clean and simple

Christmas Lighthearted Leaves

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

What a crazy morning!  However, slow and steady wins the race, right?  Like I said earlier in the week, I planned on casing myself from another project that looked like Christmas to me.  Here it is, my ‘Believe’ card.

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As I stamped these leaves last time I kept thinking about mistletoe.  Of course, by the time I got done painting all the leaves green, I kept thinking of seaweed.  So now I want to do an ocean project.  What a great stamp set, right?

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I painted the ‘berries’ real read and went with cucumber crush for my green.  It is such a fun, bright green.  When I trimmed my cardstock down I was left with a few narrow strips and decided to put them to work.  I thought about using some quilling techniques, but kept it simple instead.  I did decorate one of the leaf images with rhinestones for a little bling and loved how it turned out.  So, just like all of the other retailers out there, I have made some Christmas happen before Halloween.  It was fun though, definitely fun.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Grateful Gifts

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When you are trying to wind down from a way to crazy day, what do you do to relax?  Well, today I went straight to my desk and worked a day ahead.  This is going to be one ridiculous weekend and I need to get as much out of the way as possible.  Of course I do the fun things first.

Grateful Gifts

The new designer series paper pack is so much fun.  Here is one sheet, showing both sides of it.  I cut one strip 4″ wide and it gave me the card front and the paper for the tiny gift bag.  Yup, 4″ x 12″ is all it took.

Grateful Gifts

I do think that this dotted lace trim has become my favorite ribbon.  I am definitely a girl who loves a bargain, but even if it is a bit pricier, I love it every time I use it, with no regrets.  I can’t always say that about embellishments.  I used both the negative and positive die cuts, one for each project.  Once more, I am totally happy with this set.  I might be on a bit of a gift set kick again.  Hmmm…

Grateful Gifts

Have a creative day!

Moana

Lighthearted Leaves

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I fell in love with this stamp set from the moment I saw it.  The images from Lighthearted Leaves are absolutely wonderful.  Artsy enough to get your attention, but not so simple as to be boring.  Such a nice balance.  I think I will case myself and make a Christmas version of this project.  I see mistletoe.

Lighthearted Leaves

I can also see an ocean theme.  The leaves kind of remind me of sea kelp and could be holding little fishies somewhere.  I do love an optional stamp set.

 Lighthearted Leaves

The layering is simple here.  Narrow borders help to not distract from the thin lines of the designs.  All around, I am very happy with how this turned out.  using the tags & labels framelits also make me happy. Subtle touches of color to accent the sentiment without taking over.  Just enough room to have a simple bit of ribbon and one little rhinestone in the center.  How perfect is that.  What more do you need than to ‘believe’?

Lighthearted Leaves

Have a creative day!

Moana

Birthday Jar Wishes That Last

~ moanaj ~ 2 Comments

It isn’t my usual project to share, but I do make these particularly often.  The idea is lovely and I get to put a lot of retired product to good use.  I do hate to ignore it, so I thought I would share  a way to use it differently.

Birthday Jar Wishes That Last

I bought some of those washi sheets having no idea what I would do with them.  Until this fun series of projects came about.  I work with the young ladies in my church, along with several other ladies, and we come together as a team in a large variety of events from large to small and everything in between.  Of course we celebrate birthdays!  And that is what this is.

Birthday Jar Wishes That Last

I decorate jars and vases with washi paper punches to the mood I am in.  Sometimes I use framelits, or punches, or both.  I have a large collection of last springs sale-a-bration ribbon, so it always goes together.  You know how I love to coordinate as much as possible.  So these jars are created for each young lady or woman in our group.  We all then write inspirational wishes, birthday wishes, and just kind words in general to fill the jar.  Then, the recipient can read them all at once, or read them one at a time, or open them over time when a bad day happens and they need a pick me up.  Something sweet for whenever you want them.  So, try something different with the awesome product you have, either current or retired, it is all wonderful!

