Thinking Inking

Bear-ish Birthday Wishes: The Birthday Project

Welcome! Today I'm playing along with the My Favorite Things Stamps Birthday Project Challenge. This week's Birthday Project Challenge involves using bears on the birthday card. I chose the Birthday Bears set; it's an older set, but I've always loved the way the little bear is looking so expectant toward the big bear--kind of a tender moment there!

Shown above are the Copic marker that I used to color the bears and to airbrush the background.

 I hope you get a chance to go see the other WSC390 Sketch Challenge pieces and play along with us--remember that there is a chance to win awesome MFT products IF you play along! Thanks for stopping by,

Gill Friends: Just Add Color

Welcome! Today I'm playing along in the My Favorite Things Stamps Just Add Color challenge. I colored several of the fish from the Birdie Brown Gill Friends stamp set so that I owl have them to showcase on future cards. I used three of them on this card, but I haven't used the others yet.

Shown above are the Copic markers that I used to color the Gill Friends images above. (All are linked below to MFT's website.) Be sure to check out the MFT Stamps Challenges Blog for more color inspiration!

Under the Weather Cloud Shaker: MFT Stamps Release Countdown Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of the My Favorite Things Stamps April Release Countdown!  At 9pm Eastern time on Tuesday, April 3, the April release will be live and all of the new products shown in the past few days will be available. I chose to use the new Aim for the Clouds sentiment set, paired with the Cloud Pouch and Cloud Shaker and Frame Die-namics. I used Rain or Shine for the ducks and puddle. I needed a Get Well card for sweet little guy, and I thought that this might make him smile. Plus he can probably drive his older siblings nuts by shaking it, right? :-D

Shown above are the Copic Sketch markers that I used to both color the Rain or Shine images and airbrush the background. I used the new Mini Raindrops stencil to airbrush the raindrops.

Shaker material is three different sizes of Sparkling Clear Sequins. I thought I had plenty in there, but after I glued it together, I decided I could have used a few more. Finally, I added glitter to cloud frame for some additional sparkle power.

In addition to the ones that I've shared here, there are several fabulous new products being showcased today; I hope you get a chance to visit the MFT Stamps Blog for a complete list of designers playing along with today's new products AND to enter for prizes! Remember that while all MFT products that I used are linked below, the NEW product links won't be live until Release time--that's late tomorrow night (Tuesday, April 3) at 9pm Eastern time. All other links should work now. Thank you for stopping by today,

Full of Treats: MFT Stamps Release Countdown Day3

Welcome to Day 3 of the My Favorite Things Stamps April Release Countdown! I chose to use the new Pure Innocence Birthday Piñata stamp set, pairing it with patterned paper from the Bundles of Blossoms Bold paper pack, and tying in that piñata fringed tissue paper theme with the Fringed Scallop Borders Die-namics.

Shown above are the Copic Sketch markers that I used to color the Birthday Piñata image. I airbrushed the background with Copic BG02 and YG17; it's a little darker than my airbrushed backgrounds usually are, but since the little girl and piñata are in darker value, the background worked better darker too.

In addition to the ones that I've shared here, there are several fabulous new products being showcased today; I hope you get a chance to visit the MFT Stamps Blog for a complete list of designers using today's new products AND to enter for prizes! Remember that while all MFT products that I used are linked below, the NEW product links won't be live until Release time--that's late Tuesday evening (April 3) at 9pm Eastern time. All other links should work now. Thank you for stopping by today,

Here for You: MFT Stamps Release Countdown Day 4

Welcome to day four of the My Favorite Things Stamps April Release Countdown! I chose to use the sweet little Birdie Brown Rain or Shine set for today's release post--she's cute as button, and there's a coordinating boy set too!

Shown above are the Copic Sketch markers that I used to color the Rain or Shine images. I used Copic B04 and YG13 to airbrush a simple background, leaving the Stitched Dome Die-namics in place too mask the edges of the shape. 

I chose patterned paper from the Party Patterns Paper Pack for both the background and her rain slicker--everybody needs a cheerful coat on a rainy day! I divided the sentiment, putting half of it on the inside of the card: it was a two-liner, and I didn't have room for all of it on the card front.

While I have linked all products that I used below, the links to the NEW product links will not be live links until release night, 9pm Eastern Time, Tuesday, April 3. All of the other links should work now. Be sure to check the MFT Stamps blog for more April Release inspiration AND for a chance to win some fabulous prizes! Thank you for visiting,

So Worth Celebrating: MFTWSC377

Welcome! Today I played along with the My Favorite Things Stamps Sketch Challenge 377 (WSC377). My first inclination was to use flowers, of course. . . but I restrained myself and decided to go with these adorable chicks from Birthday Chicks instead.

Shown above are the Copic Sketch markers that I used to color the Birthday Chicks images.

I airbrushed a simple background with a couple of Copic markers and the Copic Airbrush System--no masking needed, except for the leaving the die in place while I airbrushed to protect the stitched edges of the rectangle.

I hope you check out the MFT Stamps Card Challenge blog for details--you really should play along with us! Somebody's going to win a $50 gift voucher--and it could it be YOU!

Thanks for stopping by,

Tail Wagging: MFT March Release Countdown Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of the My Favorite Things Stamps March Release Countdown!  At 9pm Eastern time on Tuesday, March 6, the March release will be live and all of the new products shown in the past few days will be available. For today's post, I chose the Puppy Kisses stamp set--loved that sentiment!

