find out more please hop on over to the MFT Blog to read the feature in full.

Happy Colouring

MFT - WEDNESDAY SKETCH CHALLENGE #368

I thought we could have a little trip in to space for this challenge.

Well, it gave me an excuse to play with Distress inks and a splatter brush .......flicking paint brings out the child in me!

I started by making a top folding A2 card using MFT Gravel Gray card.  The space background as I have already mentioned was created by blending Shaded Lilac, Chipped Sapphire, Faded Jeans and Black Soot Distress Inks with a mini blending tool.  Once I had the depth of colour required I spritzed the cardstock with a little water and dried it with a heat gun.  Then with some Picket Fence Distress Paint and a splatter brush I flicked paint across the inked area to give the impression of tiny stars.
This inked cardstock was then cut with the second largest die from the Stitched Mod Rectangle Stax.

A circle of Copic suitable cardstock was cut using the MFT Circle Stax 2 upon which I drew an impression of the earth and coloured it with Copic markers.
Birdie Brown's Space Explorer was stamped on to Copic suitable card with Hybrid Cement Gray ink and coloured with Copics - available from MFT HERE

Copic Colours:
Skin: E0000, E000, E40, E41, E42, BV20, BV23, R20
Hair: E11, E13, E15, E17, W4, W6
Eyes: B12, B16, W8
Suit: C00, C0, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6
Planet Earth: B24, B26, B28, G12, G21, C2, C4

The sentiment was stamped on to vellum with Versamark ink and heat embossed with White Embossing powder before being cut using an Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strip.

To give some dimension to the card the Space Explorer was mounted using adhesive foam squares.

Here is this weeks sketch so you can join in:

Remember, if you enter this challenge you could be the lucky winner of a $50 MFT Store Voucher.

Thanks for dropping by
Happy Colouring

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YNS NEW RELEASE DT DARE (GUEST DESIGNER)

Hello there, I am a Guest Designer for Your Next Stamp today!

We are creating projects around the theme:

"Share the Love"

and I have a cute little panda with a rose, just for you!

The adorable little panda is from the new Beary Special stamp set, as are the love hearts that I used to create my own background paper.

Those of you who are familiar with my work will know I love using the no-lines technique when I colour.  It gives you a much softer, hand-drawn look to your stamping.  The bear was stamped in pale grey ink and the hearts in pink. The entire project was coloured using Copic markers.

Copic Colours:
Bear: C00, C0, C1, C2, C3, C4, C6, C8
Eyes: B21, B24, W8
Rose: TG61, TG63, R20, R22, R24, R29
Butterfly: V01
Sky: B000
Background: B0000, RV000

By the way, YNS have a stamp set up for grabs!
All you have to do is hop on over to the YNS Blog and leave a comment for your chance to win a stamp set of your choice.

Thanks for dropping by my blog today.
Don't forget can also see my work on my FACEBOOK PAGE and INSTAGRAM

MFT - STITCHED WITH LOVE

We don't just play with pencils, markers and card at MFT......... we're also pretty good with a needle and thread!

Some of the Design Team have been having fun creating Valentines cards using our Cross Stitch Tag die and here is mine:

The tag was cut from MFT Smooth White card twice, one was left plain, whilst the other had the cross-stitch die in the centre.

Instead of embroidery thread I chose some rainbow coloured 4-ply wool - it was the perfect thickness for the cross-stitch section and I just loved the way the colours melded together.

Once complete, using some very strong adhesive tape I adhered the plain tag to the back of my stitched one, hiding all the stitching on the reverse. A piece of Watercolor Wash Brights was used to finish off the tag.

As I did not have any ribbon in my stash that matched the colour scheme, I used some of the wool to create my own plaited braid, finishing it off with a little "made with love" heart charm.

I got creative with the background paper too, opting to create my own with Distress Oxide ink so that it could be colour matched to the woollen cross-stitch.  This was then cut using the largest die from the A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax 2 and mounted on to a top folding A2 card base.

I hope you have been inspired by the DT to get those needles out and try your hand at cross-stitching a crafty project for your Valentine!


