Bee Happy. Bee Grateful. Bee You.

I’ve always enjoyed word play.  The pun is a very creative, if sometimes groan-inducing form of word play, but in this case I was looking for something more whimsical.  This bee image captured my imagination right away, and I went off in search of the right words to create the story that was developing in my head:

Maui Stamper Bee Happy Bee Grateful Bee You

  • Stamps:  Pun Intended (Host), Remarkable You, Work of Art, Oh What Fun, Tin of Cards
  • Color Palette:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Crushed Curry
  • Accessories:  Vellum card stock, Wink of Stella Clear, Honeycomb TIEF (retired), Crushed Curry ribbon (retired), Perfectly Artistic DSP (SAB/retired), Timeless Elegance DSP (retired), Stampin’ Write markers, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Maui Stamper Bee Happy Bee Grateful Bee You

Pun Intended is a Host Rewards stamp set – you can only purchase it with Host dollars received when you host a qualifying event or order.  The bee is the Queen (Bee) of the set – I’ve featured it once already in THIS post.   I used the retired Honeycomb TIEF there, too. (I’m really disappointed that Stampin’ Up! chose to retire that TIEF before introducing this image.)  I guess being a bit of a hoarder has some advantages {wink}.

Maui Stamper Bee Happy Bee Grateful Bee You

You can see my vellum wings looking straight on.  I stamped the image on vellum with Basic Black and set it aside overnight to dry completely.  I cut out the wings including the zig zag portion of the body that runs between them and used that section to adhere the wings to the stamped image.

Maui Stamper Bee Happy Bee Grateful Bee You

I used Tombo (the Wonder Adhesive) to attach the layers and was very pleased with the result.  The body on the panel as well as the body portion on the vellum are both colored with Crushed Curry Stampin’ Write markers, and I think that helps disguise the adhesive.  The wings are super-sparkled with two coats of Clear Wink of Stella.

Maui Stamper Bee Happy Bee Grateful Bee You

The DSP behind the images is the retired Timeless Elegance, one of the most beautiful and easy-to-use sets of papers that Stampin’ Up! has ever produced.  It’s wrapped around a piece of cardboard, and finished on the back with a coordinating DSP (also retired from Sale-a-bration 2016):

Maui Stamper Bee Happy Bee Grateful Bee You

As a custom piece, there just wasn’t a frame available that would fit, so I created a clean finish for the back and sandwiched the ribbon securely between the layers.

Maui Stamper Bee Happy Bee Grateful Bee You

Bee Happy.  Bee Grateful.  Bee You.

A July Calendar that’s NOT Red-White-and-Blue

I finally did it! I broke out of the Fourth of July, Red-White-and-Blue bonds!

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar July 2016

  • Stamps:  Watercolor Wings, Botanical Blooms (2016 Occasions)
  • Color Palette:  Pear Pizazz, Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe (still retired)
  • Accessories:  Butterflies Thinlits, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar July 2016

It’s addicting to play with the Watercolor Wings layers – there are so many options.  I really do have to apologize for using Crisp Cantaloupe two months in a row.  It was sitting on my desktop and I’m quite sure it was taunting me.  I think that’s how I was able to break the Red-White-and-Blue-bonds!!

Time to check out the fireworks that Cheryl and Crystal have to share this month.

$5 Today for a Paper Pumpkin – Fun, Easy and a Steal

Maui Stamper Paper Pumpkin $5 Deal

Just over 7 hours left to get this deal – sign up by 7:50pm Hawaii Standard time!   First time subscribers get the June kit – stamps, ink, and all the paper and accessories – for just $5!  No tax, no shipping, just pure paper crafting fun.

Use the code ONEDAYDEAL at paperpumpkin.com.

Dragonflies for June

There are dragonflies in my backyard, and I love to watch them hover and swoop over the water – they inspired the June calendar:

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar June 2016

  • Stamps:  Awesomely Artistic
  • Color Palette:  Tip Top Taupe, Watermelon Wonder, Crisp Cantaloupe (retired)

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar June 2016

I ought to apologize for using Crisp Cantaloupe, but I just can’t do that.  I bought it, I kept it, and I love it – it wasn’t my decision to retire it!!  If you’ve got it, rock it.

Visit Crystal and Cheryl to see their June calendars!

