Words to My Daughter

Hello friends and visitors! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! We celebrated a milestone in our family this weekend, and this is the card I made to celebrate that special day. It is a graduation card I made for my daughter that I want to share today.  She graduated from high school, and I just couldn't be more proud!

Here is a photo my my beautiful little girl with her lovely besties! Lauren, my daughter, is the gorgeous lady in the middle. I was pushing her in a stroller just yesterday! Just in case you were wondering, she was very well decorated with tassels and such, but took them off right after the ceremony--not like I'm BRAGGING or anything!

Now back to the card. I only had a few hours to put this together from start to finish, while I was cooking dinner on Friday afternoon to be given to her on Saturday morning. Nothing like waiting 'til the last minute! I was in denial! I started by choosing some words I wanted to share with my graduate--a quote from Dyan Reaveley (Dylusions--Clearly the Right Words)  and a compilation of advice given by Tim Holtz (Way With Words).

I won't go into too many details on how I put this together, but I used an embossing resist and Tim's advice on the background. In case she missed this important message on the outside, I also stamped Tim's advice on the inside.

Tim's advice: "Be an individual. Take risks. Be brave enough to become the person that you were meant to be. Have an open mind and heart. Amaze yourself. We all make mistakes; what matters most is what we learn from them.  Make a real difference. Live your life with purpose and meaning. Be fearless." 

 I used Cracked Pistachio (my daughter's favorite Distress color) and Frayed Burlap inks to age it a bit. I was really inspired by the gorgeous tag created Linda Coughlin at  The Funkie Junkie, and her use of the translucent paste on her background. I laid down transparent paste in matte using Tim Holtz Mini Flourish stencil over my background and then highlighted with gold rub on paste. It's hardly visible in the photos, but below you get a hint of it peeking out along the edges. I added the gold to the distressed edges of my bottom layer as well.

I used a Memory Box Bloomington Wreath die, Tim Holtz Tattered Floral and Tattered Flower Garland dies for the flowers, Memory Box Chloe Stem and Tattered Lace Ornate Leaves for the foliage, Spellbinders Standard Circles Large for the center of the wreath. I stamped with a Heidi Swapp music image in Archival Coffee and Potting Soil. The Theo Butterfly is by Poppystamps. Inks and markers used to color the flowers, wreath, and circle are Color Box and Distress. Picket Fence Distress paint is flicked on the finished card with a Splatter brush. 

The little yellow beads are plucked from some store bought flowers and covered with clear microbeads. I added the microbeads to the flower centers and butterfly, as well.

I pray my little "butterfly" will spread her wings and fly as she starts the next phase of her life away at her University at the end of the summer. Tissues, please!

Here is one more look at the card. Please excuse the shadows.  I shot this outdoors early this morning in the soft morning light.

I am entering my card into the following inspiring challenges:

Frilly and Funkie Let the Words Do the Talking

Die Cut Divas Anything Goes With Kaisercraft

A Vintage Journey Texture or Embossing Paste I used transparent paste with gold high lights--see closups above.

Word Art Wednesday ChallengeWeeks #234-235-Anything Goes

Mixed Media Monthly #25-2nd Year Celebration!! I chose April MMMC #23 Dimension.

  

Thank you for stopping by today and taking the time to leave your wonderful comments! I read and appreciate each and every one of them!

Hugs and Blessings!

Sara Emily