A Passion for Stamps

National Salute of 21 guns for Presidents Day

Courage Tile: I make these tiles and sell them individually or in sets of 4.  I also sell them at Craft Fairs. This is made with the Courage Set (115330 $19.95) found on page 67 of the current Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog. It's a two stamp set; in addition to this stamp there is a word stamp that reads "Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities, because it is the quality that guarantees all others.-Winston Churchill" It's a great set! If you are interested in purchasing this stamp set, you can order it from my website www.stampwithdeb.stampinup.net. If you are interested in purchasing the tiles, and/or the coordinating stamped box that holds four of them, email deb@debbiestamps.com for more information.

Today is Presidents Day.  Our son is in the United State Coast Guard, so we receive Coast Guard feed updates.

It's interesting to learn that Coast Guard members on Coast Guard Island (CA) will fire the national salute of 21 guns today at noon in honor of Presidents Day.  The salute takes about a minute and 45 seconds to complete.  The Coast Guard warns surrounding communities that there will be loud noise produced by the blank rounds when fired.

This is a time honored naval tradition which dates back centuries, when it was customary for a ship entering a friendly port to discharge its cannon to demonstrate that they were unloaded.

The following information is provided by the United States Navy with the issuance of new regulations on 24 May 1842. Those regulations laid out the specifics:

"When the President of the United States shall visit a vessel of the navy, he shall be received with the following honors: The yards shall be manned, all the officers shall be on deck in full uniform, the full guard shall be paraded and present arms, the music shall play a march, and a salute of twenty-one guns shall be fired. He shall receive the same honors when he leaves the ship."
"Upon the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States, the colors shall be hoisted at sunrise, and all the vessels of the navy shall, when in port, be dressed, and so continue until the colors are hauled down at sunset, if the state of the weather and other circumstances will allow it. At sunrise, at meridian, and at sunset, a salute of twenty-one guns shall be fired from every vessel in commission mounting six guns and upwards."
"On the twenty-second day of February, the anniversary of the birth of Washington, a salute of twenty-one guns shall be fired at meridian from every vessel of the navy in commission mounting six guns and upwards."

To read more go to: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq40-1.htm

Other occasions when the salute is fired are in honor of the national flag, the sovereign or chief of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family, and the President, ex-President, and President-elect of the United States. It is also fired at noon of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect, on Washington’s Birthday, and the Fourth of July.

It's nice to know the history behind the traditions of our armed forces especially how it relates to Presidents Day. Have a nice day!

Scallop Edged Dahlia Flower

I didn't have enough time to go into detail about the flower I posted with the Free Shipping Special on Friday, but I have a few minutes now, before I have to start preparations for our barbecue picnic today.. we had a slight change in plans-originally our picnic was planned for tomorrow on Memorial Day, but my mom who is 84 requested that we have it today. She is 50 minutes away and would rather not travel home later on Memorial Day when the roads are more crowded. What a gorgeous day it looks like it will be-such a blue sky, a calm breeze and temps are expected to be in the 70's!

By now you've probably surmised that I am totally infatuated with the Dahlia Fold Flower...I think it's so pretty and it's impressive to others who think it's got to be very difficult to make-but it isn't! Just a bit time-consuming if you decide to make 10 or more at the same time, like I did!

I had wanted to make this flower using the scallop punch but kept forgetting to-and ended up making it quite by accident. Instead of grabbing my 1 3/8" circle punch to make the 8 circles for the Dahlia Fold Flower, I absentmindedly picked up my scallop punch! I didn't realize it until after I punched out 8 circles when I started to fold the first one...then it dawned on me that I've seen the flowers made from the scallop punch and they are beautiful! So I was glad I picked up the scallop punch instead!  I wondered how the flower would look if it had a patriotic theme so I went to my Stampin' U! Designer Series papers and selected the polka dots and striped pattern in Rose Red and Brilliant Blue! I think the two patterns in two alternating colors look pretty dramatic together. What do you think?

