Joyful Creations with Kim: graduationcard

Showing posts with label graduationcard. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Freshly Made Sketches: Amazing Things

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Karren and here’s what I did with it!

My card is definitely not a work of art but it's absolutely what I needed and I definitely thank Karren and her sketch which sent me in the right direction.

My oldest son graduated from college last week. He took quite a circuitous route to get there so is graduating at 26 1/2 years old. Even if he weren't an older graduate, he is totally not into any pomp and circumstance so he did not attend (nor did we) any of the ceremonies. All of that sort of stumped me when it came to making him a card. I have a number of graduation cap dies that could fly through the air on the card, but that's the pomp and circumstance. I have images of guys in robes - also pomp and circumstance. But with the sketch, I started realizing I could use a meaningful sentiment along with stars in school colors. I am NOT a fan of his school colors, but they are what they are.

Just three stars didn't quite cut it so I started looking for different stars, patterns and a bit of glitter. I ended up doing one as a cut out with the patterned star on the inside. This is one of the very rare times that I decorated the inside.

For now, he's staying in his college town of Fort Collins, Colorado because he can work from home. It's a beautiful town with a fabulous restaurant and bar scene. We went up last weekend to see his first grown-up apartment and then he insisted on buying lunch (it was kind of cute!) It's about an hour and a half from our house which is nice - we can visit, but not every day!

I hope to see you playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Pinkfresh My Favorite Things to Say

Dies: Lil' Inker Designs Stitched Stars and Free Star

Paper: Stampin' Up Shaded Spruce, and Bumblebee

Ink: Stampin' Up Shaded Spruce

Other: Heat and Stick Powder, glitter

Thursday, May 24, 2018

CAS(E) this Sketch: Take Over the World

My youngest son graduated from high school last night!! This was the son that I wasn't sure would ever get there - but he did - and he did it with honors!!

I had a graduation card made for him quite some time ago, but a new set from Newton's Nook caught my eye - Newton's Graduation. We have two beloved family cats and both of them fully embody this sentiment!

I clearly didn't color the cat. We have one cat who is a calico who definitely wants to take over the world but I do not have the skill set to color this as a calico. The other cat is the sweeter cat and he's the one who would have made sure that Erik got a graduation card(!) but he's white with a patch of black on his tail and rear-end, the top of his head and right around the nose (he looks like Hitler!) so is not particularly attractive. So I left this cat white and Erik can use his imagination!

By the time I noticed this set and ordered it, we already had graduation parties and house guests in full swing. I needed a starting point to get this done so looked through my favorite challenges and came up with CAS(E) this Sketch! I haven't played along with them in forever - although I look at and admire each and every sketch and design team card. This sketch, upside down, was clearly graduation hats flying through the air!! Thanks CtS!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Newton's Nook Graduation
Cardstock: Taylored Expressions Jelly Donut
Ink: Memento Black, Copics
Other: Nuvo Silver Moondust Glitter Drops (on top of each hat)

Monday, April 9, 2018

Taylored Expressions: Reach for the Stars

Every other month, we get to meet one of the dedicated staff at Taylored Expressions. The staff member picks a theme and the entire creative team gives them ideas. This month we met Leslie who is the Director of Customer Experience. Away from Taylored Expressions, she’s mom to three girls, the oldest of which is graduating from high school this spring. In preparation for the onslaught of the grad parties, Leslie would love to have some ideas for graduation gifts.

I also have a graduating senior this year so I can relate. I need to create for my son and all of this friends. Plus my husband coaches the high school lacrosse team, so he always has another dozen or so gift needs.

To meet Leslie's needs and my own, I put together a quick and easy gift card idea. I wanted it to be a step up from a gift card in an envelope (although I'm sure the recipients really wouldn't care how they got the gift card!) I purchased some cheerful journals, added a Tag Pocket out of which I cut stars using the Shining Star Cutting Plate and then backed the stars using colors from the journal.

