Category Archives: Graduation

Broadway Bound Gift Bag For Graduation

Broadway Bound Gift Bag For Graduation

Today I am showing you this Broadway Bound Gift Bag For Graduation. Of course, it could be for any gift-giving occasion, but graduations are coming up soon! Since sometimes graduation gifts are smaller in size, maybe a gift card, maybe some jewelry or cash, this small gift bag would be perfect. You can pinch in the sides and pull the top sides together to close the bag. Lots of variations.

This gift bag is mostly like the 2-4-6-8 box we all make a lot, but the dimensions are a little different just to make it wider. This happens to be the striped pattern in the Broadway Bound Specialty Designer Series Paper. This paper is on the Stampin’ Up! Last-Chance List so get it before it is gone! Make sure any pattern on any paper is going in the direction you want it to go on your project when you cut your paper and when you score, depending on the project.

Start with a 6″ x 12″ piece of paper. Score at 4″, 5 3/4″, 9 3/4″, and 11 1/2″. Turn the paper so the short edge is at the top and score at 1 3/4″. This will make the bottom flaps of the bag. Cut those short bottom tabs up to the 1 3/4″ score line. Cut off the little 1/2″ tab on the bottom.  Fold on all the score lines and crease well with the Bone Folder.  Adhere the tab on the end to the other side to assemble the bag.  Then adhere the flaps on the bottom. I used the Tear & Tape Adhesive.

Check out another bag I made in THIS POST.

You can decorate these little bags in many ways. I liked the sentiment in the Colorful Seasons Stamp Set so I stamped that and cut the piece to make a banner. It is layered on a piece of Lemon Lime Twist to match the bag. The bow is Lemon Lime Twist 1/4″ Ombre Ribbon. At this point, I thought about adding some sequins to the banner, but since I had this flower already colored and cut out from the Tea Together Stamp Set, I used it as an embellishment on the bag!

The bag is all ready for a gift! Very easy to make and no rushed trips to the store for a gift bag! It’s a great way to use some of your hoarded designer series paper! Think about making your own little gift bag like this Broadway Bound Gift Bag For Graduation.

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Eclipse Technique Graduation Card 2018

Eclipse Technique Graduation Card 2018

This may seem like a bit of an odd card, this Eclipse Technique Graduation Card 2018, but I was trying to incorporate a stamp set I hate to see retire, the Heart Happiness Photopolymer Stamp Setplus the Large Numbers Framelits Dies.

I don’t know why Stampin’ Up! is retiring the Large Number Dies because they are perfect for a card like this! These Large Numbers are great for special occasions and birthdays to denote the year or age or anniversary years.

I also loved the Heart Happiness Stamp Set in the Occasions Catalog.  Even though it may have been thought of as a Valentine set, I know hearts are good for many occasions! And it has all styles of hearts to use!  For this graduation card, you can use whatever the school colors are and stamp on the card front. I just used the same heart randomly stamped with Pacific Point Ink. For the Eclipse Technique just die cut the numbers on the top card layer.  Adhere a darker layer underneath. Then adhere this layer to the card base.  Using Stampin’ Dimensionals or perhaps Mini Dimensionals, adhere the die cut numbers back into their spaces but popped up.  This way you can see a little bit of the dark color underneath.

Eclipse Technique Graduation Card 2018 Closeup

The greeting is from the stamp set Special CelebrationsFor this card I just left the strip as is and popped it up with Stampin’ Dimensionals.  Then for a little bling and contrast to all the blue, I added two little stars in the Metallic Enamel Shapes.

This is the LAST week for the current annual Stampin’ Up! Catalog as well as the Occasions 2018 Catalog!  Don’t forget to check both of these catalogs to make sure you have what you want. It’s best to go to the Online Store. If it is shown there, then it is still available.  If not, it is gone.

Remember, it is graduation time at all levels so be sure you have some graduation cards ready to go!  It doesn’t always have to be a card with a graduation cap either as you can see with this Eclipse Technique Graduation Card 2018!

 

 

 

Graduation Gift Card Money Holder Idea

Graduation Gift Card Money Holder

It’s graduation time and you might need a Graduation Gift Card Money Holder Idea for a graduate!  It’s graduation time for everyone from pre-school and kindergarten all the way up to college and PhD’s! And most often we gift them with cash, a check, or a gift card.  If you are a cardmaker and papercrafter, you undoubtedly want to make something special for the graduate in which to give your gift.  This is a very easy pattern and you can decorate and embellish it any way you like. Change the embellishments and colors to make it for any occasion, like birthdays or Christmas.

