Black Stazon

Mother’s Day Take Two

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Earlier in the year I made a couple of cards with this darling little chick from a sale-a-bration stamp set.  I instantly fell in love.  So did my mother.  I decided she needed to have one of her own and not just a card.

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A prior paper pumpkin kit had this frame along with pretty little things to make a wonderful decorative gift.  I couldn’t make it for my own mother since she gets the same kits each month and I didn’t want to give her something she already had.  It sat upon the shelf for some time.  Until last night when I needed it, the frame that is.  I also used the wrapping cardstock and ribbon to go around it.  Now I will send it away for an early mother’s day gift.  She will be super excited.

The little chick was stamped in black stazon on a 4 x 4″ sheet of water color paper.  I started pulling ink pads until I had everything painted just like I wanted.  I did use my heat tool a few times along the way to set color when I wanted to layer another.  The yellows I let all blend together without worry.  But I wanted the cheeks to stay pink and tried to keep the beak a little more under control.  The shadow needed to be dried before the background was applied, but that is about it.  After I put a touch of marina mist for blue eyes I used wink of stella to give them some sparkle.  Just a fun little project to make my mom smile.  So fun.

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Have a creative day.

Moana

Thanks to You I Grew Up Loved

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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.

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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.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

They Say It’s Your Birthday

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How about a simple birthday card!  I think this one could be for just about anyone, don’t you? Keeping projects simple allows for a lot of options, more than you would think.  And how awesome is this balloon bouquet punch?  I am absolutely in love with it.  I hope it carries over.  I am keeping it no matter what.

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I had to hold myself back to not put strings and all kinds of fun stuff here.  But, that would defeat the purpose of of a clean and simple cards after all.  This way I think it would even work for a masculine card.  Gotta love those!

I punched two large and three small balloons.  The large ones were attached flat to the paper and the smaller ones were raised up on dimensionals.  Of course everything is sponged.  The balloons were sponged in hello honey to coordinate as well as the tag.  I thought the color was too strong on the tag, so I sponged with silver encore ink as well to soften it.  It turned out great.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

 

It’s Your Day!

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Yesterday was one of my TA’s birthdays.  Boys turning 14 don’t want a lot of fluff, just cut to the good stuff.  I stopped on the way to school and picked up a large chocolate bar and wrapped in this awesome, retired, water color patterned dsp.  He is also an artist, so I knew he would appreciate the water color theme going on.

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It was so easy to assemble.  I placed tear n’ tape along three sides and wrapped the large candy up.  First I wrapped the paper around fairly tight and sealed it like a flat tube.  Then, I just removed the other strips of tape to flat seal the ends.

I took the scraps of my linen thread and wrapped them around and tied a knot.  I just took my hand painted, and stamped of course, gift tag and looped it through one of the extra strands.  Another simple knot and this lovely package was ready to go.  Sorry I didn’t get a photo of the finished product, but I wasn’t sure just what candy I would be able to get. Stores out in the country don’t always have a large selection.  The way the paper was prepared I could have turned it into a large sour cream container styled  box and been just fine as well.  For the win!

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Balloon Celebration

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Experimenting with water coloring has become one of my new favorite things to do.  I am so young in this medium that it is a constant adventure.  I do try not to do it all of the time, but it might just be my favorite.  Hard to put that off.

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I did stamp off the balloons twice before they got to the card front.  I wanted dark color, but still opaque.  It worked nicely.  The second layer stamping was done only stamped off once to make sure it was seen well.  Also a good fit.  I did go over the balloons again with the aqua painter to smooth things out.  A bit of dabbing with a paper towel helped to create better highlight spots.  Fun and fun. I am still waiting for the back-ordered balloon punch, so I had to layer the balloons with just ink.  That is why I had them opaque.  To allow the layering to show the balloons behind, just like it would with a real bouquet of balloons.  I do think this card is good for just about anyone’s birthday, masculine too.  A really great project that was satisfying on so many levels.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Flowering Fields with Botanicals for You

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I did start out with a St. Patrick’s Day card set in mind.  Hence the green and gold. However, it quickly changed into something more elegant and much more useful.  I do know several people that truly do love to celebrate this holiday and this would work wonderfully for them as well.  What fun, right?

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This Flowering Fields stamp set will be gone soon.  I do love the fun free products available during Sale-a-bration, but always are sad to see them go.  I do know that there are always new things on the horizon that I will love equally well, but I do have my favorites that stick around year after year.

