Seam Binding Ribbon

Blooming With Kindness Thank You Notes

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

A quick, but special, project graced my desk today.  I wanted to make special thank you cards for the young ladies that I teach in a church class.  They were to write about things that they were thankful for concerning our gospel lesson.  It was a really great experience for them.

Bloom With Hope

I only recently got this stamp set at my daughters request, so I have used it a lot.  I was so sad to see it put on the retirement list.  I have enjoyed every project though.

Bloom With Hope

I think this flower image would look stunning no matter what color I used.  It is just that lovely.  I decided to use early espresso so I could pair it with the retiring seam binding ribbon.  These have become my go to products.  Only positive thoughts here though.  I know something equally amazing will come our way.

Bloom With Hope

The card assembly was really quite simple.  Just a basic card cut to measure 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 and scored at 4 1/4.  A very vanilla single layer on top measuring 4 x 5 1/4 with a length of ribbon tied in a know.  I stamped full strength in the four corners and then stamped off once to do the gaps in between.  It gave it a bit of dimension and was super easy.

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

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

Cheerful Critters Party

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There are never enough birthday cards to be made, never.  Sometimes I just dip into my stash of designer paper, pick a sheet, and get working from there.

Cheerful Critters Party

That is exactly where these two came from.  Of course I love the Cheerful Critters stamp set.  I know I teased it at first, but I have fallen in love with it every time I use it.  Really, how cute are these guys!

Cheerful Critters Party

I absolutely love my inside stamping to coordinate with the my card front.  It makes me very happy.  To the point that I have a hard time leaving the inside blank.  Kind of like doing your hair.  Everyone can make the front look nice, but the back needs just as much attention, or so my brain says.

Cheerful Critters Party

I had a fun time using my stampin’ write markers on this guy.  I have such confidence issues with them and making it look smooth.  But I have to say, this one didn’t turn out too bad.  Maybe I can do it after all.

And let me just say one more time, the perpetual birthday calendar stamp set is so absolutely wonderful.  I use those little guys all of the time.  Since they are designed to accent different months of the year, they go with everything.  How perfect is that!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Blooming With Kindness Trio

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This set started with an experiment, had some problems, then turned the corner and gave me something beautiful.  Pretty fun experiment there.

Blooming With Kindness

I started out wanting to use pink pirouette, saraha sand and very vanilla.  The papers looked lovely together, however, the way they looked on the very vanilla compared to whisper white made all the difference.

The pink looked so different on the vanilla that it made it look like my card stock was the wrong color.  That was odd for sure.  But I loved the paper I had created using the huge flower from the blooming with kindness set, so I had to get creative.

Blooming With Kindness

I made other cards using the front and inside bits I had stamped on the very vanilla.  Then I made another background piece on whisper white and the pinks were much more friendly.  And I ended up loving the secondary cards more than my original.  How about that?

Blooming With Kindness

Even though my results went a bit off, I do love the look I made.  I stamped the flower with versamark ink onto the card stock and quickly sprinkled iridescent ice powder on the wet ink.  I heat set it and while it was still tacky I hit it again with the powder and heat set it again.  You can kind of see how shiny and sparkly it is.

Blooming With Kindness

Each card got a different sentiment, and they are all so beautiful.  My daughter is the one that said we had to have the set.  She was so right, my creative buddy.

Remember, there are no mistakes in art, only opportunities.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Throw Back Thursday with Essence of Love

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

I so enjoy dipping into my older stamps to create something.  It is easy to get caught up in all of the new product available.  It is the perfect reminder that I love all of the stamps I buy, and they should still get used, even if they are retired.

Essence of Love

As you can tell, this floral stamp still looks as crisp and beautiful as the first time it got used, which was nearly ten years ago.  I even pulled out some retired paper.  That venetian romance dsp set is so beautiful.  I opened my last pack of it to make these cards.

Essence of Love

I loved mixing all of these elements together.  Any time I get to use oranges I am a happy crafter.  This particular card set brings together all of my favorite things.  Flowers, butterflies, elegant ribbon, more flowers, lots of orange (tangerine tango), and the most beautiful sentiments ever.  Like I said, my favorites.

Essence of Love

With all that said, get into your stash of your favorite things, make something beautiful, and 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

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

~ moanaj ~ Leave a comment

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

Birthday Bash Times Two

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Can you see a theme at my work station?  Yup, still working on birthday cards.  With paper this beautiful, you don’t really need a lot of extras.

Birthday Bash Times Two

I don’t know if you can tell from the photos, but several of the printed balloons are in gold foil.  It is just so pretty.  It could easily have gone without stamping, but I did just for fun.

Birthday Bash Times Two

I thought with the color combination it could easily be masculine.  Even with the seam binding ribbon.  Simple and strong.

Birthday Bash Times Two

I could go on and on, but these cards speak for themselves.  Dip into those pretty papers and put them to work.  Don’t be shy, just cut into them and make something beautiful.  That is why you bought them, right?

Have a creative day!

Moana

Kinda Eclectic Ray of Sunshine

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Eclectic is the true nature of this card.  A little bit of everything coming together to create something beautiful.  With these colors, stamped images, punches, and a perfect Walt Whitman quote, how could you go wrong?

Kinda Eclectic Ray of Sunshine

Of course I had to layer in the 1/8th” fashion as is my thing these days.  But it makes me happy, even if it seems a bit wasteful.  I often punch or cut out underneath anyway, so it isn’t too bad.  I didn’t think I would notice if I inked the edges or not in such a narrow border, but you totally do.  It looked almost plain otherwise with this combo.  Interesting.

Kinda Eclectic Ray of Sunshine

When I stamped inside I used just the corner of the sunburst, it was just right.  It made me think of a quilt block I have never been brave enough to try.  I think I have seen it called New York beauty and it involves paper piecing to keep those points just so.  Beautiful, but daunting.  Maybe someday.

Well, today is workshop day, so I had to keep it brief.  No time for a second variation of the card and a matching bag.  I still have to get to the store before I go!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Painted Blooms with Lotus Blossom

~ moanaj ~ 1 Comment

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

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

Cheerful Critters with Snuggles & Smooches

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Working with pretty paper is always a ton of fun.  I decided to pick out a sheet of designer series paper and go for it.

Let's Party Snuggles and Smooches!

This paper is from the Sweet Taffy set.  The whole pack is really fun, exciting, and full of bold color.  You are seeing both sides of one sheet today.

Let's Party Snuggles and Smooches!

That is probably my greatest frustration with some of the paper packs.  Which side do you love more?  Well, today I used both.  I made a card for each side.  Aren’t they fun?

Let's Party Snuggles and Smooches!

The stamping was pretty basic and the layering was simple too.  Sometimes that is just all you need.  I really wanted to enjoy the paper though.

Let's Party Snuggles and Smooches!

Of course, if you know me well, you know that orange is my favorite color.  When I get asked that question I always clarify with, “Yes, orange, like a pumpkin orange.” Too much fun there!

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

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