November 11 Remembrance Day

Today, more than ever we need to remember the sacrifices our ancestors made to ensure our freedom.  Remember, in order to avoid the mistakes of the past, especially when we see evidence of some of the same paths being taken as were taken before all the conflicts began.

In Flanders Fields

BY JOHN MCCRAE

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

    That mark our place; and in the sky

    The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

    Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

        In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

    The torch; be yours to hold it high.

    If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

        In Flanders fields.

Source:  Poetry Foundation

My Hero

Today is Remembrance Day, and for this occasion I wanted to make a very special card to pay tribute to all the veterans of all our wars, those who have fought and still continue to fight. 
This is not a traditional Remembrance Day card with red poppies etc, but one done in military browns and beiges with stars instead of the popular flower.
It is a masculine card, but that in no way negates my thoughts of all the females who have served in our armed forces. I seem to be on a masculine card kick.

This top folding card uses Early Espresso and Crumb cake sponged with Early Espresso as its main base. The Star die was then used to create the stars from retired designer paper. The stars were adhered to 1" crumb cake squares punched with the 1" punch and then attached to an Early Espresso mat. These were then adhered to the crumb cake layer using dimensionals.

Stamp: Petite Pairs
Ink: Early Espresso
Papers: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Designer Paper (retired)
Accessories: Star die, Small star punch, 1 3/4 by 7/8" oval punch, Scallop oval punch, 1" square punch, dimensionals

Remembrance Day

Hope you all had a wonderful spooky Halloween!!  It was very quiet here - not too many children, but lots of big ones with big pillowcases.  I didn't even answer the door for them.  Some of the costumes were really cute.  One girl had on what looked like remnants of everything.  She apparently was dressed up as "left overs"  What a good one.
I really like the costumes the children made themselves v.s. the store bought ones.

The next holiday in Ontario occurs on November 11 - Remembrance Day.  I believe in the US  this day is referred to as Veterans Day. Correct me if I'm wrong. Another Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan, another one to remember.
Since the Poppy campaign begins today, I thought it suitable to design a card around that special flower, so, for this week's class I designed a Remembrance Day card,  with the focal point  a large red/orange poppy.  It's a very simple card (I usesd no stamps or inks) but effective and is very reflective of  this special memorial day.
The sentiment "Remembrance Day"  is computer generated.
After doing an internet search I found a poignant verse for the inside, a copy of which was made for each of the students. I'll include this verse at the end of this post.

Paper: Basic black, Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Old Olive
Accessories: Flower Builder Punch, Bird Builder Punch, Boho Blossom Punch, 1/2" circle punch, Dazzling details, dimensionals, 1 1/4" circle punch, pearls

To Make the Poppy:

1. Using the Flower Builder punch, punch 8 large flower petals in Poppy Parade
2. Punch one each of the smaller flowers of the Boho Flower punch in Basic Black
3. Lay these punchies on a water proof surface and spritz both sides lightly with water
4. Scrunch each up into a tight ball, and gently uncurl leaving a lot of the wrinkles in.
5. Let dry
6. Punch 3 branches in Old Olive using the bird Builder punch.
7. When dry, layer the petals on a 1 1/4" circle - 4 on the bottom, and 4 on the top.  I used a glue gun, but tombo glue works just as well - it just takes longer to dry.
8. Attach the larger of the black flowers in the center, then apply a dimensional.  
9. Curl the smaller flower over the top of the tombo glue top and place over the dimensional
10. Attach the leaves to the bottom of the flower. 
11. Apply dazzling details

Remembrance Day verse:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

-Ode to Remembrance, from "For the Fallen" by Laurence Binyon 

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