Friendship

A Happy Hello

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I tell you what, the more I think things should calm down, the more they wind up.  No need to fuss I say, just pick up where you left off and get going.  So, here we go!

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I thought it would be fun to pull out some paper that I did not know how I would put to use. The School House DSP is definitely in that category.  I don’t have young children, and I don’t work in an elementary school setting anymore.  That is when you look to the other side of the paper.  And what did I discover?  These awesome spots!  They just had to get to work in a huge box to show them off.

I stamped the little fish from the Sea Street set in pool party and my sentiment in pacific point.  The color combination is so fun and happy.  Just what I needed.  I even had an unopened spool of pool party cotton ribbon.  That called for a double bow for a little extra fun.  Then my favorite combo of circle punches and I didn’t even sponge them.  The spots were huge and clean looking, so I stayed with that look.  And there you go!

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Happy 29th Birthday {Again}

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And the third workshop project has arrived.  Good thing too, since tomorrow is workshop! I often know further in advance what I want to do, but not this time.  I have been doing a lot of detailed water coloring and that doesn’t go well for large group instruction.  Folks need their own tools and materials for that kind of work.  We are doing one water color and that is stressful enough.

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Isn’t this one so adorable?  The paper, matching stamps, and the ease of stamping and die cutting the numbers really make this one fantastic.  It isn’t too difficult to make, but sure brings a smile. Believe it or not, I tried several times to add die cut flowers for a fun layered look, but had to leave them off.  Sometimes that happens.

I took the background dsp and put it through the bigshot  with an oval framelit centered.  I then took that piece and turned it over to fill that same oval hole.  The two sides coordinate so nicely I could resist.  I used the next smaller framelit to make an oval from whisper white.  The numbers were stamped in blushing bride, cut with their coordinating framelits and centered on the oval.  I did raise them up on dimensionals.  Then the sentiment was stamped centered over the top and bottom of the numbers.  The tiny ‘th’ was die cut first, then stamped.  The framelit for that tiny one doesn’t have a window to look through, so I had to.  But with photopolymer stamps you can see exactly where you are placing your image.

I stamped inside with the largest flower from the Birthday Blooms set in each corner using a different portion of the stamp to make it look different.  The center phrase ‘again’ was the last thing added.  How fun is that?

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Tap Tap Tap into Retirement

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Well, it has begun.  The retirement list has been published and I can start getting sad over some of my favorites.  This has been one of them.  I love the images, but really love the little tap tap tap tap stamp.  It is so adorable.  Some stamp sets I just keep because they make me smile, and I love to smile almost as much as making someone else smile.

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This project was created with a few techniques.  I stamped my little typewriter  in cajun craze first, then did a bunch of stamping all around the base image with almost artichoke first and then moved on to delightful dijon.

When that was done I got out my sponge and went at the edges.  I aged the entire background by swirling around and around focusing on the edges to make them darker.  I added a little extra sponging around the edge to really darken it up.  I did the same on the inside, but left the center light for easy writing.

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I stamped my front piece with cajun craze and then sponged in three different areas to keep the colors blended, but still very separate.  I fussy cut it, layered it to some more card stock, sponged that too and put it up on dimensionals.  I did a single wrap of striped cotton ribbon sticking it down with glue dots on the front and back.  The background piece was placed on another sheet of card stock with a tiny border and then layered it up again on even more dimensionals.  Love those guys, they make me so happy.

I don’t normally show the entire inside of a card, but it turned out so awesome that I had to. I thought it was nice enough it could be a card front all by itself.  Not today, but I gave an extra peek just for fun.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Crazy About You at First Sight

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Today has started no differently than many other Saturday’s, but I was not going to let another one go by without sharing a project.  I have let my weekends get carried away and it just bugs me that I don’t keep this blog current daily.  Sharing creative projects is my favorite thing and it really keeps me balanced.  So here we go!

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I get to attend a bridal shower today, how fun right?  Well, I have gotten into giving thank you cards as my bridal shower gift.  I think it is most appropriate, since the bride is going to need plenty of these.  Sometimes though, a special thank you is in order, when someone has really been kind or extra wonderful to you.  That is what these are for.

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The steps aren’t too complicated, you can really see them from just looking at the project.  I am really bad about tracking how I score my bags and boxes.  I make them different each time because you don’t always need the same size.  I love to say that I don’t have to toss my first attempt too often, almost never.  I do tell my classes that there are never mistakes, just opportunities, so there is always something you can work out.

