4 Star General Graduation!

I created this card based on the school crest for the recipient.  He is in their first graduating class ever, so wanted to try to make it special.  To be honest, I wanted the deckled edge but had difficulty cutting it because the cardstock was so thick.  It was ok for a one off but I definitely wouldn't do it for a group of cards with this cardstock.

I don't know about your area of the country but most people here just do a picture card with a graduation party announcement rather than announcing the graduation itself.  I miss the traditional card.  I know I had loads of friends from other schools and loved getting their announcements with their school crests when we all graduated.  So with that in mind I went traditional with this card and replaced the last layer with the cap and diploma. I cut the "banner" end by partially die cutting Nestabilities Squares and used my Scor-Pal to add some extra detail to the final panel.

Our graduate is getting the "universal gift card" - money!  So I originally made the pocket with the stars punched out, to echo the front... the problem was when it was back lit you could see the line and the stars through to the front so I used some more gray cardstock and lined the whole of the front.  Luckily I taped it and was able to just lift the pocket enough.  I love that the money isn't just going to fly out of the card onto the floor.

I also made certain the pocket overlapped the end of the card to create a contrast on the front to make it easier to see the edge.

My picture is a little bit fuzzy.  Sorry about that, but you get the general idea.

I will be honest with you, although I am happy with the outcome, I'm not thrilled.  The stamped panel bothers me.  I did consider sponging it but really didn't want to make it worse and I think clean lines for a young man's card are more masculine.  I also considered highlighting the raised embossing but didn't want to make it look amateurish if the pen slipped.  Sometimes I guess we have to accept happy and move on.  I have more cards to make for graduates of this school in the future so I can refine my techniques with them.

Ingredients
Card size - 8.5 x 5.5 in;
Cardstock - Recollections 110 lb; Bazzill;
Stamps - Kitchen Sink Stamps 3 step Graduation;
Ink - Memento - London Fog, Nautical Blue;
Dies - Spellbinders Nestabilities Squares, Stars

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