Well, this morning a very very cool thing happened to me. Possibly the coolest thing that’s happened to me in….well, a really long time!
After I got done with the horses this morning, Wayne and I were sitting on the porch behind the barn, enjoying the 2.3 minutes that remained before the heat cranked up from yucky to miserable. He was just sitting drinking his coffee and I was buried in my phone looking for a recipe. All of a sudden he says – kind of quiet-like “Mare (that’s what he calls me – I assume it’s a shortening of my name and not a comparison of my hindquarters to those of my ponies…)” “Mare, there’a a hummingbird”. I look up and there, indeed, was a hummingbird! About 2 feet in front of my face, hovering there with his little wings going so fast they were a complete blur. He looked right at me for about 20 seconds and then he was gone. I’m sure the feeders are filled and fresh, so…not sure what he was after, but – I’m so very glad he stopped by for a chat! It. Was. Way. Too. Cool!!
He may have been telling me thanks for the feeders – I’ve got two that I keep going this time of year. I’ve even started making nectar – after having read that the commercial stuff is bad for them. Or perhaps he’s a teenager-hummer and he was saying “hey lady! What’s with the “health” food?!? We LIKE the commercial nectar with the chemicals and the preservatives and the Red Dye #2!! Bring back the junk food!” 😉 I don’t know. I’m just going to treasure the moment!
And now, I’m going to share a card. Since, of course, that’s really why you’re here, not to hear my bird stories! This card is inspired by the Mojo Monday Sketch #409:
Stars say “patriotic” to me. Or Christmas. In the case of this sketch, I started seeing a vintage-y patriotic-themed card and that’s the way I went with it. Take a look-see”
I had so much fun using the new Corrugated Paper the other day that I went with it again, this time using the white. I measured and cut it a little bigger than I needed and then tore the edges down to the actual dimensions I wanted for the card front. Then, I sponged Night of Navy on the bottom portion of the paper, leaving the top white. Then I aged it up a little with some Soft Suede sponged around the edges. I wrapped a length of Real Red 1/4″ Cotton Ribbon around the card front, right at the intersection of the white and blue and secured it on the back side with tape.
The center striped element is a piece of the new Color Me Irresistible DSP, sponged with Real Red and then wiped off really well – to bring the stripes back to white – pink isn’t really the look I was going for! 🙂 Then I laid my Stars Decorative Mask over the piece and sponged it with Whisper White Craft Stampin’ Ink. I let it dry – took a while! – and then I sponged the edges with more Soft Suede and made the little tear at the top. I secured that with a quick staple from my Handheld Stapler.
I used some Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue to adhere one of the small silver Metallic Foil Medallions to the card front, then I attached the stars-and-striped piece with two staples. I planned to do the remainder of the corners with staples, but….I ran out! So, they’re on order…. 😉 I secured the last two corners with a couple more dots of Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue.
To make the star, I cut the next-to-smallest Stars Framelits star from a piece of the Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper. Using my Stampin’ Spritzer, half-filled with rubbing alcohol and about 10 drops of Real Red Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill, I spritzed that star but good! I did two layers – working to get it as red as possible. I got it wet enough that as it dried, it curled a little – and I let it. It helped me to add some dimension to the card front later!
Once it was dry, I sponged it with a little Soft Suede – can’t really see it, you just know it’s not BRIGHT BRIGHT, you know?
I made the sentiment banner from a piece of Real Red card stock, run in my Banner Triple Punch. The mat for the banner is from a piece of scrap Corrugated Paper that I sponged with Night of Navy. The sentiment itself is from the And Many More set (boy, I seem to be using this one a LOT!) and is stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. I SNAILd the sentiment to its corrugated mat and then adhered it to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals. The star was affixed with both Dimensionals and some Glue Dots – to account for the thickness differences under it. And to help to maintain that nice curvy/dimensional shape I’d accidentally achieved!
I finished things off by gluing a bunch of stars – in gold, silver, black and white – from the Metallics Sequin Assortment all around the card (using the ever-popular Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue again) and then giving each of them a Rhinestone Basic Jewel. A final jewel on the banner completed the front decorations. I popped the card front onto a Real Red card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals, and the front was done. I really like how the shiny/bling plays off the “vintage”. I think it works!
