GRADUATION CARD

Last year, I found myself having to purchase graduation cards.  With a closet full of scrapbooking and card making supplies, there was no excuse!  I promised myself to handmake grad cards this year.  A friend of mine, Melissa, who is a very talented and creative paper crafter, showed me a sample of what she was commissioned to do for her nephew's graduation.  To make a long story short, it was absolutely fabulous!  She always show me her creations that motivates me 110%.  I searched the internet for a card similar to what Melissa showed me and found this wonderful website and tutorial here.  

This is what the finished cards ended up looking:

I wanted to add a little dimension to the card so I added a little tassle made out of DMC thread.  This is how the tassel was made:

Starting in the front, wrap the DMC thread around the graduation cap square about eight times:

Slide a strip of thread underneath the front strands and tie a knot at the top, like so:

Remove thread from square and place another piece of thread horizontally under the bunch of thread you just removed from the square cap.  Securely tie a knot close to the top like so:

Cut the horizontal thread close to the knot and cut the bottom loop of the tassel:

Find the center of your graduation cap square and carefully poke a skewer through to make a little hole.  Slide the top of the tassel threads through the hole and follow with a brad.  Secure the brad by bending the metal pieces back so the back  metal pieces are flat against the cardstock.

Secure the back of the square cap with a piece of scotch tape. For dimension, I chose to use double-sided foam tape to give the card some interest, but if you don't have the double-sided foam tape, regular glue dots or glue will do just fine.  Adhere to the card.

Making personalized handmade cards are so much fun!  I've got a bunch more to make....Luckily all my recipients are males.  However, there are many pretty female grad card tutorials out there at internetville.

Happy Graduation to all the graduates! 

GRADUATION LEI

Ahhhh, graduation season is upon us.   A time to celebrate all the accomplishments students have worked so hard for the past school years.  In Hawaii, it is a tradition to give a lei to students at commencement exercises.  While there are a variety of leis out there, this year I chose to make ahead leis that can be stored 'till graduation day.  The idea came from a book from the local craft store and what I liked about it was that it was full of various lei projects with many colorful pictures and easy-to-follow directions.

Handcrafted Leis and Flowers Book

The Kumihimo Lei is one that I haven't seen and thought it would be a perfect lei to both the males and females as it wasn't too feminine and at the same time not too masculine.



I'm a visual learner so as you can see, the step-by-step directions met my needs!

Here is a picture of the finished product from the book:

School colors are represented in the leis.  Leis are braided using what is called RATTAIL, a nylon fiber that comes in rolls of 200 yards.

Rolls of Rattail

Multi-colored Rattail

The 8-strand lei is braided using what is called a Kumihimo Disk.  Directions in the book were so easy to follow, my family took turns during  TV night.  As it turns out, I learned that the Kumihimo braid is an ancient Japanese technique for woven necklaces and bracelets.  

Kumihimo Disk

Here, are a few that I completed.  Black and Gold for the mighty Cowboys, Green and Gold for the Dragons, Blue and White for the Waveriders and Black and Blue for the Hoop Dreams athletic team.



Completed Leis

Unfortunately I won't make it to any graduation ceremony this year but the leis will be sent out to the recipients in time for the ceremony.  Tonight I start the Green and White leis for the Wildcats.

Did a little sample of reggae colors.....Teenagers seem to really like these blend of colors together.  

A trial with red, yellow, green and black

Congratulations to all the graduates!  Hope you all become great leaders wherever you go and in whatever you do!  "Strive to Excel!"  Here are a few of my personal tips to the graduates:  treat everyone fair, every decision affects your future (choose wisely),  do a good deed for someone everyday, laugh, smile, and have fun!

Do you know anyone graduating this year?

GATHERED CLUTCH

Here's a project basically from scraps and if you dont mind my saying, it turned out actually not that bad.  The hardest thing really (for me personally)  is trying to find fabric colors and values that go well together.  My novice eye brought together blue, black,white and red colors.  To break the solid "zerbra" front band, I fabric glued on a red yoyo with a button sewed in the middle.


scrappy gathered clutch



This gathered clutch project came from  a NOODLEHEAD tutorial here.  Love that blog!  So generous with her tutorials!  This gathered clutch will definitely be on my Handmade Christmas gift to do list

So, are you going to try and make a gathered clutch?