Special "2-4-1" Crossover Post: JULY TAG- The 12 Tags of 2015 Meets Compendium of Curiosities Vol.3 Challenge #33: Altered Surfaces !

July....WOW. What a month this has been! Guess it's a good thing I decided to put together two events into one Tag (The 12 Tags, and CC3#33) because I'd have not had the time to get one of the two finished in time with so much else going on in my share of the radar!  It finally stopped raining here in Indiana...our part anyway...& summer finally REkicked in. A bit late for most kids going back to school, though.

With help setting up from several Besties, we've got a new larger pool almost ready once again- YAY!!

 I don't know about you, but I am just CRAZY for Tim's JULY TAG! This is truly one for me and my home decor! I'm not sure why I never thought of doing something like this before, but you can bet your Big Shot that I am going to be using these techniques in other projects in the future- that tearing is my kinda thing I just LOVE doing to tags!! So, of course, I stuck pretty closely to all of his instructions....EXCEPT for the trinket items. I get a bit carried away using those IdeaOlogy Mirrored Stars. ;)

      So, here is where I parted ways with Tim's Tag just a bit. I chose to use my drill and choosing one of the tiniest drill bits I have, I carefully made holes in the star for hanging onto a Trinket Pin. And after that, I took a 'wavy road off the main highway' so to speak, and added a neat backside Tag to the frontside. And added photos from our July Fourth gathering here at our house with the new front porch as the background. You won't find the ChiefHubby in the photo as he was off to the far left of me and I kept telling everyone to move over, but alas....he and another Hubby got cut off. The usual that happens when you have alot of folks in one photo, the weather is very hot, and everyone just wants to sit back down asap. Oh well. ;)  I try.

    From there, I took the opportunity to use the CC3 Challenge #33 for the number on the frontside of my Tag. And since I was also making another copy of this same Tag (front and back also) for Wendy Cotner (One-half of a caring and truly talented team of "Mr&Mrs DoItAll"), I chose to make hers into the July 4th with "brave" for their Military SonInLaw serving in Germany and mine into July 14th with "love"- for the ChiefHubby and I celebrating our 31st Wedding Anniversary. I think BOTH Tags turned out PERFECTLY, and are probably one of my VERY FAVES!! (I think I always say that about the July Tags, but who's keeping track??) So, for the numbers, I can't share the details on how I did them, but you can check it out for yourself if you get your hands on your own copy of Tim Holtz's "Compendium of Curiosites Vol. 3". There's only ONE MORE CHALLENGE LEFT, and that makes me kinda sad. Here's hoping Tim has Volume FOUR coming out soon!! Or the fun will have to come out of doing the same three Volumes all over again...???

In both cases; there are PRIZES!!!

For Tim's "12 Tags": I just won for my JUNE TAG and used the gift certificate Mario (Tim's right-hand BTS helper) sent to me to purchase another Ranger Spinner, so I can have a second rack for storing Mini Ink-Blending Tools and have the bottom rack only for the regular sized Blending Tools. I had enough leftover to also restock a few IdeaOlogy items- including the new Mini Rosettes which are TOTALLY COOL!!! I also recieved a Badge for my Blog, that I still need to get up... which I tried several times but Blogger was acting up...Grrrrr!!

And MORE PRIZES: there are a few different ones awarded from the CC3 Challenges- one is sponsored by the oh-my-gosh-so-talented! Linda Ledbetter's The Funkie Junkie Boutique - another PRIZE is sponsored from Inspiration Emporium (the same store from which The 12 Tags get awarded from, too), and...best of all- CC3 PRIZES for every odd Challenge from Tim Holtz himself, sent by the wonderfully helpful Mario Rossi, Master of the Postal Sendings !! 

I'm all geared up for the rest of summer as best I can after fighting off 2 bouts of Upper Respiratory Infections, a rotated hip, and a pool that went "KA-BANG!" louder than a July Fourth Fireworks show. The ChiefHubby has summer-end plans for us as usual; a trip to Minnesota to see the Younger Purdue couple kids getting into a new place (moving from a small apartment to a full, 3 bedroom house), and check out Holli's new Teaching position (she still has yet to choose at this point having gotten not ONE great job offer for teaching, but TWO great OFFERS!); a trip to Florida to see family there, & hopefully regroup with a couple of restful beach trips, and spending time with 'our' four beautiful girls we proudly claim as Nieces by choice!  Coming up this week- a camping trip with the group of Besties will be fun while we get eaten by tons of Indiana mosquitoes left over from all the June rains. Earlier, we helped the Older couple kids move into a brand newly built, 3 bedroom house, and celebrated Brian getting permanently hired to SIA (beginning Aug 17th) with Ashley continuing her straight A college status. We are VERY BLESSED with these four kids, and so many Loved Ones!! After that, it will be all downhill with Fall coming. I really wish it was July Fourth all year long. Summer is just way too short for this gurl ! *sigh* I could totally do without winter at all.

