L is for Love

August 8, 2016August 8, 2016 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Current product is always fun and often a bit too exciting. How about something that isn’t brand new, but new to you? I was given a few stamp sets from my daughter-in-love and I couldn’t have been more pleased. We did some stamping together and she just might have gotten the bug. How fun!

These stamp sets are over a decade old, but just adorable. The word set is fantastic. I don’t know how I missed these because they are just what I would have purchased. Well, they are mine now and I didn’t even have to hunt them down on eBay or something. Retired product can be found all around online, but isn’t always priced reasonable. If you find something you love in a current catalog, you should just get it. Like I need another flower stamp set. I don’t think I will ever stop buying floral stamps.

I brushed the background with ink until I got good coverage and then blotted a bit with a paper towel. Then I used the largest floral stamp and put them all over the front overlapping generously. I stamped ‘love’ on another piece of paper, trimmed it and placed it over a wrap of cotton ribbon, also retired. Just because product gets retired doesn’t mean it isn’t beautiful. It just means I can’t sell it because of availability. No big deal there.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Workshop Madness Day 1

September 3, 2015September 3, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

In a prior post I mentioned a demonstrators workshop that I was able to attend. There were a lot of ladies there and excitement was certainly in the air. I thought I would go through some of the samples I brought back and show them to you.

The next five days will be all about Halloween. For some reason, there was a lot more of that than the other holidays, maybe because it was closer.

This gift bag was created with scoring and cutting, and then layering up with lots of cute things. The stamp and punch were actually carry over from the last holiday catalog and I am so glad. Such a great set. But the paper is new, and it is so cute!

This bag is made from the gift bag punch board and really goes together easy. I hadn’t thought I could put this to use, since I adore my score board for bags, but I just might change my mind. It doesn’t have to complicated to look great. Sometimes a simple favor is all you need.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Floral Gift Box

August 20, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

When my daughter came home this week for her university break she brought this little birdhouse box with her. My mother had given it to her to deliver to me to try and create a version of it.

I don’t have a diecut that would do this, so I had to think it out a little bit. Although I had several frustrations, I ended up with something cute.

I started out with a piece of paper 7″ x 8.5″. I scored along the 8.5″ side at 2, 4, 6, and 8″ leaving an edge of a half inch. I turned it one quarter around and scored it at 2″. This became the bottom. Along the top, with the long scores going up, I proceeded to cut with my trimmer, not scissors. I cut along the score lines down to 2.5″ on all score lines. This gave the top flaps. Two of them were punched with the scallop tag topper and the other two were trimmed down a bit. My design became a bit flawed and I had to improvise a bit.

I stamped the paper with versamark ink and applied white embossing powder to give me the cute little flowers you see. They turned out so pretty. The rest of the box assembly was pretty basic. I know I don’t give a lot of detail, I get impatient. I am working on it.

Have a creative day.

Moana

Larger Than Life!

July 20, 2015July 20, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Turning 18 can be exciting, scary, or even uneventful. As a parent it is definitely exciting and scary, but it would be nice if it was calm and even a bit subtle. With my oldest daughter turning 18 next week, subtle is more likely the theme. She is at university now, and I won’t be there to celebrate with her. A care package is in order for sure.

The new designer series paper packs are awesome. I love that they measure 6×6. You aren’t limited by the direction of the pattern because you have a larger area to work with. Makes me so happy.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to work with this huge letter and alphabet set, but I went for it. It is so huge! But I think I will have a ton of fun with it. I honestly think it would be so funny if I turned the period after the number abbreviation to a red exclamation point. Could I deny her the birthday? Stop my daughter from growin up any more? Not likely.

A clean and simple card is the theme here. Celebrating birthdays doesn’t mean everything is to be all flashy, it could, but it doesn’t have to be.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Just Kidding…

July 17, 2015July 17, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

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?

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.

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.

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

You’ve Got This

July 11, 2015July 11, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

My mind is a little more scattered than usual this morning. That is because there are more than one exciting things going on. Yes, and that includes me finally getting to showcase this awesome stamp set!

