Even though the outline has been wandering around in my head for a little while, it took until today to create this card for the current Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge, closing tonight:
From Kim's inspiration photo, I focused on the woodland setting, the colours, the tree/wood and the shape of that vintage VW micro-bus. That shape reminded me of this critter from the PS set Birthday Buddies. For a minute or two, I thought about giving him a watery setting and making him a beaver -- Canada's currently in a bit of a tempest over whether our traditional symbol, the beaver, should be changed to the polar bear. Although I like polar bears, I'm still firmly Team Beaver in the national symbol department. The inspiration pic has nothing to do with water, though, so I stuck to the original gopher/groundhog look. The world's smallest pom-pom tops his birthday hat, and he's framed in a woodgrain pattern from My Mind's Eye. I was SO tempted to make his big nose red, but settled on shining up his nose and teeth with Glossy Accents. The whole design is fairly vertical to match the inspiration, too. I think he'll make a fine masculine birthday card. :P
Supplies: white & cream cardstock, My Mind's Eye Lime Twist Life of the Party patterned paper, Paper Smooches Birthday Buddies stamps, Brilliance coffee bean ink, clear embossing powder, Prismacolor pencils, Twinery mandarin twine, Glossy Accents, pop-dot tape
The shiny nose and teeth are brilliant and I love that little pompom. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm kinda with you in the symbol department. I don't think of Canada when I think of polar bears although I think of moose before beavers... I actually spent 10 days in BC a few years ago and was so upset not to see a single moose. Although I did cross paths with a bear...
...but not a polar bear.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous card! I love your critter, and I'm with you on the beaver issue -- Polar bears remind me of, well, more polar regions! I'm guessing they're a rarer sight in most of Canada :)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I love the details on this card -- what a cute little pom-pom!
Aw, Mr Groundhog is so cute with the world's smallest pompom on his hat! Nice pairing with the woodgrain paper, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure a polar bear would help improve Canada's image as someplace that is too cold for me to live. :)
I must agree, I am on team beaver too. :)
ReplyDeleteThis card is too adorable! I love your colouring and his fabulous woodgrain frame!
This is very cute, Lindsey!
ReplyDeleteHe is so cute, great use of the SPARKS challenge.
ReplyDeleteSuper cute! I also used this little guy and it so fun to see the different takes!
ReplyDeleteADORE the tiny pom pom. I hope they don't change the beaver as the national symbol, I like polar bears too, but beavers are way too cool.
ReplyDeleteOh, cute! Love that image, and I love the little pompom you made =) Thank you so much for playing along in this SPARKS challenge!
ReplyDeletea great masculine card - love his pom pom and big shiny nose!! What a great interpretation of the inspiration pic!!
ReplyDeleteHOW CUTE!!! I totally love it, down to the fine details!
ReplyDeleteHow cute is this little critter--LOVE his little pom pom on his hat!! And his glossy nose!! LOVE:) Thanks so much for joining in the fun and playing along with us over at Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge;)
ReplyDeleteCUTE!! I love how you embossed the coffee bean ink...it looks coppery. The sky/grass looks fantastic. It's so sweet! Polar bear? I'm with you on Team Beaver.
ReplyDeleteYou are on a roll with these adorable cards! Love the little hat with the puff :)
ReplyDeleteYou are on a roll with these adorable cards! Love the little hat with the puff :)
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