Graduation Girls

Inspiration

For graduation card, I like to match the school colors. Both the schools we received invitations for this year have orange as one of their colors, so I made 2 cards with the same design, just different base colors.

Morristown, TN East High School Colors

University of Texas at Dallas Colors

Ingredients

Note: finished card size is 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

Stamps

Frantic Graduation Girl (Sassy Cheryl's Digis)

Spring Pictograms (SU!)

Paper

Card 1 - Morristown, TN - East High School Colors
Basic Black (SU!)	5 1/2" x 11", score at 5 1/2", 1 1/2" x 2 1/2"
Pumpkin Patch (SU!)	5 3/8" x 5 3/8", and 4" x 5", and 1 1/2" x 2 1/2"
Gold Star Swirl (DCWV)	5 1/4" x 5 1/4"
Stamper's Select White (PTI)	4" x 5", and 1 1/2" x 4"
Mirror Cardstock - Gold Silk (Stamp Simply Ribbon Store)	4" x 5"
Card 2 - University of Texas at Dallas Colors
Basic Black	5 1/2" x 11", score at 5 1/2"
Garden Green	5 1/4" x 5 1/4", and 1 1/2" x 2 1/2"
Pumpkin Patch	4" x 5", and 1 1/2" x 4"
Stamper's Select White	4" x 5", and 1 1/2" x 2 1/2"
Mirror Cardstock - Gold Silk (Stamp Simply Ribbon Store)	4" x 5"

Ink

Epson RX620 Printer

Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)

Accessories

Petite Oval Nestabilities - Small (Spellbinders)

Petitie Scalloped Oval Nestabilities - Large (Spellbinders)

Stars 5 Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Banner Basics 2 Shapeabilities (Spellbinders)

Grand Calibur (Spellbinders)

Corner Rounder Punch (SU!)

Oval Punch (SU!)

Scalloped Oval Punch (SU!)

COPIC Markers & SPICA Glitter pen (Imagination International)

Baker's Twine (the Twinery)

Ribbon (Hobby Lobby)

Becca's Peg Bow Maker (ODBD)

Double-sided Sticky Tape (PK Glitz)

Zip Dry Glue

ATG (3M)

3-D Foam Squares (Scrapbook adhesives)

Scor-Pal

Rotary trimmer with straight and scalloped blades (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD

Start with black card stock, cut to 5 1/2" x 11", score at 5 1/2" and fold.

MAT

Cut the orange card stock to 5 3/8" x 5 3/8", and round all 4 corners. Cut the black swirl paper to 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" using a scalloped blade. Mount the black swirl mat onto the orange mat. Glue black & white twine in a curve around the top two corners.

Cut/emboss 4 orange banners, 4 gold stars, and 1 gold tassel. Glue 2 banners on the twine in each corner, and adhere a gold star to each banner.

Cut a six-inch strip of gold ribbon. Tie a bow using gold ribbon onto the ribbon strip then mount across the mat using double-sided tape, with the bow on the far left of the card. Mount the mat with ribbon onto the front of the card. Glue the tassel just below the bow.

IMAGE

Resize the graduate image to be 3 1/4" in height. Print the image on white card stock. Cut/emboss the image using an petite oval die. Cut/emboss an orange scalloped oval using a die just larger than the oval used to cut out the image.

Color the image with COPIC markers. I used these colors:

• Skin: E0000, E01, R20
• Hair: E55, E57
• Cap & Gown: C3, C5, C7, 100
• Skirt: YG61 & YG67 - OR - C3 & C5
• Tie & Shoes: YR12, YR14
• Diploma: E30, E31
• Shadow: C0, C1
• Tassel: Gold SPICA

Mount the image oval onto the orange scalloped oval, then adhere it to the card front.

SENTIMENT

Stamp the sentiment in black ink on white card stock. Punch it out using the oval punch. Punch a scalloped oval from black card stock. Mount the sentiment oval onto the black oval. Color the star in the sentiment with the gold SPICA pen. Mount the sentiment to the lower right of the image using foam squares.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Graduation

Inspiration

I received an order for a December graduation card for a college grad, and had time this weekend to put it together. The image is a fun digital stamp from "Sassy Cheryl" I found doing a quick "graduation digital stamp" Google search. I used the Sketch Saturday Challenge #181 for the layout.

Ingredients

Note: Finished card size is 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

Paper

Ballet Blue (SU!)	5 1/2" x 11"; scored at 5 1/2", and 4 1/2" x 5 1/2", and 1 1/2" x 4"
Delicate Dots DSP (SU!)	2 3/8" x 5 1/4", and 2 3/8" x 2 3/8" (2 pieces)
Stamper's Select White (Papertrey Ink)	4 1/2" x 5 1/2", and 2" x 4" (2 pieces)

Inks

Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)

Stamps

Frantic Graduation Girl (Sassy Cheryl)

Tassel Time (SU!)

