Hello You

August 19, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

How do you decide what to work with? Today, I went with my skirt as inspiration. While I am not wearing black and white zebra stripes with butterflies, the colors are right on. I could hold it on display and coordinate so nicely. I love how it turned out.

I have to admit, this is the first time I have used my file tab edgelits and I have had them for a long time. I wanted to use them, just in a different way. The paper helps out a lot here, and I like them vertical instead of horizontal the way a file folder would normally look. Mission accomplished.

In order to coordinate the inside with the outside, I took the small butterfly stamp from Kinda Eclectic and stamped away. It makes me so happy to have the inside match the front. The card actually is quite simple, with patterned paper like this you do have to have some limits, just some.

Have a creative day!

Moana

One Big Meaning and Remarkable You

August 18, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

To get my mind off the heat last night I sat down at my desk and got a little more creative. It has been a bit since I spent this much time for one project, but to be fair, I didn’t have any idea what I was going to do when I sat down.

I used a whole sheet of tip top taupe to make the bag. Just simple scoring there, nothing fancy. I did forget to stamp before I scored, ooops. So, my stamping does have little crease marks on the edges. Can’t be perfect.

The base has two layers, tip top taupe and a stamped layer of very vanilla. I brought out the aqua painter again, oh how I love that tool. Just using the ink from the stamp gives such a soft look.

The oval framelits were put to work again for the focal point. What a lovely flower. I brought in tip top taupe into the flower and water colored it into the old olive. I can tell the color difference, but I can also see a hint of lavender forming. Interesting. Crystal effects really made a difference in the look of the flower. I could really use that stuff way too much. A final stamped sentiment layered with some circle punches finished the front.

A touch of dotted lace trim was put to the side and also used to make a simple handle for the bag. It really turned out beautiful.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Ray of Sunshine and Pretty Petals

August 17, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

How about another one of those crazy mornings, that absolutely ran away from me. To be honest, I was helping out everyone else and didn’t get my own goodies done. Everything came together and worked out so, no worries!

Is this designer paper adorable or what! This particular print reminded me of a recently retired stamp that has the most beautiful poppies in it. I do love it when everything goes together so nicely.

A simple layering of designer paper, with coordinating paper and a length of ribbon to bring it all together. I did a double layer of tags and squeezed in this sunshine sentiment keeping everything in calypso coral. Love that color. Six pretty little flowers all sponged and centered with basic rhinestones and I am in love with this card.

Have a creative day!

Moana

No Bones About It

August 16, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

No, I don’t have little children, and yes, I did have to have this set. I actually pegged it for a favorite when the new catalog first came out. It really isn’t the speed of my card group I teach, but I wanted it for myself. How cute is it?

There are four different dinosaurs in the set, all with matching skeletons, some fossil plant looking stamps, some splats and these awesome footprints. As well as a few super cool sentiments to go along.

This card was done in mossy meadow and whisper white with no frills. I embossed the base with the chevron folder and made my layered tag from the tags & labels framelits set. Plenty of dimensionals for everyone and there you go. I did accent it a bit with some linen thread using the 1/16″ hand held punch for the knot to show through.

I am going to really enjoy this set a lot, and I mean a lot.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Sea Street Pick Me Up

August 15, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Today would be one of those days where I could use about eight arms or so to get all the things done I need to. Hence the cute little guy on the front of this card. I haven’t always had a smile on today though.

A very simple card though it doesn’t look too boring. Probably because of the awesome striped designer paper. I have hesitated using this pattern because it is so strong. It looks perfect here though.

A simple stamp, layered once, put up on dimensionals and centered, a little bow made from the beautiful dotted lace trim, which I stuck on with a few glue dots, and this precious little card was done! It may be late in the day, but I still got it done. One more thing off my list and it gave me a big smile right back. Totally worth it!

Have a creative day!

Moana

You Always Do For Others…

August 14, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

The people in our lives that give endlessly, they are so awesome! They deserve much more than something like this, but always appreciate it. Someone has to something nice for them, right?

My school secretary is just that person. She even keeps the little containers I make her gifts in. She has a cute little collection. This one is a bit larger than others I have given her, but she deserves it! The beginning of school is always so hectic.

One whole sheet of rich razzelberry for this gift bag. Doesn’t it look lovely? I didn’t have a project in mind, so I just reached to my paper files with my eyes closed, pulled the first file and there it was. I then turned to my punches and grabbed the first one I focused on. That would be the confetti hearts border punch. The rest just fell into place.

