Category Archives: Honor

For Home and Country Memorial Day Greeting Card

Home and Country Memorial Day Greeting Card with Authentique Honor Collection

Hello, Friends! Happy Memorial Day! I’m proud to be participating in a special Memorial Day Group Post over on the Authentique Blog today. One of the things I really love about working with Authentique is their love and support for America’s soldiers! This For Home and Country Shaker Top card honors all those who have served in our Armed Forces. And while I’m at it, I’d like to salute the wives and family members, too!

This vintage image speaks to my heart. I’ve surrounded it with a cluster of die cut stars and a star-spangled shaker element, too.

The card is a 5″ x 7″ top fold made with Authentique’s gorgeous “Honor” Collection Kit.

For Home and Country Memorial Day Shaker Top Tutorial

To create the shaker element, I used a nesting star shaped die. Here’s how I did it:

Cut the largest star from Spectrum Antique Lace 2 Cardstock
Place the 2nd largest star die in the center of the largest star die. Use a small piece of tape to keep the dies from shifting. Die cut from Spectrum Old Glory 2.
Now remove the star center, and keep the frame.
Die cut clear acetate cardstock (or clear packaging) using the largest star die.
Then adhere the clear acetate to the back side of the star frame, wiping away any excess adhesive.
Cut small foam tabs in half and line the edges of the white star base so that you have no gaps between tabs.
Fill the center of the white star with sequins, beads, glitter….whatever you like.
Remove the liner tape and add the prepared frame.
Now shake it up, baby!

For Home and Country Memorial Day Card: A Peek Inside

I carried the star theme over to the inside of the card, adding a pocket and patriotic tag.

While I’m thinking about it…several of you asked me where you could find the rosette die that I used in my last patriotic project. You can find the mini rosettes die HERE.

Memorial Day Memories

I have such happy memories of my childhood Memorial Day celebrations. Mom and I would get up early, while the dew was still on the grass. Then we’d walk into the wood and pick lilacs, which grew wild all around our house. I can still smell the amazing fragrance of those showy blooms!

Once we had more lilacs than we could possibly carry, we trotted on home to arrange them in large, fan shaped silver urns. These were then taken to the family cemetery plot to decorate the graves. Flags were placed on the headstones of family members who had served in the military.

Then Dad took us downtown to watch the Memorial Day Parade. We were a small town, but managed to muster up a few floats and a couple of marching bands. At the end of the parade, we all walked up to the park where a trumpeter played “Taps”. Dad would remove his hat, place his hand over his heart and you could not hear a single sound anywhere except for the clear, bell tones of that trumpet. It always gave me chills.

I’m glad I had the chance to grow up in small town where we celebrated in such a meaningful way. And of course, there was always a picnic after all the solemnities were over.

Whatever you do today, where ever you are, I wish you a safe and happy Memorial Day. And I offer my heartfelt thanks and full measure of gratitude to all our military families, past, present and future.

Some gave all…all gave some…and I am so grateful!

Happy Memorial Day!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

Authentique 12 x 12 Honor Collection Kit (includes stickers) (retired)
Spectrum Cardstock: Old Glory Blue 2, Antique Lace 2, Lady Bug 1
My Favorite Things Die-Namics Stitched Star STAX
Prima Parisian Lace Doily Die
Lilac Lane Stars and Stripes Premium Sequins
Tim Holtz Mini Paper Clips
Graphic 45 Regular Tag
Graphic 45 Regular Tag and Gears Die
Red Poppy Print Satin Ribbon
Vintage Button from my stash

Thank a Veteran Greeting Card with Authentique

Thank a Veteran Greeting Card with Authentique Honor

Hello, Friends! Today I’m taking a moment to thank all the brave men and women who serve in our military. It’s Veteran’s Day here in the US, and the fine folks at Authentique Paper are taking a moment to honor our service men and women. I’ve used Authentique’s Honor Collection to create this Thank a Veteran Greeting Card.

The card measures 5″ x 7″ with a 1/4″ spine. A cascade of handmade rosettes, die cut stars, and vintage buttons adorn the front of this red, white, and blue beauty.

I made the sentiment panel by die cutting the word THANKS from a piece of blue cardstock. Then I backed it with the red, white and blue stripe paper from the collection. This is an older Authentique collection, but I just love all the beautiful patterns and images.

Inside, I’ve decorated the card with a banner flag and 3″ x 4″ journal card from the collection.

The pocket holds this beautiful sentiment card. You could easily add a photo to the back, and tuck more into the pocket.

I also created a little 3.25″ x 6″ gift card wallet.

Here’s a peeky at the inside.

Thank A Veteran: A personal note

I’m the proud daughter of a WWII veteran. Two of my older brothers served in the military as well. My oldest brother served in the Korean DMZ in the 1960’s. Brother Dave served two tours in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. My aunt was a nurse during WWII. Both grandfathers and numerous uncles all served, as well as my lovely niece who spent time in the Middle East. I am so thankful to them. They sacrificed and put themselves in harm’s way so I could live free. So today, take a moment and thank a veteran. It will do your heart good.