May Flowers

The soft tones in this month’s calendar welcome May to my kitchen counter:

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar May 2016

  • Stamps:  You’re Sublime (available wood and clear mount)
  • Color Palette:  Lost Lagoon, Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizazz, So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Calypso Coral, Watermelon Wonder, Smoky Slate
  • Accessories:  Blender pen, Stampin’ Write marker

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar May 2016

I gave my blender pens another chance and loved the soft tones I was able to achieve.  The images are smaller – just right to practice.  And I’m in love with this curious little wheelbarrow!

Take a look at the calendars that Cheryl and Crystal have created this month.

April Aloha

This image looks a lot like the plumerias that grow in my backyard.  It wasn’t intentional, but the serendipity makes me smile:

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar April 2016

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar April 2016

To be authentic, I should have added heaps of blossoms at the bottom of the calendar.  Plumeria are as famous for their beautiful litter as they are for their ease of stringing into lei.

Take a moment to see what Cheryl and Crystal have done with their calendars for April.  And if you’d like to shop, visit my Online Store.

Happy Girls Day!

In Hawaii, we celebrate Hinamatsuri, or Girls Day.  How adorable are these little “paper dolls” made with the Curvy Keepsake box?

Maui Stamper Curvy Keepsake Hinamatsuri

I didn’t make these – this is in the hands of the lovely creator, Yvette.  Yesterday I walked into my tax appointment and she was sitting at her desk with a big smile.  You need to know how much I dread doing taxes – I tell the CPA “I make things, I don’t count things.”  Knowing that Yvette is there always makes it a little easier.  And when she reached behind her to show me the tray of these little gems, it made things a lot easier.

Maui Stamper Curvy Keepsake Hinamatsuri

I don’t have all the details, but she did say that she cut two Curvy Keepsake pieces in black and then just the front piece in white and glued it on.  She also said she had a teeny craft-meltdown making the faces, but Loretta came to her rescue (that’s what friends are for!)  And finally, the “chopsticks” in her “hair” are white sticks for lollipops rolled in the ink pad – she wore gloves!

Twenty-something little kindergarteners are going to receive an adorable Girls Day gift!  Thanks for sharing, Yvette!

A March Lamb

I’m on an adorable animal kick for my calendar this spring!

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar March 2016

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar March 2016

I used markers to color directly on the stamp and the new Wink of Stella clear glitter brush  to add a little sparkle to the fleece.   Easter comes in March this year, so there has to be a little glitter!

This is the last month for Sale-a-bration – you have until the 31st to get your FREEBIES.  Shop HERE.

Hop on over to see what Crystal and Cheryl have created for their March calendars.

It’s “Bearly” February

We’re kinda short on bears here on Maui…but I found one for February’s calendar:

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar Bear Hugs February 2016

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar Bear Hugs February 2016

I love that face!  And I chose to fussy-cut the hat and the heart – I wanted them to be really tight to the edge.

Bear Hugs is available as wood mount or clear mount.  It’s also available in a bundle with coordinating framelits.  Shop HERE!

Visit Cheryl and Crystal to see what they have done for their February calendars.

 

Sweet Treats and the Sweet Stack Kit

In the spring, my family launches into Birthday Season.  Mr. Maui Stamper is a December birthday, but the rest of us celebrate from March through May.

Maui Stamper the Sweet Stack Kit

The Sweet Stack Kit (#138812, $21) includes this stand plus 20 cake-slice-shaped boxes to create two tiers of packages.

Maui Stamper the Sweet Stack Kit

These have been decorated with the Sweet Stack Photopolymer stamps (#138948, $17) and are perfectly sized for small gifts, candy and treats, or even a gift card.

Maui Stamper the Sweet Stack Kit

I added a bit of trim to the bottom of the skewer that holds up the banner.  I used hot glue to fix them permanently in place, and there were tell-tale glue bumps that I needed to cover up! Maui Stamper the Sweet Stack Kit

As with most Stampin’ Up! kits, these go together quickly and easily, and the only thing you’ll need to supply with the kit are the companion stamps, ink and adhesive.  Even the little “candle” assemblies are provided!

Maui Stamper the Sweet Stack Kit

I did develop one little trick.  I stretched the Bakers Twine across my cutting mat and taped it down, then arranged all of the little self-adhesive pennants along the twine before I pressed them into place.  I’m notorious for making things all catty-wompus, and this helped keep the spacing even.

The cardboard stand is very sturdy and will serve me well all through birthday season – assuming I can keep the frosting off of it!

Shop HERE – the kit and the stamps get you 2/3 of the way to a FREE Sale-a-bration choice!