So Saffron

Just Kidding…

~ 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?

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

Happy Thoughts for You

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When I first subscribed to Paper Pumpkin it was all about getting exclusive stamp sets that I couldn’t purchase through regular shopping.  I didn’t want to miss out.  That was true in the beginning stages, but then the kits started getting better and better and the projects were almost better than the stamps.

Happy Thoughts for You

I had a hard time putting those great stamps to work after I finished up the kits.  So I tried something different this time.  With my last kit, I used the stamps separately before I got into the kit.  These are the stamps, but nothing at all to do with the card kit, which is fabulous by the way.

I am in love with the new heavy weight whisper white cardstock.  I love a white card and it just had to be sturdier.  Job well done.  Sahara sand might be my favorite neutral.  It goes so well with everything.  Just a hint of color without any obvious distraction.

Happy Thoughts for You

A little bit of simple layering and a bunch of dimensionals.  The aqua painter got involved again, it is such a great tool.  Using it along the stamped images to bring in the lightest amount of color.  What a great look and so easy to accomplish.  Finish it off with the lovely dotted lace trim.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Remarkable You

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I think going on that pioneer trek took a little more out of me than I thought.  I tried to sit down at my usual 5:30 this morning, but I could hardly focus.  Time to get into a good summer routine.

Remarkable You

I absolutely fell in love with this stamp set when I saw it in the catalog.  The floral images are so elegant.  They cover several of my favorites.  I had to use this one first, because it is my absolute favorite.

Remarkable You

I started by stamping the image in garden green.  I got out my aqua painter and drew in the color for the stems and some of the outer lining.  I brought in daffodil delight and hi-lighted with so saffron.  Just a touch of color there.

Remarkable You

I used the oval framelits to make my layers with the third largest for the flowers and the second largest for the frame.  I stamped and sponged and put everything I could up on dimensionals.  I tried out the triple banner punch and it works like a champ.  That is going to get a lot of use.  Finally, I hid my glue dot under the velum with a rhinestone.  I used a section to curve around the top left of the frame and called it done.  I didn’t even stamp inside!  Scandalous,  I know.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Trek Inspired Bordering Blooms

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Trek Inspired?  Well, of course!  Coming up next week around two hundred youth and adult leaders will be heading out for a three day handcart pioneer trek covering about 15 miles.  My husband and I get to participate as “Ma and Pa” for a group of eight youth who will be our “children” during the trek.  I don’t know if I am more excited or scared.  Good to be both though.

Trek Inspired Bordering Blooms

I have been sewing my pioneer outfit and have it ready to go.  I am actually typing while wearing it.  What a great pioneer thing to do, right?  I even have my hair in french braids and my straw hat on.  I thought it might be a good idea to try and walk around in these skirts a bit.  My lace will be getting dirty I think.

Trek Inspired Bordering Blooms

While I saw sewing I saw a card coming together.  Mix my two favorites, right?  I stamped with one of the border stamps in old olive on very vanilla.  I used my aqua painter and the other ink colors to color in the flower and leaf patterns.  Yet another background creation.  And now I have two all occasion cards ready to go.

Trek Inspired Bordering Blooms

Here is a sneak peek at part of my apron.  Can you see the colors coordinating?  I know the marina mist is a bit brighter, but it was close enough to get my brain creating.  Ruffles and lace and ruffles and lace.  My mother will be so proud.

Trek Inspired Bordering Blooms

I think I will do some more trek inspired projects to share while I am gone.  Yee-Haw!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Swallowtail Watercolor

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The only thing I could think about was getting out my Swallowtail stamp.  I love this huge guy.  I had visions of a muted but colorful butterfly on watercolor paper.  Well, it took a few tries before I didn’t hate what I was doing.  Sometimes my vision and my technique process don’t connect.  Then something new comes up.

Swallowtail Watercolor

I took a piece of watercolor paper and spritzed it heavily with water.  I then applied drops of ink randomly, focusing on one color at a time.  I used my spritzer to dilute the ink drops further and helped them spread out more.  I ended up with four colors.  I put my heat gun to it until it was nice and dry.

Swallowtail Watercolor

I really had my heart on using black stazon for the butterfly, but that just wasn’t looking right.  I switched it up and stamped it in wisteria wonder.  That gave the perfect look.  I think because the ink is water based and could be loaded up heavier gave a better impression on this type of paper.  Not sure exactly, but it sounds good.

Of course I had to make a little bag.  The need to make matching sets is so strong sometimes.  When you see a card or a bag on this blog by themselves, you know I had to tell myself to just walk away.  This time, it had to be done.

Swallowtail Watercolor

I actually love it so much, I can see myself making a large set of these for a gift for someone.  They are truly all occasion, not a sentiment to be found.  That also took great self control.  Not to mention how badly I wanted to add basic pearls.

