Basic Rhinestones

Petite Pairs and Punches Retirement Party

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Good morning to this retirement party!  Every time I get into one of those designer series paper stacks I get a surprise.  It is always something like, I don’t remember seeing this pattern, I should use this.  My poor brain.

Petite Pairs and Punches

I do really like this grouping here.  It is colorful but subtle at the same time.  Can you believe how many products will be retiring out of this?  The artisan label punch is one of my favorites.  It will stay in my stash for sure.

Petite Pairs and Punches

I also didn’t think to put this bright of a yellow with lost lagoon.  But I tried to use a daffodil delight card base to bring out the yellow, and it was too much.  Just a little bit then, not too much.

Petite Pairs and Punches

And to complete any card combo is a cute little bag.  This guy is made from one sheet of the stack.  A simple scoring, a bit of ribbon, and a flower from the other punching and it is just right.  And yes, a gift card will fit inside just right.  My cuteness must have an additional purpose other than being cute.  Who says that, right?  But it is true.

Petite Pairs and Punches

Have a creative day!

Moana

Retirement Party for Bloom With Hope

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How did my morning get away from me?  Well, it goes along perfectly with the color choices for today’s projects.  These lovely cards had to wait for their retirement party until I had helped my oldest daughter.

Bloom With Hope

She is participating in a small business class that has a specific business competition today.  Her and another young lady were selected to represent their club and their school at this competition.  I just heard from her and they are finished presenting.  Just a few more and they will announce the winners.  How exciting is that?

Bloom With Hope

What is with the color choices then?  Their organization has these two colors, instead of strawberry slush it is a bit more magenta, but pretty close.  They were to dress exactly alike with these colors as their emphasis.  They look adorable!  So I thought I would use product with the same color choices.  Cool stuff there.

Bloom With Hope

I also dipped deep into a retired product from last year.  The coordinations line sure was a fun one, and I miss it.  However, I did get quite a bit of the paper when it hit the clearance racks.  As I have used down my stash of in colors, I have found myself out of a few, but have them in coordinations.  It works for me!

Bloom With Hope

If you find yourself in need of a few cards, why don’t you give these a try?  They actually went together pretty easily and they look great too!

Have a creative day!

Moana

That’s the Ticket Retirement Party

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What is with all of the product in this photo?  Well, I am beginning a series of posts that will last the next month.  It is a retirement party, and these products are invited.  I am trying to celebrate them, because I have had so much fun making beautiful projects with them.

That's the Ticket

When the new catalog comes out in June there will be tons of new product to oogle over.  But, some have to step aside to make room.  I really am bummed out about lots of them, but am trying to stay positive.  So, welcome to my party.

That's the Ticket

As you can tell, I still have babies on the mind.  Not for me, yikes!  Several of my friends are becoming grandmothers for the first time or enjoying the blessing of another grandchild.  It is infectious!

That's the Ticket

I used one sheet of wisteria wonder to make this trio.  I cut a large square 8 x 8 and used my gift box punch board.  I took the remaining strip, cut it in half and made two little gift cards to match.  Aren’t they adorable?  I chose the baby stamp from the stamp set and stamped tone on tone all over my paper before I folded it up.  Of course I had to sponge it a bunch.  Yummy.

That's the Ticket

All of the time I have used this ticket punch I have wondered how to incorporate the miniature tickets that punch out with the larger one.  I thought they fit perfectly below my favorite ribbon ever, weep weep, the lovely chevron ribbon.

With all that said, I love these products I have shown you.  Only a month left to get your own, unless they sell out sooner.

Have a creative day!

Moana

You’re Wonderful

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What is wonderful?  Mothers are!  My mother is wonderful.  My mother-in-law is wonderful.  Paper crafting for both of them makes all of us happy!

You're Wonderful

After workshop I tend to have a bit of an empty brain, so I wondered what I could come up with for today.  As I put away my  materials and tidied my desk I cam across a couple of cards that were part way through.  Instead of just putting away the components to become something else, I added to them and made this set.

You're Wonderful

I love sending my mother cards to use and love.  She sets up the ones I personally send her around her house as decoration.  How sweet is that?  I also keep my mother-in-law supplied in birthday cards.  She is so nice to remember literally everyone in her family on their birthday.  Even down to the great-grand-babies.  Such a kind woman.

You're Wonderful

So I try to live up to their great examples and share what I can.  This pretty set is made from sahara sand, whisper white, and the lovely something borrowed designer paper.  I stamped my sentiment from the You’re Wonderful photopolymer set.  It is so fun because you can change out the wording that nests in the banners.  So awesome!

