Happy and cheerful Friday blog friends! It’s rainy here but I don’t have to go out so I put on a fluffy pair of socks and brewed up a huge carafe of French Vanilla Coffee and plan to play catch up on many of the things that escaped my grasp over the last month or so. Yes, catch up – I’m behind on picking winners for Day of Giving Friday and getting my cards sent out, but I plan to be on top of that by tomorrow ! Speaking of Day of Giving Friday todays card is up for grabs to one of my readers – simple leave a comment to get in the running.
For this card I used classic dies with a bit of layering to build up to the top layer. The card base is 6″ tall and 5-1/2″ wide. The main focal panel features Spellbinders 5 x 7 Elegant Labels Four but you will notice that it doesn’t seem to stand as tall as 5 x 7. I cut the die two thirds of the way down and shrunk it down to fit on my card. The big bow hides this doctoring. Whittling away a die is a favorite technique of mine to get a bigger use! The focal panel is then layered with Spellbinders Majestic Circles and topped with a label die that is no longer available but very similar to Spellbinders Labels Thirty Three. To finish the card I added a small sentiment with the use of a small tag from Spellbinders Back to Basics Tags
About Day of Giving Friday
Every Friday it’s my pleasure to give away a card. The card goes to a randomly picked reader (worldwide) who leaves a comment in our conversation. Want to know more about Day of Giving, here’s a link to my FAQ’s just check out #11. For your comment today: What are your best memories of your Independence Day celebrations (Fourth of July here in the US). P.S. Happy Canada Day to my Canadian friends.
Rubber Stamps: Retired
Craft Paper: Neenah Classic Crest – Solar White – 80lb Cardstock, Coredinations
Ink: Versafine – Black Onyx, Ranger Super Fine Detail Embossing Powder
Accessories: Spellbinders 5 x 7 Elegant Labels Four, Spellbinders Majestic Circles, Spellbinders Back to Basics Tags, May Arts Silk Ribbon, Recollection Pearls.png)
Wherever you are, have a safe and family filled weekend. I can’t believe we are already to July and more than half through the year. It seems like we just celebrated new years and here we are! Well, I’d much rather be busy – how about you?
Becca: I love your die cuts. Are they from Amazing Paper Grace?
Hi Gayle, I create licensed designs for Spellbinders so I use many of their dies and then of course I have my own line of dies through Spellbinders. All can be seen on their website :-)
Gorgeous card as always, Becca! So soft & scrumptious.
My best memories are the fireworks! I am a bright color kinda gal, & they sure fit the description.
Have a blessed holiday.
Oh my dear Becca,
Each Friday just gets prettier and prettier!! Love the bow on this card! Hopiing for to win this one as my birthday is next Friday. One of my cardmaking buddies is also on Friday July 9.
I was 5 days late of being a Firecracker! LOL
One of my favorite 4th of July was after I was elected as City Commissioner I did a pie in the face, which was a hoot!! One I won’t forget.
Have a great 4th and GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Hugs
Mstgane
Ann R.
Happy Birthday early! Hope it’s wonderful!!
Love your card…so beautiful!
Just scrumptious card! Love that gorgeous soft pink bow. The tidbit of cutting down dies to fit I haven’t thought about doing much of but with a “coverup” plan it’s perfectly beautiful!
Good morning Becca, wow how to make a girl jealous!!! I can taste the coffee yummy my mouths watering : ) I think it must be your water it makes coffee taste so much better than ours!!! You’ve made me smile on such a difficult day. Bless you!!! You beautiful lady Thankyou!!!
Oh my what a gorgeous card!!!
Have a good one!!!
Loopy Lyndaxxx
Sorry you are having a rough day…
Becca, I love your cards and get great inspiration from them. We don’t celebrate 4th July here in Ireland- we have St Patrick’s day here. I love the old movies set in New York, Chicago etc. and seeing the parades for 4th July set at the turn of the century. I would give your card a good home on the west coast of IRELAND. The wild Atlantic way ?