Birthday Jar Wishes That Last

Have a creative day!

Moana

Color Me Irresistible

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Fall events are starting to pile up and that means plan ahead and get it done early.  This isn’t quite early, just one week, but that helps, right?  There is a church youth dance coming up next weekend and we are hosting the pre-dance dinner party.  The theme is black and white, so we are going along with that for the decorations, and yes, party favors.  I think these will do nicely.

Color Me Irresistible

These two are very simple, as should any favor should be, especially if you need to make several quickly.  I started both of them with paper sized at about 4 x 6 1/2.  Simple scoring for the gift bag and a hole punch to thread through the ribbon.  Done and done.

Color Me Irresistible

Can you go wrong with a classic sour cream container?  I think not, especially when you are working with this ever so lovely silver foil velum.  I think silver wrapped candies or white mints would look so pretty inside.  Maybe even both?  Works for me!

Color Me Irresistible

Have a creative day!

Moana

Sheltering Tree

~ moanaj ~ 2 Comments

Who doesn’t love the look of the beginning of fall?  The leaves are just starting to turn in my yard.  Some bright, some darker, and then there are those lovely dark ones that look almost burgundy.  Those would be my favorite.

Sheltering Tree

The tree is stamped in tip top taupe, the leaves in pear pizzazz and the turning leaves in perfect plum.  The card base is also in perfect plum with a slight framing in tip top taupe.  Very clean look for sure.  A few wraps with some linen thread and it was nearly done.

Sheltering Tree

I did a little echo stamping inside the card with the accent leaf color, just a bit in opposite corners.  I like to have enough there to connect to the front, but not so much that it interferes with the writing room.  It is still a card after all.  The front is popped up on dimensionals and that is all there is to it.  the outer dimensions are 4 1/4 x 4 1/4, a little different for me.  I am not prone to square cards, but I was working with my scrap pile, and that is what I had at ready.

Sheltering Tree

Have a creative day!

Moana

Banner Blessings Gift Set – Thanks

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Another wonderful day with many adventures ahead.  I feel so blessed and grateful to be able to spend time here with my children.  How fortunate I am to have a husband that allows me to do so.

Banner Blessings Gift Set - Thanks

This lovely card came together pretty darn quick. A few simple layers with my favorite sponging left it nearly done.  I wanted to use the trim without covering up the beautiful embossing from my favorite embossing folder.  I think everyone should have this one. It is so great to have a tool like this that can be used in so many ways.  So I just attached a simple knot of trim instead of a card front wrap.

Banner Blessings Gift Set - Thanks

I chose the pattern of the DSP with the tiny flowers.  It went better with the nature look of the trees.   A touch of dimensional a went with the sentiment layer only.  Simple to make and easy to mail.  Sounds like a win to me.

Banner Blessings Gift Set - Thanks

Have a creative day!

Moana

Dazzling Diamonds Dragonfly

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I liked the randomness of picking one single stamp and designing a project around it.  Today was just the beautiful dragonfly from the Awesomely Artistic stamp set.  My favorite image honestly.  I wish I had more.

Dazzling Diamonds Dragonfly

The new DSP pack patterns sure are awesome.  I had a hard time deciding which side to use.  I usually enjoy the patterns, but can see myself making gift sets with all of the different papers here.  Total coordination really makes me very happy, even within a gift set.

Dazzling Diamonds Dragonfly

It isn’t always easy to get decent photos of my work.  The ladies in my club often tell me how much better they look in person.  Isn’t that true of so many things though?  But the dazzling diamond dragonfly here needed to be angled a bit for you to really see it.  I wasn’t sure how happy I would be with it on whisper white, but I love it!

Dazzling Diamonds Dragonfly

Have a creative day!

Moana

 

Gather Sunshine

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

It started with one stamp, ‘gather’, from the Seasonal Snapshot 2015 set.  I love it, just love it.  Then I began rooting around for word stamps or images that would go with it.

