Proud to Be an American

I love the latest stamps from KellyCraft featuring the Robertson family of Duck Dynasty fame. They are such characters, so typical of southerners.

One thing I really love about this family is their love of our country, so I decided to make this card featuring Willie Robertson using some of my Makin's Air Dry Clay star embellishments that I made with bits and pieces of leftover clay from another project. As a matter of fact, all the pieces in this card are from leftovers. Pieces of paper and card stock that were too big to throw away have been inked to blend with my burgundy, navy and beige color scheme. The jute is left from a long-ago project that I don't even remember. The phrase stamp is a retired stamp from Stampin'Up!® that I have always loved.

Here's how I made it:

Supplies

• KellyCraft Jimbo Lojik Acrylic Stamps (Duck Commander Clear Polymer, Set 1)
• Mason Jar die (Eileen Hull for Sizzix) 
• Makin's White Air Dry Clay
• Makin's Clay Star Cutter, small
• Scraps of blue, burgundy, tan and cream card stock
• Scraps of printed card stock
• Distress Inks, Faded Jeans, Vintage Photo, Tea Dye (Tim Holtz for Ranger)
• Dye Ink, Cranberry
• Jute, approximately 10"
• Patriotic phrase stamp
• Sponges
• Double Stick Tape
• Large Glue Dot, cut into quarters

Instructions
1. Roll Makin's Air Dry White Clay to 1/8" thick, cut with the smallest star cutter and allow to dry overnight.

Tip: When you are working on any project with Makin's Air Dry Clay, you will always have a few leftover bits and pieces. Use these in clay mold, with clay cutters or just shape them into freehand roses, spirals, etc. When you need an embellishment, you'll already have something on hand. The clay can be mixed with acrylic paint to change colors or painted after drying.

2. Cut blue card stock to 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and fold to 5 1/2" x 4 1/4". Ink the edges with Faded Jeans ink.

3. Cut blue printed card stock to 5 1/4" x 4". Ink the edges with Faded Jeans ink. Cut another piece 3 1/2" x 1 1/2",  and ink with Faded Jeans ink.

4. Cut burgundy card stock to 5" x 3 3/4" and ink edges with Cranberry ink. Cut a second piece 3 1/4" x 2 3/4" and ink edges with Cranberry ink.

5. Cut second piece of printed card stock to 4 3/4" x 3 1/2" ink edges with Cranberry ink.

6. Ink the stars with Cranberry, Faded Jeans and Tea Dye inks.

7. Apply double stick tape to the back of the blue patterned card stock and adhere to the blue card base.

8. Apply double stick tape to the second piece of printed card stock and attach it to the burgundy card stock.

9. Stamp the Duck Commander stamp in Faded Jeans on cream card stock and trim to 3" x 2 1/2". Ink the edges with Vintage Photo, Faded jeans and Cranberry inks. Attach to the  3 1/4" x 2 3/4" burgundy card stock and adhere it to the card front.

10. Stamp the Proud to be an American stamp in cranberry ink on tan card stock. Trim and ink the edges with Cranberry and Faded Jeans ink. Apply a strip of double stick adhesive to the back of the tan card stock and attach three 2 1/2" pieces of jute to the center.

11. Attach the phrase tag to the 3 1/2" x 1 1/2" piece of blue printed card stock, lining it up on the right side with about  a 1/4" margin. Fold the left side back to leave a 1 1/4" margin. Wrap the left side to the back the burgundy/printed card stock layer and adhere the front in place. Trim the jute if necessary, then attach the clay stars with 1/4 of a large glue dot.

 

Tip: When using Glue Dots, fold the release paper over on the dots and cut them into smaller pieces to attach small embellishments. You make your Glue Dots last longer and your scissors won't get sticky. 

12. Attach the top layer to the rest of the card with double-stick tape.



I think this will make a nice little Independence Day greeting for my friends. It went together quickly, used up some of my stash and is in one of my favorite color combinations. This easy-to-make cards is one of those projects that can be completed on a lap desk in front of the TV. Guess what I'll be doing for the next few nights.