Graduation Cap Gift Bags

I'm planning a graduation party for my son and have invited a cousin to be a part of it as well. I thought I should have something to put cards in since they are sure to receive some. This is what I came up with.


My original plan to repurpose old cookie tins and mat board into graduation cap tins to hold cards was scrapped when I thought better of it: the cards were not going to fit in the tin, it would be better to have them in a closed container to avoid any lost cards.


A can of black spray paint, dark green kraft gift bags I had in my stash, matboard, ruler, mat board cutter, cropodile and heavy duty hobby knife plus a dollar store keychain tassel = "graduation cap" gift bag card holder. Yeah, a bit silly looking, but it was what I could come up with using supplies I already (mostly) had on hand. I really wanted to repurpose the cookie tins though, so I came up with another idea for them (shared yesterday)

TIP: try to find black gift bags and black foam core rather than use spray paint on them, they are smelly from the paint. They did lose some of the smell after airing out for three weeks before the party.

ABC123 Sketchy letters. little lace doily die. circle punch,

Brilliant Blue ink and card stock, Brocade Blue ink and card stock.

Whisper White card stock all from Stampin' Up!

Larger circle die, Spellbinders

2013 clear stamps, My Sentiments Exactly

Congratulations Graduate Class Of, I made myself with

a stamp set from Just Rite Stampers

I'll add a photo to the white and blue mat.

Pennant Punch, Concord Crush card stock, Daffodil Delight ink,Whisper White 

card stock, Alphadots stamp set, circle punch all from Stampin' Up!

Offray ribbon

TIP#2: Use removable adhesive to attach the embellishments to the bag. That way, if the recipient does not want to keep the bag they can easily remove and reuse the embellishments on a scrapbook page or photo frame!

Thank You stamp and White Kraft ink, Stampin' Up!

Measure the top of your gift bag when it is open and add an inch (or more if you'd like) to the dimensions.
Draw onto your mat board and cut out. You could also use black card stock, it would be much easier to work with. I chose mat board since I already had some in stock and it would be sturdier.

Measure the placement of the handles and mark where you want the holes to be.

Punch out holes in the mat board with a cropodile or some other heavy duty hole punch tool.

Using a heavy duty, sharp hobby knife, carefully cut a slit from each hole to the side of the mat board. This will enable you to slip the mat board over the handles.

Measure and cut an opening in the center of the mat board to insert cards. Mine is 6" long by 3/4" wide.

Attach tassel and die cut letters, photo frame or any other decorations you would like. I did not have the photos attached when I took the pictures to share here.


I had so many ideas of things I wanted to make for the party, but decided against it since space is limited and really, do many people pay that much attention to decorations, the little details ?  It is going to be held in a pinball arcade anyway.

Yes, the tassel was a bit too enticing....

the kitten came out of nowhere when I was taking

this photo and attacked it ! 

Thanks for looking =)

Graduation Party Decor

I had so many ideas if things I wanted to do for graduation party decor and snacks, but in the end did not since we are going to be inside a dimly lit pinball arcade with limited space. I don't know that many people will pay much attention to the decorations anyway......... I did whip up these few things, mainly using items I had on hand already (repurposing / upcycling !).

Centerpiece made from a tall cookie tin wrapped with a photocopy of the diploma. Balloons, curling ribbon, tulle, handmade sign, satin ribbon, balloon sticks - simple.

I cut out the numbers with my Cricut then painted on a thick layer or clear drying glue just in side the edges and applied chunky glitter. They are attached to a piece of chipboard with dimensionals / pop dots (I need to lower the #2). I printed out Class Of on white card stock, trimmed to fit the chipboard.

Store bought (just $1 !) honeycomb centerpiece that I made a base for: I simply painted white poster board I had on hand with black acrylic craft paint. I cut a strip to wrap around an old cookie tin and a square to sit atop the tin for the centerpiece to rest on. I printed out a strip of paper with their names on it and attached it to the front.  This will sit between the two graduation cap gift bags (I'm posting those tomorrow). I also made a "then and now" scrapbook page that will sit on the table by his card gift bag; I'll share that later, too.


