Congratulations, Graduates!

In my "day job" I am an online lecturer and my students are about to finish their course.  I'm really proud of them, as they are all working full time and completing the course part time.  I know that isn't easy.  So I thought I would make them each a handmade card to congratulate them.

Because I was making a lot, I made sure they were simple to construct on an assembly - line basis.  I used washi tape for a simple background, and cut out the sentiments with framelits and the Big Shot.

This one for the girls:

Ingredients: Gingham Garden Washi Tape
Stamps:  Feel Goods
Ink:  Melon Mambo
Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Melon mambo button
Chalk Talk Framelits Big Shot, Dimensionals

This one for the boys:

Epic Day Washi Tape
Ink:  Versamark
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Other:  Whisper White Embossing Powder, heat gun, Big Shot, Framelits

I hope they like them.

Working With Strong Colours

I love colour.  See? Hahahahhaa!  Ahem.  Sorry about that.  

One of the problems with strong colours is that they can overwhelm (especially a small canvas, like a card) and when you use too many strong colours together, it can just look garish.  The most difficult strong colours for me are purple, orange and yellow.  I love them, I just find them tricky to work with, KWIM?

One easy way to use a bold colour that is to make sure you limit the number of colours you use. Stick to two, plus a neutral such as white, vanilla, grey, or kraft.

 

Another way is to use a simple sketch - you don't need a busy card with a bold colour.  Also, muted shades of the same colour can work well together.  

Don't be afraid of bold contrasts!  Some of my favourites are purple/green, purple/red, purple/yellow, blue/yellow, red/green, and orange/green.

 

Hope this was helpful!

Ingredients (from bottom up):
Stamps:  Something Sweet, Polka Dot Background, Petal Pizazz, Congrats (retired), Fifth Avenue Floral, On Your Birthday, Razzle Dazzle, Really Retro, I {heart} Hearts,  Cheer & Wishes
Paper:  Only Orange, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Kraft, Elegant Eggplant, Good Morning Sunshine DSP, Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red
Ink:  Only Orange, Kiwi Kiss, Versamark, Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Tangerine Tango,  Riding Hood Red
Other:  Scalloped Oval Punch, large oval punch, Sweet Treat Cups, 13/4 inch circle punch, Rhinestone Brads, Elegant Eggplant grosgrain, dimensionals, Tangerine Tango striped grosgrain, 1 inch circle punch, i1/4 inch circle punch, Full heart punch, Heart to Heart punch, large half pearl from Pretties Kit.

Circle Circus Congrats

Just a quick post to show the card I made for a friend's graduation from her Nursing Degree recently. I made it out of scraps I had left from prepping the Stamp A Stack, and it came together relatively easilly! The sentiment is from this year's Sale-A-Bration set. The Pink DSP is from Sweet Always. Here's the recipe:

Stamps: Circle Circus, Congratulations

Paper: Sweet Always DSP, Old Olice, Kraft, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Old Olive, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, Whisper White Craft ink

Other: Regal Rose ribbon, White embossing powder, dazzling diamonds glitter, 2- way glue, snail adhesive, dimensionals, punches.