May 21, 2009

Red, White and Blue Birthday

My mom's birthday is July 1st and she just loves all things red, white and blue. I always make her a patriotic type birthday card...she sits it out all summer long for decoration. I decided to use Karen Lockhart's Picnic stamp. I presented an idea to Karen for a stamp like this and she came up with a great little ensemble that captures the summer time perfectly! The pretty bouquet of flowers with the flag.....the juicy slice of watermelon.....the blueberry pie....and the checkered tablecloth.....all perfect pairings for summer time cards. I colored my image in with Copic Sketch markers. Then I cut and embossed my image out with a Spellbinders Label 1 Die Template. I added some Ranger Distress Ink around the edges to create a vintage look. A button and a ribbon snippet from my stash finish off the main image. Patterned paper source is unknown. I glittered the entire background of the main image to make it sparkle and shimmer.
To finish off the base card, I added a Lockhart *happy birthday* sentiment, two tied buttons and some eyelet ribbon from my stash. The script stamp is from Papertrey's Background Basics: Text Style. For the entire card, I inked the Kraft Edges with Ranger's Distress Ink...then I applied PTI Fresh Snow ink directly from the ink pad. So I have darker distressing then the lighter white to crisp up the edges. Colored Lockhart Itty Bitty Watermelons are scattered along the bottom of an envelope.
One more card to cross of my list, woohoo! And doesn't that envelope make you crave watermelon??? We planted all of our seeds last night and can't wait to see vines creeping all over the place.
And........it's the last day of school today. My girls were super excited and the buzz was all about if they'd get to go outside to play during class and how they were going to carry all the junk home from their lockers. Good times here!! I always get a little sad when I hear people say *ugh, my kids are going to be all summer*....like it's a bad thing. Just a little bit of advice: Embrace these times....you don't get do overs.......have fun with your kids, that's what you had them for......make a memory every day.....be thankful for your family......let things slide a little more.......don't be so serious. I'm hoping to heed my own advice this summer and enjoy every single day. Let the fun begin!!!!!!!

18 comments:

dolcreations said...

I LOVE your card for your mom!! I just ordered some stamps from Karen Lockhart and darn...I did not see that one!! Next time!
I love your advice about the summer holidays and spending time with them...I LOVE when my kids are home...sometimes I wonder what made me say that..but I really do enjoy when they are home!!!
Thank-you for your beautiful blog!!
Christine

Lucille said...

Gorgeous card as usual...
I totally agree with you about the kids, I only haved one child who has severe autism and lots of behaviors and difficult things to deal with but I make the best out of the times we are together and he is my total and complete JOY. Yesterday afternoon for example, he was really agressive so I got him on the car out on his favorite music (country) and we took a nice drive around some farms out here, he was a different kid!
We opened the windows and let the gorgeous air hit our faces, stopped on the side of the road and "talked to the cows" on the field LOL and I said Moooooo! and he even repeated that, well when he heard the first cow go moooo he couldn't stop laughing and kept going MOOO.

It might sound silly but it was the best afternoon to me and I enjoyed his company and I know that as you said you only get one chance .... I always plan simple things he likes to do and don't take life so serious, making the best out of every moment. Enjoy your summer, I am sure you will make great memories with your girls! You are a great mom.

yvette said...

Mish Thanks for sharing all of your beautiful creations with us....I agree about embrace your time with your children.Two years ago my daughter started to have seizures 7-8 per day and she would sleep most of her days away after those episodes I yearned for her to play and make noise and dress up with me. Now her seizures are controlled and she is the little girl I love to hear yell and sing around the house. Be grateful your children can be annoying....I do!

patriciad said...

Adorable card (am I starting to sound like a broken record yet??!) Love the stamp you inspired. Enjoy your summer...I know you'll have a great time with the Reds. How could you NOT?? They are so lucky to have you for their mom, just as you are so lucky to have them.

Becky said...

This is a great card, love the coloring and how everything seems to blend together. You have a wonderful Summer..

Katy @ Live Laugh Love Craft said...

I'm wishing for a sunny Summer day!! It has been raining all week and the weather man says it will be until NEXT Thursday until it lets up.. I thought this was Florida?? lol. Anyway, I love the card and i'm sure your Mom will! :)

PS- My kids are both still under 2 and I am cherishing every moment with them. I will be SAD when they go off to kindergarten.. I don't understand how some parents dread the summer..

Jessica said...

I don't comment much, but I just wanted to say that I love your outlook about your kids. You're a great mother! My mom always felt the same way - loved to have us home, hated to send us to school. Even though we're both grown and out of the house, she still feels the same. I think she'd be happy to have us live with her forever, whereas her friends are all relieved when their kids move on. I hope your girls appreciate how great you are!

Steph Sullins said...

This is awesome!!:)

I am looking for 6 talented people to become part of a design team for my new Digi Stamp adventure. I would love it if you would take a look and see if you might be interested! :)

http://owlwhimsy.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-venture-and-design-team-call.html

Thanks!
Steph

Elizabeth S. said...

I love this card!! Your mom is going to love it.
My kids are all grown now with kids of their own and I too liked the idea of the kids being home for the summer. We always tried to do so many things together. Oh, those were the good times. Thanks for bringing back those memories.

Dottie K. said...

Wow she is going to love it. I love this stamp by Karen. It's on my list to get but I do have some images from a friend to have fun with. Great advise to all the moms out there. Hope you have a great summer with the girls. :)

Jean Franks Beck said...

OMG this card is outstanding!! Just gorgeous - your mom will of course LOVE it (I'd set it out all summer long, too :)) Have a wonderful time with your girls! I have a daughter and son (10 and 7) who go to year-round school. We have 3 to 5 weeks together during each season (when they 'track out' for vacation), and it's pure joy! Yay for parents who love to hang out with their kids!

Chelsea said...

cute cute cute and love the coordinating envelope!

Unknown said...

Your mums birthday card is lovely Michelle. I absolutely agree with you about having your girls home. When my two girls had their summer holidays each December until beginning Feb I could not wait for them to be able to hang out with me at home doing stuff we loved to do lol. I had 10 miscarriages to get my two girls and I absolutely adore them they are 25 and 20 years old now and nothing has changed. Treasure each and every day with them always.
Enjoy your day
Regards
Michelle
Bohemian Gypsy

Linda Carson said...

Fabulous artwork! Your Mom will love it! I noticed you didn't mention Kris being our new American Idol! WooHoo!! We're celebrating in Arkansas!

Anonymous said...

Here, here!

Great advice! I only wish I was "off" with my kids to actually get a little extra time in... Regardless, summers are always fun!

Pat (mspfd) said...

This is fabulous! I love all the elements you used to create this beauty -- your design, wonderful image, and wonderful DP! Everything works so well together.

Cindy Groh said...

Adorable card. nice job.

Anonymous said...

Linda Grady, mlgrady@peoplepc.com says that she would like to see more shading of the people's skin and flowers on the Copic themes.

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