Come In and See -- It's Patriotic, Day Three!

Can you help but feel patriotic when working with the red, white and blue in your color palette?  

We're back today with Day 3 of the first-ever Blog Hop co-hosted by Carter's Crafting Corner and C'est  La-Vie Designs Unlimited, LLC.  

Their theme is a patriotic one, in time for you to be inspired to create your own projects for your Independence Day celebrations.  That's right, we're Celebrating the Red, White and Blue, with a group of talented crafters.

Today I am going to reprise a card I made last year, because it's one of my most favorite cards I've ever made. That's a tall order, because I LOVE cardmaking!

Again, this is a TriFold Shutter Card. If you've never made one before, I highly recommend a tutorial by Bonnie on Splitcoast Stampers. (Click HERE for the tute!) 

To decorate the card, I used Authentique Paper, letter stickers and cut-outs using Cricut's "A Child's Year" cartridge. 

Finally, let me rehash the Blog Hop Info in case you missed it on Days 1 and 2:

• You should have arrived here from Charmagne's blog. If you joined us from my blog, be sure to go back to the start of the Hop (Carter's Crafting Corner) so you don't miss a thing.
• There are some prizes to win if you follow and comment on each of the participants' blogs.  Some bloggers have their own blog candy too, with their own set of qualifiers.
• The Hop runs the whole weekend, from Friday June 21 at 9 a.m. through Sunday, June 23 at 6 p.m. (Central Time), so you have plenty of time to visit/comment.

• Your next stop after me is Alicia's blog at Golden Goddess Designs. 

Here is info on my personal BLOG CANDY:  How would you like to get this cute THANK YOU stamp (below) for free?!  Well, here are two chances:

• One winner who both comments and follows me here will be selected at random to win CTMH #M1029 "True Thank You" stamp and a $10 gift certificate to my Close To My Heart store!  No purchase necessary to be eligible to win!
  
  and....
• EVERYONE who purchases the beautiful "Home of the Brave" CTMH stamp set or its companion stamp set "Courage" CTMH stamp set from my CTMH site from now through July 31 will receive from me a "True Thank You" stamp for free!  To purchase, you may use the link provided above BUT THEN let me know (cardmonkey@comcast.net) that you've done so, so I can send you your reward as your thank you!  This gift is from me personally, and not from CTMH, and will arrive separately from your ordered stamp set.

Remember... We live in the Land of the Free because this is the Home of the Brave.

Your next hop stop is:

ALICIA 

http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com

 Thank you for visiting!!

Celebrate Freedom Blog Hop - Day #2, celebrating with 3 more cards for the Fourth

Welcome to Day #2 of the Celebrate Freedom Blog Hop, sponsored by Lisa at Honeybearz Designs. 

Honestly, I don't think there's any place better in the whole U.S.of A. to celebrate Independence Day than in the City of Brotherly Love, my hometown, Philadelphia.  

If you've never been -- be sure to come at least once in your life to see Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the National Constitution Center, the home of Betsy Ross, and more. History breathes here. 


Believe it or not, I once lived in a home modeled after the Betsy Ross house and built in the same era. Yes, it was teeny-tiny -- just 13' wide and 54' deep. But it was fun, fun, fun living in the cradle of history.

Yesterday, I showed you one of my favorite cards of all time ... be sure you see it. Here are some runner-ups that I made for this hop, too, for Day #2:

So, which of these three (above) is your favorite?  Answer that question in a comment here, and be eligible for an extra entry in this Hop's CardMonkey Blog Candy:

Now, what's a blog hop without a little candy? 

Well, I happen to have an extra copy of what may one day be a collector's copy of a magazine.

Yup, I bought a copy before I remembered that I also subscribe. (Duhhh!)  Anywhooo... did you know "Scrapbooks, Etc." is ceasing publication with this, its August 2012 issue?  Dang it all ... I enjoyed it!  The copy I send to you will be the just-bought issue, not this dog-earred ratty/read copy.  

To win it, please be a follower of my blog, and leave a comment here. Please be sure that your comment today answers the question (above), and also provides a way for me to contact you when you win.