It was a bit challenging to fold because the scallops don't match up evenly, but I eventually figured it out and they look ok when all the circles are together. I would have liked the edges to come together more closely when I assembled the flower, but I used SNAIL to adhere the pieces and couldn't take it apart and try again. ( I forgot to use my Dotto which is more forgiving than the SNAIL if you have to move things around!)

I love the look of the Pretties Kit flowers as an embellishment for the the center of the Dahlia Flower. I  squeezed a few drops of Rose Red ink refill in the center of a medium sized floral, then used the Aqua Painter to pull the color out to the tips of each petal. After this dried, I inserted the larger Rhinestone Brad in the center, then attached it to a bigger white flower for contrast. I poked a hole in the center of the Dahlia Flower with the paper piercer from the Crafter's Tool Kit and attached the embellishment.

So here is the flower again-now what shall I do with it?

Created by Debbie Van Gieson Images © Stampin' Up! 1990-2008

Well, I do need a thank you card for my daughter's Confirmation Class leader for all her hard work this year with the Confirmands...Confirmation is next Sunday and I guess it comes as no surprise that I offered to make the card. This will make a lovely card for Diana!

I decided to use the same Rose Red polka Dot patterned paper as a background and cut it to 4" x 5 1/4". I'll be attaching this to a folded white card that will be 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"  (but am not attaching it to the main cardstock just yet); I cut the paper to 4" x 5 1/4". To add a contract to the Dahlia Flower and make it really stand out, I used the Coluzzle to make a circle with Whisper White cardstock, then layered the Dahlia Flower on that, and then again onto the polka dot background. I used the large Oval Punch and centered this under the Dahlia Flower. Then I attached this to the white folded cardstock.

I chose a simple "thank you" from believe it or not, the All Holidays stamp set! It's nice for this card because it fits perfectly on white cardstock punched with the small Oval Punch! I then used the large Oval Punch with brilliant blue cardstock to layer the saying onto, then attached this slightly to the right over the white oval punched area of the polka dot paper. This sets the saying off and really makes it stand out!  This is what the final card looks like:

Created by Debbie Van Gieson Images © Stampin' Up! 1990-2008

I hope Diana likes it! I will use the polka dot paper to line the envelope as I have in other posts...

I really need to start getting the food ready for the party...thanks for looking! Have a great day!

Passionstamper

Patriotic Father's Day Card with Chipboard!

Why not honor dad with a patriotic card this Father's Day?

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance, a day of reflection, a day to lift up our thankful hearts to all the brave men and women who have served our country so valiantly. Its a day to honor the service and sacrifice of all those who have fought to preserve the freedoms we now enjoy as citizens of America! We all know somone or have a loved one who has served in the Armed Forces, many who gave their lives for this great country: grandfathers, fathers, brothers, uncles, cousins, friends, neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances have served in the Armed Forces and deserve our respect and honor. Many have relatives currently serving here and abroad who are not able to be here to share in this weekend of remembrance, and they sacrifice and do their part to protect us all and to continue the legacy of our forefathers-to help keep this the land of the brave and the free...My husband, and dad served in the Army, my brother served in the Navy. My grandparents fought for this country.. as many of yours did as well.

Take time to remember our veterans and all those who currently serve in our armed forces this weekend. To read some wonderful tributes that you can share with your children and extended families this holiday weekend-click HERE.

