Monday, September 1, 2014

Home of the Free...because of the Brave-BBTB2 Challenge

Hello my crafty friends, I hope you are enjoy this Labor Day! I am hosting over at BBTB2 this week and I chose the theme, "stars and stripes" in honor of 9/11 which will be here soon. As most of you know I have a son who is in the military and 9/11 sent him to war putting fear in this mother's heart. He will be deploying yet again next summer to Afghan putting the fear back into my heart. This will be his 6th deployment so you can see why 9/11 is near and dear to my heart, not only because my son was deployed but because so many lives where lost that fateful day. It is something that I still can't make sense of, nor can I make sense of anything these horrible people (can we even call them people?!) still do causing our sons, daughters, husbands and wives to be deployed constantly. Constantly putting their lives at risk, still losing yet more lives each and every day because of 9/11. It is such a bittersweet day for me and always will be. I always want to honor those who lost their lives that day, those who fought to rescue those that day and to our military soldiers who continue to fight everyday for our freedoms. So thank you in advance for joining in on this challenge. Now onto my card. I guess you can tell that I love our soldiers, one in particular. lol So on my card I used the Cricut cartridges Artbooking and George and Basic Shapes. I used the red striped overlay from Artbooking cut it at 4 inches. Then I used my Gypsy and place stars on a rectangle shape at 4 inches tall from George & Basic Shapes and cut it out. I saved my stars for later use as well as a few of the stripes. I also used MCT dies for the "Uncle Sam" hat. My sentiments came from MCT stamps as well. The "because" was a generic word stamp set from Hobby Lobby. I put some stickles on my stars and scattered three sequins on the blue layer. The red dots are tiny seed beads I melted to make my own enamel dots. For the inside I just used a few of the stripes and the stars. I hope you have enjoyed my card for today. Thanks for joining me today and if you play along on this challenge maybe you will give your card to a soldier and thank them for your freedoms. Crafty hugs, Brenda





Entering this card in Craftin Desert Diva's Link it up Linky Party - Anything goes.

22 comments:

Sheila H said...

Great card, Brenda! Your design really pops. I love the angled stripes and the bit of burlap. The inside is nicely done, too :)

jimlynn said...

Great post Brenda and so very true.
Love this card and all the wonderful red, white, and blue! Inside and out it's perfect.
Lynn

Lisa said...

This is gorgeous, Brenda!! I love the sparkly stars and the stripes!! The hat is so cute!! The burlap adds such awesome texture!! And the sentiment is one of my favs!! Beautiful card my friend!! I hope you have a wonderful Labor Day!!

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Karen said...

Beautiful card! I love how you used the burlap! Thanks for linking up your project at Craftin Desert Divas! :)

Karen
craftedwithlovebykaren.blogspot.com

Carol L said...

I'm a sucker for the red, white & blue and all things patriotic. I'm also a big supporter of our military, so I can appreciate a card like this! My feelings mirror yours concerning 911, so I feel your pain as the mother of a deployed soldier. Thank goodness you'll have him home for a while before he leaves again though. As a former flag maker, I also have a warm spot for red and white stripes and white stars on a blue field, so this card has all the elements that make me proud! I love the burlap piece and the top hat with the glittered stars! Kudos!!

MaryH said...

A wonderful post - so true and well said; please tell your soldier thank you for all his efforts on our country's behalf. Love this very special card with all the brilliant patriotic colors. A very nice touch to use the rectangle of burlap behind the sentiment. Love that tri color hat too. Just recently read about making these embellishments by melting those beads, haven't tried it yet. Yours look fabulous. TFS & Happy Labor Day. Hugs. MM

Caroline said...

I think the Moms and the wives need special recognition also, for their sacrifices and worry of having their special someone in the military!! Beautiful card, Brenda! I love your card design, the stripes, stars and that cute hat. Nice touch using the burlap behind your label.

Sharon said...

Beautiful card Brenda!!! I love everything about it. The stars, stripes, hat, sentiment!!! Everything!!!! :)

Tina Campbell said...

Wow this card is just AWESOME!

Thanks Brenda for the kind comments you left at my blog. to answer some of your ?s yep been to the little grand canyon I think you all will like it, lot of beauty and a lot to hike too. the relish was actually pretty easy when the Hubby helps and we have the right equipment to do all the cutting (thank goodness for Oyster equipment.) Scrapping for me seems to come pretty easily if I have a good sketch and a fantastic kit to work with :) Lots of pictures printed that need scrap so that is handy too. I was glad to tell Jake's story and I have one of Buddy too when the right challenge comes about. Then have all those grandkids to scrap and lol I came across my kids school pictures and my early pregnacy pictures so there is more to scrap. Tomatoes were a bust for us this year I hope you all made out well we lost the entire crop that is disappointing but the way God intended it. Happy holiday today to you and enjoy that heat tomorrow, it's gonna be hot and humid :)

Susan Edwards said...

