Graduation!

Inspiration

A friend has niece graduating from Marquette in May, and asked me to make a card.  Graduation cards are one of my favorite – they are easy to personalize by finding the colors or mascot or other fun information about the school.  For this card, I found the Marquette blue and yellow logo, and borrowed the colors.  I think the stamp from Penny Black captures the joy of the accomplishment and the event perfectly.

Ingredients

CARDSTOCK (all SU!): Summer Sun, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White

STAMPS: Graduates (Penny Black), Tassel Time(SU!), Cap (Ducks in a Row)

INK (all SU): Basic Black

ACCESSORIES:  Summer Sun and Brilliant Blue Markers (SU!); Uni-ball Gel Impact Gold Pen (Sanford); Scor-Pal; Scissors; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD: Cut a piece of yellow cardstock measuring 10” x 7”, and score it in the middle at 5”.

MAT: Cut a piece of blue cardstock measuring 4 7/8” x 6 7/8”, and mount it on the front of the base card.

IMAGES: Graduates: Stamp the graduates image on a white cardstock piece measuring 4” x 2 3/4”.  Mount it on a yellow cardstock piece measuring 4 1/8” x 2 7/8”.

Congratulations: Stamp the sentiment on white cardstock, and color the cap and diploma using the markers.  Trim around the image closely, and then mount it on yellow cardstock, and trim it again.

Cap / Diploma: Stamp the cap and diploma on white cardstock and trim closely.

ASSEMBLY: Mount the graduates image at an angle in the center of the blue mat on the base card.  Add the sentiment in the lower right corner, and the cap and diploma in the upper left corner.

INSIDE: For the inside, choose an appropriate sentiment.  I used a stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms that quote Thoreau:  “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams!  Live the life you have imagined.”

Thanks for stopping by!

Hummingbird Dreams

Inspiration

For this card, I found inspiration on the gallery of “bossbuddy” on Splitcoast.  She made a beautiful card that I had to try.

I changed the colors based on those used in the Walk in the Park designer series paper from SU!, and I used the hummingbird stamp that comes with the Dream A Little set.  I loved the original, and I like my result, too!

Ingredients

CARDSTOCK (all SU!): Baja Breeze, Cameo Coral, Very Vanilla, Walk in the Park DSP

STAMPS: Dream a Little (SU!)

INK (all SU): Basic Black, Cameo Coral, Baja Breeze

ACCESSORIES:  Post-It notes (3M); Gelly Roll Clear Star sparkle pen; Colored pencils (Prisma Color); Gamsol; paper stubs (Hobby Lobby); Gel Ivory ribbon (Ribbon Retreat); Sizzix Top Note die (SU!); Foam tape (3M); Cuttlebug Die Cut matching (Provo Craft); Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight and pinking blades (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD: Cut a piece of blue cardstock measuring 8 1/2” x 5 1/2”, and score it in the middle at 4 1/4”.

MATS: Using the pinking blade, cut a piece of patterned paper measuring 5 1/4” x 4”.   Using the Cuttlebug and Top Note die, cut a coral die cut, and a vanilla one.  Trim the vanilla one just inside the border line allowing it to fit on the coral die cut.

IMAGES: Stamp the large flower on the vanilla top note die cut in coral ink.  Stamp the same flower on 2 Post-It notes, then cut each one out to use as masks.  Place the masks over the flowers on the die cut.

Stamp the flowers on stems above the large blossoms, and create masks for these stamps and place them on the images on the die cut.

Stamp the buds on stems to complete the picture.

On extra scraps of vanilla cardstock, stamp another large blossom in coral, and the hummingbird in blue.  Trim both closely.

Color the flowers using colored pencils, and blend with Gamsol using paper stubs.  This creates a very nice, soft effect.

Although it is difficult to see in the photo, I outlined the flowers and hummingbird with the sparkle pen.  I also used a black pen to make the hummingbird’s eye stand out.

ASSEMBLY: Mount the patterned paper on the base card, then center the coral top note die cut on the patterned paper.  The die cut with image is then mounted on the coral die cut.

Add the hummingbird using foam tape in a position as if it is visiting one of the flowers.  Place the trimmed large blossom in the lower left corner, also using foam tape.

Add a nice bow in the middle of the raised blossom.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Easter

Inspiration 
The inspiration for this card is simple – the true meaning of Easter.

Ingredients

CARDSTOCK: Creamy Caramel (SU!)

STAMPS: Everlasting Life (Verve)

INK: Chocolate Chip (SU!)

ACCESSORIES: Balsa wood cross (Hobby Lobby); Mushroom Alcohol Ink (Ranger); White tulle; Scor-Pal; Glue dots; Foam tape; clear tape; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD: Cut a caramel card measuring 6” x 12”, and score it in half at 6”.

CROSS: Stain the wood cross with the alcohol ink to create a old wood look.  Careful! This is messy – if you have some protective rubber gloves, wear them because the ink will stain your fingers.  I had to use a pumice stone to clean my hands.

Cut a small square of the tulle, and drape it around the cross.  I used a glue dot to hold it in place on the front of the cross, and clear tape to hold it in back.

Mount it on the left front of the card using foam tape.

SENTIMENT: Stamp the sentiment in brown ink on the bottom right of the card front.

Thanks for stopping by!  I wish you all a blessed holiday.

 

Easter Bonnets

Inspiration

I originally made this as a birthday card, but the “bonnets” seemed perfect for Easter, too!

Ingredients

CARDSTOCK: Mellow Moss(SU!), Perfect Plum(SU!), Pretty in Pink(SU!), Whisper White (SU!)

STAMPS: 3 Hats (Morning Star Stamps), Absolutely Fabulous (SU!)

