Friday Features - Graduation Gifts

I can't believe it's really been 13 years since I graduated high school! Each year as the new graduates put on their caps and gowns, I think back to my graduation. I was SO ready to get out into the "real world"! This year we have several graduations to attend and I'm always at a loss for gifts. Leave it to Etsy for some of the greatest gifts...enjoy :)

Clockwise from top left:

Personalized journal, travel journal, book cover, teacher gift, graduation gift, gifts for tween, unique gift, special gift – CHEVRON

 SweetTweets - 2014 Graduation Cap & Diploma Cookies - 1 Dozen

OH the Places You Will Go Dr. Seuss inspired license plate art, OOAK graduation gift

 Graduation Necklace Silver and Copper Heart Charm

How about you...were you dying to get out of school and onto the real world? Or would you love to go back and relive your high school days?

Friday Features - Congrats to the Grads

It's that time of year again, the birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming and the seniors are entering the next phase of their lives! I still remember how excited I was to be moving on to "the real world". Growing up, I was always 13 going on 30. So graduation was a really big step for me to finally become an adult and take on the world. This journey hasn't been bump-free, but I'll take adulthood of high school any day...lol!

I had fun browsing Etsy for graduation gifts I would have loved to receive and would make awesome gifts for any grad in your life.

Compass Necklace, 14k gold filled - Graduation Gift, Graduate Gift, Class of 2013, Graduation necklace

by SusiDjewelry 

Polymer Clay Graduate with Physics, Science Degree

 by trinasclaycreations

 Promotion / Graduation Gift - She believed she could, so she did Custom Hand Stamped Aluminum Cuff Bracelet

by KorenaLoves 

Graduation Sign-In Book Party Customizable Guest Book 2013 Senior Graduation Party

 by  SlippinSouthern

Graduation Banner

Yesterday I teased you with an In the Works photo. I've been working on something new for a friend's daughter's graduation. It's a banner!

It was also a tricky project! And rather time-consuming as well! I started by cutting all the purple zebra paper into strips. Then each piece had to be fan-folded at 1/4" increments! I placed the finished "flower" on a large black circle and then topped each one with a smaller black circle and letter.

Joining each piece was the tricky part. I thought ribbon would be my best option, but I think I put my holes down too low and they didn't hang well with ribbon. I thought I was going to have to punch a second set of holes higher up, but finally found a better solution. I used silver brads to attach each circle and it worked great! I put ribbons on each end so it can be hung.

I love the finished product and can't wait to see it hanging at her graduation party!

I thought about adding these to my shop as I think they're fun and cute, but I'm not sure I want to make another one quite yet...LOL :)

Friday Features - Graduation

Graduation time is here again! How exciting for these graduates to be moving on to the next stages of their lives, be it college, grad school or work. A new life awaits!

As you know, I'm partial to gifts involving photos :) I love to make scrapbooks as gifts and personalized gifts are always on the top of my list. I searched Etsy and found awesome photo gifts that would be great for any grad!

Graduation Gift, Personalized Custom Picture Frame Gift

by YourPictureStory

Unique graduation centerpiece block set

by dwdoublemintdesigns

Graduation Gift - Personalized Plaque

by janetarizona

Congrats to all the grads out there :)

Congratulations Emma!

Jesse's cousin graduates today and her sister-in-law wanted to get her one of my Name Albums to set out on her table. We worked together to get all the pictures for the album so it would be all ready to go for her :) I think it turned out great!

We got a picture from each grade K-12 and filled the rest of the spaces with all of her senior pictures.

And isn't she a beautiful girl!!!

This is an option I have thought about adding to my albums...the progression style. What do you think? It could be for a baby...1-12 months, for birthdays or anniversaries 1yr-X yrs and graduation albums like this. I'd love to hear what you think :)

Congratulations Emma!!!

Friday Features-On Saturday

Better late than never, right? I had to rush my computer to the ER on Thursday with a virus and am just now able to get back online! I hate how reliant I am on the internet...but isn't it such a wonderful tool :) Without an further adieu...here are Friday's Features.

With many graduations going on this weekend and in weeks to come, Etsy is the place to go for everything graduation! You'll find great invitations, party favors, gifts and much more!!!

