Melon Mambo

Open Me Already!

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

These two guys do nothing but make me grin!  I haven’t used them together before, but here they are in all their glory.  Also, I changed up the big monster by turning his closed eyes into eyebrows and giving him some google eyes as well.  Thought that was cute.

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This kit was a birthday card and I think this one could work for that as well.  But any type of celebration could enjoy a project like this.  The hexagon dynamic texture embossing folder got to work in a different way.  I used the debossed side, the normal version has the hexagons raised up instead of recessed.  To bring in a little color I lightly sponged over the top of the embossed paper and look what happened!  What a great effect.  Also, I couldn’t wait to get my chicken stamps back out and use this background like it was chicken wire.  What a fun find.

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The confetti image from the balloon adventures stamp set really got some work.  It was used on the sentiment tag, the card front as well as the inside.  Pretty darn fun if you ask me.  I have another one of these kits left, I think I will get that put together pretty quick.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Blooms & Wishes Gone Wild

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Using a stamp set different than intended can lead to some lovely results.  The main image here is a flower base and the sentiment does come from the same set.  However, when you change it up some, and maybe create a silly creature instead, that same sentiment remains tender, but also very silly.  That kind of sums me up I guess.

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The background took some time, and I nearly tossed it when I was sure it was wrecked. Since I make myself walk away sometimes and return with a new perspective, I kept on. The colors came together nicely and I wish I could repeat it.  Sadly, I think this will be a one of a kind for sure.

The flower creature was stamped in black, leaving plenty of room for those little legs. He got a heavy brushing with gold wink of stella and a couple of google eyes.  I tried a mouth, kind of, but let it go.  It will just have to remain a mystery.

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The inside got some echo stamping with a smaller flower from the same set and that was all it needed. What an adorable card if I do say so myself, and I do.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Sending Love and Lots of Hugs!

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This little trickster made me so cranky last Friday.  I had this vision, I was pretty sure I could make it work, I hated my water coloring but loved the stamping.  I do dislike wasting, so I set it aside and decided to come back to fix it later.  I love the fix, a lot.  I am looking forward to making this kind of fixed mistake again.  With better water coloring of course.

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A simple shaker card is what I had in mind.  I stamped these little monsters three times.  I even used my stamp-a-ma-jig for oh so tidy placement.  Then I did what I thought would be a quick water color moment.  It turned out too quick and I thought sloppy.  No problem, put a layer of velum cardstock up on some foam adhesive strips and make a fun shaker card. I was so unhappy with the painting that I just walked away.  I couldn’t see through my error.  Saturday night helped me through though.

I had the thought that the foam strips would look like a white border, and they did kind of, but I didn’t like how that looked. So I ran some glue around the edges, placed some guilding flakes on the glue and brushed them in place.  That covered that problem quite well.  I punched out plenty of hearts using the hearts border punch, adorable of course. Added in some glitter, which really wanted out the corners I might add.

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I was going to leave it with the ribbon and be happy, but I wasn’t.  It needed a sentiment, but I was already committed to the velum and didn’t want to hide the opaqued monsters. What to do? I found this adorable tag die in the window box thinlits die set, grabbed a tiny sweet sentiment from the sealed with love stamp set and attached it with some silver metallic thread. Then the basic rhinestones finished it off.  Phew!  Several days of work on that one, that was supposed to be a quick project.  Right.  Either way, now I have a fun way to put all of these products to use and send out the love!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Happiest of Birthdays!

~ moanaj ~ 2 Comments

Birthday cards for children are so fun to make.  I guess you wouldn’t have to put an age limit on these though, my oldest daughter would think they are just right.  Either way, these two bright and cheery cards will bring smiles to some darling little girls.

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I used to make two cards at a time to show them differently, but I kind of got away from that.  I have had a request for some birthday cards and though it would serve well to make more than one.  I certainly had fun though.  I used a new stamp set and a couple of older ones that hadn’t come off the shelf for a while.

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I was struggling a bit with the birthday block letters for a while until I decided to sponge the edges.  Sometimes the oldest techniques are the best.  I also did a bit of stamping off to get the different tones.  All of the shades were done from one ink pad.  The lighter rectangles were stamped off twice and the darker were stamped off once.  The letters were done full strength.  I do like these letters for sure.

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Have a creative day!

Sea Street Pop-Up Party

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A super happy birthday would be coming your way with this adorable gift set.  I suppose it might be more inclined towards a child, but I have a great appreciation for cuteness, and this is definitely cute.

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I started out with the idea of this octopus holding eight balloons.  I suppose I should have used the bitty balloon punch, but I stayed with it.  Perhaps I will make it again to see how it would look.  I thought the small balloons would get lost in the fun background paper.