Teeny Tiny Wishes (SU!)

Accessories

Big Shot Pro (Sizzix)

Ribbon Banners Shapeabilities (Spellbinders)

Big Scalloped Circles GRAND Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Large Petite Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

SPICA Markers (Imagination International)

COPIC Markers (Imagination International)

Wire-edged ribbon (Michaels)

Bow-Easy

Zip-Dry Glue

Scor-Pal

ATG (Scotch)

Scissors (Cutter Bee)

Rotary Trimmer (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD

Cut a piece of blue card stock measuring 5 1/2" x 11", score at 5 1/2" and fold. Cut one piece of patterned paper measuring 2 3/8" x 5 1/4" and adhere across the bottom half of the card front. Cut one piece of another patterned paper measuring 2 3/8" x 2 3/8" and adhere in one corner of the top half of the card front. Cut a third piece of patterned paper measuring 2 3/8" x 2 3/8" and adhere in the remaining corner of the top half of the card front. Cut/emboss the smalled Grand big scalloped oval from blue paper and adhere on the left of the card front. Mount a strip of ribbon across the middle of the card, covering the seam in the paper. Tie a bow, in matching ribbon and mount to the right of the blue oval.

DIGITAL IMAGE

Size the digital image on your computer to measure 3.75" in height. Print the image on white card stock. I let mine sit for an hour or so to make sure the ink won't run when I color it. Color the image with COPIC markers. I used these colors:

• Cap/Gown: C3, C5, C7, 100
• Skirt/Shoes: B21, B23, B24
• Scarf: R21, R24
• Skin: E0000, E000, E01
• Hair: Y38, E35, E37
• Diplomas: Y21, Y28
• Book: E09, E34, E37, E39

Enhance the tassel with the gold SPICA pen. Cut/emboss the image using the largest petite oval die, and mount on the blue oval mat on the front of the card.

OTHER IMAGES

Stamp the book, and the word "Congratulations" from the Tassel Time stamp set. Cut out the diploma and graduate head (the "o" and "i" from the word), and the book. Color with COPIC markers.

Color all of the trimmed images with COPIC markers. I used these colors:

• Cap: C3, C5, C7
• Skin: E0000, E000, E01
• Diploma: Y21, Y28
• Book: E09, E34, E37, E39

Enhance the tassel with the gold SPICA pen. Mount the images on the lower right edge of the main image on the front of the card.

SENTIMENT

Cut/emboss 2 ribbon banners - one in white, and one in blue. Trim the white one to just the inner portion of the banner. Stamp the sentiment in black ink on the white banner. Glue the white piece onto the matching area of the blue banner, and mount the banner in the upper right corner of the card.

Thanks for stopping by!

Bella Diploma

Inspiration

It's right in the middle of "graduation season", and this year I only had a couple to make. This image from Stamping Bella is so perfect for those lovely female graduates - I've used it for a couple of years now. I always try to pick paper to match school colors - JJ Pearce in Richardson, TX, is easy - they are RED, WHITE, and BLUE!

Also, I got a COPIC airbrush system Friday night, and started playing with it on Saturday. I have to say, I think I'm going to love it, but it is really going to take some practice! This card has just a touch - red airbrush highlight on the sentiment.

Ingredients

Note: Finished card size is 6" x 6"

Paper

Brilliant Blue	5 1/2" X 8 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
Real Red	4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Stamper's Select White (PTI)	4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Inks

Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)

Brilliant Blue (SU!)

Stamps

DiplomaBella (Stamping Bella)

Congratulations (Hero Arts)

Accessories

Fancy Tags Shapeabilities (Spellbinders)

Classic Rectangle Nestabilities - Large (Spellbinders)

Classic Rectangle Nestabilities - Small (Spellbinders)

Grand Calibur (Spellbinders)

COPIC markers (Imagination International)

COPIC airbrush system (Imagination International)

Scor-Pal

ATG 714

Scissors

Rotary Trimmer

Instructions

Image

Stamp the figure on white paper in black ink, and cut it out with the largest die from the SMALL rectangle Nestie set. Cut and emboss red rectangle, using the largest die from the LARGE Nestie set. Color with COPIC markers. I used these colors:

• Face/Legs: E000, E00, R11, RV11
• Shirt/Shoes: B21, B23
• Flower/Tassel: Y35, R29
• Robe/Cap: C5, C7, C9, 100, R29
• Background: B0000, B000

Sentiment

Cut and emboss a fancy label from white paper, and stamp the sentiment in blue centered on the label. Before removing the paper from the die, lightly spray the label using the airbrush, and the R29 COPIC marker. Note - you can create an effect very much like this using a sponge, and red dye ink.