The inside is a piece of Whisper White card stock, stamped in Real Red with a sentiment from the Tin of Cards set. As I built the card, I was thinking it would be a lovely card to send to a Service member at the 4th of July or for Memorial Day. It could even be a military retirement card. Or just because you woke up on a Tuesday and realized that we’re free because of the brave and wanted to say “Thanks” to a military person you might know! 🙂
I added some Night of Navy stars – and let the mask move a little to blur some of the stars and make a 3-D effect – around the inner liner….
Et Voila! A vintage-blingy patriotic Thank You card. I rounded out the set with stars on a Whisper White Medium Envelope and I was done!
Hope you like – and will consider CASEing it for a Solider or Sailor or Airman or Marine somewhere! I know they’d appreciate getting it!
See below for all the card cuts and products used in this card.
You’ve only got today and tomorrow to enter the Blog Candy #1 give-away. Here’s the link. Or until Saturday for Blog Candy #2. And – just a hint….I have one more package of goodies sitting just waiting for the mood to strike! 😉
In honor of Back-to-School season, many states have an annual Sales Tax Holiday. See below for all the details!
Thanks for stopping by – see you tomorrow!
TTFN
Mary
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STAMPIN’ UP PRODUCTS USED IN TODAY’S PROJECT:
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Card Cuts Used in Today’s Project:
Real Red Card Stock: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ (Card Base – Scored and folded at 4 1/4″); 5/8″ x ~ 3″ (sentiment banner)
White Corrugated Card Stock: 4 1/8″ x 5 1/4″ (card front – this is the torn size); 3/4″ x ~3″ (sentiment banner mat)
Color Me Irresistible DSP: 2 1/2″ x 3″ (front striped art)
Whisper White Card Stock: 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″ (inner liner)
Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper: star
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BACKORDER LIST AS OF 4 Aug 15
6 August
110755: Multipurpose Liquid Glue
7 August
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138273: Cutie Pie Thinlits Dies
138286: Boho Chic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
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14 August
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28 August
135294: Variety Pack 1 12″ x 12″ Project Life Photo Pocket Pages
Date to be Determined
138700: Best Thoughts Clear Stamp Set (hostess)
140406: Watercolor Wishes Card Kit
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KarensCardCorner
Stamp with Amy K
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That’s awesome!! Love the vintage look and your colors are prefect for a patriotic card. 🙂
Thanks, Amy. It was a fun one to make! 🙂
I love seeing wildlife, and think of it as a hug from God when this happens! Beautiful card, Mary! I like your idea of making it to honor one of our military.
“A Hug from God”. LOVE it! We have deer (who all have babies right now) and when they grace us with a “close pass” or a little play time down in the pasture….I’ll remember that and think of it that way. Thanks for that, Patricia! 🙂
Outstanding ! And you know where I would send it, tout suite, if I had it in my stash.
Hummers are so special and well worth the nectar making. I still get one, now and then , even after abandoning the feeder so bears won’t get too up close and personal. I miss the daily flight patterns though, and being bussed.
I do! 🙂 We have them sometimes hover outside the living room window, looking in. Fun.
That is way cool. We love our hummingbirds. I even seen a hummingbird moth on our shrubs once. The amazing thing I think I have ever seen. Great card also.
Thanks! I don’t know that I’ve seen a Hummingbird Moth. Bet it WAS cool! 🙂
Loving the vintage look and corrugated paper! Super cute.
I’m definitely going to have to re-stock that paper. I love love love it! Thanks, Kathy! 🙂
Awesome card…My Nephew just got home from a year stationed in Korea. He surprised his Daughter 5 and Son 7 at their DayCare yesterday. I think I will try to make your gorgeous card and send it to him. Love the corrugated and the vintage patriotic look. Well done!!!
Thanks for sharing with us!!!!
Oh my goodness. I love watching those videos when they’re on TV. Definitely brings a tear. This would be a lovely card to celebrate his arrival home AND to Thank him for his Service! Good luck with the card and let me know if I can help!
Fabulous design
Thanks so much, Carol! 🙂