Thinking Inking

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,

A Novel Birthday: MFT and Chibitronics

Welcome! Today and tomorrow the My Favorite Things Stamps team is sharing some FUN projects using Chibitronics! I mulled over my stamp set choices quite a bit before deciding that I wanted to use the little reader from MFT's Our Story stamp set, lighting the scene by using a Chibi-tronics light under her pendant light. 

Here's a quick video showing the lighting of the pendant when I push the pink tab. I had to have the room underlit in order to show the light well--sorry for the resulting graininess!

If you haven't played with Chibitronics before, it's not that difficult, BUT you do need to follow directions. If you have a starter kit, the manual is super helpful. If not, follow that directions link in the line above for the Chibitronics "How To" page. My battery is hidden directly under that die-cut circle and is raised by two layers of X-Press It foam tape so that you have to push down in order to make the copper tape touch the top of the battery and complete the circuit, lighting up. 

Here's a still shot of the lit pendant. (Did your Mom tell you not to read in the dark? Mine did!)

Shown above are the Copic sketch markers that I used to color the Our Story images.

If you go to the My Favorite Things Stamps Blog, you will find links to other Chibitronics projects, as well as information on a fabulous Chibi-tronics prize package! Also, check out the Chibi-tronics Blog for an awesome MFT prize too! Good luck!!

Thanks for visiting,

No Words: MFT WSC 372

Welcome! Today I played along with the My Favorite Things Stamps Sketch Challenge 372 (WSC372).  It was a really simple sketch, and I thought that it would be perfect for a sympathy card that I needed.

I've always loved the Roses All Over background stamp, but I've never used it in solid black ink lines before; I thought it worked pretty well, and it was definitely different looking from when I've watercolored the petals. The sentiment is from Deepest Sympathy

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--could it be YOU?

Thanks for stopping by,

Gift Card Holder: MFT February Release Replay

Welcome! The Gift Card Window and Frame Die-namics was a fabulous My Favorite Things February release product that I hadn't had a chance to play with yet, so I thought I would pull that one out for today's Release Replay.

I paired the Gift Card Window and Frame Die-namics with the previously released  Coffee Break and Coffee Date sets to tie into a fun pink and orange Dunkin' Donuts gift card. The photo above is the inside of my card.

I constructed a flap piece on the back of my gift card window so that I could use a rip strip where the card would need to be removed. (I used Die-namics Blueprints 30 for the inside scored card part.)

Finally, I stamped and die-cut one extra coffee cup to pop up with foam tape on the gift card window--love that little cup image!

Thanks for visiting, and be sure to visit the MFT Stamps blog for a complete list of the participants in the February Release Replay!

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!

Critter Condolences: MFT Stamps Release Countdown Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of the My Favorite Things Stamps February Release Countdown!  At 9pm Eastern time on Tuesday, February 6, the February 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 Critter Condolences stamp set paired with the Collage Coverup Die-namics. 

One of my relatives lost a dear pet of any years recently, and I thought that Critter Condolences had sentiments that were perfect to send in a sympathy card. 

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, February 6) at 9pm Eastern time. All other links should work now. Thank you for stopping by today,

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,

Pasture Birthday: MFT Stamps Release Countdown Day 5

Welcome to Day Five of the My Favorite Things Stamps February Release Countdown! I chose the new Party Animals stamp set and Die-namics to introduce today. The stamp sets showcased over the next few days will be available on Tuesday, February 6, at 9pm Eastern time.

Shown above are the Copic Sketch markers that I used to color the Party Animals images. I sketched the background lightly with a warm gray Copic 0.3 multiliner before coloring it with the Copics listed above as well.

Again, while I have linked all products that I used below, the links to the NEW products 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! Thank you for visiting,