Thinking Inking

Boxwood and Cranberries and Glitter Tape--Oh My!

Welcome! I've been busy with projects for the upcoming MFT Release, but I wanted to finish another Power Poppy wreath that I'd started a few days ago; those wreaths were SO pretty! The one that I used here was the Boxwood and Cranberry Wreath.

Shown above are the Copic Sketch markers that I used to color the Boxwood and Cranberries image. I don't usually leave highlights in the middle of leaves, but when I researched boxwood leaves, they were quite shiny, and they seemed to bow up slightly in the center too. So I bumped the shiny, stark highlights to the centers of most of the leaves. For the cranberries, I left a few unripened ones, knowing that every bag I've ever bought has a few with really pale green-to-white ends. That worked for me since I wanted to add more contrast anyway!

  

I used a really dark green cardstock for the card front (MFT Timber Green), so I wanted to have a bit of bling and light to break up the dark background. Hmmm-I just happened to have some narrow (6mm) X-Press It Glitter Deco Tape that I hadn't tried yet--sounds like it was meant to be, right? ;-) The tape was fairly thin (tearable even) which I liked. I also found out that it was pretty easy to reposition if you put it on slightly crooked to begin with. [Oops.] Since it was not super high-tack, I allowed the ends to overlap my card front so that I could wrap it on around the back and have a clean finished edge. See that little inset panel on the lower left? That was an experiment that worked, even though I didn't end up using it on my card. I wanted to see if I could color the glitter tape with my Copics to more closely coordinate with the colors that I had used on my image. I found that after the tape dried, it was a little less glittery than it had been before, but still acceptably glittery. (The left side of both tape pieces above has marker applied over the glitter tape, and the right side has no marker. Since the glitter on the tape is not loose, it did not come off on my brush tip at all.)

After adding color to a couple of tape scraps, I decided that I liked it better just the way it came off of the roll, since that way gave me more contrast and sparkle. (But at least I know I can tweak the color if I ever need to!) I left a slight gap between the two colors because I wanted to add some silver metallic twine (May Arts). Oh, about that wreath. . . yes, I fussy-cut it. [It's a disease, I'm sure. Seriously, I am going to learn to make a machine do this for me one day soon!]

That's it--one more Christmas card for the stash! I really did love coloring Marcy's Boxwood and Cranberries wreath; it wasn't difficult at all, but it did take me a while. [Probably a disease related to that fussy-cutting compulsion. . .]  Speaking of which, I'm behind on my Christmas card stash this year. Could be a slim year for sending out cards unless I get into gear soon. I hope that YOU are farther ahead! Thanks for visiting, and have a fabulous day,

Loving Those {Glitzy} Polar Bear Pals. . .

Welcome! Have you survived Thanksgiving weekend so far? We walked into one local store Friday afternoon and saw a line of customers snaking over fifty feet long, waiting for checkout.  I told my husband that I really couldn't think of a single thing that I needed to stand in that line for, so we left. . . Some shoppers we are!  I decided to come home and finish another card to send to a sweet friend. This one uses the MFT Stamps Polar Bear Pals set, along with several other goodies, listed at the bottom. 

Shown above are the Copic Markers that I used to color the Polar Bear Pals images.

Since you can see his glitter only with the right angle of light, I thought I'd put one more shot here; I used my Red and Turquoise Spica Glitter Pens to draw vertical and horizontal lines on his scarf--like a woven material texture. I used the clear Spica on the die-cut snowflakes, on the fish, and on the tip of his nose. (CLICK on the image for a larger version--then you should see the glitter!)

I airbrushed the background with my Copic Airbrush System and B41 toward the bottom and BG23 in the top part of the background. Well, I can hear my husband upstairs hauling a Christmas tree in; it's probably time for me to go help. . . Have a fabulous weekend!