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The inside framelit action really makes a statement.  Even though it is in the middle, there is still plenty of room to write a personal message.  I do love the motion of the popup.  I had a large piece of paper left from the card background and went with a matching gift bag. If you are giving a birthday card, odds are you are giving a gift too.  Making a set is always my favorite thing.  It also helps me be brave and use up my designer series paper.  You can’t hang onto that too long you know.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

Birthdays should always be this exciting and colorful, don’t you think?  When I started this project I only had the base with the striped dsp setting on top.  I wasn’t sure at all what was going to come next.

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I didn’t know how I was going to tie these bold colors together, and I wasn’t even sure they went together.  But as always, I stuck with it.  I decided to do a simple water color background with the two ink colors.  Sounds simple enough, right?  I stamped in  versamark ink and then brushed my paper with plenty of clean water.  I started with melon mambo in one corner and added a bunch of tempting turquoise in the other.  As I went back and forth some fun things started to happen.  I liked some of the mixing, but decided it was enough.  I dripped some clean water here and there to push color around and give a different look and ended up with quite a bit of water pooling.

Instead of dabbing it off with some paper towels I let it stay.  I took the heat tool to it and began to heat set the color.  The extra water and color around the edges started to activate and mix the inks even more.  I chased the ink around the edges of the image until it had all soaked in or dried up.  I was left with a really fun look that I don’t know if I could duplicate it again if I tried.  I will have to try though, because I love the look of it!  How fun!

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Celebrate Today

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My computer went on a two day holiday, without permission I might add.  This little treasure has been waiting for you to see for three days now.  Oh well, here it is.

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This pop-up framelit is just the best.  I do love the balloons, but opening and closing this card is just too fun.  Nothing says happy like a traditional birthday card.  You can actually see a bit of the shimmer cardstock below, it really is so sparkly.

Since I have had some computer frustration lately, I am really not in the mood to sit here and explain all of the details in this particular project.  Sorry, but there you go.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

It’s My Party Gift Box

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Instead of a large bag, which is what I had planned, I went with a gift box.  I had cut a strip of the dsp for two card fronts and thought to use the remainder of the sheet for the bag now turned box.  I love using a whole sheet up for several projects, especially when I get to make a coordinating set.  Two more cards for this little grouping.

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I think my scoring tool has to be one of my most used tools.  I do enjoy making gift bags and boxes though, so it is a great fit.  This one is two inches deep and plenty large enough to hold plenty of treats, small gifts, or even some home made soaps.  Sometimes I make a box for a specific gift, but I often go shopping through my stash for one just the right size. When you blog as much as I do, there are always plenty of choices.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Party Pop-Up Greetings

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How fun is it to get a birthday card in the mail, right?  Well, when one as bright and festive as this one shows up, it is bound to bring a smile to your face.  And that is why people like me enjoy making cards, to share smiles.

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This particular birthday suite is full of fun product and it can be difficult to decide just what to include.  I haven’t used this embossing folder yet, so that is what I really wanted to show off.  Shimmer white cardstock really helps show off the detail of this fun folder.  The photos don’t do the paper justice, but it has the most delicate shimmer, I love it.

I used the framelit for a center image instead of the pop-up feature it has.  I will be sharing that one shortly.  I have several cards and a coordinating gift bag in the works, so, one day at a time for this tiny series.  I ‘painted’ the candles with the wink of stella pens, white and gold both.  I also added four tiny bands of gold along the stem of the stand.  The brush is so precise I didn’t even get angry at my lines.  Nice, right?

I added an extra layer inside to use some of the pretty paper stack.  It all goes together so nicely I couldn’t help myself.  I do think that melon mambo is my favorite color choice in this particular product suite.  Such a bright and cheery color.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Hip Hip Hooray for Today!

~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

What kind of fun events do you get excited for?  There are so many special days to celebrate it is hard to choose just one.  For me?  Well, today is all about celebrating the special meeting of my future daughter-in-law.  I have to admit, there is a bit of nervous energy going on there, more than I am aware of I am sure.  But still, what a wonderful day to celebrate.

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I am in love with this tiny little balloon punch.  It has two friends, a tiny cupcake and a tiny candle, but I can’t get past the balloon.  I have a thing with tiny things and this fits the bill perfectly.  They are just big enough to fit a dimensional behind so they get to look like they really are floating.  And if you use your bone folder across the linen thread it will curl just a bit.  It makes me smile.

