Thursday, June 30, 2011

July's Creative Crew Challenges Cont'd

July's Creative Crew holiday-focus challenge is to create a national spirit project. Express what your country mean to you.

I ended up with a couple holiday-focus cards, because my first card below used retired stamps. I try to avoid that, but I really wanted to express what my country means to me... wide open spaces. I grew up in the midwest, riding my horse across open farm fields. Big sky and the freedom feeling of just riding across open space is really my definition of America.

I wanted to try a brayer card in sepia. ColorQ challenge #88 started me down this path, so I thought I would stay with those colors.

I also drew inspiration from 'Ocicat' on SCS.

Stamps: Wanted, Le Jardin Botanique; Paper: Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White; Ink: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Creamy Caramel, Soft Suede marker; Accessories: Sponges, Brayer, Post-it notes, Circle punch.

My other project is a Fourth of July celebration tree. Weird?

I find Independence Day cards/projects to be difficult, but this one works... I think anyway. I added some bling to help make the holiday sparkle.

Stamps: Season of Friendship, Something to Celebrate, Happiness BG; Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla, First Edition DSP, Nautical Expedition DSP; Ink: Early Espresso, Versamark; Accessories: White embossing powder, Itty Bitty punch pack, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Button Latte, Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Rhinestone jewels, Riding Hood Red striped grosgrain ribbon, Sewing machine, Thread.

I haven't had a chance to play with the scrapbook-focus challenge, focus on family. I've got a page in my head, and I hope to catch up with that in the coming days.

ETA (7/30/11): I finally got my family-focused scrapbook page done. This is the tail end of our France trip last year with the in-laws, visiting the city of Eze and Monaco.

I wanted to use bright blues and greens, because all the colors in Monaco are so bright and vibrant. This is only the first page I've gotten done from this trip. Many more waiting to be created. This is page 36 of Project 52.

MDS Elements: Urban Oasis DSP, Summer Home embellishments.

Make sure you head over to the demo side of Splitcoast and play along with us! Thanks for stopping by!

20 comments:

Christy Lynn said...

I like the Fourth of July tree, I think it's a neat idea. I might steal that for a project I'm working on if it's okay with you :) I wish SU had some more good patriotic sets to work with. I must say I'm jealous you got to grow up riding horses. We moved to Texas when I was 7 and I thought I'd get to ride a horse to school...when that turned up not to be the case, I packed my suitcase and tried to walk back to California!

Nancy said...

I really like your cards, the sepia card is fabulous, but the 4th of July is my "fav" love your creativity of the blue on the side and the red stripes on the bottom, I'm gonna have a hard time not to CAS this one!
Thanks,

Veronica P said...

i REALLY love the brayer horse card, BEAUTIFL!!
i stumbledin frmpape addction.
Veronica from http://artfulcreations1.blogspot.com

Colleen said...

Wonderful. Simply wonderful both of them

Colleen Horner

Sarah Milbourn Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator said...

I love the fourth of July card. I love how you used the striped ribbon at the bottom, very clever!

Kim P said...

Oh my! Your horse card is amazing...and the 4th of July card is so fun! (Perfect for the Friday Mashup challenge today!)

Jen Timko said...

Loving the horse card! Patriotic in a subtle way. The tree is totally fun!

Yapha said...

The sepia brayering is beautiful! I absolutely love that tree! the combination of textures and patterns is just fabulous!

Lesley said...

Oh yeah it works! This is awesome, I love that tree, such a cool idea and your stitched DSP is a nice touch!
Hugs,
Lesley

Kathy Schweinfurth said...

Heidi - ADORE your patriotic tree!! That is an awesome idea and you did it beautifully! Thanks so much for joining us at the Friday Mashup!

Tanya Boser said...

You are on a roll with the tree thing, lol! Love both of these. But seriously, where do you find the time for all of this?! I can't keep up with you!

Cindy said...

Love that pa-tree-otic tree!

Kasey ~ in Oz said...

Heidi, Unique twist on the theme. Really nice work. Cheers, Kasey ~ in Oz

Lisa said...

Heide, I for one think the patriotic tree is AWESOME! As soon as I saw it I knew it was a card I was going to have to CAS in the future. I think its just stunning!

Thanks for sharing it with us over at The Friday Mashup!

Lisa said...

Aw shoot, I spelled your name wrong, I'm sorry!! I used the way my cousin has her name spelled, with the 'e'...I apoligize for that!

Julie Marshall said...

Fabulous celebration tree!! I don't really make 4th of July cards, but I would make this one. TFS.

Holly said...

I love how you used this set Heidi.. What a great idea a Patriotic tree, and the bling is perfect! Great Mashup Challenge Card this week.

Karen said...

I just love your patriotic card. Thanks for playing along with the friday mashup this week

Cindy Major said...

Wow, you are really rocking that tree stamp! I love how you made your design look like a flag using the polka dot paper and striped ribbon. Very clever!!

Love the beautiful horse card as well :)

Cindy

Mickey Roberts said...

The sepia card is a whole bunch of levels of AWESOME! The 4th of July tree is just adorable!