Sock Monkey Graduation

My last graduation card for the year features the Sock Monkey and Accessories stamp sets.  My cousin graduated from optometry school earlier this month and yesterday was his graduation party.  I only have the one graduation stamp set, Great Grad, and I was getting tired of using it; then I remembered that this adorable set has a graduation cap stamp.  He graduated from Indiana University, so I made the base out of riding hood red card stock to match school colors.  I stamped the sock monkey on water color paper and used the aquapainter to color him in.  I then stamped the pennant and graduation cap and cut them out and adheared with stampin' dimensionals to get it to pop off the paper.  I layered the monkey with basic black and used the distressing tool to distress the edges a little.  Then added the retired riding hood red ribbon and whisper white button, stamped the sentiment using the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, and there you have it.  He loved it!  To personalize it even more, I wrote Indiana on the pennant that the monkey is holding.  Let me know what you think!  Hope you are having a great memorial day weekend and check back tomorrow to see the card for this week's curtain call color challenge!

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Sock Monkey and Accessories, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Riding Hood Red CS, Basic Black CS, Water Color Paper
Ink:  Black StatzOn, Riding Hood Red, Soft Suede, Creamy Caramel
Accessories:  Distressing Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals, Aquapainter, Linen Thread, retired Riding Hood Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Button Latte

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Elegant Graduation

The next graduation card I have to show you was made for my cousin's girlfriend, who just graduated from optometry school.  The inspiration came from one of the papercraft magazines that I subscribe to.  The base of the card is sage shadow (I'm going to miss that color come July).  It's then layered with a piece of kraft cardstock...but before it was adhered, I added sage shadow, tempting turquoise, and elegant eggplant ribbon.  The sentiment is stamped on very vanilla card stock using the Great Grad stamp set (which is retired).  She really like the card when she opened it today and hope you like it to.  Let me know what you think.  I'll be back tomorrow with the last of the graduation cards I have to share.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Great Grad, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Sage Shadow CS, Kraft CS, Very Vanilla CS
Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Sage Shadow, Elegant Eggplant
Accessories:  Crop-A-Dile, 1/4" Tempting Turquoise Grosgrain Ribbon, 1/4" Elegant Eggplant Grosgrain Ribbon, 1/4" Sage Shadow Grosgrain Ribbon

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Great Grad!

So, I haven't posted the last two days as planned...but, oh well.  Life gets in the way sometimes.  On to the next graduation card I have to show you.  I made this one for my mom...she got invited to a graduation party for one of the kids I babysat in junior high.  When she told me he was graduating, I decided that I was definitely getting old.  His school colors are maroon and gold, so I made the base of the card using bravo burgandy.  I then used my big shot and the top note die (love that die) and then cute the die in half.  I used the retired set Great Grad and embossed the "GRAD" in gold embossing powder.  I added bravo burgandy grosgrain ribbon and a whiper white button to finish it off.  I made the inside with a little pocket for cash...what's a graduation card without cash?  Hope you enjoy and let me know what you think.  I promise to be back tomorrow with some other cards I have made for the graduation season.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Great Grad, Pedaling Past
Paper:  Bravo Burgandy CS, Whisper White CS
Ink:  Bravo Burgandy, VersaMark
Accessories:  Big Shot,  Top Note Die, Gold Embossing Powder, 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Sponges, Button Latte

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Curtain Call Color Challenge Act 31

'Tis the season for graduations.  My mom asked me to make a few graduation cards for her (along with a few I needed for myself), so I thought I'd post the next 5 days of the cards I came up with.  This first card was designed with Stacey's Curtain Call Color Challenge in mind.  This week, the colors are whisper white, night of navy, pretty in pink, garden green, and almost amethyst.  I made the card base in whisper white and on the side used the eyelet border punch.  I then used a strip of night of navy under the punched out border.  I used the Asian Aristry stamp set (which is a level 2 hostess stamp set)...I used the stampin markers in garden green and pretty in pink to stamp then image multiple times to make it look like a meadow.  Then I used the Big Shot and Beautiful Wings emblosslit die to cut out the butterflies...which are adheared with stampin' dimensionals to make them pop off the page.  Finally, I used the Teeny Tiny Wishes to stamp the graduation greeting.  This is definitely a girly card...so my plan is to have either my mom or me give it to my cousin's girlfriend...they both just graduated from optometry school.  I'm excited because they will both be working in the area so I can maybe get a discount on glasses???  Let me know what you think of the card.  Hope you're week is drier than mine (it's rained every day this week) and have a safe and great Memorial Day Weekend!!  Check back tomorrow for another graduation card idea.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, Asian Artistry (hostess level 2)
Paper:  Whisper White CS, Night of Navy CS, Almost Amethyst CS, Pretty In Pink CS
Ink:  Garden Green, Pretty In Pink
Accessories:  Eyelet Border Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

