Thursday, March 1, 2012

MFT Teaser Time! So Inspired....

 
I must tell you all that I love today!!  For two years in a row, we've been lucky enough (some of you may think not so lucky) to have had Mama Robins nesting in a bush right next to our front door.  Sometimes they nest, lay eggs, and then they're gone before we even know it.  Other years, the babies have been abandoned and we've ended up caring for them.  Sometimes it works out and other times...not so much.  But without going into immense detail...today's GORGEOUS Inspired By stamp set holds a very special place in my heart.  I was so inspired to create with this beautiful set that I set down and using my fabulous watercolor paper, distress inks and pearlized water created this:
Now I know that Robin's are not blue but their eggs are so I was inspired to pull in a bit of blue...even on the bird ;)  Here's how I painted the bird.

I prep my watercolor paper by wiping it lightly with a dryer sheet.  This will help ward off any static cling that may occur when using my black embossing powder.  If you've ever used black embossing powder you know how it always sticks in places you don't want it to.  I then stamped the image using Black Colorbox ink onto very high quality water color paper.  I get mine in spiral bound books in the Fine Art section of Michael's or at AC Moore.  I coated my stamped image in black embossing powder and heat set it.  It comes out looking like this:
The embossed image is really wonderful for painting as the raised areas hold the paint in which is great as it keeps it from spreading over the lines and edges.  

Now it's painting time!!  I pulled out my favorite Distress Inks and decided on the colors that I needed:
I then opened each one and dabbed it three or four times on the brown craft sheet that you see underneath:
My pearlized water is made by adding a few small scoops (I use the end of a straw that I cut open) of Perfect Pearls Pigment Powder mixed in a spray bottle with water.  It looks like this:
I sprayed each color twice with a close range spray.  It beads up and helps intensify the color as Distress Inks were meant to play and blend so well with water.  The Pearl Powder adds the most LOVELY shimmer and shine!!
Now I take a small paintbrush and start picking up color and slowly and carefully start adding it to the areas of my inked and embossed image.
I started with the blues.  You see how beautifully the color pools up in the embossed areas keeping it trapped from spilling over?  Just awesome.  I eventually end up blending the colors together on my craft sheet.  Oh and the most marvelous thing about the craft sheet is that all that paint cleans up with literally one swipe with a baby wipe!  It's fantastic!

I then started adding the browns in. 
I then used my pinky finger to just move the paint puddles around until I was happy with where they were.  I let it dry for about five minutes and then hit it with my heat gun to make extra sure it was dry.  Then I could create with it!  I colored the beak with a Pantone marker (it has a teeny tiny point) in a beautiful golden yellow.
I really love how this techniques produces such beautiful color, shine and brilliance!  I have paired my creation with the fabulous new Oval STAX Die-namics (you MUST MUST get these onto your list ASAP!) and the new Royal Rose Die-namic which I cut out of luscious 100% wool felt.

My designer papers are all from Authentique.  I used corrugated cardboard to matte them all onto and used SU! Night of Navy as my card base.

I used one of the beautiful sentiments that comes with this set 'You Can Fly' which I stamped and then trimmed apart and matted and housed them under the oval.
My interior uses the beautiful birdhouse image from this set.
I kept the interior relatively simple, using another sentiment, inking the birdhouse in Hero Hues Latte Chalk ink.  I added one of the STUNNING new Photo Corner Die-namics as an unexpected and fun touch!

Thank you so much for coming by today!!  I'm sure you're having a fabulous day checking out the amazing and unbelievable creations from the MFT Design Team Members!!

See you tomorrow for another teaser!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Administrative Bits and Bobs:
  • You can attend the New Release Party on March 6th from 8-10 PM EST HERE in the MFT forum, where you can enjoy fun, games, and PRIZES!
  • The MFT release, including all new stamp sets and Die-namics, is on March 6th at 10 PM EST.  You'll find all the newest products HERE at release time.
  • The guest designer contest is ON!  Check out the forum for details on how YOU can win $200 in stamp sets and Die-namics, and play along with the MFT Design Team for a month.
  • If you'd like to see all the teasers for today, please click on over to the MFT Blog NOW.  Be sure to leave comments as you go for the chance to win one of 2, $10 gift certificates given away daily.  The winners will be posted on March 6th just before the release party, on the MFT blog.

