Happy 4th of July!

Thought I'd make a simple patriotic card but it looked too plain so I bumped it up by making some red, white and blue posies (Tattered Florals die cuts).  Perhaps they are too large for this display but just think of them as floral fireworks...those are always big!  The technique used on the watercolor paper is called Bingo Blast (from a TechniqueJunkies newsletter).  The stamps are old and I don't remember who makes them (archival ink).  You may not be able to see the gold (Brilliance) fireworks scattered across the U.S.  I didn't care for the silver star brads but Sharpie markers changed them.  The white flower I left white and sprayed it with Perfect Pearl PPs.  The blue was colored with Faded Denim DI, edged with Chipped Sapphire DI, sprayed with Forever Blue PPs.  The red posie has Worn Lipstick DI, edged with Fired Brick DI, then sprayed with Forever Red PPs.

Our community celebrated Independence Day yesterday with festivities around the town square, a parade, and culminated with a splendid fireworks display at one of our city parks.  Check your cameras for a fireworks setting.  On the Nikon Coolpix it worked great!  I got lots of neat photos.

I've now seen Wendy and Tim's new stamp releases.  All of Wendy's are on my 'want' list, not the case with Tim's but I'm sure he'll have new artsy toys that I'll want.  Can't wait to see what he and Wendy have in store for us with add-ons. 

Hope you all have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Remembering dad

As I mentioned the other day, my dad has been gone nearly 2 years now.  Even though we didn't have a Norman Rockwellian relationship I still miss what we did have.  One of dad's favorite activities when he was younger was hunting.  I clearly remember him taking us on a pheasant hunting trip; hence, this card.  I think the trip was more to teach us about being quiet, listening, watching, etc., not about hunting per se.  I can't imagine having 4 youngsters hunting with you would have provided much game. 

The large background piece was created by stamping TH flourish stamp in white pigment ink, heat setting, then rubbing Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Weathered Wood, Vintage Photo and Black Soot distress inks over the cardstock.  With a slightly damp towel I carefully wiped off the white so that it would show up better. 

The other stamps are from SU's 'Pheasant Thoughts'.  The cardstock with the pheasant image uses the Camouflage technique that can be found in the Oct/Nov 2008 TechniqueJunkie newsletter.  I thought this was a perfect combo.

The hanging sign is from TH; I used his rusted grunge technique (see his book Compendium of Curiosities for details) on the grungeboard.  Flattening the brads added to the rustic look.  Spellbinders Labels 4 and Ma Vinci Graven Tiny alpha in Sepia Archival ink were used to create the date embellishment.  I had a piece of wood from my mulch pile that was just the right for this card.  Two wire Christmas ornament hangers were wound around the piece to complete the card.

Mood when done?  Happy with the card, sad otherwise.  Happy Father's Day to all the dads in my life!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

You don't have to be Irish to celebrate the wearing of the green. After all, you celebrate Halloween and you're not a pumpkin. (Sigh) I can't take any credit for that line; I saw it on the Gingerwood Bulletin Board a few weeks ago.

Whipped this card up yesterday-nothing like the last minute. The white layer features the Wisped Frames technique from the latest Technique Junkies newlsetter. The dancers and sentiment are by Art Impressions. The green layer has one of Wendy's new background stamps (love that plaid!) stamped in gold. A few brads and gold photo corners and I'm done...and satisfied with the square (a first for me!) card.

I've donned my green and am awaiting the smells of my corned beef to waft back to my stamp room. Can't wait for dinner!!!

It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to...

but I don't. Yep, today's the day! Double nickel for me - feeling great, blessed in so many ways.

Today's card was inspired by the challenge found in the most recent TechniqueJunkie newsletter. The techniques I used are Bingo Blast (A/M '09), Salt & Pepper (June '04) and Marker Tapping (Feb '10). The little girl is from I Brake For Stamps, the sentiment is by Endless Designs. The oval plain & scalloped dies are Spellbinders. The tiny flowers on her hat were made with a hand punch; the candles are a thumb punch. I colored the little girl with plain old colored pencils. I did accent the little girl's tears with the Sakura Stardust Gelly Roll pen; the flower centers are Ranger Stickles (Black Diamond). I have no idea what line of paper I used-not a name brand, that I do know.

Hope your day will be as special as mine!