Good things are about to happen, truly. This is a weekend made for family, friends, and fun. How exciting, right?

This card though. I kept the layering very simple and clean. I wanted to see both of these stamps well and not have one overpower the other. I think that worked out pretty darn well if I do say so myself.

I stamped the image in versamark ink and heat embossed it using clear embossing powder. When I stamped over with the background stamp, in sahara sand, the image showed through so nicely. I did have to rub it a bit with a paper towel to get the ink off the embossing, but not much. And there you have it!

I repeated the stamping somewhat on the inside using the background stamp edges. I can see so many possibilities with this set. I think I will have to set one day aside to see just what I can do with it.

Have a creative day!

Moana

The Little Moments

July 10, 2015July 10, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I got it into my head to open this paper, do a sponge ombre look, and call it good. I loved this type of paper from the Sale-a-bration bonus catalog and couldn’t wait for Stampin’Up! to make more. They sure did. But I had a surprise when I opened the pack up.

There were six white sheets and six colored ones. I looked into the catalog to see what was up, and sure enough, there the colored ones are too. I thought they were just examples of how it could look all inked up. I did not pay attention very well. Fun for me though!

The resist pattern looks like raindrops to me, guess that is what it actually is. Marina mist seemed to be the appropriate color choice, so I sponged away to make an ombre look. I love how striking the raindrops are, yummy.

I took a sentiment from the watercolor wings stamp set and punched it out with the note tag punch and layered it up. Pretty simple overall. I started out with a 6×6 piece of paper, sponged it, scored it and stuck it together. If I was brave enough to video you would have witnessed an epic ribbon battle. No one was injured in the making of that bow, but it was close.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Just For You

July 6, 2015July 6, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Sometimes I feel like there are one too many butterflies flying around my craft area. But then I remember, you can never have too many butterflies! Especially when Stampin’Up! keeps coming out with even more exciting stamps to use. This set is just one of those types. I could just put these everywhere.

The color scheme is very simple, blushing bride and whisper white with tiny 1/8″ boarders. I do love those. Only one butterfly on this card front. The base image is done in blushing bride. The next layer, the detailed image, was stamped in versamark ink. That alone looked wonderful with the darker tone. A quick sprinkle of iridescent ice went over the versamark while it was still sticky and took a trip to the heat gun to melt it in place.

I tried to angle the photo to show you the almost purple glimmer that comes from the powder. You can kind of see it. Absolutely lovely stuff. The body and antennae are separate stamps that make the body. And yes, this is a photopolymer set. You just have to see through these stamps to get images just where you want them.

A quick sentiment from the same set and a tiny cotton ribbon bow, and it was done. I did stamp a few dots on the inside panel, of course.

Have a creative day!

Moana

You Are So Kind

July 1, 2015July 1, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Nothing says elegance quite like a white on white greeting card. I love how they look and how subtle their beauty is. I am not sure this will fit into a regular envelope with all of those layers. I think I will have to make a custom one.

I knew I wanted to use the new brick wall embossing folder, I have been so excited to get it. I also knew I wanted to use both sets of butterflies dies. I just didn’t know for sure how to fit them all together nicely. They ended up all layered together, all five of them.

I only used one stamp from the watercolor wings set for the sentiment. I haven’t let myself play with all of the other stamps. I do try to budget how much time I give to my craft each day, otherwise nothing else would get done.

I used the bitty banner punch to give me banner ends on my sentiment and layered everyone up with dimensionals. I glued my butterfly layers together using tombo and put the final butterfly object on dimensionals as well. I finished it off with basic rhinestones, a string of nine for the body, and a scattering along the left side and bottom. Just right.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Wondrous Wreath and My Plum Trees…

June 19, 2015June 19, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

I was out looking at my plum trees last night and decided I wanted to bring those colors into a project. My photos aren’t the best, you can hardly even see the mossy meadow layer in-between the two others, but it is there. I so need a new camera.

