We Might as Well Dance

When things get crazy it always helps me to have a creative outlet. I think the theme of my projects this last weeks speaks volumes.  Good thing I have a way to share that really brings me joy as well as peace.  Just yummy.

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This is my kind of card.  Lots of layers, a bit of interest, a touch of water color and a lovely sentiment.  Not to mention wonderful designer series paper as a background. This one has to be a workshop project for sure.  So great!

The layers were simple and all of the corners rounded. I even found tag framelits that would also carry the rounded corner.  The card base was cut normally measuring 4 1/4 x 11″, scored at 5 1/2″.  There is an additional score to fold the front back on itself perfectly in half.  That half folded front became the base for the decorative front to be place.  A little different, but not too much.

The water color pencils don’t come in all of the classic ink colors just yet, but the colors I chose match really well.  I used bermuda bay, daffodil delight, pacific point and calypso coral.  It worked out fantastic.  Light coloring and even lighter water coloring with the aqua painter.

To complete it I wrapped some of this years Sale-a-bration free ribbon.  Metallic ribbon often is a bit stiff and not fun to work with.  Not this, I love how soft and pliable it is. I would love it if this became a regular product carried in the annual catalog.  Fingers crossed!

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Truly a wonderful project today.  I couldn’t be more pleased, hope you enjoyed and better yet, try one out for yourself!

Have a creative day!

Moana

Enjoy…

Yummy, yummy and yummy.  That is what this card is.  It could be the paper, the delicate tag or the precious bit of copper metallic thread.  More likely, the combination of the three. Some simple cards are way more than simple.  I am going to have to get more of this paper for sure.

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I looked through my stamp stash for a tiny phrase or saying that would be noticed but not distract.  One tiny word from the Endless Birthday Wishes set was just right.  It also helped to make the card truly an all occasion theme.  This project is likely to be reproduced a few times over.  Such a great layout and color scheme.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Happiest of Birthdays to You

Who doesn’t need a simple, yet lovely, birthday card?  It is always useful to have one on hand for those last minute gifts, or even the birthday you forgot.  I keep a few cards on hand at all times, you just never know.  I recently got to share creating a simple card with my daughter-in-love and it was the best.  This is yet another one of the cards I made to rebuild the stash I gave her.  She loves using them, and now making them.  Woo hooo!

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The paper is lovely, the sentiment sweet, layered tags are one of my favorite, but this ribbon.  It is so beautiful.  It has texture yet shines, is thick but ties beautiful bows and knots, and the colors are the best.  I normally don’t go through my ribbons too quickly, I try to make them last.  But these won’t with me, I see having to replace them sooner than later.

Having great tools and beautiful paper really makes quick work of a card like this.  One layer of designer series paper layered on a piece of crumb cake card stock, a ribbon tied in a bow around it, and then raised up on dimensionals on the coordinating card base.  The tag was stamped and die cut super quick and layered up again.  The inside has a clean piece of very vanilla and that makes it complete.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Flourishing Phrases

This particular project went through a few different phases.  This is how it started out, all about blue.  I had the ocean on my mind and gave it a try.  I had intended on using a new embossing folder after I water colored, but to be honest, I forgot once I got all this going.

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After I painted with all of the blue inks I have I did some detail work using my gold wink of stella.  I focused on some of the watermarks and edges of color.  The look it creates is really awesome.  It is tricky to know when to stop because it is so much fun.  Mission accomplished here for sure.

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The next step was to add a special tag.  This one got a bit out of control and went to a busy style that really isn’t my own.  However, I decided to leave it and see how it balanced out with the huge butterfly addition I had in mind.  I water colored large areas of paper to provide both my tag area as well as the butterflies.  It is much easier to paint whole sheets instead of small specific die cuts.

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When this butterfly combo came along I really began to wonder just what I was up to.  I think that is because I love decorative painted backgrounds so much I rarely cover them up. They are such great all occasion cards, but I pushed forward.  I did edge the butterflies with the wink of stella, which of course you cannot see in these photos.  It is there though, and it looks so pretty.  You can see it better in the lead featured image which is much more close up.  Basic pearls, gold metallic thread with a little more patience and this project was finally finished.  It measures 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 plus the butterfly hanging off the edge.  A custom envelope will definitely be in order here.

Have a creative day!

Moana

I am Much More Me When I’m With You

What do you do with a huge pineapple stamp?  Well, just about anything you want I guess.  I loved it, but probably had more questions than answers.  This is definitely one of those answers.  I asked my daughter to pick out a stamp from my stash of new product and give me a color.  She chose light green and this stamp.  Sometimes you just need a nudge in the right direction to get moving.

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Yesterday, and well into the evening, I spent my time helping a good friend with a wedding photo shoot.  You never know how much you are needed, but judging how tired I am today, it would have been so hard for her without me.  And of course we had an absolute blast.  We work nearly seamlessly together, another plus.  I thought this would suit us nicely.

I went with light water color washing using only two colors.  I wasn’t sure how they would blend in the middle, hoping it wouldn’t make some kind of brown.  It turned out great.  I opted for minimal distressing and one single stamping.  The leaves needed a bit, so I used my aqua painter to blend them a bit, but left the pineapple pattern alone.  I stamped it again on the inside, but more in the corner for more interest.  Good stuff there!

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The tags & labels framelit set fit perfectly around the sentiment and provided the perfect place for my favorite ribbon.  A few of the new enamel dots found there way as well.  The card front and inside panels were both layered with an additional piece of pear pizzazz card stock and the front was popped up with dimensionals.  There you go!

Have a creative day!