I embossed my card base and the bag fronts with the same fluttering embossing folder.  The blushing bride glimmer paper is everywhere.  And yes, my desk is very sparkly just now. Good thing I love glitter.  The bag fronts are raised up on dimensionals, but the card fronts are adhered down flat.  I used liquid glue to place the ‘thanks’ phrase in the middle of the card.  The ‘so much’ phrase was stamped on a 1/2″ strip of very vanilla, punched on one end with the bitty banner punch and raised up on dimensionals again.  The bitty butterflies are placed with glue dots.

The card bases and bag base were made with pink pirouette, not blushing bride.  I honestly liked how it looked together rather than blushing bride to match the glimmer paper.  Hard to tell sometimes why I like what I do, but that is how it worked out.  The bag handle was made with a bunch of satin ribbon, so very elegant.  And there you have it.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Helping Me Grow

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I do love to water color, that much is more than obvious.  Since spring is everywhere I knew I had to do some flowers like the ones I see everywhere.  How about lupin?  Pretty sure I spelled that wrong, but they are the prettiest wildflower, next to the poppy of course, that are growing all around this time of year.  My husband even recognized the flower on the card, and that is saying something.

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I stamped the large floral image on my masked piece of water color paper in black stazon. The flowers were initially painted in marina mist, letting the ink run lighter as I went up the flower.  After, I added in hi-lights of wisteria wonder in the centers and across some of the petals.  The stems were done in pear pizzazz.  I did a touch more with the gold wink of stella to give it a sparkle.  That was both on the petals and the stems.  I know, it is hard to see in the photo, but it is there.

I painted the background in so saffron, allowing it to be lighter and darker just here and there.  I didn’t have a specific rule in mind, I let it happen.  I then used my aqua painter to drop clean water across the card to make water spots.  I let the drops sit there for several minutes then came back and dabbed them up with paper towels.  That removed ink and left the fun spots behind.

A simple bow across the front finished it off.  I used a piece of very vanilla for the inside.  I decided not to leave it blank and opted for a repeated image of the front.  Instead of black, I used so saffron stamped off and placed it right in the middle just like the front.  The idea is that it is light enough to be written over, kind of like a water mark.  It looks great.

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Have a creative day.

Moana

You Wonderful Thing You

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Yet another adorable card in this series.  I sure have loved sharing this card set, even more so giving it away for someone else to share and enjoy.  The true joy of card making.  What a fun color combination for sure, one of my favorites.

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The seam binding ribbon I used got a little rumpled in the center of the spool.  However, I decided I liked the look of it and didn’t try to iron it out.  I have bought ribbon before that was ruffled on purpose and liked it that way.  So, instead of getting frustrated at the center of the spool, I just made the best of it and enjoyed the results.

The sentiment was stamped on whisper white and layered with a scalloped circle of calypso coral to coordinate with the card base.  Don’t you just love this paper?  Full of whimsy and cuteness.  The simplicity of the color scheme also keeps this one very clean and simple.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Flowering Fields with Botanicals for You

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I did start out with a St. Patrick’s Day card set in mind.  Hence the green and gold. However, it quickly changed into something more elegant and much more useful.  I do know several people that truly do love to celebrate this holiday and this would work wonderfully for them as well.  What fun, right?

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This Flowering Fields stamp set will be gone soon.  I do love the fun free products available during Sale-a-bration, but always are sad to see them go.  I do know that there are always new things on the horizon that I will love equally well, but I do have my favorites that stick around year after year.

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I ended up using a full sheet of very vanilla, part for the card front and inside, and used the rest to make a gift bag.  I prefer to have paper used up with as little waste as possible.  I even used the snipping left from cutting the front and inside to be my sentiment tag.  Very little waste today indeed.

This glitter tape is so much fun.  I admit I have stashed it a bit too long, I thought I had learned my lesson.  Guess not.  So, I broke it out and put it to work.  Just a little bit does so much.  And it is so tidy, no glitter messes to be found.  A win for everyone for sure. I do think I will use some tape to close the bag when it gets filled with a treat or two.  Yeah!

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Watercolor Wings Just for You

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Saturday mornings are usually busy with everything under the sun and then some.  I had the opportunity to chat with my oldest daughter while she got ready for work.  We put each other on speaker phone so we could keep moving along.  This is what I did during our chat.

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With all of the excitement of Sale-a-bration products and the wonderful spring catalog, it is easy to put aside all of the great product in the annual catalog.  This set, Watercolor Wings, has been a favorite since it came out.  I hadn’t had it put to use lately and thought that was long overdue.

