Author Archives: mauistamper

Sunshine and clouds

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This morning we set two goals: ride the cog wheel train up Mt. Washington and hike the Appalachia trail. Ever since I read Bill Bryson’s Walk in the Woods I’ve wanted to set foot on the Appalachia Trail. We did hike for just under an hour, enjoying the fall color, scent of the trees and peaceful woods – as well as the occasional snow flurry.

Next stop was the cog wheel train station. There were 2 or 3 inches of snow on the ground at the station but we bought our tickets anyway. As we ascended the mountain it got greyer and windier and when we reached the summit, we were in another country. Officially it was 12 degrees but with windchill it was -9.

Once we got back to the highway it was a simple decision to turn into the Mt. Washington hotel for Kahlua and coffee.

I have a way with the weather

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You can’t really see it, but it’s snowing in this post-breakfast photo of the front garden of the Buttonwood Inn, Mt. Surprise, NH. While we were eating breakfast, the rain got fatter and flakier. Soon there was no doubt that it was snow.

In 2007 when Sara and I visited Boston over Spring Break to look at colleges, there was an unpredictable 9 inches of snow overnight the day after we arrived.

Sara told me she figured out where the abominable snowman had been hiding for 17 years when she saw my reaction to the snow. Shoot, I had tennis shoes and a light jacket. This time I’m better prepared and more cheerful. Besides, it was a dusting and it didn’t stick. We had sunshine this afternoon.

On the road….River House

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Ray and I are on the road, taking in some fall color and visiting our daughter. We stayed in Portsmouth, NH Sunday night. It’s a charming New England town with lots of history, restaurants and shops. We walked around town in the chilly night air looking in windows of shops and restaurants alike. After a long flight and hit-or-miss food, we were ready for a real meal.
We found just what we were looking for at the River House in Portsmouth. Friendly, cozy and a beautiful view of the river. Our food was awesome…Ray had the special, a fillet topped with lobster served with a salmon cake, and I had a steamed lobster. If you object to eating something with a face don’t look!

Love these little boxes

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I love containers of all sorts.  Fortunately for me, the company by that name does not have a store on Maui.  If they did, it would be a very dangerous thing for my wallet.  Knowing that, it’s clear how quickly the Stampin’ Up! Bitty Box and Envelope Bigz XL die (115967, $42.95) would catch my eye the first time I browsed through the new Idea Book and Catalog back in July.  The envelope is just right for a tiny 2″ x 2″ gift card, and the little box is sized to hold the cards and envelopes.  It’s also just the right size for a favor box.

Tower o' Bitty Boxes

Tower o' Bitty Boxes

I’m not even going to begin trying to tell you what all these papers are.  Not one of them is current.  I’ve been diligently trying to use up my hoard of retired Designer Series Papers and this seemed the perfect way to do it.  The Big Shot is pretty cool that way – it takes odd bits and scraps and grinds them up and gives you cute little playthings in return.

These boxes are for the members of my Hostess Club.  There’s a little something that fits perfectly inside to give them sustenance, and then they get to embellish the box and bring it to the next club for Show and Tell.  It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

Saint Damien de Veuster of Molokai

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Today Hawaii – and the rest of the world – celebrates the canonizaton of Saint Damien de Veuster.  His life as a priest who came to serve the Hansen’s Disease community exiled on the Kalaupapa peninsula is a testament of love, compassion and service that is inspirational and humbling.

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  • Branch Out, Thoughts and Prayers, and En Francais stamp sets
  • Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip and Real Red Classic Stamp pads
  • Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Real Red and Kraft cardstock
  • Stamp-a-ma-jig, Real Red narrow grosgrain ribbon, Double rectangle punch

When you need a little color…

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This year’s In Color collection is a lot of things, but honey, it’s not subtle.  These are colors that pop.  They stand up and shout!  My color preferences tend to be more muted or rich tones but this bunch just vibrates with intensity.  It’s taken a little getting used to for me.

I made this card at a shoebox swap at a demonstrator meeting.  If there’s anything I like more than stamping, it’s stamping with friends.  We’re usually kinda noisy, and sometimes we get distracted and have to hurry up to finish, but we always have a great time.

