When we lived on Wurtsmith AFB in the early 1990s, this happened to me all the time.
And every time, it makes me proud to be an American.
We're coming up on July 4th, that fateful anniversary of the founding of our nation, and I wanted to make a couple of cards to celebrate the date.
I made this card using the Headline Numbers set from StampinUp, the th from another SU alphabet, and the July from the Hero Arts clear set called July. The little row of four rhinestones completes the visual triangle of blue and reinforces the giant red number.
The stamp here is from the Hero Arts July set and is all one stamp. I masked each part and stamped the colors separately. Here, I used just three rhinestones to echo the three stars.
Last year, I read a book called Signing Their Lives Away, a fascinating and casually readable book written my friends of my sister. Each chapter dishes up the sometimes sordid, controversial, or tragic story of a signer of the Declaration of Independence (which wasn't signed by anyone but John Hancock and Charles Thomson on July 4th). I highly recommend it if you're looking for some riveting and decidedly unstodgy history on our founding fathers. I plan on reading it again with my elder son this year!
BEAUTIFUL 4th of July cards proving less really IS more as it doesn't detract from the message
ReplyDeleteKathyk
I enjoy reading your blog on so many levels! Thank you for the beautiful cards, the recommendation of a good book, and the reminder of how special it is to be an American.
ReplyDeleteI'll see if I can get this book and I'm sending a link to my daughter who reads books all the time. Thanks for the link. Love your cards. I'm proud to be an American, too. When I moved to the midwest one of the first things I noticed was the outwardly displays of patriotism in our area - people keep red, white, and blue banners hanging from their porches all year long.
ReplyDeleteLove both your cards.
ReplyDeleteI was a majorette in high school and college. Every Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day and Thanksgiving (the band) marched down Main St and stopped at every church cemetery on the way to the Veterans Memorial. We played taps at each church honoring the deceased vets and the National anthem at the memorial. Try as I might I could not stop crying and still am overcome at those tunes. In fact I am tearing up right now at the memories!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe cards are significantly simple...
blessings
patti moffett
Too often we allow our children to think of July 4th as just a time for fireworks. Thanks for reminding us, and consequently them, what it's all about. God Bless America!
ReplyDeleteI am particularly fond of your first card and thanks for the recommend on the book. I admit that I am dubious about taking reading recommendations from an English geek ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat first card is so dramatic! The second card is true CAS goodness. :)
ReplyDeleteI love both of these patriotic cards but the first is the best July 4th card I've ever seen - perfect!
ReplyDeleteSuper card - the first one is fabulous!!
ReplyDeleteJust got home from a trip to Virginia for a funeral at Fort Myers chapel and Arlington National Cemetery, and loved seeing your patriotic cards. I am proud to be an American, too. It was so wonderful to see how my husband's uncle was honored for his service to his country. Quite an impressive ceremony. What touched me most was the respect shown by bystanders as we processed from the chapel to the gravesite. Many stood at attention with hands over their hearts. Some had tears in their eyes. I'll never forget it.
ReplyDeleteKay, I have tears in my eyes just imagining your experience. Beautiful. During the funeral procession from my grandmother's service to the cemetery, a man who had come out of his house to get his paper stood in his yard with his hand over his heart while the cars passed. It's amazing how touching the respect of strangers to death can be.
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