Gather Sunshine

I pulled out Crazy About You, because it has all of those phrases and word sets.  There it was, sunshine.  I immediately went to the Kinda Eclectic set because of the beautiful sunburst in it.  Great combo going on for sure.

Gather Sunshine

I wanted more than one yellow tone going on, so I have three.  The sunburst and the card base are So Saffron.  The base of ‘gather’ was done in Daffodil Delight and layered over in Hello Honey.  Sunshine was stamped in stazon and the inks were put away.  The paper layering is simple with a double layer of smooth whisper white put up on dimensionals.  No ribbon, nothing else, just clean and simple.  Not my usual style, but I rather like it.

Gather Sunshine

Have a creative day!

Moana

You’ve Got This

~ moanaj ~ 2 Comments

Sometimes simple words are all you have, and sometimes that is all you need.  That is just how I feel this morning.

You've Got This

I took my time painting this lovely flower with a few of my favorite inks.  I stamped the flower in almost artichoke and did light water coloring to get the base down.  I added cajun craze but kept it light the first time through.  Adding more water helped to do a little blending, but I didn’t want too much of that.  I like that two colors together can create a third unexpected surprise.  In person, you can see the blended areas have nearly a cherry cobbler tone.  Cool, right?  I thought so too.

You've Got This

The entire image was accented in gold encore ink, still using the aqua painter.  That really creates a fun look and is surprisingly easy to control.  One simple sentiment in black stazon ink with a little gold metallic thread and this simple card was done.  Well, I did have to stamp inside as well.  I stamped off twice before I placed the stamp on the inside paper.  Nice and light.  And look, absolutely no sponging!  Crazy.

You've Got This

Have a creative day!

Moana

Game On Dear Heart

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I absolutely love, love, love making my own paper with unique stamps.  Most of the time my friends can’t even place which stamp set it came from.  I have overlooked several stamps myself.  Example, look at this cute little fish!

Game On Dear Heart

Sometimes we feel like we don’t fit in, but I feel like that is a beautiful thing.  I made this card with that theme in mind.  He is stamped in melon mambo, water colored a bit, and water colored again with silver encore ink.  Everything is lightly sponged and there are plenty of dimensionals here.

Game On Dear Heart

The sentiment was stamped on a little scrap, punched with the bitty banner punch on one end, and given a bit of ribbon on the other.  How easy is it to just staple some ribbon on.  Some cards need just that, a little different look.  And of course this is layered up as well.  Did you see the little fish repeated inside?

Game On Dear Heart

Have a creative day!

Moana

Floral Gift Bag

~ moanaj ~ 2 Comments

The seasons are all backwards, so why not create a spring themed gift bag!  Seems kind of silly to really feel like fall might have arrived, then summer heat, then what.  Who knows, so I will craft what I like, and I like this.

Floral Gift Bag

One whole sheet of 12 x 12 dsp went into this bag.  The dots are too much cuteness, so they had to be out front.  I wasn’t feeling a particular stamp, so I curled a couple of flaps over to show the writing side.  This paper pack is so adorable.  A bunch of bright and happy paper going on.

Floral Gift Bag

The diagonal scoring plate is what helped this box happen.  I scored on the 3″ marker, on the diagonal, on each corner.  It worked out pretty darn good.  I don’t always feel confident my scoring is accurate when using the diagonal plate, but when putting the bag together, my sides and corners matched up.  Go me!

Floral Gift Bag

A few punches from the heavy whisper white cardstock and regal buttons for centers made the embellishments I wanted.  The bag was sealed, but not sealed, with a stretch of dotted lace trim.  It is stretched around the top, under the front and back flaps, and then tied in a bow.  Just untie it and the bag will flop open.  Easy to use and re-use.  My kind of bag.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Vintage Leaves

~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

What happens to some mornings, I really don’t know.  Just when you think you might get a break here or there, it just doesn’t happen.  But I made it here, finally.

