My Second Attempt at a Floating Dress

Hi everyone.   This is a happy Tuesday for me as I wait for the man in the brown truck to stop by my house and drop off all my new Stampin' Up! stuff!!!!!  I cannot wait to see the upcoming in-colors and to play with all the new things.  It is like Christmas for me!!!!

When I went into my craft room yesterday I had one goal - make a graduation card for a special young lady.  Well I couldn't help but think that a floating dress card would be so much fun to make for her for this occasion.  So I set out to do just that.  Let me share with you my final result.

 

I will list the video link again at the end of this post so you can see how Karen Burnstein made her card.  For now I will focus on my colors, stamp and design.  I started with a base card of Very Vanilla cut at 5" x 11".  I ran this through my big shot using the card base pop 'n cuts die.  It will cut a 4 1/4" x 11" card.  I scored this at 5 1/2".  Next, I pulled a retired stamp set called Go, Graduate.  I used the cap stamp and made a background on the front of the card.  I then ran this once again through my big shot using the labels framelits to cut out the hole for the front.  Prior to removing the piece, I added runner adhesive to the back of the label and pressed it against the back of the card so that the piece removed from the front would now be inside the card.  Next, I took 3 pieces of Basic Black card stock all cut at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and placed the same label framelit I just used on it as well as the next size up so I could make frames for the opening and label of the card.  I did each individually.  I attached the front one to the card using runner adhesive.  I used a gold marker and added the year to each side and dots to the curves.  Rhinestones completed the look of the front.

 

Here is a closer look at the card with the frame.  You can see the gold numbers and dots as well as the rhinestones.  I really like how this all came together and how it looks.  

 

Here is the inside of the card.  You can see the label that was cut out from the front.  You can also see the frame I made to go around it.  I decorated the frame just like the front one so that it was consistent.  The greeting is another retired stamp called Happy Grad.  I stamped this using Basic Black ink and then cut it out using my set of oval framelits.  I sponged the edges with Basic Black ink and attached it to the inside label using runner adhesive.  

 

Here is a view of the floating dress from the inside of the card front.  As you can see I used the third frame here.  I decorated it with the gold marker.  The frames and the 3 dresses were all sprayed using the champagne shimmer spray.  Even though my dress is only one color, I went ahead and cut 2 strips of Basic Black card stock at 2 1/2" x 11".  I adhered them back to back using runner adhesive.  The reason I chose to do this was because I made the dress originally as just a single layer and it really did not work well.  It was really weak so I went an remade it using the 2 strips adhered together.  Once the card stock was prepared, I ran it through the big shot and cut out my 3 dresses, one at a time.  I sprayed both sides of the dress with the champagne shimmer spray.  I then added polka dots with my gold marker.  Then I cut the slits and notches, intertwined them and attached the main dress to the card on the front using glue dots.  

 

Here you and see the dress open and floating.  I just love the colors I chose for this!

 

Here is a shot from the top down which shows you the dress opened up.  Here is the video link to learn how to make the dress:  click here for video.

Now I have no idea what I will make to share with you tomorrow so you will just have to stop by to see if I come up with something boring or exciting.  Thanks for dropping by today to visit.  See you tomorrow.

Hurray for the Graduate

Saturday marked a very special occasion in the life of my niece Michelle.  She graduated from college with her degree in teaching and she already has a job!  I am so excited for her.  We celebrated the occasion with a family dinner.  There was so much food it was unbelievable and delicious.  Of course, I wanted to make her a special card to mark the event and that card is what I am going to share with you today. 

 

I have made this particular girl once before but we will get to that in a minute.  First, we will start with the basics.  I started with a base card of Shimmer White card stock measuring 4 1/4" x 11", scored at 5 1/2".  I added a layer of graduation designer paper I found at a local craft store.  I cut it to be 4 1/8" x 5 3/8".  For the final layer I chose the Shimmer White again and cut it to be 2 1/2" x 3 3/4".  I took this piece and ran it through my big shot using the lattice square impression folder.  Each layer is attached using a runner adhesive.  

