invitations

You Are a Fabulous Work of Art

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

This project is actually an invitation, but could easily be a lovely card to share.  In a moment of forgetfulness we found ourselves needing to pump out 25 invitations in an hour.  It took a bit longer than that, but it was managed.  That is how easy this card it.

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I used wisteria wonder stamped four times at an angle, slightly tilting it as I went.  That gave me the simple background I needed for the sentiment.  That was then stamped in elegant eggplant and I loved the look.  I was in a great hurry, but wanted a bit more diversity, so I brought in this variegated crochet thread with colors that would coordinate. This gave me a green to go with, so in came the old olive.  I stamped three hearts and called the front finished.

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My husband and daughter worked to get the inside information card while I did the fronts. I wanted to connect them a bit, so I added one more stamp there.  I used the long stripe to stamp under the title of the event.  It was super quick, but worked out wonderfully.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Happy Mother’s Day All Around

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This to me is the ultimate way to celebrate Mother’s Day, when your children are doing wonderful things.  Like getting married to an amazing woman.  Our family is more than excited for the big day, just under one month now!

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They didn’t want hand made invitations, and I have to say I was relieved.  I would have of course, but what a bunch of work!  I did decide to make a Mother’s Day card for my own mother though.  She loves to take my cards and place them around her house like little pieces of art.  This one is going to stay out for a long time. How fun.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

A Very Special Invitation

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I know I used a bunch of retired product, but I still love it too!  The wonderful thing about tools is that you can use them again and again no matter how long you have them.  This stamp set and coordinating embossing folder are retired Christmas product.  I think they are still beautiful and perfectly wonderful for this project.  So there, use the product you have and love!

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These were special handouts for a Sunday church lesson I taught to a group of 14 & 15 year old girls.  They are so dear to my heart, I can’t help myself but make them something special every time I teach.

I embossed my card front after I did my stamping.  The stamp is photopolymer, so exact placement was super easy.  Then I centered my folder just where I wanted it to be.  I traveled through my framelit collection to find one that had the shape to match the background stamp and my sentiment stamp.  Of course it was the last one I looked at.  But it was a perfect fit.  A touch of sponging on the diecut piece and it was done.

I did get the cording out and do a few loops of it behind my card front.  After I had placed my dimensionals behind my diecut, I looped the cording and set it on the exposed sticky side.  I added a couple of glue dots over the top and stuck it down on the card front.  No problems there!  The cording wants to loop because it is stored on a spool.  Even better!]

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Press Forward

~ moanaj ~ 2 Comments

When it is time to make a set of invitations, I usually struggle to keep them simple.  That was needed this time around though, and I managed to pull it off.  I even got to put some retired product to use.  Love that.

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The invitations are basic and only one sided.  The graphic was provided, I do love it though, and I put it to work.  I got a little digital for this project.  I opened the image in InDesign and started picking fonts.  It didn’t take long to decide, I made it white and placed it as an overlay on the image.  Then I included the basic details below in a softer gray because black looked too stark.

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I used the full graphic, including the title with supporting scripture reference, for a water bottle wrap.  I think these will look adorable.  When digging around, I came across another retired product I could use.  First, ribbon for the invitation, second, bakers twine for the bottle wraps, and third, paper to make a box for the invitations.  Everything gets used eventually, and I love having it on hand for quick project work.  This one wasn’t that quick, but took a good portion of the day from conception, design, prep work and assembly.  All done and ready to go though!

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Elegant Butterfly

~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

Butterflies, butterflies, and more butterflies.  There are a bunch going on here, but one in particular started it all.  You might not realize it, but I played quite a bit with this little butterfly.  Lots of detailing and working it with a stylus.

Elegant Butterflies

Sometimes the attention to detail makes all the difference.  My daughter made a good observation.  She said it would be really pretty if it were glass or something so it could be a necklace charm.  I have to agree, it would be lovely.

Elegant Butterflies

I do rather enjoy working with colors that are so not of the current holiday.  Nothing more entertaining than making a spring card in late fall, or a fun Christmas project in the middle of July.  Something different to expect.

Elegant Butterflies

Have a creative day!

Moana

Nautical Themed Invitation

~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

Take a look at this fun invitation and imagine another twenty-four of them.  Quite the fleet of cards, and I just love them.  They are themed invitations for an event a few weeks out for a church event.  The cream banner at the bottom ended up having “Embark…” written on it.  Great invites for a great night to come.

Nautical Themed Invitation

I am not prone to square cards, but I don’t know why.  They look so fun and offer a different design pallet.  Good reminder.  Crumb cake, very vanilla and soft sky come together for this lovely scene.  Only one stamp and a lot of die cuts.  I did have help on this assembly line for sure.  I did all the stamping, sponging and assembly while my husband ran the die cuts.  Yes, he did all six sets of twenty-five.  He is so fun to work with.  How lucky can a girl get!

