Crazy About You Little Birthday Buddy

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

This is one of the times where you don’t even have to think about coordination much at all. I wanted some chevrons in a baby card. Done. Pull the matching colors and some awesome tools and there you have it!

A girlfriend had asked about baby shower invitations with some of these components and I made some demos. They decided to do something different with photographs and never got to see these. So, I got to have the design fun and get to use the projects myself. Sounds like a win to me.

This little matching bag is not quite the size of the matching card, but it is so precious. Just right for a tiny gift and a gift card. What more could you ask for?

I think the little characters in the Little Birthday Buddy set are so adorable. I had fun coloring this toucan with the coordinating ink colors using blending pens. You always have the right marker color with those awesome tools.

Day one of the Utah trip has begun nicely. I got a surprise visit from my niece and got to shower my mother with beautiful cards. Awesome. Now I get to help her get caught up on her paper pumpkin kits. Also awesome!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Adventure Awaits the Best Day Ever!

April 5, 2015April 6, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

This day was so much fun. I know the Best Day Ever set is a retired sale-a-bration item, but it was the theme for the day. First of all, it was the first day of a long awaited spring break. Awesome!!

I have been working ahead to get ready for a trip to Utah with my family. We are going to get some awesome things done, getting my second child all ready for university, and spending more time with other family. Specifically, my oldest already at university and my parents. Talk about yummy!

Could this bag be any more awesome? I loved how the ribbon is tied and dangles all cool. I got the idea from the card below, when my knot was just too big for the spot I had. I was determined, and then cut off too much, and then loved the discovered result. So I put it to work properly on the bag. Love it!

These cards remind me of graduation. There are so many kids I know graduating this year, and these feel like a great send-off. Of course they are going to need a gift card inside, what graduate doesn’t need those?

To top it off, my daughter just made me smile. We had gotten our nails done and she just stated that we needed to make a card with our nail colors. Mission accomplished, and then some!

So, she called this #bestcardsetever! How cute is that?

Have a creative day!

Moana

Hello There Vivid Vases

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

Good Morning! Saturdays are busy, so I don’t always get to post first thing. But it is still technically morning, so it counts. And what a lovely morning it has been.

I had an itching to water color. The vivid vases stamp is simple, but gives a lot of opportunity to play. And play I did. I actually had out seven different inks if you can image it. I love color! Especially when it is subtle like in this project.

I just got my colors out and an aqua painter. Enough said. I stamped my image in stazon on water color paper and then got painting. I used soft sky as my main color because it was the color of the water in my vases. It turned out so lovely.

I had some extra paper from the sheet I cut into, so I turned it into a matching sour cream treat container. Just right for sure.

I also got to showcase the lovely lace embossing folder. Isn’t it so beautiful? I finished off both projects with coordinating seam binding ribbon. I love that stuff. I think I actually have all of the colors. That is unusual for me, I am more selective than that.

Have a super creative day!

Moana

Mixed Bunch Work of Art

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

I have Easter on the brain and these are the colors that keep coming to mind. So saffron and pear pizzazz. They are so lovely together. This might suggest I am ready for Easter. Ooops, I am not. I still have a bit of time though.

So, are you a card person, a bag or box person, or do you need a matching set? I keep going back and forth. But I do like a bag that is beautiful enough to be a card as well. This bag is big enough to hold a nice gift for sure. Almost too big for candies. Wait, is there a bag too big for candies?

I used the same stamp to decorate each piece to tie the set together. But, since they have the same sentiment, I wouldn’t use them together. They just coordinate nicely.

Either way, I enjoyed making them. I also hadn’t had the work of art set out for a while. That one just begs for a quiet afternoon to play with it. When does that happen anymore?

Well, I am off with my girls to enjoy our first day of spring break. Shopping and nails then lunch. Wonderful for sure!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Hello There Painted Petals!

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

Bringing together my favorites once again. This whole painted blooms and painted petals brings me so much joy. Pairing it with this beautiful hello there phrase makes it work!

I think I could use the painted petals suite exclusively for some time without getting bored. Maybe that should be a challenge for me. Just how many different things can I make, while having them look different, from the same set. I like it!

Of course the paper I am showing here is either side of the same sheet. Yup, awesomeness on both sides! I just love that!

