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Saturday, July 3, 2010

OWH Independence Day Blog Tour!

Welcome to another stop on this wonderful Independence Day blog tour sponsored by Operation Write Home!  If you arrived here from anywhere other than the OWH Stars and Stamps Blog, you'll really want to go to their blog after you're done reading my post to see what all the other bloggers have created to feast your eyes on this weekend.  There are all kinds of events planned throughout the weekend as well as lots of blog candy and other fun!

Many of you are already acquainted with Operation Write Home, but if not, you should be!  This organization collects hand-made cards from all over to send to our soldiers that are serving overseas, so the soldiers have something nice to send home to their family and friends.  We always need card makers who can donate a few cards or even fill up a USPS Priority Flat Rate box.  This is an excellent way to get those beautiful cards that you've made out of those stuffy boxes!!!! ;O)  If you are interesting in sending cards, or maybe you want to find out more info about the organization because you would like to make a tax deductible contribution to help with shipping and other costs, then click on Operation Write Home

I'll be posting more cards throughout the weekend, but the first one I've made follows the guidelines to make a red, white and blue birthday card.  I decided to something different and make my own design paper for once.  This happened by accident when I stamped a couple star images from an Art Impressions stamp and decided to continue stamping and see what I got.

The stars were all stamped on the cardstock that I won as blog candy from the last OWH Blog Hop.  I wanted to stay with the theme, so I decided to stamp it in blue ink instead of black.  The background color was added with four different colors of blue colored pencils that were blended with a blending stump dipped in baby oil since I don't have any Gamsol (OMS).  

The trees from Stampscapes were also stamped on the white card stock with the Memories dye ink.  Originally, I was going to stamp the eagle from Mostly Animals onto the cardstock, but I had seen another blogger recently that had stamped directly onto mulberry paper and I liked the effect.  The background was also colored with the colored pencils, and then the highlights were added with a white gel pen.  The stars on the corners aren't brads.  They are small die cuts that I applied Ranger's Glossy Accents to and let them dry so they would look like brads.

Some people have asked me how I got the edges to look frayed when I work with mulberry paper.  It's a real easy technique.  You just take any small paint brush that has been dipped in plain water and make an outline with the wet brush around the stamped image (or the stencil or shape).  Let the water absorb into the paper for about 20 seconds or so and then hold the paper on both sides of water line and gently pull it apart like you would stretch a rubber band.  Make sure you don't tug on the big chunks of fiber that hang out like the piece on the right side of the pictures.  Take some sharp scissors and cut the big pieces at an angle so you're just leaving a tip hang out of the side.  After you have all of the pieces apart, just gently pull the edges out by pulling the fibers between your thumb and pointer finger to make it look hairy.  If the paper has already dried, you can rewet the mulberry paper and try it again.
Next, I wanted to add a slider to the ribbon, but I didn't have any that fit the scene I had stamped.  So I just flipped one of the American Crafts Elements over and added a rub-on that was also from American Crafts.  The scene was double matted and applied on top of the single matted design paper with some Creative Memories tape and was then glued onto a card base.  I used Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive to the ribbon so it would stay secure.  Since the cards are first shipped from us to a shipper, and then unpacked and checked and then repacked for the soldiers, it's very important to make sure any embellishments are secure.  Also, it's very important that you don't use glitter on the cards for the soldier's safety.

I usually stamp a little something in the inside, or you can keep it blank for the soldiers to write to their family or friends.  The Happy Birthday sentiment is made by PSX and was also stamped with the Memories dye ink.  The edges were inked with a dauber like the front of the card and then both of the pieces were matted on more blue card stock from Hobby Lobby.  Star stickers were added to the corners to give a pop of red in the inside.
Well, that was long enough for this post!  Come on back later and see what else I have created for the OWH Independence Day Blog Tour.  You'll also want to know the details about my blog candy!  You'll have to leave a comment to win, and if you would like to become a follower, your name will be entered twice in the random drawing.  I'm working on putting together a bunch of embellishments, papers and ribbons that will work great for your OWH cards!  I'll pick a winner from the hat on Tuesday, July 6th, so make sure to come back & see if you won!  Happy Blog Touring!!!  Click on OWH Stars and Stamps Blog to go back to the tour guide!   Remember not to drink and drive on this holiday weekend!
~~  Lee  ~~

37 comments:

JustYolie said...