I did my favorite sponging and opted not to layer the base. Sometimes my fronts tend to curl a bit at the edges when I layer cardstock on cardstock with gift bags. So, after I punched and sponged I used tombo liquid multipurpose glue to get to the edges well to make sure it stayed down nicely. Perfect job.

A little matching cotton ribbon, subtle but still there, and the gift bag was done! Now I have the pleasure of getting the perfect treats and a gift to go inside. That will be a fun little activity for sure. Sea salt chocolates and maybe a lovely lotion. Sounds nice.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Bombs Away Birthday

August 13, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Did you ever buy something just loving it and being so excited to use it? That would be the inspiration for this card today. When Stampin’Up! first started coming out with their own photopolymer stamp sets I was so excited.

I would buy them and have an absolute blast. But, as you get more, some get neglected. This particular set was so funny to me that it was a must. I pulled it out and remembered why I hadn’t used it yet. I loved the sentiments but was stumped on what to pair them with.

Enter the super awesome brick wall embossing folder. I used my brayer to roll some cajun craze on one side of the folder, embossed a piece of the heavy weight whisper white cardstock and knew I had found the perfect pairing. The way the ink beads up a bit on the folder actually gave the bricks a porous look. Unexpected and very welcome indeed.

Simple layering, sponging to make me happy, and a touch of gold metallic thread and this project is ready to be mailed! Would you believe I have three different guys in my life that this would be perfect for? Yes, they are all very much alike.

Have a creative day!

Moana

For the New Two

August 12, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Does this conjure images of a wedding couple or what? I do have another idea though. Honestly, I went with brighter colors for that other idea.

We often associate two as a couple, as in a relationship couple. Friends of mine are currently working as nannies for a set of twins. So, how about congratulating a couple on the birth of their twins? Get it? For the new two?

Well, I thought it was very clever indeed. There are plenty of gift ideas for baby boys and girls, but how about those twins? It will take longer for triplets and such, but I am sure there is a way.

This is made from a whole sheet of english garden dsp and isn’t it glorious? I paired it with the thick backers twine and went cherry cobbler all the way. A handful of punched and sponged hearts were the perfect embellishment. A small doily helped to close it off. The stamp is of course from the wedding set, For the New Two. I layered the tags using the scalloped tag topper punch, happens to be on sale this week oddly enough, and the hearts border punch as well. Quite the gift bag if I do say so myself, and I do.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Sending Good Thoughts

August 11, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

Yesterday quite simply just ran away from me. Sometimes there are too many things to get done, too many people to help, and one too many places to go. So, this was for yesterday.

How about a nice masculine all occasion card? Nice combination if you ask me. When you have a great background stamp like Hardwood, the card almost finishes itself. The front was stamped in early espresso and sponged lightly until I liked the look. I tried something a little different for my inside stamping. I just used this huge stamp at an angle and stamped opposite corners. It worked out pretty good.

I had to stamp my sentiment a few times though, I wasn’t being very patient and then it didn’t look straight. It doesn’t have to be perfect to make me happy, but maybe not look all wonky either. A quick trip to the banner triple punch and my front layering was done. How easy is that?

I did layer the banner element up on dimensionals and accessorized lightly with two silver mini-brads. That is all it needed.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Happy Age Awareness Day

August 9, 2015August 9, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

This birthday stamp set never gets old for me. I think some of the phrases are just too funny. I must have migrated here today because I am a little tired and have a bit of the giggles. Maybe that is why my photos are all wonky. Oh well…

I went with just lost lagoon for my color scheme. Sometimes using one color is all that is needed. It helps to enjoy other parts of the project, like embossing or even just the sentiment.

I put the banner triple punch to work today and really am pleased how they layer so nicely together. Super simple to make without all of the frustration of trying to make a banner just right. Thank you for that awesome punch!

Finishing it off with some of the new metallic silver thread also made me very happy. It is like using ribbon without any of the distractions you sometimes want to avoid. How fun is that!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Love

August 8, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

How would you suggest I celebrate my 200th blog post? Some would perhaps do a give away, a special sale, or something else full of excitement. I just might be a little different. How about showing something simple, something that I love.

How about just saying that I have loved my journey so far, and am looking forward to continuing. I do love being creative, love sharing it with others, and love the joy that comes from helping others find they are creative and talented too. There, love.

