A New Technique for Masculine Graduation Card

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge this week was to try something you've been afraid to try. It went with a devotional on these verses:

SCRIPTURE:

"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear:

what can man do unto me?" Psalm 118:6."

 

My son just graduated with honors after many years of going to school part-time, changing majors over and over, working, and being a husband and father. When he finally started going full time, he would call me on his way to school in the mornings to pray for him as he took a hard test. We spent hours talking about what to do to be successful. After so much effort he knows what it takes to be successful, but he also saw God at work when he was feeling sick or hadn't had much sleep. Going to college can certainly give a person confidence as well as help them know what it takes to get a job done and to do it well. I was happy to see him grow in the realization that God had given him an amazing mind that could be taught to learn and do anything.

 

This is his graduation card that I made using a new stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps called ConGrads.

 

 

 

 

I always wanted to try multi-fold cards, but was apparently hesitant, since I hadn't. I made this card using a technique I found on Splitcoast Stampers. It always looked hard, but once I rewrote the directions so that I could understand and duplicate, I was surprised at how easy it really was. I used Chupa's sketch #62 for the main part of my stair step card. Another item I'd been hesitant to use was cork letters and shapes that I've had quite a while. The challenge at There She Goes, "Cork It," gave me that little push to try it. I lightly inked the edges of the star.

 

Here are the challenges I used for this card:

Cards for Men - #11 - Congratulations

Lexi's Creations - For the Man/Boy in our lives

Sketchbook Saturday - Sketch #62

Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Do Something on your card you're afraid of

There She Goes #158 - Cork It



 

5.5" x 5.5" Stair step Graduation Card Recipe:

Paper - Close To My Heart Passages paper pack, White Daisy cardstock (diploma)

Stamp - Clear Dollar Stamps "ConGrads"

Ink - CTMH Barn Red

Other - Copic E33, CTMH Color Ready Cork Alphabet, Color Ready Cork Shapes, ribbon scrap, pop dots, 1.75" circle punch, Sizzix embossing folder Diamonds on Diamonds

 

Mother's Day Butterflies

Flowers and butterflies are all over my yard now that Spring is in full swing. In fact, my irises bloomed three weeks ahead of schedule this year. They usually bloom around Mother's Day, the second Sunday in May. Chupa's sketch this week makes a great Mother's Day card. I interpreted her sketch for Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #56 pretty literally because it went so well with elements I had sitting out to create with. Here's her lovely sketch:

I used a fairly deep embossing folder to get the heart/vines pattern. I thought that pattern worked well with the paper which had flowers and leaves made of hearts. The lighter pink pattern half circle is the backside of the main pattern that mixes several shades of pink. I could have inked the edges of the butterflies like I usually do, but I thought they needed to stay white for contrast with the busy paper.

May God bless you and the mothers you love.

Challenges:
Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #56 sketch
Crafts 4 Eternity #69 - Spring inspired
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes


5.5" x 4.25" Mother's Day Card Recipe:
Paper - Close To My Heart "Sweetheart" paper pack, White, Baby Pink, Vineyard Berry Cardstock
Stamp - My Favorite Things "Clearly Sentimental about Mothers"
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Other - Sizzix Swirly Vines with Hearts embossing folder; Spellbinders Nestabilities Lacey Circle; CTMH Just Blooms white daisy and butterflies, Black opaques; Reminisce small white daisy; 2.5" circle punch

Sketchbook Saturday #51 - A Friend Who Touches Your Heart

Recently I had a friend give me a gift that amazed me, like she'd done many times in the past. She's gone through many trials and financial loss the last four years, but continues to be the most generous person I know. When I was young I used to tell the giver, "Oh, no. You shouldn't." I didn't want to be selfish or greedy, or I was overwhelmed by the generosity. But I learned that it's more important to be a gracious receiver, which blesses the giver. For this friend a simple thank you card seemed like a weak substitute for what I felt. So I chose a quote that says a lot more for this card. I know the message of this sentiment will cheer her heart and let her know how important her friendship is not only to me but to many others as well.

Chupa designs beautiful sketches and cards on her blog. She's also gracious in allowing us to make changes to her sketch. I used her sketch this week, #51, with a minor change. I made the sentiment the main image and used a small piece of design from the paper to embellish it where the text would have been.  Here's her sketch:

I used a card base embossed with flowers but they didn't show up this time in the photo. The stamp set I used has several large and medium sized images like the one I stamped in Sweet Leaf behind the sentiment. I hadn't used that set that way before so I think I'll make a few more cards like this.  I hope you have a friend like mine and that you can be that kind of friend to others. And may God bless you!

This card is linked to the following challenges:
Sketchbook Saturday #51 at Random Acts of Creativity
Sentimental Sundays - #92 Words of Encouragement

5.5" square card recipe:
Paper - Prima "Madeline", Bazzill light blue cardstock; CTMH Hollyhock CS
Stamps - Close To My Heart - Friendship (Feb.2011 stamp of the month)
Ink - CTMH Sweet Lear, Black
Other - CTMH Red Button collection, Sweet Leaf Ribbon Collection, Chocolate Waxy Flax; wired ribbon

Best Friends for Sketchbook Saturday

Of the five valentines I made last night, this was my favorite. Chupa's Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #45 sketch  was great inspiration, along with Martha Stewart's paper and punch.

The Cranberry cardstock scalloped circle was actually a 4" decorative layer flower on the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge and the white stamped diecut was another Cricut image from the Hannah Montana cartridge that was inked with Old Paper. I'm also entering this card in the challenge by Designed2Delight to use a heart. My heart was stamped with a CTMH retired script and swirls heart image.