{ Armistice of 2009 }

Americans

Respect

Military

Independence

Salute {{ our }} Soldiers

Tribute

Integrity

Comrades

Equal

There aren't enough words to express the gratitude felt by those of us fortunate enough to sleep under the quilt of freedom provided through the service of our Veterans!

Thank-you for your dedication to keep this Great Nation FREE!

Photo available here

{ Autumn Harvest }

In 1621

Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians

shared an autumn harvest feast known as the first Thanksgiving

celebration.

A time of reflecting on the blessings we're so THANKFUL ...

... From our home to yours

a Thanksgiving Day

filled with blessings and love ...

{ 11 + 11 + 11 = }

Armistice Day...

went into effect the

eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month

in 1918.

...not until 1926 did November 11th

actually become known as a holiday in the United States.

June 1st of 1954...

the name was changed to Veterans Day

to honor all United States veterans.

To all who've served this Great Nation...

Thank-you for an extraordinary job, well done.

Happy Armistice Day Bloggyland.

Photo found here

November

Cardmaker's Calendar

4th - Election Day

Stand up and make a difference!

If you don't vote, you can't complain!

11th - Armistice Day

... or better known as Veteran's Day to Americans.

A handmade thank-you card to a Veteran

acknowledging our freedoms is a nice

gesture that we've not forgotten their sacrifices for our country.

13th - World Kindness Day

Could this lead to global PEACE?!

17th - World P-E-A-C-E Day

Begins with us extending ourselves to our fellow man.

Hopeful to see a global PEACE in my lifetime.

27th - Thanksgiving Day

What better expression of gratitude to those who

enrich our daily lives...

than with a stamped creation expressing our thanks.

28th - Black Friday

Whilest some complete Christmas shopping...

others will be trimming the tree or finishing up Christmas Greetings for mailing.

Ideas from INKAnews

May

Cardmaker's Calendar

3rd - Nat'l Scrapbooking Day

Workshops, crops and sales...

Join the nationwide event of stocking up

on supplies and ideas!

4th - World Laughter Day

Laughter being the best medicine...

Practice random acts of silliness to spread a little cheer!

6th - Teacher's Day

Create a personal thank-you with your child

for their teacher.

11th - Mother's Day

Remember Mum with a handstamped card,

and jot down a funny memory or poignant moment

that defined your life.

17th - Armed Forces Day

Honor those in the military with a

heartfelt thank-you for all they do for our country.

26th - Memorial Day

Originally called Decoration Day, a day of remembrance
of those who have died in our nation's service.
Flowers and small American flags are traditionally placed on graves
of fallen soldiers that fought to defend our freedom!

Ideas from INKAnews

April

Cardmaker's Calendar

10th - National Sibling Day

Reminisce of fond childhood memories with a

sibling by sending a card.

18th - Pet Owner's Day

Truly, our pets are part of our family.

Create a scrapbook page, a stamp craft project or card in honor

of a beloved pet using animal themed stamps to.

22nd - Earth Day

First celebrated in 1970, this nationally observed day helps

to inspire and guide us to keep our HOME planet

healthy! Learn how you can join in at

www.earthday.net

23rd - Administrative Professionals Day

Express your gratitude to those people who handle

the details and make your workday easier.

Ideas from INKANews

Honor Our Veteran's...

Today marked the official Veteran's Day holiday for New Hampshire.

Feeling the need to show my support, patriotism and remembrance... I chose to create a card honoring our soldiers.

"Our freedom has been purchased at the price of our fallen soldiers."

What did you do with your "freedom" today?

September

Cardmaker's Calendar

3rd Labor Day

A great day for a barbecue! Invite friends with

a hand-stamped invitation. A game of friendly football to

celebrate the first football game played on this day in 1895.

Origin of Labor Day History.

8th Literacy Day

Create a stamped bookmark for your children as a reward

for each book they finish reading. Give the first bookmark on

Literacy Day, and see how many they can collect by the

end of December!

9th Grandparents Day

Great occasion for children to send their "first day of school"

photo in a hand-stamped frame to doting

grandparents!

13th Chocolate Day

Stamp a new candy bar wrapper and give a

friend a sweet treat who needs it!

23rd First Day Of Autumn

Share the joy of the changing seasons with

those you love. A stamped creation with autumn

earth tones and a special message!

28th Good Neighbor Day

There are many ways to be a good neighbor-offering help

when it's needed, extending an invite or performing

a random act of kindness. Try baking a dessert

and stamping a card with the recipe!

Fond Memories of yesteryears.

Ideas from INKAnews

August

Cardmaker's Calendar

5th American Family Day

A great day to spend time together crafting - take out

your stamping paraphernalia and have fun! Working

together on a family project like a vacation

scrapbook will make the finished piece a more

cherished family heirloom!

5th Friendship Day

Do we really need a reason to send a

rubberstamped card to a friend?

10th S'mores Day

Appropriately placed in August... campfire primetime.

Origin of S'mores dates back to the 1920's.

It's believed that the recipe was first discovered by

the Girl Scouts! S'more folklore suggests that it got it's

name by the campfire... after eating one,

young children chanted "gimme some more!"

27th School's In Session

What better way to start the school year than with chocolate

and a handstamped note of encouragement...

for the teacher!

Ideas from INKAnews

July

Cardmaker's Calendar

4th Independence Day

July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain

and Democracy was born. Each year on July 4, Americans celebrate

that freedom and independence with parades, fireworks, barbecues,

picnics, and family gatherings.

