Okay. This is getting a little strange... three posts from me in less than 48 hours?! I'm pretty sure that's some kind of record. DON'T GET SPOILED! You know you can't count on me to entertain you with this sort of consistency for long. So, as I tell my children: enjoy the moment, and let's let tomorrow worry about itself. This sort of behavior from me is like 60 degree weather in January in Oklahoma. It happens on occasion, but it ain't gonna last. Still, might as well shuck the jacket and put the top down while you can!
So, today is Wednesday, which means it's time for My Favorite Things' Wednesday Stamp Club challenge -- the first one of the new year! There's going to be a change in the WSC format from here on out. Here's the info from MFT to fill you in on the changes:
MFT is super excited to announce that Wednesday Stamp Club will now be centered around a weekly sketch. We know your stamping time is precious, and we want you to maintain as much creative freedom as possible. Sketches are the perfect starting point to a card. Use it as a blueprint, and create a card using the stamp set and supplies that strike your fancy. You can turn to the sketches time and again for creative inspiration.
A new sketch will be posted each Wednesday at midnight on the MFT blog. You'll also find the sketch in the MFT forum on SCS on Wednesday morning, as well as in the weekly newsletter. Our talented Challenge and Design Teams will be on hand to provide plenty of inspiration to get you started.
We encourage you all to play along, and to enter your card in the weekly draw for a $15 gift voucher to the MFT Boutique. Simply follow the sketch and create a card or other paper creation. You may use any stamps and supplies that you wish. Each week, a keyword is assigned to the sketch. All you need to do to enter, is upload your card to the gallery at SCS, and enter the given keyword in the keyword box, during the upload process. After the deadline, we randomly choose a winner from that week's entries and the winner will receive a $15 gift voucher. If the winning card uses MFT stamps, the participant will earn a $5 bonus, for a total of a $20 gift voucher! That is up to $100 per month in prizes, JUST for playing along. We hope you'll join us in 2011.
Cool, huh? I love sketch challenges -- they do the hard part and leave me with the fun choices of stamps, paper, and embellishments. Yay! So, here's the first WSC sketch of 2011:
And here's what I did with it, using the new Pure Innocence - Ladybug image that was just released last night:
You'll notice that my ladybug is a little... er... uh... more masculine than the rest of the ones you've been seeing on the MFT Design Team blogs. There's a story behind this. See, my son Carter received a Ladybug Pillow Pet (It's a Pillow! It's a Pet! It's a PILLOW PET! Surely you've seen that commercial dozens of times over the holidays) from his Grammy for Christmas. He and his cousin Jack were watching TV with her one day and told her which ones they wanted. Jack wanted the Dolphin, and Carter wanted the ... Ladybug.
When Carter opened his Ladybug, he was thrilled. Truman, however, was not.
"Why'd he get a ladybug?" Truman asked.
"Because he wanted one," I answered. "Who says Ladybugs are girls, anyway? Remember the one in A Bug's Life? And don't make me remind you of a certain little boy who used to prefer the Pink Power Ranger..."
To avoid further gender confusion, Carter has named his Pillow Pet "Dude" and we've decided Dude speaks with a deep rasp that's indicative of his 3 packs-a-day habit. To give the ladybug her/his makeover, I inked up the image then carefully took a few sharpened blending stumps dipped in stamp cleaner and 'erased' the girl's hair before stamping the image on paper. You can still kind of see a couples of wisps, but I'm going to pretend that's errant ear and facial hair. I added a little 5 o'clock shadow to him, too. His spitcurl and smirky eyebrows and mouth were patterned after Francis (the aforementioned male ladybug from A Bug's Life). A white undershirt, socks & sneakers... and wah-lah!
My Valentine for my little guy is done! Guess which DVD I'm going to pair this with for a little love offering on Feb. 14?
Don't forget to head over to Kim's blog for a link list of all the MFT designers participating in this week's challenge. You can also find lots of sample in the WSC sub-forum within MFT's member company forum on Splitcoast. We'd love for you to come and play with us this week!
I had to GUFFAW at this one...Cole wanted a ladybug pillow pet too!! So Carter's not alone. :)
Posted by: Shannan Teubner | January 05, 2011 at 02:26 AM
HEE HEE to CUTE!!
Posted by: Cindy haffner | January 05, 2011 at 06:58 AM
Totally cute!!! Love the fun colours!
Posted by: Dawn Easton | January 05, 2011 at 06:59 AM
I can just hear Denis Leary's voice coming out of this little bug...
Too cute and clever!!
Posted by: Christina Fischer | January 05, 2011 at 07:22 AM
this is adorable Carole, love how you changed it to suit a boy
Posted by: StampOwl | January 05, 2011 at 07:31 AM
So stinkin' CUTE, Carole! Love that ribbon!
Posted by: Barbara | January 05, 2011 at 08:35 AM
Couldn't be cuter Carole!!!! I love his 5 o'clock shadow:)Very creative!
Posted by: Jenny Peterson | January 05, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Cute. lol. (My mind was going into an ENTIRELY different place last night when you were hinting about what you did with this stamp. lol. YOUR idea is much less gross. lol.)
Posted by: Michele Boyer | January 05, 2011 at 02:05 PM
love the back story, I was thinking he looked like he needed a shave. He also reminds me of the lollipop league dudes in Oz. tough little mugs, I wouldn't mess with them.
Posted by: chris v - easily amused | January 05, 2011 at 02:20 PM
You "kwack" me up, girl! Leave it to you to come up with something this hilarious and this cute, and then have the perfect ribbon on top of it all! Only you...only you, that's why I loves ya!
Posted by: Amy Rohl | January 05, 2011 at 09:45 PM
So...just went back and read the Carter story...I love your family! And...guess which pillow pet George has...yep, the cow (and the mini pillow pet cow, and the pillow pet cow blanket, too). I think it was the best dam* $60 I ever spent!
Posted by: Amy Rohl | January 05, 2011 at 09:49 PM
Hey Ms Carole...I nearly fell out when I saw your sweet face on my blog...it's been a year or two since CHA, gf!!! Your card is just toooo cute...such an adorable little ladybug and you always use the prettiest papers!!!! I still have the Elvis card you sent me on the shelf in my craft room....hugs!!!
Posted by: Joan Ervin | January 05, 2011 at 11:29 PM
you are brilliant!!! nuf said!!
Posted by: Jana | January 06, 2011 at 11:24 AM
This made me smile BIG, Carole!! I love Francis, and Bug's Life...and your card is perfect!! I especially love the stubble!! You are too clever, I say!! ;)
Posted by: Rose Ann | January 07, 2011 at 03:23 PM
LMAO...you have got to be one of the funniest people I have ever met. LOVE this!!
Posted by: Jessie/knightrone | January 08, 2011 at 12:22 PM
You are brilliant!!! This is so cute, and funny! I loved the Bugs Life!
Posted by: Wendy Bond | January 09, 2011 at 09:45 AM
Carole! omg! this is soooo so cute, in a DUDE sort of way. hehehehe! love the back story and your Valentine is sure to make your little guy smile. and as for your challenge-you're on! We'll see how many of these WSC challenges we complete this year!!
Posted by: Lisa Henke | January 10, 2011 at 12:48 PM
Honestly, don't get to come to your blog much but, I know when I get there, I will be entertained!! This "he bug" is adorable or should I say handsome!! Love the 5 o'clock shadow!!
Posted by: Vickie Z | January 10, 2011 at 04:11 PM