Happy 4th of July to all that celebrate...............

Well , today I have a ton of things to do to get ready to go on my holiday. But I had to sit down and make a card this morning. My July 4th is just not a normal one. I think I must be having a tad bit of a hard time coping today. You see my boy's are not home for the holiday today and we are not gone out Celebrating either. I miss everyone and what has been know as normal for so long......I started to think of my Dad and all of the wonderful July fourths we have had and with him and my Mom. My dad passed away in May of 2006. Still not able to let go. Now we don't have those holiday's anymore like we used too. The boy's are all grown up and doing thier own things this year. It's just different and a tad sad. So I grabbed a stack of paper and found this flower printed paper on the background of my card. It reminded me of my grandmother and the things that we would find in her old trunks after she passed away years and years ago. So this card was born. It was like therapy for me and I am more than pleased with the turn out of it. I wish that the photos showed all of the details and how pretty it really is. I was looking at Claudia's sketch at Friday Sketchers and decided it would be perfect for this old worn out looking type card that I wanted to make. Thanks Claudia for the great sketch! So I started my card. I have ripped, torn and wadded my papers up for this. You can't see it in the photos. I used my Heidi Swapp edge distresser on all of the edges. On the edges of the green dotted paper and the image papers I have stamped with my Autumn Leaves on the edge using Tim Holtz destressed ink. Then all of the edges have be inked with Tim Holtz Distressed Inks. After I painted my image and laid it on the card the colors were a tad to bright and the image looked new against the card so I found my Jim Holtz Craft Scratcher and scratched the image up. I held my breath as I did this because I had just spend a lot of time painting it to make it perfect. But I love the effect that it left on the image. It now looks all worn out like the rest of the card. Then I added the brass key charm to it and decided that I could also enter this in the Just Magnolia Challenge because it is *Add a Charm*. Over at Secret Crafter Saturday today they have a challenge for add 3 ribbons on the challenge so I will also will be entering there.I have a satin ribbon, pink aged ribbon on top of that and then the sheer ribbon tied in a bow under the flowers. The challenge at Cute Card Thursday this week is *just add stitches* and I have done that inside and out so I will post it for that challenge also.

Whewwwwwwwwwwwwww

Now when I started this card the morning I had no idea that I would be able to add to all of challenge sites that I did.. But good for me since I am leaving for my holiday in a few days and this card was the best therapy for me today. Now I need to get busy on the things around the house that should be done. :o)
Thanks for stopping to have a look.. I hope that all of my rambling today hasn't scared you away.
many blessings to all whatever you are doing,
janny

If you look close at the above photo you will see the stamping I have done on the edges of the green dot paper and the image outer edge.

Ingredients:

Papers: Watercolor paper, bazill card stocks, Anna Griffin, Lasting Impressions, Daisy D's
Stamps: Tilda with rose by Magnolia, on the edge by Autumn LeavesInk: Memento, copic markers watercolors pencils, Distressed inks to shade paper edges

EmBellies: 2 types of pearls, pearl stick pins, prima flowers, 3 ribbons, 1 trim, antique brass brads, rhinestone button, brass key charm, *BECAUSE OF YOU* ticket

Card is stitched inside and out................

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