A time to remember

those who have served our nation and given their lives so that we may enjoy the freedoms we have. I cannot thank these men and women enough for all that they have done. I applaud those who have served and have returned home to family, friends and loved ones. I can only imagine what it must feel like having a loved one serve in today's military. God bless you all!

Many of my relatives have served in the armed forces over the generations. With pride I fly my flag high not only on this special day of recognition but each and every day.

The poppies (PSX) were colored using Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol (magic pencil technique learned at the hands of Debbie Gimbel at my very 1st convention) and placed on a black background. The poppies are elevated with foam tape. In the flower centers is Black Diamond Stickles. The old calendar page was distressed with distress ink and the corners curled. The flag (Rubber Monger) was stamped on vellum and colored on the reverse side with regular colored pencils. Note to self: start with the lightest color (white, in this case) first! The darker colors smeared a bit so I mixed up some Heavenly White Twinkling H2Os and painted over the white colored pencil. The moisture caused the paper to warp so close up it actually looks as if the flag is unfurling, not just the way the image was created.

Who are you?

Another birthday card for a fellow ATT member. After applying alcohol inks & gold metallic mixative & blender to my craft sheet I placed the #8 tag into the ink, drying after each move so the colors didn't get muddy. The brown bird was stamped first so I could figure out where the floral spray and birdcage should go. I wanted the birdcage to appear suspended from the spray. The 'b' is a raised glossy sticker that actually covers a place where the ink didn't get the best coverage (hush, don't tell!). The yellow ribbon and antique brad finish off the tag that I mounted onto black cardstock then another piece of decorative cardstock.

Why?

To celebrate a birthday of one of the ATT club members! I stamped the face on a half sheet of vellum then colored on the reverse side using distress inks then heat set. The vellum layer was folded in half then adhered to a white cardstock base. A watch face and TH spinner finish off the card.

Yesterday I worked outside all day and completed all my landscape projects. The weather was gorgeous; one I wish could have been bottled & saved for another time. Sigh. Today should be quite a bit warmer and more humid. Perfect day to visit a fave stamp store and pick up more TH texture fades so I can play tomorrow. Next week I hope to start the downsizing of my stamp collection. But first I need to finish a brief updated version of my family research for the reunion next month. It's always something, isn't it?

Tattered florals

It's been a busy week with no time for art -- graduation, birthday, sick, and plenty of yard work. Today is inside chores...need to cool off! Tomorrow I should be finishing all my landscape work and can just sit back and enjoy my efforts. There will always be weeding (so, so many maple seedlings) and mowing.

Using baby wipes, coffee filters, black and silver vinyl screen, scraps of denim, Tim's tattered florals die and a few Spellbinders dies and some old buttons, I fashioned these flowers. I'm also really pleased with the background in the photo...an old paper towel that had been used under some other project...cool colors and design.

Reinkers and mists created the colors on the flowers and leaves.

Don't forget to take time out of your busy lives and enjoy your flowers whether they're faux or not!

A really nifty tip

I was resting my eyes yesterday afternoon and thinking about the cards I was planning to make for all my June occasions. I'd seen a card on Susan's blog (5/21) that really caught my eye because of it's simplicity and ability to work for most any occasion. She was making notecards for teachers and boxing them up...a really nice gift and presented in a clear box.

The dog image I really liked (& have!) but it felt too simple for me. I combined a bit of the line drawing from her bee card. Hmmm...still a bit flat. This is where resting my eyes comes in. I'm not good at giving an image a shadow and wanted something easy and foolproof. Yes, I could stamp & cut out a solid image and place it behind the stamped image but then I'd have to stamp and cut twice. I thought about all the coloring devices I have on hand. Hey, what about a light gray calligraphy marker? I lined it up in my hand as if to write in the calligraphy style (took classes years & years ago) and followed the image where I wanted the shadow. Voila! Just perfect and what I wanted. I really think this tip is worth something, don't you?

I didn't like stamping the sentiment directly on the card. Nope, on a layered rectangle wasn't right either. Hmmmm....hey, how about a bone? And I just happen to have a Sizzix die. Yahoo! A bit of brown distress ink and I think I've got a winner!

Live life...be content

Good advice to keep in mind on a daily basis.

This tag is mostly Wendy with a bit of Tim thrown in. Lots of background stamps overstamped a distress ink background. The scalloped border was inked up, stamped on a background stamp, then the border stamp was stamped and cut out. The butterfly is 2 layers - the top one is acetate so it can fly. The chipboard heart was inked up, a layer of Glossy Accents was heated up then touched up with a gold paint dabber.

Putting on the ritz

This is a 6x6 scrapbook I made for my niece who will be graduating next weekend. Promenade is hosted at the school before the prom. Couples attending prom can come show off their finery to the community. It's a lot of fun and you get to see the kids looking pretty darned spiffy in all their finery.

Sorry I loaded the pages in reverse order...this blog thing is still a learning curve for me.