Travel the World - Week 17

This is the 17th week in my Travel the World personal challenge. Each week I am randomly choosing one country (there are 195 countries in the world) and doing a little research on that country. I then select one tidbit of information about the country as inspiration for the card I make.

This week's country is...

Netherlands

More than a quarter of the Netherlands is below sea level.

The Netherlands is a very flat country. The Vaalserberg is the highest point in (the European part of) the Netherlands. It’s only 322.7 meters high (just over 1000 feet) and located in the south-easternmost edge of the country in the province of Limburg. You could also say the Netherlands is as flat as a pannenkoek (pancake).

More than 60% of the Netherlands is agriculture and horticulture. 

Almost 80 percent of the world’s flower bulbs come from the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is one of the least religious countries in Europe with at least 50% of the population considering themselves non-religious.

Because Amsterdam’s soil consists of a thick layer of fen and clay, all buildings are built on wooden poles that are fixed in a sandy layer that is 11 meters deep on average. The Royal Palace at Dam Square is built on no less than 13,659 wooden poles.

With 487 inhabitants per square kilometer, the Netherlands has the highest population density of any European country with more than 1 million inhabitants.

There are over 1,000 windmills still standing from 1850. They are traditionally used for a variety of purposes, from irrigation to grinding grain, only a few still operate commercially. 

Over half of the working population in the Netherlands work part time.

Rotterdam port, which stretches over 25 miles, is the largest sea port in Europe and the ninth largest in the world.

People greet each other with three kisses on the cheek in the Netherlands.

When the Dutch shake hands and when they answer the phone, they say their last name instead of hello.

The people are not big on gushing compliments. For instance, to praise something they will say it is "not bad."

Wooden shoes originated in the Netherlands and were traditionally worn by those working on the land, in factories, or in mines. The oldest surviving wooden shoes date back to 1230.

About 30% of all births happen at home in the Netherlands.

French fries are served with mayonaise in the Netherlands.

This country loves cheese and is the second largest exporter of cheese in the world.

More licorice is eaten in the Netherlands than anywhere else in the world.

The Netherlands has the highest English-proficiency in the world. Eighty-six percent of the people of the Netherlands speak English as a second language.

The Netherlands is home to more bikes than people.

There are around 18 million bikes in the country, including the clever (if not so elegant) bakfiets which combine a bike and a wheelbarrow. Ideal for taking the kids to school, bakfiets are even occasionally used for moving house. 

CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays were invented in the Netherlands.

With an average height of 184 cm (just over 6') for men and 170 cm (almost 5' 6") for women, Dutchies are the tallest people in the world. Scientists say it’s because of their DNA, nutrition and welfare, others say it’s because of their copious consumption of dairy.

After Scandinavians, the Dutch are the world’s biggest coffee drinkers. They drink no less than 140 liters of coffee a year on average. That’s 3.2 cups a day!

Electric trains service about 600,000 passengers daily and are powered by renewable wind energy.

There is a fake village in the Netherlands for people who suffer from dementia. In the small town of Weesp, there's a gated village called Hogeweyk that is specifically designed to take care of elderly people with dementia. Only patients categorized as having "severe cases of dementia or Alzheimer's disease" are admitted. The village has almost everything you can wish for in a regular town, but it also has 24/7 nurses, caretakers, and doctors available.

I decided to let this Netherlands fact be the inspiration for this week's card... The Netherlands is famous for its tulips, even though they didn't originate there. The Netherlands is the biggest producer and exporter of tulips in the world.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Sets: Stampin' UP! All That You Are and Technique Tuesday Bootiful Tulips stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections 110# White and SU Chocolate Chip and Soft Sky CS

Embellishments: Recollections Rhinestones and SU Ribbon

Gallery Gazers CASE #10

As a member of the Gallery Gazers blog group, once each month I find a card in the SCS Gallery to CASE. This month I chose a card by Kid_at_heart (that's her SCS name; I don't know her first name). I was inspired by her masked stamping of an adorable image (hers was a dog) and how she colored just one of the images. 

You can see her card HERE.

You'll notice some obvious differences between her card and mine, but I think you'll also see how hers inspired mine.

As you can see in this wee peek at the inside of my card, I stamped the bear once in the bottom right corner and left her uncolored...