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I ended up using a full sheet of very vanilla, part for the card front and inside, and used the rest to make a gift bag.  I prefer to have paper used up with as little waste as possible.  I even used the snipping left from cutting the front and inside to be my sentiment tag.  Very little waste today indeed.

This glitter tape is so much fun.  I admit I have stashed it a bit too long, I thought I had learned my lesson.  Guess not.  So, I broke it out and put it to work.  Just a little bit does so much.  And it is so tidy, no glitter messes to be found.  A win for everyone for sure. I do think I will use some tape to close the bag when it gets filled with a treat or two.  Yeah!

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Beautiful Ride for My Nali Bug

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This card has been in the planning part of my brain since the spring catalog came out.  I waited to get the set because I thought it would be one more for me than anything else.  I just might turn out to be wrong on that one, but we will see.  I made this one for my oldest daughter, Denali.  Some of my pet names for her are Nali, Bug, and the coziest is My Nali Bug.  That is just what this card is, My Nali Bug.  I shared it with her before this blog went live and she was so cute about it.  How fun is that!

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I simply stamped the car in the lower portion of my water color paper and got the ink out.  I had originally thought to write her name on the car door, but changed to the balloon last minute.  I think I could get lost in this stamp.  How many creative ways have you seen one of these cars painted in the years they have been driving on the roads?  My brain is thinking of ways to make them on this little guy too.  So much fun and never enough time.

Simple layering of my two focal colors, and this card was done.  I enhanced the layering inside the card to give it a bit more color, but that is really it.  I added some wink of stella to the windows and the silver ink areas of the car.  I touched up the rims with a white gel pen.  It wasn’t perfect, but the surface wasn’t ideal for that pen.  The texture of cold press water color paper is my favorite, so there will be some concessions here and there.  Good enough.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Picture Perfect Hummingbird

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Is it possible to be defeated by a stamp set?  It was surely happening with this project.  I decided to tackle a four step stamp, yes, this innocent looking hummingbird.  I took a photo of my study series, or my path of frustration to say the least.

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I am much more used to sitting down, getting out whatever I want, and having it turn out pretty darn amazing.  This was not to be the case.  However, if I was to come across 3-D glasses, I might have had more fun.  My first two attempts obviously were poor color choices.  The hummingbird I had in mind was not going to come together.

I changed to monochromatic thinking that might help.  It did some, and I improved, but was still unhappy.  Keeping this guy all lined up, even being able to see through the stamp, was proving harder than anticipated.  I switched to water color paper and played some more.  I gave it one more try, with elegant eggplant, night of navy, gold, and black stazon.

Stamp one was in elegant eggplant, stamp two in gold (the little neck), stamp three was done in night of navy, and the final stamp (which included the beak) was done in black stazon.  I got to work with my aqua painter for the background wash, in soft sky, and then added coloring to the bird.  It got out of control fairly quick and I thought I was done for sure.  I was being so careful, so I thought.  I ended up putting a thick layer of paper towels over the image to seep up the crazy color mess.  When I peeled it away I got a little hope, it didn’t look so impossible.

When I had finished I fell in love with it.  I am not sure if I could duplicate it, because of all of the water color layering effects, but I won’t be scared to try.  It is such a pretty image and I love it in water color.  Especially with the gold ink and the wink of stella added in.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Remarkable You

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It is so nice to have a day off from school and work, but it does put things off more than a bit.  I seem to be having more and more of that as of late, but I do keep trying to get it back in the right gear.  Now I have wedding reception plans to toss into the mix.  Exciting!

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I pulled a few ink colors that I wondered about going together.  Blackberry bliss is such a strong color I hesitate sometimes to put it with others.  This pastel grouping compliments it nicely though.  I don’t think I have watercolored with it yet either.  That was fun for sure.  I used a basic card front made from cold pressed water color paper, masked a quarter inch border off and got to work.  This project was one of the times I just let it happen without too much planning or thought.  I find that less stressful because you don’t have an exact finish in mind, just simple imagery and colors.  Works well for me.

I layered my front on a backgroun of mint macaron with a narrow 1/8″ border, and then placed it again on the card base.  I didn’t do any inside stamping this time.  Just a simple and clean piece of whisper white waiting to be written on.  I think that was all it called for.

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Have a creative day.

Moana

Have an Adventure

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This is a break from the seemingly endless lines of Christmas cards.  But you know what, people have birthdays during the holiday season too and they need to be remembered as well.

