8 Inspiring Handmade Graduation Card Ideas

Celebrate the well-deserved success of your loved ones with these Easy Cardmaking Ideas!

From kindergarten all the way through to University, graduation is a pretty exciting time in a person's life. It's one of those great occasions where handmade cards are often kept as keepsakes. With that in mind, here are eight inspiring handmade graduation card ideas that can be adapted to suit young ones completing their first year of education through to those finishing their final year of university and stepping out into the world.

Table Of Contents

1. The Wise Owl
2. Scrabble Letters
3. Paging Dr.Graduate

4. Geometric Shapes
5. Graduation Cap

6. Metallic Finish

7. Simple Monochromatic Color Scheme

8. Fun Shaker Card

Graduation Card Idea # 1 - The Wise Owl

Owls have long been used as a wise character in graduation cards and imagery so it seemed fitting to use one for this graduation card idea. However, once I decided that I wanted to create a card with an owl, the inspiration left me.

A quick flick to page 88 of 599 New and Inspiring Cardmaking Sketches fixed that problem and I had a brand new graduation card idea ready to get crafty with within minutes.

Add in meaningful graduation message as sentiments

You can see the original card-making sketch idea from the book in the image above and the end result on the right. I just love this card making sketch ideas book as you could have ten people use the same sketch and come up with completely different results due to the individual's ability to choose their own colors and patterns.

I didn't have an owl picture on hand so I quickly drew this one onto watercolor paper, adding color with metallic watercolor paints. The flowers are actually from a roll of washi tape in which the petals peel off individually. These petals were stuck down onto cardstock and then cut out so that I could adhere them to the card with double-sided foam squares to give the card some depth.

Graduation Card Idea # 2 - Scrabble Letters

This card was inspired by one I saw quite a while ago that used Scrabble letters to create the sentiment. I didn't actually want to donate the letters from my Scrabble board game so these letters were purchased from the craft section of a large department store. I tend to buy these things on special when I see them and store them away for later use. These letters were a great bargain bin find!

The remainder of the card was created with scrap cardstock, letter stickers and a mini craft paper punch for the butterflies.

Graduation Card Idea # 3 - Paging Dr. Graduate

This novelty card is specifically designed to celebrate the achievement of graduating from medical school. Apart from the buttons, it was made completely with scrap cardstock and I just made this one up as I went along.

Graduation Card Idea # 4 - Geometric Shapes

This card is a simple design inspired by geometric shapes and of course, the mortarboard hat (aka graduation cap) is included. The bubbles are simply handdrawn and colored with metallic watercolor paint and the sentiment was created with letter stickers.

Graduation Card Idea # 5 - Graduation Cap

Now a diploma and Graduation ceremony card design

This is another simple design that uses the mortarboard hat or graduation cap. I knew I wanted to use the imagery of the cap in the card but I was again lost for inspiration. As you can see from the image below, I was able to quickly find a great graduation card idea on page 89 of the book, 599 New and Inspiring Cardmaking Sketches.

Graduation Card Idea # 6 - Metallic Finish

This card was created with a metallic finish by using a scrap of shiny silver novelty paper and metallic gold stickers for the sentiment. I wanted a gold and silver theme as they are traditionally thought of as 'winning' colors which is appropriate for the theme of graduation in which someone has achieved their goals.

Graduation Card Idea # 7 - Simple Monochromatic Color Scheme

I love using just one pop of color with black and white for monochramatic color schemes when it comes to card making. Like in the last card, I was even able to incorporate a nice metallic finish with some novelty paper again for this graduation card idea. You can see from the photograph above that this design is quite simple, relying on layers to add interest.

The hearts and circle were created with a craft paper punch and the banner was a sticker from a sheet of chalkboard style banner stickers that I purchased quite some time ago.

Graduation Card Idea # 8 - Fun Shaker Card

Write a personal message tips for your family member inside this fun card layout

This card is a little fiddly to make but I just adore it as it works well for younger kids. The base of the card is quite simple, using layers of red, black and white as well as some letter stickers and mini star cut outs.

The shaker is created like this:

Cut out a white circle from cardstock for the base. I recommend drawing around a cup for a perfect circle.
On top of this white circle, lay a strip of double sided foam tape around the outer edge.
Tip your sprinkles or confetti inside and set it aside.
Cut a round piece of firm plastic the same size as your white circle and then your colored circle frame (see photo above). Glue these together.
Stick this combined plastic and frame piece on top of your double sided foam tape to trap your sprinkles or confetti inside.
Glue the whole thing onto your card face.

Do you have a great graduation card idea?

I hope that these handmade graduation card ideas have inspired you to have a go at making your own graduation card. We would love to see your version of any of these ideas.

Happy card making!

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