Some of my best memories are of attending the big fair down on the St. Louis riverfront, then watching the fireworks shot over the Gateway Arch.
I remember the picnics in the park (hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, toasted marshmallows, then watching the fire works that the City put on.
Beautiful card Becca! Happy 4th of July!!
What a gorgeous card! I grew up in VERY rural Wyoming and someone would go to the top of the dam at the lake and shoot off fireworks and we would watch from below as they reflected on the spillway and river. What a memory!
Hi Becca. Such a lovely card today as always. Your coffee sounds lovely too! No Independence Day celebrations here in the UK yet but watch this space! That should be changing in the near future me thinks.
Clare, I know! Every day I’m wondering what new tips and turns working through Brexit will take! I wish the best!
hi, gorgeous card. wish I could stay in the lines when I color. so my most memorable independence day was one many years ago. I was 16 or so and had, should say have, a little bit of fun and humorous antics. my friends dad was in the parade and when he got even with us I let off some snappers near his feet. he wasn’t amused to say the least but we all had fun. snappers are those little things that make a small pop sound when they land. fireworks were not allowed in the state I was in. ok only by professionals. so that was the closest thing we had. plus some smoke bombs and snakes. so after the wrath from my friends dad came we all had a picnic at their house. no hard feelings. then the real fireworks at the fair that night. thanks for letting us share today.
Beautiful Card Becca. I am in Canada so haven’t had many July 4th celebrations as we are usually in U.S. in the winter time. .
Our most memorable was July 4, 1976. I think it was the USA’s 200th Birthday. Awoke in Wheatridge, Colorado that morning & spent day traveling & scenery was fantastic. Everyplace had flags waving! Went thru Vail & lunch at Glenwood Springs (100 deg) HOT!
Too many experiences to mention but I remember that day well.
Got to Green River, Utah. Got to room looking forward to a shower & Hydro went off (upstairs room-very nice but hot)It was a great day!!! I love the U.S.A.
Such a pretty card…all soft and lovely!
My best memory of the 4th was back in the early 80s. The Beach Boys had been uninvited to the White House as not formal enough or some such nonsense so instead they came to Denver, and gave an hours long concert that kept my friends and me on our feet, dancing and singing along, embarrassing the children along with us, the whole time. We had such a good time. And then, in honor of the occasion, Denver out on what was billed at the time as, the largest fireworks show ever, west of the Mississippi. It went on what seemed like forever…in reality, about 45 minutes. Good, clean family fun, safe, filled with laughter. People were able to bring in their own food, so picnic style in the stadium. It was simply delightful.
Hope your 4th is blessed this weekend, Becca.
I love that bow! Very elegant card!
I love fireworks, and I remember sitting on the riverbank watching a huge fireworks display with my family.
Fabulous card!!
Awesome card! Watching Fireworks being shot off from a barge in the Mississippi River
A truly beautiful card, as always. Living in the UK, we don’t celebrate 4 July as you do in the USA but I know I would love the fireworks!
Doreen R from Bournemouth UK
Another stunning card Becca. How do you come up with so many beautiful ideas?
My fond memories of the 4th is walking about a mile with all my family to see the fireworks at our local high school. It was always so much fun. Sure wish I could walk a mile again!
When I look at this card I feel as if I am window shopping along the cobblestone streets of France somewhere. And I’ve never been to France, so don’t ask me where that comes from! It is beautiful. I love it. The bow is over the top.
Wow! I am blown away by this card Becca! It’s stunning! Just love the row of pearls on the tag! Gorgeous!!
My favorite memory of the 4th of July is my oldest son’s first Independence Day. It was also his first vacation when he was 3 months old. He’s now 10 and it feels like yesterday!
Happy 4th to you and your family!
Hugs…
Melissa
I love fireworks so most of my best memories are going to see them. One time I went all by myself to Waddell Park and lay on the grass and it seemed I was right underneath the most beautiful fireworks I’d ever seen! It was wonderful!
