Personalized Black Belt Card

This is the card that I created to congratulate Nick on his 4th Degree Black Belt. I used the Karate uniform that is from Jolee's Dimensional Stickers SPJJ095. They are white when you purchase them but I simple changed the color by using the Tim Holtz Distress Stains to color them to the color I needed. Worked like a charm! To add the stripes to the belts I just cut up the yellow belt that comes in the same Jolee pkg. I added the dates to the bottom of the card for each of his promotions (First Degree, Second Degree, etc). At his karate school they have not only different color belts but different color uniforms for stages of advancement.

On the inside of the card I couldn't find the sentiment or poem that said just how I felt so instead I wrote him a letter. I think it is much more personal and touching and I know he knows now just how I feel. I also added photos from the first day that he took karate and of each black belt testing. The first page in his scrapbook has a place for him to keep the card so he can look back on it from time to time.

Nick was the only one to receive his 4th Degree Black Belt that day. He got a standing ovation and I was not the only one with tears in their eyes. His strong will and determination has paid off and he can now proudly wear the coveted BLACK uniform with pride. After the testing and after all of Nicks fans came up to congratulate him, we headed out for a bite to eat with some friends and family. He received lots of flower bouquets, posters made by his students and home made cupcakes, mmmm. I gave him his Karate photo album. He loved it!!!