INK: Adirondack Pitch Black (Ranger); Perfect Plum(SU!)

ACCESSORIES: COPIC markers; Plain Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug Die Cut maching (Provo Craft); Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD: Cut a base card in green measuring 4 1/4” x 11” in green or yellow, and score it in half at 5 ½”.

MATS: Using the Cuttlebug, cut an oval from the middle of a piece pink paper measuring 4 7/8” x 3 5/8”.    Stamp the sentiment using the purple ink in the lower right corner of the pink frame.

Cut a rectangle from purple paper, measuring 5” x 3 3/4”.

IMAGE: Stamp the bonnets in black on a piece of white paper slightly smaller than the pink paper (about 4 3/4” x 3 1/2”).  Color with markers.

ASSEMBLY: Mount the white paper with the bonnets centered in the oval of the pink mat. Mount the pink and white stack onto the purple mat, then mount the whole image stack on the base card.

SMILE & SING! ”In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it,
you’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade…”

Thanks for stopping by!

Easter Bunny Basket

Inspiration

For a little more grown-up Easter basket, I think this bunny makes are really pretty card. 

Here are 2 variations using the same stamp and general layout.  The only difference is in the trim. 

The yellow card uses the Spellbinders’ scalloped circle and plain circle dies, with a simple patterned paper and ribbon embellishment.

I’m still learning to use my silhouette digital cutter, but I’m starting to see many possibilities.  The green card is trimmed with a row of die cut blossoms that provide a nice dimensional effect in a total opposite color – the bright pink really makes the flowers stand out!

Ingredients – Yellow Card

CARDSTOCK: So Saffron (SU!), Lavender Lace (SU!), Whisper White (SU!), patterned paper (DCWV)

STAMPS: Serene Spring (SU!); Sentiment (Cornish Heritage Farms)

INK: Rich Cocoa (Memento); Basic Black (SU!)

ACCESSORIES: COPIC markers; Scalloped and plain circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug Die Cut maching (Provo Craft); Scor-Pal; lavender ribbon (Hobby Lobby); Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight and scalloped blades (Fiskars)

Ingredients – Green Card

CARDSTOCK: Green Galore (SU!), Lavender Lace (SU!), Whisper White (SU!), pink paper (unknown)

STAMPS: Serene Spring (SU!); Sentiment (Cornish Heritage Farms)

INK: Rich Cocoa (Memento); Basic Black (SU!)

ACCESSORIES: COPIC markers; Scalloped and plain circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug Die Cut maching (Provo Craft); Scor-Pal; Silhouette digital cutter (QuicKutz); Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight and scalloped blades (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD: Cut a base card measuring 5 1/2” x 11” in green or yellow, and score it in half at 5 ½”.

IMAGE LAYERS: Using the Cuttlebug, cut a lavender scalloped circle.  Run the cut image through the Cuttlebug again, embossing the shape.  Cut a smaller plain circle from white cardstock, and emboss this shape, too.

Stamp the bunny image using the brown ink centered in the white circle, and color with COPIC markers.

Mount the white circle on the lavender circle.

EMBELLISHMENTS (Yellow Card): Cut a triangle from the lavender patterned paper using the scalloped blade on the rotary cutter.  This triangle measures 3” at the base, and 3 1/2” on the other sides.

Cut a length of lavender ribbon measuring slightly longer than 5 1/2”, and another short piece of ribbon.  Tie the short ribbon around the longer one close to one end of the ribbon.

Mount the triangle of patterned paper on the left of the card front, followed by the ribbon.

Mount the image stack to the right of the triangle.

EMBELLISHMENTS (Green Card): Using the Silhouette, cut a strip of die cut flowers from the pink paper, and remove it from the cutting mat.

Mount strip of flowers on the left of the card, and the image stack on the right.

SENTIMENT: Stamp the sentiment below the image.

Thanks for stopping by!

Easter Gift Card Holders

Inspiration
Making gift card holders is great for any occasion, including Easter - a great little item to add to an Easter basket!  This is an easy one to make, and can be decorated in so many ways.

I first saw the idea on a technique challenge on Splitcoast Stampers, and it referred to a video for making this card holder on the Hero Arts blog.  I made Christmas-themed holders for gift cards in December, and they were a real hit.

Here are my Easter versions.

I used my Silhouette digital cutter for the scalloped frames on each card, and for the Easter basket on the purple card.  The rest were just quick & easy stamps with an Easter theme.

Ingredients

PAPER: Solid color cardstock measuring 8 1/2” x 4 1/4” for the outside of the card; Coordinating paper measuring 4” x 12” for the inside card holder.

STAMPS: An Egg-cellent Easter (SU!); Hey Chickie (Cornish Heritage Farms)

INK: Basic Black (SU!)

ACCESSORIES: SU Markers; Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight and deckle blades (Fiskars); Craft knife

Instructions

INSIDE CARD HOLDER: Score the 4 X 12 paper, score it at 4", 6”, and 8”.  Fold the paper inward on the 4” and 8” scores.  Using the craft knife, cut a slit about 2 1/2” long along the 6” score line.   Fold on the 6” score line in the opposite direction of the first 2 folds.  Now you have a “W” shape. 

OUTSIDE CARD: Score the 8” x 4 1/4” card in the middle at 4 1/4”, and decorate the front with a stamped or die cut image.

FINAL ASSEMBLY: Use adhesive to glue the inside cardholder paper to inside of the outer card, with the slit for the gift card pointing outward.

You can embellish the inside with more images, or sentiments as you wish.  It’s a simple pattern you can really personalize.  For more inspiration, here is a gallery with many, many samples!

Have fun getting ready for the Easter Bunny’s visit! Thanks for stopping by.