250 YEARS!

The Glorious Fourth is especially glorious this year as our wonderful country celebrates its 250^th year . . .

As I often do, I’ve used USPS postage stamps from my own incoming mail to add to the layout.  I love the designs and colors and I think they add a lot to the look.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Admiral, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth, 

Wausau Firecracker

Stamps:       Eureka Fireworks

Inks:             ColorBox Silver

Emb Pwdr:   All Night Media Silver Sparkle

Dies:            TEMU Creative Grid, DieVersions Noodles, 

Our Daily Bread Sparkling Stars                 

Doo Dads:    USPS Postage Stamps, Wink of Stella Clear    

God Bless America!

 My Postage Collage collection gets another workout . . .

 

Hard to find a more eye-catching color combination than red, white, and blue . . .

To all of my American readers, I wish for you and your families to have

a GLORIOUS Fourth!

 

Cardstock:   Scrap: Navy Blue, Bazzill Classic Red, Strathmore 

#100 Bristol Smooth        

Stamps:       Waffle Flower Postage Collage “Postoids”, Our Daily

Bread God Bless America

Inks:             ColorBox Frost White, VersaFine Majestic Blue, 

Brilliance Rocket Red, VersaMark

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White, All Night Media Silver

Dies:             DieNamics Sentiment Strips, Waffle Flower Postage

Collage, Postage Collage Blocks            

Stencil:         Waffle Flower Postage Collage: 4^th of July

USA

Every now and then I like to use real postage stamps on my 4^th of July cards . . .

 

I think the graphics are great and I like to give these stamps more exposure than they get in their normal use.

If the text isn’t clear, here is what it says:

“It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible”

George Washington

George was right – may we return to these spiritually grounded and common sense principles before we completely lose our way.

Come Thursday, I wish for a very happy Fourth of July for each of you!!!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Admiral, Scraps Red, White, Silver        

Stamps:       Our Daily Bread God Bless America

Inks:            VersaFine Majestic Blue

Dies:            InLoveArts Decorated Star, Our Daily Bread 

Sparkling Stars, White Lotus Metal Frame             

Doo Dads:    Old USPS postage stamps                                                                                                                                                          

America

For this year’s 4^th of July card, I once again dived into my collection of USPS postage stamps that were in use several years ago . . .

 

 . . . I loved the design (still do!) and find them a perfectly patriotic addition to one of America’s most important remembrances.

 

Happy Fourth of July!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill White, Marcos Carnival Cover Red, Ranger

Silver Sparkle        

Stamps:       Impression Obsession The Pledge

Inks:             VersaFine Majestic Blue

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Frantic Stamper Statue of Liberty, America, Spellbinders

Classic Rectangles Large            

Doo Dads:    USPS postage stamps      

All American

Blue Ribbon #2  HOLIDAY category

As I used this card for my Fourth of July mailing three months ago, this is a re-cap from my post of June 30 . . .

The text is actually taken from one image.  I stamped it five times each on red, white, and blue cardstocks, and then cut them apart into strips.  The ends were notched on the right edges and alternate ones were pop dotted to make them look like banners flying in the breeze.  It took me three mornings to make enough for just five cards!

After mounting them on silver cardstock layered onto navy, I thought I was done.  But the layout seemed bottom heavy and needed some balanced interest at the top.  Enter some patriotic ribbon, a silver star, and a very traditional tassel to add some fun movement and texture.

Cardstock:   Mohawk Carnival Cover Red, Tim Holtz Silver Sparkle,

Scrap Navy

Stamps:        Eureka Fireworks

Inks:               ColorBox Silver, White, VersaFine Majestic Blue, Atelier

Shark Tooth White

Emb Pwdr:   All Night Media Silver Tinsel, Judikins Denim, Hero White

Dies:              Our Daily Bread Sunburst Background            

Doo Dads:    Stars and Stripes ribbon

America

 I have entered this card under the Holiday category in this year’s NJ State Fair . . .

The text is actually taken from one image.  I stamped it five times each on red, white, and blue cardstocks, and then cut them apart into strips.  The ends were notched on the right edges and alternate ones were pop dotted to make them look like banners flying in the breeze.  It took me three mornings to make enough for just five cards!

After mounting them on silver cardstock layered onto navy, I thought I was done.  But the layout seemed bottom heavy and needed some balanced interest at the top.  Enter some patriotic ribbon, a silver star, and a very traditional tassel to add some fun movement and texture.

America is in danger as never before.  Christians are under attack, the Great Reset falsely promises that by 2030 we will own nothing and be happy, digital currency means that government will have total control of our finances, and the loss of freedom along with hundreds of thousands of lives due to the genocidal bio-weapons of Covid and the harmful shots continues.  On this Fourth of July, we need to re-commit to the efforts it will take to eradicate the bonds of evil which threaten to overtake and destroy us.  May God give us the strength and wisdom we will need to accomplish this . . .

