Gifts

Garden Green Gift Box

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Need a gift box or two?  During the holidays we are always looking for something to wrap a last minute gift or party favor.  That is what my husband needed for a work party tomorrow.

Garden Green Gift Box

They are having a white elephant gift exchange, so I thought a really great box would throw them off completely.  The ornament inside is nearly bizarre, but almost interesting at the same time.  It has a flying pheasant, with a hunting fest hung below, and then a pheasant call hung below that.  Yes, somehow I let that one not go on my tree.  I wonder how that happened.

Garden Green Gift Box

This box though.  I used two sheets of garden green cut at 8.5 x 8.5 and scored at two inches all the way around for the sides.  The top score lines were moved a smidge over so the lid would be just a bit larger than the bottom and fit snug.  Mission accomplished.  I used the snowflake stamp from the Perpetual Birthday Calendar set.  Love that one so much.  It gets used all of the time.  I put a whole in the center with a circle framelit, which gave me funny half circle edges on two of the sides, but I couldn’t see a way around it, so I just went with it.

The window sheet was embossed with the elegant dots folder and stuck down inside.  The sheet measured 4 x 4 and I used fast fuse to keep it in there.  I ended up wrapping the gift in some 6″ wide burlap ribbon and doesn’t that look great?  Surprised me too.  Then this lovely box was given a big hug with some satin ribbon, gold to match the stamping, after being sponged like crazy of course.  Now, the fun begins!

Garden Green Gift Box

Have a creative day!

Moana

Your Presents

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Good morning to this bundle of happiness!  My daughter was teasing me about how I get these ideas, don’t know if they will work out, because they always look amazing.  Well, I don’t know if my original vision was achieved, but I do rather like how it turned out.

Your Presents

Wouldn’t it be fun to see a big pile of gifts like this?  With the holidays here and Christmas right around the corner, I guess it could happen.  It reminds me of growing up with the way my mother decorated and wrapped gifts.  She liked everything to coordinate, the wrapping, the tree, decorations, everything.  If someone gave a gift that didn’t coordinate, she would wrap it over to make it match.  She would approve of this card for sure.

Your Presents

Just one stamp set and all of this pattern just happened.  I bet if I worked harder I could have gotten more.  I know that I will get to use this for countless birthday cards.  A holiday stamp that can keep going on is my kind of stamp.  I just stamped and layered with glimmer paper.  The gifts were sponged lightly and a couple got bows stuck on top with glue dots.  A few stars inside and one on top of the pile and it was done.  So cute.

Your Presents

Have a creative day!

Moana

White Christmas

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I had intended on making a matching bag for yesterday’s card, but I spent so much time on the card I had to call it and move on.  Yet the large piece of velum was still waiting for me to finish it up.  I made an effort or two.

White Christmas

My original plan didn’t work because I didn’t punch my holes along the bag top evenly and the ribbon stitching looked horrible.  I cut off the top and tried again.  There were improvements, but it is still uneven.  It did look really nice with the card, but this is like the Where’s Waldo of crafting goofups to be honest.  Can you find them all?

White Christmas

How about this obvious one.  I was chatting to my daughter and not paying attention to my scoring and the measurements got off.  You don’t waste foil velum though, so I continued on.  That is when I goofed up the hole punching the first time, and a bit again on the second time.  I didn’t bother putting treats inside because I don’t know if I can let this goof off the desk.

But, the set does look nice even if I made mistakes.  I always tell my ladies that there are no mistakes, only opportunities.  I don’t know about this one, maybe an opportunity to learn from my mistakes?

White Christmas

Have a creative day!

Moana

Bitty Boxy Holiday Bags

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I managed to sneak yet another project out of that paper set.  I still have enough for a couple of cards or a medium sized gift bag.  Dang, what a lot of fun I have had using this paper.  But these tiny little bags certainly do take the cake.  Aren’t they just absolutely adorable?

Bitty Boxy Holiday Bags

My husband was given a large bag of candy as a thank you and he brought it home.  And he opened it.  So that is just dangerous.  I knew I had to come up with several little bags to use them up.  I am getting there.

Bitty Boxy Holiday Bags

Three different styles of box bags to get me going today.  I am partial to a milk carton style to be honest, but the tiny pinch pouch is just so sweet.  I used up three scraps of paper with a touch of glimmer paper to give them some bling.  I don’t know what I love more, the cording or metallic thread, so I had to use them both.

