MFT Teaser!

I can never get enough of the Pure Innocence collection from My Favorite Things. This "Out on a Limb" set is going to be released on February 1st. She is darling and in the set there is also a little tree branch (which I didn't use today) and the little bird and sentiments...
I wanted to play a little more with my cricut expression, so this is a frame that I cut and then mounted a white card base in behind.
Notice the fun felt grass too....that is using the Grass Die-namics Die . Love this die for creating scenes.

Here is a close shot of the copic marker coloring. The light is hitting her in the back so I did my shading on her dress to make her look like she is standing sideways...with her ear to the bird :)
A few shots with my airbrush created the sky.
For a finishing touch I airbrushed some dark brown on the tree trunk to draw some emphasis to that as well.
Here are the details about the upcoming release on February 1st at 10 PM EST:

• The MFT release is on February 1st at 10 PM EST. You can attend the release party from 8-10 PM EST here in the forum for fun, games, and prizes! All the new sets and dies will be available on January 4th at 10 PM EST.


• The guest designer contest is ON! Check out the forum for details on how YOU can win over $100 in stamp sets and play along with the DT for a month.


• If you'd like to see all the teasers for today, please click on over to Kim's blog NOW! Be sure to leave comments as you go for a chance to win one of 2 stamp sets being given away daily, just for leaving a comment. :) Check Kim's blog every day for the winners.

Thanks for joining me today and I will be back on the 1st with the official blog hop release! See you then!

MFT Teaser!

It is a wonderful time of the month where I get to show you peeks of the My Favorite Things release that is happening February 1st! I am at CHA right now and drooling over all the paper goodness that is coming our way for 2011....more on that when I get back!
Today I am showing you the newest Fred Bear....this is "Fred Bear Out West". There are a lot of fun pieces to this set including the cactus plant, Fred and some fun sentiments.
Here is a close shot of my coloring with my copic markers. I used a loose scribble style of coloring him so that he has some texture to his fur. I also masked Fred Bear before stamping the cactus plants. After I was all done coloring I used my airbrush for the background.

My light source is coming from the top left so I went a bit deeper on the airbrush colors on the right side.

Here are the details about the upcoming release on February 1st at 10 PM EST:

• The MFT release is on February 1st at 10 PM EST. You can attend the release party from 8-10 PM EST here in the forum for fun, games, and prizes! All the new sets and dies will be available on January 4th at 10 PM EST.


• The guest designer contest is ON! Check out the forum for details on how YOU can win over $100 in stamp sets and play along with the DT for a month.


• If you'd like to see all the teasers for today, please click on over to Kim's blog NOW! Be sure to leave comments as you go for a chance to win one of 2 stamp sets being given away daily, just for leaving a comment. :) Check Kim's blog every day for the winners.

Enjoy your day!

New Melissa Frances!

Ah....have you checked out the new peeks of CHA products coming to Melissa Frances? This card I made from her new "5th Avenue" Collection....GORGEOUS papers,tags and trimmings!

This is a shaker card where I used Melissa Frances mica flakes for the shaker part. The rest of it is the new paper line. The little resin key is Melissa Frances too!

Make sure you check out the Melissa Frances blog to see all the peeks!

CHA is coming!

This is one of the fabulous lines that Melissa Frances is carrying into this year....Kitschy Kitchen!
Our family favorite cookies are Jam Jams...so I thought when I made them this Christmas I would take a few photos of them.
Here is a close up of my favorite way to EAT jam jams.....with a latte, of course!
The rub-on looks great on my white cup too! I love these resin frames for highlighting my photo.
Underneath is a tag that I have stitched on and added a couple of buttons.
LOVE these chipboard pieces too! It adds great dimension to my page.
I have this old pitted flour scoop that was my grandmothers, perfect for this photo!
The edge of this layout is using the crepe paper from Melissa Frances, I just airbrushed it a little with my copic markers to make it "cookie colored" and then stitched it on.
Oh yum.....it is a good thing that there aren't any in the house right now....as I could down quite a few right now!
Make sure if you are going to CHA to stop by the Melissa Frances booth as you won't be disappointed with their goodies!


