Studio 5 Contributor Susan Neal shares three card themes to consider.
If you’ve never made a card, your child’s graduation may be the perfect time to start. Why?
1. Inexpensive
You can make a card for as little as 25 cents!2. Quick & Easy
Teens embrace trends and trends right now are clean, simple & graphic.3. Custom
A chance to create something completely unique & personal for your grad.
Here are three different approaches to making your own graduation cards; whether it’s a graduation invitation, announcement or a card.
1. Photos
You’ve already had senior photos taken last summer. Hopefully you got a CD with all the photos. Many people now have photo editing software because we’ve made the move to digital photography. If so, your child’s grad photos are a simple and effective way of creating an invitation.Usually grad photos include a few un-happy shots. I used one to create a humorous before-and-after card. The ‘after’ happy picture insert can be removed for a keepsake and put on the fridge or memo board.
Another great use for pictures is to create a “watch me grow” photo strip. Dig out all those yearly school photos and print them in a tiny 1″ strip. You can also use the photo strip in a memory album. Hide most of the strip between papers, and then create a ‘pull’ for a fun, interactive element.
Each double paged spread in this album can be dedicated to each guest. One page for the picture and one page for their thoughts, comments, advice etc…
If you’re giving a card to a grad, think about using simple images to convey the sentiments associated with graduating. Google “Graduation quotes” and you’ll be sure to find a match between photo and sentiment.
This particular photo is available for download at the Paper Crafts magazine website (http://www.papercraftsmag.com/articles/May_June_2009_Patterns___Downloads)) or the photo & text at www.sueneal.blogspot.com.
2. Theme
If your grad specialized in a sport or activity in school, you can use this to inspire your card. Use a die-cut, sticker or photo to reflect that passion. Sports, music, art, drama…so many great images to use.3. Colors & Letters
If you don’t have photos or themes you want to use, then keep is super simple with school colors and the letters of your high school. You can use your computer to create the letters, but die-cuts are perfect for this kind of card.You don’t have to stop at the card! If you’re feeling energetic, create an entire grad ensemble by making coordinating albums, time capsules or décor for the front door or table.
Susan Neal has a passion for paper and food. Both present an opportunity to be creative and make other people happy. She has spent the last 20 years sharing that passion with students and customers alike.
Susan was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec. She has lived in Utah for 13 years and is now a U.S. citizen. She has been married to Steve for the last 27 years and is the mother of 5 children and one daughter-in-law.
She has authored 4 decorative painting books and designed hundreds of projects for several scrapbooking and paper crafting magazines and publications. She has also started several successful retail businesses.
Besides her free-lance design work, Susan is currently a PC Pro for PaperCrafts Magazine, serves on their editorial board and teaches throughout the country at Creative Keepsakes conventions. After years of creating jobs for herself in the craft industry, she has found her niche in paper; “the perfect, inexpensive, creative medium.”
After two years on Studio 5 representing PaperCrafts magazine, Susanis a regular paper crafting and cooking contributor.
Susan is also teaching her own series of card-making classes at eight of the local Roberts Arts & Crafts stores. To learn more about Susan please visit her blog, www.sueneal.blogspot.com.
Add comment