Start with a  4 1/4″ x 12″ piece of paper.  I used Whisper White Cardstock.  If you don’t have 12″ x 12″ cardstock, you could also use designer paper. Score this strip of paper at 4″ and 8″, basically in thirds since the paper is 12″ long. Then on the end section, cut from the score line down to the corner on a diagonal. This can be on either end of the card.

Graduation Gift Card Money Holder Score Lines Diagram

Put a strip of Tear & Tape Adhesive on the bottom of that section with the diagonal cut. Then fold that diagonal piece over to the inside panel next to it. Stamp or embellish the inside of this gift card holder however you like.  I used the words in the Happy Birthday Gorgeous Stamp Set.  (If you are interested in this stamp set and the Happy Birthday Thinlit Diepurchase the Happy Birthday Gorgeous Photopolymer Bundle and save 10%. The Bundle – ALL Bundles– in the current catalog are retiring May 31 – even if the stamp set is continuing on to the new catalog. The Bundle is just being taken apart to make room for the new catalog Bundles!)

Graduation Gift Card Money Holder Inside Fold

Now let’s go back to the front of the graduation gift card holder cover. Of course you would want to use school colors if you knew them, otherwise black and white with maybe some gold or silver is always appropriate.

My gift card is on a black background but the card base itself is Whisper White Cardstock. There is a layer of Basic Black with another layer of Whisper White on top of that. I stamped three balloons from the Happy Birthday Gorgeous Stamp Set and punched them out with the Balloon Bouquet Punch. For some extra bling, I punched two more balloons in Silver Foil.  The strings are just hand drawn with the narrow tip of the Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker. The “Congratulations” is stamped from the Flourishing Phrases Stamp Set and layered on another piece of Silver Foil.

If you need another idea that can hold a graduation greeting and some monetary gift, check out this Graduation Pocket Card I made HERE.

Even though I labeled this gift card holder for graduation, you can see how you could copy it exactly and it could be for a birthday or other gift-giving occasion!  It will only take you a few minutes to make the basic money holder and you can decorate it appropriately however you like. If you are looking for a Graduation Gift Card Money Holder Idea, try this one out!

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Easy Graduation Card Idea for 2017

Easy Graduation Card Idea for 2017

Now that I know my niece has received her high school graduation card, I can show it to you! I got the idea online somewhere and updated it a little bit, so it really is an easy graduation card for 2017, using the Large Numbers Framelits Dies, which thankfully are not retiring this year! There are so many good graduation cards out there it was hard to narrow down my choices. Or maybe I wish I had more graduates to send cards to this year!

The front layer of this card is Whisper White Cardstock, embossed with the Lucky Stars Embossing Folder. This folder is retiring, although it is still available. I think stars are always handy to have in your stash in whatever form because they can be used to many occasions. The numbers are die cut with the Big Shot and the numbers framelits I already mentioned.  I used Gold Foil paper as well as a layer under the Whisper White.  Some gold or silver foil or glimmer paper always adds some elegance, I think!

The graduation cap is easy to make. Either you can google some tutorials on how to cut the angles or you can just cut out somewhat of a diamond shape. Then cut a little square piece for underneath and punch or cut those two little half circles like graduation caps usually have. You can make your own tassel with embroidery floss or twine, but I used a tassel from the Eastern Palace Suite. It was easier to just stick it up underneath the cap than to deal with the ring on top of the tassel which maybe should go at the center of the top of the cap. On the top of the cap I placed a Gold Faceted Gem, coming in the new catalog.

The card is just on a Basic Black card base and you can put a piece of Whisper White on the inside so you have somewhere to stamp and write a greeting.  Maybe add a strip of the Gold Foil on the inside to carry through the design.

Which do you think a graduate will appreciate more, a graduation card you handmade for them or a store bought one? I guess as long as it has money inside, they will appreciate either, but you know what I mean!!

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Current Catalog ends May 31! New Catalog begins June 1st!