And my little punch buddy. That bow builder makes anything look wonderful. I even have a couple made up that just sit on my desk. They are adorable even all by themselves. What a treat!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Gold Soiree with Banner Blessings Part 2

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

And these are the other sides of that pretty paper from yesterdays post. Can you see why I had such a hard time choosing? Both sides are just so wonderful.

I hadn’t had the Banner Blessings set out for a while. I still love it as much as I did the first time. So fun and filled with beautiful wording.

I did have this ready this morning, really I did. But the day has been more than full. And most of it has been wonderful. The other part? Let’s just say that taxes aren’t nearly as fulfilling as creating cards and the like. Oh well, sometimes we have to be human and get things done.

I can’t wait to send these out to special friends. They really were fun to make.

Have a creative night, what’s left of it.

Moana

Lovely Amazing You and Wisteria Wonder

March 27, 2015March 27, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Well, I finally did it. I jumped on the ‘feather’ bandwagon. I really didn’t see the big interest, just thought it wasn’t my thing.

That is until a friend talked about them at our last workshop and how she thought they were different and looked nice. You know what? She was totally right. Something else to be grateful for that was carried over into the spring catalog from last fall, the feather set. More to buy, oooops!

I did enjoy taking the paper and softening it up with ink. With the card above I just gave it a gentle sponging all over with the coordinating wisteria wonder ink. Below I gave it the ombre look. The photo gives you an idea, but it looks better in person, of course.

And of course I loved that I got to use a favorite ribbon that hadn’t been out in a while. I do so love the chevron ribbon. Good stuff there.

As we head into the weekend I think you should take a little time for yourself, and have a creative day!

Moana

Bloom With Hope Birthday

March 25, 2015March 25, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I don’t think I can ever get enough of this color combination. It is just so soft and elegant. I am trying to get my fix of coastal cabana in before it retires this summer. I really do love this color.

The sale-a-bration designer paper I used is already soft and pretty. But doesn’t it look even dreamier with velum over the top? Absolutely yes!

This cute box is open on top and is ready to be filled. My girls thought it should be filled with hershey’s kisses. How fun to have this out and ready to be shared!

Can you see the echo stamping I did on the inside of the card. It looks just as pretty in blue as it does in black on the front. I do love the inside stamped.

Well, this set speaks for itself, in volumes. You should try it out.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Perfect Pennants Birthday Bash

March 23, 2015March 23, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Aside from the rushed photos and my crazy allergies, I think these cards are rather fun! They are a definite challenge to the cloudy rainy day we have here. We need the rain and I need the pollen washed away. Actually, everything has a dusting of pollen that gives it a crushed curry look. Funny…

My mind is pretty darn blank today. Again with the allergies. But I needed some birthday cards and wanted to brighten up my desk. Mission accomplished.

The banner framelits really make a fun look. So simple to do, my favorite kind of excitement on a card. It doesn’t have to be all tricky and unique to give the right effect. Having everything all tidy and clean really gives a professional edge. Nice.

So, get out there and make some birthday cards! You know you need them and it is always nice to have them on hand.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Kinda Eclectic Ray of Sunshine

March 21, 2015March 21, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Eclectic is the true nature of this card. A little bit of everything coming together to create something beautiful. With these colors, stamped images, punches, and a perfect Walt Whitman quote, how could you go wrong?

Of course I had to layer in the 1/8th” fashion as is my thing these days. But it makes me happy, even if it seems a bit wasteful. I often punch or cut out underneath anyway, so it isn’t too bad. I didn’t think I would notice if I inked the edges or not in such a narrow border, but you totally do. It looked almost plain otherwise with this combo. Interesting.

When I stamped inside I used just the corner of the sunburst, it was just right. It made me think of a quilt block I have never been brave enough to try. I think I have seen it called New York beauty and it involves paper piecing to keep those points just so. Beautiful, but daunting. Maybe someday.

Well, today is workshop day, so I had to keep it brief. No time for a second variation of the card and a matching bag. I still have to get to the store before I go!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Celebrate This!

March 11, 2015March 11, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I always call it a celebration when you get to use product that has been sitting quietly waiting its turn. It seems I have been doing that a lot lately. That would be the difference between preparing for workshop projects and blogging daily. I think the daily thing is a lot more interesting, even if a bit tiring.

I have to admit I struggled with this one a bit. I tend to lean to the softer look and this one was pretty darn edgy. But, I absolutely adore orange, so I persevered.

