Open House! Inspiration, and a free digi!

Welcome welcome! It's my open house day for card making - I am hoping to have lots of friends stop by to make cards with me. :) I know that not everyone can make it - especially my very special far away friends - so here is something to participate with from afar! Today I am showcasing lots of Close To My Heart products and I am sharing some fun stamping techniques - I also have the PC set up to demonstrate and help people get started with digi-stamps. They are so much fun!

Here is my source of inspiration. I am so very excited about the air show that is coming to Idaho Falls this weekend! I love air shows. The Blue Angels will be there among other things. . . I love to watch them but one of my very favorite things about military aircraft is something kind of unusual. . . Nose art!

No, I am not talking about people with piercings in strange places. :)  Nose art is something that began in the military with the addition of air craft to warfare. It started as a practical way to identify the friendlies. . but continued on and prospered as a kind of "aircraft graffiti."  Painting pin-up girls and cartoon characters on to the front of the aircraft has been a way for the troops to express their individuality and maybe relate to home - girlfriends and other happy things. It started in the early 1900's and prospered during WWII but has continued on through the Vietnam, Korea and even in the war today! Check this link for tons of great nose art samples - aren't they great? My Grandpa Don in Albuquerque did not serve in the millitary in WWII but he worked painting aircrafts - I wonder if he got to see some great nose art? They say that some of it had to be censored because those pin-up girls got pretty racy! Woohoo!

And so, to celebrate nose art, aircraft painters, and pin-up girls everywhere - I present this new digi - with and without the sentiment in the banner, so you could add your own if you like. I used a free font called "Tattoo Lettering Black" and I also have to claim that this little gal is not entirely my own creation - I CASED her from somebody's tattoo on the internet. :D  I hope that the original tattoo or pinup artist doesn't mind if I share this outline version of her. . . she is free for you to click, download and print as a digi-stamp for making cards for Operation Write Home. Isn't she a cutie?

And now Open House Candy - There are two ways to participate. Anyone who makes a purchase from my Close To My Heart website this week will be entered in a drawing twice. That is two entries for your purchase. Another way to participate is to use the digi stamp and create a hero card or card for OWH. Mail me the finished photo of your work to nancykeller @ myctmh dot com . Your photo will enter you into the drawing once. Winner of the drawing will recieve a My Acrylix set of "Shining Star" stamps that are great for making OWH, patriotic, funky or Christmas Cards - I love these stars! So go. . . shop my CTMH or use the digi to make a card. . . I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Thank you for stopping by the open house - and I hope that you are having a great day!

Today's make-and-take is a fun card using those star stamps - perfect for making cards for the troops!

Ahh, and one for the  Stars & Stamps challenge too. :)