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Shelli's May Creative Challenge

For the May Creative Challenge over at Stampin' Up Co-Founder and CEO, Shelli Gardner's, blog, the theme was weddings.  When I read this, I was so excited.  My brother is getting married in November, and I am doing the invitations, thank you notes, etc as their wedding gift.  Anything that will be made out of paper will be hand crafted by yours truly.  My future sister-in-law chose the colors of cream and platinum for the colors.  When I heard this, I was kind of scared because I wasn't sure what I could do with those colors to make everything look elegant.  This is what I came up with, and she loved it!!

For the Save the Date, I made a postcard...but sent it in an envelope so it didn't get ruined.  The base was made from the Bridesmaid Specialty Paper.  I then ran going gray and very vanilla thru the big shot using the top note die...then cut the edging off of the vanilla to give it a layered look.  I used the Wedding Sweet stamp set and embossed the flower image in silver embossing powder to give it the platinum look.  I also ordered the date of their wedding as a stamp set to use instead of printing it...it was also embossed in silver.

My next task was the bridal shower invitation.  I used the same paper and layout as the save the date but I wanted to add a little burst of color.  I sponged the edges with rich razzleberry.  I used the new stamp set Blissful Bride from the summer mini and then colored the flowers on the dress in rich razzleberry and added glitter and dazzling diamonds to the dress.  "You're Invited" was also stamped in rich razzleberry.

Next is the actual wedding invitation.  When Shannon first saw the Bridesmaid Specialty Paper, she fell in love with it and wanted me to use it as much as possible.  So for the invitation itself, I used the more decorative paper in the set for the base.  The inside portion where the actual writing will be was layered with going gray and very vanilla and then embossed again with the Wedding Sweet stamp set and their date stamp.  I created a slot on the folded-up portion for the RSVP postcard and Accommodations/Directions card.  As you can see, they have not been printed on yet, but I better get working on that quickly so I'm not waiting until the last minute!!!  I then put a belly band in going gray around the invitation to hold it together.  I embossed an M using the Lovely Letters Alphabet stamp set, punched it out with the 1 1/4" circle punch, layered it on the going gray punched with the 1 3/8" punch, and then added a piece of the Bridesmaid Specialty Paper punched with the circle scallop punch.

The Thank You cards came next.  These I made pretty simple...the base is made of going gray with very vanilla layered on top.  I embossed again with the Wedding Sweet stamp set using the flower image and then used the thank you image, which I punched out with the small oval punch and then layered with a piece of going gray punched out with the scallop oval punch.  I added a piece of the silver cord from the holiday mini to give it a little something more.  I didn't take a picture, but the inside has a piece of very vanilla CS attached that is embossed with the M from the wedding invitation.

My last item to show today is a place card for the reception.  Shannon hasn't seen these yet so I don't know if this is what they will use, but I thought they were adorable.  I stamped the bride and groom from the retired stamp set To Have and Hold in going gray.  I then took my hobby blade and cut out the form of the bride and groom.  I applied it to a small piece of going gray to make it sit up and look like a place card.  I then sprinkled glitter and dazzling diamonds on the lower portion of the dress, colored in the flowers, hair, and tux, and added the name of the guest along with which table they are seated at.  I think they turned out so cute...I hope she likes them because I had a blast making them.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  To Have and Hold, Wedding Sweet
Paper:  Bridesmaid Specialty Paper, Very Vanilla CS, Going Gray CS
Ink:  Going Gray, VersaMark, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories:  Hobby Blade, Dazzling Diamonds, Clear Chunky Glitter, 2-Way Glue Pen, Big Shot, Top Note Die, Silver Embossing Powder, Sponges, Small Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Silver Cord, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch

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Stacey's Curtain Call Color Challenge #29

