Graduation Shutter Card

Ggggoooo Cougars! (tee hee hee!) Hello everyone... it sure has been a busy last couple of weeks... last minute school projects & kids getting out of school, 2 of my kids with birthdays and some with their friends w/birthdays, graduations, dad having surgery (he's recovering nicely, thank goodness)... not to mention WORK thrown in there, too! I'm glad that things seem to be slowing down (and I hope it stays that way!)...

OK, now let's talk about this card. I made this graduation card for my nephew who completed his high school last Thursday! WTG, Blaine!!! This style of card is called "Tri-Shutter", and it was a Splitcoast Technique challenge several weeks ago, although specific directions can be found here on Bonnie's blog. The various individual stamps come from a large variety of retired stamp sets - it's really hard for me to let any go because they come in handy sooner or later... OK, truth be told, I love being surrounded by all my stuff in my craft room! (wails... I can't help it!)

As you might guess, Blaine's high school colors are purple, teal and white. I made my card base with a "basic gray" speckled paper, and went from there. I used a computer/printer for the school name, class year and Thoreau quote, and the cougar image was a photo found on the internet that was cropped and printed black and white. All these things were measured out to fit the individual sections of the card and matted in the school colors. See the section where "congratulations" was heat embossed with white embossing powder? That area was large enough to easily fit my VISA giftcard, and was attached there with temporary 2-sided tape. I loved that it fit! (Yes, I am easily amused by the little things in life!)

Before I forget, you can click the picture and it'll refresh with a larger version so that you can see the details alittle better - as you can imagine, this one was alittle tricky to photograph for you, being the amateur photographer that I am! :)

Here's the card closed, and it fit into a standard A2 envelope. The mortarboard for the graduation cap was stamped again, cut out and popped with a dimensional. The "hip hip hooray" was punched with a 1/2 inch punch and popped up too. The card was alittle bulky due to the thick buttons, hardware with ribbons, and many brads that I added, so it did take extra postage to mail.

I'm glad to be posting again! Stampin' Up demonstrators were able to do some pre-ordering of selected items in preparation for the new catalog to be released July 1st. I'm looking forward to receiving my shipment later in the week - new goodies are always inspirational, and I can't wait to share! If you'd like to pre-order a catalog for just $5, let me know by filling out the form HERE. Have a great day!

Stamps - Carte Postale, Circle of Friendship, Greeting for All Reasons, Mini Messages, Sketch an Event (all retired stamp sets)

Cardstock - white, taken with teal, elegant eggplant, "basic gray" type cardstock for base (I think it comes from "cottage collection" by Keeping Memories Alive)

Inks - Versamark, Elegant Eggplant, Taken with Teal, Basic Gray

Accessories - craft knife, ruler, cutting mat, stylus, various circle punches, sponge dauber, silver brads, heatgun, white embossing powder, hodgepodge hardware, matpack and paper piercer, dimensional popdots, non-SU 1/8th inch ribbon in white, blue, purple