Vintage Leaves

I have taken my time in using this new set, Vintage Leaves, but am totally ready to go now.  I only used one leaf today.  I wanted to focus on color as much as detail and thought if I had too may patterns and colors it might get lost.  Rich Razzelberry was my focus, and this was totally what I wanted it to look like.

  Vintage Leaves

I stamped several of the same leaf in black Stazon and left space for just one rich razzelberry one.  So simple.  I used a second stamp set, For All Things, for the sentiment.  It was layered flat with a banner of coordinating cardstock.  I touched it up with a strand of cotton ribbon and called it good.  I really did love how this turned out.

Vintage LEaves

Have a creative day!

Moana

A Whole Lot of Lovely

~ moanaj ~ 6 Comments

Today is quite the contrast to yesterdays color scheme.  But I certainly am all over the place in regular life, so why should my crafting be any different.  Makes sense enough to me.

A Whole Lot of Lovely

I have wanted to try this technique for ages but have never sat down to actually do it. I saw a card that did this as a lattice background for a lovely floral collection and saved the image for later.  That was two phones ago, and I have long since lost that image, but not in my mine.  

A Whole Lot of Lovely

I used my simply scored set and diagonal plate to make these lines.  If you look closely you will see all of my errors, but it was my first time trying.  I tried to keep my score lines 1/2″ apart, but didn’t get them exact every time.  The look turned out though, and you get the idea.

A Whole Lot of Lovely

Some simple stampin, layering everything up on dimensionals, a couple of strings of basic rhinestones, and a healthy dose of sponging helped to finish it off. I of course had to stamp and sponge the inside to make it almost as lovely as the front, they need to coordinate.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Too Early for Christmas?

~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

Well, it may be too early for Christmas, but not if you are a card maker.  Getting your holiday cards in progress is the only way to get them out on time.  I actually know a lady who has 160 people on her list and they all get a hand made card.  Yes, she has already begun.

Too Early for Christmas?

If you had a list that long, clean and simple is the way to go.  Just like these two swaps.  My Christmas cards tend to have a bit more going on, but their simplicity is quite lovely.

Too Early for Christmas?

I think I do prefer the white card to the gray, not entirely sure why, but I do.  Perhaps it is the banner layering, or how cute that tree is with the plaid and few ornament rhinestones.

Too Early for Christmas?

I love that this tree punch carried over.  I get to use it for another fun season of holiday stamping.  I haven’t even thought about my own holiday cards.  Oooops.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Let It Snow

~ moanaj ~ 2 Comments

I know it is only the beginning of  September, but I do love seasonal cards, especially winter scenes and Christmas.  Not to mention that the Stampin’Up! holiday catalog goes live today.  So much fun!

Let It Snow

I have used several new products in today’s project.  New stamp set, new framelit set, new embossing folder and then comes a new card.  How cute is this little snowman?

Let It Snow

I stamped the image where I wanted it along with the sentiment.  Then I embossed the card front.  At first I wanted to have all the snowflakes sky blue and thought to use the brayer.  But I decided to be more selective and yes, I did water color select flakes.  It didn’t take that long, really.  The effect is nice.

Let It Snow

I had an extra ‘snow’ die cut from Saturday’s event project and knew just where to use it.  Actually, that is what started the card out.  I added in a little silver metallic threat and layered it all up on dimensionals.  Just my speed.

Have a creative day!

Moana

For All Things and Flower Patch

~ moanaj ~ 2 Comments

While enjoying a long and lovely visit with my daughter this morning, fall came up.  It is her favorite season of the year.  She is getting excited because where she is attending university fall has begun.  The temperatures, the colors, the smells, she loves it all.  So, together we created this card.  What a fun way to stay connected.

