Monday, July 4, 2022

Happy Birthday, America!

 Hello! I hope everyone has had a great day. For us in the USA, it's the end of a long holiday weekend. And also for our northern neighbors as Friday was Canada Day. I've been MIA online the entire time, dealing with a little inconvenience with our neighborhood losing electricity due to equipment failure, but it was because of rainstorms! So, that was the silver lining of it all. It rained for 2 days on and off. We only got 2-3 inches but it was soaking rain after the initial start. Anyway, I got thrown off and have been on downtime, haven't even wanted much to do any art {gasp!}. I do have these July 4th projects, so I'd better share now. 😊
I made a card for the 4th, too late to mail out so it will be there for next year. One that I'd planned and didn't get to in time. Don't even know if it's a shaped card or fun fold? I rarely make those type of cards, so this was an experiment. Kept it simple to help the outcome, lol. I used a Jan's  pre-colored  Digital Stamp called Star-Spangled Wreath and then hand-stamped the sentiment with Majestic Blue Versafine ink. I'm really pleased that I was able to get the matting done decently. To help me cut that top angle, I printed out the sketch to A7 scale on card stock and cut it down to make a template, doing the red base first, then cutting it down more for the blue mat and then a third time for the top focal image layer. Newbies need a game plan! 😏
 
I followed this Splitcoaststampers sketch and have it alongside my card to show how I followed it.
 
I used the same striped paper on the back of the card as on the inside. It's from my Summer paper stash. I picked out some inside sentiments and a star from my patriotic stamps and stamped with the Versafine on a Spellbinders Small Label die cut out of white card.


Now to my other project. You may recall me making this deco June 1st for Sweet Sketch Wednesday as guest designer. When I made it, I mistakenly thought the UK celebrated Jubilee every year, so when I figured out it would be 25 years until I could use it again, I decided to re-do the focal and sentiment rectangles and make it a July 4th deco instead.
And here is what I came up with. I like it very much, especially not really knowing what I was going to do around that awesome Art Kure rubber stamp of Mt. Rushmore. (I love Mt. Rushmore!) I knew I wanted to stamp that one, so I did and used my Polychromos colored pencils to color and shade it, then got out my patriotic stamps and inventoried what would fit around it. Pretty soon I had this little stamped collage. I used Satin Red Versafine on the sidebars and fireworks and a darker MFT red for the corner stars. I coated the sidebars and fireworks with a gold glitter pen after stippling gold Brilliance all around the image and then using midnight blue chalk ink to distress the outer edge. The hand-stamped sentiment at bottom uses Stamp Simply stamps and I embellished it with 2 red glass stars.
Close-up to show the glittery shimmer and shine.
I am entering the redone deco in the Lost Coast Challenge #147: Celebrate It! as I've hand-stamped the focal.

And here's our current front foyer table with my new re-do alongside the other one I made last month. I love how the Rushmore men stand out and I'm really glad I shaded them with the colored pencil. 
Honey and I had our usual chili cheese dogs and he tried a new recipe for a sweet roll cake and it's delish. We actually watched a bit of fireworks on TV this year.
I've gotten behind visiting blogs but I promise to get caught up this week. 
Thanks for visiting me and have a good one! XOX

22 comments:

Donna Walls said...

Gorgeous cards and I love the fold of the 1st card. It's unique, I seldom create fun fold cards and always say I want to branch out. Thanks for sharing your lovely project with us at The Four Seasons Challenge.

Donna Walls said...

I'm back wearing a different DT Hat to say thanks for supporting Jan's Digi Stamps and for sharing your lovely projecy with us by playing along in the challenge!
Donna
Admin for Jan's Digi Stamps Challenges

Makira said...

πŸ’—πŸ€πŸ’™ all of these! Can't pick a favorite. What a captivating tablescape you've created! Thank you for your continued support of the Colorful Options Challenge! We appreciate it! Cheers, Makira

Diane said...

Fabulous Patriotic cards! Thank you for sharing with us at Colorful Options and Four Seasons!
Diane CO DT and FS DT {Nellies Nest}
{Colorful Options}

Chris said...