Late night and early morning work tend to make for a lot of shadows in my photos. But when you have a family that comes first, those tend to be the available hours of my day. I can cope well enough with the shadows, most of the time.

This gift bag had a different plan to start with. I had a math problem while using my scoreboard and I had to improvise. It is actually a pretty nice size. It used a whole sheet of cardstock with only a little bit snipped away.

On a side note, it was extremely satisfying to use hexagon shaped dimensionals on a hexagon shaped punch. For those of us who like things just so, it is definitely just so.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Let’s Celebrate Gold Soiree!

March 10, 2015March 10, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

How beautiful is this paper, right? Well, having it to look at is fun, but using it is better. Sometimes we hang on too long because it is so pretty. If you have it, use it. That being said, this is only my second project with this paper pack. Oooops…

This is on its way to becoming a six card set. I have a friend hosting a baby shower for her daughter and I am on prize patrol. Yup, the prizes will be card sets and the like. How fun will that be!

This was one of those cards that as I started I was pretty unsure. I though the calypso coral and garden green would just take over and my paper would be lost. Leave it to Stampin’Up! to have everything go together so perfectly.

I just kept going and was pleasantly surprised when it looked better than I thought it would. I really love the boarder stamp I used inside. It is so delicate. Why don’t you give it a try!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Cheerful Critters with Snuggles & Smooches

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

Working with pretty paper is always a ton of fun. I decided to pick out a sheet of designer series paper and go for it.

This paper is from the Sweet Taffy set. The whole pack is really fun, exciting, and full of bold color. You are seeing both sides of one sheet today.

That is probably my greatest frustration with some of the paper packs. Which side do you love more? Well, today I used both. I made a card for each side. Aren’t they fun?

The stamping was pretty basic and the layering was simple too. Sometimes that is just all you need. I really wanted to enjoy the paper though.

Of course, if you know me well, you know that orange is my favorite color. When I get asked that question I always clarify with, “Yes, orange, like a pumpkin orange.” Too much fun there!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Painted Petals with Elegant Eggplant

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

I sat down to work on this blog project with only one thing in mind, purple.

I am totally feeling it. I haven’t used elegant eggplant in ages. I think it could have easily been a year. For shame…

The painted petals stamp set is such a useful set. The sentiments, all three shown here, are wonderful. The flowers have so many options. The additional graphic elements really give a lot of interest. I wonder how many projects I could make with just this set. That thought just sent my mind spinning.

It seems I can’t make a card these days without a matching bag or box. It makes for a really busy desktop. I obviously need to give more of this away.

The background is cardstock velum stamped with white stazon using lovely lace and then I embossed it. Sometimes the double treatment is necessary.

I hope you feel inspired to get out there and have a creative day!

Moana

B.Y.O.P. Trio

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

How about waking up to this bundle of sunshine! I’ve noticed that I have migrated to yellows quite a bit. It must be a bit of spring fever in the air. I know it is only February, but with how warm it has been, everything is bright and in bloom. Just like this bundle.

This awesome stamp set B.Y.O.P. has the best sayings ever. If you are a gift card giver, this is the set for you. It has sentiments for everything and they range from funny to nice to just right. I’m telling you, just awesome!

The products are pretty basic here today. I think it is obvious that I love flowers. There are four different floral punches and even a floral die cut. Yup, I love flowers.

The color scheme is all about crushed curry. That is one of the colors used in the free designer series paper pack. The ribbon and buttons are also from a coordinating set. Also free. Don’t you love that?

So, no matter what kind of gift giver you are, this totally works. But really, giving a gift card can look kind of tiny, even though it can be just right. Why not give it a beautiful wrapping?

Have a creative day!

Moana

Yee-Haw For Big Sisters!

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

Some things in life just require a great big ‘Yee-Haw!’ Like announcing you are having a baby! That is definitely something worth celebrating.

A friend just announced her third child through the most adorable set of photos posted on Facebook. Her two girls were all done up in hot pink with cowgirl galore. I couldn’t stop looking at them and loving every moment.

Then, I remembered this awesome stamp set. I had made a card some time ago for workshop with totally different colors, but a similar design. The original design credit goes to Brian King, another Stampin’Up! demonstrator of sheer awesomeness. So, he inspired me, and then this beauty came along.

