Friday, January 4, 2019

Blaze Orange

Growing up, come the end of November, deer season took our family up to the Northwoods of Wisconsin.  It was Dad's favorite holiday, and he prepared for it all year long.  Even his clothing was prepared.  He customized all of his gear using Mom's old sewing machine - putting in pockets, zippers, or extra insulation.  Then it was placed outside many days to lose any human scent.

Regulations were always changing, but I remember the year when blaze orange clothes were first required.  Boy, did my dad have a tough time with that!  I remember him calling to find out what percentage of the clothing needed to be blaze orange.  Ah, he lived for that stuff.  Soon there was a bolt of blaze orange quilted fabric next to his sewing machine in the basement.

Art Impressions came out with a great stamp set recently called "Ole Buck", and I was fortunate enough to win it as a stamp of my choice for an honorable mention prize from their last challenge.  It's fantastic for a masculine card in my "neck of the woods".  It lends well to camo greens and browns, but for its first stamping, I colored it for deer season in honor of my father.

I kept the background simple with a foggy frosty opening morning of deer season.

Here's Dad in transition to blaze orange circa early 1980s.

Supplies:
Stamps:  Art Impressions Ole Buck
Dies:  Lawn Fawn Tag You're It
Copics:  C00,0,01,3,4, N0,2,4,6, YG91,93, Y38, YR02,04,18,27,68, R02,17,22,24,29, E0000,000,00,01,02,07,21,23,27,30,33,35,37,42,43,44,51,84,87,89
Other:  VersaMark, SSS white fine detail embossing powder.

This card is going to go play in the following challenges:
CASology Week 325: Fresh - For fresh winter Wisconsin air!
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Something New - Thank you, AI, for the new stamp set!
Thanks for coming over to visit!  I hope you have a great day!
Kara

18 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, if this isn't my dad too up one side and down the other LOL!! They would have been fast friends for sure. This card is spot on for your dad Kara and magnificently colored!!

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  2. What a great story, Kara ... and a fabulous card with brilliant colouring! We have lots of hunters orange round us at the moment as the season (deer, wild boar, hare, pheasant etc etc) is in full swing ... your card depicts it wonderfully! Wishing you a tres Bonne Année ... bonne santé, beaucoup de joie et un adondance de creativité! Hugs, Anita :)

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  3. Oh, my! What a great post, Kara! Lots of deer hunting around here in NW Ohio, too. My great nephew, Hunter, just got his first deer. Great name for him, huh? lol Your card is fabulous with the scene and the group of hunters! Love the expression on their faces! Perfect coloring! Awesome photo of your Dad, too! I'm sure your Dad will love this card!

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  4. I love this story and the fun memories of when your dad hunted. I'm guessing that is his deer hanging in the background. That is the perfect card for him and any hunter. Beautifully colored and a great morning background.

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  5. This is THE greatest card!! I love reading about your Dad's hunting trips and wondered if he was in the Hayward area. My husband and I live in New Mexico now but we were in the north woods of Wisconsin for many many years!! I love these images but your coloring is nothing less than amazing!! I am bran new to Copic markers and totally inspired by your use of them!!

    I'm your newest follower and groupie! giggles

    Patti

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  6. Deer hunting is so prevalent around here that opening day is actually a school holiday. I'm sure coloring this brought back lots of memories and I'm glad you had a picture to show of Dad dressed for the hunt. Your coloring of those guys is amazing and the wintry background is just what they're hoping for to track their deer.

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  7. What an amazing card and a wonderful story about your dad! Love that you included a photo of him all decked out in orange. Your coloring is fabulous and your background perfection!

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  8. LOVE your card Kara. It's always wonderful when designing a card brings back great memories. The image is expertly coloursed (as always!), and I love the soft background to depict a cool fall morning in the mountains. xx

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  9. Oh my, what an amazing card and an amazing story. Your Dad is totally rocking the 'Blaze Orange', Hugs Tx

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  10. What an amazing card!! You take colouring to a whole new level and I love the dimension you cleverly achieved... I can't bear the thought of anything being hunted but I have to say your dad looks great!

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  11. This card is over the top, the best masculine card I've seen Kara! Who doesn't love a hunter or at least know a hunter that this card would be well suited for. And, speaking of "well suited", I love the picture of your dad in his red plaid and blaze orange. Such a great story and wonderful memory shared.

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  12. What a wonderful story and what a perfect way to remember your Dad Kara. That stamp was meant for him and you have done him and that stamp proud with such an amazing colourful card. Love it!

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  13. I'm not a hunter, but oh my gosh Kara...this card is FABULOUS! Your coloring still just blows me away and how you achieved all that depth using just basically shades of orange...it's blaze-ing brilliant!! Love, LOVE the image too! And the photo of your dad! Can't believe he did his own sewing...yay for dad!! Wonderful, wonderful card my friend! Hugs!! :0)

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  14. Kara, your card is fabulous and what a terrific story about your dad! Thanks for sharing both with us at CASology this week!

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  15. This is one over the top amazing cards...just love all that beautiful orange! Fabulous story too!

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  16. Fantastic card, Kara and fun knowing the story about your dad. Your coloring is so awesome. Happy New Year, my friend.

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  17. OH, I TOTALLY LOVE THIS SET! I HAVE TO HAVE IT for my hubby!!! HE'D LOVE IT!!!! LOL I actually thought NO ONE would have anything like this!!! A SUPER JOB on your card & CONGRATULATIONS on winning it too!! ;) (I enjoyed reading about your dad too! ;) Memories....)

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  18. Oh my sainted Aunt, I love, love, love your Dad's pants, Kara! Thank you so much for sharing the photo of him in his handmade orange deer duds! I can see you in his face, too, which makes me smile! Your design with the foggy morning is so realistic and your monochrome coloring is, as always, perfection!! Best post ever anywhere!! Hugs, Darnell

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