Happy Birthday to Me!

July 7, 2015July 7, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I thought I would do something a little different for today. Two of my card club ladies sent me these lovely birthday cards and I decided to share them with you.

Donna sent the first one, and aren’t the flowers just lovely? I just love her color choices, don’t you? One of the great things about a photopolymer stamp is being able to manipulate it as needed. Like taking this great sentiment and curling it around the flowers.

This second card was so fun to open. June is one not to shy away from a challenging project. She has no problem sitting down and fussy cutting to her hearts content. I am so not that patient.

This card is so fun to open and close. It is just chuck full cute little things. I love all of the new paper she used. As well as a wonderful quote tucked into the middle.

I am so fortunate to be able to work with such great ladies. Lucky me!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Just For You

July 6, 2015July 6, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Sometimes I feel like there are one too many butterflies flying around my craft area. But then I remember, you can never have too many butterflies! Especially when Stampin’Up! keeps coming out with even more exciting stamps to use. This set is just one of those types. I could just put these everywhere.

The color scheme is very simple, blushing bride and whisper white with tiny 1/8″ boarders. I do love those. Only one butterfly on this card front. The base image is done in blushing bride. The next layer, the detailed image, was stamped in versamark ink. That alone looked wonderful with the darker tone. A quick sprinkle of iridescent ice went over the versamark while it was still sticky and took a trip to the heat gun to melt it in place.

I tried to angle the photo to show you the almost purple glimmer that comes from the powder. You can kind of see it. Absolutely lovely stuff. The body and antennae are separate stamps that make the body. And yes, this is a photopolymer set. You just have to see through these stamps to get images just where you want them.

A quick sentiment from the same set and a tiny cotton ribbon bow, and it was done. I did stamp a few dots on the inside panel, of course.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Happy Thoughts for You

July 5, 2015July 5, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

When I first subscribed to Paper Pumpkin it was all about getting exclusive stamp sets that I couldn’t purchase through regular shopping. I didn’t want to miss out. That was true in the beginning stages, but then the kits started getting better and better and the projects were almost better than the stamps.

I had a hard time putting those great stamps to work after I finished up the kits. So I tried something different this time. With my last kit, I used the stamps separately before I got into the kit. These are the stamps, but nothing at all to do with the card kit, which is fabulous by the way.

I am in love with the new heavy weight whisper white cardstock. I love a white card and it just had to be sturdier. Job well done. Sahara sand might be my favorite neutral. It goes so well with everything. Just a hint of color without any obvious distraction.

A little bit of simple layering and a bunch of dimensionals. The aqua painter got involved again, it is such a great tool. Using it along the stamped images to bring in the lightest amount of color. What a great look and so easy to accomplish. Finish it off with the lovely dotted lace trim.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Thank You for Everything and More.

July 4, 2015July 4, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

What a wonderful way to start this special holiday. Making this card this morning gave me some quiet alone time to contemplate. I do my best thinking while I am crafting, I really do.

This project was more about the sentiment than anything. Of course the color choices were important. I kept everything subtle so the message was clear.

Gratitude, plain and simple. Grateful for the freedoms I know I have, but so much more. There is a larger picture that regular citizens are just simply unaware of, and sometimes grateful for that ignorance. I do feel truly blessed for the way I am allowed to live my life.

Take the opportunity to share the gratitude you feel in the way you feel most comfortable. I get to enjoy my quiet beginning, attend a flag raising social at my church, and spend the afternoon with family. Just wonderful.

Have a creative day!

Moana

My Dear Friend

July 3, 2015July 3, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I focused on one image for today’s project. It initially reminded me of a Japanese maple tree as it starts to change colors. They are so vibrant. As I started to paint them I noticed the flowers and the leaves looking different. I thought it was more of a shrub. Put your glasses on, right?

I put the aqua painter to work here. I stamped the image in cherry cobbler and brought the color in with just water. Then I added in old olive and mixed the colors, just as the leaves would be looking. I decided I wanted the flowers to stand out more, so I darkened the centers to bring out the detail. I can’t believe I didn’t notice the flowers the first time.

Talk about being generous with the basic rhinestones, but I wanted all of the centers to sparkle. Such a pretty look. Is it over the top? Well, if it is for a dear friend, you want it special. The friend stamp seemed a bit lonely, so I wrote in above it using an old olive stampin’ write marker. First try even, not bad.

There are so many new products used today. The framelits, the embossing folder, the stamp, and they work together great! I even got all nostalgic thinking about an old friend that I just don’t get to see anymore. Guess I know where this one is going!

Have a creative day!

