Lest we forget . . .

In 2010 my friends and I attended the CTMH Convention and afterwards saw lots of the sights around Washington, D.C.  I was impressed that everywhere we went there was mention of God, His guidance, and lots of scripture quoted around monuments. I found a quote by Ronald Regan that says a lot about a nation who started with its leaders acknowledging God's leadership and help. We received many blessings as leaders continued to seek His assistance and recognize His care for us. He made this quote about the United States, but I believe it applies to any nation.

"If we ever forget that we are ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, then we will be a nation gone under."

May we never forget.  I thought about this as I watched fireworks on the 4th.

The sketch at Try Stampin' On Tuesday inspired the background I used with this quote.

I used the Solo 4 stamp set to random stamp the Sapphire "4th's" on the Sapphire cardstock. The CTMH Nights of Lights fireworks were stamped with Cranberry, Sapphire, and silver embossing. I had a die with the CTMH Fresh Air Cardmaking stamp set that was the same shape as the sketch, but the ODBD quote was too large so I used masking to only stamp the top phrase for the front and the bottom phrase for the inside.

If you'd like to see more examples of ways to use the Solos stamp sets, please visit our blog hop on July 7th.

Thank you for visiting! May you be blessed by the Lord!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #169 - Red, white, and blue

Papercraft Challenge  -  red, white, and blue

Retro Rubber Challenge #90 - red, white, blue inspired (Solos 4 stamp from sometime before 2010)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - red, white, and blue

Try Stampin' on Tuesday #371 - sketch, option of texture (added enamel stars inside stamped stars)

Psalm 94:14 (WEB) For Yahweh won’t reject his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
365 Promises of God - Promise #186: I will not abandon My own inheritance.

Patriotic Bookmarks

I remember when I was nine years old, sitting in my 4th grade classroom wondering how I happened to be so lucky to be born in a country where I had plenty of food, freedom, and a good family. (We were often reminded to eat all of our food because there were hungry, starving, children around the world.) We read about other countries in Weekly Reader that didn't have as many freedoms as we did. As I matured, so did my understanding of the cost of freedom. I lived in an Air Force town where I saw the toll taken by long family separations and war. 

I began to research family history and found so many of my ancestors who had fought in the wars defending our country from the Revolutionary War to World War II.  Some died in terrible battles, one lost limbs and became an artist.  My g-grandfather hid out in a cabin after his injuries to be alone after years of fighting beside his sons in the Civil War, Everyone thought he'd died. One uncle survived D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge and returned to farming and his sweet wife, meeting his war buddies every summer into old age with no obvious injuries. More recently, nephews returned with PTSD unwilling to have it treated due to the stigma associated with it.

The price of freedom is high, and often unappreciated. So it's my firm belief that we should be supportive of those who have worked or fought to maintain the freedoms that many of us take for granted.  So I've made bookmarks today to celebrate those whose sacrifices we should celebrate and remember.

I used a scrap what might have been Scenic Route "Liberty" paper for the fronts. I stamped "freedom" from a long retired CTMH stamp set Let Freedom Ring. "You Are Not Forgotten" is from an ODBD stamp set, Not Forgotten. I added small patriotic pictures from Authentique's "Honor" paper pad and finished it off with some retired CTMH ribbon from my stash.

 The backs are simply covered with pieces of BoBunny Anthem paper:

Thank you for visiting! May you always be able to celebrate freedom and  those who have helped you obtain and maintain it. They need your encouragement and support!

I'm sharing this project with the following chllenges:
Always Fun #13 - Patriotic
Creatalicious Challenge #118 - anything goes with optional red, white, blue
Dragonfly Journeys #95 - Red, White, and Blue-tiful
Glitter 'n' Sparkle #246 - Freedom and what it means to you
Paper Sweeties #57 - photo inspiration:

Shopping Our Stash #310 - colors of your flag
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - red, white, and/or blue

Doodle Pantry "God Bless Our USA"

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.

Psalm 33:12NIV

I'm finally home after babysitting three grandsons for the last six weeks. I didn't do as much crafting and blogging definitely took a back seat. Today we are celebrating our country's Independence Day.
I used  Doodle Pantry's "USA Charlie" and last month's Mojo Monday sketch #351 to make this patriotic card. I had many ancestors who came to this country in the 1600's and 1700's looking for religious freedom or escaping political tyranny. My Lee ancestors had two members who signed the Declaration of Independence from England, which is what we celebrate today. Sadly, the price of freedom meant a long and bitter war. In each of our countries may we remember the cost of freedom and celebrate the blessings God has given us as a result of our freedom.

I tried something different with the Charlie panel. Instead of cutting him out and attaching him on the vertical panel, I simply cut out his head, one foot, and his tail with scissors, leaving him on the panel and simply trimming the panel down to the cut portion with my paper cutter to fit the card design.

The stars are all edged with a glitter gel pen and the chipboard star also has two tiny star sparkles for embellishment.

Thank you for visiting. My hope is that you'll cherish the freedoms you have in your country and seek God's blessings.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
A  Creative Romance - Show us the colors of your country's flag
Crafty Catz #238 - Stars of Stripes or Both
Jellypark Friends - red, white, and blue
Polkadoodles - red, white, or blue
The Stamping Boutique - stars and stripes
Twisted Tuesday 79 - Red, white, and blue with Twist: use stars

Word Art Wednesday #139 - anything goes with uplifting sentiment

You Are Not Forgotten

Many years ago I lived next to an air base during the Vietnam war.  After I was out of school, I worked there as a civilian employee nearly a year, first for the Air Force, then for the Army Air Defense Command. Many of my friends and I married airmen. Some of the military families came to our church. We became close friends then suddenly they were transferred and we never saw them again. A few wrote or called, but military life wasn't conducive to long, lasting relationships in one place. One thing that never changed was the fact that after more than forty years, I still remember and cherish the times we had together. God will bring them to my mind and I'll pray for them. When I was in Washington, D.C., I checked the Vietnam wall for their names and was relieved not to find them.

This is one of five cards I made in remembrance of the military personnel who have crossed my path. Its message is also for the many that I've never met. Each of them has made a contribution to the freedom that I enjoy in our country. Too many have made a sacrifice of their lives or health while serving our country. So have their families.

No matter what country you call home, may we all send out the message with prayers, "You are NOT forgotten." May God bless and protect our service men and women. May He lead them to make righteous decisions and give them courage to do His will. May our countries show them how proud we are of them and the sacrifices they've made.

The image and sentiment I used was from Our Daily Bread Designs.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
A Creative Romance  - Colors of your nation's flag
Bloggers Challenge - red, white, and blue
Crafter's Cafe #70 - red, white, and blue
Crafty Catz #238 - stars and stripes or both
Inky Impressions #166 - patriotic or red, white, and blue
Jellypark Friends Friday Challenge - Red, White, and Blue
Polkadoodles Wk.#26-27 - Red, white, and blue
Quick Quotes #41 - use stars
The Stamping Boutique #24 - stars and stripes
Word Art Wednesday #139 - anything goes with uplifting sentiment