The little things that make me happy here on Bliss Road~~Emily Keaton

Monday, April 28, 2014

Embossed Elements: GRADUATION + a Giveaway!


Greetings, friends! I'm here today with the April edition of my monthly Embossed Elements feature for the DeNami Design blog. Today I'm gearing up for graduation season with two different cards using fun embossing folders from the DeNami store.

My first project features the oh-so-festive Graduation Hat Embossing Folder.  I used it (along with Congratulations Circle and the diploma and mortarboard stamps from the cling Graduation Set) to make a congratulatory card for the new graduate.


I chose the colors of my daughter's high school (including some fabulous DeNami Leaf Green cardstock for the embossed panel and the paper-pieced mortarboard) for this creation and went with a design that really shows off that awesome embossed sea of graduation caps. Doesn't it look like a crowd of grads has just tossed their mortarboards into the air at the end of the commencement ceremony? That image always makes me smile :). Not only is this embossing folder super for graduation cards, but it would also be perfect for making graduation invitations or graduation thank you notes.

I don't find myself needing graduation cards all that often (although as my kids progress further through school, I imagine that will begin to change!), so I was reluctant at first to invest in purely graduation-themed products. Just in case you find yourself in a similar situation, I wanted to show you another option for a fun graduation card using non-graduation-specific products. This project features the Bunting Embossing Folder.


After embossing my white card base with the Bunting EF, I embossed several scraps of patterned paper (once again choosing a color scheme inspired by my daughter's high school) and then paper-pieced each of the pennants. I love how it turned out! I completed my clean and simple design with a loopy bow tied in baker's twine from the Spring Twine 3-pack and a stamped Small Congratulations sentiment.

I love the festive look that the embossed pennant banner gives this congratulations card. It's so easy to personalize the bunting with the recipient's school colors. But I can also think of all kinds of other occasions--not just graduations!--that this embossing folder would be perfect for: birthday, baby, weddings, anniversaries, Independence Day, New Year's, . . . the list could go on and on!!

Thanks for taking a peek at my embossed graduation projects today. I hope I was able to inspire you!


How would you like the chance to win this Graduation Hat Embossing Folder? I have one up for grabs in an Embossed Elements giveaway! Want to be in the running? Just leave me a comment on this post using the word "MORTARBOARD." There's no need to be a follower of my blog to enter, but if you are a follower (or become a new follower!), you can have a second entry in the drawing--just leave me a second comment telling me that you are a follower and how you follow. :)

I'll leave commenting open until 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, April 30, 2014, and will draw one commenter at random. The winner will be announced right here on my blog on Thursday, May 1, and if I'm able to find an email address, I'll be sure to contact the winner as well.

Thanks for joining me today!
Emily

25 comments:

Unknown said...

What a perfect card for the graduates!!! Love the ideas!!!

Benzi said...

Super graduation cards, Emily. I really love both and they would be
quick and easy. I really like the mortarboard theme on the first one.

Benzi said...

I am a follower through Google.

cm said...

For the first time, I've been asked to make a few graduation cards for one of the students at the school, who wants to give them to her close friends. I'm excited and a bit nervous, because my grad-themed stash is somewhat low - although, oddly enough, I have a yet-to-be-used mortarboard die from MCT! Yayy...your first card here, though, is absolutely AWESOME! Love that embossed background; perfect, amazing, guaranteed to light up smiles grad card!! The second is also lovely - what a wonderful way to create banners, and the congratulations fonts...swoon! Thanks for sharing; your cards have brightened this snowy, back-to-work Monday!
c

Tracey McNeely said...

Great card Emily, I have that folder and although I don't need it often it is such a cool one to have. Love the green!

Unknown said...

What a wonderful givaway.. But I am just here to comment on your wonderful cards. They look great my friend.

Hugs~

Roey said...

what a cute idea using a mortaboard as the background. Thanks

Roey said...

I am a follower on your blog! thru DeNami Design. Thanks!

Brenda in IN said...

I always love the cards you make with embossing folders and this one is no exception with this mortarboard folder. We had a lot of grads last year but none this year. My granddaughter will graduate next year so I need to be on the lookout for inspiration and this is perfect.

Lisa Elton said...

Another creative pair of cards Emily!! Love the idea you used on the second one!

gwhee60277 said...

Emily, you are so creative and refreshing!

Vicki said...

I love these cards! I follow you on email through Google. I make graduation cards for the high school grads from our church each year. These embossing folder would be neat to have. Will have to keep my eyes open to pick one up.

Amy McCue said...

My son is graduating from college in a few weeks. This would be perfect. What a great card.

Cmq3ataoldotcom

Amy Davis King said...

Love this card with the mortarboards. I have the mortarboard hat and diploma stamps - would love to add the embossed background to a card for my niece who graduates this year! Thanks for the chance to win!!

Sue D said...

Great cards for graduates. I like the embossed MORTARBOARDs on the first one and the paper piecing on the second one.
slrdowney at hotmail dot com

Sue D said...

I am a follower with GFC as Sue D
slrdowney at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

I am only too happy to become a Follower of your Blog site! This embossing folder with the mortarboards tossing in the air so happily makes me smile.

Greta said...

Just came from the DeNami Blog & I absolutely love your cards, Emily! Very creative, as always!

Jessi Fogan said...

That embossing folder is fabulous! And I love the second card - I'm always trying to make grad cards that can be used for other congratulatory occasions :)

Unknown said...

fabulous cards. I love how the embossing creates such fabulous mortarboards for your card. How fun! Nice work on both cards.

Carol Hartery said...

Hi Emily! My daughter and I were sitting here talking about her upcoming graduation when your email popped up. We both love the first card with the MORTARBOARD background. I love that card so much that I may have to purchase that embossing folder. I am thinking it would be great for graduation party invitations. Thanks for the inspiration!
Carol

Carol Hartery said...

I am a follower. I receive your updates by email. I am always excited to get those updates. Just joined recently!

Colleen Dietrich said...

Huh! I like the way you used the Bunting EF to create a grad card, without needing real grad-type images. You are always so clever, my friend! Both cards look wonderful, and good on you for using your daughter's school colors. Just stash these away, and before you know it, you'll be using them! (sad, I know...they grow up too fast).

Colleen Dietrich said...

I follow you via email :)

Shirley said...

Like both cards and you have really used the folder for a variety of wonderful grad cards!