Graduate

One of my coworkers just graduated. This card was inspired by him and will be for him (I just have to remember to take it to work on Monday).

This card features graduation stamp sets by Unity Stamps, a background stamp by My Favourite Things, embossing and Perfect Pearls.

Supplies

InLinkz.com

Putting It Together

I've had this card in my head all day while I was at work. I had been pondering making a card for him and then this idea hit me like a bolt today. 

To make the background, I used removable adhesive to temporarily adhere the panel to the grid paper in the Misti. I lined up the background to cover the card and picked it up on the door. I used the powder tool on the panel before stamping it with VersaMark.

The paper is value cardstock from Micheals. I've picked up several colours of this paper when it's been on deep sale. It's handy having a variety of colours in my stash for matting or cards like this.

I brushed the panel with bronze Perfect Pearls.

The effect is similar to embossing but without any dimension, completely smooth but shimmery.

I stamped and embossed the male graduate on another panel of the same burgundy paper.  Then I used Spellbinders oval dies to cut it and a gold matte. I dry fit the ovals and a sentiment stamp on the background panel to see the idea coming together. I used the largest oval of the two sets of dies.

I stamped and embossed the sentiment in black on Natural White cardstock from Stampin' Up. This retired cardstock has a nice off-white colour that looks nice with the very burgundy card elements.

I used foam mounting tape on the two ovals to give the card a bit of dimension with the background and sentiment strip directly adhered to the black card base.

Inside the card, I added a panel of Natural White matted with the burgundy. With most pens, it's easier to write on a white or light coloured surface, so with a black card base I'll usually add a light panel. I stamped a second sentiment and added a cap from a Your Next Stamp set.

I used the same hat stamp on the front of the envelop. I first stamped with red and then with gold. 

Challenges

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge: Masculine
Dies R Us: Make it Masculine
Crafty Cardmakers: For a Special Man

Fab 'n' Fabulous: Marvelous Men

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge: Make it Masculine
Pearly Sparkles: Masculine
Love to Scrap: Boyz Rule
Crafty Gals Corner: Emboss It
A Bit More Time to Craft: Anything Goes
Crafting From the Heart: Anything Goes