But, we still have THREE MORE TAGS to look forward to after AUGUST TAG- YAY!!!

THANKS SO VERY MUCH, EVERYONE for all the SWEET, SWEET comments on my projects, and for all the "Congrats!" sent for my Winner JUNE Tag !!!

    It's so FUN to share with so many TALENTED people doing these!! I am so awed each time I check out any other Tags or CC3 Challenge entries... I am so humbled to be crafting among all these SWEET folks !! Just think; if we all banded together and managed to create enough to pass out to the rest of the world full of people and put a smile on every face. WOW!

Cause, that's what happens when I come into contact with any of YOU!

THANKS for making me SMILE!!!

....as always....

Be Safe & Happy Blogging!

Life in Indiana during the year of "The Summer of Monsoons" - Larimore Fashion, as usual.

   Just when ya think the work is done...

The ChiefHubby & I were kept busy all through this summer, not just with the usual summer happenings (gatherings, concerts, July 4th, mowing home for me & at church for him), but with a ton of leadership in & our help to two of our Besties, Mark & Wendy Cotner, we managed to get not only a back deck porch built, but also a BEAUTIFULLY crafted front porch deck! Mark, and Wendy too, is as talented in his craftmanship- being as durable perfectionists as our late Grandpa Raymer. That says it all! So when our mission trip time arrived (Team Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Virginia) for the week of July 10-16, we'd busted our heinies to get all our obligations done and the house & yard picked up and re-seeded the day before we left Indiana. I'll still be doing a blogpost on our end of the Team's work for the measley 3 days we were there (with only ONE stinkin' day of work completed on our part). While taking Sunday afternoon time away from the actual work to have a chance to show Wendy the views of Breaks Inter-State Park that the rest of us got to view on last year's trip (this was her first trip there), I recieved an urgent cell text from our neighbor who was not at home either (they were visiting her parents in Minnesota- yup, same area our Ygr Purdue couple settled in by GOD's design; not anyone else's!). Her sister was staying at their house next door to us to puppysit their kids' 2 dogs. Her sister's boyfriend happened to be there after lunch when they heard a loud crash and ran out to see the pool had.....exploded....is the only description I have. They texted me the words "your pool broke", but later in the evening when we finally got net service to work, and we got hold of another friend/nearby neighbor (who is the former GVFD Assistant Chief...Dave Armick & his wife, Jody... all those years working alongside David) ran over to get & send photos. But, "exploded" is what it more resembles!

From the description Dave & Jody told David over the phone, a decision had to be made: the mission trip would have to finish without us. I was NOT happy about that. I felt like we'd failed it. We'd failed THE KIDS there at Mountain Mission School. We'd just barely gotten time to get to talk to any of the kids. We DID get in a full day's work that I felt was a REALLY GOOD DAY on Saturday, even tho I was still feeling sick from a URI and coughing my head off day&night through an antibiotic and the usual megaload of meds I have to take. But from prior experience with the school last year; over the week-long stay, the kids warm up and start talking to visitors & trusting us more. We committed to making that place, that school, those kids; our MISSION to give our time, talents, treasure, teaching, testimony, and LOVE for the coming years..as GOD so wills. And I look forward to going back again next year also. But not knowing if the damage was only on our OWN property, or not, David was right; we needed to get home & take care of it all. It was NOT as bad as I feared from initial looks. But finding how it went into the house itself was a bit of a shock. (BLESS DAVE & JODY for cleaning it up and even moving the bar chairs & all else that the Larimore Tsunami hit in its way, to get them dried out!!!!) Not the least to mention that we'd had TONS of ppl in that pool, and sitting around all the decking, over three weeks of three gatherings/pool parties. And had we not been away on a trip; I would have been in that pool myself at that very time after church & lunch. Seeing how I mostly 'lead the way' of seeing who can obtain the biggest splash into the pool...over & over, of course....we'd have had alot of hurt people whom we love dearly. I do NOT believe in 'coincidence'. I know GOD is omniscient.