When I was 11, watching the parade in Aurora, Mn with my whole family. Thanks for beautiful cards
h Becca – your card is beautiful and I love the idea of cutting your die to fit the card. Thanks for reminding us. I just forget some of the little tricks you use. My favorite memories of the Fourth are when I was young and my dad would set off fireworks at the end of our street. Something we can’t do today.
I grew up in a small town when The Fourth was a huge celebration, pet parade, all kinds of vendors at the local park with food and crafts, the fire department had a water “fight” with a neighboring fire department and of course fireworks launched from the park! Great fun! Beautiful card. Wishing you a fun filled Holiday.
I love the use of some of my old favorite dies!! You are able to think up ways to use these dies and make them new again!! You are just so brilliant at this. What a gorgeous card.
My Independence Day memories feature BBQ and watermelon. And lots of swimming. In the midst of it all I like to take time to thank God for our independence, and for the lives of all who have fought for it.
since I live in Canada my best Canada Day memories was spending it with my son who is in the military un Petawawa , seeing the displays watching the fireworks etc. Christine S.
Love those layers, love those colors, LOVE that beautiful Becca bow on this card! Your “French” background is showing on this card! Now to your question: my best memory of an early Independence Day celebration was on a very HOT day in my back yard surrounded by many children my age running around and playing various games. The high-light of the day was eating a fresh churned bowl of peach ice cream that my father and brothers produced from salt and ice. Remember the “old fashioned” ice cream churns? My younger brother was so funny sitting on the ice cream churn while my father tuned the churn’s handle. My brother would slide off the churn from time to time due to the movement made by the turning of the handle.
An absolut stunning card here again Becca. I love the stamp you´ve used and your gorgeous bow with the sweet little sentiment on the tag is just gorgeous too. Everything is beautiful as usual.
I´m so lucky, that I only live about 10 miles away from the only placec outside the US, where the 4th of Jully is cellebrated by the Danish/American friendshipunion here, and every year they´re having a huge celebration with prominent speakers from both Denmark and the US, and we´´ve heard many different ministers from both countries over the years and many amazing actors and that kind of people from both sides. I still think one of the biggest experiences was once, when I was about 10 years old and we went there the whole family, and I was falling down the sides from one of the steep hills, and a man came and helped me up again and followed me back to my parents, and my mum almost got a heartattack, but it was first many years later, I really found out why, as I sure couldn´t understand the weird words that foreign man was using, but later in lige, I found out, that the man who helped me up and followed me back actually was Danny Kaye, and had I known then I would´ve asked for his autograph ha ha ha, but I had no idea then.
Hi Becca, We have had intermittent torrential rain here this afternoon, thankfully the rain kept off this morning, it was our town’s Churches Walking Day, every Church and Church School ‘walked’ through the Town Centre. I rained on and off but not hard enough to stop our ‘Walking Day’, and all the children looked gorgeous.
This is a beautiful card, with lovely die-cuts and a fabulous bow and tag, gorgeous !!
Lots of love from Patricia xx
My favorite Independence Day was the year my daughter was on a float in the local parade. She was such a cutie and so proud to be chosen. Many years ago as she is 44 now.
I just subscribed for the email and am enjoying looking over the blog. You are really blessed with a gift of creative beauty!
Hi Becca
Yet another beautiful card, love the sound of your day catching up :-)
This is BEAUTIFUL BECCA! ;) I LOVE the vintage flair!
My favorite Independence Day Celebration? That is hard to say as IT’S ALWAYS IN FASHION TO BE FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
Lovely card, as always! Used your favorite soft pink…
it really allows the black accents to pop!
My favorite 4th of July celebrations go back to my days at Purdue… they allowed picnics on the ball fields, and when the sun went down, had spectacular fireworks displays in coordination with the cities of W.Lafayette and Lafayette. They had huge speakers set up around the fields where lovely background music was pumped in. The days spent playing games, eating, and just relaxing with friends, were the best ever.
