Think Outside the Box - A Graduation Card with a Twist!

Have you ever needed a card in very specific colors—and couldn’t find anything in your stash that fit the bill? That was me this past weekend. I needed an orange and black graduation card for a special graduate and party, and I wanted it to feel coordinated and thoughtful. So, I did what any creative crafter would do: I raided my Halloween paper!

Yes, you read that right. Halloween paper! I knew I’d find orange and black in one place, and sure enough, I had a pack of retired Designer Series Paper that fit the theme perfectly. I flipped through and found some great coordinating prints. (Hot tip: There’s almost always a more neutral or subtle pattern on the back of seasonal DSP!)

I paired the paper with a fun retired stamp set, Go Graduate,
and made a matching mini note card to tuck in my personal message.

One unexpected challenge? When I opened the card, the reverse side of the DSP showed a bit of purple—which clashed with my theme. It bugged me enough that I added a piece of black cardstock to the inside to hide it. Problem solved! And then I decided to recolor the little owl on my note card to make it a bit more subtle.

This project is a great reminder that sometimes, the most creative solutions come when we’re willing to use supplies in unexpected ways. Even though I was using retired products, I still found joy in mixing and matching to create something meaningful.

So the next time you’re stuck, don’t be afraid to flip that paper over or look at seasonal sets with fresh eyes. There might be a perfect solution right there in your stash—you just haven’t seen it that way yet.

To Order Stampin' Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!