I’m gonna be in trouble…

…if Mr. Maui Stamper finds out what I did.

I couldn’t help it.  The glitter was absolutely necessary.

Maui Stamper Dazzling Diamonds SunflowerAnd it is GLORIOUS.  I used the Two-Way Glue pen to make it stick.  And stick it did…to the card, to my work table, to my hands, and therefore to everything I touched.  I don’t know how I was lucky enough to evade the Eagle Eye, but I did it.  And now I need to get this card in an envelope and mail it pronto.

Maui Stamper Dazzling Diamonds Sunflower

  • Sunflower and Really Good Greetings stamp sets
  • Very Vanilla, Crushed Curry and Soft Suede card stock
  • Crushed Curry and Soft Suede FFIP
  • Two Way Glue pen
  • Dazzling Diamonds
  • Crumb Cake 3/8″ taffeta ribbon
  • Decorative label punch
  • Rhinestone jewels
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals

It’s been crazy busy around here as I’ve been getting ready for CONVENTION.  So.Much.Excitement.  And I have been a crafting fool getting all of my swaps ready, because it’s not convention if you don’t sign up for just a few swaps too many.  The sad news is that I can’t show you all of this fabulous craftiness yet, but stop back in after convention and you’ll get the full story.

Stop in during convention for my updates, too!  Crystal and I have such plans…which may or may not involve Dazzling Diamonds.

Lovely new ribbon

Don’t tell, but I think I get more excited about new ribbon than new stamps.

Maui Stamper 2013-2014 In Color RibbonThis is our new In Color 2013-2015 STRETCHY ribbon.  And it can do so many things!  Take a look at the RemARKable blog tour post from this past weekend and you’ll see how nicely it makes a frame around an oval.

It would be perfect for hair ties or headbands too, if you were the sort of person who wore them.  (I only do when I am DESPERATELY in need of a haircut.)

There were five new colors introduced into existing ribbon collections, too:

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper 2013-2014 New RibbonThat’s Bermuda Bay 1/8″ taffeta (be still my heart), Soft Sky Seam Binding, Pear Pizazz 3/8″ taffeta, Blushing Bride 1/4″ Stitched Grosgrain and Melon Mambo 1/8″ taffeta.  What gorgeous new additions to our ribbon stable!!

Would you like to get your hands on some ribbon without having to invest in all those full-sized spools?  I’m offering ribbon shares so you can play at a savings!  Each share is one yard of either the 5 In Color ribbons or the 5 new-to-the-collection ribbons.  It’s $7 for the In Color share and only $4 for the assortment, so you certainly won’t break the bank.  I’m happy to ship and will charge you actual cost only for postage.

The gorgeous Chevron Ribbons are also on their way and will be $15 for a share of 12 beautiful new colors.  Let me know if you’d like a share!

RemARKable Brides and Babies

Welcome to the June edition of the RemARKable 25th Anniversary “Best of” Blog Tour!  I hope you’ve enjoyed the first half of this series – I know that we, your RemARKable team, have enjoyed bringing it to you.

This first image just shouted “EMBOSS ME” when I saw this set for the first time:

Maui Stamper 25th Anniversary Best of Brides and Babies This is a simple favor idea, but I cut the top using the Window Frames framelit – just put a narrow strip into the framelit and stop halfway through and back it out.  I love how this image looks in our gorgeous pewter embossing powder.

Maui Stamper 25th Anniversary Best of Brides and Babies The smallest Rhinestone jewels add the perfect sparkle to complement the embossing powder.

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper RemARKable Best of Blog Tour Brides and BabiesA year later and we’re celebrating an anniversary!! (oh my, does the time fly!!)  Two little love-birds fit perfectly on the front of a gift enclosure for our favorite couple.  The birdies are colored with a blender pen and the soft tones of Pirouette Pink, Pool Party and Pear Pizazz.  I folded the Pirouette Pink 3/8″ taffeta ribbon in half and creased it with my fingernail to narrow it down.  (I suppose I could have ironed it…NOT!!)

We’re not going to set a timetable for our lovebirds, but like the rhyme…First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage!!

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper RemARKable Best of Blog Tour Brides and BabiesHave you had the chance to play with the new In Color stretchy ribbon?  It’s a whole new world in ribbon!!  The stretch gives it an affinity to curves, and once there was a bit of sticky strip on the back of the oval it was simple to attach the ribbon to create a frilly border.

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper RemARKable Best of Blog Tour Brides and BabiesI’m a big fan of Crisp Canteloupe!