I did the same thing with four other tins, only I took the tops off. The square piece of black board will sit on the table, the empty open topped tin on top of that. I will use them to hold different types of chips. Granted, they are not going to hold a lot, but I hope they look kinda cute, better than just open chip bags sitting out ! Then again, with limited space I may not get to use them....... we'll see when we get to the party.

Three tin containers simply wrapped in a photocopy of the graduates diploma with a yellow ribbon tied around it. These will hold plastic forks, knives, spoons.

There will be a banner strung along the edges of the banquet table.

I also have yard stake signs to put up as directional signs and in front of the arcade.


Thanks for looking =)

Sketch An Event Grad Card

This one was a quicky, the thing that took the longest was 

making the circle stamp with Just Rite Stampers -

but that was already put together from another project I made.

The blue scraps are leftovers from the arrows I cut out on

yesterdays card (Need For Speed Grad Card)

The mortarboard (cap from Sketch An Event, Stampin' Up!) was stamped 

with black ink on navy card stick then cut out.

Argyle embossing folder from Stampin Up

I should finally finish up the Memorial Day blog hop today

 at Operation Write Home - there were almost 150 entries !

Mine was #20

Sooooooooooooooooooo many great cards and ideas shared !

Need For Speed Graduation Card

Need For Speed and Word Play stamp sets, Stampin' Up!

Brilliant Blue, Bordering Blue, Basic Gray, Wild Wasabi inks/markers, Stampin' Up!

White card stock, blue card  stock, textured gray card stock , unknown

Stampin' Sponge

Aquapainter

Dimensionals 

Cystal Effects on the windows and headlights

The sentiment stamp is inked with markers.

(I can never get marker inked images to look crisp...)

The car image is water colored and sponged

(I am not happy with the way that turned out....)

I used a wide chisel point black Sharpie marker to draw along the

edges of the stamped panels, creating a faux layer of black card stock.

I hand cut the arrows with an Xacto knife. 

I almost ran the white card front through the Chevron 

embossing folder to simulate diamond plate,

but decided that might make it toooooo busy.

This card went to a family friend that will be

studying Auto Technology. 

Thanks for looking =)

Memorial Day - My Digital Studio

A quick cover I made for facebook pages.

I used My Digital Studio from Stampin' Up

(My Memories Suite V4 software works the same )

• Create a custom canvas size, 851 pixels wide x 315 pixels tall
• Basic Black textured card stock background
• Natural Compositions Overlay
• Text box filled with a sentiment, white "ink" and reduced in opacity
• 5 circle punches photo filled with images I found online

I then used a scrapbook page I created with My Digital Studio a couple of years ago for a profile picture.

Memorial Day

- C W Johnson

We walked among the crosses
Where our fallen soldiers lay.
And listened to the bugle
As TAPS began to play.
The Chaplin led a prayer
We stood with heads bowed low.
And I thought of fallen comrades
I had known so long ago.
They came from every city
Across this fertile land.
That we might live in freedom.
They lie here 'neath the sand.
I felt a little guilty
My sacrifice was small.
I only lost a little time
But these men lost their all.
Now the services are over
For this Memorial Day.
To the names upon these crosses
I just want to say,
Thanks for what you've given
No one could ask for more.
May you rest with God in heaven
From now through evermore.

http://www.thememorialdaytribute.com/

OWH Blog Hop Punched Star Card Tutorial

Here is my attempt at trying to explain how I made the cards 

I shared yesterday more difficult than they should have been -

but it was worth it to thank a soldier !

This shows some of the supplies I used:

4.25" x 5.5" white card

2.25" x 5.25" blue card stock

1.75" x 5.25" red card stock

two sizes of star punches

scrap of silver metallic card stock

( you could use brads, eyelets, etc)

adhesive

(Note: if you have dies, this project would be so much easier.

I don't have any small star dies, so I made my punches work)

Punch the larger star from scrap paper and line up in half

on the edge of your card stock layers.

Lightly trace to give you guide lines

for punching. Use the guidelines for 

general placement of the star punch.

The key is to mark the area you want 

to punch out, then line the punch up exactly in

half over the edges of the card stock in that area.

