Sparkly Seasons Ballerina

Doesn’t everyone get enchanted with a pretty snow globe?  This particular stamp set has a few options to make one happen, but this pretty ballerina might be my favorite.  She is so delicate and lovely.

Sparkly Seasons Ballerina

The base is stamped in sahara sand and the globe is in soft sky.  That is also the card base and background color. I stamped her in sahara sand as well to give a hint of skin color without having to make it happen.  I did water color her tutu and slippers though, couldn’t resist that.  Her hair just had a touch of marker coloring.

Sparkly Seasons Ballerina

I stamped the ‘sparkle’ inside the globe with versa mark ink and then covered it with dazzling diamonds.  Loved it.  But I needed more.  So I used the 2-way glue pen to color a layer around the bottom of the globe and used more dazzling diamonds.  I liked that a lot better.  Of course I had to put a bunch of rhinestones around as well.  Sparkle means sparkle.  I even put a few inside.

Sparkly Seasons Ballerina

Have a creative day!

Moana

Merry Moments Gift Card Set

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

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

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

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

Embellished Ornaments

This started out as a pretty darn good morning, but I am having quite the head cold, so my time management isn’t the best.  I think I am going in kind a slow motion mode.  The results still show nicely though, don’t you think?

Embellished Ornaments

New product, new product, new product!  I so enjoy working with new product!  Today was the first time for three different newbies to my collection.  Two stamp sets and one framelit set.  They are sure to get a lot of use this holiday, for sure.

Embellished Ornaments

My photos don’t let you know very well, the colors look off, but I am working with Sahara Sand and Not Quite Navy.  The ornament on the left is backed with a deep navy blue and it looks so pretty.  The smaller ornament is backed with Crumb Cake just to give a better contrast.  The stamping is all done in Sahara Sand, as well as the sponging.  I used the new gold cording to “hang” the ornaments and it worked great.  I have been waiting to use this set, and it was so worth it.  Be patient, you will be seeing it a lot.

Embellished Ornaments

Have a creative day!

Moana

Sparkly Seasons Pumpkin Patch

It may not look very busy, but these little pumpkins almost did me in.  I nearly got to the point of just showing you how frustrated I was and that there was not much to show for it.  Then I thought about iridescent ice, and the world came together.

Sparkly Seasons Pumpkin Patch

I love that stuff.  It can make the most simple things look almost magical.  I used three different framelits for my pumpkins and got to work.  I used a large stylus to create grooves and texture to the surface, but from the back side.  It really broke down the fibers a lot.  Then I began to water color streaks to give dimension.  That didn’t do a whole lot.  Then I spritzed water and swiped ink on with my finger.  It got better.  Then I sponged with pumpkin pie and added early espresso too.  At that point they looked okay, but still kind of sad.

Sparkly Seasons Pumpkin Patch

That is when I tried the iridescent ice.  I daubed the whole surface with versamark and sprinkled on the powder.  I only used one coating and thought that would be enough.  It was just right.  I did sponge a bit more with early espresso afterwards.  I layered the pumpkins together using dimensionals, with the stems too, and wrapped them all in linen thread.  I wanted to leave it then, but decided on a simple word phrase.  And there you go!

Sparkly Seasons Pumpkin Patch

Have a creative day!

Moana

Believe Bookmark with Lighthearted Leaves

Welcome to my Sunday morning.  When I have the opportunity to teach a church lesson I always feel blessed.  Teaching often gives more to the teacher than to the student.  Maybe not at a school setting, but church, for sure.

Believe Bookmark with Lighthearted Leaves

I do my best thinking while I am crafting, so I almost always have some kind of handout that relates to the lesson.  It also allows me to think of who I am teaching individually, and to make sure I am taking into consideration who they are and how they feel.  Such a wonderful time.

Believe Bookmark with Lighthearted Leaves

I definitely dipped into my retired product stash for these bookmarks.  The cardstock and ink are hello honey, current, but the other color is summer starfruit.  What a great color to work with.  I thought they went well together, so I got to use some of my retired dsp stash and retired ribbon too!  Win for all.  I think people often overlook the fact that it is okay to stamp on patterned paper, as long as the pattern is small.  That was the case for this pattern for sure.  It came together so quickly.  Once the design was clear  in my mind, about five minutes, another thirty-five and I was all done.  Yup, I churned out a dozen of these in less than an hour.  Again, a win for all.