Now it’s off to the Trinity Design Studio to see what Robin has created for you!

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of  RemARKable Blog Tour

If you get lost or just prefer to skip around, here’s the whole tour:

Nancy Amato  http://www.stampinallnight.blogspot.com
Melissa Bolinger  http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191
Jackie Bottomley  http://www.jackiebottomley.blogspot.com
Susan Carlson  http://www.stampinmomoffour.blogspot.com
Tamra Davis  http://www.thecardladies.com
Sherri Eddleblute  http://www.sweetestdesigns.blogspot.com/
Lynn Embrey  http://www.possibilitiestamperstudio.com/
Kathy Hamrick  http://www.countryroads.typepad.com/
Crystal Kondo http://www.card-ed.com
Deb Lehigh  http://www.thestampinhut.typepad.com/
Anne Matasci  http://www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com
Robin Merriman  http://www.trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Maria Pane  http://www.stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com
Andi Potler  http://www.absolutekreations.com
Michele Reynolds  http://www.inspirationink.typepad.com
Sharon Tisdale  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/coveredbridgesstamper/blog
Janet Wakeland  http://wp.me/pHIQD-4P4

It’s Happy Hour Somewhere!

It was my daughter’s birthday last month, and I wanted just the right card for her:

Maui Stamper Happy Hour Birthday

  • Happy Hour Stamp set
  • Whisper White and Crisp Canteloupe card stock
  • Print Patterns DSP (old style)
  • Crisp Canteloupe FFIP
  • Calypso Coral and Cajun Craze Stampin’ Write markers
  • Calypso Coral baker’s twine
  • Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dots TIEF
  • Large Delicate Doilies Sizzlet
  • Circles #2 Originals Die
  • 1 3/4 inch circle punch
  • Paper Snips
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals

DID YOU NOTICE THE STRAW?  Please scroll back up and look at my straw because I am very proud of it.  For one thing, it was a tricky bugger to cut out.  (You really need the Stampin’ Up! paper snips to do the job.)  Not only is the straw cut out, it has stripes, and they are amazing, wouldn’t you say?  They were such fun to do.

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Happy Hour BirthdayI CASEd this design from Dawn Olchefske.  She used a very bold color combination that really popped, but I wanted something different for Sara and chose this monochromatic scheme.  I love the combination of Canteloupe and Coral!  This year’s In Color selections really work well with the existing colors, and yes, you do need them all!  Besides, you can buy the ink pads in a bundle and Stampin’ Up! throws in the paper assortment for free! (#131204, $29.95)  This is offered every year and you can get this offer for both the 2013-2015 and 2012-2014 collections – what a deal!

RemARKably Mad Mosaics

Maui Stamper RemARKable Stamp of the Month tourWelcome to the first Stamp of the Month tour for the Brand New Deliciously JUICY 2013-2014 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog!!  Are you as excited as I am about this fabulous assortment of paper crafting goodness??  I hope so!

The June Stamp of the Month is Mosaic Madness.  It’s especially juicy because of all the coordinating products that carry the Mosaic theme:  the Mosaic punch, the Mosaic TIEF, and the Quatrefoil Fancy DSP.

(If you are not a regular reader at the Maui Stamper, I apologize.  You should know that I am a very lazy girl and I get tired of typing things like TEXTURED IMPRESSIONS EMBOSSING FOLDER (TIEF), DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (DSP) and FIRM FOAM INK PAD (FFIP).  Please make a note of these abbreviations.)

I’ve done a number of projects using the products from the suite, but for our blog tour I wanted to try using the images in new ways.  First up – le card:

Maui Stamper RemARKable Stamp of the Month Blog Tour Mosiac MadnessIf SOMEONE used her SAMJ (oh, all right, Stamp-a-ma-jig) that “beautiful” would have been straight.  Instead, it is beautifully hand made 🙂

The Mosaic punch fits perfectly along the scallop border from the Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die!   There are 7 of them, with the top and bottom trimmed to fit the card.

Maui Stamper RemARKable Stamp of the Month Blog Tour Mosiac MadnessGot a little pierce-happy but it was worth it…and the little holes made a perfect place to run some Linen thread through to balance the opposite side.

If you need a box to go with that sassy card, I’ve got just the thing:

Maui Stamper RemARKable Stamp of the Month Blog Tour Mosiac MadnessI was feeling a little continental…don’t know if this is more Scandinavian or Swiss, but when I started playing with the long stamps from Mosaic Madness I started seeing ribbon and it didn’t take much to put together a belly band. (Hint: if you are adding paper layers to a belly band, I recommend you score the plain belly band first, then add the trim on top for a smoother fit.)