Bitty Boxy Holiday Bags

Have a creative day!

Moana

 

Tiny Gift Tower

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Little tiny gifts need to be put in adorable little boxes.  How about those gifts that go together, but you want to wrap them separately?  Look no further, this adorable little trio is just what you need.  Me on the other hand, now I have to find three little gifts that go together to put inside.  Sounds like fun!

Tiny Gift Tower

The gift box punch board was my primary tool here.  I made the small, medium, and large boxes using 6×6, 7×7, and 8×8″ measured paper.  The color scheme is neutral enough for a masculine gift I think.  Besides, Christmas lets you have all kinds of leeway on decorative wrapping, right?

Tiny Gift Tower

I put them together with gold ribbon and made an extra ribbon for the top.  A tiny ornament would have been cute as well, but those were not at my desk sad to say.  I don’t think I could find them anyway, it is a disaster!  Again, I squeaked out another project still using the Merry Moments dsp.  All that I have done so far has been from one set.  Yup, one set.  It is nearly gone, but not yet.  I will still get a couple of gift bags and a card to two, just wait and see.

Tiny Gift Tower

Have a creative day!

Moana

Sheer Perfection Gift Set

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Sitting down with a tool in mind instead of color, design, or even a sentiment can get a bit interesting.  I wanted to make a quick pillow box with a new punch board I just bought and needed some paper that was six inches wide.  Sounds like an easy start, right?

Sheer Perfection Gift Set

The only thing I had at the ready was a retired velum stack, not the easiest stuff to make boxes with.  But, I was trying to be quick, so I stuck with it.  The board wasn’t too tricky, but I was scared of tearing the paper, so I was a bit timid.  It managed to work out.

Sheer Perfection Gift Set

I thought it needed a matching card and this little number came together.  But I kept on getting held up on embellishments.  Little flowers on top, nope, coloring, nope, tags, nope.  So, I just left it as is and called it all occasion.  Good enough?  It was for me.  And it turned out that my daughter needed a little thank you gift and card this morning, so treats went in and smiles will happen.

Sheer Perfection Gift Set

Have a creative day!

Moana

Glittering Holidays

~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

After nearly a two week run of a clean and simple holiday gift set I have been more than ready to make something fabulous.  That is exactly what I did, if that sounds a bit showy, well, just look at it!  I have been planning it all week.

Glittering Holidays

I really just had the flowers in mind and knew they should go on top of a box.  So, to get my brain going, I picked some paper, ink and a stamp and got to work.  The paper alone was just lovely.  I stamped in a way to further elongate the tall box I had in mind.  I really wanted it to be about the flowers.  I did have to use my hot glue gun to keep these guys in order.  After they were assembled I attached them to each other.  The ribbon is threaded between them to hold them on top, so they are not attached otherwise and can be used again.

Glittering Holidays

The box is just scored every two inches for the side measurements and the same for the top and bottom.  Simple there for sure.  I closed the bottom, but just folded the top in place.  I am so going to use this for a wonderful gift, so I needed to get back inside.  Not just for a blog post, nope.

Glittering Holidays

My husband actually designed the card for me.  We chatted while he drove to work and he did a great job with the stamp choices I must say.  I stamped in silver ink and heat embossed in clear to give it an extra shine.  So pretty.  I added flowers with metal rimmed pearls in the centers and added a thin ribbon to finish it off.  The ribbon also helped tie the gift box in as a set.

Glittering Holidays

Have a creative day!

Moana

Christmas Card Gift Set

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I have the pleasure of visiting my children and family during this Thanksgiving holiday.  Well, when I see my daughter I like to give her card sets.  So, I thought I would share them with you.

Christmas Card Gift Set

It couldn’t just be simple for me though.  I gave myself a challenge.  I let myself have one set of dsp and access to coordinating cardstock and only two stamp sets.  The challenge was to use these things, keep them simple but elegant, and make ten cards.

Christmas Card Gift Set

She is a young stamper and has loved having access to my supplies over the years.  But being at college she doesn’t have all of that, but does pretty well of course.  I thought I would make a set that she could see as doable for herself.

