Coloring Mediums - What You'll Find in My Stamp Room

It's time for the MFT Creative Chat. The My Favorite Things Design Team Creative Chat is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative spaces and share valuable organizational methods, tools, and shopping strategies with you. You'll be able to peek into our creative spaces, ask questions, and share your own ideas in the MFT forum.  This month, we were asked the following questions:

Show us how you organize and store your different coloring mediums (colored pencils, watercolors, paint, markers, chalks, etc).

What is your favorite coloring medium?

Any coloring tips you'd like to share?

Visit the MFT Blog for a full list of designers that have taken up the challenge and get ready to delve into the minds of our creative team.
I have quite the collection of coloring mediums, as I have been stamping for almost a decade.  I had to try out every technique under the sun from rolling marbles around in ink, to blending alcohol inks all over glossy paper.  I've gone through so many coloring trends, from watercolor to Copics and most of what fell in between.  LOL    
First, I want to show you a "keeping it real" photo.  I am a MESSY stamper.  I stamp and stamp and stamp, all the while creating a HUGE mess and piling everything up until I can no longer deal with it.  Right now, this is the state of my most-used coloring tools (with plenty of other junk thrown in).  

My most-used coloring medium is my Copic marker collection.  My Copics are stored in an X Cube system.  I have four of them hooked together to create this set-up.  They are about $10 each.  You can see the little clip that holds them together is a good place to store threaded needles.  LOL  I keep the bottom two sections empty because I usually have too much junk to get to those.  You can see some junk has found it's way in there.  LOL  Just keeping it real.  

I have a full set of Stampin' Up markers and some other seldom-used coloring tools in this drawer.  It is a plastic storage drawer system from Walmart that I purchased for about $6.  It contains 5 drawers that are full with specialty pens and Copic refills.

This is my watercolor drawer.  I have several types of watercolors including Peerless watercolors, which are so cool.  You cut a little piece of paper in water and all the watercolor comes off and tints your water.  I also have some Kohinoor watercolors, and some I cannot remember the name for the paints that are shimmery.  These are seldom used, but when the mood strikes, I am all set up.  I use either a flat palette or a palette with wells in it for watercoloring.  I use SU Aquapainters for my brushes.

This is another drawer full of seldom-used paints, sprays, and glitter glues.  I rarely reach for them, but I like having the option.  You never know when an idea will strike and I enjoy having things on hand so I can experiment and get creative every now and then.

These are my chalks.  I really only use these for cheeks on colored characters.  They are very seldom used, but I do enjoy them for the "right" technique.  These are usually stored in a drawer, but have been being used, so I have them sitting on my wire shelving unit.

Last on my tour of coloring mediums are my Prismacolor Pencils.  I go through phases with these.  Sometimes I color with them for a month straight, and sometimes they sit unused for a year.  Pardon the dust on my SU Tool Turn About.  LOL

When it comes to coloring, I say try anything and everything.  You'll figure out what works best for you.  Coloring takes lots of practice and I still find myself trying to improve and learn new things.  It keeps it interesting and challenges me!  :)

Thanks for stopping by today!  Don't forget to go visit the rest of the team.  You'll find the links on the MFT Blog.

Also, be sure to stop by the MFT Blog for some EXCITING news about our NEWEST Design Team member!  She does beautiful work and we are so excited to be working with her.  :) 

Buttons Galore & More - Happy Birthday Buttons

Hi all and thanks for stopping by today!  MFT has teamed up with Buttons Galore & More to do a Blog Hop showcasing products from both companies!  To see the entire list of participating designers, please head to the MFT Blog.  You'll want to leave a comment on EACH designer's blog because there is $100 in prizes up for grabs.  MFT will be giving away 2, $25 Gift Certificates, and Buttons Galore & More will be giving away 2, $25 button assortments.  The deadline to comment is July 29th and the winners of all prizes will be announced on July 30th on the MFT and BG&M blogs, so check back to see if you've won!  (I'm crossing my fingers for you).  