Happy Birthday America!

7th Chocolate Day

Chocolate is America's favorite flavor.

I hear it said that "chocolate" is officially a vegetable... it comes from the Cacoa tree

found in rainforests! Need anyone say more...

Eat and stamp your day with chocolate!

15th Ice Cream Day

In 1984, President Reagan proclaimed July to be National Ice Cream Month...

the third Sunday of July is officially Ice Cream Day!

So whether it's real ice cream or a handstamped card... it will always

bring a smile to one's face!

22nd Parents' Day

As a child's first teachers, mentors, and role models, parents shape the character

of those who will help to build the future of our Nation.

On Parents' Day, we honor America's mothers and fathers and celebrate

the values that bind families from one generation to the next

and help define us as a Nation.

... lovely day to send a stamped creation celebrating our parents!

Ideas from INKAnews

Officially National Flag Day...

On June 14th, 1777 the United States of America flag was adopted

and originally refered to as the "Stars and Stripes!"

RED is for hardiness and valor

WHITE is for purity and innocence

BLUE is for vigilance, perseverance and justice

"The star is a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun."

Long may you wave...

I look forward to our next visit. Until then...

June

Cardmaker's Calendar

14th Flag Day

More formerly known as National Flag Day.

This day commerates the adoption of the flag of the

United States of America!

A great day to send a veteran or current service person

a Patrotic card of support!

17th Father's Day

Most of us have doting grandfathers, uncles or close friends

who've inspired or guided our lives. Why not take the opportunity

to wish someone close to us a Happy Father's Day!

A handcrafted card will convey to that special someone their

meaningful place in your life!

21st Summer Solstice

Better known as the First Day of Summer.

Some people feel that summer begins Memorial Day; or

when the kids are out of school. Astronomically speaking,

however, the first day of summer falls on June 21st during the Summer Solstice

when the Earth's axis tilts most towards the sun,

creating the longest period of daylight all year.

Take advantage of the longer evening of daylight by inviting

your stamping friends for a Solstice Stamp Fest!

Serve summery drinks, burgers on the grill and set-up some tables for stamping.

Here's to a wonderful summer.... CHEERS!

Ideas from INKAnews

Freedom Isn't Free...

Please take a moment this Memorial Day to remember those who have fallen or currently defend our freedoms with their very lives so that you and I can express...

FREEDOM of Religion
FREEDOM of Speech
FREEDOM of Choice

Not to mention the FREEDOM to follow our own paths in everyday life!

There are not enough words to express our gratitude, however we will hem you in our prayers... One thing our family does every Memorial Day is to place urns of RED, WHITE & BLUE on my father-in-laws grave, who was a Pearl Harbor Veteran. My own Dad a Vietnam Veteran, his Father a World War II Veteran and my Mother's Father a World War II Veteran. We're truly proud of our families forefathers service to Our Great Nation!

Tomorrow we'll enjoy a BBQ to start off our summer season. Here in New Hampshire our motto is "Live FREE Or Die..." I think that says it all.

If you'd like to learn more of the history behind Memorial Day... click here! Wishing you and yours a safe and fun Memorial Day!

I look forward to our next visit. Until then...

May

Cardmaker's Calendar

5th Scrapbooking Day

A national event that combines all the best of creative

scrapbooking activities, sales, classes, crops, weekend workshops

and much more!

8th Teacher's Day

A wonderful way to show a special teacher a little

deserved recognition or extra appreciation with a handstamped card

attached to a favorite dessert or chocolate as a thank-you!

13th Mother's Day

Most of us have doting grandmothers, aunts or close friends

who've influenced our lives. Why not take the opportunity

to wish someone close to us a Happy Mother's Day!

We don't need to look very far to find

someone who would be delighted with a

Happy Mother's Day greeting!

28th Memorial Day

Originally called Decoration Day, a day of remembrance

of those who have died in our nation's service.

Flowers and small American flags are traditionally placed on graves

of fallen soldiers that fought to defend our freedom!

Ideas from INKAnews

It's officially Earth Day... so do something positive to benefit our Earth today!

April

Cardmaker's Calendar

1st April Fool's Day

Let your humor run wild with gags

and pranks!

7th "No" Housework Day

Two internet sources confirmed it...

this is definitely a day to celebrate! How about You?

8th Easter

There's still time to stamp Easter Cards

and all the accessories needed to make your Easter

table colorful and festive!

25th Administrative Professionals Day

Express your thanks to those people who handle the

details and make your workday easier.

Ideas from INKAnews

March

Cardmaker's Calendar

9th Cabin Fever Day

The groundhog said that spring would come early

this year - create cheery cards to send stating

that spring is just around the corner!

11th Daylight Savings Day

Celebrate the return of longer days with plans for

your springtime garden. Carry the theme by stamping

invitations to your friends by going plant shopping!

17th St. Patrick's Day

Whether your into the corned beef and cabbage...

everyone loves to celebrate the spirit of St. Patty's Day!

Share a bit o' blarney with the "Irish" in your life

with a hand stamped greeting card!

20th Earth Day

We can be green in yet another way this month

by embracing the preservation of our planet:

purchase recycled papers whenever possible, use scrap materials

in a thrifty manner... by spreading the word - it's good to be green!

22nd Goof-Off Day

The perfect day to abandon household chores

and spend a few hours stamping!

Ideas from INKAnews