This cute little bag? How about using a 6×6 piece of paper, like this Go Wild DSP stack, scoring it at 2″ on all four sides, quick snip on both score lines on opposite sides, and watch it come together. A little hole punching for the ribbon, which I do love the dotted lace trim too much, and a sweet bow.

One tiny stamp with one tiny tag layered on another tiny tag. Two little basic rhinestones and it is all finished. I do love a simple project that shares more than just pretty product that is fun to work with, it shows you care about someone enough to do something special. That is what I love.

Have a creative day!

Moana

A Little Thanks

August 7, 2015August 7, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

What to do with a spool of silver metallic thread? Make butterfly antennae of course. This tiny, oh so tiny, tiny little bag is also closed with the same thread.

This bag is sized just right to hold a gift card and you could squeeze in a flat chocolate or two. How perfect a thank you is that? I do love giving gift cards to people and having them tucked inside something as adorable as this makes it even better.

I started out with a piece of cardstock measuring 4 1/4 x 5 1/2, yup, that tiny. I stamped half way down with my little butterflies, flipped it around and went down the other way. I did that so if you turn the bag around, my butterflies aren’t upside down. Clever, right? Thought so too.

My score lines were all about the 1/2″ mark. Just a tiny little bag here, so cute. Can you tell I love tiny things? Well, I do! And this bag is all done and ready to get that special gift card for some lucky friend.

Have a creative day!

Moana

It’s Your Day

August 6, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I think I am ready for summer to cool off. Looks like I am thinking of a spring day here. My daughter told me this looks like a dress. Would be a cute one.

I thought it would be fun to use a stamp in a different way than intended. This leave bouquet is in a thanksgiving themed set. Also, I hadn’t used pink pirouette for quite some time and decided to put the two together. At first I wanted to use the flower punches as if they were a flower at the end of each stem. Well, looking at them they created stripes of flowers. Not so good. They looked much better placed randomly.

I used glue dots to secure them. I didn’t feel like it, but I did sponge them all. It made a difference, really. Plenty of basic rhinestones to go around and I loved the sparkle it gave.

The sentiment came from the endless birthday wishes set. I really had ignored this one, but it is so great! I love, love, love how you can partner the typeset phrases with pretty cursive ones. A tiny tag with a bow in the middle and it was all done. Of course I had to echo stamp the inside to match the front though, then it was really done.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Game On!

August 5, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Know someone who is taking on a new challenge? Me too, and this card is just right for her. I guess it could go for a lot of different occasions, even a child’s birthday card, use your imagination. I sure did.

The card base is bermuda bay and I kept it just to that one color. The card front has a narrow boarder with the stamped front layered on another piece of bermuda bay cardstock and lifted up on dimensionals. The simple sentiment comes from the Dear Heart set, along with this adorable little boy.

He is prepped for adventure with a mask from the Calling All Heroes set stamped in coordinating ink. I punched him out with the 1 3/4″ circle punch and layered that again with a 2″ circle punch of more bermuda bay. A simple accent of striped grosgrain ribbon finished it off nicely.

I sponged color around the edges of the card front, the inside panel and the circle punches. Just softening it a little bit. Now I can’t wait to give it to my friend.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Go Wild All Occasion Card

August 4, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Such a simple card for today, but it really makes me smile. I did really try for a sentiment, some kind of cute stamped phrase, but couldn’t do it. I just really liked it how it was.

I guess that will leave this truly an all occasion card waiting for who knows what. I think it leans more to the feminine side, but maybe a bit of room for masculine? Your choice.

The card base is made with tip top taupe layered with basic black and a front of this awesome go wild designer series paper. I brought out the banner triple punch to give me these perfect banners. I love not having to snip or make a square punch try to work. I even repeated the pattern inside the card. Not my usual, but I do like stamping on the inside.

A touch of satin stitched ribbon around the banner trio and this card was done. Super simple with a great look. I think this might be my make and take for a demonstrator event I am attending this month. Hmmmm…

Have a creative day!

Moana

Lovely as a Tree

August 3, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

This project was actually ready for yesterday, there just wasn’t the time to sit down and put it together. Yesterday was all about family and it was wonderful.

I started with ribbon. Not my usual, but I am trying to get used to this new striped cotton ribbon, and the only way to do that is to use it. Hello honey was the ribbon color, so I coordinated the card front with the same color cardstock. It was too smooth so to the big shot it went for some embossing. Since it was a tree image, woodgrain worked great for me.

