College Graduation

This is the card and gift card holder I sent to my cousin's son who graduated with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy this past weekend.
 

Since he was graduating in a field of medicine, I decided I would use the same card style I created two years ago when my niece received her Nurse Practitioner degree. I used the same Caduceus cutfile I had created as well as the same illustration from my medical dictionary for the inside panel of my card. I did change the title of the degree to DPT (for Doctor of Physical Therapy) and of course, the graduate's name. Graduate's last name has been edited out in photos for privacy.  All cuts were done on the illustration and backed with a metallic gold foil board.

Using the print and cut feature of Make the Cut design program, I created a round medallion of the school seal to put on the narrow front panel. Although it's not easy to see from the photos, I attached a panel of clear acetate behind that narrow front panel so the Caduceus inside the card can be seen with the card closed.

As the card is opened, the panel with the Caduceus pops forward and moves to the the right to reveal the panel with the sentiment underneath. This very cool pop up and movement was created by installing Karen Burniston's "Rockin' Rectangle" mechanism in the fold of the card. This has become one of my most favorite mechanisms to use to add some fun to graduation cards.

I also created this gift card holder in the school's colors to send with the card. I happened to notice that in photos I saw of past graduations from this school, the DPT graduates donned tams instead of a mortarboard cap so I tried to recreate that. I also used Karen Burniston's Word Set die - Congrats and an old Quickutz die for the diploma. 

Be Bold Blooms Retirement Card

I received my long awaited order of Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms dies in the mail last week and it couldn't have come at a more perfect time! I had procrastinated for too long and was in need of  three cards and a lot of inspiration in a hurry. I'm a very slow crafter so three cards in one week from me is quite a stretch. But getting to play with this new die set really helped to get the creative juices flowing again!

I'm usually not a fan of die cut or paper pieced floral arrangements but this Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms die set caught my interest because the set includes several different types and sizes of blossoms and foliage that can be mixed and matched and look great together. I also really like that the dies have lots of embossed details that add pretty textures to the petals, leaves and flower centers.

This retirement card for a former coworker was the first card I made using my new die set. I used a Sizzix embossing folder, "Argyle #2" to add texture to the panel on the front of my card, cut a window and added the die cut flowers and leaves. Through the window you can see a die cut adirondack chair.

On the inside, I used Karen Burniston's "Rockin' Rectangle Pop Up" mechanism die to animate my card.  As the card is opened, the panel with the chair pops forward and "rocks" to the right to reveal another panel with the sentiment underneath. This has become one of my favorite pop up mechanisms to create a fun and fairly quick interactive card.

I used the same dies to create a matching gift card holder to enclose with my card. Really happy that these floral dies make it easy and fun to decorate cards. In my next post I'll share the other two cards I was able to finish in time thanks to this die set.

Another Rockin' Rectangle Grad Card

I had just enough time to finish a second graduation card this year; this one for my cousin's son. Since I was happy with how the first graduation card for my niece turned out (previous post), I decided to use Karen Burniston's Rockin' Rectangle pop up die again to animate this card as well.

 

Once again, I printed the graduate's school seal onto cardstock to add the the front of the card. I didn't have an oval punch or die in the right size so instead, I used the print and cut function on my Silhouette to cut the seal out. The seal was mounted onto a border of cardstock in the school colors and a piece of acetate was attached to this to be the front of the card.

My cousin had mentioned to me that his son's field of interest was aeronautical engineering so I searched online and printed a page from an aeronautical technical handbook to use for the front panel of my card. I then used an old graduate silhouette cutting file I had created many years ago to cut a stencil into the copy of the handbook page. I added a stencil cut of the graduate's name underneath using Arial font. (I edited his last name out in my photos to avoid privacy issues). The stencil cut page was then adhered to a panel of glossy black cardstock.

I added glittery gold cardstock on the inside of the card and the graduate silhouette and sentiment panels were attached to the Rockin' Rectangle mechanism.

As the card is opened, the graduate silhouette panel pops forward and moves to the right to reveal the sentiment panel underneath. I enjoyed putting these graduation cards together this year; my only regret is that I wish I had gotten started sooner so I could have finished more of these in time for all the graduates on our list. Will definitely consider doing a repeat of this card style for our graduates next year.

