@love

October 21, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ 2 Comments

Not everyone shares the same view of love, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t beautiful to them. Easy words to say, but not always easy to follow. Sometimes we just need to look at it from a different perspective.

This card is much larger than my normal projects. It measures 7 1/4″ x 4 1/4″. That will definitely require a custom envelope. Won’t this one be fun to get in the mail though.

I lined my wonderful huge alphabet stamps up on a long block and got to work. I had planned on a clean background, but liked how my practice stamping looked as I stamped off ink. There you go. I added the @ symbol afterwards using silver Encore ink. Thought it gave it the perfect touch and made it have a bit more meaning, to me at least. Several strands wrapped around the bottom with my ever favorite metallic thread and this lovely card was all done.

I almost forgot to mention, but I am sure you can see it, I echo stamped the entire phrase inside super light. You can see it, but there will be no problem writing over it without confusing your message or the image. Just right.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Thanks and Giving

October 15, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

People all around us are kind and give, often more than we have asked for. I love those people. They inspire me. To be creative, and more importantly, to say thank you right back.

A full sheet of bermuda bay card stock went into this tall and lovely gift bag. The scoring was done vertically at 2″, 4″, 6″, and 8″. A quick twist horizontally for one more score at 2″ to make the bottom of the bag. Two hole punches on opposite sides and the ribbon was squished in. A very tight fit, it didn’t even need to be knotted off or adhered.

A leftover card front was scored in half to make this tiny card. Just big enough to echo the stamp used on the bag both on the card front and inside. The sentiment comes from the same lighthearted leaves set and works perfectly. Plenty of sponging and this lovely project was all done. All I need is something wonderful to put inside. I just need to decide who needs it.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Lighthearted Leaves

October 13, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

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.

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.

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’?

Have a creative day!

Moana

Banner Blessings Gift Set – Joyful

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

I get to be out of town this weekend and enjoy some time with my two children away at school. Utah is so pretty this time of the year, the rain is making it even better.

This is the second card in the gift set I made for my daughter. Bright and cheery for sure. The color scheme certainly does go with the word joyful. I love this stamp set. Very inspiring and the writing style is awesome.

The card base is the heavy whisper white. Love having something this heavy to work with. I stayed away from white cards, but not any more. I enjoyed sponging the front to bring out the heart detail. A couple of hearts punched on the front and inside to coordinate. Second card in the series is done. Wait til you see the gift box.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Banner Blessings Gift Set – Friend

October 1, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

The morning took off without me, and there was nothing I could do about it. This has sat at my computer waiting for me to take a lunch. Well, never happened. How about a tiny break? Works for me.

This is the first card of a set of four with a coordinating gift box. It was so fun to make. I actually made it for a special someone and I can’t wait to deliver it. Should be tomorrow!

I attached the island indigo torn card stock to the thin whisper white before I ran it through the fluttering embossing folder. Everything got done at once. The sentiment was stamped in black stazon and sponged a bit with coordinating ink. I love the cotton ribbon, it makes such cute bows. The inside stamping is actually negative punching. I punched a butterfly or two from the white insert and revealed the card base. Simple and very effective! So fun. Those pretty pearl accents. I could really get used to those. I had it dot the “i”, even though it wasn’t needed, I wanted to use one and it fit the image. A bit of dimensionals and this card was done!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Gather Sunshine

September 29, 2015 ~ 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.

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.

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.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Thoughts & Prayers

September 28, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I took a day away to recover from a great birthday celebration for my youngest. I can’t believe she is 15 already. Family first, so it was all about her. Even so, some things still have to get going. These projects were made to give to the young women I taught a Sunday lesson. There were fourteen of them all together and they looked wonderful.

I usually share current product, but made an exception for these. The paper is retired from last year and the heavy bakers twine is from the last sale-a-bration. The stamps, doilies and punches are current though. I do love how things coordinate together so nicely though, very satisfying.

Setting a piece of paper on my score board is so liberating. A little bit of math and you are off and running. I cut the 12 x 12 sheets in half and went for it. They came together rather quickly and the girls really enjoyed them. I love to make things for people, I truly do.

Have a creative day!

Moana

You’ve Got This

September 26, 2015 ~ 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.

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.

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.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Game On Dear Heart

September 25, 2015 ~ 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!

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.

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?

Have a creative day!

Moana

For All Things and Flower Patch

August 26, 2015 ~ 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.

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.

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.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Ray of Sunshine and Pretty Petals

August 17, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

How about another one of those crazy mornings, that absolutely ran away from me. To be honest, I was helping out everyone else and didn’t get my own goodies done. Everything came together and worked out so, no worries!

Is this designer paper adorable or what! This particular print reminded me of a recently retired stamp that has the most beautiful poppies in it. I do love it when everything goes together so nicely.

A simple layering of designer paper, with coordinating paper and a length of ribbon to bring it all together. I did a double layer of tags and squeezed in this sunshine sentiment keeping everything in calypso coral. Love that color. Six pretty little flowers all sponged and centered with basic rhinestones and I am in love with this card.

Have a creative day!

Moana

No Bones About It

August 16, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

No, I don’t have little children, and yes, I did have to have this set. I actually pegged it for a favorite when the new catalog first came out. It really isn’t the speed of my card group I teach, but I wanted it for myself. How cute is it?

There are four different dinosaurs in the set, all with matching skeletons, some fossil plant looking stamps, some splats and these awesome footprints. As well as a few super cool sentiments to go along.

This card was done in mossy meadow and whisper white with no frills. I embossed the base with the chevron folder and made my layered tag from the tags & labels framelits set. Plenty of dimensionals for everyone and there you go. I did accent it a bit with some linen thread using the 1/16″ hand held punch for the knot to show through.

