This post was sponsored by Simon Says Stamp. Thanks, Simon! *I have gathered links to all of the products used at the bottom of the post for your convenience, using affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for shopping with my links! I truly appreciate your support for my work!*
Hi friends! I have a colorful graduation card to share with you today. Graduation season is in full swing here in the Midwest, and we are at the age where several of our friends’ kids are taking that next step in their journey to adulthood. (Though the prospect of these kiddos that we knew as babies graduating high school does make me feel a tad ancient!) I have a fun, playful, super colorful graduation card to share with you today featuring some older graduation-themed products and a pretty rainbow of inks. Let’s get started with the details on my project!
To begin, I heat embossed the “Congrats Grad” from Grad Balloons onto some heavyweight vellum using white embossing powder. I love embossing on vellum, particularly with things that “float” like balloons or butterflies, simply because the semi-sheer nature of the vellum helps enhance that illusion of floating as well as keeping the card front from adding additional visual weight with regular cardstock. I used the coordinating dies to die cut the embossed sentiment images and set them aside.
After I had created the main focal point, it was time to dress up the background. I wanted something colorful and fun, so I selected a rainbow of Pawsitively Saturated Inks in shades of Apple, Melon, Butter, Dublin, Cadette, Clematis. This could easily be adapted to the color palette of the school from which the graduate is matriculating! (how’s that for a $2 word? haha!) I blended the inks in ROY G BIV order on the card front using blending brushes, then splattered the background with some gorgeous iridescent glitter watercolors to add texture and shimmer behind the celebratory balloons.
After I had completed the background, I added thin strips of foam adhesive behind the solid embossed areas of the vellum die cuts, then adhered both die cuts to the rainbow background. I drew some balloon strings with a silver paint pen, then added a graduation cap from the Cap and Gown die set, popped up at a jaunty angle on top of the vellum sentiment. I framed in the entire focal point with a white A2 Nesting Frame, encapsulating the focal point a bit and helping to draw the eye to the center of the card front. The final touch was a Silver Cord bow for the balloon bouquet, adding a bit more texture and one last touch of silver to the card!
Well, that’s all for my project today! I think this is such a fun card to give to a graduate with a gift card or maybe even some cash inside. It doesn’t take a huge time investment (appropriate for a teenager who might not appreciate a handmade card) and it can be customized to a wide variety of color palettes.
Just FYI: the Simon Says Stamp Memorial Day Sale ends tonight!!
Take 25% off of all Simon Says Stamp branded products, including the fabulous Pawsitively Saturated Inks that I’ve used for today’s project. It’s a great opportunity to stock up on inks, re-inkers, cardstock, and any of the fabulous Simon Says Stamp tools that you’ve had your eye on!
Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!
Leave a Reply