I don’t normally make a second post to my blog in a given day, but for this card I just had too! I’ve been working on it for a few days, going back and forth when I had the time. After doing the first card for the SCS Sketch Challenge today, I said myself (yes I even answer myself – scary isn’t it?) “Hey dingie, that image will work for this sketch and you need to finish it anyway.”
I need to explain about my obsession with this image, the kokopelli. I know that some say the kokopelli is a symbol of fertility (pregnancy), but for me it is the symbol of fertility for all life, including hopes, dreams, or love. When I was 40 years old, I started martial arts training. Within 2 ½ years, I had obtained my 1st Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. Soon after I had obtained my red/black belt, or 1st Degree Black Belt Recommended, while practicing a jump spin hook kick, I fell and tore the ACL in my left knee. During my physical therapy, I was struggling with keeping the balance in my life that I had achieved. I searched for many months for a necklace made of certain stones. My mother, while on a trip and shopping out west, bought me up a silver kokopelli necklace made of jade, turquoise and coral. I wore this necklace continually and never took it off. When I was 45, and on a road trip with some friends, a couple of us woke up one morning and decided to get tattoos. Yes, my tattoo is of the kokopelli necklace that my parents gave me. No, you can’t see it unless I decide to show you – and that is something I’m not very willing to do! That is why it is on my body! When I got my tattoo, a permanent reminder of the balance I like to have in my life, I quit wearing the necklace constantly. By the way, Bad Bev and I do call him the Party Down Dude as well!
I started by stamping the image of the kokopelli and colored it with Copic Markers. To make the background panel for the kokopelli, I painted a piece of white cardstock with Scattered Straw Crackle Paint. Once it was dry, I tore the edges off to the desired size, and sprayed the Crackle Paint with Shimmer Mist. To make the shimmer mist, I put a small amount of Bronze Perfect Pearls into a Mini Mister, a dropper full of Scattered Straw Distress Ink and finished the mix by adding water until the mister was not quite full. I shook it all up and saturated the crackle paint with it. In real life, this panel just glimmers and the edges look like metallic. (Very hard to get a good picture of.) To make this image fit into today’s Sketch Challenge, I went with a 5.5 square card. The background panel is stamped with a border image in Broken China Distress Ink over the entire turquoise panel. The bottom panel started out as a manilla shipping tag that I distressed with Adirondack Mountain Rose, Broken China and Scattered Straw inks over. I stamped the blanket background on the tag with Black Soot Distress Ink. For the sentiment, I distressed another piece of the tag with Scattered Straw ink and then stamped the sentiment in Black Soot. The top circle panel is a piece of the Crackle Paint panel that was left over. Once I had punched the circle, the edges were sponged with Vintage Photo ink.
Stamps: Rubbernecker Southwest Collection 183-05 Southwest Striplet and 233-01 Indian Blanket Background; Stamp Oasis Southwest Collection 1554 SO Celebration Kokopelli; Stamp Oasis Sentiment Collection 1644 SO Rhythms of Life Text; all from Rubbernecker Stamp Company
Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Black, Turquoise, Manilla Shipping Tag
Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black and Mountain Rose; Tim Holtz Broken China, Black Soot, Scattered Straw, and Vintage Photo Distress Inks
Accessories: Copic Markers, Tim Holtz Scattered Straw Distress Crackle Paint and Distress Reinker; Ranger Mini Mister, Ranger Bronze Perfect Pearls; Tsukineko Oblong Sponge Dauber; Black Jute Twine; Mounting Tape
Products show above, except Copic Markers, can be found at Rubbernecker Stamp Company. (I just noticed that I didn’t put the mini mister in the picture, but it can be found on My Favorites Page).
This is amazing! A true piece of art. Thanks, too, for sharing a bit of yourself.
I never would have given the set a 2nd glance without your inspiring creation – and story. Sometimes one feels a kinship without knowing exactly why, and your story helped with that a bit! I admire your accomplishment in the martial arts, as well as pursuit of balance. I am still on that searching path! I tore my ACL playing basketball at 30, had it reconstructed with a piece of my patellar tendon (as a graft), but they weren’t able to save my cartilage. The affected leg is strong than my not affected leg, even after 22 years since the original injury.
I have been too fearful of reinjury to be as active as I want to be. I think I’ll print out your card and have it be my source of inspiration today!
Thanks so much for sharing that story! You never know how it will reach someone!
Wowzers, this is a fabulous, fabulous card. It’s one of my favourites of yours.
OHHH ….. MY …… GAWD …..!!!!! Sherry, this card just BLOWS my mind [in a good way lol]. Your creations are at such a high level; I seriously think you should consider putting together a collection for a published book 🙂
Could we see a pic of your kokopelli necklace please? Of course, I’d love to see your Tat, but knowing how *Bad* you are Sherry, it’s probably in a very private and fertile area. *smirk* hehehehee
Gorgeous colors!! Way cool card!! Love all the techniques!
Wow, wow, wow! Awesome!
This is gorgeous Sherry!
I’ve seen the tattoo……… 🙂
I love this card! You have totally turned me on to the Rubbernecker site. Thanks, grin. . . There goes my stamp allowance.
Beautiful card and inspirational story. I really like all thngs southwest and especially kokopellis! I have a large copper Kokopelli peice in my home and all decorating evolves around them! The rubbernecker stamps are awesome, may need to add this kokopelli to my collection!
Beautiful card. love seeing your work
That is a beautiful card and a wonderful story. My dad is an artist and would totally love your card. He does a lot of native american stuff. Check out his website if you get a chance. http://www.carlbandy.com
I have this piece in my home (along with many others) http://www.carlbandy.com/KOKOPELLI.htm
Oh and he does puns too. I think he is where I got my twisted sense of humor from.
This is beautiful, Sherry! I have a ton of Southwest stamps and never use them anymore. I still love them, though. Once again, you may have inspired me. A wonderful story, too, and I’m glad you shared it. Gee, a black belt…one more reason to call you “Bad Sherry”!
WOW! This card is incredible
I love this card – and I love your story that went along with it! You never cease to amaze me Sherry!! 🙂
I just came across your card and absolutely LOVE it! I have a kokopelli tattoo and get so many compliments on it. I wouldn’t be without it! And what makes it even more special is my son gave me the tattoo! He does such a wonderful job! Anyway, thanks for sharing your story and the card!