Before I forget, as I finished up with my sponging, I decided I couldn’t see the embossing like I wanted, so I lightly rubbed my inked sponge across the top of the embossing until it was dark enough. Loved how that turned out.

For this pretty tree. A single stamp in mossy meadow on watercolor paper, that is all. I wanted to soften it a bit, so I spritzed it was water and allowed the image to blend some. Sponging with sahara sand for everyone, a touch of tearing, plenty of dimensionals, and this was done. I don’t often make masculine cards, let alone an all occasion one. But here you have it.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Irresistible Beautiful Bunch

August 1, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Some days the creativity flows effortlessly and some days it would be easier to birth an elephant. That would be today. I had to walk away two different times before I called it done.

The color me irresistible designer series paper is so very cool. I love that I get to choose which colors I want to create as well as others that are already done and full of interest, especially this black paper. Isn’t it so elegant?

These flowers just about took me down, they still just might. I was determined to use these new pearl embellishments and picked this flower stamp and coordinating punch to frame them. Well, they turned out too light with my method of water coloring and I didn’t like the boarder from the punch, even though it was small, it made the flower just too light. I did more painting and added black ink in too. Just a bit, but it is there. Tried curling the flowers more, and then just about tore them up.

I just put them in place and grabbed the ribbon. I wasn’t going to use a ribbon, but a sentiment layered on tags. When I gave it a try, I decided it wasn’t so horrible after all. I am sure there could have been other things to help, but I just had to call it and walk away. Either way, I really don’t hate it anymore.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Boho Chic Gift Bag

July 31, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

The UPS man brought this lovely little box yesterday that had some really fun things inside. One of which was the new striped cotton ribbon. I held off for a bit, but went for it when they went on sale.

I wasn’t disappointed, let me tell you. So, I wanted to make something that really put the ribbon out front. No stamping today, how odd. Some embossing though, had to have something. The boho chic embossing folder is really too cool.

That was also a new product I wasn’t very sure about. As you can see, the pattern is great and will be tons of fun. I haven’t gotten the designer series paper it coordinates with, but I will soon enough. Can’t have it all, at once that is.

This is one whole sheet of tangelo twist and two pieces of very vanilla. With my trusty score board by my side, I can make all kinds of fun boxes and bags. Such a great go to tool. Highly recommended.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Thoughts & Prayers, Praying For You

July 30, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

How weird is it to make a card with yourself in mind? I have to think that sometimes that is more than okay. More than okay, it is a great idea!

I have to say that I am proud of this little card though. My thoughts were more than scattered as I sat down to work. I have a small stack of scraps to the side that I just haven’t filed back. Today I made this project entirely from scrap, with the exception of the pearls and ribbon. How cool is that!

That makes my work easier, cleans up that little stack, and keeps my main stash of paper untouched for one more day. I do feel a paper order coming on though.

I love love love this brick embossing folder. It makes so many fun looks and I love how it is 6×6 so I can have my bricks facing how I want regardless of my paper direction. Wheeee!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Thank You For Being You

July 29, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I am feeling a little extra grateful this morning. There are those out there that step forward and go beyond their own limits just to be kind and take care of others. Truly a beautiful thing.

So, it had to be all about a special thank you. Not to focus on too many distractions, just keep the emphasis on the thanking, specifically ‘you’. With this totally awesome Larger Than Life Alphabet & Numbers set, no problem. I am looking at this card across the room and it is so obvious what the card is about. Perfect.

The card base is the heavy weight whisper white card stock. Love that stuff. I just like knowing that the base will stand up to whatever I put down on the front. Today’s isn’t heavy at all, but I know it won’t tip over or curl. Happy days!

What makes this project even better? It has all kinds of fun, but it won’t need extra postage because it is flat. How cool is that!

Have a creative day!

Moana

studio824

Creativity for all seasons and reasons.

Hello You

One Big Meaning and Remarkable You

Ray of Sunshine and Pretty Petals

No Bones About It

Sea Street Pick Me Up

You Always Do For Others…

Bombs Away Birthday

For the New Two

Sending Good Thoughts

Happy Age Awareness Day

Love

A Little Thanks

It’s Your Day

Game On!

Go Wild All Occasion Card

Lovely as a Tree

Irresistible Beautiful Bunch

Boho Chic Gift Bag

Thoughts & Prayers, Praying For You

Thank You For Being You