Gorgeous cards! Happy 4th!

Marlene Diefendorf said...

Your card is absolutely gorgeous! Happy 4th!

Paula S. said...

Fantastic detail! Beautiful coloring on the star background. This is really a work of art. Happy 4th of Jul1

Noelle's Corner said...

All your hard work really paid off to make this really great card.

Jan Hunnicutt said...

Wow Lee, your card is beautiful! Happy 4th of July weekend!

Unknown said...

WOW, this card is absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing and Happy 4th of July.

Cheryl said...

Wow - gorgeous card!

Have a safe & happy July 4th week end!

Please stop by my blog and sign up to win my blog candy.

Cheryl
http://shestamps.blogspot.com/

Rhonda Miller said...

Oh I love this card.

loyaz said...

This is my comment for becoming a follower
DianeL
loyaz1@wbhsi.net

loyaz said...

You really went to a lot of work on your card - it's great. TFS
DianeL
loyaz1@wbhsi.net

Operation Write Home said...

Wow, what great tips you have here!! And I wouldnt have guessed you handcolored that background til you showed it- WOW!!!!! Great job!

Happy 4th!

creations by jackie said...

Your cards are awesome and your tutorial on how you made your background is great. Can't wait to see what else you post this weekend. Have a Happy 4th of July

debb said...

Beautiful card and wonderful tutorial! Thank you! happy 4th!

jengd said...

Gorgeous! Thanks for the deets on how you did this one too!

Jeanne said...

Great card. The effort really shows. I'm sure somebody will love getting this for their special day.

Dolores said...

Thanks for visiting me earlier, but do return and check out my surprise candy offer!
I've been looking for your card but evidently haven't made my way through much of the icons. So much detail was put into this card...great work!

Unknown said...

This is an absolutely gorgeous card - I love the tutorial on the paper!

Happy 4th of July!

Thanks so much for sharing & the chance to win!!!

~Ola
okj83 at live dot com

Lone Pine Designs said...

Lovely...thanks for taking the time to share the tutorial! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

RobinH said...

I love those stamped trees
thanks for sharing

helloholley said...

This card is a WOW!!! Card for sure!!!! Awesome details.....I just love it!!! Happy 4th!!!

Missy said...

Thanks for all your tips in the tutorial. I really like this card.

Erika said...

Wow! Great job!

Carolyn Sharkas said...

This is an absolutely gorgeous card! Thanks so much for sharing and caring.

Jeanette said...

Beautiful card. I love the eagle stamped on the mulberry paper. Beautiful effect. Fabulous coloring

Thanks for joining us at I Did It Creations this week. I hope to see you again.

Sherry Hickey said...

Looking at your card is a great way to end this great July 4th. I appreciate the tutorial, also, as a newbie.

Nancy Keller said...

Wow - that is a really beautiful card and I love that eagle stamp! Thank you for sharing! Happy 4th!

Tammy said...

This is absolutely gorgeous Lee!! I LOVE the star bg that you created and that Eagle is fantastic! A work of art!!

Kim G, said...

I love your card. Thank you so much for taking the time to explain your techniques. I love learning something new.

Meg Bean said...

Wow! Great card! Your attention to detail is insane!!

~Tammy~ said...

Great tutorial! What a beautiful card! TFS! Warm aloha!

Christine said...

WOW that is beautiful! you must have gone thru all four of those pencils to color the background paper . . .LOL it's awesome! thanks for sharing

Unknown said...

wow, what a wonderful card, thanks so much for playing along with IDIC.
Trish

Lindart said...

Lovely! The eagle is very powerful - shucks the whole card is very powerful! Great job!

Claudine Poch said...

Very nice patriotic card. Thanks for joining us at I Did It Creations.

Alicia said...

Absolutely beautiful card! Amazing work! Thanks for playing with us at I Did It Creations!

Debbie (Little Gingham Bear) said...

Wow - those trees are just stunning - thanks for joining us at I Did it Creations this week
hugs,
Debbie x

Susan said...

Such a great card Lee, I am sorry i am so late in commenting, I am only up to you today. have only been able to get on the computer sporadically.

I love the eagle over the trees...great card!!

Hugs,
Susan

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