This card is beautiful. I love the way you tie your bowa.
Hope you have a great 4th of July.
We are having some friends over to see our new home.
Wow – this is just so pretty! A quieter 4th than normal. Hope to spend some time playing with paper.
My favorite memories of July 4th revolve around the fact that it was also my dad’s birthday. I was well into elementary school before I figured out the whole country wasn’t celebrating my daddy’s birthday. :) For Dad’s 80th b’day we were able to host a celebration at our home. All 5 of my siblings and almost all of the grandchildren were there. It was a great day celebrating not only our country’s freedom but also my wonderful dad. Dad went home to be with the Lord in 2008 before his 84th birthday. He’s still greatly missed.
Beautiful use of layers and bow. Love watching fireworks shooting over the lake while we are in our boat.
What a lovely card, like how you cut down you die cut to make it fit.Love the fireworks on Canada Day. Have a great 4th of July. Its raining here also, we sure need it, been so dry and its a fire hazard.
One of my favorite memories of July Fourth is watching fireworks snuggled with my Dad. 60+ years ago……
This card is exquisite! A bottle of French parfum, a day at the spa, and I’m good! Oh don’t forget to mail the card (she smiles).
Seriously Becca, it’s a beautiful card – made to perfection with the loveliest of feminine touches.
Sincerely,
Susie ~
Lovely card as always…someday I’m going to try n make one..lol. The holiday still brings family together for a huge cook out and then fireworks…have a blessed long holiday weekend, hope u get to play all weekend..
Becca Happy 4th of July, My best memories of your 4th July was a year we were there and I have to say I have never seen such a parade in my life. it went on for hours. It was fantastic, and so patriotic.
Hugs Trish.
My best memories are when I was little and decorated my tricycle for the Fourth of July parade. Wow!!! That was a long time ago.
Really beautiful Becca I too would rather be be busy!
Your card is a beautiful one again Becca. Do you ever have any that don’t turn out??
I live in Canada and we celebrate July 1st for Canada Day. My best memories are spending the day with my family, having picnics when I was younger, and watching fireworks at night. Enjoy Independence Day!
First of all what a beautiful card and how nice that you are having some rain. We have had some here in Colorado so it helped with the heat. For all those states that are having fires we can only keep them in our prayers. My 4th of July memories was one where we went on a picnic and just had some nice sandwiches-chips and a soda pop. Than my older brother would buy me sparkles or as I use to say little stars. It was always nice just to see other families having a good time and enjoying what we are blessed with and what the 4th is all about. Independence that has been given to us all by so many service men and women that have fought or given their lives for us to be able to enjoy. So to all who have paid the price I salute them and say THANKS and God Bless this great country USA!!!!! Have a Happy and safe 4th to you Becca and to all these wonderful followers of this awesome blog.
I love small town Fourth of July celebrations. As a child, I celebrated them in the tiny community in which my grandparents lived, and I am blessed to be part of another small town now. There’s nothing like hotdogs, fireworks, and homemade ice-cream shared by family and friends!
Hi, Becca,
Another lovely pink card…so soft and elegant.
I love to watch fireworks live but there have been some spectacular shows on television. One year, I watched a program that named and described different kinds of fireworks. Up to that point, I really didn’t realize there were so many completely different effects – so interesting and amazing!
Hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday weekend!
Blessings, Sandy
Exquisite as usual Becca, thank you for all your inspiration.
Take care,
Rene from OZ xx
YUM! Can I perch on your shoulder and watch what you create next? Your card is yummy in pink. Love the layering! My best memories are FIREWORKS! No matter where we are, no matter what state we’re in, there are always FIREWORKS and baseball games. My fav! HAPPY 4th OF JULY TO YOU, TOO? We plan to read the Declaration of Independence this year. We want to remind ourselves just how exceptional the United States of America truly is. This Country is a hodgepodge of every Nationality you can name and yet together we all love the FREEDOM we have here in America! God Bless you and God Bless America! Ooops! I think my Patriotism is showing!
