To Those Who Served....

 

Good Morning. In the USA, today is set aside to remember all those who have served in our military, past & present. So many have given of their time, their health, their lives - to preserve our country's freedoms. So that we of today can live the way we choose, and it is only fitting & proper to say a Heartfelt Thank You to those brave service people.

 

 

 

The photo is a free one found on the internet....But it represents what I feel about today. My family veterans include my father, my 5 brothers, my husband, and various nephews & nieces throughout the extended family-- in several different wars and conflicts. We are justly proud of their courage and sacrifice. Ache for the heartbreak of those who were left behind too - so that their loved ones could serve. Thank you to ALL - Americans and those courageous citizens in any country who served their country. In ANY of the wars that have been fought.

Have a blessed day. Hugs

Grace and Butterflies

Hi, pull up a chair for a little chat! Happy to have you visit.

Today's card is made from bits and pieces of 'schtuff' that has been floating around the desk for a while.

- think the EF is a Couture Creations, but done so long ago, I forget! (it was part of the Crapalanche pile - see Bloginitions tab for that explanation!!!) Thanks to Hettie for that description- and it fits my situation perfectly! Also gave me a big smile when I read it at her Rudy Day post.

- the dimensional stickers were also part of the crapalanche pile, and were part of a sweet RAK from Our Darnell  -- way back in May when Darnell, Bonnie & I met up in Waxhaw, NC. So maybe that sort of gives an idea of the crapalanche pile & how long it's been around!!!

The little bit exposed at the edge of the card is a chipboard butterfly, that has script over the white, and then was inked with blue ink to complement the verse inking color. Didn't get it tucked in far enough, but too late to try to pull it up & reposition. Ah well, it fits in the envelope ok :-}.

Very simple, quick & easy to put together, once the bits & pieces were excavated!!! Oh yes, the pearl white sequins were added ...the white card picked up a tiny spot of yellow from somewhere, only saw it in the first photo..so thought the sequins could come to the rescue. They were in the pile too!!!

Hope your week has been good. Big hugs.

Northwoods Autumn Sunflowers

Good afternoon and thanks for popping in. Today's card is another of the wonderful Northwoods stamps...so let's go:

- Stamped using Bonnie's Best Speedball Stamp Press because this is a largish, fairly detailed stamp, and got a crisp image, first try. Let me say, this Stamp Press beats the plastic Fiskars one, hands down. DH bought it at a show, and it's been worth the cost. Works great on large stamps, but also on clear ones, that may not stamp out as sharp as desired.

- copic coloring, with some white gel highlights, die cut with a Sue Wilson Canadian Collection Vancouver (outer die). Faux matted with the same die, in bright yellow c/s, edged with DI Fossilized Amber.

- background created with the smooshing technique using green & gold shades of Silk acrylic paint, Viva Décor Inca gold, some green sprays (Dylusions Pesto and Lindy's Stamp Gang). The background didn't have enough contrast when the image was put over it, so thus the addition of the Pesto & Lindy's to create a deeper shade. (see this card - background created at the same time. ) Adding the sprays after the background dried overnight, got a deeper contrast for the sunflower image.

- Dabbed some of the Golden Mica Flakes with a finger, around the edges to create a little glimmer and some rustic texture. The sentiment stamped as part of the image was outlined using a Slicca .8 mm gold pen.

 

 

The Gold Mica flakes are a new product to me. Had a rewards coupon from A C Moore (it's a store like Michaels, Hobby Lobby). ACM is sadly not keeping pace with the latest & greatest, so sometimes it's not easy to find something to spend my 'rewards' on...then I go into the art department and browse. Saw this product along with one that is pearlized, so decided to see what it does - the rewards & a coupon made it cost effective to try a product which I had no idea of what it was. Think it would work well to add to modeling paste, etc.

 

Hope you enjoyed this card. Come again when you can...Blessings & Hugs. Have a great week. 

 

 

 

 

 

DeeDee's Digis - Raggedy Fall

Hello and welcome. It's been a bit dreary in our Upstate South Carolina for several days, but it's a quiet Sunday afternoon and we can have a little chat, right?

Wanted to share the link to a new follower that I welcomed earlier, but didn't have the proper link, so let's say Hi again to Henriette van Mierlo of Card Creations....made by Me. Hope you will find a few minutes to surf in to enjoy Henriette's cool and clean style of cards and let her know I sent you over to say hello.