Have an Adventure

This adventurous card is headed to someone who is just about adventurous as I can imagine.  Some stamp sets you look at and wonder when you will use it, but then you have just the thing.  This little mountaineering guy has been waiting for just that moment.  He comes from a set that has long since retired, but found a friend in the World Map background stamp for sure.

Have an Adventure

I really do love this combination.  I can see many more coming together with other masculine images to accent the world map.  Kind of a fun change from holiday colors as well.  Good for all I guess, especially the birthday boy!

Have an Adventure

Have a creative day!

Moana

You’ve Got This

~ moanaj ~ 2 Comments

Sometimes simple words are all you have, and sometimes that is all you need.  That is just how I feel this morning.

You've Got This

I took my time painting this lovely flower with a few of my favorite inks.  I stamped the flower in almost artichoke and did light water coloring to get the base down.  I added cajun craze but kept it light the first time through.  Adding more water helped to do a little blending, but I didn’t want too much of that.  I like that two colors together can create a third unexpected surprise.  In person, you can see the blended areas have nearly a cherry cobbler tone.  Cool, right?  I thought so too.

You've Got This

The entire image was accented in gold encore ink, still using the aqua painter.  That really creates a fun look and is surprisingly easy to control.  One simple sentiment in black stazon ink with a little gold metallic thread and this simple card was done.  Well, I did have to stamp inside as well.  I stamped off twice before I placed the stamp on the inside paper.  Nice and light.  And look, absolutely no sponging!  Crazy.

You've Got This

Have a creative day!

Moana

Vintage Leaves

~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

What happens to some mornings, I really don’t know.  Just when you think you might get a break here or there, it just doesn’t happen.  But I made it here, finally.

Vintage Leaves

I have taken my time in using this new set, Vintage Leaves, but am totally ready to go now.  I only used one leaf today.  I wanted to focus on color as much as detail and thought if I had too may patterns and colors it might get lost.  Rich Razzelberry was my focus, and this was totally what I wanted it to look like.

  Vintage Leaves

I stamped several of the same leaf in black Stazon and left space for just one rich razzelberry one.  So simple.  I used a second stamp set, For All Things, for the sentiment.  It was layered flat with a banner of coordinating cardstock.  I touched it up with a strand of cotton ribbon and called it good.  I really did love how this turned out.

Vintage LEaves

Have a creative day!

Moana

Dude, Happy Birthday

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

While chatting with my daughter I asked her for a little inspiration for a project.  She came up with these two stamp sets.  She remembers the Paper Pumpkin stamps much better than I do.  Good to get a reminder or two.

Dude, Happy Birthday

I have to admit, I am really into the Bombs Away Birthday set.  This particular one is my favorite, but they are all pretty awesome.

Dude, Happy Birthday

I was originally going to spritz the designer paper, but I forgot to get a re-inker in tip top taupe.  Ooops!  So I opted to sponge it instead.  The geometric pattern looks pretty darn cool.  A little bit of layering, lifting everything up on dimensionals, touches of silver mini brads and a finish with silver metallic thread and this card is ready to go.

Dude, Happy Birthday

I need to remember to get those paper pumpkin stamp sets out more often.  The kits are so fun to work with when they first come, but I often put the stamps away and then move on.  I think I will have to work on getting them in cases to keep them more visible.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Larger Than Life Birthday Wishes

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Any wonder what today’s card is all about?  Couldn’t get any more direct that this and I love it!

Larger Than Life Birthday Wishes

A certain young man is having a birthday this month and his grandmother requested a special card.  I love personalized items, especially when you aren’t likely to see that name all of the time.  Call it childhood memories.

Larger Than Life Birthday Wishes

My youngest daughter might disagree as to who this should be for.  She might want to send it to a particular One Direction band member who also might be named Liam, but that isn’t going to happen.  She can make her own.

Larger Than Life Birthday Wishes

The Larger Than Life Alphabet and Number set is so wonderful for things like this.  I took the ‘happy birthday’ sentiment from That Thing You Did.  Some Cucumber Crush for a fun bright green and it was nearly done.  A touch of ribbon to bring it all together and I was happy.  I think Liam will be too.

Have a creative day!

Moana

A Little Thanks

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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.A Little Thanks

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.

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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.

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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

Tiny Thank You

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Spending the morning with my husband took first place today.  So, blogging had to happen later on in the morning.  Works great for me, during the summer that is.

