Bang! Bang! Bang!

Happy Monday Everyone!  This is my second post today, please scroll down for my Lollipop Crafts post.  Thanks!

Today is the last day of previews for the Sister stamps release #4 featuring the wonderful Chinese New Year images.  It's been such a pleasure to help Jenny & Debi welcome in these new and wonderful stamps.  Be sure to head on over to their blogs for another chance to win this very awesome release.  They have so many wonderful ideas to create fun and wonderful projects using the unique Chinese New Year images you're sure to be inspired.  :)

Now what could be better to send off the New Year than with some cute kids popping some fireworks?  Um... nothing.. lol!   Here are some fun facts on fireworks traditions:

"Chinese New Year Fireworks ..the blowing up of fireworks is amongst the traditional celebrations that the Chinese people take part in for the purpose of welcoming the New Year.  In fact the firecrackers are the final touch to the entire festive season. Without them the Chinese New Year would be incomplete.  A main belief for lighting up firecrackers is that the firecrackers are meant to scare away the evil spirits and misfortunes right at the start of the year. This way the Chinese people hope to keep the coming year free from all evil."

Now what kid doesn't like firecrackers?  I'm sure there are some out there that do not, but the majority of us, kids at heart, love to see the way they light up as much as to hear the BANG!  These kids are no exception, I mean just look at how happy they look to see the firecrackers light up and pop!

 For my last card I decided to create a scene by drawing in some elements that resemble a shop front in Chinatown,  with the kids having a grand ole' time popping the firecrackers.  I added a few Stampin' Up lanterns and a cobblestone walkway.  Everything was colored with Copics.  I'm not sure if you can tell but I diamond glazed the fireworks.  There is also a lot of stickles here.  I think the fun part would be how the fireworks cast the glow on to the little kids!  I really wanted to make it look pretty realistic and I think I captured the glow reflecting off of the kids pretty well.  (For a tutorial on how to accomplish this check out Amy's video on the Color Me Copic blog.)  You can also do what I did, leave some space on the edge near the "light" and use a yellow marker and blend.  Check out the close-up:

Since the scene was the main focus I kept the rest of the card really simple.  I did emboss the brown cs for some added texture.  I had a lot of fun coloring this one in. 

A reminder that tomorrow is release day for these 3 amazing images.  Can't you just picture how many awesome projects you can create using them?  I can, and I anticipate a few of my co-workers wanting some Chinese NY projects done for them.  For a list of all the vendors where you can purchase these awesome stamps head on over to the Sister Stamps blog and check out the side bar.

Well friends, that's it for the me and the previews.   I hope you all enjoyed my vision of these amazing images and that they inspired you to create.  I want to say a big Thank you to Jenny for inviting me to help with the previews and I'd also like to thank Jenny and Debi for their wonderful and warm welcome.  Thanks ladies, it was a lot of fun and I'm so happy to have been a part of it. 

Xie xie!!  :)
Leanne