Tuesday, November 10, 2015

A Day to Remember....


Craft Your Passion-Always Anything Goes

Today is Remembrance Day...a very humbling day. Canada really showed themselves to be a nation in World War 1 and the poem, "In Flander's Fields" represents that. My mom's first name is Elfriede. (El-free-deh). Her Grandmother named her-Elf, in German, means 11 (11th month of the 11th day of the 11th hour) and Friede means Freedom.

My Dad fought in World War 2 and was wounded near the end of the war. He was part of the liberation of Holland. He always made sure to have no one come in for work on November 11th (we owned a sawmill). He was an avid reader of history especially the Wars. This card is for my dad, who died when I was 23 and too young to ask him questions about his war time experience.

This card is also my inspiration from the recent Battle of the Bands. The song is "I was only 19" and one can find this over at Mike's Ramblings.  I had no poppy stamp so I used roses which I stamped in black, on watercolour paper, and embossed in a black sparkle. I used my tombow markers and did some watercolour effect. I stamped the angels on glossy white and coloured them with Tombows as well. I chose sombre colours trying to reflect the angels we see at cemeteries. I embossed the black card and used perfect pearls to highlight around it.

To all the brave souls past and present-I humbly bow my head in deep respect.


Glitter and Sparkle-Use some red
Happy Little Stampers-November Sketch Challenge
Crafty Creations-Make it colourful

This is more upbeat obviously. I had some fun with alcohol....alcohol inks, cuddlebug, sizzex machine and some crystals. The picture makes the base colour look orange when it is, in fact, red. I started to drink actual alcohol trying to make the blasted bow:)


Christmas Cards All Year Round-Christmas Trees
Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge- Bright and Sparkly
CASE Christmas-Case their card-be inspired

This was fun! I stamped the white cardstock with this deer image in a blue (Me use blue? Who Knew? Oh,) I adhered it to the light blue cardstock. The trees were cut from sparkly white paper using the sizzex machine and placed on the card with pop up dots and I added the red bow and stickles to the trees in the centre..



Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge 2-Always Christmas Anything Goes
Whimsy Stamps Challenge-Fall Colours or Christmas

Why not white! It's bright. Shimmery white pearl paper, The cuddlebug and sizzex machine to create the embossing and poinsettia and finish it off with pearls. Obviously, I went Christmas themed here:)

Happy hump day...not humping day...Hump (oops the devil made me write it)

46 comments:

  1. Pretty cards! Thanks for sharing with us at CASE-ing Christmas!

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  2. I'm sorry you lost your father so soon. He sounds like a man of honor.

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  3. I wonder if your dad would have shared his war memories with you. I know of some who did what they had to do with their service and then wished not to remember it afterwards. I agree with Alex, I am sorry you lost your father so young.

    Fitting card made in remembrance and enjoyed the others too.

    betty

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    1. I believe my dad would have talked if I would have asked more. He told me a couple of stories but he never talked as openly as my mom.

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  4. Great cards indeed. Was too young as well, but sure sounds honorable indeed. I hated working at a sawmill growing up, just fyi lol can't hump on hump day? how rude.

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    1. You grew up on a sawmill also? Wow! My dad was honorable and one you could count on

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  5. Beautiful cards as always. I'm sorry you lost your father so young. My dad was a WWII vet as well and for most of my life he never talked about it. Then after the 50th anniversary of the war in the 90s he seemed to want to finally go back to that time in his life and share his stories. I'm so glad we have those memories now.

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    1. You are so lucky that he shared them with you. My dad would have talked more but I didn't ask the questions. I know of a few stories but very few. You are right, so many would not talk about it

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  6. More beautiful cards.

    My father was also in WWII but he didn't fight. He was in the Navy and told me that he went overseas to Italy once and was so seasick that he was in confinement nearly the entire time.

    Strangely enough, my father was such a good basketball player that rather than send him onto the fighting ranks they kept him stateside to play on the Navy basketball team. I guess that was another aspect of the service that was still somewhat important. And that's when my father learned to juggle.

    Like your Dad, my father didn't talk about the war years much at all and he also died younger than I would have wanted. I was 39 when he died so I guess that gave me more time than you had. I'm sure many of us would like our parents to just keep living strong and healthy for many more years than they do.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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    1. My father in law, when he went overseas, he was praying for a German sub to sink them because he was so seasick:) I knew that men who seemed more vital to the war effort for morale like sports or entertainment (John Wayne) were placed in other areas. We all wish our parents would live longer or say things we wish we would have asked but this is just how it is.