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps: Imagine That Happy Bearday and Stampin' UP! Happy Bear stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Tan and 110# White and SU Chocolate Chip and Pixie Pink CS

Embellishment: Paper Studio Dimensional Balloon

I Spy with My Eye - Orange and Buttons

... and there is a VERY GOOD reason why! Jen is hosting this month's Challenge Your Stash group, which means she got to choose the theme and we get to use what we already own (no shopping allowed!) to make a card that is theme appropriate. Jen's challenge is to include two of her favorite things - the color orange and buttons - on our cards.

Challenge Your Stash cards are to be posted on the 28th of the month, which is today, a Sunday, which is also the day I feature Victorine Originals on my blog, so I used one of my favorite VO stamp sets to make the card.

Oh, and this also just happens to be a birthday for our eldest DS. Of course, this card is probably a little too feminine for him, so I'll not be sending it his way, but I can/will give him a shout out...

Happy Birthday Jeremy!

That was probably unnecessary, since I doubt he visits my blog, but it's the thought that counts, right? (Plus the gifts I already mailed to him.)

The stamp set I used is the Floral and Sayings stamp set.

If you're new to SumMore Fun and would like to get this stamp set (or any other stamp set in the store) you can get a 10% discount by using the code JEANETTE10 at checkout.

Here's my card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Victorine Originals Floral and Sayings stamped with Catherine Pooler Midnight Ink

Papers: Recollections Black and Ivory and SU Pumpkin Pie CS and Teresa Collins Freestyle Damask and Freestyle Starburst DP

Embellishments: Foof-a-La Buttons

HB2U

I admit it - I love my iPhone. I text. I play games. I search for answers. I am rarely far away from it. So what better way to send a birthday greeting, right?

Eyelet Outlet Brads:

Eye Glasses

Jeans/Tee Shirt

Party Hat

Round

Selfie

Inside of Card:

Eyelet Outlet Washi Tape:

Happy Birthday

In case you haven't heard, Eyelet Outlet is having a contest going on Instagram - guess the new brads that will be coming to Eyelet Outlet soon. Someone will win a prize, so don't delay. Head over and make a guess.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Eyelet Outlet Products: Brads (Eye Glasses, Jeans/Tee Shirt, Party Hat, Round, and Selfie) and Washi Tape (Happy Birthday)

Stamp Set: Unity Modern Chit Chat stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Real Red CS and DP from my scrap file

Christmas CraZy 2019 - Card #2

Pansy hosts a Christmas CraZy group on SCS. The members chat and encourage one another. We also swap with one another every other month - but it's an easy swap. Pansy pairs us with a partner and we each send our partner a packet that includes a Christmas image and DP. Sentiments are optional. 

Janet is my partner this round - and she sent me this cute Cute CUTE little tangled up guy along with a couple of sentiments to choose from. The stamp set is Pink & Main's Merry and Bright. I absolutely fell in love with this guy - and purchased the set myself. Of course that wasn't too bad, since it's currently on sale. YAY me!

I had so much fun coloring this image... and then I added some Nuvo Crystal Glaze to the light bulbs to make them look more realistic.

I hope Janet (and the other Christmas CraZy gals) like my card.


Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image/Sentiment (provided by Janet): Pink and Main Merry and Bright (I colored it with Copic Markers)

Papers: Recollections Black Kraft and White CS and DP provided by Janet

Embellishments: Nuvo Crystal Glaze (on the lightbulbs) and SU Glitter Brads

Happy Birthday Pretty Lady!

The Project Bin has a new stamp set - Birthday Girl. It's a GREAT set with a variety of birthday greetings, including one for half-birthdays. Isn't that fun?

And for those of you who like to put a little something on the envelope, the set also includes a happy mail stamp that fits perfectly inside the heart stamp that is also in the set.

I used the heart on my card...

Be sure to check out this Birthday Girl set and all the other awesome stamp sets at The Project Bin.








Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: The Project Bin Birthday Girl stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Papers: Recollections Black and White and SU Pixie Pink CS and DP from the DCWV Girlhood Paper Stack

Embellishments: Flower and Round Brads from unknown vendors

Flea Market Flip - #2

I've committed to doing a quarterly series (personal challenge) this year. For this quarter (April - June) the series is what I'm calling Flea Market Flip. The idea is to find an item at a yard sale, thrift store, even out of the trash and use it on a card.... but the item needs to be something that was not created for the purpose of cardmaking or paper-crafting.

Today's item is a calendar:

Cost: $1

Found at a local thrift store

I looked through the pages 

until I found a quote to use:

The most important thing to remember about

exercise is to start SLOWLY... and then taper off!