 I show a centering ruler to help with the spacing of 

the stars, but you can eyeball it. 

Punch out three stars from scrap paper for placement, 

attach a bit of temporary adhesive if you'd like 

and play with the arrangement

until you are pleased with their placement.

Lightly trace the punched out star patterns then remove. 

After you have marked where you want to punch the stars,

flip that piece over and add a tiny bit of adhesive

in the spots that will be punched out. This is to hold

the two layers together as you are punching them.

So long as you have the adhesive in the area to be

removed, both pieces will separate so you can flip

them back over to line them up because the glued parts

will be punched out. 

You could also use a tiny strip of tape

wrapped over the edges of the card stock.

Make sure they are lined up exactly with each other,

both edges along one side meeting (they are on top of each other).

Line up the punch with the star guide lines

and the edge of your card stock layers.

This is the trickiest part of the entire project,

keeping the star punch lined up perfectly in half

along the edges of the card stock layers. 

By the way, I did not mention that this will

only work if you have a star punch that you

are able to line up in half along edges of card stock.

You want to make sure that it is exactly in half, the same

area will be punched out on both pieces so when 

you put both halves of card stock together right side up,

it makes an entire star shape.

(TIP there are many other punch shapes that will work the same way!)

Also, you will want to use a lighter weight card stock

or paper so you can punch through both layers at

the same time. If it is too thick, it is more difficult

to punch both at the same time - or it may

not even fit into your punch. 

This is a perfect example of the punch slipping

during the paper punching process -

the middle star is slightly lower and misshapen.

I did not trash the piece, I instead used a larger star

punch to punch over the crooked middle star 

and was able to save the project ! 

However, my original plan was changed

by doing this. I intended on running the red and blue

pieces through a Thank You embossing folder

then lightly sanding the raised areas to reveal

the white core of the colored card stock.

Since I messed up my punched areas,

I decided to stamp Thanks in the larger star.

I thought that might be too busy if I embossed

then sanded the background and stamped, 

so I left it unaltered. 

Use thin strips of tape on the back side

to hold the two halves in place next to each

other once you have the stars punched out. 

They need to be held in place next to each other

if you run it through an embossing folder as I 

did for the card I shared yesterday.

Here's a tip: 

if you want to make windows through the front of

your card and stamp behind it so that the stamped image

 shows through, you may want to stamp a scrap piece of paper 

rather than the card base itself. 

This is particularly useful if you want to line up

the stamped image perfectly with the punched window. 

In my case I wanted THANKS to line up across the star,

so I stamped a scrap piece slightly larger than the star

so I could move it into position then glued it behind the

star punched window of the card front.

(Ummm, yeah, that is an unmounted stamp in the photo above.......)

Encore silver metallic ink was used to stamp the image

Image is retired from Stampin' Up!

Glue the red and blue pieces to the 

front of the card base,

adhere silver metallic card stock stars in the center of the 

other two smaller star punched windows.

A closeup to try to show the dimension this technique creates,
while still being mail friendly.
This is the card I created for yesterdays post,
Operation Write Home Memorial Day Blog Hop.

The stars are punched from copper metallic card stock

that I then added Crystal Effects to the top of,

creating a "faux brad".

DO NOT USE GLITTER 

on cards that you make to send to our troops !

Navy blue, burgundy and tan card stocks were used. 

This particular card front was run through an embossing folder.

Securely tape the two pieces (navy and burgundy) together 

after punching the star windows out, 

making sure the tape is on the back side

of the card front when you run it through the embossing folder. 

The tape will hold both pieces in place as you run it through

the embossing folder so they are embossed together at 

the same time. If you ran them through individually, 

it would be nearly impossible to line up the embossed portions

of each half of the card front, side by side, depending on the 

embossing folder you use. 

Yes, you can create the same cards in far less time

by punching stars (or other shapes) and gluing them to the top of 

the card rather than through the two colored pieces.

It did take more time doing it the way I did,

but I really like the way they turned out. 

My new kitten is tuckered out from helping me create my projects,

process photos, write blog posts and blog hopping ! 