Rockin' Rectangle Graduation Card

 Restrictions on graduations seem to have eased slightly this year, although many large universities chose to remain cautiously safe with virtual ceremonies for their graduates. We are so proud and happy for our niece who graduated with her Doctorate in Nursing Practice, but a little sad that we weren't able to be there with her to celebrate as we had hoped.

I like to personalize graduation cards I make, so I started my niece's graduation card by first printing her school seal onto cardstock, used a circle punch to cut it out, and adhered it onto a glittery border in Seattle University's colors. This was then attached to an clear acrylic panel to give my card a see through front.

Next, I created a cutting file of the caduceus (nursing symbol) with the letters "NP" using Make the Cut design program and cut a stencil of the image onto a page copied from an old medical dictionary. I then glued a piece of red glitter cardstock behind the stencil to give the caduceus some fun glitz.

I decided to use Karen Burniston's Rockin' Rectangle Pop Up mechanism to animate my graduation card. This has become one of my favorite pop up mechanisms to use because it's so versatile and easy to install.

As the card is opened, the panel with the caduceus stencil pops forward and to slides the right to reveal another panel with our sentiment underneath. I used the word "congrats" (Ballerina ttf) together with a cute digital image of a heart shaped stethoscope to decorate the second panel, leaving room for our personal message.

Here's a view of the two pop up panels from above. Really had fun putting this graduation card together for my niece. I got a late start on making graduation cards this year so unfortunately only had time to make two. Will share the second one, very similar to this in my next post.

In the Cookie of Life...

I recently made this fun card and matching gift card holder to send to a dear friend for her birthday.

   

While looking for fresh ideas for a birthday card, I came across this quote by author Salman Rushdie. Being that my friend happens to work part time at a bakery that bakes yummy gourmet cookies (that she sometimes shares with us!), I thought this would make a cute theme for her card.

I started my card by lightly blending distress oxide inks onto white cardstock to create the panel you see in the window. I added a paper pieced teddy from Marjorie Ann Designs' "Me and You Forever" cutting file and cookie jar from Kadoodlebug Designs' "Cutie Katoodles Cookie Jar Bear".

The cookie quote was done with Ballerina and Arial fonts as a print and cut with a label shape from Cricut Lacy Labels cartridge. Cutting file for the chocolate chip cookies were created in Make the Cut design studio, and window and frame were cut on the Silhouette. Digital patterned paper for the inset is from Phantasia Design's Teddy Bear Digital Pack on Etsy.

I adhered the panel with the teddy and cookie jar onto a Karen Burniston Rockin' Rectangle mechanism. Yup, I'm really making good use out of this die!

As the card is opened, the panel with the teddy and the cookie jar pops forward and rocks to the right  to reveal another teddy holding a cookie underneath.

Then, just for fun, I enlarged the cutting file for the cookie jar just enough to fit a gift card. I cut and pieced together two sets; one for the front and one for the back and adhered them together at the edges, leaving a pocket to slide the gift card in. Hope my dear friend enjoyed her birthday card and gift as much as I did putting it together!

Have a SAFE Halloween!

Here's the card I created to send to our granddaughter for Halloween this year. Can you guess who she chose to dress up as? 

Just like so many little girls her age, she wanted to be Elsa from Disney's Frozen movie. Our daughter sent us a few pre-Halloween sneak peek photos of our granddaugther trying out her new costume, and it was so heartwarming to see the joy in her face as she modeled Elsa's glittery gown. I knew right away that I wanted to make an Elsa Halloween card!

I used a coloring book image of Elsa to render into a cutting file using Make the Cut design program and added a paper pieced jack-o-lantern from Miss Kate's Cuttables placed in front. I used glitter and pearlescent cardstocks flatback rhinestones and Stickles to give Elsa lots of sparkle (because that's what little girls --and me-- love, right?).

I put Elsa behind a clear acetate card front, and used Karen Burniston's Rockin' Rectangle mechanism to animate the card. I attached my sentiments to the front and inside of the acetate panel as a print and cut using Christie ttf and a fancy label cutting file.

As the card is opened, Elsa moves forward and little Olaf appears from behind! 

And finally, I used the back of the card to add our Halloween wishes for our granddaughter. 