Sorry it's been so long since I've last posted.  I had a shoulder injury a couple weeks ago (don't ask what happened, I was being an idiot) and it's been interferring with my stamping...and I'm NOT happy about it.  So, I made a quick and easy card for this week's color challenge.  The colors were ones that I'd not usually use together...bordering blue, tangerine tango, summer sun, and whisper white...but they do look good together in the end.  I was lazy with the design of the card and used one of the Fresh-Cut Note Cards for the base.  After punching out the flower portions, I sponge daubed the center with summer sun and along the edges of the flowers with tangerine tango.  To get the underneath look, I stamped with the Gratuitous Graffiti stamp onto glossy white card stock using bordering blue ink.  To finish it off, I added the "heartfelt thanks" greeting from the Sweetheart stamp set and a quick bow with the retired tangerine tango ribbon (what's a card without ribbon?).  Since you can't mail these adorable note cards, I took the opportunity to make a thank-you note for the doctor that I work for.  Last week was Nurse's Week and he get us gift cards to one of the local greenhouses...I can't wait to go shopping with it.  Hope you enjoy this created and let me know what you think!!!  I promise it won't be 10 more days before I post again.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Gratuitous Graffiti, Sweethearts
Paper:  Glossy White CS, Fresh-Cute Note Cards
Ink:  Bordering Blue, Tangerine Tango, Summer Sun
Accessories:  Sponge Daubers, Tangerine Tango Ribbon

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Vintage Pedaling Past

Good afternoon!!  Well, my goal this week was to post every day, but I had a meeting last night and got home late...so it just didn't happen.  This card is a swap I designed for the monthly Stampin' Up meeting that I attend (that's where I was last night!!).  The swapping is optional, but I always like to participate because I get some pretty good swaps in return.  I used the Pedaling Past stamp set that is available in the new Summer Mini.  Originally, I was not going to buy this stamp set, but the more I saw it used, the more I fell in love with it (that's what usally happens!).  So, I decided to order it and when it came in the mail, I had accidentally ordered it in French!!!  I was able to send it back and Stampin' Up sent me the English version.  The card base is not quite navy...which I absolutely love.  It was then layered with kraft card stock, added a small strip of Bella Blue DSP, and then stamped the bicycle image on kraft.  I brought out the sewing machine and made a stitching border and used the cutter kit to distress the edges of the card stock to give it a vintage look.  I really love the way it turned out and am looking forward to using this stamp set more.  Hope you're having a great day and let me know what you think!!!

Supplies:
Stamp Set:  Pedaling Past
Paper:  Not Quite Navy CS, Kraft CS, Bella Blue DSP
Ink:  Not Quite Navy
Accessories:  Cutter Kit, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sponges

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Stacey's Curtain Call Color Challenge #28

Okay...here's this week's color challenge over at my upline, Stacey Schafer's blog.  This week's colors are rose red, not quite navy, kraft, and whisper white.  I absolutely love this color combination.  You can make it both feminine or masculine.  I chose feminine and made a Mother's Day card for my wonderful grandmother.  The base of the card is done in kraft card stock.  I used the Awash With Flowers stamp set that will be available in the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog.  I stamped the outline of the flowers in not quite navy and the filler portion with rose red.  I then layered the flowers onto a piece of not quite navy card stock...the bottom is punched with the scallop trim border punch.  Last, I tied some yummy rose red ribbon around the bottom of the card.  I think my grandma will really like it...she loves flowers and she is so excited when I give her a hand-made card.  Hope this card inspires you to make a hand-made card for the wonderful moms/grandmas/etc. in your life.  Let me know what you think!!!

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Awash With Flowers, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Kraft CS, Not Quite Navy CS, Whisper White CS
Ink:  Not Quite Navy, Rose Red
Accessories:  Scallop Trim Border Punch, Rose Red 1" Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals

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Retiring Color Special

A couple weeks ago, Stampin' Up announced that they will be doing a color renevation in the new 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog.  While I'm not sad to see some colors go (only orange and yo-yo yellow), I will be sad to see certain colors leave us, mainly sage shadow...I love that color:(  The inspiration for this card came from my upline's upline (if you can follow that).  Every week she gives us a challenge to complete and then we get our name entered into a drawing for a special surprise.  This week, she challenged us to make a card using only retiring colors (but we could use whisper white and very vanilla).  So, I chose brilliant blue, pink passion, and green galore.  I actually like these colors, so I am a little sad to see them go, but they are being replaced by some even better choices.  I started with a brilliant blue card base and layered a small strip of green galore.  I used the A Little Bit of Magic from the new Summer-Mini that is now available...I stamped it in Black StatzOn Ink and colored it with my three main colors.  I then mounted it on green galore and then again on pink passion.  Finally, I stamped the greeting using the Look Who's Turning stamp set.  I think it turned out pretty cute...kinda girly.  I have a cousin who has a birthday this week, so I think I'll stick it in the mail for her.  Let me know what you think!!!

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  A Little Bit of Magic, Look Who's Turning
Card Stock:  Whisper White, Brilliant Blue, Pink Passion, Green Galore
Ink:  Black StatzOn, Brilliant Blue, Pink Passion, Green Galore, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa
Accessories:  Dimensionals

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