Clear Glitter Pen	Red Glitter Pen	Turquoise Glitter Pen	BB Polar Bear Pals	BB Polar Bear Pals Die-namics
BG Triple Stripe Background	Inside & Out Stitched Rounded Rectangle STAX	Die-namics Stylish Snowflakes	Tropical Teal Prestige Card Stock	Cherry Crisp Prestige Card Stock
MFT Smooth White Cardstock 25 sheets	Blending Card by X-Press It, 25 Pack	Memento Ink Pad, Tuxedo Black	Tropical Teal Hybrid Ink Pad	3 mm Sparkling Clear Sequins
X-press it Foam Mounting Squares 6mm X 6mm (1/4" X 1/4" X 5/64") (576 pieces)	MFT Cool Diamond Microfine Glitter

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Peace on Earth: Power Poppy Instant Garden Release

Welcome! Today I'm sharing just one little part of the Power Poppy November Instant Garden Release--it's a "Salesgiving" for sure!  I've used the Birch and Evergreen Wreath Above, but there are three other wreath sets as well.

Each wreath comes three ways: with the image alone, the image with a sentiment inside, or the image as a gift tag. Just so you know, I did a little bit of digital mixing and matching. I took the sentiment from the Boxwood and Cranberry wreath and put it in the center of the Birch and Evergreens wreath. Sneaky, eh? ;-)

Shown above are the Copic markers that I used, along with a couple of Spica Glitter Pens.

I thought I'd share a tip for getting clean corners with my X-Press It Foil Deco Tape. I ran a length of foil tape down all four sides, letting them cross past the ends, and then I used a sharp craft knife to cut mitered corners. It was simple to remove the excess pieces after they were trimmed, and the tape is thin and light enough that it was easy to cut through both layers at once for a good miter. 

Although I fussy cut the Birch and Evergreen Wreath, I tried a simpler version in which I did not fussy cut the inside of the wreath, and it worked well too (and was a LOT faster). One of these days, I'm going to learn how to use my Silhouette for things like that. . .

I hope you get a chance to visit the Power Poppy Blog for a complete list of participants in today's "Salesgiving" release. Thank you for visiting,

Pretty in Pink

Welcome! It's Thanksgiving Eve. My turkey is brining, and my pumpkin pie is in the oven. Tomorrow is a small dinner--just the three of us this year. One of the things that I'd like to get done after my guys are stuffed is to spend some time writing thank you notes. I am embarrassingly far behind--as in probably ten cards. . . So one of the cards that I finished today is the little My Favorite Things Ice Skater above. (She has a thank you sentiment inside.) 

Shown above are the Copic markers that I used to color the ice skater image. I also used a couple of Spica Glitter pens (linked at the bottom) on many of my outlines as well as on her scarf, sweater, and skates. Skaters need sparkle, right? I also tried some of the new 25mm X-Press It Deco Tape Glitter Silver: I placed two strips on the bottom of my circle base, butting the joint tightly so that it's hard to see a seam. The tape is thin enough that I had no problem die-cutting through both the tape and the cardstock background with my stitched circle die. I used a Black 0.1 Copic Multiliner to sketch a loose row of trees behind my glitter tape pond, and I airbrushed the sky with a Copic B63 marker toward the bottom, and B41 near the top. I used a cotton sweater scrap dampened with Copic Colorless Blender to create texture on the sweater.

Love that Spica shimmer! It's really not that noticeable, unless you happen to catch the light just right. I forgot to list the Silver Spica Glitter pen that I used on the skate blades in my Copic Color Map, but you can see it here.