Moana

You’re So Vintage

July 2, 2015July 2, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I have been doing so many floral projects I thought I should bring out something different. I have been waiting to use this stamp set, it is so different and funny to me. The sentiment reminds me of something out of my elementary school wardrobe. I might have had matching jeans, how exciting.

I am more happy with the sentiment layer than the rest, but I am happy enough with it to make up for the other. It seems like the star boarder punch was a bit much, but I kept it there. The colors though, they are spot on. They were cool then and have made it around to be cool again. How fun is that?

I knew I wanted to use markers to make the words different colors, but I wasn’t sure how it would react on the photopolymer. By the time I did the last word the others had beaded up quite a bit. I went over them, huffed a lot, and used my foam mat. It still came up all splotchy. However, it was perfect for the phrase! I am so happy with it! It looks extra cool for sure. I almost created a lava lamp to go along, but relaxed on that front.

I can’t wait to try this out on other stamps and see which ones still look awesome. Floral stamps could look water colored even. One adventure at a time.

Have a creative day!

Moana

You Are So Kind

July 1, 2015July 1, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Nothing says elegance quite like a white on white greeting card. I love how they look and how subtle their beauty is. I am not sure this will fit into a regular envelope with all of those layers. I think I will have to make a custom one.

I knew I wanted to use the new brick wall embossing folder, I have been so excited to get it. I also knew I wanted to use both sets of butterflies dies. I just didn’t know for sure how to fit them all together nicely. They ended up all layered together, all five of them.

I only used one stamp from the watercolor wings set for the sentiment. I haven’t let myself play with all of the other stamps. I do try to budget how much time I give to my craft each day, otherwise nothing else would get done.

I used the bitty banner punch to give me banner ends on my sentiment and layered everyone up with dimensionals. I glued my butterfly layers together using tombo and put the final butterfly object on dimensionals as well. I finished it off with basic rhinestones, a string of nine for the body, and a scattering along the left side and bottom. Just right.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Remarkable You

June 30, 2015June 30, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I think going on that pioneer trek took a little more out of me than I thought. I tried to sit down at my usual 5:30 this morning, but I could hardly focus. Time to get into a good summer routine.

I absolutely fell in love with this stamp set when I saw it in the catalog. The floral images are so elegant. They cover several of my favorites. I had to use this one first, because it is my absolute favorite.

I started by stamping the image in garden green. I got out my aqua painter and drew in the color for the stems and some of the outer lining. I brought in daffodil delight and hi-lighted with so saffron. Just a touch of color there.

I used the oval framelits to make my layers with the third largest for the flowers and the second largest for the frame. I stamped and sponged and put everything I could up on dimensionals. I tried out the triple banner punch and it works like a champ. That is going to get a lot of use. Finally, I hid my glue dot under the velum with a rhinestone. I used a section to curve around the top left of the frame and called it done. I didn’t even stamp inside! Scandalous, I know.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Awesomely Artistic at last!

June 29, 2015June 29, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I have made it through my June adventures and have finally been able to sit down with a long awaited stamp set and designer series paper. I am still way beyond tired after completing a sixteen mile handcart trek, so it took me longer than normal to get going, but I did it. It kind of feels a bit vintage and a strong nature theme. So pretty.

I learned my lesson with the last designer series paper that I loved too much to use for way too long. I opened this pack up, took out my favorite pattern, and cut it for the card front. Quite brave if you ask me.

I stamped inside with two of the stamps from the set using night of navy and soft suede. I have a hard time leaving the inside blank.

I used a piece of water color paper to stamp the dragonfly a few times. I started with black stazon, water colored with night of navy on the wings, then used some two way glue to attach dazzeling diamonds glitter to the wing edges. I absolutely love dragonflies. They are my signature mark and have been for some time.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Trust God

June 28, 2015June 20, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

So much has happened during the last week, even as I write in advance for this blog, I know my heart is both heavy and full at the same time.

Taking yet another child to university is so exciting, but reminds me of how little time we actually have with these children and how soon they grow up and leave home. Luckily, I still have a few more years with my youngest.

Then partnering that event with a demanding and fulfilling pioneer trek has surely put me over the edge. But in a good way. Even though it was surely to be physically and emotionally difficult, I have complete faith that I loved it and will treasure it always.

I created this set knowing how I would be feeling, and knew there would be a lot on my mind. The flowering flourishes has been one of my favorite stamp sets for a very long time. The results it gives are always different and very beautiful. This color combination is soft yet ornate at the same time. I wasn’t sure about layering the stamps over each other, but these colors allowed it. I hope you have enjoyed it as I did.

Have a beautiful, and very creative day.

