A Great Place to Start...

Sometimes you find a card or something else created in paper and just want to make it.  Then, as you begin making it, you realize that it's a great place to start...but you have some ideas of your own.

I came across a wonderful graduation card on Debbie Henderson's blog: Debbie's Designs.  It has some stamping but is primarily what would be called a "punch-art" card, using some of Stampin' Up's terrific punches.  I absolutely love the Owl Builder Punch!  It is one of the most versatile punches in the Stampin' Up catalogue.  I've made owls (of course) in many, many forms.  I've also made penguins, tulips, bats...the list goes on.  Like I said, it's an extremely versatile punch.

This card is absolutely perfect for any graduate.  With a few changes it can be made for someone graduating kindergarten, elementary school, high school and even college.  The one I've made would be great for either a high school- or a college- graduate.

It's hard to believe that this card begins with a 7.5" x 7.5" square of black cardstock.  Then you simply score along each side at 1 7/8" and cut out the squares formed at each corner.

Use the corner punch on each of the eight corners.  Then you cut out a 3.5" x 3.5" square of Whisper White cardstock.  I sponged Marina Mist clouds over the white and then used the Basic Gray to stamp the globe and compass from the Open Sea stamp set as well as the key from the Established Elegance stamp set.  I used the {G} from the Occasions Alphabet set and, after stamping it with the Basic Black, used the 1" round punch on the {G} and the 3/4" round punch on the "the sky is the limit".  You could also use Congratulations or Celebrate, but with the sponged sky, I felt that this stamp was appropriate.

The owl was lots of fun to make.  I used Basic Gray cardstock for the body (Owl Builder Punch) and for the wings (three scallops from the 1 3/4" round scallop punch).  Then I gave him a vest (also from the Owl Builder Punch) from the Basic Grey Designer Specialty Paper.  The feet and beak were punched from So Saffron cardstock (feet and heart from Owl Builder Punch) and the eyes were punched from Whisper White and Basic Black (also Owl Builder Punch).  The grad cap was freehanded from Basic Black cardstock and you can just make out the tiny dark brad in the centre.

I just love the way the owl seems to be flying high!

On the reverse side of the black cardstock, in the centre of the square, I used tombo glue to adhere a black 3/4" circle over a piece of baker's twine and then attached a banner stamped with Congratulations from the new Itty Bitty Banners stamp set and cut out with the Bitty Banners Framelits.

Doesn't that just finish it off perfectly?  And it looks so tidy and square because you can fold the "flaps" that you made originally by scoring the sides and cutting off the corner squares.  They fold alternately as if you were closing a box and leave you with a perfect 4" square card.

Can't you just see the possibilities?