Today I have an extra quick post to share a card that uses the Sunday Stamps sketch layout that uses a new stamp set called 'Breaking News' from the annual catalogue:

I made for my niece who celebrated her university graduation last week - my monochromatic colour scheme was influenced by the colour of her university gown hood. Here's my card:

Here's the low-down on today's card:

I added a tone-on-tone background using the scroll image to create a custom DSP (a simple way to add interest to a background and also perfect for SUO Challenges who have some great examples of how to create custom DSP too this week - do check them out), then stamped and fussy cut two newspapers with two different sentiment collections. I decided to create a mortar board using some black cardstock, twine and a brad for the additional sketch element:

The sentiment inside is courtesy of Amazing Phrasing - such a great Sale-A-Bration set!

I like this set and think it offers lots of fun options and I love the way you can tailor the newspaper with different stamps and sentiments - I think it will look better in a less monochromatic colour scheme too!

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Enjoy your day and I'll be back later with my card for this week's TicTaToe challenge. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

BREAKING NEWS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£21.00)	CHERRY COBBLER A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	CHERRY COBBLER CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (£5.75)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£9.75)	CHERRY COBBLER STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)
SMOKY SLATE STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)	SO SAFFRON STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)	BASIC BLACK A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	BAKER'S TWINE ESSENTIALS PACK (£10.25)	AMAZING PHRASING PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£0.00)

Another day with a poorly boy at home from school, so I am somewhat behind with my 'makes' to share with you. So today I'm going to share I card I made this week, but without the recipient having yet received it - let's hope she doesn't see the link to my blog post from my Facebook page before the postman arrives in the morning!

So the card I'm sharing is my first ever graduation card - a 'fancy folds' type card where you create a mortar board simply by scoring and folding in the right places:

I adapted a template I found on Pinterest to fit an A5 card and left the design quite simple. It was quite tricky to photograph, but hopefully you can see from the picture how the folds work and it folds completely flat for postage. I made this card for an alumni graduating from the University of Durham, so wanted to stamp the sentiment and create a tassel in Durham colours. A quick Google search tells me that Durham's key colour is 'palatinate purple' - doesn't that sound regal? A quick search through my ink pads resulted in Elegant Eggplant being the closest ink colour match. I raided my embroidery threads for the cotton for the co-ordinating tassle thread and attached the tassle to the top of the mortar board with a silver brad.

This card is well deserved - the recipient worked hard to gain a 2:1 and is intending to progress to law school; I'd say the tassle was most certainly worth the hassle!

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Sassy Salutations

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink/Stampin' Write Markers: Elegant Eggplant

Tools: Paper Piercing Tool

Finishing Touches: 1/8" Mini Brads