I stamped my ink layers onto watercolor paper this time not quite sure how it would all turn out.  The initial stamping was a bit too detailed for the effect I was going for, but I remained patient and kept going.  I moved in with the aqua painter and began blending, but still wasn’t satisfied.  Perhaps because I had stamped off to get the tones I wanted the ink didn’t want to move around too much.

I thought things were a bit stark still so I came in with pear pizzazz for my background. That really helped out a lot.  But the butterflies still weren’t what I wanted.  I got a spritzer out and put more water on.  Which led to dabbing water off, spraying again, and moving along to the heat tool and doing it all over again.  I did finally get a result I liked, but decided to bring out the wink of stella pens, both the clear and gold glitter ones, and put in finishing details.  I think it all worked out, but I wasn’t sure for a while.  Sometimes watercolors can be that way.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Beautiful Ride for My Nali Bug

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This card has been in the planning part of my brain since the spring catalog came out.  I waited to get the set because I thought it would be one more for me than anything else.  I just might turn out to be wrong on that one, but we will see.  I made this one for my oldest daughter, Denali.  Some of my pet names for her are Nali, Bug, and the coziest is My Nali Bug.  That is just what this card is, My Nali Bug.  I shared it with her before this blog went live and she was so cute about it.  How fun is that!

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I simply stamped the car in the lower portion of my water color paper and got the ink out.  I had originally thought to write her name on the car door, but changed to the balloon last minute.  I think I could get lost in this stamp.  How many creative ways have you seen one of these cars painted in the years they have been driving on the roads?  My brain is thinking of ways to make them on this little guy too.  So much fun and never enough time.

Simple layering of my two focal colors, and this card was done.  I enhanced the layering inside the card to give it a bit more color, but that is really it.  I added some wink of stella to the windows and the silver ink areas of the car.  I touched up the rims with a white gel pen.  It wasn’t perfect, but the surface wasn’t ideal for that pen.  The texture of cold press water color paper is my favorite, so there will be some concessions here and there.  Good enough.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Best. Day. Ever.

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Sometimes you need to step outside your comfort zone and do something different.  I usually work exclusively with Stampin’Up! product, but that doesn’t mean that is all I have. I have been know to purchase an odd pack of paper now and again, but I do try to refrain.  This one was purchased for a daughters school project on Japan and ended up not being used.  Lucky me.

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I decided to use it for a special handout for a church lesson I had the opportunity to teach this last Sunday to some very special young women.  The lesson turned out rather nice, tissues were used, mostly by me of course, but I was so impressed with their knowledge and ability to learn.  When people talk about the youth today being lost, I don’t always agree.

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Yes, this stamp is from last years Sale-a-bration.  I loved it so much I couldn’t part with it.  Remember, we buy creative products because they bring us and others joy.  And when you purchase quality product, it is built to last.  Stampin’Up! surely does that.

Each of these card handouts was made from a 6 x 12 sheet of cardstock.  They were scored at 4 1/4 and 8 1/2″ to create the tri-fold.  I wanted a bit more stability, because it was intended to be opened and closed as well as written on, so I inserted three panels of white card stock on each portion.  It really made a difference and provided a great writing surface.

While I might not always start with the best attitude for my service opportunities, I can honestly say that I always end up with great feelings of joy and gratitude.  Nothing better.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Lovely Amazing You Gift Set

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I got myself back to that little set of cards to make a gift box for them.  I do like how it turned out, but I didn’t choose my paper very wisely.  One of those times where I just went for it, didn’t plan like I should have, but it worked out anyway moments.  Lucky for me…

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The adventure began with a full sheet of this wonderful foil velum.  I was more preoccupied with the score lines for thickness and width for the box.  When I wrapped them around to close the box it ended up just over an inch too short.  Ooooops.  So I decided a belly band was in order.  I needed a bit more stability anyway, so I was good with that.  What to use?  I couldn’t use the rest of the sheet because the hearts would be facing in a different direction and that would bug me.

I got into the foil paper and pulled out one of the remaining scraps.  I am very sparing with the foil paper you know.  There was just enough to get a strip to almost go around.  I then created a layered base to connect the two sides of the band and covered it up with another scrap of foil.  Now, to make the perfect front.