Assembly

Mount the image on the red rectangle, and mount it on the card front. Add the sentiment label below the red rectangle.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day holiday, and thanks for stopping by!

Digital Stamping!

Inspiration
Well, I’m very late posting today – mostly because I’ve been making cards!  Another great weekend getting my creativity stoked up for the holiday season.  I had 2 special card orders to fill – both VERY specific as to topic.  When that happens, I often don’t have a stamp to fit the exact need – that’s the best time for me to turn to digi stamps.  They are really fun, and so flexible.  For me, they inspire me to use lots of my accessories and embellishments.  I’ll show you both creations below.


To use a digital stamp, I do a lot of web-surfing to find the image I like, then purchase, or (just download if they’re free!).  After planning the card design, I use Photoshop to open the image and get them sized just right for the card.  In Photoshop, you can enlarge or shrink an image, or flip them to a mirror of the original to make them fit together just the way you want.


Then, just print them with your regular printer (I have an Epson RX620 Ink Jet printer).  If you use COPICs, you may need to let them dry for a while before you color – I actually printed mine Saturday afternoon, and colored them today, so there was no danger of smearing.  If you’re in a hurry, you can always blast the paper with a heat gun, and you should be good to go.
Card 1: Longhorn Girl
The first special request was for a “congrats” card for a high school senior who just found out she’s been accepted at the University Of Texas in Austin.  When I looked on Splitcoast (here), I found a card I liked, and her information sent me to Anne Bodil’s site (here) – a Norwegian scrapper who draws beautifully, and provides a free digi every once in a while.  I loaded it into Photoshop, and added some Longhorn symbols and stars.  Here’s her special card.
Ingredients
Paper

Color	Vendor	Size
Basic Black	Stampin’ Up!	a)  4 1/4” x 11”, score at 5 1/2" b) 4 1/2” x 3 1/2” c) Small scrap
Textured Orange	DCWV	a)  4 1/8” x 5 3/8”
Plaid Orange	Close to My Heart	a)  4” x 3”
Whisper White	Stampin’ Up!	a)  4 1/2” x 3 1/2” b)  Small scrap
Clearly Thanks printed window sheet (white polka dots)	Stampin’ Up!	a)  4” x 4”

Ink
Pumpkin Pie (SU!)
Stamps
AnneBodil14 (Anne Bodil); Absolutely Fabulous (SU!)
Accessories
Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Oval Large, and Scalloped Classic Oval Large; Cuttlebug; Scalloped oval punch and small oval punch (SU!); COPIC markers (E000, E00, E27, E31, E50, YR02, Black Multi-Liner); SPICA At-You Chocolate; SU! Marker (Pumpkin Pie); Gelly Roll MED – Orange); Ribbon (scraps); Scor-Pal; Glue dots; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight and deckle blades (Fiskars); Scissors
Instructions
Paper and Images
After printing the girl image, cut it out using the Classic Oval.  Cut and emboss a Scalloped oval in black.  Cut the plaid paper with a deckle edge blade, and the printed window sheet with a straight blade.
Stamp the sentiment on the white scrap and punch it out with the plain oval.  Punch a black scalloped oval, and mount the sentiment on the scalloped oval.
Color the girl using COPICs – here’s what I used on each part:  Skin: E000 and E00; Eyes: SPICA Chocolate; Hair: E27, E31, E50; Longhorns/Stars/Hair bows: Gelly Roll MED – Orange; Dress: Pumpkin Pie; Shirt: YR02; Leggings: YR02 and Black Multi-Liner; Shoes: Black Multi-Liner
I finished up by using a sponge and some pumpkin pie ink to slightly color the edges of the white oval.
Assembly
Layer on the textured orange panel, followed by the clear panel, followed by the plaid.  Tie the ribbon around the middle.  Mount the black scalloped oval over the ribbon, and the image of the girl on the black scalloped oval.
Fold the black card base on the scored line.  Mount the artwork on the front.
Inside
For this card, I cut another textured orange panel (4 1/8” x 5 3/8” ), and a white panel (4” x 5 1/8”), and mounted them inside.  I stamped the “congrats on your big news” from the same Absolutely Fabulous stamp set in black.
Card 2: Dairy Farmer
No kidding!  A friend has a son who is turning 30, and wants to start a dairy farm.  I made a card for him a couple years ago (see it here).  Now, 30 is a big one, so she is going to help him buy is first card, so she needed a BIG card to present to him.  Who has 2 original cow stamp sets????  Back to the digital resources!  I found a fun farm on the My Grafico website, and here’s what I created.