Also will be adding a wonderfully crafted card to the Cards by Friends secion;  DH received this one from an extremely talented cardmaker. Anne channels Tim Holtz better than anyone I know, and DH always loves to see what Anne shares at Halloween (both of them love the holiday!). To our surprise, this week's mail brought an amazing work of art, and he was just delighted, as this is the first card HE's ever received from one of my blog friends. Well, it was really for the both of us, but I told him, it could be his!! So do be sure to check out the Cards by Friends tab, and enjoy this treasure with us.

Now, on with today's card:

- DeeDee's DIgi Raggedy Fall very simply & quickly printed out, absolutely nothing else done, except die cut with a S/B Oval Bliss die. No shading at all, just a light touch with a dauber of DI Fossilized Amber around the very edge of the die (only because the ink & a dauber were already out!) DI Antique Linen very lightly sponged inside the oval while the image was still in the die. Got a little smear at the bottom edge...a boo boo necessitated cover up..hence the addition of some other fall objects. But...until the little oopsy, this was still looking pret-tee good.

- Impression Obsession leaf dies, apple bucket cut from white snippet, colored with copics, WoS added for some apple gleam. S/B Pumpkin (from years ago, not sure if this die is still available), also copic colored. Covered up the oopsy very nicely, yes? Life & lemons, lemonade - that sort of thing!

- MB Leaf border cut from previously created spray background. Actually this was a mop-up from where some colors & different inks were being tested. Thought the border would cut solidly, but it's 4 individual leaves - which worked out nicely. Can't find a picture of this die to link - it's probably a couple years old.

- Background created using Silk & Viva Décor Inca gold products, greens & golds...spritz with water and smoosh. Lots of fun doing this, when one doesn't feel like doing something else. It's therapeutic and something pretty results - whatever products are used. (but be careful not to create 'mud' - I try to keep the puddles of different colors from 'touching', then swipe the cardstock. Glossy paper will yield different looks, as will sopping up the puddles with some cling wrap and dabbing it on the cardstock in a twisting motion). Fun!

DeeDee's has a new winter themed Digi of the Month Challenge going on, open until November 29 Pacific Time. The set is just adorable & fun, and the challenge is a progressive one. (look here for the very easy rules). So DO check it out.

Now, everyone knows I'm for all things cardinals. Thought you'd enjoy seeing the bedspread that goes on, for the holiday season. This year it went on a bit earlier..just because....

The story behind this years-ago purchase: There's a restaurant chain in parts of the USA called Cracker Barrel. It's a place we like to stop for lunch when we're traveling, as the food is consistently good, pretty much the same in all the different areas, reasonably priced and usually very tasty. The decorative scheme is old-fashioned, with lots of displays hanging on the walls to enjoy as one eats..plus some shopping. Had been eyeing this set in our local C/B, but didn't want to pay full price for something 'seasonal'. I've always loved any star quilt pattern, and if it's got cardinals embroidered, well, it's dang nigh irrestible to me. So I was exercising a lot of discipline to wait for a sale.  Fast forward some time--. On a trip to New England, we stopped in a Virginia C/Barrel, and the bedspread was marked 40% off, as was the throw. Decided to get them...but no pillow shams were available. On the way back home, stopped at C/B in another state, found 2 'regular sized' matching shams. We have a king sized bed, so with just standard shams, it needs 3 to look right. Some time later, after an early morning doctor's appointment, we were having breakfast in the local C/B (which is always delicious!), was browsing among the quilt display - and of course the hostess asked if I was looking for something specific. Explained about the previous purchases..etc -  and she got on the computer, found one in another store, about an hour north of us...Had it shipped to the local eatery, with no additional shipping charges. Also got it for the 40% off! Is that good customer service or what?!!! I said "it was meant that I have this set!". We always laugh about this when the birds go on the bed!!! (Incidently, that year for Christmas, DD got us a set of red bird patterned flannel sheets, but it's not been cold enough to break out the flannels yet).

We have a busy week ahead, so look for some scheduled posts later on. Also remember: there is an HLS November Tag challenge in progress, as well as a

12 Tags of Christmas over at Stamping with Loll. Hope you can find time to look in at each of these fun places, and enjoy some awesome Holiday Tag inspiration. Remember, you'll be needing tags for those Christmas packages!!! Might win a fab prize too!!

Thanks for joining me this afternoon. Big hugs & blessings too.