Lovely Amazing You is a stamp set is one of my favorites.  The sentiments are so kind and fun.  The handwriting is also adorable.  I used the little envelope to create the background. The four colors coordinate with the different cards inside.  Nice little connection I thought. Then I chose the sentiment that tied in with the hearts on the foil.  Pretty cool.  I don’t know if I would try to do it again, the velum isn’t the most sturdy gift box choice.

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Have a creative day.

Moana

Botanical Gardens Card Set

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How sweet are the colors in this set?  I wanted to make a small set of cards using this wonderful velum as an overlay.  I asked my daughter for a color and she came up with soft sky.  So, I just selected three others from the subtles collection and got to work.

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The tricky part is attaching the velum without adhesive showing, as always.  However, it didn’t turn out too rough.  The ribbon held most of it together, but I did use a touch of glue in the outer corners.  It was easiest to see on the wisteria wonder card, but even then it was acceptable.  I usually mask my adhesive, but this particular setup didn’t offer good hiding places where I needed them.

I do think I will create a small box to house these in and give it as a gift.  This tiny little stamp that just says “Hi”.  How adorable is that? It comes from the newly available sale-a-bration stamp set Party Pants.  There are so many cute sayings in that one.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Pedal Pusher Through Wildflower Fields

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I was so excited for this stamp set to show up I could hardly stand it!  Last year during Sale-a-bration Stampin’Up! added some new freebies half way during the sale to perk things up. It went so well they did the same thing this time.  This little set is one of them and it is the best!  It even made my husband grin.

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There are other sentiments, but this one is my favorite.  There are several different items that could be stamped in the basket, but I chose flowers to coordinate with my background paper choice.  Talk about riding through a spring meadow, wish I really could though. Having a tandem bicycle is something my husband and I can’t wait to have.  Maybe that is why I love this set so much.

I also broke out some markers to do my coloring.  I tend to prefer my aqua painter, but it is good to use other things too.  They worked great, of course!  I did water color the basket, the bike seats, and my country road.  What a fun time I had creating this project.  Like I said, I just got it yesterday.  The rest of my box is still on the kitchen table, not gone through, not inventoried or anything.  I just dug through it, got this set out and made something right away.  The sign of a great stamp set for sure.  This could also be a workshop project I think.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Hello Bohemian DSP!

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Guilty as charged.  I have loved this pack of paper and haven’t cut into one single sheet.  For shame, I know.  However, I have sorted that out and made something I quite like.  So much so that I think it will make it into this Saturday’s workshop.  I have a few ladies in particular that enjoy this paper as much as I do.

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I haven’t done a ‘z’ fold card for some time.  I saw some projects done by a few people I follow and thought I would give it a go.  The card turned out pretty darn good if I do say so myself.  Also, I love how I have been able to showcase so much of this fantastic paper.  The ribbon on the back of the card is also something new, but thought it brought a nice balance the the closed project.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Sending Good Thoughts with Perfect Pennants

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Everyone loves a fun surprise, especially me.  Last night my husband brought home some items from the store I asked for, and a few others to boot.  Several basic t-shirts, always need those, and this adorable top with my favorite colors.  Classic me, after my thank you’s were shared, my brain went straight to a card idea.  And that would be this little number.

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It also works out that I am trying to build a small arsenal of birthday cards for my mother-in-law.  She is so diligent in her efforts to send cards to all of her family, all the way down to great-grandchildren.  So, she keeps me pretty busy sometimes.

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This card was fairly simple by design and pretty easy to put together.  Only one stamp on a piece of very vanilla, punched and layered on some calypso coral which was punched as well.  Love that triple banner punch for fun like this.  The card front is made from very vanilla and layered with a strip of chocolate chip.  I put them together and ran them both through with an embossing folder so the pattern would be continuous.  Love that look.  I chose the boho chic embossing folder because it is nearly the same pattern as the coordinating scarf for my new top.  A reason for everything.  The banner tag was layered on the card front with dimensionals and I called it done.  I didn’t sponge anything or even stamp inside.  Don’t worry, I lived.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

My Heart Smiles

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As my husband and daughter were heading out the door early this morning, I asked them to pick a pattern for today’s project from the Love Blossoms DSP stack.  Didn’t they choose awesome ones?

