i {heart} papers Sketch Challenge

Our i {heart} papers design team was issued a sketch challenge by our team-mate, Kendra. I needed a monkey card (keep reading!), and thought that the leaves from Changito the Monkey would make a colorful edge for this cute image from Changito Dos. I flipped the sketch in order to fit these adorable monkeys into the leaf frame. I really love how my card turned out!

First I traced an oval onto a sheet of white cardstock, and then stamped the monkeys inside and the leaves around the edge using Palette Noir ink. Each image was stamped again on another piece of white cardstock, colored and cut out, then popped up on dimensionals to give some depth to the focal image. I used a combination of Copic markers and prismas with baby oil to color them in, then used a cool grey marker and blender pen to add some shadowing.

Often when I stamp I have to creatively correct something! Do you have that problem? This time I forgot to stamp the little curlique vine before adhering the leaves around the outside edge of the oval. Rather than risk messing things up by trying to remove the adhesive and stamp the vine in place, I just sketched it in with my Copic black multiliner, and colored it with my prismas. If you decide to CASE, you must remember to stamp your vines in first!

I used the soft yellow flip side of some Carnival Flowers designer paper as the background for my card base, and stamped the sentiment on the bottom right corner using Palette Noir ink. For the horizontal element of the sketch, I cut a strip of Wild Wasabi card stock, punched it with a scalloped edge punch, and topped it with a strip of brown double-faced faux suede ribbon (which looks almost black in this picture). A button-centered prima accents the intersection of the frame and ribbon.

I have big plans for this card already! My son, Matthew, is one of the Wickersham brothers (who are monkeys) in Fleming Island High School's production of Seussical, the Musical, so this card will be an *I'm SO proud of you* card for him! We homeschool, but he auditioned and got a part even as a freshman, so I was proud of him from the git go! He has been a walkin' talkin' Seuss-machine since rehearsals started, and I can't wait to see the performance (this Thursday and Friday)! Break a leg, Matthew!

Kendra is running a contest for this sketch from now until noon on Tuesday, March 24th. Just leave a comment on her blog with a link to your card and you'll be eligible to win a prize! Make sure to visit the rest of the i {heart} papers design team members' blogs to find some inspiration! Links are on the sidebar!