You're Wonderful

And what set of mine would be complete without an adorable matching bag?  It was made from a card base that was cut at 4 1/4 x 11″.  Simple scoring, stamping tone on tone with a smaller flower image from the same set, and adorned with velum flowers and rhinestones.  As you can tell, I stamped my sentiment on velum as well.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Flowering Flourishes with French?

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Saturday is usually my day to go all out with some totally extravagant project.  But today is workshop, so making sure I have everything just right takes priority.  I couldn’t not do something though.

Flowering Flourishes with French

Clean and simple cards may not be my strength, but I totally nailed this one!  I started out with the idea of stamping my background paper.  After the first two stamps up one side I fell in love.  I added one little flower in the top corner and stopped.  Such an interesting feeling.

Flowering Flourishes with French

I knew I needed a tiny sentiment, so I went on the prowl.  I came across a retired hostess set called Good Greetings.  I had earned a couple of free sets and put the wrong code in for one of them.  That was the french set.  But I couldn’t bring myself to exchange it.  And doesn’t it fit perfectly?  You know it does.

Flowering Flourishes with French

How did I choose these colors?  Well, I recently made an order to take advantage of that no shipping sale and stocked up on paper.  The heavy stuff for sure.  I added a few spools of cotton ribbon.  You guessed it.  Whisper white, blushing bride and island indigo.  There they sat it the box just telling me to do it.  Done.

Have a creative day!

Moana

All Abloom Gift Set

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Sometimes we go back to our beginnings when we aren’t even thinking about it.  Years ago when I first started paper crafting it was all about the paper and utilizing great tools.  I was pretty tired and just started without thinking.  Half way through I recognized where I was and just went with it.

All Abloom Gift Set

After I picked this patterned paper from the All Abloom dsp stack I literally had to scrounge for some coordinating pistachio pudding paper.  I try really hard to get through my in color stash before they retire.  I will be so sad to see this one go.

All Abloom Gift Set

Using the faintest of stamping, just color on color for the pistachio pudding strip, I enjoyed a little ribbon sewing.  So simple, yet it gives a lot of texture and interest.

All Abloom Gift Set

I used a couple of sheets to make the cute little matching bag.  Any more I give a card with a tiny gift or treat, it is almost compulsory.  I just love giving.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Crazy About You With Elegance

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“When you feel terrible, can you still create something beautiful?”  That is what I asked myself last night.  I had an endodontist appointment yesterday that I thought was headed one way and took another.  So, I wasn’t feeling very creative.

Crazy About You with Elegance

Or so I thought.  I knew black was my base, I had been wanting to make something with black for several days.  But the flower I wanted to stamp with I had just used and didn’t want to just create another card in another color.  I pulled the Crazy About You set out and picked this flower out of it.

Crazy About You with Elegance

I was reaching for my momento tuxedo black ink when I saw the silver.  I thought it could be cool to layer the stamping.  Was I right or what?

Crazy About You with Elegance

I love how this turned out.  I did learn, and please trust me on this one, that you have to clean your stamp after each layering stamp.  I stamped in silver first and let them dry for a while.  I went back in with the black, but it was picking up silver and then I was putting it back into the pad and getting silver in it.  Not fun.  So I ended up cleaning the stamp after each black flower was stamped.  Not too tiring, but necessary.  And yes, my ink pad survived nicely.

Crazy About You with Elegance

I placed just a few of the large basic rhinestones in the centers of the black flowers. It is kind of hard to tell with my photos, but they are the perfect touch.  I added a touch of ribbon and left the sentiment out of it.  They turned out very elegant.  My matching gift bag has an angled purse look to it, and I absolutely love it.

Sorry for the long post, I was apparently feeling a bit chatty.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Mixed Bunch Work of Art

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I have Easter on the brain and these are the colors that keep coming to mind.  So saffron and pear pizzazz.  They are so lovely together.  This might suggest I am ready for Easter.  Ooops, I am not.  I still have a bit of time though.

Mixed Bunch Work of Art

So, are you a card person, a bag or box person, or do you need a matching set?  I keep going back and forth.  But I do like a bag that is beautiful enough to be a card as well.  This bag is big enough to hold a nice gift for sure.  Almost too big for candies.  Wait, is there a bag too big for candies?

Mixed Bunch Work of Art

I used the same stamp to decorate each piece to tie the set together.  But, since they have the same sentiment, I wouldn’t use them together.  They just coordinate nicely.

Mixed Bunch Work of Art

Either way, I enjoyed making them.  I also hadn’t had the work of art set out for a while.  That one just begs for a quiet afternoon to play with it.  When does that happen anymore?