Of course I thought the Penny Black Chicky Work-out stamp was perfect to use with the quote...

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp: Penny Black Chicky Work-out stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Real Red CS and Paper Studio Red Gingham and Black/White Big Stripe DP

Embellishments: Paper Studio Mini Brads

Travel the World - Week 16

This is the 16th week in my Travel the World personal challenge. Each week I am randomly choosing one country (there are 195 countries in the world) and doing a little research on that country. I then select one tidbit of information about the country as inspiration for the card I make.

This week's country is...

San Marino

San Marino is a small enclave completely surrounded by Italy.

Geographically San Marino is the third smallest state in Europe, and the landlocked nation also claims to be the world’s oldest republic.

San Marino is entirely composed of hilly terrain and has no flat ground.

The only countries in the world that have a smaller land area than San Marino are: The Vatican state, Monaco, Nauru, and Tuvalu. Thus, San Marino is the world’s fifth smallest country.

In area, the country is one-third the size of Washington, DC.

During his presidency, Abraham Lincoln was offered honorary citizenship of San Marino, which he accepted wholeheartedly.

With over 100 unique sculptures in a small area, San Marino has some very amazing works of art, the most famous of which is the Lady of Liberty located in front of the city hall.

San Marino is one of the densely populated countries in the world.

There is just 292 km (181.44 miles) of paved roads in the country.

With no public airport, no trains, and no way to approach the country via boat, you pretty much have to come through Italy to enter San Marino. They did briefly have a train line. In 1932, a train line (which involved several tunnels, due to the mountainous terrain) opened that ran from the Italian city of Rimini to San Marino. Sadly, the railway was destroyed during World War II and never rebuilt.

In 2017, San Marino received the title of ‘Least Visited Country in Europe‘, after just 60,000 international tourists ventured here.

Mount Titano is a central focal point in the country and boasts 3 peaks. Mount Titano is the highest point in the immediate area and gives San Marino the amazing views it is known for, stretching all the way to the Adriatic Sea. Each of Mount Titano’s peaks holds one of San Marino’s three towers, Guaita, Cesta, and Montale. Montale is privately owned and inaccessible to tourists, however, you can climb both Guaita and Cesta on your trip to San Marino. They boast incredible views of both the surrounding countryside and each other.

San Marino has had the highest number of female head of state than any other country.

The piadina, a thin Italian flatbread, is a common dish in San Marino. Found in specialized food stands called piadinerie, the piadina consists of thin bread filled with cheeses, meats and/or vegetables or with sweet fillings such as jam or chocolate spread.

San Marino is known for the its Torta Tre Monti (“Cake of the Three Mountains” or “Cake of the Three Towers”), a cake of layered wafers covered in chocolate depicting the Three Towers of San Marino.

The last battle in which San Marino actively participated was in 1463.

San Marino depends on Italy for its defense as the country does not have its own deference forces. They however have a small military of their own but nothing to fight in the event of a war or dispute.

During the World War I, Italy, suspended all telephone connections with San Marino, suspecting that it could harbor Austrian spies who could be given access to its new radiotelegraph station.

Electricity in San Marino is imported from Italy via electrical grid.

Despite competing in 12 summers and 7 winter Olympics, San Marino never won a medal.

I decided to let this San Marino fact be the inspiration for this week's card... San Marino is the only country in the world with more vehicles than people. There were 1263 vehicles for every 1000 people in the country in 2010.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Unity All Cylinders stamped with Catherine Pooler Midnight Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Paper: Recollections Black and Ivory and SU Pacific Point CS and American Crafts DP

Embellishments: Gina Marie Designs Glitter Enamel Dots

Just a Note

I'm part of the Creative Card Chicks group on SCS. Each month one of the members sends goodies to the other members and we all make cards with the same things. Kelly H is the hostess this month. She sent us a spring-themed kit. 

Here's what was in Kelly's kit...

Image and embossed trim - Cardmaking & Papercrafting Issue #168 Image designed by Jenny Ellory

Sentiment - Cardmaking & Papercrafting #165

DSP - SU Share What You Love

SU - Pear Pizzazz and Daffodil Delight cardstock, Enamel dot, and ribbon

Recollections Brads

Martha Stewart Butterfly (from misc. paper)

THANK YOU, Kelly! I hope you (and the other Chickies) like my card.

I cut out the image with Nestabilities Circle Dies.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

The only thing of my own that I used to make this card was some cardstock - Recollections Black for layering and SU Pear Pizzazz for the card base.