Color Me Happy

So, I've been coloring some of the My Favorite Things bears from the Birthday Bears stamp set. I use my Prismacolor pencils for recliner coloring (even though I might drop one in the recliner occasionally).

However, after I did a bunch of pencil-colored bears, I got it in my head to try some watercolor with these guys. 

They remind me of a children's book and watercolor seemed like a great medium for that. So I broke out the Distress inks, Tombow markers, Distress Oxides and Koi watercolors and played around. This is my favorite little scene. It looks like the big bear is explaining something to this cub...I decided to draw in a butterfly for them to admire.

I stamped the bears first, painted them and the grass and then masked the bears. I added the sunrise sky colors with Distress Oxides because they blend so beautifully. I used the Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet and Salty Ocean. 

When I was finished, I added some more color with a dry paper towel and kind of streaked it. Then I had to go back in with a brush and some Koi olive and bright green for the grass. The butterfly is done with a reddish pink Tombow marker. Good thing I used good paper, I nearly worked this to death! 

I'm entering this is the Coloring Virtuoso category for the MFT contest. It's amazing what kind of work is being entered...it's been really inspiring for me to try my best and not stop at my first try.

Thanks for stopping by!

Chark

MFT Bears N Balloons

I used the adorable Birthday Bears stamp set from My Favorite Things to create this card. I used the Circle Flop Card die on the edge of a side folded card to fold back the corner of the card. 

I used MFT Fun & Frolic patterned papers inside the card, using dots on one side and stripes on the other. The cardstock is an aqua from Core'dinations. This is my entry for the Innovation Master Card Design Superstar. It's a fast and easy way to make a fun fold that fits in a regular envelope.

I colored the bear with Prismacolor pencils, inked the balloons and circle die with Distress Oxide Inks and then add a half circle from the same die to make a little leaf-covered hill for the bear to sit on. The hat and bow are from the same stamp set. I fussy cut everything and attached to the card front. 

Then I added glitter in the form of Diamond Stickles. I dotted them on the circle die cut and then after letting them sit a minute, spread the glitter glue with my finger. That way, the Oxide inks react with the Stickles and leave polka dots. The balloons I left as is and didn't move the Stickles. You can see more of the glitter in the close-up pic below.

I love this bear set and am having a blast coloring the stamps. You've got a couple days to enter the contest, so break out your MFT goodies and get working!

Happy Tuesday!

Chark

My Favorite Thing Stamps and CAS

I have to tell you that I love My Favorite Stamps...especially their adorable critter stamps. I had a hard time choosing between the BB Bitty Bear stamps and the BB Birthday Bears this last trip to the local scrap store. I ended up with the Birthday bears, but I know that the Bitty Bears will be coming home soon :)

I'm entering the MFT contest for Card Design Superstars...now, I don't know how much confidence one has to have to believe one is a Card Design Superstar, especially when you can see how much talent there is in the crafty world, but if someone hands you the crown, you don't ask why. So, if you enter and win, just thank them nicely and wear your title with pride. Why yes, you'll say, I  AM a Card Design Superstar. You have 7 more days to enter in three categories...hope you'll join me!

Here's my entry for the Clean and Simple card. I used the gift, balloon and sentiment from my new Birthday Bear stamps. Birdie Brown makes some fabulous stamps, am I right? Even the little extra stamps are adorable and perfect on their own. 

1. I taped off a rectangle panel and stamped the present and balloon. Then I masked them.

2. I inked the panel with Distress Oxides in Picked Raspberry and Salty Ocean (which made the purple in the middle of course). 

3. I used my Wink of Stella Clear Glitter pen to pick up the ink and color the balloon, gift and bow. 

4. I cut out the panel, trimmed a piece off the bottom and adhered the top piece to a card.

5. I stamped my sentiment onto the card and then adhered the little strip at the bottom. It was quick and easy and letting the Oxide inks dry was the longest part of the process. 

Thanks for the chance to win a fab prize, MFT, and thanks for making adorable bear stamps!

Happy Thursday!

Chark