Hello everyone.. I'm so excited to be skipping along in today's Unity Stamp Company event with Operation Write Home! If you would like to start at the beginning and see all of today's beautiful creations, you can do that over at the Stars & Stamps blog.
If you came here from Lee Mae's blog, you are hopping along in the correct direction! Hooray!
I'll keep it short and share this Any Hero card that I made with my Unity Stamps!
My inspiration comes from a project that I did many years ago. When A.J's dad came home from Operation Desert Storm and finished his service with the Marines, he showed me a collection of dog tags that he was keeping in a cardboard box. It included his own tags, his uncle's tags from Vietnam, his fathers' tags from the Navy and even a set from his grandfather's service in WWII. What a treasure... I had fun trying to create a shadowbox with them.
Here is my "shadowbox" inspired card:
Here's how:
- I cut three papers - two wood grain pattern papers at 4.25 x 5.5" and one red at 4 x 5.25"
- I used one of the wood grain papers as a base and mounted the red layer on top of this.
- I used an oval die to cut the "window" out of the other wood grain paper.
- Using the frame, I centered it onto the red cardstock and traced a light line so that I would know exactly where to stamp the tags.
- I stamped the tags onto the red paper using VersaMark and some silver embossing powder.
- I stamped the tags with VersaMark again onto some grey paper and embossed with clear embossing powder. I fussy-cut these and added them over the copy on the red paper.
- I embossed the top "frame" paper using an embossing folder by SU and gave it a little extra dimension by distressing lightly with some chocolate colored ink.
- Finally, I mounted the frame to the top, using "The Precious" dimensional tape to give it the shadow box feel. I added the ribbon last, because it just seemed to need something more.
I think that the wood grain paper gave this card a nice masculine feel, and I hope that one of our heroes enjoys this card! I'll leave you with a little close-up so that you can see the dimension better.
Much gratitude goes to Unity Stamp Co. and to OWH for allowing me to participate in the skip this week, it's always so much fun! Thanks for stopping by!
Now hop along over to Ronni's Spot and see what she has for you next!
76 comments:
Your embossing for the dog tags is perfect! I was looking to simulate chain for my card and I did not end up with anything nearly so clever. Well done!
Oh my gosh!! what a beautiful card. I am getting ready to make "Welcome Home" cards and these would be great to use on some. thanks for sharing ~ Pam
The dog tags are a perfect touch on this card!
Mary, Wausau WI
Nancy, this card is gorgeous - I love the woodgrain paper. And I really enjoyed hearing your inspiration story. I'm sure your shadowbox was a great improvement over an old cardboard box! Thanks so much for participating in our skip today, and for all you do for OWH.
Love the tags Nancy. Embossing of the chain looks real too. I especially am attracted to the negative die cutting. Great work.
Love the frame effect with the embossed layers. :)
I love hearing stories behind peoples' inspirations - you should show us that shadowbox sometime :) :) I like your shadowbox card---the oval really sets that image as the focal point!
Your tags look real and it's nice that you took the extra time on them. Thanks for the detailed explanation too.
Your card is awesome and the dog tags are super cute. Great job!
I love all the different things (shadow box, embossing,etc)you used on the card. Can't wait to get started trying some of them
I like how you showcased the dog tags in a shadow box and your use of woodgrain papers.
I love the story that inspired your card! Inspiration comes in so many forms, but this one is my favorite. I also love the dogtags!
wow what a great story, such history in those dog-tags. I love the background paper and embossing it is a super way to show off the sentiment dog tags. I really like this card.
What a great technique and super job on the masculine soldier card. Thanks for the inspiration.
Nancy, the dog tags look so real, your embossing is wonderful. The added ribbon is perfect. I am sure Any Hero would love this card! TFS
Fabulous card - love the whole "shadow box" feel! The embossed border is a nice touch.
I love those dog tags. Great layout with this card.
Love your story and inspiration. Great job on your shadowbox! The embossing is perfect!
Great concept and that embossing folder and woodgrain only add to the effect. What a perfect choice as a frame. What a wonderful story about the collection of dog tags too... truly a treasure.
Great concept and that embossing folder and woodgrain only add to the effect. What a perfect choice as a frame. What a wonderful story about the collection of dog tags too... truly a treasure.
Your card is a terrific tribute to your collection! Love all of the embossing and the shadowbox idea really shows off the tags.
I loved your story about the dog tags, and the woodgrain paper was the perfect touch for your "shadowbox" card.
I like how everyone is using the dog tags in their own special way. They are so cool looking and have me thinking I need to make some dog tags and start using them.
I love the dogtags, they look so real!
What a unique card. I've been thinking about doing something like a shadow box card. Thanks for the inspiration.
Good Morning Nancy! Beautiful card. I absolutely adore the dog tag stamp! AND that Stampin Up embossing folder. They go so well together. Great job!
Oh, wow! I so love that shadow box inspiration story! What a wonderful celebration of family! And the card is beyond awesome. I also think it's beyond my abilities (embossing is not in my skillset!) but I love the way you made the dog tags look weathered and the chain so real! Fabulous job!
I'm glad you included the picture showing the dimension with the cut out...that does make the dog tags stick out more! I like those dog tags too! Radloff jen at cableone dot net
The best part about your card is the story that inspired it! I also really like the wood grain paper and the embossing on the chain.
