Sunday, April 25, 2010

A Brand New Challenge Blog!!

Good morning stampers! How many of you love a good challenge blog?? I love peeking in on various challenges throughout the week for inspiration...and what a bonus when there is also a prize up for grabs!! Well, there is a brand new challenge blog brought to us by none other than Crissy Armstrong!! Crissy is a well known artist in the stamping community, and she has recently launched her very own challenge blog named "Sundays with Crissy" for those of us who love using her digital images (available through Squigglefly and Whimsy Stamps)! There will be a new challenge posted every other week, and a fantastic prize to be given away once a month! I have always loved Crissy's images and was absolutely thrilled when she asked me to be a guest designer for Sundays With Crissy this week...what an honour!


I need to ask, have you taken the digi plunge yet?? The beauty of digital images is that they are so versatile. You can resize them to fit your project accordingly. (I also love that you can shop from home, and instantly have your images delivered to your email address!!)

Crissy's challenge this week is to use dots!! She's leaving that up to your interpretation. You could have dots in your paper, on your coloured image, emboss them, dotted ribbon...so many possibilities!! Personally, I love polka-dots, so I tend to pick up a lot of papers with them!

Crissy's image on my card today is called "Lion Hugs", available at Squigglefly. I printed "Lion Hugs" onto Neenah cardstock and began colouring with my Copic markers. I then added in additional shading with my Conte crayons to soften things a little, and to achieve greater depth. (warning: Conte crayons have the tendency to be messy!) Also, make sure to use your Copics first! You don't want to ruin the nib of your markers. (Remember though, they are replaceable if you should accidentally damage one.) I've had this polka-dotted paper by Karen Foster in my stash for quite some time, and thought it worked quite nicely with the striped paper by KaiserCraft. The sentiment is my own, just printed off my computer.



I decided to attempt a "dotty" background a la Crissy Armstrong!! (I thought it quite fitting, no??) Crissy creates gorgeous backgrounds to showcase her images, and has a fantastic video tutorial on her blog. This background was made with various cool greys and blues.



I adore this image...it's so beautiful, and an absolute joy to colour! I hope you plan to stop by Sundays With Crissy and become a follower. Now, you must use one of Crissy's digital images to qualify for the prize. You can find them at either Squigglefly Digital Stamps or Whimsy Stamps. Would you like to know what Crissy is offering to one lucky participant this month? Feast your eyes on this:


Are you drooling?? What an amazing give away...15 Copic Ciao markers! This really is a fantastic prize...so very generous!! Don't miss out on your chance to win! You can find the challenge rules over at Sundays With Crissy...you can also link up your creation there! Crissy also has a DT call currently open, but you only have until April 30, 2010 to apply. You can find the details on her post here.

Thanks again Crissy for allowing me to be a guest designer this week!!

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: "Lion Hugs" by Crissy Armstrong available at Squigglefly, sentiment by me!
Ink: Copic markers
Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, Co-ordinations, Karen Foster, KaiserCraft
Embellishments: Metal corners from the dollar store

26 comments:

Renkata said...

Melanie, you have coloured the image just so beautifly, it's like a realy Lion.
Great way of colouring. What for techning do you use?

Anonymous said...

WOW! What a truly AMAZING card! I was totally blown away when I saw this on Crissy's challeng blog. It really is a work of art and should be framed! Seriously! I love it!!

Shirl said...

OMG! Your colouring is amazing! Absolutely love the details on the lion and the little lamb!

Vicki Dutcher said...

WOW! What an absolutely OUTSTANDING card. This really is just perfection with your coloring. I can only dream... LOL.

Crissy Armstrong said...

Just awesome, Melanie, wow! I could learn a thing or twelve from you! I love the regal look of those papers with the deep blues of your background, and rich browns on the lion. Great match up! Btw, your blog itself is "dotty" with the brown and white ribbon down the sides!! Yes you are a big fan of polka dots! :-)
Thanks so much for all the link ups and compliments.
Hugs!
Crissy

Unknown said...

Oh wow fantastic card.
Christine x

Kelly Schelske said...

Oh my goodness Melanie, your coloring is unreal...awesome!!

Jodi said...

This is just absolutely nothing short of AMAZING!! I love that they look SO REAL! Wonderful work Melanie!! A stunner for sure!
Hugs
Jodi =)

Heather said...

WOWEE - I'm speechless - this is one totally amazing creation, your colouring of that fabulous image is sensational!! Wonderful colours and papers.
hugs Heather xx

Nic aka The Sticky Elf said...

OMG! Mel, this is amazing. You always colour to perfection, but this is a whole new level!!!! you HAVE to do a tutorial, or if you've done one - tell me where it is!!!
Nxxx

Maria said...

Fantabulistic Mel! Simply drooling over your colouring of this adorable image. The fur looks fabulous. Congrats on being featured as a guest DT this week with the wonderful Crissy! Hugs, MAria

Beth said...

I just had to come over from the SWC blog - your colouring is amazing!! Seriously stunning! Such a gorgeous card!

Love Beth xx

FitterTwit said...

Melanie... honestly, that is the most AMAZING card I've ever seen. The coloring is phenominal!

Holly Young said...

wow, your coloring is awesome!

Lilian said...

Awesome coloring Melanie! :)

Dean Holtz Photography said...

Well, I don't comment here too often ( although I creep her blog frequently to make sure the fanboys don't get out of control...just kidding ), but this is now my favourite image that my uber cool stamping wife has coloured. When I first saw it, even I was taken aback at the level of shading and dynamic colour range she achieved and I've seen all her cards. As a photographer ( and yes the one who photographs her creations ), I am a detail person, especially when it comes to colour range. I agree, Melanie is extremely gifted. Funniest thing, she actually asks me frequently what I like more, this or that on the card...uhhh, like I'm gonna pick out something better then her? I could do a tutorial, but it would be more like a case study in what not to do!:)

Welcome! said...

Ummmm...GORGEOUS!
GO DEAN, woo hoo!

Leah l'Orange said...

Mel, are you KIDDING ME?! that is unbelievably BEAUTIFUL, girlie! the colouring is just stunning, and that lion is jumping right off the screen!

i am in AWE!

Shannon Erskine aka e3stamper said...

OMG!!! This is just jaw dropping gorgeous Melanie!! Your coloring just blows me away! Your lion looks like you could reach in and pet him!LOL!

Lauretta See said...

i love love love this card... everything of it.. the image.. i adore lions.. the coloring is out of this world!!!!!!!!!!!!! the colors and all.. you rock!!

hugs x

Dalis said...

OMG... I don't think I have ever seen an image so well colored!

-- dalis
PIO Owner

Janette said...

this is absolutely incredible! I think that this may be your best coloring of an image yet. Truly an inspiration. Sometime if you have extra time (yeah right I know) it would be cool if you could either list the copic colors you used or take a picture of some of them. I would love to know the colors you used if at all possible.

xxxtglxxx said...

That card is absolutely breathtaking! wow.
Fantastic colouring, probably the best i have seen :D gorgeous xx

http://www.xxxtglxxx.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Amazing job Melanie. Just WOW!!!

Sparkle and Flourish said...

Just wonderful! I adore this image and your colouring work is truly outstanding. I just love the sweet comments your hubbie made. You trulky rock in the colouring stakes! hugs Judy xx

Mary Lou said...

Goodness Gracious Girl~~Excellente!!! Fantastic EVERYTHING!!! WOW I hope you don't mind me trying my hand at the way you color--I know it will never compare--but I ADORE it!!! You are so lucky to have your personal photographer (LOL) Your are amazing and talented!!
Blessings of thanks