Memorial Day Blog Hop!

Hello and welcome to the Memorial Day Blog Hop!  We have a great line up of bloggers for you today that are all going to share projects relating to Memorial Day.   These ladies are great crafters!  I hope you will join us for the hop and leave comments for everyone with your thoughts about their project!   This is the first stop on the hop. 

Wikipedia says that "Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 30 in 2011).... it commemorates men and women who died while in military service to the United States".  I have had a few family members and friends that have served in the military.  I have not, however, had anyone I know die while they were serving.  That is the ultimate sacrifice for our country and I am grateful to all of those folks who put their life on the line to protect me, my family, and my country.  Thank you!

Based on what I read about today's holiday, I decided to make this thank you card:

I started with cutting my background papers.  This is a standard A2 card. 

Then I sent my blue sheet through my Cuttlebug, using the Stars folder.  I brushed white ink over the top of the paper to make the embossing stand out.  I like using the mini chalk pads from Joann's dollar section for this.

Next, I used ribbon from Michael's that I just picked up to adorn the corners of my blue page.  Shh, don't tell anyone but I just scotch tape it to the back of the card.  No fancy adhesives for this part!

I cut out the Statue of Liberty from the Stand and Salute cartridge.  I cut it once regularly and once on blackout, both at 4".  Then I used a brown marker to draw the lines that the Cricut cut as details and inked the regular image using two shades of green.  I tried to make it look a little weathered like the real statue.

I adhered the blackout cut to the card and used some dimensional dots to pop out the inked image.

Lastly on the front, I added a metal piece.  I bought these on clearance when I first started scrapping and this is the first time I have ever used one!  I used two red brads to attach it (I would have liked white but I didn't have any!) and I stamped thankful on the tag that slides inside.

The finished front:

I also saw the frame feature on Stand and Salute and really liked how it looked with the Statue of Liberty so I decided that would be what I put on the inside.  I cut the frame from the blue paper at 5.25".  I used my ATG to glue the white paper to the back and then again to glue the full piece into the inside of the card.

A close up of the frame:

I also have some blog candy for you!  To thank you for visiting, I am giving away your choice of either Twinkle Toes lite cart OR a $15 gift card to Michael's or JoAnns to one lucky person who leaves a comment on this post telling me one thing about Memorial Day.  It can be a fact about the holiday, something you do to celebrate, or anything else you would like to share!  It is not necessary for you to be a follower of my blog but I would absolutely love it if you decide to become one!  I am approaching 200 followers and am pretty sure I'm going to celebrate that milestone! *wink*wink*  Be sure to include a way for me to contact you!  I will select a winner Tuesday afternoon using Random.org.

Be sure to follow along the hop by going to Laura's blog next!

Here is the complete blog list for you:
1. Michele <------- You are HERE!
2. Laura - http://lauras--piece--of--paradise.blogspot.com/
3. Kristen - http://fantabulouslypink.blogspot.com/
4. Rexann - http://ibecircled.blogspot.com
5. Jamie - www.myamusinglife.blogspot.com
6. Dana - Paper Memories (http://irwdanataft.blogspot.com/ )
7. Cindy - www.inlovewithpaper.blogspot.com
8. Brenda - http://happyscrapper64.blogspot.com/
9. Roberta - www.txscrappermom.blogspot.com
10. Renee - http://icameisawicreated.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy Memorial Day to you!