"Never get so busy about making a living that you forget about having a life."

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Memorial Day Means Mourning our Miliary Personnel as Summer Begins




Memorial Day Means Mourning our Military Personnel

Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 25th in 2026. It is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. On this weekend, we are showing our appreciation for their service. 

Through the years, traditional events and customs have been added, along with changing dates and titles, but the remembrance of military heroes has remained consistent. 

Memorial Day is a time for visiting cemeteries and memorials; it's a day for placing flags and flowers on the graves in their honor. The weekend has unofficially been recognized as the beginning of summer. Red, white, and blue colors represent the festivities, which include art shows, parades, picnics, and camping. In 1911, the Indianapolis 500 races hosted the first military tributes to honor those who lost their lives while defending American freedom. 

My husband and I will spend the next few weeks visiting relatives' graves, going back five generations, and leaving flowers in their honor. On Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, our TV will be tuned into the premier auto race held annually. A traditional meal of BBQ chicken, potato salad, baked beans, corn on the cob, and homemade buns will be on the menu to celebrate the start of summer. 

I cherish my Memorial Day memories spent with cousins at my family's cabin on a lake in Northern Wisconsin; therefore, I have scrapbooked those days to remember past times. In 2026, I will use the Ready, Set, Go! stamp and Party Banner dies to create red, white, and blue clusters for my album to recollect the day. 

Take care,
Linda Ann

Questions? Click on the navy button for additional blog information and quick resource inks.
Some posts contain Amazon affiliate or Stamp-n-Storage associate links, where I earn a small commission from qualified purchases. It is important to me that I only recommend quality products that I use and enjoy! I am also an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.


Summer Begins

As the weather is warming up, I am enjoying crafting in my studio cottage. See how easily the Ready, Set, Go! stamp set can create Happy Birthday cards by changing the cardstock colors. Party Banner Dies come in a variety of sizes.



Place a few tire tracks under the rack car to give the impression it is zooming away! Isn't it cool how the fun fold gives an illusion the race car is moving? 





Create your own Designer's Series Paper by stamping race flags on Willow White background cardstock. Give the new Basic Black ink pads time to dry before assembling the card. 


Add  Stylish Shape circles to give the race cars a background. Tear strips of Basic Black cardstock at a slant to create the feeling of movement.


Ready, Set, Go! Accept the challenge of creating race car cards for the sports fans in your life. 



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Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Easy Ways to Use the Sweet Jar Punch in Card Making When the Stamp Set Retires


Sending a Little Luck Your Way

When I set eyes on the Stampin' Up! Sweet Jar punch, I knew it would be a staple in my collection. It's one of those punches a paper crafter keeps handy, because of the many ideas for goodies to stamp inside the jar.

Stampin' Up! has designed stamp sets to coordinate with the punch - Jar of Joy and Sweet Jar. I set out to spend time in the studio cottage following the designer's ideas in the recipe booklets. My first mission was to make a calendar using the cookie stamps, and I couldn't wait to send the completed projects off to a couple of friends. 

Then I decided to try out some of my creative designs, since one of the stamps retired, Sweet Jar. 

My next thought was to use pastel colored inks, which magically turned the cookies into jelly beans! It wasn't long before the jars filled with birthday candles, four-leaf clovers, snowmen, and tree ornaments. Ohhhh. Why not add tiny bugs and animals to the jars? I was busy stamping ladybugs and birds. Hearts! They were next on my list of ideas.  

I am anxious to see your creative choices. Please post on the Tranquillity Cottage Facebook page using the hashtag #SweetJar. Thanks so much for sharing. 

Take care,
Linda Ann 

Questions? Click on the navy button for additional blog information and quick resource inks.
Some posts contain Amazon affiliate or Stamp-n-Storage associate links, where I earn a small commission from qualified purchases. It is important to me that I only recommend quality products that I use and enjoy! I am also an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Mixing Retired and Current Stampin' Up! Products

There is no better time than spring to add a few flowers inside the Sweet Jar Punch. How exciting that the punch is available as an Online Exclusive. 


Interested in learning more about the Sweet Jar card? Sign up for The Tranquil Gal eNews at the bottom of this post.  


Have you ever made a calendar? A jar full of chocolate chip cookies is a year around treat!



Since I started using stamps, dies, and punches while Memory Keeping, I have noticed my pages are more personal in design! 


Are you a collector of sea shells?  The retired stamp set, Shell Collecting, captured  found treasures to store in a jar.


Instead of collecting sea shells do you prefer to take pictures to remember their beauty? 


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