Well, that's one Thank You card down. Only nine to go! (I think I have some already made that will get pressed into service.) I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving, including just a little bit of down time to reflect on the things that you're thankful for too! Thanks for visiting today,

Deco Tape Glitter 25mm X 10m Silver (1" X 11 yds)	Pure Innocence Ice Skater	Die-namics PI Ice Skater	Inside and Out Stitched Circle STAX	MFT Die-namics Blueprints 15
MFT Blueprints Tags 6	Die-namics Peek-a-Boo Polka Dots	Clear Glitter Pen	Turquoise Glitter Pen	Silver Glitter Pen
MFT Smooth White Cardstock 25 sheets	MFT Pink Lemonade Card Stock	Pure Plum Prestige Card Stock	Pure Plum Hybrid Ink Pad	X-press it Foam Mounting Squares 6mm X 6mm (1/4" X 1/4" X 5/64") (576 pieces)

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Baked with Love: MFT Kitschy Kitchen Kit Release

Welcome! It's release night for MFT's Kitschy Kitchen Card Kit, and I have two projects to share with you tonight. For the first one, I used the bright kit ink colors, along with a couple of other previously released Die-namics sets (all listed at the bottom).

Speaking of lemons, do you love lemons as much as I do? I have three words for you:  Homemade Lemon Curd. Oh, My! (And don't even think about using bottled lemon juice.)

For my second card and tag set, however, I used much softer colors, which I thought gave the Kitschy Kitchen Kit an entirely different look. I used the Stitched Rounded Square frames Die-namics for my bordered tablecloth, and then I stamped the Diagonal Chevron Background on Insulation Pink cardstock for the inside of the tablecloth. The "for you" sentiment is from Cookie Crumbs, linked at the bottom. A tiny bit of airbrushing with my Copic B41 gave me the blue backdrop for my flower vase.

I used Die-namics Tag Builder Blueprints 6 to construct my tag, and the Baked with Love sentient from the Cookie Crumbs stamp set. And, yes, those are good chocolate chip cookies. . . ;-) 

The Kitschy Kitchen Card Kit is available right now HERE at MFT Stamps.

Be sure to visit the MFT Stamps Blog to see more linked samples and to enter for a chance to win a prize! Thank you for visiting,

Kitschy Kitchen Card Kit	Die-namics Stitched Rounded Square Frames	Die-namics Stitched Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX	Die-namics Blueprints 15	Quickie Glue Pen
Cool Diamond Microfine Glitter	Foam Mounting Tape 1/2"

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Kitschy Kitchen Card Kit	LLD Cookie Crumbs	BG Diagonal Chevron Background	Die-namics Stitched Rounded Square Frames	Die-namics Stitched Rounded Rectangle Frames
Die-namics Tag Builder Blueprints 6	Peach Bellini Prestige Card Stock	Peach Bellini Premium Dye Ink Pad	Coral Crush Prestige Card Stock	Coral Crush Hybrid Ink Pad
Hybrid Ink Pad Jellybean Green	Insulation Pink Premium Dye Ink Pad	Heavyweight Card Stock Insulation Pink	Foam Mounting Tape 1/2"	Scotch Quick Dry Tacky Glue

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A Big Cup of Thank You: MFT Kitschy Kitchen Kit Out of the Box

Welcome! I'm back again today with a second MFT Stamps Kitschy Kitchen Card Kit card, this one being an "out of the box" version. For this card I used images from the Kitschy Kitchen Kit, paired with a sentiment from an earlier release, the Cup of Tea stamp set. I stamped the images in hybrid black ink and then colored the negative spaces with Copic markers. 

I wanted a white subway tile background behind my wooden shelf, so I used the Die-namics Brick Wall Cover Up to cut glossy white cardstock for my tiles. I put the grout part of the cover up in place to use as a stencil to place my tiles in the right place, and then removed it after my tiles were glued down.

I hope you get a chance to see what the other girls have done with their out-of-the-box version of this month's card kit--I know that you'll get some great ideas! Also remember to leave a comment on the MFT Stamps blog for a chance to win prizes there. The MFT Kitschy Kitchen Card Kit will be released on Tuesday night, November 15, at 10pm Eastern time. At that time, all links at the bottom of this post should work.

Thank you for stopping by today!