I used some REALLY cool buttons for my card today.  They are Rustic Coconut Shell buttons.  You get quite a few in a tin container for $4.99.  I really wanted to let the buttons shine, so I came up with a layout that allowed just that.  I chose 6 of the largest buttons in the tin and stitched them on a script patterned paper.  I kept with the colors of the buttons and chose papers with a rustic feel.  I added a semi-elegant sentiment to give it a bit of girly flair.  

Each of the buttons were stitched on with SU Linen Thread.  I have a "thing" about buttons... leave no button unstitched.  LOL  I love how interesting and beautiful these are.  I really think they deserve center stage.  I added a couple stamped flourishes from the Finishing Flourishes stamp set, stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa.

The sentiment is from the Finishing Flourishes stamp set also.  

I think this is my favorite button from the whole pack.  I love the etched detail.  SO cool.

Thanks so much for joining us for the special blog hop.  Remember, go leave a comment for your chance to win one of four prizes valued at $25 each.  You can find the list of participating designers HERE.
Have a WONDERFUL day and I will see you soon!  

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Being Strong Is the Only Choice We Have

Hi all and thanks so much for stopping by today.  It's time for MFT Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch #82.  If you'd like to see what the rest of the participating designers came up with click on over to the MFT Blog.
I created a very clean and simple card for this sketch using Vertical Greetings Die-namics and Stamp Set.  

I used the Pretty Posies Die-namics for the floral embellishment, just like the sketch. :)

I added some stitching, but not much else.  This was a QUICK card to create, which is JUST what I needed because I am extra busy this month.  :) 

Remember, you can get all the details by visiting the MFT Blog and the MFT forum on SCS (look for the most recent WSC thread).  You'll need to upload your card in the SCS gallery using the keyword shown on the sketch. You will have the chance to win up to $20 in MFT money. One winner is chosen at random each week!

Go get sketchy with MFT!

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Be Strong

Hi all and thanks so much for stopping by today.  It's time for MFT Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch #81.  If you'd like to see what the rest of the participating designers came up with click on over to the MFT Blog.
I used the adorable Gymnast Girl Pure Innocence for my card.   The sentiment is stamped on one of the Sentiment Strip Die-namics.

She is colored with Copic markers and I used red chalk for her cheeks.  Her leopard is paper-pieced with dark blue patterned paper.

I used the Stacking Stars Die-namics and added a tiny brad in the center.

Remember, you can get all the details by visiting the MFT Blog and the MFT forum on SCS (look for the most recent WSC thread).  You'll need to upload your card in the SCS gallery using the keyword shown on the sketch. You will have the chance to win up to $20 in MFT money. One winner is chosen at random each week!

Go get sketchy with MFT!

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Just as I Pictured...

Hi all and thanks for stopping by today.  Today marks the release of the newest MFT VIP Collection, Simple Pleasures.  This VIP Collection is packed full of super adorable (and fun) products!  You can buy it HERE.  Hurry, because quantities are limited. 

You can check out what the rest of the design team created with the Simple Pleasures VIP Collection, HERE, on the MFT Blog. 
I made a card using the new Pure Innocence Picture Perfect stamp set.  Isn't she so cute holding that big frame?  I have seen photos like this everywhere and it's such a cute look.  I stamped a sentiment that comes in the Simple Pleasures mini sentiment set (free with your VIP Collection purchase) on a Bracket Tab.

She was colored with Copic markers.  Her boots are paper-pieced.

The grass is drawn in with Prismacolor pencils.  I tucked in a Fishtail Flag under the focal panel.

Here is a peek inside.  I stamped the image in light pink ink and included another sentiment.

Here is all you'll get in your Simple Pleasures VIP Collection:

Don't forget to head over to the MFT Blog to check out what the rest of the team has created using the contents of the Simple Pleasures VIP Collection.  Click HERE or the arrow below.

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