Tribute to my sister

The next thing I'd like to show you is a tribute page I made for my sister's graduation earlier this year.  The sketch I followed is from Simple Scrapper and looks like this...

I decided to combine this sketch with a challenge from Rachael over at Colorful Creations.  The challenge is a recipe challenge for which you are to include the following items to "create" your page:

• Texture and/or embossing
• Stitching
• Minimum of five circles
• Journaling
• Gems
• One fussy cut item

I started with a grey co'ordinations embossed paper and sanded the raised areas to expose the lovely words beneath.  Then I cut out nine 3x3 squares in various papers, then matted them.  To follow the sketch, I placed my sister's picture in the top right corner.  Then I added numerous "graduation" themed embellishments and placed my title in a large red banner.  The paper in the middle on the top row had faux stitching on it, so I merely followed the pattern and hand stitched it with black embroidery thread.  I fussy cut the flag from pattern paper and attached a toothpick colored with a silver sharpie marker.  I wrote my journaling inside the flag to hide it.  I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the way this page came out!!!!!!!  Thanks for stopping in and have a LUCKY day :-)