Swallowtail Watercolor

I have gone on and on, but I wanted to give more detail today.  You should really give this one a try.  It is so liberating and actually, quite simple.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Park Lane Duo

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I started this set yesterday morning, got stumped, fussed last night, and finally fixed it this morning.  I kept trying to put the yellow butterfly on the card front.  Yes, the one I inlaid back into the gift bag I cut it from.  Strange how things come together better when you give your creativity a break to refocus.

Park Lane Duo

I colored the paper with my ink sponges.  I didn’t want a lot of exact color, just subtle hints.  So I just used the sponges with leftover ink already on them.  It did the job just right.  Of course my photos make it hard to see, but I love the effect.

Park Lane Duo

When you use delicate die cuts it helps tremendously to sandwich wax paper in between the layers.  The paper just pops out then.  I decided to use the wax paper ones as well.  I didn’t want to cover up the coloring and the yellow butterfly just took over.

Park Lane Duo

After I swapped things around I fell in love.  I attached my wax paper butterflies with some folded glue dots and then ran a string of basic pearls down the body.  It gave such a delicate finish.

Park Lane Duo

One quick stamp from the Sheltering Tree set and the card was done.  No ribbon, no other extras, just some light color and transparent butterflies.  Since they are so thin, the move when the card does.  Beautiful.

Get out there and have a creative day!

Moana

Sew You Paper Pumpkin Kit

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What is this paper pumpkin kit thing?  It is my little bit of happy, that’s what it is.  As a demonstrator of Stampin’Up! I am the one doing the creative thinking, preparing and sharing of my work.  Well, this is what I give myself as a thank you.

Sew You

This is a subscription service that I love.  Each month I get a complete kit to make something so fun.  All I have to supply are scissors and some adhesive.  I really like having it just show up like a present or something.

Sew You

Sometimes I make it just like the directions, or sometimes I give it my own little touch.  Like these two cards.  I added a healthy dose of sponging to both of them.  The kit came with the yellow embroidery thread.  I liked it quite a bit.  But then I thought, what about other colors?

Sew You

Who doesn’t have a bunch of this running around their craft room, right?  So I got out some variegated green and paired it with wild wasabi ink.  Perfect fit.  This is only two of the eight cards that came with the kit.  There is a whole bunch of other stuff that it came with that I will find a use on other projects.  I liked adding my own ink colors to it instead.

I hope you don’t mind my little shortcut today, but I do enjoy my paper pumpkin!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Crazy About You Little Birthday Buddy

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This is one of the times where you don’t even have to think about coordination much at all.  I wanted some chevrons in a baby card.  Done.  Pull the matching colors and some awesome tools and there you have it!

Crazy About You Little Birthday Buddy

A girlfriend had asked about baby shower invitations with some of these components and I made some demos.  They decided to do something different with photographs and never got to see these.  So, I got to have the design fun and get to use the projects myself.  Sounds like a win to me.

Crazy About You Little Birthday Buddy

This little matching bag is not quite the size of the matching card, but it is so precious.  Just right for a tiny gift and a gift card.  What more could you ask for?

Crazy About You Little Birthday Buddy

I think the little characters in the Little Birthday Buddy set are so adorable.  I had fun coloring this toucan with the coordinating ink colors using blending pens.  You always have the right marker color with those awesome tools.

Crazy About You Little Birthday Buddy

Day one of the Utah trip has begun nicely.  I got a surprise visit from my niece and got to shower my mother with beautiful cards.  Awesome.  Now I get to help her get caught up on her paper pumpkin kits.  Also awesome!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Hello There Vivid Vases

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Good Morning!  Saturdays are busy, so I don’t always get to post first thing.  But it is still technically morning, so it counts.  And what a lovely morning it has been.

Hello There Vivid Vases

I had an itching to water color.  The vivid vases stamp is simple, but gives a lot of opportunity to play.  And play I did.  I actually had out seven different inks if you can image it.  I love color!  Especially when it is subtle like in this project.

Hello There Vivid Vases

I just got my colors out and an aqua painter.  Enough said.  I stamped my image in stazon on water color paper and then got painting.  I used soft sky as my main color because it was the color of the water in my vases.  It turned out so lovely.

Hello There Vivid Vases

I had some extra paper from the sheet I cut into, so I turned it into a matching sour cream treat container.  Just right for sure.

Hello There Vivid Vases

I also got to showcase the lovely lace embossing folder.  Isn’t it so beautiful?  I finished off both projects with coordinating seam binding ribbon.  I love that stuff.  I think I actually have all of the colors.  That is unusual for me, I am more selective than that.

Have a super 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

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

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