Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Prairie Dogs


At our local zoo the highlight attraction is a confine of prairie dogs. (Yes, it's a small zoo!) They are quite comical. Sitting so still...then all of a sudden they shoot down in a hole and a few seconds later their cute little heads pop up from a hole.Their small beady dark eyes begin the staring showdown with you and then all of a sudden they loose and shoot back down a hole again!


I wanted to focus on the elements I remembered from the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge inspiration photo in my card like the woodgrain, the pop of orange, something coming out of a hole (in a tree none the less!). And then the whole masculine vibe of the photo led me in a masculine direction, perfect for the Young Crafters Unite Masculine Challenge.


I pulled out the cute little prairie dog image popping out of the ground (or is it a mole? or a beaver with his teeth? oh the possibilities!), colored him with Copics, paper pieced his hat and then adhered him onto a woodgrain embossed panel that had been stamped with a sentiment. I added some white enamel to the teeth, to make them shine!

Supplies:
Cardstock: (Natural White) SU
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Stamps: (Birthday Buddies, Sentiment Sampler) Paper Smooches
Ink: (Rich Cocoa Momento) Tsukineko, (Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress) Ranger
Tools: (Markers) Copic, (Woodgrain Impression Plate) PTI
Other: (White Enamel Accents) Ranger

45 comments:

  1. This is SO, SO darn cute, Karen! Love that little guy. Awesome coloring and LOVE the woodgrain embossing. FAB!
    We have a pair of prairie dogs at the garden center where I work, and those two guys always crack me up. The older one LOVES to be pet and rubbed. I always try to scritch him through his cage bars. :)

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  2. So cute Karen... love the cute image and the texture! :o)

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  3. Oh Karen this card is just adorable. <3 it!

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  4. The orange paper is perfect, and love how everyone's take on the Sparks Challenge is different (I see lattes, you see small ground creatures, love it). White enamel is a great touch too.

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  5. Brilliant! Love his shiny chompers! Such a perfect guy card. :)

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  6. Holy adorable, Batman! Love it!

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  7. Super-stinking cute. Love that lil digi.

    Be blessed, Beckie

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  8. Totally adorable! So glad you played along with the SPARKS challenge! :)

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  9. Super Duper Cute! I love how you incorporated the elements in the pictures into your card. Perfectly done! :)

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  10. Karen, your card is adorable! I love that super cute image.

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  11. I love it! Your little guy is just adorable on your card and what a really cute use of the SPARKS challenge.

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  12. HAHA! This is so cute Karen! I LOVE the woodgrain and that cutie image!

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  13. HAHA - I went to the Bronx Zoo while visiting my sis-in-law a few years back & the prairie dogs was one of our favorite exhibits! It had this area where the kids could go to a little cave & pop their heads up into the Prairie Dox Exhibit - my hubby almost got stuck - children only please ;).

    I love this card - I just got the woodgrain die & can’t wait to use it! You did a fabulous job with everything! Great masculine card!

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  14. Wonderful card Karen, you have coloured him in beautifully, he looks adorable. Thanks for playing along in the Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge :)

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  15. Okay, now how stinkin' CUTE is this?!!! perfect-o!!!

    I received some super fantabulous happy mail...thank you sooooooooo much...you are thee bestest.

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  16. Isn't that just the cutest face, great result from the inspiration :)
    Jenny x

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  17. Oh, Karen--this is SOOOOOO fun! I LOVE that little beaver--love your coloring and the embossing! FAB! THANKS so much for joining in the fun and playing along with us over at Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge!!!

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  18. love this! so adorable! how did you emboss within that framed area? excellent coloring too!

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  19. This is uber cute Karen!
    Love it!!

    TFS~

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  20. Y'know I don't think I've ever seen a prairie dog IRL! If your card and description is anything to go by I think I need to see some of those cuties! :D
    Hugs,
    Aimes
    x

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  21. Cute, cute and more cute! I love your ideas!
    hugs,

    Maria

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  22. Darling card... love this little guy, teeth and all! Great look with the woodgrain embossing.

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  23. Too cute! Love the woodgrain embossing behind the prairie dog, and isn't he just darling! ~Hugs, Cheryl

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  24. This is so cute. Love the coloring you did!

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  25. hee... super cute! this makes me smile, Karen! fabulous take on the challenge. love love it!

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  26. hee! what an adorable little guy- love his shiney whites! Great texture & gorgeous coloring! :)

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  27. Eeeek! He is so darn adorable. I think he can be whatever you want. :)

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  28. Aw, prairie dogs are so cute, and so is your card :) I really like the woodgrain background!

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  29. you can really rock that woodgrain plate! What a cute card and prefect for that inspiring photo. To answer your ques from my blog, no, I don't sell any cards. All my sets will be for Christmas gifts for my leaders at church (I teach the 3 yr olds), friends and grandmas, etc... I make sets throughout the year and stash them for the holidays.

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  30. His expression is ADORABLE. Such a cute card, Karen! ;)

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  31. Prairie dog, beaver, mole... ha doesn't matter he is too darn cute! The texture and coloring are amazing.

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  32. I noticed your card right away when I posted mine! He looks perfect, and I really like that patterned paper and the woodgrain texture.

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  33. LOVE IT!!!! Sooooo cute and just a great take on the challenge!!!

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  34. This is totally adorable! I love that you gave him shiny white teeth, too. :) What a perfect take on the challenge!!

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  35. Omg this is so cute and perfect for the challenge!!!

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  36. Oh my goodness, Karen!!! This is such a super CLEVER interpretation of the inspiration photo!!! LOVE THIS, girl!!! Totally makes me grin since we see prairie dogs all the time in CO!!!

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  37. I saw my first live prairie dog at a park in Lawton, OK in 1996. For some reason I didn't think prairie dogs really existed and I was just fascinated by their behavior.

    I love your prairie dog and think it's a great take on the inspiration!

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  38. Suuuper cute! Thanks so much for playing along in the SPARKS Challenge!

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