For All Things and Flower Patch

The card is made from a Hello Honey card base, layered with a Cajun Craze framed stamped card front.  I used the leaf stamp from the For All Things set to create the paper.  One full ink stamp and then several others around it until the ink runs out.  I did this using Cajun Craze, Hello Honey and Almost Artichoke.  Such a great trio.

For All Things and Flower Patch

A quick stamp from the Flower Patch set for the sentiment and it was nearly done.  I adhered a strip of the new Striped Cotton Ribbon and layered my sentiment with a bit of color.  The Bitty Banner Punch helped me get the banner edges and it was all done.  Well, I did have to sponge nearly everything of course.

For All Things and Flower Patch

Have a creative day!

Moana

Thank You For Strong Girls

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I do so love a pretty little carton to give someone, especially when it is full of their favorite treat.  I was thinking about my girls this morning, and how strong and amazing they are, and this treasure came to life.

Thank You For Strong Girls

I am so grateful for my daughters who remain strong through adversity.  When a woman can stand up for herself, and truly value herself, it is something worth celebrating for sure.

Thank You For Strong Girls

I took a full sheet of this wonderful Color Me Irresistible Specialty DSP, cut off two inches from one side and began to score.  Each side measures 2 7/8″, so you need to start from one side, measure that distance and score each time.  This will leave you with 1/2″ on the edge that will allow you to adhere the box.  The bottom score line also measures at 2 7/8″.  I scored the top at 1/2″ and then at 3″.  Although I am not the best at directions, it does come together pretty easily.

Thank You For Strong Girls

I stamped Thank You from the One Big Meaning set.  It fit perfectly within the 1 3/4″ circle punch.  I punched a 2″ circle from the Dazzeling Diamond paper and layered them with dimensionals.  A lovely bow made from the Dotted Lace Trim finishes it off.  I did do a bit of sponging on all of the edges.  I love a sponged edge.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Grateful

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

It isn’t very often you get to design a special card like this one.  Tomorrow will be me and my husbands 25th wedding anniversary and I feel truly grateful for every day we have loved together.

Grateful

I didn’t want to use a traditional ‘anniversary’ stamp or theme.  That isn’t how I feel.  I feel gratitude.  Having a lasting marriage isn’t the norm these days and I feel very fortunate to be among those who get to celebrate like this.  Hence the grateful sentiment.

Grateful

This card was made with the ever so lovely heavy weight whisper white cardstock.  I love that stuff like crazy.  Especially when embossed.  It handles the embossing folders so much better.  Look at that texture!  The flowers are my favorite, like always.  They were attached with glue dots and given a basic rhinestone center.  Just right.  Now, about the grateful phrase.  That thinlit will be available for order on September 1st, but since I am a demonstrator I got to get in on the pre-order during August.  Such a fun perk.  So, you can get to it too, soon.

Grateful

I wanted it to be dimensional a bit, so I used glue dots on it too.  I rolled a glue dot up a bit and stuck it on thicker parts of the word.  I ended up using four dots all together and it turned out great.

Have a creative day!

Moana

All About Sugar and No Bones About It

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When you get asked for a birthday card for a little boy, don’t you just think of dinosaurs?  This fun card could be for folks of all ages.  You know, the cards that tease you about being older than a dinosaur, or a fossil in this case.

All About Sugar and No Bones About It

I gave warning that I would be into this set like crazy, and I love every chance I get to use it.  I have a few more children’s birthday cards to make and I think they will all have a dinosaur on them.  Tee hee.

All About Sugar and No Bones About It

The card itself is very simple.  Narrow borders layered together with some very simple stamping.  I only used three stamps for this card.  I think it looks like this dinosaur is smiling.  I digress…

All About Sugar and No Bones About It

Simple stamping, basic color pallet, sponging on the edges and a touch of ribbon.  Keeping open spaces on a project isn’t my strength, but when I manage it, I realize that I really do like it.  I just forget.

Have a creative day!

Moana