Graduation Cards

     As we approach graduation time, we all start to think about the cards we will need for all the graduates in our life.

     While gathering many graduation card ideas on Pinterest, (go HERE to see my graduation idea board), I kept coming back to one design.  One that looks like a mortar board and holds either a gift card or money.  A win-win in my book.

     Not only that, but I got really excited when the one I found had a video tutorial on how to make it - a win-win-win - JACK POT!!!!!  If you would like to make them, go HERE for the video tutorial.

Don't have time to make your graduation cards?  Don't have all the supplies to make graduation cards?  Not interested in making your own graduation cards, but love these and want to give them to your graduates this year?  

Contact me!!!!   (stampwithsandy@rcn.com)

I'll make them for you.  My prices are very reasonable.  I can custom make them to what ever color combo you want - think school colors!

Recipe

CARD STOCK:  Basic Black & Whisper White

INK:  Stazon Black

STAMPS:  Pure Gumption

TOOLS:  Simply Scored Score Board and Diagonal Plate, Stampin' Trimmer, Paper Piercer, Stampin' Pierce Mat, White Baker's Twine, Basics Glimmer Brads, SNAIL adhesive, & Sticky Strip

Click HERE to order Stampin' Up! products from my website, 24/7

     Don't forget about the retirement lists. (Click on the links to download the retirement lists)  Retiring stamps are available until June 3, 2013.  Retiring accessories are available WHILE SUPPLIES LAST - many items are already sold out.  Don't miss out.

Click HERE to order Stampin' Up! products from my website, 24/7

Happy Thursday!

I DID IT!!! Part 2

That's me in the middle!

     I graduated!  Reality still has not really set in.  Maybe once I receive my diploma in about 6 weeks, then it might seem for real to me.

     Look at the YUMMY cake I had!  It had a cannoli filling and whipped cream icing.  It was the BEST cake EVER!

Happy Saturday!

Graduation, Here I Come!

     Well, the BIG day is FINALLY here!  I'm so excited!  I just can't wait.  I've worked so hard and so long.  My boys are very excited for me, and they really don't know why they are excited.

Here are some really cute, quick, and small graduation favors I whipped up.

I actually made these last year for the boys to take to school on their last day.  All the kids loved them.  This idea is not my own.  I CASEd if from Becky Roberts.  Check out her favors HERE.  I left off the brad to hold the tassel on.  Either way, they make great favors.

My tutorial for the Mortar Board Chocolates:

RECIPE:


CARD STOCK: Real Red (choose your school colors)

TOOLS:  Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, 1" Square Punch, Glue Dots, yarn (choose your school colors)~Non-Stampin' UP!, Hershey's Nuggets candy~Non-Stampin' UP!, clear tape (like the kind you use to wrap gifts)~Non-Stampin' UP!

1.  Punch a 1" square out of Real Red.
2.  Pierce a hole in the center of the square.
3.  Make a tassel (cut a piece of cardboard the size you want your tassel~the wide of the cardboard should be the length you want your tassel.  Wrap yard or embroidery floss around the cardboard a few times~the more you wrap, the thick your tassel will be.  Cut an extra piece off, to tie off the top (make this one long).  Cut the bottom.  With another piece of yard or floss, tie off just slightly down from the top.  That's it!)
4.  Thread the tassel strings from the front to the back, and tape, to your length desired.
5.  Use two Glue Dots to attach Mortar Board to candy.

Here are some really neat graduation favors I also made.  I made these to put on the table at dinner the night of graduation.

Again, this was not my idea.  I CASEd the idea from Tanya Kilgore.  She shared her idea on Stampin' Connection, a site only for Stampin' UP! Demonstrators.  By is this a wonderful resource for demos.  All the share that goes on here.  It's a stampers dream.  Tanya used embroidery floss when she made hers.  I chose yarn due to the number I made.

