Catrina love

I have a rather special card to share with you today.  I was actually pretty excited about it when I made it (and spent a loooong time on it - LOL).  As a life-long So-Cal girl, I feel lucky to live at an intersection of so many cultures, particularly Latino.  My own city pays special homage to this and has a marvelous Museum of Latin America Art, murals painted in numerous places around the city (especially around schools), and wonderful restaurants that do amazing authentic cooking - it's just a beautiful thing to be immersed in.  Perhaps because of this and my own love for biology (and specifically, images that remind me of biology) I've had a long-time love affair with Catrinas.  I've just always found them to be intriguing, whimisical, and beautiful.

My good friend Glenda had a chance to visit New Mexico a while back.  I had heard there were wonderful stores that have stamps with artwork of Catrinas.  I BEGGED her to hook me up and hook me up she did! :)  One of the stamps she sent me was an interpretation of perhaps the most famous Catrina, La Calavera Catrina ("The Elegant Skull") made by Mexican printmaker José Guadalupe Posada in 1910.  (His original work lacked the chili pepper "outfit" though - perhaps that was the "New Mexico" touch? LOL).  I had SO MUCH FUN playing with the stamp!

Now, reds aren't at the top of my personal preferred color palate, but I know how much Glenda loves red and I know that red would be an appropriate color to partner the image with.  Thinking about the beautiful dresses in folkloric dancing, I decied to pick a paper and add some fussy elements to give the card a more ornate feel.  

And then I decided to add some flags :)  I had a chance to visit Manzanillo, Mexico a few years ago (and perhaps important to note I was in the part of Manzanillo where the "locals" live, not the touristy areas).  My favorite thing about the city was taking a long walk up through the windy neighborhoods (on a quest to get to a black sand beach) where I found them decked out for the holidays.  There were flags everywhere - it was so charming (hence, my adding some "flags" to the card)! 

Needless to say, I thought way to long and hard about this card, I'm kind of crazy like that, but I love how it turned out.  Almost kept it for myself (shhhh.... don't tell Glenda).   

Thanks for stopping by my blog!  I hope you find some fun inspiration today too :)

Comments

[Glenda J]

What a fantastic post for a much loved card. I am so glad I could hook you up! Thanks for making it red, you know I love it. And the flags are absolutely perfect... I love them!!! Big hugs to you my beloved friend. Thank you so much.

[Candace Saxman]

Hey Senora: I like this card very much! You Catrina looks like she is ready to party.

[cheiron]

This is FABULOUS! Love it in red too!

[jenn shurkus]

this is amazing!!!! you are so talented :)