Friday, July 3, 2009

"Howl" if you are passionate!


I hope you don't think I'm a whiner. In Dawn McVey's last color challenge, I was daunted by the small number of color choices, THIS time there were plenty! But then I struggled with "to add white or not!" I asked friends and even Dawn herself for clarity! In retrospect, I WAS one of those students who continuously asked..."will this be on the test?" or "are we being graded for this".... yep, that was me. I don't cross the street without the light.... speed... YOU do the psychotherapy... I guess I have issues...

BUT I LOVES ME MY PAPER CRAFTING! I guess I'm crazy like a fox! Or... uh.. A WOLF!!!!




So after all my concern, I was able to create a card WITHOUT the use of white or cream! Thanks for holding my hand, everyone! {Doh!} I'm "such a big girl, now!" tee hee Not only THAT! But while I searched for inspiration on how to make these colors tell a fabulous story... I found this stamp set.... "Nature Silhouettes" from Stampin' Up! just sitting on my desk, leftover from the "Father's Day Card" consideration pile... In spite of the flowers in the inspiration picture and the PINK, Pink, P-I-N-K of that pink in the color swatch.. I decided to get howling with the wolves! Remember that cute gal from the "Mama Mia"movie with the short hair..(I think her character's name was "Rosie" played by Julie Walters..) the "author"... and she HOWLS! Love HER! Anywhoo, that was my inspiration to take this gorgeous wolf image and let it out for a "girl" card, instead of keeping it in the "manish-card" only category! *Not that you can't use pink on a man card... btw! Please don't think I would discriminate.... I just have certain stamp sets that I buy exclusively to make MAN cards... so this was kind of a happy struggle and a satisfying finale! I'm just sayin'...


It IS fun to see where these challenges take us! Never thought I'd stamp a sentiment ON pixie pink with BLACK.. unless it was Valentine's day... But that's what is so exciting about card-making! I loved how this sentiment worked with Stampin' Up's! wide oval punch! Perfect! (The sentiment is from "Inspired by Nature" from S/U! BOTH of these sets are on the "PHEW!" - they didn't retire! list.. in my head.... Wahoo!) THEN, to get more green in the main part of the composition, without creating too much electricity from the complimenting color LIGHTNING!!! I cut a second oval to use as a subtle shadow... but even that needed a tiny bit more juice, so a few holes punched below the word "passion", a tiny red rhinestone... and THEN that element spoke VOLUMES! Yeah! Then there's the Martha Stewart coarse glitter {Yum!} highlighting the leaves on the tree: talk about ELECTRICITY! I really WANT to create a "Dawn-worthy" card... without completely losing my own sense of style, so this was REALLY an effort to work with both of those objectives! If you are familiar with the "Nature Silhouettes" stamp set, you may have noticed that the grassy foreground from the tree stamp has been extended, by simply masking off the tree. It was sooooo easy to line up: no stamp positioner required~ I just used the top edge of the gray panel for my guide and lined it up the same as when I stamped the initial tree/grass image. I added some shadow to the wolf with a gray Water Color Wonder Crayon and aqua pen (Stampin' Up!) just to give the guy a solid place to stand and howl! I know I like a solid place to howl! Hee Hee



Supplies:

C/S - Stampin' Up!
Stamps and Ink - Stampin' Up!
Oval and Scallop Edge Punch - Stampin' Up!
Ribbon - (?) from my stash!
Bling - (?) also from my stash!
Glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts

Thanks for the howling good time, friends! If you're still reading this: you're awesome! :o) I get all excited to share the journey with y'all and YOU KNOW I love to hear about your journey, as well! Have a fabulous day!

16 comments:

Ann said...

Wow, that blingy tree is gorgeous! Great job with Dawn's colors!

Kelley Eubanks said...

Your card is gorgeous! It is so fun to use stamps, etc.. in a way that you never thought you could. It gives us such a happy heart to think out of the box and come up with something creative and unique! I love it! I love that glitter on the tree and on that soft sky background... seems so mystical (i think that is the right word... ha). you know.. like you are in the woods as the sun is rising and there is that glistening on the trees from the dew and there is a light fog. Anyway... I will shut up! Ha! Thanks for your sweet comment on my card! I am glad to know I am not the only one with issues!

Janelle said...

OK, my first visit to your blog and you cracked me up! I loved hearing your whole decision making process. And I loved that you used the wolf with the pink and the glitter -- I never would have thought... And the three holes punched in the oval under the sentiments was BRILLIANT. And, I could go on -- but I won't. Thanks for visiting my blog, too. How fun it is to get little peeks into the way others think and work!

Kathleen said...

thanks for the issues nod----so glad to find someone else who has come into their own truth! :)

Love what you did with this CRAZY combo!

Rossella said...

Grazie per i complimenti e...che dire della tua card....bellissima!

Karen said...

Wahooo!!!! You're in for the challenge! {wink, wink} :> Love the glitter on the tree and see it glistening in the moonlight. A piece of red bling for the 'i' caught my eye. And your pink ribbon wrapped around and tied up like a pretty present!! And a girly card with a stamp you had out for Father's Day consideration?? You and your stamp are 'working hard for the money, so hard for it honey' and now I've got Donna Summers in my head....just thought you could share in the tape track stuck in a loop in my head! :> Seriously, glad you found time to play!!

Rosemary said...

Wow!! Simply gorgeous! I haven't found my inspiration for this color challenge, yet. It never ceases to amaze me how you bring such different elements all together is such a great way!

Dana Gustafson said...

WAAAOOOOOOOOOO! This IS a howling good time! AS per usual, your card is fantastic, just like your narrative! Your words make everything more than just paper and glue. I love that Rosie from mamma mia inspired you to get your pink colored howl on. Your magical, glittery card captures her wonderfully!

Jane said...

Wow! This is not a card but a picture to be framed and put on a wall!!! wonderful!!!

Jessica said...

You did great! The card is lovely and you didn't need white or cream :)

Sharnee Torrents said...

I love your post, your humour and all your frineds comments! How wonderful to have great comments like that!! I giggled to when you said what you did about my card! What a fun person you are!!!
Oh and I love your card, well done for stretching yourself, the wolf works great with the pink ribbon and the shadow under her and the glittery tree! Amazing!!!!

Scrapping Julie said...

awesome, love the way you did the ribbon and the sparkle!

Helen F. said...

Love your funny stories ~ your blog is so fun to read...and also love your card (I think it's great for male or female :)

Courtney Baker said...

Ha ha... you are making me laugh! Sometimes it's hard to know, but every once in awhile, I just do what I feel like!

Your card is so fun. At first I thought this stamp would be perfect for a Twilight party. Love it.

Anonymous said...

Lol... Just emailed you. ;-) LOVE this! Love the silver... what a great idea!

Maria Eufemia said...

I would never have thought to put pink and wolves together - love it!! :)

I also love your blog - your thought process is great.