When you are surrounded by kind people even the simple things are wonderful. As huge life events come into play it just keeps getting better and better, don’t you think?
A clean and simple card and gift bag duo can be so rewarding. This is just as simple as the others in this series and was received with great smiles and even a few giggles. So rewarding, so very rewarding.
Have a creative day!
Moana
Today is a day full of gratitude for so many things. I get to enjoy the experience of my son marrying a wonderful lady. My heart is more than full.
Let’s keep this one even more simple, shall we? I love a simple card that really lets you enjoy the sentiment. Talk about clean and simple. The matching gift box is tall and skinny. I filled it up with tiny treats as I shared it. So much fun!
Have a creative day!
Moana
This has got to be some of the most beautiful paper ever. The set has an interesting mix, some of which I could do without. However, the rest more than makes up for that part. I think that Stampin’Up! does a great job with diverse paper patterns to fill just about everyone’s tastes, especially mine.
A basic card, one layer of paper to show off, one little tag stamped and sponged. How about another adorable gift box to match? Of course it was filled with candy.
Have a creative day!
Moana
The beginning of a new and simple series. It is focused on one designer series paper set that is new with the new catalog. It is also all about thank you. I am fortunate enough to have a great set of TA’s that do so much for me at school. They of course will be getting special personalized thank you gifts from me. Some kind words and chocolate, that is what works for them. Well, me too I guess.
Super simple and super simple. I didn’t spend a lot of time on the bags in the series because I know they will look at it for a bit, like it, empty the candy slowly and then it will go away. No need for a lot of fuss there.
Have a creative day!
Moana
A quick stroll through my scrap pile kits and I found this treasure. I swapped out the embossing folder and stamp sets and came up with something wonderful. Before it was a different nature scene with a sympathy sentiment. I like this one too.
The Trust God stamp set has finally reached retirement. I cannot tell you how many times I have used this particular set. This, along with yesterday’s Swallowtail, will join the special shelving unit of stay with me stamps. I couldn’t part with it. The new catalog has a couple of sets that are very nice, but in my opinion, won’t be replacing this one.
The tree was stamped in the center with early espresso and sponged with crumb cake. That is the same treatment for the sentiment, which was punched with the also retiring extra large oval punch. Dang, I am going to miss that one too. I do enjoy trying new things, especially when it challenges my crafting. Plenty of dimensionals and a touch of basic pearls finished this card off.
Have a creative day!
Moana
People are placed in our lives for a reason. It is so wonderful to realize those precious moments as they occur. A simple, sweet thank you speaks volumes. As does the kindness shown to me time and time again.
In my desk scrap file I looked for something pretty to make a gift bag for a friend. I came across this wonderful foil velum. I scored the long sides 1″ in, on both sides. The bottom of the bag was scored at 5 1/2″ and 6 1/2″ to give a 1″ margin all around. Folding, adhering, and then adding a bow all went very easy. Deciding on a phrase took a moment, but as I have often enough, I turned to the Suite Sayings set and found just what I wanted. The stamping was done in the soon to be retired blackberry bliss, I sure will miss that color, and then punched with the 1 3/4″ circle punch. A layer of silver foil was punched with the 2″ circle punch and then layered in place. The tag is stuck to the bag so the ribbon can be removed easily. That is important for getting to those treats and even re-gifting the bag.
Have a creative day!
Moana
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!
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.
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.
Have a creative day!
Moana
And a happy good morning to everyone! I do love a Friday that is full of promise and enthusiasm. The only problem is that I usually have my goals too high and get frustrated when I fall short. Either way, I love Friday and the fun evening often in store.
This little thank you is so adorable, yet lovely. I used a half sheet of very vanilla for the box, scoring at 2″, 4″, 6″, and 8″. Then turning one quarter turn, portrait now, to score at 2″ for the bottom. I used a companion piece of very vanilla for the stamped and embossed layers. The piece is cut first at 3 1/2″ so the stamping could be done. I just used the large floral image to create a pattern. Then the second cuts came at 1 3/4″ each, needing four of these all together.
Before they were attached I embossed them with the fluttering embossing folder. Such a nice result. I layered them up with dimensionals and thought about leaving it just the way it was, but continued on with the plan.
