Celebrate

~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

Where was my crafty side yesterday?  Getting ready for a wonderful engagement party for my son and darling fiance, that’s where.  Not to mention making all of these bad boys.  Yup, over fifty of them.

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The game was to pick a gift and give it to the couple with your introductions.  As they opened it you had the opportunity to either tell them what the gift item would be good for, or offer wedding advice.

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Then, you got to ask them a question, a get to know you question. It was so great to get to know her, and my son with her, so much better.  Good food, good laughs, and even a pinata contest.  They each had their own and we all cheered them on to see who could bust theirs open first.  So many laughs.

Now we get to enjoy another fun day with them and other family.  Weddings can be just so exciting!  Loving every minute of all of this adventure.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Hip Hip Hooray for Today!

~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

What kind of fun events do you get excited for?  There are so many special days to celebrate it is hard to choose just one.  For me?  Well, today is all about celebrating the special meeting of my future daughter-in-law.  I have to admit, there is a bit of nervous energy going on there, more than I am aware of I am sure.  But still, what a wonderful day to celebrate.

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I am in love with this tiny little balloon punch.  It has two friends, a tiny cupcake and a tiny candle, but I can’t get past the balloon.  I have a thing with tiny things and this fits the bill perfectly.  They are just big enough to fit a dimensional behind so they get to look like they really are floating.  And if you use your bone folder across the linen thread it will curl just a bit.  It makes me smile.

The framelit is from a set two piece set that makes pop up card centers.  I trimmed the sides to give me this huge tag.  It was very difficult to throw out the inside cut pieces.  They were perfect!  I played with them, told myself to throw them in the bin, I did, then I got them back out, played again and tossed them again.  Seriously, get a grip.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

 

Everything Botanical

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Well, this project started somewhere else, but the results are great.  Sometimes it is hard to see past your ‘opportunity mistakes’, I managed though.  Once I fussy cut designer series paper I am totally committed.

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The free items you can earn from Sale-a-bration are all unique, but this one caught my eye right away.  A patterned velum paper that not only coordinates, but actually outlines designer series paper, well that is amazing.  I fussed a bit matching it up, but found the exact spot.  I almost did a 6 x 6 card just so I could see the whole pattern line up.  It would have been worth it, it looked so pretty all lined up.  I moved on though.

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My opportunities came from the glue experience.  I thought I could put tiny tiny dots of glue on little flowers and it would look kind of neat, and hide the adhesive at the same time.  Well, my tiny dots were not as tiny as they needed to be.  Several fixes later, it worked out.  Basic rhinestones, a larger sentiment with tag layering, and using one of the many coordinating framelits.  Phew!

I added a touch of inside stamping with a leaf from the coordinating stamp set.  I don’t usually go for a whole suite of product.  This one is different, I loved all of it.  However, it is my favorite color pallet, floral, and it goes together so wonderfully.  I couldn’t resist it.  So I didn’t.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

 

Make 16 Shine

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Turning 16 can be exciting, or overrated, take your pick.  I know a young lady who is excited for lots of reasons, but hesitant as well.  She worries a bit much sometimes.  She loves gray and it is so beautiful on her.  Just like 16 will be.  This card is for her.

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I masked a piece of cold press water color paper and did a wet wash using smokey slate and basic gray.  I just kept adding color until I was happy.  Patience wasn’t on my side, so  the heat gun got to work to dry it.  I wanted a few distress areas so I dripped some water on, let it activate the color, let it run a bit and daubed it up.  Just right.

The new Large Numbers Framelits Dies are so fantastic.  They are huge!  Sparkle was necessary, so silver glimmer paper was the perfect choice.  Before placing the numbers, I wrapped some silver metallic thread several times around the card front for just a touch of ribbon.  I wasn’t some, but not a distraction from the huge 16 just shining there.  The edges of the dimensional sheets fit perfectly behind the numbers so I didn’t have to get all tricky with cutting just the right size.  How great is that!  Of course the card front was attached with a bunch of dimensionals as well.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Hooray! for Perfect Pairings

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I could probably keep making samples for these bridal shower invitation choices.  Where do you draw the line?  Is three enough?  How about five?  Perhaps four is just right…

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Even though this is still floral, it is has a much stronger navy blue influence.  With the soft seam binding ribbon, the navy doesn’t seem too overpowering.  Not too complicated a card here.  There are 1/8″ simple borders layered with a decorated front.  I started with the navy flower background stamping and then included the pink centers.  How fun is it to have just the colors you want.  The beauty of stamping.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Rose Wonder

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This was a fun project for sure.  As you have heard me say so much recently, I do love to water color with my stamping.  I wasn’t sure if these two colors would come together in an attractive mix, but they did well.  Having the touches of navy with the blush as a primary is really enjoyable.