Very creative! The wood grain paper was a great idea but my favorite detail is the embossing, especially the chain. Clever!
Love how you did your shadowbox and all of the work on your card! The embossing is so nics - love the detail!
All the layers, the embossing, the dog tag stamps combine to make a terrific card for our heros.
The embossing folder used with the woodgrain make a great frame for a wonderful stamp.
Wonderful card! I really like how the tags are kind of distressed, but the chain has more shine to it.
Gorgeous--the chain is brilliant! I would love if you'd be able to share a photo of the inspiration piece for this card--sounds amazing!!
Wonderful card. Thank you for the step by step instructions, easy to follow. The second picture really shows off the depth you achieved. Embossing really gives the dog tags a "real" look and one I'll have to try. Haven't embossed in years and this card makes me want to get the goodies out and do it again.
Thank you for sharing the card and your story.
Lyn
I especially like the shadow box idea and how you achieved it with the layered embossed wood grain paper. Isn't it amazing what you can come up with when you have an idea inspired by real life objects? Great card! I'd love to see a photo of the shadow box you made with the family dog tags.
Your card is wonderful and made even better by the story that goes with it. My husband is also a Former Marine and takes great pride in his dog tags too.
That chain almost looks real. Nice job!
I really like the woodgrain. It makes the dog tags stand out.
Thanks for sharing the story behind the card, it is so special. I've never thought of using that EF in the way. It really works with the wood grain paper. The silver EP was a great idea too!
Wow, what a beautiful card! So much love was obviously poured into creating it. I just love the layered woodgrain paper with the border punch.
I, too, love the inspiration behind the card. As for the card itself, I really love all the texture and dimension. The dog tags are so well done. And, the ribbon is a perfect finishing touch. Who makes it?
Great card. I really liked the embossed dog tags I would not have thought of doing that.
Thanks for sharing your inspiration for your card. Always fun to know. These dog tags look terrific in the frame!
OMG-- I love that this looks just like a shadow box! I love the embossing and the woodgrain really does add a nice masculine feel.Thanks for the idea- I have dog tags from a few relatives and want to proudly display them! WOW- you have been a busy gal- I appreciate your creativity!
Fantastic artwork using those dog tags! I love your shadow box look. Such a cool idea!
OH..I can see I am going to have to have those dog tags. The embossed frame was great. Thanks for sharing.
I like the story behind the inspirations as well. The shadow box card is gorgeous!!
I really like the dog tag stamp. I agree the wood grain paper is perfect Nice job Charlsie
What a neat idea to make a frame card. Like how the chain of the tags looks like a real chain
What a great sentiment and so well paired with the tags.
Nice touch on the shadowbox effect. I think that ribbon rounds our the card nicely. The person that gets this one is one lucky hero! Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful story about the shoebox being your inspiration for the awesome shadow box card. Having the dog tags in the center of the negative space really calls attention to them. Thanks for participating in the skip, and for all you do for OWH!
Fabulous card. Love the dog tags. TFS
the wood grain paper with the frame embossing is great and makes the perfect shadow box when popped up--love the dog tags and yes, the ribbon is the final touch to take it over the top! great card--thanks for such wonderful ideas and instructions!
Great job with that embossing! You are right about the woodgrain design giving it a more masculine look.
I really love the patriotic ribbon you used on your card. Great job Nancy!!
Oh my gosh, there's something about those dog tags that get me choked up. I'm an army brat and I know a little about the sacrifices the families make . Thanks for such a beautiful, touching project.
Love the woodgrain background, Nancy! Very cool card!
Thanks for the great directions! Love that wood grain paper for a manly card!
Great group of cards, love how you explained your techniques. Thanks for sharing your talents!
I love how you made a frame with the embossing folder. Great idea.
I love the silver " chain" you've created here! Lovely card!
I love that embossing - it really looks like the chain on the tags. What a treasure to have all those family dog tags. I have my grandfather's WW I tag which is a circle with a hole in the middle. Very different from the ones today...
The woodgrain paper is terrific! I wish you'd stated the source for it. It would be fabulous for any masculine cards. The patriotic ribbon finishes off your card nicely!
Thanks for sharing your story about the dog tags. That's so cool that he is saving them. And what a great idea to make a shadowbox for them. Nice use of the woodgrain paper!
What a fabulous card! I love the woodgrain background and the dog tags rock!
You did a wonderful job of commemorating your husband's dog tags with your card. The woodgrain paper is perfect.
Love it! The embossed frame and cutout make this so elegant! And your bow is so perfect.. mine never look like that!
I love the use of the dog tags and especially the silver chain that looks real.
What a heart warming card. The dog tags are, can I say "beautiful." They just look so realistic. Thanks for sharing. Oh, I also really like that wood grain frame. Great card.
cool I really like those dog tags on front of your card. Ive not seen that on one yet. how awesome
Thanks for sharing your card and the story behind it. I love the layout and how you embossed the chain. What a beautiful card.
Love the details of embossing and layering the dog tags. Unity Stamps has some great stamps for our heroes. I think wood grain paper was a great choice for your super card. Thanks
Very masculine. the woodgrain background is a nice backdrop for your shadowbox effect.
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