         I've gotten a cpl hundred msgs over the past 48 hrs, so blogging it seemed the best way to explain- and show- it all. We are OK- both kitties were at home & BudderCup came running & her usual bawling her head off when we drove up. After an evening of me worrying & calling for Shax...he ended up rolling around at the backdoor in ecstasy before we were ready to drop dead in bed. Another set of friends ,Scott, Terri, & just their younger of their two daughters, happened by while David started pulling up the mess. They stayed to not just help David cut up all the metal, but load it all up into the back of the truck. As it dries out, we can rake up all the (just newly spread soil, grass seed, mulch, and all new POOL ROCK!!) mass amount of items from the yard and we are, just as I get this typed, seeing about a new pool. It is a couple years earlier than planned but since July 14th is our 31st Wedding Anniversary...I get a new pool for it...and the Anniversaries to come. And for Labor Day, my 50th birthday in October, and probably CHRISTmas and Easter....for the next 20 years! lol!!

          While he began cleanup, (left MMSchool abt 8am & arrived home abt 5pm) I was unpacking and gathering up all the soggy stuff that got hit. The Chief & I kept finding large rocks... hunks of mud...and my always-floating pair of duckies high-water-surfed waaaay out to the front of the house. (Omagosh!!! I am just now reminded that only our 'Johnny Gage FF/PM duckie is MISSING!! Better send out an ambu & Squad to search for 'im!! Somebody dispatch USAR!!!) David laughingly said "Looks like we had our own Tsunami...Larimore Fashion!"...um, yeah... mmm-hmmm. And during the unpacking from what was to have been a 7-day-w-5-workday stay; I wouldda been the one with nothing left but the VERY-minimalistic packing I'd had. Whereas, The always-ready, retired-FFChief, former Boy Scout (pack 14 prs underwear....just in case, ya never know) ChiefHubby had enough clothing and shoes to restock a full wardrobe after said Tsunami!!! I was still snickering over watching our group of fellow mission-attenders unpack: they each cleaned off the matresses...spread out a fitted sheet....spread out (matching, mind you) top sheets....then nice home-away-from-home comforter bedspreads...topped that with pillows- after slipping on matching pillowcases. (I won't pick on any Bears or Stuffies placed on top as I seem to be the leader in that...but sadly forgot mine... wah!) And will the REAL OUTDOOR GURL please stand up: (w CH's help & suggestion) I pushed my bunks over to the nearest outlet corner, set out my outlet bar, attached all my techie toys w their plugins, unroll my sleeping bag, drop my extra blanket at the foot, and my pillow at the top, plunk down & open my iGear, & look over watching all of them making up their 'cushy beds', & call out: "Man! U guys are such....GIRLS!!!" HaHa!! Then I end up being the first one to pack it all in & head for home with my tail hung low. Left Indiana with a pool at home & a smile on my face. Head back home as a PoolGurl...with no pool. :`(

        That pool lasted EXACTLY 20 years this very week!!! We try hard to take care of what we haveAnd we are very BLESSED in how many memories we have of the people who came to share good times with us in it....of our own private times...and how that pool was my only companion while I was sick those 5 yrs of the last 10 having trauma-induced RA after a life-saving surgery turned my world upside-down. The boys were either at school or pretty much had a life of their own by then. David's job always took at least 10 hrs out of the day, plus his other obligations on the Fire Dept, & not to mention church work...left me time at home alone a lot. Sleeping while floating on air mattress was about the ONLY comfortable position. At that point, walking in the pool, not only was a way for me to spend my recovery time, but it also led to me deciding life was worth staying alive for. And only GOD understands what HE & I talked over during that time. So yeah...it was more than "just a pool". I remind myself that I always get to keep the good memories of this life as my gift, while my real treasures are laid up for me in my Real Home- Heaven!