I made the tag from the scrap left over from stamping and punched it with the extra-large oval punch. A added a ribbon handle and attached the tag to the under side of the ribbon tail. A few butterflies later and a smidge of pearls and I was ready to add my treats. So much fun, just so much fun. Now to deliver!
Have a creative day!
Moana
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.
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.
Have a creative day.
Moana
Just what is this about? While enjoying a crazy holiday in Utah with family I was given a special request. My beautiful niece is getting married tomorrow and I couldn’t be more excited. I had originally offered to make her wedding favors for her wedding gift. She changed her mind on having them, so instead she asked for thank you cards. Time was short, but I decided to complete them while I was in Utah so she could have them before the wedding. Well, it was quite the event. I took these photos on my cell phone just before we headed home, so they are pretty fuzzy. I just couldn’t not share.
I put in an order for the materials I would need to make 250 of these simple cards. I started out strong on my own, but in the last hour I had to enlist the family assembly line. They are so well trained. Now she has custom thank you cards, with matching envelopes, in her wedding colors all ready to go. I think she will have more than enough and will be left with a lovely stash of cards to say thank you along the way. How fun!
I did learn an interesting thing. Stampin’Up! ink pads do have limits. I didn’t think to order re-inkers to go along with the new ink pads for this project. Silly me. I got more than half way through the so saffron stamping when I knew I was not going to make it. My daughters friend was a demonstrator. We hit the stash, got to looking, almost gave up, then my husband came to the rescue and found it! Stamping could continue. Small world. Oh, and I went through five refills of my fast fuse. I almost didn’t make it there either.
Have a creative day!
Moana
Aside from some very hasty photography, and as a result poor images, I do rather like this card. Even though several of the cards in this series look similar, this one feels different. I guess that can happen when you include black a little unexpectedly. The ribbon is nice though, even if it is a bit strong.
I hadn’t had the bitty butterfly punch out in quite a while, but it was just what I wanted. I sponged them in silver ink and thought it looked like the raindrops had given them a bit of a sheen. I also sponged the tag in the same silver ink. A favorite touch of mine.
I couldn’t let myself use the other photo I had taken. Just too rushed for something decent, but I still wanted to share it. I raised up the sentiment and the butterflies on dimensionals and left it at that.
Have a creative day.
Moana
What a sweet, tender card. I was thinking of my mother as I put this one together. She is all about flowers and everything that go along with them. As I shared this one with her, we shared a few tears. Having a wonderful mother that helped you grow up loved is more than a blessing, it is an absolute treasure that we both share.
This lovely card showcases the dsp almost as much as the sentiment. It is hard to decide which is the focal point, so I will call it a draw. I stamped the sentiment on whisper white and punched it with the most narrow portion of the triple banner punch. I then created a border of calypso coral and repeated the punching to give a nice quarter inch boarder that tied the entire card front together. After a lovely bow tied with seam binding ribbon I decided to put the tag on an angle. It turned out so adorable and yet so simple. One of my favorite ways to work.
Have a creative day!
Moana
Day two in this adorable little series finds me fortunate enough to be in Utah visiting family, family, and more family! How wonderful is that? It is more than fun, especially for me. So many fun social opportunities.
I do love this paper. The little dandelions dancing in the wind are so cute. Simple and fun but it will be the perfect thank you for the person who has been so kind. Giving cards is always so much fun. This gift set will be fun for my daughter to use. And use it she will.
Have a creative day!
Moana
Nice people are just, well, so nice. Saying thank you is always fun and feels great, but why not take it up a notch. That is just the kind of thank you a super nice person deserves.
My daughter got some much needed study notes help last night from a friend. She had re-written her notes for a big test, threw away the old messy ones, or so she thought. Yup, she threw out the new ones, with the latest additions as well. She reached out to a friend and they came to the rescue. Favorite candy bar, MilkyWay. Mission accomplished and the thank you is on it’s way.
This is a smaller version of a sliding box I had made earlier last month. Instead of using full sheets of 12 x 12, I used two 6 x 6 pieces. Same principal of making the score lines just 1/8″ in and it works pretty darn good. I think I would have liked it more snug, but the candy needed the room so I didn’t want to chance it. My daughter was so excited to take it to school today and share it with her buddy. Me too.