Here are the details about the upcoming release on March 6th at 10 PM EST:
  • You can attend the New Release Party on March 6th from 8-10 PM EST HERE in the MFT forum, where you can enjoy fun, games, and PRIZES!
  • The MFT release, including all new stamp sets and Die-namics, is on March 6th at 10 PM EST.  You'll find all the newest products HERE at release time.
  • The guest designer contest is ON!  Check out the forum for details on how YOU can win $200 in stamp sets and Die-namics, and play along with the MFT Design Team for a month.
  • If you'd like to see all the teasers for today, please click on over to the MFT Blog NOW.  Be sure to leave comments as you go for the chance to win one of 2, $10 gift certificates given away daily.  The winners will be posted on March 6th just before the release party, on the MFT blog.
    Fabulous MFT Die-namics used in today's creation:

35 comments:

StampOwl said...

so pretty

Holly AKA KopyKat said...

so pretty

KWaltemathDesigns said...

Very pretty. I love the way you colored the image!

XoXo,

Katie

Nikki said...

Such a sweet Card :)

Mary J said...

So very very beautiful, I love this!

Unknown said...

Awesome tutorial! It hadn't occurred to me to paint with the distress inks! :) And, this stamp set is perfect for you birdie mama!

Maria C said...

Love it. Love the new bird stamp.

Cindi said...

Wow this is gorgeous! I love how you painted the bird and thank you so much for the tutorial!

Angel said...

Beautiful birdie! Lovely card!

Coleen said...

Wow, this is great!

Megan said...

So pretty! I love how you pearlized the water, too!

Kristy Hansen said...

Thank you so much for sharing how you colored your bird. I don't have all the things that you used, but now creating a shopping list. Love your card. ksh

Tricia T said...

So shimmery and pretty!

Annette Allen said...

wow you are so amazing with those distressing inks...love that fun bird...

Elle said...

Your card is beautiful and I want to thank you for showing us how you stamped, embossed, and colored your image.

Lisa H. said...

gorgeous, girl! looove how the bird turned out, thanks for the how-to!

Laraine R said...

Great card! Love the way you colored the bird! I am going to have to give it a try!

wendy said...

awesome tutorial and great technique!

Barbara said...

Your bird is amazing and your card is too! Gorgeous coloring, Meredith!

Anonymous said...

very nice card.

Dawn said...

So pretty Meredith!

Rosie Gustafson said...

Love the card and the technique you used,must try it.

Megan McDonald said...

Love the colour of the bird and how you have done it.

Michele Boyer said...

SO pretty, Meredith! I love how you colored the bird! Gorgeous! I never in a million years would have thought to color like that with distress ink.

Trisha said...

Beautiful, beautiful card. Love your coloring and distressing and choice of papers.

Kathy/NorthCarolina said...

Such a great technique on this card! Love it!

jeanne girl said...

Very nice Meredith - the bird is gorgeous!!

Kimberly S. said...

GORGEOUS coloring on your bird!! Thanks for showing us how you did it. I've used Perfect Pearls before, but I used rubbing alcohol instead of water. I'll have to try this so I can use it with Distress inks!! Thanks for the tip!!

zehra said...

Meridith, this is absolutely gorgeous, love our coloring and this tutorial is great, love the outlined steps. Thank you, you are a great inspiration

stampingbowd said...

TFS the wonderful photo tutorial!!!!! What a gorgeous bird!!!! I really want to try this!

Debbie Carriere said...

Stunning!! That bird is magnificent!! Awesome work!

Sharon Roselli said...

you are a natural. great bird, love the tutorial. you are an inspiration. thank you for sharing your talent with us.

mplsbetty said...

Such a pretty technique on the bird. Lovely.

Flo said...

Very pretty. Love the way you colored the image.

Miriam Prantner said...

That bird image looks stunning! Thanks for the step by step instructions!