Thanks for dropping by my blog today, and don't forget you can also see my work here:
FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

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YOUR NEXT STAMP NEW RELEASE BLOG HOP (GUEST DESIGNER)

Hello, I have been asked to be a Guest Designer for Your Next Stamp this month!

(thanks for having me guys xx)

Are you enjoying the blog hop so far?
 I hope you're going to like the little project I came up with using the new Silly Love Monsters Stamp!

Not everyone likes smushy cards on Valentines Day and these little guys are great for those who want to create a more comical card!

I stamped the monster on to natural coloured cardstock with grey ink and coloured it with Caran D'Ache Pablo pencils.  As with my Copic work, using a pale ink gives your images a hand-drawn appearance when complete.

The sentiment, also from the Silly Love Monsters set was stamped with Versamark ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder.
I chose a pink mount to match the monster's own card, before adhering the whole piece on to a square, top folding kraft card base.

Now, we have a special treat for you today.
YNS are giving away a $25 YNS Gift Certificate - all you have to do is leave a comment on the blogs you visit for your chance to win.

.....and don't forget the code below to qualify for 20% off your purchase in the store

Thank you for dropping by today on this blog hop.
Happy Colouring

An InLinkz Link-up

MFT JANUARY PRODUCT LAUNCH

It's time for one last card before you rush off and fill your baskets with all the new products that are available today.

This project started out with a top folding A2 card base, made from MFT Smooth White card.
A piece of Bristol paper was then inked with Distress ink using a blending tool to create the basic background.  This was then cut with the largest from the A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax 1.  The Eiffel Tower, from the new In Paris stamp set was stamped on to the coloured piece with Premium Gravel Gray ink.  At this point, I referred to images of the real Eiffel Tower to assist in creating an authentic scene.  I opted for Caran D'Ache Neocolor II, water-soluble wax pastels to add dimension to the tower and create the parkland background.  The clouds were created with an Adirondak Acrylic Paint dabber. Using the new Mini Well-Connected Alphabet, I stamped Bonjour, with the new Hybrid Extreme Black ink.

The young girl from Mon Cheri was stamped with Hybrid Cement Grey ink on Copic suitable card and coloured with Copic (available HERE) and Caran D'Ache Pablo pencils.

COPIC COLOURS:
Skin: E0000, E0000, E40, E41, E42, BV20, BV23
Eyes: B21, B23, W8
Hair: E13, E21, E23, E25, E27, W8
Scarf: YG61, YG63, YG67, C6
Dress: B21, B23, B26, B95, B97, C6, C7
Bag/Shoes: B12, B14, B16, B95

Once coloured, I cut her out by hand and adhered her to the card with foam pads for added dimension.  A small amount of pencil was used to ground her and the sentiment.

Now for the words you have been waiting for:

Before you go, don't forget to leave a comment for your chance of winning a $100 MFT store Gift Voucher.........it could be you!

Thanks for dropping by my blog today and remember you can also find me here: FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

Happy Colouring

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MFT JANUARY RELEASE - COUNTDOWN DAY 2

We are nearly there, not long to wait now!

The new release will be available on the MFT online store
9th January 21:00 EST (that's 02:00 10th January for us Brits!)

Today, I am sharing several of the new products: Monster Sized Stamp, Full of Heart stencil and Love You die.

I started by stencilling a piece of Smooth White Card with Distress inks and a mini blending tool and then cut it out using a A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax die.  The lettering was cut twice, again from Smooth White card.  Having adhered one set on top of the other, the tops were painted with Wink of Stella Clear to add a little sparkle and once dry finished off with Glossy Accents.

The Monsters were stamped on to Copic suitable card with Hybrid Cement Gray ink and coloured with Copics - available at MFT HERE

COPIC COLOURS:
Green Monster: N0, N1, N2, B0000, W2, W4, W6, G12, G21, G24, BV01, BV02, BV04, 0, YR30, BG90, BG93, BG96
Blue Monster: B91, B93, B95, N0, N1, N2, C4, C6, YR30, R0000, R000, R00, R85
Lilac Monster: V91, V93, V95, T1, T3, T4, T6, G0000, G000, G00, YR30, B93

As I had stamped the Monsters with pale grey ink I was able to change their pupils from round circles to hearts!

