Memories of Good Times...

Yesterday, on Gina's blog (http://blog.ginakdesigns.com/) she invited readers to share a favourite summer memory.  As I read her posting, a number of wonderful childhood memories came to mind, plus a reason  why "memory" is important to me, and my family.

My father has Alzheimer's and he struggles to remember simple things most times, but I'm glad that his long term memory is still more or less intact.  This year spending time with my father has been precious, I guess I feel as if I'm getting to know a new person.  Even though he has been my dad, I only know a part of who he is.  He tells me many stories (stories I've never heard before), e.g. of himself, as a kid growing up in WWII days and also of my grandfather & great grandfather whom I've never known.  As a result, I have come to treasure simple but wonderful memories in life & to hope that I never will forget.

Since I live in the East, we have warm climate every day of the year, so I guess special summer days for me would be like days when we have school holidays or when  we go on vacation. 

My favourite memory during school breaks would be times when my parents would take us out to the beach.  When I was young, I lived in the north east where the beach has really strong waves and while I loved being on the beach I was a little intimidated by the waves.  I would spend time playing on the sand and collecting seashells.  I would be so fascinated with seashells and their beauty. 

Here is my card, inspired by this memory and the lovely stamp set Gifts From the Sea.  It's a simple trifold card with a belly band.  The card measures 4.25" x 6".   The card base is a piece of cardstock weight, handmade paper (I can't recall the manufacturer - it was purchased on a vacation).  The belly band was stamped with the shells & sand dollars border stamp, then stitched around the edges.  One end of the belly band was punched with a scallop punch and secured with a brad.  A tiny stamped & cut-out shell was adhered on top of the brad.  The front panel of the card was stamped with various stamps from the Stamp set and lightly coloured with Dewent colour pencil ( Yellow Oxide).  On the front edge of the trifold, a strand of lace was adhered as shown, using 1/8" scor-tape.  The sentiment was stamped on a cream coloured cardstock, with some lightly stamped shells & corals on the background then adhered with foam squares to another peach coloured cardstock cut & embossed with Spellbinders Fancy Tags.

Hope you like the card, I certainly had fun making it - and thanks for dropping by.