Pomp and Circumstance

May is graduation month here in Georgia, beginning with the colleges and universities. The high schools will have their commencements Memorial Day weekend. One of the partners at my store graduated from Georgia State University this past weekend, and I organized a gift for her from all of us baristas.

I'd seen this card by Jackie Topa and thought it was a great way to capture the spirit of graduation without purchasing a stamp set devoted specifically to the event. I heard someone share at SU!'s annual convention a few years ago that she doesn't purchase a set unless she can envision three different uses for it. I think that's sound advice.

This card starts out as an 8" square piece of Basic Black card stock, folded gate style (2" in from each side) to create a gown effect that opens down the middle. I then took 2-2" squares of Whisper White card stock and punched one corner of each with my Scalloped Corner punch. This punch was featured in the Occasions Mini and will be in the new Big Idea Book & Catalog that comes out July 1. I scored a line parallel to the corner to create a collar.

The cowl is made with a scrap strips of Brilliant Blue and Real Red card stock, the school's colors. The mortar board is just a 2" square piece of Basic Black with a silver brad attached in the middle. I followed Jackie's instructions for making the tassel.

I also followed her lead--why reinvent the wheel?--and used the congratulations stamp from Well Scripted. Isn't the diploma just a cute little finishing touch? Shawn loved it, and I was tickled that she did. It was the perfect size for a note and a bit of cash, a gift always appreciated by graduates.