For more inspiration and links to my fellow MFT Design Teamies amazing projects for todays countdown why not visit the MFT Blog HERE

Thank you for dropping by today, don't forget you can also see more of my work on my Facebook Page and Instagram

Happy Colouring

SUPPLIES:
(NB The links to new products will not work until release day)

MFT JANUARY RELEASE - COUNTDOWN DAY 4

Shock, horror!  No Copics were used in the production of this project!

We are travelling back in time for todays Countdown teaser.......to the era of Vikings!

This is the new Birdie Brown stamp, handsome chap, isn't he!

The image was stamped with Hybrid Cement Gray ink and coloured with pencils (Caran D'Ache Pablo and Luminance)

Once coloured, the Viking was cut with a die from the Stitched Square Stax, mounted on to a square of MFT Latte cardstock.  This was then mounted on to a square card base made from MFT Olive card.

You still have a couple of days to wait until the new release and I will be back soon with another project.

Until then, Happy Colouring.

Don't forget you can also see my work on my Facebook Page and Instagram.

SUPPLIES:

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

MFT JANUARY RELEASE - COUNTDOWN DAY 5

Happy New Year!

It's time to share some sneeky peeks of the new January release at My Favorite Things.

The background was created using a Copic airbrush with additional doodling, again in Copic.
Some of my students will recognise the sheep and daisies!

The main sheep is from the new Ewe and Me Forever stamp.  It was stamped on to Copic suitable card with Hybrid Cement Gray ink and coloured with Copic markers - available at MFT HERE

COPIC COLOURS:
Sky: B00
Grass: G40, 0, BG90, BG93, Y21
Sheep: W0, W1, W2, W3, W4, W6, W8, YR30, RV93, RV95
Eyes: B000, B12, B16, W8
Bow: B000, W1, RV95

Once coloured the sheep was cut using the matching Ewe and Me Forever die and adhered to the coloured background after it had been cut using MFT Stitched Square Stax.
The larger mount was cut from MFT Smooth White card using a larger die from the aforementioned set.
Finally, the layers were adhered to a square card base created using Smooth White card.

Many thanks for dropping by.

I will be back again tomorrow with another project.

SUPPLIES:

(NB some links will not work until release day)

MFT WEEKLY SKETCH CHALLENGE - WSC #366

It's time for another Sketch Challenge at MFT and this time I had some fun with three adorable little dogs, one of whom is doing his good deed for the day by retrieving the ball the silly puppy on the top floor dropped!

The A2 card base is made from MFT Primitive Cream cardstock.  With the background being created using the MFT Small Brick Wall stencil and various Distress inks: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs and Tea Dye.

As for the windows, they started out as squares of Steel Gray cardstock cut using a Stitched Square die.  The window sills were created using Brick Red card and part of the Birdhouses die set.  The beautiful narrow slithers of card were made using a die from the Bundle of Baby Clothes set and more Primitive Cream cardstock, which were then adhered to pieces of acetate to give the appearance of windows, both closed and open.

The dogs were stamped with Cement Gray Hybrid ink on to Copic suitable card and coloured with the following Copic colours (available HERE at MFT)

Rear Facing dog: E30, E31, E34, E44, E70, E71, E74, E77
Collar: B24, B26, B37, E44
Puppy Head: E40, E41, E42, E43, E97, E99, W4, W7, W8, C00, C0, C1
Ball: YG03, YG17, N2
Bulldog: E55, E57, E59, E79, T0, T1, T2, T3
Collar: E17, E18, E49, YR23, YR27

The sentiment, from the Lucky Dog set was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with black embossing powder.  When dry it was cut using an Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strip.

It was all glued using Multi Medium Matte apart from the rear facing dog, puppy and ball that were adhered using foam pads for a little added dimension.

Well, now it's your turn, why not have a go with the sketch below for your chance to win a $50 MFT store voucher.......just think of all the goodies you could treat yourself to!

Happy Crafting

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