Floral

One Big Meaning

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Today is workshop day!  As much as I dislike all the rush to finish up last minute to-do’s, workshop is always fun.  I get to work with a bunch of really great ladies that love to create and do beautiful work.

One Big Meaning

I set out for a super quick project this morning and found it.  I do love how a few good punches can make magic so quickly.  It really was a grab and go kind of card.

One Big Meaning

This was made with a card front in my ever so favorite newsprint designer series paper.  It is so light and clean.  The look of newspaper without all the mess.  Partnered with a card base in sahara sand, all it needed was a simple sentiment and a bit of fluff.

One Big Meaning

I love the new thank you set, One Big Meaning.  I like having choices of how I say thank you.  A heavy dose of itty bitty flowers and basic pearls and it was nearly done.  A full bow was too much, so I opted for a simple knot instead.  When you are working with the beautiful dotted lace trim you can’t go wrong.  Great stuff!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Remarkable You

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

Remarkable You

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.

Remarkable You

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.

Remarkable You

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

Timeless Elegance

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Jumping in with both feet here everyone.  I managed to once again open a new pack of DSP, that I am so in love with, take out my favorite pattern and make something without guilt.  Isn’t this paper just so beautiful?

Timeless Elegance

I feel like I got into my daughters sketch book and took out drawings for a card front.  Almost a dreamy feel.   The whole pack of paper is so pretty.  One side has a hand drawn feel and the other sides are more patterned and organized.  Best of both worlds.  I also like that it isn’t just black and vanilla, but includes sahara sand for that perfect balance.  I will be buying more of this I can tell.

Timeless Elegance

To give a touch of color, even though it didn’t need it, I got out my blackberry bliss sponge dauber and did some ever so exact swirling.  It took just a few seconds to swirl around and bring in some color.  Good stuff.

Timeless Elegance

I tried to use a ribbon or something else to accessorize it, but kept pulling it off.  The paper spoke for itself on this project.  I couldn’t even do a layered tag for the sentiment.  So I used my versamark and embossing powder to put the sentiment right on the paper.   I even left the inside clean to keep the focus all on this paper.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Happy Thoughts for You

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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.

Happy Thoughts for You

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.

Happy Thoughts for You

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

My Dear Friend

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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?

My Dear Friend

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.

My Dear Friend

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.

My Dear Friend

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

Remarkable You

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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.

Remarkable You

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.

Remarkable You

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.

Remarkable You

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!

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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.

Awesomely Artistic at last!

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.

Awesomely Artistic at last!

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.

Awesomely Artistic at last!

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

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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.

Trust God

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.

Trust God

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.

Trust God

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

Flower Patch Beauty

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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.

Flower Patch Beauty

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.

Flower Patch Beauty

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.

Flower Patch Beauty

 

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

Have a creative day!

Moana

Crazy About You

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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.

Crazy About You

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.

 Crazy About You

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.

Crazy About You

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

Have a creative day!

Moana

Happy Birthday My Friend

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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.

Happy Birthday My Friend

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.

Happy Birthday My Friend

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

Trek Inspired Bordering Blooms

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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.

Trek Inspired Bordering Blooms

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.

Trek Inspired Bordering Blooms

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.

Trek Inspired Bordering Blooms

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.

Trek Inspired Bordering Blooms

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

Have a creative day!

Moana

Cucumber Crush Party

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Getting back into the groove can be a bit slow at first.  I also gave myself a challenge this morning by making cucumber crush my main color.  We haven’t become friends just yet, so I thought we needed some together time.  I helped it find a friend in blushing bride, and I like how it worked out.

Cucumber Crush Party

I used a full sheet to make this pretty gift bag.  I stamped the background paper with the fun leaf from the Kinda Eclectic set.  Loved it.  I used it full strength some, but mostly stamped it off once first.  I like how different this color looks at different strengths.

Cucumber Crush Party

I sometimes stop myself from using flowers, because I feel like I really get them everywhere.  I just love flowers!  So, I didn’t hold back at all here.  I usually stamp off blushing bride, but it needed to be strong to work with this fun green.  The combo is full of life.  I think a yellow would have paired nicely, but I had to stop somewhere.