Here is the Jam Jams Recipe:
Jam Jams
2eggs
1c. brown sugar
1c. shortning (crisco blue box)
6tbsp syrup (rogers)
2tsp. baking soda
1tsp. vanilla
Flour to make a soft dough (3-5c.)
Cream together your shortning and sugar Add the eggs, syrup, and vanilla Sprinkle in the soda Gradually add the flour, just enough so that the dough pulls away from the perimeter of the bowl. Roll out to desired thickness and cut into shapes. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 7 min (or until lightly golden brown) Sandwich your cookies with your favorite homemade jam. I love raspberry, nice and tart!

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday everyone! Wow, this seemed like a long week to me as there was a bunch of stuff that I needed to get done before I head to CHA this week.

I didn't have enough time to squeeze in play time with this adorable image at release time for My Favorite Things so I thought I would show her a little love today.
This is "Friendship is Shelter" and is from the Jolinne line at MFT. You can see that I did a lot of paper piecing on scraps of the DeLovely line from Cosmo Cricket. I used my copics for her skin and the bunny. I tried the "scribble" coloring that Marianne does a wonderful job of explaining in her recent blog post HERE. I finished off the ground with a bit of primacolor pencils for the grass.

If you look close at the raindrops they are colored with B05 and then I dabbed the centers of them with the opaque white to give the shiny appearance of water droplets.

Well, I'm off to run around a bit today....someone forgot her clarinet at home....
Enjoy your weekend!

VIP Blog Hop and Shop

Welcome here! If you are on the MFT VIP hop and have come from Susan's blog then you are hopping along great! If you are a regular visitor to my blog and would like to start at the beginning of the hop then you can go to Kim's Blog.

Here is my card for the hop! I really like the sentiment and title of this set and the "grown" led me to the ruler chipboard from Cosmo Cricket that I had in my stash. I used the Material Girl collection for this card.
Look what else came in the mail for me! I ordered the rosette die and trimmed one a little narrower so that I could double up my rosette. Here is the link for the rosette die if you haven't gotten your hands on it yet.


Here is what the VIP kit includes:
Looking for more inspiration? Hop on over to Barbara's Blog and see what beautiful creation she has come up with! Enjoy the hop!

My Favorite Things A la Mode Teaser

Welcome to MFT Teaser Time! It's time for the mid-month release, when the newest VIP Collection and à la modes stamp sets are available for purchase. The new à la modes are, once again, FANTASTIC!

The à la modes stamp set we are featuring today, is Something's Fishy!
I went with a little green theme here. I colored the image with my copics...see the little scales I drew in with my blender pen? I then went over the entire fish with my glossy accents.
I also strung a piece of twine through the fishing pole....it adds a little dimension.
For the fish I used the colors YG03,07,09 and feathered it into my Y00.02.
Here is also a peek at one of the new dies being released on the main release day (February 1st)!

Here are some details about the release this Tuesday night:

• The MFT release is on January 18th at 10 PM EST.
• If you'd like to see all the teasers for today, please click on over to Kim's blog.

I will see you soon with the VIP hop!

Copic Coloring Video Tutorial

Lovin' my new toy....the cricut! I cut out this cute little paper bag using the cartridge my machine came with. I didn't get a chance to show this little Pure Innocence girl off at release time so I am giving her a little bit of extra love today.
This is Peek a Boo from My Favorite Things.
I thought it would be a fun little image for a movie surprise...I will load up the little box with my daughter's favorite movie treat and make it a "date night" for us!
I had this little felt flower already rolled and ready to go on my desk. How nice that it was the perfect color! It is the small flower from the Rolled Rose Duo in the Die-namics line at MFT. Love this die! I see it is out of stock right now (popular as it is) but check back soon as Kim does a great job at restocking quickly!
Here is a close shot of the copic coloring. Below is a video and in it I share the colors I used. I colored her skin and hair in under 10 minutes (for the benefit of youtube) and paper pieced the dress so this project takes no time at all!


