Graduation Card for Challenges and a Good Friend

Hi there Friends!  It's been a little while since I've posted a project for my blog and I have a bunch lined up to post!  I've been a busy little beaver, when I'm awake that is.  I still have this overwhelming fatigue consuming most of my days, but for some reason, I'm up all night, every night. 

The card I'm posting today is for my best friend who just graduated with a Master's Degree.  I have spent more time on this card than I've ever spent on one.  I kept putting it together piece by piece until I finally completed it.  It seems every couple of days I would think of something else to add!  I also wanted to enter some challenges so I had to keep adding to be eligible for those.  Her graduation colors were navy and gold so that's what I based this card on.

I used the Gypsy and my Expression for the die cuts on the card.

I will be entering this card into the following challenges:

Scrapalicious - Challenge #3, Graduation
My Craft Spot - Congratulations
HappiLeigh Scrappin Challenge - Faux Stitching
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Anything Goes

There are several pictures because some of the challenges required elements that are in the inside of this card.  Thanks for your patience!

This is the front of the card.  RRR's challenge requires the use of ribbon.  I have used two different kinds here from my stash, plus the gold springy ribbon on the side of the card.  It is tied into a bow, but I didn't take a great picture of that! :p

The background is navy blue cardstock from my stash and I used my Sizzix Texture Boutique with a Cuttlebug folder to create the embossed swirls.  I used deckle scissors for the edge and added a strip of gold paper from my stash to the edge.  I used the same gold paper on the scroll which was cut from the Cricut cartridge, Wild Cards, as was the sentiment.  I used gold Stickles to add some definition to the scroll and the sentiment.  I also used a brown Zig pen to further define the scroll.  This is the first time I have ever tried to cut thin paper on my Cricut.  It did a fantastic job. 

Next is the graduation hat.  I cut one layer of the navy cardstock and then made a slightly bigger same cut for the gold, on my Gypsy.  I then added the tassel.  All of these cuts are from Wild Card as well.  The cartridge didn't contain just a plain graduation cap so I had to tweak it a bit and do some cutting by hand, but I think it turned out pretty well.  Once again, I added Stickles for more definition.  I also added little dots of Stickles all over the background of the card, where the swirls would end.

This is how the inside of the card looks when you open it.  As I said, I just kept adding, and adding... LOL

I really wanted to enter the challenge at My Craft Spot, but they were requiring a "Congratulations" card.  Since mine said "For the Graduate" on the front, I needed to add "Congratulations" somewhere on there.  First I cut a strip of textured paper from my stash and I was just going to glue it to the card, tie it with a bow and write a note on the inside. It could have folded out directly from the card, but then I realized that for another challenge, the HappiLeigh one, I needed faux stitching somewhere on the card so I decided to make a little pocket to put the note in and faux stitch around it with my blue ink Zig pen (shown better in next picture).  I just cut it by hand and used the same Cuttlebug folder for texture.  I inked all the edges with Colorbox ink (dark brown) and on the personal note I used a Stampin' Up stamp (congratulations) and a random stamp with Stampin' Up ink.  I used a Stampin' Up stars background stamp dipped in gold ink for the background of the personal note.

Here's a close up of the pocket with the faux stitching.

The personal note I tucked inside.

Closeup of the front of the personal note.  You can pull it out and read it by pulling on a cute tiny clothespin that I added after the pics were taken.

Lastly, I found this vellum quote that I liked and backed it with that same gold paper.  I added 4 gold brads and gold Stickles (even made my own little flourish)!  I used vellum adhesive, but it still shows through.  That stuff is so hard to work with, but if anyone has any tips on that, I'd really appreciate it!

Once again, the finished project.  The cap and the lettering are popped up with large and small pop dots.

Whew!  That post took almost as long as it took to make the card! LOL  Thanks for hanging in there with me (if you made it all the way through).  I appreciate you all taking the time to check out yet another card by Amy.

Have a great night and get some sleep (like I should be doing)!

XO ~ Amy Jo