Your card is beautiful! Watching fireworks.
Hi Becca. gorgeous card as always. Your pink bow is a stunner. Happy 4th July. Enjoy. X
So pretty. Can’t wait until I have time to be creative with all my dies
Wow you have done it again Becca, i am in awe of all your work . Happy July4th .
God Bless.
Elaine H X
My favorite memories of the 4th of July celebration was when the grandchildren were small and we always went to a neighboring small town for their big celebration. They had an awesome parade and later games and rides for the kids, a cake walk and good food. Later we would go back to our Aunt and Uncle’s house, with Great grandpa and play cards. Then, when it got dark, light up the firecrackers! Great memories
My fondest memories are of going to the parade and honoring all of those we died and helped keep our freedom. All these people should be honored everyday they gave their live for us so that we may enjoy all our freedom we have in this great country
By the way the card is gorgeous and glad to see you have a new post I worry when I see nothing of you for a while. Go speed and remember to honor all our vets alive or gone.
Becca your card is stunning! My favorite memories of 4th and July was doing sparkles with my sister, brother and neighbor friends…..we had so much fun!
Beautiful card Becca! My best memories are taking my young daughter to the small town parade on the fourth!
One of my happiest July 4th memories is being at camp with my parents, brother, my maternal grandparents and my great- grandmother.
Your card is so elegantly beautiful!
We lived on a greenway, the children were grown and my husband and I sat on the greenway just outside of our backyard all bundled up in blankets to watch the fireworks. When it was over, we picked up our chairs and walked a few feet to our house! No traffic jam for us. Your card is beautiful as usual.
I was fortunate enough in 1976 to be in NYC when our country turned 200. The fireworks were amazing. And the tall ships in the harbor were so appropriate and wonderful. I can’t believe it’s been that long ago. Our country is amazing and so very resilient. We can and will weather any storm, with God’s help, of course. Happy Birthday, America.
Lovely layering on this beautiful card!
Best memories of the 4th… that was the day I chose as my wedding day many years ago. I was so full of love and hope… can’t say it all turned out as I wanted though!
Stunning card!! I am always in awe of your die cuts – they are perfect and the dry embossing shows up so well. Do you have a specific/favorite paper that you use to get such perfect cuts and embossing?
Thanks for sharing your talents and knowledge – you always give me something to aspire to.
Good Day Becca!
It’s Canada Day here! It’s been a lovely day out but cooling off
now. I have been sleeping most of the day as I have come down with a little flu bug. I will try and take in the fireworks tonight but am feeling weak and tired. I Love Love Love the way you make your bows on your cards! All your cards are simply stunning and give me much inspiration! I hope you are all caught up now!
Warmest wishes
Caroline
Beautiful card again today. We always have a family picnic on the 4th so can’t think on just one!
BeCCA
What a beautiful card made with a very favorite elegant labels four. Thank you again for new inspiration.
Such a lovely feminine card, Becca. Thank you.
One year we had some friends over and were babysitting our 3yr old grandson. Someone in the neighborhood was setting off firecrackers. Each time our grandson would whisper “what’s that” with a quizzical look on his face. We would explain that they were firecrackers. After three or four times they stopped for a while. We continued visiting with our friends and were busy chatting away when the firecrackers went off again. Our grandson jumped out of his chair and shouted “fire cookies!!!” It still makes me giggle sixteen years later! God bless him!
I’ve always loved parades and the Fourth of July Parades were always the most memorable and emotional ones. I love the military bands playing all the various themes from the military branches ie: Air Force, Army…. and the precision marching. It always left a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye because of the dramatic heart thumping rhythm and loud brassy sounds. A good reminder of our great country.
Hello Becca,
Your card is just beautiful. I don’t have Independence Day memories as I live in the U.K. but always think of James Cagney singing “Yankee Doodle Dandy”!!!
Have a great Day.