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I think I might be making the decisions a bit tricky for these bridal shower invitation choices.  I am not sure which one I like better between the two, guess I will have to come up with another one just for good measure.  I can’t spend too much time playing though, I have workshop coming this weekend.  It is fun to play though.

I stamped this huge wonderful rose on water color paper with stazon ink.  I didn’t goof it up too much, so I went with my first attempt.  I did a trial run with the colors on a scrap of water color paper just to check it out and I liked it.  So, I wet down my stamped image and got to work.  I spent a bit of time trying to be cautious, then I just went for it.  That is why I love to water color, it is pretty darn forgiving.  I even used my trial scrap as a background punch, cool right?  I do try not to waste.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Bloomin’ Love

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I do enjoy making something special by request.  It isn’t always easy to start, but once you do, the ideas just begin flowing.  This is my first go at a bridal shower invite.

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The brides colors are a blush pink and navy blue.  My blue looks a bit royal purple here, but it is a deep navy.  How about this lovely framelit die cut?  I thought I might go a bit bonkers trying to get it all detailed out, but I managed.  I am not always the most patient one, but this die requires it.  I had to put it through the big shot back and forth several times to get all of the cuts done.  It was worth the fussing though.  The detail is amazing.

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I might have gotten a bit carried away on the inside stamping.  I was chatting while I stamped and before I knew it, it had gotten pretty busy.  If this one ends up being the choice, we might have to print the details on velum to be an overlay.  That would be pretty though too.  Love is definitely in the air.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Forever Begins Today

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This was for yesterday, however, yesterday was for my family and there wasn’t time to share this with you.  I am sure it was worth the wait though.  Aren’t these flowers just the best thing ever?

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One framelit set gives you all of these pieces, plus a couple more.  And they coordinate with velum, designer series paper just to name a couple. I have been planning this one for a while now, with a very specific goal in mind.  I am fortunate enough to have my son getting engaged and this is how I am going to approach the second reception.  What else could I possibly use for my inspiration piece, right?

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I do admit that once I cut into a piece of designer series paper for a card front, I look to the remainder of the sheet and immediately think of a bag or box I can make to coordinate.  I have a hard time stopping myself to be honest.  I also have a bit of a problem filing back my scraps of cardstock when I work.  All of these colors were available to me in my stack of put me away papers.  I put them to good use for sure.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

First Sight

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I keep getting drawn into playing with water colors.  Maybe that is just my thing for right now, and I love it.  The effect is just so soft and subtle.  And it isn’t even very tricky.

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I do have a hard time putting embellishments on top of this kind of card front.  So I settled for a short strand of basic pearls and a hint of Wink of Stella.  I drew a few hearts and hi-lighted my stamped flourish to give it a little interest.  You have to turn the card to see it, so it is very subtle.  I didn’t want much to get in the way of the color blending.  When I tried different ribbon options it just was this huge separation that was pretty sad.  Clean and simple does the trick today for sure.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Celebrate Forever

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The other day I asked my husband and youngest daughter to draw me a doodle that I could use for a card front.  I make cards all of the time and rarely hesitate to get to work.  This was different though.

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I don’t have stamps, or papers, or materials that go with his style of art.  It presented a challenge to be sure.  If I had been thinking ahead I would have had him draw on water color paper.  You work with what you are given, right?  It is easy for me to focus on all of the problem areas, but I think it will work nicely.  And it is an original, one of a kind.

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I used two different sentiments to create this combo.  I masked off half of each phrase and got just what I wanted.  I think I have gotten a bit spoiled to have just the right tools for nearly everything I do.  When I had to trouble shoot I got pretty darn frustrated.  Plenty of learning opportunities today.  I hope you get brave and try something different, even if it is a bit overwhelming.

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Have a creative day!

Moana