Either way, I still love how it turned out. I stamped off once on my first layer of leaves. So when I added the second layer of leaves with the second stamp I left it full strength. Lovely contrast if I do say so myself. I did the berries in rich razzelberry to match of course. I continued those little guys on the inside, and they are so cute. I can see me using the berry stamp to make a background paper.

I know my wording is a bit slanted, but I was tired. The heat has been so bad lately that by the time I get to settle down to work, I am so warm and tired that I don’t have the patience I should.

My brain is so all over the place. Just too many things to get done and not enough time. Summer break may be here, but I have yet to really enjoy any of it. July will be better, supposedly.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Cucumber Crush Party

June 15, 2015June 15, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Getting back into the groove can be a bit slow at first. I also gave myself a challenge this morning by making cucumber crush my main color. We haven’t become friends just yet, so I thought we needed some together time. I helped it find a friend in blushing bride, and I like how it worked out.

I used a full sheet to make this pretty gift bag. I stamped the background paper with the fun leaf from the Kinda Eclectic set. Loved it. I used it full strength some, but mostly stamped it off once first. I like how different this color looks at different strengths.

I sometimes stop myself from using flowers, because I feel like I really get them everywhere. I just love flowers! So, I didn’t hold back at all here. I usually stamp off blushing bride, but it needed to be strong to work with this fun green. The combo is full of life. I think a yellow would have paired nicely, but I had to stop somewhere.

These pretty clear faceted buttons are so fun to use. It helped me finish up this gift bag nicely. Sometimes I go overboard on bling, but not today. I wasn’t sure when I started this project, but I love how it ended up.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Big News with Perpetual Birthday Calendar

June 2, 2015June 2, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I must be one of the few Stampin’Up! demonstrators not showing new product today. It is the first day with the new annual catalog. Well, I have a different perspective sometimes. I get just as excited for the stamp sets I already have that carry over to the new catalog. So, there you have it.

The first is Big News. It has these fun sentiments designed around exciting news and events. They are written like we talk in a quirky way. It makes it kind of fun. The second is Perpetual Birthday Calendar. I sure have gotten a lot of use out of this set. An easy background maker if you ask me. It really gets a lot of use.

I am also happy that the cotton ribbon, which was new last catalog, stayed with us. It really makes such a pretty accent. I must say, this bow is nearly perfect. I kept this card pretty simple, but sometimes that is all I want.

I did a small pre-order earlier in the month to get the new colors that I have already shared with you. I also got a couple of host sets, and they will be so fun. Now I will let myself get into the new catalog and get a few stamp sets. Isn’t that fun? I thought so. You should check it out.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Hello There Farewell

May 14, 2015May 14, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I have been trying to stay focused on this years catalog and finish it through, but the new product keeps on sneaking into my thoughts. I thought this would be a fitting solution to all that is going on.

I like to make samples using the new in-colors for the season and send them along with the new catalog to my club ladies. They love getting to see, and touch, some of the new product along with the catalog.

Last year I made a card in this format using tangelo twist as one of the five samples included. I thought it fitting to make another with a companion gift bag, since I love that these days, with an in-color that is retiring. Farewell to strawberry slush, and your four other friends. I have loved using you!

I have begun planning my new samples with the wonderful new in-colors. I also got to pre-purchase some of the new host sets, perks of being a demonstrator, and they are lovely! They will make some great gifts for my ladies.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Balloon Bash Gone Wild

March 17, 2015March 17, 2015 ~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

studio824

Creativity for all seasons and reasons.

Cotton Ribbon

L is for Love

Workshop Madness Day 1

Floral Gift Box

Larger Than Life!

Just Kidding…

You’ve Got This

The Little Moments

Just For You

You Are So Kind

Wondrous Wreath and My Plum Trees…

Cucumber Crush Party

Big News with Perpetual Birthday Calendar

Hello There Farewell

Balloon Bash Gone Wild