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I was initially thinking of a Valentine’s Day card, but this quickly changed into more than that.  It definitely has that vibe, but not exclusively.  I do enjoy a project that is versatile. I used new product like crazy today.  The paper of course, I hadn’t taken one piece out of the stack yet.  Such pretty patterns.  This stamp was a first too.  And wouldn’t you know it, the sentiment fit perfectly inside the extra-large oval punch.  Too perfect!  I hadn’t tried the fine tip glue pen yet, but it was perfect to stick down my tiny baby linen thread bow.  Can’t see my adhesive, can you.  Nope.  And of course, the lovely blushing bride glimmer paper.  It is so fun.  I know we can’t have glimmer paper in all of the colors, but wouldn’t that be fun?

This card was just blocked on heavy weight whisper white card stock, with the base also being heavy.  I really enjoy a white card, but the paper has to be heavy enough to hold up all the fun stuff on the front.  This paper is totally up to the task.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Garden In Bloom

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Taking a few days off is kind of nice, but it was not intended.  Getting ready for a huge workshop can be really exciting, but also very time consuming.  Put that with still working full time and you get a bit of a circus.  Not to mention the adventures of everyday life.  Time to get back on track and have some fun!

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There is a lot of attention right now with Sale-a-bration and the Spring Occasions catalogs, and they are very exciting to say the least.  However, the annual catalog is so full of beautiful product it is hard to ignore.

I have been waiting to use this stamp set for some now and it was worth the wait.  I took one of the left over kits from Saturday’s workshop and paired it with this lovely set.  There are a ton more stamps in the set, but I focused only on the large flowers.  I think I could get stuck on this set and not repeat myself for some time.  Exciting!

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The card front is 4 x 5 1/4″ with an 1/8″ background piece of watermelon wonder and then placed on a standard card base.  Not too tricky.  I put the tags & labels framelit set to work for this lovely sentiment.  It is so pretty.  Then I broke out the fabulous ribbon that has been teasing me from the shelf.  I love, love, love big pretty ribbon.  It is just delicious to me.  The ribbon is the only item from the occasions catalog.  I would love it if Stampin’Up! would bring back some huge satin ribbon in next years annual catalog.  I will have to just wait and see.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Know What I Love?

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My youngest is in the throws of re-decorating her room and the colors are so awesome.  I thought I would work with them for a few projects.  She has real red, basic gray, smokey slate, whisper white and basic black.  I used Stampin’Up! color names because that is just how my brain works anymore.  You get the idea.

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Either way, this card was so quick and fun.  I just used a bit of the stamps available in the Know What I Love stamp set.  We may still be in winter, but I couldn’t wait to start with some spring things.  Rain is so welcome, and flowers won’t be far behind.  How exciting!

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The card is pretty basic, just a few layers.  I do love it when a stamp sentiment fits inside a punch I already have.  It just makes life easier and definitely more fun.  If I hadn’t been distracted with other projects, this card would have come together in about twenty minutes, including design time.  That is what you get when you have great product to work with, and I definitely do.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Thank You Friend

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Last Christmas my stamping group had our own holiday party.  Part of that adventure was a crafty themed gift exchange.  Not going out and buying new necessarily, but cleaning out old product that you don’t use anymore and making a gift of it.

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Today I have made this special handout for a Sunday lesson I am teaching and I was able to use some of the fun gift I received.  The embossing folder and lovely sequin trim to be specific.  I sure had fun experimenting.  The paper I embossed on is a heavy water color paper and I thought I would be doing something with a dark blue wash.  It didn’t look like I wanted, so it stayed clean.  I think it turned out rather nice.

I made an extra for a different friend.  She always posts these super inspiring quotes on Facebook that bring me so much joy and hope.  I thought I would share back my way.  I love good friends, I truly do.  We all have a greater purpose and I hope the young women I am teaching today can find a way to theirs.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Hello Little Sunshine

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It is so wonderful to have stamp sets that speak to you.  I literally would say this phrase over and over to my children when they were little.  Now that they are much older, it still manages to sneak in for a tender moment or two.

Hello Little Sunshine

When I started making the background for the card by just stamping off as I went along, I knew I needed to make a coordinating gift bag.  That little sunshine stamp is so adorable.  I could see myself sneaking it in lots of places.  And to top it off, the Hello stamp set is a free one during Sale-a-bration!  Free is nice, but free and adorable is not a common thing.

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A tall slender gift bag was in order today.  I was feeling like a different gift option, but of course I could totally see a big yummy candy bar going inside.  How about a fat quarter of fabric instead?  Yes, my quilting friends would totally agree with that one.  Maybe I could find some sunshine paper too?  Or stamp some to match?  A project and a gift, sounds great!

Hello Little Sunshine

Have a creative day!

Moana