Cucumber Crush Party

These pretty clear faceted buttons are so fun to use.  It helped me finish up this gift bag nicely.  Sometimes I go overboard on bling, but not today.  I wasn’t sure when I started this project, but I love how it ended up.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Crazy About You Mint Macaron

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I tried something different today.  I started an all occasion card and found I had measured wrong.  My brain is really rattled with the end of school here in two days, girls camp around the corner, and my daughters graduation smack in the middle.  Not to mention all of the things that go along with that schedule.

Crazy About You Mint Macaron

Focus here, try to stay focused.  So, I just thought I would use an edgelit to fix my piece that was too narrow.  The only boarder edgelit that wasn’t retired is the file tab one, and I didn’t think that would work with my design idea.  I looked through the framelits to look for something that could give a fun edge.  Enter the striped scallop thinlits die.  I just lined up my paper one sheet at a time along the very last scallop and look what I got!  How cute is this?  At first, the whisper white sheet looked like big teeth.  Admit it, you can see them.  Once they were layered and sponged the teeth went away, for the most part.

Crazy About You Mint Macaron

I started the card portrait, but discovered it looked nice either way.  Talk about a versatile card.  There you have it.  I started with only a color in mind, added a stamp for background, goofed my measurements and then discovered something fun.  I honestly have been nervous to put this thinlit to work.  How funny that the first time I use it you can hardly recognize it.

Crazy About You Mint Macaron

Now I get to see if I figured out how to schedule this post correctly.  I am shooting for 5:00 am, we will have to see.  My blog clock doesn’t match mine.  I need to get this sorted before I go to camp next week so my posts can happen.  Or, I might just take the week off.

Have a creative day, or night, or afternoon, whenever this blog shows up.

Moana

Something to Say with Flowering Flourishes

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I honestly sat down to my very messy desk and couldn’t think of what to do.  There are many reasons to stay organized, and that is one of them.  I looked to my paper for inspiration, as I usually do when I get stumped.  But I haven’t purchased any of the new paper yet, so that threw me another loop.  I really had to look for a little extra creativity, so I kept looking.  The foil velum carried over and I had some of that.  For the win!

Something to Say with Flowering Flourishes

I started out with the idea of making a purse style gift bag, but thought it was looking to be too bulky and wide.  So, I cut it in half and went for two of these little beauties.  I stamped my wisteria wonder card stock with the medium stamp from flowering flourishes to go under the velum.  I love the soft layering it gives.

Something to Say with Flowering Flourishes

I used a whole 12 x 12 sheet of velum to start with.  When I trimmed it to match the 8.5 x 11 I had a nice strip left over.  I cut that in two and made two mini envelopes for the tiny gift cards.  The cards are large enough for a tiny note and also house a gift card.  Nice, right?

Something to Say with Flowering Flourishes

I plan on putting a couple of gourmet cookies in a cellophane bag to tuck inside the gift bags.  It should make a lovely set.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Big News with Perpetual Birthday Calendar

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I must be one of the few Stampin’Up! demonstrators not showing new product today.  It is the first day with the new annual catalog.  Well, I have a different perspective sometimes.  I get just as excited for the stamp sets I already have that carry over to the new catalog.  So, there you have it.

Big News with Perpetual Birthday Calendar

The first is Big News.  It has these fun sentiments designed around exciting news and events.  They are written like we talk in a quirky way.  It makes it kind of fun.  The second is Perpetual Birthday Calendar.  I sure have gotten a lot of use out of this set.  An easy background maker if you ask me.  It really gets a lot of use.

Big News with Perpetual Birthday Calendar

I am also happy that the cotton ribbon, which was new last catalog, stayed with us.  It really makes such a pretty accent.  I must say, this bow is nearly perfect.  I kept this card pretty simple, but sometimes that is all I want.