I am going to really enjoy this set a lot, and I mean a lot.

Have a creative day!

Moana

You Always Do For Others…

August 14, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

The people in our lives that give endlessly, they are so awesome! They deserve much more than something like this, but always appreciate it. Someone has to something nice for them, right?

My school secretary is just that person. She even keeps the little containers I make her gifts in. She has a cute little collection. This one is a bit larger than others I have given her, but she deserves it! The beginning of school is always so hectic.

One whole sheet of rich razzelberry for this gift bag. Doesn’t it look lovely? I didn’t have a project in mind, so I just reached to my paper files with my eyes closed, pulled the first file and there it was. I then turned to my punches and grabbed the first one I focused on. That would be the confetti hearts border punch. The rest just fell into place.

I did my favorite sponging and opted not to layer the base. Sometimes my fronts tend to curl a bit at the edges when I layer cardstock on cardstock with gift bags. So, after I punched and sponged I used tombo liquid multipurpose glue to get to the edges well to make sure it stayed down nicely. Perfect job.

A little matching cotton ribbon, subtle but still there, and the gift bag was done! Now I have the pleasure of getting the perfect treats and a gift to go inside. That will be a fun little activity for sure. Sea salt chocolates and maybe a lovely lotion. Sounds nice.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Game On!

August 5, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Know someone who is taking on a new challenge? Me too, and this card is just right for her. I guess it could go for a lot of different occasions, even a child’s birthday card, use your imagination. I sure did.

The card base is bermuda bay and I kept it just to that one color. The card front has a narrow boarder with the stamped front layered on another piece of bermuda bay cardstock and lifted up on dimensionals. The simple sentiment comes from the Dear Heart set, along with this adorable little boy.

He is prepped for adventure with a mask from the Calling All Heroes set stamped in coordinating ink. I punched him out with the 1 3/4″ circle punch and layered that again with a 2″ circle punch of more bermuda bay. A simple accent of striped grosgrain ribbon finished it off nicely.

I sponged color around the edges of the card front, the inside panel and the circle punches. Just softening it a little bit. Now I can’t wait to give it to my friend.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Thoughts & Prayers, Praying For You

July 30, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

How weird is it to make a card with yourself in mind? I have to think that sometimes that is more than okay. More than okay, it is a great idea!

I have to say that I am proud of this little card though. My thoughts were more than scattered as I sat down to work. I have a small stack of scraps to the side that I just haven’t filed back. Today I made this project entirely from scrap, with the exception of the pearls and ribbon. How cool is that!

That makes my work easier, cleans up that little stack, and keeps my main stash of paper untouched for one more day. I do feel a paper order coming on though.

I love love love this brick embossing folder. It makes so many fun looks and I love how it is 6×6 so I can have my bricks facing how I want regardless of my paper direction. Wheeee!

Have a creative day!

Moana

You’ve Got Me

July 24, 2015July 24, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I love it when everything coordinates so perfectly, but today is all about the sentiment. I love these paired phrases, simple but strong.

The card layering is fairly basic and puts a few favorite punches to work. A dash of basic rhinestones to draw further attention to the sentiment and the front was done.

I don’t normally stamp inside a card, but this one needed it. I zoomed in on the detail, but it actually measures barely over a square inch. When that card gets opened, that is what you see. “You’ve Got Me.” How perfect is that.

This new paper pack is loaded with beautiful paper. I just used one sheet for this card. The green floral is the other side to the main floral front. My little flowers are from scrap of the same sheet. I love putting all everything to work.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Remarkable You

July 16, 2015July 16, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Working with great paper makes everything so much more fun. Colored embossed paper, in such pretty colors? Of course, why not!

The project began with the new heavy weight whisper white cardstock, I love having such a heavy base, and gathered layers of stamping and more color. The image and sentiment come from the same set, which is delicious by the way, and were stamped in black stazon. I knew I would be water coloring, so that is the perfect ink to work with.

I blended watermelon wonder with a touch of crumb cake and it turned out so nice. I chose crumb cake because I was using linen thread and wanted to tie in the colors. A large ribbon wasn’t going to work here. It took too much focus away from the flower and sentiment.

I think I would add a mat or two behind the flower next time, but left it alone for now. It turned out nice, just right. I do love a simple water color.

Have a creative day!

Moana

You’ve Got This

July 15, 2015July 15, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I love beautiful paper, just love it. This Timeless Elegance set is truly wonderful to work with. Once I cut this piece for a card front the rest of the card came together so easily.

The card base is very vanilla with a narrow background of the same color. It isn’t easy to see, but it gives it just the right touch. The stamping was also done on the same color and cut out with the tags and labels framelits. That new set makes me very happy. I like a tighter border in layering and this set does it well.

Of course everything is layered up on dimensionals, I have to have that. And that ribbon. I just got this one and couldn’t wait to use it. The stitched satin ribbon is lovely, just lovely. A pretty bow and then on to flowers.

The petite petal punch and the flower from the itty bitty accents punch pack make it work. I filled the corner up nicely and gave everyone basic pearls in the center. Simple and yet very elegant.

Have a creative day!

Moana

studio824

Creativity for all seasons and reasons.

Encouragement

@love

Thanks and Giving

Lighthearted Leaves

Banner Blessings Gift Set – Joyful

Banner Blessings Gift Set – Friend

Gather Sunshine

Thoughts & Prayers

You’ve Got This

Game On Dear Heart

For All Things and Flower Patch

Ray of Sunshine and Pretty Petals

No Bones About It

You Always Do For Others…

Game On!

Thoughts & Prayers, Praying For You

You’ve Got Me

Remarkable You

You’ve Got This