June 23, 2013

PINWHEEL SUMMERS

When I think back to the halcyon summer days of my childhood, many images and memories come to mind. Running through the sprinkler. Fireflies. Watermelon. Four leaf clovers. Angle worms. Roller skates and skinned knees (and the key hanging on a string around my neck). Picnics. Orange pushups. A "tent" made by using clothespins and a blanket against a fence. Violet Kingdom. The occasional snake. Sparklers. Penny candy. Library books. Cut-outs (paper dolls) of the Lennon Sisters. Barbie and friends. Calling for Lolly by standing outside the door of her house, and sing-songing, "Lolll-yy". Playing kickball in the middle of Main Avenue. Exploring bomb shelters. And . . . pinwheels!

OK. So I realize I am dating myself big time. I was lucky enough to live my childhood through the 50s and 60s. Like I said, halcyon times. If only life were still so simple and good.

Pinwheels, always a symbol of happiness and whimsy, are often associated with summer occasions, such as the Fourth of July. So I decided to feature one as the star of my red, white and blue card.


Since pinwheels spin in the breeze, I decided to make the pinwheel on my card spin also. These are often referred to as spinner cards. Interactive and fun to play with, they are surprisingly easy to put together. Basically all you need are Stampin' Dimensionals, a "track" and your two cents worth.



I used the Bright Blossoms set (page 89) and retired Designer Series Paper of the same name for my pinwheel card. Not so much patriotic as summery and happy, I felt it was a good choice.

To support my spinning pinwheel, I used a label I made with my Big Shot and one of the Apothecary Accents Framelits. I echoed the dots on the DSP  by piercing around the edges of the label using the Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack as my guide. To make the track in the label, I made a continuous punch using the Word Window Punch. To anchor the track piece to the card, I looped taffeta ribbon through the sides of the punched area and attached the ribbon ends on the back. 


The track is raised up with two Stampin' Dimensionals stacked together along the edges. The pinwheel is mounted to a sandwich of pennies: two pennies with a Stampin' Dimensional between them. This allows the pinwheel to spin along the track once the card is all put together. 

I had decided to add two thin strips of Island Indigo paper above and below the red piece to add a bit more variety. 



I used a craft knife to carefully slit the two ends of a Modern Label and slipped the bottom strip through the slits I created to mimic the track piece a bit. Adding two of the silver 1/8" Mini Brads on either side of the label gives a good finishing touch.

After stamping the flowers and dots on the Whisper White base, I ran it through the Big Shot inside the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder to bring dots back into the mix once again.

Nostalgic
Smiles.



41 comments:

  1. Boy, you brought back the memories. Is this a card we might get to learn??

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    1. That's GOOD, Christina! No, it was a pain to create. I think you girls would kill me. :>)

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  2. Love this card. The colors are awesome:)

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  3. I agree... Pinwheels are so happy and whimsical! Super cute! hanks for linking up to Monday Funday!

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  4. These are way fun! Would love you to share them here http://www.theprincessandhercowboys.com/2013/06/on-display-monday-7.html

    Have a good one!

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  5. Wow! As a child growing up in the 70's my child-hood sounded just like yours! Much simpler...playing out side long after the sun went down and the fireflies lit my way home!
    Thanks for sharing this at our Summer Bucket List Link Party! Keep sharing, we'll be partying through June!
    xoxo
    http://www.lifeafteremptynest.com/2013/06/summer-bucket-list-link-party.html

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    1. Thanks for sharing YOUR memories! Wow -- growing up in the 70s: makes me feel really old. But, serious, weren't time better back then? Or -- maybe it's being a grown-up that makes life so complicated, eh? :>)

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  6. Linda - those were simpler times and you have brought back great memories! Thanks for sharing on our BeBetsy Brag About It party!
    Great inspiration!
    Follow us:
    Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Bloglovin ~ Pinterest

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    1. I'm so happy I was able to evoke great memories! :>)

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  7. Lovely work, Linda! Pinwheels remind me of summer, too!

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    1. Thanks, June! Aren't they just the most fun?? :>)

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  8. This looks awesome!!! We would love it if you would link up at our linky party:
    http://www.lifewiththecrustcutoff.com/two-girls-and-a-party-link-up-22/
    Live every Wednesday to Sunday.
    Hosted by:
    http://www.lifewiththecrustcutoff.com/ Parrish @ Life with the Crust Cut Off
    http://thissillygirlslife.com/ Dana @ This Silly Girl's Life
    We hope to see you there!

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    1. Why, thank you! Thanks also for the invite! :>)

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  9. Thanks for linking up to Take-A-Look Tuesday over at Sugar Bee Crafts - you were featured today!!
    --Mandy, www.SugarBeeCrafts.com

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  10. Mandy also featured my Patriotic Bunting! We were featured together! Yeah! Lol. Love this card:)

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    1. See Cathy? We are so good together! Congrats! :>)

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  11. So adorable and festive! Thanks so much for sharing at Katherine's Corner Blog Hop where I'm co-host today.

    Christine @ http://idigpinterest.blogspot.com

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  12. Love the pinwheels and was reminiscing with you. I loved kickball when I was a kid. It was so nice to spend so much of summer outdoors. Do you remember water wiggles?

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    1. I am so glad we could reminisce together! No, I don't remember "water wiggles". Now you have me really curious. :>)

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  13. Hi linda.. me too as for the 50s and 60s. Mid 60s things started to get a little wild... I was just thinking about doing something with pinwheels. I was at joanns this morning and saw the pretty papers... yours came out super cute!!! Have a great weekend. Linda

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    1. Thanks, Linda. Hmmm. Mid-60s things started to get a little wild?? Lin-da! I had very calm, non-wild growing-up years. :>)

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  14. This is adorable!! :) Thanks so much for sharen this with us at One Sharendipity PL.

    Sue @ TheT2women.com

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  15. Super cute! It's so cool that it spins and that it's on a card. Wow!

    Natashalh

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  16. This is such a great idea! We'd love if you shared it at our Super Summer Saturdays link up! www.thechirpingmoms.com

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    1. Thank you for the invite. I totally missed the party! I am so sad. :>)

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  17. Beautiful post! Love it!

    Thanks so much for sharing at A Peek Into My Paradise TGIF Link Party! I can't wait to see what you link up next week! I hope to see you at the (Not SO) Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/

    Have a terrific week!

    Hugs, Cathy

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  18. I love pinwheels & your card! Thanks for sharing & linking up at DearCreatives.com Theresa

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