Thanks to all that participated !!!

Operation Write Home Memorial Day 2013 Blog Hop

Welcome to my blog to see the card I created for the 
Operation Write home Memorial Day Blog Hop!
I'm excited to be a part of this hop and
can't wait to see all the other cards shared !

Be sure to click the link above to be taken to the list of
 bloggers sharing their wonderful creations this weekend.
There are well over 100 of them !

If you've not heard of Operation Write Home,
take a moment to read about this wonderful nonprofit organization.
It is so gratifying to make works of heart to be sent to the troops
overseas so they have something special to write home on.

Bloghop theme: 
Make thank you cards based on one of the OWH sketches.
 Cards can be thanks cards for our heroes to send –
or more in need of right now, AnyHero cards
with notes inside written TO them!

I used sketch #151 from the Operation Write Home web site,
altering it slightly (stars rather than circles).

Not the best photo to show the 
embossed background on the 
navy and burgundy card stocks
with the shimmery copper star accents.

Inside sentiment, printed from my computer:

We think of what it means to be free and what it takes 
to maintain that freedom. 

 We THANK YOU for your service, your dedication 
and the sacrifice you 

and your families have made on behalf of us, 
our Country and for Freedom.

           

Here is a slightly different version. 

Come back tomorrow to see how I made them 
(and how I fixed a mistake while punching)!
It was not simply punching out stars and 
gluing them to the top of the card fronts ......

My technique was more work, but worth it !

Because glitter is a no-no when making cards for our soldiers, 
I used metallic card stock covered with Crystal Effects 
on the small star punch to create "faux brads" 
to add a bit of shimmer - and not as much bulk so it is mail friendly !
 A Cuttlebug embossing folder adds textured details. 

(Yes, that is my new kitten in the background trying to help out!
I can't believe it's been one month since I brought her home!)

Below is a poem I found at this wonderful web site
http://www.thememorialdaytribute.com/

Memorial Day

- Theodosia Pickering Garrison

A handful of old men walking down the village street
In worn, brushed uniforms, their gray heads high;
A faded flag above them, one drum to lift their feet-
Look again, O heart of mine, and see what passes by!

There's a vast crowd swaying, there's a wild band playing,
The streets are full of marching men, or tramping cavalry.
Alive and young and straight again, they ride to greet a mate again-
The gallant souls, the great souls that live eternally!

A handful of old men walking down the highways?
Nay, we look on heroes that march among their peers,
The great, glad Companions have swung from heaven's byways
And come to join their own again across the dusty years.

There are strong hands meeting, there are staunch hearts greeting-
A crying of remembered names, of deeds that shall not die.
A handful of old men?-Nay, my heart, look well again;
The spirit of America today is marching by!

http://operationwritehome.org/starsandstamps

Keep on hopping, there are many, many, MANY more fantastic ideas being shared this weekend !

Please take a moment to leave a quick comment on the awesome projects that are being shared during this hop. It's always nice to know that you are inspired by our projects. Bloggers should have word verification turned off for the hop to make it easier to leave comments. 
THANK YOU FOR LOOKING =) 

Pop Up Cake Box Wedding Card

My newest pop up cake die inside of an "explosion scrapbook" box project - done slightly differently than I have in the past (this version saves a little bit of time and uses less supplies). 

Two others I've made can be seen here

http://craftysahmiam.blogspot.com/2010/05/explosion-box-scrapbook-in-box-i-know.html

Closeup of cake topper - I added lots of details

to the basic bride and groom die cuts that the

Pop Up Cake die creates.

I cut out a black groom shape then 

carefully trimmed it out to create a tux,

gluing it in place over the white die cut groom

In fact, I even went so far as to create

two teeny tiny arms for the bride die cut ! 

It looked funny to me that she didn't have any.

The necklace bugs me though because I forgot

to make a super fine point out of tape for my pearl paint.

I used it straight from the bottle and it was too thick,

I wasn't able to make wee little dots to simulate pearls.....

Also, her arms aren't even enough for my liking,

but it was really difficult to even get them on there

after it was all assembled ! It would have been tricky

even if it hadn't been assembled when I tried to add

the arms , they are sooooooo tiny !
I water colored skin, hair.

