Author Archives: mauistamper

DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: DECEMBER 2025 TRADITIONS OF CHRISTMAS

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Hi there friends! Welcome to the last calendar hop of 2025. Our calendars provide a little snapshot of what Stampin’ Up! released during the year, and it’s fun to reminisce. In December, I’m taking advantage of the gorgeous Traditions of Christmas Designer Series Paper to give my calendar a little extra pop.

These gold-enhanced, watercolored flowers come straight from the DSP and are die cut with the coordinating Christmas Greenery dies. I also cut the holly leaves with the same dies, giving them a little ink brush with my dauber to add dept.

The past couple of months I’ve been double-matting my calendars. This month, the design just begged for a little extra glimmer around the edge. I don’t expect to do it every month, in fact I don’t think it’s usually necessary – but I did it in December!

December is such a busy month, and Mr Maui Stamper and I were away for almost 3 weeks in November so I’m kicking into high gear! Using DSP is a great way to save a little time. Stop back on December 31st when I’ll have my annual DIY roundup – all 12 months in one glorious post!

DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon, Cheryl and Malia have created this month. We’re so glad you’ve joined us!

Would you like to make your own DIY Calendars? The template is just $6. Visit my secure page to make your purchase. (You can also find the page on the banner across the top of my home page.)

You’ll receive links to download the templates in an email after you’ve paid. You’ll need to cut and paste those links into your browser. (You may need to check your spam folder to find that email.)

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

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ADD COLOR TO THE SUNFLOWER 3D EMBOSSING FOLDER

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It’s been a minute since I shared a Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder card but that doesn’t mean I’m ignoring it. I spent a very happy and relaxing afternoon playing with color on the embossed image, and I think you’ll love the end result.

  • Stamps: Retired sentiments
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Lemon Lolly, Daffodil Delight, Peach Pie, Timid Tiger, Pool Party, Bubble Bath, Coastal Cabana, Lost Lagoon
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder, various circle punches, retired ribbons, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I confess I took the opportunity to use up some retired bits and pieces I had languishing in the studio. These cards were to welcome new members of the Maui Stampers team, and I needed quite a few (so glad you’ve joined us!!). That gave me the perfect opportunity to play with the theme.

Each embossed panel has been colored using daubers and whatever color combination came to mind. I generally used analogous colors like Cloud Cover, Pool Party, and Lost Lagoon, but it was a pretty whimsical choice process. I had a LOT of embossed panels to experiment with!

I tore the edges and curled them a bit to add more dimension since there weren’t any embellishments aside from the ribbon. This was a very playful project!

I hope you’ll give it a try! The Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder is currently out of stock, but you can request an email notification in the Online Store.

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WISHING YOU JOY WITH PEACEFUL GARDEN

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If you know Mr. Maui Stamper, you know he likes all the colors as long as they’re blue. The Peaceful Garden DSP makes both of us happy – he gets his blues, and I get my florals.

  • Stamps: Wishing You Joy
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Cloud Cover, Misty Moonlight
  • Accessories: Peaceful Garden DSP, Misty Moonlight and Silver ribbon, Hues of Blue Flowers, Stampin’ Dimensionals

You have to look for those little flowers, but in person they’re much easier to spot. This could be a holiday card, a wedding card, or a birthday card.

Wishing You Joy is another sleeper stamp set in the September-December mini catalog. There are 4 sentiments: Wishing You Joy, Sending You Cheer, May Your Christmas Be Bright, and Noel. They’re offered in 3 different fonts, in different sizes and shapes. It’s a perfect all-purpose holiday stamp set! Find it in the Online Store.

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PEACEFUL GARDEN THIS OR THAT?

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Can I tell you I LOVE the Peaceful Garden Designer Series paper? And this print in particular? It has that moody blue holiday feeling, but it transitions into so many other roles. Time for a good This or That!

The Christmas Words Hybrid Embossing Folder has every expression you can imagine. You can choose to use it as a background folder or add the die to the “sandwich” and cut each one out. I’ve added color with Cloud Cover Stampin’ Blends and it was very forgiving.

But then I turned the layout on its side and changed the sentiment – and I think it makes a lovely sympathy card. I really like the Linen Thread on this card.

So what do you think? Landscape or Portrait? Christmas or Sympathy? or maybe a mash-up? In either case, give it a try. It’s a quick and easy way to use that DSP stash.

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MAKING A CARD WITH THE TRADITIONAL WREATH EMBOSSING FOLDER

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This holiday season, Stampin’ Up! has not one but two gorgeous embossing folders. You’ve seen the Peaceful Greenery Embossing folder – now say hello to the Traditional Wreath Embossing Folder!

  • Stamps: Seasonal Tags
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Shaded Spruce, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Traditional Wreath Embossing Folder, daubers, Circle Punches, Gold Stripe 3/8″ ribbon, Stampin’ Blends, retired red gems, Stampin’ Dimensionals

The easiest way I’ve found to add color to this wreath is to use daubers. Brush lightly and the raised images pick up the color, keeping the texture of the embossing. I colored the berries with Real Red Stampin’ Blends, and a few of them have a few sparkly gems from eons ago.

I love that this wreath isn’t so distinctively “holiday”. You could easily use it year around in other color combinations (stay tuned!) This is a 6″ square embossing folder. The entire wreath doesn’t fit on a traditional card front, but it works well as a partial panel.