Cardstock:   Mohawk Carnival Cover Red, Tim Holtz Silver Sparkle,

Scrap Navy, Strathmore Ultimate White

Stamps:       Eureka Fireworks, Stampabilities Patriotic Subway Art

Inks:             ColorBox Silver,  VersaFine Majestic Blue, Atelier

Shark Tooth White

Emb Pwdr:   All Night Media Silver Tinsel, Judikins Denim, Hero White

Dies:            Our Daily Bread Sunburst Background  (just the star)          

Doo Dads:    Stars and Stripes ribbon, red tassel

Musicorum

The ancient music background may or may not be in Latin, but I decided that using the Latin word for “music” would still work . . .

 

Stamping the same image onto two different colors of cardstock added some nice interest.  The seam was covered with a burgundy strip and because I am not fluent in Latin, I Googled the Latin word for ‘music’, die cut the letters and glued them down.

This card is going to a retired chorale director who traveled the world with his group for several decades . . . I’m quite sure he doesn’t need to Google the Latin word for ‘music’.  Hopefully he’ll enjoy his card!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Strathmore Ultimate White, Nicole Licorice,

Scrap Burgundy  

Stamps:        Above the Mark Abbey Music

Inks:              Hero Black, ColorBox Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:             Memory Box Wrapped Stitch Rectangles, AliExpress

Modern Music Score, Kat Scrappiness Stitched Fishtail

Banner, MemoryBox Alphabet Soup                   

Doo Dads:   Stickles Silver          

Soar

This is the first time I've used the mosaic background stamp.  I thought its craggy look made a great rocky mountain background for the soaring birds . . .

After stamping the mosaic twice, I colored the second image, fussy-cutting out the individual shapes and pop-dotting them over the original for added texture.  Then, a little sparkle on the leading edges of the birds' wings as they climb toward the heavens, and we're done.

 

Cardstock:   The Paper Cut White Matte Coat, Neenah Solar White,

                        Bazzill Raven

Stamps:        Just For Fun Broken Mosaic, Creative Catalyst Tweed

                        Border, MaxStamp Pegs “Soar”, Gelly Roll Clear Star pen

Inks:               Hero Black

Emb Pwdr:   WOW Clear Matte Dull

Markers:        Copic YG25 Celadon Green, YG67 Moss

Dies:              Spellbinders Shoot!, Impression Obsession Sea Birds

Doo Dads:    Deckled scissors

America

 Blue Ribbon #2

For the Holiday category, I submitted my Fourth of July card for this year, which I posted last month . . .

For those of you who haven't seen my previous posting, here is how I put this card together:

I stamped the flag fragments twice:  once in red on the card front, and the other in blue on another piece of cardstock.  Then I used deckle-edged scissors to cut out each of the blue fields of stars and glued them over the red images.  Deckling the edges made them softer and almost invisible.  The effect went very well with the distressed look of the flag fragments . . .

 

Cardstock:    Strathmore Ultimate White, Scraps Navy , Carnival Red

Stamps:       Technique Junkies Patriotic Fragments

Inks:             Brilliance Rocket Red, VersaFine Majestic Blue, ColorBox

                     Frost White, VersaMark

Emb Pwdr:  Hero White, Adirondack Denim

Dies:            Frantic Stamper “America”, Tim Holtz Tattered Banners,

                     Papertrey Ink Sketched Shapes, Reverse Confetti

                     Greetings Frame (banner)                 

Doo Dads:    EK punch Heart, Woolworth’s glitter Red

Bloom

As it's been awhile since I've put navy blue, green, and white together, I thought it was time to put that crisp combination to work again . . . 

This layout is another collaboration of coordinating stamps, stencils, and dies.  I shall forever be grateful to the creative minds that thought up this partnership of easy-to-use tools.

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore Ultimate White

Stamps:       PinkFresh Sweet Friend Floral

Inks:             Distress Oxide Wild Honey, Mustard Seed, Color Box

                     Cerulean, Chalk French Blue, Black, VersaColor

                     Green Tea, Olive,

Emb Pwdr:  Judikins Detail Black

Dies:            PinkFresh Sweet Friend Floral, Mama Elephant

                     Botanic Envelopes, Lil Inkers Stitched Mats Rectangles          

Stencil:        PinkFresh Sweet Friend Floral

Doo Dads:    Gelly Roll Clear, Kat Scrappiness Sparkling Clear Droplets

Love

WOO HOO!  New technique!  Well, new to me, anyway.  It involves vellum's special talent, a stylus, a stencil, and a little bit of your time . . .

Some Assembly Required (SAR) is a highly creative company with an eye for the intricate.  Captivated by vellum's unique ability to change from sheer to opaque white when pressure is applied, SAR Owner Sandy Jackson has come up with a boatload of lovely designs that require only a 1mm stylus and a stencil to bring them to life.

On this anniversary card for my brother Gordy and sister-in-law Sally - the letters "G", "S", the dotted backgrounds, and the flower were all done by pressing the tip of the stylus into the vellum which was placed over an SAR stencil.  The vellum can be colored afterwards to enhance the effect in open areas of the design.  I did that here, using a white Prisma pencil over the large letters and the little flower.