Enjoy your day!

New Copic Products Part 4 and Winners!

ETA...Please note that I have updated my copic certification details page. You will always be able to find that info at the tab at the top of my blog. Click HERE for that info.
I have a card to share with you today along with the winners of the copic swatchbook draw. This is "My Umbrella" from the Pure Innocence line at My Favorite Things. I keep going back to her as I love her little umbrella!
I paired her up with the DeLovely Cosmo Cricket paper and stickers.
I also used one of my favorite Die-namic dies from MFT, the JUMBO Scallops.
I paper pieced her jacket and umbrella...but remember to do your copic shading even on your paper pieced items so that they look cohesive with the rest of your design.
Here is a little close up of one of my favorite parts. I took my copic multiliner and drew my puddle. I also colored a light reflection in the water, making it just a shade lighter than my original image. I covered it in glossy accents to complete the water look.


Today we have one more new COPIC product to share, and I think you'll all agree, this one is very exciting!

12 New Sketch Colors
Have you needed more pinks? Been wishing for a purple that isn't pinkish? Wanted a brown that could be green or brown depending on what you match it with? The new 12 colors have been carefully picked and have been through months of color testing. Now Copic is pleased to announce 12 new colors of Sketch markers. Just when you thought 334 were not enough, now Copic is up to 346 fabulous colors. These begin shipping March 1st.


V20 Wisteria
V25 Pale Blackberry
RV55 Hollyhock
RV63 Begonia
RV66 Raspberry
YR30 Macadamia nut
YG61 Pale Moss
BG53 Ice Mint
BG70 Ocean Mist
E23 Hazelnut
E81 Ivory
E87 Fig

Congratulations to the winners from my Friday post! They are:
Peggy said......
Your coloring is just wonderful. I know why Copic has you on their team.
God bless,
Peggy Allen

Kathi said.....
Throwing in my hat for a chance to win the new swatch book, especially since I will *NEED* the new sketch colors!

THE HOOSIER STAMPER said....
I just started using copics, I have limited colors, but I love them! They are the best on the market for sure! I'm learning through videos and other tutorials, slowly but surely I'll get there! Awe, the swatch book would be wonderful. For me it's hard to tell by the lids, what color they are. I could take it with me when I shop for copics! Yeah!!!!

If you could e-mail me your addresses right away (link on my sidebar) that would be fantastic! Congrats on winning your own swatchbook!

New Copic Products Part 3

Copic has lots of new products coming out this year at CHA. To win a free 2011 Copic Color Swatchbook, leave a comment on Friday's post. Tomorrow we will draw a winner, so be sure that you've left a comment on each Copic Designer's blog.

2011 Copic Catalog
Unlike past years, the new Copic catalog is a showcase of artists and inspiration, as well as a place where you can find all your favorite Copic supplies. See gorgeous creations from a variety of artists, from papercrafting to pop-culture. The new catalog will be available in the booth at CHA, and will also be available for download soon from the Copic Website. You can find this in your local stores at the beginning of February.

New Copic Products Part 2

Here's the second sneak peek of new products you can find in the Copic Booth at Winter CHA. Don't forget to leave a comment on yesterday's post to be entered for a special prize drawing.
Shading: A beginner's guide to lighting placement, book by Marianne Walker
Many of you who read the Copic blogs have been wanting more information about how to correctly place your shadows when coloring. Marianne's blog has lots of suggestions, but you have to dig through posts and print things out. Now, Marianne has taken the fundamentals of coloring with shadows and put them in this simple to use reference book. This book is for beginners, and applies to anyone who colors, from papercrafters to artists. You do not need to know how to draw to add shadows like a professional artist! This guide easily steps you through how to correctly add shadows and make your coloring look more dimensional. The wire-bound book comes with 4 clear printed guides to help you add shadows properly on your own work, without all the frustration and guess-work. This book will be available in March, though you can get a sneak peek at CHA. If you want to attend a hands-on workshop that teaches these same concepts as they relate only to papercrafting, then register for the Intermediate Certification nearest you!