Shown above are the Copic markers that I used to color the Puppy Kisses images--simple and sweet!

In addition to the ones that I've shared here, there are several fabulous new products being showcased today; I hope you get a chance to visit the MFT Stamps Blog for a complete list of designers playing along with today's new products AND to enter for prizes! Remember that while all MFT products that I used are linked below, the NEW product links won't be live until Release time--that's late tomorrow night (Tuesday, March 6) at 9pm Eastern time. All other links should work now. Thank you for stopping by today,

Happy Easter: MFT March Release Countdown Day 3

Welcome to Day 3 of the My Favorite Things Stamps March Release Countdown! For today, I chose the new Pure Innocence Somebunny Sweet stamp set, pairing it with the Proper Pinstripes patterned paper for a sweet little Easter card.

Shown above are the Copic markers that I used to color the Somebunny Sweet girl and bunny. (I colored on MFT's No Lines Cardstock, mostly because I wanted to try it out.)

In addition to the ones that I've shared here, there are several fabulous new products being showcased today; I hope you get a chance to visit the MFT Stamps Blog for a complete list of designers using today's new products AND to enter for prizes! Remember that while all MFT products that I used are linked below, the NEW product links won't be live until release time--that's late Tuesday evening (March 6) at 9pm Eastern time. All other links should work now. Thank you for stopping by today,

A Pawfect Birthday: MFTWSC374

Welcome! Today I'm playing along with the My Favorite Things Stamps WSC374 Sketch Challenge. It was a simple layout with a framed focal image and a sentiment strip, so I chose a stamp from New Best Friend. (After all, what's better than puppy kisses?)

Shown above are the Copic markers, colored pencils, and cardstock that I used to color the New Best Friend image. I colored the image on MFT's Natural cardstock, which is lighter than Kraft cardstock, but darker than any cream cardstock would be. After I colored her with my Copic markers, I used a White Prismacolor pencil and a Black Caron D'Ache Pablo pencil to punch in some highlights and to deepen some of my light brown lines in detail areas. (I had stamped the images twice using my MISTI in MFT's Kraft Hybrid ink.) If you already have Prismacolor pencils, you can easily use the black from your Prismacolor set. I used the white Prismacolor because Prismacolors are relatively soft. I used the black Caron D'Ache for the opposite reason--it is harder and keeps a point for longer. But again, if you have colored pencils that you already use and like, just make sure that the detail pencil (black in my case) is very sharp, and it will work just fine.

I hope you get a chance to go see the other WSC374 Sketch Challenge pieces and play along with us--remember that there is a chance win awesome MFT products, but only if you play along! Thanks for stopping by,

You're the BIG Dog Today: MFT February Release

Welcome! It's that time--February My Favorite Things Stamps Release time, that is! When I saw the sentiment "You're the big dog today," I knew that I needed to choose the smallest dog in the stamp set to use as my focal point. (We've all met them--little dogs with BIG attitudes!)

I kept it simple, stamping other random dogs from the Canine Companions on kraft cardstock as my background, and then die-cutting a single window for THE BIG DOG, complete with a bit of airbrushed spotlighting. I sketched a simple wooden floor in the background as well.

All of the new February products are now available, and the links below should all work. Each of the MFT Design Team members will have projects to share tonight, so please check out the MFT Stamps Blog for many more cool projects and products, as well as a chance to win fabulous prizes. Good luck, and thanks for visiting!

Hey, Birthday Girl: MFT Stamps Release Countdown Day 3

Welcome to Day 3 of the My Favorite Things Stamps February Release Countdown! I chose to use the new Pure Innocence Birthday Girl stamp set, pairing it with the new Sheet Music Background.

Shown above are the Copic Sketch markers that I used to color the Birthday Girl image.

I colored the skin, hair, and shopping bags as I typically do, on X-Press it Blending Card. Next I used a scrap of old cotton sweater spritzed with Copic colorless blender to add some texture to the shopping bags. Then I stamped the image again on two different pinks from the Tiny Hearts Pastels patterned paper and trimmed them closely (right on the stamped line). I shaded them, colored the shoes, and then glued those pieces down onto the cardstock before die-cutting the girl.

In addition to the ones that I've shared here, there are several fabulous new products being showcased today; I hope you get a chance to visit the MFT Stamps Blog for a complete list of designers using today's new products AND to enter for prizes! Remember that while all MFT products that I used are linked below, the NEW product links won't be live until Release time--that's late Tuesday evening (February 6) at 9pm Eastern time. All other links should work now. Thank you for stopping by today,

My Favorite Chick: MFT Stamps Release Countdown Day 4

Welcome to day four of the My Favorite Things Stamps February Release Countdown! I chose the new Birthday Chicks stamp set to work with today because the chicks are so stinkin' cute! 

Shown above are the Copic Sketch markers that I used to color the Birthday Chicks images. The background on the white piece is lightly airbrushed with a hint of blue to tie in with the balloon and birthday hat.

While I have linked all products that I used below, the links to the NEW product links will not be live links until release night, 9pm Eastern Time, Tuesday, February 6. All of the other links should work now. Be sure to check the MFT Stamps blog for more February Release inspiration AND for a chance to win some great prizes! Thank you for visiting,