The framelit is from a set two piece set that makes pop up card centers.  I trimmed the sides to give me this huge tag.  It was very difficult to throw out the inside cut pieces.  They were perfect!  I played with them, told myself to throw them in the bin, I did, then I got them back out, played again and tossed them again.  Seriously, get a grip.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

 

Party Wishes

~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

How about a second workshop to fit into one host party!  Sounds like a great plan to me. Not everyone can make it to one date, so why not have to events and wrap it into one big workshop order.  That is one large bundle of host benefits, let me tell you.

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This card was kind of custom designed with a twist.  It was with the elements included which came together as its own kind of challenge.  The request was seeing embossing folder work, fun ways to use the chevron punch, paper piecing and birthdays.  I think this one is a win!

The chevron punch really makes this one special.  The initial punching was done twice on a strip of heavy weight card stock to create the spaces.  Secondary punching was done in different colors to create the insert pieces.  Two of each color and what a neat design element, right?  I do love a good challenge and the great feeling when your vision turns into the creation, the way you hoped it would.

How about these tiny balloons inside?  Yes, I could just die of cuteness.  I stamped the string, stamped tone on tone for the balloons and then punched them out.  I stuck them down with a touch of tombo and joy was achieved.  I would love to get this card for my birthday, wouldn’t you?

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Forever Begins Today

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This was for yesterday, however, yesterday was for my family and there wasn’t time to share this with you.  I am sure it was worth the wait though.  Aren’t these flowers just the best thing ever?

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One framelit set gives you all of these pieces, plus a couple more.  And they coordinate with velum, designer series paper just to name a couple. I have been planning this one for a while now, with a very specific goal in mind.  I am fortunate enough to have my son getting engaged and this is how I am going to approach the second reception.  What else could I possibly use for my inspiration piece, right?

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I do admit that once I cut into a piece of designer series paper for a card front, I look to the remainder of the sheet and immediately think of a bag or box I can make to coordinate.  I have a hard time stopping myself to be honest.  I also have a bit of a problem filing back my scraps of cardstock when I work.  All of these colors were available to me in my stack of put me away papers.  I put them to good use for sure.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Celebrate Forever

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The other day I asked my husband and youngest daughter to draw me a doodle that I could use for a card front.  I make cards all of the time and rarely hesitate to get to work.  This was different though.

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I don’t have stamps, or papers, or materials that go with his style of art.  It presented a challenge to be sure.  If I had been thinking ahead I would have had him draw on water color paper.  You work with what you are given, right?  It is easy for me to focus on all of the problem areas, but I think it will work nicely.  And it is an original, one of a kind.

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I used two different sentiments to create this combo.  I masked off half of each phrase and got just what I wanted.  I think I have gotten a bit spoiled to have just the right tools for nearly everything I do.  When I had to trouble shoot I got pretty darn frustrated.  Plenty of learning opportunities today.  I hope you get brave and try something different, even if it is a bit overwhelming.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Game On Dear Heart

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I absolutely love, love, love making my own paper with unique stamps.  Most of the time my friends can’t even place which stamp set it came from.  I have overlooked several stamps myself.  Example, look at this cute little fish!

Game On Dear Heart

Sometimes we feel like we don’t fit in, but I feel like that is a beautiful thing.  I made this card with that theme in mind.  He is stamped in melon mambo, water colored a bit, and water colored again with silver encore ink.  Everything is lightly sponged and there are plenty of dimensionals here.

Game On Dear Heart

The sentiment was stamped on a little scrap, punched with the bitty banner punch on one end, and given a bit of ribbon on the other.  How easy is it to just staple some ribbon on.  Some cards need just that, a little different look.  And of course this is layered up as well.  Did you see the little fish repeated inside?

Game On Dear Heart

Have a creative day!

Moana

Hello You

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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.

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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.

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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.

Hello You

 

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

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

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.

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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

Tickled Pink with Flamingo Lingo

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Well, doesn’t this just shout Good Morning?  Absolutely, with a giggle I am sure.

Flamingo Lingo

This stamp set, Flamingo Lingo, is the set that has been waiting for me.  Since it had to wait so long, I thought I would do it a service and give it my new favorite one two combo.  I just love putting half of a sentiment on the card and finishing it on a bag or box.  Perfect right?

Flamingo Lingo

I thought about adding more color and making it look a little more tropical, but with a phrase like ‘Tickled Pink’ I stuck with this lovely melon mambo.

Flamingo Lingo

I like this one so well I think it will be one of my projects for workshop this weekend.  Yes, definitely.

Flamingo Lingo

Find a color and just go with it!  I seem to be playing that game a bit these days and I love how it turns out.

Have a creative day!

Moana