      We took a trip to Indy yesterday - our Anniversary- & stopped in Kokomo on the way home on US31 at the Outback Steakhouse to share dinner & over the mandatory YUMMY FAVE Bloomin' Onion, had a chance to go over our options for a new pool. Some of our future-new-pool plans changed without realizing it: deeper than the 24x48 is out since it wouldn't match with the decking already in place, and..they no longer have bottom drains like we did (permanently discontinued after children were hurt being caught in the suction of the water in the drain), and our plan to drop the drain deeper is also out due to voiding any warranty of the new liner if we reinserted our still-existing bottom drain. Also out is pro installation, as noone will install within 8 inches of an exisisting structure (decking). The pluses are: we have already installed our own pool before and have learned from any mistakes, we made our pool (original outside & liner as well) last for 20 years specifically due to our own work & care for it all. We also have plenty of experience in replacing worn working parts- motor, filter, pipings, fittings, skimmer aparatus, etc. Sooooo. As soon as the cleanup is finished, and we find the right replacement We don't need the full pkg that most companies sell and forget Family Leisure in Indy whose salesman was ready to sell us "any pool in stock" only to tell us about each choice we picked with a "Oops. We are out of stock on that one." and by the time I'd made the THIRD pick and it was far inferior of what we were wanting....I clicked on my cell phone to find out for myself if I could just order the sucker online from their supplier myself (yep) and bypass that place entirely. Shhesh! Why are they even open....HEEEELLLLLLOOOOooooooo?!?

          All in all; I know a new pool will happen if I just be patient. (And in the meantime, the ULTRA-monsoony-muggy Indiana weather of 2015... I seriously think they need ta be thinkin' about changing the State Bird from a Cardinal to a MOSQUITO !!!) I am forever GRATEFUL & THANKFUL noone was around or in it at the time, thus noone was hurt; no other property was damaged, and our own house was still ok. No amount of insurance we have on all our belongings could make up for the loss of anyone's LIFE or LIMB. And I learned from this - once again- that in times of happiness, or in need of help: we have A TON OF PEOPLE WHO LOVE US!!! Our kids were all out of state- the older couple took a trip to Tennessee on vacation, but were on the way home at the same time, and stopped by to send us updates of the damages. Our younger set live up in Red Wing, MN, and we wanted to contact them AFTER we got settled down so they wouldn't worry that we or the pets were hurt. Our next door neighbor family watch over us & our home even when not at home- same as we do with them & theirs while they are gone (ironically the same area of Minnesota where our younger couplekids live). And I am CERTAIN that the rest of our neighborhood also watch over things just as we do for them- and we would all join to help each other even if we had any differences of opinion or the way we each live. Our kids are ALL important too- no matter whose they are. That's what is so great about this country we live in. And I wouldn't trade it! 

     So take a deeeeep breath, know it all is ok, and I DID have a good breakdown and cry over it the night before we got home. And I was hyperventing as we drove up. The Chief was too, just a TINY bit. ;) Here's the photos. With the *BANG!* ppl say they heard down the street, and the bent of the steel posts.....you'll see why I am so THANKFUL!!



BEFORE: David and I kinda 'helped' Mark Cotner and his brother Rick Cotner as they start the roof on the finished back bottom decking. The Chief and I can hammer and drill alot of things....as long as you tell us WHERE you want them hammered and drilled. Mark Cotner is a MASTER builder and his wife, Wendy, is a HUGELY talented MASTER crafter/artist. These two people are what I call Extreme Givers. And we are humbly proud to work alongside them and call them "Bestie"!



   

SUNDAY; July 12 a photo sent by Dave Armick via cell a few hrs after the break. Rachelle Pearson's sister, Katie, was house/puppysitting next door and originally sought out how to contact us, calling Rachelle and trying across the street at Bill & Kim Watkins' house also. THANKS SO MUCH, EVERYONE !!!!! :)



It doesn't look bad at all from here. Till you try to walk over to it.....and the amount of mixed stuff hidden in the soggy grass tells the real story.



The pump is actually OK!! But, imagine some people- ESPECIALLY KIDS- who were filling this pool being hurled by all the steel that broke and hit the filter- flinging it aside out of the holder and the actual pump...... That steel held up SEVERAL TEEN BOYS walking on top of it during the night....(Thought "Mommy don't see that stuff", huh??) and also myself when I daily popped over it to turn the bottom drain on for daily bottom cleaning. That wall is pretty darned strong- even at 20 yrs old. It was the rust from around the skimmer that was weakened from overfill by a storm Saturday night. If we had been home (as I was doing daily) ...I'd been draining off the excess. So, no, the insurance will not cover it in this case.



My BabyDucky was found along with several top liner-pulls....clear out past the new back porch decking and the camper. WHOA! What a wipeout!!!!


