America I love...

Hello Stamping friends,

Happy Fourth of July weekend! Today on the Savvy Projects blog, Design Team members are sharing cards made from one of the newest sets in the 2011 Inspiration book.  I think America I Love has to be one of my favorites!  It's great for masculine cards too!  I colored it while at seminar and held on to the image because I wasn't exactly sure how I would display the image.  I thought about a shadow box, but then decided on making a card...

What are your plans for this holiday weekend? If you don’t already know my plans, I’ll tell you all about it when I get back! Shhhhh...

What is it that you love about America? This is a BIG question. There are many things that are special about America but what is it that YOU find most precious? Is it freedom? Is it liberty? Is it the pursuit of happiness? Whatever it is, I hope you take time this special holiday weekend to reflect on all that makes USA special. As you hang your US flag and wave it proudly, as you watch fireworks or have a cook-out with family, remember those who fought so hard and continue to strengthen our country and protect our freedoms. In the months ahead, I challenge you to do something significant that will demonstrate your patriotic pride and service to our country.  Be a blessing...

To honor all those who have fought so valiantly to protect and secure my freedoms, I'll share this card. May it give YOU the inspiration to make something too..

I love to scrape my fingernail across (Yes, I prefer that over the Tim Holtz distresser-and it's cheaper too!!!) the edges of the paper to create a shabby-distressed look. 

I thought this card needed a simple and effective background...Something that spoke AMERICANA...There's nothing better to do this than a cozy quilt!  I cut 12 inchies, distressed them and stamped the starfish randomly on the squares.  The starfish in the Summer Fibi and Lilly set was the perfect stamp!  After distressing and stamping, I assembled the squares onto a white piece of cardstock and stitched around the whole thing (and in between too) to create a "quilt-like" background) Notice my sky?  It's my favorite cloud coloring technique and it's VERY simple to do...Only need one blue Copic color to create this beautiful sky.  Watch for a tutorial soon (I've gotta have REALLY good lighting though!)

To finish off the card, I added a twine bow, a button (no naked holes!) and some little Wilton Cake Stamens...They add a perfect seaside plant embellsihment.  You can also see a little bit of Stickles on those starfish...I added some on water image too. 

Hope your Fourth of July is FABULOUS!!!
Kerry

THE RECIPE:
A2 Card Base (opening on the top)
Stamps:  America I Love, Summer Fibi and Lilly
Cardstock:  Copic Xpress-It, Bazzill
Memento Tuxedo Black
Copics:  Listed later (A TON)
Crystal Stickles
Twine:  My Stash
Button:  SEI set
Wilton Stamens
Zyron Glue "Blobs" Spots
Bling:  My Stash
White sewing thread