Thanks so much for the DOD on my Class of 2020 Grad Party invite!  https://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/invitations/graduationparty/namespecific/n/ custom-graduation-party-class-of-1604216
 
I had fun with this design but wasn't sure if I could make it work for a custom name card.  Thanks so much for the reassurance!  And big thanks to the GCU Review Team for all their patience with me.  

Beautiful grad card, congratulations!

Thank you Bruce, Beverly, and Doreen!  Your encouragement and the community support is so greatly appreciated!  Wishing many Spring sales to all!

Very attractive invitation, Teri - congratulations on your DOD!  
 
Teri
Che Bella Nota Cards
Designs by Teri Nelson Kuster

Thank you Sandra, Teri, and Doug!  Your kind comments mean the world -- especially because I admire all of your designs so much.  Thanks again for all the encouragement!
 
@ Doug ...
It's really easy to do.  I usually work in Adobe Illustrator, but you can achieve the same effects in Photoshop or any editing program.
 
Step 1)  Create a gradient swatch of colors.  I try to stick to simple 3-5 colors, but you can really add as many as you like.  On this card, I used only 3 colors to make the main gradient.  They are as follows (in Hex Code):  
72-58-13
FD-EF-90
BO-94-44
 
I did add a 4th color for the frame gradient, just give it a little differential
A3-6A-23
 
Step 2)  The above gradient will create a simple flat "metallic" look.  To give it the "foil" appearance, I used a combination of a "textured" overlay, plus another layer using a "film grain" effect to give it a little appearance of sparkle.  I usually like to create my own textures, but there are tons of them out there both for free and that you can purchase.  Some have an actual "foil" appearance, but it's fun to experiment with stone, marble, leather, and even sand textures -- they each create some cool effects.  
 
Step 3)  Create 3 layers ... 1 for your flat gradient, 1 for your texture layer, and 1 for your sparkle (or grain) layer.  Keep your gradient on the bottom layer, the texture layer in the middle using either "Overlay" or "Multiply" blending mode, and your grain or sparkle layer on the top.  Whether you're using Illustrator or Photoshop, play around with the settings on each layer until you get just the appearance that you like.  
 
Step 4)  Once you like the look you've put together, you can flatten the 3 layers and create a "swatch" for your color panel.  Then you can create text, objects, frames, whatever you like and apply that swatch to it ... and bingo!  You have faux Foil!  Also, once you have created your swatch an applied it to any element, you can still adjust where the light and darker parts will fall by using the slider guides in whatever program you're using.
 
It sounds more complicated when broken down into steps than it really is.  The first few times will take a bit of trial and error to get the look you want, but once you get the hang of it the above steps will take all of about 3 minutes to achieve.  Watch out -- it's quite addictive!  I have several hundred "swatches" that I've created over the years -- and with every new design I promise myself that I will save time and use what I already have (and I sometimes do), but more often than not, I want to create a new "effect" for that design, and so the madness begins.  But they all start and end with the steps I've outlined above.  
 
Have a try at it.  Have fun with it!  And let me know how you make out ... and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  I'll be glad to help if I know the program you're working in.  Best of luck!
 

Great graduation party card. Congratulations, Teri!
Blessings~
Audrey

Thank you so much Audrey and Pamela!  It's been so nice to re-connect with old friends here, and the support and encouragement of this community has been comforting beyond measure.  Had some sad losses and upheaval in my life in the past 2 years, and coming back to do some work at GCU has been both healing and uplifting for me.  Thank you ALL -- fellow Artists and GCU Team -- from the bottom of my heart for the kind welcome back and fellowship that makes this place SO very special.  Love and hugs to all!
 
@ Pamela -- Glad to see you're still here too!  Yes, it's nice to be able to come here as time allows and do what we love to do -- create fun cards that hopefully touch others in a meaningful way.  Thanks for remembering Buttercup ... for those who don't know, Buttercup is the squirrel on my logo and avatar.  Can you believe he's still with us!  He will be 15 years old next month -- he's an old man now, arthritis, bad eyesight, but he still gets around well and keeps us amused and at his beck and call when he wants his daily pecans, lol!  BTW -- I love, love love, your adorable Irish Gerbil -- so cute!  Keep up the great work, and again, thanks for your kind words.
 
@ Doug, yes ... I love your hilarious cartoons!  But I can see where a splash of faux-foil would work in almost any design, lol!  Keep the laughs coming -- and again, if I can ever help, feel free to let me know.