     My tutorial for the Mortar Board Treat Cups:

RECIPE:

CARD STOCK: Basic Black & Real Red (choose your school colors)

TOOLS:  Round Treat Cups, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Black Eyelet, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, yarn (in school colors)~Non-Stampin' UP!, tools to set an eyelet (Crop-A-Dile won't work-it's too short)~Non-Stampin' UP!, candy~Non-Stampin' UP!, Tombo Glue

1.  Cut Basic Black card stock it 3 x 3
2.  Cut a 2 1/2" circle out of Real Red, then punch a 1 3/4" circle from the center of that Real Red circle.
3.  Pierce a hole in the center of the 3 x 3 Basic Black square.
4.  Set the black eyelet in that hole.
5.  Make a tassel (cut a piece of cardboard the size you want your tassel~the wide of the cardboard should be the length you want your tassel.  Wrap yard or embroidery floss around the cardboard a few times~the more you wrap, the thick your tassel will be.  Cut an extra piece off, to tie off the top (make this one long).  Cut the bottom.  With another piece of yard or floss, tie off just slightly down from the top.  That's it!)
6.  Thread the tassel strings from the front to the back, and tie off, to your length desired.
7.  Fill your Treat Cup with candy (I used M&M's and Hershey's Pieces to match my school colors).
8.  Take the backing off of the Treat Cup and attach to the back of the Mortar Board.
9.  Glue Real Red circle around Treat Cup to hide the edges.
10.  OPTIONAL: Cut a second 3x3 square, cut a 1 3/4" circle in the center, and layer in on the back of your first one, around the Treat Cup~to hide the edges.

NOTE:  I opted not to do a trap door to get the candy out, but you can do that as well.

     I hope I was able to share a few graduation favor ideas for you!  Enjoy!

Happy Friday!

I DID IT!!!!!!

     Finished all my grad work, that is!  This afternoon I did my presentation to the college, my final project. I was a wreck until I stood up and just started to talk.  I knew I was prepared and ready, but my body decided it needed to worry for days.  I practiced my presentation at least 10 times, and I felt I kept stumbling over my words.  Well, I did trip up a time or two this afternoon, but nothing major.  When my professor asked me a few questions, all I could do was beam--I was very confident in my answers and it showed.  I, no doubt, showed what I learned and knew, and that I earned the 4.0 I am graduating with.

     I want to take this time to thank my husband, boys, and parents for all their love and support.   It took me 10 years to get to this point--house, babies, family--all what is most important in life, were my bumps in the road to get here-nothing I would EVER change in a million years.  My goal was to graduate with a 4.0 and each class was a challenge to get through.  When I started to doubt myself in obtaining this goal, it was my husband that never let me forget that this goal was 100% obtainable.  I just needed to believe that I could do it.  Even with the toughest class I had to take (Intro. to Research-a class very few, if anyone, earns an A in), he kept telling me, one step at a time, and the A will be yours.  And it was!  On top of that, when I needed help with my boys, while I took classes, my parents always came through for me.  Contrary to popular belief, working on a Master's degree, working full-time, and having young children is NOT easy!  Yet, it is doable.

    I will be marching on Friday May 7th.  Earning that hood I worked so hard for.  Also to show my boys what all that hard work and sacrifice was for-showing them how much I value education, for me, my students, and them.

     I want to thank all my friends who also supported me over the last few years.  You constantly have told me over and over again how much you admire me and support me.  You kept reminding me that having a lot on my plate wasn't the end of the world, but that it made me a better person.  Thank you for all your support and encouragement.  You gave me those ever so important pieces of encouragement when I needed it the most.

     And to all of my customers who have be ever so patient with me.  Thank you!  I promise that I will now have time to devote to my business and to you.  I plan to work on more fun cards and projects and post more here~sharing my creativity and talent with all of you.

     Here is a sample of what I will be posting about over the next week.  I will share each one individually, and tell how I made each of them.  These beautiful flowers were my stress relief this past week as I was preparing for my presentation.  I love all of them, and when I look at this picture, I can't help but to smile.  I hope my flowers make you smile too!

     Be sure to stop back again for details on each of these flowers.

Happy Thursday!