Maureen xxx
Becca,the card is lovely as always. Fourth of July memories–cook outs with family and friends!
Impressive card Becca, just love all the touches and the light use of color. So attractive & special.
My favorite 4th of July holiday memory was when we first moved into this house in 1989. We have a slight hill at the back of the yard and we decided to take the folding chairs up to the top so we could enjoy the timed fireworks show from 2 city parks in our neighborhood along with the radio station that plays the music for the show. My son (who was 11 at the time) was trying to be good, watered 1/2 of the hill (????) so when we took the chairs up at dusk, we didn’t notice the mud/sludge. During the course of the show, the chairs began to slip down the hill, with us in them. By the time we caught our bearing, we were covered in mud, laughing our fool heads off……it was a fun holiday that year, albeit, a messy one.
Hi Becca!
The card is scrumptious!!! I love how feminine and delicate it looks with the little details and the beautiful coloring!
Sparklers on the 4th of July are my most favorite memories as a child. Running around with them and making shapes in the air! We did the same with my own children. Very fun!
Sweet card! My favorite part of a long weekend is time with family.
Just such a beautiful card. Don’t worry about being behind in stuff. We all are!!!
Oh wow, that bow is practically edible!!! Simply scrumptious! Being from England we obviously don’t celebrate July 4th. However, back in 2000 my husband and I went to new England on holiday with the intention of meeting my penpal of 20+ years. Oh my! What a tremendous experience! We got on famously, just as we did in our letters. And we there for Independance Day so experienced it for ourselves. Wonderful holiday altogether. Hugs Christine xx
I love the creative ways you use your dies. The layering on this card adds so much as does your fabulous bow. Hoping to win!
OMG each card gets more beautiful than the last I wish I had your insight and talent to make these gorgeous cards love them all
My family always had barbaques for the Forth of July. Sometimes at our house and sometimes at a relatives house
Kathleen
Wow as always ! A super card Becca you never stop amazing me with your talent a true inspiration to us all ….thank you regards Angx
I am from Australia. My favourite memory of Australia Day was going to the big Australia Day festival in Adelaide as a child. We had migrated from Holland and we tasted corn on the cob for the first time at the festival.
So graceful, so delicate, so ladylike, so Beccalicious! Beautiful. My best memories of July 4th have been centered around family, friends, food and fireworks. As the number of family members diminish so have the celebrations. Life goes on, and the size and intensity of the celebrating is less but still meaningful when it occurs.
HI Becca,
Lovely card today. That cup of vanilla coffee sounds really yummy. Wouldn’t mind making one for myself, it is so cold hear in Australia at the moment. For Australia Day celebrations my best memory was taking my kids,when they were younger, to the celebrations where they played lots of good old fashioned games like sack races, throwing boots etc.
I have visited the states twice & seems that I always leave about a week too early. I plan to come again some time in the next few years, I hope. This time I will definitely have to put it in my itinerary along with Disney Land & any thing crafty lol.
Have a lovely Holiday! x
Beautiful card. Lovely bow and tag. My favorite memory is of working right where the fireworks were being set off and what a great view I had of it.
One of my favorite memories as a child was going to the fireworks with my grandmother,great aunts and my sisters. We would all walk to the stadium and sing songs with the rest of the town and then enjoy the fireworks. I do miss them but I know they save a special firework just for me.
Love this card, in fact, I love all your cards! I wish I had your talent.
I am wishing and praying for your quick recovery from your foot surgery.
I wish respect would come back. It seems like people don’t try to respect others as we were taught to do when I was growing up in the 50’s.
Just red other comments ….didnt know about your surgery ..so i wish you well and a speedy recovery lol Ang
Hi Becca,
I love the butterfly card. It is so pretty. I love all of your cards and don’t really have a favourite. I think they are all of my favorite. I cannot keep up in buying all the dies you use. Keep making beautiful cards for all of us to enjoy and get inspired by so we can make them too. Take care and God bless you.
Donna Manzo
I see, I supospe that would have to be the case.