Swirly Scribbles So Versatile

I've seen the stamps that coordinate with this thinlit set and they are sooo cute, but with the need to be frugal at this point in time, I decided on just buying the thinlits.  I will probably change my mind about the stamp set, Swirly Bird, as I see holiday projects that I know will be popping up, but for now I'm satisfied with my decision.

So...the project I came up with was actually inspired by an Independence Day card I saw on Pinterest, and I knew this would be the perfect way to make my gift for a dear friend of mine who has now "fully" retired from his career with the U.S. Army and the school districts for which he served.

This gentleman put in many years in active duty, protecting our right to freedom, and then took on the responsibility of teaching my child, among many, through the JROTC program at our local high school, how to grow while learning about respect, discipline and competing on the Drill Team.  He gave countless hours of service through the school week and then traveled on weekends to competitions throughout the Midwest so that our children could grow and learn something that they would not necessarily have ever been exposed.

I love the swirly scribbles in Real Red.  They make this piece pop, as do the Night of Navy Stars that were punched using the Medium Star Punch in the Annual Catalog.

I embossed the military pieces from one of my retired sets, in black, matted the 2-sided invitation on Night of Navy and added intermittent white card stock stripes lengthwise throughout the piece.

I carried the military theme into the card and chose to just keep it simple with black and white.  The sentiment and soldier are both heat embossed, which gave this card a step up in quality.

Let me know what you think.  I'd love to hear your thoughts:)

~Tammie