Two Simple Birthday Cards

I recently had occasion to need a couple of birthday cards.  When making cards I usually do two at a time, so I'll have an extra to use or put up in my Etsy shop–Mommy Moon Designs.  This time, however, I needed both a masculine and a feminine card.  So I decided to look through some of the patterned paper that I have stored up to see what I could come up with.

I decided to use this lovely striped paper from a pack of glittered cardstock for my masculine card and found a nice green to coordinate with it.  The Mowed Lawn Distress Ink that I used for the Hero Arts greeting matched almost perfectly.

For the feminine card I used this great flower paper from the same paper pack.  I used Picked Raspberry Distress Ink for the greeting, also from Hero Arts.

I really did just keep these cards simple.  They were quick and easy to put together.  I just layered all the elements onto 4.25" x 11" piece of cardstock, scored to fold at 5.5".  

I hope you enjoyed these two cards.  Have a great week!

-Jennifer Gayle

Happy Hauntings

It's a bit early for a Happy Halloween, but I wanted to go ahead and share my Halloween cards.  Both of these were works in progress–I did a little work, set them aside, then went back and added a little bit more.  In the end I was quite pleased with how they turned out.

This first card came from the Tim Holtz Apothecary set.  I heat embossed the skull, then masked it to add the writing in the background using Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  For the top embellishment I stamped the image onto white cardstock, applied Vintage Photo using my mini ink blender tool, cut it out and distressed the edges using a pair of scissors.  I ran it through my Xyron, then affixed it to the front of the card.  Similarly, I stamped the oval design onto white cardstock, applied Vintage Photo, then cut it out.  I used dimensional adhesive to attach it to the front of the card.

For this card I heat embossed the spider web (Hero Arts) onto the orange cardstock.  I heat embossed the message (Tim Holtz) onto black cardstock then attached it with dimensional adhesive.  Finally I stamped the spider (Hero Arts) on white cardstock, cut it out, matted it with black cardstock, and adhered it with dimensional adhesive.  I topped it off with some Glossy Accents on the eyes.

I hope you enjoy these cards.  If you're interested in purchasing either one, they are available in my Etsy shop, Mommy Moon Designs, along with other designs.

Happy Hauntings!

-Jennifer Gayle

New Techniques and Exciting News!

Spring is in full bloom here in North Carolina and what better time to try out some new stamping techniques.  I recently ordered some stamps from Hero Arts and I've been itching to use them.  I've found some great techniques through the A Blog Named Hero blog hop at the beginning of the month. I decided to try this one from Jennifer McGuire Ink.

I first embossed the hexagon background with clear embossing powder.  For the first set I wiped on Tim Holtz distress ink then used water to create a watercolor effect.

For the card on the top I used a brush to spread out the color.  On the bottom I used a spray bottle.  You can see that the colors blended more.  I personally like the blended version better.

I also did a version with Twinkling H2Os.

After everything was nice and dry I used the 'iron-off' method to remove the embossing powder.  Once they were ready they turned into some really nice cards.

And, drumroll please, they are now available in my Etsy shop, Mommy Moon Designs, along with other designs!  Please visit and take a look.

Enjoy the spring flowers, and stop by my shop!

-Jennifer Gayle

A Busy Little Elf

Life has been very busy lately.  I've had a lot of school work to do.  This has been compounded by a super-migraine that has surpassed all other migraines.  You have never experienced a migraine until you have had one in your eye.  I now have a greater understanding for headache pain.  

The best part of the last month, however, was getting to design Christmas cards for two good friends, Taiya and Sandy.  It was nice and relaxing to work on something creative.

A view of my workspace.  I really do know where everything is.

I've been wanting to do something with this stamp for several years, so when Sandy told me she wanted a wintery scene with snowy trees I knew exactly which image to use.

Taiya asked for something Zentangled, so I drew this Christmas tree for her. 

I was really pleased with how the cards came out.  And Sandy was so pleased with her's that she ordered some birthday cards.  I'm über excited about the chance to excercise my creative muscles.  I'll be sure to share a few along the way.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.  May you experience the warmth of the season.

-Jennifer Gayle