I absolutely love that I have the opportunity to work my photography into illustrations for Whipper Snapper. Having my photos turned into rubber stamps that other artists can use to express their creativity is cooler than COOL!
I created this card using simple stamping, sponging and masking. First, I stamped the Cowgirl on Horseback image in Timber Brown StazOn on Whisper White paper from Stampin' Up.
Once the image was stamped, I adhered post-it notes around the image to protect the border, so that I had a nice white edge around the image. I added color around the image using sponge applicators and various colors of Distress Ink from Ranger.
When I was done applying color to the image, I removed the post-it notes to reveal a nice, CRISP white border. I trimmed the image down a bit, to reduce the amount of white border. Once I started putting the card together, the white was a little too stark for what I wanted, so I sponged a little around the edges to break up the stark white edges. I added some machine sewing and assembled the card.
And if you're curious, here is the original photograph I took of a young woman on her horse as the sun was setting.
Silhouetting her against the evening sky created a moody photograph
that I'm pleased to have in my portfolio!
And the stamp is pretty DANG fun to use, too!
Edited to Add: Wow... there's some serious COLOR in these photos! Those PINK post-it notes really scream PINK!
Wow, I LOVE your card and the stamp, and your photo. Awesome!
Posted by: SUE DREES | March 04, 2009 at 04:45 PM
What a great photo! And your new style of stamps look like a lot of fun!
Posted by: diane (cookiestamper) | March 04, 2009 at 01:13 PM
YeeHa! EXCELLENT card! Love the distress background (must try playing with my inks since I have just about every color made of them. will it matter if I only have neon orange post-it notes?). I'm hearing Brooks & Dunn in my head as I'm gawking at your creation. Thanks for sharing, oh great one!
Posted by: nise | March 04, 2009 at 06:05 AM
Very cool! Excellent photo; it's wonderful that you can make stamps from your photos!! The card is fabulous too! Nice warm color scheme.
Posted by: Elaine | March 02, 2009 at 05:36 PM
I am BLOWN AWAY by your photography...how amazing! You have such a gift!
Posted by: Cathi Carpenter | March 01, 2009 at 09:21 PM
wow...wow...wow...WOW...WOWZERS! This is stunning!! The original photo is equally so!
Posted by: Kerry D-C | March 01, 2009 at 03:37 PM
WOW!
Posted by: Ema Martinez | March 01, 2009 at 11:06 AM
W-O-W. I know what's going to be on my next WS order. This is FABULOUS, Anna!
Posted by: Shel9999 | February 28, 2009 at 07:09 PM
next to chickens i lovve horses i really love that stamp and card wow that is so fab
Posted by: michelle gall | February 28, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Anna, you are SO talented, is there anything you cannot do? LOL. This is a gorgeous photo, gorgeous stamp and gorgeous card! I am in awe of you ...
Posted by: Debby W. | February 28, 2009 at 06:23 AM
Incredible! How do you live with yourself?! Congrats. I enjoy your photography as much as I enjoy your cards, as much as I enjoy your animals, as much as I enjoy your stories of the animals........ you get the "picture"!!!
Thank you for all you share with us!
Posted by: kjo13 | February 28, 2009 at 05:41 AM
Beautiful card, Anna, and beautiful photo! You are mighty talented dear girl. Thanks for that tutorial, too. I'm definitely going to give that a try.
Hugs,
Lisa
P.S. My stamp set came today. I can't wait to play! Thanks again!
Posted by: Lisa Hjulberg | February 27, 2009 at 10:22 PM
this is fantastic! your card & the original photo is breathtaking - you are too talented, woman!
Posted by: Donna B | February 27, 2009 at 10:01 PM
Incredible, Anna! I don't know which is more amazing - the card or the photograph! Is there anything you CAN'T do?
Posted by: Amy Sheffer | February 27, 2009 at 08:06 PM
WOW! That's one stunning photo & one fabulous piece of artwork!
Posted by: Linda C. | February 27, 2009 at 06:59 PM
Beautiful.
Posted by: Shae | February 27, 2009 at 06:47 PM
Fabulous as always!
Posted by: Erika M | February 27, 2009 at 05:53 PM
This is absoulutely gorgeous, the photo and the card. What a fabulous stamp your photo made! WOW...just...WOW!!!
Posted by: Jeanette | February 27, 2009 at 05:49 PM
That photo is AMAZING!!! Congrats on having it made into a great stamp. I love the card too. Great details.