This is a  US dime next to them to show size relation

7/8" scalloped circle punched Blushing Bride card stock 

and small scissors to make the tiny roses on the cake.

Here is a tutorial

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/rolledflowers/

Super thin strips of Pistachio  Pudding card stock wrapped 

around a toothpick to make the curly cues on the cake.

Texturz plate for the dry embossed designs on the sides of the 

cake that I then accented by painting on Lumiere paint.

I also added dots of pearlescent paper paint to simulate pearls

on the scallop portions of the Pink card stock (not shown). 

Outside of the box, roses made from paper punch flower shapes.

There are lots of tutorials online showing how to make these, 

here is one using a similar die cut shape though I did not use wire

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/dimensionalflowers/

I put a rhinestone in the centers for an extra touch

Inside of the box lid.

The lid was made out of a 6 1/8" square piece 

of card stock, scored in 1" from all edges. 

Use a digital designing software such as  My Memories Suite V4 

or My Digital Studio to make the writing in the square shape.

It took quite a bit of tweaking to get it to 

fit the way I wanted. 

I added a $20 bill origami folded into a heart,

adhered with repositionable tape 

and signed our names.

Not the best photo, since it was taken at the wedding from a distance - I forgot to take one of the package all wrapped up and with my dollar bill rose attached to the top (they were not doing a dollar dance I found out after I made the rose to give to them during the dance - it made a nice gift tie then!).

The stamped white squares are meant for writing on,

but they can add more photos if they'd like. 

The pink squares are 3 3/4",

the white  squares are 3 1/2"

Here is a simple pattern to give you an idea of how I

cut my 12" x 12" piece of card stock to create the box.

This makes a 4" square box.

SUPPLIES USED, all items are from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

Sizzix Pop Up Cake Die (I bought it from Stampin' up! several years ago)

Scalloped square and circle dies (I used Spellbinders nesting dies)

Paper trimmer

7/8" scallop circle - NEW,  from Stampin' Up! for the mini roses

Heart To Heart punch for the tiny heart on the "Love" panel"

Artisan Label Punch - NEW, for "Mr Mrs" tag on box top

Lace border punch - to create lacey ribbon around box

Eyelet border punch - to use to itty bitty circles for the flowers on the bouquet and boutonniere

Blossom punch to create the roses on the box top

sewing machine - for stitching on one of the panels


STAMPS:
Love Swirls - wheel
Loving Thoughts "Forever and Always"
Wonderful Words "Love"
Banner Greetings NEW "Mr and Mrs"
Hand Painted Petites - rose
Label Love - "Mr Mrs"
Calendar Alpha - for hand cut name banner on top of tag on box top

CARD STOCK AND INKS:
Blue Bayou,  retired
Blushing Bride, retired
Whisper White
Pistachio Pudding

Scrap of vellum
paper doily, something from my crafts stash

Though not exact, the Blue Bayou color is the closest card stock I had to coordinate with the gorgeous dresses the bride chose for her bridesmaids to wear.
Her flowers were pale pinks. Blushing Bride card stock looked the best out of my pale pink card stocks with the Blue Bayou despite her flowers actually being a super pale pink.




Thanks so much for looking =)

Armed Forces Day

We think of what it means to be free and what it takes to maintain that freedom. We thank you for your service, your dedication and the sacrifice you and your families have made on behalf of us, our country and for Freedom.

On  somewhat related note, there is still time to get your name on the VFW Memorial Day Register....... follow the link below.

On Memorial Day, May 27, 2013, VFW National Commander John E. Hamilton will travel to Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

He’ll also carry a VFW Memorial Day Register filled with the signatures of caring Americans like you who want to honor the sacrifice of America’s veterans. It will be presented to Patrick K. Hallinan, Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery.

The VFW invites you to join Commander Hamilton on his journey to Arlington by adding your name to the VFW Memorial Day Register.

Thank you for remembering our freedom is not free

http://heroes.vfw.org/site/PageNavigator/2013MemorialDaySignRegister.html&autologin=true