One stamp set, Yee-Haw, along with a heavy dose of melon mambo and basic rhinestones, and this beauty is perfect. I thought about adding flowers too, but actually managed to hold back. I might go back later, just because, you never know.

Either way, the card is awesome, big sisters are awesome, and I can’t wait to give it to her!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Big News on Sea Street

February 25, 2015February 25, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Is it obvious that I have babies on the mind? So many of my friends are becoming grandmothers for the first time or more. So much fun to say the least.

There have been baby showers, invitations, and fun shopping galore. So of course I need lots of cards and matching bags! I can’t imagine how I will be with my own grandchildren.

This stamp set has been waiting patiently for me. The ladies I host workshops for are patient with my whimsy. The coordinating paper is all navy and nautical colored. I love that, but I wanted these colors today. I picked the colors before the stamp set.

I just love it. I used blushing bride, pool party, and calypso coral to make my background paper. I embossed that cute octopus with pool party. Goodness, what a cutie!

I added a little bling with the in-color sequins on the card and matching bag. I used the 1 3/4 round punch and matching scallop punch for those starfish. I finished off each project with blushing bride chevron ribbon. What more could you ask for?

How about yet another baby shower to use it at? Done!

Have a creative day!

Moana

For the New Two

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

I love an opportunity to use something beautiful. I loved nearly everything in this particular suite. The background stamp, Something Lacy, has quickly found its place in my heart. I have used it so many times. This could be project three for workshop, you think?

A good friend recently got married and I needed a card of course. I used the inspiration from the Stampin’Up! Spring Catalog. Denali wanted the flowers to be blue though. She thought it appropriate with the idea of ‘something borrowed, something blue’.

Of course the designer series paper we are using for the thank you cards is actually called Something Borrowed. She didn’t even know it. Guess that means blue is perfect.

I stamped with white Stazon on vellum cardstock then colored select items from the back side with blendabilities. I could have done quite a bit more, but wanted the focus to be on the sentiment.

It is all about the bride and the groom after all. And this couple sure is wonderful!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Flower Flurry Bigz Gift Box

February 19, 2015February 19, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

Sometimes my brain thinks things, and sometimes they don’t work the way I envision them. I struggled with ribbon this time.

I wanted to make a pretty gift box for a workshop project and use fun Sale-a-bration products as well. I wanted a fluffy bow to be in the middle of the flowers.

Well, I hated it. Turns out having all three ribbon colors from the accessory pack was a bad idea. I thought it was a trashed project idea until I managed to pull out the ribbon bundle and just leave it with coastal cabana ribbon. Phew!

Success after all. It feels so springy and happy! Now, what to put inside for the special someone. Maybe a great big cupcake, or a candle, or who knows!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Tickled Pink with Flamingo Lingo

February 18, 2015February 18, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Well, doesn’t this just shout Good Morning? Absolutely, with a giggle I am sure.

This stamp set, Flamingo Lingo, is the set that has been waiting for me. Since it had to wait so long, I thought I would do it a service and give it my new favorite one two combo. I just love putting half of a sentiment on the card and finishing it on a bag or box. Perfect right?

I thought about adding more color and making it look a little more tropical, but with a phrase like ‘Tickled Pink’ I stuck with this lovely melon mambo.

I like this one so well I think it will be one of my projects for workshop this weekend. Yes, definitely.

Find a color and just go with it! I seem to be playing that game a bit these days and I love how it turns out.

Have a creative day!

Moana

studio824

Creativity for all seasons and reasons.

Congratulations

Crazy About You Little Birthday Buddy

Adventure Awaits the Best Day Ever!

Hello There Vivid Vases

Mixed Bunch Work of Art

Hello There Painted Petals!

Gold Soiree with Banner Blessings Part 2

Lovely Amazing You and Wisteria Wonder

Bloom With Hope Birthday

Perfect Pennants Birthday Bash

Kinda Eclectic Ray of Sunshine

Celebrate This!

Let’s Celebrate Gold Soiree!

Cheerful Critters with Snuggles & Smooches

Painted Petals with Elegant Eggplant

B.Y.O.P. Trio

Yee-Haw For Big Sisters!

Big News on Sea Street

For the New Two

Flower Flurry Bigz Gift Box

Tickled Pink with Flamingo Lingo