The 4th of July

If I had to make a list of my all-time, top favorite photos, this would rank near the top.  This photo was taken on July 3, 2007.  We had my DHs family reunion here at our house.  My DD (on the far left) and her 3 cousins.  They are all 1 year apart, and unfortunately 2 of them live in Florida.  My SIL made matching dresses for the girls and while everyone was trying to get them to all look forward and smile, I was busy clicking away and this is one of those shots.  What makes this all the more special is that my niece, Kasey (3rd from the left) was 3 yrs old in the picture and my BIL and SIL had just found out shortly before making the drive north that Kasey's cancer was gone.  She had been battling cancer since just before she turned 1. Needless to say, this was a very special family reunion, and she is still cancer free!!!!! 

I used Creative Imaginations paper.  I always buy 2 of every paper.  So I took the other sheet and used a die cut I have in my stash as a template.  I flipped it over to use the solid burgundy side of the paper.  Then I took a stamp from my TH Urban Chic collection and used an Adirondack Paint Dabber, in white, in place of ink.  Once I had "painted" my stamp, I then stamped it in random places around my die cut.  I stamped off the page so that only some of the stamp was on, and the rest was on my scrap paper.  When it dried I distressed the edges and then went over the edges with the Paint Dabber.  I then took some scrap blue card stock and using a Nestie SVG, cut a small die cut.  I wanted something that matched my bigger die cut.  I then cut that in half and used the Paint Dapper on those edges as well.  Making sure to carry some of the paint up onto the card stock.  I then used Prima lace to provide another layer of contrast and added a few pearls.  Here is a close up.

I cut leaves using an SVG file on white paper.  I used Bundled Sage and Peeled Paint Distress Ink to color then and then I used a water distress technique to age them a bit more. I used Petaloo flowers and a red ribbon. The little flowers I cut using an SVG and my Cricut.  I used Stormy Sky Distress Ink and Liquid Pearls to give them their centers and streaks down the petal.  For the Dusty Attic branch I used Smooch to give it color and then added my little blue flowers and a few leaves.  I have a few of Lisa Gregory's butterflies on there as well as a small pin.

I hope you enjoy this page as much as I do.  TFL!!!