Ingredients
Paper

Color	Vendor	Size
Light blue card stock	Strathmore	a)  12” x 18”, score at 9"
Grass paper	Provo Craft	a) 12” x 12”
Cloud paper	Provo Craft	a)  11” x 6”
White	Paper Trey	a)  8 1/2” x 11”
White	Georgia Pacific	a)  8 1/2” x 11”

Ink
None! Everything is printed on the Epson Ink Jet Printer
Stamps
Macdonald’s Farm (My Grafico)
Accessories
COPIC markers (E000, E00, E27, E31, E50, YR02, Black Multi-Liner); Gelly Roll Pink Star; Scor-Pal; Foam Tape; Xyron; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blades (Fiskars); Scissors
Instructions
Images
After printing the farm images on the Paper Trey white paper, color with the COPICs – here’s what I used:
Cows: YR00, YR02, R02; Barn: T003, T005, Y15, Y17, E08, E09, E33, E39, R46; Hair: Y02, YR02, YR03; Skin: E000, E00; Cheeks: R24; Overalls: B91, B93; Man’s Shirt: Y02, Y08; Girl’s Shirt: Gelly Roll Pink Star.
I printed the greeting on the Georgia Pacific white.
Then cut everything out! Yes – this IS the tedious part.  Hint: I ran the cows, the barn, and the girl through the Xyron before cutting them out, so they’d stick really well.  I didn’t do that with the man, because of the layering in the assembly.
Assembly
Fold the base card on the score line, and crease it well.  Mount the cloud paper on the top part of the front.  Free-hand cut 3 hills from the grass paper – mount the top-most hill with regular adhesive, then layer the next two hills on with foam tape.
Peel & stick the cows and barn, and little girl.  Put adhesive on the part of the man that will not stick above the hill, and mount it too.
For the greeting – again, I ran it through the Xyron, trimmed it closely and mounted it “in the clouds”.
Inside
For this card, I cut a piece of olive green textured cardstock (10” x 8” ), and a printed a sentiment (“MILK it for all it’s worth!  Happy Birthday”) in black on another sheet of Georgia Pacific white.
I trimmed the white panel to 9 1/2” x 7 1/2” and mounted it on the green, and then then mounted them inside.
I’m posting with out closely proofing this – it’s getting late!  Leave a comment or send me an email if you have questions – I’d love to hear from you.
Thanks for stopping by.
Lisa Lynne

Fabulous Diploma Bella

Inspiration

For a young lady graduating from junior college, and overcoming challenges along the way…  I wanted her to know how proud we all are!  I picked the diplomabella stamp from Stamping Bella just for her.

You’ll see in the ingredients I used 2 kinds of black ink.  Since I colored the image with COPICs, I used an ink that won’t smear – the Graphite Black Brilliance pigment ink gives a sharp clear image that is “smear proof” as long as you let it dry.  I used my old standby black dye ink from Stampin’ Up! for the sentiment.

Ingredients

CARDSTOCK: Sahara Sand(SU!), Bashful Blue(SU!), So Saffron(SU!), Darling Dots designer series paper(SU!); Paper basics White (PaperTreyink)

STAMPS: DimplomaBella(Stamping Bella), Absolutely Fabulous(SU!)

INK: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko); Basic Black(SU!)

ACCESSORIES:  COPIC markers (0, C1, C3, C5, C7, 100, E000, E00, E55, E57, Y17, Y21, G21, B41) (Imagination International); paper flower (Imaginisce); blue button(SU!); lace border punch(SU!); Prism green embroidery floss(DMC); Zots glue dots (ThermOWeb); Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade(Fiskars)

Instructions

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

LAYERS: Cut a piece of blue cardstock measuring 5 1/4” x 3 3/4”, and punch one long side with the lace border punch.

Cut a piece of patterned paper, measuring 5” x 2 3/4”.

Cut a piece of yellow paper measuring 3 1/2” x 2 1/2”.

IMAGE: Cut a piece of white paper measuring 3 1/4” x 2 1/4”.

Stamp the diplomabella image using the black pigment ink on the white cardstock, and set aside.  It’s important for this to dry thoroughly – the COPICS will smear the ink if it’s not completely dry.  If you’re in a hurry you can heat it with a heat gun before you color the image with the COPICs.

TAG: Cut a piece of yellow cardstock measuring 2 1/2” x 1”; and a white strip measuring 2 1/4” x 3/4”.  Stamp the sentiment using the black dye ink.  Mount the white centered on the yellow.

FLOWER: Using an embroidery needle, thread through the button into the flower from the top, and come back through.  Tie a square not across the top of the button.

ASSEMBLY: Assembly is easy – simply mount each layer using adhesive.  Then add the tag at an angle below the image, and mount the flower with the glue dots.

INSIDE: For the inside, I used a simple “Congratulations” stamp from Hero Arts, stamped in black dye ink.

Thanks for stopping by!

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!