This was a big week for Brittany.  She turned 18 and graduated all on the same day.  Let me start with a couple photos and then I have a  gift box I made to show you for a special little gift!

This is our son, Brian (son #3), and Brittany, his girlfriend and my ribbon wrapper — LOL!!! 

Way to go, Brittany!  CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

This is later at Brittany’s party at her home, with Jessie, Ben’s (son #2) girlfriend.  These are the two lovely ladies I spend time with regularly; otherwise, it’s just me and the guys!!!  It’s FUN to have girls around!!!  Steve (son #1) and Marissa will be getting married later in the summer, so I’ll have pictures to share of them at that time.  Unfortunately they live way too far away and weren’t able to be at Brittany’s graduation.

 Brian and Brittany at her party.

____________________

OK, now on to the gift — Brian purchased a gift for Brittany and asked me to make a tag  — well, how can I make JUST a tag  — LOL!!!  Here’s the finished product:

The box measures about 2.25″ square and about 1.75″ tall.  It was made specifically to perfectly fit the gift, and though it looks like a small jewelry box, I assure you, it is not — LOL!!! Brian purchased an iPod Nano and it came in a plastic cube shaped container, so the box was made to perfectly contain it.

The pretty papers used are from the Madeline 6×6 pad by Prima.

There are many floral coordinates by Prima to the Madeline pad.

The box is wrapped with 1/8″ Velvet Ribbon by May Arts  in Turquoise and topped with a Prima Trellis Rose in Ivory.  The tag was made with the stamp, stamper and dies from JustRite’s  Happy Everything Tag Making Kit (currently on SALE).  I must say, I have been totally smitten of late with that 1/8″ Velvet — it is SO pretty and SO verstile — I absolutely adore working with it.  And the tag options with the Happy Everything Kit are endless and FUN — and now JustRite has added another set of sentiments (Just Because Set) to go along with the Tag Kit — a GREAT new product from JustRite that will get a lot of use in my stamp room.  Ink used is my favorite for crisp, dark sentiments, VersaFine Onyx Black.

Here’s a look at the plain box before decorating it.  My preferred tools for making boxes are the Scor-It-All Boards — they come in full sized and mini.  I just love the way they create a deep score and I love the ruler along the top edge, allowing me to score at any increment I need.

____________________

Once we’re on the subject of graduation, Holly was making some thank you notes for her graduate son to send out — she used an interesting combination of paper and stamps to create flat cards for mailng that a guy would feel comfortable sending out –  you can see them here — great cards, H0lly.  She used the gorgeous Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden stamps that have finally arrived BACK IN STOCK!!!

And here’s a fun card by Michelle showing us once again one of her fun flowers made with the Gluber’s Glue Dots and she is also using the Happy Everything Tag Making Kit that I used today as well.  Great project, Michelle!

____________________

And now I’d best get busy in the kitchen.  Tomorrow at church we are hosting a brunch in honor of the graduates, so I have much to do in prep for that — NEVER a dull moment!!!

Thank you so much for stopping in today!  Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!!!

And a HUGE THANK YOU to those who have and are serving our country in the military forces.

God Bless you All!!!