Poppies for ANZAC Day

Today is a special day in the Australian and New Zealand Calendars - 25th April marks ANZAC Day (Australian New Zealand Army Corp) and originally was created to remember those lost during World War 1.  The ANZACs landed at Gallipoli, Turkey on 25th April 1915 with great loss of life and two thousand wounded.  The following year, 1916, the first ANZAC commemorations began and since then the countries of Australia and New Zealand stop and remember all those who have fought in all wars for their countries, remembering those who lost their lives and thanking those who came home.  This is not to glorify war, rather a day of remembrance.

Today we attended the local ANZAC Day service, our three children marched in the parade with their respective schools and my eldest laid a wreath on behalf of his school.  It is a solemn and poignant day and we thank those who served in defence of our country.  After the ceremony, I felt like creating, but as you can see, not in my usual style.  I was drawn to watercolours - which are most definitely not my strength - perhaps it was the symbolism of water and tears, but I enjoyed creating this card.

I used a base of cream, then a layer of dark red (although it looks darker than that in the photo), with more cream.  Around this is an olive May Arts Ribbon.  I've taken a piece of Watercolour Paper and stamped the image from Power Poppy's Poppies stamp set in Stazon Black and used Bruynzeel Aquarel pencils to colour it with a brush and water.  After the poppies were done, I placed a brick wall stencil over the top and created the background around it.  The sentiment is from Bloomin' Wonderful - a thank you sentiment which is appropriate for today don't you think?  To finish I added a couple of small white pearls for the top - perhaps more symbolism as pearls are for tears.

Stamps - Poppies, Bloomin' Wonderful (Power Poppy)
Paper - Watercolour Paper, Cream, Cherry Cobbler
Ink - Stazon Black
Accessories - Bruynzeel Aquarel Pencils, Brush, Water, Olive May Arts Ribbon, Kaisercraft Snow Pearls

I'll leave with the Ode of Remembrance....

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

LEST WE FORGET

 

Thanks for visiting and reading right through to the end, have a good day and hug your loved ones.