As I didn't have a stencil with small enough letters, I traced over an alphabet die to create the "Love" word.  Worked great!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Lagoon, Vellum Aqua       

Dies:            Rubbernecker Slimline Deckle, Rounded Squares,

                     DieVersions Font Noodles, Impression Obsession

                     Small Bow          

Colorants:    PrismaColor White

Stencil:        Some Assembly Required Welcome Home Alphabet:  

                     “G”, “S”, Flower

Doo Dads:    Pearls

America

 As our beautiful country is under siege from all angles as never before, the 4th of July is even more important to me this year . . .

I stamped the six flag fragments twice:  first in red and then the star portions in blue.  Then I used deckle-edged scissors to cut out each of the blue fields of stars and glued them over their original positions on the red images.  Deckling the edges made them softer and almost invisible while providing a small bit of dimension.  Adding the sentiments via three different banners of red, white, and blue kept the theme going.

 May our country survive those who wish to destroy her, and may we work together to hold our Congressional representatives accountable so that we never have to face this onslaught again.

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore Ultimate White, Scraps Navy , Carnival Red

Stamps:       Technique Junkies Patriotic Fragments

Inks:             Brilliance Rocket Red, VersaFine Majestic Blue, ColorBox

                     Frost White, VersaMark

Emb Pwdr:  Hero White, Adirondack Denim

Dies:            Frantic Stamper “America”, Tim Holtz Tattered Banners,

                     Papertrey Ink Sketched Shapes, Reverse Confetti

                     Greetings Frame (banner)                 

Doo Dads:    EK punch Heart, Woolworth’s glitter Red

America

With the horrific anti-American behavior raging in our beautiful country right now, I thought that the use of distressed imagery would be particularly appropriate . . .

Some of the red ink got smeared here and there - always a danger when using the color red, for some reason - and I decided to leave the smears where they were, as they are certainly theme-appropriate.

America may be battered and bloody at the moment, but we will not be beaten.  

May God strengthen and bless our beloved America and may her enemies be vanquished . . .

Cardstock:   Halcraft White, Generic Navy, Concord & 9^th Glitter

                     Paper Silver      

Stamps:       Technique Junkies Patriotic Fragments, Art Warehouse

                     Summer Pride

Inks:             Distress Candied Apple, Chipped Sapphire, ColorBox

                     Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            DieNamics Sentiment Strips, Our Daily Bread

                     Sparkling Stars, Frantic Stamper America                       

The Last Breath

I kept it simple for this one . . .

 . . . the blood-stained flag and the incredibly moving text are stark reminders of the ultimate sacrifice so many paid in order to secure our freedom.  

May we never  forget . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Admiral, Strathmore Ultimate White

Stamps:       Technique Junkies Last Breath, Our Daily Bread Home

                     of the Free set, Time to Stamp Grunge set

Inks:             ColorBox Blue Iris, Hero Black, ColorBox Silver, Brilliance

                     Rocket Red

Emb Powder:   WOW Clear Matte Dull

Dies:            DieNamics In and Out Stitched Rounded Squares                   

Doo Dads:   Tim Holtz Mirrored Star         

The Glorious Fourth

This one was a puzzler at first.  The statue, the fireworks, and the text were all fine on their own, but the combined result was disjointed and floaty - nothing seemed unified, until I got the idea to add the frame . . .

All of a sudden, that's what did the trick.  Such a simple addition, and yet I think the layout now looks well composed and complete.

Living in America is a blessing I try to be grateful for each and every day.  After eight years of un-Constitutional domination by a willful America-hating emperor, we seem to be on track to getting our beloved country back.  I pray for the safety of Trump and his team every single day - may he not fail in his efforts to return the rule of law to America.

Cardstock:   Generic Navy, Silver, The Paper Cut Matte White Coate        

Stamps:        Motivet “A glorious fourth”  

Inks:               VersaMark, ColorBox Frost White

Emb Powder:   Stamp A Mania Desert Fire, Judikins White Diamond

Dies:              Frantic Stamper Statue of Liberty, Momenta Thanks (label), 

                           Memory Box Stitched Rectangle Trimmings                  

I Wave the Flag

Blue Ribbon Winner #2:

This was our 4^th of July card for this year . . .

When it became obvious that coloring the blue field behind the white stars would be a nightmare operation, I opted to white-emboss the stars over a navy background, which was then cut out and glued over the flag.  It added a little extra dimension which worked quite well on a flag that was designed to look like it's flapping in the breeze.

The sentiment reads:  

Sure I wave the American flag.  Do you know a better flag to wave?  

                                                                                    John Wayne

Cardstock:   Strathmore Bright White, Generic scraps Navy

Stamps:        Our Daily Bread God Bless America, Patriotic Eagle 2,

                            Impression Obsession I Wave, Eureka Fireworks

Inks:               Adirondack  Denim, ColorBox Silver

Emb Powder:   Sweet Stamps Fine Detail White, Delafield Silver

Watercolors:     Inktense Poppy Red, Zig Clean Color Geranium Red

Doo Dads:     USArt Quest Crystal Effects