Graduation Congratulations!

Wow - I can't believe it has been two months since I last posted.  So much has been going on!  I have a ton of pictures all edited and ready to post... so stay tuned.  I will be posting frequently!!

What do you think of my blog's new look? I created the header and blog background, as well as other elements all on my own! I have never taken a HTML code course - so I had to teach myself.  As for creating the digital background, I learned so much from this awesome tutorial on the blog Kevin & Amanda.  I used various digital scrapbooking papers and elements from Summertime Designs, which offers tons of free kits.  And finally - I used a file from my favorite website, SVG Cuts, for the awesome girl silhouette in my header!  I used the free program, GIMP2, which is the most amazing free resource I have ever come across.  

Today I wanted to share two of my most recent cards, which were for cousins who both just graduated from college.  I used the freebie image from SVGCuts.com called Graduation Cuddly Friends to make these cards.  

My husband has a great cousin, Patrick, who is my only family member currently following my blog... in fact he was one of my first ever followers!  So I'd like to say a huge THANK YOU Pat for all of your support!! :o)  About a week ago Pat graduated from Zane State College!!  Here is the card I made for him:

I've had this 12x12 congratulations paper forever, and finally found a great use for it!  I inked it with Broken China Distress Ink so it would match Zane State's colors.  I embossed the graduation cap and gown with my Sizzix Diamonds Texturz plate using my Big Shot.  Then I inked the embossed areas lightly with the Broken China ink.  I colored the skin using Copic marker E00 and simply free handed the face.  The eyes were made using various punches I have.  Finally, my Cricut is not cutting very accurately anymore so I wasn't able to cut out the diploma SVG that came with this file without it looking terrible.  So - I made my own diploma by simply rolling paper and stamping it with the Congrats to the Grad sentiment from Papertrey Ink's Mega Mixed Messages.  I also stamped the envelope with a rubber stamp.  

I really loved how this card turned out... so I couldn't stop there.  I decided to make another one, this time for my cousin Hilary who just graduated from Bowling Green State University.  Here is her card:

I made this card using the same techniques, just switched up the colors and a few other elements.  I used the Sizzix Dots embossing folder on the cap and gown.  Once I did that I thought it still wasn't feminine enough so used a flourish stamp to add some subtle detail. 

Here is a close up of the cards:

Here is a photo of the inside of the cards.  I used Inkscape to trace the logos and cut them in SCAL2.

Products Used

Stamps: PTI Mega Mixed Messages (Sentiment), Fiskars Family (Flourish), River City Rubber Works "Graduation Hand & Hats" (just the hats part)

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Broken China, Wild Honey, Walnut Stain), Memento Black

Copics: E00 (skin), Y21 (blonde hair), B00 & YR04 (detail on tassels)

Embossing: Sizzix Diamonds Texturz, Sizzix Dots Folder

Ribbon: Darice (Halloween Fun)