University of Louisville Graduation Shaker Card.

 Sometimes the simplest cards take the longest time to keep them simple.  I think the photography doesn't do this card justice.  I wanted to do more stamping on the outside of the card but got involved in adhering it and remembering all the layers before I stamped it and then didn't want to mess it up.

I wish I had thought to seal in the glitter embossing powder.  Oh well, there will always be a next time and feedback is the recipient liked it.  I did use Love Letter and Rhubarb Stalk to get the right shade of red to match the embossing powder.

What it took:
Card size - 5 1/4" x 5 1/4";
Cardstock - Recollections 110lb;
Stamps - Kitchen Sink Stamps 3 Step Graduation;
Ink - Memento Gray Flannel, Tuxedo Black, Love Letter, Rhubarb Stalk; Gina K Designs Black Onyx;
Accessories - Zing! red glitter embossing powder; Acetate sheet; Seed beads.

A salute to 2 Graduating Generals

Thank goodness I got a Silhouette Cameo.  Last year I made this card with various punches and dies and I really wanted to step it up this year.  

I first decided to make the white background card but knew I needed two and as one was for a girl and the other a boy, I decided on the second card having a gray base.

My vision was to make these pieced clean and simple cards.  Well, I wouldn't say I ended up creating my vision but rather elaborating on it.  The importing the image and cutting the pieces was straightforward enough for even a Silhouette novice like me.  What was complicated was trying to do the inlaid die cuts.  First I tried with wet glue. DISASTER, it was gluing itself where I didn't want it.

Then a change of plan, how about some peel and stick that I have been hoarding for at least 10 years, may as well try it, what do I have to lose!  Oh my goodness, that stuff is sticky.  It all started well but honestly when I was done there seemed to be gaps between the pieces and I just didn't know what to do with them.  So now what?

I cut my pieces again and whilst it was cutting I thought about all my adhesives and decided to try my YES! paste as that wouldn't grab the pieces and would allow some wiggle room.  Well that seemed to work for this card except I did manage to have a small amount of glue here and there.  I decided to stamp the graduation year on another panel and embossed glitter silver for the girl's card and clear for the boy's card.  Hmmm now what?  I really didn't want to give up on my idea.  So I grabbed the graduation caps I cut out the other day when I was doing test cuts and arranged them as if they had been thrown up in the air after the ceremony! Ta Da! oh and they just happen to cover any small spots of glue over reach.  

I took the inside of the card money holder up a notch and added some more of the caps!

The cards were finished off with a coordinating envelope with the year stamped in ombre school colors.  I really like how that looks!

What it took -
Card size - 8 1/2 in x 5 1/2 in
Cardstock - Recollections 110lb white; 65lb white, gray, blue;
Stamps - Kitchen Sink Stamps Playful Numbers, Kitchen Sink Stamps 3 Step Graduation; High Hopes Stamps Grad Cap;
Ink - Versamark; Memento Nautical Blue, Memento Gray Flannel;
Accessories - Zing! Glitter Embossing Powder Silver; Dimensional Adhesive; YES! paste.

Red, White & Blue Graduation

Another Graduation card for a young lady this time.  School colors Red, White & Blue if you hadn't guessed.  Luckily her party was a week or so after graduation so I was able to see some pictures and know they graduated in blue robes and tassels.

I did the focus image using the Kitchen Sink Stamps stamps.  This time I used Tuxedo black to do the final shade.  I mixed some manufacturers to get the background and think it works.  I love that School Years font from Stampendous, the only thing annoying is that there is only one "2" in the pack so I couldn't line up the whole sentiment and just stamp...guess that is only a problem this year!

Ingredients

Card Size - 5.25 in x 5.25 in

Card Stock - Neenah Classic Crest, Archiver's Open Stock, Bazzill

Stamps - Kitchen Sink Stamps 3 Step Graduation; Stampendous School Years; Hero Arts Graduation.

Ink - Memento: Danube Blue, Lady Bug

Miscellaneous - Spellbinders Nestabilities

Purple & Gold Graduation

First things first, this card is almost impossible to photograph between the purple and the gold mirri! Honestly what do I do to myself.

Secondly, if you look close you can see there is a cord to the tassel and shading etc...Is your nose up to the screen yet? I did say you would have to look close.

Thirdly, IRL my layers are right.  The mirri looks wonky for the greeting in the photo.

I think this is pretty straightforward. Love inking up my Kitchen Sink Stamp Graduation Cap.  I'm really picky about perspectives on Graduation caps, there are some stamps out there that a really off. 

This card was for my son.  He told me off for putting "Graduate" instead of "Son".  I had to laugh because I had debated on putting Son, and then decided on graduate.  I thought, it isn't as if he is going to get another card exactly like it and so far I have been right!

BTW do you like the "save" on there.  I had stamped the cap directly on the labels layer to take up the space on the card and it was just floating.  So I masked a circle and airbrushed and then (again look close) put a fine line of metallic gold around the circle just to pop/zing/ta-da or whatever exciting word I supposed to use.

Ingredients
Card Size - 8.5 in x 5.5 in

Card Stock - Neenah, Open Stock from Archivers, Mirri

Stamps - Kitchen Sink Stamps

Ink - Memento Sweet Plum; Versamark

Miscellaneous - Spellbinders Nestabilities; Sakura Metallic gold gel pen, Zing! Metallic Gold Embossing powder