Cheerio,

kathy

Together We Stand Patriotic Card

Together We Stand Patriotic Card for RRR Summer Flowers Challenge

Hello, Ribbon Lovers! It’s time for another fabby challenge at Really Reasonable Ribbon. Since it’s almost the 4th of July, I created this Together We Stand patriotic card using my new ribbon crush and Authentique’s Honor paper collection.

I went on a treasure hunt in the RRR vaults looking for great summer ribbon choices. Since I’d already ordered this paper, I was looking for the perfect play pal to go along with it. Well, I think I found it in this gorgeous Navy Blue Silky Crush Ribbon. It ties the most gorgeous bows!

I topped this textured beauty with a jeweled Petaloo Flower that sparkles and shines like a 4th of July firework display. To add to the fun, I created a little paper rosette with my die cutting machine. ( “rose” ette..flower challenge…get it?) Natural burlap string is looped up beneath the rosette and tied onto that glittery l’il clothespin that’s holding the together we stand sentiment strip.

God Bless America

Ok…I have to talk just a little bit about these gorgeous kiddoes in the focal image. Don’t they just make your heart happy? I imagine they are singing a rousing chorus of God Bless America. I used to love singing all the patriotic tunes while swinging on the back yard swingset. I’m sure the whole neighborhood could hear my friends and me belting out one tune after another. I actually used to know all the words to all the various Military Anthems, and boy, did we love to sing ’em!

Here’s a peeky at the inside of my Together We Stand card. I created a pocket and then filled it with this stamped and stitched little tag.

I hope you will all play along in the summer flower challenge. Fireworks look like flowers in the sky, right? Wishing you all a very happy, safe and fun 4th of July!

Now go get your craft on!

Cheerio,

kathy

Star Spangled 4th of July

Home Decor with Petaloo and Authentique Honor Collection

Hello, Friends! Here we are at the end of June and I’m getting ready to celebrate a star spangled 4th of July with these fun Star Spangled home decor projects. All three were made with gorgeous Petaloo flowers and Authentique’s Honor collection.

If ever there was a holiday that called for a banner, the 4th of July is it! I have this banner hanging on my living room mantle and I find I want to sing “America the Beautiful” every time I pass by. It’s fairly large: each pennant measures 4″ wide x 6″ tall, so the banner spans about 3 feet from end to end.

Banners have to be one of the hardest items to photograph…but I love ’em, so I just keep on making them! If any of you have found a foolproof way to photograph banners, I’d love to hear from you! To make it easier for you to see the details, I have some close up shots below.

I love sparklers and fireworks on the 4th of July, so I worked with glittering jeweled flowers and sparkling sugared blossoms and vintage velvet blooms that look like the nighttime sky!

To add to the fun of this banner I dressed it up with ribbon streamers, burlap loops and Petaloo flowers.

Just look at these precious faces! Can’t you hear them belting out a rousing version of “God Bless America”?

The color match between these Petaloo Flowers and the Authentique papers couldn’t be more perfect!

I’m so very thankful for the men and women who have chosen to serve in our military. This touching image reminds me that every single one of them leaves behind loved ones who cherish them and feel their absence deeply. Men and women of the military, we do salute you, and thank you for your service!

Star Spangled Home Decor

To go along with my mantle display, I altered an old glass milk bottle and dressed it up for the 4th of July.

I painted the clear bottle with a layer of gesso. When that had dried, I added a layer of Deco Art Whisper Glass paint. The final coat was Ranger Picket Fence Distress Crackle paint and I love the way i the surface chipped and peeled as it dried. I added some fancy pinwheels from the Dollar Store. along with red and blue sparklers and some bodacious Burgundy and White Sugared Blossoms. This really dressed that old glass bottle up for the holiday!

Star Spangled Greeting Card

Since I had all these goodies out on my work desk, I used the leftover bits and bobs to create a special card to match the ensemble.

This Blue Vintage Velvet Peony is a real show stopper! I glued it to some sparklers and then tucked a shabby chic bow made with custom dyed seam binding beneath it. The background paper was dry embossed with a star folder, then tapped with Versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder. I painted the Cherish chippie with Black Soot Distress Ink and heat dried it. Then I carefully wrote on the surface with Art Institute Dries Clear Adhesive and dipped in red glitter. I love the effect, don’t you?

Here’s a peeky at the inside of the card. The top half sports a little envelope and note card.

And I love this sentiment on the bottom half of the card.

I hope I shared some home decor ideas that you’ll want to incorporate into your 4th of July celebration. We’re getting together with the family and some friends for a cookout and games. Whatever your plans are, I wish you a very safe and happy 4th of July.

Thanks for stopping by! Now go get your craft on!