The Seasonal Tags are a bit of a sleeper, so don’t let them pass you by. You’ll reach for them again and again!

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PEACE ON EARTH

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Do you love DSP that does all the heavy lifting the way I do??????? Here’s Traditions of Christmas again with a completely different feeling. This luxurious red and gold poinsettia motif does all the work.

Friends, you NEED the Embossing Additions Tool Kit. The tray has an end cap that screws on and off – no more breaking fingernails pulling out the plug! There’s an embossing buddy, a brush, and THE BEST craft tweezers you’ve ever held in your hand. Run don’t walk to get this one!

This DSP is amazing. Snap it up while you can – it’s in the Online Store.

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TRADITIONS OF CHRISTMAS DSP AND THE PEACEFUL GREENERY EMBOSSING FOLDER

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The Traditions of Christmas DSP does it again! This image can also be cut with the Stamp Cut and Emboss Machine using the Christmas Greenery dies. You’d be surprised how quickly this card comes together when you have a ready-made focal point.

This image is plentiful on the page of DSP, and comes in 3 color ways. Look closely at the background of the Pool Party die cut, as it’s been stamped with our new Lasting Linen stamp. The texture is GORGEOUS and I hope this one sticks around for a very very very long time.

When the coloring is done for you, the cards go together very quickly. I don’t know about you, but it seems as though this time of year I need a LOT of cards. Head over to the Online Store if you need a little more DSP or some dies.

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QUICK CARD MAKING WITH THE CHRISTMAS GREETINGS CARDS & ENVELOPES

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Our card and envelope packs are one of my favorite short cuts to card making. The Christmas Greetings Mix and Match cards and envelopes remind me of a Hawaiian fabric pattern called palaka, so I snapped up a couple of packs in my sneak peek order. Turns out they are a great match to the Traditionsmof Christmas DSP!!

Multiple images from the DSP can be cut with the coordinating dies, another big time saver. You’ve seen my coloring: it’s not like this!! And all that gold detail is just glorious.

Our Gold Mesh ribbon was on Last Chance and has sold out, but there’s a beautiful new option in the Online Store. And that new Christmas Words Hybrid Embossing Folder is AWESOME. You can cut out the individual words, but I like it just as it is!

The cards come with coordinating envelopes and the overall look is luxurious but just a little bit country. Pick up a couple of packages for your holiday cards and you’ll be halfway done! Shop the Online Store.

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PETAL ARRANGEMENTS IN WATERCOLOR PENCIL

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I had forgotten how much I love our watercolor pencils until I put them to use with these beautiful tropical images. The coloring does not need to be precise, which makes it so relaxing. I used the blender pen to smooth the colors together.

I stamped the images in Memento Black ink, more out of habit than necessity. I colored the leaves with Garden Green and added Granny Apple Green accents, then colored the flowers with Daffodil Delight and added Crushed Curry accents. When the coloring was done, I gave each flower a soft brush with the Blender Pen. It smooths and brightens the color, but it leaves a more translucent look than the Stampin’ Blends.

Petal Arrangements has three unique plumeria designs and 3 unique protea designs. They’re red rubber stamps, which means that they’re not going to last forever. As supplies of red rubber dwindle, our red rubber stamps will retire. Needless to say, if you like this one, get it now! You’ll find it in the Online Store.

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DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: BRANCHING OUT (again!!)

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Welcome back to DIY Calendars! I’m grateful you’ve stopped by, and hope you’ll take the short tour to see what the DIY team has done in November. Be sure to read through to the end, as I have news about a fun new project.

  • Stamps: Branching Out
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Pean Pie
  • Accessories: DIY Calendar Template, Stampin’ Write Markers

I used the markers to create a few background splatters and to hand write the plant name. I just realized that I neglected the diacritical marks! There are two okina and a kahakō in the spelling of ‘ōhi’a lehua. I will fix that!

As I looked at the stamps in this set and tried to imagine alternative uses, I suddenly saw ‘Ōhi’a Lehua. I wasn’t sure it would work, but it’s close! It’s missing the bud clusters and the leaves that emerge down the stem, but choosing to eliminate those things allows the blossom to stand out. Let’s call it creative license.

I had ‘Ōhi’a Lehua in my garden – multiples, in fact. This is one of the first blooms I had and I was thrilled!

They were specifically chosen for my elevation and dry climate. They would grow, even thrive for up to 2 years, and then suddenly waste away. I wanted them to succeed so badly! After 5 separate plantings, I had to give up. Sometimes the garden decides what will grow.

Branching Out is a multi-season stamp set – you can see it along with its companion dies in the Online Store.

DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon, Cheryl and Malia have created this month. Thanks for stopping by!

Would you like to make your own DIY Calendars? The template is just $6. Visit my secure page to make your purchase. (You can also find the page on the banner across the top of my home page.) You’ll receive links to download the templates in an email after you’ve paid. You’ll need to cut and paste those links into your browser. (You may need to check your spam folder to find that email.)

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

If you’ve gotten this far, Bravo!! In January, I’ll be debuting an exclusive PINTEREST board as a companion to the board the team uses. The new board will be for crafters who have purchased the DIY Calendar Template. While anyone will be able to see it, only the “members” will have access to posting and saving to the board. Details will be available in December by email to anyone who purchased the template from me. I can’t wait to see your creations!

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

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