Kitschy Kitchen Card Kit	LLD Cup of Tea	Hybrid Ink Pad Black Licorice	Die-namics Blueprints 25	Die-namics Brick Wall Cover-Up
Cherry Crisp Premium Dye Ink Refill	White Birch Adhesive-Backed Sheet	Warm Diamond Microfine Glitter	Quickie Glue Pen	Foam Mounting Tape 1/2"

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Lick the Bowl: MFT Kitschy Kitchen Kit In the Box

Welcome! It's KIT TIME again at My Favorite Things Stamps, and I'm having fun with this month's Kitschy Kitchen Card Kit! Shown above is my "In the Box" version, meaning that we were supposed to stick with materials found in the kit, other than very basic supplies such as a coloring medium of choice, paper cutter, or basic shape dies. 

Here is the inside of my horizontal card; I left the sentiment space blank so that I would have room to write a note to a friend.

Love those little utensils!

I couldn't stop playing with Kitschy Kitchen after In the Box card number 1, so here's a bonus card. Still using just kit ink colors (other than the airbrushed pale yellow behind my dish stack), I made a little focal image from stacked dishes--not that my kitchen counters ever look this way. . . (Riiiiiiiggghhhttt!) 

 I hope that you get a chance to check out the MFT Stamps blog for

• complete details on this month's fabulous kit,
• information on how YOU can win a prize by leaving a comment of both countdown posts on the MFT Stamps blog, and
• a link list of those showcasing today's in-the-box version of the Kitschy Kitchen Card Kit.

You'll love it, I promise! Again, the Kitschy Kitchen Card Kit will be released on Tuesday night, November 15, at 10pm Eastern time. At that time, all links at the bottom of my post should work.

Thanks for visiting!

Kitschy Kitchen Card Kit

Die-namics Rectangle STAX Set 2

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Thanks for Hanging on to Me: Release Replay

Welcome! It's Release Replay Day for My Favorite Things Stamps, and I have another Sweet Sloths card to share! 

Show above are the Copic markers that I used to color the Sweet Sloths images. 

I loved the Stitched Rounded Square Frames Die-namics--I think that I will use the Squares and Rectangles often. Patterned papers are from the Fun and Frolic paper pad.

I hope you get a chance to visit the MFT Stamps Blog for a list of participants in today's Release Replay post--I know you'll be inspired! Thanks for stopping by today, 

Sweet Sloths	Die-namics Sweet Sloths	Blending Card by X-Press It	Sweet Tooth Card Stock	Fun & Frolic Paper Pack
Orange Fizz Heavyweight Card Stock	Hybrid Ink Pad Black Licorice

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Hello There: MFT November Launch

Welcome! It's Release Night at My Favorite Things Stamps: all of the new products that you've seen over the past few days are now available, and all links should be live. I chose to share another Polar Bear Pals card tonight--love those sweet bears!

Shown above are the Copic markers that I used to color the bears. The background die is the new Horizontal Snow Drift Cover Up. I airbrushed the background behind the cover-up die, and then added glitter to the bottom three panels, leaving the insert out of the top three panels so that my sky would show.  

I finished up with some iridescent string that's been in my stash for a few years, and some sparkly sequins--that's probably enough since the the bears steal the show anyway!

Again, all of the new November products are now available, and the links below should all work. Each of the MFT Design Team 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 one of two $100 Gift Vouchers by commenting on the MFT DT New Product Release posts by the end of the day on Thursday, November 3. Good luck, and thanks for visiting,

BB Polar Bear Pals	Die-namics BB Polar Bear Pals	Die-namics Horizontal Snow Drifts Cover-Up	Mini Multi Medium Matte Glue	3 mm Sparkling Clear Sequins
6 mm Sparkling Clear Sequins	Cool Diamond Microfine Glitter	Smooth White Card Stock	Sno Cone Card Stock	White Detail Embossing Powder
Versamark Ink Pad	Foam Mounting Tape 1/2"

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