Yea! I have a fun and fairly easy project to show you!  Nadya’s preschool class learned about Community Helpers. They covered lots of topics, had special visitors and even built their own communities (LOTS of Cricut time for me using Everyday Paper Dolls and My Community carts) – the kids LOVED them.  So, to wrap up the period, we decided to participate in a card drive for deployed Marines that I discovered on Rachel’s blog – Back Porch Creations as we felt our Service Men and Women are very important, but not often visible, members of our communities. I started by creating a sample card, and then simplified my design a bit to allow the kids to color and to minimize the ink consumption. When brainstorming this idea, I knew I wanted to use Laurie Wilson’s Let Freedom Ring digital stamp set from Clear Dollar Stamps paired with a frame from the Stand and Salute Cricut cartridge. Using Photoshop and a fabulous Vintage Paper style from Kim B, I created the background script and layered the Flag over it.  The Thank You sentiment was also generated in PS.  I flattened the image and then created my printable template by dragging my image onto a new 8.5×11 document.  I printed 2 cards per page. My flag is colored with Sakura Glitter Pens.  Then I went to work in Design Studio.  I selected the God Bless America and My Hero Frames from Stand and Salute – sizing them to 5.25×4.  I cut 4 per 8.5×11 sheet alternating between Red and Navy Blue in both sentiments.  On my card, I added a scalloped border inside the frame and then attached everything with pop dots.  For the kids, we decided simpler would be best, so I eliminated the vintage paper background and the scallop inset as the kids would be coloring and assembling themselves.  Each child (with the help of a teacher) dictated a simple message for the inside of the card and we added their first name and age. I am very proud of our kids and the effort they put forth.  I hope the Marines that receive the cards will be equally happy. 

Recipe:

• Digital Stamps: Laurie Wilson/Clear Dollar Stamps Let Freedom Ring
• Digital Supplies: Kim B’s Old Paper Print Photoshop Style
• Ink: HP Inkjet; Sakura Stardust and Metallic Pens
• Cardstock: SU Whisper White; Red and Navy from my stash
• Other: Tombow Mono-Adhesive; Fiskars Paper Trimmer; EK Success Dotted Scallop Punch; Photoshop

Challenges I Played In:

• 52-Card Pick Up – Count Your Blessings
• CD Sunday Challenge Blog – No Embellishments
• Clearly i Stamp -  use a CDS digi image
• Glitterbabe – Frame It
• Robyn’s Fetish – Anything Goes
• Shelly’s Images – Thankful

Another Thank You to our Service Men and Women and to their families for their sacrifice in protecting what I hold dear.