Believe Bookmark with Lighthearted Leaves

Have a creative day!

Moana

Vintage Leaves, All Through My Yard

The weather has finally changed and I love the color change that follows.  Looking out my window I can see trees with leaves in all of these colors.  Just so lovely this time of year.

Vintage Leaves, All Through My Yard

This stamp set lets you create leaf images that have so much texture and the play of light across them.  How fun and validating is that.  Becoming the artist without knowing how to be.

Vintage Leaves, All Through My Yard

I stamped the leaves in different colors starting from light colors to darkest.  I had started with a different intention, but it didn’t work out.  I stuck with my background as the focal point and just enjoyed water coloring it.  It went together rather quickly.  A few simple layers, very light sponging, and a gentle wrap of gold metallic thread for an accent.  I love this kind of creative fun.

Vintage Leaves, All Through My Yard

Have a creative day!

Moana

Flower Fair Gift Box

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

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

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

Lighthearted Leaves Treat Carton

All day long I have tried to get this blog post done.  That gives you a little hint into how my day has been.  Not done yet, but definitely on my way.

Lighthearted Leaves Treat Carton

I had a bag of Lindt truffles on my counter and loved how the bag looked.  I thought that it would be fun to try to make a bag that could hold treats and look elegant too.  I asked my husband for a color choice, I grabbed a ribbon and matching ink and went to work.  Of course I had to use my current favorite stamp set, Lighthearted Leaves.

Lighthearted Leaves Treat Carton

One sheet of 8.5 x 11″ perfect plum cardstock went into this one.  Evenly scored and punched along the sides with the extra-large oval punch to give the windows.  Window sheet was scored along the same measurements and tucked inside.  It was a bit tricky to handle the placement, but with a little patience and plenty of glue dots, I experienced success.  I am so happy with the results.  I am sure to make this one again and again.

Lighthearted Leaves Treat Carton

Have a creative day!

Moana

Elegant Butterfly

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

English Garden with Flower Patch

Can we just not jump right into the next holiday?  That is my theme for today.  I know everyone will be all into Christmas, blowing right by Thanksgiving, but I am going to take a break in between.  So, how about a lovely birthday card?

English Garden with Flower Patch

This paper is so absolutely wonderful.  I would love it in fabric so I could have it all around.  However, I wanted to partner a technique I recently learned with flowers, so I knew the pretty paper wouldn’t be the focus.  Is that even possible?

English Garden with Flower Patch

After stamping and punching out these pansies, I tried the technique out.  I used a very large stylus to just roll around the petals, slowly breaking down the fibers and creating curl.  Oh, you do this on a foam pad so you can squish a lot. It was so fun.  I did the same thing with the little leaves I made.  For those I punched a circle and then used the same punch to punch a section out of both sides giving the leaf shape.  It leaves kind of an apple core looking center behind.  Hope that makes sense.  One day I will get brave and try videos, not there yet though.  Lots of sponging for everything involved and tons of dimensionals.  This is one thick card, extra postage for sure.

English Garden with Flower Patch

Have a creative day!

Moana

Neutral Toned If the Broom Fits

I know today is Halloween, but I was just feeling a bit mellow about it.  Could that be a result of being with students all day that were super costumed out and completely mental about it?  Or maybe because I went back to take yearbook pictures that evening during the carnival and dance?  Sounds about right.  Let’s just settle down a bit, but still enjoy the holiday.

Neutral Toned If the Broom Fits

This stamp is just too funny.  I think that I have shown myself that even though there is definitely a Halloween theme with the stamp, it doesn’t have to be used that way, and that always makes me happy.

Neutral Toned If the Broom Fits

Instead of focusing on the holiday, I went with a focus on the brooms themselves.  This included giving the background a run through with the woodgrain embossing folder, wooden handles on the broom.  Also, I did  a little piercing around the brooms themselves so I could thread some of the ever so lovely linen thread around the bristles and give it some dimension.  I think that looks pretty darn cool.  All kinds of dimension going on here.  What a great card!