Maui Stamper RemARKable Stamp of the Month Blog Tour Mosiac MadnessThe Mosaic punch can be a medallion, a flower, a tag…you name it!  Just punch out a bunch of them and start playing.

Maui Stamper RemARKable Stamp of the Month Blog Tour Mosiac MadnessFor the next stop of the tour, you’ll be heading over to see what madness Robin has created!  Enjoy!!

Maui Stamper Stamp of the Month Blog Tour

Got lost?  Here’s the entire tour:

Nancy Amato http://www.stampinallnight.blogspot.com
Melissa Bolinger http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191
Jackie Bottomley http://www.jackiebottomley.blogspot.com
Susan Carlson http://www.stampinmomoffour.blogspot.com
Tamra Davis http://www.thecardladies.com
Connie Deibler http://www.conniestamps.com
Crystal Kondo http://www.card-ed.com
Deb Lehigh http://www.thestampinhut.typepad.com/
Debbie Lever  http://www.debbiescreativespot.blogspot.com
Anne Matasci  http://www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com
Robin Merriman http://www.trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Maria Pane http://www.stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com
Andi Potler   http://www.absolutekreations.com
Michele Reynolds  http://www.inspirationink.typepad.com
Jeannette Swain http://www.stampsnwhatnot.com
Janet Wakeland http://www.remarkablycreated.com

A dressy little thank-you

We just finished another round of Hostess Club last month, and I wanted to say thanks:

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Dresses FramelitsThese are super-simple – two dresses adhered to either side of a basic little box just the right size for a Chapstick.  Add a Rhinestone Jewel and a Floral Trim rosette (sob!  they’re retired…) and that’s it!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Dresses FramelitsI really enjoyed choosing the DSP for these – just like fabric shopping!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Dresses FramelitsThe box is just a little shorter than the dress from hem to neckline – I think I made it 2 1/2″ tall – and it’s 3/4″ on each side.  They took no time at all with my Simply Scored.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Dresses FramelitsEach one is a little different from the next – just like my Hostesses 🙂

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Dresses FramelitsI put them in clear bags with a few shreddies in the bottom and tied them with a snippet of ribbon.  Don’t ask me about that stamp set – it was a VERY special giveaway at convention a couple of years ago.  Can’t wait to see what Stampin’ Up! has in store for us this year!

Mosaic Madness

I think Stampin’ Up! really is going to drive us to madness with all these Mosaic goodies!  The bundle has a stamp set, a punch, a TIEF (Textured Impressions Embossing Folder), and coordinating Designer Series Paper for all of our creative pleasure!

Maui Stamper Coastal Cabana Mosaic Madness Open HouseThis card was CASEd from the talented Ilina Crouse and simplified for the Open House card class over the weekend.  (Were you there?  Did you score some fabulous deals?  There were plenty to be had!!)

Coastal Cabana and Crisp Canteloupe are really luscious together – a perfect balance that’s not too pastel nor too bright.  I’m thoroughly enjoying discovering new color pairings!

Maui Stamper Mosaic Madness Perfectly PennedThe Brand New 2013-2014 catalog is live and kicking!  Skedaddle on over to my Online Store and shop your heart out.

June on a wire

I love birds.

I love hearing the cardinal first thing in the morning; at dawn the male is always at the top of the Cook Island Pine across the street from my house.  On a perfect day, it’s his “Good Morning” that wakes me up.  If I’m too sound asleep (read: stayed up way too late stamping) then I miss his song, and it’s the shrill, repetitive call of the Francolin that shatters my dreams.  Either way, it’s a pleasure to lie in bed for a few minutes listening to all the diffferent bird voices as the day begins.

Maui Stamper June 2013 calendar

  • For the Birds Stamp set
  • Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight and Pool Party Stampin’ Write markers
  • Pool Party FFIP
  • Stampin’ Sponge
  • Simply Scored
  • Borders Scoring Plate

The first time I stamped this design, I used the stamp just as is….but the wires that the birds sit on started and stopped in the middle of the calendar page and it bothered me.  I added the sponging to make it seem more complete but I was just kidding myself.

Then my Simply Scored Borders Scoring Plate arrived in my pre-order from the Spring Catalog (I LOVE GETTING PRE-ORDERS.)  It had the perfect curves to make edge-to-edge wires!  I scored them first, then without moving the guides ran the Crumb Cake Stampin’ Write marker in the score lines to further define them.

Every once in a while, I amaze even myself.