Tiny Thank You

I didn’t know where to start this morning, so I turned to my scrap pile.  You know, those extra bits of paper that are too big to toss and haven’t filed back into the paper files.  Well, there was this piece of bermuda bay measuring 5×6 that was calling to me.  I did the math and ended up using my scoreboard to make this cute little carton.  Simple division is a beautiful thing, did I just say that?  Yup!

Tiny Thank You

This carton is big enough to fill with plenty of treats or even a nail polish or two.  Sometimes it is fun to say thank you in a different way.  I do have a weakness for cute little boxes and bags.

Tiny Thank You

How about the washi tape though!  I did all of my scores first and then got the tape out.  I put it down on an angle leaving about 3/4″ between pieces.  I didn’t measure, just eyeballed it.  From a distance it looks like striped paper with blue stripes over the top.  Fun look.

Banner punches went to work on the adorable sentiment tag.  Using bakers twine was the only thing tiny enough to work well.  All in all, I do love this little guy. Now, who to share it with…

Have a creative day!

Moana

Just Kidding…

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Emma thought I should do a card that went with our current nail polish colors.  She has the blue and yes, I do have a very bright pink.  I wasn’t sure about the combination, but went for it anyway.  Why not?

Just Kidding...

Looking at the colors, I knew I had to put something silly together.  The Just Kidding stamp set is very silly, so that was the obvious choice.

Just Kidding...

A standard card base with a narrow white card front, which I embossed in the decorative dots folder.  Then I added a layer of pool party, also with a narrow border, and the final stamped card front.  The aqua painter came to the rescue again and helped me color this funny lady in.

Just Kidding...

I used a coordinating sentiment for the inside that says, “You’ll be missed.”  So, it ends up nice after all.  Just Kidding, get it?  Like I said, a silly set.  There are lots of fun phrases in it, lots.  A not so quick bow tied at the front and I called this one complete.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Remarkable You

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Working with great paper makes everything so much more fun.  Colored embossed paper, in such pretty colors?  Of course, why not!

Remarkable You

The project began with the new heavy weight whisper white cardstock, I love having such a heavy base, and gathered layers of stamping and more color.  The image and sentiment come from the same set, which is delicious by the way, and were stamped in black stazon.  I knew I would be water coloring, so that is the perfect ink to work with.

Remarkable You

I blended watermelon wonder with a touch of crumb cake and it turned out so nice.  I chose crumb cake because I was using linen thread and wanted to tie in the colors.  A large ribbon wasn’t going to work here.  It took too much focus away from the flower and sentiment.

Remarkable You

I think I would add a mat or two behind the flower next time, but left it alone for now.  It turned out nice, just right.  I do love a simple water color.

Have a creative day!

Moana

You’ve Got This

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I love beautiful paper, just love it.  This Timeless Elegance set is truly wonderful to work with.  Once I cut this piece for a card front the rest of the card came together so easily.

You've Got This

The card base is very vanilla with a narrow background of the same color.  It isn’t easy to see, but it gives it just the right touch.  The stamping was also done on the same color and cut out with the tags and labels framelits.  That new set makes me very happy.  I like a tighter border in layering and this set does it well.

You've Got This

Of course everything is layered up on dimensionals, I have to have that.  And that ribbon.  I just got this one and couldn’t wait to use it.  The stitched satin ribbon is lovely, just lovely.  A pretty bow and then on to flowers.

You've Got This

The petite petal punch and the flower from the itty bitty accents punch pack make it work.  I filled the corner up nicely and gave everyone basic pearls in the center.  Simple and yet very elegant.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Lovely Amazing You

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When you live in a house with teenage girls you get to enjoy all of the fun that goes along with it.  That includes having a healthy obsession over a fun band, One Direction.  My husband bought us concert tickets last fall, as a Christmas gift, and the concert was this last weekend.

Lovely Amazing You

While we were waiting for the show, I studied the stage and, guilty as charged, I started thinking of a card idea.  Well, why not, right?

Lovely Amazing You

I used three different stamp sets to put this together, and I could have done more.  I love how so many sets have these little accent stamps that can be used tons of different ways.

Lovely Amazing You

This comes down to a thank you card that will never be sent, I am sure my daughter will just want to keep it.  It was a blast to be with my girls, watching them totally fan girl over their ‘boys’, and revel in their happiness.  Just like Christmas morning magic for a child, really.

Have a creative day!

Moana