Here is the patriotic Father's Day card I made for my dad featuring On Board with Chipboard-this month's Stampin' Up! special!:

Created by Debbie Van Gieson Images © Stampin' Up! 1990-2008

SUPPLIES:

Stamps: Dad's Day (page 112 of 2008 Spring-Summer Collection)
Ink: Craft White, Rose Red
Paper: Rose Red & Brilliant Blue Designer Series papers, Brilliant Blue Cardstock, Whisper White
Accessories: Iridescent Ice EP, Heat Tool, Fire Circle Red Rhinestone brad, Crop-o-dile, Anywhere Glue Stick, Designer Label Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Dimensionals, Crystal Effects, Rose Red ink refill, paintbrush (non-SU), Silver Hodgepodge Star, On Board Chipboard Accents, SU Envelope

I made an insert for the envelope with Designer papers to match the card.  It's different from any other card I've made for my dad...let me know what you think!  I love using the chipboard...and what a great deal Stampin' Up!'s has right now-chipboard at 25% off with a $35 order!  Time is running out for this special, so be sure to order your chipboard today! (and get FREE SHIPPING if you order from this demonstrator, Debbie Van Gieson-by 11:00 p.m. Monday May 26, 2008!)

Have a great stampin' day!

Passionstamper

PASSIONSTAMPER'S MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND FREE SHIPPING SPECIAL!

DAHLIA FOLD WITH SCALLOP PUNCH, D.S. Papers & Pretties Kit!  by Passionstamper
Artwork © Stampin' Up! 1990-2008

With the Memorial Day Weekend  upon us, and the specials Stampin' Up! is offering plus my special shipping offer, you can do your crafting shopping FROM HOME instead of dealing with the crowds to get the sales...you will save on gas, pay no shipping and save on time so you can do what you really want-which is to be with your family and friends this holiday weekend!  I'm kicking off the holiday with a *FREE SHIPPING OFFER thru Monday May 26 11:00 p.m. EST on any Stampin' Up! purchase of $60 or more from Stampin' Up!'s 2008 Spring/Summer Collection or Occasions Mini Collection catalogs! (see side panel for link to main catalog)

the Occasions Mini Collection 2008 Catalog (which would normally be retiring on May 31st) has been EXTENDED until June 30!  Click HERE  to view it!

If you haven't ordered from this great little catalog yet, you don't know what you are missing! It's  a delightful collection of new limited time stamp sets, bright spring samples, and terrific new accessories! With my free shipping offer, this would be the perfect time to check it out!

But wait...if you combine Stampin' Up!'s current specials with this free shipping offer, you can save even more!

Only until May 31st, when you spend $35 on any Stampin' Up! products, you'll get 25% off all On Board chipboard products from pages 178-179 of the Spring-Summer Collection 2008! Click HERE to view the flyer with all the details! (be sure to check back later for my Patriotic Father's Day card using CHIPBOARD!)

Stampin' Up!'s On Board chipboard is die-cut, acid free and is designed to coordinate with many of Stampin' Up!'s stamp sets and accessories! Use it to embellish projects, create custom greetings, decorate your scrapbook journals and so much more!

and that's not all!

if you purchase a Stampin' Up! Cutting Mat (see page 184 of main catalog), you will get a FREE hobby blade!

So when you are getting together with friends and family this weekend for the backyard barbeque, or opening the pool, why not pool together some orders-with only $150 in orders, you will qualify for HOSTESS BENEFITS-and everyone will enjoy FREE SHIPPING!

 oh, one more thing....

I haven't had A CONTEST in awhile-how would you like to earn a FREE product when you place your order?

If you are the:

-FIRST PERSON to place an order during this special, you'll be able to select any punch valued at $5.95 on page 180 of the main catalog as a free gift from me!

-the 4th person you'll receive your color choice of a FREE spool of 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon! (value $4.95)

-the 8th person you'll receive a FREE package of clear   buttons! (value $3.95)                          

-the 12th person you'll receive a FREE White Signo Uni-Ball Gel Pen! (value $3.95)

-the 15th person you'll receive a FREE Package of Hemp Twine! (value $2.50)

But hurry...this offer expires on Monday at 11:00 p.m. EST!

To place an order via PayPal (credit card or debit card) e-mail me your order and request a PayPal invoice! It's that easy....

So....what are you waiting for?

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Have a fun and safe holiday weekend!

Passionstamper

*orders taken in USA only; applicable tax on full retail value will apply