Brenda, this is a wonderful card. You have so much to be thankful for and so much to be proud of with you son, but I KNOW that you live in fear when he is deployed. I am so thankful for the many thousands like you son and I know that I am unworthy of their service. I wish our country would increase military pay and benefits!! It is time that we showed these amazing men and women of the military just how much we value them.

Thank you for selecting this challenge. We should take at least one week per year at BBTB2 and honor our service members!

Hugs,
Susan

Veerle said...

Great card Brenda. I can image the fear in your heart. I too remember 9/11 as was it just yesterday. I was on my way to the garage to get some new breacks for my little car as I heard it on the radio. I remember feeling annoyed since I thought they were joking around on the radio. I thought this is not a subject to make fun with, what if it happens for real ? So I turned off the radio. When I arrived at the garage I went to the waiting room and there the television was on and I saw the first images of that horrifying day. I had tears in my eyes Brenda, because immediately I understood the impact for all those unfortunate people in the towers and also for the rescuers. It's burned to my retina and the horror keeps on going. My heart goes out to you for your son who is being send away again. Let me give you a big hug my friend xxxxx Veerle

Brenda in IN said...

What a wonderful card and the sentiment is so perfect. Nine eleven is one of those times we all remember where we were when we heard. I was at work and when I went into the news room they were all watching TV and the first plane had hit the tower. We stood there so helpless and astounded that something like that could happen. Please thank you son for him dedicated service for our country. I know the fear you have and we can all pray for our service men and women who put their lives on the line for us. Thanks for making such a heartfelt card.

Bonnie said...

A wonderful patriotic card and post Brenda! I love all the stars and stripes and of course the red, white and blue! God bless your son and bring him home safely! I can't imagine the worry....

moknowsall said...

on that day i was getting ready for work here on the west coast and i never ever turn on the TV because i'll sit and watch it forever. well, that day i turnd it on and saw the towers. i have been to ground zero, and last year to the new fountain and displays. thank you for hosting a wonderful challenge this week. my soninlaw was a marine giving me a new respect for those who have served.

maureen

vic said...

Hi Brenda wow this is a fab card the colours are lovely and the stamps are great such a great card :)
Hugs
Vic x

Jaren said...

What a wonderful challenge Brenda! I am so grateful for people like your son! I just LOVE your card! The star cut outs are perfect!

Migdalia said...

Such a beautiful card!! Awesome job!!
Thank you so much for joining us at Craftin Desert Divas Linky Party.
Have a wonderful day,
Migdalia
*Crafting With Creative M*

Irish Cherokee said...

Just love that sentiment. Beautifully done Brenda. I agree. - Jim

Sue said...

Fabulous card Brenda and wonderful post lots of huggles Sue xxx

Darnell said...

Your card is just beautiful, Brenda, and your post was very thoughtful and moved me to tears. I thought we were out of Afgan, so reading that your son is going back was a surprise to me. I'm so anxious about these Isis bastards now, too, and fear that more service personnel will be in the middle of that hell. May God bless them all and keep them safe. Hugs, Darnell

Mollie said...

Fabulous card, Brenda! I really like the design and the cuts you used! Thank you and your son for the sacrifices made on all our behalf - your sentiment is so true - "because of the brave"!

Have a wonderful week, my friend!

Emily
Mollie's Motif

cm said...

BRENDA!! I'm light years behind in commenting. Call me the Queen of Disorganized! Your post - which I've ready easily four times since first see it - truly did have me speechless and teary-eyed which is why I've taken so long to respond. What can I say: your son is a hero for undertaking a 6th deployment; you are a hero for standing strong while he does so, even though your heart is filled with fear. I, too, thought the US and Canada were no longer involved with Afghanistan, so hearing that's his destination is rather shocking. I'll be praying that between now and next summer, the situations calling for his presence will correct itself and he can stay home. Fingers crossed! I empathize with how 9/11 affects you...such a senseless tragedy. Your card is wonderful, not only for its physical beauty but for its essence! Thoughtful and heart-warming, just like you, my lovely friend!
Hugs~c