Gentlemen, Let's Offer Our Congratulations...

That's what I think Tim's stately gents are saying on this card.  J

We're letting you choose your own theme this week at Card A Day Blog, so as today's featured designer, I'm sharing a card created for my nephew's high school graduation in June.  It needed to be masculine, yet celebratory, so I turned to a bold yellow, black and grey color scheme and a Tim Holtz stamp.  His school colors are gold and brown, so I thought this was a nice nod in that direction as well.

Some Details:

• The bright yellow base was toned down just a touch with my new favorite technique of swiping white acrylic paint along the edges.
• I love the combination of the modern graphic polka dot paper with the vintage gentlemen stamped in black on soft grey stock.  To give the grey a little pop and dimension, I dragged a black ink pad along the edges.  This gave it just the thinnest black edge.

• The bold banner diecut adds to add to that celebratory feel.  This was a straight border diecut that I gently curved and glued into place.  Some black and white baker's twine finishes  off the banner / bunting look.

Although I find I only make them when necessary, I really enjoy the challenge of creating masculine cards.  It's a great re-set to the creative juices!

Challenges:

Eclectic Ellapu: Anything Goes

Stamping Sensations: April Challenge - Special Occasions

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Stampin’ Up! ‘Yo-Yo Yellow', ‘Sahara Sand’, ‘Confetti White’
Patterned Paper:	Authentique ‘Blissful’ 6x6
Stamps:	Tim Holtz ‘Curious Possibility’; SU! ‘Warmest Regards’
Inks:	Archival ‘Jet Black’; Adirondack paint dabber ‘Snow Cap’
Embellishments:	Bazzill Just the Edge cardstock strip ‘Beetle Black’; Darice baker’s twine ‘Black / White’
Tools:	Stamp-a-ma-jig; Memory Maker’s ribbon glue; decorative edge scissors

Certificate of Graduation

My nephews and niece have grown so fast.  I can barely believe two of them are now high school graduations...eesh.  Scrapalicious USA's "Graduation" challenge theme is perfectly timed for my niece's recent graduation party.  You probably have some cards to make for this graduation season, so play along with us!  Someone will win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrapalicious USA store...and it can only be you if you join in the fun.  Also, be sure to sign up for the newsletter so you can receive sale and giveaway information.

Some Details:

• I love that you can personalize this "diploma" sticker from Me & My Big Ideas.  I used typography stickers to add my niece's name and then wrote the month and year in grey pen.  For just a hint of sparkle, I added an outline of Platinum Stickles around the edge of the diploma.  It's "hanging" from some gorgeous My Mind's Eye seam binding.

• The hot air balloon is symbolic of taking flight and exploring new worlds.  It's stamped directly onto the MME's background paper in sand ink.

• Two of my favorite embellishments...tissue tape and pom pom trim...working together here to finish off the bottom of the card.

Challenges:

Make It Monday # 92

Quirky Crafts: Challenge #12 2012 - Up, Up, and Away (or the Sky's the Limit)

Supplies InLinkz.com

Cardstock:	Stampin’ Up! ‘Sahara Sand’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found ‘Portobello Road’
Inks:	SU! classic ‘Sahara Sand’; Distress Ink ‘Frayed Burlap’, Le Pen ‘Dark Grey’
Embellishments:	Tim Holtz tissue tape ‘Symphony’
Tools:	Wondertape; TH paper distresser; Zots

Congrats, Graduate!

Graduation season will soon be upon us and we're giving you lots of inspiration and card ideas for the new graduates over at Card A Day Blog.

Just a Couple Details:

• I colored a chipboard label with Black Soot Distress Ink and a foam ink blender.  "Congrats" was stamped in Jet Black StazOn onto white cardstock, adhered to the center of the chipboard label and accented with a layer of Glossy Accents.
• The mortarboard an SVG file from The Creative Pointe.  I cut it from black cardstock, then accented it with white Glaze pen.
• I really love all the decorative tapes out there!  This one is K&Co.'s "Smash" tape.

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Papertrey Ink ‘Spring Moss’
Patterned Paper:	Fancy Pants ‘Beach Bum’
SVG:	The Creative Pointe
Stamps:	Inkadinkado
Inks:	Distress Ink ‘Black Soot’; StazOn ‘Jet Black’; Glaze Pen ‘White’
Embellishments:	K&Co. Smash tape; Stampin’ Up! brads; chipboard label; Glossy Accents
Tools:	Tim Holtz paper distresser; eyelet setting tools; foam tape; Cricut Expression; Sure-Cuts-A-Lot