 

Pop Up Box Card UT Graduation

Pop Up Box Card UT GraduationI think these pop up box cards are almost like a present in themselves so if you are looking for an idea for a special graduation card, I think a pop up box graduation card would be a good choice! It’s hard for me to believe that it is the end of the school year for most students and time for graduations.  I thought the New Year just got going! Some of the materials I used on this card are retired Stampin’ Up! products, but some are current, and the designer paper is actually from the UT bookstore, maybe several years ago, in a scrapbooking package. I’ve made quite a few UT graduation cards and announcements the last several years with a pack or two from the bookstore! So if you are looking for school colors or designs, that is the place to look.

After making the pop up box, if you plan on putting it inside a regular size envelope, just be careful as you place whatever images and things you attach to the inside braces. Make sure they don’t stick out too far to the side or too far out the top.  Sometimes if you fold it one way, they do stick out but if you fold it the other way, they are all tucked inside.  So be sure to check that.  Then just stamp whatever congratulatory, fun, or personalized greetings and images that you want to put on the card. I didn’t get a very good photo of the inside with all the things I put inside, but you can get the idea.  Every card should be different anyway when you personalize it.

Here is what the card looks like folded flat with a belly band around it to decorate it and to keep it folded.

Pop Up Box Card UT Graduation Folded

Have fun designing your own pop up box card, whether for graduation or for some other fun occasion!  The sky is the limit!

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Graduation Announcement Pocket Card

Pocket Card Graduation Announcement

If you need some graduation announcements, this pocket card makes a nice one. I made a similar announcement for my son a few years ago that you can see in THIS POST. This uses a half sheet of card stock “the long way”, so 4 1/2″ x 11. Then it is folded in half and the  little flap in front folded down. I made an insert with all the commencement information, printed on my computer. I used some retired product on this card, some new, and some using My Digital Studio as I didn’t have the exact stamp I needed.You can probably purchase a scrapbooking pack of paper and embellishments in the college bookstore if you want the official college colors. These pocket cards work great for other kinds of invitations, gift card holder, just cards in general.

The colleges and schools often offer a gigantic box of announcements and some families just aren’t going to send out 50 or whatever the quantity is.  So sometimes it makes sense to just make a few of your own and personalize the occasion!

Last night I remembered a little too late that the University of Texas at Austin was having a live webcast of their all-school graduation ceremony. I was interested in hearing the speaker and seeing the fireworks at the end! We have attended three of these ceremonies and they were all very nice, but require parking where you can get out easily afterwards, arriving early to get a seat, sitting outside in some amount of heat, eating early so you don’t starve, and mostly sitting, sitting, sitting, and waiting. So I was glad we didn’t have to attend this ceremony this year, but I did catch the end of the webcast. Lots of happy faces in that crowd finalizing their college days and degrees! And I was just in time to see the fireworks over the  UT Tower!

UT Fireworks 2014

Gift Wrap Idea: Gold Kraft Gift Box with Gold Frizzle

Gold Gift Box with Gold Frizzle

Do you need a fancy gift wrap idea?  Use the Stampin’ Up! Kraft Gift Box and gold, gold, gold! Gold is IN these days so you might as well use it! I love these little Kraft Gift Boxes. They are 3 1/2″ wide on each side so perfect for a small gift or treat. I decorated this one first with a layer of Gold Foil on each side, cut just 1/8″ smaller on each side than the box. Then I layered a piece of Gold Fancy Foil Designer Vellum on each side (choose whichever pattern you like the best). I put a different pattern on the top.

Then to really jazz it up a bit, I put a little “frizzle” on the top! I didn’t know where I came up with that term or description, but it turns out “frizzle” does mean curl or kink or ringlets so I guess I was correct! Do you know where I got it?  From the Gold Baker’s Twine! The Gold Baker’s Twine is really just White Baker’s Twine with the metallic gold thread twisted around in it. Some people have even complained that when using the Gold Baker’s Twine, it came untwisted and frayed at the ends. But you can embrace that idea and untwist the gold thread from the white twine! Cut the Baker’s Twine into pieces several inches long each to make it easier.  Then gather your pile of gold threads and tie onto a bow or knot. Very easy! I could have also added a piece of Gold Sequin Trim for some extra bling!