Posted by: Anthonette | February 27, 2009 at 05:18 PM
Awww man, I wish I saw this sooner! My niece turns 21 next week and this image would be prefect for her card; she loves horses so much that she started her own stable already! Let me go see how fast shipping is, LOL! Wonderful work Anna, in both mediums!
Posted by: kathyc on scs | February 27, 2009 at 04:06 PM
Love the stamp AND the photo -- uber cool!!
The white border around the stamped image looks so neat - A+++ for you! :)
Posted by: Jennifer (jkincolorado) | February 27, 2009 at 01:37 PM
What a wonderful photograph and what fun to be able to turn it into a stamp. Great card. tfs
Posted by: Bev J. | February 27, 2009 at 12:51 PM
So cool to see the real photo that the stamp originates from!!! Love the card that you created! (Does the young woman know she's been made into a stamp? :) How awesome does she feel?)
Posted by: pegg | February 27, 2009 at 10:45 AM
This is beyond cool!!! I love the photo, I love the stamp, I love the colors you used in the card. This card is WoW!!!
Posted by: donna | February 27, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Very cool. Silhouette stamps are so much fun to use. I love how the simplicity of the solid images comes alive based on the creativity with background/surrounding areas.
Posted by: Kerry from PA | February 27, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Wow! The stamp image & the photo are both just gorgeous. You are certainly one talented lady. Thanks for sharing & happy weekend.
Posted by: Troy Louise | February 27, 2009 at 10:12 AM
I live for color and you sure supplied it! The whole photo-to-stamp-to-card process is super cool!
Posted by: Cheryl R | February 27, 2009 at 09:55 AM
I absolutely love this! This might just be my favorite card of yours so far!
Posted by: Nicole | February 27, 2009 at 09:43 AM
Umm, HOLY COWGIRL, this is gorgeous Anna!!
So cool that your photo's are featured in stamps, I need to check this out!
Posted by: pam hooten | February 27, 2009 at 09:15 AM
Breathtaking and Beautiful. The card is just gorgeous and your photograph is stunning.
Posted by: Ida P. Krause | February 27, 2009 at 09:07 AM
*thud*....*double thud*....OM!! I'm not sure what I'm lovin' more~~the card or the original photo!!(I'm thinking that the photo would look PERFECT in my house....)oh well!! I just might have to do a little "shopping" today and get me some western stamps....yup....
Posted by: Starla(star) | February 27, 2009 at 09:03 AM
Wow....I don't know which to comment on first...the card or the original photo. Both are jawdropping!! I love how you sponged that image...& left the white around the edges. Super job....I just can't stop looking at it!!
Posted by: Michelle (MilwaukeeMommy on SCS) | February 27, 2009 at 08:42 AM
That is soooo coooooool! Thanks for sharing how you masked and sponged. I want to try this technique. P.S. Love your 'photograph' stamps!
Posted by: Shellie Daniel | February 27, 2009 at 08:20 AM
Wow! What an awesome card! Its amazing how much the stamp looks like the photo. You are one very talented girl!!
Posted by: Karyl | February 27, 2009 at 07:46 AM
Oh man, that stamp and the card brings tears to my eyes. You can take the girl outta Texas, but you can't take the Texas outta the girl!!! Really, Anna, you got it going girl! Yee Haa!!!!
Posted by: Susan | February 27, 2009 at 07:31 AM
Beautiful image, beautiful card!! Your photo is so gorgeous!!
Posted by: Cindy H. | February 27, 2009 at 07:17 AM
Wow - that is really cool! Thanks for showing how you added the background color...I have never opened my Ranger felt applicator - shame on me! - Can you believe that? I think it is getting opened today!
Posted by: Michelle Adams | February 27, 2009 at 06:48 AM
Simply amazing! Love the original photo, and that you realized it would make a fab stamp!!
Posted by: Carla | February 27, 2009 at 06:35 AM
Wow! That photograph is STUNNING!! It makes a great stamp too!
Posted by: Natasha | February 27, 2009 at 06:34 AM
Anna, I had to run and get my sunglasses on to see past the HOT PINK post-its! Just kidding!! Your card is fantastic and so is the photo!
Posted by: Viv (VivLyn) | February 27, 2009 at 06:32 AM
Anna...this is card is stunning!
Posted by: Pat | February 27, 2009 at 06:18 AM
This is beautiful Anna. I love your photography and love how you are turning the photo's into stamps for us to enjoy.