Mixed Bunch Work of Art

Well, I am off with my girls to enjoy our first day of spring break.  Shopping and nails then lunch.  Wonderful for sure!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Flower Shop Gift Box Part 1

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How about a big gift box for a change.  I had to control myself and keep the cards separate from this post.  You can see them tomorrow.  Eight fit inside.  Curious?  Check it out tomorrow.

Flower Shop and Sassy Salutations Gift Box

I used one sheet of 8.8 x 11″ cherry cobbler card stock for this box.  Just some basic scoring, one tiny punch for a notch and a few snips.  Then, the box is there.

Flower Shop and Sassy Salutations Gift Box

I made a top with another layer of cherry cobbler, giving an 1/8″ border, with a stamped whisper white sheet also cut with another 1/8″ border.  Simple stamping and some sponging.  I had planned on putting flowers on top, but it was just too much.

Flower Shop and Sassy Salutations Gift Box

So here we are, a nice simple box.  It measures 6.5 x 4 x 1.  Plenty of room for the cards I made to go inside, or something else fun and exciting for sure.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Yippee-Skippee! for Sale-a-bration!

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Today is the last day of Sale-a-bration.  So sad, but happy because of all of the beautiful and fun products I have been able to enjoy.  I thought I would celebrate by giving myself a gift.

Yippee-Skippee! for Sale-a-bration

I started out with this gift bag in mind.  I took a whole sheet of Irresistibly Yours DSP and sponged it like crazy with blushing bride.  It was so beautiful just sitting there on my desk.  When I cut the large pieces I needed for the bag I had a good portion left.

Yippee-Skippee! for Sale-a-bration

So, of course I had to make a set of cards to go along.  The Yippee-Skipee! stamp set is chuck full of wonderful sayings, six all together.  A great set to have, really.  I have used it like crazy.

Yippee-Skippee! for Sale-a-bration

All I knew when I sat down is the color scheme and the designer paper.  I was more than pleased when they all came together.  The cards all fit so nicely inside the gift bag.

Yippee-Skippee! for Sale-a-bration

My Denali said that set spoke of lovely rich chocolate.  So perhaps I will have to find just the right one to complete it.  I really love this set.  I love that I do this!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Bloom With Hope Birthday

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I don’t think I can ever get enough of this color combination.  It is just so soft and elegant.  I am trying to get my fix of coastal cabana in before it retires this summer.  I really do love this color.

Bloom With Birthday Hope

The sale-a-bration designer paper I used is already soft and pretty.  But doesn’t it look even dreamier with velum over the top?  Absolutely yes!

Bloom With Birthday Hope

This cute box is open on top and is ready to be filled.  My girls thought it should be filled with hershey’s kisses.  How fun to have this out and ready to be shared!

Bloom With Birthday Hope

Can you see the echo stamping I did on the inside of the card.  It looks just as pretty in blue as it does in black on the front.  I do love the inside stamped.

Bloom With Birthday Hope

Well, this set speaks for itself, in volumes.  You should try it out.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Balloon Bash Gone Wild

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This got a bit wild I think, but my girls thought it was great.  I suppose for teen girls it would be.  Sometimes we need to just step outside a bit and see what happens.

Balloon Bash

I suppose I should have done something green, for St. Patrick’s Day, oooops.  I am wearing what I call my grinch shoes.  Quite comfy, if a bit silly too.

Balloon Bash

I digress…so let’s focus here.  This tiny bag is just 2 x 2 x 3 1/2″, but you could fill it with lots of little treats or a gift or two.  It looks adorable, don’t you think?

Balloon Bash

I normally have to use a die cut or punch for my sentiments.  I was distracted and found myself fussy cutting.  So I just went that way all around.  Admittedly, I am not the best at that.  I avoid it as much as possible actually.  I know, it’s silly.

Balloon Bash

The stacked with love paper stack isn’t just about Valentine’s Day.  The back side of the red prints are more than fun in all of these exciting black and white patterns.  I use it more than my other stacks to be honest.  Interesting.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Painted Blooms with Lotus Blossom

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I finally gave in and cut into those whole sheet pieces of art in the Painted Blooms DSP.  I have used several of the other patterns, just not the one lovely enough to be framed.  I got brave and was really pleased with the results.

Painted Blooms with Lotus Blossom

A trio of happiness for sure.  Along the top left and top left of the paper it opens us, just like it would in a flower garden.  I used those spaces for stamping and then again as my inside paper.  It was as if I had stamped it, but didn’t need to.  And I didn’t want to not use it, but it wasn’t the right balance for a card front.