 

All of the cards are basic in shape, so they would fit in the card holder, with only one layer of dsp as the front.  A series of single stamping, sometimes an accent, and tag punches.  I am going to share her gift with you over the next week, so enjoy!

Christmas Card Gift Set

Have a creative day!

Moana

Service With a Smile

~ moanaj ~ 2 Comments

What is all this about?  Well, yesterday I shared a great lesson with young women from my church and we talked about staying strong and serving others, to sum it up.

Service With a Smile

I challenged them to think of others when they are feeling down, and to look for those who are struggling.  Little gifts of kindness mean so very much. They were to take as many gift bags as they wanted and share their kindness with others.

There were so many, I cleaned out the entire gift bag and box blog drawers.  Wow, I am so excited for all of the kindness these wonderful girls are going to share!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Wonderful Wreath Noel Set

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I certainly am in the mood for Christmas cards that is for sure.  I am also working towards a goal though.  The other day I blogged about a service project I was involved in.  There turned out to be twenty four advent gifts to share.  I thought it would be appropriate for the young women who had worked so hard on them should write a personal Christmas card to accompany the gift.  So, I need several cards.

Wonderful Wreath Noel Set

I am notorious for a matching gift bag though.  I love putting a treat or two in a little bag and sharing it, so I call this a win.  How simple is this card though?  A simple layering of designer velum on a card front made just smaller than the base, love my 1/8″ narrow borders.  It was accented with a single strip of ribbon that I didn’t even make a bow or knot or anything!  Unheard of really.

Wonderful Wreath Noel Set

The Wonderful Wreath framelit set has this lovely ‘Noel” die in it that was just perfect.  Blackberry bliss is one of those colors that goes in almost any season, but Christmas is a good one most certainly.  Glue dots were hidden behind the silver dots so the adhesive wouldn’t show.  I used tombo on the ‘Noel” and it stayed put quite nicely.  On to the next project!

Wonderful Wreath Noel Set

Have a creative day!

Moana

Birthday Hamburger Box

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This die cut hasn’t been out in a while and I miss it!  I have had so much fun making boxes of one kind or another and I just love the shape.  I am pretty darn good at making a box or bag for a custom gift, but boxes like this just need a die cut.

Birthday Hamburger Box

One of my TA’s has a birthday today and I thought he would get a kick out of this guy.  I think he is expecting something because he has mentioned his birthday several times in the previous weeks.  Well, of course I had to deliver.  I think I will pick up a wonderful pastry this morning to put inside.  Yummy.

Birthday Hamburger Box

One sheet of  island indigo went into the box.  I was left with scrap enough to make the matching gift card and leave a couple of good sized scraps behind.  That is great.  I did sponge all of the edges really well before I glued it together.  I also used tombo to put the edges together.  Much easier with a little bit of wiggle room while it bonds and then it is there to stay.  My kind of adhesive.  I ran my bomb stamp down one direction of the die cut and then flipped it around and went the other.  The pattern turned out random enough to look like patterned paper.  I love making my own background paper for projects.

Birthday Hamburger Box

Have a creative day!

Moana

Schoolhouse Thank You Gift

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People do kind things all of the time and never ask for anything in return.  I am fortunate enough to have people like that in my life.  A school secretary is definitely a wonderful person.  They do more than most people imagine.

Schoolhouse Thank You Gift

As it happens, I have been helped along once again.  So, I wanted to thank her, again.  This lovely box was made to look as school like as possible.  The Schoolhouse DSP had so many patterns to choose from, but I needed a vehicle of sorts, so I went with the bicycles.  I used a whole sheet of 12 x 12 card stock in Hello Honey and a good portion of the dsp to decorate it.  It is filled with large pretzel sticks that have been dipped in white chocolate. So yummy.

Schoolhouse Thank You Gift

I got into the Chalk Talk framelits for this huge tag.  I wanted to have a stamp and a spot for a tiny note.  Just right, don’t you think?  I forget about that set sometimes, but the tag options are really wonderful.  I gave them a bit of a go over with my bone folder for some added texture and clipped it around one of my favorite ribbons.  Gift done!

Schoolhouse Thank You Gift

Have a creative day!