Moana

One Butterfly Too Many? I Think Not…

June 27, 2015June 20, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

It was time to gather the butterflies, and I didn’t even use them all! There is another punch and framelit and other stamps as well. Clearly I love these! Can you blame me? They are so beautiful. I am getting excited for a new stamp set that is on its way. It has a dragonfly in it and those are my favorite.

It is hard to match this combination though. I wonder how many butterflies I have seen so far on my pioneer trek. I might be too tired this morning to notice. But today I get to come home. This yellow is the accent color in my skirt and matching apron I made for this trek. What an event it must have been. I will have to tell you more later.

I layered up this beautiful butterflies after I sponged their edges pretty heavily. I wanted them to be one color, but have a subtle difference as well. It worked nicely, I also used the tiny butterfly stamp from the perpetual birthday calendar set to create a flock of them flying up the side and across the top. That was really fun. With some heavy sponging that look was complete.

I didn’t know if I wanted to stamp my sentiment with so saffron or black. I started with so saffron, decided it wasn’t bold enough, and offset a second stamping in black. It worked out really well. The photopolymer stamps really make things like that super easy. I repeated some of those stamps on the inside and then blinged up the butterflies properly. They do look grand, do they not?

Have a creative day!

Moana

Birthdays are Big News!

June 26, 2015June 20, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

This is definitely a bit of a crazy card. I wanted a little more order to the stamping on the background, but didn’t have the patience. Blogging ahead like I am, Utah trip and pioneer trek remember, has made me run a little short on patience. I just went with it and decided I liked it after all.

There may be lace and a bit of bling here, but I thought it could work for a guy as well, maybe. This new color delightful dijon is starting to grow on me. It took a while for summer starfruit to get anywhere with me, but I ended up being so sad when it retired and find myself missing it. This is much darker, but I am starting to get there.

This project was a real quick put together. Just a couple of square framelits, some simple stamping, a bit of sponging and it was done. Then I wanted to put a bit of bling on and even underlined with rhinestones one of the ‘enjoy the fuss’ sentiments. Good stuff for sure.

I have added another birthday card to the stash. There never seems to be an end to the need for birthday cards. Especially when you know so many wonderful people! A great thing to be able to do.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Age Awareness Vintage Style

June 25, 2015June 20, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

By now, I should have made it back from Utah, survived running all over the place, crying several times, and collapsing after a long drive.

I am writing this ahead, because this morning I should be up to my eyeballs in getting the last things together for our pioneer trek experience! I put everything together I could before we went to Utah, but there are always last minute things ready to get in the way.

I haven’t used soft suede for a really long time and thought it would go with the theme here. I also just got the oval framelits and put them to work for the first time. These stamp sets go together quite nicely, don’t you think? I used the banner punch for the very vanilla strips and finished up the soft suede layered banner with the side of the hexagon punch. It makes great banner ends. Who knew!

Here I go again making my own background paper. It is a fun challenge that keeps my brain fresh and lets me use more of my fun stamps! We have a special birthday coming up next month for someone getting up there in years. He has a great sense of humor and will just love this!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Flower Patch Beauty

June 24, 2015June 20, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

My husband was given a thank you note that inspired this simple creation. I usually like more, but this couldn’t be more perfect. The subtle layering of the flower, the gentle stem, and the touch of glitter come together to make this stunner.

I did a narrow border with an additional layer of watermelon wonder and popped that combo up on dimensionals. I thought about adding some of that lovely dotted lace trim, but didn’t want to interfere with the glitter or the stem. Really, it turned out so nice.

So, here it sits, in its simple glory. I love this color and I love it even more in this beautiful card. Maybe I should send this note back to the friend that inspired it. They certainly are wonderful.

Look for inspiration in every day life, it is there waiting for you.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Kinda Eclectic with a Ray of Sunshine

June 23, 2015June 20, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

This burst of sunshine should be posting while I am in Utah getting my Denali all settled at university. She is a huge burst of sunshine in my life, so it suits the day perfectly.

I have used the sunburst stamp from the Kinda Eclectic set in so many projects. It is why I bought the set, but the rest of it is just as beautiful. I am so glad that it carried over to the new catalog. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye just yet.

I loved using the super smooth whisper white card stock to make a matching bag. It folds rather crisp, but is easier to manipulate that the other card. And of course I love the stamp. This set is done in hello honey and it works so well. I even got out an embossing folder to give it a little extra.

A simple card that is all about the saying and a few bright touches to bring it full circle. Perhaps this one will find its way to someone in need of a pick me up. Sounds about right!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Crazy About You

June 22, 2015June 20, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

A simple gift set that is truly all occasion. You never know when you will need a ready to go set at the last minute. It would be nice to remember all of our events all of the time, but that doesn’t always happen. Or when someone is wonderful and you just want to say thank you in a special way.