New Copic Products Part 1 and giveaway!

The Winter Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) trade show is coming up and so we want to give you a sneak peek at what new things you can find in the Copic booth this year. Check back for more new products from Copic all weekend long!

New Ciao 36 Colors
Copic Ciao markers, the perfect beginner marker, now has 180 colors available, up from 144. The new colors are taken from some of the most popular Sketch colors, and are very helpful for filling in gaps in your Ciao collection. Available individually or in the new Ciao 36 E set. These markers are now in-stock and shipping, so look for them from your favorite Copic retailer.

Colors include: E25, E40, E41, E59, C0, C2, W0, W2, BG13, BG72, B18, B28, B99, E000, E15, E18, YR000, YR15, Y000, Y35, YG09, YG17, G29, G82, BG000, BV000, BV25, V01, V05, RV14, RV69, R000, R14, R81.

What better way to get excited about new products, than with a giveaway? Leave a comment on this post, then Monday, January 10th, winners will be randomly selected. Winners will be mailed a NEW 2011 Copic Color Swatchbook to keep track of their Copic collections. Three winners will be chosen from EACH of our designer's blogs, so after you check this blog, go visit the blogs of all the other designers. All comments are welcome, though the contest is only open to the US & Canada.

You'll see a new name on the list of designers, Bianca Mandity, an altered artist and instructor from Indiana. Bianca is joining the Copic Instructor team to help with training Fine Art stores and Art Schools, so give her a big welcome, and look for more Altered Art and Fine-art events popping up on the Copic Calendar.

Sherrie Siemens
Marianne Walker
Jennie Black
Debbie Olson
Lori Craig
Bianca Mandity
Sharon Harnist
Jenn Balcer
Colleen Schaan

Be sure to check each blog, leave a comment, and come back on Monday to see if you've won a prize!

MFT BLOG HOP AND SHOP!

Welcome to the My Favorite Things blog hop and shop event! If you have hopped over here from one of our newest talented designer (JODI) then you are hopping just fine. If you are a regular visitor to my blog you may want to start at the beginning of the hop (Kim's Blog).
I am so pleased to show you the start of a Pure Innocence flower series! This is CARNATION.
I colored her with my copic markers on white card stock....and then I airbrushed that card stock to match my MME patterned paper.
I stitched on my layers and then added a simple piece of tea-dyed twill tape and the flower and pearl.
Here is a little close up of my felt bloom. This Die-namic is wonderful, this is the larger of the two blooms in the die.
Here is the graphic for the mini rolled roses so that you can see it:

Now it is time to hop on over to Susan's Blog go and see what DELIGHTFUL thing she has to show off!

Pure Innocence Teaser Day!

Happy New Year! Something new has been added to my stamping arsenal this year....can you guess what it is? Chirp, chirp....a cricut! I am still getting to know this machine as it is my first ever electronic cutter, so right now I am just going off of what is on the cartridges (this one being called "Cindy Loo"). I haven't made the leap yet to the SCAL program....but I am sure that is coming:)
This little cut out made the perfect backdrop for the "Because You're Special" Pure Innocence girl from My Favorite Things!
Here is a close up of my copic coloring. You also can see the fun jewels that I added to the centers of the flowers in her bouquet.

It is teaser time and you know what that means! It is getting close to the monthly release time at My Favorite Things! Here are a few details you should know about this month's release:
Teasers begin December 31st and will happen every day until and including release day. You can find the list of designers for teasers each day on the MFT Blog.
The release party will be happening on the MFT Forums on January 4th beginning at 8pm EST (that is 5pm for us here in the pacific time zone).
Don't forget to check out our guest designer contest this month. You can find all that info in the forums HERE.
The big "Hop and Shop" day will be release day (January 4th) where you will be able to hop and see all the goodies on the designer's blogs and then do a "shop" the festivities will begin on the MFT blog.


Enjoy your day!