Nautical Themed Invitation

The dies are from a collection my husband found for me at a thrift store, so I couldn’t send you in a direction for them.  Aren’t they great though?  But honestly, the stamp makes it all happen, and that comes from the Traveler set.  Lots of layers and an eye for design.  With those in mind, there are no limits to what you can create.  Just be patient and try a few options out until you are satisfied.  Now, to create centerpieces that go with these.  Another day…

Nautical Themed Invitation

Have a creative day!

Moana

Balloon Bash with a Twist

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A tangelo twist that is.  I went to my color buddy yet again this morning and she said orange.  What a great team.  I don’t need much, just a nudge sometimes.

Balloon Bash with a Twist

I had made a version of this card some time ago for a workshop.  I was asked for a birthday card and the design just popped right into my head.  So I guess I cased myself, again.  Well, I do tend to like my designs most of the time, so why not!

Balloon Bash with a Twist

It is a pretty direct layout today.  Everything is done in 1/4″ increments, nothing too tricky.  Dimensionals are definitely put to work, and I gave myself permission to sponge everything.  So liberating.  There is a lot going on, but it is also simple and easy to mail.  Gotta love that!

Balloon Bash with a Twist

Have a 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 Little Birthday Buddy

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This is one of the times where you don’t even have to think about coordination much at all.  I wanted some chevrons in a baby card.  Done.  Pull the matching colors and some awesome tools and there you have it!

Crazy About You Little Birthday Buddy

A girlfriend had asked about baby shower invitations with some of these components and I made some demos.  They decided to do something different with photographs and never got to see these.  So, I got to have the design fun and get to use the projects myself.  Sounds like a win to me.

Crazy About You Little Birthday Buddy

This little matching bag is not quite the size of the matching card, but it is so precious.  Just right for a tiny gift and a gift card.  What more could you ask for?

Crazy About You Little Birthday Buddy

I think the little characters in the Little Birthday Buddy set are so adorable.  I had fun coloring this toucan with the coordinating ink colors using blending pens.  You always have the right marker color with those awesome tools.

Crazy About You Little Birthday Buddy

Day one of the Utah trip has begun nicely.  I got a surprise visit from my niece and got to shower my mother with beautiful cards.  Awesome.  Now I get to help her get caught up on her paper pumpkin kits.  Also awesome!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Bundled Baby Shower Invitations

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Do you remember this one?  It was one of the choices for a baby shower invitation. So, today isn’t a new project, just a whole slew of them with another color option.

Bundles Baby

This is what fifty of these bad boys look like.  Kind of impressive.

Bundled Baby

I used up all of my pistachio pudding paper and had to dip into a little so saffron.  I think it worked out pretty nice.  The biggest work portion was all of the inking on that awesome star embossed sale-a-bration paper.

Bundled Baby

They are ready for delivery and my fingers are ready for a rest.  Enough said.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Yee-Haw For Big Sisters!

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Some things in life just require a great big ‘Yee-Haw!’  Like announcing you are having a baby!  That is definitely something worth celebrating.

Yee-Haw

A friend just announced her third child through the most adorable set of photos posted on  Facebook.  Her two girls were all done up in hot pink with cowgirl galore.  I couldn’t stop looking at them and loving every moment.

Yee-Haw

Then, I remembered this awesome stamp set.  I had made a card some time ago for workshop with totally different colors, but a similar design.  The original design credit goes to Brian King, another Stampin’Up! demonstrator of sheer awesomeness.  So, he inspired me, and then this beauty came along.

Yee-Haw

One stamp set, Yee-Haw, along with a heavy dose of melon mambo and basic rhinestones, and this beauty is perfect.  I thought about adding flowers too, but actually managed to hold back.  I might go back later, just because, you never know.

Either way, the card is awesome, big sisters are awesome, and I can’t wait to give it to her!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Letterpress Winter Throw Back Thursday

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Welcome to another Throw Back Thursday!  Don’t you love this invite?  So simple but still lots of fun.  I needed a batch of invites for a girls camp kick-off meeting.  It filled the order nicely.

Letterpress Winter

So, what is old and what is new?  The only current products are the spiral border punch and the splotchy stamp from the perpetual calendar kit.  They are awesome though.  You might recognize the infamous gumball green color and last years spring catalog designer series paper that was all about awesome water color looks.

I just love bringing out product that is retired and loving it all over again. Remember to mix the old and the new for fabulous projects every time.

Have a creative day!

Moana