Posted by: Linda Palmer | February 27, 2009 at 06:01 AM
Holy Toledo Anna...words can't describe...I'm speechless. You already know I want to be you when I grow up. I consider myself to be creative but you really take the cake sister!
BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL work.
Chris
Posted by: Chris Hauck | February 27, 2009 at 05:20 AM
Wow what a startling effect, really sets the scene, I love that stamp!!xx
Posted by: Susan Mason | February 27, 2009 at 05:09 AM
Wow! This is gorgeous! So...where can we buy the stamp?
Jane
Posted by: Jane | February 27, 2009 at 04:58 AM
WOWIE!!! Your card and photo are both FABulous. It is so cool you are turning your photographs into stamps. :)
Posted by: Mel | February 27, 2009 at 04:38 AM
that is GORGEOUS! LOVE that stamp!
Posted by: mj | February 27, 2009 at 04:32 AM
Wow this is awesome Anna, congrats... gorgeous photo!!
Posted by: Candy aka cwilliams | February 27, 2009 at 04:28 AM
Anna! I just can't get over how gorgeous all of these are!
Posted by: brook | February 27, 2009 at 04:19 AM
Gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous! The photo and the card are both beautiful! You must be so proud. And you should be!
Posted by: Toni K | February 27, 2009 at 02:34 AM
Miss Anna ~ a.k.a. Cluck-Cluck ~ this photo and stamp image is beyond stunning and something you should truely be proud of.
You captured a superb photo but you also caught an image that is powerful and visionary, especially with all of your magical natural light behind the cowgirl.
I would be doing cart-wheels up the road if I were ever priviledged enough to have my own photograph transferred into a rubber stamp .... then to know that other people were using it and admiring it from one end of the world to the next :)
Bravo my brilliant Chick-Chick, or is it Cluck-Cluck :))
Posted by: Robb_eeie | February 27, 2009 at 12:11 AM
OMG Anna, stunning does not describe this card...or the photo..both are works of art!
Congrats on the new line of stamps too...how very cool.
TFS
Sue
Posted by: Sue | February 27, 2009 at 12:02 AM
Hi Anna,
Just wanted to let you know how much I love your blog.
I've given you a ladybug award that you can get the info for at http://taylordconcepts.blogspot.com
Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: Erika Taylor | February 26, 2009 at 11:21 PM
what a beautiful stamp. Ilove your background paper it looks like tooled leather and your embellishments are perfect. TFS Ann Lind
Posted by: ann Lind | February 26, 2009 at 09:55 PM
So pretty - love your tutorial... I need more foam handles. It's always something, isn't it? LOL! Beautiful layout! Gorgeous stamp!
Posted by: Lori Craig | February 26, 2009 at 09:40 PM
Anna, this is jaw dropping gorgeous!! And even more meaningful for you to have it start with a show stopping photo too. Wow, what a great great work of art!
Posted by: Crissy | February 26, 2009 at 09:31 PM
WOW, that is gorgeous! And I have that stamp, because decades ago, I used to ride my horses every day! What a great memory! I'll never be able to color like you can, but at least I can stamp the image! I'm so proud to own it (and WOOD mounted, too!:D) Thanks for the great card (and PHOTO!) :D
Posted by: diane mcvey | February 26, 2009 at 09:09 PM
How cool is that! I love that photo and the stamp is equally fantastic.
Posted by: Jessica Canham | February 26, 2009 at 09:09 PM
Amazing card and photo Anna!!!
Posted by: Lori M | February 26, 2009 at 08:41 PM
Gotta have this one...my mom would love it!
Posted by: Shannan Teubner | February 26, 2009 at 07:45 PM
Anna, what a great card and the photograph is amazing. You are truly talented.
Posted by: Sherry Eckblad | February 26, 2009 at 07:43 PM
You have to be THE most diverse artist I know (or wish I knew). You amaze me. These are amazing and I couldn't wait to see them when you mentioned you were trying them a while back. I enjoy your blog every day!
Posted by: Sheri | February 26, 2009 at 07:43 PM
This card is beautiful! That's totally awesome to have your gorgeous photo's turned into stamps!
Posted by: Danielle | February 26, 2009 at 07:29 PM
GASP! This is STUNNING, Anna! And yeppers, those are some PINK post its! LOL
Posted by: Valerie | February 26, 2009 at 07:18 PM
Oh my gosh, this card takes my breath away...so does the photograph. You ROCK!
Posted by: denise (peanutbee) | February 26, 2009 at 07:10 PM