Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Cocoa-nut and Photo practice


Are you seeing double? Good! LOL! There are 2 pictures here. This is my first sample of "The Grind" as Guest Designer for Clear Dollar Stamps.

Card Details:
ALL CDSTAMPS USED: The Grind, Candy Sticks, Chocoholic
CS and PAPERS:Brilliant Blue, Bliss Blue, Red Textured, white
INK:Memento Tuxedo Black, Brilliant Blue, Distress Faded Blue Jeans
MARKERS (if any):Copics R29, R27, B32, B24
EMBELLISHMENTS and TOOLS:Martha Stewart branch punch, button, ribbon, Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 3, pop dots, Stickles Frosted white

The Story:
A couple of months ago I decided, on a whim, to see if SU's Like it a Latte was selling on ebay. I decided the money was more needed than that stamp set & sold it. I had another mug stamp from the store that would "suffice." Still, I really liked that whipped cream & steam look. Can you imagine my happiness when I saw that Clear Dollar Stamps came out with THIS set? Right away, I had to make hot cocoa with it. You see, I am not a coffee drinker. I'm also not a tea drinker (2 of the 3 sets I chose for my Guest Designer spot are things I don't do IRL! ha, ha!). Chocolate, however, runs through my body like blood. At least that's what my friend Stephanie told me once. She also believes I have an obsession with a certain combination: Chocolate and Mint. She's definitely right about that! What she DOESN'T know is that I've always wanted to go to Switzerland. Yes, there is a point here. Hang on.

See the cups of hot cocoa with the little sweetheart design on them? The blue, the red, the hot cocoa theme? Doesn't it just SCREAM, "Swiss Miss!" to you? NO??? Well, it did to me. The more I worked on the card, the more I wanted that minty-snowy-Swiss Chalet in the Alps look. Maybe I'm the only one who believes such a look exists, but now I have proof. My card is the original Minty-Snowy-Swiss Chalet in the Alps look. The candy sticks are sold as a separate little set that has one single stick the a grouping of three (which would also make darling straws to use in the tall cup from this set for a milk shake! OH, yeah, I can see that one coming! YUM! The words are from the set that I am SURE was created for me: Chocoholic. 'nuff said.

Now about that photography. I'd like your input. The top picture uses a flash. The bottom one does not. I did have to lighten it up some, which always seems to distort the picture some. The bottom one, with no flash, seems to have more accurate colors, but the clarity of the top one is better. Which do you prefer?

Thanks for traveling to Switzerland with me. It's as close as I'll likely ever get!

11 comments:

Cindy Haffner said...

Great take on the sketch, awesome!!

Cassie said...

This is fantastic, Lori! I love all your little added touches here, and the candy stick works perfectly with the mug. I would have never thought of that. . .so genious ;D

The Other Patti Sue said...

So cute! I did see double! LOL!

Shawne said...

It is very cute, maybe you will someday get to the real place, who knows? Love the details. Photography is tough. It's usually this way you just have to decide on the particular card if the clarity or color is more important. I would think on this card the color. The blue gets a little harsh with the flash. Hope that helps, I have trouble deciding on my own too!

Tricia T said...

Love this! And the saying is perfect. I'm a mint cocoa person myself. I love the candy cane! And the words are priceless. :-)

One Picky Family said...

Great job. I'd go w/o the flash and use natural light if possible.

Dawn B. said...

This turned out super. I love the way you used this set. I have had a mojo block with it and now you helped me out. I know that there is an awesome tutorial on SCS about photography. It was done in the MFT forum. Amy (Pickletree) gives you lots of information that has really really helped me. I always leave my flash off. Hope this helps.. Really great job.

Miss Iowa said...

Cute card! Next thing ya know you'll be yodeling your way down the Alps. LOL! Oh--I thought the 2nd photo looked better even before you posted the difference.

Kevin Renz said...

Isn't photo taking quite the bugger? I am voting for the top one though.

And I loooove hot chocolate, just as much as I love my coffee.

peggysue said...

Super cute Lori! I like the use of that die with the mugs . . . and the layout and colors and everything! I can like everything, right?

Traci M said...

Super cute Lori! I like Dawn's comment about the photography, I'll look into that too. I've been to Switzerland and loved it...this really captures the look of a minty chocolate chalet.