Big News with Perpetual Birthday Calendar

I did a small pre-order earlier in the month to get the new colors that I have already shared with you.  I also got a couple of host sets, and they will be so fun.  Now I will let myself get into the new catalog and get a few stamp sets.  Isn’t that fun?  I thought so.  You should check it out.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Thank You for Mint Macaron

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Isn’t this lovely minty color so pretty?  This is the third of the five new In-Colors for Stampin’Up! and I am already having so much fun with them.  I wasn’t quite ready to let go of coastal cabana or some of the others, but this helps me feel better.

Thank You for Mint Macaron

I hadn’t made a bag or box for a bit, so I thought I would do both.  I am still using the same stamp set, A Whole Lot of Lovely, three days in a row.  That just goes to show how versatile this set is.

Thank You for Mint Macaron

Of course I got the new colors, but I also had to get all of the new lace trims as well.  I am quickly getting attached to them.  They are a little more subtle and opaque on my projects.  More of an accent than a focus.

Thank You for Mint Macaron

I left this bag rather simple.  I wanted to just see the stamped image and focus on that.  It really is pretty.  I know I will be using this one like crazy.  Speaking of crazy, that is what is in store for my day, so I had better get on it!

Have a creative day!

Moana

You’re Fabulous

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Today I am using the same stamp set as yesterday, even if it is hard to tell.  Stamps can be as versatile as you let them be.  Example, I used the tiny floral stamp in the set to make the background paper.  Yup, it started out as plain whisper white and then got exciting.

You're Fabulous

Watermelon Wonder, what a yummy name for a color.  It is super springy and full of fun.  I experimented with bringing in some basic black, and although it looked elegant alongside, I wanted to keep it monochromatic to showcase it.

You're Fabulous

I started stamping the flowers full strength and continued stamping off on the paper to create the background.  I took it inside as well, but just in two opposite colors.  I did some light sponging inside and on the front.  I liked it so well, I took it across the whole piece and removed any white spaces.  Talk about color, it is all there.

You're Fabulous

A double tag, a few bitty butterflies with rhinestones, and a touch of the new dotted lace trim and it was all done.  Another project that is very likely to be used in next weekends workshop.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Lullaby Gift Carton

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It has been a while since I have scattered flowers across a project like this.  But sometimes, you just really want to.  I like trying an unlikely pairing and seeing how it turns out.  Especially when it works!

Lullaby Gift Carton

I started with the paper, thought of the cute baby tag idea and decided it needed flowers.  Even though we traditionally put boys with blue and not flowers so much, doesn’t mean we have to stick to it.

Lullaby Gift Carton

It would be easy enough to swap out the tag for something else though.  I do like a versatile project, don’t you?

Lullaby Gift Carton

Each day brings me new opportunities to stretch my mind and try to challenge myself without too much frustration. Quite the interesting balance sometimes.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Pleasant Poppies Gift Set

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As poppies are in bloom, my attention was drawn once again to my favorite background stamp.  I am sad to see it retire, I truly am.  Retiring or not, this one is a keeper that I will use for years to come.

Pleasant Poppies Gift Set

With that said, this post is a good news bad news.  Yes, my precious poppies will retire, but the wonderful Perpetual Calendar stamp set carried over!  The little flowers I stamped all around my gift bag are one of many adorable little stamps in that set.  It is so versatile.  I think it has been the most heavily used stamp set from the spring catalog.  Interesting…

Pleasant Poppies Gift Set

You cannot tell from the photo, but there is a little cellophane bag inside.  I made the floral windows on both sides to show the “treats”, but there aren’t any to show.  Literally, I don’t keep candy at my home.  You will just have to use your imagination.

Pleasant Poppies Gift Set

I stamped the poppies on a very vanilla card front using tangelo twist.  I then used my aqua painter to get a bit of ink to the centers of the flowers that showed them.  I cleaned my brush of ink and just used water on the rest.  I simply brushed over the stamped flowers to move bits of the ink around.  It gives a very subtle look, but it is just right.  I could have brought in another color for the stems, but I wanted this monochromatic.  A simple bow of very vanilla seam binding ribbon, sadly retiring, finishes off both projects.

Have a creative day!

Moana