 

I will soon have my house and property back to the way I like to keep it. I know all that takes is alotta elbow grease on my end, but it's work I like to do and take joy that GOD still enables me to enjoy on most days!!!!
Then, I guess we'll have to end up having another pool party.... in THE NEW POOL...to give THANKS, and share it all around! ;)



  THANKS 2 ALL!  for not only the nice comments left on all my crafts done recently, but all the NICE thoughts and prayers sent our way while I was sick again, for our Missions Trip, and then trying to contact me after hearing through whatever grapevine you did about the "Larimore Tsunami". SHEESH!! That makes TWO of those that affected us personally- the one in Japan affected David's job at SIA and the people of the company. Should I be.... a touch CONCERNED with my obessive love of WATER??

I guess I am a bit backed up on blogging again, but it will all get out at some point. In the meanwhile;

I send my sincere thoughts and prayers backatcha'all! Be safe, have a wonderful week, and....

                                                  

                                                      Happy Blogging!!

Compendium Of Curiosities Volume 3- Challenge #32 Frosted Film...

   July 4th came and went while I struggled with another bout of URI (upper respiratory infection), but I still managed to have fun with a ton of Besties here at our house, and a trip into town for the fireworks program at dusk. It was THE best show our hometown has put on since we were kids, so I was pretty excited and took lots of photos (which I used on my July Tag of the 12 Tags of 2015 on next post)! It's been a very busy summer and it's not about to let up yet. While I type this, I actually should be sleeping, but we leave in just a bit to take off for Grundy, VA, to spend a week working at Mountain Mission School for our Missions Trip this year. So I'm basically still trying to keep up with life while trying to stay upright and out of bed- where I've been for the past 48 hrs since the infection has now spread to my eyes. Yeah....another trip to the Doc's and another set of antibiotics. Oh, joy. But, I am pretty thankful that while I do get sick alot with all the problems this body has had since birth....there is at least help out there for me. Unlike in past history where people died from most of the ills I live with daily.  Ok. Not to worry about the rest and sleep- I was without a voice for the past few days since my throat got so bad. BUT, (using my 'sing-song voice' here) I'm baaaaaaack!! So that means the ChiefHubby will knock me out for the duration of the trip- so he can have some peace & quiet. Hahahaha! Riiiiiiiiiight. ;)

Ok, so my entry for that COOL STUFF called Frosted Film...

I usually leave my comments on the samples from the leaders until last. Just to give myself room to think of what I'd like to do without coming up with something similar to theirs. My first thought was 'flowers'. I've seen some very COOL flowers made with this stuff on Pinterest! But then, I took a peek at what the samples were like and it actually helped me make up my mind on something entirely different and a totally different color/shade than I expected. And my Besties are gonna have a good chuckle over this one because my dreams can get REALLY WILD (thanks to the meds I have to take twice every day for the rest of my life)....and they tend to get VERY REALISTIC. VERY. (Example: dreaming of one of my Besties hitting the ball to me over the volleyball net and next thing I know; I am waking myself up from actually reaching up toward the ceiling -sitting straight up in bed- to volley the ball back over the net to her. But, I'm not just doing this in the DREAM....and I wake up with both dogs and one cat staring at me like "WHAT is she DOING, now?!) So when I dreamed of chocolate one night. Let's just say I felt pretty silly waking up and wondering why I am chewing with nothing in my mouth. THANK GOD, nothing was in my mouth!!!

So since we just finished out "Strawberry Month of June" and it's the theme of my kitchen that matched with my Grandma Raymer (for whom I am named) who always had a strawberry kitchen as did her Mom before her....I chose chocolate dipped strawberries popping up in my 'dream'.



I started with several bright colors of Distress Paint for my background.  There's usually alot of color in most dreams.



Here are both sides of my tag- heat dried and a mist or two of water for re-acting the Distress paint for a bit of blending together of the colors. I dried them completely before sanding all the edges....where the colors stop; the 'dream' also stops.

 


I used Tim's games embossing folder to add texture. That folder was PERFECT for this theme!



I used Vintage Market strip for the lettering from a black and white printed paper. Then made the same lettering again, and trimmed the tops off to make it look like the lettering was 'dipped'. Even the dream itself was dipped !! Never can have 'too much' when it comes to chocolate!! LOL



And here's a closeup of the dipped strawberries...even with the little 'puddle' of chocolate that I always end up with underneath from dipping too much. Oh well !! ;)  Sorry, but I already ate one of the berries, too.