Here are my top finds for the grad :)

Graduation, Class of 2010 cookie favors set

by FunFavors

5 Traditional Graduation Large Cap and Tassle Favor Box

by EspeciallyInvited

Graduation Card Hat's Off To the Graduate Unique Spinning Design Cap Spins Across Front

by QueenBeeInspirations

2010 Graduation CONVERSATION Sterling Silver Necklace

By MadisonCraftStudio

Congrats to all the grads out there :)

Custom Crazy

This past weekend I worked like crazy on Custom Albums!!! Many graduations are next weekend and we are in full swing for wedding season and the word is getting out that my Custom Name Albums make great gifts :)

Here is my latest batch ready to be shipped out tomorrow!!!

Wedding Name Albums

Graduation Albums

I am also working on a surprise album for one of Jesse's cousins that I'll have to wait to show you :) It's turning out really cute...can't wait for her to see it!

Hope everyone has a productive weekend :)

Use That Memorabilia

If you're anything like me...I tend to be a pack rat! And then you throw in being a scrapbooker and I have a hard time throwing anything away! You never know when you can use it on a layout :)

Today I thought I'd show you a few ways to use memorabilia on scrapbook layouts. Why store it away when it can be displayed in your albums along with your photos :)

For this layout I put the actual graduation medal on the page with extra strength adhesive. It made a nice border, don't you think? I also added the professional graduation invitation. There was nothing on the back, so I was able to adhere it down and you can still open it and see the inside.

And on this two page layout, instead of using the entire diploma...I scanned it and downsized it to fit nicely among all the photos. I also included the graduation program and the special invitation I made for the event. Both of these will also open so you can still see the inside :)

Worried about your memorabilia being acid free and safe for your scrapbooks? Worry not :) You can test your items with a pH pen and spray them with a deacidifier such as Make It Acid Free by Krylon.

So go ahead...get that memorabilia out of a box and into your scrapbooks :)

Weekly Feature

Okay, I know I just posted about this item when I put it in my shop...but I just couldn't resist using it as my feature for this week :) I just think it's too cute not to show off again!

Isn't this the cutest scrapbook you've ever seen!!!

That's right! It's a scrapbook made out of a real pair of (new) flip flops! This album is such a great, unique way to showcase special graduation photos.

The album is made using one pair of flip flops. There are 12 pages (five double sided/two single sided). Pages are hand cut out of chipboard and covered with patterned paper. There are 24 photo mats for you to place your photos. Pages are embellished with stickers, die cuts, paper flowers, brads, and other photo safe items. Album is bound with two ribbons.

This album is perfect for photos from Preschool to PhD graduations and everything in between :) The embellishments in the album will work for them all!

One for the Grads :)

I just couldn't pass up these flip flops when I saw them over the weekend! And I had to get right to work on them when I got back from my weekend getaway! They are the perfect grad gift :) And they are perfect for grads of Preschool or getting their PhD! The embellishments will work for all graduates. Do you know someone graduating...or are you a graduate? You can check out these flip flops here. And in case you were wondering...yup...they are Real (new) flip flops :)

Bring on the Graduations!!!

I am officially ready for graduation! I have all of my albums complete and delivered! Such a great feeling! Now I just have to make a couple of cards and I'll really be ready :)

I made 24 pages for this last album! A lot of time and work went into this album. But most of all...a lot of LOVE :) This album is for my boyfriend's cousin. She asked me to make her one to set out at her graduation party and she said she would pay for all of the supplies. Well, in the end, I felt it was the perfect gift for her :) I hope she loves it and appreciates it :)

I thought I'd share my two favorite pages from the album:

This one took the longest because my "lovely" sewing machine broke half way through sewing the border and I had to finish it by hand! Boy did that take forever! But I love how it turned out!!!

And I love the colors and photos on this one :) This is a design I may use over and over...I just love it :)

I hope all of you are ready for all of your graduations and have all your gifts picked out :) Congratulations to the Class of 2009!

Graduation Album...Done!

Wow...it's really done! I got the graduation album done...and even with a week to spare :)

If you remember my previous post, this is what I started with:

And here it is all done!!!

It is a combination of newspaper articles and photos. She wanted the newspaper pages to remain simple so they could easily be read. I then did a section opener for each sport or activity. It is a nice mix of simple and fun :) I know she's gonna love it!!!

Now I'm off to finish yet another graduation project! One week and counting...I'm gonna be a busy girl!!!