A Card Stamping Challenge

Well, this is not the ordinary card-making challenge! I say that because I didn't find it on a stamping blog or site, my Aunt requested I make her 3 specific cards for her to give to a few friends celebrating milestones this month:

• a retirement card (female)
• a grand parents card (1st grandchild - male) 
• a PHD card - for a friend who just got her doctorate of psychology

So, I didn't really have any specific stamps to coincide with retirements, graduations OR first grand baby (new wish list ;-). After much thought and even some searching around, voila:

The PHD one is first (tulips) - it reads "The greatest achievements were at first, and for some time, dreams" on the outside and "Congratulations" on the inside. I thought this was the perfect phrase for someone graduating, especially with a PHD! I only just discovered this colour combination recently (Cameo Coral, Ruby Red and Old Olive) - all but the olive are retired now so I was in a mad rush over the summer to stock up on the colours for occasions like this! And, I just love the stamp set (Terrific Tulips - an oldie but goodie).

The Retirement one (which has a medallion watermarked on the background - you can see it in the upper left hand corner) was CASED from a card at an SU Regional I attended recently. It reads "Lucky You" on the outside and "Congratulations" on the inside. I used the Ruby Red and Old Olive again here, but paired them with More Mustard in this case - so perfect for this time of year! The stamp set on this card is Day of Gratitude from the current SU Holiday Mini Catalog (LOVE it!). 

The baby boy one reads  "A star is born" on the outside and "A new hand to hold, a new heart to love, a new life to lead... Congratulations!" on the inside. I started with the tiny phrase stamp (figuring that is definitely how any new grandparent feels!) and then chose to use my star punches and the various blues (a shimmery navy card-stock, Marina Mist & Bashful Blue). For the star placement, I was heavily influenced by a card I saw on Mary Fish's "Stamping Pretty" blog - she has some major talent, people!

I really hope my Aunt and her friends like these cards!