        I'll be back in the next post with my JULY TAG- happy from a win of my JUNE TAG !!! YAY!! I used my winnings to purchase another Spinner for another row of Blending Tools so I don't have to keep tearing off the sponges to 'share' colors with the same 8 I have. Been wanting to do that for awhile now. I also got a few more stash items, too. THANKS EVERYONE for all the WONDERFUL comments!!! I am truly humbled to be working with so many TALENTED CRAFTERS in both the Tags and the CC3 Challenges !!! And don't forget that BOTH give out GREAT PRIZES and you never know: YOU might be the crafter chosen for YOUR ENTRY!! Prizes for the CC3 Challenges are sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique , The Inspiration Emporium , and odd numbered Challenges are also awarded prizes by Tim Holtz himself (with BTS helper, Mario doing all the BTS sending)!
      I've learned A LOT from these Challenges, and most importantly- I've made a lot of FRIENDS!!
                                                Wishing you a safe weekend, and as always;
                                                                 Happy Blogging !

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #31-Layering Stencils: Paint Resist....HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!

  Here I go; cramming at the last minute once again. Story of my life...just trying to stay above the waterline in keeping up with all the things that go on. Tomorrow (actually right now EST) is my FAVORITE holiday of the year- July 4th !!! I have always loved summer and I also happen to 'bleed Red, White, and Blue'. No matter how many bad things go on in our country, I still believe in the USA that the Founders believed in and that being born here is a BLESSING! There are much worse circumstances in too many other countries and while we deal with poverty, politicians, and plunder at times...it's still a better deal than other countries because we have FREEDOM. And that Freedom comes with a lot of sacrifice...and a ton more responsibility than some people care to admit. So now you see why I tend to do alot of "Americana" in my crafting. I just LOVE how you can mix, match, and antique those colors- especially the Primitive coloring. My timing might need help, but my heart is in the right place. GOD knows all about me and how late I always am. I'll show up late at my own funeral and the coffin will already be in the ground before my body gets there. The LORD will probably end up making a second trip back just to get me because I'll end up being late getting to Heaven. LOL!! 

      But, all that said...playing with my Tim Holtz Alterations Flag Movers&Shapers Die on a new pkg of colored burlap stack was waaaaay too much FUN!! I even ended up using it to redecorate a plastic silverware/napkin holder to give it a splash of strawberries mixed with Americana for our cookout tomorrow....for almost 50 people. :)  And not just a chance to play with the burlap stack, but give me an idea of using the new burlap Tim has out on the market...when I get my hands on it!!!
      And don't forget PRIZES !!! I'm on Cloud Nine for winning on Tim's Blog for my June Tag !!! Weeeeeee!!! (Roller coaster ride dip!) That's TWO WINS this year- once for Tim's 12 Tags and once for THIS: CC3 on Linda Ledbetter's site!! The sponsor stores are: The Funkie Junkie Boutique (where I won my choice of prizes), and The Inspiration Emporium, and odd numbered Challenges also get chosen for prizes by TIM HOLTZ !!! BTS helper, Mario Rossi keeps on his toes by sending all of it your way....a really cool guy, that Mario!!! ;)
     So join in for the last 2 Challenges and maybe we'll get Tim going on ANOTHER CoC Volume....FOUR!!!  Anyone can try this and all you need is your own Volume 3 to get the instructions of the techniques. They are EASY PEASY to follow and FUN to try!

  

This is a larger pic of the Frontside of my Tag for Challenge #31. I just LOVE that washi tape I found!! It actually looks like part of the Constitution on here. I used Tim's idea of making the ribbon for the tags out of Tissue Tape. This particular tape is just out of my stash drawer and I'm not sure of the brand.





And this is a larger pic of the BACKSIDE of my tag for Challenge #31. I embossed this side and used Distress Inks to add some color. The yellow background gives the idea of 'lighting up the night'. The Liberty Bell is from my odd stash of stamps...stamped w black Archival Ink and Blender Tooled with Pumice Stone Distress Ink. Looks exactly PERFECT to ME !!! I am really looking forward to the sky-show !! 


                  Thanks so VERY MUCH for all the kind comments and Congrats sent my way!!
I've been enjoying time with my kids all this past week, and it was GOOD to see them all together with us !! The ChiefHubby's Dad and my Dad also got visiting time in with us and I really miss seeing them all at once with everyone so spread out. July 4th is here with all our Besties bringing their kids and only our own will be missing. But FAMILY doesn't mean sharing the same blood. And ours is a VERY large family!
                 Wishing everyone a HAPPY and SAFE FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY;
                                                      from ours....to yours !!!
                                                        & Happy Blogging !!