I hope you've enjoyed this hop. I'm the last stop (phew! You made it!) ... but if you've just happened upon me here, why not start at the very beginning and see what other projects might trigger your crafting mojo.  Here's the line-up, with not-to-be-missed projects and some more blog candy:

Lisa ~ http://honeybearzdesigns2011.blogspot.com/

Jamie - http://www.jamielindstromdesigns.com/

Pam - http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com/

Michele ~ http://michelescraftroom.blogspot.com/

Maria - http://JoyfulStamper.blogspot.com/

Ashley - http://thebloghopprincess.blogspot.com/

Madge- http://www.thescrappinlounge.com/

Tahi - http://tahisscrapcorner.blogspot.com/

Diana - http://daisylovecreations.blogspot.com/

Miranda - http://www.nanasscrapspot.com/

Jessi http://mylifeinartscrafts.blogspot.com/

Ellen ♥ CardMonkey ~ http://cardmonkeyspaperjungle.com/

P.S. The votes are in! The favorite card here, selected by PaperJungle readers, is "Let Freedom Ring." Thank you to all who voted. I'll be linking the winner up to "A Homespun Affair", the new digital magazine. Check it out and sign up ... it's free!

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Celebrate Freedom Blog Hop - Day 1

It is my honor to participate in the Celebrate Freedom Blog Hop, sponsored by Lisa at Honeybearz Designs. 

Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA

While I have always honored our country's liberties and celebrate Independence in its national birthplace of Philadelphia, eighteen years ago on July 1, 1994, personal freedom took on a whole different meaning for me.

NOT looking like this!

On that day, I mustered the strength to leave a marriage that was unkind and abusive. It was a hot 95 degrees then too ... and I wore a hot (very hot!) pink sweatsuit to prove it, I guess ... as I packed up half our worldly possessions, and moved myself and my daughter Emily into our own safe place, and a new life.

The separation and divorce were a struggle ... it took a revolution to be free. It took strength and determination. And ever since then, Independence Day means a great deal to me personally, and I celebrate it loud and proud.

This year, I'm celebrating by making what I think is one of my very favorite cards, and I'll show it to you here. 

Here's the outside, and supplies listing:

This is how it looks, opened up.

I think my card turned out pretty spankin' good, if I do say so myself. This tri-fold shutter fold technique doesn't always work with your design ... but I think it does here. 

Come back tomorrow when I'll show you a few more cards that I made for the holiday. 

Now, what's a blog hop without a little candy? 

Well, I happen to have an extra copy of what may one day be a collector's copy of a magazine.

Yup, I bought a copy before I remembered that I also subscribe. (Duhhh!)  Anywhooo... did you know "Scrapbooks, Etc." is ceasing publication with this, its August 2012 issue?  Dang it all ... I enjoyed it!  The copy I send to you will be the just-bought issue, not this dog-earred ratty/read copy.  

To win it, please be a follower of my blog, and leave a comment here. Please be sure that your comment provides a way for me to contact you when you win.

I hope you've enjoyed this hop. I'm the last stop (phew! You made it!) ... but if you've just happened upon me here, why not start at the very beginning and see what other projects might trigger your crafting mojo.  Here's the line-up, with not-to-be-missed projects and some more blog candy:

Lisa ~ http://honeybearzdesigns2011.blogspot.com/

Jamie - http://www.jamielindstromdesigns.com/

Pam - http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com/

Michele ~ http://michelescraftroom.blogspot.com/

Maria - http://JoyfulStamper.blogspot.com/

Ashley - http://thebloghopprincess.blogspot.com/

Madge- http://www.thescrappinlounge.com/

Tahi - http://tahisscrapcorner.blogspot.com/

Diana - http://daisylovecreations.blogspot.com/

Miranda - http://www.nanasscrapspot.com/

Jessi http://mylifeinartscrafts.blogspot.com/

Ellen ♥ CardMonkey ~ http://cardmonkeyspaperjungle.com/

Update:  I completely forgot. I wanted to include a song that was my Mantra that summer so many years ago on Independence Day. Here's a YouTube video featuring the original artist, Martina McBride, with lyrics.  "Let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong, it's Independence Day..."

For all of you who may be needing extra strength today, this is for you:



P.S. I will be linking this post to a Red-White-and-Blue Challenge for "A Homespun Affair," the new online magazine. Check it out!  

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,