Thank You!

Today we remember those men and women who died while serving in the US armed forces. Let's also remember to say thank you to those who have served and those who continue to serve.

These 5x7 cards are easy to replicate quickly - take your choice of the vintage version on the left or a more "clean" version on the right.  The main panel is made by cutting cardstock stars in white or cream and adhering them to a blue panel in a regular pattern. Cut off any overhanging bits, then mat on a red panel. I used the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, as the star shape on that coordinates with the stamp I used.

I used the patterned star stamp from the American Celebration stamp set, and used the rock and roll technique to stamp it with yellow and red inks. I then stamped the sentiment on top in blue ink.  To embellish this card, I used silver Shimmer Tape as ribbon and also cut a star from silver glitter cardstock, which I used as a mat for my stamped star.

For the vintage look card, I did everything the same except used cream cardstock instead of white, and took the added step of ink distressing all of my pieces.  I also eliminated the bling of the glitter and instead colored a length of color-ready seam binding with a marker to match. I wrapped it around the card front and tied a piece of hemp around it to secure the ends.

For both cards, I adhered the large star to the front using foam adhesive tape.  I also stamp inside the cards using coordinating images from the same stamp set.

Now, while we are on the subject of thank you, I wanted to shared a brand new stamp from the unreleased Autumn/Winter Catalog that CTMH has decided to release early.  One hundred percent of profits from sales of this stamp set from May 23 to June 30 will be donated to the American Red Cross to aid tornado victims in Oklahoma. a 2"x2" acrylic block is recommended for this stamp. Cost is $2.95 and is available on my website here.

Supplies used for my cards today are all from CTMH.

Both Cards:

• Cardstock in Pacifica and Cranberry
• Exclusive Inks stamp pads in Sunflower, Cranberry, and Pacifica
• Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge
• American Celebration stamp set
• 3-D Foam Tape

"Clean" Card:

• White Cardstock
• Black & Grey Glitter Paper
• Silver Shimmer Trim

 Vintage Card:

• Colonial White Cardstock
• Sponge Daubers
• Exclusive Inks stamp pad in Champagne
• Color-Ready Seam Binding
• White Hemp

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you enjoyed my cards, and hope you have (or had) a fabulous Memorial Day!

Cards of Friendship - May SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to the May Stamp of the Month blog hop!  If you're just starting out, or if you've arrived here from Debra's blog, you're in the right spot.  When you're done here, you'll hop along to Jill's blog and see what she has cooked  up for us this month.

I absolutely love this month's stamp set, Friendship Bouquet!  To show you just how much, I made two very different cards this month just by changing the colors I used.  First up, a beautiful sympathy card.

With a different sentiment, this would also make an elegant birthday or retirement card.  This is a 6"x6" kraft card, that I'm also entering in the Heart2Heart "April Showers Bring May Flowers" challenge and the Mojo Monday 239 challenge (round or square).  I used the following products:

• Pemberly paper pack
• Kraft cardstock
• twill ribbon
• Round Durables Studs
• Memento brown ink
• Copic markers
• Sentiment stamp (discontinued) 
• 3-D Foam Tape
• Micro-tip Scissors

Next, a completely different style for a thank you card.

This picture does not do this justice!  Some brighter colors, some faux stitching, and a fun adhesive spring make this a bright & cheery card.  I'm thinking this will be perfect for Teacher's Appreciation!

the spring in action!

I used the following items for this card:

• Dotty For You promotional paper pack
• Stitched Together stamp set
• Sentiment stamp (discontinued)
• White pigment stamp pad
• White embossing powder
• Sunset stamp pad
• Craft heater
• Adhesive Springs
• Memento brown ink
• Cricut & Art Philosophy (for circles)
• Copic markers
• White 5"x7" card base
• Micro-tip Scissors

 I'm also posting this one at the Heart2Heart "April Showers Bring May Flowers" challenge.

Make sure you read my previous post if you're looking for some fun for National Scrapbook Day - and you can participate even if you have other plans that day!  Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you again soon.  Now don't forget to hop along to Jill's blog!