Grand Old Flag

If I told you how many hours I spent trying to get this card done, you would fall over in disbelief. But it's done, praise God! This was one prayed-for card!

Sometimes it's that way when I sit down to stamp. Other times it comes right to me and everything works. But most of the time I do struggle a bit, at least, to get it to where I like it.

This card actually started yesterday. It's gone through so many metamorphoses that I don't think much of the original idea is even evident in the finished product at this point. It was to start with the flag stamp from the God Bless America set by Our Daily Bread Designs.

I tried many different ideas and color schemes and got closer to the finish line once I picked those Sizzix Architectural Accents corners and a piece of Ruby Red card stock. I DTPed the RR cs with Ruby Red ink and sponged the edges with Versafine Onyx Black ink and voila! I was inspired! I don't know if it's sacrilegious to have a bit of an Oriental theme for an American flag card, but I like it.

Nifty tip alert! The sandwich I use for this particular Sizzix die in my Cuttlebug is A+1 piece of scrap cs+B+die (facing up)+cs+B. Basically, it's the sandwich for the embossing folders plus an extra piece of cs tucked in between the A and B plates to add just a bit of extra thickness. If you use designer paper, the extra piece of cs might not be necessary. Experiment on scraps to find the best sandwich for your machine.

To get those die cut corners to stick I ran them through my Xyron Create-a-Sticker (Model 150) using permanent adhesive and then used a rubber eraser to remove the goo that was visible once they were positioned into place.

For the flag, I stamped it in Versafine Onyx Black ink on white cs and colored it with Ruby Red and Night of Navy SU markers. Then I DTPed it with Tim Holtz's Antique Linen Distress Ink. While it was still damp I crumpled it up and spread it out. This caused it to rip a bit which I liked. It gave it an old feel. Old, worn flags are the dearest.

The Pledge circle was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Creamy Caramel cs and then DTPed with Antique Linen ink. Then it was sponged with the black ink around the edges.

TFL and have a wonderful weekend!

Stamps: I Pledge Allegiance single stamp and God Bless America by Our Daily Bread Designs

CS: Black, Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel, white

Inks: SU Ruby Red, Versafine Onyx Black, Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink

Other: Cuttlebug, Sizzix Architectural Accents die, Nestabilities Large Pinking Circles, Standard Circle Small and Long Classic Rectangles Large, sponge daubers, SU Ruby Red marker, SU Night of Navy marker, gingham ribbon, Sticky Doos (for flag to raise up high), 3D-Dots, Xyron Create-a-Sticker Model 150 with permanent adhesive, rubber eraser