Neutral Toned If the Broom Fits

Have a creative day!

Moana

Treats for My Boys

More little thank you treats for my wonderful TA’s.  They put up with a lot, even getting bored when I make them just sit and do homework when things are caught up.  Who doesn’t like a little treat now and again, right?

Treats for My Boys

I absolutely love this embossing folder with the retired coordinations paper.  I think they missed their calling together.  I have a ton of the early espresso coordinations paper from when it was retired and put into the clearance rack.  I think I will just make lots of fun things with these two products.

Treats for My Boys

Funny little floating heads, or moons, or pumpkins or whatever you want to call them.  They are adorable and they look great.  I really think these bags are great.  They came together really quick with scoring, folding, and sponging.  Just my kind of fun.

Treats for My Boys

Have a creative day!

Moana

Moonrise Wonderland

This is the kind of thing I get to see all of the time.  The moon isn’t quite that large of course, but you get the idea.  I absolutely love it when you can see so much detail in nature.

10-29

I started with the moon.  The punched image and the negative sheet were both used.  The moon was sponged inside the mask with So Saffron and detailed some with Delightful Dijon.  The beautiful trees from Wonderland were stamped in versamark ink, after a hefty rubbing with the embossing buddy, and then covered in black embossing powder.  I had to be patient with the heat gun to get all of that powder melted, but it is so lovely.

10-29 (1)

I only used a few colors to create the background.  An aqua painter was  used along the bottom with Mossy Meadow to give me a bit of a hill and the ground.  Then Elegant Eggplant and Night of Navy were used to sponge in the sky.  I used the punched circle to mask the moon and it worked so nice.  Instead of using masking paper which is thin, I just used cardstock.  The ink has a hard time getting right up the to edge of the image and gives it a bit of a halo effect.  If yo don’t like it that way and want more exact detail, use something thinner.  This made me very happy.

It was layered up once on another piece of Elegant Eggplant cardstock and given a bit of height with dimensionals all the way around.  The inside cardstock was sponged lightly with more Elegant Eggplant just to tie it together a bit more.  All done!

10-29 (2)

Have a creative day!

Moana

Death By Chocolate

Another card with this wonderful set.  How much fun is a stamp that says, ‘Death by Chocolate’.  I am sure many would agree that is more than a fun idea.

Death By Chocolate

I did think it would be nice to make it with non-traditional coloring though.  When I think of chocolate, these are the colors I come up with.  A pretty gold wrapper with something dark and rich inside.  Sounds like a winner!

Death By Chocolate

Stamping perfectly isn’t always my strength, so when I make a background like this I stamp off center on purpose just to take the stress off.  Has to be fun, right?  And this card was.  Some simple layering with a few embellishments to spruce it up.  I applied the ribbon in kind of a caution tape fashion giving the hint of Halloween, but not right out saying it.  Maybe a gift card from a candy store should go inside for the perfect grown up Halloween treat?  I like it!

Death By Chocolate

Have a creative day!

Moana

Sweet Hauntings

I was pretty darn excited to get this stamp set and even more to put it to work.  These bottles, they really make me laugh!  I normally don’t purchase Halloween sets because of the limits of use.  This one, I know I will be having fun with it all year long.

Sweet Hauntings

Picking the color pallet was the easy part, some of my favorites for sure.  I love fall and all of the colors that live there.  Creating my own patterns for background paper is one of my favorite parts.  I would love this in whole sheets.  Hmmmmm, perhaps that will be a fun activity later on.  I stamped each bottle again so they could be fussy cut and layered up.  Those fun little bottles, love them!

 Sweet Hauntings

Lots of sponging on the vanilla paper.  Early espresso gives a great vintage look, which is just what I needed.  I sponged everything, lots, even the ribbon.  It gave it  a great grungy look.  I did echo stamping on the inside as well, can’t get enough of these bottles.  Did you notice the tiny little rhinestones I put on the skull bottle stopper?  Way beyond fun!

Sweet Hauntings

Have a creative day!

Moana