 

I made this girl for the first time last year for my other niece who graduated from college.  Just as I did last year, I tried to make the little lady have some features, okay so just the hair color, of the person the card is made for.  In this case I used So Saffron for the hair color.  Her cap and robe are Basic Black.  For the dress, I used a retired dsp from SU! and Tempting Turquoise for the shoes.  Her skin tone is Blushing Bride.  As a side note, Blushing Bride is one of the colors retiring this year.  I am really disappointed since this color works for skin tone.  There is not another color coming that will do the job so I hope SU! comes up with something permanent for it soon.  Anyway, I learned to make this girl from the punch queen herself, Ellen Kemper.  Please visit her blog to learn how to make her.  She is attached to the card using dimensionals.

 

For the inside of the card, I used a saying from the stamp set Word Play.  I stamped it using Basic Black ink  on Whisper White and cut it out with my big shot using the framelits label collection.   I then cut out the next size up in Basic Black to layer the saying onto in order to highlight it.  I then used the Curly Cute stamp set for the congratulations.  Again I stamped it using the Basic Black ink.  This time, I cut it out freehand, layered it onto a scrap of Basic Black card stock and trimmed it to match the shape leaving a border.  

We are a week away of from Mother's Day.  Don't forget to make your mom a card.  Thanks for dropping by today.  I will do my best to have a post for tomorrow but my camera has gone on an adventure with my husband.  Hopefully, he will get it back to me before tomorrow.  Hope to see you then.

 

Gift Bag

As I was working on a special project the other day, my sister called and said she needed a few gift bags to place a small gift in to give to students who are graduating from ASU this year.  Now don't think she needed them for all the students.  She only needed 18 for students who are part of her college and I believe they have worked there.  So of course I said I would do it.  Unfortunately I only had a few hours to get them ready.  She had to pick them up that night and pass them out the next day at work.  So I put together a really quick design and got started on production. 

 

This is the first side of the bag.  I started with Whisper White card stock cut at 6" x 12".  I ran it through my big shot using the XL Bigz die Fancy Favor.  This actually cut out the bag shape and scored the lines where I would need to bend them to put it together.  To secure it, I knew I would need a strong adhesive so I used my sticky strip.  Now because I knew I wanted to decorate the sides prior to assembling the bag, I put the sticky strip on where it would be needed but did not peel off the top red layer of it.  That way it would be ready when I needed it to be and not stick to anything while I worked on it.  

As you can clearly see, my sister works for Arizona State University.  The school colors are maroon and gold so I chose to use Bravo Burgundy and Daffodil Delight as my colors of card stock.  My Cricut machine came in very handy to use for making the letters.  I used a cartridge for the machine called Plantin Schoolhouse.  It is an alphabet cartridge which actually came with my machine when I got it.  As you can see, I cut out sets of letters in both of the colors so I could alternate them on my cards.  I adhered the letters down using a liquid glue.  

Next I pulled out a retired stamp set called Go, Graduate.  I used the cap stamp from it and stamped one with Bravo Burgundy ink and the other with Daffodil Delight ink.  Now I could have stamped these all over the side and then adhered the letters but I wanted a simple clean look.  I also could have added glitter but I did not really have time to today.  

 

Here is the other side of the box.  I basically stuck to the same theme.  I began by using the same Cricut cartridge and cutting out numbers in both Bravo Burgundy and Daffodil Delight so I could also alternate them on here.  They are adhered with liquid glue.  Again I used the same stamp to add my decoration.  Once the letters and numbers had been adhered and had a chance to dry, and the stamping was all done, I assembled my bag together and it was ready to go.  

While I did not get a photo on the gift I will tell you we finished the bags off by placing a half sheet of tissue paper in each and then placed the gift which was a really cool key chain.  Hopefully, her students will love the key chains and take time to look at the bag.  All in all, I kept the task simple for myself so I knew I could finish it in time for her to get them.  I had a lot of fun making these. 

 Now I have a secret project to work on for someone special.  I cannot share any details about it yet since the someone has not received it.  However, I do promise to share it with you as soon as I can.  I think you will appreciate it when you see it (at least I hope you will. 

Thanks for stopping by today and please come back tomorrow.  See you all then!

Graduation Girl

Before I begin today I want to apologize for not getting my post up on Friday.  Somehow, my posting got a little confused.  The Thursday post posted on Wednesday and the Friday one did not post until Saturday night.  Please know I am truly sorry for this.  Hopefully this week will be better.

