At the beach ...

My husband and I recently had dinner with a friend from way back when we were kids at "the lake."  We three agreed we had the privilege of growing up in the best community ever: White Meadow Lake in the town of Rockaway, New Jersey.

Jerry, known as "Cook" in those days, reminisced with us at how amazingly idyllic those summer days and nights in the 60's had been.  While I lived in White Meadow Lake all year round (Stuart too), Jerry was among the 200 or so families who were "summer" residents, having homes or apartments in New York City and summering in the "country."   We laughed as we talked about First Beach, day camp, color war, plays performed on the Club House lawn and walking around the lake in pitch darkness.  None of us had a driver's license or, duh!, a cell phone, as we walked miles up and down hills to find the party we had heard about during the day.  We were ever hopeful we would find one, and sometimes we did!

Stuart and I were always surprised to be reminded that many of our friends with two homes were indeed not "rich" as we assumed, but were from working class families struggling to get away from the city's summer heat. 

There was indeed magic in that summer moonlight as we walked and talked and laughed loudly on those otherwise silent, dark streets.  We know White Meadow could not really be unique in it's specialness:  the lifelong friendships forged, the incredible memories from youth to late teens, the marriages (!)… but in fact, we think that it is!  

Using the Waterfront stamp set, I created this peaceful scene with just a few colors and light hand reminding me (a little!) of the beauty and sometime serenity of "the lake."

(Apologies:  The Happy Birthday! sentiment used on this card is no longer available.  A similar font can be found in the Well Said stamp set shown below.)

Directions:   Using your trimmer, cut an 81/2 by 11 inch piece of Crumb Cake cardstock in half at 4 1/4" along the 8 1/2" side.  Score at 5 1/2, fold in on the "mountain" and use your bone folder, or finger to press fold firmly.  Cut two pieces of Whisper White cardstock 5 3/8 x 4 1/8.  Adhere one piece to the inside of your card.  Note: Whisper White cardstock, used to line the interior of this color cardstock base, can be cut smaller as desired.

Stamp the scene with the Waterfront stamp set as pictured or go out on your own!  The Waterfront stamp set lends itself to many beautifully "painted" scenes.  You can even spray your inked stamps lightly with water to give a watercolor effect.  Note too, that I used second-generation stamping on both the mountains and the water.  That is, after stamping onto the paper, the stamp is used again, without inking again on the stamp pad.  Do practice on scrap (even typing) paper to see the possibilities!  Stamp the sentiment of your choice at the bottom of the card.  Most of all, have fun!  And do let me know how yours turns out.


Supplies for this card: