High School “Out-of-This-World” Graduation Card

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Graduation season is right around the corner, so I was inspired to create an uplifting card for someone that is out of this world! If you don’t know any highschoolers who will be graduating soon, you could turn this concept into a birthday or Father’s day card! 

Step 1

I wanted to watercolor a starry night sky background, so I pulled out Strathmore 100% Cotton Watercolor 5×7 cardstock. This is a heavyweight cardstock that can handle wet media and is great for watercoloring. I stamped the Night Skies background stamp from Brutus Monroe with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink several times to get a clear impression.

Step 2

Then I heat embossed the entire panel with clear embossing powder. Alternatively, you could also heat emboss with white embossing powder to create a background with white stars. I thought that would look good, too, but decided to go with black stars for a more dramatic look. 

Step 3

Now it’s time for some watercoloring! I scribbled with several blue shades of ZIG Clean Color brushes (No. 034 Dull Blue / No. 035 Deep Blue / No. 038 Peacock Blue) to create the night sky scene. The colors blend so easily on the Strathmore 100% Cotton Watercolor cardstock with a waterbrush, it almost feels like you are moving wet paint! I also stamped a rocket ship and colored it with No. 022 Carmine Red / No. 050 Yellow / No. 091 Light Gray. Once the watercolors were dry, I trimmed down the background panel and fussy cut the rocket image. 

Step 4

Next, I trimmed a piece of Stardream Metallic Onyx cardstock to 4’’ x 5 ¼’’. The metallic shine of the Stardream cardstock is just fabulous! The shimmer is elegant and adds the perfect touch to this mysterious stellar galaxy. I also heat embossed the sentiment in white using this same cardstock. 

Step 5

Finally, I added a gold circle frame and various star die cuts to complete the scene. The DCS Gold Glitter Heavyweight cardstock is so sparkly, it really makes the stars pop against the black background. 

Supplies:

• CutCardStock – Cardstock – Strathmore 100% Cotton Watercolor 5×7 cardstock
• CutCardStock – Cardstock – DCS Gold Glitter Heavyweight 12 x 12
• CutCardStock – Cardstock – Stardream Metallic Onyx
• Brutus Monroe – Stamps –  Night Skies
• Brutus Monroe – Stamps –  Out of This World
• Brutus Monroe – Dies – Spaced Cutting Die
• ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Pen – No. 034 Dull Blue / No. 035 Deep Blue / No. 038 Peacock Blue / No. 022 Carmine Red / No. 050 Yellow / No. 091 Light Gray
• VersaMark Dazzle – Champagne 
• VersaFine Clair – Nocturne