I also made a second batch of cookies but with not enough time to spend making anymore treat boxes,  I simply packed them in cute Halloween cello bags tied with satin ribbons and added a fun tag.

 

My original plan was to make paper pieced tags, but after spending much time creating a cutting file for my design, I realized I would be cutting and piecing 6 layers of cardstock to create each tag. Yikes! I quickly had a change of heart and decided to switch it over to a print and cut file by stacking each of the layers in the correct order on the design screen. I thought printed image on the tags were cute enough, and it was much quicker to put together!

Before I go, I'm excited to share a  couple sweet and spooky cute treat boxes I received from my crafty buddies, Kris and Lorna. Kris put together this adorable Dracula and coffin treat boxes filled with yummy candies and antibacterial gel!

And how about Lorna's amazing Halloween rendition of children storybook characters from"Where the Wild Things Are" for this fun treat box! 

Thank you for stopping by! Please have a SAFE and Happy Halloween!

Happy "Birdie" Day

While perusing the internet for fresh ideas for "guy cards" I came across some adorable images of golfing mice which provided the much needed inspiration for yet another golf themed card for hubby's birthday this year.

I paper pieced a mouse and a few birds and put them into a card with a large acetate window front together with Karen Burniston's Rockin' Rectangle mechanism to make this fun interactive pop up card.
 

When the card is opened, the rectangle panel with the golf mouse pops forward and moves to the right to reveal the flagstick and birdies underneath.

To create the golf scene on my card, I put together paper pieced elements from several different cutting files. I used the cute little mouse from Marjorie Ann Designs "Cookies and Milk" set; golf ball and tee are from Little Scraps Of Heaven's "Golf Mouse"; and birdies are from Cuddly Cute Designs' "Cuddly Critter Birds" (now retired).

Golf club image from Pixabay and coloring book images of the flagstick and golf cap were rendered into cutting files in Make the Cut Design program. Just for fun I added a Nike swoosh to the front of the cap, which may have been a mistake because hubby noticed and commented... "Hey, I don't have one like that!" Was that a hint or what?!! 

I used a Die-namics border die for the grass and and added tiny flowers punched from a mini Punch Bunch paper punch.

Here's a view from the top which shows the Rockin' Rectangle mechanism which is really simple to put together to easily animate and make fun interactive cards. I think this is my new "Go To" easy pop up mechanism to to use.

Happy Fathers Day

Just when I thought my brain absolutely could not, would not, come up with another golf themed card for hubby, I somehow managed to pull it off once more just in time for Fathers Day.

Thank you, Karen Burniston and her Rockin' Rectangle die for sparking the mojo! I kept the front of the card very simple, creating a golf course scene using hillside and cloud border dies to create stencils and distress oxide inks applied with cosmetic foundation brushes. I added a window just large enough for my paper pieced golf cart to show through.

When the card is opened, the panel with the golf cart on it pops up and "rocks" to the right, revealing a golfing Yoda. Sentiment reads, "May the COURSE be with you!" Just the card every golfing Star Wars fan would love, right?

Yoda was pieced together using a svg cutting file called Galaxy Cuties from Cuddly Cute Designs and golf cart was cut from Cricut's Everyday Paper Dolls cartridge. Hoping this card will bring a smile to hubby's morning as he and his friends head out to spend an enjoyable Fathers Day on the golf course.

Shiba Inu Meme Birthday Card

I put together this "Doge Meme" themed pop up birthday card for my niece who owns a Shiba Inu. Paper pieced Shiba Inu pups were created from cutting files created in Make the Cut design program. The double tiered birthday cake which peeks out the front window was cut from now retired Cottage Cutz Celebration Cake die.

As this card is opened, the panel with the birthday cake  pops forward and rocks to the right...

... to reveal another Shiba Inu pup underneath!

Love the fun pop up and rocking motion of this card created with Karen Burniston's Rockin' Rectangle Pop Up die! Assembling the mechanism for this interactive card was actually pretty simple, and the nice thing is that it's a generic mechanism that can be customized to each persons's creative imagination!

I'm not much into meme humor but I tried to use some of the same silly captions I saw on many of the Doge memes I came across online and printed them in pastel colors to give my card a kind of  whimsical, humorous and cutesy feel. Hoping this card brought a little smile to our sweet niece who had to spend her birthday sheltering in place far away from home.