Graduation Cards

So last night we decide at the last minute to go to the 8th grade graduation at the girls' school. We had no cards, no gifts, no nothin'. So I scurried to my artsy studio to create some graduation cards. I am in love with Nichole's new Up, Up & Away stamp set and the darling sentiments...I knew they'd be perfect for a graduation card. So I stamped and colored and die cut. Jordan glued and glittered and assembled.

Such happy little cards. I wanted one for myself. I grabbed the first patterned paper I saw scattered about, some pretty little flowery paper from The Girls Paperie. I die cut, stamped and colored the hot air balloons with my handy dandy Copic Sketch markers. And Papertrey's new dies that match the stamps, heaven on earth.
When I die cut the clouds, they were flat and blended into the background too much. So I got the idea to use the Sunshine Impression Plate to make some texture on the clouds. Love! Jordan added the glitter which was a perfect finishing touch on the clouds.
I love that the balloons are just floating up amongst the clouds. I used some more of my Carnival Tickets in Cotton Candy for the side of my cards. I'm having a little obsession with the tickets, so just humor me okay? Little buttons in the centers of the tickets are so cute!
I tied the cards up with Spring Moss Swiss Dot Ribbon and used *the sky is the limit* sentiment. Perfect for a graduation card, don't you think. I highlighted the word *sky* with a Copic marker. Love to highlight words with my Copics. I also stamped and cut out an arrow from Get to the Point. I think I need a die cut for each of these arrows. The arrows play right into the up, up and away theme. By the way, have you seen the movie Up? If not, rent it now. It's sooooo adorable. The little old couple and their sweet little house and the chubby little kid....I think I must purchase the movie this summer. So cute! My eyes got moist though so be forewarned.
Back to the card, just look at all this dimension will ya? Love!
So after Jordy and I finished up the cards, we had no gifts. Nothing. Nada. Nilch. So we called good ol' reliable Dad and he stopped at the gas station on his way home from work and picked up some giant candy bars for us. We stuck the cards and the candy in a glassine envelope and called it good. Here we are, off to graduation with the goods in tow. It was a fun night. So fun to watch all the girls' friends in their pretty dresses, all giving each other big hugs. Next year, my girl Josey will be right there. Well, right there in a different school.

So today, it's our last day of school. Man, it seems early. Tomorrow we start our summer vacation. There will be lots of ballgames, lots of practices, lots of good times, lots of sisterly arguing and motherly meltdowns . Lots of groceries to be bought. I look forward to it all! I just love having the girls at home.

Hope you all have a great day! More rain is to come....which means all my plants will continue to live in the garage. No fun at all. I think I'll just resort to potted plants so I can start to enjoy some color around here. Back to the artsy studio for me....more goodies to be made for my big Etsy shop update coming soon.