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  • Hello Again stamp set
  • Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry and Melon Mambo Classic ink pads; Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo Stampin’ Write markers
  • Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry and Melon Mambo cardstock
  • Crushed Curry polka dot ribbon
  • Gold brads and 1/16″ handheld circle punch

You can’t help but feel cheery when you’ve got colors like this in your face.  They insist that you smile.

Four calling birds

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I’m not much of a morning person.  If there was no outside influence on my schedule, I would be up late into the night and sleep well into the morning.  Life, however, has determined that I need to be up with the birds most mornings, and thank goodness for those birds.

If I’m awake early enough, the first bird to sing in my neighborhood is a cardinal.  It’s usually a male perched in the top of a tree – often the tall coconut in my neighbor’s yard – calling out to the rising sun.  His brilliant red color makes him easy to pick out, and his distinctive song is enough to banish the fog from my brain.  Soon the doves add their cooing, the mynahs start to scold, and the francolins…well, if you’re not awake by the time the francolins start in, they’ll do the job.

This little quartet doesn’t sing out loud, but I think there’s music here all the same.

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  • All Holidays stamps and Cornelli Lace wheel
  • Chocolate Chip, Bermuda Bay, and Very Vanilla cardstock;  Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper
  • Rose Red Classic ink
  • Big Shot and Merry Details Sizzlet
  • Scallop Square punch

This little fellow is found as both an exclusive Stampin’ Up!  Sizzlet (Merry Details, 116823, $5.50) and a stamp (Berry Christmas, 116509, $22.95).  I think he performs well outside the holiday arena, don’t you?

Desperate Stampwives

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She said, “Nothing comes between me and my stamping!!”

You know it’s serious when you are supposed to be lying down so you find a way to craft horizontally.

I love this woman!

Halloween Branches

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My kids are old enough now that they don’t do those little goodies bags of candy for their classmates.  They don’t come home with backpacks stuffed full of sugary loot, either, and then head out as soon as the sun goes down for more.  It’s a good thing, because like all devoted mothers, I felt obligated to save them from all of that candy, especially the dark chocolate.  Well, and the Butterfingers.  And maybe a Snickers or too.

Oops.  Chocolate Detour.  Back on track.

I don’t buy Halloween stamps much anymore because I just don’t use them.  A couple of cards and I’m done.  I have friends (not to mention any names, Robbie – you too, Claudine) who adore anything and everything Halloween, and I can enjoy Halloween cards vicariously through them.  All the same, as October rolls in I start to think about stamping a Boo or two.

Were you paying attention yesterday?  Didn’t I tell you Branch Out was an all-purpose stamp set?

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  • Branch Out and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • Basic Black and Pumpkin Pie Classic ink pads;  Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive Stampin’ Write Markers
  • Naturals White, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black and Old Olive cardstock
  • Old Olive 1 1/4″ stripe grosgrain ribbon
  • Slot punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig

This card was inspired by one that Claudine brought to share at our last club.  She had spiders in the tree, which I actually liked better.  But the bird from Branch Out is a raven today and that will have to do.

Trick or Treat!

How can I stamp thee?

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Let me count the ways!

I think Branch Out is one of the most versatile stamp sets Stampin’ Up! has produced.  I have used it for all four seasons, multiple holidays, and a variety of “just because” occasions.  It’s not currently in the catalog, but it’s on the dormant list (113200, $22.95)  and you can order it.  Matter of fact, I wish you would – I would be thrilled if  Stampin’ Up! would choose to take it off the dormant list and return it to the Idea Book and Catalog next July.

I saw a beautiful card – and I confess I cannot remember the location – where the crafter used another tree set with the In Colors to create a vibrant autumn card.  I’ve made a few changes but I’m pleased with the results.

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  • Branch Out Stamp Set
  • Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry , Crushed Curry and Rose Red Classic ink pads
  • Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie, RIch Razzleberry, and Apricot Appeal cardstock; Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper
  • Big Shot and Stampin’ Up! Perfect Details Texture plate
  • Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon
  • Stamp-a-ma-jig

This is as close to Autumn Colors as we’ll see here on Maui.  It’s nowhere near the same as seeing the colors change in real life, but it makes me think of Autumn all the same.

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Branch Out 113200 $22.95