Monday, November 11, 2013

Confessions, Wine, and the Dreaded Sock Monkey

My Fiber Bubble (my card/quilt making zone) is a place of solace, creativity, and therapy. It is also a SAFE zone. So...What is posted from the Bubble stays in the Bubble!

Only because I know I can trust you....I share this secret with you.

Here it is - please don't judge me...Sock monkeys FREAK ME OUT! They always have. They always will. What is it about that smug, vacant eyed, floppy creature? I seriously get shivers when I see one. And did you know they are in vogue right now? You can buy nearly ANYTHING in a sock monkey theme. Fabric, coozies, hats, costumes, purses...before you know it I will be surrounded by these creatures! I think there is a subversive subculture of sock monkey activists out to take over the world.

As you will see by the {PIN}spirational photo inspiration challenge I was not only in for a challenge but was close to needing REAL couch-time, Rorschach, meditation, aroma therapy. What was I going to do? It is an adorable photo but all I could focus on was that damn monkey. I couldn't let the design team down! I made a commitment to make a card using that photo as my inspiration. What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?

I decided I would leave the Bubble and the horrifying photo of a sweet baby being accosted by a sock monkey plus a knitted sock monkey cap (I was sure the cap monkey had ill intentions...) and go upstairs and pour myself a glass of wine.

After a few sips I returned to the photo for another look-see. The wine must have been just what I needed because when I returned to my Bubble I noticed the photographers watermark. That was it! In my wine induced brilliance I decided right then and there my inspiration would be the airy watermark flower.

As a design team member we get to select a free digital image from the sponsors. (Sweet deal! Right?) So I scoured the Bugaboo Stamps site (closing my eyes when I encountered the sock monkey digitals) until I found this lovely digital tag.

So the moral of this story is...that if you ply your muse with enough wine...inspiration can be found anywhere!

WARNING!!! Sock Monkey Spoiler Alert!





Hello Tag Bye Bye Sock Monkey
~Base card - turquoise card stock
~Layer of design paper by American Crafts Yes Please
~Digital image, from Bugaboo, colored with Copics, Smooch, and Stickles, outer edge smudged with pink, yellow, orange inks, spritzed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, framed with olive green cardstock
~Sentiment: alphabet tag sticker with gold cord through hole in 'H'
~Three pearls colored using Sharpies
~Prima butterfly with rhinestone
~Ribbons
~Epoxy brad by The Paper Studio
Challenges/Inspirations
{PIN}spirational - photo (beware - it involves a sock monkey)
Brown Sugar - anything goes
Savvy Handmade Cards - photo (color) inspiration
Card Mania - anything goes
Make It Monday - anything goes

Thanks for clicking by...and remember...mums the word about my sock monkey phobia.
Nancy in Iowa

10 comments:

  1. Great use of colour and design, thanks for joining us at Brown Sugar this week.

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  2. That's so funny about you not liking sock monkeys!!! I'm smiling from ear to ear over your post! Several years ago I made I think SIX of those little critters for some of the grandkids. As I finished them I just sat them on a shelf. When they were finally all done I walked through the house one night in the dark and the night caught them sitting on the shelf and they literally scared me half to death!!!! The kids loved them - but yes, they're a tad bit creepy!!

    I DO love your card though! WOW! All those colors are just so bright and fun and love all the ribbon you added too. Sensational!!!

    Lynn

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  3. Very pretty Nancy! I love your interpretation of the colors and beautiful stamping. Thanks for sharing your creation at Savvy Handmade Cards.

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  4. Nancy...LOL Just LOVE your post! There is something really creepy about the sock monkey, isn't there? LOL I think you did a great job pulling your inspiration from the watermark. Your card is beautiful!
    Hugs,
    Tracey

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  5. I really laughed reading your post! So funny, well done for avoiding the monkey! Lovely tag/card, brilliant colours. Spotted it on MIM xx

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  6. Delightful work, thank you for sharing with us over at MIM, Hugs Kerry DT xx

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  7. Very creative. I love your tag. It's so pretty. Thanks for playing at savvy handmade cards. Good luck. We would love to have you okay along next time as well!

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  8. Ohhhh Nancy, your blog posts always make me chuckle, I really hadn't taken too much notice of sock monkeys before but I will from now on and it'll be you that I'll be thinking about! lolol! Unlike the rather strange creatures, your card is gorgeous, trust you to find something obscure from the photo to get those creative juices flowing, pour me a glass so I can join you.x

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  9. Great card and even better post. It made me smile. Hugs Wynn xx Beautiful

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