DL.ART Thankful Thursday Challenge #229 ~ Graduation

Hello, everyone and happy Thursday!! It's time for a new Thankful Thursday challenge at DL.ART and the theme is Graduation. If you use the code LF222, Diana will give you a 10% discount to shop at the DL.ART shop.

For these cards, I've used DCWV's Twinkle Glints paper...it's so sparkly in person :)

The Starburst Background die is from Gina Marie. The cap is from Die-Versions and Congratulations is from Sue Wilson.

The ribbon is Granite from The Galaxy Bundle. I've also used Black Twine with the Spellbinders button die.

I am entering these in the following challenges:

1) Word Art Wednesday ~ Anything Goes
2) Jo's Scrap Shack Funday Friday ~ Anything Goes

Now it's your turn!! Head on over to DL.ART to see the amazing projects my design team sisters have created for today's challenge. Then link up your Graduation project...I can't wait to see what you create :)

Congratulations, Grad

Happy Monday!! I hope you had a wonderful weekend!! It's my turn to post on the Die-Versions blog and I have a couple of graduation cards to share with you using several Die-Versions dies. If you use the code lisa15 you'll receive 15% off your regular price Die-Versions order.

These cards are very different from my usual style, but I wanted them to be both unisex and flat enough that they would mail easily. I really struggle not using flowers and ribbons and bling!! I did add a touch of sparkle to the cap and diploma from the new Whispers Graduation Set. They were both popped up with foam for dimension. The square is a Whispers Stitched Nested Square, also popped up with foam. 2016 is from the Downhill Font set. Congratulations is from the Compliments Everyday set. The scalloped border is a Whispers Lacey Dots die (not currently in stock).

On a different note, I got a 150-600mm camera lens for Christmas and I've been practicing with it, capturing some of the springtime birds that have been visiting. The lens is super-heavy and it's hard to hold it steady to take shots. I really want to capture the hummingbirds but I haven't managed a great shot yet. It's been raining on and off for like a week, so most of these shots are taken through the glass.

This is the best I could get of the hummer. Unfortunately, you can see the reflection from the glass.

I had to add a shot of a Cardinal, the state bird of Indiana :) This is the male and...

the female. Sadly, I cut off her tail :(

Blue Jays are so beautiful but they are so noisy!! And they eat all of the food I leave for my outdoor cats.

The Eastern Bluebird is one of my favorite birds...not a great shot with the deck post in the way. I haven't been able to get another shot yet.

I'm guessing this is a female Gray Catbird since it looks like she's gathering materials to build her nest. Look at the size of that twig :)

This is a Northern Flicker...a medium sized woodpecker. His coloring is so beautiful!!

This is a Grosbeak....so pretty!! They stop by in the spring and don't stay long but I love when they visit. This is the male...

and the female. Not fair the male gets the pretty coloring!!

I was so excited when I saw the turkeys puffing and posturing!! Sadly, I couldn't get a decent shot through the window screens. I thought I'd try sneaking outside to get a better shot...

And while it is clearer, he (not sure what the correct term is) de-puffed and took off. One of my cats followed me and meow'ed the entire time so they heard us coming a mile away :) I hope to get some decent shots of the hummingbirds soon. There only a few right now and by the time I can heft the camera and spot them, they fly away :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!! Have a great week :)