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Gold Gift Box Top with Gold Frizzle

Another Birthday Purse Card

Pink Purse Card

I think these purse-shaped cards make great birthday cards for young girls! They could also be more than a birthday card.  Instead of just putting a greeting on the inside, make a pocket of some sort and turn it into a gift-card holder.  It is graduation time and I read that cash is the most welcome gift!  Make a pocket inside the card and insert cash or a gift card or check.  My grandmother used to always say you can’t give someone a purse without putting a penny in it!  Must be bad luck or something! Even though I made these purse cards for birthdays, think of all the other fun occasions you could make them for and the ways you could change them out!  Make it super-fancy with some Glimmer Paper or a sparkly closure or flower on the front! Make party invitations out of this idea!  It’s one of those projects that once you make one, you want to make more!

You can barely see the fuzzy thing underneath the closure.  That’s a piece of velcro which will hold the card closed.

Shop for Stampin’ Up! supplies at my Online Store!  Be sure to check the Clearance Rack, too!

Pink Purse Card Inside

Word Play Graduation Card

Word Play Graduation Card

If you are looking for an easy graduation card to make in just a few minutes, here’s one! You can design it using the school colors if you like or any colors you know the recipient will like. I started with a card base of Midnight Muse and stamped the greeting from Word Play in Midnight Muse ink on the Whisper White card layer. You could use any appropriate greeting you had on a design like this. I adhered two strips of 3/8″ Stitched Satin Ribbon to the Whisper White, adhering the ends under the Whisper White and tied the knots with separate pieces of ribbon. Since the colors of my high school were blue and gold, I chose these two colors of ribbon for my sample…Island Indigo and Summer Starfruit!

I love the stamp set Word Play with so many great sayings in it….but it is retiring in a couple weeks, so don’t miss out!

Check the selection of retiring stamps and accessories here in my Online Store and place your order today!

Make a Gift Bag for Mother’s Day!

Mother's Day Twitterpated Paper Gift Bag

Do you need a pretty gift bag for your Mother's Day gift…or really any occasion? You can use this design and just change out the paper for whatever person or occasion you want a gift bag for. If it's for a man, maybe leave off the paper flower but add a stamped image or greeting instead. You'll think of something!

I just found one of those small brown handled bags that you get now and then at the store.  If you save them, you'll always have a stash to go to when you need a nice gift bag.  Just choose 3 patterns from a pack of Stampin' Up! designer paper and cut one larger piece for the bottom section, one smaller piece for the top and  a piece to go across and cover up that line where the two papers meet and make a cute border. You could leave it as is or you could cut or punch a scalloped edge or whatever to jazz it up.

For my bag, I used three patterns out of the Twitterpated Designer Series Paper. For a pretty accent I added three buttons from the  Designer Buttons Subtles CollectionEach is tied with a small piece of White Baker's Twine. For something at the bottom corner of the bag, I chose to make a flower with the Flower Folds Die and the Big Shot using a pattern from the Twitterpated DSP.

Some of these items are on the Stampin' Up! Retired List so better do your shopping soon!  Anything on the list can sell out at any time so you don't want to be disappointed. Just click that link to go to my store with the retiring products and shop to your heart's content!

Thank You Note Card

Thank You Note Card

It is graduation time and certainly the new graduates are going to need to write some thank you notes for the gifts they receive. Did you know Stampin' Up! sells Note Cards #107311 that are just the right size and even come with envelopes?  All you have to do is fold them on the scored line and decorate how you wish. The card size is 5" x 3 1/2". 

For this thank you card, I used a scrap of the Twitterpated Designer Series Paper #125406 on the inside and cut the border with the Adorning Accents Edgelits Die #125595 and stamped with the Bordering on Romance stamp set.

Here is the inside:

Thank You Note inside

Plenty of room on the inside to write a nice note to the gift-giver! Or if you don't want to do the fancy edge, you could paste the paper on the front flap of the card.  Then stamp a "thank you" on the front….or a monogram with one of the Stampin' Up! alphabet sets!

Graduation Tri-Shutter Card

Graduation Tri-Shutter Card Steven UT

When your son is graduating from college and you make cards, you want to make an extra-special graduation card for him!  After thinking about many different designs, I decided on this tri-shutter card.  I love how it opens up yet is simple to make. This card is a combination of current and retired stamps, wheel, paper, and embellishments…even paper from the school bookstore scrapbook package. Oh, and let's not forget using My Digital Studio to print some images for the card!

Graduation Tri-Shutter Card Steven UT open

For the basic card, cut a piece of card stock 5 1/2" x 12". With your Simply Scored Scoring Tool, score the card stock at 2", 4", 8" and 10"with the card stock horizontal (12") in your scoring tool.