Have a creative day!
Moana
Well, this project started somewhere else, but the results are great. Sometimes it is hard to see past your ‘opportunity mistakes’, I managed though. Once I fussy cut designer series paper I am totally committed.
The free items you can earn from Sale-a-bration are all unique, but this one caught my eye right away. A patterned velum paper that not only coordinates, but actually outlines designer series paper, well that is amazing. I fussed a bit matching it up, but found the exact spot. I almost did a 6 x 6 card just so I could see the whole pattern line up. It would have been worth it, it looked so pretty all lined up. I moved on though.
My opportunities came from the glue experience. I thought I could put tiny tiny dots of glue on little flowers and it would look kind of neat, and hide the adhesive at the same time. Well, my tiny dots were not as tiny as they needed to be. Several fixes later, it worked out. Basic rhinestones, a larger sentiment with tag layering, and using one of the many coordinating framelits. Phew!
I added a touch of inside stamping with a leaf from the coordinating stamp set. I don’t usually go for a whole suite of product. This one is different, I loved all of it. However, it is my favorite color pallet, floral, and it goes together so wonderfully. I couldn’t resist it. So I didn’t.
Have a creative day!
Moana
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?
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.
Have a creative day!
Moana
So I was looking through my blog site and discovered this as a draft and not a blog. Oooops on my part. I really loved this one too. Enjoy!
While browsing a catalog I came across this book. The title was awesome, but to be honest, I knew I had to make a card that looked like it. It sat at my desk for several days until I had a little time to experiment. I got my inks out and went to work.
I went back and forth on using just ink, or a versamark with gold embossing powder. I went with just ink and then used my aqua painter with some ink to add details and make the flowers a bit more prominent. Aren’t these pretty? Yet another awesome free set during Sale-a-bration! Wheeee! The thank you came from Another Thank You.
I masked the water color paper and brushed it heavily with water before I added ink. I added, dobbed, and added more until I was satisfied. So much fun, honestly. I could do that a lot. Wouldn’t it be fun if we could just hide away in a creative bubble? Either way, I absolutely loved making this card. But not more than sending it to share a very special thank you.
Have a creative day!
Moana
What says thank you better than a big bar of chocolate? A really pretty bar of chocolate with a coordinating card, that’s what! I really like how this Paper Pumpkin set got used so differently than I normally do.
I have mentioned my teacher aides before and how awesome they are. The holidays are the perfect time to share that gratitude. Especially when they feel special and others get to see that too. Okay, they are teenage boys that love to feel awesome and oh so cool. This works very well, just like they do.
I used the card base to wrap over my vanilla cardstock and it fit around so nicely. I was able to give it nice little scores and get two swipes of fast fuse to keep this together. After a hefty wrapping of ribbon, I know it is so secure. These holly leaves and little adhesive backed berries are so adorable though. I could definitely get into a die cut to make more of these. I will have to look around for one.
It is fun to go to work when you have this kind of joy to share. Besides, today is the last day of school before a very nice and long three week break. Phew!
Have a creative day!
Moana
As we have been showered with much needed rain here in Northern California, all I feel is joy and gratitude. We have a long way to go, but every little bit helps. I thought I would put my feelings into a card.
The Color Me Irresistible Specialty DSP is so much fun to work with. It was actually my inspiration. I knew it had a raindrop pattern and the project just went from there. I sponged with a dauber in silver encore ink all over in tiny swirls to give a cloudy gray look. Turned out fantastic I must say.
The flowers were punched with the pansy punch hovering over the large dots in the silver fancy foil designer velum, using the dots as the flower center. Nice idea, right? I used a bone folder to curl the petals of the velum and decided I needed more flowers. Basic gray became the flower background color and I punched another six of those. I distressed those with a large stylus to give them dimension and lift. Layered with dimensionals and glue dots, the side border came together.
A single stamp from the Your Presents set put the focus just right. It was framed with a smokey slate oval and both were sponged with more silver ink. The “i” was dotted with a metal rimmed pearl and a tiny ribbon was wrapped around. Add one more awesome card to the mix. A very rewarding project to make and enjoy.
Have a creative day!
Moana
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.
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.
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!
Have a creative day!
Moana
studio824 