A Graduation Card for Bev

My dear friend Beverly finished her associate's degree and graduated yesterday.  I'm so proud of her as it's not easy to be a full time student and a full time mom.  Even though I'm no fan of graduations (honestly, is there anything more soul-draining and hiney numbing?), I was determined to go to hers because I adore her. 

I wanted to create an elegant card for her and thought the color challenge over at The Paper Players would fit the bill. 

I've been playing around with my "Mosaic Madness" stamp set and thought it too would be perfect. And, I'm a sucker for any stamp that works with a punch. ;o)  I popped them up on dimensionals, with the Gumball Green one mounted taller than the other two. 

I wanted something clean and simple because Bev's a CAS kinda gal. But, just because it's a CAS card doesn't mean I couldn't bling it up a bit.  I used pearls in the center of the mosaics, and to dot the "i" in "congratulations".

And, because I wanted that "congratulations" to POP (as if the punches didn't already draw the eye), I scored two lines to set it off. 

And, of course, I had to doll up the inside a bit.  I have to say, I do love using markers to make two-tone (or more!) images.  I just wish I had been able to order the new 2013-2015 In Colors markers early as well as the stamp pads and paper (I'm SO in love with the new colors!!)...

This is such a fun and versatile stamp set I have yet to run out of ideas with it! 

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets: "Mosaic Madness", "Curly Cute"
*Inks: Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse
*Paper: Whisper White, Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse
*Accessories: pearls, dimensionals

--Rach

Gingham Garden for Ella

First off, an apology for the quality of the photos.  While the golden light of dawn makes for beautiful landscape photography, it causes some problems when trying to snap photos of cards.  However, we're off to visit Jess and crew in a few minutes, and I wanted to get this loaded before we were.

Why are we off to visit?  Well, for Ella's First Communion, of course!  And, I needed a card for our sweet girl.  I'm so happy for her and can't wait until tomorrow to see her make that sacrament for the first time. :o)

I found a fun sketch over at Paper Players and thought it would work well for Miss Ella Bella's card.

Since my new goodies arrived yesterday, I couldn't wait to play with them (may I just say how in love I am with the new In Colors?  They're so fresh and crisp and clean and just wonderful!).  I picked up the Gingham Garden DSP and washi tape (I'm a bit of a washi hound so getting that was a no brainer ;oP) and knew they were it.  Ella's favorite color is pink, and in fact, has a wall that is either Melon Mambo or Strawberry Slush in her room.  Yes, it's very intense. ;o)

However, what is intense for a wall in a little girl's bedroom makes for a lovely card base.  :o)

I inked up "Summer Silhouettes" with Pear Pizzazz and Melon Mambo, used my "Beautiful Wings" embosslit, and some pearls as a finishing touch.  Since washi tape is rather transparent, I didn't want to lie it down directly on that gorgeous Melon Mambo gingham so I put it down on Whisper White first and then cut it out.  I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.  Oh how I adore washi tape...but, that's a post for another time...;o)

I'm not one to let an inside go unfinished if I have the time, and well, I had the time. ;o)  The sentiment comes from the new SU! hostess set, "Express Yourself".  I'm a sucker for sentiments in a lovely font, so these were right up my alley.

I added another pearl to dot the "I".

And, here's a close up of the focal images.  I popped the stamped image up on dimensionals, and only adhered one side of the butterfly's wing to give her some movement and depth as well. :o) 

All in all, a happy (if terribly photographed--ugh!) card for a beautiful girl. :o)

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets: Summer Silhouettes, Express Yourself
*Inks: Pear Pizzazz, Melon Mambo
*Paper: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Gingham Garden DSP
*Accessories: Beautiful Wings embosslit, pearls, Gingham Garden washi tape, dimensionals, scallop border punch

--Rach