Cutting the stars took a bit of ingenuity with my die-cutting machine. I cut the tag pocket and before putting it together, lined it up with only the front part on the cutting plate. (The back hangs off so it doesn't get cut.) Then I lined up the cutting plate with the center toward the lower left (where I put the sentiment.) Cutting the backing colors is really easy with the coordinating Ray of Sunshine Cutting Plate. I added the rays of color and trimmed them before folding up the Tag Pocket.

Here's the full effect!

To get to know Leslie even better and to see all of the inspiration, check out all of the posts on the Taylored Expressions blog. Here's Day 1 - take a peek and then go forward from there.

SUPPLY LIST

Thursday, April 6, 2017

TE Release Day: A Suitcase and Bandages

It's release day at Taylored Expressions! Everything you have seen this week is now available! But first, I have two more peeks at this release.

Last month, we had a new die to create cute little matchboxes - here's what I did with it. This month, we have an add-on die called Matchbox Accessories-Suitcases. Check out what it does with the matchbox!!

It's a cute little suitcase!! With corners and straps and a handle!!

I turned it into a graduation present. With a new graduate preparing to leave home, it's a perfect way to celebrate!!

I cut my own little piece for the inside - mostly because I wanted that sentiment from the new Wonderful World set to fit on it - but it thought it worked well to have it slightly arched so that a monetary gift could easily be tucked underneath (and easily taken out!!)

Here's the supply list for this card but be sure to keep reading for one more card!

SUPPLY LIST

Next I want to show you the new stamp set Listen to Your Heart along with the new Little Bits - Bandage. I am in love with the fonts on these sentiments. I wanted to keep the rest of the card simple so the full focus is on the sentiment.

How cute are those bandages??! I couldn't resist a trio holding the two pieces of white cardstock together - then just a pop of color with the enamel shapes.

Just a quick post from me because it's time to head over to the TE Blog for links to all of the designers and to find out if you won a prize if you've been answering the Question of the Day. Then head to the TE Store because it's now full of new products!

SUPPLY LIST

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

TE Sneak Peek Day 3: Graduation

It's day 3 of sneak peeks for the April release from Taylored Expressions! Today I have two graduation cards using a variety of new products. All the new products you see today will be available tomorrow. Be sure to check out each of the creative team members' blogs for all of the sneak peeks - starting with the Taylored Expressions blog.

We're coming up on the season of graduations!! Sometimes I think it's a bigger cardmaking time for me than even Christmas as for years my husband has been involved as a coach in youth sports and a leader in the church confirmation program. He keeps up with these kids so I get lists from him a month early as to who he wants to send graduation cards to! Most of you probably aren't quite so big into graduation although there's always one or two to make - and for this graduation season there's a fabulous new set called Wonderful World. It works for graduation and there are also sentiments like "bon voyage" or "enjoy the journey"

I love the sentiment (can't you just hear Louis Armstrong singing right now?!) And I love the font!! I pulled out the previously released Whole Wide World die and the Starry Night Cutting Plate for my "wonderful world" scene.

Here's the supply list for this card and be sure to keep reading for a chance at prizes and for another sneak peek!!

SUPPLY LIST

I also used some glittery silver/gold paper.

Before I share a peek at another product, I'm excited to tell you that Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with some fabulous giveaways! Visit the TE blog to answer Taylor's Question of the Day for a chance to win a prize from the latest release!

Another new item this release is the Brushed Star Background which has so many possible uses but I paired it with the new Block Party - Grad die. (Sorry for this shadowy card photo but it's always hard to capture white embossing on white - so I kept some shadows on it!)

Taylored Expressions: Stars for the Grad

I didn't add too much to this card because I wanted the star to be the stars!!! You can see the image below both in the stamp cover and I left some shine on my embossed stars. I cut the "grad" out of the star background and capped it with the Little Bits-Hats Off including a golden tassel!!

Tomorrow I have another get well and a 3D project for graduation! Be sure to head over to the TE blog for links to the rest of the creative team and to enter the question of the day contest!