"Let Freedom Ring!"

Well, I bet you thought that I evaporated off the face of the earth, huh? In a sense, I did! LOL My sister, Dianne, who lives in Georgia, was here visiting for 2 weeks, and we had a great time catching up and visiting, as mentioned in my previous post, then my son, Christopher just finished his first year of college (away on campus). He came home on Tuesday and I've been busy sorting, laundering, packing up and putting away all those things that college kids bring home at the end of the school year. It has been a big transition for Christopher and Tom and me this year, as Christopher is an only child and he pretty much filled our days since the day he was born. But, I am thrilled that he has the chance to experience living in a dorm away at college and will continue on next Fall. It is good to have a complete family home again.

I've also been busy as bee making June Sneak Peek samples for Clear Dollar Stamps' upcoming stamp releases -- this month I've made 10 samples and I don't know where I found the time to do them, but they were such fun to make, and I'll be sharing all of those samples starting next Friday, May 29th! But, other CDS team members will be sharing some samples earlier on Thursday, May 28th, so be sure to follow their blogs and you can find their links on my right sidebar under the CDS Design Team List.

I created this card for the CDS Weekend Color Challenge over on Paper Craft Planet. I haven't played this challenge for quite awhile, so with Cassie Trask hostessing (she so graciously took over my spot as hostess when I needed more family time), I just had to play along to show her my appreciation. The challenge colors were Riding Hood Red, Night of Navy and Creamy Caramel with White as an optional neutral. I decided to make a Memorial Day Celebration Card that could also be used for the 4th of July. The little flag top of the baby moose's head was hand drawn and the sentiment was handwritten. I have to say that cheated with the colors that were given, as my only Creamy Caramel is in the colored baby moose! Here's the deets:

Stamps Used: Clear Dollar Stamps "Moose Friends"

Cardstock & Papers: Retired Stampin' Up! Night of Navy Stars Scrapbook Paper, Making Memories Red & White Stripe Scrapbook Paper, Color Mates Medium Autumn Red Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Summer Sky Inks

Markers: Copic Sketch - RV13 Tender Pink, RV29 Crimson, G07 Nile Green, G24 Willow, B39 Prussian Blue, Y26 Mustard, E00 Skin White, E25 Caribe Cocoa, E31 Brick Beige, E33 Sand White and Navy Signo Gel Pens, Micron .01 Black Felt Pen

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Regular Round Die, Nestabilities Pinking Round Die, Nestabilities Tags Trio Die, Martha Stewart Zig-Zag Border Punch, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch Kit, Sewing Machine, Thread, Sponge, Adhesive, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Star Brads, "Bobbin" Satin Ribbon, Offray Satin Ribbon

Techniques: Basic Stamping, Copic Coloring & Blending, Sponging, Machine Stitching