Is anyone else broke this month?

You know, I always think, next year, surely there won't be THAT many people graduating, but sure enough, we always happen to know 3 or 4.  However, I must say, it's money well spent.  Where else in the year of bills, birthdays and Christmas, can you say, I've invested in someone's future. 


So, off to the fun!  I just received the already sold out Tim Holtz Lost & Found Paper Stack from Lil' Lambs Boutique and oh, what fun it's been to play with.  He is a creative genius.  I have quite the pot pourri of "Tim stuff" in this post.


 For Card #1, to create the background, stamp your card with a big Harlequin stamp, using Embossing Ink.  Emboss with Clear Embossing powder and then ink around the edges with your favorite Distress Inks.  Don't worry about covering up your embossed design, because a damp paper towel will wipe it clean, leaving the Distress Ink in the crannies.  You can see the process clearly in the lower right corner of the card.  Cut out the calendar 6x6 sheet (Lost & Found paper stack) into 3 strips, rough up the edges and ink with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  Adhere in a descending fan onto the your card background.

Cut out an oval and print on your sentiment. Adhere with pop dots for dimension.  Use punches or dies to create a 2 layer flower with a light and dark layer (Tattered Floral Alterations die used here) and a flourish (Sizzlet die used here).  Before popping out your flourish from the paper, ink it with Distress Ink. It's easier to ink flourishes and swirls before popping them out.  Layer the light flower behind the dark to separate the background from the top flower layer.  Curl the top edges of your flower and add the center.  Here I used a glass ornament fragment with the Graduating Year glued on underneath and a charm attached to the top.  Adhere everything and your done.

Card: Die Cuts With a View
Stamp: Harlequin Stamp by Fiskars
Paper: Tim Holtz Lost & Found Paper Stack
Dies: Alterations and Sizzlets by Sizzix, Nestabilities by Spellbinders

Flower Center: Glass Ornament Fragments by Tim Holtz Idea-Ology
Ranger Ink Distress Ink - various colors
Pop Dots, Glossy Accents, Charms


The bottom edge of card #2 is created by using an Alterations On The Edge die by Sizzix.  Run your card through your die cut machine and two pieces of paper, one solid color and one patterned (Lost & Found Stack used here).  Adhere the solid color on your card along the bottom edge.  Then add the patterned paper on top about 1/2" higher.  Write the Graduating Year in the lower right side.  Cut out a scalloped rectangle, ink the edges (Walnut Stain used here) and add your sentiment. Do not adhere the sentiment yet.

 

Cut out the Extra Large and Medium flower from the Tattered Florals Alterations die in two colors and a small punched flower.  If using solid colored paper, set a stenciling template or mask on top of the large flower (Spellbinders Flower Impressabilities used here), and ink lightly with Walnut Stain ink.  Add the mask/stencil to the second flower and ink with a coordinating color (Broken China used here).  Cut out a flourish or swirl and ink the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  Layer and adhere your items as follows: Large flower, flourish, scalloped rectangle, medium flower, small flower.  Add a center for your flower (Gold Liquid Pearls used here). 

Card: Die Cuts With a View
Paper: Tim Holtz Lost & Found Paper Stack
Dies: Alterations On the Edge by Sizzix, Nestabilities by Spellbinders, Flourish by Quickutz

Stencil: Spellbinders Floral Impressabilities
Ranger Ink Distress Ink - various colors
Ranger Ink Liquid Pearls: Gold
Pop Dots, Glossy Accents,


For card #3, cut your background paper to the size of your card.  Rip a small edge away around the entire piece, and then rip off one corner.  Ink the edges with Distress Ink (Walnut Stain used here).  Adhere to your card. The flourish is from the Prima Say It in Pearls collection.  If you don't have the right color, then you can change the flourish using Alcohol Inks by Ranger.  The flourish below was light pink.  I sponged on Red Pepper Alcohol Ink to create the red color instead.  You can add as many layers of Alcohol Ink you would like, just remember to let each layer dry first. Simply blowing on the alcohol ink will dry it.  Adhere your flourish to the card.


Cut out an oval die cut and print sentiment.  Ink the edges (Antique Linen used here) and pop dot the sentiment to your card.  Add coordinating punched flowers using solid color paper. Layer and adhere your flowers and add flower details (Liquid Pearls used for the center).  Finally, add the year in the upper corner using rub-ons.

Card: Die Cuts With a View
Paper: Tim Holtz Lost & Found Paper Stack
Flowers: Stacked Punches by Family Treasures, Prima
Flouish: Say It in Pearls by Prima
Rub Ons: Autumn Leaves


Ranger Ink Distress Ink - various colors
Ranger Ink Alcohol Inks - Red Pepper
Ranger Ink Liquid Pearls: Ruby Red

Glossy Accents,