Moana

You Wonderful Thing You

This is the end of a very fun and simple series.  I hope you have enjoyed seeing so many of the patterns in this designer series paper pack.  There are a few more that I love, and a couple that probably won’t find their way to a project, but that is why it is awesome that paper is two sided.  Something for everyone, right?

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One card base, one layer of dsp, one simple tag stamped and sponged next to a simple gift bag.  Just a touch of metallic thread and there you go!  I have enjoyed the series, but I am ready to get my water colors out and play a little longer.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Thank You…

This has got to be some of the most beautiful paper ever.  The set has an interesting mix, some of which I could do without.  However, the rest more than makes up for that part.  I think that Stampin’Up! does a great job with diverse paper patterns to fill just about everyone’s tastes, especially mine.

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A basic card, one layer of paper to show off, one little tag stamped and sponged.  How about another adorable gift box to match?  Of course it was filled with candy.

Have a creative day!

Moana

Thoughts & Prayers for my Friend

When someone close to you experiences loss it is always painful, more for some than others.  This is a time when I spend an extra amount of time for just the right expressions and feelings.  There are just so many.

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This young man recently lost his twin brother to cancer at the tender age of 15.  He battled very hard, three times  over, but just couldn’t prevail in the end.  I must say though, he never complained or looked unhappy.  Truly inspiring.

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I spent a lot of time with color and layering for both the outside and the inside of the card.  I really wanted to spend plenty of time.  It helped me gather my thoughts so I could write what I really wanted to say.  It definitely means more to me to have a hand made card for occasions like these.

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Have a creative day.

Moana

Everything Botanical

Well, this project started somewhere else, but the results are great.  Sometimes it is hard to see past your ‘opportunity mistakes’, I managed though.  Once I fussy cut designer series paper I am totally committed.

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The free items you can earn from Sale-a-bration are all unique, but this one caught my eye right away.  A patterned velum paper that not only coordinates, but actually outlines designer series paper, well that is amazing.  I fussed a bit matching it up, but found the exact spot.  I almost did a 6 x 6 card just so I could see the whole pattern line up.  It would have been worth it, it looked so pretty all lined up.  I moved on though.

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My opportunities came from the glue experience.  I thought I could put tiny tiny dots of glue on little flowers and it would look kind of neat, and hide the adhesive at the same time.  Well, my tiny dots were not as tiny as they needed to be.  Several fixes later, it worked out.  Basic rhinestones, a larger sentiment with tag layering, and using one of the many coordinating framelits.  Phew!

I added a touch of inside stamping with a leaf from the coordinating stamp set.  I don’t usually go for a whole suite of product.  This one is different, I loved all of it.  However, it is my favorite color pallet, floral, and it goes together so wonderfully.  I couldn’t resist it.  So I didn’t.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

 

Garden In Bloom

Taking a few days off is kind of nice, but it was not intended.  Getting ready for a huge workshop can be really exciting, but also very time consuming.  Put that with still working full time and you get a bit of a circus.  Not to mention the adventures of everyday life.  Time to get back on track and have some fun!

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There is a lot of attention right now with Sale-a-bration and the Spring Occasions catalogs, and they are very exciting to say the least.  However, the annual catalog is so full of beautiful product it is hard to ignore.

I have been waiting to use this stamp set for some now and it was worth the wait.  I took one of the left over kits from Saturday’s workshop and paired it with this lovely set.  There are a ton more stamps in the set, but I focused only on the large flowers.  I think I could get stuck on this set and not repeat myself for some time.  Exciting!

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The card front is 4 x 5 1/4″ with an 1/8″ background piece of watermelon wonder and then placed on a standard card base.  Not too tricky.  I put the tags & labels framelit set to work for this lovely sentiment.  It is so pretty.  Then I broke out the fabulous ribbon that has been teasing me from the shelf.  I love, love, love big pretty ribbon.  It is just delicious to me.  The ribbon is the only item from the occasions catalog.  I would love it if Stampin’Up! would bring back some huge satin ribbon in next years annual catalog.  I will have to just wait and see.

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Have a creative day!

Moana

Lighthearted Leaves

I fell in love with this stamp set from the moment I saw it.  The images from Lighthearted Leaves are absolutely wonderful.  Artsy enough to get your attention, but not so simple as to be boring.  Such a nice balance.  I think I will case myself and make a Christmas version of this project.  I see mistletoe.

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I can also see an ocean theme.  The leaves kind of remind me of sea kelp and could be holding little fishies somewhere.  I do love an optional stamp set.

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The layering is simple here.  Narrow borders help to not distract from the thin lines of the designs.  All around, I am very happy with how this turned out.  using the tags & labels framelits also make me happy. Subtle touches of color to accent the sentiment without taking over.  Just enough room to have a simple bit of ribbon and one little rhinestone in the center.  How perfect is that.  What more do you need than to ‘believe’?

Lighthearted Leaves

Have a creative day!

Moana

No Bones About It

No, I don’t have little children, and yes, I did have to have this set.  I actually pegged it for a favorite when the new catalog first came out.  It really isn’t the speed of my card group I teach, but I wanted it for myself.  How cute is it?

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There are four different dinosaurs in the set, all with matching skeletons, some fossil plant looking stamps, some splats and these awesome footprints.  As well as a few super cool sentiments to go along.

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This card was done in mossy meadow and whisper white with no frills.  I embossed the base with the chevron folder and made my layered tag from the tags & labels framelits set.  Plenty of dimensionals for everyone and there you go.  I did accent it a bit with some linen thread using the 1/16″ hand held punch for the knot to show through.

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I am going to really enjoy this set a lot, and I mean a lot.

Have a creative day!

Moana