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  7. A very thoughtful post (ending with a smile too!) and it's good that you have these memories of your so-patriotic Dad. Those were the days when young men wanted to 'do their bit' so bravely, and at such cost. None of us alive today, should EVER forget to be thankful for their services, and ALWAYS respect it. Don't always see that in youngsters today. Love each of your cards...your 'alcohol bow' looks great! (that was funny!). The roses looked great stand-ins for the poppies against the dark background too. A wonderful tribute to your Dad. The blue was lovely, lots of design details & sparkles. The red & blue look splendid together (looked red to me!) and #4 was just a shimmer of beautiful festive elegance! You've been busy!!! TFS & Hugs too.

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    1. Thank you:) I struggled with that blasted bow! I see how wonderful many others make their bows and even with my bow maker, I still suck at it. Glad you like my cards. You are so right about these great men who fought and continue to fight. Any youngster who does not show respect will get a boot up the arse from me:)

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  8. LOL, the devil made you say it. I think your dad would've loved your card. It's very warm and masculine and oodles with love.... Your last card is very stunning.

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    1. I think my dad would have liked it for sure. I gave it to a co-worker whose dad was in WW2 and is 91. My dad and dad in law are gone so it needed to go to someone who fought...over there. Glad you like my last card too

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  9. Awesome card. Thank you for joining CYP Anything Goes challenge.

    Tammi, Craft Your Passion DT
    makememories4life@blogspot.com

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  10. I do have a thing for the cards that sparkle. :) Beautiful! Your dad sounds like an amazing man. So important to think of all of our veterans today (and always).
    ~Jess

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    1. Glad you like the sparkly cards. My dad was amazing-I had amazing parents who led larger than life ...lives

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  11. I love that card! You are really, really talented with the card making, Birgit. So original and just the right vibe for the the sentiment. Well done.

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    1. So glad you like my card and that I gave the day a little respect

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  12. Very touching - I liked to read about the definition of your mother's name. Of the Cheistmas cards, I like the white one best.
    Anabel's Travel Blog

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    1. Yup, My mom had a name with meaning behind it for sure. Glad you like my white card

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  13. Beautiful cards and wonderful tribute to your Dad

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  14. Such a beautiful array of cards! They are all so gorgeous! I LOVE the wintry tree scene you created! Thank you for joining us at CASE-ing Christmas! Sending HUGS! :) Mynn xx

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  15. Gorgeous cards, Birgit. Truly awesome. The first is breathtaking on so many levels... Your Dad will be proud to read this post. Thanks for playing with CASEing...such a magical card and the little red bow is perfect. White on White is the height of elegance... and you got it right! Well done you!
    hugs Asha

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    1. Thank you for what you said-I hope my dad is proud of me. Glad the bow turned out not too bad

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  16. All your cards are beautiful, Birgit!! The first one took my breath away! Your dad sounds like he was a wonderful and brave man. Thanks so much for joining in on the Happy Little Stampers November Sketch Challenge! (HUGS)

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    1. Thank you so much! My dad was a good man and yes, he was brave

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  17. I love all your cards, especially the one with the trees. The one that is white/silver is also very cool. You do really nice work Birgit.
    Michele at Angels Bark

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  18. What super duper Christmas Trees!! thank you for joining in at CCAYR!! Sarah :0)

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    1. Glad you like the one with the trees. I came up with that idea in my head (where else would I have actually-LOL)

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  19. The scene on your Blue card is wonderful! Love the addition of the stickles on the trees. Thanks for playing along with us at CASE-ing Christmas.
    Blessings,
    Belinda

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    1. Thank you and must use stickles whenever I can

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  20. Gorgeous cards! Thank you for sharing with Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra!
    Susan
    DT for CHNC Extra!
    Calling All Crafters! – My personal Blog!

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  21. So sorry I’m late in commenting. Thanks for entering our CCAYR challenge and both of my CHNC challenges with your lovely crafting - hope to see you again soon. x

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  22. Great take on the sketch! Love the colours you've used and the bow ;-) Thank you for joining us at Happy Little Stampers!

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  23. What a beautiful range of cards! The blue wintery scene is gorgeous!
    Thank you for joining us at CASE-ing Christmas.
    Rosi x

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