Moana

Everyday Chic Gift Bag

~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

Inspiration can come from the most unlikely places.  I like to ask my youngest daughter what colors to work with so I don’t go to my favorites all of the time.  Last night she said, “I don’t know.”  Classic teen response.  However, she was wearing an adorable white shirt with a gold studded neckline and a lovely long turquoise scarf.  Inspiration complete.

Everyday Chic Gift Bag

This bag is hearty enough to hold plenty of weight for sure.  I used a whole sheet of bermuda bay card stock for the bag and a good portion of  a 12 x 12 sheet of Everyday Chic DSP.  Before I assembled the bag I used a gold marker to color in random hearts for a little bit of accent.  That was actually quite relaxing.

Everyday Chic Gift Bag

This ribbon is so wonderful.  I knew I wanted a huge bow out front, so I threaded it a bit differently.  I made sure to have the ends out front, both long enough to make this pretty bow.  I just tied the ribbon together with bakers twine right at the front of the box which left two long strands of ribbon hanging down just ready to go.  I did have to fuss the bow a bit to get it where I wanted it, and used a couple of glue dots to keep the bow pulled back a bit.  Now I am ready to fill it up and give it away.  So much fun!

Everyday Chic Gift Bag

Have a creative day!

Moana

Merry Moments Gift Card Set

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A card that looks like a gift, but is a card, or is it?  I guess you could use this when you want to give a gift card and don’t just want to use the tiny envelope provided.  Either way, I like the look of a present shown here.

Merry Moments Gift Card Set

It has a hint of masculine with the color choices, but with that much ribbon I hesitated to give it the full masculine stamp.  You could probably get away with it though.  And I have to be honest, this is the first time I have used this adorable Christmas tree punch.  I guess I needed this awesome paper to inspire me to get it out.  It fit nicely as the gift tag.  So, I guess I will get to use it on other gifts this holiday season as well.

Merry Moments Gift Card Set

The DSP is layered on a piece of sahara sand cardstock with a narrow border showing.  I wanted to have a little more strength as I tied my ribbon on.  I do very much like a snug fit and probably winch it in a bit much sometimes.  I got the look I wanted though.  Why not give it a try your self?

Merry Moments Gift Card Set

Have a creative day!

Moana

Hearth & Home Thinlits Fun

~ moanaj ~ 2 Comments

After a full day of workshop excitement, I finally have a few minutes to share the third project we did.  This one just about did my ladies in, but they managed though most of it.  I didn’t have to help too much really.

Hearth & Home Thinlits Fun

The base of this candle holder is made with old olive from one sheet of cardstock.  Two card bases with 1/2″ cut off from one side and 1/2″ score on the other with a score in the middle.  With two of these joined together, the box frame was made.  Four panels of heavy whisper white cardstock were put through the Bigshot in the Brick Wall embossing folder that had been brayered with old olive ink.  It gave the perfect mix of a soft brick wall that coordinates nicely with the base.

Hearth & Home Thinlits Fun

Cherry cobbler was used to create the window frames.  The Hearth & Home Thinlits set is simple, but what a great look right?  The window frame is a great focal point that I chose to back with velum to allow an opaque look in.  I had provided fun battery operated candles that fit nicely inside.  When they flickered it made it look like there was a very colorful set of Christmas lights going on inside.  So pretty.  A couple of buttons, some twine with a simple saying set the front panel apart from the others.  Along with a few little shrubs made from mossy meadow paper punched with a scalloped circle punch.  Really, a cute project all in all, even if it was a bit of work.

Hearth & Home Thinlits Fun

Hope your day was creative, mine sure was!

Moana

Oh What Fun Gift Box

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I actually started out with a different stamp set and a card in mind.  But I just wasn’t feeling it, so I changed gears.  I do really love what ended up in its place.  I love a pretty holiday box like crazy!

Oh What Fun Gift Box

I used a whole 12 x 12 from the Merry Moment DSP pack.  Of course I migrated to the huge dots.  I love all kinds of dots.  And I couldn’t stay away from these beautiful ornament framelits.  They are so wonderful.  I think that these will be all over my Christmas gifts this year.

Oh What Fun Gift Box

The Oh, What Fun stamp set is so full of fantastic sayings to make any holiday crafting one step better for sure.  They will make gift giving and card making quick and easy without looking that way.  Just yummy.  Oh, and these little embellishments are so adorable!  With twenty in a box they will find there way just about everywhere.