Painted Blooms with Lotus Blossom

This need to make matching gift bags is really starting to fill up my work station.  I can count ten bags from where I am sitting.  Seriously now, I need to do some gifting.

Painted Blooms with Lotus Blossom

I really enjoy the combination of rose red and wild wasabi.  They really are beautiful together.  Sweet words, pretty colors, flowers and butterflies, my work is so happy here.

Painted Blooms with Lotus Blossom

Have a creative day!

Moana

Sheer Perfection

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I had taken a break from blackberry bliss, since I couldn’t leave it alone.  I went through a pack of that paper pretty darn quick.  Just had to order another.  I absolutely love, love, love that color.  I am glad we get it for another year.

Sheer Perfection

Isn’t this velum paper just beautiful?  It is yet another free gift with a qualifying purchase during Sale-a-bration!  Those folks at Stampin’Up! did a really clever thing during this sale.  By the time we hit March, things have slowed a bit, so they introduced four new gift items!  Wheeeeeee!

Sheer Perfection

I picked my favorites right away of course.  This pack has several patterns and they are all wonderful.  You should really get some of it, really.

Sheer Perfection

The gift bag I made to go with is pretty darn simple.  I probably should have done more, but I was wasn’t feeling it.  My daughter thought it would be perfect with a couple of candy bars inside.  What bag wouldn’t, right?

Either way, I finally got these together.  Some Saturday’s are busier than others, and today was chuck full of very wonderful distractions.  Life can be so good.

Hope you had 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

Back to Black Throw Back Thursday

~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

I let myself get so caught up in the fun of the spring and sale-a-bration catalogs that I neglected one of my favorites.  Digging into old product and paying homage.

Back to Black

It might be hard to tell just what is retired here, because it looks familiar.  Well, the pool party paper used here is the retired version.  If you look closely, you can see some of the texture.  Remember that?  Just a subtle thing, but nice.  Also, how about all of that bling?  I was quite generous with the rhinestones, even the retired ones.  Yup, the large rhinestones.  When they hit the clearance rack, I bought a bunch.  It will be sad when that stash is gone, but that won’t be any time soon.

Back to Black

I might have used all of the floral punches, but one.  Have to love a good floral card and matching box right?  Now it just needs something fabulous to go inside.  How about some jewelry or truffles?  I like it.

Back to Black

If you want to re-create any of these, just get out your back to black dsp, all of your floral punches, pool party paper and matching ribbon, and a healthy stash of basic rhinestones.  I took the guesswork out of the box and used my box punch board.  You might notice all the lift.  Of course there is a serious dimensional party going on here too.  So, join in!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Painted Petals with Elegant Eggplant

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I sat down to work on this blog project with only one thing in mind, purple.

Painted Petals

I am totally feeling it.  I haven’t used elegant eggplant in ages.  I think it could have easily been a year.  For shame…

Painted Petals

The painted petals stamp set is such a useful set.  The sentiments, all three shown here, are wonderful.  The flowers have so many options.   The additional graphic elements really give a lot of interest.  I wonder how many projects I could make with just this set.  That thought just sent my mind spinning.

Painted Petals

It seems I can’t make a card these days without a matching bag or box.  It makes for a really busy desktop.  I obviously need to give more of this away.

Painted Petals

The background is cardstock velum stamped with white stazon using lovely lace and then I embossed it.  Sometimes the double treatment is necessary.

Painted Petals

I hope you feel inspired to get out there and 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

Hello You

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I was pretty unsure about using such a dark color.  I normally would have brightened it up, but stuck with it.  The results did come together pretty nicely I must say.

Hello You

The designer paper from the Birthday Bash set had been fussing at me for a while to get out the Night of Navy.  Isn’t it pretty paper?

Hello You

The wording set is a combo of a stamp and a thinlit.  The small words come from a huge set of stamps that really give so many choices.  They are photopolymer so placement is super easy.  The adorable ‘hello’ is one of five thinlits from the Hello You set.  For being so delicate, it was super easy to use.  Great results!

Hello You

I went back and forth on adding the Boho Blossoms flowers or not.  The card actually was lovely without them, but I kept on. I liked how they added just the right touch.   If you are a clean and simple kind of crafter, just remove the flowers. It really does make a difference.

Hello You

Either way, you should give this card a try.  It uses a ton of fun products that come together in a way that only Stampin’Up! could.  I so love how everything coordinates in every way.  Especially with a monochromatic look like this.

Have a creative day!

Moana