That is what this set is for. I used the scalloped flower from the Crazy About You set to make the background for the card and matching bag. I did a simple overlay of velum and scattered large rhinestones in the center of the flowers. So simple, yet so pretty.

I added a touch of linen thread and used my bone folder to help it curl just a little. It also takes the kinks out, but I do love a bit of curl. I stamped a couple on scrap and punched them out with the 1 3/4″ scalloped circle punch and accented the front and the inside of the card.

Well, this project was a quick make and has lots of possible uses. Try one out for yourself!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Happy Father’s Day!

June 21, 2015June 20, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

What more do you need to say than that? I guess there are too many words to include in such an important day as this, but a card can only hold so many. It is a special occasion, so I did a little more than normal for this project.

A friend of mind recently stepped out of her front door to a scene similar to this card front. Of course hers was more accurate, and with a lot more trees, but you get the idea. It was a beautiful sunset and I couldn’t wait to put it in a card somehow. It worked out and was fun to arrange.

I hope you are all enjoying this special day in the way you would like. We are actually all over the place, but doing good things either way. I love all of the dads in my life!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Happy Birthday My Friend

June 20, 2015June 20, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Making my own background paper is one of my favorite things to do. Part of it comes from not having all of the new paper, and the other more important part is customizing it to exactly how I want my project to feel. I loved these tiny little flowers, so that is what I went with.

I didn’t have patience to use my stamp-a-majig, so I just did my best. It didn’t turn out too bad and the secondary pattern looks great. Hexagons can look a little more strict by their shape, but using the floral one gave it a much softer look. And of course I love a layered tag. Go ornate tag topper punch! I love a great set of tools.

I have some work to get done today for use. I will be gone all next week between taking my daughter to university and participating in a pioneer trek. I will blog ahead like I did during girls camp, that seemed to work out just fine. I think July will be a little more kind to my schedule, I hope.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Wondrous Wreath and My Plum Trees…

June 19, 2015June 19, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

I was out looking at my plum trees last night and decided I wanted to bring those colors into a project. My photos aren’t the best, you can hardly even see the mossy meadow layer in-between the two others, but it is there. I so need a new camera.

Either way, I still love how it turned out. I stamped off once on my first layer of leaves. So when I added the second layer of leaves with the second stamp I left it full strength. Lovely contrast if I do say so myself. I did the berries in rich razzelberry to match of course. I continued those little guys on the inside, and they are so cute. I can see me using the berry stamp to make a background paper.

I know my wording is a bit slanted, but I was tired. The heat has been so bad lately that by the time I get to settle down to work, I am so warm and tired that I don’t have the patience I should.

My brain is so all over the place. Just too many things to get done and not enough time. Summer break may be here, but I have yet to really enjoy any of it. July will be better, supposedly.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Trek Inspired Bordering Blooms

June 18, 2015June 18, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

Trek Inspired? Well, of course! Coming up next week around two hundred youth and adult leaders will be heading out for a three day handcart pioneer trek covering about 15 miles. My husband and I get to participate as “Ma and Pa” for a group of eight youth who will be our “children” during the trek. I don’t know if I am more excited or scared. Good to be both though.

I have been sewing my pioneer outfit and have it ready to go. I am actually typing while wearing it. What a great pioneer thing to do, right? I even have my hair in french braids and my straw hat on. I thought it might be a good idea to try and walk around in these skirts a bit. My lace will be getting dirty I think.

While I saw sewing I saw a card coming together. Mix my two favorites, right? I stamped with one of the border stamps in old olive on very vanilla. I used my aqua painter and the other ink colors to color in the flower and leaf patterns. Yet another background creation. And now I have two all occasion cards ready to go.

Here is a sneak peek at part of my apron. Can you see the colors coordinating? I know the marina mist is a bit brighter, but it was close enough to get my brain creating. Ruffles and lace and ruffles and lace. My mother will be so proud.

I think I will do some more trek inspired projects to share while I am gone. Yee-Haw!

Have a creative day!

Moana

studio824

Creativity for all seasons and reasons.

Author: moanaj

Happy Birthday to Me!

Just For You

Happy Thoughts for You

Thank You for Everything and More.

My Dear Friend

You’re So Vintage

You Are So Kind

Remarkable You

Awesomely Artistic at last!

Trust God

One Butterfly Too Many? I Think Not…

Birthdays are Big News!

Age Awareness Vintage Style

Flower Patch Beauty

Kinda Eclectic with a Ray of Sunshine

Crazy About You

Happy Father’s Day!

Happy Birthday My Friend

Wondrous Wreath and My Plum Trees…

Trek Inspired Bordering Blooms