Oh What Fun Gift Box

Have a creative day!

Moana

Christmas Advent Book Service Project

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I did think I would get to blog yesterday, but this project completely took over my day.  The absolute, entire day.  Seriously, from 6:00 in the morning to after 9:00 in the evening.  And yes, there is still more to be done.

Christmas Advent Book Service Project

What is going on with all of this?  Well, it is a service project that a friend of mine and I designed for our church’s young women to work on.  So many peoples lives were turned upside down with all of the fires this year.  My friend teaches with another woman that is from one of the many areas devastated by fires.  We made a goal to do something for a dozen families that could help them enjoy the Christmas season a bit more.

Christmas Advent Book Service Project

These are advent books that will have an activity, scripture, story and a Christmas song in each of the twenty-five envelopes.  They are designed to be all inclusive.  Additional materials are not needed to enjoy the activities, just your family.  Since there are so many people still displaced, Christmas might not feel the same.  Maybe this will help a dozen families find some comfort.

Christmas Advent Book Service Project

There is still work to be done, but it won’t be long now.  They will be delivered before December begins so they can start on the first.  Serving others makes even something as fun as paper crafting even more fun and rewarding.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Flower Fair Gift Box

~ moanaj ~ 2 Comments

I am definitely in the mood for gift boxes.  I wanted to make a huge floral bloom and then make a box sized right for the flower to cover the whole top of it.  And here you go .

Flower Fair Gift Box

I used pumpkin pie paper with stamping and sponging in tangerine tango.  Color families make such lovely projects.  I wanted the sponging to be more prominent and give a bit more depth.  I think it worked out nicely.

Flower Fair Gift Box

The flower layers were adhered with dimensionals with the larger flowers and then switched to glue dots withe the smaller ones.  Overall, it was a very satisfying creative process.  When I scored the box, I just made sure that the dimensions allowed the right base for the flower, 2″ square.  The top isn’t sealed shut, just folded for easy opening and closing.  This great big flower is actually stuck to the ribbon, so it could slide off without damaging the box.  I also tied the ribbon in a knot so it could be folded over and appear to be leaves or a banner looking element.  Great fun!

Flower Fair Gift Box

Have a creative day!

Moana

Wonderland Snowflake Treat Favor

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I guess I am on a gift bag kick again.  This one is all ready to go though, candy inside and everything!  But, is it okay to just give it back to me?  I love it, and the yummy candy inside.

Wonderland Snowflake Treat Favor

Stamping with stazon  is the only way to go with window sheets.  Easy and crisp images, and doesn’t slide everywhere.  My stamp was from the Wonderland set, just the snowflake one, and isn’t very big.  Believe me, it was so easy to stamp, I don’t think I saw one little goof.  Came together great.

Wonderland Snowflake Treat Favor

My piece measured 8 x 8.5″ and was scored at 2″, leaving 1/2″ for adhering the box together.  Then turned a quarter to score along the bottom to create the bottom flaps, or the bottom of the gift bag.  Pretty direct work here.  I burnished the score lines really well and used tear n’ tape to seal it up.  You can see my seam, but it doesn’t look bad.  I think it is adorable, and easy enough to make a bunch for party favors.  And how about that tiny little snowflake embellishemnt!  So adorable!

Wonderland Snowflake Treat Favor

Have a creative day!

Moana

Timeless Elegance with Black Glimmer Paper

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It is so enjoyable to create something very lovely that is so simple to put together.  That is just how nice it is to work with great product that makes you feel so creative and talented.

Timeless Elegance with Black Glimmer Paper

I had been wanting to use this fun black glimmer paper differently than shown in the catalog.  It was fun to see it with all of the Halloween projects, but I think it has a lot more uses.  Simple little flowers for instance.  I didn’t want to use a punch too large because I wasn’t sure how to center them.  These little flowers didn’t require a button or anything.  So adorable.

Timeless Elegance with Black Glimmer Paper

I cut a strip of the dsp 3 3/4″ wide for the card front and thought it would be nice to make a matching gift bag with the rest of the strip.  It worked out pretty nicely, don’t you think?  It is big enough for a few treats, or even a gift card.  Just my kind of favorite thing, a card and matching bag.

Timeless Elegance with Black Glimmer Paper

Have a creative day!

Moana