Sometimes it surprises me just how fast time flies by.  Our niece who is the same age as our oldest daughter, Heather, just graduated from college with a degree in elementary education.  Lord help her.  I graduated with that same degree years ago (we will not go into how many years).  She reminds me of how I was at that time:  eager to get a job, loved being with the kids, and ready to take on the challenge.  I loved every minute I taught.  Sadly, it was not to last for me for family needs took over when my mom became ill.  When she passed, I thought about going back to the classroom, but somehow, I knew that was not God's plan for me.  I just wish his plan had been a happy one.

Anyway, I wanted to make a card for our niece that was uniquely her.  So I went with a tri-fold card.

This is the view of the card from the top down.  I think it looks really cool and gives you lots of room to be creative.  I wrote my message on the back of the card so the inside could be filled with graduation items.

 

her is a view to give you an idea of what I put inside.  I tried to go with an all grad theme.  I wanted to be sure to include the year she graduated and the university.  I put a little owl in 2 different places because I always associate owls with teachers.  But my favorite part of the card is the graduation girl herself.

 

Here is another view of her.  She is jumping for joy at the fact she survived the 4 years of college and is ready to take on the world.  I wish I could remember who made a similar girl.  I know I saws something similar a while ago on the internet.  When I sat down to plan her card, this image came into my head.  I remember pulling out my notebook and writing the punches down to use for it so I went to my handy reference tool and pieced her together.  

I am so luck to have so many wonderful females in my family.  While I have only 6 nephews, I have 7 nieces and 2 beautiful daughters.  The men have always been out numbered.    I am proud of each of and every one of them.  They have each had their own battles to find who they are, their own challenges to overcome, and they have built a strength within themselves as they have grown.  I hope they always remember they have an aunt (me) and a mom (to my girls) that will always be there for them whenever they need me.  I love them all.

Soon it will be my youngest, Kaitlyn's, birthday.  I cannot believe she just finished her first year of college.  She is absolutely turning into a wonderful woman right before my eyes.  After that, I am so excited as my Heather will be graduating from her college becoming a full medical assistant.  I am so proud of her.  She has really grown as an individual and become a wonderful young woman.  

Thank you so much for stopping by today to visit.  Please come back again.  See you tomorrow.

Graduation Season is at Hand

Last year was a big year for our family as our youngest daughter, Kaitlyn, graduated from high school.  We also celebrated the graduation of our adopted daughter (our oldest daughter's best friend), Marissa from NAU in December.  Now I went traditional for Kaitlyn and ordered her announcements through the appointed company from the high school.  However, when Marissa came to me on Thanksgiving and said she wanted me to make her announcements, well I just could not pass up that opportunity.  I wanted to be able to take part in her celebration.  After all finishing college is quite an achievement.  I made them simple and elegant to fit the occasion.

 

I stuck with the traditional colors of NAU to create the letters and other items used on the announcement.  Then I layered the letters.  I liked the look of the dark blue on top so that's what I went with.  The hat and the graduation definition on the front are from a stamp set called Go Graduate.  Unfortunately this set is now retired.  I still use it for cards for friends or create announcements ordered by others.  Yes you can contact me to order announcements.  Please know I need at least one to two months to create them depending on how many you need.  Now for the inside of the announcement.

 

I had Marissa email me pictures of her in her cap and gown.  She sent 4 or 5 and had me choose which one I thought would look best.  I printed them on my printer since she only needed 20 or so.  I used corner punch for the frame which allowed me to fasten the picture in by sliding the corners under the punched out part of the corner.  This allows the recipient to choose to keep the announcement intact as it is or remove the picture to put in a scrapbook or frame.  The punched out pieces were used on the corner of the announcement part so no piece was wasted.  The wording for the announcement came from researching online and looking at samples.  I then sent as I always do the wording to Marissa for approval.  Yes these took some time to make but once they were complete, I was really proud of them.  Her parents liked them so much they doubled the order and sent them to more family and friends.  I was thrilled they liked them so much.

Keep stopping in to see new things each weekday.  Leave some feedback for me if you have time.  Thanks for dropping by.