Using your Stampin' Up! Paper Cutter (retiring) or a hobby blade, with your card stock long ways (vertical), measure in 1 1/2" and cut a slit between the 2" and 10" score marks.  Do this also on the other side.

Fold as you see in the photo (a little tricky to get it going but it will work!) and then decorate with designer paper, stamping and embellishments to your heart's content!

Graduation Tri-Shutter Card Steven UT top

Graduation Photography Tips From a Mom

When you have a child graduating as we did this past weekend, it will be a momentous occasion, and if you are the family photographer you will undoubtedly be taking photos to document every second. Perhaps you will want to make a traditional scrapbook for the graduate or even a digital album or swatchbook with My Digital Studio for a quick and easy way to save and share your memories. Check out my graduation photography tips below.

IMG_1897

Here are my photography tips for graduation to ensure you HAVE those photos!

  • Think ahead about taking pictures at graduation, preferably at least a day ahead. Four or five years of college tend to sneak up on you and even with a year's notice you may find yourself unprepared for picture-taking at graduation.
  • Search your battery stash for a package of extra AA batteries, making sure you don't grab AAA batteries.
  • If there is no new package of AA batteries in your battery stash, stop all tasks and go to the store immediately to purchase at least one if not two (and maybe three) packages of batteries. It's really more important than having laundry done or the right pair of shoes packed.
  • Have an extra package of new batteries for your camera easily accessible in your purse before the big event.
  • If no new package of batteries is available in your stash and you don't really stop to think through how important it is to go out and buy new batteries right now, then grab a ziploc bag of loose batteries which perhaps are new ones taken along, but not used, on vacation or something recently. Surely they are brand new and will work.
  • If you suspect that your camera batteries may be close to wearing out during the graduation event, change the batteries in your camera during a boring speech while seated. Do not wait until your camera flashes "Change Your Batteries" during the singing of the school song and moments before the fireworks display to conclude the fabulous graduation ceremony.
  • If you are forced to change batteries in your camera, in the dark, while standing during the grand finale of the whole graduation ceremony, quickly take notice of which ends of the batteries are up and which are down before taking out the old batteries, then quickly insert the new batteries from the ziploc bag trying not to mix up the two groups of batteries.
  • If it turns out these spare batteries were indeed brand new, hooray for you! If not, just the act of changing the batteries will probably make your camera work for a few shots.
  • If after a few shots, these replacement batteries do not work because they weren't actually new batteries after all, quickly remove at least two and rub each end vigorously on your clothes and be assured that you will probably be able to get a few more shots out of this technique.
  • Always keep an extra package of batteries for your camera on hand because you never know when you might have a child graduate from college.  
  • If you are over the age of 30, (and you probably are), during the graduation speeches learn how to find and use the camera function on your cell phone, just in case. Did you know you can take video?? Learn how to slide the thing back for still shots so not everything is video.
  • Hope that someone with a better lens on their camera got a clear shot of your child receiving their diploma on stage because even if every other photo you took is perfect, that one will be blurry and unrecognizable.

IMG_1905

Steven graduation

UT Graduation Announcement

UT Graduation Announcement

And here are all the pieces you saw a few days ago all assembled into a graduation announcement for my youngest son!  The striped paper is from a scrapbook pack I bought in the university bookstore a few years ago….you may notice it on a lot of my graduation projects you've seen! I dug out some retired Really Rust card stock to come close to matching the Burnt Orange for UT.  Our current Cajun Craze is a pretty close match also. I've also been used some retired stamps as well as printing out a few things here and there from My Digital Studio, which is great for LOTS of things other than scrapbooking!  I have some projects in mind on My Digital Studio after all the graduation hoopla is over!

UT Graduation Announcement Inside

If you are making graduation cards or gift card holders for someone, just google the name of their school and you probably will be able to find out the school colors.  If not, gold, silver, black, and white are always good, as are stars and "Congratulations"!

Graduation Card Ideas

If you are looking for ideas for making handmade graduation cards about now, here are some I have posted in the past!

                                     Pocket Graduation Card UT Austin

Graduation Pocket Card Announcement

Graduation Gift Box and Tag

Click Photo above for blog post!

                  Extreme Elements Graduation Card stamped

Extreme Elements Graduation Card

UT graduation easel card

Graduation Easel Card for UT

Graduation Easel Card with Stars

Graduation Easel Card

Just have fun!  You can do it!

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