A beautiful patriotic card, fabulous image and a super design. Thanks for playing along at Fab'n' Funky
Chris
x

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Love your first card Aimes and the fact you got the shape by printing off a template, great idea that. Love the image and the insert. Your Rushmore men is just perfect, fabulous patriotic cards, must make you fell so very proud.
As for the Jubilee card, sorry no, we don't do jubilee's that often, just certain dates. I remember our son being a babe on Her Majesty's 25th Jubilee, funny thing is I can't remember the 50th, but remember the 60th and her jumping out of the plane after being with "James Bond". BUT, this was a very special occasion, 70 years on the Throne, her sketch with Paddington Bear was so unexpected, what a lady, and at 96 too.

Laurie said...

fun and colorful 4th of July card with all the elements we think of during this holiday. Thanks for joining the Lost Coast Design Challenge!

My name is Erika. said...

Those Rushmore men are pretty impressive. I like that stamp. I like that card too. And I like the wreath card too and how you cut the front so it slopes at the top at that angle. Nice. I hope you had a great July 4th. Is your AC fixed yet? hugs-Erika

Jan Mahew said...

Stunning patriotic cards, Aimeslee! Love that you shared USA and Canada/UK patriotism. I like the shape of the first card and how you used the sketch as template. I can't thank you enough for showcasing my "Star Spangled Wreath" on the front and sharing it with us at Jan's Digi Blog Challenge. The Queen's Jubilee is very regal. I hope you will join us again. Good Luck and Happy Crafting!
Hugs,
Jan
(Owner & Illustrator of Jan's Digi Stamp Shop)

Glenda said...

All your cards are awesome but I really love the first one! Thanks for joining us at The Four Seasons Challenge!

Carol said...

Hi Aimeslee. I absolutely love both cards. They are fantastic. Had to chuckle about us having a Jubilee each year. Wow - I couldn't cope. I also was so pleased to see you love Mount Rushmore. I didn't know until I got your message about my ecard. I have always preferred it to the 'Statue' as a US monument.
Love the shape too and might try and use that. It doesn't look too complicated.
Hugs
Carol xx
CD Sunday Plus DT

Sue said...

What amazing cards Aimeslee! Even as a Brit I know there's something special about Mt Rushmore, and I love how you've used the stamp here. Thanks so much for joining in with our challenge at Lost Coast Designs and have a very happy week, Sue xx

Darlene said...

Oh Aimeslee these are just AWESOME! Beautifully done! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Four Seasons Challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back again soon.

Darlene
FOUR SEASONS CHALLENGE
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS

Margarets designer cards said...

I love your 4th July card, as its my birthday although I am English I did love your design and I might try that design too, I hope we dont have a jubilee every year like Carol I dont think we could cope with it,
Thank you for joining us
Margaret
CD Sunday plus DT

Melanie Hungerford said...

Beautiful cards, I love seeing such great Patriotic designs! (and clever re-make of the Jubilee card!) Thanks for joining us at Four Seasons.

Seafield Jo said...

Two great cards. Your experiment definitely paid off! Beautiful colouring.

Mount Rushmore is a place I'd love to visit one day.

Jo
CD Sunday Plus DT

cass said...

Beautiful card, love the design. Thanks for joining us at Get Creative for our Red, White and Blues Challenge.

Jocelyn said...

Such great cards for a special occasion. Thank you for sharing with us.
Jocelyn x
CD Sunday Plus DT

Mrs.B said...

A great card, so patriotic and I love the wreath image.
It's a great re-do of the Jubilee card (it will probably be more that 25yrs before you could use it again - Charles is probably too old to last to a Jubilee celebration) the Rushmore image is fabulous.
Thanks for sharing with us at Try it on Tuesday.
Avril xx

Mia said...

Beautiful card. Thank you for joining TIOT.

Rebekah said...

What a vibrant and fun festive card and fun fold! Lovely job! Thank you for such a pretty use of one of Jan's Digital Images! Thank you for playing along with Jan's Digital Stamps challenge! ~Rebekah, DT Member

Karen Letchworth said...

What an awesome Americana card. Thanks so much for sharing with us at The Four Seasons and please stop by again soon.